Inside Hoops – Page 738 – NBA Blog

Timberwolves sign rookie Kris Dunn

Kris Dunn is worth watching

The Minnesota Timberwolves today announced the team has signed guard Kris Dunn, the fifth overall selection in the 2016 NBA Draft.

All players selected in the first round of the Draft are guaranteed to receive a contract, assuming they want to begin their NBA career right away. This signing was expected.

Dunn, a 6-4 guard out of Providence, averaged 12.8 points, 5.1 rebounds, 5.8 assists and 2.2 steals in 95 games over three-plus seasons. He is the only Providence player to tally career totals of 1,000 points, 400 rebounds, 500 assists and 200 steals with the Friars. As a junior this past season, Dunn averaged 16.4 points, 5.3 rebounds, 6.2 assists and 2.5 steals, and was named Big East Player of the Year, Big East Defensive Player of the Year and a Second Team All-American. He led the Big East in steals, ranking fifth in the nation, and finished second in the Big East in assists and fourth in scoring. Dunn was also named 2014-15 Big East Player of the Year and Big East Defensive Player of the Year as a redshirt sophomore after averaging 15.6 points, 5.5 rebounds, 7.5 assists and 2.7 steals. He joined Georgetown’s Patrick Ewing as the only players to win Big East Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year twice.

Three team trade sends Jeff Teague to Pacers, George Hill to Jazz

The Atlanta Hawks have acquired the draft rights to Taurean Prince, the 12th overall pick in the 2016 NBA Draft, from the Utah Jazz as part of a three-team trade, it was announced today by General Manager Wes Wilcox. As part of the deal, the Hawks will send guard Jeff Teague to Indiana and the Jazz will receive guard George Hill from the Pacers.

“Taurean has many of the qualities that we value in our program…we are excited to add his competitiveness, toughness, versatility, and desire to improve,” Wilcox said. “We would also like to thank Coach Scott Drew and Baylor Basketball for their help throughout the scouting process. Taurean is eager to get started and we look forward to beginning his development with our coaches and athletic performance team.”

“I would like to thank Jeff for his seven years with the organization, and our three years together,” said Hawks President of Basketball Operations/Head Coach Mike Budenholzer. “Jeff developed into a key contributor and played an integral role in the team’s recent success. We wish him well in the next chapter of his career.”

Prince, a four-year letterman at Baylor, averaged 15.9 points, 6.1 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.3 steals in 34 games as a senior while garnering First Team All-Big 12 honors. The 6’8 forward was also named Second Team All-Big 12 as junior as well as the league’s Sixth Man of the Year after recording 13.9 points, 5.6 rebounds, 1.5 steals and 1.3 assists in 33 contests. Prince owns career averages of 10.2 points, 4.2 rebounds and 1.1 assists while shooting .460 from the field, .376 from three-point range and .718 from the free throw line in 129 games.

Teague, an Indianapolis native, comes to the Pacers from the Atlanta Hawks as part of a three-way trade. The Pacers send guard George Hill to Utah and the Jazz send the 12th overall pick in June’s NBA Draft, Baylor’s Taurean Prince, to Atlanta. Young was acquired from Brooklyn in exchange for the Pacers’ first-round pick (20th overall) in the June draft, Michigan’s Caris LeVert.

“We want to thank George for his five seasons with us,” said Pacers President of Basketball Operations Larry Bird. “He’s a great guy who did a lot for the community. We wish him nothing but the best. With Jeff, we think he brings something we haven’t had in a true point guard. We think he fits in with what we’re trying to do. He has speed, the ability to create for others and he can score. We look forward to working with him.

“Thaddeus is a long, athletic power forward who can defend multiple positions. He was a 15-point scorer last year and averaged nine rebounds a game. We think he’s a good fit between Myles (Turner) and Paul (George).”

Teague, 28, grew up in Indianapolis (Pike High School), played collegiately at Wake Forest and was a first-round pick (19th overall) of the Hawks in 2009. In seven seasons with Atlanta, Teague averaged 12.0 points and 5.0 assists. Last season, he averaged 15.7 points and 5.9 assists per game. In 2015, he was named to the NBA All-Star team.

Hill (6-3, 188, IUPUI) appeared in 74 games (73 starts) for the Pacers this season, averaging 12.1 points, 4.0 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.1 steals while shooting a career-high .408 (128-314) from three-point range in 34.1 minutes of action. Hill’s seventh-seeded Pacers then pushed second-seed Toronto to seven games as he averaged 13.6 points on .481 (13-27) three-point shooting.

