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Pelicans sign Anthony Davis to contract extension

The New Orleans Pelicans today announced that at 12:01 p.m. local time in Hong Kong, China, All-Star forward Anthony Davis signed a contract extension with the club. According to multiple reports, it is a five-year, $145 million deal.

“Words cannot describe the excitement of the New Orleans Pelicans to have Anthony Davis as the cornerstone of our organization,” said Pelicans General Manager Dell Demps. “Anthony is a great person, a phenomenal player and the ideal representative of his family, the Pelicans and the New Orleans community.

“We are thrilled to have Anthony commit to the Pelicans as we continue to build our team to have sustained success.”

Davis has appeared in 199 games over his first three seasons in the NBA, all with New Orleans, posting career averages of 19.7 points while shooting .525 from the field, 9.5 rebounds, 1.3 steals and 2.5 blocks per game. The 6-10 forward currently ranks fifth in New Orleans franchise history in defensive rebounds (1,346) total rebounds (1,891) and steals (264), third in points (3,917), points per game and field goal percentage, second in rebounding average (9.5) and first in blocks (501).

“I am very excited to continue to play for the Pelicans and remain a proud resident of the City of New Orleans,” stated Davis. “I want to thank Mr. and Mrs. Benson, Dell Demps, Coach Gentry, the entire Pelicans’ organization, my agent Thad Foucher, my family and, of course, all of the incredible fans for their unwavering support. I look forward to many great years together.”

Originally selected by New Orleans with the first overall pick in the 2012 NBA Draft out of Kentucky, Davis earned All-Rookie First Team honors after appearing in 64 games and averaging 13.5 points on .516 shooting from the floor, 8.1 rebounds and 1.8 blocks. In 2013-14, the Chicago native appeared in 67 games, averaging 20.8 points, 10.0 rebounds and a league-best 2.8 blocks per game while being named to his first All-Star Game. This past season, 2014-15, Davis, 22, averaged a career-best 24.4 points on .535 shooting from the floor, 10.2 rebounds and 2.9 blocks per game, ranking fourth, seventh, eighth, and first in the NBA in those respective statistical categories. Davis was selected to his second All-Star game, his first as a starter, while earning All-Defensive Second Team and All-NBA First Team honors, and helping New Orleans make their first playoff appearance since 2011. In four post-season games against the Golden State Warriors, Davis averaged 31.5 points on .540 shooting from the floor, 10.8 rebounds and 3.0 blocks, becoming the first player in 41 years to average at least 30 points and 10 rebounds through their first four career playoff games.

Raptors waive Luke Ridnour

At least Ridnour wasn’t traded again. For now.

The Toronto Raptors announced Thursday they have waived guard Luke Ridnour. The club acquired Ridnour and cash considerations from the Oklahoma City Thunder on June 30 in exchange for the draft rights to forward Tomislav Zubcic.

Ridnour, 6-foot-2, 175 pounds, has averaged 9.3 points, 4.5 assists, 1.0 steals and 26.1 minutes in 830 career games (493 starts). He has played with Seattle (2003-08), Milwaukee (2008-10, 2013-14), Minnesota (2010-13), Charlotte (2013-14) and Orlando (2014-15).

DeAndre Jordan reneges on agreement with Mavs, re-signs with Clippers

DeAndre Jordan reneges on agreement with Mavs, re-signs with Clippers

Here’s the Dallas Morning News reporting on a massively frustrating turn of events for the Mavericks:

Maybe it wouldn’t hurt so much and set up so many potential ramifications if it weren’t so tantalizingly close for the Mavericks.

Even if you have no love for owner Mark Cuban or his team, you have to admit it’s cruel and unusual the way they lost DeAndre Jordan.

He was poised to become the biggest free-agent acquisition in franchise history. It doesn’t come any closer than having a commitment in hand.

Then, after a hard-fought recruiting battle the likes of which even Michael Jordan never got, DeAndre Jordan on Wednesday evening switched his commitment from the Mavericks and returned to the Los Angeles Clippers, who announced that it was official on a social-media platform sent from the team’s account minutes after the moratorium on free-agent signings was lifted at 11:01 p.m. (CDT) Wednesday. The deal was four years for more than $87 million.

Yes, Wesley Matthews is still signing with Mavs

Here’s the Oregonian reporting that Wesley Matthews is still leaving the Trail Blazers to sign with the Dallas Mavericks, whether DeAndre Jordan joins the Mavs or decides to cancel his reported agreement and returns to the Clippers:

Wesley Matthews says he will sign with the Dallas Mavericks regardless if center DeAndre Jordan changes his mind and returns to the Los Angeles Clippers, sources close to the player told The Oregonian/Oregonlive.

Matthews, who last week gave a verbal agreement to Dallas to sign a four-year deal worth around $13 million the first year, is expected to sign and be introduced to the Dallas media on Thursday, the first day the NBA moratorium ends.

Hawks, Justin Holiday agree to deal

Here’s the Atlanta Journal Constitution reporting that the Hawks are adding to their backcourt depth:

The Hawks reached a contract agreement with Justin Holiday Wednesday, according to several people familiar with the situation. The deal is for two years fully guaranteed.

