NBA News Blog – Page 615 – NBA Blog

Nets sign Luis Scola and Greivis Vasquez

The Brooklyn Nets have signed forward Luis Scola and guard Greivis Vasquez.

“Luis and Greivis are ideal fits for the team culture we are building in Brooklyn,” said Nets’ General Manager Sean Marks. “Both are terrific competitors who will provide leadership and veteran experience to our locker room. Luis adds toughness, scoring and passing ability to our frontline, while Greivis is effective from either backcourt position, both as a facilitator and a scorer.”

Scola (6’9”, 241) joins the Nets after spending the 2015-16 season with the Toronto Raptors. Scola appeared in and started 76 games, averaging 8.7 points and 4.7 rebounds in 21.5 minutes per game. In nine NBA seasons split between Houston (2007-12), Phoenix (2012-13), Indiana (2013-15) and Toronto, Scola owns career averages of 12.3 points, 6.8 rebounds and 1.6 assists in 26.2 minutes per game in 707 games (504 starts). He has also appeared in 48 career postseason games, recording averages of 8.5 points and 4.7 rebounds in 21.4 minutes per game. The 36-year-old was originally selected with the 56th overall pick in the 2002 NBA Draft by San Antonio, but did not make his NBA debut until the 2007-08 season after his draft rights were traded to Houston. As a rookie, Scola earned All-Rookie First Team honors with averages of 10.3 points, 6.4 rebounds and 1.3 assists in 24.7 minutes per game. Prior to the NBA, the Buenos Aries, Argentina native began his professional career in his home country with Ferro Carril Oeste in 1995-96 at the age of 15. He played three years in Argentina before moving to Spain, where he played nine seasons with three clubs, including seven seasons with Tau Ceramica (2000-07). Scola earned Euroleague First Team honors in 2005-06 and 2006-07, was named the MVP of the Spanish League in 2004-05 and 2006-07 and garnered Rookie of the Year honors in 2000. Scola is also a decorated player on the international stage. Representing his native Argentina, Scola will become a four-time Olympian when he competes at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio. He earned a gold medal at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, as well as a bronze at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing.

Vasquez (6’6”, 217) has appeared in 398 games (157 starts) in six NBA seasons with Memphis (2010-11), New Orleans (2011-13), Sacramento (2013), Toronto (2013-15) and Milwaukee (2015-16), recording averages of 9.0 points, 2.6 rebounds and 4.8 assists in 23.8 minutes per game. He has also appeared in 24 career postseason games, averaging 6.5 points, 2.2 rebounds and 3.0 assists in 18.0 minutes per game. This past season with the Bucks, the 29-year-old saw action in just 23 games due to right ankle surgery, registering averages of 5.7 points, 2.0 rebounds and 4.0 assists in 20.0 minutes per game. The native of Caracas, Venezuela was originally selected with the 28th pick in the first round of the 2010 NBA Draft by the Grizzlies, becoming the first Venezuelan-born player drafted in the NBA. Prior to the NBA, Vasquez spent four years at the University of Maryland, helping to lead the Terrapins to three NCAA Tournament appearances. Vasquez earned All-ACC second-team honors as a sophomore and junior before completing his standout collegiate career by garnering ACC Player of the Year, All-ACC first-team and consensus second-team All-American recognition as a senior. Vasquez is a member of the Venezuelan team that will compete at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio.

Miami Heat sign center Willie Reed

The Miami Heat have signed center Willie Reed.

Reed has appeared in 144 career NBA Development League games (101 starts) and averaged 15.3 points, 9.9 rebounds, 1.78 blocks and 31.4 minutes while shooting 58.4 percent from the field. In his most recent NBA D-League stint during the 2014-15 season, he split the season between the Grand Rapids Drive and the Iowa Energy, appearing in 47 games (38 starts) and averaging 16.4 points, 12.2 rebounds, 1.91 blocks, 1.1 assists and 33.7 minutes while shooting 60.1 percent from the field. He led the league in total rebounds (573) and offensive rebounds (216) and was named to the NBA D-League’s First Team, All-Defensive First Team and All-Star team.

Reed appeared in 39 games (two starts) with the Nets last season and averaged 4.7 points, 3.1 rebounds and 10.9 minutes of action while shooting 57.1 percent from the field. He scored in double-figures six times and led the team in blocks on 13 occasions, second-most on the team. He spent the 2015 NBA Summer League with the HEAT appearing in four games (all starts) and averaged 13.5 points, 7.8 rebounds, 1.75 blocks and 25.5 minutes while shooting 60 percent from the field. He helped Miami to a perfect 4-0 record over that span while leading the team in rebounds (31), blocks (7) and field goals made (21).

Grizzlies sign James Ennis

The Memphis Grizzlies have signed forward James Ennis, to a multi-year contract.

Ennis (6-7, 210) returns to Memphis after making 10 appearances for the Grizzlies last season. He finished the 2015-16 season with the New Orleans Pelicans, where he played nine games and averaged 15.9 points, 3.9 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.33 steals in 31.3 minutes while shooting 50.0 percent from the field, 48.0 percent from three-point range and 79.2 percent from the free throw line. Ennis shot 24-of-50 from beyond the arc in his nine-game stint in New Orleans, making multiple threes in seven of those games.