Originally selected in the first round (26th overall selection) of the 2008 NBA Draft by San Antonio, the 30-year-old guard has appeared in 550 career games (325 starts) over eight seasons with San Antonio and Indiana, and owns career averages of 11.3 points, 3.2 rebounds and 3.3 assists and .376 three-point shooting in 28.8 minutes. His teams have made the playoffs in seven of his eight seasons and he has appeared in a total of 75 playoffs games (64 starts) averaging 12.8 points, 3.3 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 1.1 steals and a .371 three-point percentage. Hill helped the Indiana Pacers to two straight Eastern Conference Finals appearances in 2013 and 2014.

Prior to the NBA, the Indianapolis native played four seasons at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (2004-08) where he was named The Summit League Player of the Year (2008) and All-Summit League First Team twice (2006, 2008). For his collegiate career, Hill appeared in 94 games and averaged 17.1 points, 5.8 rebounds and 3.4 assists in 33.4 minutes.

He will wear uniform #3 for the Jazz.

Magic sign Jeff Green

The Orlando Magic have signed free agent forward Jeff Green. The deal is reportedly just for one year, $15 million.

“Jeff (Green) is a veteran that brings versatility and depth to our frontcourt,” said General Manager Rob Hennigan. “He will provide tremendous leadership to our team, both on and off the floor, and we are extremely excited to welcome him into the Magic family.”

Green (#34, 6’9”, 235, 8/28/86) played in 80 regular season games with both Memphis and the L.A. Clippers last season (41 starts), averaging 11.7 ppg., 4.2 rpg. and 1.7 apg. in 28.2 minpg. He scored in double figures 47 times and had 20+ points 11 times, including a season-high 30 points on Jan. 25 vs. Orlando. Green became the first player in Grizzlies franchise history to record 20+ points off the bench in three consecutive games. He also appeared in six playoff contests (one start), averaging 10.2 ppg., 3.2 rpg. and 1.00 stlpg. in 26.4 minpg.

Originally selected by Boston in the first round (fifth overall) of the 2007 NBA Draft, Green has appeared in 636 career NBA regular season games (473 starts) with Seattle, Oklahoma City, Boston, Memphis and the L.A. Clippers, averaging 14.0 ppg., 4.9 rpg. and 1.7 apg. in 32.0 minpg. He has also played in 38 career NBA playoff contests (15 starts), averaging 11.0 ppg., 4.1 rpg. and 1.3 apg. in 29.3 minpg.

Magic trade Shabazz Napier to Blazers

The Orlando Magic have acquired cash considerations from the Portland Trail Blazers in exchange for guard Shabazz Napier, General Manager Rob Hennigan announced today.

Napier (6’1”, 175, 7/14/91) played in 55 games with Orlando last season, averaging 3.7 ppg., 1.8 apg. and 1.0 rpg. in 10.9 minpg. He was acquired by the Magic, along with cash considerations, from Miami in exchange for a conditional second round draft pick on July 27, 2015. Originally selected in the first round (24th overall) of the 2014 NBA Draft by Charlotte, Napier has appeared in 106 career NBA regular season games (ten starts) with Miami and Orlando, averaging 4.4 ppg., 2.1 apg. and 1.6 rpg. in 15.2 minpg.

Mavericks sign Harrison Barnes to offer sheet

The Dallas Mavericks announced today that they have signed forward Harrison Barnes to an offer sheet. Golden State has declined its right of first refusal to match the offer sheet.

The deal is reportedly for 4 years, $94 million.

Barnes (6-8, 225) played his first four NBA seasons with the Golden State Warriors (2012-16) and was a restricted free agent with the club. He holds career averages of 10.1 points, 4.6 rebounds and 28.1 minutes in 307 games (246 starts) while shooting 44.6 percent (295-of-633) from the field, 37.6 percent (287-of-764) from 3-point range and 73.9 percent (484-of-655) from the line. He was a member of the Warriors’ 2015 NBA championship team.

The Warriors selected Barnes with the seventh overall pick in the 2012 NBA Draft. As a rookie in 2012-13, he appeared in 81 games (all starts) and averaged 9.2 points and 4.1 rebounds en route to earning NBA All-Rookie First Team honors.

In 2014-15, Barnes started all 82 regular-season games for the eventual NBA champion Warriors. He averaged 10.1 points and 5.5 rebounds while posting career highs in field goal percentage (.482) and 3-point field goal percentage (.405). The following season (2015-16), Barnes averaged 11.7 and 4.9 rebounds while helping the Warriors win an NBA-record 73 games.

