Category: NBA News Blog

NBA news blog

Houston Rockets sign forward Jeff Adrien

Jeff Adrien

Houston Rockets General Manager Daryl Morey announced today that the team has signed free agent forward Jeff Adrien. According to the Houston Chronicle, it is a two-year contract with the first year partially guaranteed.

Adrien (6-7, 243, Connecticut), who had been playing with Benetton Treviso in Italy, appeared in 23 games over two stints with Golden State in 2010-11. His second stint with the Warriors was as a GATORADE Call-Up from the Rio Grande Valley Vipers of the NBA D-League. Overall, Adrien appeared in 27 D-League games last season between the Erie BayHawks and Rio Grande Valley, averaging 18.3 points, 11.4 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 1.03 steals and 1.44 blocks in 32.7 minutes per contest. He was named the 2010-11 NBA D-League Impact Player of the Year (as voted by the league’s head coaches) after helping the Vipers to an 18-4 record in his 22 games with the team following a trade from Erie. The D-League Player of the Month for Jan. 2011 was also a D-League All-Star in 2010-11.

As a collegian, Adrien finished his career at the University of Connecticut with 1,603 points and 1,126 rebounds, becoming only the second Husky with over 1,600 points and 1,100 rebounds in a career since Jim Calhoun became coach in 1986. He was also just the fifth player in school history to amass over 1,000 points and 1,000 rebounds in a career. Adrien ranked 12th on the career points list and finished with the third-highest rebounding total ever by a Husky. As team captain in 2008-09, Adrien helped lead UConn to the NCAA Final Four.

New Jersey Nets re-sign forward Kris Humphries

Kris Humphries

The New Jersey Nets have re-signed forward Kris Humphries, Nets General Manager Billy King announced today. It is reportedly a one-year deal for around $8 million.

“Kris had a breakout season last year, and established himself as one of the premier rebounders in the league,” said King.  “We look forward to his continued progress and his addition will certainly add stability to our frontcourt rotation.”

Humphries rejoins the Nets after a career-year in 2010-11 that saw the 6-9 forward average personal bests of 10.0 points and 10.4 rebounds, while shooting .527 from the field in 74 games (44 starts). The seven-year veteran out of Minnesota ranked 5th in the NBA in rebounds per game last season, notched 29 double-doubles and grabbed a career-high 23 boards on March 23 at Cleveland.

Humphries originally came to the Nets as part of a mid-season trade in 2009-10.  In 118 games with New Jersey, Humphries owns averages of 9.3 points and 8.9 rebounds per game.  Selected in the first round of the 2004 NBA Draft by the Utah Jazz, Humphries went on to play for Toronto and Dallas before joining New Jersey.  In 431 NBA games, Humphries holds career averages of 2.6 points and 4.7 rebounds per game.

Stephen Curry suffers right ankle sprain

Stephen Curry

Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry sprained his right ankle and had to be helped off the court during the Sacramento Kings’ 95-91 preseason victory Tuesday night.

Curry was injured while defending rookie Jimmer Fredette just before halftime. Curry didn’t play in the second half and finished with seven points and five assists in 15 minutes.

Team officials said Curry would have X-rays on his ankle Wednesday morning.

“I’m disappointed. We need him back quick,” Warriors rookie coach Mark Jackson said. “But if not, we still have to go out and execute. It’s no excuse. The next player has to look at it as an opportunity. We hope Steph comes back quick because everybody knows we are a better basketball team with him.”

— Reported by the Associated Press

Rockets may want a Chuck Hayes reunion

Chuck Hayes

The Rockets on Monday made inquiries about the prognosis of former Rockets forward Chuck Hayes to determine if his medical condition might allow him to be a free-agent option again, a person with knowledge of the talks said.

The Kings voided Hayes’ $21.3 million, four-year contract on Monday, days after Hayes failed a team physical. The team had announced last week that an abnormality was found during a heart examination. No additional information was made available at Hayes’ request.

Hayes broke into the league in 2005-06, the season after his predecessor at power forward for the Rockets, Juwan Howard, was sidelined because of a heart condition.

— Reported by Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle

Denver Nuggets re-sign guard Arron Afflalo

Arron Afflalo

The Denver Nuggets have re-signed guard Arron Afflalo to a multiyear contract, Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations Masai Ujiri announced today. Per team policy, financial terms were not disclosed. We’ll post contract details here later today.

Afflalo, 6-5, 215, set career-highs in several statistical categories in 2010-11, including points (12.6), rebounds (3.6) and assists (2.4). The 26-year-old also finished fifth among NBA guards with a .498 shooting percentage, and he shot .423 from three-point range, which tied for eighth among the overall league leaders.

