NBA Blog – NBA Basketball Blog – Page 1629 – NBA Blog: The NBA basketball news blog section of Inside Hoops

Trail Blazers sign forward Joel Freeland

The Portland Trail Blazers have signed forward Joel Freeland, it was announced today by General Manager Neil Olshey.

The Trail Blazers’ 30th overall selection in the first round of the 2006 NBA Draft, Freeland joins the Trail Blazers from Unicaja Malaga in the Spanish ACB League.

“The timing was right to bring Joel over and we’re thrilled it worked out,” said Olshey. “He is a rugged interior player with a nice touch around the basket and he plays hard every game. Joel will be a nice addition to the roster.”

Over the past three seasons with Unicaja Malaga, Freeland (6-11, 225) posted averages of 12.6 points (55.3% FG), 6.2 rebounds, 0.8 assists and 24.6 minutes in Euroleague and ACB play. He spent the previous three seasons with Gran Canaria, also of the Spanish ACB League.

Freeland, 25, is a starter for the Great Britain national basketball team, which will compete as the host country in this summer’s London Olympics. A native of Farnham, England, he led the national team with 15 points in a game vs. Spain earlier this week.

He will wear No. 19 with the Trail Blazers.

Dallas Mavericks land Elton Brand

The Dallas Mavericks announced today that they have been awarded free agent forward Elton Brand.

Brand (6-9, 255) was the top overall pick in the 1999 NBA Draft by the Chicago Bulls and has played in 860 games (830 starts) with Chicago, Los Angeles Clippers and Philadelphia. He holds career averages of 18.3 points, 9.4 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 1.9 blocks and 36.3 minutes per game while shooting .501 from the field and .739 from the free throw line.

Brand is a two-time All-Star (2002, 2006) and was named All-NBA Second Team for the 2005-06 season. He won the NBA Sportsmanship Award in 2006 and shared Rookie of the Year honors with Steve Francis for the 1999-2000 season.

Brand was recently waived by Philadelphia and designated as the team’s amnesty player. Last season with the Sixers, he averaged 11.0 points, 7.2 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 1.6 blocks and 28.9 minutes in 60 games (all starts).

The Peekskill, N.Y., native spent his two-year collegiate career at Duke University where he led the Blue Devils to the NCAA Championship Game and was named as the consensus National Player of the Year.

Timberwolves waive Martell Webster, trade Brad Miller to Hornets

The Minnesota Timberwolves today announced the team has waived guard Martell Webster. The Timberwolves also today announced the team has traded center Brad Miller and two future second round draft picks (Brooklyn’s 2013 second round selection and Minnesota’s second round draft choice in 2016) to the New Orleans Hornets in exchange for a future conditional second round pick.

“We want to thank Martell for his two years with us,” said Kahn. “Unfortunately, Martell’s back condition caused him to miss significant time both seasons and prevented him from playing at a consistently high level. I have spoken to Martell on numerous occasions and watched him work out last month. We are both optimistic he will have a terrific season next year.”

Originally acquired from the Portland Trail Blazers on June 24, 2010, Webster, a 6-7 guard/forward, averaged 8.3 points and 3.4 rebounds in 93 games (27 starts) over parts of two seasons (2010-11 – 2011-12) with the Wolves.

“Brad’s help to us last season occurred off the court as much as on the court. He will be missed,” said David Kahn, Timberwolves President of Basketball Operations. “We thank him for being a part of the Timberwolves.”

Originally acquired from the Houston Rockets on June 24, 2011, Miller, a 7-0 center, played one season (2011-12) with the Wolves, averaging 2.3 points and 1.3 rebounds in 15 games (one start). In 868 career games (598 starts), the 14-year NBA veteran holds career averages of 11.2 points and 7.1 rebounds in 28.3 minutes per game.

Mavericks sign center Chris Kaman

The Dallas Mavericks announced today that they have signed free agent center Chris Kaman.

Kaman (7-0, 265) was the first round draft pick (sixth overall) in the 2003 NBA Draft of the Los Angeles Clippers. The 30-year old played eight full seasons with Los Angeles before being traded in December to the New Orleans Hornets in a deal that sent Chris Paul to the Clippers. He holds career averages of 11.9 points, 8.3 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 1.4 blocks and 29.7 minutes in 540 career games with 458 starts.

