NBA News Blog – Page 723 – NBA Blog

Nets re-sign Brook Lopez and Thaddeus Young

The Brooklyn Nets have re-signed center Brook Lopez and forward Thaddeus Young to multi-year contracts, Nets General Manager Billy King announced today.

“We are very pleased to welcome Brook and Thaddeus back the Brooklyn Nets,” said King. “Brook is one of the premier big men in this league, while Thad proved to be a perfect complement to Brook last year after he was acquired from Minnesota. Being able to re-sign both of our free agent targets allows us to provide the continuity in our frontcourt that we were looking for going into the upcoming season.”

According to the Bergen Record, “Lopez, 27, could have signed a deal as long as five years, but he committed to stay in Brooklyn for three years and $60 million.”

Also from the Bergen Record: “Young, 27, signed four-year deal worth $50 million, with a player option in the final season.”

Lopez, 27, is the longest tenured Net, having spent his entire seven-year career with the franchise after being selected with the 10th pick in the 2008 NBA Draft. In 414 career games (379 starts), Lopez has registered averages of 17.9 points, 7.3 rebounds and 1.7 blocks in 32.5 minutes per game. He currently ranks 4th on the Nets’ all-time scoring list (7,404 points), 6th in rebounds (3,029), 4th in field goals made (2,898), 2nd in blocked shots (724) and 8th in minutes played (13,439). An All-Star in 2013, the Panorama City, Calif. native played some of the best basketball of his career after the All-Star break this past season, posting averages of 19.7 points, 9.2 rebounds and 1.8 blocks in 32.0 minutes per game. Lopez’s season peaked during a two-week stretch in late March and early April when he captured back-to-back Eastern Conference Player of the Week honors, becoming the first Net in more than a decade to accomplish the feat. Lopez has also elevated his game in the postseason, recording averages of 21.2 points, 8.2 rebounds and 2.6 blocks in 38.2 minutes per game in 13 career playoff contests.

Young, 27, returns to the Nets after joining the team by way of a trade with the Minnesota Timberwolves on February 19, 2015. In 28 games (20 starts) with the Nets, Young finished second on the team in points per game (13.8) and rebounds (5.9) and first in steals (1.4) in 29.6 minutes per game. He shot .495 from the field and .380 from three-point range while forming a strong frontcourt duo with Brook Lopez. In the 28 games Young appeared in, the Nets averaged 102.1 points per game, shooting .457 from the field and .353 from three-point range. In the 54 games he didn’t appear in, the Nets averaged 95.9 points per game, shooting .448 from the field and .321 from behind the arc. Young was originally selected with the 12th pick of the 2007 NBA Draft by Nets GM King when he was the President and GM of the Philadelphia 76ers. In 592 career games (362 starts) with the 76ers (2007-14), Timberwolves (2014-15) and Nets (2015), Young holds NBA averages of 13.8 points, 5.5 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.4 steals in 30.3 minutes per game. In 36 career postseason contests, Young has averaged 9.8 points, 5.4 rebounds and 0.8 steals in 27.3 minutes per game.

Magic sign-and-trade Kyle O`Quinn to Knicks

The Orlando Magic have acquired the option to swap second round draft picks in 2019 and cash consideration from New York in exchange for forward/center Kyle O’Quinn in a sign-and-trade deal, General Manager Rob Hennigan announced today.

O’Quinn played in 51 games (17 starts) last season with Orlando, averaging 5.8 ppg., 3.9 rpg. and 1.2 apg. in 16.2 minpg. He led (or tied) the team in rebounding three times and in assists twice. O’Quinn scored in double figures ten times, including a season-high 21 points on Dec. 2 @ Golden State. He pulled down 10+ rebounds three times and recorded three double-doubles.

Originally selected by Orlando in the second round (49th overall) of the 2012 NBA Draft, O’Quinn has appeared in 177 career NBA regular season games (41 starts), all with Orlando, averaging 5.4 ppg., 4.4 rpg. and 1.1 apg. in 15.0 minpg., while shooting .501 (406-810) from the floor.

Hawks re-sign Paul Millsap

The Atlanta Hawks have re-signed forward Paul Millsap, President of Basketball Operations/Head Coach Mike Budenholzer said today.

According to the Atlanta Journal Constitution, it is a three-year, $59 million contract.

Millsap, 30, led the Hawks in scoring (16.7), rebounding (7.8), steals (1.8) and double-doubles (15). He also averaged 3.1 assists while shooting .476 from the field and .356 from three-point range, connecting on a career-best 77 three-pointers. He was named an All-Star for the second consecutive season with Atlanta and was one of just two players last season (along with Sacramento Kings All-Star DeMarcus Cousins) to average at least 16.5 points, 7.5 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.5 steals.

