NBA News Blog – Page 851 – NBA Blog

Raptors trade Andrea Bargnani to Knicks

New York Knicks Executive Vice President and General Manager Glen Grunwald announced today that the team has acquired forward/center Andrea Bargnani from Toronto in exchange for center Marcus Camby, forward Steve Novak, guard/forward Quentin Richardson (via sign-and-trade), a first-round draft selection in the 2016 NBA Draft and second-round selections in 2014 and 2017.

“Seven-foot versatile players with a good mid-range offensive game and an ability to stretch the other team’s defense are hard to come by in this league,” Grunwald said. “Andrea has proven to be a quality scorer who adds another dimension to our team. We are excited to add him to our frontline.”

Bargnani, 7-0, 256-pounds, was selected No. 1 overall by Toronto in the 2006 NBA Draft, and after seven seasons with the Raptors, ranks third on the franchise’s all-time scoring list with 6,581 points, second in three-point field goals (579) and fourth in games played (418). He holds career averages of 15.2 points, on 43.7-percent shooting from the field, and 4.8 rebounds over 30.3 minutes in 433 games (316 starts). Bargnani posted a career-best 41 points, and added seven rebounds and six assists, versus the Knicks at Madison Square Garden on Dec. 8, 2010.

“Andrea has great size and can create huge match-up problems for our opponents,” Head Coach Mike Woodson said. “He can score both inside and out. He will be a great complement to Carmelo, Tyson and Amar’e.”

The native of Rome, Italy, averaged 12.7 points, 3.7 rebounds and 28.7 minutes in 35 games during the 2012-13 season. Although Bargnani missed 46 games due to injury/illness, he scored in double-digits 11 times, reached the 20-point plateau eight times and scored a season-high 34 points on Nov. 23, 2012 at Detroit.

Camby, 6-11, 245-pounds, appeared in 24 games (four starts) for New York during the 2012-13 season – his second tenure with the Knicks. He averaged 1.8 points and 3.3 rebounds and being acquired from Portland, via sign-and-trade, on Jul. 11, 2012.

Novak, 6-10, 225-pounds, averaged 6.6 points, on 41.4-percent shooting from the field and 42.5-percent from three-point range, over 81 games (one start) during the 2012-13 season – his second season with the Knicks. He was claimed off waivers from San Antonio on Dec. 21, 2012.

Richardson, 6-6, 220-pounds, appeared in one game for the Knicks during the 2012-13 season – his second tenure with New York. He signed as a free agent on Apr. 16, 2013.

Chicago Bulls sign Mike Dunleavy

The Chicago Bulls announced today the team has signed free agent guard/forward Mike Dunleavy.

“We are extremely excited to add Mike to our team,” said Bulls General Manager Gar Forman. “He was a priority for us from the second free agency began and we feel he will be a terrific fit for us, both on and off the floor.”

Dunleavy (6-9, 230), an 11-year NBA veteran, most recently played with the Milwaukee Bucks during the 2012-13 season. Last year with the Bucks, he appeared in 75 games (three starts) and averaged 10.5 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 1.9 apg and 0.52 spg in 25.9 mpg. He also shot .442 from the field, .428 from downtown (eighth in the NBA) and .820 from the line.

In addition to playing the last two seasons in Milwaukee, the 32-year old Dunleavy has also played for the Indiana Pacers (2007-11) and the Golden State Warriors (2002-07). In 757 career games (429 starts), Dunleavy has posted averages of 11.9 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 2.4 apg and 0.78 spg in 28.2 mpg. He holds career shooting averages of .444 from the field, .372 from behind the arc and .799 from the line. For his career, he ranks 76th in NBA history with 982 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 two times. In nine playoff games, he has produced 8.2 ppg, 2.4 rpg, 1.8 apg and 0.67 spg in 18.1 mpg. He also owns postseason shooting averages of .480 from the field, .385 from downtown and .762 from the free throw line.

