NBA News Blog – Page 1012 – NBA Blog

Warriors will trade Dorell Wright to 76ers

Dorell Wright is getting another chance to start over and leaving behind another team that has more salary cap space in his absence.

The Golden State Warriors agreed Tuesday to trade Wright to the Philadelphia 76ers for the rights to a player currently in Europe, a person familiar with the decision said.

The person, who spoke on condition of anonymity because teams can’t announce any trades until the free agency moratorium ends Wednesday, said Golden State would receive Edin Bavcic of Bosnia and Herzegovina in return. The 76ers acquired Bavcic’s rights in a trade with Toronto in 2006.

The move frees up about $4 million in salary cap space for Golden State, which drafted small forwards Harrison Barnes of North Carolina seventh overall and Draymond Green of Michigan State at No. 35 two weeks ago to take Wright’s place. The Warriors now have about $8 million to spend before going into the luxury tax.

— Reported by Antonio Gonzalez of the Associated Press

Milwaukee Bucks sign rookie John Henson

The Milwaukee Bucks have signed first round draft pick John Henson to a multi-year contract, General Manager John Hammond announced today. Henson was the 14th overall selection in the 2012 NBA Draft.

All players selected in the first round of the NBA Draft are guaranteed to receive a contract. So, this signing was expected and is standard.

Henson (6-11, 220) joins the Bucks after a three-year career at the University of North Carolina where he averaged 10.3 points and 8.1 rebounds in 109 career games. He leaves North Carolina as the Tar Heels’ all-time leader in blocks per game (2.56 – 12th in ACC history) and ranks second in total blocks (279 – 11th in ACC). He is a two-time ACC Defensive Player of the Year (2011, 2012), as well as a First Team All-ACC performer as a junior when he averaged 13.7 points, 8.1 rebounds and 2.6 blocks per game.

Henson will play for the Bucks in the 2012 NBA Summer League in Las Vegas. The Bucks have a five-game schedule, which begins Monday, July 16, at 9:30 p.m. (CT) against New Orleans.

Timberwolves expected to sign Russian guard Alexey Shved

A person with knowledge of the deal tells The Associated Press that the Minnesota Timberwolves have agreed to terms on a deal with Russian guard Alexey Shved.

Shved came to the Twin Cities on Tuesday and reached agreement on a deal, but the terms were not immediately available. The person requested anonymity because the deal has not been officially announced.

Shved can play both point guard and shooting guard.

— Reported by NBA.com

Bulls declining option on Ronnie Brewer

The Chicago Bulls will not pick up the $4.37 million option on Ronnie Brewer for the 2012-13 season, Brewer told “The Carmen, Jurko & Harry Show” on ESPN 1000 on Tuesday.

Brewer, who becomes an unrestricted free agent, indicated that a new deal could be negotiated at some point, but it’s uncertain if the Bulls will bring back Brewer with 2011 draft pick Jimmy Butler in line for more playing time.

— Reported by ESPN Chicago

Atlanta Hawks sign rookie John Jenkins

The Atlanta Hawks have signed 2012 first-round pick John Jenkins, it was announced today by President of Basketball Operations/GM Danny Ferry.

All players selected in the first round of the NBA Draft are guaranteed to receive a contract. So, this signing is standard, and expected.

Jenkins, the 23rd overall selection from Vanderbilt, led the Southeastern Conference in scoring the last two years, averaging 19.9 points per game last season for the Commodores. A two-time First Team All-SEC performer, Jenkins is currently participating in the Hawks’ rookie-free agent camp in Atlanta and will be in action later this week with Atlanta’s rookie team at the NBA Summer League competition in Las Vegas, NV.

Grant Hill interested in Heat, Thunder, Lakers

Free agent forward Grant Hill is still considering at least two other teams–the two teams in last month’s Finals, Miami and Oklahoma City–as well as the Lakers as he decides where he’s going to play next season, according to a source with knowledge of the 39-year-old forward’s thinking.

