Inside Hoops – Page 877 – NBA Blog

Jordan Hill says Kobe Bryant really likes to talk when on the court

Kobe Bryant is a leader. And leaders generally like to talk. A lot, sometimes. Here’s Jordan Hill discussing former teammate Kobe Bryant, as reported by ESPN LA:

Jordan Hill joined the Los Angeles Lakers in March 2012, and in the three seasons that followed, the forward learned what it was like playing with star Lakers guard Kobe Bryant.

“When he’s on the floor, it’s like [exhales], all you hear is Kobe’s mouth,” Hill said when he was introduced by the Indiana Pacers, who acquired him through free agency this summer.

“He’s on the floor, all you hear is Kobe’s mouth, like during practice and games, it get loud. It get loud. A lot of people can’t handle that, I guess.”

Josh Smith to join Clippers

Josh Smith has talent, but also makes questionable decisions on the court that can either help or hurt a team depending on the day of the week, the sneakers he’s wearing, etc. But the Clippers are rolling the dice and adding him to their squad. Here’s the Orange County Register reporting:

Josh Smith tortured the Clippers in the second half of Game 6 of the second round last season, helping lead Houston to a 19-point comeback that helped end their season.

Thursday, he signed on to make sure something like that wouldn’t happen again.

The Clippers agreed to a contract with Smith, a versatile 6-foot-9 forward, worth one year at the league minimum.

Kings sign James Anderson

The Sacramento Kings today signed free agent guard James Anderson to a contract, according to Kings Vice President of Basketball and Franchise Operations Vlade Divac.

Anderson (Oklahoma State) was selected by the San Antonio Spurs in the first round (20th overall) of the 2010 NBA Draft. He is averaging 6.3 points (.417 FG%, .330 3PT%, .755 FT%) and 1.3 assists in 18.4 minutes per game in 196 career contests in four seasons with three teams – San Antonio (2010-11 – 2012-13), Houston (2012-13), Philadelphia (2013-14).

Pelicans sign Alonzo Gee

The New Orleans Pelicans have signed free agent guard/forward Alonzo Gee.

Gee, 6-6, 220, appeared in 54 games last season for the Denver Nuggets and Portland Trail Blazers, averaging 4.5 points and 1.7 rebounds.

Undrafted in 2009 out of the University of Alabama, Gee has appeared in 331 career games with Washington, San Antonio, Cleveland, Denver and Portland, holding averages of 7.3 points, 3.3 rebounds and 1.1 assists per game.

Luc Mbah a Moute fails physical, so Kings void his contract

The Sacramento Kings today announced that free agent forward Luc Mbah a Moute has failed a physical examination administered by team medical staff. Subsequent to that finding, his contract signed on July 14 has been voided, according to Kings Vice President of Basketball and Franchise Operations Vlade Divac.

Mbah a Moute, 6-8, 230-pound forward is averaging 6.8 points (.444 FG%, .299 3PT%, .665 FT%), 4.9 rebounds and 1.0 assists per game in 466 career contests with four teams; Milwaukee (2008-09 – 2012-13), Sacramento Kings (2013-14), Minnesota Timberwolves (2013-14) and Philadelphia 76ers (2014-15).

Longtime Mavs exec Terdema Ussery to resign

Longtime Mavs executive Terdema Ussery to resign

The Dallas Mavericks announced today that Terdema Ussery will resign his position as President and CEO after 18 years of leadership effective August 30th to join Under Armour as President of Global Sports Categories.

In Ussery’s first season with the Mavericks, he led a successful campaign that resulted in $240 million in public funding for the construction of the American Airlines Center and actively participated in the architectural selection, design and construction of the building. Ussery was also intimately involved in securing the naming rights partnership with Dallas/Fort Worth based American Airlines for the downtown facility.

Under his direction, the club has more than tripled revenue and exponentially increased its media and digital footprint by establishing new and expanding existing media partnerships across multiple platforms. Additionally, the Dallas Mavericks Foundation has distributed over $1 million to over forty agencies whose aim and mission is to improve the lives of those in need in the DFW metroplex.