Dunleavy will wear No. 34 with the Bulls

Atlanta Hawks sign Paul Millsap

The Atlanta Hawks have signed forward Paul Millsap, President of Basketball Operations/GM Danny Ferry announced today. We’ll add contract details to this page tonight.

Millsap, 28, averaged 14.6 points on .490 shooting, 7.1 rebounds and 2.6 assists in 30.4 minutes per game in 78 games (all starts) last season with the Utah Jazz. He also averaged 1.3 steals and 1.0 block per game, making him one of just five players in the NBA during the 2012-13 season (Kevin Durant, Marc Gasol, Al Horford and Josh Smith) to post averages of at least 14.0 points, 7.0 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 1.0 block and 1.0 steal. Since becoming a full-time starter in the 2010-11 season (starting 216 of 218 games), he has averages of 16.1 points on .507 shooting, 7.8 rebounds and 2.5 assists in 32.5 minutes per game.

The 6-foot-8, 253-pound forward has career averages of 12.4 points on .516 shooting, 7.0 rebounds and 1.8 assists in 27.4 minutes per game in 540 games (265 starts) and has recorded 107 double-doubles. A native of Louisiana, Millsap played collegiately at Louisiana Tech where he became the only player in NCAA history to lead the nation in rebounding in three consecutive seasons.

“Paul was one of our top priorities entering the free agency process and we believe he is a great fit with the team and culture that we are trying to build,” Ferry said. “He is a high-character individual and his toughness, high basketball IQ, and selflessness will add to our locker room and give us versatility on the court.”

Knicks re-sign Pablo Prigioni

New York Knicks Executive Vice President and General Manager Glen Grunwald announced today that the team has re-signed guard Pablo Prigioni to a contract.

Prigioni, 6-3, 185-pounds, was the first Argentine-born player in Knicks history and made his NBA debut at age 35 after signing as a free agent on Jul. 24, 2012. He averaged 3.5 points, 3.0 assists and 1.8 rebounds over 16.2 minutes in 78 games (18 starts) this past season and was inserted into the Knicks starting lineup on Mar. 18 to help lead the team to the franchise’s third-longest winning streak of 13. In 11 postseason games (10 starts), Prigioni averaged 4.5 points, 3.2 assists and 1.27 steals over 20.9 minutes.

“We are very excited to have Pablo back in a Knicks uniform. He is one of our catalysts on both the offensive and defensive end,” Grunwald said. “His tenacity, leadership and experience played an integral role in our team’s success down the stretch, and into the postseason.”

Wayne Ellington will sign with Dallas Mavericks

Wayne Ellington has become the third guard to join the Dallas Mavericks in free agency.

Ellington tweeted late Tuesday night that he had agreed to a contract with Dallas. The deal is reportedly for two years and $5 million.

The 6-foot-4 shooting guard split last season between Memphis and Cleveland. He was traded to the Grizzlies last summer and went to the Cavaliers midseason in a four-player deal.

Reported by the Associated Press

Toronto Raptors add Nick Nurse to coaching staff

The Toronto Raptors announced Tuesday they have added Nick Nurse to Dwane Casey’s coaching staff. Nurse joins the Raptors from the NBA D-League’s Rio Grande Valley Vipers.

Nurse, 45, coached the Valley Vipers to a 59-41 mark the past two seasons and the 2012-13 NBA D-League championship. Prior to taking the reins in Rio Grande, Nurse coached the Iowa Energy to an overall regular season mark of 124-76 (.620) and the 2010-11 NBA Development League championship. For his accomplishments, Nurse was named the 2010-11 recipient of the Dennis Johnson Coach of the Year award.

A three-time NBA Development League All-Star head coach, Nurse led the Energy to back-to-back 37-13 finishes in 2009-10 and 2010-11, setting and then tying the league record for wins in a single season. Nurse led the Energy to two Eastern Conference championships and one Central Division championship.