Reports Tuesday indicated that Hill has decided either to play for the Lakers or retire. But the source strongly indicated that Hill has not limited himself to Los Angeles as he makes up his mind. The Lakers emerged as a strong favorite for Hill after they agreed to terms with the Suns last week on a sign-and-trade deal that will send Steve Nash to the Lakers after the end of the July Moratorium on the 11th for four Draft picks and $3 million. But Hill is looking at the Heat and Thunder as well.

— Reported by the NBA.com Hangtime blog

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Toronto Raptors sign rookie Terrence Ross

The Toronto Raptors announced Tuesday they have signed guard Terrence Ross from the University of Washington to his rookie scale contract. He is under contract through the 2013-14 season, with two team option years to follow. The Raptors selected Ross with the eighth overall pick of the 2012 NBA Draft.

All players selected in the first round of the NBA Draft are guaranteed to receive a contract. So, this signing is standard.

Ross, 6-foot-7, 197 pounds, was a first-team All-Pac-12 selection last season as a sophomore. He averaged 16.4 points and 6.4 rebounds, and ranked among Pac-12 leaders in eight categories including: points (4th), rebounds (6th), three-pointers per game (2.1, 8th) and blocks (0.9, 13th). Ross averaged 25.0 points in four games during Washington’s run to the NIT semifinals. He shot a perfect 15-of-15 from the free throw line and led UW shooters from three point range, making 15-of-37 attempts (.405). He posted a career-high 32 points with eight rebounds versus Northwestern in the NIT.

As a freshman, Ross made his first career starts in the Pac-10 Tournament, averaging 15.3 points and 2.7 rebounds, and shooting 52.8 percent from the field to earn a spot on the five-man All-Pac-10 Tournament team. He tallied a team-high 19 points versus North Carolina in the NCAA Tournament.

The Raptors open their five-game NBA Summer League schedule on the campus of the University of Nevada-Las Vegas on Friday against the Houston Rockets.

Blake Griffin agrees to sign Clippers contract extension

Los Angeles Clippers forward Blake Griffin has agreed to a five-year contract extension, a source with knowledge of the situation told ESPNLosAngeles.com.

Griffin could earn as much as $95 million dollars over the course of the five-year extension if he is voted an All-Star starter again or named to a second All-NBA team next season under the so-called “Derrick Rose Rule” in the new collective bargaining agreement.

Under another clause in the new CBA, rookies may extend their contracts by four years. However, a team may designate one player to sign a five-year extension.

Griffin was always going to be the Clippers’ designated player, according to sources within the organization. However, had Eric Gordon not been traded to the New Orleans Hornets last December as part of the Paul trade, it might have created a problem.

— Reported by Ramona Shelburne of ESPN Los Angeles

Jerry Buss hospitalized for dehydration

Famed L.A. Lakers owner Jerry Buss was rushed to an L.A. hospital last night, where he was treated for severe dehydration — Buss family sources tell TMZ.

According to sources, 78-year-old Buss fell ill at his home around 9pm and someone inside the house called 911. The L.A. City Fire Department responded and paramedics rushed Jerry to a local L.A. hospital.

— Reported by TMZ

Update from Lakers: Lakers spokesman John Black issued the following statement this morning on behalf of the team: “In response to media inquiries and to dispel rumors and inaccurate reports, we’d like to state that Dr. Buss is in a local hospital where he is being treated for dehydration. He is recovering and is expected to be released soon.”

Bulls decline to pick up C.J. Watson option

The deadline for Bulls options on Ronnie Brewer’s $4.37 million and C.J. Watson’s $3.2 million salaries has arrived. A decision on Kyle Korver’s $5 million option is due by Sunday.

In the wake of Kirk Hinrich’s signing, Watson’s camp already has been told his option won’t be picked up. Brewer long has been considered the most expendable of the three because Jimmy Butler, last year’s first-round pick, will assume his role.

Because of his shooting specialty, Korver has a slim chance to return and hasn’t been told definitively either way. Sources said the Bulls are exploring sign-and-trade possibilities for all three players in an attempt to avoid losing assets for nothing.

— Reported by K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune