Mavericks re-sign James Singleton

The Dallas Mavericks announced today that they have re-signed forward James Singleton. Per team policy, terms of the deal were undisclosed.  Several media outlets reported that the deal is a $1.03 million qualifying offer for next season.

“We are excited to bring James back into the fold for next season,” said President of Basketball Operations/General Manager Donnie Nelson.  “His tireless work ethic and lockerroom presence were a large part of our success last year. We couldn’t be happier to keep James in the Mavericks family.”

Last season, Singleton (6-8, 230) played in 62 games (starting six times) for Dallas and averaged career-highs in points (5.1), rebounds (4.0) and minutes (14.3).  He also shot a career-high 52.9% (117-221 FGs) from the field, 32.5% (13-40 3FGs) from 3-point range and 85.9% (67-78 FTs) from the line.

Originally signed by Dallas as a free agent on July 11, 2008, Singleton holds career averages of 3.5 points, 3.2 rebounds and 11.6 minutes in 174 games (16 starts).

The Chicago native attended Murray State University after transferring from Pearl River Community College (Miss.).

In an additional transaction, the Mavericks requested waivers on veteran guard Greg Buckner. Dallas acquired Buckner in a four-team trade on July 9, 2009.

Buckner (6-4, 210) was originally a second-round draft choice of the Mavericks in 1998. The veteran guard has played two stints in Dallas and holds career averages of 5.0 points, 2.8 rebounds and 1.3 assists in 570 games.

“We wish Buck nothing but the very best,” said Nelson.  “Given our depth at that position, coupled with the number of guaranteed contracts, there is simply no room on our roster. This early release will also afford him the chance to secure an opportunity elsewhere.”

Greg Ostertag attempting comeback

Greg Ostertag was a somewhat solid NBA center. Weak as a starter, but better than most of the league’s backups. He was big. He got dunked on by Shaquille O’Neal a lot. He had limited ability

The former Utah Jazzman is reportedly attempting a comeback. Jody Genessy of the Deseret News reports:

The former Jazz center is attempting an NBA comeback.

He even recently worked out for a team.

Last week, Ostertag participated in a scrimmage with the Portland Trail Blazers, who are reportedly auditioning big men, including perhaps Jarron Collins, the Oregonian reported.

Ostertag had some rocky moments in his relationship with Sloan, which is why the Hall-of-Fame shout-out was unexpected.

Now 36 years old, Ostertag hasn’t played in the NBA for more than three years, which is why his reported workout was eye-opening.

I’d say there’s a 95 percent chance no one signs him, and a 5 percent chance he lands a nonguaranteed minimum deal for a team’s training camp.

Dwyane Wade`s future up in air

Half the fun of talking about LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh and other top stars isn’t just raving about what they do on a basketball court. Speculating about where they may play in the future is just as entertaining.

Mike McGraw of the Arlington Heights Daily Herald reports (via blog):

dwyane wade future team

Asked if the Bulls would be his No. 1 destination should he leave Miami next year, Wade replied, “If I disclose that kind of information, the articles this season aren’t as exciting anymore. Speculation is not the same. You guys ain’t going to have nothing to talk about me.”

Then asked what would keep him Miami, Wade provided this answer: “Well, first of all I love the organization. I love what it stands for, from the owner Mickey Arison on down. It’s a first class organization. We’ve had some good times in Miami. I love the weather. It’s become home for me for the past six years. Hey, it’s not my fault Miami drafted me at No. 5 (in 2003) and Chicago did not move up (from No. 7).”

While LeBron, Wade and other top stars probably do have a strong opinion about what team they may try to play for once their current contracts  run out, it’s safe to assume they really aren’t 100 percent sure. Things can happen. Rosters change. Teams that appear to be attractive can shake things up. So while the speculation will continue, it’s mostly all in fun, because no matter what sources a reporter may have, the players themselves are perfectly likely to change their mind in the future.

Jerry Krause Hall of Fame boycott continues

Jerry Krause is sticking to his principals on an issue he cares about.

