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A person with knowledge of the deal says the Houston Rockets have agreed to a one-year deal with Argentine forward Carlos Delfino.
The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the deal had not been officially announced.
The 6-foot-6 Delfino played in the Olympics, where he helped Argentina finish fourth. Delfino averaged 15.3 points in London, where he was a teammate with former Rocket Luis Scola.
— Reported by the Associated Press
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Six-time NBA All-Star forward Amare Stoudemire “can’t wait” to explore the moves he has learned from former Rockets star Hakeem Olajuwon when he returns to play with the N.Y. Knicks.
Stoudemire has been in Houston for about a week working with the Hall of Fame center.
“It’s always room to improve as a player,” Stoudemire said in an interview with FOX 26 Sports. “To want to be the best is always a common denominator for most players.
“So working with Hakeem, one of the best players to ever play the game, is a great opportunity for me. We are both very quick and athletic for our positions. So to learn from him will be a great advantage for me.”
Stoudemire said it is fantastic to work with a guy who has accomplished so much in the NBA.
— Reported by Mark Berman of My Fox Houston
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NBA star Jeremy Lin says he hopes to boost young players’ enthusiasm for basketball at a four-day camp he plans to host this month in southern China.
Lin said Thursday at a news conference in Beijing that he expected 80 kids to attend. His Asian heritage makes him a huge draw in the homeland of former Houston Rockets star Yao Ming.
— Reported by the Associated Press
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Yao Ming doesn’t give many interviews anymore, but he stopped long enough yesterday as he entered the Olympic Park’s basketball arena to give a thumbs up to Jeremy Lin leaving the Knicks and joining his former club, the Rockets.
The 7-foot-6 Yao is doing Olympic commentary for Chinese TV and worked Spain’s 97-81 victory over China. When asked what he thought of Lin joining the Rockets, Yao told The Post, “It will be good for both of them, Jeremy and Houston.’’
Yao declined further comment, saying he is here for the Olympics.
— Reported by Marc Berman of the New York Post
Houston Rockets General Manager Daryl Morey announced that the team now has all three of its first-round selections from the 2012 NBA Draft under contract, which includes Connecticut guard/forward Jeremy Lamb (12th overall), Iowa State forward Royce White (16th overall) and Kentucky forward Terrence Jones (18th overall).
Lamb (6-5, 180, Connecticut) was recently named an NBA Summer League 2012 All-Star after topping the Rockets entry in scoring and finishing eighth overall in points per game (20.0). An early entry candidate for the 2012 NBA Draft, Lamb was just the sixth sophomore in UConn history to score 1,000 career points (1,060). He was selected AP Honorable Mention All-America and All-Big East First Team as a sophomore after averaging 17.7 points, 4.9 rebounds and 1.2 steals per game. Lamb also helped UConn to a National Championship as a freshman, recording 12 points in the title game vs. Butler and earning a spot on the NCAA Final Four All-Tournament Team.
White (6-8, 260, Iowa State) showed his all-around game at the 2012 NBA Summer League by averaging 8.4 points, 7.2 rebounds and 3.6 assists with the Houston squad in Las Vegas. He came to the Rockets as the only player in the country in 2011-12 to lead his team in scoring (13.4 ppg), rebounding (9.3 rpg), assists (5.0 apg), steals (1.2 spg) and blocks (0.9 bpg) during his lone season at Iowa State. Overall, White became just the second player in school history to top the team in scoring, rebounding and assists in one season. His sophomore year with the Cyclones was highlighted by AP Honorable Mention All-America honors, All-Big 12 First-Team accolades, selection to the Big 12 All-Rookie Team and being named Big 12 Newcomer of the Year.
Jones (6-9, 252, Kentucky) averaged 18.2 points and 8.6 rebounds with the Rockets at 2012 NBA Summer League in Las Vegas, finishing tied for sixth in rebounds per game and 15th in scoring. Another of the early entry candidates for the 2012 NBA Draft, Jones averaged 14.0 points, 8.0 rebounds and 1.8 blocks in 76 games over his two seasons with Kentucky. He was one of just six players in UK history to record 1,000 points, 500 rebounds and 140 blocks in a career. As a sophomore, Jones helped the Wildcats win the 2012 National Championship, while earning Second-Team All-SEC honors. In 2010-11, he was selected SEC Freshman of the Year, First-Team All-SEC and was a member of the SEC All-Freshman Team.
