Mavericks re-sign Brendan Haywood

The Dallas Mavericks announced today they have re-signed center Brendan Haywood. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed. We’ll add contract details later today.

Haywood (7-0, 263) re-signs with the Mavericks after originally being acquired in a seven-player trade with Washington that also brought Caron Butler and DeShawn Stevenson to Dallas on Feb. 13, 2010. Following the trade, during which time the Mavericks posted a 23-7 record, Haywood averaged 8.1 points, 7.4 rebounds, 2.0 blocks and 26.5 minutes in 28 games (19 starts). The eight-year veteran finished the season with averages of 9.1 points, 9.3 rebounds, 2.1 blocks (fourth in NBA) and 30.6 minutes in 77 games.

Last season, Haywood became only the third player in the last 20 years to record 20-rebound games with two different teams in a single season after coming down with 20 boards vs. Indiana on Feb. 22 and 20 at Chicago as a member of the Wizards on Jan. 15.

Drafted by Washington out of the University of North Carolina in 2001, Haywood played 579 games for the Wizards and left as the franchise’s longest-tenured player. He ranked third all-time in franchise history in field goal percentage, fourth all-time in blocked shots and sixth all-time in rebounds and games played.

The Greensboro, N.C., native holds career averages of 7.7 points, 6.4 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game in 607 contests (469 starts).

Bulls sign-and-trade Hakim Warrick to Suns

Bulls sign-and-trade Hakim Warrick to Suns

The Phoenix Suns today acquired forward Hakim Warrick in a sign-and-trade deal with the Chicago Bulls.  In exchange, Chicago receives the Suns’ second-round pick in 2011.  Warrick has signed a four-year contract. We’ll post contract details later today.

“Hakim is a player we have watched perform well against us for years,” said Suns Head Coach Alvin Gentry.  “He is a long, athletic player who runs the floor and finishes well.  We feel, given the opportunity, and playing alongside veterans like Steve Nash and Grant Hill, he can be a productive member of our rotation.”

The 6-9, 219-pound Warrick is an athletic finisher who owns career averages of 10.1 points and 4.3 rebounds in 21.4 minutes in 383 games with three NBA teams.  Originally selected by the Memphis Grizzlies with the 19th overall pick of the 2005 NBA Draft, Warrick spent the first four seasons of his career with the Grizzlies before splitting the 2009-10 campaign between Milwaukee and Chicago.

Warrick has averaged double-digit scoring in three of his last four seasons overall, including a career-high 12.7 points and career-best 5.1 rebounds in 82 games during his best career season in 2006-07 with the Grizzlies.  Most recently, the 28-year-old averaged 9.6 points and 4.1 boards in 76 games last season split between the Bucks and Bulls after being acquired by Chicago along with Joe Alexander in exchange for John Salmons and two future second-round picks at the trade deadline.

A perfect fit for the Suns’ up-tempo system, in 15 career meetings with Phoenix, Warrick has averaged 13.3 points in 27.5 minutes while shooting 58.1 percent from the field, all three of which are his highest against any NBA opponent. Warrick has also grabbed 6.4 rebounds in his career against the Suns, his second-most against any NBA team.

A four-year performer at Syracuse University (2001-05), Warrick started all 35 games for the NCAA Champion Orange as a sophomore.  As a senior, he was named First Team All-America by the Associated Press, awarded Big East Conference Player of the Year and named First Team All-Big East after averaging 21.4 points and 8.6 rebounds in 34 games.

LeBron gets no. 6 from Mario Chalmers

Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel reports:

Heat point guard Mario Chalmers has handed over No. 6 to LeBron James, after wearing it during his first two NBA seasons. He instead will wear No. 15.

For Chalmers, it isn’t exactly a sacrifice. He wore No. 15 while playing collegiately at Kansas and wanted to wear it after being acquired by the Heat in the second round of the 2008 NBA Draft, but Heat center Mark Blount was wearing it at the time.

Chalmers wanted to switch last season back to No. 15, after Blount was traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves in the offseason, but made his intentions known too late. The Heat instead kept the number open for a future change.

James has worn No. 23 during his first seven seasons, but announced, after a November appearance last season at AmericanAirlines Arena that he planned to shed the number out of respect to legendary guard Michael Jordan.

Suns sign-and-trade Amar`e Stoudemire to Knicks

Suns sign-and-trade Amar`e Stoudemire to Knicks

The Phoenix Suns today completed a sign-and-trade deal with the New York Knicks that will send free-agent forward Amar’e Stoudemire to New York.  The trade gives Phoenix a trade exception for its use in future dealings within one calendar year as well as other consideration.