Barnes increased his scoring average in each of his first four seasons. After drafting Barnes in 2012, Golden State went on to reach the playoffs in each of the next four years. What’s more, when Barnes helped the Warriors reach the playoffs as a rookie in 2012-13, it was just their second playoff appearance in the last 19 years and their first since 2006-07.

The Ames, Iowa, native played two seasons at the University of North Carolina, earning First Team All-ACC honors as a sophomore in 2011-12. He declared for the NBA Draft following his sophomore season.

Nets trade Thaddeus Young to Pacers

The Brooklyn Nets have acquired the draft rights to Caris LeVert, the 20th pick in the first round of the 2016 NBA Draft, along with a future second round pick, from the Indiana Pacers in exchange for forward Thaddeus Young.

LeVert (6’7”, 205) played four seasons at Michigan and helped the team to three NCAA Tournament appearances, including trips to the National Championship game in 2013 and the Elite Eight in 2014. In 103 career games (70 starts) for the Wolverines, LeVert averaged 10.4 points, 3.5 rebounds and 2.7 assists in 26.4 minutes per game. As a senior, the Columbus, Ohio, native posted averages of 16.5 points, 5.3 rebounds and 4.9 assists in 30.9 minutes per game while shooting .506 from the field and .446 from 3-point range in 15 games (14 starts) during an injury-shortened season. He earned 2014 All-Big Ten second-team and 2014 NCAA Midwest Regional All-Tournament team honors following his sophomore season, when he averaged 12.9 points, 4.3 rebounds and 2.9 assists in 34.0 minutes per game in 37 games.

Young played in 101 games (93 starts) with the Nets after joining the team via trade from Minnesota on February 19, 2015, averaging 14.7 points, 8.2 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 1.5 steals in 32.0 minutes per game. A nine-year NBA veteran, Young has appeared in 665 career games with Philadelphia, Minnesota and Brooklyn, holding averages of 13.9 points, 5.9 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.4 steals in 30.6 minutes per game.

Magic sign Bismack Biyombo

The Orlando Magic have signed free agent center Bismack Biyombo (bis-MOCK bee-OM-bo), General Manager Rob Hennigan announced today. The deal was reported to be 4 years, $72 million.

“Bismack (Biyombo) is a tremendous competitor and athlete who excels on the defensive end of the floor,” said Hennigan. “He proved during the playoffs that he can rebound and protect the rim at an elite level, and he will bring toughness and winning fiber to our frontcourt. We are confident that his best basketball is ahead of him and we’re extremely excited to welcome him to the Orlando Magic family.”

Biyombo (6’9”, 255, 8/28/92) played in all 82 regular season games with Toronto last season (22 starts), averaging 5.5 ppg., a career-high 8.0 rpg. and a team-high 1.62 blkpg. in 22.0 minpg., while shooting .542 (156-288) from the floor. He ranked 13th in the NBA in blocked shots. Biyombo led (or tied) the Raptors in rebounding 32 times. He scored in double figures 17 times, including a career-high 16 points on Mar. 17 @ Indiana. Biyombo had nine double-doubles, recorded 10+ rebounds 23 times and pulled down 20+ rebounds twice, including a career-high and franchise-record 25 rebounds on Mar. 17 @ Indiana. He tied a career-high with seven blocked shots on Dec. 17 @ Charlotte.

During the 2016 NBA Playoffs, Biyombo appeared in all 20 games (10 starts), averaging 6.2 ppg., 9.4 rpg. and a team-high 1.35 blkpg. in 25.3 minpg., helping the Raptors reach the Eastern Conference Finals. He scored in double figures five times and had 10+ rebounds eight times during the postseason, including a franchise-playoff-record and career-playoff-high 26 rebounds in Game #3 of the Eastern Conference Finals vs. Cleveland on May 19.

Originally selected by Sacramento in the first round (seventh overall) of the 2011 NBA Draft, Biyombo has appeared in 366 career NBA regular season games (158 starts) with Charlotte and Toronto, averaging 4.6 ppg., 6.5 rpg. and 1.57 blkpg. in 21.2 minpg., while shooting .507 (630-1,242) from the floor. He has also played in 23 career NBA playoff contests (11 starts), averaging 5.7 ppg., 8.6 rpg. and 1.26 blkpg. in 24.1 minpg.

Warriors trade Andrew Bogut to Mavericks

The Dallas Mavericks announced today that they have acquired center Andrew Bogut along with a future second-round pick from the Golden State Warriors in exchange for a future conditional second-round pick.

“Andrew played a vital role in our success as a team the last several seasons,” said Warriors General Manager Bob Myers. “His unique skill set on both ends of the floor enabled our team — and his teammates in particular — to thrive. We thank him for his contributions and wish him the best of luck in Dallas.”

