Ben Uzoh Rumors | Hoops Rumors

Nuggets Sign Anthony Carter, Ben Uzoh

October 1st, 2012 at 11:52am CST by Luke Adams

The Nuggets have signed Anthony Carter and Ben Uzoh to deals that will bring the pair of point guards to training camp, according to Benjamin Hochman of the Denver Post (Twitter link). The additions bring Denver's roster count to 17 players.

Both Carter and Uzoh played for the Raptors in 2011/12, though their career trajectories don't have much in common besides that. Carter is 37 years old and averaged just 8.7 minutes per game in his 24 contests last season. Uzoh, meanwhile, made his NBA debut just two seasons ago and has split time between the NBA and the D-League since then. It appeared the 24-year-old was heading overseas for the year before he parted ways with French team Cholet last week.

Of the Nuggets' 17 players, 14 are on guaranteed contracts. Besides Uzoh and Carter, the only other player without a full guarantee is third-string point guard Julyan Stone, which seems to suggest that both Uzoh and Carter will receive the chance to outplay Stone this month and earn that final roster spot.

Odds & Ends: Blake, Seattle, Fegan, Millsap, Uzoh

September 24th, 2012 at 5:19pm CST by Luke Adams

According to the team's official website, Lakers guard Steve Blake suffered a puncture wound after stepping on a spike strip in a parking lot. The statement says Blake will be restricted from team activities for at least three weeks. Despite not being one of the bigger names on Los Angeles' roster, Blake's role as the team's veteran backup point guard is quite important, especially considering incoming starter Steve Nash's inability to log major minutes.

Here are a few more Monday odds and ends from around the NBA:

Later today, Seattle City Council is expected to formally approve Chris Hansen's plan to build a $490MM arena in downtown Seattle, according to an Associated Press report (via the Seattle Times). Hansen and city council reached an agreement two weeks ago on financing for the arena proposal, meaning today's vote is expected to be merely a formality. Hansen's plan will still require an okay from the King County Council, but the city's approval would allow him to start looking for a franchise to bring to Seattle.
One NBA GM tells Sam Amico of FOX Sports Ohio that he expects veteran free agents like Derek Fisher and Michael Redd to sign deals late in training camp or even after the season begins.
It appears agent Dan Fegan will join Happy Walters at a newly-created agency called Relativity Sports, according to Darren Heitner of Sports Agent Blog. Fegan, who represents Dwight Howard, Nene, and John Wall, among others, recently left Lagardère Unlimited.
Paul Millsap hasn't really begun thinking about free agency yet, stressing that he's "still with the Utah Jazz" and he'll consider his options when the time comes, as Brian T. Smith of the Salt Lake Tribune writes.
Jonathan Tjarks of RealGM.com views Joe Johnson's and Manu Ginobili's career paths as two examples for James Harden to consider as the fourth-year guard weighs his contract options.
Ben Uzoh has parted ways with French team Cholet, making him a free agent again, according to Emiliano Carchia of Sportando. Uzoh has appeared in 60 total games for the Nets, Cavs, and Raptors over the past two seasons.
Many of the storylines that SI.com's Sam Amick will be watching this season involve players on new teams, including Raymond Felton in New York, Andre Iguodala in Denver, and Andrew Bynum in Philadelphia.

International Rumors: Okur, Mirotic, Owens, Uzoh

September 10th, 2012 at 9:21am CST by Luke Adams

At various points during the offseason, Mehmet Okur has been linked to the Timberwolves and other clubs, but the reports usually point to the same roadblock: Okur is seeking more than the minimum salary. It's possible some NBA team makes Okur an offer worth more than the minimum, but it appears he may have a better chance at that kind of money overseas. TrendBasket.net passes along a Turkish report suggesting that Galatasaray Medical Park of Turkey is interested in Okur, and could potentially offer him $2-3MM per year. Here are a few more of the morning's international notes and rumors:

