San Antonio Spurs to sign Antonio McDyess

It’s been rumored that the San Antonio Spurs were the favorites to land veteran power forward Antonio McDyess, and that’s exactly what’s going to happen.

Wednesday evening, Adrian Wojnarowski (Yahoo) reported that the 34-year-old McDyess will join the Spurs, possibly signing a three-year deal for $15 million.

The Spurs are adding some nice pieces this summer. They already gained a terrific starting small forward in Richard Jefferson. The center spot is still weak, but McDyess handle that position for stretches.

Houston Rockets receive disabled player exception for Yao Ming

The Houston Rockets just received a bit of a boost from the NBA in regard to probably not having Yao Ming available this season. The AP reports: The Rockets applied for a disabled player exception from the NBA a few weeks ago, betting that their All-Star center will miss next season with a hairline fracture in his left foot. The NBA agreed that Yao’s return is unlikely, freeing up about $5.7 million that the Rockets used to sign free agent Trevor Ariza from the Lakers.

InsideHoops.com editor says: I am just speculating, but this probably means that the Rockets likely know for sure that Yao Ming will miss the season and have not yet chosen to announce it to the world. But they must have shown some pretty conclusive evidence to the NBA in order to land the exception a full 3.5 months before the regular season would start. Unfortunately, we must now assume that Yao Ming may not be on an NBA court for at least a year. Maybe the injury is so bad that rumors of his career being threatened are true. Hopefully not.

Houston Rockets sign Trevor Ariza

Houston Rockets sign Trevor Ariza

Houston Rockets General Manager Daryl Morey announced today that the team has signed free agent guard/forward Trevor Ariza to a multi-year contract. Per team policy, financial terms were not released.

“Trevor is a young, athletic wing player who will thrive in Rick Adelman’s system,” said Morey. “Each year in the league Trevor has improved. What he has accomplished at a young age is already impressive and we expect his improvement to continue.”

Ariza (6-8, 210, UCLA) holds career averages of 6.9 points (.470, 808-1718 FG), 3.8 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 1.14 steals in 311 games (52 starts) with the New York Knicks, Orlando Magic and L.A. Lakers. In 2008-09, Ariza emerged as a key contributor for the Lakers during the team’s title run. He appeared in a career-high 82 games (20 starts), averaging 8.9 points, 4.3 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1.67 steals in 24.4 minutes per game. Ariza scored in double figures 39 times, including a career-high 26 points (9-13 FG) vs. Dallas (3/15/09). The five-year NBA veteran also made his presence felt on the defensive side of the ball by ranking ninth in the NBA in steals per game. Overall last season, Ariza led the Lakers in steals 30 times and in blocks on seven occasions. He set his career high with five steals vs. Utah (1/2/09) and matched that total vs. Phoenix (2/26/09). Ariza added to his game in 2008-09 by becoming a perimeter threat for the Lakers, making a career-high 61 3-pointers (.319, 61-191 3FG). He also registered a double-double with 11 points and a season-high 11 rebounds vs. Sacramento (11/23/08). Ariza started all 23 postseason games for the Lakers during the 2009 NBA Playoffs, averaging 11.3 points (.497, 92-185 FG), 4.2 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.57 steals. He also led the Lakers with 40 3-point field goals made (.476, 40-84 3FG) and ranked among the league postseason leaders in steals per game (13th overall).

Selected by New York in the second round (43rd overall) of the 2004 NBA Draft, Ariza at the time became the youngest player to ever wear a Knicks uniform (19 years, 4 months and 4 days) during his rookie season of 2004-05. He was traded by New York along with Anfernee Hardaway to Orlando in exchange for Steve Francis on Feb. 22, 2006. After re-signing as a free agent with the Magic on July 27, 2006, Ariza went on to average 8.9 points (.539, 200-371 FG), 4.4 rebounds and 1.1 assists in 57 games (seven starts) with Orlando in 2006-07. He was acquired by the Lakers from the Magic in exchange for Brian Cook and Maurice Evans on Nov. 20, 2007.

