NBA News Blog – Page 606 – NBA Blog

Bucks re-sign Miles Plumlee

The Bucks have re-signed restricted free agent center Miles Plumlee, the team has announced.

“Miles is an athletic big man that gives us added depth on the frontline,” said Bucks General Manager John Hammond. “He does a really good job as a finisher around the basket and also as a rim protector on the defensive end. We’re very happy to have him back with the Bucks.”

The 27-year-old Plumlee averaged 5.1 points and 3.8 rebounds in 14.3 minutes per game last season. He played in 61 games (14 starts) and shot a career- and team-high 60.1 percent from the field.

The 6-11 center enters his fifth NBA campaign with career averages of 5.6 points and 5.3 rebounds per game. Originally drafted by the Indiana Pacers in the first round (26th overall) of the 2012 NBA Draft, Plumlee has appeared in 228 career games (121 starts) with the Pacers, Phoenix Suns and Bucks.

Knicks sign J.P. Tokoto

The Knicks signed guard J.P. Tokoto today.

Until we hear otherwise, we will assume this deal merely brings Tokoto to Knicks training camp, where he’d have a chance to earn a regular season contract.

Tokoto, 6-6, 200-pounds, spent last season playing for the Oklahoma City Blue (D-League) where he averaged 11.1 points, 4.1 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.54 steals in 28.6 minutes in 48 games (25 starts).

He was drafted by the Sixers in the second round (58th overall) of the 2015 NBA Draft after playing three seasons at the University of North Carolina (2012-15). As a senior, Tokoto averaged 8.3 points, 5.6 rebounds, 4.3 assists and 1.47 steals over 29.1 minutes in 38 games (34 starts).

The Rockford, IL-native, appeared in five games for the Knicks’ entry in the 2016 Orlando Pro Summer League, averaging 10.2 points and 4.2 rebounds over 27.0 minutes.

Likely Knicks starters in the backcourt next season are Derrick Rose and Courtney Lee. Minutes off the bench will likely go to guards Brandon Jennings and perhaps Sasha Vujacic and/or Justin Holiday.

Knicks sign guard Ron Baker

The Knicks signed guard Ron Baker today.

Until we hear otherwise, we will assume this signing merely brings Baker to Knicks training camp.

The Hays, KS-native, appeared in five games for the Knicks summer league team in this year’s Orlando League, averaging 14.0 points, 5.6 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 2.80 steals over 29.6 minutes.

Baker, 6-4, 220-pounds, played four seasons at Wichita State University, averaging 13.2 points, on 43.3-percent shooting, with 4.2 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.31 steals over 30.6 minutes in 124 games. He was a part of three Missouri Valley Conference championships (2013, 2014, 2015), nine NCAA Tournament wins, two trips to the Sweet 16 (2013, 2015) and a trip to the 2013 Final Four. As a senior (2015-16), he averaged 14.0 points, 4.8 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1.51 steals over 31.6 minutes in 35 games. His postseason honors included: John R. Wooden Second Team All-American; USA Today Second Team All-American and 2015 finalist for Jerry West Award.

Delon Wright undergoes shoulder surgery

Raptors guard Delon Wright underwent arthroscopic shoulder stabilization today to fix a labral tear in his right shoulder. The procedure was performed by Dr. Riley Williams at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York City.

Wright sustained the injury July 16 in the fourth quarter of a Las Vegas Summer League game versus Minnesota. X-rays taken on-site at Thomas & Mack Center were negative for a fracture and his dislocated shoulder was put back in place. Additional testing revealed a torn labrum.

Wright is expected to be sidelined a minimum of four months.

Wright, the 20th overall pick by the Raptors in the first round of the 2015 NBA Draft, averaged 3.8 points, 1.4 rebounds, 1.1 assists and 8.5 minutes in 27 appearances last season.

Bucks sign rookies Thon Maker and Malcolm Brogdon

The Bucks have signed 2016 draft picks Thon Maker (10th overall) and Malcolm Brogdon (36th overall).

Maker played two seasons for the Athlete Institute Academy in Mono, Ontario, which plays in the seven-team Ontario Scholastic Basketball Association. Maker was selected League MVP, Finals MVP and First-Team All-Star following the 2015-16 season. He led the Canada Elite AAU team to the title game of the Under Armour 17-and-under league after averaging 16.5 points and 11.8 rebounds during the finals in 2015. The 19-year-old also represented the World Select Team at the 2015 Nike Hoop Summit.

Originally from South Sudan, Maker emigrated to Australia with his family when he was eight years old before moving to the United States as a teen to play high school basketball for Carlisle High School in Martinsville, Va., where he averaged 21.3 points, 13.3 rebounds and 4.2 blocks per game and was named Gatorade Virginia Boys Basketball Player of the Year in 2013-14.

In five NBA Summer League games, Maker averaged 14.2 points, 9.6 rebounds and 1.0 blocks per game which earned him All-NBA Summer League Second Team honors.

Brogdon played four years of college basketball at Virginia and averaged 18.2 points, 4.1 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game as a senior in 2015-16. He was named the 2016 ACC Player of the Year and ACC Defensive Player of the Year, becoming the first player in conference history to earn both honors in the same season. The 23-year-old was also a unanimous First Team All-American selection in 2016. He was also named to the All-ACC First Team as a junior (2015) and sophomore (2014). Brogdon concluded his Virginia career ranked ninth all-time in school history with 1,809 points scored. The Virginia product is a native of Atlanta, Ga., and played high school basketball at Greater Atlanta Christian (Norcross, Ga.).

