Celtics Waive Darko Milicic
As expected, Darko Milicic has officially left the Celtics to attend to his ill mother in Europe. The Celtics announced today in a press release that they have officially waived Milicic, reducing their roster to 14 players.
"Darko has asked us to release him so he could deal with a personal matter," said Celtics president Danny Ainge. "The whole Celtics family wishes Darko and his family well."
Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports first reported on Monday that Darko was considering leaving the Celtics. In addition to wanting to be with his mother, the former second overall pick was also reportedly upset with the lack of playing time he was receiving in Boston.
It's not known whether or not the Celtics and Milicic worked out a buyout, or whether the C's will take the full cap hit for Darko's minimum-salary contract. Either way, Boston should have the financial flexibility to offer another player at least the veteran's minimum. Kenyon Martin has been mentioned as a potential replacement, though multiple reports have suggested it's more likely the team keeps its 15th roster spot open for now.
Spurs Recall Cory Joseph From D-League
Cory Joseph has become the first player this season to be recalled from an assignment to the D-League. Less than a week after sending him to the Austin Toros, the Spurs have recalled Joseph to help shore up a roster depleted by injuries. The team confirmed the move in a press release.
The D-League season doesn't get underway until later this week, so Joseph didn't get a chance to appear in a regular-season game for the Toros. The Spurs likely would have preferred to keep him in the D-League a little longer, but the team's hand was forced by injuries to Kawhi Leonard and Stephen Jackson. San Antonio also signed James Anderson to add some depth at small forward.
To keep tabs on all of this season's D-League assignments and recalls, be sure to check out our complete list.
Spurs Sign James Anderson
The Spurs have officially signed James Anderson, the club announced today in a press release. ESPN.com's Marc Stein reported yesterday that Anderson was expected to rejoin the Spurs, in the wake of injuries to Kawhi Leonard and Stephen Jackson.
Although San Antonio is calling Anderson up from the D-League, the 23-year-old had joined the Rio Grande Valley Vipers as a free agent rather than as a Spurs asignee. As such, Anderson will fill the Spurs' 15th and final roster spot.
Anderson was a member of the Spurs last season, but the club didn't pick up its 2012/13 option on the Oklahoma State product, making him an unrestricted free agent at season's end. He joined the Hawks for training camp and the preseason, but failed to earn a spot on Atlanta's roster.
According to Jeff McDonald of the San Antonio Express-News, Anderson's deal is believed to be non-guaranteed. That would give the Spurs the opportunity to cut him without taking much of a cap hit when Leonard and/or Jackson return.
Pacers Assign Plumlee, Johnson To D-League
The Pacers have assigned rookies Miles Plumlee and Orlando Johnson to their D-League affiliate, the team announced today in a press release. The two players aren't expected to remain with the Fort Wayne Mad Ants for long, however. According to the team, Plumlee and Johnson will play two games in the D-League before rejoining the Pacers next week.
The Pacers are scheduled to play two games at home this week before embarking on a three-game road trip that begins with a contest against the Lakers in L.A. next Tuesday. Plumlee and Johnson, who have seen limited minutes in Indiana, will play in games for Fort Wayne on Friday and Sunday before rejoining the NBA squad. For the Pacers, who share the Mad Ants as an affiliate with the Bobcats, Pistons, and Bucks, it's the first time the've ever assigned a player to the D-League.
"We could not be happier to have Miles and Orlando join our team for these first two games," said Mad Ants head coach Duane Ticknor. "We think we can provide both players a great opportunity to improve their games, and I am excited for this watershed moment in our partnership with the Pacers."
Hornets Buy Out Matt Carroll
4:23pm: The Hornets have officially released Carroll, the team announced today in a press release.
3:01pm: The Hornets have completed their buyout of Matt Carroll's contract, making him a free agent, according to ESPN.com's Marc Stein (via Twitter). Stein had reported last week that the two sides were working on a buyout agreement after Carroll was traded to New Orleans by the Bobcats.
Carroll, 32, had seen his production decline over the course of his second stint with the Bobcats. When he was pushed out of the rotation this season, Charlotte elected to send him to the Hornets in exchange for Hakim Warrick. However, the veteran shooter wasn't in New Orleans' plans either, and the team started working on buying out his contract almost immediately, according to Stein.
Once Carroll clears waivers, he'll become a free agent, eligible to sign with any team except the Bobcats. When Stein first reported that the Hornets were negotiating a buyout, the ESPN.com scribe suggested that Carroll could appeal to the Lakers. Any club that shows interest in picking up the Notre Dame product would be hoping for something closer to his 2010/11 production (12.2 PER, .370 3PT%) rather than a repeat of his 2011/12 campaign (5.6 PER, .186 3PT%).
Arenas, Diogu, McCants, Williams Sign In China
10:56am: Sean Williams has also signed with a Chinese team, joining McCants on the Foshan Dralions, according to Jon Pastuszek of NiuBBall.com (via Twitter). Williams was waived by the Rockets earlier this summer and drew some interest from the Timberwolves and Knicks, but didn't land an NBA deal.
