Cory Joseph

Spurs Recall Cory Joseph From D-League

The Spurs announced that they have recalled Cory Joseph from the Austin Toros.  Joseph, who has been assigned to the Toros twice this season, appeared in two games with Austin, averaging 12.0 points, 8.0 rebounds, 6.5 assists and 2.0 steals in 35.5 minutes.

The University of Texas product has appeared in four games this season for the Spurs' varsity squad, averaging 1.8 points and 1.5 assists in 7.8 minutes.  Joseph also spent 29 games with the Spurs in 2011/12, averaging 2.0 PPG in 9.0 minutes per contest.  The shorthanded Spurs can certainly use the help as they'll be without Kawhi Leonard, Stephen Jackson, Danny Green, and Patty Mills for tonight's game against the Bucks.

Be sure to check out our complete list of D-League assignments and recalls to keep track of the latest moves.

Spurs Assign Cory Joseph To D-League

The Spurs announced that they have re-assigned guard Cory Joseph to the Austin Toros of the NBA D-League.  Joseph was first assigned to the Toros on November 15th and was recalled days later on November 21.

Joseph, 21, appeared in four games for Spurs, averaging 1.8 points and 1.5 assists in 7.8 minutes.  In three stints with the Toros last season, the 6’3″ guard averaged 13.8 PPG, 5.1 RPG, 5.1 APG, and 1.29 steals in 14 games.  Joseph also spent 29 games with the Spurs in 2011/12, averaging 2.0 PPG in 9.0 minutes per contest.

Spurs Recall Cory Joseph From D-League

Cory Joseph has become the first player this season to be recalled from an assignment to the D-League. Less than a week after sending him to the Austin Toros, the Spurs have recalled Joseph to help shore up a roster depleted by injuries. The team confirmed the move in a press release.

The D-League season doesn't get underway until later this week, so Joseph didn't get a chance to appear in a regular-season game for the Toros. The Spurs likely would have preferred to keep him in the D-League a little longer, but the team's hand was forced by injuries to Kawhi Leonard and Stephen Jackson. San Antonio also signed James Anderson to add some depth at small forward.

To keep tabs on all of this season's D-League assignments and recalls, be sure to check out our complete list.

Spurs Rumors: Anderson, Joseph, Pietrus

On the heels of Stephen Jackson's right hand injury, which will keep him out for at least a month, the Spurs are exploring ways of adding depth to a roster that's also without Kawhi Leonard. Here are the latest rumors on how the team intends to move forward:

  • San Antonio is in the process of calling up former Spur James Anderson from the D-League's Rio Grande Valley Vipers, reports ESPN.com's Marc Stein (via Twitter). Anderson is no longer under contract with the Spurs, so the team would have to ink him to a new deal and use its open roster spot to call him up.
  • Head coach Gregg Popovich indicated the Spurs will likely recall Cory Joseph from the team's D-League affiliate as well, according to Mike Monroe of the San Antonio Express-News. Joseph was assigned to the Austin Toros last week.
  • The Spurs also have interest in Mickael Pietrus, who would be a natural fit with three Frenchmen already on the roster, according to Stein (Twitter link). However, the former Celtic is still seeking more than a minimum salary. For San Antonio, which is close to the tax threshold and has spent most of its mid-level and bi-annual exceptions, the pro-rated veteran's minimum is the only option.

Spurs Assign Cory Joseph To D-League

With the D-League season approaching, Cory Joseph is the latest NBA player to be assigned to a D-League affiliate. The Spurs announced today in a press release that Joseph will join the Austin Toros.

Joseph, 21, appeared in 29 games for the Spurs last season, averaging 2.0 PPG on 31.4% shooting in 9.2 minutes per contest. He played briefly in just one game for San Antonio this season. For Joseph, it won't be the first time he's played for the Toros. The Canadian guard had multiple stints in the D-League last season, recording 13.8 PPG, 5.1 APG, and 5.1 RPG in 14 games with Austin.

Joseph becomes the eighth player assigned to a D-League affiliate this year, a list that includes his second cousin, Kris Joseph of the Celtics.

Spurs Pick Up Options For Leonard, Joseph

According to a tweet from Mike Monroe of the San Antonio Express-News, the Spurs have picked up the options on Kawhi Leonard and Cory Joseph's respective contracts. Both moves, especially Leonard's, were expected, as both players have been solid two way players so far in the preseason (and in Leonard's case, all throughout last year).

Ty Lawson, Others Leaving CAA

On the heels of LeBron James' decision to leave Creative Artists Agency to join Rich Paul's newly-formed Klutch Sports Group, a number of other CAA clients appear to be leaving the agency, according to ESPN.com's Brian Windhorst. Windhorst reports that Ty Lawson, Tristan Thompson, Eric Bledsoe, and Cory Joseph are among the players filing paperwork to leave CAA.

