Clippers Sign Johnson, Plaisted, Thorns
The Clippers have signed Chris Johnson, Trent Plaisted, and Hank Thorns to non-guaranteed deals, according to Eric Pincus of HoopsWorld. The trio, along with previously reported camp invites Marqus Blakely and Courtney Fortson, all appear to be longshots to make what is already a full roster.
Johnson, a guard who starred at the University of Dayton, had interest from a handful of clubs as a second-round pick but went undrafted this June. Plaisted was tabbed by the Sonics in the second-round of the 2008 draft after his junior year at BYU and has since played for a handful of teams overseas. Thorns, a diminutive 5'9" guard, made the All-Mountain West First Team in his senior season at TCU.
Clippers To Sign Marqus Blakely
As the Clippers prepare for training camp, they will sign Marqus Blakely to a contract, according to Emiliano Carchia of Sportando. Carchia reported back in August that the Clips had brought Blakely in for a workout and were considering signing him.
Blakely was in camp with the Clippers in 2010 and the Rockets in 2011, but hasn't appeared in any regular-season NBA contests. The undrafted University of Vermont product averaged 15.1 points, 6.4 rebounds and put up a PER of 19.3 over a combined 35 games with the D-League's Iowa Energy and Sioux Falls Skyforce last season. He also spent time in the Philippines, with B-Meg Llamados, posting an impressive 22.4 PPG, 13.4 RPG, 2.7 SPG, and 2.6 BPG in 22 games.
The Clippers have 15 players on guaranteed contracts, so Blakely likely won't receive any guarantee, and will be a long shot to earn a roster spot. When he and Courtney Fortson officially sign with the team, they'll bring the Clippers' total roster count to 17.
Gilbert Arenas Considering Playing In China
Gilbert Arenas would love to secure a camp invite from the Lakers or Clippers, but without an offer from either of the Los Angeles club, or any other NBA teams, Arenas is contemplating signing in China, reports ESPN.com's Marc Stein. While he's holding out hope that the Lakers or Clippers, his preferred destinations, come to him with an offer, the 30-year-old has begun to assess his non-NBA options, with China atop the list, according to Stein.
Because the Chinese Basketball Association season doesn't get underway until October, Arenas still has some time to seek out NBA offers and then perhaps weigh his options in the CBA or other professional leagues. Signing in China would also allow Arenas the opportunity to return to the NBA late in the season, if he impresses overseas, since the CBA regular season ends in March.
After being amnestied by the Magic last December, Arenas sat out most of the 2011/12 season before signing with the Grizzlies late in the year. He didn't make much of an impact in Memphis, but reports this offseason have suggested that the three-time All-Star is in good shape and is fully healthy.
Clippers, Del Negro Have Talked Extension
Clippers coach Vinny Del Negro says he and the team have had "a little bit" of discussion about a contract extension, but feels there's "no sense of urgency for either side" to complete a deal soon, Broderick Turner of the Los Angeles Times reports. The team picked up Del Negro's option for 2012/13 in May, ending a year full of speculation that he could be on his way out of L.A. despite the team's newfound success.
Del Negro will make about $2MM this season in the final year of his contract, Turner writes. There was reportedly internal discussion about letting him go last season when the team hit the skids after a fast start, but the team finished just one game shy of the Lakers for the Pacific Division title and made it to the conference semifinals. Still, there were rumors that Neil Olshey, then GM of the team, was undecided about bringing Del Negro back just days before the Clippers exercised his option in May.
When Olshey jumped to the Blazers the next month, Del Negro became one of three people in charge of the Clippers front office, and he maintains a voice even after Gary Sacks earned a promotion to vice president of basketball operations, essentially filling the role of GM. Del Negro acknowleged the pressure he's under, and said he embraces it, Turner writes.
"Of course, I wish it was under maybe a different situation," the coach said. "But I was on a one-year deal last year and I'm still here and enjoying myself and believe in what we're doing. I think all those things work themselves out over time."
