NBA Teams – Page 807 – NBA Blog

Warriors sign Ben Gordon

The Golden State Warriors have signed free agent guard Ben Gordon to a contract.

After establishing himself as a terrific scorer — especially in 4th quarters — in the early part of his NBA career, Gordon has fallen off the basketball map in recent seasons.

Gordon, 32, spent the 2014-15 season with the Orlando Magic, averaging 6.2 points and 1.1 rebounds in 14.1 minutes over 56 games. An 11-year NBA veteran, Gordon holds career averages of 14.9 points, 2.5 rebounds and 2.5 assists in 27.4 minutes over 744 games (269 starts) with the Chicago Bulls (2004-09), Detroit Pistons (2009-12), Charlotte Bobcats (2012-14) and Magic. In 29 career postseason games (all with Chicago), the 6’3” guard has tallied averages of 20.2 points, 3.2 rebounds and 3.2 assists in 37.8 minutes. Originally selected by the Bulls with the third overall pick of the 2004 NBA Draft, Gordon won the NBA Sixth Man of the Year Award as a rookie in 2004-05 and ranks 12th among active players in three-point percentage (.401).

Gordon will wear #7. The Warriors roster currently stands at 20 players.

Suns-Markieff Morris situation prior to start of training camp

The latest on the Suns-Markieff Morris situation

Here’s the Arizona Republic reporting on Phoenix Suns forward Markieff Morris, who wanted to be traded but apparently will do his job and play as expected until that happens:

Despite Eric Bledsoe’s impressive summer commitment, Tyson Chandler’s leadership and defensive addition and Brandon Knight’s stress-free re-signing, any summer shine from the Suns has been clouded by Markieff Morris’ falling-out with the franchise. That disdain could be the dominant display again Monday when Morris is the prominent figure during Suns media day in Phoenix.

Upset that his twin, Marcus, was traded to Detroit in early July without warning and just as their contract extensions began, Markieff did not get his wish to be traded this summer and will participate Monday as he pledged to do if his trade request was ignored.

After returning to Phoenix last week for a court hearing, Morris remained in town but trained at Grand Canyon University rather than with Suns teammates.

Raptors sign Anthony Bennett

The Toronto Raptors announced Monday they have signed free-agent forward Anthony Bennett.

As a former first overall NBA Draft pick, Bennett has been a bust so far in the NBA. He will have to prove his value in the league fairly soon, or else he may wind up having to play overseas in the future.

Bennett, 6-foot-8, 245 pounds, averaged 5.2 points, 3.8 rebounds and 15.7 minutes in 57 games last season with the Minnesota Timberwolves. He scored in double figures on eight occasions, including a stretch of four consecutive games. He recorded a career-best 20 points, with career highs of three steals and 32 minutes, November 21 versus San Antonio.

Bennett has appeared in 109 career NBA games, averaging 4.7 points, 3.4 rebounds and 14.3 minutes. He grabbed a career-high 11 rebounds at Philadelphia as a member of the Cleveland Cavaliers on February 18, 2014.

The native of Toronto was the first Canadian-born player selected with the top pick in the NBA Draft when he went number one overall to Cleveland in 2013. He was dealt August 23, 2014 to Minnesota in a three-team trade.

Bennett was named Mountain West Conference Freshman of the Year following his lone collegiate season at UNLV. He averaged 16.1 points, 8.1 rebounds, 1.2 blocks and 27.1 minutes in 35 games (32 starts). He shot .533 percent from the field, including a team-best .375 mark from the three-point line.

Heat sign John Lucas III and Trey Kelley

The Miami HEAT announced today that they have signed guards John Lucas III and Tre Kelley. We assume these are non-guaranteed deals for training camp.

Lucas, a seven-year NBA veteran, has appeared in 237 career NBA games (eight starts) and averaged 4.8 points, 1.5 assists, 1.0 rebounds and 12.3 minutes while shooting 38.4 percent from the field, 34.5 percent from three-point range and 76.8 percent from the foul line. He split last season between the Fujian Sturgeons of the Chinese Basketball Association and the Detroit Pistons of the NBA. He appeared in 28 games with the Fujian Sturgeons and averaged 26.3 points, 7.0 assists, 4.6 rebounds, 1.25 steals and 43.5 minutes while shooting 46.8 percent from the field, 39 percent from three-point range and 89.5 percent from the foul line. He recorded double-figure assists five times and recorded eleven 30-point games, including a season-high 42 points against Chongqing FD on January 25. He appeared in 21 games with Detroit and averaged 4.7 points and 2.9 assists in 13.0 minutes of action while shooting 40.4 percent from the field, 31 percent from three-point range and a perfect 5-of-5 from the foul line. He dished out a season-high six assists on three separate occasions and scored in double-digits twice. Lucas previously was a member of the HEAT during the 2009 preseason before being waived on Oct. 22, 2009.