The 26-year-old has appeared in 84 regular season games (eight starts) in his two-year NBA career with the Miami Heat, Memphis Grizzlies and New Orleans Pelicans and averaged 5.6 points and 2.6 rebounds in 16.4 minutes while shooting 43.1 percent from the field, 37.3 percent from three-point range and 81.3 percent from the foul line.

Ennis also has competed in 24 NBA Development League games (21 starts) for the Grizzlies’ D-League affiliate, the Iowa Energy, and averaged 18.8 points, 6.0 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.00 steals in 33.3 minutes while shooting 45.4 percent from the field, 32.1 percent from three-point range and 69.7 percent from the free throw line.

A native of Ventura, Calif., Ennis was drafted by the Atlanta Hawks in the second round (50th overall) of the 2013 NBA Draft following his senior season at California State University, Long Beach where he was named the 2013 Big West Player of the Year. His draft rights were traded by Atlanta to Miami on draft night for a future second round draft pick.

Ennis began his professional career playing for the Perth Wildcats in the Australian National Basketball League (NBL), where he was named the 2013-14 Australian NBL Player of the Year, before playing for Piratas de Quebradillas in the Puerto Rican BSN.

Warriors sign rookie center Damian Jones

The Golden State Warriors have signed rookie center Damian Jones to a contract.

All players selected in the first round of the draft are guaranteed to receive a contract, assuming they wish to begin their NBA career right away.

Jones, 21, was selected by the Warriors with the 30th overall pick in the first round of the 2016 NBA Draft on June 23. In three seasons at Vanderbilt University, the 6’10” center averaged 13.3 points, 6.4 rebounds, 1.69 blocks and 27.2 minutes in 99 games, garnering First Team All-SEC honors as both a sophomore and junior. Jones hit 56.6 percent from the field during his collegiate career, the third-best mark in Vanderbilt history, while finishing second on the school’s all-time blocks list (167). In his junior season in 2015-16, Jones averaged 13.9 points, 6.9 rebounds and 1.64 blocks in 33 games, helping the Commodores to their first NCAA Tournament berth since 2011-12.

Warriors re-sign James Michael McAdoo

The Golden State Warriors have re-signed free agent forward James Michael McAdoo.

McAdoo, 23, appeared in 41 regular-season games with the Warriors last season (one start), averaging 2.9 points and 1.4 rebounds in 6.4 minutes per contest. In eight postseason games, the 6-9 forward tallied 0.6 points and 1.0 rebounds in 4.8 minutes.

A two-year NBA veteran, McAdoo owns career averages of 3.2 points, 1.7 rebounds and 7.1 minutes in 56 regular-season games (one start) with the Warriors. As a rookie in 2014-15, the University of North Carolina product was a member of Golden State’s first championship season in 40 years.

Timberwolves sign Cole Aldrich

The Minnesota Timberwolves have signed center Cole Aldrich, a Bloomington, Minnesota native.

Aldrich’s deal is reportedly a $22 million dollar contract, over three years.

Aldrich, 27, averaged 5.5 points, 4.8 rebounds and 1.1 blocks in 13.3 minutes per game last season with the Los Angeles Clippers. Aldrich started five games for the Clippers in 2015-16, averaging 15.8 points, 11.0 rebounds and 2.4 steals in 29.6 minutes per contest. Aldrich posted career highs in field goal percentage (59.6%), blocks per game (1.13) and steals per game (0.78) and was the only player in the NBA last season to record a game of at least 21 points, 18 rebounds and 5 steals.

The 6-11 center owns career averages of 3.6 points, 3.7 rebounds and 0.8 blocks in parts of six NBA seasons with Los Angeles, New York, Sacramento, Houston and Oklahoma City. Aldrich was originally the 11th overall selection in the 2010 NBA Draft by New Orleans before his draft rights were traded to Oklahoma City on July 8, 2010.

Aldrich starred for Bloomington Jefferson High School, earning 2007 Minnesota State High School Player of the Year honors from Gatorade, the Minneapolis Star Tribune and St. Paul Pioneer Press as he led the Jaguars to Lake Conference and Section 2AAAA titles. Aldrich was also named a McDonald’s All-American in 2006.

Aldrich went on to play for the University of Kansas where he averaged 9.4 points, 7.7 rebounds and 2.3 blocks in three years as a Jayhawk. Aldrich was a consensus 2nd Team All-America selection and a Wooden Award Finalist his junior season before declaring for the NBA draft.

Sixers sign Jerryd Bayless and Sergio Rodriguez

The Philadelphia 76ers have signed guards Jerryd Bayless and Sergio Rodriguez.

Bayless’ deal is reportedly a $27 million dollar contract, over three years.

