Category: NBA News Blog

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Kings exercise options on Tyreke Evans, Jason Thompson, Donte Greene, and Omri Casspi

kings exercise options on tyreke evans

The Sacramento Kings today exercised the options on guard Tyreke Evans and forwards Jason Thompson, Donté Greene, and Omri Casspi, it was announced by Kings’ President of Basketball Operations Geoff Petrie.

Evans, entering his second NBA season, was named the 2009-10 NBA Rookie of the Year after averaging a team-leading 20.1 ppg (.458 FG%, .255 3pt%, .748 FT%), 5.3 rpg, and a team-best 5.8 apg—joining LeBron James, Michael Jordan, and Oscar Robertson as the only players in NBA history to average at least 20 points, five rebounds, and five assists in their rookie campaigns.

Thompson was selected by the Kings as a senior out of Rider (12th overall) in the 2008 NBA Draft. He has averaged 11.8 ppg (.484 FG%, .703 FT%), 7.4 rpg, and 1.1 apg per game in 157 games through two seasons with Sacramento.

Originally selected by Memphis in the first round (28th overall) of the 2008 NBA Draft as an undergraduate out of Syracuse, Greene joined the Kings after being acquired in a trade with Houston. He has accrued averages of 6.5 ppg (.407 FG%, .336 3pt%, .684 FT%) and 1.6 rpg in 131 career contests.

The first Israeli-born player in NBA history, Casspi was selected by Sacramento with the 23rd overall pick in the 2009 NBA Draft. He averaged 10.3 ppg (.446 FG%, .369 3pt%, .672 FT%), 4.5 rpg, and 1.2 apg as a rookie.

Chris Paul may wear knee brace all season

John Reid of the New Orleans Times-Picayune reports:

New Orleans Hornets point guard Chris Paul worked in practice Sunday with a brace off over his surgically repaired left knee.

During the portion of the practice open to the media, Paul took free throws and jump shots on an alternate court from his teammates as strength and core trainer Carlos Daniel and assistant trainer John Ishop observed.

Hornets Coach Monty Williams said Paul was getting used to the brace he’ll probably use throughout the regular season.

“We’re just trying to stay on top of anything that could be nagging,” Williams said. “It’s such a long season. When a guy is coming off a surgery, you want to be as cautious as you can to keep him from having any setbacks.”

Dwyane Wade sheds the Flash nickname

Joseph Goodman of the Miami Herald reports:

Dwyane Wade sheds the Flash nickname

Wade announced via Twitter on Sunday night that he is shedding his nickname Flash.

On Monday, Wade explained this season signifies a new era in his life and his career. For Wade, dropping the nickname is about growing up. Wade is 28 years old.

“That’s not me no more,” Wade said. “I’m in a different time; in a different place than I was when I was 22 years old. I’m just going in a different direction. I am who I am and just been thinking about it a lot, and I just want people to respect me for who I am and not a character.”

Blazers sign Fabricio Oberto

The Portland Trail Blazers have signed center Fabricio Oberto, it was announced today by General Manager Rich Cho. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

“We are pleased to welcome Fabricio to Portland, and feel he can help us by providing depth in the frontcourt,” said Cho. “He’s a veteran center who has achieved success at both the NBA and international levels.”

A native of Las Varillas, Argentina, Oberto (6-10, 245) played four seasons for the San Antonio Spurs (2005-09), winning an NBA Championship as the starting center in 2007, before spending last season with the Washington Wizards.

Oberto, 35, holds career NBA averages of 3.2 points, 3.5 rebounds, 0.9 assists and 14.6 minutes in 331 games (128 starts).

A veteran of international play, Oberto was a member of the Argentine National Team that won the gold medal at the 2004 Athens Olympics, took home the bronze medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and won the silver medal at the 2002 FIBA World Championships.

OKC Thunder exercise options on six players

The Oklahoma City Thunder has exercised third-year options on guard James Harden, forward Serge Ibaka, guard Eric Maynor and center Byron Mullens, as well as fourth-year options on guard Russell Westbrook and forward D.J. White Executive Vice President and General Manager Sam Presti announced today.

Harden (6-5, 220) averaged 9.9 points (8th among rookies), 3.2 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 22.8 minutes in 76 games during his rookie campaign. The third overall selection in the 2009 NBA Draft, was named to the 2009-10 T-Mobile NBA All-Rookie Second Team.

