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Houston Rockets sign Carlos Delfino

Houston Rockets General Manager Daryl Morey announced today that the team has signed guard/forward Carlos Delfino. The unrestricted free agent recently competed in the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, averaging 15.3 points, 3.8 rebounds and 1.6 assists with Argentina.

Delfino (6-6, 230, Argentina) has played in seven NBA seasons, averaging 7.7 points (.362, 520-1435 3FG), 3.6 rebounds and 1.7 assists in 440 career games (165 starts) with Detroit, Toronto and Milwaukee. His most productive years have come the past three seasons with the Bucks, where he has averaged 10.6 points, 4.5 boards, 2.5 assists and 1.32 steals in 30.4 minutes per outing over 178 games (159 starts). Delfino also connected on a career-best 134 3-pointers in 2009-10 and averaged 2.1 3-point field goals per game in 2010-11, which ranked fifth in the league.

Drafted by the Pistons with the 25th overall pick in the 2003 NBA Draft, Delfino spent three seasons with Detroit before joining the Raptors in a trade. He was acquired by Milwaukee along with Roko Ukic from Toronto in exchange for Amir Johnson and Sonny Weems on Aug. 18, 2009. In addition to the NBA, Delfino has played a key role on Argentina’s gold-medal-winning teams at the 2004 Olympics in Athens, Greece and at the 2011 FIBA Americas Tournament. Delfino began his career internationally with Reggio Calabria (2000-02) and Skipper Bologna (2002-04). He also averaged 13.0 points, 3.6 rebounds and 2.6 assists in 10 games with Khimki Moscow in the Russian Superleague in 2008-09.

Knicks cannot sign Josh Harrellson anytime soon

Because the Knicks traded Harrellson away, however, he can’t come back to them. Under the new collective bargaining agreement, teams that trade away players cannot re-sign them for a year after the trade – ending the previous common practice of a team trading away a player, only to see that player get bought out of his contract or waived and re-sign with the team that traded him 30 days after the deal was done.

The Rockets cut Harrellson after signing veteran swingman Carlos Delfino this week. Now, among the four players the Knicks sent to Houston in the Camby deal, only Toney Douglas remains on their roster, after the Rockets had cut Jordan last month.

— Reported by Tim Bontemps of the New York Post (Blog)

Jeremy Lin brings attention to Rockets

Lin was officially introduced to Houston on a makeshift stage that was set up on the Rockets’ practice court and greeted by a media throng that numbered in the hundreds, including many talking heads who probably needed a map and flashlight to locate the Toyota Center.

After three straight seasons of being the last team to miss the playoffs and carrying the best record — and longest odds — into the draft lottery, they were in need of an attraction that would make the masses remember that the Rockets were still operating an NBA franchise.

Never mind that they showed him the door back in December.

“It’s always difficult when you’ve obviously made an error,” Alexander said. “We made an error in letting him go. I think we rectified it now.

“I think the spotlight’s important. We’re gonna be on national TV now because of Jeremy and I think free agents want to be on teams that are in the national spotlight. So I think from a basketball standpoint we really improve our negotiations with many, many free agents.”

— Reported by Fran Blinebury of NBA.com

Rockets set to add Carlos Delfino

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

Amare Stoudemire happily working out with Hakeem Olajuwon

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

Jeremy Lin to host basketball camp in China

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

Yao Ming glad Jeremy Lin joined Rockets

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

Rockets sign rookies Jeremy Lamb, Royce White, Terrence Jones

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.

Rockets sign center Omer Asik after Bulls decline to match offer

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.

Bulls will not match Rockets offer to Omer Asik

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