Wolves Sign Andre Miller
AUGUST 3RD, 1:50pm: The deal is official, the team announced (Twitter link).
6:09pm: Miller will receive a one-year deal for the veteran’s minimum, according to Marc J. Spears of Yahoo Sports (on Twitter). He adds that Miller goes back with T’Wolves assistant Ryan Saunders from their time together with the Wizards.
JULY 29TH, 5:55pm: The Wolves have signed guard Andre Miller, according to Shams Charania of RealGM (on Twitter). The terms of the deal have yet to be reported.
Miller, 39, began the season with the Wizards as a backup for John Wall but a February trade sent him out west to the Kings. Coach George Karl was known to be fond of Miller and pushed the front office to make the deal. Shortly after going from the nation’s capital to California’s capital, Miller indicated that he would be interested in re-signing. Team exec Vlade Divac said recently that the Kings were in touch with Miller, but for one reason or another, that reunion did not take place.
In 81 games last season, Miller averaged 4.4 PPG and 3.5 APG in 15.5 minutes per contest. The well-traveled Miller is now set to join his eighth team as he enters his 17th season in the league.
And-Ones: D-League, Kaminsky, Towns
Here’s a look around the Association..
- Adam Johnson of D-League Digest looked at the D-League’s salary structure. As Johnson learned from multiple league sources and agents, the league has a three-tiered salary system for the simplicity of making deals with players. The “A” salary is $25K, “B” salaries are $19K, and “C” salaries are $13K. Interestingly enough, players are sometimes asked to downgrade to accommodate a signing. “If a player is designated an “A” contract but the team wants to bring on an additional “B” player, they might ask the “A” player to reduce their salary to a “B” level to compensate for the difference,” according to a league source. “It’s a balancing act. You can have four “A” contracts at one point in the season, but that team will need to correct that amount of salary at some point with more “C” contracts so they don’t go over the salary cap.”
- The numbers say that rookies Frank Kaminsky and Delon Wright are poised to make a noticeable impact in 2015/16, Kevin Pelton of ESPN.com (Insider sub. req’d) writes. Unsurprisingly, it’s Wolves rookie Karl-Anthony Towns who is projected to have the best year of any first-year player. Lakers rookie D’Angelo Russell and Knicks rook Kristaps Porzingis round out the top five.
- Steve Ilardi and Jeremias Engelmann of ESPN.com ran down the winners and losers in free agency this summer. Of course, the Spurs are among the offseason’s biggest winners after landing ex-Blazers star LaMarcus Aldridge and former Pacers forward David West. The ESPN duo also gave a tip of the cap to the Celtics for their savvy under-the-radar moves.
Central Notes: Bulls, Pacers, Bucks
Former Bucks lottery pick Joe Alexander is on his way to Italy. Earlier today, David Pick of Eurobasket.com (on Twitter) heard from Alexander’s agent that he’ll be heading to Sardinia’s Sassari. Things didn’t work out as planned for Alexander in the NBA, but as he explained in an interview earlier this year, he believes that a dysfunctional regime in Milwaukee hampered him as much as injuries did. Here’s more from the Central Division..
- Instead of making bold moves, the Bulls are keeping their team exactly the same and betting on their rookie coach, Fred Hoiberg, Scott Davis of Business Insider writes. The Bulls handled their biggest priority when they re-signed Jimmy Butler to a five-year, $90MM deal. Now, Chicago is hoping that it was Tom Thibodeau‘s bumpy relationships with some players that kept them from winning it all rather than any shortcomings on their roster.
- With the contracts of Jordan Hill and Chase Budinger expiring after the year and Solomon Hill‘s rookie deal holding an option for his fourth year, the Pacers should have plenty of room to make free agent moves next summer, Mark Montieth of Pacers.com writes.
- The Bucks are equipped to win now and also build toward something greater for the future, Tim Cato of SB Nation writes. Cato also looked at how new addition Greg Monroe will fit in and how big of a step Giannis Antetokounmpo could take this season.
Western Notes: Jazz, Kanter, Davis, Donovan
The National Basketball Players Association plans to file the action next week after the Kings voided Luc Mbah a Moute‘s contract over a failed physical. Meanwhile, we learned earlier today that the Kings are standing by their medical findings, which indicated a problem with the forward’s right shoulder. While we wait to see how that plays out, here’s more from the West..