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Houston Rockets General Manager Daryl Morey announced today that the team has added center Omer Asik (pronounced O-mair AH-shick) after the Chicago Bulls chose not to match Houston’s offer sheet for the restricted free agent. Under the terms of the NBA’s Collective Bargaining Agreement, the Bulls had three days to match the offer from the Rockets.
Multiple reports said the deal is for three years, $25 million.
“We are excited to add Omer to our roster,” said Morey. “Omer has proven to be a defensive force at every stop in his career – in the Turkish league, in FIBA’s World Championships and EuroBasket competitions, and of course for the past two years for the Chicago Bulls. We are excited to add his rim protection, his rebounding, and the defensive mentality Omer brings to each play.”
Asik (7-0, 255, Turkey) has not missed a game in two seasons with the Bulls and has played in 148 consecutive regular season contests. In those two campaigns with Chicago, Asik has averaged 2.9 points, 4.4 rebounds and 0.84 blocks in 13.2 minutes. Considered one of the best defensive centers in the league, Asik grew up playing for Fenerbahçe S.K. Istanbul (2005-10) in his native Turkey. He was loaned to Kadikoy Belediyesi in the Turkish League’s second division for the majority of the 2005-06 season. He also played with the silver-medal-winning Turkish National Team in the U-20 European Championships in Izmir, Turkey. Asik was again a member of the silver-medal-winning Turkish squad at the 2010 FIBA World Championships held in Istanbul. In nine FIBA World Championship matches, he averaged 8.9 points, 6.9 boards, 1.22 blocks and 19.0 minutes per outing. Asik was originally drafted by the Portland Trail Blazers (36th overall) in the second round of the 2008 NBA Draft. He had his draft rights traded to Chicago in exchange for three second-round picks.
“I’m really looking forward to working with Omer,” said Rockets Head Coach Kevin McHale. “I’ve admired his physical style of play over the past two seasons as he’s made the transition to the NBA. In his limited minutes, he has proved himself to be an exceptional defensive post player and we will be working with him to continue his progress. Omer has a great understanding of how to play defense and how to move without the ball and I know he will fit in very well with our needs in the low post.”
In a non-related move, the Rockets also announced that the team has waived guard E’Twaun Moore.
The Bulls on Tuesday officially will announce they have declined to match Omer Asik’s three-year, $25.1 million offer sheet from the Rockets, sources said, paving the way for multiple signings that began Monday with Kirk Hinrich.
The Tribune reported on July 8 that Hinrich verbally agreed to a two-year deal, but it’s closer to $8 million in value, sources said. Hinrich, who will be reintroduced at a 2 p.m. Berto Center news conference on Tuesday, turned down slightly more money from the Bucks, sources said…
The Bulls will add another shooting guard as well, with the imminent signing of Marco Belinelli for the biannual exception of $1.9 million. Belinelli flew to Chicago on Monday for a physical, sources said, and La Gazzetta dello Sport reported that Belinelli’s deal will be two years for $3.8 million, with the second year a team option.
— Reported by K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune
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Houston Rockets General Manager Daryl Morey announced today that the team has agreed to a sign-and-trade with guard/forward Courtney Lee, which will send him to the Boston Celtics as part of a three-team trade. The Rockets will receive from Boston a Charlotte Bobcats second-round draft pick in the 2013 NBA Draft, forward JaJuan Johnson, guard E’Twaun Moore and forward/center Sean Williams. The pick was previously acquired by Boston via Oklahoma City. Houston also acquires the rights to guard Jon Diebler from Portland. Boston completes the deal by agreeing to a sign-and-trade with guard/forward Sasha Pavlovic, which sends him to the Trail Blazers.
“We are very excited that we were able to acquire Courtney Lee,” said Danny Ainge, Celtics President of Basketball Operations. “Courtney brings a vast set of tools on both ends of the court and will be a great fit on our roster.”
