Inside Hoops – Page 869 – NBA Blog

Heat trade Zoran Dragic to Celtics

The Miami HEAT announced today that they have traded guard Zoran Dragic to the Boston Celtics, along with a 2020 second-round draft pick and cash considerations, in exchange for a protected 2019 draft pick.

Dragic appeared in 16 games split between the Phoenix Suns and Miami Heat during the 2014-15 season and he averaged 1.8 points in 4.7 minutes per game over that span. He posted a season-high 22 points on 9-17 (.529) shooting from the field, three rebounds, two assists and two steals in 41 minutes of action against the Philadelphia 76ers on April 15, 2015.

The 6’5” guard/forward was originally signed by the Phoenix Suns on September 29, 2014 before being traded to the Miami Heat on February 19, 2015. Before coming to the NBA, Dragic played two seasons with Unicaja Malaga of the Spanish ACB. During the 2013-14 season, he averaged 10.3 points, 2.8 rebounds, 1.1 assists and 1.2 steals in 18.1 minutes in 29 ACB league games. He also appeared in 22 Euroleague games, where he averaged 10.9 points, 2.7 rebounds and 1.6 assists in 22.5 minutes per game.

Warriors trade David Lee to Celtics

The Golden State Warriors have traded forward David Lee to the Boston Celtics in exchange for forward Gerald Wallace and guard Chris Babb, the team announced today.

“On behalf of the entire Golden State Warriors organization, we thank David Lee for his contributions both on and off the court over the last five years,” said Warriors General Manager Bob Myers. “Throughout his time with the Warriors, David was a great player, competitor and presence in our locker room as well as in the community and was a stabilizing force during a period that saw many positive changes within the organization. Most importantly, he leaves Golden State as an NBA champion. We wish him nothing but the best in the next chapter of his career.”

“We are excited to welcome David as a member of the Celtics family,” said President of Basketball Operations Danny Ainge. “His proven skill set and experience on a championship team will add valuable depth to our frontcourt and a veteran presence to our locker room.”

According to the Boston Globe, “Before acquiring Lee, the Celtics had not made any significant steps forward improving their place in the Eastern Conference. They were being passed by teams such as Orlando, Charlotte, and Indiana, all of which made stirring roster upgrades over the past two weeks. Free agency didn’t work out the way Ainge and the Celtics wanted. The market value for players unexpectedly soared to the point where Atlanta’s DeMarre Carroll goes to Toronto for four years and $60 million, Reggie Jackson re-signs with Detroit for five years and $80 million, and potential Celtics target Robin Lopez agreed with the Knicks for four years, $54 million.”

Lee, 32, played five seasons with the Warriors, averaging 16.7 points, 9.3 rebounds and 2.8 assists over 327 regular-season games. He had his finest season with Golden State in 2012-13, averaging 18.5 points and 11.2 rebounds in 79 games en route to earning Third Team All-NBA honors and a spot on the Western Conference All-Star squad. That season, the 6’9” forward became the first Warriors player to garner All-NBA recognition since Latrell Sprewell in 1993-94 and Golden State’s first All-Star representative since Sprewell in 1997. The University of Florida product also appeared in 26 playoff games with Golden State, making postseason appearances in each of the last three seasons, culminating in an NBA Championship this past season. Lee leaves the Warriors ranked sixth on the franchise’s all-time list in defensive rebounds (2,176) and tied for 10th, with Hall of Famer Chris Mullin, in field goal percentage (.513).

During his 10-year NBA career, Lee has averaged 14.7 points, 9.5 rebounds and 2.3 assists in 695 regular-season games with the New York Knicks and Warriors. Originally selected by the Knicks with the 30th overall pick in the 2005 NBA Draft, the 2010 Eastern Conference All-Star was acquired by the Warriors in a sign-and-trade deal on July 9, 2010, in exchange for Kelenna Azubuike, Anthony Randolph and Ronny Turiaf.

