Charles F. Gardner of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel reports: Roko Ukic, the 6-foot-5 point guard acquired by the Bucks in a trade with Toronto earlier this month, was named most valuable player of the Efes Pilsen World Cup after leading Croatia to the tournament title. Ukic had 21 points to pace Croatia to a 90-83 victory over Macedonia in the title game. Earlier, he had 16 points against Turkey and 15 points against Germany as Croatia went 3-0 in a tune-up for the European Championship to be held in Poland. Andrew Bogut, whose parents are from Croatia, said he first met Ukic in 2003 when Bogut’s Australian team defeated Ukic’s Croatian team in the semifinals of the junior world championships. When the Bucks played in Toronto last season, Bogut and Ukic went out to dinner the night before the game.
Category: NBA News Blog
NBA news blog
Jason Richardson suspended 2 games
Jason Richardson of the Phoenix Suns has been suspended without pay for two games for pleading guilty to driving under the influence, in violation of the law of the State of Arizona, the NBA announced today.
Richardson will be suspended for the first two games of the 2009-10 NBA regular season for which he is eligible and physically able to play.
JR Smith suspended 7 games
The NBA announced today that J.R. Smith of the Denver Nuggets has been suspended without pay for seven games for pleading guilty to reckless driving, in violation of the law of the State of New Jersey, in connection with a 2007 accident resulting in the death of a passenger in Smith’s car, and for prior and subsequent motor vehicle offenses.
Smith’s suspension will commence with the first game of the 2009-10 NBA regular season for which he is eligible and physically able to play.
The following is a statement from Nuggets Vice President of Basketball Operations Mark Warkentien regarding J.R. Smith’s suspension: “The commissioner’s office has made it clear that it wants to set the highest standard of personal conduct for its athletes. We will support J.R. as he continues to deal with the tragic accident he was involved with two years ago and the consequences of his painful mistake. Being that this is strictly a league decision, we will have no further comment.”
Benjamin Hochman of the Denver Post reports: At Smith’s June 30 trial, he was sentenced to 90 days in the Monmouth County (N.J.) jail but the judge suspended all but 30 days provided Smith performs 500 hours of community service. Because it was his second reckless driving offense, the maximum penalties are 90 days in jail and up to a $500 fine. Smith was fined the maximum plus $39 in other costs. Smith drove a 2003 GMC Yukon around a stopped car and through a stop sign, according to authorities at the scene of the June 9, 2007 crash. Smith drove through the intersection and his SUV was struck by a car, they said. The Yukon overturned, and Smith and Bell were ejected.
Grizzlies sign Trey Gilder
The Memphis Grizzlies have signed former NBA Development League standout and free-agent forward Trey Gilder, Grizzlies General Manager and Vice President of Basketball Operations Chris Wallace announced today. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.
A key reserve for the 2009 NBA D-League Champion Colorado 14ers, the 6-9, 185-pound rookie forward averaged 13.7 points and 5.5 rebounds in 23.9 minutes in 50 games (11 starts), as the team posted the D-League’s best regular season record (34-16) and captured the franchise’s first D-League title. Gilder, who was originally selected by the 14ers in the second round (31st overall) of the 2008 NBA D-League Draft, averaged 10.5 points and 3.5 rebounds in 14.8 minutes per game in all four of the team’s postseason contests.
Most recently, the 24-year-old was a member of the Grizzlies’ undefeated 2009 Vegas Summer League roster, posting 5.4 points and 2.8 rebounds on 63.2 percent shooting in 12.8 minutes in five games last month. The Desoto, Tex. native originally worked out for the club at a three-day free agent mini-camp in Memphis from May 11-13, 2009.
Gilder, who was not selected in the 2008 NBA Draft, was named to the 2007-08 All-Southland Conference First Team after leading the Northwestern State Demons in points (16.4) and rebounds (6.2) as a senior, finishing ninth in school history in points in a single season (542).
The roster currently stands at 14 players.
Nuggets re-sign Johan Petro
The Denver Nuggets have re-signed C Johan Petro, Nuggets Vice President of Basketball Operations Mark Warkentien announced today. Per league policy, terms of the contract were not released.
Petro, 23, has career averages of 5.4 ppg, and 4.3 rpg in 270 regular season games with the Nuggets and the Oklahoma City/Seattle franchise. He originally came to Denver by trade from the Thunder on Jan. 7 along with a 2009 second-round draft choice, in exchange for G Chucky Atkins and a 2009 first-round draft choice. He was drafted in the first round (25th overall) of the 2005 NBA Draft by the Seattle SuperSonics.
This past season, Petro appeared in 27 games (10 starts) for the Nuggets, averaging 2.2 ppg and 2.3 rpg. He posted his Nuggets’ season-highs of nine points, 10 rebounds and 21 minutes vs. Boston on Feb. 23. He also appeared in 10 postseason games for Denver in 2009.
Hornets re-sign Sean Marks
The New Orleans Hornets announced today that they have re-signed free agent center Sean Marks. Per team policy, terms of the contracts were not released.
“We’re very pleased to re-sign Sean due to his ability to provide a low post presence off the bench and how well he fit in with our team,” said Hornets General Manager Jeff Bower. “He had one of his best seasons as a pro with us last season, and we anticipate that he will continue to develop as a player under Coach Scott.”
Marks (6-10, 250) originally signed with the Hornets on August 28, 2008, after spending the first eight seasons of his NBA career with the Miami Heat, Phoenix Suns, San Antonio Spurs and Toronto Raptors. He averaged 3.2 points and 3.1 rebounds in 14.1 minutes, appearing in 60 games (five starts) last season.