Thompson, Bledsoe, and Joseph were clients of Paul's at CAA, so it's not a surprise that they'll follow him to Klutch Sports, as Windhorst writes. However, Lawson wasn't a Paul client, and is expected to hire Happy Walters, according to Windhorst. We heard last week that Walters and Dan Fegan were forming a new agency called Relativity Sports.

While many of these players are a ways off from signing new deals, Lawson's representation could play a major part in contract negotiations this month. Lawson is eligible for an extension of up to five years if he re-ups with Denver before October 31st, and both he and Nuggets GM Masai Ujiri have expressed optimism that an agreement will be reached.

Latest On LeBron’s Agency Change

As we passed along last night, LeBron James has decided to leave the Creative Artists Agency and join a newly-formed agency led by childhood friend Rich Paul. Eric Freeman of Yahoo! Sports' Ball Don't Lie blog rightly points out that the move won't have a huge effect on LeBron's next contract — he'll get maximum-salary offers no matter who is representing him. However, as Freeman notes, James had been CAA's most prominent NBA client, and if other players follow him away from the agency, the agency's considerable power in the Association could begin to dwindle.

A handful of reporters have added a few more details to the story, so let's round up a few notes from Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun Sentinel, Marc J. Spears of Yahoo! Sports, and Brian Windhorst of ESPN.com….

  • Paul's new agency will be called the Klutch Sports Group, and he is expected to take some of his clients with him to the new Cleveland-based firm. Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Tristan Thompson, Eric Bledsoe, and Cory Joseph are among Paul's clients.
  • LeBron leaves CAA on good terms, with no hard feelings — the move isn't seen as a breakup, but more as a partnership with Paul, who is already involved in LeBron's marketing through the LRMR marketing group.
  • Chris Paul is a CAA client, but is good friends with LeBron and Rich Paul. It's not clear whether he'll consider joining the Klutch group with his free agency a year away.
  • LeBron's change of agents wasn't influenced by his 2014 opt-out clause, and shouldn't be interpreted as an indication that he plans to opt out.

Odds & Ends: Team Canada, Harrellson, Magic

A handful of players with NBA ties have been invited to a weekend training camp that will take place soon to give Team Canada officials a first glimpse at candidates for their national team, as Ryan Wolstat of the Toronto Sun reports (Sulia link). Tristan Thompson of the Cavs, Joel Anthony of the Heat, Cory Joseph of the Spurs, Andrew Nicholson of the Magic and Kris Joseph of the Celtics are on the list. Robert Sacre, the 60th pick in this year's draft by the Lakers, remains unsigned, but he's been invited as well. The team has officially named former Raptors head coach and current Blazers assistant Jay Triano as head coach, Wolstat also writes, and Rockets assistant coach Kelvin Sampson will also be an assistant with Team Canada. Lakers guard Steve Nash, serving as Team Canada's GM, said he wouldn't have accepted the position if Triano wasn't coming aboard, too, Wolstat notes. Here's more from around the Association this afternoon:

  • The Heat conducted a workout with Josh Harrellson today, as we heard earlier, but the Timberwolves have no interest in the 6'10" University of Kentucky product, as they prefer a center with more length, tweets Darren Wolfson of 5 Eyewitness News in Minneapolis. Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel notes that Harrellson is just one of several big men the Heat are considering (Sulia link). 
  • Brian Schmitz of the Orlando Sentinel looks at the options the Magic have at power forward to replace Ryan Anderson
  • The Bulls, Lakers, Clippers, Timberwolves and Warriors all have some significant injury issues with training camp about a month away, and Sam Amick of SI.com checks in on the status of Derrick Rose, Dwight Howard and others.
  • Robin Lopez is recovering from left knee surgery that took place a week after the Hornets acquired him in a sign-and-trade, but he's expected to be ready for training camp, as John Reid of The Times-Picayune reports. Lopez expressed his enthusiasm about coming to New Orleans, saying, "I’m excited to be here. We’ve got a young, energetic group. The good thing is we’ve got some youth that has a little bit of experience as well. Hopefully we can parlay that into something special.’’
  • Joe Dumars, Pistons president of basketball operations, traveled overseas with assistant GM George David to watch Jonas Jerebko and Slava Kravtsov in FIBA Eurobasket qualifying, as Vince Ellis of the Detroit Free Press writes.

Odds & Ends: Lin, Drummond, Joseph, Cavaliers

With ongoing uncertainty surrounding Jeremy Lin's tenure with the Knicks, ESPNNewYork.com's Jared Zwerling took the liberty of comparing the former Harvard point guard's skill set with the incoming Raymond Felton, who was acquired in a sign-and-trade with Portland last night. According to a few advanced statistics it's evident that Lin would be the better basketball option for New York, but the decision to let him go would be more of a financial one.

As we dig into this Sunday afternoon, here are a few more tidbits from around the league.

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