Los Angeles Clippers Blog – Page 59 – NBA Blog

Grant Hill to join Clippers

The Clippers continue to add veteran talent to their roster, as Grant Hill has reportedly agreed to sign with the Clippers. The means of the signing, whether it be the veteran’s minimum, the bi-annual exception or a sign-and-trade have not been finalized.

Hill, who will turn 40 in October, was said to be considering signing with the Lakers or the Knicks before the Clippers emerged as a player over the weekend.

After three healthy seasons in Phoenix, Hill played in 49 games last season for the Suns, averaging 10.2 points and 3.5 rebounds a game.

— Reported by Dain Woike of the OC Register

Blake Griffin injury update: Surgery on left knee complete

Los Angeles Clippers forward Blake Griffin underwent successful arthroscopic surgery today to repair the medial meniscus tear of his left knee which he suffered during Team USA’s practice in Las Vegas on Wednesday, July 11th. The surgery was performed by Dr. Neal ElAttrache of the Kerlan-Jobe Orthopaedic Clinic.

Griffin experienced discomfort following Wednesday’s practice in Las Vegas. He underwent a magnetic resonance imaging examination on Thursday afternoon in Los Angeles which revealed the injury. MRI data was then analyzed by Clippers’ Team Physician, Dr. Steven Shimoyama, and Dr. ElAttrache.

Griffin is expected to be ready for the opening of training camp in the fall.

Blake Griffin update: knee surgery today

Los Angeles Clippers forward Blake Griffin will undergo arthroscopic surgery today to repair the medial meniscus tear of his left knee which he suffered during Team USA’s practice in Las Vegas on Wednesday, July 11th. The surgery will be performed by Dr. Neal ElAttrache of the Kerlan-Jobe Orthopaedic Clinic.

Mavericks sign center Chris Kaman

The Dallas Mavericks announced today that they have signed free agent center Chris Kaman.

Kaman (7-0, 265) was the first round draft pick (sixth overall) in the 2003 NBA Draft of the Los Angeles Clippers. The 30-year old played eight full seasons with Los Angeles before being traded in December to the New Orleans Hornets in a deal that sent Chris Paul to the Clippers. He holds career averages of 11.9 points, 8.3 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 1.4 blocks and 29.7 minutes in 540 career games with 458 starts.

“We are excited to welcome Chris Kaman to Dallas,” President of Basketball Operations Donnie Nelson said. “Chris is a former All-Star who has accomplished a lot in this league. He is extremely skilled on both ends of the floor and will bring a low-post presence and versatility to the center position. Chris is a true professional on and off the court and we are pleased to welcome him to the Maverick family.”

Kaman had a breakout season for the injury-plagued Clippers in 2007-08 when he averaged a double-double 15.7 points and 12.7 rebounds. In 2010, Kaman was at last named an NBA All-Star and participated as a Western Conference reserve for All-Star Weekend in Dallas. That year he averaged 18.5 points and 9.3 rebounds in 76 games.

In 2008, Kaman joined Dirk Nowitzki as a member of the German National Team and helped the squad qualify for the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing. It was the Germans first Olympic berth since 1992. Kaman is a dual citizen of both the United States and Germany.

The Grand Rapids, Mich., native spent his three-year collegiate career at Central Michigan University where he still ranks seventh on the school’s all-time rebounding list and 11th on the all-time scoring list while holding the school record for career field goal percentage (60.8%). His junior year, Kaman was named Mid-American Conference Player of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year and Honorable Mention All-America by Associated Press.

Clippers re-sign Chauncey Billups

The Los Angeles Clippers today re-signed unrestricted free agent and five-time NBA All-Star point guard Chauncey Billups.

In 20 games (20 starts) played for the Clippers during the 2011-12 season, Billups averaged 15.0 points, 4.0 assists, 2.5 rebounds and 30.4 minutes per contest. Billups shot 36.4 percent from the field, 38.4 percent from behind the three-point line and 89.5 percent from the free throw line. Billups 2012 season ended prematurely on February 6th in Orlando when he suffered a torn left Achilles tendon after scoring 18 points (10 in the fourth quarter) in what would eventually be a 107-102 overtime road win for Los Angeles.

Billups averaged 16.8 points, 5.4 assists and 2.6 rebounds in 32.1 minutes in 72 games with Denver and New York during the 2010-11 season. He was traded to the Knicks on February 22, 2011 and was later claimed by the Clippers off of waivers on December 12, 2011.

The 15-year veteran point guard was an NBA All-Star in 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010 and named to the All-NBA Second Team in 2005-06 and the All-NBA Third Team in 2006-07 and 2008-09. Billups helped lead the Detroit Pistons to the 2003-04 NBA Championship and was selected the 2004 NBA Finals MVP for his stellar play in the series.

Originally drafted by the Boston Celtics with the third overall pick of the 1997 NBA Draft after a standout career at the University of Colorado, Billups has appeared in 1,002 career NBA games for Boston, Toronto, Denver, Minnesota, Detroit, New York and the Clippers, averaging 15.5 points, 5.5 assists and 2.9 rebounds per game.

The 6-foot-3, 210 pound Colorado native was also a member of the gold medal winning USA Team at the 2010 FIBA World Championship and the 2007 FIBA Americas Championship.

Blake Griffin injury update: Left knee will be examined

Clippers forward Blake Griffin experienced some left knee discomfort after completing Wednesday’s practice as a member of Team USA in Las Vegas. He will travel to Los Angeles today and will not be available for Team USA’s game Thursday night in Las Vegas versus the Dominican Republic.

