New York Knicks Blog – Page 108 – NBA Blog

Raptors sign guard Anthony Carter

The Toronto Raptors announced Monday they have signed free-agent guard Anthony Carter. Per team policy, financial details were not disclosed. InsideHoops.com assumes but has not confirmed that it’s a short deal, for the league minimum.

Carter, a veteran of 12 NBA campaigns, split last season between Denver and New York. He has averaged 4.9 points, 3.9 assists and 20.0 minutes in 599 regular season games. He has started 181 contests, recording averages of 5.6 points, 7.3 assists and 27.6 minutes. He has averaged better than 15 minutes per game in nine of his 12 seasons.

In 39 playoff outings, Carter has averaged 4.5 points, 3.2 assists and 18.0 minutes. He contributed 7.7 points, 4.0 rebounds and 5.6 assists in 27.5 minutes in 10 postseason contests with Miami in 2000.

The 6-foot-2, 195 pounder posted his best career statistical regular season in the 2007-08 campaign as a member of the Nuggets. He averaged 7.8 points, 5.5 assists and 22.9 minutes in 70 games, with a career-best 67 starts.

Carter has posted career highs of 21 points (last: vs. Orlando, 1/11/08) and 15 assists (last: vs. Philadelphia, 1/6/08). He has appeared with Miami, Sacramento, Denver and New York in his NBA career.

Carter attended the University of Hawaii for his junior and senior seasons, where he averaged 18.4 points, 7.0 assists and 4.5 rebounds.

Knicks sign guard Mike Bibby

New York Knickerbockers Senior Vice President, Basketball Operations and Interim General Manager Glen Grunwald announced today that the team has signed free agent guard Mike Bibby. Per team policy, terms of the deal will not be disclosed.

“Mike is a veteran point guard who we know can be successful in our system,” Grunwald said. “He’s an effective player who has a long track record of leading his teams to postseason success.”

Bibby, 6-2, 195-pounds, holds career averages of 15.2 points, 5.7 assists, 1.20 steals and 34.7 minutes in 962 games (946 starts) over 13 NBA seasons with Vancouver, Sacramento, Atlanta, Washington and Miami. The Cherry Hill, NJ-native posted 8.6 points, 3.3 assists and 0.60 steals over 28.6 minutes in 80 games (68 starts) with Atlanta, Washington and Miami last season. He started all 20 postseason games for the Miami Heat, averaging 3.6 points, 1.1 assists and 0.55 steals over 20.8 minutes.

The University of Arizona alum was originally selected after his sophomore season by Vancouver in the first round (second overall) in the 1998 NBA Draft. He appeared in 100 postseason games (100 starts) and averaged 13.0 points, 4.1 assists, 3.1 rebounds and 1.10 steals over 33.6 minutes.

Knicks re-sign forward Jared Jeffries

New York Knickerbockers Senior Vice President, Basketball Operations and Interim General Manager Glen Grunwald announced today that the team has re-signed free agent forward Jared Jeffries. Per team policy, terms of the deal will not disclosed.

Jeffries, 6-11, 235-pounds, posts career averages of 5.1 points, 4.3 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 22.6 minutes in 552 games (331 starts) over nine seasons with Washington, New York and Houston. He originally signed with New York on Aug. 8, 2006, was traded to Houston on Feb. 18, 2010 and then re-signed by the Knicks on Mar. 1, 2011. The Indiana University alum averaged 2.0 points, 3.4 rebounds, 1.0 assists over 19.3 minutes in 24 games (nine starts). He has appeared in 260 games (144 starts) with New York, averaging 4.3 points on .431 shooting, 3.9 rebounds and 1.2 assists over 22.6 minutes.

Three-team trade brings center Tyson Chandler to Knicks

New York Knickerbockers Senior Vice President, Basketball Operations and Interim General Manager Glen Grunwald announced today that the team has acquired center Tyson Chandler via sign-and-trade as part of a three-team trade. Ronny Turiaf, cash considerations and a 2013 second-round draft choice has been sent to the Washington Wizards and Andy Rautins has been sent to Dallas; Dallas sent a 2012 second-round draft choice to Washington and the draft rights to Ahmad Nivins and Giorgos Printezis to New York; Washington sent a conditional future second-round draft choice to Dallas.