Kelley, who previously participated in training camp with the HEAT in 2008, has appeared in 103 NBA Development League games (63 starts) and averaged 14.3 points, 4.8 assists, 2.7 rebounds, 1.02 steals and 31.5 minutes while shooting 45.8 percent from the field, 42.5 percent from three-point range and 81.3 percent from the foul line. Additionally, he has appeared in nine NBA D-League postseason games (all starts) and averaged 16.8 points, 6.8 assists, 2.1 rebounds, 1.00 steals and 37.5 minutes while shooting 42.1 percent from the field and 84.4 percent from the foul line. Kelley split last season between Pertevniyal of the Turkish Basketball League and Sigma Barcellona of the Italian Serie A2 League, appearing in 31 total games (all starts) and averaged 15.9 points, 5.4 assists, 2.3 rebounds, 1.19 steals and 33.0 minutes while shooting 47.5 percent from the field, 41.6 percent from three-point range and 81.3 percent from the foul line.

The HEAT’s roster now stands at 20.

Grizzlies fill training camp roster

The Memphis Grizzlies today announced the team has signed free agents Yakhouba Diawara (ya-KOO-ba dee-a-WA-ra), Ryan Hollins, Michael Holyfield, Lazeric Jones and Daniel Nwaelele (wah-LAY-lay).

Diawara (6-7, 225) comes to Memphis after spending last season with Cimberio Varese in the Italian SerieA league. The 33-year-old spent four seasons in the NBA (2006-10) and holds career averages of 3.5 points and 1.4 rebounds in 14.0 minutes in 187 games (56 starts) with the Denver Nuggets and Miami Heat. Undrafted in the 2005 NBA Draft after finishing his collegiate career at Pepperdine University, he has played six of his 10 professional seasons, including the last five, in Italy and his home country of France. The Paris native is a member of the French National Team and represented France in the 2012 Olympic Games in London.

Hollins (7-0, 230), a nine-year NBA veteran (2006-15), owns career averages of 3.7 points and 2.2 rebounds in 11.8 minutes in 481 games (64 starts) for the Charlotte Bobcats, Dallas Mavericks, Minnesota Timberwolves, Cleveland Cavaliers, Boston Celtics, Los Angeles Clippers and Sacramento Kings. Drafted by Charlotte in the second round (50th overall) of the 2006 NBA Draft, the 30-year-old Pasadena, Calif. native enjoyed a four-year collegiate career at UCLA, leading the Bruins to the 2006 NCAA Championship Game as a senior.

Holyfield (6-11, 270) helped guide Memphis to an undefeated record and the championship at the 2015 Orlando Pro Summer League, averaging 6.4 points and 4.2 rebounds in 14.3 minutes in five games (two starts). Undrafted in the 2015 NBA Draft after a four-year collegiate career at Sam Houston State University, the 22-year-old Albuquerque, N.M. native was named the 2015 Southland Conference Defensive Player of the Year and selected to the 2015 All-Southland Second Team after setting the school’s single-season record for blocks (86) as a senior.

Jones (6-0, 187) joins the Grizzlies after playing last season in Hungary, guiding Szolnoki Olaj to the Hungarian League Championship with averages of 11.4 points, 3.6 rebounds, 4.4 assists and 1.7 steals in 29.1 minutes in 11 games (all starts). Undrafted in the 2012 NBA Draft, the 25-year-old Chicago native has competed in Israel (2012-13) and Greece (2013-14) and participated in the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas for the Sacramento Kings (2012), Chicago Bulls (2014) and New Orleans Pelicans (2015) following his four-year collegiate career at UCLA.

Nwaelele (6-5, 205) comes to Memphis after competing most recently with the Santa Cruz Warriors of the NBA Development League, where he averaged 10.4 points, 3.6 points and 1.7 assists in 26.0 minutes in 76 games (43 starts) over two seasons (2012-14). Undrafted in the 2007 NBA Draft, the 31-year-old also played professionally in Israel during the 2010-11 season. A native of Bothell, Wash., Nwaelele lettered all four years at the United States Air Force Academy, finishing his collegiate career ranked second in program history in three-point field goal percentage (.451). He spent five years in the Air Force, including two overseas deployments to Afghanistan and Saudi Arabia during his years of service.

The Grizzlies roster stands at 20 players entering training camp.

Frank Kaminsky embraces his silly side

Hornets rookie Frank Kaminsky embraces his silly side

Here’s the Charlotte Observer reporting on talented Hornets rookie Frank Kaminsky, who will be worth watching on the court this season, and is an amusing character off of it:

Charlotte Hornets rookie Frank Kaminsky was asked at media day Friday for one thing he’d like people to know about him.

“I’m not weird,” Kaminsky replied. “I might come off weird sometimes.”

Weird? Nah. Perhaps a better word to describe Kaminsky’s personality would be quirky. He has a dry, ironic sense of humor he often shares on his Twitter account (@FSKPart3). Fellow Hornets rookie Aaron Harrison says he appreciates Kaminsky’s silly side almost as much as Kaminsky’s basketball skills.

Kaminsky seemed to enjoy that description when it was relayed to him.