“It’s been an extraordinary honor to have sat in the CEO’s chair for the past 18 years. I want to thank Ross Perot, Jr. for the opportunity to come to Dallas and especially thank Mark Cuban, who invited me to stay. Working alongside him these past 15 years has been nothing short of amazing. I know the fans agree with me that we are extremely lucky to have him as the owner and steward of our Dallas Mavericks. Finally, I want to express my gratitude to the fans, our sponsors and most importantly, the incredible staff I’ve had the privilege of working with in Dallas. Our objective has always been to be the best organization in sports and I have full confidence that they will continue in that pursuit under the leadership of Floyd Jahner and the rest of the executive leadership team,” Ussery said.

Mavericks re-sign Jose Juan Barea

The Dallas Mavericks announced today that they have re-signed guard Jose Juan Barea.

Barea (6-0, 185), who began his NBA career with the Mavericks, returned to Dallas in 2014-15 after spending the previous three seasons with Minnesota. He averaged 7.5 points, 3.4 assists and 17.7 minutes in 77 games (10 starts) with Dallas during the 2014-15 campaign.

In 392 games (55 starts) with Dallas, Barea has averaged 7.2 points and 3.0 assists in 17.4 minutes. He has also reached the playoffs in each of his six seasons with the Mavericks, accruing averages of 8.1 points and 3.5 assists in 45 postseason games (nine starts). Barea helped lead the Mavericks to their first title in franchise history in 2011.

The nine-year veteran holds career averages of 8.2 points, 3.4 assists and 18.8 minutes in 586 games (69 starts) with Dallas and Minnesota. He has shot 79.9 percent from the foul line for his career.

The Mayaguez, Puerto Rico native went undrafted in the 2006 NBA Draft and was signed by Dallas as a rookie free agent on August 17, 2006. Barea attended Northeastern University where, as a senior, he averaged 21.0 points, 8.4 assists and 4.4 rebounds for the Huskies.

Clippers waive Lester Hudson

The Los Angeles Clippers waived backup guard Lester Hudson tiday.

Hudson originally signed with the Clippers on April 11, 2015 and appeared in five regular season games, averaging 3.6 points, 1.0 assists, and 1.6 rebounds in 11.2 minutes. The Memphis native played in seven Playoff games, averaging 2.0 points in 5.4 minutes.

In 57 career NBA regular season games Hudson owns averages of 4.7 points, 1.2 assists and 1.4 rebounds in 10.4 minutes with Boston, Memphis, Cleveland and the Clippers.

Raptors sign rookie guard Norman Powell

The Toronto Raptors announced Wednesday they have signed guard Norman Powell.

Powell, 6-foot-4, 215 pounds, was selected 46th overall by Toronto in the 2015 NBA Draft. Through three Summer League games in Las Vegas he leads the Raptors averaging 19.3 points and is shooting 22-for-37 (.595) from the field. Powell has led the team in scoring in all three Summer League games, including a team-high 20 points during his professional debut July 10 vs. Sacramento.

Powell appeared in 141 games over four seasons at UCLA and averaged a career-high 16.4 points during the 2014-15 campaign. He ranks 28th on the Bruins’ all-time scoring list with 1,376 career points. Powell helped UCLA reach the NCAA Tournament three times (2013, 2014 and 2015), including back-to-back trips to the Sweet 16 (2014 and 2015).

Spurs re-sign Matt Bonner

The San Antonio Spurs today announced that they have re-signed forward Matt Bonner.

Bonner has spent the past nine seasons in San Antonio, the longest tenured player with the Silver and Black outside of Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili. The 6-10 forward has appeared in 602 games with the Spurs, averaging 5.6 points and 2.9 rebounds in 16.4 minutes while shooting .455 (1,264-2,781) from the field, .412 (641-1,554) from three-point range and .765 (215-281) from the foul line. Among Spurs all-time NBA leaders, Bonner ranks third in three-pointers made, sixth in three-point field goal percentage and ninth in games played. During the 2010-11 season he led the NBA in three-point shooting with a .457 (105-230) mark from beyond the arc. Bonner has appeared in 94 playoff games for the Silver and Black, averaging 2.8 points and 1.7 rebounds in 11.0 minutes.

An 11-year NBA veteran, Bonner was originally drafted by the Chicago Bulls with the 45th overall pick in the 2003 NBA Draft. His draft rights were traded to the Toronto Raptors where he spent his first two NBA seasons. For his career, the New Hampshire native has appeared in 762 NBA games, averaging 6.0 points and 3.1 rebounds 17.2 minutes while shooting .463 (1,720-3,711) from the field, .414 (782-1,889) from three-point territory and .780 (334-428) from the foul line. Among active players he ranks eighth in three-point field goal percentage.