NBA News Blog – Page 526 – NBA Blog

Cavaliers sign forward Cedi Osman

The Cleveland Cavaliers have signed forward Cedi Osman (pronounced JED-e AUS-min), the team announced today from Cleveland Clinic Courts.

Osman (6-8, 215) has spent the last five seasons with Anadolu Efes in the Turkish Basketball League first division. In 2016-17, he played in 35 games (28 starts) and averaged 13.2 points on .496 shooting, 4.1 rebounds and 1.5 steals in 25.7 minutes per game. He also competed in 35 Euroleague contests (34 starts) this past season, averaging 7.1 points and 2.8 rebounds in 18.6 minutes. Osman spent his first two professional seasons with Pertevniyal Istanbul in the Turkish second division from 2011-2013. A BSL All-Star in each of his last three seasons (2015-17), he won the 2015 Turkish Cup and 2015 Turkish Supercup with Anadolu Efes.

A native of Ohrid, Macedonia, Osman was originally selected by the Minnesota Timberwolves with the 31st overall pick in the 2015 NBA Draft before having his draft rights acquired by the Cavaliers that night. The 6-8 forward has been a member of the Turkish National Team at the 2014 FIBA World Cup, FIBA EuroBasket 2015 and the 2016 Manila FIBA World Olympic Qualifying Tournament. He was also selected as FIBA Europe U20 Championship MVP after leading Turkey to a gold medal in 2014.

Grizzlies sign forward Rade Zagorac

Memphis Grizzlies General Manager Chris Wallace today announced that the team signed forward Rade Zagorac (RAH-day ZAH-go-rahtz).

Zagorac (6-9, 205), who has played professionally in his native Serbia since 2011, appeared in 26 games (23 starts) for KK Mega Leks in the Liga ABA and averaged 15.0 points, 6.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.38 steals in 29.4 minutes last season. He also competed in 12 games (11 starts) in Serbian BCL play and averaged 12.6 points, 6.1 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.83 steals in 29.5 minutes.

Born in Belgrade, Serbia, the 21-year-old was selected by the Boston Celtics in the second round (35th overall) of the 2016 NBA Draft after he was named the 2015-16 Liga ABA MVP with KK Mega Leks. His draft rights were traded by the Celtics on draft night along with the draft rights to Deyonta Davis (31st overall) to Memphis for a 2019 first round draft pick.

Jazz sign Jonas Jerebko

The Utah Jazz have signed forward Jonas Jerebko (pronounced JO-ness Jeh-REB-ko) to a multi-year contract.

Jerebko (6-10, 231, Sweden) appeared in 78 games (six starts) for the Boston Celtics this past season, averaging 3.8 points, 3.5 rebounds and 0.9 assists in 15.8 minutes of action for a team that finished with the best record in the Eastern Conference and advanced to the Conference Finals.

Originally selected in the second round (39th overall selection) of the 2009 NBA Draft by Detroit, the 30-year-old has appeared in 488 career games (94 starts) over seven NBA seasons with Detroit and Boston. He owns career averages of 6.2 points and 4.1 rebounds while hitting 35.2 percent from three-point range in 18.4 minutes. He has shot 40 percent or better from three-point range in three different seasons, including two of his last three.

Jerebko has seen action in a total of 22 postseason games (four starts), all with the Celtics, averaging 5.0 points, 3.8 rebounds and 1.0 assist in 10.7 minutes per game. This past season, he appeared in 12 playoff games during the Celtics’ run for the Eastern Conference Finals, including a 10-point performance on 4-of-4 shooting from the field and 2-of-2 from three in Boston’s Game 3 win at Cleveland.

In his rookie season with Detroit, Jerebko earned 2009-10 All-Rookie Second Team honors as well as Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month for February and compete in the Rookie Challenge during NBA All-Star Weekend.

The son of a former professional European basketball player, Jerebko is a native of Kinna, Sweden, and represented his home country at the 2013 Eurobasket Championships, posting 16.0 points, 6.8 rebounds and 2.4 assists in five games.

