Celtics Sign Jeff Green
6:02pm: The Celtics have officially announced the signing on their website, finalizing the deal more than six weeks after an agreement was reached.
“We are thrilled to be able to have Jeff back with the Celtics,” Danny Ainge, the team's president of basketball operations, said in the press release. “Jeff’s versatility on offense and ability to guard players out on the perimeter is something that we are looking forward to having on the court this season.”
AUGUST 22ND, 12:34pm: Green's day should finally be made official in the next day or two, Falk tells Sam Amick of SI.com (Sulia link). The agent said that the cap issues holding up the deal were "nothing serious" and that the agreement is still expected to be for four years and about $36MM.
AUGUST 17TH, 8:45pm: Nearly a month after his last update on Green's contract status, Falk told the Boston Globe on Friday that his client's deal should become official next week, reports Washburn (via Twitter).
Spurs Waive Derrick Byars
HoopsWorld reports that the Spurs have waived forward Derrick Byars. The 28-year-old forward played in the last two games of the regular season for San Antonio, averaging 5.0 PPG and 5.5 RPG in 18.5 MPG. Since being drafted in the second round in 2007, the former Vanderbilt standout has played in Europe and in the NBA D-League.
While he participated in training camp for the Bulls in 2009 and was signed by the Heat last December, Byars was not able to remain with either team before the start of their regular season schedules respectively. Although he had signed a multi-year deal with the Spurs in April, Byars' contract was not fully guaranteed for the 2012-13 season. The roster now stands at 14.
Morris Almond Signs With Serbian Team
Serbian basketball team Red Star Belgrade announced that it has signed Morris Almond to a one-year deal, according to Michael Lee of the Washington Post. Almond finished the 2011/12 year on a ten day contract with the Wizards, scoring a combined 14 points in four appearances.
The 27-year-old wasn't asked back for 2012/13 after fellow shooting guard Cartier Martin was re-signed and Bradley Beal was tabbed with the third overall pick. Almond has spent the bulk of the last three seasons in Europe and in the D-League after being drafted in the first-round by the Jazz in 2007.
Cavs, Gee Nearing Three-Year Deal?
MONDAY, 2:48pm: The Cavs and Gee aren't "especially close" to finalizing anything, a source tells Amico (Sulia link). It still appears as if Gee will return to Cleveland, but a deal may not be signed until closer to the start of training camp.
SATURDAY, 1:20pm: The Cavs and Alonzo Gee are nearing agreement on a three-year deal worth roughly $10MM, a source tells Sam Amico of FOX Sports Ohio (via Twitter).
The news was first reported by John Telich of FOX Sports 8 (via Twitter). Telich adds that discussions between the Cavs and Gee are ongoing in regards to how much money will be guaranteed. There is also a possibility that the contract will include a team option for a fourth year.
Gee, 25, averaged 10.6 PPG with 5.1 RPG in 29 minutes per contest last season for Cleveland.
Rockets Sign Carlos Delfino
AUGUST 20TH, 1:32pm: The Rockets have officially signed Delfino, the team announced today in a press release.
AUGUST 15TH, 2:57pm: Delfino's deal with the Rockets is worth $3MM in year one, with a second-year option also worth $3MM, according to Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle (Twitter links). Since that amount exceeds the $2.575MM room exception, Houston is using leftover cap space to complete the deal.
The team has reportedly waived Josh Harrellson to clear a spot for Delfino, so the signing should become official any time now.
AUGUST 13TH, 7:29pm: The Rockets have agreed to a two-year deal with swingman Carlos Delfino that includes a team option for 2013-14, tweets Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle. It's unclear how much the contract is worth, but it's likely for more than the minimum salary, as last week's reports suggested. The Rockets have their $2.575MM room exception available, so the deal could be for all or most of that amount, but that's just my speculation.
Marc Stein of ESPN.com reported Thursday that the Rockets were "actively chasing" Delfino, who said he would sign with a team after the Olympics. The Celtics, Hawks, Pacers and Cavaliers were all reportedly in the running for Delfino at times this summer. The 6'6" Argentinian seemingly had his heart set on a multiyear deal, so the two-year pact with the Rockets offers a compromise of sorts, giving the team an out after this season.
Delfino, who spent the last three seasons with the Bucks, saw his role in the offense diminish last year after two straight seasons of double-figure scoring. His points per game went from 11.5 in 2010/11 to 9.0 in 2011/12, as his shots were cut from 10.5 a game to 8.4. Delfino played with an injured groin the last month of the season that required surgery in May, and was disappointed the Bucks didn't show more interest in re-signing him after he played hurt for them. The Bucks held his Bird rights, so they would have had no trouble bringing him back if they had interest. Milwaukee originally brought him aboard for three years and $10.5MM on a sign-and-trade from the Raptors in 2009.
The addition of Delfino gives the Rockets 21 players on the roster, Zach Lowe of SI.com notes via Twitter. That would seem to make them prime candidates to pull off a trade sometime between now and the start of the season.
Vernon Macklin Signing With Turkish Team
Former Pistons power forward Vernon Macklin will take his talents abroad next season as he is expected to sign with Gaziantep of Turkey, according to his agent Greg Nunn who spoke with HoopsHype. Macklin, 26 in September, averaged 2.0 PPG and 1.5 RPG in 23 contests with Detroit during the 2011-12 season.
