Pro Basketball News reports
Marcus Williams had a banner NBA Summer League. And it made a difference.
Williams’ agent, Calvin Andrews, confirmed to Pro Basketball News on Wednesday afternoon his client will sign with the Memphis Grizzlies within the next few days. The point guard will get a one-year deal for the NBA minimum of $855,189. Read the rest of this entry »
The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel reports
Hakim Warrick, an athletic 6-foot-9 forward who played the past four seasons with the Memphis Grizzlies, has reached agreement with the Bucks on a one-year deal, sources indicated Friday.
Warrick averaged 11.6 points and 5.0 rebounds while appearing in all 82 games for the Grizzlies last season, primarily in a bench role.
Warrick is able to play both the small forward and power forward positions and should have an opportunity to start for the Bucks, who have lost Richard Jefferson (in a trade) and Charlie Villanueva (to free agency) this summer Read the rest of this entry »
ESPN reports
Free agent forward Lamar Odom will return to the Los Angeles Lakers, an NBA source said Thursday.
“I always wanted to come back because we won the championship,” Odom told ESPN.com. “I’m playing for the biggest brand in the world. And I’m playing with the most fluid, talented center in the world in Pao Gasol, Andrew Bynum’s coming back and of course Kobe Bryant.
“But to now get an opportunity to play with Ron Artest, a guy I’ve known 16 years, it means a lot. I told Ron Ron a few weeks ago I couldn’t walk away. I still had to fight. Everytime negotiations didn’t go the way I thought, I just took a step back, like them pulling the offer off the table, I just knew I had to fight.” Read the rest of this entry »
Via Marc Stein
One more Grizzlies item: Memphis’ deal with second-round pick Sam Young is a three-year contract worth $2,658,000. The third season, at $947,800, is a team option. Taken No. 36 overall in June’s draft, Young averaged 13.6 points (a team high) and 4.2 rebounds on 51.9 percent shooting in summer league play, helping the Grizz go 5-0. Read the rest of this entry »
Yahoo Sports reports
The Atlanta Hawks and restricted free-agent forward Marvin Williams agreed in principle to a five-year contract worth about $40 million on Wednesday, sources told Yahoo! Sports. The deal isn’t expected to be signed until next week.
Not the best deal in the world for Atlanta, but a decent one. I suppose Marvin is worth that type of money.
Marvin Williams has turned himself into an elite role player over the past year or so. He’s developed into one of the finest defensive players in the league at his position, a good rebounder, and a good offensive player who can shoot from distance. He’s a player that consistently adds major value to his team in a supporting fashion.
Yahoo Sports reports
After failing to meet the initial expectations that surrounded his arrival as a first-round pick two years ago, the Golden State Warriors have traded guard Marco Belinelli to the Toronto Raptors, league sources told Yahoo! Sports on Wednesday night.
The Raptors will send Devean George to the Warriors.
Toronto GM Bryan Colangelo and his assistant GM, Maurizio Gherardini, have long been admirers of Belinelli and tried to draft him in 2007.
Doug Smith is reporting that the Raptors also included “a little bit of cash” in the trade.
Update: NBA Fanhouse says the cash considerations will pay for most of George’s contract. So, the Warriors saved a little money but gained no cap flexibility. Read the rest of this entry »
NBA.com reports
The New Orleans Hornets announced today that they have signed free agent forward Ike Diogu. Per team policy, terms of the contract were not released.
“We’re excited to have Ike join our team and expect him to help the frontline off the bench this season,” said Hornets General Manager Jeff Bower. “He has shown a lot of potential as an inside scorer and as an effective rebounder.”
This is likely a minimum contract signing.
Thoughts
I’m not a fan of Ike Diogu. There’s no doubt that he has talent, he can score and rebound at an NBA level, but he plays very poor defense and is self-involved offensively (plays like a star when he’s not) which limit his on-court value in a large way. Read the rest of this entry »
Dallas Morning News reports
Looking to bolster their 3-point shooting, the Dallas Mavericks announced the signing of free-agent forward Tim Thomas on Tuesday. Terms were not disclosed.
Some quotes from Mark Cuban and Donnie Nelson
“He is a really good 3-point shooter that can spread the floor for us and will immediately make us a better 3-point shooting team,” Mavs owner Mark Cuban said via e-mail. “Plus, he is a far better 1-on-1 post defender than he gets credit for. His defensive points per possession in the post the last couple years has been very good. His length and experience really pay off.” Read the rest of this entry »
Who blocks more shots? Korver or Boozer?
Last Season
Carlos Boozer blocked an abysmal seven shots in 37 games, or better said, 7 shots in 1197 minutes. That averages out to 0.189 blocks per game, or 0.58 blocks per 100 minutes.
Kyle Korver blocked 30 shots in 78 games, in 1874 minutes. That averages out to 0.47 blocks per game, or 1.6 blocks per 100 minutes
So, Korver got roughly three times as many blocks as Boozer did on a per minute basis. Read the rest of this entry »
Charlotte Bobcats receive: Tyson Chandler
New Orleans Hornets receive: Emeka Okafor
Link
Sports Illustrates reports
The Charlotte Bobcats are finalizing a trade that would send Emeka Okafor to the New Orleans Hornets for Tyson Chandler, two people familiar with the deal told The Associated Press on Monday.
The swap of 26-year-old centers could be completed later Monday, the people said on condition of anonymity because an official announcement has not been made. It was not immediately clear if more players would be involved. Read the rest of this entry »