Wallace, 33, owns career averages of 11.9 points, 5.8 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 1.44 steals and 29.7 minutes in 832 regular-season games (611 starts) over 14 NBA seasons with Sacramento, Charlotte, Portland, New Jersey/Brooklyn and Boston. Originally selected by the Sacramento Kings with the 25th overall pick in the 2001 NBA Draft, Wallace earned NBA All-Defensive First Team honors and was an Eastern Conference All-Star in 2009-10 with the Charlotte Bobcats when he averaged 18.2 points, 10.0 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.54 steals. The University of Alabama product led the NBA in steals per game during the 2005-06 campaign, averaging 2.51 thefts per contest. Wallace has appeared in 33 playoff games (17 starts), holding career postseason averages of 7.9 points, 3.9 rebounds and 1.4 assists in 20.9 minutes.

Babb, 25, appeared in 14 games with Boston as a rookie in 2014-15, tallying 1.6 points and 1.2 rebounds in 9.4 minutes per game. The 6’5” guard appeared in 45 games last season with the Celtics’ D-League affiliate, the Maine Red Claws, averaging 15.4 points, 5.5 rebounds and 2.7 assists in 34.7 minutes, earning All-NBA D-League Second Team honors. In 2013-14, the Iowa State product was named to the All NBA D-League All-Rookie Third Team with the Red Claws.

Viktor Khryapa re-signs with CSKA Moscow

Here’s Euroleague.net reporting on a well-known overseas player:

CSKA Moscow reached a new agreement with team captain Viktor Khryapa to keep working together next season, the club announced Thursday. CSKA keeps an option to extend the deal until the end of the 2016-17 season. Khryapa (2.03 meters, 32 years old) is set to enter his 11th season with CSKA and has been ths club’s captain for the last six years. In his 10 seasons with the club, Khryapa helped CSKA win 10 Russian League titles, lifting the VTB League trophy five teams. Above all, Khryapa helped CSKA win the Euroleague title in 2008. Khryapa has made it to the Final Four nine times – an achievement that only Euroleague legend Theo Papaloukas can claim. He is the Euroleague Final Four’s all-time leading rebounder (92).

Carlos Arroyo signs in Barcelona

Here’s Euroleague.net reporting on a well-known former NBA point guard and international star, Carlos Arroyo:

FC Barcelona Lassa found a new point guard in Carlos Arroyo, who inked a one-year deal with his new team on Friday. Arroyo (1.88 meters, 35 years old) has played for Galatasaray Liv Hospital Istanbul in the last three seasons. He averaged 12.5 points and 4.3 assists in 15 Turkish Airlines Euroleague games last season. Arroyo went on to play for Cangrejeros de Santurce, averaging 14.7 points and 6.5 assists in 39 Puerto Rican League games, leading his team to the finals. He has also played for Toronto, Denver, Utah, Detroit, Orlando, Miami and Boston of the NBA, Tau Ceramica Vitoria of Spain, Maccabi Tel Aviv of Israel and Besiktas Istanbul of Turkey.

Mike Miller and Brendan Haywood being sent to Blazers

Here’s ESPN.com reporting on an agreed trade that should be official soon:

The Cleveland Cavaliers have agreed to trade Mike Miller and Brendan Haywood to the Portland Trail Blazers in a deal aimed to create future options and save luxury-tax money, sources told ESPN.com.

The Blazers will likely cut Haywood and could eventually work a buyout with Miller and will receive two future second-round picks from the Cavs for facilitating the deal with their cap space.

The Cavs will create two trade exceptions with the move, one for $10.5 million, which will be the largest active trade exception in the league, and the other for $2.94 million. The Cavs will also receive cash in the deal, sources said.

Heat are sending Shabazz Napier to Magic

Here’s the Miami Herald reporting a Heat roster move:

For many in Miami, it was difficult to watch Shabazz Napier play basketball for the Heat and not think of LeBron James. That won’t be a problem anymore.

In an effort to clean up its offseason roster, the Heat traded Napier to the Orlando Magic on Sunday for almost nothing in return save closure.

