The NBA announced today that Brad Miller of the Sacramento Kings has been suspended without pay for five games for violating the terms of the NBA/NBPA Anti-Drug Program. Miller’s suspension will begin with the first game of the 2008-09 NBA regular season for which he is eligible and physically able to play.
Wizards sign Dee Brown to offer sheet
Washington Wizards President Ernie Grunfeld announced today that the team has signed restricted free agent point guard Dee Brown to an offer sheet. Per team policy, terms of the contract were not released. The Utah Jazz will now have seven days to match the Wizards’ offer under the terms of the NBA’s Collective Bargaining Agreement.
“Dee is a player who can bring quickness and energy to our team” said Grunfeld. “We like that he gives us depth and a different look at the point guard position.”
Brown (6-0, 185) played last season for Galatasaray Café Crown in Turkey, where he averaged 12.3 points per game. He was originally drafted by Utah with the 46th overall pick of the 2006 NBA Draft and averaged 1.9 points and 1.7 assists in 49 games for the Jazz during the 2006-07 season. Brown is a product of the University of Illinois, where he finished his four-year career as the winningest player in school history (114 games, 114-23 overall record) and helped lead the Illini to the NCAA Championship Game as a junior in 2005.
Clippers renounce rights to five players
The Los Angeles Clippers today renounced their rights to free agents Dan Dickau, Shaun Livingston, Boniface Ndong, Smush Parker and James Singleton.
Per the NBA Collective Bargaining Agreement, a renounced player no longer counts toward team salary, so teams use renouncement to gain additional cap room. After renouncing a player, the team is still permitted to re-sign such player, but the team must either have enough salary cap room to fit the salary, or sign the player using the Minimum Salary exception. After renouncing a player, a team can still trade the player in a sign-and-trade agreement.
Warriors sign Corey Maggette
The Golden State Warriors have signed free agent forward Corey Maggette to a contract, Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations Chris Mullin announced today. Per team policy, terms of the agreement were not announced.
Maggette, 28, appeared in 70 games (65 starts) last season with the Los Angeles Clippers, averaging 22.1 points, 5.6 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.01 steals in 35.7 minutes per contest. He ranked 11th in the NBA in scoring, fourth in free throws made and sixth in free throws attempted, while shooting 45.8% (458-1,000 FG) from the field, 38.4% (78-203 3FG) from three-point range and 81.2% (553-681 FT) from the line. Maggette, who established a new career high in three-point percentage last season, scored 30-or-more points eight times and tallied 20-or-more points 43 times – including in 38 of his final 44 games played.
“We are really excited to add a player of Corey’s ability to our team,” said Mullin. “He’s been one of the most productive players in our league for the last several years and provides us with additional versatility and veteran leadership.”
A nine-year NBA veteran who has spent the last eight seasons with the Clippers, Maggette owns career averages of 16.1 points, 5.1 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 29.1 minutes in 589 games with Orlando and Los Angeles. The 6’6’’ 225-pound Maggette, who has averaged more than 20 points per game and led the Clippers in scoring three times in the last five seasons, had his finest NBA campaign in 2004-05, establishing career highs in scoring (22.2 ppg), rebounding (6.0 rpg) and assists (3.4 apg). A career 81.9% shooter from the free throw line, the Duke University product has shot better than 80% from the stripe in each of the last seven seasons, while also ranking in the NBA’s top-five in free throws made and top-10 in free throws attempted in four of the last five seasons.
Maggette will wear uniform #50.
Magic sign Mickael Pietrus
The Orlando Magic have signed free agent guard-forward Mickael Pietrus (MY-kel PEET-rus), General Manager Otis Smith announced today. Per team policy, terms of the deal are not disclosed.
“Mickael brings versatility and athleticism to our roster,” said Smith. “He is a solid defender who will fit in very well with our team. We are excited to add Mickael and feel he can help us reach our ultimate goal.”
Pietrus (6”6”, 215, 2/7/82) played in 66 games (16 starts) last season with Golden State, averaging 7.2 ppg., 3.7 rpg. and 1.00 stlpg. in 20.0 minpg. He also shot .361 (66-183) from three-point range. Pietrus scored in double figures 22 times, including a season-high 23 points on Feb. 29 vs. Philadelphia, and recorded three double-doubles.
Selected in the first round (11th overall) of the 2003 NBA Draft by Golden State, Pietrus has appeared in 310 career NBA regular season games, all with the Warriors, averaging 8.6 ppg. and 3.4 rpg. in 21.0 minpg. He has also played in 11 career playoff games, averaging 6.0 ppg. and 3.8 rpg. in 19.0 minpg.
