D-League Moves: Jones, Lamb, Liggins, Acy
Here are today's D-League assignments and recalls, with any additional transactions added to the top of the page throughout the day:
- Perry Jones, Jeremy Lamb, and DeAndre Liggins have been recalled from the Tulsa 66ers by the Thunder, the team announced today in a press release. The OKC trio was assigned to the D-League last Thursday, and helped lead the 66ers to a pair of wins during the brief assignment.
- The Raptors have re-assigned Quincy Acy to the D-League, the team announced today in a press release. Acy, a second-round pick in 2012, had a brief stint with the Bakersfield Jam back in December, during which he averaged 12.7 PPG and 4.7 RPG. The energetic forward has seen limited playing time in 20 games with the Raptors this season.
International Notes: Kapono, Cook, Mensah-Bonsu
While it's been a fairly quiet day in the NBA so far, a few familiar names are making headlines internationally. Here are the latest notes from around the globe:
- Jason Kapono is not expected to finish the season with Greek team Panathinaikos, according to a report from Lefteris Moutis of EuroHoops.net. Kapono joined the club in December, but has been disappointed by his lack of playing time and will likely ask to be let go, according to Moutis.
- Brian Cook has reached an agreement to sign with Piratas de Quebradillas of Puerto Rico, agent Greg Nunn tells Jorge Sierra of HoopsHype. Cook, who played for the Clippers and Wizards a year ago, will have an NBA out, giving him the option of returning stateside before season's end if an opportunity arises.
- Cajasol Sevilla has signed former NBA veteran Pops Mensah-Bonsu, the Spanish club announced today on its website (English link via Sportando). The 29-year-old played with five NBA teams in parts of four seasons, last appearing in seven games for the Hornets in 2010/11.
Cavaliers Waive Josh Selby
The Cavs have waived Josh Selby, the team announced on its website. The swingman had yet to appear in a game for Cleveland after coming over as part of a three-for-one deal with the Grizzlies in January. Instead, he spent time with the Cavs' D-League affiliate, notching 15.3 points, 6.5 rebounds and 4.2 assists in 32.9 minutes per game over 11 contests with the Canton Charge.
The move leaves the Cavs with a 14-man roster, enabling them to bring in players on 10-day contracts. Last year Cleveland brought in Ben Uzoh, Lester Hudson and Manny Harris on 10-day deals, eventually signing Harris for the rest of the season. Cleveland could also use its open spot to bring in a bigger name, as they've been linked to Greg Oden and Donte Greene of late.
The 6'2" Selby, a second-round pick by Memphis in 2011, has seen little playing time in his two NBA seasons. He's appeared in 38 career games, all of them for the Grizzlies, averaging 2.2 PPG and 7.8 MPG. Still, the Kansas product has shown flashes of his promise, sharing Las Vegas Summer League MVP honors with Damian Lillard this past offseason.
Selby had been making the one-year veteran's minimum salary of $762,195, a figure that will remain on Cleveland's books unless he's claimed off waivers. In the unlikely event he signs elsewhere for more money this season, the Cavs will get to subtract a portion of his salary using set-off rights. Selby's contract includes a minimum-salary team option for next season, but that will disappear unless another team submits a waiver claim.
Odds & Ends: Davis, Cavs, Gibson, Heat, Saunders
It looked like we might have had an early commitment for the NBA draft yesterday, when UCLA coach Ben Howland said there was no doubt shooting guard Shabazz Muhammad would leave the Bruins after his freshman year. But Muhammad said he isn't ready to commit one way or another, as Peter Yoon of ESPNLosAngeles notes, leaving open the possibility, however slim, that the DraftExpress.com No. 3 prospect for 2013 won't be available until next year. While we wait for more definitive word from Muhammad, here's more from around the Association:
- Power forward Josh Davis, who appeared in 15 games last season for the Grizzlies, has signed for the rest of the season with the Spanish club Assignia Manresa, Sportando's Emiliano Carchia reports. Davis had been playing in Venezuela, for Gaiqueries de Margarita.