“Arron is a tremendous young player who is only going to get better,” Ujiri said. “Not only has he become one of our best offensive players, but he is an excellent defender and a great leader in the locker room. He is a big part of our future, and we are glad to have him back on our roster.”

Drafted by the Detroit Pistons 27th overall out of UCLA in 2007, Afflalo played limited minutes in his first two NBA seasons before the Nuggets acquired him in exchange for a future second-round pick on July 13, 2009.

After earning a spot in Denver’s starting lineup less than two weeks into the 2009-10 season, Afflalo never relinquished the job. He averaged 8.8 points and 3.1 assists in his first year with the Nuggets and finished eighth in the NBA in three-point percentage (.434).

Afflalo enjoyed another banner season in 2010-11, highlighted by a career-high 31 points against the Phoenix Suns on Jan. 11 and a 24-point game against the Dallas Mavericks on Feb. 10. In the Dallas game, he scored 19 points in the fourth-quarter and hit the winning jumper as time expired.

Vanessa Bryant divorce settlement may be over $75 million

The apparent lack of a prenuptial agreement — coupled with 10 years of marriage — will likely significantly increase the size of Vanessa Bryant’s divorce settlement with Kobe Bryant, legal experts said.

Vanessa Bryant’s mother told The Times several years ago that the couple did not sign a prenuptial agreement when they tied the knot in 2001. If true, that would entitle Vanessa to half of their community property…

Some estimates put Kobe Bryant’s net worth at $150 million. Legal experts said Vanessa Bryant will probably receive at least $75 million in addition to ongoing spousal and child support.

— Reported by the Los Angeles Times “L.A. Now” Blog

Grizzlies forward Darrell Arthur will miss entire 2011-12 season

Darrell Arthur

Memphis Grizzlies forward Darrell Arthur underwent a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), which revealed a torn right Achilles tendon, the team announced today.

Arthur (6-9, 235), who suffered the injury on Dec. 18, is scheduled to have surgery to repair the injury within one week and expected to be ready for the start of the 2012-13 season.

The 23-year-old averaged career highs in points (9.1), field goal percentage (.497), blocks (0.79) and minutes (20.1) in 80 games last season in his third NBA campaign.  He posted 7.1 points and 2.2 rebounds in 15.5 minutes during Memphis’ 13-game run in the 2011 Playoffs.

Selected by the New Orleans Hornets in the first round (27th overall) of the 2008 NBA Draft, the Dallas native owns career averages of 6.9 points, 4.2 rebounds and 0.69 blocks on .468 shooting in 18.8 minutes in 188 games (73 starts), all with the Grizzlies.

Rip Hamilton in starting lineup for Bulls tonight

Rip Hamilton

Not only will Richard Hamilton makes his Bulls debut Tuesday, he’ll be a starter.

Bulls head coach Tom Thibodeau ended the speculation after the team’s Tuesday-morning shootaround.

“He’s going to play,” said Thibodeau. “We’re going to change up [the starting lineup. Rip’s going to start tonight; Ronnie [Brewer is] going to be with the second unit.”

“We’ll see when [Hamilton] gets out there, what he can handle, he added. “I just want to see improvement from our last game…I’d like to see us take better care of the ball, I’d like to see us finish our defense better, so those are two of the primary things.”

— Reported by Aggrey Sam of CSN Chicago

Atlanta Hawks sign guard Jannero Pargo

Jannero Pargo

The Atlanta Hawks today signed guard Jannero Pargo, according to Executive Vice President/General Manager Rick Sund.  Per team policy, terms were not disclosed.

Pargo signed with the Bulls on March 20, 2011, but didn’t appear in a contest last season. In 2009-10 with Chicago, the seven-year veteran played in 63 games (starting five), averaging 5.5 ppg, 1.4 apg and 1.2 rpg in 13.2 mpg. He’s also spent time with the Lakers, Raptors and Hornets. In 379 career contests, he’s put in 6.6 ppg, 2.0 apg and 1.5 rpg in 15.7 mpg.

The Hawks’ updated 2011-12 training camp roster is attached.

Atlanta hosts Charlotte on Thursday at Philips Arena in the Hawks’ only home preseason contest (7:30 p.m.). Tickets are free to all kids under the age of 16 at the Philips Arena box office (up to four free tickets per paid adult).

The Hawks’ first regular season home game is Wednesday, December 28 against John Wall and the Washington Wizards (7:30 p.m.).