NBA News Blog – Page 1396 – NBA Blog

Warriors sold for record $450 million

The AP reports:

Golden State Warriors owner Chris Cohan reached an agreement Thursday to sell the franchise for a record $450 million to Boston Celtics minority partner Joe Lacob and Mandalay Entertainment CEO Peter Guber.

“I am incredibly excited to have the opportunity to be the next steward of this storied NBA franchise. This is my dream come true,” said Lacob, who is also the managing partner with Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers. “Peter and I intend to do what we do best _ innovating and building. It is our passion to return the Warriors to greatness and build nothing short of a championship organization that will make all of us in the Bay Area proud.”

Lacob and Guber beat out Oracle CEO Larry Ellison, who had been considered the favorite to buy the team from Cohan. Ellison has a personal fortune of $28 billion, according to an annual survey by Forbes magazine, and is the sixth-richest man in the world.

Nuggets sign Anthony Carter, Shelden Williams

The Denver Nuggets have re-signed G Anthony Carter and signed free-agent F/C Shelden Williams, team Vice President of Basketball Operations Mark Warkentien announced today.

Carter, 35, spent the past four seasons with the Nuggets, averaging 5.6 points and 4.5 assists in 204 regular-season games. In his 11-year NBA career with Miami, San Antonio, Minnesota and Denver, he has averaged 5.0 points, 4.0 assists and 2.2 rebounds in 566 games.

This past season, Carter helped Denver to its second consecutive Northwest Division title, registering 3.3 points, 3.0 assists and 1.6 rebounds in 15.9 minutes per contest. He started seven games for the Nuggets in 2009-10 and recorded one double-figure scoring game and one double-figure assist game.

Carter signed with Denver as a free agent each of the past three summers, returning to the Nuggets on Aug. 31, 2007, Jul. 9, 2008 and then again on Aug. 14, 2009.

Williams, 6-9, 250, averaged 3.7 points and 2.7 points in 54 games with the Boston Celtics in 2009-10 and appeared in eight playoff games as the Celtics advanced to the NBA Finals. He recorded one double-double during the regular season and scored at least 10 points six times, including a season-high 14 against Phoenix on Dec. 30, 2009.

Selected fifth overall by the Atlanta Hawks in the 2006 NBA Draft, the 26-year-old Williams has averaged 4.5 points and 3.8 rebounds in 244 games with Atlanta, Sacramento, Minnesota and Boston.

“We’re excited to add two veteran players with playoff experience,” Warkentien said. “They are two more pieces to the puzzle as we work to improve our team this summer.”

Celtics re-sign Paul Pierce

The Boston Celtics announced today that they have re-signed team captain and forward Paul Pierce. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

“Paul has been a cornerstone of our franchise for the last decade and we could not be more pleased that he is returning to the team,” said Celtics President of Basketball Operations, Danny Ainge.

Pierce, a 6’7” forward, is the Celtics third leading scorer in franchise history with 19,899 points trailing only Larry Bird and John Havlicek. The 2008 NBA Finals MVP averaged 18.3 points, 4.4 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game in making his eighth All-Star team. The four-time All-NBA selection is the team’s all-time leader in free throws attempted and made; three-pointers attempted and made steals and is second all-time in points per game (22.5 ppg).

“I am very excited to be back in Boston,” said Pierce. “I have always said that I would love to retire as a Celtic and re-signing here will allow me to do that. I would like to thank Danny, Doc, the ownership group and the rest of the organization. I’m thrilled that they kept the core intact and look forward to getting back on the parquet with my teammates so we can bring Banner 18 home to Boston.”

The former Kansas Jayhawk was originally drafted by the Celtics with the 10th overall pick in the 1998 Draft shot a career-high 41.4% from beyond the arc this season. Pierce has posted career averages of 22.5 points, 6.1 rebounds, 3.8 rebounds and 1.5 steals per game.

“Since day one I have seen Paul as a lifetime Celtic and this deal is another big step towards that goal. He’s a champion and a Finals MVP but also a true champion in the community,” said Celtics Co-Owner and CEO, Wyc Grousbeck.

Bulls name Scottie Pippen team ambassador

The Chicago Bulls are pleased to announce that Bulls legend and Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Famer Scottie Pippen has agreed to rejoin the organization as an ambassador.

In this capacity, Pippen will attend a majority of Bulls home games and spend time with Bulls fans and sponsors. Additionally, he will also participate in a variety of team related events throughout the year.

