Inside Hoops – Page 620 – NBA Blog

Wizards retain Otto Porter Jr

Washington Wizards President Ernie Grunfeld announced today that the team has retained its right of first refusal and matched the offer sheet extended to forward Otto Porter Jr. by the Brooklyn Nets.

Porter Jr’s contract is a huge one: four years, $106.5 million, according to multiple media outlets.

“Otto has developed into a vital part of our young core, which is why we made it clear that our priority was to keep him here to maintain continuity and build on the success of this group heading into next season and beyond,” Grunfeld said. “His versatility, basketball IQ and three-point shooting combine to make him a great fit for us on the floor while his character and work in the community show why we’re so pleased to have him as a cornerstone of our franchise.”

Porter is coming off a career year with the Wizards where he averaged career highs in points (13.4), field-goal percentage (.516), three-point percentage (.434), rebounds (6.4) and steals (1.5). His long-range shooting ranked fourth in the NBA and second in the Eastern Conference (Korver). He posted 14 games of 20+ points after having 10 total over the first three seasons of his career, hit 148 three-pointers after having 137 total over the first three seasons of his career and became the first player in franchise history to record back-to-back games with six three-pointers.

“After two years at Georgetown and four years with the Wizards here in Washington, D.C., I’m excited to be staying home,” said Porter. “I want our great fans to know that I will continue to work hard to improve my game in all areas and I hope to make an even bigger contribution to the Wizards’ success in the future.”
Porter was originally selected by the Wizards with the third overall pick in the 2013 NBA Draft out of Georgetown and has developed into one of the NBA’s most efficient players. He finished this season first among non-centers in effective field goal percentage at .608 (fifth among all players) and seventh among all players in true shooting percentage at .628. His two-point field goal percentage (.576) was third among non-centers (trailing only James and Durant) while his overall field goal percentage ranked fourth among guards and small forwards (trailing only James, Durant and Antetokounmpo) and his overall offensive rating ranked second in the NBA (Jordan). Porter’s offensive output translated to team success as well, with the Wizards ranking third in offensive efficiency, fourth in effective field goal percentage and fourth in fast break points with him on the floor. Defensively, the team was first in forcing turnovers with Porter on the floor.

The four-year pro was one of only two players (Aldridge) to average at least 13.4 points, 6.4 rebounds and shoot .400 from three-point range last season and become just the fourth player in team history to record those numbers in a season (Ariza, Ballard, Webber). Porter is one of only two players (McCollum) to see their field goal percentage, three-point percentage, scoring and rebounding averages increase every year since the 2013-14 season and is one of only five players in league history to shoot .500 from the field, .400 from three-point range and .800 from the free throw line in their fourth season (Petrovic, Hornacek, Dumars, Hodges)

For his career, Porter has averaged 9.3 points, 4.4 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 1.0 steal while shooting .389 from three-point range in 266 games. He has averaged 11.2 points, 7.4 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1.4 steals in 23 playoff games during the Wizards’ last two postseason outings.

Warriors sign Omri Casspi

The 2017 NBA Champion Golden State Warriors have signed free agent forward Omri Casspi (OME-ree), the team announced Wednesday.

Casspi, 29, split the 2016-17 season between the Sacramento Kings, New Orleans Pelicans and Minnesota Timberwolves, appearing in 36 games (two starts) and averaging 5.2 points, 3.1 rebounds and 1.0 assists in 17.9 minutes per game. The 6’9” forward owns career averages of 8.2 points, 4.1 rebounds and 1.2 assists in 499 career games (138 starts) over eight seasons with the Kings, Cleveland Cavaliers, Houston Rockets, Pelicans and Timberwolves.

Originally selected by the Kings with the 23rd overall pick in the first round of the 2009 NBA Draft, Casspi averaged career highs of 11.8 points and 5.9 rebounds with the Kings in 2015-16, posting career marks in three-pointers made (112) and three-point percentage (.409). He set single-game career highs with 36 points and nine three-pointers (9-of-12) on December 28, 2015 at Golden State, hitting 7-of-9 from long distance in the first half at Oracle Arena.

A native of Holon, Israel, Casspi played professionally in Israel for four seasons prior to becoming the first Israeli-born player to appear in an NBA game.

Casspi will wear #18 for the Warriors.

Cavaliers re-sign Kyle Korver

The Cleveland Cavaliers have re-signed guard Kyle Korver, the team announced Wednesday from Cleveland Clinic Courts.

Korver (6-7, 212) joined the Cavaliers last season after being acquired via trade from the Atlanta Hawks on Jan. 7. In 35 games (one start) with Cleveland, he averaged 10.7 points and 2.8 rebounds in 24.5 minutes per game while shooting .487 from the field, .485 from beyond the arc and .933 from the free throw line.

