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Three-team trade brings center Tyson Chandler to Knicks

New York Knickerbockers Senior Vice President, Basketball Operations and Interim General Manager Glen Grunwald announced today that the team has acquired center Tyson Chandler via sign-and-trade as part of a three-team trade. Ronny Turiaf, cash considerations and a 2013 second-round draft choice has been sent to the Washington Wizards and Andy Rautins has been sent to Dallas; Dallas sent a 2012 second-round draft choice to Washington and the draft rights to Ahmad Nivins and Giorgos Printezis to New York; Washington sent a conditional future second-round draft choice to Dallas.

“This is an important day for the New York Knicks,” Grunwald said. “Signing a player of Tyson’s caliber, with championship experience, to this roster, is an opportunity we could not pass up. His stellar play last season earned him league-wide recognition and helped lead his team to an NBA Championship.”

Chandler, 7-1, 225-pounds, holds career averages of 8.3 points, 8.8 rebounds, 1.35 blocks and 27.6 minutes in 662 games (465 starts) over 10 NBA seasons with Chicago, New Orleans, Charlotte and Dallas. He played a pivotal role in leading the Mavericks to the franchise’s first ever NBA title last season, averaging 8.0 points, 9.2 rebounds and 0.90 blocks in 21 postseason contests. In 74 regular season games (all starts), he averaged 10.1 points, 9.4 rebounds and 1.08 blocks over 74 games (74 starts) en route to NBA All-Defensive Second Team honors.

“Tyson will be the anchor to our defense,” Head Coach Mike D’Antoni said. “The trio of Amar’e Stoudemire, Carmelo Anthony and Tyson makes one of the most formidable frontlines in the entire league.”

The Hanford, CA-native was originally selected by the Los Angeles Clippers in the first round (second overall) of the 2001 NBA Draft prior to having his draft rights traded to Chicago with Brian Skinner in exchange for Elton Brand. He appeared in 53 postseason games (37 starts) and holds averages of 7.0 points, 8.1 rebounds and 1.10 blocks over 28.7 minutes. He also represented Team USA in both the 2007 and 2010 FIBA World Championships, winning Gold medals with both squads.

Rautins, 6-4, 205-pounds, averaged 1.6 points 4.8 minutes in five games during his rookie campaign. He was selected by New York in the second round (38th overall) of 2010 NBA Draft.

Nivins, 6-9, 242-pounds, was selected by Dallas out of Saint Joseph’s University in the second round (56th overall) of 2009 NBA Draft. He spent the past three seasons playing overseas with Assignia Manresa (Spain) and Dexia Mons-Hainaut (Belgium).

Printezis, 6-7, 202-pounds, was selected by San Antonio in the second round (58th overall) of 2007 NBA Draft. His draft rights were traded to Toronto before he was sent to Dallas in exchange for Alexis Ajinca, a second-round draft pick and cash considerations on Jan. 24, 2011.

“Ronny brings us a tough, inside presence and we’re looking forward to adding his defense and tenacity to our frontline,” said Wizards President Ernie Grunfeld. “This trade brings another solid veteran to our team along with additional assets in the form of draft picks and allows us to maintain our financial flexibility moving forward.”

Turiaf comes to the Wizards with career averages of 5.3 points, 3.8 rebounds and 1.4 blocks while shooting .528 from the floor over 358 games in six seasons with the Lakers, Warriors and Knicks. Originally selected by the Lakers with the 37th overall pick in the 2005 NBA Draft, Turiaf had his best overall statistical season when he averaged 5.9 points, 4.6 rebounds and 2.1 blocks (ranking him fourth in the NBA) for the Warriors in 2008-09. He has finished in the top 30 in the NBA in blocked shots in three of the last four seasons. The 6-10 native of Martinique finished his collegiate career at Gonzaga as the school’s fourth all-time leading scorer and rebounder.

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Knicks waive Chauncey Billups via NBA amnesty clause

New York Knickerbockers Senior Vice President, Basketball Operations and Interim General Manager Glen Grunwald announced today that the team has waived guard Chauncey Billups, designating him as the club’s amnesty player.

Billups, 6-3, 210-pounds, averaged 16.8 points on .427 shooting, 5.4 assists, 2.6 rebounds over 32.1 minutes in 72 games (72 starts) with Denver and New York last season. Acquired by the Knicks on Feb. 22, 2011, Billups he averaged 17.5 points on .403 shooting, 5.5 assists and 3.1 rebounds over 31.6 minutes in New York.

The Knicks liked Billups, but felt they needed to do this for salary cap reasons, as they are going to acquire center Tyson Chandler today.

