Report: Fisher returning to Lakers
Los Angeles, CA (Sports Network) - Derek Fisher, who was released from his contract with the Utah Jazz last week so that he could seek the proper medical care for his 11-month-old daughter fighting eye cancer, has reportedly agreed to re-join the Los Angeles Lakers.
Fisher, who helped the Lakers to three NBA titles, has agreed in principle to a three-year, $14 million deal, according to the Los Angeles Times.
Fisher left the Jazz for a short period during the Western Conference semifinal round this past season when it was learned that his daughter Tatum had the disease. He returned to help the Jazz defeat the Golden State Warriors and advance to the conference finals, where they lost to the San Antonio Spurs.
A 10-year veteran, Fisher averaged 10.1 points and 3.3 assists this past regular season. In 16 playoff games, he averaged 9.5 points and 2.6 assists. He played his first eight NBA seasons with the Lakers.
Peterson inks 4-year deal with Hornets
July 13, 2007
Morris Peterson and the New Orleans Hornets agreed to terms on a 4-year contract, a person with knowledge of the deal told The Associated Press on Friday.
The person, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because the contract has not been announced, said Peterson would sign the deal following a vacation.
Peterson visited Salt Lake City earlier this week to meet with Utah Jazz officials. He also said Detroit, New Jersey, Cleveland, Miami and Toronto had expressed interest in him.
He has spent his entire seven-season career with the Raptors.
The 6-foot-7, 220-pound Peterson, who can play shooting guard or small forward, has career averages of 12 points along with nearly four rebounds, two assists and a steal.
His production and playing time fell last season - averaging 8.9 points and 21.4 minutes - one season after career highs in scoring (16.8), rebounding (4.6), steals (1.3) and minutes (38) a game.
Peterson produced sporadically during a first-round series against the Nets last season. He scored 17 points in Toronto's Game 5 win, then had nine points, eight rebounds, two steals and a block in Game 6 when the Raptors were eliminated.
After helping Michigan State win the 2000 national championship, Peterson was drafted 21st by the Raptors. He averaged 14 points in his second and third NBA season and 12.5 in his fourth season.
As a restricted free agent in 2004, the Hornets signed Peterson to a $15 million, three-year offer sheet and Toronto retained him by matching the deal.
Utah signs Hart
July 13th, 2007
Salt Lake City, UT (Sports Network) - The Utah Jazz dipped into the free agent market on Friday, signing guard Jason Hart to a multi-year contract.
Hart has appeared in 240 career games over six NBA seasons with Milwaukee, San Antonio, Charlotte, Sacramento and the Los Angeles Clippers, owning career averages of 5.7 points, 2.6 assists and 1.9 rebounds. He split time between Sacramento and the Clippers in 2006-07, appearing in a combined total of 36 games and averaging 6.9 points.
Kings reach deal for Moore
July 13th, 2007
Sacramento, CA (Sports Network) - The Sacramento Kings have reached a deal in principle to obtain free agent forward/center Mikki Moore.
"We're really excited to come to an agreement with Mikki Moore," Kings president of basketball operations Geoff Petrie said. "He brings athleticism, length, skill and experience to our team and we're looking forward to watching him play for the Kings."
The 7-foot Moore, a nine-year NBA veteran, enjoyed careers highs with the New Jersey Nets last season, averaging of 9.8 points and 5.1 rebounds per game.
Portland brings back G Blake
July 13th, 2007
Portland, OR (Sports Network) - The Portland Trail Blazers signed free agent guard Steve Blake to a three-year contract Friday. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.
The 27-year old Blake returns to the team he spent the 2005-06 season with. The guard averaged 8.2 points, 2.1 rebounds and 4.5 assists, while shooting 41 percent from three-point range in 68 games with the Trail Blazers in 2005-06.
"Steve embodies the kind of culture we're building here in Portland," said Blazers general manger Kevin Pritchard. "He's an intelligent, hard-working, team player with a tremendous grasp as to what it takes to play the point guard position."
Blake averaged 6.4 points and five assists per game in a 2006-07 season split between Milwaukee and Denver.
