Inside Hoops – Page 774 – NBA Blog

Clippers sign Alex Stepheson to second 10-day contract

The Los Angeles Clippers have signed forward/center Alex Stepheson to a second 10-day contract.

Stepheson, 28, has appeared in two games with the Clippers scoring two points, grabbing two rebounds and recording one block in nine minutes.

The 6-foot-10 inch forward/center appeared in 31 games (all starts) for the Iowa Energy in the NBA Developmental League this season and was a 2016 D-League All-Star, averaging 15.9 points, a league-high 13.8 rebounds and 1.3 blocks

The Los Angeles native and former Harvard-Westlake star has played professionally in Greece, Slovenia and Turkey since finishing his collegiate career at the University of Southern California.

Stepheson averaged 12.3 points and a league-leading 9.2 rebounds in 26.8 minutes over 29 games (21 starts) during the 2014-15 season for Istanbul Buyuksehir Belediyesi.

Undrafted in the 2011 NBA Draft, Stepheson also made three appearances for the Dallas Mavericks during the 2015 NBA Summer League in Las Vegas.

Vander Blue named D-League Player of Month for February, 2016

Vander Blue of the Los Angeles D-Fenders has been named NBA Development League Player of the Month for games played in February.

Blue (6-4, 200, Marquette) sparked Los Angeles to a 7-2 month, averaging 30.7 points, 4.9 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1.8 steals. He shot 47.3 percent from the field (86-for-182) and connected on 36.2 percent of his three-point attempts (17-of-47).

Blue scored at least 20 points in every game and was named Performer of the Week for games played from Feb. 15-21. On Feb. 6, he registered 39 points, five assists, four rebounds and three steals in a 126-112 win over the Santa Cruz Warriors. On Feb. 27, he tallied 35 points, four rebounds, four assists and three steals in a 117-107 victory over the Idaho Stampede. His 16 made free throws tied a season high for most in a game this season.

Blue is in his third NBA D-League season and has played for the Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers over the past three seasons. He’s averaging 26.0 points (fourth in the league), 5.3 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 2.0 steals (tied for sixth in the league).

Other players receiving consideration for the monthly award were Bakersfield’s Terrico White, Canton’s Nick Minnerath, Idaho’s, J.J. O’Brien, Iowa’s Andrew Harrison and Maine’s Coty Clarke, Raptors’ Sim Bhullar Reno’s Ricky Ledo, Rio Grande Valley’s Will Cummings, Sioux Falls’ Rodney McGruder, Texas’ Tu Holloway, and Westchester’s Travis Trice II.

Rockets waive Ty Lawson (buyout)

Houston Rockets General Manager Daryl Morey announced today that the team has waived guard Ty Lawson.

Lawson (5-11,195) is in his seventh NBA season. He appeared In 53 games with 12 starts for the Rockets this season.

According to ESPN.com, “Lawson ranks last, 83rd, among point guards in real plus-minus at -5.95. After finishing third in the NBA in assists last season at 9.6, Lawson averaged just 3.4 this season, the lowest total since his rookie season in 2009-10. Lawson has set career lows in field goal percentage (38.7), points per game (5.8) and offensive rating per 100 possessions (98). In the last three games, Lawson participated in just 5.5 minutes per game, and in the last 10 games, he shot 32.4 percent.”

Great shooting from Heat in win vs Bulls

All the Miami Heat did was put together the best shooting night in franchise history, an effort that matched the NBA’s top performance from the floor in the last 18 years.

This Joe Johnson move already looks like a winner.

The Heat shot 67.5 percent, set a season high for points and beat the Chicago Bulls 129-111 on Tuesday night. Hassan Whiteside scored a career-high 26 points and had 14 rebounds, and Johnson had 24 points in his Miami home debut.

Miami’s 52-for-77 shooting was the best since Utah shot exactly that on Feb. 27, 2010, and no team has done better from the field since the Los Angeles Clippers connected on 69.3 percent of their shots on March 13, 1998.

— Associated Press

Hawks sign Kris Humphries

The Atlanta Hawks have signed forward Kris Humphries, it was announced today by President of Basketball Operations/Head Coach Mike Budenholzer.

“As we explored opportunities to add to our team after the trade deadline, we felt it was important to prioritize experience and versatility,” Budenholzer said. “Kris is a versatile veteran with playoff experience who fits well with our group and within our system. We are fortunate to have Kris join our team and would like to welcome him to the Hawks family.”

Humphries, in his 12th NBA season, has recorded career regular season averages of 6.9 points and 5.6 rebounds in 18.3 minutes (.466 FG%, .696 FT%) in 723 games (199 starts) with Utah, Toronto, Dallas, Brooklyn, Boston, Washington and Phoenix.

He was originally selected in the first round (14th overall) of the 2004 NBA Draft by the Jazz following his freshman season at the University of Minnesota.

He will wear uniform no. 43.

Timberwolves arena renovation update

Part of the live NBA experience is the arena: how it looks, feels to be there, the views of the court, the sound system, everything. The venue matters. While of course the main point of attending a game is to actually watch the court, an awesome arena makes the experience better. Here’s the Minneapolis Star Tribune blog reporting the latest Timberwolves arena renovation news:

A Minneapolis City Council committee is expected to vote Tuesday on the final design, contractor costs and budget for the $129 million Target Center renovation project.