- Matt Moore of CBSSports.com looked back at the Jazz‘s decision to move Enes Kanter. Kanter received a max deal from the Thunder, and while he was worth those big bucks to OKC, the Jazz simply didn’t value him the same way. It would seem that many teams shared Utah’s opinion as Kanter sat on the restricted free-agent market for most of the free agency period without receiving an offer sheet, before the desperate Blazers offered up the max. Meanwhile, Moore says that there are compelling reasons to think Kanter’s attitude and defensive limitations will make the deal look like a bad idea for OKC.
- Big man Glen Davis is still talking to the Clippers but he’s open to playing overseas if he doesn’t sign a contract in the NBA, a source told Emiliano Carchia of Sportando. On Friday it was reported that there was “optimism” on both sides that a pact could be reached. The eight-year veteran averaged career lows in points and minutes per game in 2014/15. Still, the John Hamilton client was one of only eight players to average more than 10 minutes per game in the playoffs for the Clippers this spring.
- The Oklahoman’s Anthony Slater profiled the path of Billy Donovan, who was appointed as the new coach of the Thunder in April. Donovan was hired as the coach of the Magic for a cup of coffee years ago before bailing on the agreement and returning to Florida. Now, Donovan says that he’s ready for the challenges of the NBA.
Hoops Links: Seattle, Raptors, Nets
On this date in 2005 the largest trade in NBA history was completed as five teams came together to swap 13 players. This mammoth deal brought Antoine Walker and Jason Williams to the Heat, giving Miami the depth they needed to win its first ever championship that same season.
Got a great basketball blog post that you want to see featured on Hoops Rumors? Send it to Zach at HoopsLinks@gmail.com. Here’s this week’s look around the basketball blogosphere…
- The Sports Quotient imagined an expansion draft for a Seattle team.
- Fantasy Pros says the Raptors are among the most improved in the East.
- The Brooklyn Game says the Nets did what they had to.
- Hoop Trends gave us some offseason outlooks in their latest podcast.
- House of Houston says Ty Lawson is a great fit for the Rockets.
- Hardwood Paroxysm looked back at Deron Williams‘ greatest feuds.
- Press Break broke down the Western Conference.
- Queen City Hoops reflected on the Hornets’ summer.
- Posting And Toasting says the Knicks may have depth issues at guard.
- Hot Hot Hoops wonders if Finals games should be played in neutral locations.
Please send submissions for Hoops Links to Zach at HoopsLinks@gmail.com.
Mavs Sign Jeremy Evans
JULY 31ST, 2:13pm: The deal is official, the team announced via press release.
JULY 5TH, 4:06pm: The Mavs have agreed to sign Jeremy Evans to a two-year deal, according to Marc Stein of ESPN.com (on Twitter). It’ll be for the league minimum.
Evans, 27, didn’t see a ton of burn last season with Utah, averaging 7.0 minutes per contest. In 2014/15, Evans put up 2.4 PPG with 1.9 RPG. For his career, the entirety of which has been spent with the Jazz, Evans has put up 3.7 PPG and 2.7 RPG in 10.8 minutes per night. Evans made it known that he wanted to return to Utah this summer, but a reunion just wasn’t in the cards.
“I feel like they have the confidence in me and I trust them that they’re going to make the right decision. That’s what they’re here for,” Evans said about Utah’s front office. “If I’m here, I’m gonna be so happy; I feel like this is my home. If not, I know it’s still going to be a bright future and I wish everybody the best.”
Evans is represented by Mark Bartelstein of Priority Sports & Entertainment, as the Hoops Rumors Agency Database shows. His greatest claim to fame in the NBA might be having won the slam dunk contest at the 2012 All-Star Game.
Robbie Hummel Signs To Play In Italy
FRIDAY, 7:58am: The deal is official, the team announced (on Twitter; hat tip to Carchia).
11:48am: It’s a one-year deal and it does not include any NBA outs, a source tells David Pick of Eurobasket.com (on Twitter).
THURSDAY, 8:46am: Olimpia Milano has reached agreement on a deal with small forward Robbie Hummel, according to sources who spoke with Emiliano Carchia of Sportando. Hummel spent the previous two seasons with the Timberwolves.
Back in June, Wolves president of basketball operations Flip Saunders indicated he would like to retain Hummel for the coming season. Saunders extended the forward the qualifying offer of more than $1.147MM later that month, but he pulled it in early July. That move appeared to be more about roster space than finances as the Wolves would go on to ink draft-and-stash prospect Nemanja Bjelica days later. The Trail Blazers, Nuggets, Kings, and Cavaliers all reportedly expressed interest, though the two Northwest Division teams were said to have the most interest of the bunch.