“We are excited to welcome Chris Kaman to Dallas,” President of Basketball Operations Donnie Nelson said. “Chris is a former All-Star who has accomplished a lot in this league. He is extremely skilled on both ends of the floor and will bring a low-post presence and versatility to the center position. Chris is a true professional on and off the court and we are pleased to welcome him to the Maverick family.”

Kaman had a breakout season for the injury-plagued Clippers in 2007-08 when he averaged a double-double 15.7 points and 12.7 rebounds. In 2010, Kaman was at last named an NBA All-Star and participated as a Western Conference reserve for All-Star Weekend in Dallas. That year he averaged 18.5 points and 9.3 rebounds in 76 games.

In 2008, Kaman joined Dirk Nowitzki as a member of the German National Team and helped the squad qualify for the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing. It was the Germans first Olympic berth since 1992. Kaman is a dual citizen of both the United States and Germany.

The Grand Rapids, Mich., native spent his three-year collegiate career at Central Michigan University where he still ranks seventh on the school’s all-time rebounding list and 11th on the all-time scoring list while holding the school record for career field goal percentage (60.8%). His junior year, Kaman was named Mid-American Conference Player of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year and Honorable Mention All-America by Associated Press.

Bobcats sign guard Ramon Sessions

Charlotte Bobcats President of Basketball Operations Rod Higgins announced today that the team has signed free agent guard Ramon Sessions.

“Ramon is a quality point guard who can both distribute and score,” Higgins said. “We are excited to be adding a player of his caliber and ability to our franchise.”

A five-year NBA veteran, the 6-3 Sessions has played in 323 career games with the Bucks, Timberwolves, Cavaliers and Lakers, posting averages of 11.1 points, 5.0 assists and 3.1 rebounds in 25.4 minutes. The Myrtle Beach, SC, native was originally selected by Milwaukee with the 56th overall pick in the 2007 NBA Draft after three seasons at the University of Nevada, where he helped the Wolf Pack to three straight Western Athletic Conference championships.

Sessions split the 2011-12 season between the Cavaliers and Lakers, with overall averages of 11.3 points, 5.5 assists and 3.3 rebounds in 26.7 minutes. He also shot a career-best .443 from beyond the three-point line, making 43 three-point field goals on the season after totaling only 13 in his first four NBA seasons combined. Following a trade to the Lakers on March 15, Sessions averaged 12.7 points, 6.2 assists and 3.8 rebounds in 30.5 minutes, starting 19 of his 23 regular-season games with Los Angeles. While with the Lakers, Sessions shot .479 from the field and .486 from beyond the three-point line.

Sessions’ first name is pronounced ruh-MAHN.

Clippers re-sign Chauncey Billups

The Los Angeles Clippers today re-signed unrestricted free agent and five-time NBA All-Star point guard Chauncey Billups.

In 20 games (20 starts) played for the Clippers during the 2011-12 season, Billups averaged 15.0 points, 4.0 assists, 2.5 rebounds and 30.4 minutes per contest. Billups shot 36.4 percent from the field, 38.4 percent from behind the three-point line and 89.5 percent from the free throw line. Billups 2012 season ended prematurely on February 6th in Orlando when he suffered a torn left Achilles tendon after scoring 18 points (10 in the fourth quarter) in what would eventually be a 107-102 overtime road win for Los Angeles.

Billups averaged 16.8 points, 5.4 assists and 2.6 rebounds in 32.1 minutes in 72 games with Denver and New York during the 2010-11 season. He was traded to the Knicks on February 22, 2011 and was later claimed by the Clippers off of waivers on December 12, 2011.

The 15-year veteran point guard was an NBA All-Star in 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010 and named to the All-NBA Second Team in 2005-06 and the All-NBA Third Team in 2006-07 and 2008-09. Billups helped lead the Detroit Pistons to the 2003-04 NBA Championship and was selected the 2004 NBA Finals MVP for his stellar play in the series.

Originally drafted by the Boston Celtics with the third overall pick of the 1997 NBA Draft after a standout career at the University of Colorado, Billups has appeared in 1,002 career NBA games for Boston, Toronto, Denver, Minnesota, Detroit, New York and the Clippers, averaging 15.5 points, 5.5 assists and 2.9 rebounds per game.

The 6-foot-3, 210 pound Colorado native was also a member of the gold medal winning USA Team at the 2010 FIBA World Championship and the 2007 FIBA Americas Championship.