“We are very excited to add a proven veteran and skilled combination guard like Jerryd Bayless to the Sixers’ family. Jerryd’s shot-making ability and versatility combined with his professional and hyper competitive approach to the game will serve us well both on and off the basketball court,” said Sixers President of Basketball Operations Bryan Colangelo. “Sergio Rodriguez is another experienced and solid professional that we are happy to bring back to the NBA and to Philadelphia. Sergio has competed against the world’s best point guards at both the international and NBA level, and he has proven to be a great floor leader and decision maker while finding much team success throughout his career.”

In the 2015-16 season, Bayless shot just under 44 percent from three-point range, which ranked fourth-best in the league behind only J.J. Redick (Los Angeles Clippers), Stephen Curry (Golden State) and Kawhi Leonard (San Antonio).

An eight-year NBA veteran, Bayless has appeared in 510 games (81 starts) for Milwaukee, Boston, Memphis, Toronto, New Orleans and Portland. He holds career averages of nine points, three assists and two rebounds in 21 minutes per game. Bayless played one season at the University of Arizona before being selected by Indiana with the 11th overall pick in the 2008 NBA Draft.

A native of Tenerife, Spain, Rodriguez has spent the last six seasons playing for Real Madrid in the Spanish Liga ACB. This past season, he helped lead Real Madrid to its third league championship in four seasons, as he averaged 11 points and a league-leading six assists per contest. Rodriguez was named the 2013-14 Euroleague MVP after shooting 51 percent from the field (including 50 percent from three-point range) and 91 percent from the foul line, while averaging 14 points, five assists and two rebounds over 31 games.

Rodriguez was originally selected by Phoenix with the 27th overall pick in the 2006 NBA Draft. Over the course of four seasons, Rodriguez appeared in 285 games (22 starts) for New York, Sacramento and Portland. He holds NBA career averages of four points and three assists in 13 minutes per game.

Miami Heat sign Stefan Jankovic

The Miami Heat have signed forward Stefan Jankovic.

Until we hear otherwise, we will assume this is a non-guaranteed contract that merely brings Jankovic to training camp.

Jankovic, a 6’11”, 234-pound forward, is currently playing on Miami’s Summer League team in Las Vegas where he has appeared in two games, both HEAT wins, totaling eight points, three assists and two rebounds in 26:44 minutes of action.

Prior to that he competed in the Orlando Pro Summer League with Miami appearing in three games, helping the HEAT to a perfect 3-0 record in those contests, averaging 7.3 points, 2.3 rebounds and 13.5 minutes while shooting 53.3 percent (8-of-15) from the field, 40 percent (2-of-5) from three-point range and 80 percent (4-of-5) from the foul line. He posted a 17-point game off the bench against the Los Angeles Clippers on July 2 after shooting 7-of-10 from the field, 2-of-4 from three-range and a perfect 1-of-1 from the foul line.

Jankovic played two seasons at the University of Hawai’i after beginning his collegiate career at the University of Missouri. During the 2015-16 season as a junior at Hawai’i, he was named the Big West Player of the Year after averaging 15.6 points, 6.6 rebounds, 1.21 blocks, 1.2 assists and 24.7 minutes in 33 games (all starts) while shooting 54.3 percent from the floor, 39.3 percent from three-point range and 77.2 percent from the foul line. He helped the Rainbow Warriors capture the Big West Tournament Championship and advance to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. In addition to being selected to the All-Big West First Team and to the Big West All-Tournament Team, he led Hawai’i in points, rebounds, blocks and field goal percentage for the season and topped the Big West Conference in free throws made and attempted. Additionally, he posted five double-doubles and scored a career-high 34 points, while tallying eight rebounds and two blocks, against California State University, Northridge on February 18. In his two seasons at Hawai’i he appeared in 57 games (47 starts) and averaged 13.5 points, 5.9 rebounds, 1.28 blocks and 22.9 minutes while connecting on 52.4 percent from the floor, 36.6 percent from behind the three-point arc and 75 percent from the foul line.

Pelicans waive Toney Douglas

The New Orleans Pelicans today announced that the team has waived guard Toney Douglas.

Douglas, 6-2, 185, appeared in 61 games (18 starts) for the Pelicans during the 2015-16 season, holding averages of 8.7 points, 2.6 assists, 2.3 rebounds and 1.1 steals. Originally signed by New Orleans on February 4, 2015, Douglas appeared in 73 total games for the Pelicans, averaging 8.0 points, 2.5 assists, 2.3 rebounds and 1.1 steals in 19.7 minutes per contest.

Originally drafted 29th overall out of Florida State University in 2009 by the Los Angeles Lakers, Douglas has appeared in 370 career regular season games with New York, Houston, Sacramento, Golden State, Miami and New Orleans, averaging 7.8 points, 2.3 assists and 2.2 rebounds per game.

Hawks waive Lamar Patterson

The Atlanta Hawks have requested waivers on Lamar Patterson, President of Basketball Operations/Head Coach Mike Budenholzer announced today.

Patterson, a 6-5, 225-pound guard/forward, was the 48th overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft by the Milwaukee Bucks, appeared in 35 games for the Hawks in 2015-16.