Inside Hoops – Page 593 – NBA Blog

Kings sign guard Marcus Williams

The Sacramento Kings today signed guard Marcus Williams.

We assume this is a non-guaranteed deal that merely brings Williams to Kings training camp.

Entering his twelfth professional season, the 6-3, 209-pound guard was selected 22nd overall in the 2006 NBA Draft by New Jersey as a junior out of Connecticut. The Husky standout earned NBA Second Team All-Rookie accolades after accruing averages of 6.8 points (.395 FG%, .282 3pt%, .847 FT%), 2.1 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 16.6 minutes per game in 79 contests (two starts) for the Nets, including an invitation to the Rookie Challenge at the 2007 NBA All-Star Weekend. Williams also suited up for the Golden State Warriors (2008-09) and Memphis Grizzlies (2009-10) before embarking on a playing career overseas.

Williams’ career features stops in the Puerto Rican League (BSN), where he garnered All-BSN First-Team honors in 2009 and a successful stint in Russia with Enisey Krasnoyarsk, helping guide his team to the playoffs for the first time in PBL history. His international resume includes experience playing in China (Jiangsu Dragons), Spain (Unicaja Malaga) and Serbia (Crvena Zvezda).

The Big East Conference Most Improved Player in 2004-05, Williams posted 9.6 points and 7.8 assists per contest before leading Connecticut to the Elite 8 as a junior en route to averaging 20.0 points (.520 FG%, .560 3pt%, .960 FT%) to accompany 8.8 assists per game in the NCAA Tournament.

Jazz sign Taylor Braun

The Utah Jazz announced today that the team has signed free agent guard/forward Taylor Braun.

We assume this is a non-guaranteed signing that merely brings Braun to Jazz training camp.

Braun (6-7, 210, North Dakota State) joins the Jazz most recently having played with ratiopharm Ulm of the German Bundesliga, where he averaged 8.0 points, 3.8 rebounds and 1.6 assists in 53 games (50 starts) during the 2016-17 season. Prior to his two year stint with ratiopharm Ulm (2015-17), Braun has additional professional experience with Okapi Aalstar of the Basketball League Belgium, where in 2014-15, he appeared in 50 games (49 starts), owning averages of 14.5 points, 4.3 boards, 3.1 assists and 1.4 steals in 31.3 minutes per contest.

The Newberg, Ore. native had a four-year career at North Dakota State (2009-14), appearing in 116 career games (107 starts), averaging 14.3 points, 5.8 rebounds and 2.9 assists in 30.1 minutes per game. Following his senior season, Braun was named the 2014 Summit League Player of the Year and earned 2014 All-Summit League First Team honors and a 2014 AP Honorable Mention. He averaged a Summit League leading 17.6 points, 5.5 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 1.3 steals, appearing and starting in 32 games in his final collegiate season. In 2013-14, the 6-7 guard/forward was one of only four NCAA Division I players to lead his team in points scored, rebounds and assists. He also garnered 2013 All-Summit League Second Team honors as a junior and 2012 All-Summit League First Team honors as a sophomore.

Braun left North Dakota State ranked among the school’s all-time top 10 in nine different statistical categories, including fourth in free throws made (454), seventh in points (1,651), eighth in steals (153), ninth in three-pointers (125) and ninth in rebounds (671).

Braun will wear No. 24 for the Jazz.

The training camp roster now stands at 20.

Bulls waive Dwyane Wade (buyout agreement)

With buyout agreement, Bulls waive Dwyane Wade

The Chicago Bulls requested waivers on Dwyane Wade yesterday (Monday).

In his lone season with Chicago, Wade played in 60 games (59 starts) and averaged 18.3 points, 4.5 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 1.43 spg (T-24th in the NBA) in 29.9 minutes while shooting .434 from the field, .310 from distance and .794 from the free-throw line. He originally signed with the Bulls as a free agent on July 5, 2016.

Chicago’s roster now stands at 19.

Per the Chicago Sun-Times, “According to a front office source, all indications are that Wade would be reunited with good friend LeBron James, joining the Cleveland Cavaliers. And Wade could finalize a decision with the Cavaliers as early as Wednesday, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.

