Atlantic Notes: Nets, Smith, Celtics, Sixers, Turner
Earlier tonight, we learned that things are heating up between the Nets and the Hawks as Brooklyn eyes forward Josh Smith. The Nets may not have all the assets to get a deal done, however, and it may behoove them to get a third team involved in the trade talks. Brooklyn would reportedly part ways with Kris Humphries and MarShon Brooks to bring the high-flyer further up the east coast, but it's going to take more than that to make the Hawks release him from their talons. The Hawks almost certainly would like to trade Smith rather than lose him for nothing this summer, but they can find plenty of suitors around the league. Here's more on the Nets and the rest of the Atlantic..
- Nets owner Mikhail Prokhorov must really not care about luxury tax penalties if he is willing to take on another max deal in Smith on top of an already expensive roster, tweets Stefan Bondy of the New York Daily News. Prokhorov has made it clear that winning is his top priority and with the highest net worth of any owner in the league, he has the resources to make that a reality.
- In a deal slightly less glamorous than the rumored Smith swap, the Nets' D-League affiliate (Springfield Armor) sent power forward James Mays to the Celtics' affiliate (Maine Red Claws) for swingman Kris Joseph, a source tells Tim Bontemps of the New York Post. Both players were in camp with the respective NBA clubs and Joseph was said to impress over the summer.
- John Mitchell of the Philadelphia Inquirer warns Sixers fans not to hold their breath on an Evan Turner trade. Turner is allegedly on the block as Philly considers a shakeup.
D-League Moves: Melo, Smith, Lamb
We'll round up today's D-League assignments and recalls here, with the latest movement on top of the page.
- Two days after re-assigning him to the Maine Red Claws, the Celtics have recalled Fab Melo, the team announced today in a press release. The rookie big man had six points and five rebounds in his lone game for the Red Claws this weekend.
- Rockets center Greg Smith has been sent to the D-League, tweets Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle. Smith will join the Rio Grande Valley Vipers for the first time this season after spending 26 games with the Vipers last year. The 6'10" Smith is averaging 5.5 points and 4.0 rebounds in 13.9 minutes with the Rockets this season, but lost his spot in the rotation to Cole Aldrich over the past two games.
- The Bucks have recalled rookie Doron Lamb from the D-League, the team announced via Twitter. Milwaukee sent him down to the Fort Wayne Mad Ants a week ago, and the 6'4" shooting guard has had mixed results in four games since, going scoreless on Wednesday against Sioux Falls and hitting for 24 points last night versus Iowa. In six D-League games over two separate stints, Lamb is averaging 10.3 points in 25.5 minutes per game. He's put up 3.4 PPG in 12.2 MPG with the Bucks, but hasn't seen action in an NBA contest since January 5th, the final game before Jim Boylan took over for Scott Skiles as coach.
Celtics Assign Fab Melo To D-League
We'll keep track of Friday's D-League assignments and recalls here, with the latest updates at the top of the page:
- The Celtics are sending rookie center Fab Melo back to the D-League, the team announced via press release. The Syracuse product and 22nd pick in the 2012 draft scored his first two NBA points in just his second game with Boston last night. Now he's headed back to the Maine Red Claws, for whom he's averaged 11.3 points, 6.8 rebounds and 3.6 blocks in 19 games.
Wolves Re-Sign Johnson, Gelabale, Cut Amundson
The Timberwolves have re-signed Chris Johnson and Mickael Gelabale to rest-of-season deals, and have released Louis Amundson to make room on the roster, according to Ray Richardson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press (via Twitter). The T-Wolves had been carrying all three players for a total of 16, thanks to an injury exception, but were now required to reduce the roster to 15.
Johnson and Gelabale had both received a pair of 10-day contracts from the Timberwolves, so the team needed to either sign them for the remainder of the season or lose them. Darren Wolfson of 1500 ESPN Twin Cities reported earlier today that the club had been discussing a deal with Johnson that would keep him under contract for the 2013/14 season as well.
Unlike some players on 10-day deals, both Johnson and Gelabale have seen a good deal of playing time since joining the Wolves. Johnson, 27, has averaged 8.6 PPG and 3.6 RPG while shooting 75.0% from the floor in seven games with the team, while Gelabale has appeared in each of the Wolves' 10 games since he first signed with Minnesota, averaging 6.5 PPG on 54.3% shooting.
As for Amundson, he hadn't been a huge part of the T-Wolves' rotation this season, appearing in just 20 games. He was on a one-year, minimum-salary contract, so even though Minnesota will be on the hook for his remaining salary, the cap hit won't be excessive.
Heat Sign Chris Andersen For Season
9:49am: The Heat have officially signed Andersen for the rest of the season, the team announced today (Twitter link).
