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Pacers sign Shayne Whittington, Glenn Robinson III and Rakeem Christmas

The Indiana Pacers announced Monday they have re-signed Shayne Whittington and signed Glenn Robinson III and Rakeem Christmas.

Whittington, a 6-11, 250-pound forward/center out of Western Michigan University, is entering his second season in the NBA after signing with the Pacers last year as an undrafted rookie. With the Pacers, he appeared in 20 games during the 2014-15 season. He was also assigned to play with the Fort Wayne Mad Ants of the NBA D-League during their playoff run that resulted in a trip to the NBA D-League Finals. Whittington appeared in five postseason games with the Mad Ants, averaging 4.6 points and 4.8 rebounds.

“Shayne has been with us for more than a year and shown us a lot of good things,” said Pacers President of Basketball Operations Larry Bird. “He has grown as a player, has improved and we expect him to continue to do so to be a part of what we do. He’s a hard worker with a variety of skills for a big man.”

Robinson, a 6-7, 222-pound guard/forward, is in his second season in the NBA after being drafted by the Minnesota Timberwolves in the second round (40th overall pick) of the 2014 NBA Draft. He played 25 games with the Timberwolves before being waived. He was claimed off waivers by Philadelphia, with whom he played 10 games. Overall in 35 games as a rookie, he averaged 2.1 points and 1.1 rebounds per game.

Collegiately, Robinson played two years at the University of Michigan with career averages of 12.0 points and 4.9 rebounds per game. He hails from northern Indiana, where he was named an Associated Press All-State selection at Lake Central High School.

“Glenn comes to us with a set of skills we think will blend in with our team,” said Bird. “We expect him to be very good on the defensive end and he can score the ball. We look forward to seeing him improve throughout the year.”

Christmas, 6-9, 250, was acquired by the Pacers on July 23rd from the Cleveland Cavaliers. He was a second-round pick in June’s NBA Draft. He was selected 36th overall by Minnesota and was traded later draft night to the Cavaliers. He played collegiately at Syracuse where in his senior season he averaged 17.5 points and 9.1 rebounds per game. In his four-year career with the Orange, he played 142 games.

Celtics re-sign Jae Crowder

The Boston Celtics announced today that they have re-signed forward Jae Crowder.

“Jae epitomizes everything that we look for in a Celtic,” said Celtics President of Basketball Operations Danny Ainge. “His infectious energy on both ends of the court and his versatile skill set enabled him to win over both the coaching staff and our fan base after his acquisition last season.”

Crowder was acquired by the Celtics from the Dallas Mavericks on December 18, 2014. He averaged 9.5 points, 4.6 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 1.0 steal in 24.2 minutes per game in 57 contests with Boston.

The 6’6” forward tallied a season-high tying 22 points on 8-14 (.571) shooting from the field, seven rebounds and one block in 30 minutes of action on February 22 against the Los Angeles Lakers. For the duration of the 2014-15 season, Crowder appeared in 82 contests and averaged 7.7 points, 3.6 rebounds and 1.1 assists in 20.1 minutes per game.

He was originally the 34th overall pick of the 2012 NBA Draft by the Cleveland Cavaliers before being traded on Draft night to Dallas, and has averaged 5.8 points, 2.8 rebounds and 1.0 assist in 17.9 minutes per game on his career.

Heat waive Henry Walker

The Miami HEAT announced today that they have waived forward Henry Walker.

(Yes, Henry Walker is the player formerly known as Bill Walker.)

Walker appeared in 24 games (13 starts) for the HEAT last season, averaging 7.3 points, 3.4 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 1.00 steals and 26.1 minutes per game. He led the team in steals six times, in blocks four times, in rebounds twice and in assists once.

He also appeared in 17 games (eight starts) for the Sioux Falls Skyforce last season, averaging 15.1 points, 3.9 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 1.00 steals and 27.8 minutes, while shooting 46.8 percent from the field.

Cavaliers re-sign Matthew Dellavedova

The Cleveland Cavaliers have re-signed guard Matthew Dellavedova, General Manager David Griffin announced today from Cleveland Clinic Courts.

Dellavedova played in 67 games (13 starts) in the 2014-15 regular season, averaging 4.8 points, 1.9 rebounds and 3.0 assists in 20.6 minutes per game. He shot a career-high .407 from the three-point line and .763 from the free throw line. The 6-4 guard also led the Cavaliers with a 3.34 assist-to-turnover ratio for the season, which ranked fourth in the NBA.

Dellevadova appeared in all 20 games (seven starts) during Cleveland’s NBA Finals run in the 2015 Playoffs and averaged 7.2 points, 2.1 rebounds and 2.7 assists in 24.9 minutes per game.