He joins what was already the most international team in the NBA in 2016-17. The seven players on the current Jazz roster born outside the United States hail from Australia (two), France, Brazil, Spain, Switzerland and the Ukraine.

Jerebko is also owner of a professional eSports team, Renegades CS:GO.

He will wear jersey No. 8 for the Jazz.

Paul Pierce retiring from NBA as a Celtic

Paul Pierce retiring from NBA as a Boston Celtic

The Boston Celtics announced today that they have signed 10-time NBA All-Star and 19-year veteran Paul Pierce to a contract, enabling him to retire as a member of the organization with which he spent his first 15 NBA seasons.

“We’re honored that Paul has chosen to retire as a Celtic. He is among the very best Celtics – a champion on and off the court,” said Celtics governor and managing partner Wyc Grousbeck. “We congratulate Paul on a Hall of Fame career, and look forward to seeing his number raised to the rafters of TD Garden.”

“It’s an honor to have this opportunity to once again call myself a Boston Celtic,” Pierce said. “The organization and city took me in and made me one of their own, and I couldn’t imagine ending my career any other way. I’m a Celtic for life.”

Drafted by the Celtics with the 10th overall pick of the 1998 NBA Draft, Pierce’s 15 seasons in Boston from 1998-99 to 2012-13 trails only John Havlicek (16) for the most ever spent in a Celtics uniform. He produced 21.8 points (44.7% FG, 37.0% 3-PT, 80.6% FT), 6.0 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 1.44 steals and 36.6 minutes in 1,102 career games (1,099 starts) in the green and white.

Pierce’s name will forever be a constant throughout the Celtics’ all-time leaderboards. The California native tops the franchise lists in three-point field goals (1,823), free throws (6,434) and steals (1,583), while also placing as the Celtics’ second all-time leading scorer with 24,021 career points.

Earning his iconic nickname “The Truth” during his third NBA season in 2000-01, Pierce also retires in the organization’s top-10 lists in games played (3rd – 1 ,102), minutes played (3rd – 40,360), field goals (3rd – 7,882), field goal attempts (2nd – 17,630), three-point field goal attempts (1st – 4,928), free throw attempts (1st – 7,979), offensive rebounds (8th – 1,008), rebounds (7th – 6,651), assists (5th – 4,305) and blocked shots (4th – 668).

Pierce’s knack for postseason success further cements his legendary status in a Celtics uniform. Boston qualified for the playoffs in 10 of Pierce’s 15 seasons with the team, ranking him seventh on the franchise’s all-time playoff leaderboard with 136 postseason games played. The crafty forward averaged 20.9 points (41.9% FG, 33.9% 3-PT, 83.4% FT), 6.4 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 1.32 steals in 39.8 minutes in his Celtics playoff career. Pierce – who owns the fifth most playoff points in franchise history at 2,843 – averaged north of 20.0 points in six separate postseason runs, including a playoff career-high 27.1 points over 10 games in just his second career playoff appearance in 2002-03.

One of Pierce’s greatest postseason accomplishments coincides with the Celtics’ most recent NBA title in 2008. Making his first career NBA Finals appearance, Pierce followed up a 22-point performance against the Los Angeles Lakers in a Game 1 victory with 28 more points on 9-of-16 shooting (4-4 3-PT) and eight assists in Boston’s Game 2 triumph. His 38 points in Game 5 of those Finals represented his second-highest scoring total in 26 postseason games that year. Pierce produced 21.8 points (43.2% FG, 39.3% 3-PT, 83.0% FT), 4.5 rebounds, 6.3 assists, 1.08 steals and 38.8 minutes in that six-game series, helping the Celtics raise their NBA-record 17th championship banner and their first since 1986. Named the Most Valuable Player of that 2008 clash, Pierce became the third Celtic ever to earn MVP honors in his first NBA Finals Appearance (Jo Jo White – 1974, Cedric Maxwell – 1981).

