NBA News Blog – Page 716 – NBA Blog

Kings sign Omri Casspi and Luc Mbah a Moute

The Sacramento Kings yesterday signed free agent forwards Omri Casspi and Luc Mbah a Moute (BAH-ah MOO-tay), according to Vlade Divac, Vice President of Basketball and Franchise Operations.

Both players are expected to be reserves, providing depth off the bench. And both players are quality additions to a roster.

Casspi averaged 8.9 points per game on career-highs of field goal percentage (.489), three-point field goal percentage (.402) and free throw percentage (.733) in 2014-15 for the Kings. The 6-9, 225-pound forward was originally drafted by Sacramento in the first round of the 2009 NBA Draft (23rd overall) and has averaged 7.9 points (.432 FG%, .356 3PT%, .684 FT%), 3.9 rebounds and 1.1 assists per game in 394 career contests for three teams: Sacramento Kings (2009-10 – 2010-11, 2014-15), Cleveland Cavaliers (2011-12 – 2012-13), and the Houston Rockets (2013-14).

Mbah a Moute, 6-8, 230-pound forward is averaging 6.8 points (.444 FG%, .299 3PT%, .665 FT%), 4.9 rebounds and 1.0 assists per game in 466 career contests with four teams: Milwaukee (2008-09 – 2012-13), Sacramento Kings (2013-14), Minnesota Timberwolves (2013-14) and Philadelphia 76ers (2014-15). Selected in the second round (37th overall) by the Milwaukee Bucks in the 2008 NBA Draft, Mbah a Moute averaged a career high 9.9 points (.395 FG%, .307 3PT%, .589 FT%), 4.9 rebounds and 1.6 assists per game in 67 games in 2014-15 for the 76ers.

Mavericks sign Deron Williams

The Dallas Mavericks announced Tuesday that they have signed free agent guard Deron Williams. According to multiple reports, the deal is for two years, $10 million.

Williams’ time with the Brooklyn Nets came to a disappointing conclusion. His play seemed to get worse as time went on, and he didn’t look like the same player that quite rightly earned high praise in the past. But now Deron begins a new chapter, at a very affordable cost to the Mavs.

Williams (6-3, 200) is a 10-year NBA veteran with career averages of 17.0 points, 8.5 assists, 3.2 rebounds, 1.1 steals and 35.1 minutes in 716 games (664 starts) for two teams (Utah and New Jersey/Brooklyn). Overall, he has shot .447 (4,290-9,589 FGs) from the field, .358 (996-2,780 3FGs) from three-point range and .819 (2,609-3,187 FTs) from the free throw line.

Williams was a member of three All-Star Teams (2010, 2011 and 2012), made the All-NBA Second Team in 2008 and 2010 and won gold medals as part of Team USA at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing and the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. He also was a member of the All-Rookie First Team in 2006 and became only the third player in NBA history to have 1500+ points and 800+ assists while shooting .500+ from the field in a single season in 2007-08 (also Magic Johnson-1986-87 and 1988-89 and Kevin Johnson-1988-89).

He spent last season with the Nets and averaged 13.0 points, 6.6 assists, 3.5 rebounds and 31.1 minutes in 68 games (55 starts).

A familiar face to Dallas/Fort Worth, Williams played high school basketball for The Colony before attending the University of Illinois. He was selected by the Utah Jazz in the first round (3rd overall) of the 2005 NBA Draft. On February 23, 2011, he was traded to New Jersey in exchange for Devin Harris, Derrick Favors, two first round draft picks (Nets 2011, Golden State 2012) and cash considerations. He re-signed with Brooklyn on July 11, 2012.

Raptors sign Luis Scola

The Toronto Raptors announced Wednesday they have signed 35-year-old free-agent power forward Luis Scola to a multi-year contract.

“Luis is an accomplished NBA and international player. We are thrilled to add his experience and leadership to our team and our locker room,” said Raptors President and General Manager Masai Ujiri. “Luis is a winner wherever he goes.”