For the entire season, he averaged 10.1 points, 2.8 rebounds and 1.6 assists in 26.2 minutes and shot an NBA-best .451 (162-359) from three-point range – his fourth time leading the league in three-point percentage over his career (2009-10, 2013-14, 2014-15). Korver scored in double digits 19 times with the Cavaliers this past season, which includes a 29-point performance at Indiana on Feb. 8. The 14-year veteran knocked down his 2,000th career three-pointer on Feb. 15 against the Pacers, becoming just the seventh player in NBA history to accomplish that feat. Korver also appeared in 18 games during Cleveland’s NBA Finals run, averaging 5.8 points and 1.7 rebounds in 18.1 minutes per game.

Korver has appeared in 1,031 games (418 starts) with the Philadelphia 76ers, Utah Jazz, Chicago Bulls, Hawks and Cavaliers, owning career averages of 10.0 points and 3.1 rebounds in 26.5 minutes per game. He is also averaging 8.3 points and 2.7 rebounds in 24.9 minutes over 109 career postseason contests (38 starts). An NBA All-Star in 2015, Korver is currently tied for fifth in NBA history with 2,049 career made three-pointers and ranks fifth all-time in three-point field goal percentage (.431, minimum 300 3FGM). He has hit 100 threes or more 12 times in his career, including each of the last seven seasons.

Wizards sign Jodie Meeks

Washington Wizards President Ernie Grunfeld announced Wednesday that the team has signed free agent shooting guard Jodie Meeks.

“Jodie will improve our backcourt rotation and fill a need with his scoring and shooting,” Grunfeld said. “He is an eight-year veteran who has been a reliable player throughout his career, and we look forward to him bringing that stability to our bench.”

Per the Washington Post, “Meeks, who signed a deal reportedly for two years and $7 million, has not played significant playoff minutes since his 2011-12 season with the Philadelphia 76ers. Therefore, Washington’s 49-33 record and run to the Eastern Conference semifinals served as the motivation for him as a free agent.”

Meeks (6-4, 210) spent last season with the Orlando Magic and averaged 9.1 points, 2.1 rebounds and 1.3 assists while shooting .409 from three-point range in 36 games (10 starts). He returned from a thumb injury to play the last 12 games of last season, averaging 8.4 points and shooting .400 (20-50) from three-point range while scoring in double figures in six of those games. The veteran scorer has a career three-point mark of .376 and has shot over .400 from long range in three of the past four seasons.

Meeks has appeared in 454 games (204 starts) and has averaged 9.8 points and 2.2 rebounds while shooting .881 from the free-throw line over his eight-year career with Milwaukee, Philadelphia, Los Angeles Lakers, Detroit and Orlando. He has also appeared in 20 career playoff games (six starts) with the 76ers, Lakers and Pistons. His best season came in 2013-14 when he averaged a career-high 15.7 points and shot .401 from three-point range in 77 games for the Lakers.

The 29-year old Norcross, GA, native was originally selected in the second round (41st overall) by Milwaukee out of Kentucky in 2009, where he named All-SEC First Team as a junior at after leading the conference in scoring (23.7 ppg, including games of 54, 46 and 45 points) and setting the school record for three-pointers in a single season (117) and a single game (10).

Joe Ingles not happy that Gordon Hayward left Jazz

Gordon Hayward’s decision to part ways with the Jazz is a severe blow to the squad. Here’s the Deseret Morning News reporting how a remaining member of Utah’s team is dealing with the disappointment:

Leave it to Joe Ingles to bring some levity to an emotionally charged situation.

Ingles was Gordon Hayward’s best friend on the Utah Jazz, so he wasn’t thrilled when the All-Star decided to sign with the Boston Celtics instead of staying with the 51-win team.

But Ingles, who’s agreed to a four-year, $52 million contract with Utah, is trying to take Hayward’s impending move in stride.

“He’s always going to be a good friend of mine,” Ingles said in an interview with NBA Australia this week. “But I still don’t like him for the time being because he left us, but we’ll be fine.”

Big changes to Thunder starting lineup

Here’s the Oklahoman reporting on the Thunder, who need to rely quite so much on Russell Westbrook now with Paul George on board. As for the bench, Raymond Felton is joining the squad:

The Thunder starting lineup has undergone a massive change. Out: Victor Oladipo, Taj Gibson. In: Paul George and likely Patrick Patterson.

The Thunder bench, not so much. Let’s see. Down the stretch of last season and in the playoffs, OKC’s bench was Semaj Christon (or Norris Cole) at point guard, Enes Kanter at center, Doug McDermott and Alex Abrines on the wings, and either Jerami Grant or Domantas Sabonis at power forward. Sabonis is out, but Grant is still here. So the only difference is at point guard.

Can Raymond Felton make that much difference?

Well, it’s a definite upgrade, at least offensively.

Cavaliers sign Jeff Green

The Cleveland Cavaliers have signed forward Jeff Green.

According to Cleveland.com, “Joe Vardon has reported that Green will receive a one-year, $2.3 million deal — a prove-it veteran’s minimum contract that is guaranteed for the 2017-18 campaign. Green made $15 million last season. The 30-year-old forward, who has spent time with five different organizations during his career, is coming off a down year, averaging a career-low 9.2 points and 3.1 rebounds with the 29-win Orlando Magic.”

