Ex-Pelican Brian Roberts has agreed to a 2=year, $5.5 million deal with the Charlotte Hornets according to Yahoo!
The 6’1” point guard from Dayton University was #1 on the Hornets list of free agent targets, Charlotte needed a solid point guard to back up Kemba Walker. The Pistons and Grizzlies were also said to have high interest in Roberts.
Roberts went undrafted in the 2008 draft, he played one year in Israel and three years in Germany before finally making a NBA roster. Roberts joined New Orleans summer league team and had a breakout performance leading to a two-year deal with New Orleans.
In two seasons with New Orleans, Roberts averaged 8.2 points and 3 assists in 19 minutes per game while shooting 37.2% from three and 92.9% free throws (best in the NBA).
Charlotte got a great talent to add to their back court, and at only $2.25 million a year, this looks like a steal for the Hornets.
Meanwhile, Richard Jefferson has signed a 1-year deal with the Dallas Mavericks worth the veterans minimum according to a ESPN report.
The Mavericks have wasted no time trying to fill Vince Carters shoes by signing Richard Jefferson. Even though Jefferson is not the player Carter is at this point of his career picking up the 34-year-old at the veterans minimum is a great addition to the Mavericks.
Jefferson was role player this past season for the Utah Jazz, averaging 10.1 PPG in 27 minutes and shooting 40.9% from beyond the arc for the Jazz. The 13-year veteran hasn’t been the same since 2008 but has got used to the “old hand” role bouncing from San Antonio to Golden State to Utah and consistently averaging 10 points with strong shooting skills.
Richard will play a 2 or 3 similar to Vince Carters role, and his ability to hit 3’s and space the floor will fit well in Rick Carlisle’s system. Jeffersons minimum salary is worth $1.45M but the Mavericks are only responsible for $915,243 of that amount, in real finicial terms and for salary cap and luxury tax purposes.
A pair of NBA veterans are staying put.
Kirk Hinrich has reached an agreement with the Chicago Bulls on a 2-year, $6 million extension.
Hinrich is a very skilled back-up guard, he knows the franchise very well and is fond of Tom Thibodeau’s system in the Windy City, this deal certainly is a good move for both sides. Chicago gets to keep a steady veteran, while Hinrich continues in a system that he knows.
A rough and tough defender while he also spreads the floor with a 37.7% career three point percentage. Last season the 33-year-old guard averaged 9.1 PPG and 3.9 APG in 29 minutes, but with Derrick Rose expected to make a return those numbers will decline next season.
Chris “Birdman” Andersen has agreed to a multi-year extension with the Miami Heat reported by Yahoo!
It has been chaos in Miami after losing LeBron James to Cleveland in free agency, and the team is desperate to keep as much of their core as possible while also adding pieces to help win a championship. The latest move Miami made came Sunday as the Heat re-signed Chris Andersen to a multi-year extension. The terms of that deal are currently unknown.
The market for Andersen was said to be strong with New York, New Orleans, and Denver having been said to be in the mix. At 36 years of age, this may be Andersen’s final contract.
Throughout two seasons in Miami, Andersen was very effective for the Heat, having a career year last season averaging 6.6 PPG, 5.3 RPG, and 1.3 BPG in 19 minutes of play, while shooting 64.4% from the field. He earned his money in the postseason by shooting 69.3% in 38 playoff games in Miami.
Andersen was banned from the NBA for violating the leagues anti-drug policy, and his return in 2008 was a terrific story. Andersen nearly went down again after a internet hoax that claimed Andersen was guilty of pocessing child pornography, but Andersen was cleared of all charges in 2013.
Matt Bonner has agreed to a 1-year extension with the San Antonio Spurs. The deal is worth the veterans minimum, according to Ben Hunt.
Matt Bonner will be back in a Spurs uniform next season for his 9th season. Bonner will earn $1.45M, but the Spurs are only responsible for $915,243 of that for salary cap and luxury tax purposes.
Bringing back Bonner is a good move by the Spurs, as Bonner took a enormous pay cut from the $3.95M he made last season. Bonner’s value to the Spurs has shrunk at age 34, as he is now used mostly as just a spot-up shooter deep in the Spurs rotation. However, there is certainly value considering he is a career 41.7% three point shooter and is a fantastic leader to have around the team.
This will be Bonner’s 11th season in the NBA. In 690 career games he has averaged 6.2 PPG and 3.2 RPG in 17 minutes of play and ranks 125th in NBA history with 736 3-point field goals.
The Spurs now brought back all members of their 2014 championship team and are determined to make another long playoff run in 2015.
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Main Photo via USA Today Sports
