Utah Jazz Blog – Page 66 – NBA Blog

Jazz re-sign Kyrylo Fesenko

Utah Jazz general manager Kevin O’Connor announced today that the team has re-signed restricted free-agent center Kyrylo Fesenko. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not released.

A three-year NBA veteran, Fesenko (7-1, 300, Ukraine) appeared in 49 games (5 starts) for the Jazz in 2009-10, averaging 2.6 points and 1.8 rebounds in 8.3 minutes. He also appeared in all 10 Jazz playoff games (nine starts), averaging 3.3 points, 3.9 rebounds and 0.50 blocks in 18.0 minutes. Fesenko scored in double figures three times on the season, and grabbed a career-high 12 rebounds in Game 4 of the Conference Semifinals vs. the L.A. Lakers. Originally selected by Philadelphia in the second round (38th overall selection) of the 2007 NBA Draft, the Jazz acquired Fesenko’s rights in a draft-night deal that sent the draft rights to Herbert Hill (55th overall pick) to the 76ers. Fesenko has appeared in a total of 79 regular season games (all with the Jazz) and owns career averages of 2.4 points and 1.8 rebounds in 8.0 minutes per game.

Utah Jazz center Kyrylo Fesenko dunks for two points over Los Angeles Lakers center Andrew Bynum in the third quarter during Game 3 of their NBA Western Conference semi-final playoff series in Salt Lake City, Utah, May 8, 2010. REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson (UNITED STATES - Tags: SPORT BASKETBALL)

Utah Jazz sign Earl Watson

Utah Jazz general manager Kevin O’Connor announced today that the team has signed free-agent guard Earl Watson. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not released.

Watson (6-1, 185, UCLA) owns career averages of 7.4 points, 2.3 rebounds and 4.7 assists over nine NBA seasons with Memphis, Denver, Seattle/Oklahoma City and Indiana. Watson has also appeared in eight postseason contests, all with Memphis in 2004 and 2005.

UCLA’s all-time leader in steals and minutes played, Watson’s best statistical NBA season came in 2007-08 with Seattle, when he appeared in 78 games (73 starts) for the SuperSonics, averaging 10.7 points, 2.9 rebounds and 6.8 assists in 29.1 minutes. Last season with Indiana, Watson saw action in 79 games (52 starts), averaging 7.8 points, 3.0 rebounds and 5.1 assists in in 29.4 minutes.

March 14, 2010 Milwaukee, WI. Bradley Center..Indiana Pacers Earl Watson brings the ball up the court, Watson had 15 points and 5 rebounds against the Bucks today..Milwaukee Buck won over the Indiana Pacers 98-94. Mike McGinnis/CSM.

Utah Jazz sign Francisco Elson

Utah Jazz general manager Kevin O’Connor announced today that the team has signed free-agent center Francisco Elson. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not released.

Elson (7-0, 240, California) owns career averages of 3.9 points and 3.8 rebounds over seven NBA seasons with Denver, San Antonio, Seattle, Milwaukee and Philadelphia. Elson has also appeared in 30 playoff games (10 starts), averaging 2.9 points and 2.8 rebounds. Elson’s best statistical season came in 2006-07 with San Antonio, when he appeared in 70 games (41 starts), averaging 5.0 points and 4.8 rebounds in 19.0 minutes.

Full 2010 preseason schedule

The NBA today released its 2010 preseason schedule, which is highlighted by a comprehensive international slate of games that includes seven contests in China, Europe and Mexico. The preseason slate tips off on Oct. 3, when the New York Knicks visit Armani Jeans Milano – the former team of Knicks forward Danillo Gallinari and head coach Mike D’Antoni – in Milan, Italy, and the New Jersey Nets host Maccabi Haifa.

As is the case these days, the action starts overseas, with a few NBA squads heading to Europe.

I’ve always had mixed feelings about teams playing preseason ball overseas. Because generally it’s just a warmup. I think if NBA fans overseas are going to get a rare taste of live NBA action, it should be the best basketball possible, and we usually don’t see that before the regular season begins.

See the complete 2010-11 NBA preseason schedule.

