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Rockets sign 2009 second round draft pick Jermaine Taylor

Houston Rockets General Manager Daryl Morey announced today that the team has signed rookie guard Jermaine Taylor to a multi-year contract. The Houston Chronicle reports that the deal is worth $3.33 million over four years, with the first two years guaranteed and a team option on the third and fourth seasons.

Taylor, who was selected by Washington out of Central Florida in the second round (32nd overall) of the 2009 NBA Draft, had his rights acquired by the Rockets from the Wizards in exchange for cash considerations on June 25, 2009.

Taylor (6-4, 210, Central Florida) totaled 1,979 points and a school-record 251 3-pointers (.376, 251-668 3FG) over his four-year career at Central Florida, finishing as UCF’s career scoring leader at the Division I level. He also ranked fourth on the Conference USA career scoring list. As a senior, Taylor was named the C-USA Player of the Year and earned All-Conference USA First Team honors. Taylor was also selected All-District by the NABC and USBWA, as well as earning All-Tournament Team honors at the 2009 Portsmouth Invitational. Overall, he scored a school-record 812 points during his senior campaign and ranked third nationally in scoring (26.2 ppg, .480 FG%, .376 3FG%, .812 FT%). Taylor also averaged 29.1 points against league opponents and set the C-USA single-season record by notching 466 points in conference play. He scored at least 20 points in 24 of his 31 games, including nine 30-point performances and one 40-point contest. He connected on 92 3-pointers in 2008-09, which ranked fourth on the school’s single-season chart. Taylor also led the team in rebounds per game (5.2) and blocked shots (24), while ranking third on the team in total assists (58) and second in steals (39). His outstanding play earned him C-USA Player of the Week honors on five occasions during his final collegiate campaign. He also established a UCF Division I single-game record with 45 points vs. Rice (2/25/09).

As a junior, Taylor earned All-Conference USA Second Team selection after leading UCF in scoring with 20.8 points per game. He appeared in all 31 games as a reserve during his sophomore campaign, ranking second on the team and 16th in Conference USA in points per game (12.7). Taylor was also a Conference USA Commissioner’s Academic Honor Roll recipient as a freshman.

With Houston in the 2009 NBA Summer League, Taylor averaged 11.0 points and 2.3 assists in four games (two starts).

76ers hire Randy Ayers as assistant coach

The Philadelphia 76ers announced today that Head Coach Eddie Jordan has named Randy Ayers as an assistant coach. Ayers joins a staff comprised of Associate Head Coach Mike O’Koren and Assistant Coaches Jim Lynam and Aaron McKie.

Ayers, who was head coach of the Sixers for 52 games during the 2003-04 season, previously served as an assistant coach on Jordan’s staff in Washington. The Wizards allowed just 99.2 points per game in his first season with the team in 2007-08 after allowing 104.9 ppg the season prior.

Prior to joining the Wizards, Ayers was an assistant coach with Orlando. In his two seasons with the Magic, Ayers helped the team lower its opponents scoring average from 101.8 ppg in 2004-05 to 96.0 ppg in 2005-06 to 94.0 ppg in 2006-07.

No stranger to Philadelphia, Ayers spent six-plus seasons as a member of the Sixers coaching staff, including the stint as head coach in 2003-04. As the top assistant under Head Coach Larry Brown, Ayers helped guide the Sixers to five consecutive playoff appearances, including a trip to the NBA Finals in 2001.

Ayers coaching career also includes an eight-season run as head coach at The Ohio State University, where he led the Buckeyes to four postseason appearances and back-to-back Big Ten Championships in 1991 and 1992. He was named National Coach of the Year by The Associated Press in 1991.

Hawks to talk extension with Joe Johnson

Joe Johnson is the best player on the Atlanta Hawks roster, and they’d like to have him stick around. Although not a superstar, the versatile shooting guard has skills and should continue to be in All-Star team discussions for years to come.

I had heard they were planning on getting into this soon. Didn’t know when, though. Apparently quite soon. Sekou Smith of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports (via blog):

Multiple sources have confirmed that Hawks general manager Rick Sund is on an extended trip to the left coast, and part of his itinerary includes time in Los Angeles for face-to-face talks about a contract extension with Joe Johnson’s camp. A three-time All-Star, Johnson is heading into the final year of the five-year, $70 million deal he signed in August 2005 (which if traced back, you will realize was the rebirth of the franchise that has since made the playoffs in back-to-back years). With superstars LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh headlining next summer’s free agent crop, several teams are lining up to be major players.

Johnson isn’t worthy of the max and if he demands it the Hawks should balk. But assuming he’s reasonable, the two sides may be fairly close in their goals.

Jason Williams works out for Knicks

Point guard Jason Williams, known by his nickname “White Chocolate,” is trying to make an NBA comeback, and his first shot at earning a deal came from the New York Knicks.

The Associated Press reports that Williams has now worked out for the Knicks, but no contract has been offered just yet. Said the AP:

Williams, who worked out Tuesday, is attempting a return from retirement this summer and the Knicks claimed him off waivers last week. They will retain exclusive negotiating rights if they make a contract offer by Thursday.

It’s highly unlikely any team will offer Williams anything more than a one-year deal at the NBA minimum. And I wouldn’t be surprised if he gets no offer at all.

NBA fines Cavs, Rockets, Wolves for leaking schedule info

The 2009-10 regular season NBA schedule comes out Tuesday, but it’s already having an impact on a few teams. The AP reports:

The NBA has fined three teams an undisclosed amount for leaking details of their schedules before the league released them. The Cleveland Cavaliers, Houston Rockets and Minnesota Timberwolves were penalized, an official with knowledge of the decisions told The Associated Press on Monday.