Clippers To Sign Courtney Fortson
The Clippers will sign point guard Courtney Fortson after he clears waivers from the Rockets, who cut him loose earlier today, tweets Alex Kennedy of HoopsWorld. Kennedy indicates that it's just a training camp invitation, which would likely mean a non-guaranteed deal for the minimum salary.
It will be Fortson's third stint with the Clippers in less than 12 months. The team brought him to last year's training camp, but waived him on the eve of the regular season, picking him back up three weeks later. The Clippers waived him again after 11 days, and he signed a ten-day contract with the Rockets in March, followed by a deal that kept him with Houston for the rest of the season.
Fortson played in only 10 total NBA games last season, and saw most of his action in the D-League. He put up 17.2 points and 6.2 assists in 34.2 minutes per game in 31 contests with the Los Angeles D-Fenders and the Rio Grande Valley Vipers. The 5'11" University of Arkansas product averaged 3.5 PPG and 1.0 APG with a 9.9 PER in limited action for the Clippers and Rockets.
The move will bring the Clippers roster to 16 players, but with 15 of them on fully guaranteed contracts, Fortson is a long shot to make the team. To keep him, the Clippers would have to trade someone else or waive a player with a guaranteed deal and absorb the cost.
Odds & Ends: Irving, Spurs, Clippers, McGrady
Reigning rookie of the year point guard Kyrie Irving rejoined his teammates on Monday, competing in his first five-on-five scrimmage since breaking his hand two months ago, writes Yahoo! Sports NBA reporter Marc J. Spears.
Here's a look elsewhere around the league.
- Hoopsworld.com's Yannis Koutroupis asks whether or not the Spurs title window is closed, given the fact that they only added one player (Nando De Colo) to their roster this offseason.
- Hoopsworld.com's Joel Brigham gives five teams from the Eastern Conference he believes must be watched heading into next season.
- Sporting News' Sean Deveney believes both Tracy McGrady and Baron Davis are at the crossroads of their respective careers, with both players possibly at a point where no more NBA basketball will be played.
- In his continuing series previewing each division, NBA.com's John Schuhmann writes about the Pacific Division, honing in on the Clippers and how they'll try to keep up with the Lakers this year.
- NBA.com's Sam Smith writes that the Bulls didn't dismantle their "bench mob" — they improved it.
- It's a contract season for Jazz forward Paul Millsap, and in many ways it'll also be the biggest year of his life, writes The Salt Lake Tribune's Brian T. Smith.
Odds & Ends: Pacers, Valanciunas, Wallace, Kidd
Let's consolidate all the odds and ends from Sunday night in this post:
- Jared Zwerling of ESPN New York reports, via Twitter, that Mike Bibby likely won't sign with a team before the start of training camps. The veteran point guard does expect to sign somewhere, however, but not the Knicks and we heard yesterday, probably not the Celtics.
- Ben Golliver of CBS Sports provides his offseason report for the Clippers. Golliver says that after decades where the goal was to not screw up their draft, the Clippers were able to employ a more competitive approach of acquiring established veterans to fit around Chris Paul and Blake Griffin.
- Darnell Mayberry of the Oklahoman outlines the roster changes and season outlook for each team in the Northwest division, including the hometown Thunder.
- The Kamenetzky brothers of ESPN Los Angeles discuss via video who has the most to gain and the most to lose on the bolstered roster of the Lakers.
Earlier updates:
- The staff at HoopsWorld puts together their season preview on the Pacers. All five of their writers selected the Pacers to win the Central Division, a year after finishing second behind the Bulls. Lacking the star power of the Heat, Indiana will need popular breakout candidate Paul George to fulfill his potential if they want to go deep into the playoffs.
- Raptors Lithuanian prospect Jonas Valanciunas injured his left foot, reports the Toronto Sun. After Toronto used the fifth pick in last year's draft on him, Valanciunas enters his first NBA season with a ton of hype. The seven footer was spotted with a walking boot, though all indications are that it is a minor injury.