The University of Maryland product is entering his fifth NBA season with career averages of 6.4 points, 1.9 rebounds and 3.7 assists in stints with the Washington Wizards, Trail Blazers, Bucks and Nuggets.
Grizzlies sign Milicic
July 13th, 2007
Memphis, TN (Sports Network) - The Memphis Grizzlies signed free agent forward/center Darko Milicic. Per team policy, financial terms were not disclosed.
Milicic played 80 games for the Orlando Magic last season, starting 16, and averaged a career-best eight points and 5.5 rebounds. He was acquired by Orlando in a trade from Detroit during the 2005-06 season.
"We are pleased that Darko Milicic has become a Grizzly," said Memphis general manager and vice president Chris Wallace. "Darko is just 22 years old but already has been in the NBA for four seasons. He has been blessed with tremendous basketball skills, excellent size and impressive athletic ability. In Detroit he was exposed to a championship organization, and in Orlando he practiced alongside a great big man in Dwight Howard and received significant playing time as well as playoff experience. In Memphis, he will play for Marc Iavaroni who is recognized as one of the premier teachers of big men in the game. Darko is poised to take a major step in his career and Memphis is the perfect place for him to blossom."
The Pistons made Milicic the second overall pick of the 2003 NBA Draft and he languished on the bench for most of his first three seasons. He played only 34 games his rookie year and averaged just 1.4 points, then played just 37 games the following season and saw limited action during 25 games in 2005-06 before being dealt to Orlando.
Milicic, just 22 years old, could have been a Grizzly from the start of his career. Detroit received Memphis' top pick in the 2003 draft as part of a trade a few years earlier.
Report: Bulls sign Smith
July 14th, 2007
Chicago, IL (Sports Network) - The Chicago Bulls have reportedly signed forward Joe Smith to a two-year contract.
The Chicago Sun-Times, not citing a source, reported the signing Saturday. The paper said it is likely the deal is for the mid-level exception of $5.36 million.
Thought to be the top free-agent priority of the Bulls this off-season, Smith 8.5 points and 6.2 rebounds per game in 2006-07, splitting time between the Denver Nuggets and Philadelphia 76ers.
The 12-year pro has career averages of 12.1 points and 7.0 rebounds per game.
Jackson, Artest both suspended
FOXSports.com
Ron Artest and Stephen Jackson are no strangers to NBA punishment. On Saturday, both players were penalized once again.
Artest and Jackson will both be suspended without pay for the first 7 games of the 2007-08 season, the league announced Saturday. The punishments are a result of separate criminal incidents.
Jackson was suspended after pleading guilty to criminal recklessness last month for firing a gun outside an Indianapolis strip club last fall. Under the terms of his plea deal, Jackson paid a $5,000 fine and was ordered to perform 100 hours of community service. In return, the Golden State Warriors player had his jail sentence suspended and a felony converted into a misdemeanor conviction.
Artest was suspended for pleading nolo contendre to infliction of injury on a spouse. Artest and his wife got into a fight last year in which the Kings star was accused of continually pushing her to the floor. The arrest report also stated that the woman was slapped in the face, and that Artest prevented her from leaving and that he initially stopped her from using the phone to call 911.
Artest and Jackson were Pacers' teammates in November, 2004 when they were involved in a brawl with fans during a game against the Detroit Pistons. Artest was suspended for 73 games and the playoffs — the NBA's harshest punishment for a fight — and Jackson was suspended for 30 games.
Williams reportedly to stay in Milwaukee for 6 years, $52 million
July 14th, 2007
Milwaukee, WI (Sports Network) - Mo Williams and the Bucks have agreed on a deal that will keep the 24-year-old point guard in Milwaukee for the next six years, at a price tag of $52 million, a Milwaukee newspaper reported on Saturday.
The Miami Heat had reportedly been in talks to sign Williams, but the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel reported Saturday that the deal was in place to keep the former Alabama University player in a Bucks uniform.