Ibaka (6-10, 240) appeared in 73 games for the Thunder last season and averaged 6.3 points, 5.4 rebounds (4th among rookies), 1.33 blocks (1st among rookies) and 18.1 minutes per contest.  The Republic of Congo native was selected by Oklahoma City with the 24th overall selection in the 2008 NBA Draft.

Maynor (6-3, 170) averaged 4.7 points, 1.6 rebounds, 3.3 assists (7th among rookies) and 15.7 minutes in 81 games (two starts) with Utah and Oklahoma City. Originally selected by the Jazz with the 20th overall selection in the 2009 NBA Draft, Maynor was acquired along with Matt Harpring from Utah in exchange for the draft rights to Peter Fehse on December 22, 2009.

Mullens (7-0, 275) saw action in 13 contests for Oklahoma City and averaged 1.1 points in 4.2 minutes.  The Columbus, OH native played in 27 games with the Tulsa 66ers of the NBA Development League, averaging 15.0 points and 7.5 rebounds in 31.5 minutes.

Westbrook (6-3, 187) has averaged 15.7 points, 4.9 rebounds, 6.6 assists, 1.3 steals and 33.4 minutes in 164 games (147 starts) during his first two NBA seasons.  The third-year guard competed with the USA Men’s Basketball National Team at the World Championships in Istanbul, Turkey helping the USA earn Gold for the first time since 1994.

White (6-9, 251) has averaged 6.4 points, 2.9 rebounds and 12.2 minutes during his first two NBA seasons.  The Tuscaloosa, AL native saw action in 10 games last season for the Tulsa 66ers of the NBA Development League, averaging a double-double with 20.2 points and 11.1 rebounds in 39.2 minutes.

Pacers waive Magnum Rolle

The Indiana Pacers announced Monday they have waived Magnum Rolle, a 6-11, 235-pound center/forward.

Rolle, a 2010 second-round pick (51st  overall) acquired by the Pacers from Oklahoma City in a draft night trade of picks, played in five preseason games, averaging 1.8 points and 1.4 rebounds per game.

The Pacers’ roster is now at the league-mandated 15 players.

“Unfortunately for Magnum, it’s a numbers game and we had to get down to 15 players,” said Pacers President of Basketball Operations Larry Bird. “We like Magnum, he played well for us and we’ll continue to scout him throughout the year.”

Bulls exercise options on Derrick Rose, Taj Gibson and James Johnson

The Chicago Bulls announced today the team has exercised its fourth-year option for the 2011-12 season for guard Derrick Rose and its third-year options for the 2011-12 season for forwards Taj Gibson and James Johnson.  By exercising the respective player options, all three players will be under contract with the Bulls for the 2011-12 season.

In two seasons with Chicago, Rose (6-3, 190) has appeared in 159 games (158 starts) and averaged 18.7 ppg, 6.2 apg, 3.8 rpg, 0.77 spg in 36.9 mpg; he has shot .483 from field and .776 from the line.  Last season, Rose became the youngest NBA All-Star in team history and was the first Chicago Bulls player to be named to an All-Star Game (2010) since Michael Jordan in 1998.  The Chicago native was also a member of the 2010 USA Men’s Basketball Team that claimed the gold medal at the 2010 FIBA World Championships in Istanbul, Turkey this past summer.

Gibson (6-9, 225), appeared in all 82 games (70 starts) during his rookie campaign and posted averages of 8.9 ppg, 7.4 rpg, 0.9 apg and 1.27 bpg in 26.8 mpg.  He also shot .494 from the floor and .647 from the line.  Gibson, the 26th pick in the 2009 NBA Draft, was also selected to the T-Mobile NBA All-Rookie First Team.  He led all rookies in rebounds per game, field goal percentage, double-doubles and was second in blocks per game.

The 6-9, 245-pound Johnson played in 65 contests (11 starts) during his rookie season.  He averaged 3.9 ppg and 2.0 rpg in 11.6 mpg.  Johnson was selected by the Bulls in the first round (16th overall) in the 2009 NBA Draft.

Bucks waive Brian Skinner

The Milwaukee Bucks have requested waivers on forward/center Brian Skinner, General Manager John Hammond announced today.

Skinner (6-9, 255 – Baylor) signed as a free agent on September 29. He appeared in all eight of the team’s exhibition games and averaged 1.5 points and 3.6 rebounds in 11.6 minutes. A veteran of 12 NBA seasons (including 2003-04 and 2006-07 in Milwaukee), Skinner holds averages of 4.8 points and 4.7 rebounds in 605 career games.

The Bucks roster now stands at 15 players.