Detroit Pistons sign Damien Wilkins

The Detroit Pistons announced today that they have signed guard-forward Damien Wilkins. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Wilkins, 31, appeared in 52 games for the Atlanta Hawks last season averaging 3.5 points and 1.7 rebounds in 13.0 minutes per game. He appeared in eight postseason contests with the Hawks, averaging 1.8 points and 1.0 rebounds in 4.9 minutes per game. The seven-year NBA pro has career averages of 6.8 points, 2.6 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 20.0 minutes in 442 games with Seattle, Oklahoma City, Minnesota and Atlanta.

Undrafted out of the University of Georgia, Wilkins enjoyed his best season a pro with Seattle in 2007-08 when he averaged 9.2 points, 3.2 rebounds and 2.0 assists in 76 games (31 starts). He scored a career-high 41 points with a season-high nine rebounds at Atlanta (11/16) that season in addition to notching his 2,000th career point vs. Phoenix (3/19/08).

Wilkins is the son of 13-year NBA veteran Gerald Wilkins and nephew of Atlanta Hawks legend Dominique Wilkins.

Raptors sign forward Rasual Butler

The Toronto Raptors announced Saturday they have signed veteran free-agent forward Rasual Butler. Per team policy, financial details were not disclosed.

Butler is a veteran of nine NBA campaigns where he has averaged 8.5 points, 2.6 rebounds and 23.9 minutes in 604 regular season outings. He has shot at a .361 per cent clip from three-point range (758-2097). Butler has also made 30 appearances in the playoffs, averaging 4.4 points, 1.5 rebounds and 13.4 minutes. He has connected on 25 of 59 three-pointers (.424) in postseason play.

Butler, 6-foot-7, 215 pounds split last season between the Los Angeles Clippers and Chicago Bulls. His best statistical season came in 2009-10 with the Clippers when he averaged career bests of 11.9 points and 33.0 minutes in 82 games (64 starts). He set a club record for made three-pointers in a season with 145. He tallied 20-plus points five times, including two games with 30 or more points. In 2008-09 with New Orleans, he averaged 11.2 points and 31.9 minutes in 82 games, with a career-best 74 starts. He also averaged a career playoff-best 10.6 points and 31.6 minutes in five postseason outings with the Hornets. In 2005, he helped Miami reach the Eastern Conference Finals.

A second-round selection by Miami (53rd overall) in the 2002 NBA Draft, Butler has seen action with the Heat, Hornets, Clippers and Bulls. He has scored a career-high 33 points on two occasions (last: vs. Cleveland, 1/16/10) and grabbed a personal-best 11 rebounds twice (last: vs. Orlando, 1/16/07).

Butler saw action in 110 games with LaSalle University, averaging 19.1 points and 5.0 rebounds in his four years with the Explorers. He was a two-time first-team All-Atlantic 10 selection, as well as a two-time first-team All-Big Five choice.

Bobcats sign forward Derrick Brown

Charlotte Bobcats President of Basketball Operations Rod Higgins announced today that the team has signed forward Derrick Brown. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

The 6-8 Brown was initially drafted by the Bobcats with the 40th overall pick in the 2009 NBA Draft, and played in 98 games for the team before being waived on February 24, 2011. He finished last season with the New York Knicks after being picked up from waivers. In two NBA seasons, he has played in 108 total games and holds career averages of 3.5 points and 1.7 rebounds, while shooting .511 from the field (142-278).

Bobcats Sports & Entertainment owns the Charlotte Bobcats and operates Charlotte’s Time Warner Cable Arena.

Heat sign center Eddy Curry

— via the Heat

The Miami Heat announced today that they have signed free agent center Eddy Curry. Per club policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Curry, a nine-year NBA veteran, has appeared in 511 games (410 starts) and averaged 13.3 points, 5.3 rebounds and 25.4 minutes while shooting 54.5 percent from the field and 64.2 percent from the foul line. He last played for the New York Knicks appearing in 222 games (208 starts) and averaged 15.2 points, 5.8 rebounds and 28.5 minutes while shooting 56.3 percent from the field. He is currently New York’s all-time franchise leader in field goal percentage (1,228-of-2,180). Additionally, his 57.6 percent shooting from the field during the 2006-07 campaign stands as the second-best single-season mark in Knickerbockers history.

He has ranked among the NBA’s Top 5 players in field goal percentage four times over his career. He finished first in 2002-03 (.585), second in 2005-06 (.563), fourth in 2006-07 (.576) and fifth in 2004-05 (.538). After leading the NBA in field goal percentage during the 2002-03 season, he became the first Chicago Bull to lead the NBA in a major stat category since Michael Jordan in 1997-98 (scoring, 28.7) and the first Chicago player to pace the league in field goal percentage since Artis Gilmore in 1981-82 (.652).

