Spurs Sign Justin Dentmon To Ten-Day Contract
The Spurs have announced that they signed guard Justin Dentmon from the D-League's Austin Toros to a 10-day contract. To make room for Dentmon, the Spurs released Eric Dawson two days before his ten-day deal was set to expire, tweets Jeff McDonald of the San Antonio Express-News.
Dentmon, 26, averaged 22.9 PPG and 5.3 RPG for the Toros while shooting 42% from long range. Dentmon should give the Spurs some depth in the backcourt as they wait for Patrick Mills' situation to be resolved.
Dawson, 27, played a total of 39 minutes for the Spurs in four games this season.
Warriors Sign Keith Benson To 10-Day Contract
The Warriors, in need of big-man help, have signed 6'11" Keith Benson from the Sioux Falls Skyforce of the D-League to a 10-day contract, the team announced today. The news was first reported via Twitter by Skyforce broadcaster Daniel Peters and passed along by Scott Schroeder of Ridiculous Upside.
Benson was a second-round pick last June by the Hawks, but didn't make the team. He averaged 15.1 points, 7.6 rebounds and 1.4 blocks a game. The Warriors signed Mickell Gladness earlier this week, but still have an open roster spot to bring Benson on board.
Pacers Sign Kyrylo Fesenko
FRIDAY, 5:23pm: The team has confirmed the signing through a release on Pacers.com.
THURSDAY, 7:04pm: The Pacers have signed center Kyrylo Fesenko for the remainder of the season, according to a tweet by Sam Amick of Sports Illustrated.
The former 38th pick of the 2007 draft last played for the Jazz during the 2010/11 season, averaging 2 PPG and 2 RPG in 8.6 MPG through 53 games. Fesenko joins the team just a day after we learned that center Jeff Foster announced his retirement.
While it is unclear of how much playing time Kyrylo will receive with around 20 games left during the regular season, the Pacers could certainly use his 7'1'', 280 lb frame in spot minutes and in practice. While Roy Hibbert at 7'2'' still remains the tallest player on the team, no one else on the Pacers roster is listed above 6'9''.
Andres Nocioni Signs In Spain
Three days after being officially waived by the 76ers, Andres Nocioni has signed with Spanish team Caja Laboral, the club announced today (Spanish link). El Correo (via Sportando) reports Nocioni signed a rest-of-season deal with Saski Baskonia (known as Caja Laboral for sponsorship reasons).
Nocioni was no longer a part of the Sixers' plans, having played just 56 minutes over the course of this season. Holding a $7.5MM option for next year that it didn't intend to exercise, Philadelphia allowed Nocioni and agent Claudio Villanueva to explore other opportunities last week, with Villanueva saying there was a good chance his client would return to Europe. Nocioni previously played for Saski Baskonia, winning the ACB's Most Valuable Player award in 2004.
Spurs Sign Boris Diaw
The Spurs have signed Boris Diaw, the team announced today. Adrian Wojnarowksi of Yahoo! Sports first reported that Diaw and the Spurs had reached an agreement on a contract for the remainder of the season.
Diaw was bought out by the Bobcats on Wednesday, allowing him to sign with San Antonio in time to be eligible for the postseason. The Spurs will sign Diaw after he clears waivers, allowing them to pay him a pro-rated portion of the minimum salary while the Bobcats foot the rest of his bill. The 6'8" forward has a cap figure of $9MM this season.
In 37 games with Charlotte, Diaw averaged 7.4 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 4.3 assists in 27.5 minutes per game. The 29-year-old had some issues with his fitness and with coach Paul Silas, but remains relatively productive. He'll take San Antonio's last open roster spot.
Raptors Waive Rasual Butler
The Raptors have waived Rasual Butler, the team announced in a press release. By releasing him today, the Raptors allow Butler to sign elsewhere and be eligible for the playoffs.