Last season was a breakout one for Williams, who averaged a career-high 17.1 points per game, and tied a career mark with 6.1 assists per game for the Bucks. Williams is entering his fifth season in the NBA, with the last three spent in Milwaukee after his rookie season in Utah.
Mourning coming back for final season
July 15, 2007
MIAMI (AP) -Alonzo Mourning is coming back, one more time.
Ending nearly three months of suspense about his future, the Miami Heat center said Sunday night at his annual Zo's Summer Groove charity game that he'll play again next season - a choice he kept secret to the end, insisting he was still deciding just hours before the actual announcement.
``I will be coming back,'' Mourning said.
This was the third straight summer Mourning considered retirement before choosing to keep playing. Next season will be his 15th in the NBA, not including a full year he missed with kidney problems that led to him getting a transplant in 2003.
``It will definitely be my last year,'' Mourning said.
Mourning averaged 8.6 points last season for the Heat, and his 5.44 blocks per 48 minutes led the NBA by a wide margin. He started more than half of Miami's games last season while Shaquille O'Neal recovered from knee surgery, and the Heat clearly wanted him back - especially since his $2.8 million salary for next season makes the seven-time All-Star a bargain.
Some of his teammates weren't surprised by the decision.
Heat forward Dorell Wright, who played in the charity game along with a list of NBA players that included Carlos Boozer, Sam Cassell and Damon Stoudamire, predicted before the game that Mourning would be back, simply based on the weightlifting regimen he'd been following this offseason.
``I love having Zo in the locker room and out on the court,'' Wright said.
Cleveland guard Damon Jones, Mourning's former teammate in Miami, said the 6-foot-10 former Georgetown star's presence ensures that Miami will have a ``championship confidence'' next season.
``He's one of those guys who really cares about winning,'' Jones said. ``He showed last year when Shaq went down that he can still play ... he had great numbers and he puts it all on the line.''
And Mourning's decision suggests that Heat coach Pat Riley may be returning as well.
Mourning said repeatedly in recent weeks that Riley's status for next year would weigh heavily on his decision. Riley started a lengthy vacation this weekend and was not immediately available for comment Sunday night, but Mourning indicated that he expects the coach of five NBA champions to be on the sideline again.
``I think he's got an incredible basketball mind and he wants to continue to share it with the world and with this team and I don't see him retiring now,'' Mourning said. ``Honestly, I don't. That's my own personal opinion but, hey, I could be wrong.''
Mourning's return is the first offseason personnel move that worked out to Miami's liking.
The Heat lost 3-point specialist Jason Kapono to Toronto in free agency, may see free agent forward James Posey sign elsewhere in the coming days, and Mourning said guard Gary Payton won't be coming back to Miami - although neither Payton nor the team has publicly expressed those sentiments.
Miami also missed out in its pursuit of Milwaukee point guard Mo Williams, who agreed to take a $52 million, six-year deal and stay with the Bucks. But Mourning said he's certain the Heat will find help elsewhere before next season begins.
``There's other players out there that can possibly be available,'' Mourning said. ``Decisions have to be made in order to possibly obtain them. I'm going to leave it to Pat Riley. You want to see a guy like Mo Williams and a player of his caliber. You want to see that. But if it doesn't work, you've got to move on. That's the nature of this business. Everything doesn't go your way all the time.''
Nuggets sign G Atkins
July 16th, 2007
Denver, CO (Sports Network) - The Denver Nuggets signed guard Chucky Atkins on Monday. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not released.
The 5-foot-11 Atkins averaged a career-high 13.2 points and 4.6 assists in 75 games with the Memphis Grizzlies last season.
"Chucky will be a great addition to our team," said Denver vice president of basketball operations Mark Warkentien. "He is a proven veteran who can really shoot the basketball. Our owner, Stan Kroenke, has once again demonstrated his commitment to winning."
Atkins, an eight-year veteran, has averaged 10.8 points and 3.7 assists in 599 career games with Orlando, Detroit, Boston, the LA Lakers, Washington and Memphis.
"I'm very excited to be a Nugget," Atkins said. "This is a great situation for me and I'm looking forward to winning a championship here in Denver."