Ariza, who declared for the NBA Draft following his freshman campaign, played in 25 games (23 starts) at UCLA. He averaged 11.6 points, 6.5 rebounds and a team-high 1.7 steals in 31.6 minutes per game in 2003-04.

Sacamento Kings sign first round pick Tyreke Evans

The Sacramento Kings today signed rookie guard Tyreke Evans to a contract, it was announced by Kings’ President of Basketball Operations Geoff Petrie. Terms of the contract were not disclosed. Evans was Sacramento’s first round selection (4th overall) of the 2009 NBA Draft out of the University of Memphis as an undergraduate.

InsideHoops.com editor says: Evans should be good. He’s a combo guard, but probably better as a scoring guard than at the point. But with shooting guard Kevin Martin leading the way offensively for the Kings, Evans will likely be used at PG.

San Antonio Spurs sign Malik Hairston

The San Antonio Spurs today announced that they have signed guard/forward Malik Hairston.  Per team policy terms of the deal were not disclosed.

The 6-6, 220-pound Hairston split the season between San Antonio and the Austin Toros, the Spurs affiliate in the NBA Development League. In 15 games with the Spurs, Hairston averaged 3.3 points and 1.9 rebounds in 10.3 minutes.  Hairston also appeared in 30 games for the Toros where he was third in the D-League in scoring with 22.9 points per game.  He also averaged 5.5 rebounds and 3.7 assists in 41.3 minutes and was named All-D-League Honorable Mention.

The former Oregon Duck spent the 2008 training camp with San Antonio where he averaged 5.3 points and 4.5 rebounds in six preseason games.  He was waived by the Spurs on 10/26.  Hairston was selected by Phoenix Suns with the 48th overall pick in the 2008 NBA Draft.  He was acquired by San Antonio from Phoenix in exchange for the draft rights to Goran Dragic.

Indiana Pacers sign first round draft pick Tyler Hansbrough

The Indiana Pacers announced Wednesday they have signed their No. 1 draft pick, Tyler Hansbrough, to a multi-year contract. Per club policy, terms of the contract were not disclosed.

Hansbrough, a 6-9, 250-pound forward from the University of North Carolina, is the all-time leading scorer in the Atlantic Coast Conference with 2,872 points. He is the only player in league history to earn First Team All-America and First Team All-ACC honors four times.

As a senior in 2008-09, he was named First Team All-America by Sporting News, USBWA, NABC and AP. He is the North Carolina Tar Heels’ all-time leading rebounder with 1,219 rebounds.

Hansbrough is currently playing with the Pacers’ summer league team which is participating in the Orlando Pro Summer League through Friday. The Pacers have won their first two games and play again on Wednesday (3:00 p.m.), Thursday (7:00 p.m.) and Friday (3:00 p.m.).

Milwaukee Bucks sign second round draft pick Jodie Meeks

The Milwaukee Bucks have signed Jodie Meeks to a multi-year contract, General Manager John Hammond announced today. Meeks (6-4, 208) was the 41st overall selection in the 2009 NBA Draft and will participate in the 2009 NBA Summer League in Las Vegas with the Bucks (July 10-16).

A junior selected out of the University of Kentucky, Meeks averaged 15.4 points in 81 games over three college seasons. He holds the school’s single-season record for three-pointers made (117) and is 33rd on the school’s all-time scoring list (1,246). In his junior season he averaged 23.7 points (sixth in the nation) on 46.3 percent shooting from the field and 40.6 percent from three-point range. Following the season, Meeks was an All-SEC First Team selection as well as an All-America Second Team selection by the Associated Press, Sporting News and USBWA. He was also USBWA District Player of the Year and First Team All-District by USBWA and NABC. Meeks was the first player in league history to earn four SEC Player of the Week honors in one season.

Meeks will be joined on Milwaukee’s Summer League team by 2009 first round pick Brandon Jennings, along with 2008 draft picks Joe Alexander and Luc Richard Mbah a Moute. The five-game schedule tips-off Friday (July 10) with a game against Dallas. The other four games are against Cleveland (July 12), Sacramento (July 13), Chicago (July 15) and Toronto (July 16). Bucks.com will cover all of Milwaukee’s summer league action.

