Memphis Grizzlies Blog – Page 71 – NBA Blog

Milwaukee Bucks sign Hakim Warrick

The Milwaukee Bucks have signed forward Hakim Warrick (pronounced ha-KEEM) to a contract, General Manager John Hammond announced today. Warrick, 27, was the 19th overall pick in the 2005 NBA Draft by Memphis and spent all four of his NBA seasons with the Grizzlies.

The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel reported that the contract was expected to be a one-year deal in the $3 million to $3.5 million range.

Warrick (6-9, 219) owns career averages of 10.2 points and 4.3 rebounds per game over 307 NBA contests. He is a career 50 percent shooter from the field while connecting on 72.5 percent from the free throw line.

Last season, Warrick, averaged 11.6 points and 5.0 rebounds in 24.7 minutes per game. He appeared in all 82 games (7 starts) for the second time in his career (2006-07) and recorded career-highs in both steals (48) and blocked shots (39).

Warrick played four seasons at Syracuse University (2001-05), and as a sophomore started in all 35 games for the NCAA Champion Orange. As a senior, he was named First Team All-America by the Associated Press, awarded Big East Conference Player of the Year and named First Team All-Big East after averaging 21.4 points and 8.6 rebounds in 34 games. He finished his degree in three-and-one-half years and left Syracuse ranked second in free throws made (529) and attempted (803), and fourth in scoring (2,073 points) and rebounds (1,025).

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Dallas Mavericks sign Drew Gooden

The Dallas Mavericks announced today they have signed forward/center Drew Gooden. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed. We’ll post contract details later today.

Gooden (6-10, 230) has seen action in 510 games with 396 starts. He holds career averages of 12.0 points, 7.9 rebounds and 1.1 assists in 28.1 minutes per game while shooting .471 from the field and .732 from the foul line. Gooden played the final 19 games of last season with the San Antonio Spurs. He averaged 9.2 points and 4.4 rebounds in just 16.8 minutes per contest.

The seven-year veteran was originally selected in the first round (fourth overall pick) of the 2002 NBA Draft by the Memphis Grizzlies and has seen action with six different teams (Memphis, Orlando, Cleveland, Chicago, Sacramento and San Antonio). Statistically, Gooden saw his best season in 2004-05 when we nearly averaged a double-double for Cleveland generating 14.4 points and 9.2 rebounds while playing in all 82 games (80 starts).

A native of Oakland, Calif., Gooden is a former standout at the University of Kansas where he was named Big 12 Player of the Year and First Team All-America by The Associated Press as a junior. In just three seasons at KU, Gooden was only the second player in school history (Danny Manning) to record 1,500 points, 900 rebounds, 100 blocks and 100 steals.

“We are very pleased to add Drew to our front line for the upcoming season,” President of Basketball Operations/General Manager Donnie Nelson said. “Drew is a veteran player with NBA Finals experience that is entering the prime of his career at 27 years old. He will provide valuable minutes at both the center and power forward positions with his tenacity in the paint, rebounding and ability to knock down shots.”

Memphis Grizzlies sign Marcus Williams

INITIAL JULY 29 NEWS (SEE UPDATE BELOW): The Memphis Commercial Appeal reports: Marcus Williams, who opened some eyes playing for the Grizzlies’ summer league team in Las Vegas earlier this month, could be joining the team in a more official capacity within the next few days. Calvin Andrews, Williams’ agent, said this afternoon that he feels “confident” that Williams will sign a 1-year deal with the Grizzlies. “We’re very close,” Andrews said. “They like some of the things he can do to help the team, to get the ball in the right places.”

AUGUST 6 UPDATE: GRIZZLIES SIGN MARCUS WILLIAMS

grizzlies sign point guard marcus williams

The Memphis Grizzlies added depth to the team’s backcourt by signing free agent point guard and 2009 NBA Summer League standout Marcus Williams, Grizzlies General Manager and Vice President of Basketball Operations Chris Wallace announced today.

“The addition of Marcus Williams not only adds depth to our point guard position, but also gives the team a very skilled passer,” Wallace said. “Marcus excels at getting easy baskets for his teammates. His teammates will enjoy playing with him.”

The three-year NBA veteran averaged 13.4 points, 4.6 rebounds and a league-leading 8.2 assists (shared with Milwaukee’s Brandon Jennings) in helping lead the Grizzlies to a perfect 5-0 record in the 2009 NBA Summer League in Las Vegas last month.