Spanning over his 19-year NBA career, Pierce averaged 19.7 points (44.5% FG, 36.8% 3-PT, 80.6% FT), 5.6 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 1.31 steals and 34.2 minutes in 1,343 games (1,285 starts) with Boston, Brooklyn, Washington and the LA Clippers. He ended the 2016-17 season as the only active NBA player with at least 25,000 career points, 7,000 rebounds and 4,500 assists.

Houston Rockets team is for sale

Announcement from the Rockets

Today, Houston Rockets Chief Executive Officer Tad Brown announced owner Leslie Alexander’s intentions to sell the franchise. Alexander has placed Brown in charge of coordinating the sales process in conjunction with the NBA league office.

“It’s been my great joy and honor to own the Houston Rockets for the past 24 years,” said Alexander. “I’ve had the incredible opportunity to witness true greatness through the players and coaches who have won championships for the city, been named to All-Star and All-NBA teams, enshrined in the Basketball Hall of Fame, and done so much for our franchise and our fans. And the Houston community has been home to me; I will continue to support the charities I have made commitments to throughout the years. I’ll always have a special place in my heart for the fans, partners, city officials and employees who care so deeply for this team. I’ve made this decision after much deliberation with my family and friends, and do so knowing the franchise is in great shape with the players, coaches and management team in place. CEO Tad Brown will oversee the sales process with the league office, supported by my management team.”

Alexander assumed ownership of the Rockets on July 30, 1993 and the team went onto win back-to-back championships in 1993-94 and 1994-95. Over his 24 seasons as owner, the Rockets posted the fifth-highest winning percentage (.569) in the NBA. The Rockets also registered the second-most winning seasons of any team in the league over that span.

In 1995, Alexander established the Clutch City Foundation with the goal of providing help, hope and inspiration to those who might otherwise be forgotten. The Clutch City Foundation funds and operates comprehensive programs benefiting thousands of children each year, as well as serving as the umbrella organization for all Rockets community initiatives.

Throughout his years as owner, Alexander and the Clutch City Foundation contributed more than $35 million to hundreds of charities throughout Houston. Most recently in March of 2017, Alexander pledged $4 million to a group of 20 local charitable organizations. In April of 2016, he donated $500,000 to Mayor Sylvester Turner’s Greater Houston Storm Relief Fund after the city was ravaged by severe rain resulting in flooding.

Pistons waive Michael Gbinije

The Detroit Pistons on Saturday requested waivers on guard Michael Gbinije.

Drafted by the Pistons with the 49th overall selection in the 2016 NBA Draft, Gbinije appeared in nine games last season with averages of 0.4 points, 0.3 rebounds, 0.2 assists and 3.5 minutes per game. Gbinije also appeared in 16 games with the Grand Rapids Drive, the Pistons’ NBA G League affiliate, and averaged 12.0 points, 4.3 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 1.9 steals and 35.0 minutes per game.

Orlando Magic sign Jonathon Simmons

The Orlando Magic have signed free agent forward Jonathon Simmons, President of Basketball Operations Jeff Weltman announced today.

Simmons (6’6”, 195, 9/14/89) played in 78 regular season games (eight starts) last season with San Antonio, averaging 6.2 ppg., 2.1 rpg. and 1.6 apg. in 17.9 minpg. He scored in double figures 16 times last season, including a career-high 20 points on Oct. 25 @ Golden State. Simmons also recorded a career-high three steals four times, the last time on Mar. 9 @ Oklahoma City. He was selected by assistant coaches to participate in the BBVA Compass Rising Stars Challenge during 2017 NBA All-Star Weekend, where he tallied 19 points, four rebounds, two assists and one block in 22 minutes.

Simmons also appeared in 15 playoff outings (four starts), averaging 10.5 ppg., 1.9 rpg. and 1.9 apg. in 20.4 minpg. and helped the Spurs reach the Western Conference Finals. As a starter during the postseason, he averaged 16.8 ppg., 4.0 apg. and 2.3 rpg. in 29.0 minpg.

“Jonathon (Simmons) is an elite wing defender that will provide toughness and athleticism to our team,” said Weltman. “His tremendous work ethic has helped him continually grow as a player and we are very excited to add him to the Magic.”

