NBA News Blog – Page 709 – NBA Blog

Warriors announce coaching staff

The Golden State Warriors will bring back all but one member of Head Coach Steve Kerr’s coaching staff that, in their first season together in 2014-15, produced a franchise-record 67 regular-season wins and the team’s first NBA Championship in 40 years, the team announced today.

Luke Walton, 35, will slide into the seat previously occupied by Alvin Gentry, who was named head coach of the New Orleans Pelicans earlier this offseason. Entering his second season as an assistant coach with the Warriors, Walton previously served as a player development coach for the Los Angeles D-Fenders of the NBA D-League in 2013-14 and as an assistant coach at the University of Memphis during the 2011 NBA Lockout. The San Diego native enjoyed a 10-year playing career in the NBA (2003-13) with the Los Angeles Lakers and Cleveland Cavaliers, capturing NBA championships with the Lakers in 2009 and 2010.

Ron Adams, 67, returns for his second season with the Warriors after helping the team finish first in defensive rating (98.2) in 2014-15. Overall, Adams owns more than 20 seasons of experience on the bench as an NBA assistant coach, including stints with the Boston Celtics (2013-14), Chicago Bulls (2003-08, 2010-13), Oklahoma City Thunder (2008-10), Milwaukee Bucks (1998-2003), Philadelphia 76ers (1994-96) and San Antonio Spurs (1992-94). During his time as an assistant coach, Adams has made 14 appearances in the NBA Playoffs.

Jarron Collins, 36, has been promoted to the role of assistant coach and will move to the front of the bench after spending the 2014-15 season as a player development coach. Prior to joining the Warriors, he served two seasons as a personnel scout for the Los Angeles Clippers. The Stanford grad played 10 seasons in the NBA (2001-11) with the Utah Jazz, Phoenix Suns, Los Angeles Clippers and Portland Trail Blazers.

Bruce Fraser, 50, will return in his role as player development coach, working closely with the players on individual skill development. In addition to his work with the Warriors last season, Fraser previously coached at both the college and professional levels, having worked at the University of Arizona under Lute Olson (1987-90), the University of Missouri under Quin Snyder (1999-2000) and the Indiana Pacers under Larry Brown (1994-95). Additionally, he served as a scout for the Phoenix Suns from 2004-10. The Long Beach, CA, native was a teammate of Kerr’s at the University of Arizona, where Fraser played from 1983-87.

Additionally, the team announced the promotion of Theo Robertson to the role of video coordinator/player development. Robertson, who played collegiately at Cal from 2005-10, served as a video intern during his first season with the Warriors in 2014-15.

Kings waive Eric Moreland

The Sacramento Kings today waived forward Eric Moreland, according to Kings Vice President of Basketball and Franchise Operations Vlade Divac.

In 2014-15, his first season with the Kings, Moreland totaled two points (1-1 FG) and one rebound in three minutes off the bench in three games with the Kings. His season ended when he suffered a left shoulder labral tear, forcing him to miss the final 52 games of the regular season. Assigned to the Kings’ D-League affiliate Reno Bighorns during the season, Moreland averaged 13.7 points (.592 FG%), 12.7 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 1.29 steals, 1.57 blocks and 28.7 minutes per game in seven contests, including six starts.

Ekpe Udoh signs in Turkey

Here’s Euroleague.net with an update on a player NBA fans will be familiar with:

Fenerbahce Ulker Istanbul bolstered its frontcourt by inking center Ekpe Udoh to a one-year deal on Tuesday. Udoh (2.08 meters, 28 years old) arrives from Los Angeles Clippers of the NBA, where he averaged 0.8 points in 37 games last season. He started his career with Golden State of the NBA and joined Israeli side Bnei Eshet Tours Hasharon for just one game in the 2011-12 season, in which he had 22 points, 16 rebounds and 4 blocks.