Upon arrival in Los Angeles, Griffin will undergo an MRI and be examined by the Clippers’ medical staff. On Sunday, he will also be examined by Dr. Neal ElAttrache of the Kerlan-Jobe Orthopaedic Clinic.

An announcement concerning their joint conclusion and a further course of action will be made available by the Clippers, as soon as possible after that.

The USA National Team concludes its Las Vegas training tonight (July 12, 6:00 p.m. PDT) with the USA Basketball Showcase that features the USA facing the Dominican Republic at UNLV’s Thomas & Mack Center. The game is being televised live by ESPN.

Named on July 7 to the 2012 U.S. Olympic Team were: Carmelo Anthony (New York Knicks); Kobe Bryant (Los Angeles Lakers); Tyson Chandler (New York Knicks); Kevin Durant (Oklahoma City Thunder); Griffin; James Harden (Oklahoma City Thunder); Andre Iguodala (Philadelphia 76ers); LeBron James (Miami Heat); Kevin Love (Minnesota Timberwolves); Chris Paul (Los Angeles Clippers); Russell Westbrook (Oklahoma City Thunder); and Deron Williams (Brooklyn Nets).

The 2012 USA coaching staff is led by Duke University Hall of Fame mentor Mike Krzyzewski, who has led the USA Basketball Men’s National Team to gold medal finishes at the 2010 FIBA World Championship and 2008 Beijing Olympics. Assisting Krzyzewski is Syracuse University and Hall of Fame coach Jim Boeheim, and former NBA head coaches Mike D’Antoni and Nate McMillan.

Blake Griffin hurts left knee at Team USA practice

Los Angeles Clippers forward Blake Griffin hurt his left knee in a Team USA scrimmage Wednesday and is returning to Los Angeles to be examined by team doctors, league sources told Yahoo! Sports.

Griffin twisted the knee in a scrimmage, a source said. The severity of the injury is unclear. He’s expected to have an MRI, possibly as soon as Thursday.

Griffin injured the same knee in Game 5 of the Clippers’ first-round series against the Memphis Grizzlies.

— Reported by Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports

Clippers trade Reggie Evans to Nets

The Brooklyn Nets have acquired forward Reggie Evans from the Los Angeles Clippers, Nets General Manager Billy King announced today. In exchange for Evans, Los Angeles will have the right to swap second round draft picks with Brooklyn in 2016.

“Reggie Evans is one of the most tenacious rebounders in the league,” said King. “He is a proven NBA veteran and will be an important addition to our front court rotation.”

Evans played in 56 games for the L.A. Clippers in 2011-12, averaging 1.9 points and 4.8 rebounds in 13.8 minutes per game. He appeared in all 11 of Los Angeles’ 2012 playoff games where he averaged 3.0 points and 7.3 rebounds in 18.0 minutes per contest. Evan ranked 6th in the NBA last season in rebounds per minute, averaging one rebound every 2.8 minutes.

The 6-8 forward out of Iowa began his career in Seattle after going unselected in the 2002 NBA Draft. A 10-year NBA veteran, Evans holds career averages of 4.0 points and 6.8 rebounds in 19.0 minutes per game. In 628 career games, including 289 starts, with Seattle, Denver, Philadelphia, Toronto and the Clippers, he has shot .466 (853-1,831) from the field and .522 (829-1,587) from the line. In 38 career postseason games, Evans has averaged 3.7 points and 6.3 rebounds while shooting .436 (41-94) from the field. Evans averaged a career-best 11.5 rebounds per game in 2010-11, while playing in 30 games with the Raptors.

Clippers sign Jamal Crawford

The Los Angeles Clippers today signed free agent guard Jamal Crawford. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not announced.

A 12-year NBA veteran, Crawford tallied 13.9 points, 3.2 assists, 2.0 rebounds and 26.9 minutes in 60 games played for the Portland Trail Blazers last season. Crawford also connected on 38 percent of his field goals, 31 percent of his three-point field goal attempts and 93 percent of his free throws on the year. Crawford finished the season ranked first in the NBA in free throw percentage.

Named the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year in 2009-10 while with the Atlanta Hawks, Crawford has averaged 15.3 points, 3.9 assists, 2.6 rebounds and 31.8 minutes over his career. He turned out his most productive NBA season in 2007-08 while with the New York Knicks, tallying 20.6 points, 5.0 assists, 2.6 rebounds and 39.9 minutes in 80 games played.

The eighth overall selection in the 2000 NBA Draft by the Cleveland Cavaliers, Crawford was part of a draft day trade that sent him to the Chicago Bulls in exchange for the draft rights to Chris Mihm. After four seasons in Chicago, Crawford was traded to the New York Knicks, where he remained until being traded to the Golden State Warriors in 2008. Crawford was traded to the Atlanta Hawks prior to the start of the 2009 season, remaining there until signing with Portland as a free agent prior to the start of last season.

Blake Griffin agrees to sign Clippers contract extension

Los Angeles Clippers forward Blake Griffin has agreed to a five-year contract extension, a source with knowledge of the situation told ESPNLosAngeles.com.

Griffin could earn as much as $95 million dollars over the course of the five-year extension if he is voted an All-Star starter again or named to a second All-NBA team next season under the so-called “Derrick Rose Rule” in the new collective bargaining agreement.

Under another clause in the new CBA, rookies may extend their contracts by four years. However, a team may designate one player to sign a five-year extension.

Griffin was always going to be the Clippers’ designated player, according to sources within the organization. However, had Eric Gordon not been traded to the New Orleans Hornets last December as part of the Paul trade, it might have created a problem.

— Reported by Ramona Shelburne of ESPN Los Angeles