NBA News Blog – Page 876 – NBA Blog

Knicks sign Kenyon Martin to 10-day contract

Veteran free agent forward Kenyon Martin finally has a new job. For 10 days, at least.

New York Knicks Executive Vice President, Basketball Operations and General Manager Glen Grunwald announced today that the team has signed Martin to a 10-day contract.

Martin, 6-9, 230-pounds, holds averages of 13.0 points, on 48.1-percent shooting, 7.1 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 1.21 steals and 1.17 blocks over 31.6 minutes in 696 career games (641 starts), over 12 seasons with New Jersey, Denver and the L.A. Clippers. He has appeared in 100 postseason games (87 starts), averaging 13.7 points, 7.0 rebounds and 1.9 assists over 33.4 minutes.

Last season, Saginaw, MI-native appeared in 42 games for the L.A. Clippers to post 5.2 points and 4.3 rebounds over 22.4 minutes. He was originally selected by New Jersey, following a four-year collegiate career at the University of Cincinnati, with the first pick overall of 2000 NBA Draft. He was named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team in 2001 and represented the Eastern Conference at the 2004 NBA All-Star Game.

Martin should be able to play solid bench depth in limited minutes of action.

According to the New York Post, “Though Anthony once touted Ronnie Brewer in October as the Knicks’ unsung signing, he welcomed with open arms his former Denver teammate, Kenyon Martin, who replaced Brewer on the roster. “If he’s in shape and locked in, I think he can be a big attribute to this team,’’ Anthony said before last night’s defeat. “I’ve been able to play with him for a few years and I know from a basketball standpoint what he brings to the game when he’s locked in and focused. I haven’t talked to him yet. People that I know have spoken to him and say he’s been playing and he’s in shape, ready and focused. As long as that’s the plan, we’re all for it.’’

Charlie Villanueva will pick up $8.5-million player option

Charlie Villanueva laughed when asked about his future with the Detroit Pistons.

Specifically, he was asked if he was going to pick up the final season of the five-year, $35-million deal he signed in the summer of 2009.

He has the option of declining the $8.5-million player option by June 30 and becoming an unrestricted free agent.

Villanueva, 28, said there’s no decision.

“It’s obvious what I’m going to do,” Villanueva told the Free Press before the Pistons topped the Bobcats on Tuesday night. “Would you let that money go?”

— Reported by Vince Ellis of the Detroit Free Press

Former NBA player Robert Swift is now squatting in his foreclosed home

Former Seattle Sonic Robert Swift made a reported $20 million during his NBA career, but things haven’t gone as well for the first-round draft pick in recent years.

Swift lost his home to foreclosure, but apparently refuses to leave.

“And it seems like a very sad story and I definitely feel for him,” said the new owner, who wanted to hide her identity.

She thought she knew what she was getting when she bought the foreclosed home in January.

Cans of beer dot the grass outside the home. A bullet hole pierced the garage window at some point.

“Cars that don’t look like they’ve moved in a long time,” she noted.

Water festers in buckets outside of what was once a million dollar home in a wealthy Eastside suburb.

— Reported by Jon Humbert of KOMO News

Mavs trade Dahntay Jones to Hawks for Anthony Morrow

The Dallas Mavericks announced today that they have acquired guard Anthony Morrow from the Atlanta Hawks in exchange for guard Dahntay Jones.

Morrow (6-5, 210) was originally signed by the Golden State Warriors after going undrafted in the 2008 NBA Draft. He averaged double figures in each of his first four seasons in the league and holds career averages of 11.5 points, 2.8 rebounds, 1.1 assists and 26.2 minutes in 280 career games (120 starts) with Golden State, New Jersey and Atlanta.

The Charlotte, N.C., native is career .450 shooter from the field, holds a .425 career average from behind-the-arc and has shot .895 from the free throw line. Morrow scored a career-high 42 points against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Feb. 3, 2012.

Morrow played collegiately at Georgia Tech where he established a school record by shooting .867 from the free throw line for his career while also finishing third in all-time three-point field goals (258).

Morrow will wear number 23 for the Mavericks.