“Re-signing Paul was a priority for us. His toughness, versatility, high basketball IQ and unselfishness is representative of the culture we are building,” Budenholzer said. “We are excited that he will remain a part of our family.”

The 6-foot-8 forward signed his first contract with the Hawks on July 10, 2013 following seven seasons with the Utah Jazz. During his first season with the Hawks in 2013-14, he averaged a career-high 17.9 points on .461 shooting, 8.5 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 1.7 steals and 1.1 blocks in 33.5 minutes per game in 74 games (73 starts). He was named an All-Star for the first time in his career.

In his nine-year career, he has played in 687 games (411 starts) and has career averages of 13.5 points on .503 shooting and 7.3 rebounds.

Bulls re-sign Jimmy Butler

The Chicago Bulls have re-signed free agent guard Jimmy Butler.

According to the Chicago Tribune, it is “a five-year deal that could be worth $95 million should Butler pick up the fifth-year player option.”

“We are thrilled that Jimmy has committed to remain a Chicago Bull for years to come,” said Chicago Bulls General Manager Gar Forman. “As one of the leagues rising stars, we look forward to his continued growth and him being a major contributor to our team’s continued success.”

Last season, Butler (6-7, 220) appeared in 65 games (all starts) for Chicago and averaged a team-high 20.0 ppg (15th in the NBA), 5.8 rpg, 3.3 apg and 1.75 spg (10th) in 38.7 mpg (first), while shooting .462 from the field, .378 from behind the arc and .834 from the line. He posted career highs in scoring, rebounding, assists, three-point field goal percentage and free-throw shooting, and also made his first trip to the NBA All-Star Game as a reserve for the East. The 25-year old Butler was also named the 2014-15 Kia NBA Most Improved Player, becoming the first Bull to win the award since its inception in 1985-86.

In four seasons with Chicago, the Tomball, Texas, native has appeared in 256 games (152 starts) and owns averages of 11.7 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 2.0 apg, 1.29 spg, 29.7 mpg, .440 from the floor, .333 from downtown and .804 from the free-throw line.

In postseason play, Butler has also played in 32 playoff games (29 starts) and posted 15.7 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 2.5 apg, 2.53 spg, .431 from the field, .380 from behind the arc and .813 from the line.

Chicago drafted Butler in the first round (30th overall) of the 2011 NBA Draft.

Cavs re-sign Iman Shumpert

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

According to the Northeast Ohio Media Group, the deal is for four years, $40 million.

“Iman is a versatile, two-way player who embodies much of the grit, determination and defense-first mentality our group became identified by,” said Griffin. “He is evolving as a playmaker on both ends and his impact on our group was enormous throughout our Finals run.”

Shumpert appeared in 62 games (25 starts) for the Cavs and New York Knicks in the 2014-15 regular season. He averaged 8.0 points, 3.6 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 1.3 steals in 24.9 minutes per game. In 38 regular season games (one start) with the Cavs, the 6-5 guard averaged 7.2 points, 3.8 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.3 steals in 24.2 minutes per game.

During Cleveland’s NBA Finals run in the 2015 playoffs, Shumpert appeared in all 20 games (16 starts), averaging 9.1 points, 4.9 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 1.3 steals in 34.8 minutes per game. Shumpert was originally acquired by the Cavs in a three-team trade on January 5, 2015.

Bucks re-sign Khris Middleton

The Milwaukee Bucks have re-signed restricted free agent forward Khris Middleton, General Manager John Hammond announced today.

According to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel on July 1, “after playing for $915,000 last season, Middleton and the Bucks agreed on the parameters of a five-year, $70 million contract, averaging $14 million a season.”

“Khris played a huge role in our turnaround last season and has become a leader on our young team,” Bucks General Manager John Hammond said. “Keeping Khris in a Bucks uniform was a huge priority for us this offseason, and we’re thrilled that he’ll continue to grow with our young core as we work towards building a championship-caliber team in Wisconsin.”

Middleton, 23, has spent the last two seasons in Milwaukee after being acquired through a trade with Detroit in July of 2013, the summer after his rookie year. In a breakout season with the Bucks in 2014-15, Middleton posted career highs in points per game (13.4), rebounds per game (4.4) and assists per game (2.3). He tied for ninth in the NBA for steals per turnover ratio (122:113, 1.08), and his 3-point percentage of 40.7 tied for 10th in the league. Middleton became the first player to have multiple game-winning 3-pointers in the same season (at Phoenix on Dec. 15 and vs. Miami on March 24) since Kobe Bryant in 2009-10. He posted a career-high 30 points two times last season out of 59 total double-digit scoring games. Middleton saw his first playoff action in 2015 and led the Bucks in scoring in the postseason with 15.8 points through the six games (all starts).