- Keith Schlosser of the Knicks Journal gives his take on the news that Rasheed Wallace is being considered by the Knicks. If that move comes to fruition, Wallace would be joining a roster full of late 30-somethings. Jason Kidd, in this NBA.com video, seems confident that the supplemental pieces that the team added could put them over the top.
Washburn On Ujiri, Fisher, Williams, Barnes
Gary Washburn of the Boston Globe caught up with Nuggets GM Masai Ujiri, who received plaudits this summer after trading for Andre Iguodala but still faces an uphill battle in a stacked Western Conference. He has more to share from around the league, and we'll hit the highlights here.
- Washburn believes free agent point guard Derek Fisher could be a consideration for the Celtics, though we heard yesterday that A. Sherrod Blakely of CSNNE.com doesn't think the team will pursue him. Boston is thin at point guard following the retirement of Keyon Dooling.
- Hawks GM Danny Ferry's decision to buy out Jordan Williams was curious, according to Washburn, who wonders why they didn't try to dangle him in a trade offer. The Globe scribe says at 6'10" and 260 pounds, with the ability to rebound and play center, Williams shouldn't remain a free agent for long. One report has linked Williams to the Knicks.
- Washburn also heard from Matt Barnes, who recently signed with the Clippers, about his experience on the other team in L.A. "I think you really learn a lot about yourself, playing for the Lakers, you are on the biggest stage in the world,” the forward said. “All eyes are always on you. You’re never supposed to miss a shot and you’re never supposed to lose. You really have to control your feelings and emotions when people try to jump on you, because they expect 82-0 and they expect titles every year. It’s not a bad tradition to live up to, but you definitely find out a lot about yourself.”
Clippers Add Gerald Madkins To Front Office
The Clippers have hired Gerald Madkins as director of basketball operations, reports Broderick Turner of the Los Angeles Times. Madkins comes from the Hornets, where he was director of player personnel the last two seasons. Turner says Madkins will work alongside recently hired vice president of basketball operations Gary Sacks, though it's unclear exactly what role he'll play in the team's decision-making.
Prior to joining the Hornets, Madkins spent two years as director of scouting for the Rockets, and also worked in the scouting departments of the Sonics and Knicks. In all, his NBA experience totals 10 years. He played parts of three seasons with the Cavaliers and Warriors in the 1990s.
Sacks, the Clippers' former director of player personnel, was promoted to his current position earlier this month after spending the summer as part of a three-man management team that replaced GM Neil Olshey, who left to become Blazers GM in June. Sacks is believed to have been acting as de facto GM since his promotion, though coach Vinny Del Negro and team president Andy Roeser, the others in the management trio, still have voices in front office decision-making. Blake Griffin was vocal about his support for Sacks prior to the promotion.
Pacific Notes: Curry, Bogut, Howard, Clippers
It's been a busy night out West in the NBA. On the depressing side of things, we found out that Channing Frye of the Suns will likely be sidelined for the entire year with a heart issue. Here is hoping that Frye makes it back to full strength, as he says he should. In lighter news, the Kings will give free agent center Hamady N'Diaye a shot to make their roster in training camp.
Here is what else is going on in the Pacific division:
- We covered this yesterday, but the Warriors said today, via press release, that Stephen Curry has received full medical clearance on his right ankle. Curry is good to resume all basketball activities right away.
- Curry's teammate, Andrew Bogut, has had ankle issues of his own. Bogut spoke with Tim Kawakami of the San Jose Mercury, saying that he should be ready for the team's opener, among other things.
- Yannis Koutroupis of HoopsWorld transcribes parts of an interview that Lakers coach Mike Brown gave with ESPN LA, detailing where Brown outlines how newly acquired Dwight Howard will help the Lakers right now and in the future.
- John Hollinger of ESPN gives a detailed breakdown of the Clippers 2012-13 roster, insider only. Jamal Crawford, Grant Hill and Lamar Odom highlight the offseason additions for the Clips.
- HoopsWorld published their season preview for the Clippers. The HoopsWorld staff is predicting a second place finish across the board for the Clips, presumably with the Lakers finishing atop the Pacific pack.