Celtics re-sign Brandon Bass

Celtics re-sign Brandon Bass

The Boston Celtics announced today that they have re-signed forward Brandon Bass.

“Bringing Brandon back to the team was a top priority of ours after the season had ended,” said Danny Ainge, Celtics President of Basketball Operations. “Brandon has improved as a player every year that he has been in the NBA and we believe that the best is yet to come from him.”

Bass, a 6’9” forward, averaged a career-high 12.5 points and 6.2 rebounds per game during the 2011-12 season for the Celtics.  The native of Baton Rouge, Louisiana started 39 of his 59 games this past season and recorded averages of 12.9 points, 6.2 rebounds and 1.1 blocks in those 39 games. Bass tied a career-high with 13 rebounds against New Jersey on January 4 and also set a postseason career-high in points with 27 against Philadelphia during Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals.  In his career, Bass has averaged 8.4 points, 4.4 rebounds and has shot 49.3% from the field and 82.4% from the free throw line with stops in New Orleans, Dallas and Orlando before joining Boston prior to the start of the 2011-12 season.

Pistons sign center Viacheslav Kravtsov

The Detroit Pistons announced today that the club has signed free agent center Viacheslav Kravtsov to a multi-year contract.

“We are pleased to add Viacheslav Kravtsov to our roster and welcome him to the organization,” said Joe Dumars, Pistons President of Basketball Operations. “He’s a young player with good size, rebounding and shot-blocking ability.   He will provide us with some quality depth at the center position.”

Kravtsov, 24, has been a member of the Ukrainian national team since 2006.  The 6-foot-11, 254-pound center was named Ukrainian Superleague Domestic Player of the Year the past two seasons, averaging 10.6 points, 5.5 rebounds and 1.6 blocks in Superleague play a year ago.  He also averaged 8.2 points, 3.9 rebounds and 1.7 blocks in EuroCup play for BC Donetsk, his team the past two seasons after having played for BK Kyiv previously.

Trail Blazers sign second round pick Will Barton

The Portland Trail Blazers have signed rookie forward Will Barton, it was announced today by General Manager Neil Olshey.

The Trail Blazers used the 40th overall pick in the second round of the 2012 NBA Draft to select Barton, 21, the reigning Conference USA Player of the Year. In two years at Memphis, Barton averaged 15.2 points, 6.5 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 1.49 steals for the Tigers. He led the conference in scoring last season with 18.0 points per game.

Hornets match Suns offer, re-sign Eric Gordon

Hornets match Suns offer, re-sign Eric Gordon

The New Orleans Hornets announced today that they have matched the Phoenix Suns’ offer to restricted free agent Eric Gordon. According to multiple reports, the deal is for four years, $58 million.

“We are pleased to announce that we have matched the offer sheet for Eric Gordon. Eric is a phenomenal player that we are thrilled to have in our organization”, said Hornets General Manager Dell Demps. “We thank Tom and Gayle Benson for making this possible with their commitment to the team, our fans and the New Orleans Community.”

“There is always a business element to the NBA when dealing with contracts but I never lost my appreciation for the New Orleans fans,” said Gordon. “I look forward to giving my very best on the court this season to make our team successful.”

Last year in his first season with the Hornets, Gordon averaged a team-leading 20.6 points in addition to 3.4 assists, 2.8 rebounds and 1.4 steals in nine games (all starts) while shooting 45.0% from the field. The Hornets were 6-3 when Gordon played this season and he led the team in scoring in all but one of those contests.

InsideHoops.com editor Jeff Lenchiner says: Gordon really hoped to start a new life on the Suns, and was hoping the Hornets would not match the offer, but I think he’s better off in New Orleans. Austin Rivers, Anthony Davis, Gordon, and Ryan Anderson are a nice start, and with a few more pieces they may have a nice squad in a season or two.

Bulls are sending Kyle Korver to Hawks

Bulls are sending Kyle Korver to Hawks

Though details had to be finalized and Kyle Korver had to pass a physical, the Bulls agreed in principle to trade the 3-point specialist to the Hawks via the Timberwolves on Friday, two sources with knowledge of the talks said.

There were late indications the three-team deal could fall apart, though that didn’t stop Korver from scheduling a flight from his offseason training base in California to Atlanta for the physical, the sources said.

The deal would take the Bulls off the hook for the $500,000 guarantee of Korver’s $5 million non-guaranteed salary for 2012-13 and slide him into the Hawks’ traded-player exception, acquired in the Joe Johnson deal with the Nets.

— Reported by K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune

Jeremy Lin signs Rockets offer sheet

The Houston Rockets want Jeremy Lin back,and they’re hoping to see him throw a few post passes to Dwight Howard.

Lin has signed an offer sheet with Houston,according to a person with direct knowledge of the move. The person spoke to The Associated Press on Friday night on condition of anonymity because the agreement with the New York Knicks’ point guard was not announced.

Another person familiar with the negotiations says it’s a three-year deal worth about $25 million. The person,who spoke on condition of anonymity because the terms had not been announced,says the third year is worth about $15 million.

Lin is a restricted free agent and New York is expected to match Houston’s offer within the required three days.

— Reported by Chris Duncan of the Associated Press

Bobcats sign second round pick Jeffrey Taylor

Charlotte Bobcats President of Basketball Operations Rod Higgins announced today that the team has signed second-round draft pick Jeffery Taylor. The Bobcats selected Taylor with the 31st overall pick in the 2012 NBA Draft.

