NBA Teams – Page 999 – NBA Blog

Spurs sign first round draft pick Kyle Anderson

The San Antonio Spurs today announced that they have signed Kyle Anderson.

The Spurs selected Anderson with the 30th overall pick in the first round of the 2014 NBA Draft.

All first round draft picks are guaranteed to receive a contract if they want to come to the NBA right away, so this signing is standard and was expected.

Anderson, 6-9/230, recently completed his sophomore season out of UCLA. In 36 games he averaged 14.6 points, 8.8 rebounds, 6.5 assists and 1.78 steals in 33.2 minutes while shooting .480 (153-319) from the field and .483 (28-58) from three-point range. The forward became the first player in Pac-12 conference history to record 200 rebounds and 200 assists in the same season and the first player at UCLA since 1973-74 to average 10-plus points, 5-plus rebounds and 5-plus assists (Bill Walton). Following his sophomore campaign, he was voted to the All-Pac 12 First Team and was a Third Team AP All-America selection.

Over the course of his career he appeared in 71 games, averaging 12.2 points, 8.7 rebounds, 5.0 assists and 1.77 steals in 31.6 minutes. Anderson helped lead UCLA to the Pac-12 regular season title in 2013 and to the Pac-12 Tournament title in 2014 where he was named the Most Outstanding Player.

Anderson is currently on the Spurs Las Vegas Summer League roster and finished with 6 points, 6 assists and 4 rebounds in 26 minutes in his first game.

Memphis Grizzlies sign Vince Carter

The Memphis Grizzlies signed free agent Vince Carter to a multi-year contract, the team announced today. According to multiple reports, the deal is likely for three years, $12 million total.

Carter (6-6, 220) comes to Memphis with career averages of 20.2 points, 4.9 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 34.2 minutes in 1,148 games (950 starts) over 16 seasons with the Toronto Raptors, New Jersey Nets, Orlando Magic, Phoenix Suns and Dallas Mavericks. He owns career shooting percentages of .442 from the field, .378 from three-point range and .799 from the free throw line.

Among all-time NBA leaders, Carter ranks seventh in three-point field goals made (1,809), eighth in three-point field goals attempted (4,788), 20th in field goals attempted (19,045), 25th in points (23,190), 31st in minutes played (39,240), 46th in games played (1,148), 47th in free throws made (4,551), 49th in points per game (20.2) and 49th in free throw attempts (5,694).

An eight-time All-Star (2000-07), Carter was voted as a starter in seven seasons and was the league’s leading vote-getter four times. He was named to the 2000-01 All-NBA Second Team and the 2001-02 All-NBA Third Team and averaged at least 20 points per game for 10 consecutive seasons (1999-09). Carter also helped Team USA’s men’s national team capture the gold medal at the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia.

Last season, Carter averaged 11.9 points, 3.5 rebounds and 2.6 assists in 24.4 minutes in 81 games (zero starts) for Dallas while shooting .407 from the field, .394 from three-point range and .821 from the free throw line. The 37-year-old led the league in three-pointers off the bench (146). Over the course of the season, he advanced from 11th place to 7th place on the NBA’s all-time three-point field goals made list, surpassing (in order) Steve Nash, Dale Ellis, Peja Stojakovic and Rashard Lewis. Carter also became the 27th player in NBA history to score 23,000 career points on March 16, 2014 at Oklahoma City and passed Adrian Dantley for 25th on the NBA’s all-time scoring list on April 12, 2014 vs. Phoenix.

Carter holds career postseason averages of 21.3 points, 5.9 rebounds and 4.0 assists in 38.1 minutes in 67 playoff games (56 starts) with Toronto, New Jersey, Orlando and Dallas. During the 2014 NBA Playoffs, Carter recorded 12.6 points, 3.6 rebounds and 2.4 assists in 27.1 minutes in helping eighth-seeded Dallas take the eventual champion San Antonio Spurs to seven games in the opening round. In Game 3 of that series, he connected on a buzzer-beating three-pointer from the corner to give the Mavericks a 109-108 victory at American Airlines Center.