9:32am: Chris Andersen's second 10-day contract with the Heat is set to expire at midnight tonight, but the Birdman won't be out looking for work tomorrow. According to Benjamin Hochman of the Denver Post (via Twitter), Andersen's agent says his client will be signed for the remainder of the season by the Heat.
Andersen, 34, will be the 15th man on the Heat's roster, meaning the team won't have any open spots remaining. If Miami wants to add another body, the team could always release a player on a guaranteed contract and absorb the extra cap hit. It's also possible that the club opens up a roster spot before the trade deadline by moving a player or two.
After seeing limited minutes during his first 10 days in Miami, Andersen has been worked into the team's rotation during his second contract, averaging 4.3 PPG and 4.3 RPG in four February contests. His rest-of-season contract will be worth a pro-rated portion of the minimum salary, though it's not clear whether or not it will include a team option for next year.
Sixers Sign Jeremy Pargo
The Sixers have signed Jeremy Pargo to a 10-day contract, the team announced today in a press release. No corresponding move will be required, as the team had two open roster spots after deciding not to re-sign Shelvin Mack when his second 10-day deal expired.
After appearing in 44 games last season for the Grizzlies, Pargo was dealt to the Cavaliers, where he averaged 7.8 PPG in 25 contests, including 11 starts, in 2012/13. However, the 26-year-old was the odd man out when Cleveland acquired Marreese Speights, Wayne Ellington, and Josh Selby from Memphis last month, and was waived to clear room on the roster.
Since the contract guarantee deadline passed a month ago, the Sixers have employed a revolving-door approach, using 10-day contracts to bring aboard a number of guards. Prior to Mack's two 10-day deals, the team had signed Maalik Wayns to a 10-day contract.
Pargo's older brother, Jannero Pargo, is also currently on a 10-day contract, with the Hawks.
Sixers Waive Shelvin Mack
Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports reports that the Philadelphia 76ers have waived guard Shelvin Mack after signing him to two consecutive 10-day contracts. Mack's second deal expired on Wednesday, and the Sixers were forced to choose between signing him for the remainder of the 2012/13 season and waiving him.
Mack appeared in four games for Philadelphia over the course of his two 10-day contracts, and scored a total of 2 points.
Heat Sign Varnardo For Remainder Of Season
FEBRUARY 4th: Varnado's deal is paying him him a prorated $473K this season and is non-guaranteed next season for nearly $789K, according to Chris Tomasson of FOX Sports Florida (on Twitter).
JANUARY 30th: The Heat have officially signed Varnado for the remainder of the season, according to a team release. Varnado's represents the 14th guaranteed contract on Miami's roster, so if the Heat intend to keep an open roster spot for Greg Oden or anyone else, the team would have to release Chris Andersen when his second 10-day deal ends.
JANUARY 29th: Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports reports that the Heat are working to finalize a deal with Jarvis Varnado for the rest season, also noting that a decision had to be made today after the 6'9 power forward completed two 10-day contracts with the team (Twitter links).
Varnado has appeared in a total of seven games this season, including five with the Celtics and two with Miami. Although the former Mississippi State standout had originally been drafted in the second round of the 2010 NBA draft by the Heat, Varnado spent nearly two years in Europe in addition to a brief stint with the Sioux Falls Skyforce of the D-League, where he averaged 14 PPG, 10 RPG, 3.9 BPG, and 30.5 MPG in 10 contests. This year marks his first set of appearances in an NBA regular season.
D-League Moves: Aron Baynes, Miles Plumlee
Here are Monday's D-League assignments and recalls, with the latest moves added to the top of the page throughout the day:
- Aron Baynes has been recalled from the Austin Toros, the Spurs announced in a press release. Baynes played in a pair of Toros' losses over the weekend, excelling in his first D-League contest on Friday, with 30 points and 10 boards.
- The Pacers have re-assigned Miles Plumlee to the D-League, the team announced today in a press release. It's the sixth time this season that the 2012 first-round pick has been assigned to the Fort Wayne Mad Ants. In his previous five stints, Plumlee has appeared in 12 games for the team, averaging 12.7 PPG and 11.1 RPG.
Grizzlies Re-Sign Chris Johnson
The Grizzlies have re-signed small forward Chris Johnson to another 10-day contract, tweets Ronald Tillery of the Memphis Commercial Appeal. It's the final 10-day deal he can sign with the team, as the Grizzlies would have to commit for the rest of the season if they want to bring him back again.
Memphis inked him to his first 10-day contract on January 23rd, and he's averaged 5.8 points and 1.8 rebounds in 18.4 minutes over five games. The Grizzlies were down to an 11-man roster after their three-for-one trade with the Cavs before they added him last month, and briefly dipped down to 12 when Johnson's first 10-day deal expired this weekend. The roster minimum is 13, though Memphis had a couple weeks to restock its roster following the trade.
Johnson, a product of Dayton, is not to be confused with Chris Johnson of LSU, a big man on a 10-day contract with the Timberwolves.