Spurs sign Jonathon Simmons

Spurs sign Jonathon Simmons

The San Antonio Spurs today announced that they have signed shooting guard Jonathon Simmons.

Simmons, 6-6/195, played on the Spurs 2015 Summer League team in Las Vegas where he helped lead the team to the Summer League Championship, averaging 17.0 points, 4.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.71 steals in 24.6 minutes while shooting .519 (41-79) from the field and .700 (35-50) from the foul line in seven games. He was named MVP of the championship game, finishing with a team-high 23 points (7-14 FG, 9-12 FT), 3 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 steals in 24 minutes.

The 25-year-old Simmons has spent the past two seasons playing for the Austin Spurs, the NBA D-League affiliate of the San Antonio Spurs. The Texas native made the team after attending an open tryout in Austin in 2013. Last season Simmons was named to the NBA D-League All-Defensive Third Team while appearing in all 50 games, averaging 15.2 points, 4.3 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 1.00 steals in 33.8 minutes. Simmons shot .494 (277-561) from the field, .398 (51-128) from three-point range and .750 (153-204) from the charity stripe.

During his two years with Austin, Simmons appeared in 94 games, averaging 12.7 points, 4.4 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.00 blocks in 28.8 minutes while shooting .506 (446-882) from the field, .352 (76-216) from beyond the arc and .736 (22-303) from the foul line.

Prior to turning pro Simmons played one season (2011-12) at the University of Houston. The former Cougar appeared in all 30 games as a redshirt junior, averaging 14.7 points, 5.0 rebounds and 2.2 assists in 30.1 minutes. Before transferring to Houston, Simmons played his sophomore season (2009-10) at Midland Junior College and his freshman season (2008-09) at Paris Junior College.

Stanley Johnson signs rookie contract

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The Detroit Pistons announced today that the team has signed first-round draft pick Stanley Johnson to a contract.

All players selected in the first round of the draft are guaranteed to receive a contract, assuming they wish to enter the league right away. Therefore, this is a standard signing and was expected.

Johnson, the eighth overall pick by the Pistons in the 2015 NBA Draft, averaged a team-high 16.2 points, 6.8 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 1.8 steals and 1.0 blocks while shooting 57.7% from the field at the recently concluded NBA Orlando Summer League.

A native of Los Angeles, Calif., the 6-foot-7 forward from the University of Arizona, averaged a team-high 13.8 points, 6.5 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 1.5 steals and 28.4 minutes in 38 games. The 2015 Pac-12 Freshman of the Year was the lone freshman named to the All-Pac-12 or NABC All-District 20 First team. He was also named to the Pac-12 Tournament All-Tournament Team and was one of five finalists for the inaugural Julius Erving Small Forward of the Year Award. Johnson led all freshmen in the Pac-12 in scoring (13.8 ppg), steals (1.5 spg), free throws made and free throw attempts and was one of just two freshmen in major college basketball conferences to average at least 13.5 points and 6.0 rebounds (Jahlil Okafor). He scored in double-figures in 30 of 38 games and ranked second on the team in rebounds and steals.

Johnson has won three gold medals with Team USA, (2011 U-16, 2012 U-17, 2014 U-18 FIBA Americas Championships) earning MVP honors in the 2014 U-18 FIBA Americas Championships after averaging team-highs of 14.0 points and 2.2 steals. At Mater Dei High School, Johnson became the first player in California to win four-straight upper-division state titles. He participated in the 2014 Jordan Classic, the 2013 Under Armour Elite 24 Games and the 2013 Nike Global Games. Johnson was named a McDonalds All-American, MaxPreps National Player of the Year, a Parade All-American, was named to the USA Today All-USA first team and was one of three national finalists for the Naismith Trophy High Schools Player of the Year.

Kings close to signing Seth Curry

According to ESPN.com the Sacramento Kings are close to giving Stephen Curry’s brother Seth a spot in the league:

Seth Curry and brother Stephen Curry are about to be NBA neighbors, according to league sources.

Sources told ESPN.com that Seth Curry and the Sacramento Kings are in the process of finalizing a two-year deal worth just shy of $2 million in the wake of his strong summer league performance with the New Orleans Pelicans.

Jared Dudley out after herniated disc surgery

Jared Dudley out after herniated disc surgery

The Washington Wizards announced that forward Jared Dudley had successful surgery today to repair a herniated disc in his lower back. He will begin the rehab process immediately and is expected to return in approximately three to four months.

“During our discussions with Jared and his agent, Mark Bartelstein, we were made aware that he played with pain for a significant part of last season due to this injury,” said Wizards President Ernie Grunfeld. “After jointly consulting with our team doctors and several specialists, we collectively determined that this proactive approach was the best course of action to have him ready for the upcoming season and to prevent the risk of further injury.”

The procedure was performed by Dr. Drew Dossett in Dallas, TX. Dudley missed four games last season due to a sore lower back in addition to playing through pain caused by the injury.

“Although I’m disappointed that I won’t be on the floor with my new teammates for the start of training camp, I’m confident that having this surgery now will allow me to perform at my best and contribute throughout the season,” said Dudley. “I appreciate the patience and support of the organization and I can assure my teammates and the fans that I will work extremely hard to be on the floor as soon as possible.”