Drafted by the Golden State Warriors in the first round (5th overall) of the 1998 NBA Draft after a three-year collegiate career at the University of North Carolina, Carter was named the 1998-99 NBA Rookie of the Year with Toronto. One of the most exciting and innovative dunkers in NBA history, Carter memorably won the Slam Dunk Contest at All-Star Weekend in 2000.

Spurs re-sign Patty Mills

The 2013-14 NBA champion San Antonio Spurs today announced that they have re-signed guard Patty Mills.

Last season Mills appeared in a team-high 81 games and averaged 10.2 points, 2.1 rebounds and 1.8 assists in a career-high 18.9 minutes while shooting .464 (309-666) from the field and .425 (135-318) from beyond the arc. He ranked seventh in the league in three-point percentage and connected on a team-high 135 three-pointers for the season. In the 2014 Finals Mills averaged 10.2 points while shooting .543 (19-35) from the field and .565 (13-23) from beyond the arc.

Mills was part of San Antonio’s bench in 2013-14 that averaged an NBA-best 45.1 points per game, marking the Silver and Black’s highest bench average in franchise history. The guard scored in double-figures 37 times and had eight games where he scored 20 points-or-more.

A product out of St. Mary’s, Mills recently completed his fifth NBA season and his third with the Spurs. Mills, who initially signed with San Antonio on March 27, 2012, was originally drafted by the Portland Trail Blazers with the 55th overall pick in the 2009 NBA Draft.

Isaiah Thomas headed to Suns in sign-and-trade deal

Here’s ESPN.com reporting that a pretty talented guard is finding a new home:

The Sacramento Kings will send restricted free agent Isaiah Thomas to the Phoenix Suns in a sign-and-trade deal after reaching a new four-year, $28 million contract, sources confirmed to ESPN.com’s Brian Windhorst.

In return, the Kings will acquire a $7 million trade exception and the rights to forward Alex Oriakhi, the 57th overall pick in 2013.

Yahoo! Sports first reported the deal.

Thomas averaged 20.3 points and 6.3 assists per game last season, both career-highs.

Cavs season tickets selling fast

Here’s ESPN.com reporting good news from Cleveland:

Cleveland embraced the return of the “King” as expected, as the Cavaliers had all but sold out of season tickets less than eight hours after LeBron James announced he would come back to accomplish some unfinished business with the team.

A Cavaliers source confirmed to ESPN.com that the team capped season-ticket sales at slightly more than 12,000 tickets Friday, leaving roughly 8,000 tickets per game to be used for group sales and ticket plans.

Shortly before 12:30 p.m. ET, when James’ decision was revealed, the Cavaliers’ ticket phone lines were so jammed that the team began rerouting lines in the office to be used for ticket sales. The Cavaliers sell season tickets only over the phone.

Chris Bosh will reportedly re-sign with Heat

Bosh is staying in Miami, agreeing Friday to a five-year contract that will be worth about $118 million, said two people familiar with the deal. They spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because neither side had confirmed it publicly.

Keeping Bosh addresses one of the Miami’s top priorities after getting the news earlier in the day that James was leaving the Heat and returning to the Cleveland Cavaliers.

There’s still plenty of work for Heat President Pat Riley to do, however. But first, he and the team lauded what James meant to them over the last four seasons.

— Associated Press

Pat Riley statement on LeBron James decision to leave the Heat

The following statement was released today by Pat Riley of the Heat, on the decision by LeBron James to leave Miami and once again become a member of the Cleveland Cavaliers:

“While I am disappointed by LeBron’s decision to leave Miami, no one can fault another person for wanting to return home. The last four years have been an incredible run for South Florida, HEAT fans, our organization and for all of the players who were a part of it. LeBron is a fantastic leader, athlete, teammate and person, and we are all sorry to see him go.”

