Heat Re-Sign Terrel Harris
SEPTEMBER 10TH: The Heat confirmed the signing via press release.
SEPTEMBER 8TH: The Heat have agreed to re-sign guard Terrel Harris, according to Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald. Terms of the deal are not yet known but yesterday we learned that the Heat were planning to offer him a non-guaranteed contract.
Miami now has 13 guaranteed contracts heading into 2012/13, leaving them with two vacant roster spots. One spot will likely go to a big man such as Mickell Gladness or Jarvis Varnado, who each signed make-good contracts with the team yesterday. The remaining spot will likely go to a wing player such as Harris. The 25-year-old averaged 3.6 PPG, 2.3 RPG, and 1.2 APG in 14.5 minutes per contest last season.
Atlantic Notes: Knicks, Isiah, Raptors
Here's a look at the latest out of the Atlantic Division, starting with the return of a familiar name to the back pages of the New York tabloids..
- LaSalle Thompson is a candidate to join the Knicks as an assistant coach, writes Frank Isola of the New York Daily News. Thompson was Mike Woodson's teammate with the (Kansas City) Kings and also worked with Tyson Chandler as a Bobcats assistant.
- Knicks owner James Dolan held a business meeting with Isiah Thomas Friday morning at a hotel in Midtown Manhattan, a person familiar with the situation told Marc Berman of the New York Post. The pow-wow comes two days after the resignation of MSG sports president Scott O’Neil, who a source says helped convince Dolan that rehiring Thomas wasn’t a smart move for the Knicks brand. Thomas has pushed for a formal to the organization since he was fired as the Florida International basketball coach last spring.
- Frank Isola of the New York Daily News (via Twitter) says that Thomas never truly left the Knicks organization and has been in Dolan's ear even after his formal dismissal from the team. Isola also tweets that Thomas had a hand in the team's hiring of Mike Woodson.
- The Raptors have had internal discussions about free agent Mickael Pietrus but are unlikely to sign him as they don't have their bi-annual exception available, writes Doug Smith of the Toronto Star. Pietrus' agent insists that his client won't consider a minimum deal but Smith expects the Raptors to inquire on it anyway.
Odds & Ends: Bobcats, Cavs, Nelson, Heat
While there has been a great deal of championship talk surrounding the Heat, Lakers, and Thunder this summer, the Bobcats have a more modest goal of not repeating as the NBA's worst team in 2012/13. While the Bobcats are still a work in progress, this year's team in Charlotte isn't nearly as bad as last season's group, writes Joel Brigham of HoopsWorld. Offseason acquisitions including rookie Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Ben Gordon, Brendan Haywood, and Ramon Sessions should all help lift the team a little bit further out of the basement. As for the new cellar dweller? Brigham suggests that the Magic seem to be a likely candidate. Here's today's look around the Association..
- The Cavs brought former University of Richmond point guard Kevin Anderson in for a workout this week, a source told Sportando. Anderson spent last season with French team SIG Strasbourg, averaging 12.5 PPG, 3.5 RPG, and 4.0 RPG.
- From Lithuania to the Lakers, forward Reeves Nelson truly has come full circle, writes Wendell Maxey of Ridiculous Upside. Nelson was once viewed as a first-round talent, but off-court trouble led to him being kicked out of the UCLA program and a brief stint overseas. The Lakers signed Nelson to a non-guaranteed deal earlier this week.
- In today's mailbag, Ira Winderman of the Sun-Sentinel opines that the Heat did not make a "mistake" by whiffing on Andray Blatche, as he wouldn't have been a player of major consequence in the rotation anyway.
- David Mayo of MLive.com isn't sure what Ukrainian big man Vyacheslav Kravtsov brings to the table for the Pistons. Detroit signed the 24-year-old over the summer as their third center behind Jason Maxiell and rookie Andre Drummond.
Hoops Links: Lakers, Howard, Rockets, Nets
Happy birthday to former NBA swingman Latrell Sprewell, who turns 41 today. Sprewell made four All-Star teams over the course of his 13 year career, but he is best known to some for his clash with Warriors coach P.J. Carlesimo during the 1997 season. After being suspended for the rest of the season, the guard/forward would get his chance at redemption when he was traded to the Knicks for John Starks, Chris Mills and Terry Cummings in January of 1999. The Knicks were widely panned for gambling on the volatile Sprewell, but the club would surprise many by finding their way to the finals that season, where they would lose in five games to the Spurs.
If you have a great blog piece that you think we should feature in Hoops Links, then send it to me at HoopsLinks@gmail.com. Here's this week's look around the blogosphere..
- Wages of Wins looks at Magic Johnson and his effect on the Lakers.
- Hardwood Paroxysm breaks down the heel turn of Dwight Howard.
- Red94 fills us in on the backup one-guard battle in Houston.
- Nets Are Scorching previews the Nets starting five with some statistical analysis.
- At The Hive wonders where the Hornets point guards rank.