Selected by the Suns with the ninth overall pick in the 2002 NBA Draft, Stoudemire played the first eight seasons of his career with Phoenix.  The 27-year-old forward was a five-time NBA All-Star while with the Suns (2005, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010), a First Team All-NBA selection in 2007 and three-time Second Team All-NBA pick (2005, 2008, 2010).  The 2003 NBA Rookie of the Year, Stoudemire averaged 21.4 points and 8.9 rebounds in 516 career games with the Suns.

Former NBA player Melvin Turpin dies of self-inflicted gunshot wound

The AP reports:

A coroner’s report says former Kentucky basketball star Melvin Turpin died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

The report Friday gave no other information about the investigation, including whether Turpin left a suicide note. Fayette County Coroner Gary Ginn had said Thursday that Turpin took his own life in his Lexington house, but didn’t say how.

The AP reports:

Mel Turpin, former NBA player and All-American Kentucky center, committed suicide Thursday, authorities said. He was 49.

Police and the coroner were called to his North Lexington house Thursday afternoon on a personal injury call. They found Turpin dead…

Margaret Burrus, his sister, tearfully told reporters outside her home that her brother was diabetic and trying to keep it under control.

“I didn’t know he was depressed or anything,” she said. “I would have never said that he would have done this.”

Clippers sign Ryan Gomes

Clippers sign Ryan Gomes

The Los Angeles Clippers Thursday signed free agent forward Ryan Gomes. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not announced.

Gomes, 27, averaged 10.9 points, 4.6 rebounds and 1.6 assists in 76 games last season for the Minnesota Timberwolves. A teammate of recently signed Clippers guard Randy Foye in Minnesota from 2007-09, Gomes has appeared in a total of 374 games in his five-year NBA career with Boston and the Timberwolves and brings career averages of 11.5 points, 5.1 rebounds, 1.6 assists in 307 total starts to Los Angeles.

“I think Ryan Gomes is an excellent addition to our team,” said Neil Olshey of the Los Angeles Clippers. “Ryan is a proven, hard-nosed veteran presence who is a consistent inside-out scorer with great character who has had a positive impact on every team he has been a part of.”

The six-foot-seven, 250 pound Gomes led Minnesota in scoring 10 times last season and recorded his 4,000th career NBA point on Feb. 17, 2010. Gomes was traded by Minnesota to Portland in a draft day trade, and subsequently waived by the Trailblazers on June 29.

The all-time leading scorer in Providence College history with 2,138 points, Gomes was originally drafted by the Boston Celtics with the 50th overall pick of the 2005 NBA Draft. After a sparkling college career, Gomes played two seasons in Boston before the Celtics traded him to Minnesota on July 31, 2007 along with Gerald Green, Al Jefferson, Theo Ratliff, Sebastian Telfair and two 2009 First Round draft picks in exchange for Kevin Garnett.

The Waterbury, Connecticut native enjoyed three solid seasons with the Timberwolves, putting together an impressive Ironman streak of 203 consecutive games played that came to an end on Dec. 14, 2009. Gomes averaged a career-high 13.3 points in 2008- 09 when he started a career-high 76 games.

Clippers sign Randy Foye

Clippers sign Randy Foye

The Los Angeles Clippers Thursday signed free agent guard Randy Foye. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not announced.

A four-year NBA veteran, Foye played for the Washington Wizards last season averaging 10.1 points, 3.3 assists, 1.9 rebounds and 23.8 minutes in 70 games. Foye, 26, has played in 261 regular season games and brings career averages of 12.2 points, 3.6 assists and 2.6 rebounds from Minnesota and Washington to Los Angeles.

“We are excited to have the opportunity to add Randy to our team,” said Neil Olshey of the Los Angeles Clippers. “Randy is a player who has improved throughout his time in the league, and is someone who will provide on the ball defense, athleticism, intensity and an impressive ability to score to the group we already have in place.”

The Newark, New Jersey native began his career with Minnesota in 2006-07 and was named to the 2006-07 All-Rookie First Team after appearing in 82 games and averaging 10.1 points. The six-foot-four, 210 pound guard was originally drafted by the Boston Celtics with the seventh overall pick in the 2006 NBA Draft and was involved in two draft day deals that brought him to Minnesota.

The former University of Villanova star improved his scoring and assists average in each of his first three NBA seasons, culminating in his career-best 16.3 points per game average in 70 games during the 2008-09 season. Foye joined the Wizards prior to the 2009-10 season in a trade that saw him go to Washington along with Mike Miller for Oleksiv Pecherov, Darius Songaila, Etan Thomas and a 2009 First Round draft pick. Last season, Foye led the Wizards in assists 21 times and scored a career-high 36 points on Feb. 20, 2009 vs. Indiana.

