International Moves: Graham, Barron
We'll track today's notable international transactions here:
- Puerto Rican team Mets de Guaynabo has officially signed Joey Graham, the team announced via Twitter (hat tip to Sportando). The six-year NBA veteran had joined the D-League in March in hopes of returning to the Association.
- Puerto Rico's Atleticos de San German has parted ways with Earl Barron, replacing him with Willie Warren, according to Sportando. Barron, who was released by the Warriors in February, just signed with the Puerto Rican club last week.
Spurs Sign Derrick Byars
The Spurs have officially signed Derrick Byars, the team announced. San Antonio had an extra roster spot, so the team didn't need to make a corresponding move to clear room for Byars.
Byars, who turns 28 today, has played for the D-League's Bakersfield Jam for the past three seasons, averaging 17.1 points and 5.1 rebounds in 35.3 minutes per game in 104 career contests for the team. The wing player was selected in the second round of the 2007 draft by the Trail Blazers and was in camp with the Heat this preseason, though he has never appeared in a regular season NBA game.
It would be surprising if Byars received any playing time in the postseason for San Antonio, but he'll provide extra depth at the end of the bench in a spot that otherwise wouldn't have been used. The Spurs also recalled Cory Joseph from their own D-League squad Wednesday.
Scott Schroeder of Ridiculous Upside first reported that the Spurs would sign Byars. According to RealGM's transactions log, the 28-year-old inked a multiyear deal, so there's likely a non-guaranteed year in addition to the remainder of this season.
Minor Moves: Eyenga, Joseph, Wright
We'll track the latest notable international and D-League-related transactions right here, with the newest up top:
- Christian Eyenga practiced with the Lakers today and is expected to play tomorrow in Sacramento, tweets Mike Trudell of Lakers.com. Eyenga, who was acquired along with Ramon Sessions at the trade deadline, had been playing with the D-League's D-Fenders since the deal, but persumably has now been recalled.
- The Spurs have recalled Cory Joseph from their D-League affiliate, the Austin Toros, the Spurs announced today. Jeff McDonald of the San Antonio Express-News first tweeted that the move was expected, noting that it wouldn't bode well for the Toros in the D-League Finals. As our log of D-League assignments and recalls shows, Joseph has been optioned to Austin three times this season, so he won't be able to rejoin the Toros again for the end of their season.
- Former 15th-overall pick Antoine Wright has signed with Venezuelan team Guaiqueries de Margarita, the team announced (hat tip to Sportando). Wright, 28, had joined the D-League earlier this season in hopes of making it back to the NBA.
Sixers Sign Xavier Silas
Michael Preston, the Director of Public Relations for the 76ers, tweeted that the team has signed Xavier Silas for the remainder of the season.
The 6'5 guard had been on Philadelphia's pre-season roster before being waived and has spent most of the year on the Maine Red Claws of the NBA D-League. Silas averaged 9.8 PPG in 23.6 MPG for Maine.
Timberwolves Exercise Option On David Kahn
The Timberwolves have exercised the 2012/13 option on David Kahn's contract, reports Kent Youngblood of the Minneapolis Star Tribune. Owner Glen Taylor says he has already informed or is informing the team's general manager of the decision.
Kahn is in the final season of his three-year guarantee in Minnesota, but the club holds team options for next season and 2013/14. Each option is separate, so the T-Wolves could still decide to decline their final-year option, despite picking up next season's.
While Kahn has received some criticism for his moves in Minnesota, most recently during the Kevin Love extension negotiations, the emergence of Ricky Rubio had the team looking like a playoff contender before injuries derailed the season. Kahn won't have the Timberwolves' first-round draft pick this June, as it's ticketed for New Orleans. However, as our tentative draft order shows, Minnesota is in good position to acquire Utah's first-rounder, which is top-14 protected and currently projects as 16th or 17th overall.
Minor Moves: Justin Dentmon, Derrick Caracter
We'll round up today's news from the D-League and international circuits here, with the latest up top:
- Guard Justin Dentmon has been named D-League MVP, RealGM.com reports. Dentmon, playing for the Austin Toros, was D-League's fourth-leading scorer at 22.8 PPG, and also racked up 5.5 APG and 1.6 steals a night. As our 10-day tracker shows, the University of Washington product signed a pair of 10-day deals with NBA teams this season, averaging 4.3 PPG and 1.7 APG in a total of six games with the Spurs and Raptors.
