Category: NBA Teams

NBA teams blog

Jason Collins to join Nets

Here’s ESPN New York reporting that veteran center Jason Collins will soon sign a 10-day contract with the Brooklyn Nets:

Jason Collins to join Nets

Jason Collins will become the first openly gay athlete in North America’s four major professional sports when he signs a 10-day contract with the Brooklyn Nets and plays against the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday evening at Staples Center, sources with knowledge of the situation told ESPN

The Nets moved quickly to make the historic signing of the 35-year-old free agent center to have another big body available against the Lakers. Brooklyn had been contemplating signing Collins for the past week and the need for Collins became greater after the Nets dealt rebounding specialist Reggie Evans to the Sacramento Kings last week.

ESPN.com reported that the Nets quietly auditioned Collins last week in Los Angeles, paving the way from him to rejoin the franchise he spent his first six-plus seasons in the league.

The Nets were in the running to land Glen Davis but Davis opted to sign with the Los Angeles Clippers and informed teams of his decision. Davis is set to officially become an unrestricted free agent Sunday at 5 p.m. ET if, as expected, he is not claimed off waivers by another team.

Glen Davis will likely join Clippers

Here’s ESPN Los Angeles reporting that free agent power forward Glen “Big Baby” Davis will likely soon join the Clippers:

Glen Davis will likely join Clippers

Glen Davis will sign with the Los Angeles Clippers when he clears waivers and becomes a free agent at 5 p.m. ET, sources told ESPN.

Davis, 28, reached a buyout with the Orlando Magic on Friday and was waived. The Brooklyn Nets had also shown interest in Davis, but sources tell ESPN that they have decided to sign Jason Collins, feeling that they are out of the running on Davis.

Davis, averaging 12.1 points and 6.3 rebounds in 45 games this season, was making $6 million this season and was due to make about $6.6 million next season.

Clippers coach Doc Rivers was hoping to sign Davis, who negotiated a buyout with Orlando. Davis played for Rivers with the Boston Celtics from 2007 to 2011, winning a championship in 2008. Davis would be the only player on the Clippers roster to have won an NBA title.

Utah Jazz struggle badly when Derrick Favors is out

Here’s the Salt Lake Tribune highlighting the importance of Derrick Favors to the Utah Jazz this season:

Utah Jazz struggle badly when Derrick Favors is out

Derrick Favors’ injury has changed a few times over the season. It’s been a hip sprain, a sore hip, an inflamed hip and, most recently, a sprained hip.

But one thing has remained constant: the Jazz are winless when he doesn’t play. With Favors missing his seventh game in the Jazz’s last 13 on Saturday, Utah fell to the Minnesota Timberwolves and dropped to 0-9 on the year in games without Favors.

“I think everyone is confident in each other’s abilities but what Derrick brings to the table, this team really misses when he’s not here,” said forward Marvin Williams. “He’s an anchor. He’s a great rebounder. He’s a great one-on-one defender. He’s also a great help-side defender. Derrick has always been there to save the day. But, obviously, when he’s not back there, it’s been difficult.”

Knicks may say goodbye to Metta World Peace, Beno Udrih

Here’s ESPN New York reporting on the Knicks, who may part ways with some players that aren’t essential pieces of their rotation. (Then again, a few players actually in the rotation are also not essential pieces of the rotation, but that’s another story.)

Knicks may say goodbye to Metta World Peace, Beno Udrih

The New York Knicks are in discussions to cut ties with forward Metta World Peace.

World Peace wrote on Twitter that his agent and the Knicks are working on a buyout.

League sources confirmed to ESPN New York that the team is in discussions with World Peace’s representatives to work on a buyout or outright release.

The Knicks, league sources said, are also in talks with Beno Udrih’s representatives to work on a release or buyout for the veteran point guard.

World Peace, a Queens native, signed with the Knicks over the summer. He inked a two-year deal worth approximately $1.6 million per season with a player option in the second year.

Hawks sign Dexter Pittman to 10-day contract

The Atlanta Hawks have signed center Dexter Pittman to a 10-day contract, it was announced today by President of Basketball Operations/General Manager Danny Ferry.

Most recently, Pittman spent time this season with the Austin Toros of the NBA Development League, playing in 17 contests (nine starts), and averaged 9.5 points, 6.0 rebounds and 1.9 blocks in 17.5 minutes (.538 FG%, .717 FT%).