Jones was acquired by the Mavericks, along with Darren Collison, from the Indiana Pacers in exchange for Ian Mahinmi on July 12, 2012. He saw action in 50 games (15 starts) and averaged 3.5 points, 1.4 rebounds and 12.7 minutes per game.

Warriors trade Jeremy Tyler to Hawks

The Golden State Warriors have traded forward/center Jeremy Tyler and cash considerations to the Atlanta Hawks in exchange for future draft considerations, it was announced today.

Tyler, 21, appeared in 20 games with the Warriors this season, averaging 1.1 points and 0.9 rebounds in 3.2 minutes (25 DNP-CDs, nine games on the inactive list). The 6’11” forward/center also spent various stints this season with the Warriors’ D-League affiliate in Santa Cruz, where he averaged 15.0 points and 8.0 rebounds in 30.0 minutes in five outings.

Originally acquired by the Warriors on June 23, 2011, in a draft-night trade with the Charlotte Bobcats, Tyler appeared in 42 games (23 starts) during his rookie campaign last season, averaging 4.9 points and 3.3 rebounds in 13.5 minutes. Tyler was selected by the Bobcats in the second round (39th overall) of the 2011 NBA Draft and boasts career averages of 3.7 points and 2.5 rebounds in 62 games with Golden State.

Celtics trade Leandro Barbosa, Jason Collins to Wizards for Jordan Crawford

Wizards President Ernie Grunfeld announced today that the Wizards have acquired guard Leandro Barbosa and center Jason Collins from the Boston Celtics in exchange for guard Jordan Crawford.

“Our team has started to come together and play well over the last 20 games,” said Grunfeld. “This trade allows us to keep moving in that direction with the solid rotation and defensive commitment we have established on the court, helps us continue to build on the culture we are establishing in the locker room and gives us additional financial flexibility.”

“Jordan’s a scorer and he will provide versatility that will add great depth to our roster,” said Danny Ainge, Celtics President of Basketball Operations.

Crawford, a 6’4” guard, has appeared in 43 games for the Wizards this season and is averaging 13.2 points, 3.1 rebounds and 3.7 assists in 26.2 minutes per game. Crawford has recorded 12 games this season with 20 or more points including a season-high 27 points twice (December 28 against Orlando and December 18 against Atlanta). In the game against Atlanta on December 18, he also recorded a triple-double adding 11 assists and 11 rebounds to his season-high-tying 27 points. The third year pro out of Xavier University in Ohio has career averages of 13.4 points, 2.7 rebounds and 3.1 assists in 149 games split between Atlanta and Washington.

Collins, the 18th overall pick of the 2001 NBA Draft by the Houston Rockets, has appeared in 707 career games with five teams (New Jersey, Memphis, Minnesota, Atlanta, Boston) while averaging 3.7 points and 3.8 rebounds in 20.9 minutes per contest. This season with Boston, Collins has averaged 1.2 points and 1.6 rebounds in 32 games.

Crawford was originally traded to Washington along with Mike Bibby, Maurice Evans and a 2011 First Round pick (Chris Singleton) for Hilton Armstrong and Kirk Hinrich on February 23, 2011. In parts of three seasons with the Wizards, Crawford averaged 14.5 points while appearing in 133 games. He averaged 13.2 points and 3.7 assists while appearing in 43 games for the Wizards this season.

Magic trade Josh McRoberts to Bobcats for Hakim Warrick

Charlotte Bobcats President of Basketball Operations Rod Higgins announced today that the team has acquired forward Josh McRoberts from the Orlando Magic in exchange for forward Hakim Warrick. McRoberts will wear No. 11. The Bobcats roster remains at 14 players.

“Josh McRoberts is a quality young big man who can play either post position for us,” Higgins said. “We look forward to adding his size and energy to our rotation.”

Currently in his sixth NBA season, the 6-10 McRoberts has career averages of 4.5 points, 3.7 rebounds and 1.4 assists, along with a career field goal percentage of .496 (444-896), in 246 games played for the Trail Blazers, Pacers, Lakers and Magic. In 41 games for Orlando this season, he averaged 3.9 points, 3.3 rebounds and 1.7 assists in 16.7 minutes. Earlier this season he posted career highs of 14 rebounds on Nov. 25 against Boston and eight assists on Jan. 7 at Portland.