A graduate of the University of Northern Iowa, Nurse began his coaching career at the age of 23 when he became the head coach of Grand View College, making him the youngest college basketball coach in the United States. He moved on to an assistant coach position at the University of South Dakota where his teams recorded a 46-14 mark.

Nurse coached in Europe for 11 years starting in 1996, winning nine championships and two Coach of the Year awards while earning six All-Star head coach selections in the British Basketball League. During that time, he also gained coaching experience in Italy, Belgium and the USBL. Additionally, Nurse served as an assistant coach in the 2012 Olympics for the host British National Team.

Nurse holds a career professional coaching record of 459-220 (.676) during the regular season and 76-54 (.585) in the postseason.

Pistons sign Italian League shooter Luigi Datome

The newest member of the Detroit Pistons made the announcement on Facebook.

Italian small forward Luigi Datome wrote: “I made my decision to be a player of the Detroit Pistons. I think that Detroit is the right place to make another step in my career and to realize a dream. I am very excited to play with the Pistons.”

A person familiar with the situation confirmed the signing and told the Free Press the deal is expected to be two years. The source requested anonymity because the deal isn’t final until Wednesday, when the league’s annual free agency moratorium ends. Yahoo! Sports is reporting the agreement is worth $3.75 million.

With the agreement, the Pistons addressed one of their biggest needs — outside shooting.

Reported by Vince Ellis of the Detroit Free Press

Datome, 25, averaged 16.6 points and 5.8 rebounds for Virtus Roma last season, shooting 47 percent from the field (41 percent on 3-point attempts) and 92 percent from the free throw line.

The Pistons can’t announce contract agreements with free agents until Wednesday, when the league moritorium on signings is lifted.

Reported by the Associated Press

Clippers waive forward DaJuan Summers

The Los Angeles Clippers today waived forward DaJuan Summers. The Georgetown product appeared in two games for the Clippers last season, averaging 1.0 points and 1.0 rebounds in 3.5 minutes of action. Summers will play for the Clippers in the upcoming 2013 NBA Summer League in Las Vegas.

He was originally signed to a 10-day contract on March 15, 2013 and then for the rest of the season on April 4.

Brooklyn Nets promote Frank Zanin to assistant general manager

The Brooklyn Nets have promoted Frank Zanin to Assistant General Manager where he will work alongside Assistant General Manager Bobby Marks, General Manager Billy King announced today. The Nets also promoted Matt Riccardi to Basketball Operations Manager, Sean Sweeney to Video Operations Manager, Scott Sereday to Statistical Analyst and Brennan Blair to Video Coordinator.

Zanin begins his fourth year with the Nets, having served last season as the director of player procurement and the prior two seasons as the team’s pro personnel scout. He began his NBA career in 1999 as a video intern with the Philadelphia 76ers, and then was hired as the team’s video coordinator the following season, a position he held until 2003, when he was promoted to advance scout/assistant coach. In 2006, Zanin began a two-year tenure as the team’s pro personnel scout. Zanin is a 1999 graduate of West Chester University, where he was a three-year starter on the basketball team and received his degree in business management.

Riccardi is in his fifth season with the organization, serving the past two seasons as basketball operations coordinator. He began his NBA career during the 2009-2010 season as a basketball operations intern before being hired as a team assistant for the following season. Riccardi is a 2009 graduate of the University of Texas at Tyler, where he was a member of the basketball team for four seasons and received a masters of business administration and an undergraduate degree in business management.

Sweeney enters his third season with the team, previously working as the team’s video coordinator. Before joining the Nets, Sweeney was the video coordinator at the University of Northern Iowa with prior stops as a coach at the Academy of Art University and the University of Evansville, where he began as director of operations. Sweeney is a graduate of St. Thomas (MN), where he was team captain and a 2006 All-Conference selection.

