Dallas Mavericks Blog – Page 65 – NBA Blog

Lakers interested in Delonte West

The Los Angeles Lakers have expressed interest in free-agent guard Delonte West, according to a league source.

West, who turns 29 this week, averaged 9.6 points, 3.2 assists and 2.3 rebounds per game for the Dallas Mavericks last season. He appeared in just 44 games because of a fractured right ring finger and picked up one of the more bizarre fines in league history when he was docked $25,000 for giving Utah’s Gordon Hayward a “wet willy.”

West shot 46.1 percent from the floor and 35.5 percent on 3-pointers, and the Lakers view him as a versatile player who could back up both Kobe Bryant at shooting guard and Steve Nash at point guard while bringing his outside touch to a team that ranked 25th in the NBA in 3-point accuracy last year (32.6 percent).

— Reported by Dave McMenamin of ESPN Los Angeles

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.

Mavericks sign second round pick Jae Crowder

The Dallas Mavericks announced today they have signed second round draft choice Jae Crowder.

Crowder (6-6, 235) was the 34th overall pick of the 2012 NBA Draft by the Cleveland Cavaliers. He was acquired by the Mavericks on June 28, 2012, along with the draft rights to 24th overall pick Jared Cunningham and 33rd overall pick Bernard James, in exchange for guard Kelenna Azubuike and the draft rights to the 17th overall pick in the 2012 NBA Draft, Tyler Zeller.

The Villa Rica, Ga., native is currently playing for Dallas at the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas. He is averaging 14.7 points, 5.7 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 32.3 minutes while starting his first three games.

Crowder is a four-year player who finished his career at Marquette after transferring from Howard College where he was NJCAA Player of the Year. In his senior year at Marquette, he was named Big East Player of the Year when he averaged 17.5 points, 8.4 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 2.5 steals per game.

Dallas Mavericks sign O.J. Mayo

The Dallas Mavericks announced today that they have signed free agent guard O.J. Mayo.

Mayo (6-4, 210) was the first round draft pick (third overall) in the 2008 NBA Draft of the Minnesota Timberwolves. Mayo’s draft rights were later involved in a draft day trade that sent him, along with Marko Jaric, Antoine Walker and Greg Buckner, to the Memphis Grizzlies in exchange for Brian Cardinal, Mike Miller, Jason Collins and the draft rights to Kevin Love.

The Huntington, W.Va., native has played in 301 career games (181 starts) with Memphis. He holds career averages of 15.2 points, 3.3 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 1.1 steals and 32.8 minutes per game. Mayo has also proven to be durable playing in 301 of a possible 312 games throughout his four-year career.

Mayo was named NBA All-Rookie First Team in 2009 and runner-up to Derrick Rose for the 2008-09 NBA Rookie of the Year Award after averaging 18.5 points and 3.8 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 38.0 minutes in 82 games (82 starts).

“We are thrilled to make O.J. Mayo a part of the Mavericks family,” President of Basketball Operations Donnie Nelson said. “O.J. is a young, dynamic player with tremendous upside. His ability to play both backcourt positions will give us depth and versatility. We are excited and welcome him to Dallas.”

Boston Celtics sign Jason Terry

The Boston Celtics announced today that they have signed free agent guard Jason Terry. According to multiple reports, the deal is for three years, $15 million.

“Jason is one of the best sixth men in the NBA and his versatility in the backcourt is a great addition to our roster,” said Danny Ainge, Celtics President of Basketball Operations.

Terry, a 6’2” guard, was the NBA’s 2009 Sixth Man of the Year and also was a member of the 2011 NBA Champion Dallas Mavericks. Last season in Dallas, he averaged 15.1 points, 2.4 rebounds and 3.6 assists while shooting 37.8% from three-point territory. Terry has made the fourth most three-point shots in NBA history with 1,788 trailing only Ray Allen, Reggie Miller and Jason Kidd.

“The Celtics have such a great tradition of winning and it was something that drew me to the team right away,” said Terry. “I look forward to getting out onto the court and helping this team in its pursuit of another banner.”