- Hinton's Sports Highlights reflects on Virginia Beach's moment in the NBA sun.
- Bucksketball profiles veteran center Joel Pryzbilla.
- Bright Side Of The Sun previews the 2012/13 season in Phoenix.
- Truth About It continues to rank the top Wizards from across the last five seasons.
- RealGM looks ahead to the NBA's possible labor issues in 2017.
- Secret Rival helps us get familiar with the Belgian Ethas League.
- Bullets Forever thinks the Wizards have a better shot at the playoffs than the Hawks.
- Saving The Skyhook takes an optimistic look at the Raptors.
- Blazer's Edge has Bill Walton and Maurice Lucas as the most influential Blazers of all-time.
- SLC Dunk applies some psychology to the Jazz roster.
- The Hoop Doctors wonders what might have been in Boston.
If you have a suggestion for this feature, Zach can be reached here.
Odds & Ends: Warriors, Jazz, Rockets, Iverson
We've seen a sharp rise in the size of overseas contracts in recent years, and it seems that the Chinese Basketball Association has had about enough. Several CBA clubs are calling for an NBA-style salary cap to be instituted post-haste as the season gets underway in two months, writes Alastair Himmer of Reuters. The league has had a salary cap in years past, but with no luxury tax system in place, there was no real way to enforce it. Last year, Kenyon Martin signed a $2.7MM deal with the Xinjian Flying Tigers before leaving midway through the season. Here's tonight's look around the Association..
- Warriors coach Mark Jackson has promoted Darren Erman to the No. 3 assistant coach after the departure of Wes Unseld Jr., sources tell Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports (via Twitter). Unseld Jr. recently left Golden State to join Jacque Vaughn's staff in Orlando.
- The Jazz are still working to complete a buyout agreement with Raja Bell and sign second-round pick Kevin Murphy, but Brian T. Smith of The Salt Lake Tribune (via Twitter) would be surprised if both situations aren't resolved before camp starts.
- The Jazz announced that Michael Sanders has been promoted to an assistant coach on Tyrone Corbin’s staff. Utah also agreed in principle with D-League coach and former Jazz scout Brad Jones to take over Sanders’ previous position as assistant coach in charge of player development.
- The Rockets have elevated Gersson Rosas to executive vice president of basketball operations, according to Mark Berman of FOX Houston. Rosas, who previously served as the club's vice president player personnel, was a finalist to become the next assistant GM of the Spurs.
- Former MVP Allen Iverson is reportedly thinking about playing if China if he cannot land an NBA deal, but Neil Hartman of CSNPhilly.com would like to see him call it a career. Iverson last appeared in an NBA game in February 2010 and turned down offers in Venezuela and the Dominican Republic last season.
- Robert Pera, the prospective new owner of the Grizzlies, is recruiting singer/actor Justin Timberlake to be a minority owner of his club, sources have told Marc Stein of ESPN.com. One source added that Timberlake is making "a meaningful investment into the team" and "plans to be active" with the club. A recent piece by Will Leitch of New York Magazine revealed that rapper Jay-Z owns just a fraction of one percent of the Nets.
- Kevin Willis celebrated his 50th birthday today and the former NBA center told Marc J. Spears of Yahoo Sports (via Twitter) that he could still play 15-20 minutes a night and would return if a team was serious. Willis would easily eclipse Kurt Thomas and Grant Hill (both turn 40 in October) as the NBA's oldest player. With that said, it's extremely difficult to imagine a comeback for Willis at this stage.
- In an interview with HoopsWorld, free agent Sean Williams said that he isn't sure where his next NBA opportunity might come from and hasn't spoken with his agent recently. Late last week it was reported that the Knicks are considering the former first-round pick.
- Former University of Florida standout Taurean Green has signed with Italian team Sigma Barcellona, according to a report from Amnotizie.it passed along by Sportando. Green averaged 9.4 PPG, 2.0 RPG, and 3.9 APG for Turkish team Tofas Bursa last season.
Pacers Sign Sam Young, Sundiata Gaines
The Pacers announced that they have signed small forward Sam Young and point guard Sundiata Gaines. The press release also confirmed the signing of guard Blake Ahearn, whose deal reportedly comes with a partial guarantee.
Young became an unrestricted free agent in late June when the 76ers opted not to extend him a qualifying offer. The 27-year-old was traded from Memphis to Philadelphia at the deadline for the rights to Ricky Sanchez in a deal that allowed the Grizzlies to get below the luxury tax threshold. Young averaged 3.3 PPG and 1.8 RPG in 35 games for the two clubs last season.
Gaines, 26, established himself as a regular in the Nets rotation last season, serving as a backup to Deron Williams and playing alongside him as a two-guard at times. The veteran saw 13.9 minutes per contest, averaging 5.1 PPG, 2.2 APG, and 1.9 RPG.
Ahearn was the D-League's top scorer last season, averaging 23.8 PPG and 5.1 APG in 37 games for the Reno Bighorns. The 27-year-old has built a reputation as a sharpshooter and shot 40% from three-point range last year for Reno.
