New York Knicks Blog – Page 107 – NBA Blog

Knicks sign guard Baron Davis

New York Knickerbockers Senior Vice President, Basketball Operations and Interim General Manager Glen Grunwald announced today that the team has signed free agent guard Baron Davis. It is widely reported to be a one-year deal for $2.5 million. Though, Howard Beck of the New York Times reports that the deal is actually for the veteran’s minimum ($1.4 million), which means the Knicks still have their $2.5 million exception to spend.

Davis, 6-3, 212-pounds, holds career averages of 16.5 points, 7.3 assists, 1.86 steals and 34.7 minutes in 806 games (677 starts) over 12 NBA seasons with the Hornets, Golden State, L.A. Clippers and Cleveland. The two-time NBA All-Star averaged 13.1 points, 6.7 assists and 1.34 steals over 28.4 minutes in 58 games (44 starts) with Los Angeles Clippers and Cleveland last season.

The Los Angeles, CA-native was originally selected by Charlotte Hornets in the first round (third overall) of 1999 NBA Draft. He appeared in 46 postseason games (42 starts) to average 19.8 points, 6.5 assists, 4.6 rebounds and 2.50 steals over 38.1 minutes.

According to ESPN New York, “Davis has a herniated disk in his back that he said on Monday could sideline him for 8-10 weeks. But a source close to Davis told ESPNNewYork.com that 8-10 weeks is a conservative estimate and, if his rehabilitation goes well, he could return in 4-6 weeks “if not sooner.” Said Davis: “For me, it’s taking it one day at a time and … getting as close as I possibly can to practicing to practicing as soon as I possibly can.”

New Jersey Nets sign forward Shawne Williams

The New Jersey Nets have signed free agent forward Shawne Williams, Nets General Manager Billy King announced today. The contract is for two years and $6.1 million, reported the New York Post.

“Shawne is a versatile player who will add a needed dimension to our frontcourt,” said King. “He can play inside as well as shoot the three, and is a welcome addition to our roster.”

Williams, a 6-9 forward, comes to the Nets following a one-year stint with the New York Knicks where he played in 64 games and posted career-best averages of 7.1 points and 3.7 rebounds in 20.7 minutes per game, while shooting .401 from three point range. The University of Memphis product was chosen by Indiana in the first round (17th overall) in the 2006 NBA Draft.

Williams played two seasons in Indiana before being traded to Dallas prior to the 2008-09 season.

In January of 2010, Williams was acquired by New Jersey in a multi-player trade with Dallas, although he did not appear in any games with the Nets. Over his four-year NBA career, Williams holds career averages of 5.9 points and 2.9 rebounds over 190 games. He appeared in four postseason games with New York last season, averaging 8.0 points and 3.5 rebounds, while shooting .429 from three point range.

Trail Blazers sign guard Jamal Crawford

The Portland Trail Blazers have agreed to terms with guard Jamal Crawford. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed. We’ll post contract details shortly.

Crawford, 31, holds career averages of 15.4 points (41.0% FG, 35.0% 3-PT, 84.6% FT), 2.6 rebounds and 3.9 assists in 11 seasons with Chicago, New York, Golden State and Atlanta.

“We’ve thought highly of Jamal for a long time and think he’s a great fit for our team,” said Trail Blazers Acting General Manager Chad Buchanan. “He brings a scorer’s touch and veteran leadership that will help us immediately.”

Winner of the 2009-10 NBA Sixth Man of the Year Award with Atlanta, Crawford (6-5, 200) played the last two seasons for the Hawks and placed second in the NBA in bench scoring (14.2 ppg) last season. With 1,307 career 3-pointers, Crawford ranks 13th among active NBA players and his 33 career four-point plays is an NBA record.

He has scored 50-plus points three times, including a career-high 52 on Jan. 26, 2007, with New York.

A Seattle native who played collegiately at the University of Michigan, Crawford was the eighth overall pick in the first round of the 2000 NBA Draft.

Dallas Mavericks waive guard Andy Rautins

The Dallas Mavericks announced today they have waived guard Andy Rautins.

Rautins was acquired on Dec. 10, 2011 from New York along with a protected 2012 second round draft pick from Washington. In exchange, New York received center Tyson Chandler, the draft rights to Ahmad Nivins and Giorgos Printezis from Dallas while Washington recieved forward Ronny Turiaf, a 2013 second round pick and cash considerations from New York and a 2012 second round pick from Dallas.

Knicks sign center Jerome Jordan

New York Knickerbockers Senior Vice President, Basketball Operations and Interim General Manager Glen Grunwald announced today that the team has signed center Jerome Jordan to a contract. Per team policy, terms of the deal will not disclosed. We’ll post deails this afternoon.

