San Antonio Spurs Rumors | Hoops Rumors

Spurs Sign Joel Anthony For The Rest Of The Season

February 12th, 2017 at 9:43am CST by Arthur Hill

After inking him to a pair of 10-day contracts, the Spurs have signed veteran center Joel Anthony for the remainder of the season, tweets Shams Charania of The Vertical.

Anthony’s second 10-day deal expired Saturday, so San Antonio had to either part ways with the 34-year-old or sign him for the rest of the year. Anthony will earn $498K in total and will count $346K against the Spurs’ cap, according to The Vertical’s Bobby Marks (Twitter link).

Anthony has averaged 1.5 points and 1.8 rebounds in eight games since first joining the team in late January. He has provided front-court depth with Pau Gasol sidelined by a broken hand.

The Spurs are Anthony’s fourth franchise in a 10-year NBA career.

NBA D-League Assignments/Recalls: 2/10/17

February 10th, 2017 at 2:48pm CST by Luke Adams

Here are Friday’s D-League assignments and recalls from around the NBA:

The Sixers have assigned rookie guard Chasson Randle to the Delaware 87ers, the team announced today in a press release. Randle joined the Sixers about a month ago but has seen his minutes fluctuate during that stretch. He’ll have the opportunity to get plenty of playing time for Philadelphia’s D-League affiliate tonight against Canton.
The Spurs have recalled Bryn Forbes from the D-League, according to a press release issued by the team. Forbes posted 22 points in his most recent game with the Austin Spurs on Thursday.
The Raptors made a series of D-League moves today, recalling Delon Wright and assigning Jared Sullinger and Fred VanVleet (Twitter links). Assuming their assignment lasts until tomorrow, Sullinger and VanVleet will play in Saturday’s game for the Raptors 905.
The Jazz have recalled Joel Bolomboy from the Salt Lake City Stars, per a team release. Bolomboy had been on his 13th D-League assignment of the 2016/17 season.
The Wizards have assigned Danuel House to the Delaware 87ers via the flexible assignment rule, the team announced in a press release. House, who has appeared in just one NBA game this season, has had his rookie season curtailed by a right wrist fracture. A former member of the Texas A&M Aggies, House has averaged 15 points in two D-League games.

NBA D-League Assignments/Recalls: 2/6/17

February 6th, 2017 at 2:26pm CST by Luke Adams

Here are Monday’s D-League assignments and recalls from around the league:

2:26pm:

The Spurs have assigned guard Bryn Forbes to Austin, according to a press release from the club. Forbes has been impressive in D-League action this season, averaging 23.0 PPG in 12 contests.
Rookie big man Deyonta Davis has been assigned to the Iowa Energy, the Grizzlies announced today in a press release. Memphis has used its D-League affiliate sparingly this season — this will be Davis’ first assignment to Iowa.

12:06pm:

The Pistons have recalled rookies Henry Ellenson and Michael Gbinije from the D-League, according to a press release issued by the team. The duo played a significant role in Grand Rapids’ Saturday win over the Raptors 905, with Gbinije scoring a team-high 29 points, while Ellenson added 25.
Speaking of the Raptors, they’ve sent point guard Delon Wright to their D-League affiliate, the team announced today (via Twitter).
Rookie forward Georges Niang has been assigned to the D-League by the Pacers, the team announced in a press release. Niang, who has played sparingly in 21 games for Indiana, has averaged 17.8 PPG in four games for the Fort Wayne Mad Ants.
With their D-League affiliate not in action until Wednesday, the Nets have recalled Chris McCullough, per a team release. It’s already the 17th time this season that Brooklyn has recalled McCullough from Long Island.

