NBA News Blog – Page 708 – NBA Blog

Report: Jazz interested in Garrett Temple

Here’s the Deseret News reporting on the Utah Jazz, who recently learned that talented young guard Dante Exum has suffered a torn ACL, which means he’s probably out for the season:

The Jazz are interested in pursuing a trade for Wizards guard Garrett Temple, the Deseret News has been informed.

According to a source, Jazz coach Quin Snyder is a proponent of the 6-foot-6 Temple, who would give the team a big defensive presence in Exum’s absence.

Jazz general manager Dennis Lindsey refuted the notion that the Jazz are discussing potential temporary replacements for Exum. At this point, he believes that would be insensitive to Exum and his parents.

“There is a bunch of speculation out there right now,” Lindsey said during an interview with 1280 The Zone on Thursday.

Mavericks re-sign Charlie Villanueva

The Dallas Mavericks announced today that they have re-signed forward Charlie Villanueva.

Villanueva (6-11, 238) holds career averages of 10.9 points, 4.8 rebounds and 21.7 minutes in 594 games (159 starts) with Toronto, Milwaukee, Detroit and Dallas. Villanueva was named to the NBA’s All-Rookie First Team in 2005-06 after averaging 13.0 points, 6.4 rebounds, 1.1 assists and 29.1 minutes in 81 games (36 starts). He had a breakout year in 2008-09 when he averaged 16.2 points, 6.7 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 26.9 minutes in his final season with Milwaukee.

In his first season with Dallas, Villanueva averaged 6.3 points, 2.3 rebounds and 10.6 minutes in 64 games (one start). He shot 37.6 percent (83-of-221) from beyond the arc in 2014-15.

The Queens, N.Y., native was a standout at the University of Connecticut where, as a freshman, he earned Big East All-Rookie Team honors and won an NCAA National Championship. As a sophomore, he led the team in scoring (13.6 ppg) and was named the team’s MVP. Villanueva declared for the NBA Draft following his sophomore season and was drafted seventh overall by the Toronto Raptors in 2005.

Mavericks sign Samuel Dalembert

The Dallas Mavericks announced today that they have signed free agent center Samuel Dalembert.

This will be Dalembert’s second stint in Dallas. He signed with the Mavericks as a free agent in July, 2013 and averaged 6.6 points, 6.8 rebounds, 1.2 blocks and 20.2 minutes in 80 games (68 starts) during the 2013-14 season. After one year with the Mavericks, Dalembert was traded to the New York Knicks, along with guards Jose Calderon, Wayne Ellington and Shane Larkin and two 2014 second round picks, in exchange for Tyson Chandler and Raymond Felton.

Dalembert (6-11, 255) has played a total of 886 games (694 starts) with Philadelphia, Sacramento, Houston, Milwaukee, Dallas and New York and has career averages of 7.7 points, 7.8 rebounds and 1.7 blocks in 24.4 minutes per game.

Born in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Dalembert is the only Haitian-born player in the NBA. He spent 14 years in Haiti before moving to Montreal and becoming a Canadian citizen in August, 2007. He played collegiately at Seton Hall and averaged 7.1 points, 5.8 rebounds and 2.83 blocks in 59 games over two years. He currently owns the school record for career blocked shots (267).

Knicks sign Kevin Seraphin

New York Knicks President Phil Jackson announced today that the team has signed forward/center Kevin Seraphin.

Seraphin, 6-10, 278-pounds, holds career averages of 6.4 points, 3.7 rebounds and 16.4 minutes in 326 games (31 starts) over five seasons with Washington. He appeared in 79 games for the Wizards last season, averaging 6.6 points, on 51.3-percent shooting, with 3.6 rebounds over 15.6 minutes.

The Cayenne, French Guiana-native, was originally selected by Chicago with the 17th overall pick in the 2010 NBA Draft before having his draft rights traded to Washington. He played professionally for Cholet Basket (France) from 2007-10 and Caja Laboral (Spain) for part of the 2011-12 season.

John Wall to participate in Team USA mini-camp

Here’s the Washington Post reporting on Wizards star point guard John Wall, who is entering the Team USA mix that is briefly gathering this summer in preparation for next summer’s competition:

John Wall has decided to participate in Team USA’s upcoming minicamp in Las Vegas, the Washington Wizards point guard confirmed Tuesday evening.

Wall, one of 41 invitees, was unsure whether he would join the three-day camp, scheduled for Aug. 11-13, after receiving a late invitation for last year’s training camp in preparation for the FIBA World Cup and being one of first three players cut along with teammate Bradley Beal and Atlanta Hawks forward Paul Millsap. Beal confirmed he is also participating in the minicamp over the weekend. The camp will be held on UNLV’s campus and will conclude with a scrimmage on Aug. 13.

Major concern over Dante Exum injury

Here’s the Deseret News reporting on promising young Jazz guard Dante Exum, who may have suffered a very serious injury:

In 2014, Rudy Gobert’s time spent playing with his national team was instrumental in the French center’s successful second year in the NBA.

