NBA News Blog – Page 995 – NBA Blog

Clippers sign center Ryan Hollins

The Los Angeles Clippers today signed free agent center Ryan Hollins.

The six-year NBA veteran averaged 3.4 points and 2.1 rebounds in 39 games played last season for the Cleveland Cavaliers and Boston Celtics. In 17 games played during the Celtics’ 2012 Playoff run, Hollins tallied 1.5 points and 1.6 rebounds per contest.

Hollins spent his most productive NBA season in Minnesota in 2009, tallying 6.1 points and 2.8 rebounds in 73 games played for the Timberwolves.

Selected by the Charlotte Bobcats with the 50th overall selection in the 2006 NBA Draft, Hollins averaged 5.7 points and 4.0 rebounds over his four-year collegiate career at UCLA. Hollins finished his time with the Bruins as the fourth all-time leading shot blocker in UCLA history (101 career blocked shots).

Orlando Magic coaching search: Jacque Vaughn may be favorite

The Orlando Magic’s search for a new head coach is entering its final phase.

San Antonio Spurs assistant coach Jacque Vaughn, widely presumed to be front-runner for the job, met with Magic CEO Alex Martins on Friday in Las Vegas for a second-round interview.

“We’re not going to comment on the process and where it stands,” Martins told the Orlando Sentinel on Saturday…

Magic general manager Rob Hennigan conducted first-round interviews with six candidates and whittled the field down to three: Philadelphia 76ers associate head coach Michael Curry, Phoenix Suns player development coach Lindsey Hunter and Vaughn.

— Reported by Josh Robbins of the Orlando Sentinel

Boston Celtics will sign Jason Collins

The Boston Celtics are set to sign veteran center Jason Collins to a one-year, veteran-minimum deal, according to league sources.

With restricted free-agent center Greg Stiemsma prepared to sign an offer sheet with the Minnesota Timberwolves — one the Celtics appear unable to match due to salary-cap constraints — Boston has moved quickly to add a legitimate 7-footer to their frontcourt rotation.

The 33-year-old Collins, a veteran of 11 NBA seasons, gives Boston a defensive-minded big man who can give quality minutes off the bench.

— Reported by Chris Forsberg of ESPN Boston

Cavs rookie Dion Waiters out of shape at summer league

As you read this, remember that I didn’t favor the Cavs selecting Dion Waiters at No. 4.

But I also know it’s premature to say this was a lousy pick because Waiters played poorly in three summer-league games, averaging 12.3 points but shooting only 30 percent from the field.

The big problem was Waiters showed up at least 10 pounds overweight and out of shape.

Smart? Nope.

But the message should be clear: Waiters needs to shape up physically and mentally. He has the arrogance you find in some East Coast playground legends. Listening to Dion Waiters, you know that he thinks Dion Waiters is the greatest player he’s ever seen.

— Reported by Terry Pluto of the Cleveland Plain Dealer

Mavs sign first round pick Jared Cunningham

The Dallas Mavericks announced today they have signed first round draft pick Jared Cunningham.

All players selected in the first round of the NBA Draft are guaranteed to receive a contract. So, this signing is standard and was expected.

Cunningham (6-4, 194) was the 24th overall selection in the 2012 NBA Draft by the Cleveland Cavaliers. He was acquired by the Mavericks on June 28, 2012, along with the draft rights to the 33rd overall pick Bernard James and 34th overall pick Jae Crowder, in exchange for guard Kelenna Azubuike and the draft rights to the 17th overall pick in the 2012 NBA Draft, Tyler Zeller.

The San Leandro, Calif. native is a member of the Mavericks Summer League Team in Las Vegas, but due to a strained hamstring he has not been able to play.

Cunningham (6-4, 194) finished his three-year career at Oregon State ranked 13th in career scoring (1,271 points), second in steals (219) and third in free throws made (427). He was named First Team All-Pac 12 as a junior when he averaged 17.9 points, 3.8 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 2.5 steals per game.

Juwan Howard undecided on playing next season

Juwan Howard undecided if he will play next season

Juwan Howard said Friday that he is still deciding whether he wants to return for a 19th NBA season, although the direction he’s leaning might be indicated by his being the first player back in the Heat practice gym once the title celebrations had slowed down a bit.