It would be interesting to find out how the league knew exactly which teams revealed the info. I’ll update this blog entry with more on that if it comes out.

Timberwolves sign Ryan Hollins to offer sheet

The Minnesota Timberwolves today announced the team has signed restricted free-agent center Ryan Hollins to an offer sheet. Under the terms of the NBA’s Collective Bargaining Agreement, the Dallas Mavericks will have seven days upon receiving the offer sheet to match Minnesota’s offer. Several media outlets report that the deal may be for three years and a total of $7 million.

“We are excited about the opportunity to have Ryan Hollins on our team,” said David Kahn, Timberwolves President of Basketball Operations. “He is a lengthy, athletic center, with a lot of upside, who should complement Al and Kevin really well. We’ve had our eye on him the past several weeks and we are optimistic we can acquire him through this process.”

Hollins, a 7-0 center from UCLA, was originally selected with the 50th overall pick in the 2006 NBA Draft by the Charlotte Bobcats. He spent two-plus seasons with Charlotte before being traded to Dallas on Jan. 16, 2009. In 132 career games with the Bobcats and Mavericks, Hollins has averaged 2.7 points and 1.8 rebounds per game while shooting 51.8 percent from the field. He also appeared in nine playoff games for the Mavericks this spring, grabbing 24 total rebounds while shooting 57.1 percent from the field as Dallas advanced to the Western Conference Semifinals.

Jermaine O’Neal working hard

Talented veteran Miami Heat big-man Jermaine O’Neal has been more known for injury than anything else these past few years. But he’s been working hard to change that. Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel reports (via blog):

O’Neal, who has been a regular in the weight room and on the court at AmericanAirlines Arena the past two months, showing up about four times a week, is poised to take the next step, with eight weeks of work planned with noted Chicago trainer Tim Grover. Yes, the same Tim Grover who last summer so reinvigorated Dwyane Wade.

While appearances can be deceiving, O’Neal has impressed those in the weight room with his physique and appearance. Granted, that doesn’t necessarily mean he’ll ever be able to again explode off both knees.

It’s safe to say O’Neal will not ever return to being the player he once was, but there’s definite room for improvement over the level of his play the past few seasons, so good news that he’s working hard to make it happen.

Lamar Odom came close to joining Miami Heat

The South Florida Sun-Sentinel (Ira Winderman) reports: In an emotional, candid and introspective radio interview Friday, Los Angeles Lakers forward Lamar Odom revealed that he, indeed, stood on the verge of returning to South Florida as a free agent this week and insisted that he never attempted to use the Miami Heat as leverage. “I was really close,” Odom told ESPN-760 host Evan Cohen. “I weighed and I balanced every option. I did it 50 times, 60 times.” … “It was a tough decision,” he told the West Palm Beach station. “It was hard. Pat, Micky and Dwyane, I love those guys. Micky is an incredible owner. Of course, D-Wade is my friend. Pat? I don’t know what Pat is to me; he’s a little bit more special to me than just a coach. I look up to him tremendously. “It was hard.” … That, Odom said, made it difficult for him to inform Riley and Wade of his Thursday decision. “It was tough,” he said. “I sent them a text and let them know how appreciative I was, and I’ll probably get to speak to them face to face when I get down to Miami at the end of the month and I get set in my home and just relax and take some time out and reflect.”

OKC Thunder sign Kevin Ollie

The Oklahoma City Thunder have signed free agent guard Kevin Ollie to a contract, Executive Vice President and General Manager Sam Presti announced today. Per team policy, terms of the agreement were not announced. We’ll post contract details later today, here.

“We are excited to welcome Kevin Ollie to Oklahoma City,” Presti said. “He brings experience, leadership and professionalism to our team as we continue to develop our roster on and off the floor.”

Ollie, 36, has appeared in 637 NBA games over 12 seasons, averaging 3.8 points, 2.3 assists and 1.6 rebounds in 15.8 minutes per contest with Dallas, Orlando, Sacramento, Philadelphia, New Jersey, Chicago, Indiana, Milwaukee, Seattle, Cleveland and Minnesota. Last season, the 6-2 guard, averaged 4.0 points 2.3 assists, 1.5 rebounds and 17.0 minutes in 50 games (21 starts) with the Timberwolves.

InsideHoops.com editor says: Ollie is inexpensive, veteran point guard depth. He can teach Russell Westbrook some tricks of the trade.

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Milwaukee Bucks sign Hakim Warrick

The Milwaukee Bucks have signed forward Hakim Warrick (pronounced ha-KEEM) to a contract, General Manager John Hammond announced today. Warrick, 27, was the 19th overall pick in the 2005 NBA Draft by Memphis and spent all four of his NBA seasons with the Grizzlies.

The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel reported that the contract was expected to be a one-year deal in the $3 million to $3.5 million range.

Warrick (6-9, 219) owns career averages of 10.2 points and 4.3 rebounds per game over 307 NBA contests. He is a career 50 percent shooter from the field while connecting on 72.5 percent from the free throw line.

Last season, Warrick, averaged 11.6 points and 5.0 rebounds in 24.7 minutes per game. He appeared in all 82 games (7 starts) for the second time in his career (2006-07) and recorded career-highs in both steals (48) and blocked shots (39).

Warrick played four seasons at Syracuse University (2001-05), and as a sophomore started in all 35 games for the NCAA Champion Orange. 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. He finished his degree in three-and-one-half years and left Syracuse ranked second in free throws made (529) and attempted (803), and fourth in scoring (2,073 points) and rebounds (1,025).

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