More from the Sun-Times: The buyout – which reportedly involved the Bulls paying Wade about $16 million of the $23.8 million he was set to make – was the first topic of business for VP of basketball operations John Paxson to address on media day.”

Bulls re-sign Nikola Mirotic

The Chicago Bulls re-signed forward Nikola Mirotic yesterday (Monday).

Mirotić enters his fourth season in the NBA and with the Bulls. In 2016-17, he appeared in 70 games (15 starts) and posted averages of 10.6 points and 5.5 rebounds per game, and shot .413 from the field and .342 from 3-point range. Mirotić’s 129 3-point field goals made led the team, and he became the first player in Bulls history to have consecutive games with six 3-pointers made on March 26 and March 30. In the postseason, he played in all six games (6 starts) in the series against Boston, and averaged 10.6 points and 5.5 rebounds in 24.0 minutes per game while shooting .413 from the field and .342 from three.

For his career, Mirotić has averaged 10.8 points and 5.3 rebounds while shooting .409 from the field and .350 from beyond the arc. He has also played in 17 playoff games (6 starts) with averages of 6.8 points and 3.5 rebounds in 14.9 minutes.

The Bulls originally acquired Mirotić on June 23, 2011, in a draft-night trade with the Minnesota Timberwolves. He was named Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month in December of 2014 and March of 2015, and was selected to the World Team of the 2015 All-Star Weekend Rising Stars Challenge. Mirotić was also a member of the 2016 Spain Men’s National Team that won the bronze medal in the Rio Olympics.

Russell Westbrook has not signed Thunder extension offer just yet

Last season it felt like Russell Westbrook was the lone big difference-maker on his entire Thunder team. But now? If he looks left, Carmelo Anthony is there. To his right? Paul George. Now, surely you’re saying, “Hey InsideHoops, what if Melo and Paul George switch places?” Well then, you’re right. Westbrook will have to look different directions to see those dudes. But they’re still be there. Because they’re his teammates now. Quit trying to derail the point. Anyway, as for Westbrook’s future with OKC, here’s the Norman Transcript reporting:

Russell Westbrook looked like he was about to evade a question regarding his unsigned extension before coming back around to answering — kind of.

“Like I said before, man, this is a place I want to be,” Westbrook said at Oklahoma City Thunder media day. “I love being here. I’m excited about the season, obviously, with a lot of new changes.”

The Thunder offered Westbrook a five-year extension worth more than $200 million July 1. It would kick in for the start of the 2018-19 season and go through 2022-23. He still hasn’t signed it. Monday offered the first chance for him to comment on the situation since general manager Sam Presti officially placed the offer in front of him.

Westbrook has until Oct. 16 to sign the extension. If he doesn’t finalize it by then, he can become a free agent this summer along with fellow Thunder stars Paul George and Carmelo Anthony. And his reason for not inking the deal so far seems to be merely that he’s been busy.

Full article

Lonzo Ball still deciding which shoe brands he will wear this season

Look. This whole Big Baller Brand thing is just fun. It’s blown up. It’s famous. Everybody knows about it. Talking about it doesn’t hurt. It’s out there, and we’le keep watching. We still haven’t worn the shoes, though, so we can’t confirm they’re any good just yet. Anyway, here’s ESPN.com reporting the latest on which shoes Lakers rookie Lonzo Ball may be wearing in the season opener and beyond:

Los Angeles Lakers rookie Lonzo Ball said he is still deliberating on whether he will wear other shoe brands in addition to his Big Baller Brand this season like he did when he created a stir at the Las Vegas Summer League.

“Who knows,” Ball said when asked if he will wear other brands such as Nike and Adidas during his rookie season. “Probably my shoes, though, thinking about it right now.

“I’ll definitely be in my shoes the first game and then just go from there.”

Full article

Pacers sign Jarrod Uthoff

The Indiana Pacers have signed 6-7 forward Jarrod Uthoff.

It’s likely just a training camp deal.