Lee, a 6’5” guard, averaged 11.4 points, 2.7 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.2 steals in 30.3 minutes per game last season for Houston. During his 26 starts for Houston during the 2011-12 season he upped his averages to 14.0 points and 1.50 steals. Lee shot 40.1% from three-point range last season which ranked 15th in the NBA. Lee scored a season-high 25 points twice this past season. He recorded 25 points on 11-of-18 shooting including 3-of-5 from three-point territory against Sacramento on April 8 and he also recorded 25 points against the LA Clippers on 9-of-14 from the field and 4-of-9 from three. Lee has posted career averages of 10.0 points, 2.8 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 1.0 steals and has shot 38.6% from three in 287 career games between Orlando, New Jersey and Houston after having been picked 22nd overall in the 2008 NBA Draft by Orlando.
Johnson (6-10, 221, Purdue) averaged 3.2 points, 1.6 rebounds and 8.3 minutes in 36 games as a rookie with the Celtics in 2011-12. Drafted by the New Jersey Nets with the 27th overall pick in the 2011 NBA Draft, Johnson was subsequently traded to Boston along with a 2014 second-round pick for the rights to MarShon Brooks. Johnson finished his collegiate career as Purdue’s co-record holder, with E’Twaun Moore, in wins (107), games played (140) and consecutive games played (140). He also ranked second in the program’s history in blocks (263), third in minutes played (3,856), fourth in free throw attempts (662) and games started (120), fifth in rebounds (854) and free throws (492), seventh in points (1,919), field goals (706) and field goal attempts (1,410), and 11th in double-doubles (26). As a senior in 2010-11, Johnson was named Big Ten Player of the Year and Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year. He became only the third player in conference history to win both awards in the same season. In addition, Johnson earned First-Team All-Big Ten twice (2009 and 2011) and Second-Team All-Big Ten once (2010). He was also a three-time Big Ten All-Defensive Team selection (2009, 2010 and 2011).
Moore (6-4, 191, Purdue) also averaged 2.9 points, 0.9 assists and 8.7 minutes in 38 games as a rookie with Boston. He was chosen by the Celtics with the 55th overall pick in the 2011 NBA Draft.
Williams (6-10, 235, Boston College) owns career averages of 4.2 points, 3.4 rebounds and 1.2 blocks in 137 games (29 starts) with New Jersey, Dallas and Boston. He was originally selected by the Nets with the 17th overall pick in the 2007 NBA Draft.
Diebler (6-6, 205, Ohio State) was drafted in the second round (51st overall) by the Trail Blazers in the 2011 NBA Draft. He spent this past season with Greek team Panionios. Diebler, who set the Ohio State and Big Ten records for 3-pointers made as a senior, led the nation in 3-point shooting in 2010-11 (.502, 114-227 3FG). He was also picked Third-Team All-Big Ten in his final season at Ohio State.
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Lin, a 23-year-old undrafted point guard out of Harvard, became a Rocket again when the New York Knicks decided not to match Houston’s three-year, $25 million offer.
“It’s been an unbelievable ride,” Lin said. “Just a lot of things I didn’t expect to happen, in terms of just the way last season went. I still have to kind of remind myself that this is all actually happening, sometimes. But it’s a huge blessing. I can’t believe how it all shaped up, and for me to be here right now. I’m definitely excited and thankful.”
Lin said he expected to be re-signed by the Knicks after he electrified the Big Apple last season before he was sidelined by a knee injury. Shortly after the Knicks officially declined to match, Lin was quoted on SI.com as saying, “Honestly, I preferred New York.”
Lin said the question he answered was set in the context of before the start of the free agency period.
— Associated Press
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Raymond Felton plans on making Knicks fans forget all about Linsanity.
Moments after Jeremy Lin was being introduced by the Rockets in Houston, Felton was in Las Vegas talking with the MSG Network during a Knicks Summer League game.
“I am a competitor, I am a point guard just like he is, so do I think I am better? Of course, I am going to say that,” Felton said. “I think I am better than any point guard. That’s the way I am supposed to think. But at the same time it’s nothing personal between me and Jeremy. But people are going to make it about that. I am fine with that.”
Felton, who was traded from the Knicks to the Nuggets in the Carmelo Anthony trade, is expected to be the team’s starting point guard after coming over from Portland in a sign-and-trade. The 28-year-old seemed to be out of the Knicks plans after they acquired Jason Kidd in another sign-and-trade, but Felton said he was always in the mix to return even if the team matched Lin’s offer sheet from the Rockets. Something they ultimately decided not to do.
— Reported by Justin Terranova of the New York Post (Blog)