Bucks sign Chris Copeland

The Milwaukee Bucks have signed free agent forward Chris Copeland, General Manager John Hammond announced today.

Copeland is a crafty, smart player who should provide nice depth off the bench.

Copeland, 31, was undrafted out of the University of Colorado in 2006 and spent six seasons split between the NBA D-League and professional teams overseas before landing in the NBA with the New York Knicks in 2012-13. He has posted career averages of 6.4 points and 1.8 rebounds over three seasons with New York and Indiana, and has averaged 3.5 points and 0.7 rebounds through 21 playoff games (1 start).

Copeland spent the last two seasons in Indiana, and in 2014-15 averaged 6.2 points and a career-high 2.2 rebounds in 50 games (12 starts). In a 21-point effort at Atlanta on Nov. 1, 2014, he hit a career-high six 3-pointers. In his rookie campaign, Copeland finished first among NBA rookies in 3-point field goal percentage, connecting on 42.1 percent of his shots from beyond the arc. That number was also good enough to tie for 13th among all NBA players that season. Copeland was named the Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month in April of 2013.

Nuggets sign Nikola Jokic

The Denver Nuggets have signed center Nikola Jokić to a multi-year contract, General Manager and Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations Tim Connelly announced today.

Jokić, 6-10, 250, was selected by the Denver Nuggets with the 41st overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft.

Jokić, 20, has spent the last three seasons playing for KK Mega Vizura of the Adriatic League. This past season he appeared in 38 games (37 starts), averaging 16.6 points, 7.0 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1.00 blocks in 29.5 minutes per game. He was also named Adriatic League Round MVP four times.

The Serbian native appeared in five games (all starts) for the Denver Nuggets at the 2015 Samsung Summer League in Las Vegas. He averaged 8.0 points, 6.2 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 1.40 blocks in 21.0 minutes per game.

Hawks coach Mike Budenholzer pleads not guilty to DUI

Hawks coach Mike Budenholzer enjoyed great success on the court last season but had some trouble off it. Here’s the Atlanta Journal Constitution reporting the latest:

Hawks coach Mike Budenholzer has entered a plea of not guilty in his driving under the influence case, according to his attorney.

Budenholzer entered the plea in Fulton County State Court last week in writing with the court and Judge Diane E. Bessens. The court has a scheduled plea and arraignment hearing tomorrow at 9 a.m. With the filing of the plea and two motions, neither Budenholzer nor his attorney Michael Hawkins will attend. The plea and motions were filed with the court on July 22.

Budenholzer faces misdemeanor charges of driving under the influence alcohol less safe and defective or no taillights from an arrest Aug. 28, 2013 after being stopped by police at 10:30 p.m. at 10th Street and Crescent Avenue in Midtown.

Nets will host Fenerbahce Ulker Istanbul in October for preseason game

The Brooklyn Nets will host Fenerbahce Ulker Istanbul of the Turkish Basketball League for a preseason game on October 5, 2015 at 7:30 p.m. at Barclays Center, General Manager Billy King announced today.

“We are excited to be hosting Fenerbahce, as it will be a reunion for Bojan Bogdanovic with his former team,” said King. “Our fans will have an opportunity to see one of the best coached teams in all of Europe when they come to Brooklyn.”

As a member of Fenerbahce, Nets guard/forward Bojan Bogdanovic led the team to the Turkish Basketball League Championship in 2013-14. This past season, the club reached the finals of the Turkish Cup and the final four in the Euroleague.

Celtics sign first round draft picks Terry Rozier and R.J. Hunter

The Boston Celtics announced today that they have signed guards Terry Rozier and R.J. Hunter.

Both players were selected in the first round of the Draft, and were therefore guaranteed to get signed to contracts. So, these signings are standard and were expected.

