NBA Teams – Page 1214 – NBA Blog

Toronto Raptors want to toughen up

If there is one word Dwane Casey will not have associated with his team this season, it’s the word ‘soft.’

Or any variation of that word.

In Casey’s world, a soft team is a team that is not playing well defensively, and Casey already saw that team last season. He is determined never to see that again.

“We’re adding more players to do that now,” Casey said. “We’re adding Tyler (Hansbrough). We’re going in with a defensive mentality that we did in Year 1 ( two years ago) .

“We have to have people thinking: ‘Ah, man, I don’t want to go play Toronto tonight’ and do it legally without having a lot of fouls, but do it physically in a legal way. I thought we accomplished that in Year 1 and I thought last year we took a step back. Now we have to get back to our core.”

But Psycho-T alone isn’t going to get the job done and Casey is well aware of that.

“Tyler does it, Quincy (Acy) does it, Amir (Johnson) does it, JV (Jonas Valanciunas) is going to be a year better at it,” Casey said of playing tough defence that makes an opponent know you’re there in the most direct terms. “That’s going to be our focus from Day 1, back to a defensive identity. And it’s going to be laid out. If you don’t play defence you are not going to play. You can’t. We can’t win without a defensive mentality.”

Reported by Mike Ganter of the Toronto Sun

Mbah a Moute likes new home with Kings

“I kind of saw from afar a new owner, a new coach, and I saw the moves they were making,” [Luc] Mbah a Moute said. And I was one of the moves that they were making.

“When I found out I was a part of it, I was really excited. I feel like I fit right in. What I bring to the team is something the team needs and values, and I’m looking forward to it.”

Mbah a Moute was acquired for his defense. The Kings were bad in most defensive categories last season and allowed a league-worst 105.1 points per game.

The 6-foot-8, 230-pound Mbah a Moute is expected to play small forward, adding length on the perimeter defensively.

Mbah a Moute, who averaged 6.7 points last season, said he continues to work on his offense and becoming a player who can make the corner three-pointer. He shot 35.1 percent from beyond the arc last season.

Reported by Jason Jones of the Sacramento Bee

Should Knicks add Metta World Peace?

Knicks executive Larry Johnson admittedly is worried, unsure the Knicks have done enough to keep pace with the Eastern Conference stalwarts, specifically the Nets. And he said he believes the addition of Metta World Peace would be a perfect step.

Johnson, who spends his summers in Las Vegas as UNLV’s most famous basketball alum, is with the Knicks summer league team while aiding MSG Network’s coverage.

“I think that’s what we need to do,’’ Johnson told The Post of adding World Peace, who was amnestied by the Lakers. “That would be a great addition for us. This guy is a proven champion. He’s won. Off the floor, he had some problems. He did some things off the floor that wasn’t supposed to be done, but I think he’s got this life in the right place.

“To get him right now would be a great addition to our team as far as strength, outside shooting, perimeter defense instead of [Iman Shumpert] always guarding guys.’’

Reported by Marc Berman of the New York Post

Knicks interested in Samuel Dalembert

The Knicks are interested in one of the best centers still available in free agency, Samuel Dalembert, according to a player source.

On Friday, the first day of the NBA summer league at UNLV’s Cox Pavilion, Knicks GM Glen Grunwald and Dalembert’s agent, Marc Cornstein, were spotted chatting. The Knicks currently have no real backup behind Tyson Chandler, as Marcus Camby, Kurt Thomas and Rasheed Wallace are all gone, and Kenyon Martin and Earl Barron are still free agents.

At this point, however, the Mavericks are the front runners to land Dalembert, who averaged 6.7 points, 5.9 rebounds and 1.1 blocks in 16 minutes per game last season for the Bucks. Sources indicated to ESPNDallas.com that the Mavs are optimistic they will reach an agreement with Dalembert soon.

Reported by Jared Zwerling of ESPN New York

Jeremy Tyler trying to earn spot with Knicks

The Knicks need a banger up front to contend with the Pacers’ Roy Hibbert. The 6-foot-10, 260-pound Jeremy Tyler is trying to prove he’s the guy.