2010-11 Utah Jazz preseason schedule

The Utah Jazz announced today that the team will play an eight-game preseason schedule which, for the first time ever, will feature three home games at EnergySolutions Arena.

Jazz fans will get their first chance to see new additions Al Jefferson, Raja Bell and first-round pick Gordon Hayward when the team opens the preseason schedule at home, hosting the Northwest-Division-rival Portland Trail Blazers on Thursday, October 7 at 7 p.m. MT. Utah will then play back-to-back road games, facing the Blazers at Memorial Coliseum (10/11), Portland’s home arena from 1970-1995, and at the Phoenix Suns (10/12).

The Jazz return home vs. Phoenix (10/14) before heading to Los Angeles to compete for the second straight year in the four-team L.A. Shoot-Out at STAPLES Center, where the Jazz will play the L.A. Clippers (10/16) and either the L.A. Lakers or Denver Nuggets (10/17) in a winners vs. winners, losers vs. losers bracket format. The Jazz will then face the Lakers at Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif. (10/19), before wrapping up the preseason schedule by hosting the Sacramento Kings (10/22).

This year’s schedule marks the first time ever the Jazz has hosted three preseason games in Salt Lake City, and will be the first time since 2001 that the team plays three preseason games in the state of Utah.

All eight 2010 Jazz preseason games will be broadcast live by radio voice David Locke on 1320AM KFAN and the Jazz Radio Network.

Karl Malone surprise Hall of Fame presenter pick is Willis Reed

Jody Genessy of the Deseret News reports:

You can bet John Stockton and Jerry Sloan will be at the Hall of Fame enshrinement ceremony next month when Karl Malone and the original Dream Team are among the inductees.

Surprisingly, though, neither of them will be presenting The Mailman on his big night.

Per Malone’s request, that honor has been bestowed upon a fellow Louisiana legend.

“Willis Reed is presenting me at the Hall of Fame, which I think is pretty cool,” Malone said Friday night while visiting with Utah media at his auto dealership.

Though many people thought either Stockton or Sloan would be chosen as his presenter — a privilege only current Hall of Famers are allowed to do — Malone went back to his youth to make the selection.

Reed, who’s 21 years older than the 47-year-old birthday boy Malone, grew up in the town of Bernice, La.

Blazers sign Wesley Matthews

The Portland Trail Blazers have signed guard Wesley Matthews, it was announced today by General Manager Rich Cho. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

A restricted free agent, Matthews signed an offer sheet with the Trail Blazers on July 10. The Utah Jazz elected not to exercise its right of first refusal and match the offer.

“Wesley is a great fit for our team both on and off the court,” said Cho. “As only a first-year player last season, he demonstrated a lot of maturity and ability. He’s already one of the best young defenders in the league and offensively he’s an emerging threat. He’s going to add a lot of versatility to our roster.”

Matthews, 23, appeared in all 82 games, including 48 starts, for Utah as a rookie in 2009-10. He averaged 9.4 points (48.3% FG, 38.2% 3-PT, 82.9% FT), 2.3 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 0.78 steals and 24.7 minutes for the Jazz last year.

In his first NBA season, Matthews (6-5, 220) started all 10 of Utah’s 2010 postseason contests, posting averages of 13.2 points, 4.4 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 1.80 steals in 37.1 minutes.

A four-year player from Marquette University, Matthews went undrafted in the 2009 NBA Draft. He totaled collegiate averages of 13.2 points (44.4% FG, 34.1% 3-PT, 79.9% FT), 4.9 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 1.22 steals and 30.2 minutes in 127 games (117 starts) from 2005-09.

Matthews will wear jersey No. 2.

Jazz sign Raja Bell

The Utah Jazz announced today that the team has signed guard Raja Bell to a multi-year free agent contract. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not released.

“Raja has proven to be an excellent three-point shooter over a number of years and is a good defender who brings a toughness on the perimeter,” said Jazz general manager Kevin O’Connor. “He knows Coach Sloan’s system and what he expects of him. Raja had a lot of choices and we’re happy he chose the Jazz.”