“This is an important day for the New York Knicks,” Grunwald said. “Signing a player of Tyson’s caliber, with championship experience, to this roster, is an opportunity we could not pass up. His stellar play last season earned him league-wide recognition and helped lead his team to an NBA Championship.”

Chandler, 7-1, 225-pounds, holds career averages of 8.3 points, 8.8 rebounds, 1.35 blocks and 27.6 minutes in 662 games (465 starts) over 10 NBA seasons with Chicago, New Orleans, Charlotte and Dallas. He played a pivotal role in leading the Mavericks to the franchise’s first ever NBA title last season, averaging 8.0 points, 9.2 rebounds and 0.90 blocks in 21 postseason contests. In 74 regular season games (all starts), he averaged 10.1 points, 9.4 rebounds and 1.08 blocks over 74 games (74 starts) en route to NBA All-Defensive Second Team honors.

“Tyson will be the anchor to our defense,” Head Coach Mike D’Antoni said. “The trio of Amar’e Stoudemire, Carmelo Anthony and Tyson makes one of the most formidable frontlines in the entire league.”

The Hanford, CA-native was originally selected by the Los Angeles Clippers in the first round (second overall) of the 2001 NBA Draft prior to having his draft rights traded to Chicago with Brian Skinner in exchange for Elton Brand. He appeared in 53 postseason games (37 starts) and holds averages of 7.0 points, 8.1 rebounds and 1.10 blocks over 28.7 minutes. He also represented Team USA in both the 2007 and 2010 FIBA World Championships, winning Gold medals with both squads.

Rautins, 6-4, 205-pounds, averaged 1.6 points 4.8 minutes in five games during his rookie campaign. He was selected by New York in the second round (38th overall) of 2010 NBA Draft.

Nivins, 6-9, 242-pounds, was selected by Dallas out of Saint Joseph’s University in the second round (56th overall) of 2009 NBA Draft. He spent the past three seasons playing overseas with Assignia Manresa (Spain) and Dexia Mons-Hainaut (Belgium).

Printezis, 6-7, 202-pounds, was selected by San Antonio in the second round (58th overall) of 2007 NBA Draft. His draft rights were traded to Toronto before he was sent to Dallas in exchange for Alexis Ajinca, a second-round draft pick and cash considerations on Jan. 24, 2011.

“Ronny brings us a tough, inside presence and we’re looking forward to adding his defense and tenacity to our frontline,” said Wizards President Ernie Grunfeld. “This trade brings another solid veteran to our team along with additional assets in the form of draft picks and allows us to maintain our financial flexibility moving forward.”

Turiaf comes to the Wizards with career averages of 5.3 points, 3.8 rebounds and 1.4 blocks while shooting .528 from the floor over 358 games in six seasons with the Lakers, Warriors and Knicks. Originally selected by the Lakers with the 37th overall pick in the 2005 NBA Draft, Turiaf had his best overall statistical season when he averaged 5.9 points, 4.6 rebounds and 2.1 blocks (ranking him fourth in the NBA) for the Warriors in 2008-09. He has finished in the top 30 in the NBA in blocked shots in three of the last four seasons. The 6-10 native of Martinique finished his collegiate career at Gonzaga as the school’s fourth all-time leading scorer and rebounder.

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Knicks waive Chauncey Billups via NBA amnesty clause

New York Knickerbockers Senior Vice President, Basketball Operations and Interim General Manager Glen Grunwald announced today that the team has waived guard Chauncey Billups, designating him as the club’s amnesty player.

Billups, 6-3, 210-pounds, averaged 16.8 points on .427 shooting, 5.4 assists, 2.6 rebounds over 32.1 minutes in 72 games (72 starts) with Denver and New York last season. Acquired by the Knicks on Feb. 22, 2011, Billups he averaged 17.5 points on .403 shooting, 5.5 assists and 3.1 rebounds over 31.6 minutes in New York.

The Knicks liked Billups, but felt they needed to do this for salary cap reasons, as they are going to acquire center Tyson Chandler today.