The city, which owns the building, will pay $74.5 million for the overhaul. The Minnesota Timberwolves and operator AEG will pay the balance.

Contractors M.A. Mortenson and Thor Construction have agreed to a guaranteed maximum price (GMP) of $102.8 million.

Raptors sign Jason Thompson, release Anthony Bennett

The Toronto Raptors have signed NBA veteran power forward Jason Thompson.

To make room on the roster the Raptors released forward Anthony Bennett. Bennett appeared in 19 games, totaling 28 points, 23 rebounds and 84 minutes.

Thompson, 6-foot-11, 250 pounds, is in his eighth season. He has appeared in 569 career regular season games, averaging 9.0 points, 6.7 rebounds and 25.5 minutes.

“We are pleased to add a player like Jason who has logged quality minutes in more than 500 career games,” said Raptors President and General Manager Masai Ujiri.

A first-round selection (12th overall) by Sacramento in 2008, Thompson spent seven seasons with the Kings before joining Golden State this season. His best statistical campaign came in 2009-10 when he averaged 12.5 points, 8.5 rebounds and 31.4 minutes.

“We thank Anthony for his professionalism and for his service to our team and community,” said Ujiri. “We know he’s on his way to becoming an excellent NBA player but as we approach the end of the season Jason will provide us with a veteran presence that we need.”

Suns sign Phil Pressey to second 10-day contract

The Phoenix Suns today signed point guard Phil Pressey to a second 10-day contract. Pressey initially signed with the Suns on Feb. 20.

In four games with the Suns, Pressey has averaged 5.0 points, 6.0 assists and 1.0 steals, with one double-digit scoring performance (10 points vs. Brooklyn on Feb. 25) and one double-digit assist performance (10 assists at the L.A. Clippers on Feb. 22). An NBA veteran in his third season, he played in 14 games with the Philadelphia 76ers earlier this season before averaging 13.0 points and 6.4 assists in 25 games with the Idaho Stampede of the NBA Development League.

A 5-11, 175-pound guard, Pressey played in 139 NBA games (11 starts) with Boston and Philadelphia before joining the Suns. The 25-year-old played his first two seasons with the Celtics, averaging 3.1 points and 2.9 assists in 13.9 minutes in 125 games over 2013-14 and 2014-15. After going undrafted in 2013, Pressey recorded four double-digit scoring games as a rookie with Boston, including a career-high 20 points at Washington on Jan. 22, 2014. Pressey twice recorded his career-high of 13 assists in the 2013-14 season.

Originally the first GATORADE Call-Up in the NBA this season when he signed with Philadelphia on Nov. 4, Pressey averaged 13.0 points, 6.4 assists, 4.4 rebounds and 1.7 steals in 25 games with Idaho after being waived by the 76ers on Dec. 4. His averages in assists and steals ranked fifth and 11th, respectively, among D-League leaders at the time he first signed with the Suns.

Hornets sign Jorge Gutierrez to second 10-day contract

Charlotte Hornets General Manager Rich Cho announced today that the team has signed guard Jorge Gutierrez to a second 10-day contract. Gutierrez signed his first 10-day contract with Charlotte on Feb. 20 and has appeared in one game, tallying four points, two assists and one steal vs. Cleveland on Feb. 24.

The 6-3 Gutierrez appeared in 22 games (20 starts) for the Canton Charge in the NBA Development League this season, averaging 11.3 points, 5.7 assists, 4.2 rebounds and 2.2 steals in 27.8 minutes per game. Gutierrez scored in double figures in 13 games and has handed out 10-or-more assists twice. He recorded his first D-League triple-double with 18 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists on Jan. 9 vs. the Los Angeles D-Fenders at the NBA D-League Showcase.

Prior to his time with Charlotte, the Chihuahua, Mexico, native appeared in 35 career NBA games (three starts) over two seasons with the Brooklyn Nets and Milwaukee Bucks, averaging 3.3 points, 1.5 assists and 1.3 rebounds in 12.0 minutes. He saw action in 15 games with the Nets in 2013-14 and played in 10 games each for the Nets and Bucks last season. Gutierrez began the 2015-16 season as a member of the Bucks preseason roster, but was waived on Oct. 21.

After a four-year career at the University of California, Gutierrez initially joined the Charge in 2012-13. Since then, he has played in 122 games (103 starts) for the team, with career averages of 12.0 points, 5.6 assists, 4.9 rebounds and 1.7 steals in 30.9 minutes per game. In 2013-14, while playing for current Hornets assistant coach Steve Hetzel, he earned First Team All-Defensive and Second Team All-D-League honors after averaging career highs of 13.9 points, 6.9 assists, 5.7 rebounds and 32.7 minutes played.

Mo Williams out at least two more weeks with knee injury

Cleveland Cavaliers guard Mo Williams will be OUT for the next two weeks as he continues treatment and rehabilitation on his left knee (Chondromalacia).

Before returning to full basketball related activities, he will be reevaluated and his status will be updated at the appropriate time.

Williams missed the Cavaliers previous two games at Toronto and at Washington.