Inside Hoops – Page 509 – NBA Blog

Nets sign rookie Dzanan Musa

The Brooklyn Nets have signed Dzanan Musa, the 29th overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft, to a multi-year contract.

All players selected in the first round of the draft are guaranteed to receive a contract, assuming they wish to begin their NBA career right away. Therefore, this signing is standard and was expected.

Musa (6’9”, 195), a native of Bihac, Bosnia and Herzegovina, played the past three seasons for Cedevita Zagreb of Croatia A1. In 58 career games, the guard/forward averaged 12.5 points, 3.4 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.0 steals in 21.9 minutes per game. In 2017-18, the 19-year-old appeared in 23 contests, averaging 13.5 points, 3.7 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.3 steals in 23.5 minutes per game.

Musa has also represented Bosnia in international competition, most recently in the 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup European Qualifiers, where he averaged a team-leading 15.2 points per game. He was previously named MVP of the U16 European Championship in 2015 while leading Bosnia to its first-ever FIBA championship, and became the youngest player to draw a start in a Euroleague game at 16 years old before debuting for the Bosnian senior national team the following summer.

Wizards sign Jeff Green

The Wizards have signed free agent forward Jeff Green.

The contract is reportedly just for one year.

“Jeff is a proven veteran who will add to our frontcourt rotation with his ability to play and defend multiple positions,” said Grunfeld. “We’re excited to be bringing him back to the D.C. area and look forward to his experience and professionalism benefiting us on the court and in the locker room.”

Green (6-9, 235) has averaged 13.2 points and 4.6 rebounds while shooting .438 from the floor and .332 from three-point range in 783 NBA games (498 starts) over 10 NBA seasons with Seattle/Oklahoma City, Boston, Memphis, Los Angeles Clippers, Orlando and Cleveland. Last season, he posted 10.8 points and 3.2 rebounds while shooting .477 from the field and .312 from three-point range in 78 games (14 starts) en route to helping the Cavs reach the NBA Finals.

Over his career, Green has averaged 9.8 points and 3.5 rebounds while shooting .331 from three-point range in 60 playoff games (17 starts). The 31-year-old forward has averaged double figures in nine of his 10 NBA seasons and scored the 10,000th point of his career last season (Jan. 15 vs. Golden State).

Signing with the Wizards marks a homecoming for Green, who was originally selected with the fifth overall pick by Boston in the 2007 NBA Draft out of Georgetown (and was named All-Rookie First Team in 2007-08). He played three years as a Hoya, where he received numerous accolades including Big East Player of the Year in 2007. Green was born in Cheverly, MD, and attended Northwestern High School in Hyattsville, where he led the NHS Wildcats to the state basketball championship in 2004.

Heat sign Duncan Robinson to two-way contract

The Miami Heat signed forward Duncan Robinson to a two-way contract today.

Robinson has appeared in five Summer League games (all starts) with the HEAT in both Sacramento and Las Vegas and is averaging 12.4 points, 2.4 rebounds, 1.0 assists and 25.0 minutes while shooting 57.9 percent (22-of-38) from the field and 63 percent (17-of-27) from three-point range. He connected on 5-of-6 from three-point range on July 3 against the Los Angeles Lakers in the California Classic Summer League in Sacramento and followed that by shooting 4-of-7 from beyond the arc in his next game on July 5 against the Sacramento Kings, both wins. Additionally, in his two games in Las Vegas so far, Robinson is shooting 70 percent (7-of-10) from downtown.

Robinson appeared in 115 career games at Michigan shooting 45.5 percent from the field, 41.9 percent from three-point range and 86.4 percent from the foul line. In just three seasons, he finished fourth on the school’s all-time three-point field goals made list with 237 while helping the Wolverine’s to two Big Ten titles and to the NCAA Tournament each season. Last season as senior, the tri-captain captured the Big Ten Sixth Man of the Year award and helped led the team to the NCAA Championship Game.

Lakers sign JaVale McGee

The Lakers’ signing of center JaVale McGee became official today. It’s reportedly a one-year deal.

McGee appeared in 65 games (17 starts) for Golden State last season, tallying 4.8 points (.621 FG%) and 2.6 rebounds in 9.5 minutes per game. The seven-footer has played in 558 career games (187 starts) for Washington, Denver, Philadelphia, Dallas and Golden State, with averages of 7.5 points (.559 FG%), 4.8 rebounds and 1.5 blocks in 16.7 minutes.

“JaVale changes the geometry of the game,” said Pelinka. “His unique combination of incredible length and foot nimbleness will allow us to play fast at both ends. His ability to both protect the rim and create angles with rim rolls will present a number of advantages in Coach Walton’s system.”

A 10-year NBA veteran, McGee won back-to-back championships as a member of the Golden State Warriors in 2017 and 2018 and has appeared in 44 NBA playoff games (12 starts), averaging 6.5 points (.610 FG%), 4.3 rebounds and 1.2 blocks in 14.0 minutes.

Selected by Washington with the 18th overall selection in the 2008 NBA Draft, McGee averaged 8.7 points, 4.8 rebounds and 1.8 blocks in 66 career games (31 starts) at the University of Nevada, Reno.

Lakers sign Lance Stephenson

The Lakers’ signing of guard/forward Lance Stephenson became official today.

Per multiple reports, the deal is just for one year, $4.5 million.

Stephenson appeared in all 82 games (seven starts) for the Indiana Pacers last season, tallying 9.2 points, 5.2 rebounds and 2.9 assists in 22.6 minutes per game.

“It’s incredibly exciting to have Lance join our team,” Pelinka said. “Lance is playoff-tested and will bring a certain edge, confidence and toughness to our roster. His multi-positional versatility and open-court playmaking abilities are key ingredients for the basketball style we designed for next season.”

