NBA Teams – Page 1087 – NBA Blog

Larry Bird happy to give Andrew Bynum a shot with Pacers

Here’s the Indianapolis Star reporting on new Indiana Pacers center Andrew Bynum, who is apparently too talented and has too much potential upside for NBA teams to give up on:

Indiana Pacers President Larry Bird disagrees with criticism that controversial 7-1, 285-pound center Andrew Bynum could be a disruption to the team’s culture and locker room.

The Pacers signed the controversial 26-year-old center Saturday. Bynum, who has struggled with knee injuries throughout his career, landed with his fifth team after being traded by the Cleveland Cavaliers then waived by the Chicago Bulls last month.

“We’ve got protection for Roy (Hibbert) and Ian (Mahinmi) and we’ll see how it works out,” Bird said. “I think it’s a great upside for us, we don’t do anything that we don’t think is going to help us and I think this is going to help us.

Spurs sign Shannon Brown to 10-day contract, release Othyus Jeffers

The San Antonio Spurs today announced that they have signed guard Shannon Brown to a 10-day contract. At the same time the Spurs released Othyus Jeffers from his 10-day contract.

Brown, 6-4/210, most recently played for the Phoenix Suns from 2011-13. In two seasons with the Suns he appeared in 118 games, averaging 10.7 points, 2.6 rebounds and 1.5 assists in 23.7 minutes per game.

The seven-year NBA veteran has also played for the L.A. Lakers (2009-11), Charlotte (2008-09), Chicago (2007-08) and Cleveland (2006-08). For his career Brown has appeared in 374 games, averaging 8.1 points, 2.0 rebounds and 1.2 assists in 18.7 minutes. The Illinois native was originally drafted by the Cavaliers with 25th pick in the 2006 NBA Draft.

In addition to his NBA career, Brown has spent time in the NBA Development League with the Iowa Energy (2008), Rio Grande Valley Vipers (2008) and the Albuquerque Thunderbirds (2007).

Collegiately, Brown played three seasons at Michigan State University (2003-06), appearing in 97 career games, averaging 12.2 points, 3.4 rebounds and 1.9 assists in 28.0 minutes.

Brown will wear No.1 for the Spurs

Warriors assign Kent Bazemore and MarShon Brooks to D-League

The Golden State Warriors have assigned guards Kent Bazemore and MarShon Brooks to the Santa Cruz Warriors of the NBA Development League, the team announced today. Both players will make their D-League season debuts tonight when Santa Cruz hosts the Bakersfield Jam.

Bazemore, who appeared in five games with Santa Cruz last season, has posted averages of 2.3 points and 1.0 rebound in 40 games with Golden State this season. Brooks, acquired via trade from Boston on January 15, has scored six points in four games with the Warriors.

Hawks sign Cartier Martin to 10-day contract

The Atlanta Hawks signed forward Cartier Martin to a 10-day contract, it was announced today by President of Basketball Operations/General Manager Danny Ferry. Martin will be active for tonight’s game against Minnesota at Philips Arena.

Martin, a 6-foot-7, 220-pound forward, appeared in 25 games (two starts) with the Hawks earlier this season, averaging 6.6 points and 2.0 rebounds in 17.5 minutes (.405 3FG%, .821 FT%). After being waived on January 7, 2014, Martin signed two 10-day contracts with the Chicago Bulls, where he played in six contests and averaged 2.5 points in 7.9 minutes (.625 FG%, .600 3FG%).

On the season, Martin has played in 31 total games (two starting assignments), putting up 5.8 points and 1.8 rebounds in 15.6 minutes (.416 3FG% – tied for 16th in the NBA, .781 FT%).

He will again wear uniform no. 20.

Pau Gasol out at least one week for Lakers

Lakers forward/center Pau Gasol, who had been dealing with a sore right groin, had an MRI today which revealed a strained right groin. Gasol will be out a minimum of a week and will be re-evaluated next weekend when the team returns from its three-game road trip.

Additionally, Lakers backup center Chris Kaman, who has a sore right knee, also had an MRI. Results of the MRI were negative and he is cleared to play.