"Vernon decided to turn down three NBA camp invites," Nunn said. "He feels he needs to play to showcase his talents and return to the NBA next year."
Macklin became an unrestricted free agent earlier this offseason when the Pistons did not extend the former Florida big man a qualifying offer. Since then, Macklin has drawn attention from a variety of NBA teams including the Nets, Suns, Wizards, Bucks and Lakers. The second-year forward thrived during a stint with Fort Wayne as he averaged a double-double in the D-League over the course of 10 games.
Hornets Sign Monty Williams To Contract Extension
The Hornets and head coach Monty Williams agreed to a four-year contract extension over the weekend that will keep him in the Big Easy through 2016, writes John Reid of The Times Picayune. The 40-year-old former NBA forward enters his third season with New Orleans after enjoying success in his debut campaign and struggling last year in the wake of Chris Paul being traded to the Clippers. With a series of key moves through the draft, free agency and trades this offseason, Hornets executive Mickey Loomis expressed excitement about Williams' ability to develop the young pieces around him into a championship contender.
"He knows and we know that he’s here for the long term as we develop a young team into a championship contender," Loomis said. "I’ve been very impressed with Monty since we purchased the team."
The team should have no problem improving upon its 21-45 record from the 2011-12 season thanks to the addition of eight new players including Anthony Davis, Austin Rivers, Ryan Anderson and a healthy Eric Gordon, who missed most of last season due to injury. Time will tell how playing in the Olympics and spending time with world-class players has positively impacted Davis' development. With a new contract in place and a strong new ownership group, Williams' attention can be completely focused on getting the most out of his players on the basketball court.
"I’m aware of the work ahead of us, but that’s what we all want," Williams said. "But at the same time, to have Mickey and Mr. Benson step up to the plate and just say this is the guy we trust going forward, they will never know how that makes me and my family feel. That’s a pretty profound statement."
Ibaka, Thunder Agree To Four-Year Extension
5:38pm: HoopsHype reports that Ibaka's deal is actually guaranteed for $49MM and could pay him as much as $51.5MM based on unspecified individual and team incentives.
11:59am: The Thunder have officially announced Ibaka's extension.
6:38am: Ibaka's deal is worth $48MM over four years, a league source tells Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports (via Twitter).
2:24am: Yahoo's Adrian Wojnarowski reports that Serge Ibaka has agreed to a four-year deal worth at least $40MM to remain with the Thunder. The three-year veteran averaged 9.1 PPG, 7.5 RPG, and a remarkable 3.7 BPG in 27.2 MPG as Oklahoma City's starting power forward last season. Although Ibaka's rebounding and block averages dipped a bit during this year's playoffs (5.8 RPG/3.0 BPG), it would be somewhat challenging to question the Thunder's decision to ensure an extension for a 22-year-old core player with premier defensive abilities and NBA Finals experience rather than let him test the free agent market after the 2012-13 season.
Wojnarowski adds that with Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook playing on maximum contracts (along with $27MM due to Kendrick Perkins over the next three years), Oklahoma City faces a difficult decision with James Harden, who could possibly garner a maximum contract offer next summer as a restricted free agent.
Hoops Rumors' Chuck Myron examined Ibaka's value as an extension candidate earlier this month.
International Notes: Gordon, Simmons, Wallace
With things relatively quiet on the NBA front these days, we'll keep track of today's international news and rumors right here….
- Undrafted rookie free agent Drew Gordon has signed with Serbia's Partizan Belgrade, according to Sportando. The 6'9" forward out of New Mexico was ranked as this year's 56th-best prospect by ESPN.com's Chad Ford and played for the Mavericks at the Las Vegas Summer League, but won't be heading to camp with an NBA team.
- Former NBA big man Cedric Simmons has signed with Enel Brindisi in Italy, according to Sportando. Simmons played for the Hornets, Cavs, Bulls, and Kings from 2006 to 2009.
Earlier updates:
- Greek's Panathinaikos reportedly has some interest in Ben Wallace, as Emiliano Carchia of Sportando notes. I imagine it's unlikely anything comes of this, since Wallace is said to be debating between retiring or returning to the Pistons.
- Goran Dragic's brother Zoran Dragic played in the Las Vegas Summer League for the Rockets, but won't be coming to the NBA at this point. As Wendell Maxey writes at Ridiculous Upside, Spanish reports suggest Zoran is close to signing a two-year deal with Unicaja Malaga.
- Ilkan Karaman, who was selected 57th overall by the Nets in the June draft, has officially signed with Fenerbache Ulker Istanbul, the team announced (link via Sportando). Brooklyn will retain the Turkish forward's rights if and when he eventually makes his way over to the NBA.
Hornets Sign Brian Roberts
The Hornets have officially signed 6'1" guard Brian Roberts to a contract, the team announced today in a press release. Roberts, who played his college ball at the University of Dayton, has spent the last few seasons overseas, primarily in Germany.
Roberts played for the Hornets' Summer League squad in Las Vegas, averaging 13.8 points, 2.2 assists and 2.0 rebounds in 27.4 minutes per game, including outstanding shooting percentages of .500/.545/.938.
Roberts will likely receive no more than a partial guarantee from the Hornets, with a chance to earn a roster spot in training camp. We heard earlier in August that the 26-year-old was leaving his team in Germany to join the Hornets.