Category: NBA News Blog

NBA news blog

Nets are adding Dahntay Jones

With NBA training camps opening in a few weeks, we’ve reached the part of the offseason where the vast majority of players who are going to receive guaranteed contracts for the upcoming season have already been signed. At this point, most signings will be non-guaranteed deals merely bringing players into training camp. Here’s the New York Daily News with the Brooklyn Nets latest:

Nets are adding Dahntay Jones

The Nets added some veteran savvy and feistiness to their training camp roster by coming to terms with free agent guard and Jersey-product Dahntay Jones, the Daily News confirmed.

The 34-year-old Jones agreed to a non-guaranteed deal and will try to make the team out of training camp at Duke University, a school he attended for two years after transferring from Rutgers.

Alternate black Suns uniform coming Tuesday

Here’s the Arizona Republic reporting some Phoenix Suns uniform news. It’s always cool when teams roll out alternate jerseys, because in some cases the take some chances that pay off big. And then suddenly there’s something awesome worth buying. As for the report:

The Suns will be back in black next season.

On Tuesday, the Suns will reveal an alternate black uniform for the coming season, along with the “#WeArePHX” marketing campaign that already has been used in some recent franchise initiatives.

The Suns have not worn a black uniform since they donned an alternate throwback black uniform during the 2012-13 season. That uniform was designed after the 1994-95 black jerseys but this uniform will have a new style.

Tom Gores buys rest of Pistons

The Detroit Pistons are built around guards Reggie Jackson and Brandon Jennings, and center Andre Drummond. And maybe rookie Stanley Johnson, if he’s as good as he thinks he is. Here’s the Detroit Free Press reporting on Pistons ownership:

Detroit Pistons owner Tom Gores had a 51% stake in the team. Now he has a 100% stake.

Gores has bought the remaining 49% from his firm, Platinum Equity, according to firm partner Mark Barnhill.

Though this won’t change anything from a control standpoint – Gores, the founder, chairman and CEO of Platinum Equity, has had full control of the Pistons’ operation since becoming majority owner in 2011, Barnhill said in an email to the Free Press – this transaction gives Gores 100% of the equity, which is important for his long-term commitment to the franchise.

Gores also owns Palace Sports & Entertainment.

Miami Heat sign Greg Whittington

The Miami HEAT announced today that they have signed forward Greg Whittington.

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

Whittington appeared in nine total games (six starts) with the HEAT during Summer League play in both Orlando and Las Vegas this summer and averaged 9.1 points, 6.2 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 1.44 steals and 1.33 blocks while shooting 43.5 percent from the field, 39.1 percent from three-point range and a perfect 13-of-13 from the foul line. During Las Vegas Summer League play, he led the team in points (65), rebounds (41), blocks (8) and three-point field goals made (8).

Whittington spent two seasons at Georgetown University appearing in 46 games (13 starts) averaging 6.5 points, 4.0 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 24.4 minutes while shooting 42.4 percent from the field. He scored a career-high 25 points while also grabbing 11 rebounds against West Carolina on December 15, 2012 and posted three double-figure rebounding games as a sophomore, including a career-high 15-rebound effort against Duquesne on November 11, 2012.

The HEAT’s roster now stands at 18.

Grizzlies forward Jarell Martin suffers fractured foot

The Memphis Grizzlies announced that rookie forward Jarell Martin sustained a fractured left foot today following a collision with another player during a workout. He will undergo surgery tomorrow, Sept. 3, which will be performed by team physicians Dr. Fred Azar and Dr. Drew Murphy at the Campbell Clinic. There is no timetable for his return. Further updates will be provided when available.

The 21-year-old was selected by the Grizzlies with the 25th overall pick in the first round of the 2015 NBA Draft. A native of Baton Rouge, La., Martin played two seasons at Louisiana State University and finished his collegiate career with averages of 13.7 points, 6.9 rebounds and 1.4 assists in 30.7 minutes in 65 games (57 starts) for the Tigers.

Cavaliers re-sign J.R. Smith

Cavaliers re-sign J.R. Smith

The Cleveland Cavaliers have re-signed guard J.R. Smith, General Manager David Griffin announced today from Cleveland Clinic Courts.

According to ESPN.com, “the deal is for two years and more than $10 million total… The second year of the contract [is] a player option.”

Smith played in 70 games (51 starts) with Cleveland and New York in the 2014-15 regular season, averaging 12.1 points, 3.1 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.2 steals in 29.7 minutes per game. He also shot .383 from the three-point line and ranked 11th in the NBA in three-pointers made with 163. In his 46 games (45 starts) with the Cavs, the 6-6 guard shot .390 from beyond the arc and averaged 12.7 points, 3.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.4 steals in 31.8 minutes per game. He led Cleveland in steal-to-turnover ratio (1.23) and made the most three-pointers in the Eastern Conference since the Cavs acquired him in a three-team trade on Jan. 5, 2015 (131 three-pointers).

Over his 11-year NBA career, Smith owns career averages of 13.2 points, 3.3 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.0 steal in 26.5 minutes over 762 games (218 starts) with New Orleans, Denver, New York and Cleveland. He currently ranks 24th in NBA history in three-pointers made (1,475) and has 13 games with at least eight three-pointers, which is the most in NBA history. He also holds the NBA record with 25 games of at least seven three-pointers made.