Dallas Mavericks sign Quinton Ross

Dallas Mavericks sign Quinton Ross

The Dallas Mavericks announced today they have signed Quinton Ross. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Ross (6-6, 193) joins the Mavericks after spending the 2008-09 season with Memphis. He averaged 3.9 points, 1.9 rebounds and 17.1 minutes in 68 games (seven starts) with the Grizzlies. The five-year NBA veteran, who began his career as a rookie free agent with the L.A. Clippers, owns career averages of 4.6 points, 2.3 rebounds, 1.1 assists and 20.4 minutes in 370 games (158 starts).

“Quinton has been part of the Dallas basketball fabric for many years,” President of Basketball Operations Donnie Nelson said. “He played his high school ball under Royce Johnson at Kimball before attending Southern Methodist University. We are happy and proud to bring him home. His athleticism, defensive versatility and experience will add depth to our backcourt.”

A native of Dallas, Ross averaged 14.8 points, 5.5 rebounds and 1.9 assists in 119 games at SMU. He finished his four-year career as the school’s fourth all-time scoring leader (1,763 points).

InsideHoops.com editor says: Perfectly good backup to play limited minutes off the bench as a 9th – 12th man.

Read basketball fan reaction and discuss your own opinion in this forum topic.

Atlanta Hawks re-sign Mike Bibby and Zaza Pachulia

The Atlanta Hawks on July 13 signed unrestricted free agents Mike Bibby and Zaza Pachulia to new contracts, according to Executive Vice President/General Manager Rick Sund. Per team policy, terms of the deals were not disclosed.

“We are very pleased to keep Mike as part of our team,” Sund said. “His consistent production and leadership over the last year-and-a-half have been major components to the team’s success. In all of our postseason meetings and discussions, Coach Woodson stressed the importance of keeping him on board. Mike’s own desire to return to our team speaks to the confidence he has in the direction of the franchise, and in his teammates and coaches.”

Last year, Bibby became one of the league’s most dangerous long-range threats in his first full season in Atlanta, finishing 8th in the NBA with 167 3FGM (the sixth-most in a season in Hawks history), hitting .390, the third-best percentage of his career. He concluded the season averaging 14.9 ppg, 5.0 apg, 3.5 rpg and 1.2 spg in 34.7 mpg (.435 FG%, .789 FT%) in 79 starts.

Bibby came to the Hawks from the Sacramento Kings in exchange for Anthony Johnson, Tyronn Lue, Shelden Williams, Lorenzen Wright and a 2008 second-round draft pick on February 16, 2008. He has played in 802 career regular season games and 69 playoff contests, including all 11 during the Hawks’ run into the second round of the 2009 NBA Playoffs.

“Zaza is a valuable piece of our frontcourt rotation,” Sund added. “In addition to his rebounding ability and scoring touch, his hustle and passionate play have connected with his teammates and the fans. He has excelled off the court as well, becoming a fixture in the Atlanta community.”

Pachulia appeared in 77 games last season (26 starts), and averaged 6.2 ppg and 5.7 rpg (career-high .497 FG%, .709 FT%). He also tied for 30th in the NBA in offensive rpg (2.2). Pachulia played in all 11 postseason games (one starting assignment), and put in 6.9 ppg and 6.9 rpg, including 18 rebounds in the First Round game four win in Miami.

The Republic of Georgia native originally signed with the Hawks as a restricted free agent on August 11, 2005. He was selected in the second round (42nd overall) of the 2003 NBA Draft by the Orlando Magic.

Mike Krzyzewski to continue coaching USA Basketball’s national team

The Boston Globe (Marc J. Spears) reports (via blog): Two sources close to the situation told The Boston Globe today that Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski will be back for another tour coaching USA Basketball’s national team. The announcement is expected to be made in a press conference Las Vegas prior to a USA Basketball mini-camp featuring young prospects for the national team on July 22-25.