Heat trade Shabazz Napier to Magic

The Miami HEAT announced today that they have traded guard Shabazz Napier and cash considerations to the Orlando Magic in exchange for a protected 2016 draft pick.

According to the Orlando Sentinel, “Napier, 24, gives the Magic additional depth at point guard, a position where Elfrid Payton is entrenched as the starter and free-agent signee C.J. Watson will serve as Payton’s backup. Napier also would be able to contribute some scoring off the bench.”

Napier (6’1”, 175, 7/14/91) played in 51 games as a rookie last season, averaging 5.1 ppg. and 2.5 apg. in 19.8 minpg., while shooting 36.4 percent from three-point range. Napier scored in double-figures in six straight games between Nov. 16-25 and notched a career-high 18 points on Feb. 20 at New York. He had a season-best eight assists on Feb. 11 at Cleveland. Napier underwent sports hernia surgery on Apr. 1. He returned to action this summer and scored 14 points and added six assists in Miami’s final game in the Southwest Airlines Orlando Pro Summer League. He also averaged 18 points in 25.0 minpg. over three games during summer league play in Las Vegas.

As a college senior in 2014, Napier, a consensus First Team All-American, led the University of Connecticut to the NCAA Tournament title and was named the Final Four’s Most Outstanding Player. He was also part of UConn’s 2011 NCAA Championship team and became the only player in UConn history to total at least 1,500 career points and 500 career assists. Originally selected by Charlotte in the first round (24th overall) of the 2014 NBA Draft, his rights were acquired by Miami on draft night.

More from the Sentinel: “The only way the Heat will get the Magic’s second-round pick in 2016 will be if Orlando finishes with one of the NBA’s five best records during the 2015-16 regular season. In other words, if the Magic’s second-round pick falls anwhere from 31st overall through 55th overall, the Magic would keep the pick.”

Heat trade Zoran Dragic to Celtics

The Miami HEAT announced today that they have traded guard Zoran Dragic to the Boston Celtics, along with a 2020 second-round draft pick and cash considerations, in exchange for a protected 2019 draft pick.

Dragic appeared in 16 games split between the Phoenix Suns and Miami Heat during the 2014-15 season and he averaged 1.8 points in 4.7 minutes per game over that span. He posted a season-high 22 points on 9-17 (.529) shooting from the field, three rebounds, two assists and two steals in 41 minutes of action against the Philadelphia 76ers on April 15, 2015.

The 6’5” guard/forward was originally signed by the Phoenix Suns on September 29, 2014 before being traded to the Miami Heat on February 19, 2015. Before coming to the NBA, Dragic played two seasons with Unicaja Malaga of the Spanish ACB. During the 2013-14 season, he averaged 10.3 points, 2.8 rebounds, 1.1 assists and 1.2 steals in 18.1 minutes in 29 ACB league games. He also appeared in 22 Euroleague games, where he averaged 10.9 points, 2.7 rebounds and 1.6 assists in 22.5 minutes per game.

Warriors trade David Lee to Celtics

The Golden State Warriors have traded forward David Lee to the Boston Celtics in exchange for forward Gerald Wallace and guard Chris Babb, the team announced today.

“On behalf of the entire Golden State Warriors organization, we thank David Lee for his contributions both on and off the court over the last five years,” said Warriors General Manager Bob Myers. “Throughout his time with the Warriors, David was a great player, competitor and presence in our locker room as well as in the community and was a stabilizing force during a period that saw many positive changes within the organization. Most importantly, he leaves Golden State as an NBA champion. We wish him nothing but the best in the next chapter of his career.”

“We are excited to welcome David as a member of the Celtics family,” said President of Basketball Operations Danny Ainge. “His proven skill set and experience on a championship team will add valuable depth to our frontcourt and a veteran presence to our locker room.”

According to the Boston Globe, “Before acquiring Lee, the Celtics had not made any significant steps forward improving their place in the Eastern Conference. They were being passed by teams such as Orlando, Charlotte, and Indiana, all of which made stirring roster upgrades over the past two weeks. Free agency didn’t work out the way Ainge and the Celtics wanted. The market value for players unexpectedly soared to the point where Atlanta’s DeMarre Carroll goes to Toronto for four years and $60 million, Reggie Jackson re-signs with Detroit for five years and $80 million, and potential Celtics target Robin Lopez agreed with the Knicks for four years, $54 million.”

