Inside Hoops – Page 848 – NBA Blog

Timberwolves waive Anthony Bennett

The Minnesota Timberwolves today announced the team has waived forward Anthony Bennett.

With the move, Minnesota’s roster stands at 18 players.

According to the Minneapolis Star Tribune, it was a mutually agreed-upon contract buyout “will save the team a little more than $2 million on the $5.8 million they owed him for this coming season.

“In speaking with Anthony and his representatives over the past few days, we came to the conclusion that this was the best outcome for both parties,” said Timberwolves general manager Milt Newton. ‘When you look at our team, our deepest position is probably power forward. This move balances out our roster while also allowing Anthony another opportunity in the NBA. He has a lot of talent and his play this summer internationally made this a difficult decision for us.

“During his short time here Anthony has carried himself with class and represented the franchise in a very professional manner. We thank him for his positive attitude and wish him the best of luck in his future endeavors.”

Acquired by the Wolves on August 23, 2014 as part of a three-team trade with Cleveland and Philadelphia, Bennett appeared in 57 games with Minnesota last season averaging 5.2 points in 15.7 minutes per game.

Pelicans sign Jeff Adrien, Chris Douglas-Roberts, Corey Webster

The New Orleans Pelicans announced today the team has signed free agents Jeff Adrien, Chris Douglas-Roberts and Corey Webster.

Jeff Adrien, 6-7, 245, appeared in 17 games last season for the Minnesota Timberwolves, where he averaged 3.5 points and 4.5 rebounds in 12.6 minutes per game before signing with the Guangdong Southern Tigers of the Chinese Basketball Association. In China, Adrien appeared in 11 games, averaging 13.6 points on .551 shooting from the field, 11.3 rebounds and 1.1 steals per game. Prior to his stint in Minnesota, Adrien was a member of the Houston Rockets’ preseason roster.

Undrafted in 2009 out of the University of Connecticut, Adrien has appeared in 153 career games for Golden State, Houston, Charlotte, Milwaukee and Minnesota, holding averages of 4.6 points and 4.3 rebounds in 14.0 minutes per game. Adrien has also appeared in the NBA Development League, suiting up for Erie and Rio Grande Valley, and his international experience also includes stints in Spain, Italy and Russia in addition to China.

Chris Douglas-Roberts, 6-7, 210, appeared in 12 games for the Los Angeles Clippers during the 2014-15 season, averaging 1.6 points and 1.0 rebounds in 8.6 minutes per game.

Drafted 40th overall by New Jersey in the 2008 NBA Draft out of the University of Memphis, Douglas-Roberts has appeared in 222 career games (61 starts) with New Jersey, Milwaukee, Dallas, Charlotte and the Los Angeles Clippers, holding averages of 7.1 points, 2.1 rebounds and 1.1 assists.

Corey Webster, 6-2, 190, is a native of Aukland, New Zealand, who most recently played for the New Zealand Breakers of the Australian National Basketball League. In 32 games for the Breakers last season, Webster averaged 15.3 points, 2.4 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 1.0 steals per game.

Webster is a member of the New Zealand Men’s National team, and led his team in scoring in the 2015 FIBA Oceania Championships.

New Orleans’ roster now stands at 18.

Nets sign Chris Daniels

The Brooklyn Nets have signed forward/center Chris Daniels, General Manager Billy King announced today.

We assume this is a non-guaranteed contract that merely brings Daniels to training camp.

Daniels (6’9”, 265) spent the 2014-15 season with the Guangdong Southern Tigers in China’s CBA. In his seven-year pro career, Daniels has competed in South Korea, Puerto Rico, China, Jordan and Lebanon, as well as the NBA D-League. Daniels played collegiately at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (2004-08), where he is still the program’s all-time leading scorer. He also helped lead the Islanders to their first and only NCAA Tournament appearance in 2007.

Will Roy Hibbert and Lakers mesh?

Here’s the Los Angeles Daily News discussing Lakers center Roy Hibbert, who is in an interesting situation because he’s joining a roster of players that aren’t a team quite yet. Chemistry must be developed. Kobe Bryant is returning from injury, but to what? The Lakers have some interesting pieces. Still, little is expected. But that gives Hibbert a chance to shine more than he recently has. Anyway:

It may have seemed head-scratching from afar that the Pacers had no interest in retaining a player who once attracted a four-year, $58 million max contract offer so he could not sign with the Portland Trail Blazers. Yet, Hibbert averaged only 25.3 minutes per game, his lowest since his second year in the NBA, because the Pacers had the personnel and intent to play at a faster style. No one will mistake the current Lakers with the Showtime Era. But can Hibbert adjust his accelerator?

On one hand, the Lakers want Hibbert to play at a methodical pace because of factors involving Kobe Bryant’s durability and the team’s aforementioned defensive issues. But the Lakers also have a young core, including point guard D’Angelo Russell, combo guard Jordan Clarkson and power forward Julius Randle. It would be in the Lakers’ interest to tap into that speed to generate easy baskets.