The 6-7 Taylor finished his career at Vanderbilt ranked second in career scoring (1,897), sixth in rebounding (752) and eighth in steals (146), becoming the only player in school history to rank in the top 10 in all three categories. During his senior season, he appeared in 36 games and averaged 16.1 points, 5.6 rebounds and 1.7 assists in 32.1 minutes. He was named First Team All-SEC in 2012 and Second Team in 2010 and 2011, while also being named to the SEC All-Defensive team in each of the last three seasons. In 2008 Taylor played for the Swedish National Team in the FIBA Under-20 European Division B Championships, where he averaged 19.4 points, 9.3 rebounds and 2.8 assists in eight games.

Spurs sign guard Nando De Colo

The San Antonio Spurs today announced that they have signed guard Nando De Colo. The 25-year-old De Colo was selected by the Spurs with the 53rd overall pick in the 2009 NBA Draft.

The 6-5, 200-pound De Colo has spent the past three seasons playing for Valencia in the Spanish ACB League. He helped lead Valenica to the 2010 Eurocup Championship and to the ACB playoffs in each of his three seasons with the club, including the 2011 ACB Finals. In three seasons with Valencia, De Colo averaged 12.5 points, 2.7 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.2 steals in 106 ACB games. In two Eurocup appearances, he averaged 12.7 points, 3.1 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 1.5 steals in 32 games.

De Colo made his pro debut in 2006 with Cholet Basket in the French ProA League.  He spent three seasons with Cholet, averaging 12.5 points, 3.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.3 steals in 83 games.  De Colo was named ProA League All-Star in 2008 and 2009 and was selected to the FIBA Eurocup All-Star Team in 2008.

Born and raised in France, De Colo has played for the French National Team since 2008. In the 2011 European Championship, he averaged 6.5 points, 2.1 rebounds and 1.1 steals in 11 games to help France capture the Silver medal and qualify for the 2012 Olympics.  De Colo has also represented France in the 2009 European Championship and 2010 World Championship.

Rockets waive Luis Scola as amnesty player

Rockets waive Luis Scola as amnesty player

Houston Rockets General Manager Daryl Morey announced today that the team has waived forward Luis Scola and have designated him as the team’s amnesty player as allowed by the new Collective Bargaining Agreement.

“On behalf of the entire organization and Rockets fans around the world, I want to thank Luis for his contributions to our organization and the City of Houston,” said Rockets Owner Leslie Alexander. “Luis is a tremendous player who has been the consummate professional both on and off the court. His dedication to winning and being a team player are unsurpassed.”

“Decisions like this are never easy, especially when it involves a player with the character and work ethic of Luis Scola,” said Morey. “Luis is a special player whose winning qualities embodied what it means to be a Houston Rocket. His accomplishments in a Rockets uniform speak for themselves and we wish him all the best in the future.”

Scola (6-9, 245, Argentina) averaged 14.5 points and 7.7 rebounds in 386 games (343 starts) with Houston. His 2,984 boards leave him ninth on the Rockets all-time list for most career rebounds. In 2011-12, Scola was honored as a member of the Rockets All-Decade Team of the 2000s. Selected by San Antonio in the second round (56th overall) of the 2002 NBA Draft, Houston traded guard Vassilis Spanoulis to acquire Scola’s draft rights from the Spurs on July 12, 2007. Scola went on to earn NBA All-Rookie First Team honors in 2007-08.

Memphis Grizzlies re-sign Marreese Speights and Darrell Arthur

The Memphis Grizzlies re-signed forwards Marreese Speights and Darrell Arthur to multi-year contracts, Grizzlies General Manger and Vice President of Basketball Operations Chris Wallace announced today.

“The re-signing of Marreese Speights and Darrell Arthur is very important for the present as well as the future of the Grizzlies,” Wallace said.  “Both Marreese and Darrell have proven to be players who can help us win, not just amass stats for themselves. Two seasons ago, Darrell was a vital player for our team which won the initial playoff game and series in franchise history.  This past season, Marreese came riding into town in January and helped save our season after both Darrell and Zach Randolph went down to injuries. Both players also have considerable room to improve. This is a great day for the franchise that we have both of these crucial players staying in Memphis.”

Speights (6-10, 255) set career highs in scoring (8.8 points), rebounding (6.2) and minutes (22.4) in 60 games (54 starts) last season after Memphis acquired him from the Philadelphia 76ers on Jan. 4, 2012 in a three-team trade that also included the New Orleans Hornets.

With Speights in the starting lineup, Memphis posted a 37-17 record (.685) and went on to record the club’s highest-ever regular season winning percentage (.621).  For the first time in franchise history, the Grizzlies clinched home court advantage in the first round of the NBA Playoffs, where Speights averaged 6.6 points and 4.3 rebounds in 14.3 minutes in seven games against the Los Angeles Clippers.

The 24-year-old holds NBA career averages of 7.6 points and 4.3 rebounds in 16.4 minutes in 265 games (58 starts) over four seasons with the Grizzlies and 76ers.  Philadelphia selected the St. Petersburg, Fla. native with the No. 16 overall pick in the first round of the 2008 NBA Draft.

Arthur (6-9, 235) posted career bests in scoring (9.1 points), blocks (0.79), field goal percentage (.497), free throw percentage (.813) and minutes (20.1) in 80 games (nine starts) during the 2010-11 season before a torn right Achilles sustained on Dec. 18, 2011 caused him to miss the entire 2011-12 season.  The 24-year-old underwent surgery on Dec. 22, 2011 and is expected to be ready for the start of the 2012-13 season.

Before suffering the injury, Arthur registered 7.1 points and 0.92 blocks in 15.5 minutes in 13 games during the 2011 NBA Playoffs, which included a first-round upset over the top-seeded San Antonio Spurs and a seven-game series with the Oklahoma City Thunder in the Western Conference Semifinals.