Nikola Mirotic tells Enric Corbella of Marca.com (English link via HoopsWorld) that the Bulls know his situation with Real Madrid and respect his contract. Mirotic, the 23rd overall pick in 2011, has a number of years left on his contract in Spain, but will have the opportunity to opt out and join the Bulls before it ends.
Two players that received 10-day contracts in 2011/12 may be on the verge of leaving their French teams. Emiliano Carchia of Sportando passes along French reports suggesting that Gravelines may part ways with Larry Owens, and that Ben Uzoh's time with Cholet may be nearly over.
Unicaja Malaga coach Jasmin Repesa said that his team would love to add Bojan Bogdanovic, who is under contract for two more years with Fenerbahce (link via Emiliano Carchia of Sportando). Bogdanovic was drafted with the 31st overall pick in 2011's draft, with his NBA rights now held by the Nets.

International Moves: Uzoh, Andersen, James

August 14th, 2012 at 8:41am CST by Luke Adams

As free agents continue to come off the board, not all of them are signing their new contracts with NBA teams. Here's the latest on a handful of notable names landing non-NBA deals:

Ben Uzoh, who played for the Cavs and Raptors last season after spending 2010/11 with the Nets, has signed with Cholet Basket in France, according to Emiliano Carchia of Sportando. The 24-year-old has averaged 4.0 points and 2.2 assists in 13.5 minutes per game in 60 career NBA contests.
We heard a week ago that Australia's David Andersen hoped to receive a chance to play in the NBA this season, but it appears he'll remain overseas. Carchia passes along word that Andersen has signed a two-year deal with Turkey's Fenerbahce Ulker. The 32-year-old big man played 103 games for the Rockets, Raptors, and Hornets from 2009 to 2011.
After spending a good chunk of last season with the Tulsa 66ers, Rhode Island product Delroy James has signed a one-year deal in Italy, FMC Ferentino announced (link via Sportando).

Raptors Re-Sign Ben Uzoh, Alan Anderson

April 16th, 2012 at 3:13pm CST by Luke Adams

The Raptors have officially re-signed Ben Uzoh and Alan Anderson, according to a team press release. Both players saw their second 10-day contracts expire today, so their new deals will keep them with the team for the remainder of the season.

With a number of Raptors regulars missing time with injuries, both Uzoh and Anderson have entered the starting lineup, with Anderson starting the seven games and Uzoh starting the last two. Overall, Anderson, who I named one of the best 10-day signings of 2012, is averaging 8.4 points and 1.4 threes in 22.4 minutes per game. Uzoh has averages of 4.1 PPG, 2.8 APG, and 2.6 RPG in 11 contests with Toronto.

As our 10-day contract tracker shows, Justin Dentmon also had his deal with Toronto expire today, but the team chose not to bring him back. The series of moves leaves the Raptors with 14 players on their roster.

Odds & Ends: Mavs, Beasley, Bucks, Raptors

April 12th, 2012 at 10:32pm CST by Sean Highkin

The latest news and notes from around the NBA on Thursday evening:

Dallas radio hosts Barry Horn and Kevin Sherrington weighed in on a couple of Mavericks issues. Horn believes the Mavs are a better team without Lamar Odom, who was shut down earlier this week.
Sherrington speculates that the Mavs are still interested in acquiring Dwight Howard, especially if they can't sign Deron Williams this summer.
Michael Beasley told Ray Richardson of the Pioneer Press that he wants to stay with the Timberwolves going forward. Beasley is set to become a restricted free agent this summer.
Michael Hunt of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel says the Bucks lack a clear direction for the future and will not contend with their current roster. Hunt believes the first step will be re-signing Ersan Ilyasova this summer.
Doug Smith of the Toronto Star doubts that Raptors 10-day contract signees Ben Uzoh and Justin Dentmon will be anything more than placeholders for the team.

Raptors Re-Sign Alan Anderson, Ben Uzoh

April 6th, 2012 at 10:08am CST by Chuck Myron

The Raptors have re-signed guards Ben Uzoh and Alan Anderson to 10-day contracts, according to releases from the team. It's the second 10-day contract from the team for both players. Toronto also signed Justin Dentmon to a 10-day deal this morning, so the team has three players on the shortest of contracts as it looks to bolster its backcourt.