In five NBA Summer League games, Brogdon averaged 10.2 points, 5.0 rebounds and 4.4 assists per game. He was one of 25 players chosen – including teammate Jabari Parker – for the 2016 USA Men’s Select Team that trained with the 2016 USA Basketball Men’s National Team during its training camp in Las Vegas, Nev.

Cavaliers waive Dahntay Jones

The Cavaliers have waived guard/forward Dahntay Jones, it was announced today by Cavs General Manager David Griffin.

According to the Akron Beacon Journal, today marked “two days before his $1.5 million contract for this season would have become guaranteed.”

Jones was signed by the Cavaliers on April 13, 2016, He had a very limited role on the team and was mostly an observer, appearing in one regular season game and 15 postseason games this past season.

Rockets sign Pablo Prigioni

The Rockets are limited at the point guard position, with Patrick Beverley and little else. Today they added depth to the spot with the signing of free agent guard Pablo Prigioni (pronunciation: pri-gee-OH-nee).

The team is still weak at the PG spot, especially with many of the NBA’s elite point guards residing in the Western conference. Though, shooting guard James Harden creates a lot of the team’s offense.

The 6-3, 185-pound Prigioni has appeared in 270 games with 51 starts across four NBA seasons while posting an assist-to-turnover ratio of 2.98. Dating back to 2012-13, he is one of 10 players with at least 270 games played to have more steals than turnovers, joining teammates Trevor Ariza and Corey Brewer. Prigioni spent the second half of the 2014-15 season with the Rockets and helped the team advance to the Western Conference Finals for the first time since 1996-97.

A native of Argentina, Prigioni has been playing professionally since he was 18 years old.

He will wear #9 for the Rockets.

Spurs sign Patricio Garino

The Spurs have signed forward Patricio Garino.

Until we hear otherwise, we’ll assume this is a non-guaranteed contract that just brings Garino to training camp.

Garino, 6-6/210, spent the past four seasons at George Washington University. In his final season, he helped guide the Colonials to the 2016 NIT Championship and was named to the All-Tournament Team. He earned Atlantic 10 All-Defensive Team and the All-Conference Second Team honors after averaging 14.1 points, 4.2 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.37 steals in 32.0 minutes, while shooting .510 (203-398) from the field and .430 (58-135) from three-point range.

Garino was named to the Atlantic 10 All-Defensive Team in each of his final three seasons. For his collegiate career he averaged 12.0 points, 4.3 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 1.71 steals in 30.1 minutes while shooting .508 (567-1,1167) from the field and .364 (102-280) from long range. He ranks third in school history on George Washington’s career steals list (219) and is 11th all-time in scoring (1,536 points).

A native of Mar del Plata, Argentina, Garino is a member of the Argentinian National Team and is a currently preparing for the 2016 Rio Olympics. He represented Argentina at the 2015 FIBA Americas Championship where the team won the silver medal.

Garino played on the Orlando Magic’s 2016 NBA Summer League team, where he averaged 12.0 points, 3.3 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 2.00 steals in 30.7 minutes over three games.

Cavaliers re-sign Richard Jefferson

That whole Richard Jefferson retirement thing didn’t work out

Richard Jefferson’s alleged retirement was short-lived. He’s back for more run with the champs. The Cavaliers re-signed veteran Jefferson today.

“RJ’s versatility on the court and leadership off it were core parts of our identity and success last year,” said Cavaliers General Manager David Griffin. “In many respects, his impact was greater as the stakes got higher. His NBA Finals performance is a testament to his dedicated, steady approach and his presence in our locker room throughout the year and postseason cannot be overstated. We’re very thankful he decided to continue his career and we know that his teammates appreciate what he brings to this team at a very deep level.”

Jefferson (6-7, 233) appeared in 74 games (five starts) during the 2015-16 regular season, averaging 5.5 points on .458 shooting from the field and 1.7 rebounds in 17.9 minutes per game. Over his 15-year career, he has played in 1,082 games (796 starts) with New Jersey (currently Brooklyn), Milwaukee, San Antonio, Golden State, Utah, Dallas and Cleveland, averaging 13.3 points on .464 shooting from the field, 4.2 rebounds and 2.1 assists in 30.1 minutes per game.

Salt Lake City Stars name head coach

The Salt Lake City Stars, the NBA Development League affiliate of the Utah Jazz, announced today that Dean Cooper will return as head coach for the team’s inaugural 2016-17 season in Salt Lake City.

Cooper enters his third season as the head coach for the Jazz’s D-League affiliate. Before joining the organization in 2014, Cooper spent two seasons as an assistant coach for the Houston Rockets on Kevin McHale’s staff. He began his NBA career with the Rockets in 1999 as a video coordinator, eventually becoming an assistant coach to Rudy Tomjanovich. When Jeff Van Gundy succeeded Tomjanovich, Cooper transitioned to the front office as a personnel scout for one season before eventually becoming the Director of Scouting (2004-07) and Vice President of Player Personnel (2007-08).

He spent the 2008-09 season as an assistant coach for the Minnesota Timberwolves when McHale was the interim coach. Following a one-year stint as a regional scout for the Timberwolves (2009-10), Cooper became Director of Player Development for the Portland Trail Blazers under Nate McMillan.

Prior to the NBA, Cooper coached four years at the collegiate level.

The Salt Lake City Stars, the NBA D-League team owned and operated by the Utah Jazz, will play their inaugural season in Utah in 2016-17. The Utah Jazz relocated the Boise-based Idaho Stampede in April 2016 after purchasing the team in March 2015 following a single affiliation agreement for the 2014 season.