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Rockets sign Pops Mensah-Bonsu

Houston Rockets General Manager Daryl Morey announced today that the team has signed forward Pops Mensah-Bonsu (MEN-sa BON-sue). Per team policy, financial terms were not released. We’ll post contract info tomorrow.

Mensah-Bonsu (6-9, 235, George Washington) has averaged 4.1 points and 3.9 rebounds in 34 career games with the Dallas Mavericks, San Antonio Spurs and Toronto Raptors. In 2008-09, Mensah-Bonsu averaged 5.0 points, 5.1 rebounds and 12.9 minutes in 22 total games with the Spurs and Raptors. Signed to a 10-day contract by San Antonio on Feb. 25, Mensah-Bonsu averaged 5.0 points and 3.3 rebounds in 6.7 minutes over three contests with the Spurs. He was waived by San Antonio on Mar. 4 and was signed by Toronto for the remainder of the season on Mar. 6.

In 19 outings with the Raptors, Mensah-Bonsu averaged 5.1 points and 5.4 rebounds in 13.8 minutes per game. He set career highs for points (21), free throws made (11) and free throw attempts (13) with Toronto vs. Indiana (3/15/09). Mensah-Bonsu also averaged 26.6 points, 13.0 rebounds and 2.5 blocks in eight games (eight starts) with the NBA D-League Austin Toros. He actually began the season with DKV Joventut in the Spanish League, averaging 18.5 points in two contests (one start).

He began his NBA career with Dallas in 2006-07, averaging 2.4 points, 1.8 rebounds and 5.9 minutes in 12 games with the Mavericks. Mensah-Bonsu also averaged 15.8 points, 10.4 rebounds and 30.7 minutes per game in 26 contests (21 starts) with the D-League Fort Worth Flyers in 2006-07. His play with the Flyers earned him selection to the Eastern Division All-Star Team, where he was named MVP of the 2007 D-League All-Star Game after posting 30 points (11-13 FG) and seven rebounds. A native of London, England, Mensah-Bonsu has also played overseas with Benetton Treviso and CB Granada.

Mensah-Bonsu finished his four-year collegiate career with averages of 11.7 points and 6.0 rebounds in 112 games at George Washington University. He averaged 12.6 points and 6.7 rebounds as a senior, pacing the Colonials in field goal percentage (.564) and blocks (38). Mensah-Bonsu was named to the NABC All-District 4 First Team and to Atlantic 10 All-Conference First Team in his final campaign at George Washington.

Houston Rockets sign 2009 first round draft pick Chase Budinger

Houston Rockets General Manager Daryl Morey announced today that the team has signed Arizona forward Chase Budinger to a multi-year contract. He was a first round pick so a contract was guaranteed.

Budinger, who was selected by Detroit in the second round (44th overall) of the 2009 NBA Draft, had his draft rights acquired by the Rockets from the Pistons in exchange for a future second-round pick and cash considerations on June 25, 2009.

Budinger (6-7, 218, Arizona) recently led the Rockets in scoring during an undefeated (5-0) run at the 2009 NBA Summer League presented by EA SPORTS, averaging 17.8 points (.681, 32-47 FG; .727, 8-11 3FG; .944, 17-18 FT) in five games (two starts). An early entry candidate for the 2009 NBA Draft, Budinger averaged 17.0 points and 5.8 rebounds in three seasons with Arizona. He finished ranked 11th on Arizona’s career scoring list with 1,697 career points, which stands as the highest point total in three seasons or less by a UA player.

A First-Team All-Pac-10 selection as a junior, Budinger also earned All-America Honorable Mention for a second straight year from The Associated Press after averaging 18.0 points, 6.2 rebounds and 3.4 assists in 35 appearances. Budinger added All-District IX selection by the USBWA and Second-Team All-District 20 honors from the NABC in 2008-09. He finished in double figures 31 times, including 16 20-point games. As a sophomore, Budinger was named Third-Team All-Pac-10 and Second-Team All-District 15 by the NABC. Budinger was also selected as the 2007 Pac-10 Freshman of the Year, as well as MVP of the 2006 Nike Junior World Championships held in Douai, France as a member of Team USA.