Curry was originally drafted by the Chicago Bulls in the first round (4th overall) of the 2001 NBA Draft, the youngest draft choice in their franchise’s history.

InsideHoops.com hears that Curry has lost 50-70 pounds and is in good shape right now.

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Spurs sign guard T.J. Ford

The San Antonio Spurs today announced that the team has signed guard T.J. Ford. Per club policy details of the contract were not released.

The 28-year-old Texas native has posted career averages of 11.4 points, 5.9 assists and 3.2 rebounds in 415 regular season games in seven NBA seasons. Prior to signing with San Antonio the 6-0, 165-pound point guard enjoyed stints with Milwaukee, Toronto and Indiana. Ford was selected by Milwaukee in the first round of the 2003 NBA Draft, with the eighth overall pick, after playing two seasons at the University of Texas. He enjoyed his best NBA season during the 2008-09 campaign, averaging 14.9 points, 5.3 assists and 3.5 rebounds in 74 games with the Indiana Pacers.

Ford enjoyed an outstanding high school and collegiate career in the state of Texas. In his final two seasons at Willowridge High School, his teams posted a 75-1 record, capturing back-to-back Texas 5A State Championships. In two seasons at the University of Texas, Ford averaged 12.9 points and 8.8 assists. During his sophomore year he was named both the Naismith and Wooden Player of the Year Award winner and earned 2003 First Team All-American honors.

LaMarcus Aldridge undergoes successful heart-related procedure

Portland Trail Blazers forward/center LaMarcus Aldridge underwent a successful procedure today to evaluate the status of the electrical system in his heart, it was announced today by the team.

He will be sidelined for 5-7 days before he can return to practice.

Aldridge, who was diagnosed with Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome in 2007, underwent a similar procedure to correct the problem at the time of diagnosis.

Aldridge, 26, holds career averages of 17.3 points (49.2% FG, 77.1% FT), 7.5 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 1.02 blocks and 34.8 minutes in 379 games (338 starts).

Notching his best season to date in 2010-11, Aldridge was named to the All-NBA Third Team after averaging a team-high 21.8 points (50.0% FG, 79.1% FT) to go with 8.8 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 1.01 steals, 1.16 blocks and 39.6 minutes in 81 games (all starts). One of three NBA players to rank in the top 15 in points (14th) and rebounds (14th) last season, Aldridge ranks sixth in offensive rebounds in team history (1,068).

Thunder re-sign guard Daequan Cook

The Oklahoma City Thunder have re-signed guard Daequan Cook, it was announced today by Executive Vice President and General Manager Sam Presti. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Cook ranked 11th in the NBA in three-point field goal shooting during the 2010-11 campaign, as he connected on 42.2% of his three-point attempts (65-of-154). The Ohio State product appeared in 43 games for Oklahoma City and registered averages of 5.6 points and 1.7 rebounds in 13.9 minutes per contest.

“We are excited that we were able to reach an agreement that will keep Daequan a part of our core group moving forward,” said Executive Vice President and General Manager Sam Presti. “Daequan’s commitment to his own development and willingness to accept a role within our team, makes him a valuable member of our organization. At twenty-four years old, we believe Daequan’s best basketball is ahead of him. His desire to remain a part of the Thunder organization and the Oklahoma City community is what ultimately allowed us to reach this agreement.”

During the 2010-11 season Cook matched a career-high with six three-point field goals in 19 minutes during the Thunder’s win over the Washington Wizards (Mar. 14). He scored in double-figures seven times during the season and finished the year shooting 45.2% from three-point range (56-of-124) in the final 35 games of the season.

In four NBA seasons, Cook has appeared in 222 career games (26 starts) and posted averages of 7.5 points and 2.3 rebounds while shooting 36.9% from three-point range (337-of-913).

Hawks sign forward Vladimir Radmanovic

The Atlanta Hawks today signed forward Vladimir Radmanovic, according to Executive Vice President/General Manager Rick Sund. Per team policy, terms were not disclosed.

Radmanovic spent last season with the Golden State Warriors, averaging 5.1 ppg, 2.9 rpg and 1.1 apg in 15.8 mpg (.431 FG%, .405 3FG%, .882 FT%), appearing in 74 games (six starts), and ranking 23rd in the league in three-point percentage.

The 10-year veteran brings career numbers of 8.5 ppg, 3.9 rpg and 1.4 apg in 23.0 mpg to Atlanta (.417 FG%, .381 3FG%, .759 FT%). He’s also seen action in 44 playoff games (25 starts), posting 7.6 ppg, 3.7 rpg and 1.2 apg in 21.9 mpg (.440 FG%, .392 3FG%, .735 FT%). Selected by Seattle 12th overall in the 2001 NBA Draft, Radmanovic has also played for the LA Clippers, LA Lakers and Charlotte.