Mike McGraw of the Arlington Heights Daily Herald reports:

Former Bulls general manager Jerry Krause says there’s a simple reason why he’s not in Springfield, Mass., this weekend for Michael Jordan’s enshrinement in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

Krause is sending a Tex message.

Years ago, Krause made a vow never to return to the Hall of Fame unless Winter – a longtime Bulls assistant and creator of the triangle offense – was voted in.

“I would be a heck of a hypocrite if I went back on my word not to walk into that building,” Krause said Friday on WSCR’s Danny Mac Show.

“Many years ago I was on the Hall of Fame committee for five years. I resigned in a very public manner for a reason. The reason was because Tex Winter was not on the ballot one year. The committee had no say in who was on the ballot. The committee had no meetings. It was all done by mail and you did not know who the other committee members were.”

I’d say Tex Winter definitely deserves to be in the Hall of Fame more than a few others who have been inducted over the last four or five years.

Michael Jordan Hall of Fame speech review

The AP reports: From the coach who cut him to the players who disrespected him, Michael Jordan never forgot a slight. Not even on the night he was enshrined in the Naismith Memorial Hall of Fame. Jordan’s thank you list went well beyond friends and family, including any doubters who provided him the inspiration to become a better player — perhaps the greatest one ever. “You guys, I must say thank you very much for giving me that motivation that I definitely needed,” Jordan said.

The AP continues: Jordan cried before beginning his acceptance speech, then entertained the crowd with memories of any slights that sent him on his way to basketball’s birthplace: –The coach who cut him from the varsity as a North Carolina schoolboy. “I wanted to make sure you understood: You made a mistake, dude.” …  –Isiah Thomas, who allegedly orchestrated a “freezeout” of Jordan in his first All-Star game. “I wanted to prove to you, Magic (Johnson), Larry (Bird), George (Gervin), everybody that I deserved (to be there) just as much as anybody else, and I hope over the period of my career I’ve done that without a doubt.” … –Knicks coach Jeff Van Gundy — Jordan called him Pat Riley’s “little guy” — who accused Jordan of “conning” players by acting friendly toward them, then attacking them in games.

Yahoo reports: Jordan wandered through an unfocused and uninspired speech at Symphony Hall, disparaging people who had little to do with his career, like Jeff Van Gundy and Bryon Russell. He ignored people who had so much to do with it, like his personal trainer, Tim Grover. This had been a moving and inspirational night for the NBA – one of its best ceremonies ever – and five minutes into Jordan’s speech it began to spiral into something else. Something unworthy of Jordan’s stature, something beneath him. Jordan spent more time pointlessly admonishing Van Gundy and Russell for crossing him with taunts a dozen years ago than he did singling out his three children. When he finally acknowledged his family, Jordan blurted, in part, to them, “I wouldn’t want to be you guys.”

Yahoo continues: No one ever feels sorry for Isiah Thomas, but Jordan tsk-tsked him and George Gervin and Magic Johnson for the 1985 All-Star game “freeze-out.” Jordan was a rookie, and the older stars decided to isolate him. It was a long time ago, and he obliterated them all for six NBA championships and five MVP trophies. Isiah and the Ice Man looked stunned, as intimidated 50 feet from the stage, as they might have been on the basketball court. The cheering and laughter egged Jordan on, but this was no public service for him. Just because he was smiling didn’t mean this speech hadn’t dissolved into a downright vicious volley.

Wolves sign Ramon Sessions

The Minnesota Timberwolves today announced the team has signed guard Ramon Sessions. Minnesota originally signed Sessions, a restricted free agent from the Milwaukee Bucks, to an offer sheet on Friday, Sept. 4. Per team policy, terms of the contract offer were not disclosed. It’s been reported by multiple media outlets that the contract is a four-year deal for $16.4 million.

“We’re thrilled to welcome Ramon to the Timberwolves,” said David Kahn, Timberwolves President of Basketball Operations. “Ramon has already demonstrated the ability to play significant minutes at the NBA level, yet is only 23. We believe, like our team, his best days are ahead of him.”

