NBA News Blog – Page 778 – NBA Blog

Nets sign forward Bojan Bogdanovic

The Brooklyn Nets have signed forward Bojan Bogdanović to a multi-year contract, Nets General Manager Billy King announced today.

“Having drafted Bojan in 2011, it is rewarding to finally welcome him to the Nets,” said King. “We obviously have a high regard for his game, and we are glad he will now bring that talent to Brooklyn.”

The 6’8” Bogdanović has played the last three seasons with Fenerbahçe Ülker in the Turkish Basketball League, earning All-Star honors in 2013 and Turkish Basketball League and Turkish Supercup championships in 2014. In 24 Euroleague games (21 starts) during the 2013-14 season, Bogdanović averaged 14.8 points, 2.4 rebounds and 1.9 assists in 30.6 minutes per game. In 87 career Euroleague games (57 starts) split between Fenerbahçe Ülker, Cibona Zagreb in Croatia (2009-11) and Real Madrid in Spain (2007-08), Bogdanović has posted averages of 13.8 points, 2.5 rebounds and 1.2 assists in 27.9 minutes per game. He also captured an A-1 Liga championship and earned A-1 Liga All-Star recognition with Cibona Zagreb in 2010. Bogdanović has been playing professionally since 2004, when he joined his hometown team, Zrinjski Mostar, in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Selected with the 31st overall pick in the 2011 NBA Draft by the Miami Heat, Bogdanović’s rights were traded by Miami to Minnesota, and then by the Timberwolves to the Nets.

Born in Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bogdanović has appeared in international competition at the U-16, U-18 and U-20 levels for Croatia. He also joined the Croatian national team for the 2010 FIBA World Championship.

Chicago Bulls sign Aaron Brooks

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

“We’re excited to add a player as experienced and talented as Aaron to our group,” said Chicago Bulls General Manager Gar Forman.

Brooks (6-0, 161), a six-year NBA veteran, comes to the Bulls after spending last season with both 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 held stints with the Rockets (2007-11, 2012-13, 2013-14), Phoenix Suns (2010-11), Sacramento Kings (2012-13) and the Denver Nuggets (2013-14).

Last season with the Rockets and Nuggets, Brooks appeared in 72 games (12 starts) and averaged 9.0 ppg, 3.2 apg and 1.9 rpg in 21.6 mpg. He shot .401 from the field, .387 from downtown and .874 from the line.

A native of Seattle, the 29-year old Brooks has played in 397 regular season games (161 starts) and posted averages of 11.1 ppg, 3.4 apg, 1.8 rpg, 0.61 spg, 23.6 mpg, .413 field goal shooting, .368 three-point shooting and .847 from the line. During the 2009-10 campaign with the Rockets, he posted career highs in points per game (19.6), assists per game (5.3), rebounds per game (2.6), steals per game (0.84), three-point field goal percentage (.398) and games played (82) en route to being named the NBA’s Most Improved Player. In 25 playoff appearances, he has averaged 10.9 ppg, 2.3 apg, 2.0 rpg, 22.4 mpg, shot .428 from the field, .337 from downtown and .790 from the line.

Warriors sign Brandon Rush

The Golden State Warriors have signed free agent guard/forward Brandon Rush to a contract, the team announced today.

According to the Bay Area News Group, Rush “agreed to a $2.5 million contract with a player option for the second year.”

Rush, 29, returns for a second stint with the Warriors, where he previously appeared in 67 games over two seasons (2011-13) and averaged 9.7 points, 3.8 rebounds and 1.3 assists, while shooting 50.4 percent from the field and 44.8 percent from three-point range in 26.0 minutes per contest.

The University of Kansas product enjoyed his best NBA season in 2011-12 with Golden State, finishing with career highs in scoring (9.8 ppg), field goal percentage (50.1%), three-point percentage (45.2% – sixth in the NBA) and free throw percentage (79.3%) in 26.4 minutes per contest over 65 games. In 2012-13, Rush suffered a torn ACL and MCL in his left knee in the second game of the season, on November 2, 2012, versus the Memphis Grizzlies, sidelining him for the remainder of the campaign.

The 6’6” swingman was traded to the Utah Jazz, on July 10, 2013, in the three-team deal that brought Andre Iguodala to the Warriors. With Utah last season, Rush appeared in 38 games, averaging 2.1 points and 1.2 rebounds in 11.0 minutes per contest.