Sixers Notes: Noel, Okafor, Henderson, Brown

February 4th, 2017 at 8:51pm CST by Arthur Hill

Philadelphia’s desire to deal Nerlens Noel and Jahlil Okafor is complicated by their declining trade value, writes Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer. Noel is in the final year of his rookie deal and will be a restricted free agent after the season is over. Any team that acquires him faces the risk that he will receive a large offer that it would have to match to keep him. Okafor’s value is driven down by a hurting right knee, defensive problems and the feeling that his old-school game is only effective in certain systems. The Bulls have reportedly contacted the Sixers about Okafor, but Pompey suspects the best Philadelphia could hope for is a young player and a mid- to late-first-round pick.

There’s more out of Philadelphia:

Okafor has heard about the Bulls’ interest, and says trade talk is nothing new for him, Pompey relays in a separate story. “Trade rumors are something that’s going to be a part of my life probably for as long as I’m in the NBA,” Okafor said. “I’ve been hearing it since I’ve been in the NBA about being traded.”
Many of the players who are helping the Sixers improve now understand that they won’t be around when the team expects to become a contender, notes Steve Aschburner of NBA.com. One example he cites is Gerald Henderson, a 29-year-old guard who has has been an important contributor, averaging 9.7 points per night and starting 29 games. “That’s what the NBA is,” Henderson said. “… You come in and do your job. Focus on that, and you go home. The future of this franchise will be what it’s going to be. They’ll make a decision to get whoever they want to be in this locker room. But for the group that we have, we play for each other. We try to do our jobs and win every night, and that’s it.”
Brett Brown’s former boss, San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich, has noticed the challenges Brown has faced in managing a team through “The Process” that involved three straight years of losing and rebuilding, writes Brian Seltzer of Sixers.com. “There’s nobody that could do the job that he’s doing, considering the situation as it has been,” Popovich said. “His demeanor and ability to stay positive and just teach, and get satisfaction out of watching young players absorb things is beyond my comprehension. He’s a consummate teacher, and upbeat individual.”

NBA D-League Assignments/Recalls: 2/4/17

February 4th, 2017 at 4:00pm CST by Dana Gauruder

Here are Saturday’s D-League assignments and recalls:

The Celtics assigned power forward Jordan Mickey to their affiliate, the Maine Red Claws, according to the team’s Twitter feed. Mickey has appeared in 14 games with the Celtics but didn’t get any playing time in the last three games.
The Hawks recalled rookie forward Taurean Prince from the Long Island Nets, according to a press release from the D-League team. Prince played for the Nets’ affiliate on Friday under the flexible assignment rule and tallied 16 points, four rebounds and three assists in 23 minutes at Greensboro. He’s played five games for the Nets’ D-League club and 29 games for the Hawks, averaging 3.4 PPG and 1.9 RPG in 10.1 MPG.
The Kings recalled center Georgios Papagiannis from their affiliate in Reno, Jason Jones of the Sacramento Bee tweets. The 7’2” center is averaging 12.9 PPG, 8.2 RPG and 2.3 BPG in 18 D-League games.
The Spurs recalled guards Bryn Forbes and Dejounte Murray from their affiliate in Austin, according to a team press release. The duo was sent down to get some game action. Forbes had 20 points and seven rebounds against Rio Grande on Friday night, while Murray racked up 19 points, eight assists and seven rebounds.
The Bulls recalled rookie guard Denzel Valentine from the Windy City Bulls, according to a team release. Valentine averaged 30.5 PPG, 12.0 RPG and 7.0 APG in two games with Windy City.

Gasol Could Return After All-Star Break

February 3rd, 2017 at 9:51am CST by Arthur Hill

The Spurs could have Pau Gasol back in the lineup after the All-Star break, posts Michael C. Wright on ESPN Now. The veteran center underwent surgery January 20th after breaking a finger on his left hand.

Spurs Re-Sign Joel Anthony

February 2nd, 2017 at 11:56am CST by Luke Adams

Joel Anthony‘s 10-day contract with the Spurs expired last night, but the team didn’t waste any team in locking him up to a new deal, according to Jabari Young of The San Antonio Express-News (Twitter link). Young reports that Anthony inked a second 10-day contract with the Spurs this morning.

