NBA News Blog – Page 1017 – NBA Blog

Celtics sign their 2012 rookies

The Boston Celtics announced today that they have signed their 2012 draft picks, forwards Jared Sullinger and Kris Joseph along with center Fab Melo.

Players drafted in the first round are guaranteed to receive a contract, but the team gets to decide whether to sign players they drafted in the second round.

Sullinger, a 6’9” forward, was taken with the 21st pick in the first round. The native of Columbus, OH was a consensus First Team All-American, Wooden Award finalist and First Team All-Big 10 Selection in each of his two seasons at Ohio State. He also was named the 2011 Big Ten Freshman of the Year. Sullinger posted the third-most points (1,282) over his first two seasons at Ohio State behind Jerry Lucas (1,381) and Michael Redd (1,361). Sullinger also earned National Freshman of the Year honors from the Sporting News and the Wayman Tisdale Award from the USBWA. He averaged 17.5 points and 9.2 rebounds this past season in helping the Buckeyes get to the Final Four.

Melo, a 7’0” center, was taken with the 22nd pick in the first round. The native of Juiz de Forz, Brazil was the Big East Defensive Player of the Year as a sophomore. He is the Syracuse record holder for most blocks in a single game with 10 against Seton Hall this past season. He also was named Preseason Big East Rookie of the Year as a freshman. This past season he ranked first for Syracuse in rebounds (5.8 rpg) and blocks (2.9 bpg).

Joseph, a 6’7” forward, was taken with the 51st pick in the second round. The native of Montreal, Quebec, earned First Team All-Big East during his senior season and is one of 55 players in Syracuse University history to record 1,000 points in his career. During his senior season he ranked first on the Orange in points (13.4 ppg) and third in rebounds (4.7 rpg). During his junior season, he also was ranked first on the Orange in points (14.3 ppg) and second in rebounds (5.2 rpg).

Bulls reach out to Derek Fisher, Brandon Roy

In their quest to find a veteran point guard, the Chicago Bulls have been in contact with Derek Fisher, and they’ve also contacted shooting guard Brandon Roy, according to sources with knowledge of the situation.

It was widely assumed that Fisher would quietly re-sign with the Oklahoma City Thunder after essentially choosing them over several contenders following a midseason trade from the Los Angeles Lakers and buyout from the Houston Rockets.

Fisher, 37, is also on the radar for the Miami Heat, Dallas Mavericks and Thunder. All three teams pursued him in March after he negotiated a buyout from the Rockets. Fisher gave up the final year and $3.4 million of his previous contract as part of his buyout from Houston. He signed for the remainder of the Thunder’s $2.3 million midlevel exception, essentially a pro-rated $1.9 million.

— Reported by Ramona Shelburne and Nick Friedell of ESPN.com

Kings reach out to Ryan Anderson

Things had been pretty quiet in terms of free agency until today when the Kings hosted restricted free agent forward Ryan Anderson.

Kings basketball president Geoff Petrie, as promised, began free agency last Saturday by reaching out Jason Thompson’s agent, Leon Rose.

“Our first phone call was to Leon about Jason,” Petrie said. “We talked …and put a proposal in front of him and we’ve made a number of calls on different players. And today we had lunch with Ryan Anderson. We’re continuing to monitor things. Restricted free agency on both sides is a little bit different.”

Anderson and Thompson are both restricted.

— Reported by Jason Jones of the Sacramento Bee (Blog)

Jeremy Lin and Greg Stiemsma withdraw from USA Men’s Select Team

New York Knicks guard Jeremy Lin and Boston Celtics center Greg Stiemsma have withdrawn from the 2012 USA Men’s Select Team that will train July 6-11 against the 2012 USA Basketball Men’s National Team during training camp in Las Vegas, Nev.

Lin informed USA Basketball this afternoon that because of his current contract status (a restricted free agent) he was withdrawing. Stiemsma was forced to withdraw after undergoing a non-surgical process for Plantar Fasciitis.

“Unfortunately, I am not going to be able to participate in the 2012 USA Men’s Select Team this summer,” said Lin. “It was such an incredible honor to be selected, but I have withdrawn my name from the team because of my status as a free agent. I hope to have the opportunity to participate with USA Basketball at some point in the future.”

OKC Thunder sign coach Scott Brooks to multi-year contract

The Oklahoma City Thunder signed Head Coach Scott Brooks to a multi-year contract, it was announced today by Executive Vice President and General Manager, Sam Presti. We’ll post details of the contract in this spot on this page later today.

This past season, Brooks guided the Thunder to a second consecutive Northwest Division title and a trip to the NBA Finals. Under Brooks, the Thunder has claimed the second most victories (152) in the NBA during the past three seasons.