McRoberts was originally selected with the 37th overall pick in the 2007 NBA Draft by the Trail Blazers after two years at Duke University, where he was a teammate of Bobcats guard Gerald Henderson during the 2006-07 season. He had his best overall season in 2010-11, when he averaged career highs of 7.2 points, 5.4 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 22.2 minutes in 72 games played for the Pacers, including 51 starts.

Warrick was acquired by the Bobcats from New Orleans on November 13, 2012, in exchange for Matt Carroll. He appeared in 27 games for the Bobcats, including 14 starts, and averaged 7.0 points and 3.3 rebounds in 17.9 minutes.

Warriors trade Charles Jenkins to 76ers

The Philadelphia 76ers announced today that they have completed a trade with the Golden State Warriors. The Sixers acquire second-year guard Charles Jenkins and cash considerations from the Warriors in exchange for a protected second round pick.

Jenkins (6-3, 215) was originally selected by Golden State with the 44th overall pick in the 2011 NBA Draft. In 98 games with 28 starts for the Warriors, Jenkins averaged 3.9 points and 2.0 assists in 12.1 minutes per game.

As a rookie last season, Jenkins started 28 games for the Warriors, averaging 8.6 points, 5.1 assists and 2.0 rebounds in 24.9 minutes per game. He also posted an assist-to-turnover ratio of 3.23 in those starts.

A native of Queens, N.Y., Jenkins attended Hofstra University and is the school’s all-time leading scorer with 2,513 points. He was named Colonial Athletic Association Player of the Year as both a junior and a senior.

Thunder trade Eric Maynor to Trail Blazers, who waive Ronnie Price

The Portland Trail Blazers have acquired guard Eric Maynor from the Oklahoma City Thunder in exchange for the draft rights to Georgios Printezis, it was announced today by General Manager Neil Olshey.

Portland waived guard Ronnie Price to make room on the roster. In his only season with the Trail Blazers, Price averaged 2.7 points, 1.1 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 13.1 minutes in 39 appearances.

“Ronnie has been a consummate professional and we thank him for his contributions to the team,” said Olshey.

Maynor, 25, has appeared in 37 games this season with the Thunder, averaging 2.8 points, 0.5 rebounds and 2.0 assists in 10.6 minutes per game.

“Eric is a player we have valued and pursued for some time,” said Olshey. “His skill level and character will be excellent additions to our culture on and off the floor.”

Maynor (6-3, 175) holds career averages of 4.2 points, 1.3 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 14.3 minutes in 209 career games with Oklahoma City and Utah. He was originally selected out of Virginia Commonwealth by the Jazz with the 20th overall pick in the 2009 NBA Draft.

The Trail Blazers acquired the draft rights to Printezis on July 16, 2012, in the deal with New York that included Jared Jeffries coming to Portland in exchange for Raymond Felton and Kurt Thomas. Portland acquired Maynor by using a trade exception created in the Jeffries deal.

Knicks trade Ronnie Brewer to Thunder

New York Knicks Executive Vice President, Basketball Operations and General Manager Glen Grunwald announced today that the team has acquired a 2014 second-round draft choice and cash considerations from the Oklahoma City Thunder in exchange for guard Ronnie Brewer.

“We are pleased to bring in a defensive-minded player like Ronnie, a high-character person who has played for coaches and programs throughout his career that we have a great deal of respect for,” said Thunder Executive Vice President and General Manager Sam Presti. “He is a versatile defender with playoff experience that will add depth to our wing positions.”

Brewer (6-7, 225), a seven-year NBA veteran, has played in 464 career games (301 starts) with Utah, Memphis, Chicago and New York. The Fayetteville, Ark. native owns career averages of 8.4 points, 3.0 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 1.3 steals in 24.2 minutes per game. He has appeared in 46 playoff contests (17 starts), averaging 5.7 points, 2.6 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 18.4 minutes per contest.

“The opportunity to acquire a trade exception was important to us strategically as it gives us the roster flexibility that we value,” Presti said. “Eric has been an absolute professional during his time with the Thunder and he will have a very productive career beyond this season.”

According to multiple reports, the Knicks will use the open roster spot to sign veteran forward Kenyon Martin to a 10-day contract.