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Suns re-sign guard Shannon Brown

The Phoenix Suns’ search for a shooting guard has apparently come to an end, as they’ve reached contract terms with free agent Shannon Brown, who spent the 2011-12 season with the team.

According to Arizona Sports 620’s own John Gambadoro, the contract is for two years.

Brown, 26, played in 59 of 66 games for the Suns last season, averaging a career-high 11.0 points while grabbing 2.7 rebounds. In 19 games as a starter, Brown averaged 15.8 points and 3.7 rebounds per contest, while shooting .406 from three-point range.

The Suns were active in their flirtation with free agent shooting guards before re-signing Brown. On July 3, Phoenix inked restricted free agent Eric Gordon to a four- year, $58 million offer sheet that was ultimately matched by the New Orleans Hornets.

— Reported by Arizona Sports

Center Ryan Hollins agrees to deal with Clippers

Continuing in their push to build a solid team for next season, the Clippers on Thursday reached an agreement with free-agent center Ryan Hollins.

Hollins is expected to sign a one-year contract for the veteran’s minimum of $1.065 million.

He made $2.48 million last season playing for the Cleveland Cavaliers and Boston Celtics, but views coming to the Clippers as a good opportunity despite the pay cut.

“Ryan is happy to be a Clipper,” Hollins’ agent, Todd Ramasar, said. “He’s happy to be back in L.A. and he’s looking forward to helping the Clippers.”

— Reported by Broderick Turner of the Los Angeles Times

Bucks discussing 6-year Bradley Center lease

The BMO Harris Bradley Center board of directors and the Milwaukee Bucks have been discussing a new six-year lease that, if approved by the National Basketball Association, will provide stability for both sides as discussion continues over the possibility of a new, multi-purpose arena.

Details of the lease were not released. Information on an extended lease came from the minutes of the BMO Harris Bradley Center’s March meeting, which were released this week.

If approved by the NBA, a six-year lease would be, by far, the longest lease the two sides have had in years. In general, the Bucks and the BMO Harris Bradley Center have gone year-to-year on leases.

— Reported by Don Walker of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Raymond Felton admits he was out of shape

Since leaving (New York), Felton hasn’t been the same. After finishing the 2011 season with Denver, he was dealt again before last season to Portland, where he slumped to a career-low 11.4 points to go along with 6.5 assists and admitted showing up to camp out of shape.

“I wasn’t at the weight I normally [am],” Felton said. “I am the first one to say, ‘I wasn’t in shape.’ I don’t make no excuses, I don’t blame anyone else.

“I am hearing from everybody, ‘He wasn’t in shape last year.’ I played in the league seven years, about to be eight, came in out of shape one year and that’s all everybody wants to talk about. … I look forward to this year and shutting up everybody’s mouth.”

— Reported by Tim Bontemps of the New York Post

Kings might let Tony Mitchell stick around

Kings coach Keith Smart said as many as four noncontract summer-league players could be considered for invitations to training camp in the fall.

The player who seems most likely to be called back is Tony Mitchell, an athletic small forward who impressed with his athleticism and activity.

“Mitchell kind of separated himself a little bit,” Smart said. “He has the right size as a small forward. Obviously, we have a ton of players at that position that he plays, but nevertheless he’s not a guy you take off your radar because you see the size.

— Reported by the Sacramento Bee

Jeremy Lin excited to join Rockets

Lin, a 23-year-old undrafted point guard out of Harvard, became a Rocket again when the New York Knicks decided not to match Houston’s three-year, $25 million offer.

“It’s been an unbelievable ride,” Lin said. “Just a lot of things I didn’t expect to happen, in terms of just the way last season went. I still have to kind of remind myself that this is all actually happening, sometimes. But it’s a huge blessing. I can’t believe how it all shaped up, and for me to be here right now. I’m definitely excited and thankful.”

Lin said he expected to be re-signed by the Knicks after he electrified the Big Apple last season before he was sidelined by a knee injury. Shortly after the Knicks officially declined to match, Lin was quoted on SI.com as saying, “Honestly, I preferred New York.”