Tyler, who played for the Warriors and Hawks last season, got off to a great start Friday in the Knicks summer league opener against the Pelicans with a 10-point, 11-rebound performance. He started at power forward, played 23 minutes and had five offensive rebounds.

The Knicks may re-sign aging Kenyon Martin but there’s a big chance the younger, taller Tyler will be invited to training camp — maybe even with a partial guarantee. Ironically, he grew up a fan in San Diego.

“The Knicks have always been my favorite team,’’ Tyler said. “I’d love to be part of the organization. People would say, ‘you’re from San Diego. Why aren’t you a Lakers fan?’’’

Reported by Marc Berman of the New York Post

Chase Budinger excited about return to Timberwolves

On Saturday morning, on a conference call from San Diego, still sleepy from just having awakened, Chase Budinger talked about how excited he was to be coming back to the Minnesota Timberwolves this fall.

For a number of reasons.

He likes the additions Wolves president of basketball operations Flip Saunders has made. The trades, the signings, the draft. He likes the fact that, from the start, the Timberwolves made it clear they wanted Budinger back. And, of course, he loves playing for Wolves coach Rick Adelman. Put that all together and Budinger – who signed a three-year, $16 million deal to come back to the team, said he chose opportunity over money to return.

“It really wasn’t that hard a decision for me,” Budinger said. “The only thing, though, is I did have an offer out there that was worth more money. I did give up money to come back to Minnesota. If anyone knows the type of guy I am, I’m a cheap kind of guy. So giving up money is always tough. But I knew, coming back to Minnesota was the best choice, the best opportunity for me. The best place to grow as a player, and for us to win. To make the playoffs. We’re a young team, and we can grow together.”

Reported by Jerry Zgoda of the Minneapolis Star Tribune

Atlanta Hawks match Milwaukee Bucks offer sheet for Jeff Teague

The Atlanta Hawks have matched the offer sheet extended by the Milwaukee Bucks to Jeff Teague, President of Basketball Operations/GM Danny Ferry announced today.

According to multiple reports, the offer sheet was for four years and $32 million.

“We are happy to bring Jeff back to our team. He has improved each year of his career and continues to get better,” Ferry said. “At 25, he’s already been a key contributor on a playoff team and we look forward to seeing him develop into even more of a leader on our team.”

Teague increased his scoring and assist averages for the third consecutive year, posting career highs with 14.6 points and 7.2 assists in 32.9 minutes per game in 80 games (78 starts) during the 2012-13 season. His 7.2 assists per game ranked 12th in the NBA last season and he shot .881 from the free throw line, the eighth-highest percentage in the league. He is one of just 10 players in the NBA to increase their scoring average in each of the past three seasons.

The four-year veteran from Wake Forest posted 10 games with at least 20 points and 10 assists, tied for the fourth-most in the league last season with Stephen Curry (Golden State) and behind only LeBron James (Miami, 13), Tony Parker (San Antonio, 12), Chris Paul (LA Clippers, 11) and Deron Williams (Brooklyn, 11) . The Hawks posted an 8-2 record in those games.

“I am very excited to have the opportunity to coach Jeff. He has a high level of talent. Keeping him with our group allows us to continue to build and improve going forward,” Head Coach Mike Budenholzer said.

The 19th overall pick in the 2009 NBA Draft by the Hawks, Teague has career averages of 9.0 points on .451 shooting and 4.0 assists in 22.6 minutes per game in 287 games (154 starts). He has also played in 29 postseason games (18 starts) and has averages of 9.4 points on .409 shooting and 3.0 assists in 25.3 minutes per game.

San Antonio Spurs re-sign Tiago Splitter

The San Antonio Spurs today announced they have re-signed Tiago Splitter.

Last season, he posted career-bests, appearing in 81 games and averaging 10.3 points, 6.4 rebounds and 1.6 assists in 24.7 minutes, while shooting .560 (315-563) from the field and .730 (208-285) from the free throw line.

Splitter was selected by the Spurs with the 28th overall pick in the 2007 NBA Draft and was signed by the team on July 12, 2010. In 200 career games with the Silver and Black, Splitter has averaged 8.3 points, 5.1 rebounds and 1.1 assists in 19.3 minutes. He has appeared in 19 games in the playoffs, averaging 6.1 points and 3.1 rebounds in 17.3 minutes.