Green (6-9, 235) spent last season with the Orlando Magic, appearing in 69 contests (11 starts) with averages of 9.2 points and 3.1 rebounds in 22.2 minutes per game. He also shot a career-high .863 from the foul line and scored in double figures on 35 occasions.

A nine-year NBA veteran, Green has played in 705 games (484 starts) over his career with the Seattle SuperSonics/Oklahoma City Thunder, Boston Celtics, Memphis Grizzlies, Los Angeles Clippers and Orlando, owning averages of 13.5 points, 4.7 rebounds and 1.6 assists in 31.1 minutes per game. He has also appeared in 38 postseason contests (15 starts), averaging 11.0 points, 4.1 rebounds and 1.3 assists in 29.3 minutes per game.

The 6-9 forward, who hails from Cheverly, Maryland, and played collegiately at Georgetown, was originally selected by Boston with the fifth overall pick in the 2007 NBA Draft before being traded to Seattle prior to the start of his rookie campaign. He earned All-Rookie First Team honors in 2007-08 and has averaged double figures in scoring in eight of his nine NBA seasons.

Pelicans sign rookie Frank Jackson

The New Orleans Pelicans have signed rookie guard Frank Jackson.

Originally selected by Charlotte with the 31st overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft out of Duke University, Jackson was acquired by New Orleans in exchange for the draft rights to Dwayne Bacon (40th overall) and cash considerations.

Jackson, 6-4, 202, spent one season at Duke where he finished tied for fourth on the Blue Devils in scoring (10.9 ppg) and second in three-point percentage (39.5). In 36 games, Jackson averaged 12.4 points over 16 starts during his freshman season.

Jackson starred at Lone Peak High School (Highland, UT) where he participated in both the Jordan Brand Classic and McDonald’s All-American Game (where he was named Co-MVP) as a senior while being named a Second Team All-American by MaxPreps and Third Team All-American by USA Today.

Grizzlies sign Tyreke Evans

Memphis Grizzlies General Manager Chris Wallace today announced that the team signed guard Tyreke Evans.

“We are excited for Tyreke Evans to return to the city of Memphis and FedExForum, where he enjoyed so much success as a member of the Memphis Tigers,” Wallace said. “Tyreke has proven his talent throughout his NBA career as both a scorer and playmaker, and we are pleased to add a player of his versatility to the Grizzlies.”

According to the Memphis Commercial Appeal, “if Grizzlies general manager Chris Wallace had autonomy in 2009 he would have selected Tyreke Evans in the NBA draft. Wallace never gave up on the versatile guard. Evans and the Grizzlies agreed Friday to a one-year, $3.3 million contract, a league source told The Commercial Appeal.”

Evans (6-6, 220) has appeared in 473 games (376 starts) and averaged 16.1 points, 4.8 rebounds, 5.1 assists and 1.30 steals in 32.2 minutes over his eight-year NBA career with the Sacramento Kings and New Orleans Pelicans. He owns career shooting percentages of 44.4 percent from the field, 29.5 percent from three-point range and 75.7 percent from the free throw line.

The 27-year-old was named the 2009-10 NBA Rookie of the Year after averaging 20.1 points, 5.3 rebounds, 5.8 assists and 1.51 steals in 37.2 minutes for the Kings in his first professional season. He is one of just 11 NBA players to amass at least 7,000 points, 2,000 rebounds, 2,000 assists and 600 steals since he joined the league.

A native of Chester, Pa., Evans was selected with the fourth overall pick of the 2009 NBA Draft after his freshman season at the University of Memphis, where he was named the National Freshman of the Year by the United States Basketball Writers Association and averaged 17.1 points, 5.4 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 2.08 steals in 29.0 minutes in 37 games (34 starts) for the Tigers.

Bulls sign Justin Holiday

The Chicago Bulls have signed guard Justin Holiday.

According to multiple reports, Holiday’s contract is for two years, $9 million.

Holiday (6-6, 185) spent the 2016-17 season with the New York Knicks and averaged 7.7 points, 2.7 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 20.0 minutes in 82 games (four starts). The 28-year-old posted shooting marks of .433 from the field, .355 from three and .825 from the foul line. Holiday was one of only 17 players in the league last season to appear in all 82 games (Basketball-Reference).

This marks Holiday’s second stint in Chicago. He was acquired by the Bulls from the Atlanta Hawks for Kirk Hinrich on Feb. 18, 2016, as part of a three-team trade with the Utah Jazz. Holiday appeared in 27 games (four starts) for Chicago and averaged 6.5 points, 2.3 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 18.9 minutes played. Holiday scored a career-best 29 points in a Bulls’ win over Philadelphia on April 13, 2016. On June 22, 2016, Holiday was traded to New York along with Derrick Rose and a 2017 second-round pick in exchange for Jose Calderon, Jerian Grant and Robin Lopez.

The Chatsworth, Calif., native spent four years at the University of Washington. In his four seasons in the NBA, Holiday is averaging 5.7 points, 2.0 rebounds, 1.1 assists and 15.8 minutes played. He is shooting .408 overall, .342 from distance and .800 on free throws for his career.