Trail Blazers sign forward J.J. Hickson

The Portland Trail Blazers have signed forward J.J. Hickson, it was announced today by General Manager Neil Olshey. We’ll post contract details here later today.

The Trail Blazers signed Hickson, 23, on March 21 for the remainder of last season after he was waived by Sacramento on March 19. He appeared in each of Portland’s final 19 games in 2011-12, including 10 starts.

“J.J. played very well for Portland late last year and we’re pleased to be able to bring him back for another season,” said Olshey. “He’s a very special athlete that will offer some depth on the front line and we expect him to pick up where he left off in April.”

Last season with Portland, Hickson averaged 15.1 points (54.3% FG), 8.3 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 0.95 blocks in 31.6 minutes per game. He led the Trail Blazers in rebounding and field goal percentage, while ranking third in scoring during his time in Portland. Hickson’s six double-doubles in the month of April tied for sixth in the NBA.

In four NBA seasons with Cleveland, Sacramento and Portland, Hickson has compiled averages of 9.0 points (49.0% FG), 5.8 rebounds and 21.3 minutes in 277 games (158 starts). He was originally selected by the Cavaliers with the 19th overall pick in the 2008 NBA Draft.

Pacers re-sign Roy Hibbert, George Hill

The Indiana Pacers announced Friday they have re-signed free agents Roy Hibbert and George Hill. We’ll post contract details here later today.

“Re-signing Roy and George shows a commitment from Herb Simon to our franchise, our team and our fans that we fully intend to keep this team moving forward in the NBA,” said Donnie Walsh, Pacers President of Basketball Operations. “Both of these players were very important to our success last season and to have them locked up for the coming seasons is a great foundation to build off of.”

Hibbert, a 2012 NBA All-Star, is coming off his best season with the Pacers, averaging 12.8 points, 8.8 rebounds and 2.0 blocks per game. He finished the season ranked fifth in the NBA in blocks per game. Originally drafted by the Toronto Raptors in the 2008 NBA Draft (17th overall pick), he was traded to the Pacers on July 9, 2008 and has spent all four of his seasons in the NBA with the Pacers. He has career averages of 11.1 points, 6.4 rebounds and 1.6 blocks per game.

“I’m happy to be back and I have unfinished business here,” said Hibbert. “I can’t wait for the season to begin.”

“As Donnie and I went through this process, it really wasn’t a matter of ‘if’ we would keep Roy and George. We had to keep them,” said Pacers General Manager Kevin Pritchard. “When you look at how this team, with the emphasis on team, is constructed, so many parts fit very well. These are two parts who are still young, who are going to get better and who are going to make our team better. Roy and George are also excellent representatives of the franchise and excellent representatives of the community. They are quality players and quality people.”

Hill, a native of Indianapolis, played both high school and college basketball locally at Broad Ripple High School and IUPUI. He was drafted by San Antonio as the 24th overall pick in the 2008 NBA Draft and spent the first three seasons with the Spurs before returning home to play for the Pacers as part of a draft night trade on June 24, 2011. The 6-2, 180-pound guard has career averages of 9.8 points, 2.5 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game.

“I’m happy to be staying home with family, friends and my AAU program,” said Hill. “The main thing was to keep this team together and keep moving forward. It was always a dream to be with the Pacers and now that it’s reality for a longer period of time, it’s great.”

Sixers re-sign center Spencer Hawes

The Philadelphia 76ers announced today that they have re-signed center Spencer Hawes. According to multiple reports, the deal is for two years, $13.1 million.

Hawes (7-1, 245) was originally acquired by Philadelphia along with Andres Nocioni from Sacramento in exchange for Samuel Dalembert on June 17, 2010. In 118 games with 110 starts for the Sixers, Hawes has averaged 8.0 points, 6.2 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.01 blocks in 22.4 minutes per game while shooting 47.4% from the floor.

Last season, the Sixers were 22-15 in games that Hawes played compared to a 13-16 mark in games that he missed. The fifth-year veteran recorded eight double-doubles in 37 games played last season after having just seven in 81 games played in 2010-11.

Sixers will sign Kwame Brown

The Philadelphia 76ers have agreed to a $6 million, two-year contract with former No. 1 overall draft pick Kwame Brown.

Agent Mark Bartelstein announced the move Friday.

Brown will be reunited with Sixers coach Doug Collins. Collins was Brown’s first coach in Washington in 2001. Brown has averaged 6.8 points and 5.6 rebounds over an 11-year career.

— Reported by the Associated Press