Spurs add 3 to training camp roster

The San Antonio Spurs announced today that they have signed free agents Desmon Farmer, Devin Green and Darryl Watkins. Per team policy, terms of the deals were not disclosed.

Farmer, a 6-5 guard, spent last season playing for the Rio Grande Valley Vipers in the NBA Development League.  He appeared in 33 games, averaging 24.7 points (ranked second in the D-League), 4.1 rebounds and 4.1 assists in 38.3 minutes. He shot .473 (260-550) from the field, .418 (89-213) from three-point range and .840 (205-244) from the line.  The former USC Trojan started 2006-07 season with the Seattle Sonics seeing action in eight games and averaging 1.6 points and 1.1 assists in 4.0 minutes before being waived in January.  He spent the rest of the season with the Tulsa 66ers of the D-League, averaging 19.9 points, 3.9 rebounds and 2.7 assists in 32.8 minutes in 32 games. He spent all of the 2005-06 season with the 66ers. For his career Farmer has played in 88 D-League games, averaging 16.3 points, 3.4 rebounds and 2.2 assists in 29.8 minutes. In four seasons with the Trojans he averaged 13.3 points, 3.8 rebounds and 1.6 assists in 121 games.

Green, a 6-7 swingman, played on the Spurs summer league teams in Las Vegas and at the Rocky Mountain Revue in Salt Lake City.  He averaged 10.3 points and 3.7 rebounds in 25.7 minutes while shooting .522 (12-23) from the field in three games in Las Vegas.   At the Rocky Mountain Revue, Green appeared in four games, averaging 10.3 points, 5.3 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.25 steals in 28.0 minutes. Last season he split time with the L.A. Defenders in the D-League and Siviglia Wear Teramo of the Italian SerieA League.  Green played in 24 games for the Defenders averaging 16.4 points, 6.4 rebounds and 4.2 assists in 34.9 minutes while shooting .489 (153-313) from the field, .333 (20-60) from three-point range and .791 (68-86) from the foul line.  He saw action in 11 games for Sivglia averaging 10.6 points, 5.3 rebounds and 2.1 assists in 26.4 minutes. During the 2005-06 season Green appeared in 27 games for the L.A. Lakers averaging 0.9 points in 5.0 minutes.  Green played four seasons at Hampton University and averaged 14.3 points and 6.2 rebounds in 123 games.

Watkins spent part of the 2007-08 season with the Sacramento Kings averaging 1.3 and 1.3 rebounds in 7.9 minutes in nine games before being waived on 12/10.  The 6-11 center then joined the L.A. Defenders of the D-League.  He saw action in 18 games, including 16 starts, averaging 4.9 points and 5.7 rebounds in 19.8 minutes.  Midway through the season he was traded to the Iowa Energy where he played in 22 games, averaging 8.5 points and 5.9 rebounds in 22.4 minutes. For the season Watkins played in a combined 40 games, averaging 6.9 points and 5.8 rebounds in 20.1 minutes while shooting .523 (112-214) from the field and .654 (53-81) from the line.  Watkins played four seasons at Syracuse University averaging 6.0 points, 5.8 rebounds and 2.48 blocks in 106 career games.

The Spurs roster now stands at 17.

Summer winners

Aside from a Bulls shooting guard who scores a lot and feels he’s worth more than the $10 million per season Chicago is reportedly offering, every notable free agent in the league has a contract for the upcoming season. So, although more signings may occur, winners from this summer in the deals department are becoming clear.

The 76ers signed Elton Brand. They’re paying him a lot and didn’t get a steal, but what they are getting is an All-Star level power forward who, assuming he’s as good as he was before getting injured and stays hungry, can do damage in the East. This was the most impactful signing of the summer.

The Bucks traded for Richard Jefferson, and gave up no proven pieces in the process. They traded Mo Williams away for Luke Ridnour, who as a passer fits the team’s need at point guard more than Mo did. They drafted Joe Alexander, a dunking, running forward to come off the bench. They’re a winner for adding RJ.

The Blazers drafted extremely well, adding Jerryd Bayless, a hard-to-guard scoring point guard who appears ready to drop 20 points anytime he feels like it, and Rudy Fernandez, an impressive, already-successful overseas talent. They’ll also have Greg Oden active this year, though he was added to the squad a year ago thanks to a very lucky day in the draft lottery.

The Heat may have lucked out when the Bulls drafted Derrick Rose, because Michael Beasley may be the better player of the two.

The Bulls, thanks to draft lottery luck, are summer winners for getting Rose at all.

The Rockets traded for Ron Artest and didn’t give up any proven pieces to get him.

The Timberwolves traded for Mike Miller, giving no stars up in return, and got Kevin Love in the draft. Those are two nice players to put next to Al Jefferson. The team will still probably struggle, but there’s some interesting stuff on paper in Minnesota.