Sereday enters his third season with the organization, and first as full-time statistical analyst. Prior to the Nets, he worked as an actuary for Buck Consultants, LLC in Secaucus, NJ for over four years. Sereday obtained a masters in statistics from Columbia University in 2012 and a bachelors in statistics from Rutgers University in 2005.

Blair begins his fourth season with the Nets, having most recently served as assistant video coordinator last season. Since 2010-11, he has held various internship positions with the information technology, basketball operations and video departments, before being hired last year. Blair is a 2012 graduate of Seton Hall University, where he received his business degree with a double major in sports management and information technology management.

Philadelphia 76ers have a new CEO

The Philadelphia 76ers today announced that respected industry veteran Scott O’Neil has been named the organization’s new Chief Executive Officer, effective July 16, with responsibility for overseeing every aspect of the team’s business operations. He will also serve as an Alternate Governor of the National Basketball Association.

“On behalf of our entire ownership group, I am very excited to welcome Scott O’Neil to the Sixers,” Managing Owner Josh Harris said. “We believe that Scott’s unique blend of experience, relationships and demonstrated leadership over the past two decades at the NBA, Madison Square Garden Sports and the Philadelphia Eagles will make him the perfect CEO of our business as we work to take the team to the next level.

“With Scott and Sam Hinkie, President of Basketball Operations and General Manager, I believe we have put in place a dynamic, industry-leading management team that should help position the Sixers for success both on and off the court in the future,“ Harris added.

“I have a great deal of respect for Josh Harris and the other members of the Sixers ownership group, and I am truly looking forward to working with them,” O’Neil said. “Josh wants to win – on and off the court – and has demonstrated a strong commitment to building the right organization from top to bottom. Philadelphia is a city built on hard work, grit and the strongest sense of community that exists anywhere in the country. We will work every day to live those values, integrate ourselves into the fabric of this community, and make our fans and business partners proud to be part of our continued resurgence.”

O’Neil will succeed Adam Aron, who will become Chairman and CEO of a new investment vehicle, funded by members of the Sixers ownership group. Aron also will remain a Sixers Co-Owner and Board member.

“I want to thank Adam Aron for his important contributions to the Sixers during a key period in the development of the team,” Harris said. “Adam was instrumental in re-engaging the Sixers fan base and guiding our ownership group. I am pleased he will remain active with the Sixers, and look forward to continuing to work closely with him as he aggressively explores investment possibilities.”

Aron commented, “I have enjoyed every single second of my association with the Philadelphia 76ers, and look forward to continuing to root for the Sixers as Co-Owner and Board member. Even so, as I look at the current investment landscape, my enthusiasm is boundless for what is to come as I commence an exciting new chapter in my career.”

Most recently, O’Neil served as president of Madison Square Garden Sports, where he oversaw the business operations of The Madison Square Garden Company’s (MSG) three professional sports teams, the New York Knicks, New York Rangers and New York Liberty, leading some of the most coveted brands in sports.

O’Neil was the key architect in several of the largest deals in NBA history, resulting in record-setting revenue in sponsorships, tickets and suites. His team signed JPMorgan Chase as MSG’s first-ever Marquee Partner and also secured Signature Partnerships with Anheuser-Busch, Coca-Cola, Delta Air Lines, Kia Motors and Lexus, all of which incorporated MSG’s sports, entertainment and media assets as well as those of the transformed Madison Square Garden arena.

O’Neil came to MSG from the National Basketball Association (NBA), where as senior vice president, he oversaw the league’s team marketing and business operations. He advised NBA and WNBA teams on ticket sales and service, sponsorship development, and marketing. He also managed the NBA’s Canadian business, Relationship Marketing, and the NBA Development League.

Earlier in his career, O’Neil honed his sales and marketing expertise with the Philadelphia Eagles, where he became vice president of sales, and the New Jersey Nets, where he began his career as a marketing assistant.

O’Neil holds a degree in Marketing from Villanova University and M.B.A. from the Harvard Business School.