The Wizards acquired Dudley from Milwaukee in exchange for a protected future second round pick on July 9. He averaged 7.2 points and 3.1 rebounds with the Bucks last season, shooting .468 from the field and .385 from three-point range in 72 games (including 22 starts) and hit .571 (8-14) from three-point range over six games in Milwaukee’s first round series with Chicago during the 2015 NBA Playoffs.

Rockets re-sign K.J. McDaniels

Rockets re-sign K.J. McDaniels

Houston Rockets General Manager Daryl Morey announced today that the team has re-signed restricted free agent K.J. McDaniels to a multi-year deal.

McDaniels (6-6, 200, Clemson) played 62 games as a rookie for the Houston Rockets and Philadelphia 76ers during the 2014-15 season recording a combined 7.9 points, 3.2 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 1.1 blocks in 21.8 minutes per game.

McDaniels was drafted 32nd overall in the 2014 NBA Draft by the Philadelphia 76ers. He was acquired from Philadelphia by Houston in a trade on Feb.19, 2015.

Raptors sign Ronald Roberts

Raptors sign Ronald Roberts

The Toronto Raptors have signed forward Ronald Roberts to a multi-year contract.

He will likely be used as a backup and play limited minutes off the bench.

Roberts, 6-foot-8, 225 pounds, recently participated with the Raptors’ entry in the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas, where he averaged 10.3 points, 9.5 rebounds and 23.5 minutes in four games. Roberts posted a double-double (14 points, 12 rebounds) in the opener July 10 against Sacramento.

Roberts spent the 2014-15 season with the Delaware 87ers (NBA D-League), Santa Cruz Warriors (NBA D-League) and San Miguel Beermen (Philippines Basketball Association).

Roberts averaged 10.7 points and 6.6 rebounds over four seasons at St. Joseph’s and helped the Hawks claim the 2014 A-10 Tournament title.

Richard Jefferson to join Cavaliers

The Cleveland Cavaliers were just two wins away from winning the 2015 NBA championship, and aside from regaining the health of Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love, the supporting cast is getting stronger. Jefferson doesn’t have a lot left in the tank, but he’s still a very good backup provided he plays very limited minutes. Here’s the Akron Beacon Journal reporting:

Richard Jefferson to join Cavaliers

Richard Jefferson is expected to sign a one-year deal with the Cavaliers for the veteran’s minimum, a league source confirmed. Jefferson, 35, shot 43 percent from 3-point range primarily as a reserve last season with the Dallas Mavericks.

Jefferson was widely expected to return to the Mavericks, but when their deal with free agent center DeAndre Jordan fell through, the Mavs allowed their other free agents to shop elsewhere again if they could find a better situation to win.

Pacers re-sign Rodney Stuckey

Pacers re-sign Rodney Stuckey

The Indiana Pacers have re-signed veteran free agent guard Rodney Stuckey to a contract.

“I felt all along it was important to re-sign Rodney,” said Pacers President of Basketball Operations Larry Bird. “He proved to us last year how much he could help. He’s a pro and a good teammate. We’re really happy to have him back. He added a lot to our team, on and off the court.”

Stuckey, a 6-5, 205-pound guard played the 2014-15 NBA season with the Pacers and averaged 12.6 points, 3.5 rebounds and 3.1 assists in 71 games. Prior to that he played seven seasons with the Detroit Pistons. He was a No. 1 pick of the Pistons (15th overall) in the 2007 NBA Draft after playing collegiately at Eastern Washington. While with the Pistons, Stuckey had a career average of 13.4 points per game with a career high 16.6 average in 2009-10. He made the NBA’s All-Rookie second team after the 2007-08 season.

It`s Reggie Jackson time in Detroit

Here’s the Detroit News reporting on Pistons point guard Reggie Jackson, who has been handed a very large sum of money to life the squad to a brighter future:

Reggie Jackson might not be another Mr. Big Shot.

But he is now, officially, the best shot for the Pistons to end this era of irrelevance, one that was at least symbolically ushered in by an ill-advised trade — Chauncey Billups for Allen Iverson — in November 2008.

This franchise has been searching in vain for a leader — on the floor and in his prime — ever since, spiraling from mutiny to malaise. And the underlying message Monday, as president/coach Stan Van Gundy announced Jackson’s five-year, $80 million extension during a news conference at The Palace, was as much about that as anything else.

Jackson didn’t bother holding up a No. 1 jersey — the same one Billups wore in the championship heyday of a decade ago — because “he’s already worn it,” Van Gundy noted.

Spurs win 2015 summer league championship

Spurs win 2015 summer league championship

Spurs win 2015 summer league championship

Here’s the Arizona Republic reporting on the Spurs and Suns, who Monday in Las Vegas battled for the 2015 summer league championship:

The Suns’ Summer League rotation of hot scoring hands turned to rookie free agent Mike James on Monday night, but even his 32-point game was not enough to bring the league tournament’s championship trophy to Phoenix.

James scored 23 second-half points, but San Antonio overcame an early 10-point hole to down the Suns 93-90 at Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas.

The Suns ended the 24-team tournament with their sloppiest game. They committed 18 turnovers and had three players – T.J. Warren, Archie Goodwin and Devin Booker – foul out as the Summer League’s first female head coach, Becky Hammon, led the Spurs (6-1) to a win with two roster players – league MVP Kyle Anderson and championship-game MVP Jonathan Simmons.

James, an explosive 6-foot-1 point guard, hit 10 of 18 shots with 3-of-6 shooting from the 3-point line and 9-for-11 free throw shooting. He also had eight rebounds, four assists, three steals and five turnovers.