steve novak – NBA Blog – NBA Basketball Blog

Steve Novak hoping for return to Bucks

Here’s the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reporting on outside-shooting veteran big man Steve Novak:

The 33-year-old has been working out in Las Vegas this week with Bucks guard Michael Carter-Williams, and both of them have showed up to support the team’s entry in the NBA Summer League.

But at this point Novak has no guarantees he will return. The 6-foot-10 forward and former Marquette star is a free agent and is waiting to see how the Bucks will fill out their 15-man roster…

The Bucks already have made two big moves in free agency, signing forward Mirza Teletovic to a three-year, $30 million contract and point guard Matthew Dellavedova to a four-year, $38 million deal.

Twelve of the team’s 15 roster spots are filled. Restricted free agent center Miles Plumlee could return, which would leave just two spots. The Bucks likely will be looking for another wing player in addition to the possibility of bringing Novak back.

Bucks sign Steve Novak, waive Chris Copeland

The Milwaukee Bucks have signed free agent forward Steve Novak, General Manager John Hammond announced today. In a related transaction, the Bucks requested waivers on forward Chris Copeland.

“Steve has always been a terrific shooter from distance,” said Hammond. “He’s a great teammate who can provide some veteran leadership to our young roster, and we’re excited to welcome him back to Milwaukee.”

Novak, 32, has appeared in seven games for the Oklahoma City Thunder this season prior to being traded to Denver on Feb. 18. He has appeared in 456 career games (six starts), averaging 4.7 points and 1.3 rebounds while shooting 43.2% from three-point range in 10 seasons with Houston, L.A. Clippers, Dallas, San Antonio, New York, Toronto, Utah and Oklahoma City. The Marquette University product was drafted by Houston with the 32nd overall pick of the 2006 NBA Draft.

In 24 games (one start) for the Bucks this season, Copeland averaged 2.1 points and 0.5 assists in 6.5 minutes per game.

Nuggets waive J.J. Hickson and Steve Novak

The Denver Nuggets have waived forwards J.J. Hickson and Steve Novak, General Manager and Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations Tim Connelly announced today.

Hickson, 27, appeared in 162 games (69 starts) for Denver over the past three seasons, averaging 9.3 points, 7.2 rebounds and 1.0 assists in 22.1 minutes per game. The eight-year NBA veteran has played in 519 career games (307 starts) for Cleveland, Portland, Sacramento and Denver, averaging 6.9 points and 4.4 rebounds in 22.7 minutes. He was drafted by Cleveland out of North Carolina State University with the 19th overall pick of the 2008 NBA Draft. He joined Denver as a free agent on July 11, 2013.

Novak, 32, has appeared in seven games for the Thunder this season, averaging 2.4 points in 3.4 minutes of action. He has appeared in 456 career games (six starts), averaging 4.7 points and 1.3 rebounds while shooting 43.2% from three-point range in 10 seasons with New York, L.A. Clippers, Houston, Toronto, San Antonio, Utah, Dallas and Oklahoma City. The Marquette University product was drafted by Houston with the 32nd overall pick of the 2006 NBA Draft.

The Nuggets roster currently stands at 13 players.

Raptors trade Steve Novak to Jazz

The Utah Jazz announced today that the team has acquired forward Steve Novak and the rights to New York’s 2017 second round draft pick from the Toronto Raptors in exchange for guard Diante Garrett.

Novak (6-10, 235, Marquette), the sixth-most accurate three-pointer shooter in NBA history (min. 250 made), is an eight-year veteran who owns averages of 5.0 points and 1.4 rebounds in 13.0 minutes over 414 career games with Houston, L.A. Clippers, Dallas, San Antonio, New York and Toronto. His career .432 (548-1,268) three-point percentage is second only to Golden State’s Stephen Curry (.440) among all active players, while his career .892 free throw percentage would rank fourth if he had enough attempts to qualify.

Originally selected in the second round (32nd overall selection) of the 2006 NBA Draft by Houston, Novak led the NBA in three-point accuracy (.472) during the 2011-12 season, ranking third that season in three-point makes (133). Novak averaged 3.3 points and 1.1 rebounds in 10.0 minutes in 54 games last season with Toronto.

Prior to the NBA, Novak played four seasons at Marquette University from 2002-06, averaging 12.4 points and 4.2 rebounds over his four-year collegiate career. He still ranks as the Golden Eagles’ all-time career leader with 354 three-pointers (.461, 354-768), after finishing his college career as Marquette’s all-time free-throw percentage leader (.931, 243-261) and ranking 10th on the school’s all-time scoring list (1,567).

Garrett (6-4, 190, Iowa State) averaged 3.5 points, 1.4 rebounds and 1.7 assists in 14.8 minutes in 71 games last season with Utah. The Jazz signed Garrett from the NBA Development League’s Iowa Energy on November 13, 2013, making him the first NBA D-League Call-Up of the 2013-14 season.

Steve Novak misses New York

Steve Novak never wanted to be traded by the Knicks, never wanted to leave New York. But the sharpshooter was the key piece in the deal that brought the Knicks new starting power forward Andrea Bargnani.

“I didn’t expect it,” Novak said after the morning shootaround. “ You understand this is the business we’re in. New York felt like home. It was a place I love to play and I miss. I miss those guys. It’s not easy being traded. But there’s no doubt Toronto is a great city and good place to be.”

Novak had his two best seasons with the Knicks – he led the NBA in three-point accuracy in 2011-12 – and was a fan favorite. But for the second straight postseason he was ineffective because defenses wouldn’t give him any room to shoot and ultimately Mike Woodson didn’t give Novak much playing time.

Reported by Al Iannazzone of New York Newsday

Novak was part of the package of players and draft picks that brought Andrea Bargnani to the Knicks and sent him to Toronto in July.

And it’s clear he’s still rankled by the way his career ended, with him riding the bench, fully healthy, in the second round of the playoffs against Indiana, despite pleas to Mike Woodson that he’s ready to play. Soon he was traded to Toronto, a decision that left a bad taste in his mouth.

“It wasn’t like a rift [with Coach Woodson],” Novak said on Friday following his team’s shoot-around at the Air Canada Centre before the Raptors hosted the Knicks. “Obviously he knew the whole time that I wanted to play. I told him when I got healthy- don’t not play me because I’m hurt. I’m ready. And he went another way.”

Reported by Mitch Abramson of the New York Daily News