- Former Laker Derrick Caracter has signed with the Puerto Rican team Mets de Guaynabo, Emiliano Carchia of Sportando reports. Caracter, a 2010 second-round pick who appeared in 41 games for the Lakers last year, was waived by the team in February and let go by the D-League's Rio Grande Valley Vipers last month.
Cavaliers Sign D.J. Kennedy
The Cavaliers announced that they have signed guard/forward D.J. Kennedy from the D-League for the remainder of the season. In 44 regular season games with the Erie BayHawks, the 22-year-old averaged 15.7 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 4.4 assists in 37.4 minutes per game.
The swingman played four seasons at St. John’s, putting up 11.7 PPG on .436 shooting, 6.1 RPG, and 2.4 APG in 30.4 minutes per contest. Kennedy suffered a major setback in last year's NCAA tournament when he tore his ACL in the Red Storm's quarterfinal loss to Syracuse.
Celtics Sign Sean Williams, Waive Jermaine O’Neal
6:36pm: Williams joined his new teammates at shootaround today. The BC product told the Boston Herald that he likes Boston and that he has matured since he was suspended twice in college:
“It’s not about my career – it’s more about my life and getting better in everything. All of your experiences, you take them with you. Hopefully you make the best out of the next step you take, every day.
“I like Boston. In the league you get to know everybody pretty well. I played summer ball with some of the guys, and I played with Keyon (Dooling) in New Jersey. Just try to come in and get to know everybody, get a feel for them, and hopefully they get a feel for you. I’ve talked to a lot of people, and this is a very tight-knit organization led by Doc and KG, and the key is to fall in line and follow those leaders. Then you work hard every day.”
9:38am: The Celtics have officially signed Sean Williams and waived Jermaine O'Neal, the team announced in a press release. ESPN.com's Marc Stein reported yesterday that the pair of roster moves was expected.
Williams, 25, spent most of the season with the Mavericks before he was waived to clear a roster spot for Kelenna Azubuike. The Mavs shuttled Williams back and forth between their NBA squad and their D-League affiliate, the Texas Legends. While the big man appeared in just eight games for Dallas, he played 27 games for the Legends, averaging 15.2 points, 8.9 rebounds, and 2.5 blocks in 28.8 minutes per game. Because he was waived prior to the March buyout deadline, Williams will be eligible for the postseason and will provide frontcourt depth for the Celtics.
O'Neal underwent surgery on his left wrist in March, sidelining him for the season. Since he was in the last year of his contract, there was no reason for the Celtics to keep him on the roster. He'll become a free agent and figures to sign with a new team this summer.
Knicks Sign Dan Gadzuric, Waive Bill Walker
6:18pm: Jared Zwerling of ESPN New York gives his take on the Gadzuric signing, saying that the Knicks could have an eye on beefing up for their first round playoff matchup against Chicago or Miami.
4:58pm: The Knicks have made the move official, announcing in a press release that they've signed Gadzuric and waived Walker.
10:15am: The Knicks are planning to sign Dan Gadzuric, according to Al Iannazzone of Newsday (via Twitter). To clear a roster spot for Gadzuric, the team would waive Bill Walker.
Gadzuric joined the D-League earlier this season, where he has averaged 12.0 points and 11.3 rebounds in 12 games for the Texas Legends. The 34-year-old has appeared in 525 NBA games, spending the first eight seasons of his career with the Bucks before playing for the Warriors and Nets last season. He'll give the Knicks another option up front with Amare Stoudemire and Jared Jeffries out of action, and will be playoff-eligible since he hasn't played for an NBA team this season.
Walker, meanwhile, is in the final year of his contract, so the Knicks will only be on the hook for the remainder of this season's salary for him. After logging significant minutes in the first half, the 24-year-old underwent elbow surgery and has not been a part of the Knicks' rotation since returning.
Jazz Re-Sign Blake Ahearn
The Jazz have signed Blake Ahearn for the remainder of the season, the team officially announced today. Ahearn's 10-day deal with the team had expired yesterday.
Ahearn hasn't seen much playing time during his time with the Jazz, but the 27-year-old showed off his scoring prowess for the Reno Bighorns this season, leading the D-League in scoring with 23.8 PPG. Ahearn will be eligible for the postseason, should the Jazz qualify.
Jerry T. Smith of the Salt Lake Tribune reported yesterday that the Jazz were expected to re-sign Ahearn.