Anderson has seen significant playing time in his six games for the Raptors, getting the start against the Sixers the other night and averaging 5.8 PPG and 2.0 RPG in 16 minutes a game. Uzoh has somewhat better numbers, though, putting up 3.2 PPG and 2.6 APG in 12 minutes a game.

Raptors Sign Ben Uzoh To 10-Day Contract

March 27th, 2012 at 10:54am CST by Luke Adams

The Raptors have officially signed Ben Uzoh to a 10-day contract, according to a team press release. Doug Smith of the Toronto Star reported today that the team was expected to add Uzoh.

Uzoh, 24, played 42 games for the Nets last season, averaging 3.8 points and 1.6 assists in 10.4 minutes per contest. He had seen limited NBA time this season, having been waived by the Bobcats before the season began, then playing a pair of games with the Cavs on a 10-day contract in February. He's spent much of the season in the D-League, averaging 14.8 point in 20 games for the Rio Grande Valley Vipers.

For the Raptors, Uzoh is their second 10-day addition in as many days, after signing Alan Anderson last night. Uzoh will provide backcourt depth as DeMar DeRozan and Jerryd Bayless continue to battle injuries. Toronto had two open roster spots, so the team won't need to make a corresponding move to make room for the 6'3" guard.

Atlantic Notes: Celtics, Uzoh, Raptors, Stoudemire

March 27th, 2012 at 10:01am CST by Luke Adams

Earlier today, we heard that the Nets may target Kevin Garnett and Ersan Ilyasova in free agency this summer. Here are a few more of the morning's updates out of the Atlantic Division….

Having signed Ryan Hollins, the Celtics may be done adding players, though that's not a certainty, writes Chris Forsberg of ESPNBoston.com. "We may add another guy just to get through the year," said coach Doc Rivers. "But we'll see; there's no one out there…. Honestly, I'd be surprised if we brought a big in."
The Raptors are expected to sign Ben Uzoh, says Doug Smith of the Toronto Star. Uzoh, who signed a 10-day contract with the Cavaliers last month, has spent most of the season with the D-League's Rio Grande Valley Vipers.
Amare Stoudemire is out indefinitely due to a bulging disk in his back, and according to Ken Berger of CBSSports.com, word on whether the forward requires season-ending surgery could come as soon as today. Berger says Stoudemire's absence could benefit Carmelo Anthony, though not necessarily the Knicks, while George Willis of the New York Post says the injury shouldn't doom the team's season.

Cavs Notes: Uzoh, Hickson, Casspi

February 20th, 2012 at 10:38am CST by Luke Adams

The Cavaliers narrowly escaped yesterday's game against the Kings with a 93-92 win, and rookie Tristan Thompson played a major role in the victory, as Tom Reed of the Cleveland Plain Dealer writes. With 15 points and 12 rebounds, the Canadian power forward recorded his first career double-double and talked after the game about getting his "groove back." As the Cavs wait to see if Thompson can maintain this level of production going forward, let's check out some other notes out of Cleveland….

Ben Uzoh, who signed a 10-day contract with the Cavs on February 10th, will not have his deal renewed, reports Reed in a separate Plain Dealer article.
Within the same piece, Reed looks at J.J. Hickson's disappointment in the trade that sent him to Sacramento last summer, and his struggles with the Kings. Asked if he could make it work in Sacramento, Hickson paused and replied, "Uh, yeah. I think so, yeah."
Hickson on whether he'd want to return to the Cavs via free agency: "Of course, why not? I'm not saying 'no, I don't want to come back.' If the opportunity presented itself, why not?"
Omri Casspi, who came to Cleveland in the Hickson deal, also took some time to adjust to his new setting, writes Jason Jones of the Sacramento Bee. However, Casspi says he enjoys playing for coach Byron Scott and calls his Cavs teammates "a great group of guys."