Lin said the question he answered was set in the context of before the start of the free agency period.

— Associated Press

Raymond Felton discusses being a competitor

Raymond Felton says he is a competitor, and better than Jeremy Lin

Raymond Felton plans on making Knicks fans forget all about Linsanity.

Moments after Jeremy Lin was being introduced by the Rockets in Houston, Felton was in Las Vegas talking with the MSG Network during a Knicks Summer League game.

“I am a competitor, I am a point guard just like he is, so do I think I am better? Of course, I am going to say that,” Felton said. “I think I am better than any point guard. That’s the way I am supposed to think. But at the same time it’s nothing personal between me and Jeremy. But people are going to make it about that. I am fine with that.”

Felton, who was traded from the Knicks to the Nuggets in the Carmelo Anthony trade, is expected to be the team’s starting point guard after coming over from Portland in a sign-and-trade. The 28-year-old seemed to be out of the Knicks plans after they acquired Jason Kidd in another sign-and-trade, but Felton said he was always in the mix to return even if the team matched Lin’s offer sheet from the Rockets. Something they ultimately decided not to do.

— Reported by Justin Terranova of the New York Post (Blog)

Kendrick Perkins undergoes wrist surgery

Oklahoma City Thunder center Kendrick Perkins underwent a successful procedure to repair a ligament tear in his left wrist, the team announced today.

Perkins suffered the injury during the 2012 Western Conference Finals. Following a scheduled postseason evaluation, it was determined a procedure was necessary. The nine-year NBA veteran is expected to be ready for the 2012-13 season.

Brooklyn Nets sign Keith Bogans

The Brooklyn Nets have signed guard Keith Bogans, Nets General Manager Billy King announced today.

Bogans, (6-5, 215), appeared in five games, including one start, with the Nets in 2011-12. The nine-year NBA veteran suffered a season-ending ankle injury on February 8, 2012 vs. Detroit.

Prior to joining the Nets, the former Kentucky Wildcat started in all 82 games for the Chicago Bulls in 2010-11, averaging 4.4 points, 1.8 rebounds and 1.2 assists in 17.8 minutes per game. Originally drafted by the Milwaukee Bucks with the 43rd overall pick in the 2003 NBA Draft, Bogans began his career in Orlando, before moving on to Charlotte, Houston, Orlando again, Milwaukee, San Antonio and Chicago. In 591 career NBA games, he holds averages of 6.7 points, 2.9 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game. Bogans has appeared in 34 career playoff games, with averages of 4.7 points and 2.0 rebounds. He started in all 16 postseason contests for Chicago in 2011 while leading the league in postseason three-point shooting, hitting on 42.4% of his shots from behind the arc.

Dallas Mavericks sign O.J. Mayo

The Dallas Mavericks announced today that they have signed free agent guard O.J. Mayo.

Mayo (6-4, 210) was the first round draft pick (third overall) in the 2008 NBA Draft of the Minnesota Timberwolves. Mayo’s draft rights were later involved in a draft day trade that sent him, along with Marko Jaric, Antoine Walker and Greg Buckner, to the Memphis Grizzlies in exchange for Brian Cardinal, Mike Miller, Jason Collins and the draft rights to Kevin Love.

The Huntington, W.Va., native has played in 301 career games (181 starts) with Memphis. He holds career averages of 15.2 points, 3.3 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 1.1 steals and 32.8 minutes per game. Mayo has also proven to be durable playing in 301 of a possible 312 games throughout his four-year career.

Mayo was named NBA All-Rookie First Team in 2009 and runner-up to Derrick Rose for the 2008-09 NBA Rookie of the Year Award after averaging 18.5 points and 3.8 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 38.0 minutes in 82 games (82 starts).

“We are thrilled to make O.J. Mayo a part of the Mavericks family,” President of Basketball Operations Donnie Nelson said. “O.J. is a young, dynamic player with tremendous upside. His ability to play both backcourt positions will give us depth and versatility. We are excited and welcome him to Dallas.”