The 6-3, 205-pound guard began and finished his summer league in memorable fashion, recording a Vegas-record 17 assists in the opener on July 12 vs. Oklahoma City and then made the game-winning field goal with 0.4 seconds remaining in the summer finale on July 19 vs. San Antonio.

The 23-year-old playmaker holds career averages of 6.1 points, 1.9 rebounds and 2.9 assists in 15.8 minutes in 141 games (nine starts) with the New Jersey Nets (2006-08) and Golden State Warriors (2008-09). Williams was originally selected by New Jersey with the 22nd overall pick in the first round of the 2006 NBA Draft and was named to the 2006-07 NBA All-Rookie Second Team after recording 6.8 points and 3.3 assists in 79 games in his rookie season.

Last season, Williams averaged 1.3 points and 1.4 assists in 6.0 minutes in nine games for the Warriors before finishing the year in Puerto Rico, recording 16.8 points and a league-best 9.0 assists in 33.5 minutes in 34 games with the Quebradillas Pirates.

The Los Angeles, Calif. native averaged 9.0 points and a school-record 7.3 assists in 26.1 minutes in 70 games (51 starts) over three seasons (2003-06) at the University of Connecticut, where he teamed with current Grizzlies forward Rudy Gay for two seasons (2004-06). While at UConn, Williams posted the first-ever triple-double for a Huskies player in conference play with 18 points, 13 assists and 10 rebounds on Feb. 21, 2006 vs. Notre Dame.

Williams also joined Gay as part of the 2005 USA Men’s U21 World Championship Team, where he led the squad in minutes (20.4) and averaged 4.1 points and 4.1 assists in eight games.

The Grizzlies’ roster now stands at 12 players.

Memphis Grizzlies sign 2009 second round draft pick Sam Young

The Memphis Grizzlies signed Sam Young to a multi-year contract, Grizzlies General Manager and Vice President of Basketball Operations Chris Wallace announced today. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed. We’ll post contract info later today.

Selected by the Grizzlies with the 36th overall pick in the 2009 NBA Draft, Young averaged a team-high 13.6 points and 4.2 rebounds on 51.9 percent shooting in 25.0 minutes in the 2009 NBA Summer League in Las Vegas, helping lead Memphis to a perfect 5-0 record.

The 6-6, 220-pound guard/forward led the University of Pittsburgh in scoring (19.2 points) in his senior season, setting a school single-season record with 690 points and leaving as the Panthers’ fourth all-time leading scorer (1,884 points).

Young, a 2009 Associated Press Third Team All-American and All-Big East First Team selection, never missed a single game in his four-year college career, playing in a school-record 143 consecutive games. The 24-year-old Clinton, Md. native was one of three Panther seniors who comprised the all-time winningest class in Pittsburgh history (112 wins).

With the signing of Hasheem Thabeet (second overall) and DeMarre Carroll (27th overall) earlier in the month, the Grizzlies have now signed all three of the team’s selections in the 2009 NBA Draft.

Memphis Grizzlies renounce qualifying offer to Hakim Warrick

The Memphis Grizzlies have renounced their qualifying offer to forward Hakim Warrick, making him an unrestricted free agent, Grizzlies General Manager and Vice President of Basketball Operations Chris Wallace announced.

Warrick, the team’s longest-tenured player and the last remaining member of the Grizzlies’ most-recent playoff appearance in 2006, averaged 11.6 points and 5.0 rebounds on 49.1 percent shooting in 82 games (seven starts) last season.

The 6-9, 219-pound forward has averaged 10.2 points and 4.3 rebounds in 307 games (82 starts) through four NBA seasons, all with the Grizzlies, who originally selected him with the 19th overall pick in the 2005 NBA Draft.

In accordance with the league’s collective bargaining agreement, in order for a team to retain its right of first refusal with respect to a restricted free agent, the team must tender the player a qualifying offer prior to June 30. After which, teams may withdraw outstanding qualifying offers, in which case a player becomes an unrestricted free agent.

Antonio Burks shot in robbery

The AP reports: Former Memphis Grizzlies and University of Memphis point guard Antonio Burks remains in critical condition a day after being shot during a robbery… The Commercial Appeal quoted police as saying Burks and four other men were in the backyard of a Memphis house when they were robbed by three men. They shot Burks and another man, whose identity was not released. Police said the second victim also was in critical condition.