Butler, who signed with Toronto in December for the veteran's minimum, has played in 34 games for the club, averaging just 3.2 points and 1.9 rebounds in 13.3 minutes per game. The 31-year-old has a career-low .308 FG% (.273 3PT%) and has played just two minutes in March for the Raptors, his sixth NBA team.
The Raptors, who have also traded Leandro Barbosa and waived Anthony Carter this month, will reduce their roster to just 12 players after parting ways with Butler, so it wouldn't be a surprise if they added a player or two for the season's final few weeks.
Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports (Twitter link) first reported that the Raptors had agreed to waive Butler.
Minor Moves: McCants, Walker, Caracter
We'll track today's notable international and D-League-related transactions here:
- After playing just one game for Piratas de Quebradillas in Puerto Rico, Rashad McCants was waived, according to Sportando. McCants is hoping his play in Puerto Rico will help propel an NBA comeback, but he's now been waived twice this week.
- The D-League's Idaho Stampede have waived another comeback-hopeful, Antoine Walker, tweets Marc J. Spears of Yahoo! Sports. The team needed to add a player to the roster using Walker's spot while he tends to personal matters, says Spears. The Stampede could add Walker back to the roster this weekend (Twitter link).
- Derrick Caracter has been waived by the D-League's Rio Grande Valley Vipers, adds Spears. Caracter, who played 41 games for the Lakers last year, was waived this year before his contract became guaranteed for the season.
Mavericks Sign Kelenna Azubuike
The Mavericks have officially signed Kelenna Azubuike, the team announced today in a press release. Azubuike will receive a minimum-salary contract for the rest of this season, with a team option for next year.
Azubuike, 28, is attempting a comeback after having not played in an NBA game since November 2009. He underwent patella surgery in 2009, and attempted to play last season with the Knicks, but never fully recovered and required additional surgery. The Mavs are intrigued enough by his rehab that they'll take a minimum-salary flier on him and start him out at their D-League affiliate, the Texas Legends.
In 205 career games over four seasons for the Warriors, Azubuike averaged 10.6 PPG and 4.0 RPG in 24.4 MPG. He'll take Sean Williams' place on the Mavericks' roster, after Williams was waived by the team.
Eddie Sefko of the Dallas Morning News first reported the Mavs were closing in on Azubuike, with ESPN.com's Marc Stein adding details.
Celtics Sign Ryan Hollins, Waive Chris Wilcox
The Celtics have officially signed Ryan Hollins and waived Chris Wilcox, according a team release. The moves leave Boston with a full roster of 15 players.
Hollins, 27, was waived by Cleveland earlier this week. The 7'0" center has struggled this season, averaging 3.7 PPG and 2.3 RPG in 24 games for the Cavaliers. However, the Celtics were in need of frontcourt depth, having lost Wilcox to a heart condition and Jermaine O'Neal to season-ending wrist surgery. Wilcox was facing unrestricted free agency at season's end, so Boston will just have to pay his salary for the rest of 2011/12.
A. Sherrod Blakely of CSNNE.com first reported that the Celtics were expected to land Hollins, while USA Today's Jeff Zillgitt reported an agreement had been reached.
Iverson Refutes Dominican Republic Report
10:10pm Gary Moore, Iverson's agent, says that Allen has not signed nor is considering signing with any team, according to the Associated Press (via ESPN.com).
It's odd that Nunez would make such an announcement, especially if it wasn't true. Iverson was reportedly shocked by earlier reports that he had agreed to a deal.
3:15pm Allen Iverson has reportedly signed a one-month contract in the Dominican Republic to play for Pueblo Nuevo, according to BasketballDominicano.com (via Sportando). Team president Milton Nunez said Iverson will arrive this weekend and will earn about $22K, according to the report.
Iverson, who last played in the NBA in 2009/10 with the 76ers, had drawn interest from a number of international professional leagues, including those in Puerto Rico and Venezuela. The 36-year-old, who scored more than 24,000 career points for the Sixers, Nuggets, Pistons, and Grizzlies, is still hoping to make his way back into the NBA.