It was James who wanted the Heat to draft Napier last year, but James never played with the point guard from the University of Connecticut. A few summer-league games into Napier’s stint with the Heat, James shocked the Heat’s front office with his move to the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Kings offer Peja Stojakovic a job

Here’s ESPN.com reporting that the Sacramento Kings want Peja Stojakovic on board:

The Sacramento Kings have offered a full-time ‎position in their front office to former All-Star sharpshooter Peja Stojakovic, according to league sources.

Sources said new Kings vice president of basketball operations Vlade Divac has asked his former NBA and international teammate Stojakovic to leave Europe and move back to the United States to assist him in a player personnel role.

Stojakovic’s No. 16 jersey was retired by the Kings in December.

Kyrie Irving health update

Here’s the News Herald reporting on Cleveland Cavaliers guard Kyrie Irving, who is still healing but seems to be progressing nicely:

Kyrie Irving broke his Twitter silence on July 6, after almost a month of going dark following the knee injury that ended the three-time All-star’s Finals run.

“Never missed the game this much ever in my life. Can’t take that feel of a basketball going through the net for granted. Ever.”

On July 25, Irving returned to the basketball court, publicly, for the Kyrie Irving Basketball ProCamp at Mentor High School and was able to participate with the over 500 campers in light drills. No crutches, no cast, no brace.

“It felt good. I only had the cast on for two weeks and then I was in a brace,” Irving said. “So then, when I finally got clearance from our doctors that I could start working out and stuff like that, and actually put pressure on my leg, I relished that. So, I’ve been in Miami working with a great rehab team at Pinecrest Physical Therapy and it’s been awesome.”

Cavs re-sign James Jones

The Cleveland Cavaliers have re-signed guard/forward James Jones, Cavaliers General Manager David Griffin announced today from Cleveland Clinic Courts.

Not a lot is expected of Jones, other than to come off the bench and catch-and-shoot three-pointers, while playing very limited minutes.

Jones appeared in 57 games (two starts) for the Cavs during the 2014-15 regular season and averaged 4.4 points in 11.7 minutes per game. He also shot .360 from the three-point line and .848 from the free throw line. For his career, the 12-year NBA veteran has played in 613 regular season games (91 starts) with averages of 5.6 points and 1.9 rebounds in 16.7 minutes per game with Miami, Portland, Phoenix, Indiana and Cleveland. His .398 percentage from behind the arc is the 12th highest among active players (min. 373 3FGM).

During Cleveland’s NBA Finals run in the 2015 playoffs, Jones appeared in all 20 games, averaging 4.4 points and 1.5 rebounds in 15.6 minutes per game. He originally signed with the Cavs as a free agent on August 5, 2014.

Trail Blazers sign Phil Pressey and Cliff Alexander

The Portland Trail Blazers have signed guard Phil Pressey and forward Cliff Alexander, it was announced today by President of Basketball Operations Neil Olshey.

Pressey, 24, holds NBA averages of 3.1 points (33.3% FG, 35.7% 3-PT, 66.0% FT), 1.5 rebounds and 2.9 assists in 125 games (11 starts) over the past two seasons with the Boston Celtics.

Undrafted out of Missouri, Pressey (5-11, 175) averaged career highs in scoring (11.9 ppg) and assists (7.0 apg) his junior 2012-13 season, finishing No. 13 nationally in assists per game on his way to First Team All-SEC and All-SEC tournament honors.

Also undrafted, Alexander, 19, averaged 7.1 points (56.6% FG, 67.1% FT), 5.3 rebounds, 0.4 assists and 1.32 blocked shots in one season at Kansas in 2014-15. His field goal percentage led Kansas and ranked fourth in the Big 12 last season.

The 2014 Naismith Boys High School Player of the Year, Alexander (6-8, 240) was a 2014 McDonald’s All-American, a member of Team USA at the 2014 Nike Hoop Summit and earned co-MVP honors at the 2014 Jordan Brand Classic.