Lee, 32, played five seasons with the Warriors, averaging 16.7 points, 9.3 rebounds and 2.8 assists over 327 regular-season games. He had his finest season with Golden State in 2012-13, averaging 18.5 points and 11.2 rebounds in 79 games en route to earning Third Team All-NBA honors and a spot on the Western Conference All-Star squad. That season, the 6’9” forward became the first Warriors player to garner All-NBA recognition since Latrell Sprewell in 1993-94 and Golden State’s first All-Star representative since Sprewell in 1997. The University of Florida product also appeared in 26 playoff games with Golden State, making postseason appearances in each of the last three seasons, culminating in an NBA Championship this past season. Lee leaves the Warriors ranked sixth on the franchise’s all-time list in defensive rebounds (2,176) and tied for 10th, with Hall of Famer Chris Mullin, in field goal percentage (.513).

During his 10-year NBA career, Lee has averaged 14.7 points, 9.5 rebounds and 2.3 assists in 695 regular-season games with the New York Knicks and Warriors. Originally selected by the Knicks with the 30th overall pick in the 2005 NBA Draft, the 2010 Eastern Conference All-Star was acquired by the Warriors in a sign-and-trade deal on July 9, 2010, in exchange for Kelenna Azubuike, Anthony Randolph and Ronny Turiaf.

Wallace, 33, owns career averages of 11.9 points, 5.8 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 1.44 steals and 29.7 minutes in 832 regular-season games (611 starts) over 14 NBA seasons with Sacramento, Charlotte, Portland, New Jersey/Brooklyn and Boston. Originally selected by the Sacramento Kings with the 25th overall pick in the 2001 NBA Draft, Wallace earned NBA All-Defensive First Team honors and was an Eastern Conference All-Star in 2009-10 with the Charlotte Bobcats when he averaged 18.2 points, 10.0 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.54 steals. The University of Alabama product led the NBA in steals per game during the 2005-06 campaign, averaging 2.51 thefts per contest. Wallace has appeared in 33 playoff games (17 starts), holding career postseason averages of 7.9 points, 3.9 rebounds and 1.4 assists in 20.9 minutes.

Babb, 25, appeared in 14 games with Boston as a rookie in 2014-15, tallying 1.6 points and 1.2 rebounds in 9.4 minutes per game. The 6’5” guard appeared in 45 games last season with the Celtics’ D-League affiliate, the Maine Red Claws, averaging 15.4 points, 5.5 rebounds and 2.7 assists in 34.7 minutes, earning All-NBA D-League Second Team honors. In 2013-14, the Iowa State product was named to the All NBA D-League All-Rookie Third Team with the Red Claws.

Viktor Khryapa re-signs with CSKA Moscow

Here’s Euroleague.net reporting on a well-known overseas player:

CSKA Moscow reached a new agreement with team captain Viktor Khryapa to keep working together next season, the club announced Thursday. CSKA keeps an option to extend the deal until the end of the 2016-17 season. Khryapa (2.03 meters, 32 years old) is set to enter his 11th season with CSKA and has been ths club’s captain for the last six years. In his 10 seasons with the club, Khryapa helped CSKA win 10 Russian League titles, lifting the VTB League trophy five teams. Above all, Khryapa helped CSKA win the Euroleague title in 2008. Khryapa has made it to the Final Four nine times – an achievement that only Euroleague legend Theo Papaloukas can claim. He is the Euroleague Final Four’s all-time leading rebounder (92).

Carlos Arroyo signs in Barcelona

Here’s Euroleague.net reporting on a well-known former NBA point guard and international star, Carlos Arroyo:

FC Barcelona Lassa found a new point guard in Carlos Arroyo, who inked a one-year deal with his new team on Friday. Arroyo (1.88 meters, 35 years old) has played for Galatasaray Liv Hospital Istanbul in the last three seasons. He averaged 12.5 points and 4.3 assists in 15 Turkish Airlines Euroleague games last season. Arroyo went on to play for Cangrejeros de Santurce, averaging 14.7 points and 6.5 assists in 39 Puerto Rican League games, leading his team to the finals. He has also played for Toronto, Denver, Utah, Detroit, Orlando, Miami and Boston of the NBA, Tau Ceramica Vitoria of Spain, Maccabi Tel Aviv of Israel and Besiktas Istanbul of Turkey.

Heat are sending Shabazz Napier to Magic

Here’s the Miami Herald reporting a Heat roster move:

For many in Miami, it was difficult to watch Shabazz Napier play basketball for the Heat and not think of LeBron James. That won’t be a problem anymore.

In an effort to clean up its offseason roster, the Heat traded Napier to the Orlando Magic on Sunday for almost nothing in return save closure.

It was James who wanted the Heat to draft Napier last year, but James never played with the point guard from the University of Connecticut. A few summer-league games into Napier’s stint with the Heat, James shocked the Heat’s front office with his move to the Cleveland Cavaliers.