Houston Rockets sign David Andersen

Houston Rockets General Manager Daryl Morey announced today that the team has signed center David Andersen to a multi-year contract. The Houston Chronicle reports that the deal is for three years.

The Rockets originally acquired the rights to Andersen from the Atlanta Hawks in exchange for cash and future considerations on July 14.

Andersen (6-11, 245, Australia), who was originally selected by Atlanta in the second round (37th overall) of the 2002 NBA Draft, joined the Rockets after spending the 2008-09 season with Regal FC Barcelona in Spain. Andersen averaged 11.1 points and 4.1 rebounds in helping FC Barcelona win the 2008-09 Spanish National Championship and a berth into the Euroleague Final Four. Andersen’s list of international accomplishments also includes three Euroleague titles with Virtus Bologna (2001) and CSKA Moscow (2006 and 2008). In addition, he was named to the 2004-05 All-Euroleague First Team while playing with CSKA Moscow.

A native of Carlton, Victoria, Andersen started his career at the Australian Institute of Sport before signing professionally with the Wollongong Hawks of the Australian NBL (1998-99). He then spent four seasons in Italy with Virtus Bologna (1999-2003) where he won the 2000-01 Italian National Championship, as well as the 2001 and 2002 Italian National Cup. Andersen joined Mens Sana Basket Siena for the 2003-04 campaign and helped capture another Italian National Championship that season. He played another four seasons with CSKA Moscow (2004-08), winning the 2004-05, 2005-06, 2006-07 and 2007-08 Russian National Championship. While with CSKA Moscow, Andersen also helped capture the 2005, 2006 and 2007 Russian National Cup.

Andersen participated with the Australian National Team in the 2004 and 2008 Olympic Games, averaging 6.5 points and 3.5 rebounds with Australia during the 2008 Beijing Games. He also took home a gold medal at the 2005 and 2007 Oceania Championship. A member of the Australian U-18 and U-22 National Teams, Andersen was named the 1998 Australian Junior Male Player of the Year.

Von Wafer to sign in Greece

Eurobasket.com reports: Von Wafer (196-G-85, college: Florida St.) is about to join the Greek powerhouse Olympiakos. The 24-year-old guard spent the last season in the NBA playing for the Houston Rockets. He averaged 9.5 points, 1.7 boards and 1.1 assists per game. The Florida State University graduate Von Wafer was drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers in 2005. He also played for the Colorado 14ers and the fort Worth Flyers in the D-League as well as the Nuggets, the Clipper and the Trail Blazers in the NBA. The contract is meant for two seasons.

Ron Artest donates diamond watch to Chinese student

Xinhua reports: Los Angeles Lakers star Ron Artest has donated his diamond watch to a high school student in Wuhan Wednesday to support his education. Zheng Fengyu, 15, is the captain of Wuhan NO.1 middle school’s basketball team. Ron played basketball with Zheng Wednesday afternoon, and gave the boy later his watch, which is worth 45,000 U.S. dollars (about 300,000 yuan), according to a report by local media.

InsideHoops.com editor says: Stories like this are awesome. The scene sounds like something from a movie. Wish we could have seen it happen.

Rockets sign 2009 second round draft pick Jermaine Taylor

Houston Rockets General Manager Daryl Morey announced today that the team has signed rookie guard Jermaine Taylor to a multi-year contract. The Houston Chronicle reports that the deal is worth $3.33 million over four years, with the first two years guaranteed and a team option on the third and fourth seasons.

Taylor, who was selected by Washington out of Central Florida in the second round (32nd overall) of the 2009 NBA Draft, had his rights acquired by the Rockets from the Wizards in exchange for cash considerations on June 25, 2009.