Report: Wade could miss start of 2007-08 campaign
July 17th, 2007
Miami, FL (Sports Network) - Miami Heat All-Star guard Dwyane Wade's recovery from surgery may force him to miss the start of the upcoming season.
According to the Miami Herald, the Marquette product expects to miss training camp and at least a part of the first month of the 2007-08 campaign.
The 25-year-old Wade underwent a pair of successful surgeries on May 15 at Baptist Doctors Hospital of Miami. The procedures repaired his dislocated left shoulder and a debridement and repair of his left patella tendon.
Wade injured his shoulder during a 112-102 loss to the Houston Rockets on February 21 at the Toyota Center. He did return prior to the postseason, and averaged 23.5 points, 4.8 boards and 6.3 assists in the opening round loss to Chicago, which swept the Heat 4-0.
Despite missing a total of 31 games due to injury in 2006-07, Wade led Miami in scoring, a franchise-record 27.4 points per game, assists (384) and steals (107).
The 6-foot-4 Wade, who earned third-team All-NBA honors this past season, has averaged 23.8 points, five rebounds and 6.4 assists in 264 career games, all with Miami.
Mason back with the Bucks
July 23rd, 2007
Milwaukee, WI (Sports Network) - Less than two years after being traded to the New Orleans Hornets, Desmond Mason is returning to Milwaukee.
The Bucks inked the former Oklahoma State star to a multi-year contract Monday as they attempt to add depth at small forward. Bobby Simmons' status is still uncertain following an injury-plagued 2006-2007 season.
The 29-year old swingman has apparently reconciled with Bucks general manager Larry Harris, who he reportedly called a "snake in the grass" following his October 2005 trade.
"We're happy to welcome Desmond back to Milwaukee," said Harris. "He was a fan favorite during his first stay and we know our fans are going to love having him back on the team. Adding him to our roster boosts our athleticism, defense and veteran leadership. And in addition to his basketball abilities, we look forward to what he will bring back to the Milwaukee community."
Mason is coming off a season in which he started 75 games for New Orleans / Oklahoma City, averaging 13.7 points and 4.6 rebounds per game. If not for a late-season fractured cheek sustained in a collision with Seattle's Chris Wilcox, he may have started all 82 games.
Mason spent the better part of three seasons with the Bucks following a 2003 trade from Seattle, which also briefly brought Gary Payton to Milwaukee. Prior to the 2006 trade to the Hornets for Jamaal Magloire, Mason played in 145 games for the Bucks, starting 130. His relationship with Michael Redd, among other current Bucks, outweighed any lingering resentment he may have for Harris.
This off-season, the Hornets drafted Kansas small forward Julian Wright and signed swingman Morris Peterson away from Toronto, opening the door for Mason to sign elsewhere.
Pacers sign G Diener
July 23rd, 2007
Indianapolis, IN (Sports Network) - The Indiana Pacers Monday signed free agent guard Travis Diener.
Diener played with the Orlando Magic over the past two seasons, averaging 3.8 points and 1.0 assists in 10.9 minutes per game.
The Marquette product was originally drafted by Orlando in the second round (38th overall) of the 2005 NBA Draft.
Hornets sign Peterson
July 23rd, 2007
New Orleans, LA (Sports Network) - The New Orleans Hornets signed swingman Morris Peterson on Monday.
Per club policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.
"Morris was our top free agent target this summer, so this is an exciting day for the team and our fans," said Hornets general manager Jeff Bower. "He is a reliable veteran scorer who can stretch the defense with his three-point range, which is exactly the role we were looking to fill."
Peterson averaged 12.0 points and 3.8 rebounds over his seven-year career with the Toronto Raptors. After averaging career-highs 16.8 points and 4.6 rebounds in 2005-06, Peterson's averages slipped to 8.9 points and 3.3 rebounds last season.
"I'm looking forward to having Mo on our team this season," said Hornets head coach Byron Scott. "In addition to what he brings to us on the court, he exemplifies the type of high-character individual that can help us build a positive team environment."