Bell (6-5, 215, Florida International) owns career averages of 10.3 points, 2.9 rebounds and 1.7 assists in 604 career games (383 starts) over 10 NBA seasons with Philadelphia, Dallas, Utah, Phoenix, Charlotte and Golden State since entering the league on a 10-day contract in April 2001. Bell has also appeared in 68 career playoff games (40 starts), averaging 8.0 points, 2.6 rebounds and 1.5 assists in 25.9 minutes with Philadelphia, Dallas and Phoenix.

Twice named to the NBA All-Defensive Team (First Team in 2006-07 and Second Team in 2007-08), Bell will enter the 2010-11 season ranked 11th in NBA history in career three-point field goal percentage (.411), minimum 250 made, and is fifth on that list among active players. Bell has shot at least .400 from beyond the arc in each of the last six seasons, hitting 100+ three-pointers in five of the last six campaigns.

In two seasons during his first stint with the Jazz (2003-05), Bell appeared in 145 games (36 starts) and averaged 11.6 points, 3.0 rebounds and 1.4 assists in 26.3 minutes. He currently ranks fifth in Jazz history in three-point accuracy (.387, minimum 50 made).

Bell’s best statistical season came in 2005-06 with Phoenix, when Bell appeared in 79 games (all starts) and registered career-high averages of 14.7 points and 2.6 assists to go with 3.2 rebounds in a career-high 37.4 minutes per game.

In 2009-10, Bell appeared in six games with Charlotte and Golden State before missing the remainder of the season following left wrist surgery. Bell saw action in five games for Charlotte (all starts) before being traded to Golden State on November 16, 2009, playing one game for the Warriors prior to the season-ending surgery. Bell averaged a combined 11.8 points, 3.8 rebounds and 2.2 assists in 30.0 minutes between the two teams.

A native of St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands, Bell was undrafted out of Florida International in 1999 and played in the USBL, CBA and IBL before the Philadelphia 76ers signed him to a 10-day contract on April 6, 2001.

Bulls sign Ronnie Brewer

The Chicago Bulls announced today the team has signed free agent guard Ronnie Brewer. In accordance with team policy, terms of the contract were not announced.

“We’re very happy to add a player of Ronnie’s ability to our team. He brings great versatility on both ends of the floor and will be an excellent addition to our backcourt,” said Chicago Bulls General Manager Gar Forman.

Brewer (6-7, 236), a four-year NBA veteran, comes to the Bulls after spending last season with both the Utah Jazz and Memphis Grizzlies. Drafted out of Arkansas in the first round of the 2006 NBA Draft (14th overall) by the Utah Jazz, Brewer spent three-plus seasons with the Jazz before being dealt to the Grizzlies at last season’s trade deadline.

Last season with the Jazz, Brewer appeared in 53 games (all starts) and averaged 9.5 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 2.8 apg and 1.60 spg in 31.4 mpg. He shot .495 from the field and .633 from the line. He was limited to only five games with the Grizzlies due to a partially torn right hamstring.

A native of Fayetteville, Ark., the 25-year old Brewer has played in a career 271 regular season games (223 starts) and posted averages of 10.3 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 1.8 apg, 1.46 spg, 26.2 mpg, .521 field goal shooting, .234 three-point shooting and .707 from the line. During the 2008-09 campaign, he posted career highs in points per game (13.7) and rebounds per game (3.7), while ranking first in the NBA in steals-per-turnover ratio (1.87) and seventh in field goal percentage (.558). He also ranked in the NBA’s Top 10 in total steals during the 2008-09 and 2007-08 seasons. In his four seasons in the NBA, his teams have advanced to the playoffs three times, where he has appeared in 25 games (17 starts) and averaged 7.7 ppg, 2.7 rpg, 1.4 apg, 20.1 mpg and shot .490 from the field and .685 from the line.

Jazz reach agreement with swingman Raja Bell

Tim Buckley of the Deseret News reports:

The Jazz have reached an agreement with free agent Raja Bell, a veteran swingman who played previously in Utah and last was with the Golden State Warriors.

Details of the agreement, which the Jazz did not confirm, were not immediately known.

Bell is coming off recent wrist surgery that curtailed his 2009-10 season.

The deal is contingent on Bell passing a physical exam.

InsideHoops.com editor says: Good signing for both parties. Old Bell can still provide defense and veteran experience off the bench, plus he can trip opposing players with his cane.