Sessions, a 6-3 guard from Nevada-Reno, had a break-out season in 2008-09, averaging 12.4 points (.445 FG%), 5.7 assists and 27.5 minutes per game in 79 contests (39 starts). His 5.7 assists per game led the Bucks and ranked 18th in the NBA. Sessions scored in double figures 53 times (12 times with 20+ points), dished out 10+ assists on 10 occasions and posted nine double-doubles during the season. Additionally, he finished the year with a 2.97:1 assist-to-turnover ratio, the ninth-best ratio in the NBA. He scored a career-high 44 points, along with 12 assists, against Detroit on Feb. 7.

In 2007-08 as a rookie, Sessions averaged 8.1 points, 7.5 assists and 3.4 rebounds in 17 games. He set a Bucks franchise record with 24 assists against Chicago on April 14, while also tallying 20 points. He became the first Bucks player to notch 20 points and 20 assists in the same game. Selected by Milwaukee in the second round (56th pick) of the 2007 NBA Draft, Sessions has averaged 11.6 points, 6.0 assists, 3.4 rebounds in 27.3 minutes per game in 96 career contests (46 starts).

Knicks sign Gabe Pruitt

New York Knickerbockers President of Basketball Operations Donnie Walsh announced today that free agent guard Gabe Pruitt has been signed to a contract. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed. InsideHoops.com assumes it’s a small, non-guaranteed deal.

Pruitt, 6-4, 170-pounds, has career averages of 2.0 points and 7.4 minutes in 62 games over two NBA seasons with the Boston Celtics. The Los Angeles, CA-native was selected by Boston, following his junior season at the University of Southern California, in the second round (32nd overall) of the 2007 NBA Draft. Pruitt averaged 2.1 points in 15 games as a rookie in 2007-08, but was inactive for the Celtics during the playoffs and NBA Finals. He averaged 2.0 points and 7.8 minutes in 47 games last season and appeared in four games for the Celtics in the first two rounds of the 2009 NBA Playoffs.

Clippers re-sign Steve Novak

The Los Angeles Clippers today announced that the team has re-signed restricted free agent forward Steve Novak. Per team policy terms of the deal were not announced.

In 71 games played for the Clippers last season, Novak averaged 6.9 points in 16.4 minutes per game. Completing his third NBA season, the sharpshooter out of Marquette connected on 119-286 three-pointers (.416) on the year.

InsideHoops.com editor says: Novak is a tall dude who can toss in some outside jumpers.

Knicks sign Warren Carter

New York Knickerbockers President of Basketball Operations Donnie Walsh announced today that forward Warren Carter has been signed as a free agent. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed. InsideHooops.com assumes that this is a nonguaranteed contract.

Carter, 6-9, 220-pounds, averaged 5.6 points, 4.2 rebounds and 13.9 minutes as a member of the Knicks entry in the 2009 NBA Summer League last month. The Dallas, TX-native spent the last two seasons playing overseas in Spain and Turkey following his four-year collegiate career at the University of Illinois.

JR Rider wants NBA comeback

Paul Walsh of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports: One of the baddest of bad boys in recent NBA history — former Timberwolf J.R. Rider — is negotiating a return to professional basketball in the United States at age 38. The owner of the first-year North Texas Fresh in the American Basketball Association said this morning that he is “in the process of getting it done” and bringing Rider on board. Owner Jay Bowdy said that Rider has another offer in play from a team overseas, where players can make more money.

The Star Tribune continues:  Rider’s agent, Joe Lee, said this morning that Rider hasn’t played organized ball since a 10-game pit stop with the Denver Nuggets in 2001-02. Still, he’s “been working out hard” and playing pickup ball with local college guys in suburban Phoenix, where Rider now makes his home, Lee said.

InsideHoops.com editor says: Rider has about the same shot at getting signed to an NBA team as I do.