Taylor (6-4, 210, Central Florida) totaled 1,979 points and a school-record 251 3-pointers (.376, 251-668 3FG) over his four-year career at Central Florida, finishing as UCF’s career scoring leader at the Division I level. He also ranked fourth on the Conference USA career scoring list. As a senior, Taylor was named the C-USA Player of the Year and earned All-Conference USA First Team honors. Taylor was also selected All-District by the NABC and USBWA, as well as earning All-Tournament Team honors at the 2009 Portsmouth Invitational. Overall, he scored a school-record 812 points during his senior campaign and ranked third nationally in scoring (26.2 ppg, .480 FG%, .376 3FG%, .812 FT%). Taylor also averaged 29.1 points against league opponents and set the C-USA single-season record by notching 466 points in conference play. He scored at least 20 points in 24 of his 31 games, including nine 30-point performances and one 40-point contest. He connected on 92 3-pointers in 2008-09, which ranked fourth on the school’s single-season chart. Taylor also led the team in rebounds per game (5.2) and blocked shots (24), while ranking third on the team in total assists (58) and second in steals (39). His outstanding play earned him C-USA Player of the Week honors on five occasions during his final collegiate campaign. He also established a UCF Division I single-game record with 45 points vs. Rice (2/25/09).

As a junior, Taylor earned All-Conference USA Second Team selection after leading UCF in scoring with 20.8 points per game. He appeared in all 31 games as a reserve during his sophomore campaign, ranking second on the team and 16th in Conference USA in points per game (12.7). Taylor was also a Conference USA Commissioner’s Academic Honor Roll recipient as a freshman.

With Houston in the 2009 NBA Summer League, Taylor averaged 11.0 points and 2.3 assists in four games (two starts).

NBA fines Cavs, Rockets, Wolves for leaking schedule info

The 2009-10 regular season NBA schedule comes out Tuesday, but it’s already having an impact on a few teams. The AP reports:

The NBA has fined three teams an undisclosed amount for leaking details of their schedules before the league released them. The Cleveland Cavaliers, Houston Rockets and Minnesota Timberwolves were penalized, an official with knowledge of the decisions told The Associated Press on Monday.

It would be interesting to find out how the league knew exactly which teams revealed the info. I’ll update this blog entry with more on that if it comes out.

Ron Artest almost signed with Cavaliers

The New York Daily News (Mark Lelinwalla) reports: Ron Artest also told the Daily News that before he inked his five-year, $33 million deal with the Lakers earlier this month, he gave heavy consideration to signing with LeBron James, Shaquille O’Neal and the Cleveland Cavaliers. “It was close (to happening), but the Lakers showed more interest,” Artest said. “They’re my boys (James and O’Neal), though. Shaq is still my boy. I’m looking forward to playing with Kobe and going after a championship.”

Yao Ming to have left foot surgery

Houston Rockets center Yao Ming has elected to undergo surgery in order to repair the broken bone in his left foot.

The surgery, which will be performed next week by Rockets Team Physician Dr. Tom Clanton at the Memorial Hermann Sports Medicine Institute, will involve a bone graft in the navicular bone of Yao’s left foot in order to promote bone regeneration.

Additionally, Clanton will also perform a surgical procedure designed to reduce the arch in Yao’s left foot by realigning and restructuring the bones in the foot.

While no timetable has been set for his return to action, Yao is expected to be available for the team’s training camp in 2010.

“This combination of procedures should not only allow healing of his navicular stress fracture, but also improve the mechanics of his foot to reduce the stress on that bone and give him the best long-term prognosis,” said Dr. Clanton. “This surgical option is similar to the successful procedure used by Cleveland Cavaliers center Zydrunas Ilgauskas in 2001.”

Statement from Rockets General Manager Daryl Morey:

“Yao and the Rockets conducted due diligence in seeking a number of expert opinions regarding his medical options. The consensus opinion was that he undergo a procedure to heal and realign his foot. We will implement all the resources available to help him make a complete and successful recovery.”

Statement from Yao:

“After much thought and reflection, I have decided to have surgery on my left foot. This surgery will allow me to continue my career playing basketball and I look forward to returning to the court. I would like to thank everyone who sent me their best wishes. I am very grateful to have the support of teammates, friends and fans as I dedicate myself to making a completely successful recovery.”

Yao Ming buys Shanghai Sharks

Reuters reports: Houston Rockets center Yao Ming has purchased his financially troubled former club the Shanghai Sharks, Chinese media reported on Thursday. The seven-time NBA All Star’s investment company signed a framework agreement with the club’s three co-owners who agreed to sell Yao all their shares in the club, Xinhua news agency said… The Sharks shared in the worst deficit in 14 years of the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) last year and were in danger of failing to start the new season in November because of their dire finances.