Rozier was selected with the 16th overall pick in the 2015 NBA Draft. He appeared in five contests for the Celtics during the Las Vegas Summer League where he averaged 12.2 points, 2.8 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 1.0 steal in 27.6 minutes per game. Rozier recorded his best game in the Vegas Summer League on July 12 with 22 points, two rebounds, five assists, one steal and one block in 28 minutes of action against the Philadelphia 76ers.

He also played in three games for the Celtics during the Utah Summer League and averaged 12.3 points, 3.3 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.7 steals in 28.3 minutes per game. Rozier tallied his best game in the Utah Summer League on July 9 against the San Antonio Spurs with 16 points, three rebounds, seven assists and one steal in 28 minutes.

The 6’1” guard out of University of Louisville ranked fourth in the ACC in scoring and was selected to the Second Team All-ACC. Rozier was named one of 17 watch list finalists for the 2015 Bob Cousy Point Guard of the Year Award and a Wooden Award Late Season Top 20 candidate for the nation’s top player.

Hunter was selected with the 28th overall pick in the 2015 NBA Draft. He appeared in five games for the Celtics during the Las Vegas Summer League and averaged 15.6 points, 3.2 rebounds and 1.8 assists in 24.4 minutes per game. Hunter tallied his best game in the Vegas Summer League on July 18 with 18 points on 7-14 (.500) shooting, five rebounds, one assist and one steal in 24 minutes against the San Antonio Spurs.

He also played in three contests for the Celtics during the Utah Summer League and averaged 6.0 points, 2.0 rebounds and 1.0 steal in 19.0 minutes per game. Hunter recorded his best game in the Utah Summer League on July 9 with 18 points, including shooting a perfect 4-4 from the three-point line, one rebound and one block in 19 minutes against the San Antonio Spurs.

The 6’6” guard out of Georgia State was a two-time AP All-American Honorable Mention. Hunter was also the first player in school history to earn conference player of the year honors twice and three straight First-Team All-Conference honors. In just three seasons, he became Georgia State’s all-time leading scorer with 1,799 points, while also topping career lists for three-pointers made, three-point attempts, free throw percentage, free throws made and free throw attempts.

Mavericks sign Jamil Wilson and Brandon Ashley

The Dallas Mavericks announced today that they have signed free agent forwards Jamil Wilson and Brandon Ashley.

Until we hear otherwise, we will assume these are non-guaranteed deals that merely bring these two players to training camp.

Wilson (6-7, 230) spent the 2014-15 season with the Bakersfield Jam of the NBA D-League. In 41 games (23 starts) for the Jam, he averaged 10.9 points, 5.4 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.0 block in 26.2 minutes. The Milwaukee native played his final three seasons of college basketball at Marquette University (2011-14) where, as a senior, he averaged 11.7 points, 5.9 rebounds and 2.6 assists in 32 games.

Ashley (6-9, 230) signs with Dallas after averaging 10.4 points, 5.3 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 1.0 steal and 21.7 minutes in seven games (two starts) for the Atlanta Hawks’ summer league team that competed in Las Vegas. He was an early entry candidate for the 2015 NBA Draft out of the University of Arizona and went undrafted after his junior season. Ashley started all 38 games as a junior, averaging 12.2 points and 5.2 rebounds in 27.8 minutes while helping Arizona return to the Elite Eight for the second straight year. He was also named Honorable Mention All-Pac-12 and the Most Outstanding player of the Pac-12 tournament as a junior.

Pacers re-sign Lavoy Allen

The Indiana Pacers announced Monday they have re-signed veteran free agent Lavoy Allen to a contract.

“We think he’s ready to step in and play more minutes at two different positions,” said Pacers President of Basketball Operations Larry Bird. “This is a great opportunity for him to play night in and night out at a high level.”

Allen, a 6-9, 260-pound forward/center is entering his fifth season in the NBA and his third with the Pacers after being acquired via trade from the Philadelphia 76ers in February 2014. He was drafted by the 76ers as the 50th overall pick in the 2011 NBA Draft. He has career averages of 5.0 points and 4.8 rebounds per game.