The Memphis Commercial Appeal reports: Former Memphis Tiger and Grizzly Antonio Burks was shot as he watched six men gamble with dice in the backyard of a home in South Memphis, according to police. Three armed robbers came around both sides of the house at 353 Laclede just before 6 p.m. Monday and began firing immediately, a victim told police. The robbers, who arrived in a purple or blue GMC Equinox or Envoy and weren’t wearing masks, forced the victims to the ground and robbed them of money and their clothes. One victim, identified by police as Vincent Williams, 44, was shot in the stomach and robbed of $300.

Memphis Grizzlies sign 2009 first round draft pick Hasheem Thabeet

The Memphis Grizzlies signed Hasheem Thabeet, the second overall selection in the 2009 NBA Draft, to a multi-year contract, Grizzlies General Manager and Vice President of Basketball Operations Chris Wallace announced today. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Thabeet, a 7-3, 267-pound center, averaged 13.6 points, 10.8 rebounds and 4.2 blocks per game (second in the NCAA) as a junior at the University of Connecticut, earning 2008-09 Big East Co-Player of the Year (Pittsburgh’s DeJuan Blair) honors and winning his second consecutive National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) Defensive Player of the Year Award.

Selected by Memphis with the second overall pick behind the Los Angeles Clippers’ Blake Griffin, Thabeet has averaged 8.0 points and 4.5 rebounds on 50.0 percent shooting in 24.8 minutes, helping lead the Grizzlies to a 4-0 start in the 2009 NBA Summer League in Las Vegas, Nev.

The Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania native, who ranks second on the all-time Big East blocked shots list (243) behind Hall of Famer Patrick Ewing, is the first Tanzanian-born player drafted by an NBA team.

Memphis Grizzlies waive Jerry Stackhouse

The Memphis Grizzlies waived guard/forward Jerry Stackhouse, Grizzlies General Manager and Vice President of Basketball Operations Chris Wallace announced today.

The 6-6, 218 pound swingman was acquired on July 9 as part of a four-team, eight-player trade also involving the Dallas Mavericks, Toronto Raptors and Orlando Magic.

The 13-year NBA veteran averaged 4.2 points, 1.7 rebounds and 1.2 assists in 16.2 minutes in 10 games (one start) last season, his fifth with the Mavericks. The two-time All-Star (2000, 2001) holds career averages of 18.4 points, 3.4 rebounds and 3.7 assists in 33.4 minutes in 854 games (563 starts) with the Mavericks, the Washington Wizards, the Detroit Pistons and the Philadelphia 76ers.

The Memphis Commercial Appeal reports: Stackhouse was due more than $7 million with the Mavericks next season. The Griz received enough money in the deal to buy out the $2 million Stackhouse is guaranteed in 2009-10.

Memphis Grizzlies renounce rights to Chris Mihm, Darius Miles and Mike Wilks

The Memphis Grizzlies have renounced their rights to free agents Chris Mihm, Darius Miles and Mike Wilks, Grizzlies General Manager and Vice President of Basketball Operations Chris Wallace announced today.

Mihm, a 7-0, 265-pound center, averaged 2.0 points and 1.9 rebounds in 5.8 minutes in 18 games last season with the Los Angeles Lakers.

Acquired by the Grizzlies along with cash considerations on Feb. 18 in exchange for a 2013 protected second round draft pick, Mihm did not appear in a game with Memphis and underwent successful right ankle surgery on March 3, ending his season. The eight-year NBA veteran holds career averages of 7.5 points and 5.3 rebounds in 436 games (256 starts) with the Lakers, the Boston Celtics and the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Miles, a 6-9, 235-pound forward, averaged 3.5 points and 1.7 rebounds in 8.8 minutes in 34 games last season with Memphis, who originally signed him as a free agent on Dec. 13, 2008. The seven-year NBA veteran owns career averages of 10.1 points and 4.9 rebounds in 446 games (190 starts) with the Grizzlies, the Portland Trail Blazers, the Cavaliers and the Los Angeles Clippers.

Wilks, a 5-10, 180-pound guard, was acquired by the Grizzlies on Feb. 19 from the Orlando Magic along with Orlando’s 2009 first round draft pick (DeMarre Carroll, 27th overall), Adonal Foyle and cash considerations as a part of a three-team trade (also including the Houston Rockets) that sent Kyle Lowry and Brian Cook to Houston and Rafer Alston to Orlando.

After signing with the Magic as a free agent on Sept. 25, 2008, Wilks tore his ACL in his right knee in a preseason game on Oct. 16, 2008 and missed the entire regular season. The seven-year NBA veteran holds career averages of 2.5 points and 1.2 assists in 229 games (11 starts) with the Atlanta Hawks, the Minnesota Timberwolves, the Rockets, the San Antonio Spurs, the Cavaliers, the Seattle SuperSonics (twice), the Denver Nuggets and the Washington Wizards.