“Continuing with Scott as our head coach is extremely significant for the future of our organization,” said Presti. “As we have continually communicated, he has been integral to our success and we have a deep appreciation for his tireless dedication to our players’ development. His experiences and core values are invaluable to our players as they continue to grow and improve and we are thrilled to continue our partnership.”

Oklahoma City has qualified for the postseason in each of the last three seasons and since taking over as Thunder Head Coach on November 22, 2009, Oklahoma City registered a mark of 174-125 (.582).

“I would like to thank Clay Bennett and Sam Presti for the opportunity to continue with the Thunder,” said Brooks. “Oklahoma City is a special place and I’m eager to build upon the foundation and culture of this franchise for years to come.”

After guiding the Thunder to the best record in the Western Conference at the midway point of this past season, Brooks and his staff represented the Thunder by coaching the Western Conference All-Stars in Orlando. Led by Brooks, the Western Conference All-Stars captured a 152-149 victory over the Eastern Conference.

Brooks, the 16th head coach in franchise history, received the 2009-10 Red Auerbach NBA Coach of the Year award after his second season on the Thunder sideline. During his first full year at the helm of the Thunder, Brooks oversaw one of the biggest turnarounds in NBA history. A year after winning 23 games, the Thunder concluded the 2009-10 season with a record of 50-32 (.610). The 27-win improvement was tied for the eighth largest in NBA history.

Brooks enjoyed an 11-year (1988-99) playing career in the NBA, appearing in 680 regular season games with Philadelphia, Minnesota, Houston, Dallas, New York, Cleveland and the Los Angeles Clippers. Brooks’ teams advanced to the postseason six of his 11 NBA seasons, and in 1994, he was a member of the NBA Champion Houston Rockets. Brooks holds career averages of 4.9 points and 2.4 assists per game.

A native of Lathrop, California, Brooks began his collegiate career at Texas Christian University, where he played one season. He then transferred to San Joaquin Delta College for his sophomore season, before spending his final two years at UC Irvine, where he averaged 23.8 points per game as a senior.

Cavaliers waive guard Manny Harris

The Cleveland Cavaliers have waived guard Manny Harris, Cavaliers General Manager Chris Grant announced today from Cleveland Clinic Courts.

Harris, 22, averaged 6.7 points on .400 shooting, 2.7 rebounds and 1.2 assists in 17.5 minutes per game in 26 games (five starts) during the 2011-12 season and has career averages of 6.2 points on .383 shooting, 2.6 rebounds and 1.5 assists in 17.3 minutes per game in 80 games (20 starts).

Darius Morris signs qualifying offer from Lakers

Los Angeles Lakers guard Darius Morris, who was tendered a qualifying offer from the team on June 29, signed the qualifying offer today.

Morris, who was selected by the Lakers with the 41st pick in the 2011 NBA Draft, averaged 2.4 points, 0.8 rebounds and 1.1 assists in 19 games last season.

He recorded a career high 9 points, career high 5 assists and career high-tying 3 rebounds on April 26 at Sacramento.

Sixers reach agreement with Lavoy Allen

The 76ers reached agreement in principle on a two-year, $6 million contract extension with Lavoy Allen on Sunday, the first day of free agency, according to sources with knowledge of the situation.

The deal cannot be officially signed until the moratorium on signings is lifted on July 11.

Allen, a 23-year-old forward-center from Temple, was the 50th overall pick in the 2011 NBA draft.

— Reported by John N. Mitchell of the Philadelphia Inquirer

Pistons will sign Ukranian center Vyacheslav Kravtsov

The Detroit Pistons have struck a verbal agreement to sign Ukranian center Vyacheslav Kravtsov to a multiyear deal, according to his agent.

“Vyacheslav intends to sign a player contract with the Pistons when the moratorium period ends,” Kravtsov’s representative, Jeff Schwartz, said Sunday night.

Pistons president Joe Dumars confirmed the negotiations in a statement Monday.

“We are engaged in negotiations with Vyacheslav Kravtsov and will enter into a player contract when the moratorium period ends,” he said in the statement.

— Reported by Marc Stein of ESPN.com

Michael Jordan’s son Marcus arrested

Omaha police arrested the youngest son of NBA legend Michael Jordan early Sunday after being called to the Embassy Suites in the Old Market for a disturbance.

Officer Jacob Bettin, a police spokesman, said Marcus J. Jordan, 21, of Chicago, was booked in the Douglas County Department of Corrections for resisting arrest, disorderly conduct and obstructing. A staff member at the jail said Sunday afternoon that Jordan was no longer in custody.

Bettin said a uniformed off-duty police officer approached Jordan outside the hotel at 555 S. 10th St. about 2:10 a.m. The officer, who was working as security for the hotel, reported that Jordan was arguing with two females in the driveway of the hotel and appeared to be very intoxicated.

— Reported by Kevin Cole of the Omaha World-Herald