According to the Dallas Morning News, “the Mavericks had enough cap space to absorb Bogut’s $11 million salary. He will be a free agent next summer, meaning he won’t clog up cap room. To facilitate the arrival of star free agent Kevin Durant, the Warriors had to shed Bogut’s contract. Durant announced early Monday that he was bolting from Oklahoma City to sign a two-year, $54 million deal with the Warriors.”

Bogut (7-0, 260) is an 11-year veteran with career averages of 10.3 points, 8.9 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 1.6 blocks and 29.4 minutes per game in 644 games (630 starts) with Milwaukee and Golden State. He earned All-NBA Third Team honors with the Bucks in 2009-10 and was named NBA All-Defensive Second Team with the Warriors in 2014-15. He was also a member of the Warriors’ 2015 NBA championship team.

A native of Melbourne, Australia, Bogut was selected by Milwaukee with the first overall pick in the 2005 NBA Draft. He became the first Australian ever taken with the top pick. Bogut appeared in all 82 games for the Bucks in 2005-06, earning NBA All-Rookie First Team honors after finishing the season with averages of 9.4 points and 7.0 rebounds per game. He averaged a double-double in three consecutive seasons with Milwaukee from 2008-11. In 2009-10, Bogut averaged a career-high 15.9 points to go along with 10.2 rebounds per game en route to being named All-NBA Third Team.

Bogut was traded along with Stephen Jackson to the Warriors in exchange for Monta Ellis, Kwame Brown and Ekpe Udoh on March 13, 2012. He made his debut with the team the following season (2012-13), and the Warriors went on to reach the postseason in each of the next four years (2013-16). After winning a title with Golden State in 2014-15, Bogut helped the Warriors win an NBA-record 73 games in 2015-16 and reach the Finals for the second straight year. Bogut suffered a left knee injury in Game 5 of the 2016 NBA Finals and was forced to miss the remainder of the series.

Bogut played collegiately at Utah, where he was named the Naismith College Player of the Year and won the John R. Wooden Award as a sophomore in 2004-05. The 7-footer declared for the NBA Draft following his sophomore season.

Kings trade Marco Belinelli to Hornets for Malachi Richardson

The Charlotte Hornets have acquired guard/forward Marco Belinelli from the Sacramento Kings in exchange for the draft rights to guard Malachi Richardson, who was selected with the 22nd overall pick in the 2016 NBA Draft.

“We are excited to be adding a high-caliber player in Marco Belinelli to our roster,” said Hornets General Manager Rich Cho. “Marco is a solid outside shooter and has proven he can score and create for others in a variety of ways over the course of his nine-year NBA career. He brings veteran leadership to our locker room and we think he’ll mesh with our core group well.”

The 18th overall pick in the 2007 NBA Draft, Belinelli is entering his 10th NBA season. He has played in 570 career games (216 starts) for Golden State, Toronto, New Orleans, Chicago, San Antonio and Sacramento, winning an NBA Championship with the Spurs in 2014. Belinelli owns career averages of 9.5 points, 2.0 rebounds and 1.6 assists in 23.0 minutes per game, while shooting .424 from the field (1940-4576), .379 from beyond the three-point line (751-1979) and .821 from the free throw line (798-972). In 2014, Belinelli won the Foot Locker Three-Point Contest at All-Star weekend in New Orleans. He began his career in the Italian SerieA League, playing there for five seasons from 2002-07.

The San Giovanni in Persiceto, Italy native played in 68 games (seven starts) for Sacramento in 2015-16, averaging 10.2 points, 1.7 rebounds and 1.9 assists in 24.6 minutes per game. Belinelli had 31 double-figure scoring outings in 2015-16, including four 20-plus point games, and hit multiple three-point field goals in 29 contests.

Belinelli has been a member of the Italian National Team since 2006, competing in the FIBA World Championship in 2006 and in the FIBA European Championship in 2007, 2009, 2011, 2013 and 2015. He is currently representing his country in the Olympic Qualifying Tournament.

Deyonta Davis out with foot injury

The Memphis Grizzlies today announced the following medical update for Grizzlies center Deyonta Davis:

While participating in individual workouts in Memphis, Davis developed plantar fasciitis in his left foot. He is expected to miss the first three games at the 2016 Samsung NBA Summer League in Las Vegas and will be re-evaluated daily.

Davis (6-11, 239) was selected by Boston in the second round (31st overall) of the 2016 NBA Draft following his freshman season at Michigan State University. His draft rights were subsequently traded to Memphis on draft night.