“I still have the itch,” Howard said while appearing at a Heat “Learn to Swim” event for children. “I still have the passion and the love for the game. More importantly, I still like staying in shape and I can’t sit on my behind. I’m still iffy as far as if I want to come back and play or not, but I’ll tell you one thing — once I decide, I want to be ready. So I am working out … ready for whatever happens.”

Howard turns 40 next Feb. 7.

— Reported by the Associated Press

Lakers will keep Jordan Hill

Jordan Hill, a late-season bloomer for the Los Angeles Lakers last year, is set to sign a deal with the team after a protracted free-agency courtship.

Hill will sign a two-year deal worth “a little less” than $8 million, a league source told ESPNLosAngeles.com on Friday. Hill’s decision came down to the Lakers and the Minnesota Timberwolves, with Hill accepting less money to stay in L.A., according to the source. The contract also includes incentives that can increase his overall compensation.

Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak made one of his first calls at the start of free agency on July 1 to Hill’s agent, Kevin Bradbury, but for a variety of reasons — the Lakers’ pursuit of Dwight Howard and Hill receiving attention from other teams among them — it took nearly three weeks to strike a deal.

— Reported by Dave McMenamin of ESPN Los Angeles

Kris Humphries excited for true Knicks vs Nets rivalry

Count Kris Humphries among those looking forward to a true Knicks-Nets rivalry now that the Nets are moving to Brooklyn.

“I’m excited for it,” Humphries said Friday at a press conference announcing his re-signing with the Nets. “I think it’s always great playing in there, and now when they come over to us, we’re gonna have a lot of our support over there, too. It’s exciting … it’s the Garden. Anytime you’re in the Garden for whatever you’re doing, it’s so much history, the fans are passionate in New York, and we hope to have the same passion in our building, and excitement.

“It should be good.”

Humphries got a good taste of the passion of the Knicks crowd last season, when he was showered with boos each time he touched the ball in his three appearances there last season following his brief marriage to reality television star Kim Kardashian.

— Reported by Tim Bontemps of the New York Post

Denver Nuggets sign Anthony Randolph

The Denver Nuggets have signed free-agent F Anthony Randolph to a multiyear contract, Nuggets Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations Masai Ujiri announced today.

Randolph, 6-11, 225, averaged 7.4 points and 3.6 rebounds in 34 games (five starts) with the Minnesota Timberwolves last season. He scored a season-high 28 points and added six boards and five blocks on April 11, 2012 at Denver.

Randolph, 23, joined the Timberwolves as part of a three-team, 13-player trade that also involved the Nuggets and New York Knicks on Feb. 22, 2011. He appeared in 17 games for the Knicks (2.1 ppg and 2.4 rpg) and 23 games for the Timberwolves (11.7 ppg and 5.2 rpg) during the 2010-11 season.

Selected 14th overall out of Louisiana State in the 2008 NBA Draft, Randolph spent his first two season with the Golden State Warriors. He averaged 7.9 points and 5.8 rebounds in 63 games as a rookie and posted career-high averages of 11.6 points, 6.5 rebounds and 1.54 blocks in 33 games in 2009-10.

For his career, Randolph has played 20-plus minutes 65 times, averaging 14.6 points, 8.1 rebounds and 1.78 blocks in those games.

With the addition of Randolph, the Nuggets roster currently stands at 15 players.

Exclusive: Al Harrington healing after multiple off-season surgeries

Exclusive: Al Harrington has had multiple knee surgeries this summer

By Jeff Lenchiner

InsideHoops.com is in Las Vegas for 2012 NBA summer league. Friday afternoon, Denver Nuggets forward Al Harrington walked into the gym on crutches. InsideHoops.com had a quick exclusive chat with Harrington for a health update:

InsideHoops.com: What’s the latest on you and your surgery?

Al Harrington: I had tore my meniscus in April, towards the end of the season or whatever, and got it fixed after Game 7 or whatever. And then I got a staph infection. So I was sick, man. I had like three surgeries. And then a couple weeks later, they checked my knee again and it still was kinda cloudy in there. So I had to wait six weeks and take medicine… and then I had surgery again this Monday. Hopefully it’s the last one.

InsideHoops.com: And which knee is it?

Harrington: My right knee.

InsideHoops.com: So if everything goes as planned and hoped, when will you be ready to play basketball?

Harrington: I’ll be ready for the first game of the season. I don’t think I’ll be ready for training camp. First game of the season is my goal. I think I can make it happen.