A native of Kansas City, MO, Rush owns career averages of 8.3 points, 3.3 rebounds and 1.1 assists per contest while shooting 40.9 percent from three-point range over 329 games with the Indiana Pacers, Golden State Warriors and Utah Jazz. In 105 career starts, he owns averages of 11.4 points, 4.5 rebounds and 1.4 assists while shooting 40.2 percent from distance. Originally selected by the Portland Trail Blazers with the 13th selection of the 2008 NBA Draft, Rush was acquired by the Pacers in a draft-day deal. He was traded to the Warriors on December 19, 2011 after three seasons in Indiana.

Lakers re-sign Ryan Kelly

The Los Angeles Lakers have signed free agent forward Ryan Kelly, it was announced today by General Manager Mitch Kupchak.

“When we extended a qualifying offer to Ryan in June, we fully expected him to be a part of our future,” said Kupchak. “Ryan did everything we asked of him as a rookie and showed great promise and potential. After rehabbing an injury last summer, he will have the benefit of a full offseason regimen and training camp for the first time in his NBA career, and we anticipate further development as a result.”

In 2013-14, his rookie NBA season, Kelly averaged 8.0 points, 3.7 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 0.8 blocks in 22.2 minutes per game, and started 25 contests while appearing in 59 total games. The 23-year-old Kelly scored 20+ points on three occasions last season, including a career-high 26 on February 5th at Cleveland and became just the third Laker rookie in the last 20 years (Kobe Bryant and Eddie Jones) to score 17+ points in consecutive games when he did so 1/17 at BOS and 1/19 at TOR.

In five games while on assignment with the Los Angeles D-Fenders of the NBA D-League, Kelly averaged 25.2 points, 7.6 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 1.6 steals and 1.4 blocks in 39.6 minutes.

The 6’11’’ forward was selected by the Lakers in the second round (48th overall pick) in the 2013 NBA draft. The former McDonald’s All-American, who earned a 2010 NCAA Championship as well as two ACC Championships with Duke, played all four seasons for the Blue Devils, where he averaged 7.5 points and 3.7 rebounds while shooting 46% from the field. As a senior, Kelly was named ACC Player of the Week twice and earned honorable mention All-ACC honors despite missing 13 games due to injury. Kelly finished his final season with the Blue Devils averaging 12.9 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 1.6 blocked shots in 28.9 minutes per game.

Lakers re-sign Nick Young

The Los Angeles Lakers have re-signed guard Nick Young to a multi-year contract, it was announced today by General Manager Mitch Kupchak.

“When Nick became a free agent in June, I expressed hope that we would be able to bring him back on a contract that was in the best interest of both the Lakers and himself, and I am proud to say we were able to do so,” said Kupchak. “Nick was a bright spot for us last season, and we are happy to retain such a skilled player who is committed to being a part of what we are building as a franchise.”

Young had a career year in 2013-14 after originally signing with the Lakers as a free agent in July, 2013. The Los Angeles native averaged a career-high 17.9 points in his first season in the purple-and-gold, twice hitting the 40-point mark, and led the team in scoring a team-best 22 times. In a predominantly bench role (nine starts in 64 games), Young averaged 18.8 points as a reserve, ranking him 1st in the NBA for points per game among players who came off the bench 20 or more times. Young also led the league in four-point plays last season (seven, also a Lakers franchise record) and finished 3rd in the NBA in points per touch (0.45).

After a three-year collegiate career at USC, the seven-year pro was drafted by the Washington Wizards with the 16th pick of the 2007 NBA Draft. Young was traded to the Los Angeles Clippers in March 2012 and played the following season (2012-13) for the Philadelphia 76ers.

Utah Jazz sign Trevor Booker

The Utah Jazz announced today that the team has signed free-agent forward Trevor Booker.

Booker (6-8, 235, Clemson) is a four-year veteran who owns career averages of 6.4 points and 5.1 rebounds in 20.3 minutes over 235 career games (105 starts), all with the Washington Wizards. This past season, he registered 6.8 points and 5.3 rebounds per game, including 24 games of 10-plus points and five double-doubles. Booker also led the Wizards in field goal percentage (.551, 222-of-403) and recorded a career-high 379 total rebounds during the 2013-14 campaign.

Originally selected in the first round (23rd overall) of the 2010 NBA Draft by Minnesota prior to his rights being traded to Washington, Booker was the first senior selected in that year’s draft class.

Prior to the NBA, Booker played four seasons at Clemson University from 2006-10. He ranks fifth all-time at Clemson in scoring with 1,725 career points and third all-time in school history with 1,060 rebounds. Booker helped led the Tigers to three consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances and a school-record 93 victories during his four-year tenure. He also became the first player in ACC history to record 1,500 points, 1,000 rebounds, 200 blocks, 200 assists and 100 steals in a career. Booker averaged double figures in scoring in all four collegiate seasons.