That was the best-case scenario for a pro playing for his country.

Dante Exum just experienced the worst-case scenario.

The Australian point guard injured his left knee Tuesday while playing for the Boomers in an international friendly game against Slovenia.

Initial concern is that Exum might have torn the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee, a source told the Deseret News.

Exum will return to Utah for further evaluation on his knee by the team’s doctors at the University of Utah Health Care, the Jazz announced shortly after the injury occurred on the other side of the world.

Magic sign Melvin Ejim

The Orlando Magic have signed forward Melvin Ejim (EDGE-um), General Manager Rob Hennigan announced today.

Ejim (6’6”, 220, 3/4/91) played in 47 games (45 starts) last season with Virtus Roma in Italy, averaging 7.9 ppg., 5.6 rpg. and 1.00 stlpg. in 24.1 minpg. He recently played with the Orlando Magic “White” team during the 2015 Southwest Airlines Orlando Pro Summer League, averaging 9.2 ppg., 6.8 rpg., 1.6 apg. and 1.00 stlpg. in 30.0 minpg.

Ejim, who was not drafted by an NBA franchise in 2014, played in 135 games (126 starts) during four seasons at Iowa State University from 2010-14, averaging 12.2 ppg., 7.8 rpg., 1.4 apg. and 1.08 stlpg. in 27.8 minpg., while shooting .497 (596-1,158) from the floor. He finished his collegiate career as the Cyclones’ all-time leader in games played and games started. Ejim also finished on the school’s all-time list in rebounding (second, 1,051) and is the only player in ISU history to amass 1,000 points, 1,000 rebounds and 100 steals. Ejim was named the Big 12 Player of the Year in 2013-14. He helped Iowa State captured the 2013-14 Big 12 Tournament championship and reach the Sweet Sixteen during the 2014 NCAA Tournament.

Dante Exum suffers knee injury

The following is a medical update on Utah Jazz guard Danté Exum:

Exum suffered a left knee injury today while competing for the Australian National Team in a game against the Slovenian National Team in Ljubljana, Slovenia. Exum was initially treated on site and will now return to Salt Lake City for further medical evaluation by the Utah Jazz medical staff and official healthcare partner University of Utah Health Care.

Further updates will be provided soon.

Clippers sign Pablo Prigioni

The Los Angeles Clippers signed Pablo Prigioni today, adding depth behind Chris Paul at the point guard position.

Prigioni, 38, joins the Clippers after playing in a total of 67 regular season games (three starts) last season with the Houston Rockets (24 games) and the New York Knicks (43 games), averaging 4.1 points, 1.8 rebounds and 2.6 assists in 17.9 minutes.

The 6-foot-3 guard enjoyed a decorated international career before signing with the Knicks in 2012 and has appeared in 211 career regular NBA season games (48 starts) with New York and Houston, owning career averages of 3.8 points, 1.9 rebounds and 3.0 assists in 17.7 minutes.

A veteran of the Spanish and Argentine leagues, Prigioni played for Ramallo (1995-96), Belgrano (1996-98) and Obras Sanitarias (1998-99) of the Argentine League and for Fuenlabrada (1999-01), Alicante (2001-03), Caja Laboral (2003-09, 2011) and Real Madrid (2009-11) of the Spanish ACB and LEB Leagues. He won the Spanish National Championship in 2007-08, the King’s Cup three times (2004, 2006, 2009) and Spanish Super Cup three times (2005, 2006, 2008) and is also a two-time All-Euroleague second team selection (2006, 2007).

The Rio Tercero, Argentina native was a member of the 2008 Argentinian National Team that captured Bronze in the Beijing Summer Olympics and the 2012 team in the London Summer Olympics. Prigioni helped Argentina win a Gold medal at the 2011 FIBA Americas Championship, a Silver medal at the 2007 Americas Championship and a Bronze medal at the 2009 Americas Championship. He also represented Argentina in the 2006 and 2010 World Championships.

Raptors announce front office promotions

The Toronto Raptors announced Tuesday the promotion of Teresa Resch to Vice President, Basketball Operations and Player Development and Dan Tolzman to Director, Player Personnel.
Resch joined the Raptors in 2013. She will continue her responsibilities for off-court player development programs and as a liaison between basketball and team business operations.
Resch has also played an instrumental role in overseeing plans for the team’s new practice facility slated to open in February, 2016.

Tolzman joined the Raptors in 2013 as Director of Scouting. In addition to input on personnel and roster decisions, he will continue to head all aspects of the team’s scouting department, including college and professional scouting, talent assessment and related data management.

On July 7, Tolzman was named the first general manager of the Raptors’ new NBA D-League affiliate, Raptors 905. As the club’s general manager, Tolzman will lead all basketball operations and player personnel matters, including roster management and development, player transactions, scouting and drafting.