“Sean was a big part of our success last season and he showed that he could be called upon to play a larger role when necessary,” said Head Coach Byron Scott. “I look forward to having him back as a reliable big man option.”
The first native of New Zealand to play in the NBA, Marks had career-highs for points (18), blocks (4), steals (2), assists (2), minutes played (36) and games played (60) during the 2008-09 season. The Kiwi started five games last season, averaging 5.4 points, 4.8 rebounds and 0.8 blocks in 23.8 minutes.
Magic re-sign Adonal Foyle
The Orlando Magic have re-signed free agent center Adonal Foyle, General Manager Otis Smith announced today. Per team policy, terms of the deal are not disclosed.
Foyle played in 10 games last season with both the Magic and Memphis, averaging 1.7 ppg. and 2.6 rpg. in 6.2 minpg. He was traded to Memphis as part of the three-team deal that sent Rafer Alston to Orlando on Feb. 19, later waived by Memphis on Mar. 1, then re-signed by Orlando on Mar. 23.
Originally selected by Golden State in the first round (eighth overall) of the 1997 NBA Draft, Foyle (6’10”, 270, 3/9/75) has appeared in 733 regular season games during his 12-year NBA career with Golden State, Orlando and Memphis, averaging 4.1 ppg., 4.7 rpg. and 1.63 blkpg. in 17.8 minpg. Foyle is Golden State’s all-time franchise leader in blocked shots with 1,140.
InsideHoops.com editor says: Foyle can barely play basketball. But he’s big and therefore keeps getting signed.
Pat Beverley signs in Greece
Michael Wallace of the Miami Herald reports: If the Miami Heat is to get any production from its recent draft class, it won’t come until at least next season. Combo guard Pat Beverley, the 42nd overall pick in the NBA Draft, has agreed to a one-year deal with European power Olympiakos and departed for Greece on Wednesday. Beverley’s agent, Kevin Bradbury, confirmed Wednesday that his client agreed to the deal earlier this week. The Heat, which spent $1.5 million to acquire Beverley from the Los Angeles Lakers in a draft-night deal, will continue to own his NBA rights.
Wizards to visit China
The AP reports: Thirty years after the Washington Wizards became the first NBA team to visit China, veterans of the team plan a return trip to the basketball-crazed country next month. Hall of Fame center Wes Unseld, a star of the 1979 team then known as the Bullets, will be joined on the visit Sept. 5-15 by current Wizards players Caron Butler and Randy Foye, the team announced in a statement. Also joining them will be another former Bullet, towering 7-foot-7 center Gheorghe Muresan of Romania — one of the tallest men to ever play in the NBA.
InsideHoops.com editor says: I was never able to tell George Muresan and the young Denzel Washington apart. Anyway, the team will reportedly travel to Beijing, Shanghai and elsewhere. Basketball remains huge in China. I’m sure the team will receive a warm welcome.
Hawks sign Joe Smith
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The Atlanta Hawks have signed veteran power forward Joe Smith to a contract, it was announced today by Executive Vice President and General Manager Rick Sund.
According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, “the contract is a one-year deal Tuesday for the veteran’s minimum salary, approximately $1.3 million.”
“Joe’s acquisition provides us with a solid complement to our frontcourt,” said Sund. “Not only does he bring years of experience to our team, but his versatility gives our coaching staff a player who can play multiple positions and an individual who will provide tremendous leadership in the locker room.”
The 6-10, 225-pound Smith is a 14-year NBA veteran who most recently played 21 games for the Cleveland Cavaliers last season. Before joining the Cavs, he spent time with the Oklahoma City Thunder (where he participated in 36 contests), who bought out the remainder of his contract and released him on March 1. Smith saw action in 13 playoff games for Cleveland, averaging 5.5 ppg and 3.7 rpg (.460 FG%), and on the season, tallied 6.5 points and 4.7 rebounds (.496 FG%, .750 FT%).
Smith brings career numbers of 11.6 points, 6.7 rebounds and 1.0 assists (.456 FG%, .790 FT%) per game to the Hawks, where he will join experienced frontcourt mates Al Horford, Josh Smith and Zaza Pachulia. The NBA’s number one overall pick in 1995 by the Golden State Warriors, Smith was the consensus College Player of the Year at Maryland in 1995 and named to the 1995-96 All-Rookie team in addition to finishing third in the voting for the league’s Rookie of the Year award.
He has played in 52 postseason games over his career, scoring 6.5 points and grabbing 4.6 boards, while shooting .459 from the field and 78 percent from the line.
He spent two-and-a-half seasons with Warriors, tallying a career-best 18.7 points in his second year and was traded to the Philadelphia 76ers midway through the 1997-98 campaign. Following one year with the Sixers, Smith joined the Minnesota Timberwolves for the first of two stints in 1998-99 before signing with the Detroit Pistons for the 2000-01 season.
Following a return to the Timberwolves in the summer of 2001, Smith played two more years with Minnesota before moving on to the Milwaukee Bucks in 2003-04. After three seasons with the Bucks, he played in only 11 games with the Denver Nuggets before being traded (along with Andre Miller) back to the Sixers (for Allen Iverson) for the remainder of the 2006-07 season.
For the next season (2007-08), Smith was a member of the Chicago Bulls and played in 50 contests, averaging 11.2 points before being traded in a three-team deal to Cleveland. He was a part of another three-team trade later that summer when the Cavaliers sent him to Oklahoma City, where he remained until he returned to Cleveland.
He was named Associated Press All-American and was the Atlantic Coast Conference’s Player of the Year as a sophomore at Maryland. In two seasons with the Terrapins, he averaged 20.1 points and 10.7 rebounds per game.
Joseph Leynard Smith, born July 26, 1975 in Norfolk, VA, will wear uniform number 32 with the Hawks.