Undrafted by an NBA franchise, Simmons has appeared in 133 career NBA regular season games (ten starts) during the last two seasons, all with San Antonio, averaging 6.1 ppg., 1.9 rpg. and 1.4 apg. in 16.6 minpg. He has also played in 18 career postseason contests, averaging 9.4 ppg., 1.8 rpg. and 1.7 apg. in 18.4 minpg.

After two years in junior college, Simmons spent his junior season (2011-12) at the University of Houston. He played in all 30 games, averaging 14.7 ppg., 5.0 rpg. and 2.2 apg., while shooting .512 (154-301) from the floor, leading the Cougars in scoring. Simmons played in 94 games during two seasons (2013-15) with the Austin Spurs of the NBA G League, averaging 12.7 ppg., 4.4 rpg. and 2.6 apg., while shooting .505 (446-883). He made the team after attending an open tryout in 2013. Simmons was named to the NBA G League All-Defensive Third Team in 2014-15.

Celtics sign Abdel Nader, waive Demetrius Jackson

The Boston Celtics have signed rookie forward Abdel Nader, and have waived guard Demetrius Jackson.

Nader, the reigning 2016-17 NBA G League Rookie of the Year, averaged a team-high 21.3 points (44.7% FG, 34.9% 3-PT, 79.4% FT), 6.2 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 1.00 steal, 0.83 blocked shots and 33.5 minutes over 40 games with the Maine Red Claws in his first professional season. The 23-year-old was originally selected by Boston in the second round (58th overall) of the 2016 NBA Draft.

Born in Alexandria, Egypt, Nader (6-6, 230 lbs.) became the first internationally-born player to be named Rookie of the Year in the G League. The 2016-17 G League All-Star scored at least 30 points in five contests, including a 32-point, 10-rebound, 8-assist game against the Long Island Nets on Jan. 6.

Bulls add David Nwaba

The Chicago Bulls announced Friday that the team has claimed guard David Nwaba (NWAH-buh) off waivers.

Nwaba (6-4, 209) was waived by the Los Angeles Lakers on July 12. He appeared in 20 games (two starts) for the Lakers last season and averaged 6.0 points and 3.1 rebounds in 19.9 minutes. Nwaba signed a 10-day contract with the Lakers on Feb. 28 after averaging 14.1 points, 6.9 rebounds, 1.4 steals and 1.0 blocks in 39 games with the Los Angeles D-Fenders of the NBA Development League. Nwaba signed a second 10-day contract on March 11 and signed with the Lakers for the remainder of the season on March 21. He was named to the D-League All-Defensive Team and the D-League All-Rookie Team.

The Los Angeles native played three seasons at Cal Poly, where he posted career averages of 11.9 points, 5.3 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 1.1 steals and 26.0 minutes.

Hawks sign rookie Tyler Dorsey

The Atlanta Hawks have signed rookie guard Tyler Dorsey, it was announced by General Manager and Head of Basketball Operations Travis Schlenk.

Dorsey, a second round pick (41st overall) by the Hawks in the 2017 NBA Draft, averaged 14.6 points, 3.5 rebounds and 1.7 assists in 30.0 minutes (.467 FG%, .423 3FG%, .755 FT%) in 39 games (all starts) as a sophomore at Oregon during the Ducks’ run to the Final Four, earning Pac-12 Honorable Mention and Pac-12 All-Tournament Team honors.

As a freshman, the 6’5 Dorsey posted 13.4 points, 4.3 rebounds and 2.0 assists in 30.1 minutes (.441 FG%, .406 3FG%, .712 FT%) in 36 outings (35 starts), and was named to Pac-12 All-Freshman and All-Tournament teams. He finished his two-year career with averages of 14.1 points, 3.9 rebounds and 1.8 assists in 30.0 minutes (.455 FG%, .416 3FG%, .732 FT%) in 75 games (74 starting assignments), while becoming the second Oregon player to go over 1,000 career points as a sophomore.