Born in Newberry, S.C., Booker played high school basketball at Union County and was named the 2006 Gatorade High School Player of the Year in South Carolina following his senior season. He also won a bronze medal with Team USA at the World University Games in the summer of 2009.

Spurs re-sign Matt Bonner

The San Antonio Spurs today announced that they have re-signed forward Matt Bonner.

Bonner has spent the past eight seasons in San Antonio, the longest tenured player with the Silver and Black outside of Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili. The 6-10 forward has appeared in 530 games with the Spurs, averaging 5.9 points and 3.2 rebounds in 16.9 minutes while shooting .459 (1,170-2,551) from the field and .417 (595-1,428) from three-point range. Among Spurs all-time NBA leaders, Bonner ranks third in three-pointers made, seventh in three-point field goal percentage and ninth in games played. During the 2010-11 season he led the NBA in three-point shooting with a .457 (105-230) mark from beyond the arc. Bonner has appeared in 87 playoff games for the Silver and Black, averaging 2.9 points and 1.7 rebounds in 11.5 minutes.

A 10-year NBA veteran, Bonner was originally drafted by the Chicago Bulls with the 45th overall pick in the 2003 NBA Draft. His draft rights were traded to the Toronto Raptors where he spent his first two NBA seasons. For his career, the New Hampshire native has appeared in 690 NBA games, averaging 6.2 points and 3.2 rebounds 17.7 minutes while shooting .467 (1,626-3,481) from the field, .417 (736-1,736) from three-point territory and .777 (304-391) from the foul line. Among active players he ranks seventh in three-point field goal percentage.

Phoenix Suns sign Anthony Tolliver

The Phoenix Suns have signed free agent forward Anthony Tolliver to a multiyear contract, the club announced today.

“We are very pleased to welcome Anthony to Phoenix,” said President of Basketball Operations Lon Babby. “He has impressed us not only with his play, but with his intelligence and high character.”

“Anthony is a great fit for our style of play,” said General Manager Ryan McDonough. “His shooting, professionalism and leadership will help us as we try to continue to build a strong foundation going forward.”

The 6-8, 240-pound Tolliver is a six-year NBA veteran who shot a career-high 41.3 percent from three-point distance with Charlotte last season. Tolliver averaged 6.1 points, 2.6 rebounds and 20.3 minutes in 64 games (nine starts) in his one season with the Bobcats.

A native of Springfield, Mo., Tolliver holds career averages of 6.1 points, 3.7 rebounds, 41.4 percent field goal shooting, 35.2 percent three-point shooting and 78.4 percent free throw shooting in 307 games with San Antonio, Portland, Golden State, Minnesota, Atlanta and Charlotte. Tolliver averaged a career-high 11.7 points and 7.0 rebounds playing primarily with the Warriors in the 2009-10 season, including a career-high 34 points on April 7, 2010, at Minnesota.

A product of Creighton University, Tolliver went undrafted in the 2007 NBA Draft and earned his spot in the league with performances in the NBA D-League, as well as professionally in Germany and Turkey.

Chicago Bulls sign second round draft pick Cameron Bairstow

The Chicago Bulls announced today the signing of 2014 second round draft pick Cameron Bairstow. Chicago selected Bairstow (BARE-stow) with the 49th overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft.

“We like Cameron’s combination as a player with his size, energy and physicality,” said Chicago Bulls General Manager Gar Forman. “He is a hard worker who will only get better with time.”

A native of Brisbane, Australia, Bairstow is a 6-9, 250-pound forward who played four seasons at the University of New Mexico. In 134 games with the Lobos, he posted 9.2 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 0.8 apg and 0.74 bpg in 20.8 mpg. For his collegiate career, he also shot .517 from the field and .717 from the line.

Pacers sign Rodney Stuckey

The Indiana Pacers announced Monday they have signed free agent Rodney Stuckey.

Stuckey, a 6-5, 205-pound guard, has seven years of NBA experience, all with the Detroit Pistons. He was a No. 1 pick of the Pistons (15th overall) in the 2007 NBA Draft after playing collegiately at Eastern Washington. While with the Pistons, Stuckey had a career average of 13.4 points per game with a career high 16.6 average in 2009-10. He made the NBA’s All-Rookie second team after the 2007-08 season.

“Rodney is a very talented player who can create and score in a variety of ways,” said Pacers President of Basketball Operations Larry Bird. “We’re very happy to get a player with his experience and who has made it very clear of his desire to win.”