Scola, 6-foot-9, 240 pounds, averaged 9.4 points and 6.5 rebounds in 81 games with Indiana last season. The eight-year NBA veteran holds career averages of 12.7 points, 7.0 rebounds and 26.8 minutes with Houston (2007-12), Phoenix (2012-13) and Indiana (2013-15).

Scola has appeared in 631 of a possible 640 regular season games (428 starts) and completed six seasons without missing a game. He also holds a career-best streak of 311 consecutive games played (Oct. 30, 2007 – Mar. 7, 2011).

Scola was drafted 56th overall by San Antonio at the 2002 NBA Draft, but did not make his NBA debut until the 2007-08 season after his draft rights were traded to Houston. He averaged 10.3 points, 6.4 rebounds and had a .515 field goal shooting percentage during his rookie campaign, which earned him NBA All-Rookie First Team honours. During the next three seasons (2008-11) Scola was one of six players in the NBA to average at least 12.0 points, 8.0 rebounds and shoot .500+ from the field each year, joining Tim Duncan, Pau Gasol, Dwight Howard, David Lee and Amar’e Stoudemire.

Scola posted a career-best 18.3 points in 2010-11 and 8.8 rebounds in 2008-09 with Houston. He also led the Rockets in 2009-10 with a career-high 32 double-doubles. Through 37 playoff games with Houston and Indiana, Scola has averaged 10.3 points, 5.6 rebounds and 32.9 minutes.

On the international stage Scola is one of the most decorated players in the game today. He is a three-time Olympian for Argentina, earning a gold medal at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens while averaging a team-high 17.6 points and 5.0 rebounds. Scola helped Argentina earn bronze at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing by averaging a team-high 18.0 points. While hosting the 2011 FIBA Americas Championship, Scola averaged a tournament-best 21.4 points for Argentina and was named MVP. Scola was part of two gold medal winning teams at the FIBA Americas Championship (2001 and 2011).

Prior to the NBA, Scola played two professional seasons (1995-98) in Argentina with Ferro Carril Oeste before making the jump to Spain with Taugres Saski Baskonia Vitoria and Gijon Baloncesto. Scola signed with Tau Ceramica in 2000 where he played seven seasons and earned Euroleague First Team honours in 2005-06 and 2006-07. He was named the MVP of the Spanish League in 2004-05 and 2006-07 and Rookie of the Year in 2000. While at Tau Ceramica he was teammates with Raptors’ all-time assists leader Jose Calderon (2002-05).

Clippers sign forward Branden Dawson

The Los Angeles Clippers have signed forward Branden Dawson. The Clippers acquired the rights to the 56th overall pick in the 2015 NBA Draft in a draft night trade with the New Orleans Pelicans.

Dawson, 22, appeared in four of the Clippers games at the recently completed Orlando Summer League and averaged 12.8 points and 10.3 rebounds in 25.5 minutes. Dawson finished second in the league in rebounds per game and recorded a double-double in three of his four appearances.

The former Michigan State stand-out was a Second-Team All-Big Ten performer in his final season with the Spartans, averaging 11.9 points, 9.1 rebounds and 1.7 blocks in 32 games.

Dawson (6’6”, 225), finished his four-year collegiate career as the school’s all-time leader in blocks (142), fifth in starts (121), sixth in steals (163) and seventh in rebounds (902). He is one of three players in MSU history with 1,000 career points and 100 career blocks, joining Draymond Green and Adreian Payne.

A star at Lew Wallace High School in Gary, Indiana, Dawson was a 2011 McDonald’s All-American after averaging 28.7 points, 18.6 rebounds and 5.6 assists.

Sixers sign guard Pierre Jackson

The Philadelphia 76ers today announced they have signed guard Pierre Jackson.

Jackson (5-10, 180) was originally the 42nd overall pick by Philadelphia in the 2013 NBA Draft before his rights were traded to New Orleans along with Jrue Holiday in exchange for the rights to Nerlens Noel and what turned out to be the 10th overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft. During the 2014 NBA Draft, Jackson’s rights were traded back to the Sixers in exchange for the rights to Russ Smith, who was the 47th overall pick that year.

The Las Vegas native returned to action this summer, playing for Philadelphia in the NBA Summer League and is currently averaging 12 points while shooting 50% from 3-point range.