The six-foot-nine-inch forward out of Texas A&M was selected 39th overall by the Pistons in the 2012 NBA Draft. Middleton owns career averages of 11.8 points, 3.8 rebounds and 2.0 assists. He has a career field goal percentage of 45.3 and 3-point percentage of 40.3. His 3-point percentage through two seasons with Milwaukee, 41.0, ranks third on the Bucks’ all-time list.

Bucks sign Greg Monroe

The Milwaukee Bucks have signed free agent center/forward Greg Monroe, General Manager John Hammond announced today.

According to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, “deal will be worth an estimated $50 millon over three years, with the third year a player option.”

“The entire Bucks organization is thrilled to welcome Greg to Milwaukee,” Bucks General Manager John Hammond said. “Greg will be a fantastic complement to the talented young roster we’re assembling. The fact that he chose Milwaukee speaks volumes about the culture we’re developing and the bright future we envision for the Bucks.”

“Greg is a skilled low-post scorer and rebounder, and will add a whole new dimension to our young roster,” Bucks Head Coach Jason Kidd added. “He’s just 25 years old and still scratching the surface of his potential. I’m looking forward to helping him develop along with our other talented young players.”

Monroe, 25, was selected by the Pistons with the seventh-overall pick of the 2010 NBA Draft and has spent the last five seasons with Detroit. In 2014-15, he averaged a double-double for the first time in his career with 15.9 points and 10.2 rebounds, along with 2.1 assists. Monroe was one of only 12 players in the NBA last season to average a points/rebounds double-double, and his 10.2 rebounds per game tied for eighth in the league. On Feb. 6 vs. Denver, Monroe recorded his first career 20-point/20-rebound game with 21 points and a career-high 21 rebounds.

In each of the last four seasons Monroe has recorded at least 1,000 points and 600 rebounds, making him one of just two NBA players (DeMarcus Cousins) to accomplish that feat. In his career, Monroe has notched 158 double-doubles, which is 10th-most among all NBA players during that time span. The 6-foot-11-inch center/forward has career averages of 14.3 points, 9.2 rebounds and 2.3 assists over 378 games (334 starts).

Monroe was named to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team in 2011. He played at Georgetown for two years from 2008 through 2010 and earned NCAA AP All-America Third Team and First Team All-Big East honors after his sophomore season in 2010. As a high school senior at Helen Cox (Louisiana) in 2008, he was named a McDonald’s All American. Monroe will wear No. 15 for the Bucks.

Raptors sign DeMarre Carroll

The Toronto Raptors announced Thursday they have signed free-agent forward DeMarre (Deh-MAHR-ay) Carroll to a multi-year contract. According to various reports, the deal is worth $60 million over four years.

“We are thrilled with not only the skills but the intangibles DeMarre will bring to our team,” said Raptors President and General Manager Masai Ujiri. “He is a hard-nosed player who plays with passion and commitment on both ends of the floor.”

Carroll, 6-foot-8, 215 pounds, averaged a career-high 12.6 points, with 5.3 rebounds, 1.3 steals and 31.3 minutes in 70 contests (69 starts) last season with the Atlanta Hawks. He also posted career bests in field goal percentage (.487), three-point field goal percentage (.395), field goals made (318), three-point field goals made (120) and free throws made (127). He finished third in the NBA in steals-to-turnover ratio (1.25) and fourth in both two-point field goal percentage (.567, 198-349) and effective field goal percentage (.579).

Carroll, along with the four other starters on the Hawks, was named Eastern Conference Player of the Month for January. He averaged 12.3 points, 4.6 rebounds, 1.4 steals and 31.5 minutes in 14 games. The Hawks posted the best calendar month in NBA history with a 17-0 record.

Carroll scored in double figures 55 times with a career-high 26 points (9-13 FG, 2-3 3FG, 6-6 FT) February 9 at Minnesota. He had 23 games with seven-or-more rebounds, including a career high-tying 12 rebounds March 18 at Golden State. He registered four steals on four occasions.

In the 2015 postseason, Carroll averaged 14.6 points, 6.1 rebounds, 1.1 steals and 34.9 minutes in 16 outings (16 starts). He shot .403 (29-72) from three-point range. He scored 20-or-more points in seven contests, including a stretch of six consecutive games (April 25 – May 5). He recorded a career postseason high of 25 points (9-14 FG, 3-5 3FG, 4-5 FT) in Game 6 at Washington.

In 316 career regular season games (164 starts), Carroll has averaged 7.6 points, 3.7 rebounds, 1.2 steals and 21.6 minutes. He has played with Memphis (2009-11), Houston (2010-11), Denver (2011-12), Utah (2011-13) and the Hawks (2013-15).