Over three NBA seasons, Pittman has appeared in 48 regular season games (six starts) with Miami and Memphis, averaging 2.4 points and 1.8 rebounds in 7.2 minutes (.454 FG%). He has seen action in three career postseason contests.

He will wear uniform no. 45, and will be available for tonight’s game vs. New York.

Houston Rocket sign Troy Daniels

The Houston Rockets today signed Troy Daniels from the NBA Development League’s Rio Grande Valley Vipers. The signing is the 19th GATORADE Call-Up this season.

In a related move, the Rockets assigned Daniels to the Vipers, the team’s NBA D-League affiliate.

The assignment is the 133rd of the 2013-14 campaign and Daniels is the 49th NBA player to be assigned to his NBA D-League affiliate this season.

Jason Terry out for rest of season for left knee rehab

Jason Terry out for rest of season for left knee rehab

The Sacramento Kings today announced that newly-acquired guard Jason Terry will spend the remainder of this season rehabilitating his left knee, according to Kings General Manager Pete D’Alessandro.

“Our focus remains on reinventing this franchise and building a foundation for future success,” said D’Alessandro. “Affording Jason time to rehab during the balance of this season allows him to return at full strength next year while giving our younger players the minutes and experience needed to help us improve as a team going forward.”

“I want to thank the Kings for their understanding during this process,” said Terry. “Through my interactions with the front office and medical staff, it’s clear that the organization cares about its players and has their best interest at heart. I’m confident that rehab presents the best opportunity to be ready for next season.”

Terry, a 15-year NBA veteran, has accrued career averages of 15.4 points (.446 FG%, .379 3pt%, .846 FT%), 2.6 rebounds, 4.4 assists, 1.31 steals and 32.5 minutes per game in 1136 contests with the Atlanta Hawks (1999-2004), Dallas Mavericks (2004-2012), Boston Celtics (2012-13) and Brooklyn Nets (2013-14).

Cavaliers sign Arinze Onuaku to 10-day contract

The Cleveland Cavaliers have signed forward/center Arinze Onuaku from the Canton Charge, the Cavaliers exclusively owned and operated NBA Development League team, to a 10-day contract, Cavaliers Acting General Manager David Griffin announced today. The signing of Onuaku marks the 20th Call-Up of the NBA’s 2013-14 season.

Onuaku has appeared in 26 games (eight starts) for the Charge this season, averaging 14.4 points on .622 shooting, 9.7 rebounds and 1.0 block in 24.2 minutes per game. He currently ranks second in the D-League in field goal percentage and fifth in rebounds and was selected as a 2014 D-League All-Star. The 6-9, 275-pound forward/center has 11 double-doubles on the NBADL season. He appeared in three games for the New Orleans Pelicans this season, averaging 1.0 points, 2.3 rebounds and 1.0 assist in 8.3 minutes per game.

Warriors sign Hilton Armstrong to 10-day contract

Warriors sign Hilton Armstrong to 10-day contract

The Golden State Warriors have signed free agent center Hilton Armstrong to a 10-day contract as a Call-Up from the Warriors’ NBA Development League affiliate in Santa Cruz, the team announced today.

Armstrong, 29, has appeared in 23 games (all starts) with the Santa Cruz Warriors this season, averaging 12.9 points, 7.6 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.83 blocks (seventh-best in the D-League) in 28.6 minutes while hitting 55.6 percent from the field (ninth). Earlier this season, the 6-11 center received a Call-Up to the Warriors and appeared in seven games between December 11 – December 29, averaging 0.9 points and 2.3 rebounds in 4.0 minutes per contest.

Originally selected by the New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets with the 12th overall pick of the 2006 NBA Draft, Armstrong has played in six NBA seasons with the Hornets (2006-09), Sacramento Kings (2010), Houston Rockets (2010), Washington Wizards (2010-11), Atlanta Hawks (2011) and Warriors, owning career averages of 3.0 points and 2.6 rebounds in 11.7 minutes over 284 games (39 starts). He has also played professionally with ASVEL Lyon-Villeurbanne in France, Panathinaikos in Greece and Changsha Bank Guangdong in China.

A product of the University of Connecticut, Armstrong helped the Huskies win the NCAA Championship as a sophomore in 2004.

He will wear uniform #57.