Magic Sign E’Twaun Moore
SEPTEMBER 6TH, 3:43pm: The Magic have officially signed Moore, according to a team release.
AUGUST 29TH, 7:58am: The deal is for the minimum, reports Chris Broussard of ESPN.com. That means Moore, a second-year player, is in line for $762K this season and $884K in 2013/14.
AUGUST 28TH, 9:33pm: Both seasons are expected to be partially guaranteed for Moore, according to Josh Robbins of the Orlando Sentinel.
5:54pm: The Magic have reached agreement with guard E'Twaun Moore on a two-year deal, according to HoopsHype (via Twitter). Terms of the deal are not yet known.
Moore, 23, was a part of the three-team deal that sent Courtney Lee to the Celtics in July. The Rockets promptly waived the guard without absorbing any salary cap consequences as his salary was non-guaranteed. The former Purdue standout cleared waivers and received interest from multiple NBA teams in addition to a few clubs overseas.
As a rookie, the 55th overall pick became a semi-regular in Boston, averaging 8.7 minutes per contest in 38 games. Provisions in the collective bargaining agreement prevented Moore from re-signing with the Celtics until July 2013.
Josh Robbins of the Orlando Sentinel (via Twitter) first reported that Orlando expected to reach a deal with Moore in the coming days.
Lakers Sign Reeves Nelson
6:23pm: The Lakers have officially signed Nelson, according to Mike Trudell of Lakers.com (via Twitter).
8:47am: Reeves Nelson is set to sign a one-year, non-guaranteed deal with the Lakers, the forward tells Baxter Holmes of the Los Angeles Times. The UCLA product will go to training camp with the club after he inks the deal, which could potentially be worth about $700K.
Nelson auditioned for the Lakers prior to the 2012 draft and has been working out at the club's practice facility in El Segundo for the last three weeks. The 6'8" forward was once considered to be a potential first-round pick but saw his college career unravel before he was ultimately dismissed by the Bruins. Nelson hooked on with Lithuanian team BC Zalgiris for a five week stretch before being released.
Atlantic Notes: Knicks, Raptors, Amare, Celtics
Yesterday, Nets head coach Avery Johnson weighed in on a number of topics, including the uncertainty of this past summer, the move to Brooklyn, and his thoughts on the Mavericks. Here's a look at today's news and notes out of the Atlantic Division..
- MSG Sports president Scott O'Neil is leaving the company, sources tell Frank Isola of the New York Daily News (via Twitter). Isola notes that the Knicks exec had strong ties to the increasingly powerful Creative Artists Agency (Twitter link).
- The appointment of Tom Anselmi as the new president and CEO of Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment should have no impact on the Raptors' basketball plans going forward, writes Doug Smith of the Toronto Star. After talking to several people in and around the Raptors, Smith writes that there is no reason to believe that General Manager Bryan Colangelo's job is in any sort of jeopardy.
- One NBA scout told Ian Begley of ESPNNewYork.com that Amare Stoudemire's best weapon in a bid for a bounce back season is the newly-acquired Marcus Camby. While Tyson Chandler tends to attract defenders in the low post, Camby is a greater threat to connect from the perimeter, giving Stoudemire room to score down low for the Knicks.
- Paul Flannery of WEEI.com gives us his five takeaways from the Celtics' offseason, starting with the importance of Kevin Garnett's three-year, $34MM contract. While it's a good amount of money to commit to a 36-year-old, it left enough breathing room for the C's to make other moves to improve the roster.
Odds & Ends: Rockets, Magic, Whiteside
Jan Hubbard of Sheridan Hoops offered his reflections on the biggest stories of the NBA offseason, including the Lakers' fleecing of the Magic in the Dwight Howard trade. New General Manager Rob Hennigan obviously wasn't working from a position of strength when he made the deal and wound up getting players taken at at 15, 16, 25, 27, 30 and 37 in their respective drafts in exchange for the league's best center. Here's more from around the Association..
- Rockets coach Kevin McHale told Jason Friedman of Rockets.com that he plans on playing an inside-out game with the team as currently constructed. We looked at part one of Friedman's interview with McHale yesterday.
- In an interview with HoopsWorld, Hassan Whiteside disclosed that he has a workout set with the Timberwolves for this week. Minnesota is on the lookout for free agent bigs and reportedly watched the 7-footer in Houston as a part of John Lucas' camp last month.
- While the Clippers' hire of Gary Sacks as General Manager may seem like an uninspired choice from the outside, it was actually a smart one given his support throughout the organization, writes Ramona Shelburne of ESPNLosAngeles.com. Sacks picked up major endorsements from players this offseason, including star forward Blake Griffin.
- Bill Ingram of HoopsWorld (via Twitter) doesn't believe that Tracy McGrady could help the Bobcats as he is more of a distraction than a savvy veteran that can help young players. The Bobcats are reportedly looking at McGrady and may work him out sometime soon.