10:20am: Gilbert Arenas has officially signed with the Shanghai Sharks, the team announced on its website (Chinese link). Reports earlier this month indicated that Arenas had agreed to sign with Yao Ming's Sharks, after a verbal agreement with the Guangdong Southern Tigers fell through.
While Arenas is the biggest name heading to China this week, he's not the only former NBA veteran signing overseas. According to a NetEase report (translation via HoopsHype), forward Ike Diogu has signed with Guangdong, with the team waiving Derrick Caracter to clear room. Diogu, the ninth overall pick in the 2005 draft, was in camp with the Suns last month before being released.
Another 2005 lottery pick will also be playing in the Chinese Basketball Association this season, as Marc Stein of ESPN.com tweets that Rashad McCants will join the Foshan Dralions. According to Stein, McCants' scoring ability has kept him on the radar of NBA teams, though the former UNC standout hasn't appeared in an NBA game since the 2008/09 season. The Pacers were one club that displayed some interest in McCants before he landed his deal in China, tweets Stein.
Arenas, Diogu, and McCants will all be eligible to return stateside and catch on with an NBA team before the playoffs begin, since the CBA regular season ends in February.
Jon Brockman Signs In France
Forward Jon Brockman has signed with the French team Limoges, according to Catch-and-shoot.com. The former Buck was waived by the Rockets two days before their season opener. After being drafted by the Trail Blazers (but then traded on draft night to the Kings) in 2009, the 6'7" forward went on to average 2.1 PPG and 3.1 RPG in three professional seasons.
Hornets Sign Dell Demps To Extension
4:29pm: Demps' extension is for three years with a team option on the fourth year, a source tells Jeff Zillgitt of USA Today.
9:44am: The Hornets have extended the contract of general manager Dell Demps, locking him up to a multiyear deal, the team announced today in a press release. Terms of the agreement weren't disclosed.
"Dell has a bright future ahead as the GM of our team and Mr. [Tom] Benson and I couldn’t be more impressed with the track this team is on and are excited about the future," said Hornets executive VP Mickey Loomis in the release. "He has helped shape this organization with the current team of young, talented players and we look forward to seeing the growth of the franchise during this exciting time for the franchise."
There was some question when Benson took over as the Hornets' owner whether he'd move forward long-term with Monty Williams as head coach and Demps as GM. However, Williams received a contract extension of his own in August, so it seems the new ownership group has liked what it's seen from both men. Both Williams' and Demps' contracts would have expired in 2013 if they had not been extended.
Since Demps was hired by the Hornets in July of 2010, he has orchestrated a number of major moves for the team, including last December's Chris Paul trade. He is the 18th longest-tenured head of basketball operations in the NBA.
Timberwolves Sign Josh Howard
FRIDAY, 10:29am: Howard has officially signed with the T-Wolves and is expected to be in uniform tonight vs. the Warriors, according to the team's PR Twitter account.
THURSDAY, 9:25am: The Timberwolves have reached an agreement with Josh Howard on a one-year deal, reports ESPN.com's Chris Broussard (via Twitter). According to Broussard, the contract will be worth the minimum salary.
Having suffered a rash of early-season injuries, the T-Wolves had been eyeing reinforcements, particularly at the wing, where the team will be without Chase Budinger for three months. Mickael Pietrus and Raja Bell were among the other possible options, though as I suggested earlier this week, Howard made the most sense, since Pietrus wanted more than the veteran's minimum and Bell's contract made him an undesirable trade target. As Darren Wolfson of 1500 ESPN Twin Cities tweets, it was always a matter of getting a player to accept the minimum, which is all Minnesota could offer.
Howard, 32, isn't the player he once was, but could be a useful piece for the Timberwolves as a bench player. In 43 games for the Jazz in 2011/12, the Wake Forest product averaged 8.7 PPG and 3.7 RPG in 23.0 minutes per contest.
With a full 15-man roster, the Wolves will have to make a corresponding roster move to clear a spot for Howard. Will Conroy is the most likely candidate to be cut, as he's the only Minnesota player without a fully guaranteed contract.
Wizards Sign Shaun Livingston, Cut Jannero Pargo
The Wizards have signed Shaun Livingston to a contract, the team announced today in a press release. Terms of the deal weren't disclosed, but I would guess it's a one-year deal, likely not fully guaranteed. According to team president Ernie Grunfeld, Livingston's "size and playmaking ability will give [the Wizards] more flexibility in the backcourt."
It's not the first time the Wizards have signed Livingston as a free agent. During the 2009/10 campaign, Washington inked the 6'7" guard to a pair of 10-day contracts before signing him for the rest of the season. Livingston's PER with the Wizards over the course of 26 games was 14.4 PER, which would have been a career high over a full season.
The Wizards, off to an 0-7 start, have struggled to get solid production from the point guard position with John Wall sidelined. A.J. Price has assumed the role of starting point guard, and has averaged 10.1 PPG and 6.9 APG, but has only shot 32.9% from the floor. Backup Jannero Pargo, who was released by the Wizards to make room for Livingston, was having even more trouble from the field, shooting 25.0%.
Pargo's contract was believed to be partially guaranteed for $300K, so that amount will count against the Wizards' cap this season.