An eight-year NBA veteran, Stephenson has played in 440 career games (196 starts) for Indiana, Charlotte, the LA Clippers, Memphis, New Orleans and Minnesota, averaging 8.8 points, 4.3 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 24.4 minutes. He has also appeared in 57 NBA playoff games (38 starts), with career averages of 11.1 points, 5.6 rebounds and 3.2 assists.

Selected by the Pacers with the 40th selection in the 2010 NBA Draft, Stephenson averaged 12.3 points, 5.4 rebounds and 2.5 assists in 34 career games (32 starts) at the University of Cincinnati.

Lakers sign rookie Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk

The Los Angeles Lakers signed rookie guard Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk today.

The 47th overall pick in this year’s NBA Draft out of the University of Kansas, Mykhailiuk earned All-Big 12 Second Team honors last season, with averages of 14.6 points, 3.9 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game. Mykhailiuk shot a Big 12-leading 44.4 percent from three-point range and set the KU single-season record with 115 three-point field goals made.

A native of Cherkasy, Ukraine, Mykhailiuk began his collegiate career at 17 years old as the youngest player in Big 12 history, and would go on to make three trips to the Sweet Sixteen, including one Final Four appearance in his four-year career. Mykhailiuk has also represented the Ukraine at the international level, leading the U-20 National Team in scoring during the 2016 FIBA European Championship.

Rockets re-sign Gerald Green

The Houston Rockets re-signed free agent guard/forward Gerald Green today.

Per multiple reports, the deal is a one-year, $2.4 million contract.

Green originally signed with the Rockets on Dec. 28, 2017 and averaged 12.1 points over the remainder of the season. He hit the third-most 3-pointers of any reserve in the league over that span.

For the season, Green averaged 2.7 3-pointers made in 22.7 minutes per game. No other player in NBA history averaged more than 2.5 3FGM in fewer than 25.0 mpg in a single season.

Over the past seven seasons, Green averaged 10.8 ppg in 21.5 mpg. He is one of only five players with at least 400 games played over that span to have averaged at least 10.0 ppg in fewer than 22.0 mpg.

Nuggets sign Torrey Craig

The Nuggets signed free agent forward Torrey Craig to a multi-year contract today.

“We are thrilled to have Torrey back on our roster. His journey to the NBA was an atypical one and this contract is a testament to his tremendous work ethic and drive,” stated Connelly.

Craig, 27, was signed to a two-way contract with Denver during the 2017-18 season where he averaged 4.2 points and 3.3 rebounds in 39 games (five starts) for the Nuggets. He also appeared in 15 games (12 starts) for the Sioux Falls Skyforce of G League last season, averaging 22.9 points, 8.1 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 2.00 blocks and 1.13 steals in 5.0 minutes per game. He also shot .477 from the field and .386 from three for the Skyforce.

The South Carolina native went undrafted in the 2014 NBA Draft and prior to joining the Nuggets he spent three seasons starring in the Australian National Basketball League. He played for the Brisbane Bullets during the 2016-17 season where he was named both the Australian NBL Defensive Player of the Year and the Most Improved Player while earning All-NBL Second Team honors. He played collegiately at the University of South Carolina-Upstate for four years, earning NABC All-District First Team honors three times and was named the Atlantic Sun Player of the Year as a sophomore.

Pacers sign Kyle O`Quinn

The Indiana Pacers have signed free agent forward/center Kyle O’Quinn.

The deal is reportedly just a one-year, $4.5 million contract.

The Pacers’ frontcourt rotation currently revolves around Myles Turner, Thaddeus Young and Domantas Sabonis. There is no dominant star among that group, though Turner and Sabonis have potential and are considered team building blocks. Quinn will likely be used as support for that mix of talent.

O’Quinn set new career highs during the 2017-18 season as he averaged 7.1 points, 6.1 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.3 blocks per game for the New York Knicks. He spent the last three seasons with New York and averaged 6.1 points and 5.2 rebounds over 221 games. O’Quinn was originally selected with the 49th overall pick in the second round of the 2012 NBA Draft by the Orlando Magic, and has averaged 5.8 points and 4.9 rebounds over six NBA seasons with New York and Orlando.

“We talk about our culture here and Kyle fits it perfectly,” said Pacers’ President of Basketball Operations Kevin Pritchard. “Not only is he a good, solid player, he’s an outstanding person who will help us on the floor and in the locker room. When I met with him last week I was very impressed with his professionalism and thrilled with his desire to be a part of what we are building here.”

Pelicans re-sign Ian Clark

The New Orleans Pelicans have re-signed guard Ian Clark.

Clark, 6-3, 175, appeared in 74 games with New Orleans during the 2017-18 regular season and averaged 7.4 points, 1.7 rebounds and 1.5 assists in 19.7 minutes per game. After the All-Star break, Clark averaged 11.0 points while shooting .488 from the field and .368 from three-point range, 2.0 assists and 2.0 rebounds in 24.8 minutes per game. Clark additionally appeared in nine postseason games, averaging 7.8 points, 1.1 rebounds and 1.2 assists while shooting .424 from the floor, including .357 from three-point range.

Undrafted out of Belmont University in 2013, Clark has appeared in 270 career regular season games with Utah, Denver, Golden State and New Orleans, holding career averages of 5.3 points, 1.3 rebounds and 1.1 assists in 13.1 minutes per game. Additionally, Clark has appeared in 41 career postseason contests, averaging 6.0 points while shooting .475 from the field and .354 from three-point range, 1.3 rebounds and 0.9 assists in 13.7 minutes per game.