Hummel, 26, averaged 3.3 PPG and 2.5 RPG in 2013/2014 and 4.4 PPG and 3.0 RPG this past season. The forward has experience playing overseas as the Wolves allowed him to play in Spain during his rookie season. During his time with Spain’s Obradoiro, Hummel put up 10.1 PPG and 3.8 RPG.
Mavs Sign Salah Mejri
4:14pm: It’s a partially guaranteed three-year deal, tweets Tim MacMahon of ESPNDallas.com, so the Mavs are using cap space.
3:51pm: The Mavericks announced that they have signed center Salah Mejri. Terms of the deal were not disclosed in the press release, though Marc Stein of ESPN.com recently reported that the Mavs made a three-year offer to the big man.
Mejri played in 34 games with Real Madrid last season and averaged 4.3 points and 2.1 rebounds in 8.6 minutes on the way to helping his team win the Spanish League title. In championship play, he increased those averages to 5.0 points, 2.6 rebounds and 10.3 minutes across eight games. While Mejri didn’t play much last year, Dallas is intrigued by his energy, mobility, and length, as David Pick of Eurobasket.com noted recently (Twitter link).
A native of Tunisia, Mejri was a member of the Tunisian National Team that competed in the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. The team secured its bid to the London Olympics by winning the 2011 FIBA African Championships where Mejri was named MVP.
Sportando’s Orazio Cauchi first reported the interest from Dallas. The Cavs were reportedly interested earlier this year.
Knicks Waive Ricky Ledo
The Knicks announced (on Twitter) that they have waived Ricky Ledo. The guard would have had $100K of his salary guaranteed had he remained on the roster beyond Saturday.
Ledo was set to earn the minimum salary for 2015/16 and he had two key dates in his contract – one being August 1st and the other being opening night of the season. On each of those dates, Ledo would have secured separate $100K guarantees. Now that the Knicks have shed Ledo in July, they’re not on the hook for anything.
The Knicks signed Ledo to a pair of 10-day contracts last season before signing him to a deal that covered the remainder of the year. In 12 appearances for the Knicks, Ledo averaged 7.4 points and 2.8 rebounds in 19.4 minutes per game. Ledo was waived by the Mavs around the trade deadline last year to make room for Amar’e Stoudemire. Prior to that, he spent the bulk of the year with the Texas Legends, the club’s D-League affiliate
Texas Notes: Spurs, Mavs, Matthews
Malik Rose swears he’s happy in retirement, but he saw the offseason moves the Spurs made, he wished that he could make a comeback, Lorne Chan of Spurs.com writes.
“I still feel like I can get out there and play, but I know I can’t,” Rose said. “I see guys out there that I played with still going strong, and I live through them. Especially Tim [Duncan].”
Rose was elated to see LaMarcus Aldridge land in San Antonio, but he wasn’t surprised, calling the current team “talented guys with the right mindset.” Here’s more from the Lone Star state..
- Wesley Matthews is determined to prove that the Mavericks made the right decision when they signed him to a five-year, $70MM deal and silence the critics who say that he won’t be the same after his Achilles injury. “Maybe this [injury] happened to continue my push, continue my drive,” Matthews told Jason Quick of The Oregonian. “Maybe I was getting too content. Maybe I was resting on everything that I had done. I felt myself getting to the point of being entitled.” Matthews reportedly turned down a four year, $64MM offer from the Kings and had interest from other clubs this summer before landing in Dallas. Last year he averaged 15.9 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 2.3 assists in an injury-shortened season.
- In an interview with Grantland.com’s Zach Lowe, Mavericks owner Mark Cuban stuck up for Rajon Rondo, who disappointed in his time in Dallas. Cuban also explained that the front office was split on whether or not to trade for the guard and ultimately “it came down to a coin flip” that resulted in them pulling the trigger.
- The Spurs are nurturing their D-League affiliate, the Austin Spurs, as Dan McCarney of the San Antonio Express-News writes. In recent years, the Spurs have used the D-League as a way to help their end-of-the-bench players improve. In fact, Cory Joseph actually asked the club to go to Austin in 2012/13. “I could be sitting on the bench in San Antonio,” Joseph reasoned at the time, “or I could be getting better. I needed to play. I was learning and trying to simulate the stuff they wanted me to do [with the Spurs] in Austin. The coaching staff there did a great job of helping me.”