“That’s just how I’ve always been. I like having fun and joking around,” Kaminsky said. “I appreciate it when people enjoy my silliness. It’s so awkward when I make a joke and someone just stale-faces me. I get upset, actually.”

Magic paying big money to Tobias Harris

Magic paying big money to Tobias Harris

Here’s the Orlando Sentinel reporting on a talented young Magic player who now has a lot of pressure on his shoulders to earn his much bigger salary:

Tobias Harris checks in at a svelte 235 pounds, not counting, of course, the extra weight he’s carrying.

It’s quite a load.

He’s put on an additional $64 million.

Harris and the Magic can only hope it doesn’t show this season.

A huge four-year contract has made Tobias the team’s highest-paid player, surpassing Nik Vucevic’s deal.

This is all new for Harris at 23. He says all that money won’t affect him. He says he doesn’t see himself “pressing” to try to justify the count and the amount.

“It doesn’t change me or my game. I don’t play the game just for the paycheck. I play for the love and the love of winning,” Harris told me. “When I signed my deal, the next day I was back in the gym, working just as hard. It’s no time to go out and celebrate crazy. I’m blessed enough to be in this position.

“It drives me. It just shows me if you want another one, you have to work twice as hard.”

Magic hope for big things from Aaron Gordon

Magic hope for big things from Aaron Gordon

Here’s the Orlando Sentinel reporting on a key member of the Magic youth movement:

Almost two and a half months have passed since Gordon underwent surgery July 14 to repair his fractured jaw, and the bone now is almost fully healed. Although he has participated in the first four practices of Orlando Magic training camp, he has been forced to sit out full-contact drills and team scrimmages….

The Magic are counting on Gordon, a combo forward, to play a major role in the year ahead. At 6 feet 9 and 220 pounds, and blessed with smarts, elite jumping ability and superb quickness, Gordon arguably has more potential on the defensive end of the court than anyone else on the roster. Skiles envisions Gordon as someone who can guard opponents at four different positions, even point guards.

The team expects Gordon to be cleared for full contact at some point in mid-October — perhaps before the team’s Oct. 17 exhibition in Rio de Janeiro against the Brazilian team Flamengo. Still, even if Gordon plays against Flamengo, there would be little time left before Orlando’s regular-season opener on Oct. 28. Therein lies the concern.

None of this would be a worry if Gordon, now 20, hadn’t been goofing off after the Orlando Pro Summer League with his 25-year-old brother, Drew, who played a bit last season for the Philadelphia 76ers.

Warriors championship core returns

Warriors championship core returns

Here’s the San Francisco Chronicle with a mention of the Spurs before reviewing Golden State Warriors roster changes this offseason, which were relatively minor:

The Spurs made a lot of offseason noise, adding Aldridge and David West while retaining Kawhi Leonard and Danny Green, and the Warriors stood pretty much pat. They’ll report to the team’s downtown Oakland facility Monday for physicals and media day with 12 of the 15 players from last season’s championship-winning roster.

“Once the season starts, nobody cares about all of the hype and all of the talk,” Kerr said Friday. “You just go out and play. We’re the defending champs. That’s a feather in our cap, and it should give us confidence, but all of the talk means nothing.”

Gone are David Lee, Justin Holiday and Ognjen Kuzmic. Arriving are Jason Thompson, Kevon Looney and a 15th roster spot that could go to any one of five training-camp invitees.

Lee was traded to Boston for Gerald Wallace and Chris Babb, and Wallace later was swapped to Philadelphia for Thompson. He’s expected to take over Lee’s role, splitting backup minutes at center with Festus Ezeli and at forward with Marreese Speights.
Kuzmic, a developmental center, signed to play in Greece, and the Warriors have a new project in Looney.

Sunset-colored Thunder alternate jerseys

The Oklahoma City Thunder today revealed a third alternate uniform for 2015-16. The team will first wear its new sunset-colored alternates on Sunday, Nov. 1, at Chesapeake Energy Arena against the Denver Nuggets.

The new uniform’s bold color pairs with “OKC” in navy block lettering on the front to showcase the team’s hometown pride and reflect the saturated, blended colors of the Oklahoma skies at sunset.

On the back of the jersey, player names sit below the numbers. The shorts display a sunset base with navy panels down the side showcasing the Thunder logo on each leg.

“This new uniform not only features another of our primary team colors, it also reinforces the strong connection our team has to our hometown and home state,” said Brian Byrnes, Thunder senior vice president of Sales and Marketing. “The ‘OKC’ on the front of the jersey echoes the chant that rings through Chesapeake Energy Arena during Thunder home games. This sunset-colored uniform adds a fresh perspective on the identity our team has built over the past seven seasons.”

The Thunder will wear the sunset alternates for 18 games this season, including all 13 of its Sunday matchups. This marks the fifth Thunder uniform in regular rotation. The home white and road Thunder blue uniforms will remain the team’s primary options, while fans will also see the team in the navy alternates and the sleeved white uniform for select games.