At Villanova, Foye enjoyed an illustrious four-year career that culminated in a senior season that saw him average 20.5 points per game and earn a spot on the 2005-06 NCAA All-American Team while also being named 2006 Big East Player of the Year.

Report: Heat will trade Michael Beasley to Timberwolves

The Miami Heat have landed LeBron James, Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade, and they will reportedly soon say goodbye to forward Michael Beasley.

The move will help clear salary cap space for the Heat.

According to Marc Stein of ESPN on Twitter, “Miami has agree to a trade with Minnesota that will send Michael Beasley to the Wolves. Wolves-Heat deal, sources say, calls for ‘Sota to absorb Beasley into cap space and send its 2011 second-round pick to Miami to seal deal.”

Miami has been actively seeking a Beasley trade for a while now, so this comes as no huge surprise. They want as much money as possible to pay their trio of stars, and then will have to fill in the blanks with a supporting cast built mostly from players who will accept the league’s minimum salary depending on their years of service.

Open Letter to Fans from Cavaliers Majority Owner Dan Gilbert

Note from InsideHoops.com: This is a real letter from the owner of the Cavs, released to the public the night LeBron James left Cleveland and announced he is joining the Miami Heat:

Dear Cleveland, All Of Northeast Ohio and Cleveland Cavaliers Supporters Wherever You May Be Tonight;

As you now know, our former hero, who grew up in the very region that he deserted this evening, is no longer a Cleveland Cavalier.

This was announced with a several day, narcissistic, self-promotional build-up culminating with a national TV special of his “decision” unlike anything ever “witnessed” in the history of sports and probably the history of entertainment.

Clearly, this is bitterly disappointing to all of us.

The good news is that the ownership team and the rest of the hard-working, loyal, and driven staff over here at your hometown Cavaliers have not betrayed you nor NEVER will betray you.

There is so much more to tell you about the events of the recent past and our more than exciting future. Over the next several days and weeks, we will be communicating much of that to you.

You simply don’t deserve this kind of cowardly betrayal.

You have given so much and deserve so much more.

In the meantime, I want to make one statement to you tonight:

“I PERSONALLY GUARANTEE THAT THE CLEVELAND CAVALIERS WILL WIN AN NBA CHAMPIONSHIP BEFORE THE SELF-TITLED FORMER ‘KING’ WINS ONE”

You can take it to the bank.

If you thought we were motivated before tonight to bring the hardware to Cleveland, I can tell you that this shameful display of selfishness and betrayal by one of our very own has shifted our “motivation” to previously unknown and previously never experienced levels.

Some people think they should go to heaven but NOT have to die to get there.

Sorry, but that’s simply not how it works.

This shocking act of disloyalty from our home grown “chosen one” sends the exact opposite lesson of what we would want our children to learn.  And “who” we would want them to grow-up to become.

But the good news is that this heartless and callous action can only serve as the antidote to the so-called “curse” on Cleveland, Ohio.

The self-declared former “King” will be taking the “curse” with him down south. And until he does “right” by Cleveland and Ohio, James (and the town where he plays) will unfortunately own this dreaded spell and bad karma.

Just watch.

Sleep well, Cleveland.

Tomorrow is a new and much brighter day….

I PROMISE you that our energy, focus, capital, knowledge and experience will be directed at one thing and one thing only:

DELIVERING YOU the championship you have long deserved and is long overdue….

– –

Dan Gilbert

Majority Owner

Cleveland Cavaliers

Bulls, Nets Clippers statements on not getting LeBron James

Following is a statement from Neil Olshey of the Los Angeles Clippers regarding tonight’s decision by LeBron James: “Our goal remains unchanged. We will continue to be exhaustive and use every available resource to assemble an exciting and successful team.  We have a dynamic new head coach who will lead the very talented roster we already have in place. We will use the free agent market to enhance that roster. We expect to compete at a very high level.”

The following statement was issued by Nets Principal Owner Mikhail Prokhorov: “We have a vision of a championship team and need to invest wisely and for the long term.  Fortunately, we have more than one plan to reach success, and, as I have found in all areas of my business, that is key to achieving it.  To Nets fans past, present and future, the goal of making the playoffs this season remains intact and we reiterate our commitment to winning a championship within five years.”

Gar Forman (Chicago Bulls) statement regarding LeBron James: “I remain convinced that this organization made the strongest of bids to acquire LeBron James during this free agency period.  While we’re disappointed he chose to go to another franchise, our strategy for the future competitiveness of this organization did not begin or end with James, and we feel today’s addition of two-time All-Star Carlos Boozer significantly strengthens our team’s already talented roster.  It is our goal to keep exploring every avenue that it may take, whether through trades or free agency, to continue to build this team to compete at a championship level.”