Possible winner: The Raptors traded TJ Ford for Jermaine O’Neal. If JO can stay healthy and transform into the All-Star player he used to be, Toronto is a big winner. But in recent seasons, even when healthy, O’Neal has been closer to “good” or sometimes “very good” than great.

Possible winner: The Clippers lost Brand, which obviously isn’t good, and Corey Maggette signed elsewhere, but they signed Baron Davis and traded for Marcus Camby. With B-Diddy, rookie Eric Gordon, Al Thornton, Camby and Chris Kaman, they now have a weird lineup that could be fun to watch. Worth keeping an eye on, but probably not a winner.

Watch InsideHoops.com for similar, longer features like this. They’ll appear in the regular portion of the site and may not be mentioned in any blog entry.

Mustafa Shakur to Spain

Euroleague.net reports: Tau Ceramica has completed its roster for the upcoming season by inking playmaker Mustafa Shakur to a one-year deal. Shakur (190, 24) arrives from Prokom Trefl Sopot, where he averaged 7.6 points and 2.1 assists in seven Euroleague games last season. He scored 4 points against Tau in Vitoria last season.

Gilbert Arenas out until December

The Washington Post (Ivan Carter) reports: Gilbert Arenas confirmed that he underwent a surgical procedure this morning that “cleaned out some debris” in his left knee. Arenas, who has undergone two surgeries to repair the left knee in the last two seasons, has been limited during the rehab process all summer and said he has planned all along on not participating in training camp or the preseason. Arenas, who signed a six-year, $111 million contract this summer, said he plans on returning to game action sometime in early December which would mean that he’d miss at least the season’s first month… “I just had some floating debris in there that was slowing me down,” said Arenas, who seemed to be in good spirits. “It was irritating the knee so we decided to go in there and clean it out. This should actually allow me to come back faster.”

Fan reactions are here.

Gerry McNamara to be in Jazz training camp

Former Syracuse shooting star Gerry McNamara, who won an NCAA championship with Carmelo Anthony, will be in training camp with the Utah Jazz, agent Bill Neff told InsideHoops.com editor Jeff Lenchiner. McNamara’s experience since college includes playing in Greece and Latvia, as well as the D-League.

With Deron Williams, Brevin Knight and Ronnie Price already on board in Utah, there isn’t really room for Gerry, but training camp experience is always helpful.

Nuggets sign Sonny Weems

The Denver Nuggets have signed G/F Sonny Weems to a contract, Nuggets Vice President of Basketball Operations Mark Warkentien announced today. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not released.

Weems was selected by the Chicago Bulls in the second round (39th overall) of the 2008 NBA Draft before being traded to Denver for a 2009 second-round draft pick.

In five games for the Nuggets entry in the 2008 NBA Summer League in Las Vegas this summer, Weems averaged 9.2 ppg and 3.0 rpg in 22.2 mpg.

Raef LaFrentz to have shoulder surgery

The Portland Trail Blazers announced today that center/forward Raef LaFrentz will undergo arthroscopic surgery on Friday, September 26 to repair a tear in the labrum of his right shoulder.

Dr. Neal ElAttrache will perform the surgery at the Kerlan-Jobe Orthopedic Clinic in Los Angeles, Calif.

“I was really hoping to avoid surgery,” said LaFrentz, who sustained the injury during Portland’s game at Seattle on February 22, 2008. “I was hopeful that an off-season regiment of physical therapy and treatment would heal the injury, but unfortunately it’s become clear now that I need to move forward with surgery.”

A timetable for LaFrentz’s return will be set following the arthroscopic surgery.

Warriors waive Kosta Perovic

The Golden State Warriors have waived center Kosta Perović, Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations Chris Mullin announced today.

Perović, 23, was selected by the Warriors in the second round (#38 overall) of the 2006 NBA Draft.  In seven games with Golden State this season, he averaged 1.4 points and 1.9 rebounds in 5.4 minutes per contest.  Additionally, the 7-2 center appeared in 21 games with the Bakersfield Jam of the NBA Development League, averaging 9.5 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 1.55 blocks in 23.3 minutes.

Golden State now has 17 players under contract.

InsideHoops.com editor says: Perovic wanted to be waived so he could sign overseas and get real minutes. He and the Warriors still like each other.

Lakers sign CJ Giles

The Los Angeles Lakers have signed free agent forward CJ Giles, it was announced today. Per team policy, terms of the agreement were not released.

Giles, a 6-11 forward who finished his collegiate career at Oregon State after playing two seasons at Kansas, averaged 6.3 points and 5.6 rebounds in ten games last season for the Beavers.

InsideHoops.com editor says: The Lakers continue to sign players who were pretty unimpressive in college, or played overseas yet didn’t do particularly well and weren’t even the best player on their team, etc. It’s unusual. But this is an end-of-the-bench signing that will likely end during or right at the end of training camp so it doesn’t matter too much. At least Giles gets a chance to prove himself, even if it doesn’t lead to being signed just yet.