The addition will give the Hawks needed depth at the wing following the loss of DeMarre Carroll to free agency last week.

Holiday, a 6-foot-6, 185-pound shooting guard/small forward, played last season for the Warriors. In 59 games, he averaged 4.3 points and 1.2 rebounds in 11.1 minutes. He also appeared in nine games for the 76ers in the 2012-13 season. Holiday has appeared in 68 career NBA games, including four starts, and averaged 4.4 points, 1.3 rebounds and .9 assists in 11.8 minutes.

Charles Jenkins signs in Italy

Here’s Eurocupbasketball.com reporting on a name NBA fans will recognize:

EA7 Emporio Armani Milan bolstered its backcourt by signing shooting guard Charles Jenkins on Wednesday. Jenkins (1.91 meters, 26 years old) spent the past two seasons with Crvena Zvezda Telekom Belgrade, and helped the club reach Euroleague Top 16 and win the domestic triple crown – Serbian League, Serbian Radivoj Korac Cup and Adriatic League last season with a key role coming off the bench. He also led Zvezda to the Eurocup semifinals in the 2013-14 season. He averaged 6.6 points, 1.3 assists and 1.3 rebounds in 24 Euroleague games last season.

P.J. Hairston cited for driving violations

Here’s the Charlotte Obsever reporting now on an incident back in June:

P.J. Hairston cited for driving with revoked license

For a third consecutive summer, Hornets guard P.J. Hairston is facing legal trouble.

Hairston was cited around noon on June 18 for driving with a revoked license, speeding, driving left of center and driving on expired tags.

According to the citation, Hairston’s 2015 black Cadillac Escalade was traveling at 51 mph in a 35 mph zone on Toddville Road heading toward Freedom Drive. The tags were expired and his vehicle went more than half its width over the double yellow line for 25-30 yards, according to a Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police officer N.S. Bush in his report.

Warriors: Kevon Looney signs rookie contract

warriors rookie kevon looney signs contract

The Golden State Warriors have signed forward Kevon Looney (keh-VON LOO-nee) to a contract, the team announced today.

All players selected in the first round of the NBA Draft are guaranteed to receive a contract, assuming they want to enter the league right away. Therefore, this was a standard signing, and was expected.

Looney, 19, was selected 30th overall by the Warriors in the first round of the 2015 NBA Draft. He tallied averages of 11.6 points, 9.2 rebounds (second in the Pac-12), 1.4 assists and 1.28 steals in 30.9 minutes over 36 games as a freshman at UCLA during the 2014-15 campaign, earning Second Team All-Pac-12 and Pac-12 All-Freshman Team accolades. Looney (6’9”, 220) led all freshmen in the nation with 15 double-doubles, setting career-highs with 27 points and 19 rebounds in a win over Stanford on Jan. 8 en route to Pac-12 Player of the Week honors.

A native of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Looney is scheduled to make his professional debut with the Golden State Warriors Summer League squad in Las Vegas on Friday, July 10 in an NBA Finals rematch against the Cleveland Cavaliers at 7:30 p.m. The Warriors, who will tip-off their 10th summer at the annual event in Las Vegas, will face the Atlanta Hawks on Sunday, July 12 (5:30 p.m.) and the Sacramento Kings on Monday, July 13 (3:30 p.m.) before playing at least two more games in the Summer League Tournament.

Jazz sign rookie Trey Lyles

The Utah Jazz announced today that the team has signed 2015 first-round draft pick forward Trey Lyles (12th overall).

Players selected in the first round of the NBA Draft are guaranteed to receive a contract if they want to come to the league right away. So, this signing is standard — though, it came later than expected.

Lyles spent one season at the University of Kentucky. As a freshman, the 19-year-old forward was named to the 2015 All-SEC Freshman Team and helped lead the Wildcats to a 2015 NCAA Final Four appearance.

A native of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada, the 6-10, 241-pound Lyles averaged 8.7 points, 5.2 rebounds and 1.1 assists in 36 contests during his sole season at Kentucky. As a high school senior, Lyles was named 2014 Indiana Mr. Basketball and the 2014 Gatorade Indiana Boys Basketball Player of the Year. In addition, he participated in the 2014 McDonald’s All-American Game and the Jordan Brand Classic. Lyles has also played internationally for both Canada and the United States.

Lyles will wear jersey No. 41 for the Jazz.

Mark Cuban fined for free agency comments

Look. Maverick owner Mark Cuban gets fined by the NBA for saying what they feel is the wrong thing sometimes. It happens. Here is ESPN.com reporting:

The NBA has fined Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban $25,000 for publicly confirming the team’s upcoming free-agent deals with DeAndre Jordan and Wesley Matthews, league spokesman Tim Frank said Tuesday, confirming an ESPN.com report.

Mark Cuban addressed the Mavericks’ agreements with DeAndre Jordan and Wesley Matthews during interviews last week. Kevin Jairaj/USA TODAY Sports
Sources said the Mavericks were informed of the fine Tuesday.

Teams and players are allowed to strike verbal agreements on new contracts during the league’s annual moratorium period in early July while the league’s salary cap and luxury tax figures are being calculated for the coming season, but team officials are not allowed to openly discuss those deals.