During the 2013-14 season, Jackson played for the Idaho Stampede in the NBA Development League and averaged 29.1 points, 6.2 assists, 3.5 rebounds and 1.9 steals. He was named a D-League All-Star and scored a league-record 58 points against Texas on Feb. 4, 2014.

Jackson spent his final two collegiate seasons at Baylor, after beginning his career at the College of Southern Idaho. He was named First Team All-Big-12 as a junior and a senior and set a school record with 712 total points in his final season.

Celtics waive guard Phil Pressey

The Boston Celtics announced today that they have waived guard Phil Pressey.

Pressey, a 5’11” guard, was originally signed by the Celtics on July 22, 2013. During the 2014-15 season, he averaged 3.5 points, 1.6 rebounds and 2.3 assists in 12.0 minutes per game. He recorded a season-high 11 points, five rebounds, six assists, one steal and one block in 18 minutes of action on March 25, 2015 against the Miami Heat. On his career, Pressey is averaging 3.1 points, 1.5 rebounds and 2.9 assists in 13.8 minutes per game.

Bulls re-sign Mike Dunleavy

The Chicago Bulls have re-signed guard/forward Mike Dunleavy.

Dunleavy (6-9, 230), a 13-year NBA veteran, has appeared in 145 games (124 starts) the last two seasons with Chicago and averaged 10.5 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 2.1 apg and 0.71 spg in 30.5 mpg. He has also shot .432 from the field, .392 from downtown and .837 from the line.

In addition to his stint with the Bulls, the 34-year old Dunleavy has also played for the Milwaukee Bucks (2011-13), Indiana Pacers (2007-11) and the Golden State Warriors (2002-07). In 902 career games (553 starts), Dunleavy has posted averages of 11.7 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 2.3 apg and 0.76 spg in 28.6 mpg. He holds career shooting averages of .442 from the field, .376 from behind the arc and .804 from the line. For his career, he ranks 49th in NBA history with 1,212 three-point field goals made.

Originally selected by the Golden State Warriors in the first round (third overall) of the 2002 NBA Draft, Dunleavy’s teams have advanced to the postseason four times. In 26 playoff games, he has produced 10.4 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 2.3 apg and 0.73 spg in 27.5 mpg. He also owns postseason shooting averages of .482 from the field, .454 from downtown and .826 from the free throw line.

Bulls sign guard Aaron Brooks

The Chicago Bulls announced today the team has signed guard Aaron Brooks.

In 82 games (21 starts) with the Bulls last season, Brooks (6-0, 161) averaged 11.6 ppg, 3.2 apg, 2.0 rpg and 0.66 spg in 23.0 mpg. He also posted shooting averages of .421 from the field, .387 (23rd in the NBA) from downtown and .833 from the line. In his 21 starting assignments, he posted 14.1 ppg, 4.4 apg and 2.5 rpg in 30.9 mpg.

A seven-year veteran of the NBA, Brooks came to Chicago in 2014 after splitting the 2013-14 campaign with the Houston Rockets and Denver Nuggets. Drafted out of Oregon in the first round of the 2007 NBA Draft (26th overall) by the Houston Rockets, Brooks has played with the Rockets (2007-11, 2012-13, 2013-14) and Denver Nuggets (2013-14), as well as the Phoenix Suns (2010-11) and Sacramento Kings (2012-13).

A native of Seattle, the 30-year old Brooks has played in 479 regular season games (182 starts) and posted averages of 11.2 ppg, 3.3 apg and 1.9 rpg in 23.9 mpg. He holds career shooting averages of .415 field goal shooting, .371 three-point shooting and .845 from the line. In 37 playoff appearances, he has averaged 8.8 ppg, 1.9 apg, 1.8 rpg, 18.7 mpg, shot .410 from the field, .330 from downtown and .768 from the line.

Bulls sign guard Aaron Brooks

The Chicago Bulls announced today the team has signed guard Aaron Brooks.

Bulls sign guard Aaron Brooks

The Chicago Bulls announced today the team has signed guard Aaron Brooks.