Knicks assign Toure Murry to D-League

New York Knicks President and General Manager Steve Mills announced today that the team has assigned guard Toure’ Murry to Erie of the NBA Development League.

Murry, 6-5, 195-pounds, is averaging 2.9 points and 1.2 assists over 8.1 minutes in 28 games for the Knicks this season. He is expected to be in uniform tonight when the BayHawks take on the Springfield Armor at MassMutual Center in Springfield, MA at 7 p.m.

Rockets GM admits that drafting Royce White was a horrible mistake

Here is ESPN.com News Services reporting on the Houston Rockets and failed draft pick Royce White:

Royce White is the NBA draft’s “worst first-round pick ever,” according to the man who picked him.

Houston Rockets general manager Daryl Morey selected White with the 16th overall pick in the 2012 draft, but White has yet to appear in an NBA game.

“I take some sort of pride in that you could argue that Royce White is the worst first-round pick ever,” Morey said in a Q&A discussion with Houston season ticketholders, according to the ClutchFans.net blog.

White, who is 6-foot-8, has struggled with an acknowledged anxiety disorder that would make it a challenge for him to play a full NBA season.

Andrea Bargnani has no idea when he will return for Knicks

Here’s the New York Post reporting on Knicks forward Andrea Bargnani, who is out injured. His team, however, is doing just fine lately, and pounded the Cleveland Cavaliers for their 4th straight win:

Andrea Bargnani, in breaking his silence, showed off his new black elbow brace, admitted his injury was “terrible’’ and said a timetable for his return from rehab is tricky because the ligament is completely torn…

Bargnani spoke for the first time and said he doesn’t want to commit to a return date. An elbow surgeon interviewed by The Post said usually 3-to-6 weeks of therapy will do the trick.

Bargnani said his doctors are talking to him more cautiously but confirmed there’s no plans for surgery.

“I have no idea [on a return date],’’ Bargnani said. “It’s a ligament broke and you see how it heals and how strong the arm gets. You got to make sure it’s 100 percent. I really don’t know the timeline.’’

Derrick Rose says he will not recruit players for the Bulls

Here’s ESPN Chicago reporting on Bulls point guard Derrick Rose, who for whatever reason isn’t interested in urging other good players to join his team:

Derrick Rose says he will not recruit for the Bulls

Chicago Bulls vice president John Paxson said Wednesday he would never ask Derrick Rose to recruit and doesn’t believe the star guard’s reluctance to do so will prevent the team from landing free agents.

“I personally would not have been comfortable doing that as a player. That was me, so I expect and appreciate where Derrick is coming from,” Paxson said on “The Waddle & Silvy Show” on ESPN Chicago 1000.

“I would never tell a player, I don’t think [owner] Jerry Reinsdorf or [general manager] Gar [Forman] would tell a player, ‘Look, you have to do this.’ If a player wants to do it, great. If he doesn’t, that’s his choice.”

Paxson said players being around Rose during offseason workouts offers an indirect way to sell them on the Bulls…

“I don’t recruit. If anyone wants to play with me, I don’t mind playing with, it could be anyone in the NBA, but as far as recruiting, I never did and never will,” Rose told rappler.com, a social news network.

Kevin Durant free agency will be fun

Here’s the New York Daily News reporting on the eventual Kevin Durant free agency. Like every other team in the league, the Brooklyn Nets wouldn’t mind landing him:

On Friday, the Nets will chase Kevin Durant around the Barclays Center court, hoping to contain the NBA’s most dynamic scorer. And some two years from now, they likely will be joining the crucial chase for his signature on a contract.

The impending Durant free agency bonanza should start picking up steam next season and will undoubtedly engulf the NBA in the summer of 2016. And make no mistake: the Nets are targeting Durant, the 25-year-old offensive juggernaut, even if it’s too early to predict their odds.

The Nets could be committed to no salary when Durant becomes a free agent, depending on whether Deron Williams picks up his one-year option for the 2016-17 season. Everybody else is off the books.

Durant, who hired former Nets minority owner Jay Z as his agent last year, plays in one of the NBA’s smallest markets, if not the smallest, with a dedicated fan base and an owner who has been intent on avoiding the luxury tax.