NBA Blog – NBA Basketball Blog – Page 777 – NBA Blog: The NBA basketball news blog section of Inside Hoops

Hawks sign Kris Humphries

The Atlanta Hawks have signed forward Kris Humphries, it was announced today by President of Basketball Operations/Head Coach Mike Budenholzer.

“As we explored opportunities to add to our team after the trade deadline, we felt it was important to prioritize experience and versatility,” Budenholzer said. “Kris is a versatile veteran with playoff experience who fits well with our group and within our system. We are fortunate to have Kris join our team and would like to welcome him to the Hawks family.”

Humphries, in his 12th NBA season, has recorded career regular season averages of 6.9 points and 5.6 rebounds in 18.3 minutes (.466 FG%, .696 FT%) in 723 games (199 starts) with Utah, Toronto, Dallas, Brooklyn, Boston, Washington and Phoenix.

He was originally selected in the first round (14th overall) of the 2004 NBA Draft by the Jazz following his freshman season at the University of Minnesota.

He will wear uniform no. 43.

Timberwolves arena renovation update

Part of the live NBA experience is the arena: how it looks, feels to be there, the views of the court, the sound system, everything. The venue matters. While of course the main point of attending a game is to actually watch the court, an awesome arena makes the experience better. Here’s the Minneapolis Star Tribune blog reporting the latest Timberwolves arena renovation news:

A Minneapolis City Council committee is expected to vote Tuesday on the final design, contractor costs and budget for the $129 million Target Center renovation project.

The city, which owns the building, will pay $74.5 million for the overhaul. The Minnesota Timberwolves and operator AEG will pay the balance.

Contractors M.A. Mortenson and Thor Construction have agreed to a guaranteed maximum price (GMP) of $102.8 million.

Raptors sign Jason Thompson, release Anthony Bennett

The Toronto Raptors have signed NBA veteran power forward Jason Thompson.

To make room on the roster the Raptors released forward Anthony Bennett. Bennett appeared in 19 games, totaling 28 points, 23 rebounds and 84 minutes.

Thompson, 6-foot-11, 250 pounds, is in his eighth season. He has appeared in 569 career regular season games, averaging 9.0 points, 6.7 rebounds and 25.5 minutes.

“We are pleased to add a player like Jason who has logged quality minutes in more than 500 career games,” said Raptors President and General Manager Masai Ujiri.

A first-round selection (12th overall) by Sacramento in 2008, Thompson spent seven seasons with the Kings before joining Golden State this season. His best statistical campaign came in 2009-10 when he averaged 12.5 points, 8.5 rebounds and 31.4 minutes.

“We thank Anthony for his professionalism and for his service to our team and community,” said Ujiri. “We know he’s on his way to becoming an excellent NBA player but as we approach the end of the season Jason will provide us with a veteran presence that we need.”

Suns sign Phil Pressey to second 10-day contract

The Phoenix Suns today signed point guard Phil Pressey to a second 10-day contract. Pressey initially signed with the Suns on Feb. 20.

In four games with the Suns, Pressey has averaged 5.0 points, 6.0 assists and 1.0 steals, with one double-digit scoring performance (10 points vs. Brooklyn on Feb. 25) and one double-digit assist performance (10 assists at the L.A. Clippers on Feb. 22). An NBA veteran in his third season, he played in 14 games with the Philadelphia 76ers earlier this season before averaging 13.0 points and 6.4 assists in 25 games with the Idaho Stampede of the NBA Development League.

A 5-11, 175-pound guard, Pressey played in 139 NBA games (11 starts) with Boston and Philadelphia before joining the Suns. The 25-year-old played his first two seasons with the Celtics, averaging 3.1 points and 2.9 assists in 13.9 minutes in 125 games over 2013-14 and 2014-15. After going undrafted in 2013, Pressey recorded four double-digit scoring games as a rookie with Boston, including a career-high 20 points at Washington on Jan. 22, 2014. Pressey twice recorded his career-high of 13 assists in the 2013-14 season.

Originally the first GATORADE Call-Up in the NBA this season when he signed with Philadelphia on Nov. 4, Pressey averaged 13.0 points, 6.4 assists, 4.4 rebounds and 1.7 steals in 25 games with Idaho after being waived by the 76ers on Dec. 4. His averages in assists and steals ranked fifth and 11th, respectively, among D-League leaders at the time he first signed with the Suns.

Hornets sign Jorge Gutierrez to second 10-day contract

Charlotte Hornets General Manager Rich Cho announced today that the team has signed guard Jorge Gutierrez to a second 10-day contract. Gutierrez signed his first 10-day contract with Charlotte on Feb. 20 and has appeared in one game, tallying four points, two assists and one steal vs. Cleveland on Feb. 24.