“We are pleased to welcome Scottie Pippen back into the Bulls family,” said Bulls Chairman Jerry Reinsdorf. “Scottie is obviously one of the greatest and most popular Bulls players of all time and we are so proud of his accomplishments and his upcoming induction to the Basketball Hall of Fame.”

“It’s great to be back with the organization,” said Pippen. “To be part of the Bulls family again means a lot to me. I am really looking forward to being more involved in the community and working with kids. That is an area in which you can never do enough.”

Pippen was a seven-time NBA All-Star (1990, 1992-97) and a member of six NBA championship teams with the Chicago Bulls (1991-93, 1996-98). He was a three-time All-NBA first team honoree and was voted to the NBA All-Defensive first team from 1992-99. Pippen won two Olympic gold medals as a member of the 1992 USA Basketball “Dream Team” and returned to help lead the USA to gold at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta. He also won NBA All-Star MVP honors in 1994. Pippen will be inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame at a ceremony on August 13, 2010 in Springfield, MA.

Jazz reach agreement with swingman Raja Bell

Tim Buckley of the Deseret News reports:

The Jazz have reached an agreement with free agent Raja Bell, a veteran swingman who played previously in Utah and last was with the Golden State Warriors.

Details of the agreement, which the Jazz did not confirm, were not immediately known.

Bell is coming off recent wrist surgery that curtailed his 2009-10 season.

The deal is contingent on Bell passing a physical exam.

InsideHoops.com editor says: Good signing for both parties. Old Bell can still provide defense and veteran experience off the bench, plus he can trip opposing players with his cane.

Ekpe Udoh out 6 months

The AP reports:

The Golden State Warriors say top draft pick Ekpe Udoh will miss six months after undergoing surgery on his injured left wrist.

Udoh underwent the operation on Wednesday in San Francisco to repair a torn ligament in his wrist. He will have his wrist immobilized for about 10 weeks.

Marcus Thompson of the Contra Costa News (blog) reports:

His wrist will be immobilized for 10 weeks, which means he will be just getting the cast off around the time camp starts. After that, starts rehab, which clearly the doctor thinks will take at least three months. That puts Udoh out until January, if everything goes according to plan. If recent history is any indicator (which it probably shouldn’t be because no one knows how well he heals), don’t expect Udoh back before the All-Star break.

Nets sign Jordan Farmar, Travis Outlaw, Johan Petro

The New Jersey Nets have signed free agent guard Jordan Farmar, forward Travis Outlaw and center Johan Petro, Nets President Rod Thorn announced today. Per team policy, terms of the contracts were not released.

Farmar, 6’2”/180, is a four-year NBA veteran with career averages of 6.9 points and 2.1 assists in 18.1 minutes over 301 career games with the Los Angeles Lakers. The UCLA product was selected by the Lakers in the first round (26th overall) of the 2006 NBA draft. Farmar helped the Lakers win back-to-back championships in 2008-09 and 2009-10. In 69 career postseason contests, Farmar holds playoff averages of 5.9 points and 1.4 assists in 15.0 minutes per game Last season, Farmar appeared in all 82 games for the Lakers, posting averages of 7.2 points on 43.5% shooting and 1.5 assists in 18.0 minutes per game.

Outlaw, 6’9”/207, is a seven-year NBA veteran with career averages of 9.5 points and 3.4 rebounds in 22 minutes over 400 career games. He has shot .441 from the field and .363 from behind the arc. He played in 34 games last season for the Portland Trail Blazers and Los Angeles Clippers. On February 16, the Starkville, Mississippi native was traded from Portland to Los Angeles along with Steve Blake in exchange for Marcus Camby and cash considerations. In 11 games with Portland, Outlaw averaged 9.9 points and 3.5 rebounds in 21 minutes before being traded. In 23 contests, including six starts with the Clippers, he tallied 8.7 points and 3.6 rebounds in 22 minutes per contest. Selected out of Starkville High School in Mississippi, Outlaw was chosen by Portland in the first round (23rd overall) of the 2003 NBA Draft. In six career playoff games, Outlaw holds averages of 9.0 points and 3.0 rebounds in 28 minutes per contest.