The former Arizona Wildcat finished second in the NBA last season with 138 made three-pointers and was third in the NBA in three-point field goal attempts (365). Terry has also been one of the most durable players in the NBA in recent memory playing in 1,022 of a possible 1,050 regular season games during his 13 year career. Terry has averaged 16.1 points, 4.7 assists and 1.3 steals per game while shooting 38.0% from three in his career.

Jason Kidd arrested on drunken-driving charge

Newly signed New York Knicks point guard Jason Kidd has been arrested on a drunken-driving charge after police said he crashed an SUV into a telephone pole in the Hamptons.

Southampton Town police say Kidd was released without bail after being arraigned Sunday on a misdemeanor driving-while-intoxicated charge. Police say Kidd was treated at Southampton Hospital for minor injuries after his arrest.

His agent hasn’t immediately answered phone or email messages.

Police say Kidd was alone in the Cadillac Escalade when it hit a pole and veered into the woods around 2 a.m. Sunday in the hamlet of Water Mill.

— Reported by the Associated Press

Dallas Mavericks land Elton Brand

The Dallas Mavericks announced today that they have been awarded free agent forward Elton Brand.

Brand (6-9, 255) was the top overall pick in the 1999 NBA Draft by the Chicago Bulls and has played in 860 games (830 starts) with Chicago, Los Angeles Clippers and Philadelphia. He holds career averages of 18.3 points, 9.4 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 1.9 blocks and 36.3 minutes per game while shooting .501 from the field and .739 from the free throw line.

Brand is a two-time All-Star (2002, 2006) and was named All-NBA Second Team for the 2005-06 season. He won the NBA Sportsmanship Award in 2006 and shared Rookie of the Year honors with Steve Francis for the 1999-2000 season.

Brand was recently waived by Philadelphia and designated as the team’s amnesty player. Last season with the Sixers, he averaged 11.0 points, 7.2 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 1.6 blocks and 28.9 minutes in 60 games (all starts).

The Peekskill, N.Y., native spent his two-year collegiate career at Duke University where he led the Blue Devils to the NCAA Championship Game and was named as the consensus National Player of the Year.

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.

Dallas Mavericks use amnesty clause to waive Brendan Haywood

Mavericks use amnesty clause to waive Brandan Haywood

The Dallas Mavericks have decided they no longer require the services of veteran center Brendan Haywood.

The team announced today that they have waived Haywood. The Mavs also announced that Haywood will be designated as its amnesty player as allowed by the new collective bargaining agreement. The one-time provision allows the Mavericks to remove Haywood’s contract amount from their salary cap.

Haywood (7-0, 263) was originally acquired via trade with the Washington Wizards on Feb. 13, 2010 when he, along with Caron Butler and DeShawn Stevenson, came to Dallas in exchange for Josh Howard, Drew Gooden, Quinton Ross and James Singleton. He was later re-signed by the Mavericks on July 9, 2010 to a multi-year contract.

During his time as a Maverick, Haywood averaged 5.4 points, 5.9 rebounds and 20.8 minutes in 154 games (81 starts).

Haywood spent three postseasons in Dallas and was a member of the Mavericks’ first World Championship team in 2011. He suited up in 28 Playoff games (6 starts) and averaged 3.8 points, 4.4 rebounds and 17.0 minutes per contest.

Mavericks hope to re-sign Delonte West

The Mavericks remain interested in re-signing Delonte West, a source said.

The Mavs still intend to add backcourt depth after acquiring point guard Darren Collison and shooting guard Dahntay Jones in a sign-and-trade deal with the Indiana Pacers. Dallas’ decision makers value West’s toughness and versatility and would like him to return to the Mavs after averaging 9.6 points, 3.2 assists and 1.3 steals as a part-time starter last season.

As with every move the Mavs make this summer, West’s return would have to be at the right price, which is likely in the salary range of $2 million.

— Reported by Tim MacMahon of ESPN Dallas