- Dion Waiters' ability to take over at point guard lately for the injured Kyrie Irving means the Cavaliers don't have to go looking for a backup at the position, observes Terry Pluto of the Plain Dealer.
- Whatever the Cavs do, don't expect them to bring back Daniel Gibson as a free agent this summer, as the veteran guard is no longer in the team's plans, according to Bob Finnan of The News-Herald.
- Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel argues the Heat would have been better off signing a point guard instead of Juwan Howard, but coach Erik Spoelstra is comfortable relying upon his wing players to shift to the point should the need arise, as Winderman notes.
- Yesterday, Sid Hartman of the Star Tribune mentioned Flip Saunders' name in connection with the Wolves, and Darren Wolfson of 1500 ESPN Twin Cities notes the close relationship between Saunders and Wolves owner Glen Taylor (Twitter link).
- Keith Schlosser of Ridiculous Upside has a primer on Henry Sims, who signed a 10-day contract with the Hornets today.
- Ronnie Brewer is glad to be with the Thunder, and the team appears pleased with its trade deadline acquisition, having placed a priority on bringing in defense, as HoopsWorld's Susan Bible documents.
Celtics Sign Terrence Williams To Multi-Year Deal
SUNDAY, 11:35am: The Celtics officially announced Williams' multi-year deal in a press release. The team didn't disclose financial specifics, but Mark Murphy of the Boston Herald reports the contract includes triggers that would guarantee the deal for next season in stages.
FRIDAY, 2:52pm: Wojnarowski confirms that the contract is for the minimum salary and that it isn't fully guaranteed for 2013/14.
2:01pm: Terrence Williams' 10-day contract with the Celtics is set to expire after tonight's game, but Boston will re-sign the former 11th overall pick for the rest of the season, reports Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports (via Twitter). According to Wojnarowski, the Celtics will also sign Williams conditionally for 2013/14, which I assume means '13/14 won't be fully guaranteed.
Williams was one of three players signed to 10-day contracts by the Celtics after returning from China. D.J. White and Shavlik Randolph, who also spent the season in the CBA, are expected to be in uniform for the first time tonight. So far, Williams has appeared in three games for the Celtics, including playing nearly 25 minutes last Friday against the Suns, recording nine points, four boards, and four assists.
When Williams' contract becomes official, the Celtics will have 13 players on guaranteed contracts this season. For next year, Boston currently has 10 players on fully guaranteed deals. Paul Pierce also has a player option, while Williams will presumably have either a non-guaranteed or partially-guaranteed deal.
As I detailed earlier this week, the Celtics are already projected to be taxpayers this season. So even though Williams' contract will almost certainly be for the minimum salary, it will cost Boston twice as much as usual, once the tax penalty is considered.
Hornets Sign Henry Sims To 10-Day Contract
The Hornets have signed Henry Sims to a 10-day contract, the team announced in a press release. John Reid of The Times-Picayune reported yesterday that the move was expected. The 7-footer was with the Knicks in training camp this past fall, and before the Hornets got in the mix a source told Jared Zwerling of ESPNNewYork.com that the Knicks might entertain the idea of bringing him back this season.
The 22-year-old went undrafted this past June after four years at Georgetown. Sims has seen extensive time with the Erie BayHawks of the D-League this year, starting all 36 of the team's games and averaging 17.1 points and 9.0 rebounds per contest. When Jimmy Smith of The Times-Picayune reported Friday that the Hornets were looking for a center, I speculated that Sims might be someone they consider.
New Orleans made liberal use of 10-day contracts last season, and with big man Jason Smith out for the season with a torn labrum, Luke Adams of Hoops Rumors wrote that more short-term deals might be coming. The addition of Sims gives the Hornets 14 players on their roster, leaving one more spot open should they decide to pursue more depth.