Anthony, 34, had yet to catch on with an NBA team this season before signing with the Spurs a week and a half ago. San Antonio had been in the market for some frontcourt depth after losing Pau Gasol to a broken hand. Gasol’s initial timeline projected a recovery of four to six weeks, so he may not return to the club until after the All-Star break.

During his first 10-day stint with the Spurs, Anthony appeared briefly in three games, averaging 1.3 PPG and 1.7 RPG in those contests. The games in which Anthony played were decided by double-digit margins, so he doesn’t have a substantial role with the team — that shouldn’t change during his second 10-day deal, though LaMarcus Aldridge will miss Thursday’s game with a sore knee, thinning out San Antonio’s frontcourt a little.

If the Spurs want to retain Anthony when his second 10-day contract expires, they’ll have to sign him to a deal for the rest of the season.

Anthony Was Spurs' First Choice

January 25th, 2017 at 10:41pm CST by ChrisCrouse

Joel Anthony was the first player the Spurs considered adding when they went looking for a big man off the bench, Jeff McDonald of the San Antonio Express-News writes. “Joel’s a really intelligent young man who knows exactly what his role is and performs it well,” coach Gregg Popovich said. “He’s a real pro, and the guys respect him.”
Jabari Young of Spurs Nation (video link) believes the signing of Anthony, who’s on a 10-day contract, was a good move for the Spurs. Pau Gasol remains sidelined with a broken finger, which could potentially allow Anthony to see some playing time with the team and receive another 10-day deal once his current one expires.

Hollis Thompson To Join Spurs’ D-League Affiliate

January 25th, 2017 at 8:54am CST by Luke Adams

After being cut by the Sixers before this month’s salary guarantee deadline, swingman Hollis Thompson is headed to the D-League. According to Adam Johnson of D-League Digest (via Twitter), the Windy City Bulls have claimed Thompson, but will send him to the Austin Spurs, San Antonio’s affiliate, in exchange for Jarell Eddie. The deal will be finalized once both players pass physicals, tweets Johnson.

Thompson, 25, had been one of the longest-tenured players on the Sixers, having signed with the team back in September of 2013. In 256 games with the franchise, he averaged 7.9 PPG and 3.1 RPG, with a .417/.389/.709 shooting line. Although he has been a solid three-point shooter throughout his career, Thompson’s 36.6% mark this season was the worst of his career, and he also averaged just 18.1 minutes per game this year, another career low that led to his release.

Having signed a D-League contract, Thompson will remain an NBA free agent, meaning the NBA’s Spurs won’t hold his rights. However, San Antonio controls and operates the Austin Spurs, so the club will get a first-hand look at the Georgetown product during his time in the D-League.

Assuming Thompson plays well in the NBADL, he’ll be a strong candidate for at least a 10-day contract or two from an NBA team down the stretch this season, if not a rest-of-season commitment.

Spurs Sign Joel Anthony To 10-Day Contract

January 23rd, 2017 at 10:11am CST by Austin Kent

JANUARY 23: The Spurs have made it official, formally announcing the signing of Anthony in a press release.

JANUARY 21: The Spurs intend to sign veteran center Joel Anthony to a 10-day contract, tweets Shams Charania of The Vertical. He’ll fill some of the frontcourt minutes opened up by the injury to Pau Gasol.

Anthony, who last saw action for the Pistons in 2015/16, played with the Spurs in training camp. He was among the final cuts for the 15th roster spot in October, a spot that was since re-opened when Nicolas Laprovittola was waived last month.

While he hasn’t been used heavily over the course of the past five years, Anthony spent time as the starting five alongside LeBron James and the Heat during their title runs.

Expect Anthony to spend time slotting in behind Dewayne Dedmon and David Lee in the Spurs’ rotation.