Petro, 7’0”/247, is a five year NBA veteran with career averages of 5.1 points and 4.2 rebounds in 16.7 minutes in 306 career games with Seattle/Oklahoma City and Denver. A native of Paris, France, Petro was selected by the Seattle SuperSonics with in the first round (25th overall) of the 2005 NBA draft. After three and a half seasons with the Seattle/Oklahoma City franchise, Petro was dealt to Denver during the 2008-09 season. Last season, Petro posted averages of 3.4 points on 53.5% shooting and 3.6 rebounds in 12.1 minutes per game for the Nuggets.

Raptors trade Hedo Turkoglu to Suns for Leandro Barbosa, Dwayne Jones

The Phoenix Suns today acquired forward Hedo Turkoglu (TURK-oh-lue) from the Toronto Raptors in exchange for guard Leandro Barbosa and forward/center Dwayne Jones, the club has announced. The trade is pending the completion of physicals.

“Hedo is a versatile player and somebody who we always thought would fit into our system,” said Suns Head Coach Alvin Gentry. “He is a good ball handler who can create plays for other people and who can play three different positions. He’ll fit well into what we’re trying to do here.”

In the 6-10, 220-pound Turkoglu, the Suns acquire a multi-dimensional player who is both a premier long-range shooter and a top passer at his position. Turkoglu owns career averages of 12.2 points, 4.3 rebounds and 2.9 assists in 28.2 minutes in 752 games (443 starts) with the Sacramento Kings (2000-03), San Antonio Spurs (2003-04), Orlando Magic (2004-09) and Toronto Raptors (2009-10).

In 10 career seasons, Turkoglu has made seven playoff appearances and has won a postseason series in all but one of those appearances, including a trip to the 2009 NBA Finals as a member of the Magic. The 31-year-old Turkoglu averaged 15.8 points, 4.5 rebounds and 4.8 assists in helping to lead Orlando to the franchise’s second berth in the league’s championship series. Overall, Turkoglu’s teams are 9-7 (.563) in playoff series all-time.

The first Turkish-born player in NBA history, Turkoglu has averaged double-digit scoring in each of his last six seasons, including 15.8 points over his five-year tenure with the Magic. A willing and capable passer, Turkoglu is one of only three NBA forwards who have averaged at least four assists in each of the last three seasons, joining Miami’s LeBron James and Philadelphia’s Andre Iguodala. Turkoglu has made 100 or more three-pointers in each of the last five seasons, averaged 126 threes in that span (631-of-1644, .384) and is a career 38.3-percent shooter from long range.

Turkoglu’s best career season came in 2007-08 when he was named the NBA’s Most Improved Player after averaging 19.5 points, 5.7 rebounds and 5.0 assists.

One of the league’s top clutch shooters, Turkoglu has made six game-winning shots in the final seconds of a game since 2006-07 and game-clinching free throws on two other occasions in that span.

Born in Istanbul, Turkey, Turkoglu played four seasons for Efes Pilsen of the Turkish Professional League from 1996-2000 before being selected by Sacramento with the 16th overall pick in the first round of the 2000 NBA Draft. His NBA signing was a national sports event in his native Turkey that featured a nationally televised press conference.

Celtics sign Jermaine O’Neal

The Boston Celtics announced today that they have signed center/forward Jermaine O’Neal. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

“Jermaine provides veteran leadership and experience,” said Celtics President of Basketball Operations, Danny Ainge. “His talents are an excellent complement to our core roster.”

O’Neal, a 6’11” center/forward, has appeared in six all-star games and has been named to three All-NBA teams. The product of Eau Claire High School in South Carolina has posted career averages of 14.2 points and 7.5 rebounds to go along with 1.9 blocks over his 14 year career with Portland, Indiana, Toronto and Miami. He posted a career-high field goal percentage of 52.9% last season with Miami.

“When the opportunity arose for me to join an organization like the Celtics, I could not refuse,” said O’Neal. “I cannot wait to get to Boston and start to practice with the rest of the team in pursuit of a championship.”

Hornets withdraw contract offer to Luther Head

John Reid of the New Orleans Times Picayune reports:

The New Orleans Hornets will not offer free agent shooting guard Luther Head a contract because he had some physical issues during his physical examination that was a concern of the Hornets’ medical staff. league sources said Wednesday.

Earlier this week Head and the Hornets had agreed to a two-year contract that was contingent on him passing his physical. Sources said the decision not to offer Head a contract did not have anything to do with general manager Jeff Bower and the Hornets mutually agreeing to part ways on Tuesday.