Heat sign center Eddy Curry

— via the Heat

The Miami Heat announced today that they have signed free agent center Eddy Curry. Per club policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Curry, a nine-year NBA veteran, has appeared in 511 games (410 starts) and averaged 13.3 points, 5.3 rebounds and 25.4 minutes while shooting 54.5 percent from the field and 64.2 percent from the foul line. He last played for the New York Knicks appearing in 222 games (208 starts) and averaged 15.2 points, 5.8 rebounds and 28.5 minutes while shooting 56.3 percent from the field. He is currently New York’s all-time franchise leader in field goal percentage (1,228-of-2,180). Additionally, his 57.6 percent shooting from the field during the 2006-07 campaign stands as the second-best single-season mark in Knickerbockers history.

He has ranked among the NBA’s Top 5 players in field goal percentage four times over his career. He finished first in 2002-03 (.585), second in 2005-06 (.563), fourth in 2006-07 (.576) and fifth in 2004-05 (.538). After leading the NBA in field goal percentage during the 2002-03 season, he became the first Chicago Bull to lead the NBA in a major stat category since Michael Jordan in 1997-98 (scoring, 28.7) and the first Chicago player to pace the league in field goal percentage since Artis Gilmore in 1981-82 (.652).

Curry was originally drafted by the Chicago Bulls in the first round (4th overall) of the 2001 NBA Draft, the youngest draft choice in their franchise’s history.

InsideHoops.com hears that Curry has lost 50-70 pounds and is in good shape right now.

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Wizards sign guard Roger Mason

The Washington Wizards announced today that they have signed free agent guard Roger Mason.

“Roger is a solid veteran presence who can give us quality production and shooting on the court and valuable leadership in the locker room and in the community,” said Wizards President Ernie Grunfeld. “We are obviously very familiar with him from his previous two seasons here and are thrilled to have him return to his hometown.”

Mason has appeared in 372 games over seven NBA seasons in stints with Chicago, Toronto, Washington, San Antonio and New York, compiling career averages of 6.9 points and 1.8 rebounds while shooting .380 from the three-point line. The D.C. native averaged 6.3 points, 1.2 rebounds and 1.2 assists in 142 games for the Wizards during the 2006-07 and 2007-08 seasons. Mason, originally a second round (31st overall) draft selection by the Chicago Bulls in 2002, averaged career highs of 11.8 points, 3.1 rebounds and 2.1 assists while posting a career-high .421 mark from three-point range with the Spurs during the 2008-09 season.

Hornets reportedly turned down Knicks offer of Amar`e Stoudemire for Chris Paul

If you’re Amar’e Stoudemire, it’s great to hear Tyson Chandler is coming to the Knicks to relieve him of the responsibility of guarding centers for much of the time.

The disturbing news is that the team’s once treasured asset was nearly relieved of the New York City limelight he loves basking in. A Hornets’ source disclosed they swiftly rejected a Stoudemire-for-Chris Paul offer.

There was no interest whatsoever, maybe because Stoudemire’s remaining 4-year, $84 million contract is uninsurable.

— Reported by Peter Vecsey of the New York Post

Thunder will attempt to part ways with Nate Robinson

STATEMENT ON BEHALF OF SAM PRESTI REGARDING NATE ROBINSON

“In collaboration with Nate Robinson and his representatives, we have mutually agreed to continue working toward clarifying his future status with the Thunder. Nate is an accomplished player, but with the current composition of our roster, it will be unlikely he will have an opportunity to contribute on a nightly basis. Given the compressed period of time that we have been given to work through the current situation, it has been decided that Nate will not attend training camp while we work with his representatives to resolve the situation. We will not be commenting on this subject further but will provide notification when a resolution is reached.”

Tyson Chandler close to joining Knicks

In the latest twist of his expected departure from the Dallas Mavericks, Tyson Chandler is closing in on a deal with the New York Knicks, according to sources close to the process.

“New York is Tyson’s first choice,” one source told ESPN.com, confirming a Thursday report from CBSSports.com that the Knicks have jumped ahead of the Golden State Warriors in the race to sign Chandler.

“It’s 98 percent sure that Tyson is going to wind up with the Knicks.”

To create sufficient salary-cap space to sign Chandler, New York is expected to shed the contracts of Chauncey Billups and Ronny Turiaf, through either trades or the forthcoming amnesty clause.

Signing Chandler, sources said, could free up the Knicks to offer star forward Amare Stoudemire to the New Orleans Hornets in a trade scenario for Chris Paul, who badly wants to reunite with Chandler after their time together with the Hornets. Sources say that’s one option New York is considering.

— Reported by Marc Stein of ESPN.com

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