The 6-3 Gutierrez appeared in 22 games (20 starts) for the Canton Charge in the NBA Development League this season, averaging 11.3 points, 5.7 assists, 4.2 rebounds and 2.2 steals in 27.8 minutes per game. Gutierrez scored in double figures in 13 games and has handed out 10-or-more assists twice. He recorded his first D-League triple-double with 18 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists on Jan. 9 vs. the Los Angeles D-Fenders at the NBA D-League Showcase.

Prior to his time with Charlotte, the Chihuahua, Mexico, native appeared in 35 career NBA games (three starts) over two seasons with the Brooklyn Nets and Milwaukee Bucks, averaging 3.3 points, 1.5 assists and 1.3 rebounds in 12.0 minutes. He saw action in 15 games with the Nets in 2013-14 and played in 10 games each for the Nets and Bucks last season. Gutierrez began the 2015-16 season as a member of the Bucks preseason roster, but was waived on Oct. 21.

After a four-year career at the University of California, Gutierrez initially joined the Charge in 2012-13. Since then, he has played in 122 games (103 starts) for the team, with career averages of 12.0 points, 5.6 assists, 4.9 rebounds and 1.7 steals in 30.9 minutes per game. In 2013-14, while playing for current Hornets assistant coach Steve Hetzel, he earned First Team All-Defensive and Second Team All-D-League honors after averaging career highs of 13.9 points, 6.9 assists, 5.7 rebounds and 32.7 minutes played.

Mo Williams out at least two more weeks with knee injury

Cleveland Cavaliers guard Mo Williams will be OUT for the next two weeks as he continues treatment and rehabilitation on his left knee (Chondromalacia).

Before returning to full basketball related activities, he will be reevaluated and his status will be updated at the appropriate time.

Williams missed the Cavaliers previous two games at Toronto and at Washington.

Spurs sign Andre Miller

The San Antonio Spurs today announced that they have signed guard Andre Miller.

Miller, 6-3/200, ranks ninth in NBA history in assists and has handed out 8,495 helpers in his career. The 17-year veteran started this season with Minnesota, averaging 3.4 points and 2.2 assists in 10.8 minutes while shooting .621 (36-58) from the field over 26 games before being waived by the Timberwolves on Feb. 25.

Originally drafted by Cleveland as the eighth overall pick in the first round of the 1999 NBA Draft, Miller has played for a total of eight teams, including the LA Clippers, Denver, Philadelphia, Portland, Washington and Sacramento. The former University of Utah guard holds career averages of 12.6 points, 6.6 assists, 3.7 rebounds and 1.19 steals in 31.1 minutes while shooting .460 from the floor and .807 from the free throw line in 1,291 career appearances, which ranks 20th all-time.

Miller will wear number 24 for the Spurs.

Spurs waive Ray McCallum

The San Antonio Spurs requested waivers on guard Ray McCallum today.

McCallum, who was in his first season with the Spurs, was acquired from the Sacramento Kings in exchange for a future second round draft pick on July 9, 2015. He saw action in 31 games for the Silver and Black, averaging 2.2 points, 1.1 assists and 1.0 rebounds in 8.3 minutes.

A three-year NBA veteran, McCallum has appeared in 144 career games, averaging 5.9 points, 2.4 assists and 2.0 rebounds in 18.0 minutes.

The Spurs roster now stands at 14.

Heat waive Beno Udrih

The Miami HEAT announced today that they have waived guard Beno Udrih. It was a contract buyout, as agreed to by the player and the team.

According to the South Florida Sun Sentinel, “the amount of Udrih’s buyout agreement is believed to be enough just to accommodate Johnson’s contract, a nominal amount, in the $50,000 range. However, if Udrih is claimed off waivers, the Heat then would immediately gain enough room below the luxury-tax ceiling to add at least one more player.”

Udrih appeared in 36 games (five starts) with the HEAT this season and averaged 4.4 points, 2.5 assists, 1.8 rebounds and 16.3 minutes while shooting 43.4 percent from the field, 33.3 percent from three-point range and 88.2 percent from the foul line. He was originally acquired by the HEAT, along with Jarnell Stokes, via trade with the Memphis Grizzlies in exchange for Mario Chalmers and James Ennis earlier this season on November 10.

Brandan Wright out indefinitely with knee injury

After leaving in the third quarter during Saturday’s game in Phoenix, Grizzlies forward/center Brandan Wright underwent a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), which revealed a sprain of the medial collateral ligament (MCL) in his right knee, the team announced today. Wright will be out indefinitely, but no surgery will be required.

“This is an unfortunate development for Brandan and our team,” Grizzlies General Manager Chris Wallace said. “Brandan had been playing his best basketball of the season recently and showing the positive impact he has on our roster. We expect a full recovery and will have further updates when appropriate.”

Wright (6-10, 210) has averaged 6.9 points on 67.3 percent shooting with 3.6 rebounds and 1.25 blocks in 17.7 minutes in 12 games (two starts) this season, his first with the Grizzlies and eighth in the NBA.