Jordan, 7-0, 240-pounds, had his draft rights acquired from Milwaukee in exchange for cash considerations on Jul. 8, 2010 after being selected by the Bucks in the second round (44th overall) of the 2010 NBA Draft. He spent parts of each of the last two seasons playing overseas for KK Hemofarm in Serbia after four seasons at the University of Tulsa. He averaged 11.3 points, on .567 shooting from the field, 7.4 rebounds and 2.50 blocks in 133 games (119 starts) for the Golden Hurricane. He was selected to the Conference USA All-Defensive Team each of his last three seasons and earned Second Team All-Conference USA honors as a senior after averaging 15.4 points, 9.1 rebounds and 2.34 blocks in 35 games (all starts). He is the only player in Conference USA history to record at least 800 rebounds and 300 blocks, and is the all-time Conference USA and Tulsa leader in blocked shots.

Knicks hosting free open scrimmage Sunday

On Sunday, Dec. 18 the New York Knicks will open the doors of Madison Square Garden for an inside look at the team during the Knicks Orange & Blue Scrimmage.

This free event will give fans a chance to reconnect with the team and see Carmelo Anthony, Amar’e Stoudemire, Tyson Chandler and their teammates go through a workout and scrimmage, as the Knicks prepare for the 2011-12 regular season that will tip off on Christmas Day at noon against the Boston Celtics at Madison Square Garden.

There will be performances by the Knicks City Dancers, Knicks City Kids and King Charles Unicycle Troupe, music from DJ Clue of Power 105.1 FM, and more.

Doors will open at 11 a.m. ET.

Note to fans: You’ll be watching Knicks players. You won’t be trying out.

Rafer Alston seeks NBA comeback

Veteran point guard Rafer Alston seemed done with the NBA, but has apparently had a change of heart and is looking to extend his pro career.

Alston’s agent and long-time friend Eddie Lau on Wednesday told InsideHoops.com editor Jeff Lenchiner that the guard, who last played in the NBA for the Miami Heat and New Jersey Nets in the 2009-10 season, wants to return to the league. Lau says he is in contact with multiple teams.

The 6-2, 175-pound Alston has an NBA career average of 10.1 points, 4.8 assists and 1.2 steals per game.

Lately, he’s been coaching at the high school level.

Minor knee injury keeps Carmelo Anthony out of Knicks practice

Carmelo Anthony, who hyperextend his knee during Monday’s scrimmage, is sitting out Tuesday’s practice session.

The Knicks had listed him as day-to-day, and it is unclear if he will undergo any MRI exams.

Anthony suffered the injury when he stepped on rookie Iman Shumpert’s foot as he was coming off a screen.

— Reported by Marc Berman of the New York Post (Blog)

Clippers claim Chauncey Billups off waivers

The Los Angeles Clippers today claimed five-time NBA All-Star point guard Chauncey Billups off of waivers. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not announced. Billups, 35, was waived by the New York Knicks on Dec. 10.

Billups averaged 16.8 points, 5.4 assists and 2.6 rebounds in 32.1 minutes in 72 games with Denver and New York last season. Billups was traded to the Knicks on Feb. 22.

The 14-year veteran point guard was an NBA All-Star in 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010 and named to the All-NBA Second Team in 2005-06 and the All-NBA Third Team in 2006-07 and 2008-09. Billups helped lead the Detroit Pistons to the 2003-04 NBA Championship and was selected the 2004 NBA Finals MVP for his stellar play in the series.

Originally drafted by the Boston Celtics with the third overall pick of the 1997 NBA Draft after a standout career at the University of Colorado, Billups has appeared in 982 career NBA games for Boston, Toronto, Denver, Minnesota, Detroit and the Knicks, averaging 15.5 points, 5.6 assists and 2.9 rebounds per game.

The 6-foot-3, 210 pound Colorado native was also a member of the gold medal winning USA Team at the 2010 FIBA World Championship and the 2007 FIBA Americas Championship.

Nets owner Mikhail Prokhorov to run for Russian presidency

Mikhail Prokhorov, one of Russia’s richest tycoons and the owner of the New Jersey Nets basketball team, said Monday he will run against Prime Minister Vladimir Putin in the March presidential election.

Prokhorov has been cautious not to cross Putin’s path in the past, but the billionaire may pose a serious challenge to Putin, whose authority has been dented by alleged widespread fraud during Russia’s Dec. 4 parliamentary election.

Putin’s party only won about 50 percent of that vote, compared to 64 percent four years ago, and the fraud allegations have allowed opposition parties to successfully mount massive anti-Putin protests in Russia.

On Sunday, President Dmitry Medvedev promised on his Facebook page that the alleged vote fraud will be investigated. But Putin’s spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, predicted Monday the probe will show that little vote fraud occurred and that it had no effect on the outcome of the ballot.

— Reported by the Associated Press