During Cleveland’s NBA Finals run in the 2015 playoffs, Smith appeared in 18 games (four starts), averaging 12.8 points and 4.7 rebounds in 31.1 minutes per game.

Atlanta Hawks to retire Dikembe Mutombo jersey number

Hawks to retire Dikembe Mutombo jersey number

Atlanta Hawks CEO Steve Koonin and President of Basketball Operations and Head Coach Mike Budenholzer announced earlier today that the organization will retire Dikembe Mutombo’s No. 55 uniform in a special ceremony on November 24th when the Hawks host the Boston Celtics at Philips Arena. The announcement was made during a ceremony recognizing today as Dikembe Mutombo Day in Fulton County.

“There are very few players who have had the impact on- and off-the-court that Dikembe has had, and he’s very deserving of this honor,” Koonin said. “As a player, man and humanitarian, he represents everything we want to be associated with. November 24th is going to be a memorable night in our franchise’s history, in Atlanta, in Fulton County, and for Dikembe and his family.”

Mutombo, who will be enshrined into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame on Sept. 11, spent five seasons (343 games) with the Hawks (1996-2001), finishing with averages of 11.9 points, 12.6 rebounds, 3.2 blocks and 1.2 assists in 36.2 minutes (.529 FG%).

He ranks third in franchise history in career field goal percentage (.529), blocks (1,094) and rebounds per game (12.6), seventh in defensive rebounds (3,093) and ninth in offensive rebounds (1,228) and minutes per game. He holds the second (277, 1997-98), fourth (269, 1999-00) and fifth positions (264, 1996-97) on the franchise list for most blocks in a single season, and has the sixth-best field goal percentage season (.562, 1999-00) in club history.

Overall, he played 18 years in the league (1,196 games), ranking second in NBA history in blocked shots (3,289) and 19th in rebounds (12,359), averaging 9.8 points, 10.3 rebounds, 2.8 blocks and 1.0 assists in 30.8 minutes (.518 FG%). He was a four-time Defensive Player of the Year (tied for the most in league history), eight-time All-Star and is the only two-time winner of the J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award.

Mutombo will join Hawks legends Dominique Wilkins (#21), Lou Hudson (#23), Bob Pettit (#9) and Ted Turner as those honored in Philips Arena’s rafters.

Nigeria wins 2015 AfroBasket, clinches spot in 2016 Olympics

Here’s FIBA.com reporting on Nigeria, who will compete in the 2016 Olympics:

Nigeria beat Angola 74-65 in the Final of AfroBasket 2015 in Rades, Tunisia on Sunday to claim their first-ever continental championship.

Angola went into the game looking to win a 12th African title, but some poor shooting boosted Nigeria’s confidence as they led by as many as 19 points.

The win also saw Nigeria qualify for the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics.

In finishing second, Angola joined third- and fourth-place teams Tunisia and Senegal in booking their places for the 2016 FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournaments (OQTs).

Sacramento Kings promote Vlade Divac

Sacramento Kings promote Vlade Divac

The Sacramento Kings today announced that Vlade Divac will serve as the Vice President of Basketball Operations and General Manager moving forward. Hired in March as the V.P. of Basketball and Franchise Operations, his expanded role in the Kings front office emphasizes a commitment to improving the organization on the court and comes in conjunction with Mike Bratz being named Assistant General Manager, Roland Beech as Vice President of Basketball Strategy and Data Science and Peja Stojakovic as Director of Player Personnel and Development.

Entering his third season in the Kings front office, Bratz brings nearly 40 years of basketball experience as a player, coach, scout and front office executive to bear in his position, which includes scouting collegiate, professional and international talent and maintaining player databases, in addition to helping Divac oversee all aspects of the day-to-day operation of the Kings basketball operations department. His Kings lineage connects him to Sacramento as both a player and coach, suiting up for the team during its inaugural 1985-86 campaign in the River City and also as an assistant for seven seasons from 1991-1998.

Beech joins the Kings as Vice President of Basketball Strategy and Data Science after spending the previous decade in a variety of positions with Dallas, most recently serving as the Mavericks Vice President of Basketball Operations. His experience includes time on the bench as an assistant coach during Dallas’ championship season in 2011. A vanguard of the analytics movement since founding 82games.com—a well-respected resource providing innovative, data-driven basketball analysis, Beech has accrued distinctive experiences working on the cutting edge of statistical evaluation as a consultant, coach and front office executive.

Stojakovic rejoins the organization after one of the most successful playing careers in Sacramento Kings annals. In his new role as Director of Player Personnel and Development, he will be responsible for keeping abreast of domestic and international talent pools available to the Kings as well as assisting Divac and Bratz with the team’s scouting efforts. Additionally, Stojakovic will serve as general manager for the Reno Bighorns, Sacramento’s D-League affiliate. Selected 14th overall in the 1996 NBA Draft, the Serbian-born sharpshooter helped form a nucleus that would go on to participate in the postseason in each of his seven seasons in a Kings uniform.

“We’re fortunate as an organization to enter this season with three professionals of this caliber,” said Divac. “Having such individuals as integral members of our basketball operations team offers more than a unique set of basketball philosophies, experiences and instincts, but also a depth of character commonly associated with winning cultures. With Mike, Roland and Peja on board, I’m more confident than ever in the future success of the Sacramento Kings.”