Prior to competing in the NBA, Pietrus played professionally in France for four seasons with Pau Orthez (PO OR-tez), making his pro debut at the age of 17. He played in 130 career games in both the French Pro-A League and the Euroleague, he averaged 8.6 ppg., 3.0 rpg. and 1.7 apg. Pietrus played for the French National Team at the 2006 FIBA World Championships.
Nets move to Brooklyn taking forever
The New York Daily News (Julian Garcia) reports: The Nets are still scheduled to move to Brooklyn. But as for exactly when that will happen, not even owner Bruce Ratner can say. At the press conference to introduce new players Yi Jianlian and Bobby Simmons Wednesday, Ratner acknowledged that the move, which in recent months had been pushed back to the start of the 2010-2011 season, may not occur until that season is already underway. Ratner said that the move could occur late in the year. Ratner’s spokesperson, Barry Baum, clarified the remarks, saying that the team has acknowledged for awhile that the move may not occur until the 2010 “calendar year” as opposed to before that season. “When (Ratner) says late in the year, he means late in 2010,” Baum said.
Spurs to sign Roger Mason
The Washington Times (Mike Jones) reports: Roger Mason Jr. is cashing in on his career year with the Washington Wizards, signing a two-year deal with the San Antonio Spurs, Mason said in a phone conversation just a few minutes ago. Mason had been wooed by the Spurs last summer, but instead chose to sign a one-year $770,610 with the beleif that he could benefit from the continuity he had with the Wizards.
Bucks sign Luc Richard Mbah a Moute
The Milwaukee Bucks signed Luc Richard Mbah a Moute to a multi-year contract, General Manager John Hammond announced today. Mbah a Moute (6-8, 230 lbs) was the 37th overall selection in the 2008 NBA Draft and will participate in the 2008 Las Vegas Summer League with the Bucks (July 12-20).
A native of Yaounde, Cameroon, Mbah a Moute played three seasons for the UCLA Bruins and left the school as the 15th leading rebounder with 775. In 107 games (106 starts) with the Bruins, Mbah a Moute averaged 8.7 points and 7.2 rebounds while shooting 50.3 percent from the field. As a junior he was named Honorable Mention All-Pac-10 and Honorable Mention All-Defensive Team as he produced 8.8 points and 6.0 rebounds (T-11th in the Pac-10). He has been a part of UCLA teams that reached the Final Four three consecutive years (2006-2008).
Mbah a Moute, pronounced Bah – ah – Moo-tay, will join Bucks first round draft pick Joe Alexander along with Ramon Sessions and Awvee Storey on the Bucks Summer League team. The five-game schedule kicks of Saturday against Memphis and includes games against Detroit (July 15), Denver (July 17), Minnesota (July 19) and Cleveland (July 20). Bucks.com will cover the all of Milwaukee’s Summer League action.
Heat sign Mario Chalmers
The Miami HEAT announced today that they have signed guard Mario Chalmers, the 34th pick in the 2008 NBA Draft. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Chalmers, an early entry candidate after spending three seasons at the University of Kansas, was acquired by the HEAT in a draft day trade with the Minnesota Timberwolves in exchange for two 2009 second round picks and cash considerations.
Chalmers was named Most Outstanding Player of the 2008 NCAA Tournament Final Four, and is a three-time Big 12 All-Defensive Team selection. He earned Second Team All-Big 12 honors in his junior season, and as a sophomore, was named Co-Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year and earned Third Team All-Conference honors.
During his three seasons as a Jayhawk, he averaged 12.2 points, 3.8 assists and 2.57 steals, while shooting 48.6 percent from the field and 41.9 percent from three-point range. He led the Big 12 in steals in all three of his seasons and currently ranks as the second all-time leader in Kansas history with 283 steals. He holds the single-season mark for steals in a season with 97, set during both his sophomore and junior seasons and also ranks sixth all-time in three-point field goals made (180), 12th in assists (420) and 24th in scoring (1,341).
Chalmers was born in Anchorage, Alaska and attended Bartlett High School. His cousin, Lionel Chalmers, played in the NBA with the L.A. Clippers. His other cousin, Chris Smith, played with the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Nets sign Chris Douglas-Roberts
The New Jersey Nets have signed their second round selection in the 2008 NBA Draft, Chris Douglas-Roberts, Nets President Rod Thorn announced today. Per team policy, terms of the agreement were not released.
Douglas-Roberts, selected by the Nets in the second round with the 40th overall pick, was named Conference USA Player-of-the-Year and averaged 18.1 points and 4.1 rebounds during his junior year to help lead Memphis to the national championship game against Kansas. The 6-7 guard was also named First Team All-American for the 2007-08 season. In three seasons at Memphis, Douglas-Roberts averaged 14.2 points and 3.7 rebounds in 109 career games.