Per the NBA Collective Bargaining Agreement, a renounced player no longer counts toward team salary, so teams use renouncement to gain additional cap room. After renouncing a player, the team is still permitted to re-sign such player, but the team must either have enough salary cap room to fit the salary, or sign the player using the Minimum Salary exception. After renouncing a player, a team can still trade the player in a sign-and-trade agreement.

Four-team trade sends Shawn Marion to Mavericks, Hedo Turkoglu to Raptors

The Orlando Magic have acquired a trade exception and cash considerations from the Toronto Raptors, and cash considerations from the Dallas Mavericks as part of a four-team trade, General Manager Otis Smith announced today. As part of a sign-and-trade deal, forward Hedo Turkoglu was traded to Toronto.

“This move allows us some potential flexibility in the future,” said Smith. “Hedo was a big part of our success and did a lot for our organization during his five seasons here. We wish him and his family nothing but the best.”

Also included as parts of the deal – Toronto sends Shawn Marion, Kris Humphries, Nathan Jawai and cash considerations to Dallas, while also sending a future second round draft pick to Memphis; Memphis sends Greg Buckner to Dallas; Dallas sends Jerry Stackhouse and cash considerations to Memphis, while also sending Devean George and Antoine Wright to Toronto.

TRADE SUMMARY

Orlando Magic get: Trade exception and cash considerations from the Toronto Raptors, and cash considerations from the Dallas Mavericks

Toronto Raptors get: Hedo Turkoglu, Devean George and Antoine Wright

Dallas Mavericks get: Shawn Marion, Kris Humphries, Nathan Jawai and cash considerations, Greg Buckner (from Memphis)

Memphis Grizzlies get: Future second round draft pick from Dallas, Jerry Stackhouse and cash considerations (from Dallas)

InsideHoops.com gets: Love and admiration from all basketball fans.

MORE ON EACH PLAYER

Marion (6-7, 215) is a 10-year veteran that holds career averages 17.8 points and 9.9 rebounds to go along with 2.0 assists, 1.83 steals, 1.31 blocks and 37.9 minutes in 745 games (730 starts). He has finished the season with a double-double average four times in his career with the most recent being in 2007-08 when he averaged 15.4 points and 10.2 rebounds in 63 games.

Marion has been named All-NBA Third Team two times (2005, 2006) and was a four-time All-Star with the Phoenix Suns (2003, 2005, 2006, 2007). He has appeared in 65 postseason contests averaging 17.1 points, 10.9 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 1.52 blocks and 1.49 steals in 40.6 minutes. Marion has advanced to the Western Conference Finals two times and, in his most recent trip, fell to the Mavericks in 2006 as a member of the Suns. He was also a member of the bronze-medal winning Team USA at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece.

Humphries (6-9, 235) is a former University of Minnesota standout drafted by the Utah Jazz with the 14th overall pick in the 2004 Draft. He holds career averages of 4.2 points and 3.0 rebounds in 288 games. He averaged 3.9 points and 2.4 rebounds last season before fracturing his right fibula on Jan. 18 vs. Phoenix. Prior to his injury, Humphries was coming off his best year as a pro in 2007-08 when he averaged career highs of 5.7 points, 3.7 rebounds and 13.7 minutes in a career-high 70 games.

Jawai (6-10, 280) just completed his rookie season for the Raptors seeing action in six contests. The Australian center scored his first career field goal on Feb. 18 vs. Cleveland. Jawai, the 41st overall pick of the Indiana Pacers in 2008, spent most of last season with the Idaho Stamped of the NBA Development League where he averaged 11.1 points and 6.4 rebounds in 24.0 minutes a game. No stranger to Texas, Jawai played one season of college basketball at Midland (Texas) College in 2006-07 where he averaged 11.4 points and 5.8 rebounds in 23.9 minutes a game.

Buckner (6-4, 210), a 10-year veteran out of Clemson, will be returning to Dallas for a third time. Originally a second-round draft choice of the Mavericks in 1998, Buckner played in Dallas from 1999-2002 before signing with the Philadelphia 76ers as a free agent. The native of Hopkinsville, Ky., returned to the Mavericks in 2006 when he signed as a free agent before getting traded to Minnesota before the start of the 2007-08 campaign. The veteran guard holds career averages of 5.0 points, 2.8 rebounds and 1.3 assists in 570 games.