Carroll was drafted 27th overall by Memphis in the first-round of the 2009 NBA Draft. He split his college career between Vanderbilt and Missouri. He averaged 16.6 points, 7.2 rebounds and 1.6 steals in 38 games during his senior season at Missouri.

Spurs trade Tiago Splitter to Hawks

The Atlanta Hawks Basketball Club has acquired forward/center Tiago Splitter from the San Antonio Spurs in exchange for the draft rights to Georgios Printezis and a future second round pick, it was announced today by President of Basketball Operations/Head Coach Mike Budenholzer.

“We’re excited to bring Tiago to Atlanta. He’s played an important role in a winning environment, has a great understanding of our system and will add to our core character,” Budenholzer said. “Tiago also brings championship experience and we look forward to adding his interior presence to our team.”

Splitter, a 6-foot-11, 245-pound forward/center, spent his first five NBA seasons with the Spurs, averaging 8.3 points, 5.3 rebounds and 1.3 assists in 19.8 minutes (.560 FG%, .690 FT%) in 311 games (151 starts). Last season, he averaged 8.2 points, 4.8 rebounds and 1.5 assists in 19.8 minutes (.558 FG%, .750 FT%).

In 65 career postseason contests (40 starts), he has put up 6.3 points, 4.3 rebounds and 1.4 assists in 19.2 minutes (.572 FG%). He won an NBA championship ring with San Antonio in 2014.

Splitter was originally selected in the first round (28th overall) of the 2007 NBA Draft by the Spurs. The native of Blumenau, Santa Catarina, Brazil played eight years in Spain (Basket Bilbao Berri, Tau Ceramica, Caja Laboral Vitoria) prior to his arrival in San Antonio.

Splitter will wear uniform No. 11.

Printezis, 6-9/240, currently plays for Olympiacos Piraeus in Greece. Last season, he appeared in 20 games and averaged a career-high 12.2 points and 4.8 rebounds in 25.3 minutes. In his 12 seasons as a professional, the forward has appeared in 173 contests, averaging 9.0 points and 3.6 rebounds in 20.0 minutes.

Suns trade Marcus Morris, Danny Granger and Reggie Bullock to Pistons

The Detroit Pistons announced today that the team has acquired forward Marcus Morris, guard Reggie Bullock and forward-guard Danny Granger from the Phoenix Suns in exchange for a 2020 second round draft selection.

Morris, 25, appeared in 81 games (35 starts) with Phoenix last season averaging career highs in points (10.4 ppg), rebounds (4.8 rpg), assists (1.6 apg) and minutes (25.2 mpg). He scored in double-figures 39 times, including five games with 20-plus points and one 30-plus point game. Morris recorded a career-high 34 points (11-17 FG, 5-7 3FG, 7-8 FT) and 12 rebounds vs. Utah (2/6), his first career 30-point game and his first career double-double. He became the first Suns player to record at least 30 points and 10 rebounds off the bench since Danny Manning during the 1997-98 season. Morris finished the season with five double-doubles and led the Suns in scoring six times, rebounds nine times, assists twice, steals 12 times and blocks seven times. He also tied a career-long streak with seven straight games scoring in double-figures from March 21-April 2. Morris grabbed a career-high 13 rebounds (12 defensive) vs. New Orleans (3/19). He also set a career-high and tied a Suns season-high with six made three-pointers at Sacramento (12/26). The four-year NBA pro was selected 14th overall in the 2011 NBA Draft by the Houston Rockets. He owns career averages of 8.9 points and 3.9 rebounds in 257 games (59 starts), including 9.5 points and 4.1 rebounds in 186 games (45 starts) with Phoenix.

Bullock, 24, completed his second NBA season with averages of 1.9 points, 1.4 rebounds and 9.4 minutes in 36 games (two starts) with Phoenix and the Los Angeles Clippers. The Suns acquired Bullock on January 15 in a midseason three-team trade. Bullock recorded two double-figure scoring games last season, both while with the Clippers, including a season-high 12 points vs. Utah (11/3). Drafted by the Clippers with the 25th overall selection in the first round of the 2013 NBA Draft, Bullock owns career averages of 2.3 points, 1.3 rebounds and 9.3 minutes in 79 games.

Granger, 32, appeared in 30 games (six starts) with the Miami HEAT last season before being acquired by the Suns, averaging 6.3 points, 2.7 rebounds and 20.4 minutes per game. He did not see playing time with the Suns as he was working with the training staff to improve his health. The 10-year NBA veteran who has appeared in 586 regular season games (431 starts) with the Indiana Pacers (2005-14), Los Angeles Clippers (2013-14) and Miami HEAT (2014-15), owns averages of 16.8 points, 4.9 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 1.0 steals and 31.5 minutes per game.