Numerous reports say Hibbert has lost a significant chunk of weight this offseason, which should help the conditioning required from a Scott training camp. But that might just mark one of many steps Hibbert will have to take to keep up with everyone else.

Deadline looms for Dion Waiters extension

Here’s the Oklahoman reporting on OKC Thunder shooting guard Dion Waiters, who presents the deal with a difficult decision:

The NBA season is rapidly approaching, much to the delight of NBA fans everywhere. As if NBA front offices didn’t have enough on their plates going into the season, they face another deadline. Teams have until Nov. 2 (normally Oct. 31, but that date falls on a Saturday this season) to extend the rookie scale contracts of players selected in the first round of the 2012 NBA draft.

The Thunder is on the clock to lock up Dion Waiters, the fourth overall pick in that draft, to a long-term deal by that date.

Waiters’ play was erratic and uneven after his Jan. 5 arrival via a trade with Cleveland and New York. He averaged 11.0 points per game in his first 29 appearances for the Thunder, shooting 37.8 percent from the field and 28.3-percent from 3-point range. This wasn’t terribly unusual given that Waiters was still considered a raw talent and was trying to fit into a new team with revolving lineups.

Anthony Bennett must prove NBA value soon

Anthony Bennett has gone from the first overall pick in the NBA Draft to an afterthought. It’s too early to totally write him off as an NBA player, but there’s no reason for optimism yet. He needs to emerge, and soon. Here’s the National Post reporting:

Anthony Bennett needs to prove NBA value soon

Anthony Bennett has been a disappointment thus far in his NBA career. It goes beyond the stigma of him being the first-overall pick in 2013, although that certainly is the biggest factor when it comes to public perception.

Bennett has been an unproductive NBA player, full stop. In his rookie season, he was out of shape thanks to off-season shoulder surgery, emerging as a lost player who endured an embarrassing scoreless streak. His second season, in Minnesota, was a bit better. Still, he missed 25 games, including a stretch due to an ankle injury, and fell out of favour with coach Flip Saunders. It was understandable, as Bennett remained totally unreliable on both ends of the floor.

Still, Monday’s news that Bennett might be on his way out of Minnesota in return for nothing still qualifies as a surprise.

Knicks sign guard Travis Trice

New York Knicks President Phil Jackson announced today that the team has signed guard Travis Trice.

Trice, 6-0, 170-pounds, averaged 15.3 points, 5.1 assists and 3.2 rebounds over 33.6 minutes in 39 games as a senior at Michigan State University. He averaged 19.0 points and 4.2 assists in leading the seventh-seeded Spartans to the Final Four of the 2015 NCAA Tournament and finished his career with 202 three-pointers, fifth best in school history. The Huber Heights, OH-native. appeared in seven 2015 Summer League games for Miami’s entry at Orlando and Las Vegas, averaging 4.4 points and 1.3 assists over 10.6 minutes.

Knicks sign DaJuan Summers

New York Knicks President Phil Jackson announced today that the team has signed forward DaJuan Summers.

Summers, 6-8, 240-pounds, holds career averages of 3.3 points and 1.0 rebounds over 9.9 minutes in 83 games (seven starts) over four seasons with Detroit, New Orleans and Los Angeles Clippers. He last played in the NBA for L.A. Clippers appearing in two games in 2012-13.

The Baltimore, MD-native, was originally selected by Detroit in the second round (35th overall) of the 2009 NBA Draft following three seasons at Georgetown University. He played overseas in each of the last two seasons for Gran Canaria in Spain (2014-15) and Budivelnyk Kyiv in Ukraine (2013-14). He has also played for Maine of the NBA Developmental League (2012-13) and in Italy for Siena (2011-12).

Pistons guard Darrun Hilliard had surgery to repair broken nose

The Detroit Pistons announced today that guard Darrun Hilliard underwent surgery to repair a broken nose suffered while playing pick-up basketball last week. The surgery was performed by Dr. Mike Rontal of Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oak, MI Campus. Hilliard will be fitted with a mask for the next three weeks and will continue all basketball-related activities.

Hilliard, 6-6, 205, was drafted 38th overall by the Pistons in the 2015 NBA Draft from Villanova University.

Timberwolves hosting free open scrimmage October 5

The Minnesota Timberwolves today announced the team is hosting a free open scrimmage at Target Center on Monday, Oct. 5 at 7 p.m. Due to the overwhelming popularity of the Wolves’ previous open scrimmage this summer, fans will need to reserve their seats in advance exclusively at www.timberwolves.com starting at 10 a.m. on Sept. 23. A maximum of six free tickets are available per order.

The scrimmage tips off the 2015 Timberwolves Training Camp and features the team’s full roster. Target Center doors open at 6 p.m., and concessions and merchandise stands will be open. Season members will have access to a VIP seating area.