Cavs Recall Kevin Jones From D-League
We'll keep track of today's D-League assignments and recalls here, with any additional moves added to the top:
- The Cavs have recalled Kevin Jones from the D-League after a one-day stint, the team announced on its website. Jones has bounced back and forth between the Cavs and the Canton Charge this week, as it's the fourth straight day the team has either assigned or recalled the power forward. Jones put up 17 points and 12 rebounds in 27 minutes for Canton last night, and is averaging 22.4 PPG and 12.1 RPG in nine games for the Charge this season. The Cavs, sole owners of the Charge, have taken advantage of the geographic proximity of their affiliate, sending Jones down on five occasions this season after signing him November 29th.
Heat Sign Juwan Howard
The Heat have signed Juwan Howard to a 10-day contract, tweets Alex Kennedy of HoopsWorld. Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports reported earlier today that the Heat were considering bringing the 40-year-old big man back. The team is likely to keep him around for the rest of the season, according to Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel (Twitter link).
Howard has hung around the Heat all season in an advisory role, and the team kept an open locker for him even though he wasn't invited to training camp as a player. Back in September, coach Erik Spoelstra mentioned the possibility of Howard joining the team during the season even though he wouldn't be on the camp roster. Howard's agent, David Falk, said in the offseason that his client wasn't ready to retire, but strongly preferred rejoining Miami over signing with another club. Howard spent the previous two seasons with the Heat, seeing 9.2 minutes per game over 85 regular season contests in 2010/11 and 2011/12. He's averaged 2.1 points and 2.0 rebounds per game in his limited time with Miami.
Howard is joining the team primarily for his off-court leadership skills, as Chris Tomasson of Fox Sports Florida tweets. He slides into the roster spot vacated when the Heat traded Dexter Pittman to the Grizzlies. It seemed at the time of that swap that the Heat were creating flexibility to sign a player bought out from another team, but the lack of buyouts before last night's playoff-eligibility deadline might have prompted Miami to turn to Howard.
Bulls Sign Louis Amundson
SATURDAY, 1:01pm: The Bulls have made Amundson's signing official, announcing it in a press release.
FRIDAY, 2:19pm: Amundson turned down a rest-of-season offer from another team because he had already committed to the Bulls' 10-day offer, according to Marc J. Spears of Yahoo! Sports (via Twitter). It's not clear which club made Amundson the offer.
11:48am: The Bulls will sign Louis Amundson to a 10-day contract, according to Chris Tomasson of FOX Sports Florida (via Twitter). Amundson was said to be drawing interest from at least four Eastern Conference teams, with ESPN.com's Marc Stein reporting that Chicago was the frontrunner.
The Knicks, Heat, and Celtics also had interest in Amundson. However, the Knicks would have needed to release a player or give up on Kenyon Martin to make room for the big man. The Heat, meanwhile, liked Amundson, but felt he duplicated a lot of the skills Chris Andersen brings to the table, according to Tomasson (Twitter link). As for the Celtics, they filled their final roster spot earlier today by signing Shavlik Randolph.
In 20 games with the Timberwolves earlier this season, Amundson averaged just 8.1 minutes per contest, his lowest mark since 2007/08. His 6.4 PER and .368 FG% were also career-lows. The Wolves cut him last month when they signed Chris Johnson and Mickael Gelabale to rest-of-season deals.
If Amundson does well in Chicago on his first 10-day contract, the Bulls have room under their hard cap to eventually sign him for the remainder of the season. The 30-year-old is expected to finalize the deal with the Bulls tomorrow, according to Tomasson.
D-League Moves: Jones, West
Today's NBA D-League assignments and recalls all in one place:
- Veteran guard Delonte West, who remains unsigned by any NBA team, will report to the Texas Legends on Monday, Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports reports.
- The Cleveland Cavaliers have assigned rookie forward Kevin Jones to the Canton Charge of the D-League, the team announced in a press release. Jones has appeared in 19 games for the Cavs and is averaging 2.1 PPG and 1.7 RPG. He was recalled from the D-League on Friday.