“Over the last 19 years, since Micky and I teamed together, The Miami HEAT has always been a championship organization; we’ve won multiple championships and competed for many others. Micky, Erik and I remain committed to doing whatever it takes to win and compete for championships for many years to come. We’ve proven that we can do it and we’ll do it again.”

LeBron James decision: Back to Cavs

This time, when the phone rang, Dan Gilbert was the one celebrating.

Moments before LeBron James’ essay announced his homecoming to the Cleveland Cavaliers, his agent phoned Gilbert to congratulate the once-scorned owner.

In a 26-word statement posted via Twitter seconds after James words reached the masses, Gilbert rolled out the welcome mat for the four-time MVP on behalf of the franchise’s fan base.

“Welcome Home @kingjames. I am excited for the fans and people of Cleveland and Ohio. No fans and people deserve a winner more than them.”

Gilbert’s 8-year-old rushed to his side to ask if he could pull his James jersey out of the closet.

— Sports Xchange

Report: Kevin Love interested in Cavs

Here’s ESPN.com reporting on the Cleveland Cavaliers, who LeBron James announced today that he’ll be signing with:

Minnesota Timberwolves forward Kevin Love is “intrigued” by the idea of being traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers and would commit long term to the team, a source close to the situation told ESPN.com’s Marc Stein.

The Cavaliers have opened talks by offering guard Dion Waiters, forward Anthony Bennett and a first-round pick to the Timberwolves in exchange for Love, sources told ESPN The Magazine’s Chris Broussard.

Love said during a June 11 appearance on ESPN’s “SportsNation “that it “burns me and hurts my heart” that he hasn’t made the playoffs in six seasons in the NBA.

Pacers sign C.J. Miles and Damjan Rudez, re-sign Lavoy Allen

The Indiana Pacers announced Friday they have signed free agents C.J. Miles and Damjan Rudez and re-signed free agent Lavoy Allen.

Allen, a 6-9 225 lb. forward out of Temple, re-signs with the Pacers after being initially acquired via trade on Feb. 20, 2014. He was the 20th pick in the Second Round (50th overall) in the 2011 NBA Draft, by the Philadelphia 76ers. He played two and a half seasons with the 76ers before being traded to the Pacers. Allen has career averages of 5.0 points and 4.7 rebounds per game; and in 14 games with the Pacers he averaged 2.9 points and 2.4 rebounds per game.

“We’re very happy to have Lavoy back,” said Pacers President of Basketball Operations Larry Bird. “When he had the opportunity to play, he played well. He fits in with what we’re trying to accomplish here and every day he’s committed to getting better.”

Miles, a 6-6, 210 lb. guard/forward, enters his 10th season in the NBA. Miles played the last two seasons with the Cleveland Cavaliers where he averaged 10.6 points and 2.4 rebounds per game. C.J. was drafted by the Utah Jazz with the 34th overall pick in the 2005 NBA Draft and spent the 2005-12 seasons with the Jazz. While with the Jazz, he spent time with both the Idaho Stampede and Albuquerque Thunderbirds of the NBA D-League. He has career averages of 8.4 points and 2.2 rebounds per game.

“We’re very glad to have C.J. and he really wanted to be here,” said Bird. “He brings versatility to the small forward and shooting guard positions. He’s a great shooter and scorer. We think he’ll fit nicely with the culture of our team.”

Rudez is a 6-10, 200 lb. forward out of Croatia. Most recently, he has played the last two seasons with CAI Zaragoza in Spain in the Liga ACB. Prior to that he played with Cibona Zagreb in Croatia, Cedevita Zagreb in Croatia, Union Olimpija in Slovenia, KK Split in Croatia, BC Oostende in Belgium and KK Zrinjevac in Croatia. He is currently a member of the Croatian National Team.

“Damjan is one of the best shooters in Europe,” said Bird. “With his size and knowledge, he can play two positions for us. He has experience, maturity and really knows how to play. He had a number of options, he chose us and we’re thrilled he did. We look forward to having him in a Pacer uniform.”