“Tiago is a great fit in our system and we are delighted that he has elected to sign a long-term contract to remain with the Spurs,” said Spurs general manager R.C. Buford. “Thanks to his work ethic and basketball IQ we have seen him improve each season in San Antonio. He was a key reason for our success during the 2012-13 season and we look forward to his future contributions.”

Prior to joining the Spurs, the 6-11, 235-pound center played for Caja Laboral Vitoria in the ACB League from 2003-10. Splitter helped lead Caja Laboral to four Spanish League regular season titles (2003-04, 2004-05, 2006-07 and 2008-09) and two Spanish League championships (2007-08 and 2009-10). In seven Spanish League seasons with the team, Splitter averaged 11.2 points and 5.1 rebounds in 233 games while shooting .616 (969-1,573) from the floor.

During the 2009-10 ACB season Splitter was named the Spanish League regular season MVP and the Spanish League Finals MVP. He earned All-Euroleague honors three straight seasons from 2007-10, including First Team in 2008 and Second Team in both the 2009 and 2010 seasons.

Originally signed by Caja Laboral in April of 2000 at the age of 15, Splitter played on loan with Araba Gorago Alava in 2000-01, Basket Bilbao Berri in 2001-02 and 2002-03 before joining Caja Laboral for the 2003-04 season.

Born and raised in Brazil, Splitter has played for the Brazilian National Team since 2002. In international play, Splitter helped lead Brazil to gold medals at the 2003 South American Championship, the 2003 Pan American Games, the 2005 Americas Championship and the 2009 Americas Championship. Splitter also represented Brazil at the 2012 Olympics in London.

Milwaukee Bucks sign guard O.J. Mayo

The Milwaukee Bucks have signed free-agent guard O.J. Mayo (6-4, 210), General Manager John Hammond announced today. According to the Associated Press, the Bucks agreed to terms on a three-year, $24 million contract with Mayo last week.

With Bucks guard Brandon Jennings exploring free agency and Monta Ellis agreeing to sign with the Dallas Mavericks, a guard like Mayo was a much-needed addition for Milwaukee.

Mayo, 25, spent the 2012-13 season with the Dallas Mavericks, where he averaged 15.3 points, 3.5 rebounds, 4.4 assists and 1.1 steals in 35.5 minutes per game. He finished the season shooting 44.9 percent from the field and a career-best 40.7 percent from beyond the arc (26th in the NBA). Mayo scored in double figures on 63 occasions last season, including a career-high-tying 40 points in a win at Houston on Dec. 8.

Originally selected by the Minnesota Timberwolves with the third overall pick in the 2008 NBA Draft, Mayo was dealt to Memphis on draft night and played his first four seasons with the Grizzlies before signing with Dallas as a free agent prior to the 2012-13 campaign. The USC product has appeared in 383 games in his five-year career, averaging 15.2 points, 3.4 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 1.1 steals per contest. Mayo’s 383 games played are the fifth-most in the league since the start of the 2008-09 season, and he’s avoided missing a single game in four of his five seasons thus far.

Rockets trade Royce White to 76ers

Houston Rockets General Manager Daryl Morey announced today that the team has traded forward Royce White, the draft rights to Turkish forward Furkan Aldemir (four-KAHN ahl-DEE-meer) and cash considerations to the Philadelphia 76ers for future draft considerations.

White (6-8, 260, Iowa State) was selected by Houston with the 16th overall pick in the 2012 NBA Draft. While not seeing action with the Rockets in 2012-13, White averaged 11.4 points, 5.7 rebounds and 3.3 assists in 16 games (eight starts) with the D-League Rio Grande Valley Vipers.

So far, the start of White’s NBA career has revolved more around his anxiety problem and his difficulty with flying in airplanes and other issues than his actual ability to play basketball. Due to his disorder, his future in the league remains unclear at this time.

Aldemir (6-10, 230, Turkey), who was originally selected by the L.A. Clippers in the second round (53rd overall) in the 2012 NBA Draft, had his draft rights acquired by Houston as part of a four-team trade on June 29, 2012.