Uthoff was undrafted out of the University of Iowa in 2016. He played nine games for the Dallas Mavericks last season and averaged 4.4 points and 4.0 rebounds per game. He played 11 games for the Fort Wayne Mad Ants, the Pacers’ affiliate in the NBA G League, and averaged 17.1 points, 9.1 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 1.6 blocks per game.

With training camp beginning Tuesday, Sept. 26, the Pacers’ roster now stands at 20.

Suns forward/center Alan Williams out six months

Phoenix Suns forward/center Alan Williams today underwent a meniscus repair of his right knee. The procedure was performed by Head Team Physician Dr. Tom Carter in Phoenix. Williams is expected to return to full basketball activity in approximately six months.

The Suns’ 2016-17 Majerle Hustle Award winner, Williams averaged 11.4 points and 9.1 rebounds with 12 double-doubles in 24 games after the All-Star break last season. He led the Suns with 15 double-doubles overall and ranked third in the NBA with 15 double-doubles off the bench. Playing in his second NBA season, the 24-year-old averaged career-bests of 7.4 points and 6.2 rebounds in 47 total games. A Phoenix native, Williams initially joined the Suns in March 2016 and re-signed to a multiyear contract with the team on July 26, 2017.

Suns re-sign Alex Len

Center Alex Len is once again a member of the Phoenix Suns.

According to the Arizona Republic, the team signed Len to a one-year, $4.2 million qualifying offer.

Len, a 7-1, 250-pound center, has played his first four professional seasons with the Suns, increasing his per-36-minute averages in points and rebounds in each season of his career. In 2016-17, Len played 77 games (34 starts), averaging 8.0 points on 49.7 percent shooting, 6.6 rebounds and a team-high 1.27 blocks, which ranked 17th on the NBA leaderboard. In his 34 starts, Len averaged 9.3 points on 51.9 percent shooting, 7.8 rebounds and 1.47 blocks in 23.0 minutes.

Originally selected by the Suns with the fifth overall pick in the 2013 NBA Draft, Len holds career averages of 6.9 points, 6.2 rebounds, 1.06 blocks and 19.8 minutes in 266 games (127 starts). Through four seasons, the 24-year-old already ranks 12th in Suns franchise history with 283 blocked shots. Len averaged career-highs of 9.0 points and 7.6 rebounds 78 appearances in 2015-16, as he is one of only four seven-footers to appear in at least 77 games in each of the past two seasons, along with Karl-Anthony Towns, Robin Lopez and Steven Adams.

A native of Antratsit, Ukraine, Len played two seasons at the University of Maryland before declaring as an early entry candidate for the 2013 NBA Draft.

The Suns’ roster now stands at 20

Cavaliers hire Nic Barlage as President of Business Operations

Nic Barlage has been named President of Business Operations for the Cleveland Cavaliers organization. Barlage comes to the Cavaliers from the Phoenix Suns organization where he served as Senior Vice President and Chief Sales Officer. Prior to that, Barlage was part of the Cavaliers organization for five seasons where he was most recently Vice President of Sales and Service before departing for Phoenix in 2014. The announcement was made by Cavaliers and Quicken Loans Arena CEO Len Komoroski.

Under Komoroski’s leadership, Barlage will oversee all business areas of the Cavaliers organization. In addition to Barlage’s appointment, announcements related to the following current senior leadership team members with the Cavs organization were also made: Tad Carper has been named Executive Vice President / Communications, Mozelle Jackson is now Executive Vice President and Chief Financial and Administrative Officer, Tracy Marek has been named Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer, and Brad Sims has been named Executive Vice President / Chief Revenue Officer and Franchise Operations. In addition, Mike Conley was recently named Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer.

During Barlage’s previous time with the Cavaliers he oversaw all ticketing and suite revenue at Quicken Loans Arena and helped to rebuild the Cavaliers’ sales and service teams over the span of five seasons. Prior to his tenure in Cleveland, Barlage spent one season with the Suns and two seasons with the Charlotte Bobcats specializing in suite and premium seating.

Barlage graduated from Saint John’s University (Minn.).