There have been a few 10-day contract signings in the NBA. Let’s go through them..
CLIPPERS INK NATE ROBINSON
Probably the biggest 10-day signing sees the Los Angeles Clippers secure the services of Nate Robinson.
The veteran guard will be available for Sunday’s game against Golden State.
Via ESPN:
“It’s just that we needed another guy and to me he has the most experience,” Clippers coach Doc Rivers said Saturday. “You know, we’d rather have a 3 or someone like that probably, but when I look at it I don’t really care about positions sometimes. I’d rather get a guy that’s been in the league, can score and has experience.”
“I know Nate. I’ve coached him. So I have a comfort there.”
The Clippers had been interested in Robinson after he became available in January, but the need to add the 30-year-old guard grew after Jamal Crawford was sidelined with a right calf contusion earlier this week. The Clippers are not sure when Crawford will be able to return.
“I just know from last year he was out 10 or 15 days — maybe longer, I think,” Rivers said. “It’s the same injury, so why not bring another guy in until he comes back?”
The Boston Celtics reached a buyout with Robinson on Jan. 14 after he was traded to the team from the Denver Nuggets. Robinson was averaging only 5.8 points in 14.1 minutes per game with the Nuggets.
“I’ve just been working out, going back from L.A. to Seattle, trying to stay in the best shape as I could,” Robinson said Saturday.
BUCKS GET CHRIS JOHNSON
Milwaukee Bucks have inked Chris Johnson to a 10-day contract, improving their roster at 15.
Via Bucks Release:
The Milwaukee Bucks have signed forward Chris Johnson to a 10-day contract, General Manager John Hammond announced today. Johnson is the 44th Gatorade Call-Up of the 2014-15 NBA Development League season.Johnson, 24, most recently played for the Rio Grande Valley Vipers of the NBA D-League where he’s averaged 20.1 points, 5.8 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.5 steals in 17 appearances. He began the season with the Philadelphia 76ers, where he appeared in nine games (two starts) and averaged 6.0 points, 2.9 rebounds and 1.0 steals per contest before being waived on Nov. 15. Johnson also signed a 10-day contract with the Utah Jazz on Jan. 28 and appeared in two games, tallying 14 points, three rebounds, three assists and three steals.
Undrafted out of the University of Dayton in 2012, Johnson was later chosen by Rio Grande Valley with the seventh overall pick of the 2012 NBA D-League Draft and has spent time the Vipers in each of the last three seasons, logging 76 total games with career averages of 15.0 points, 5.2 rebounds 1.5 assists and 1.5 steals. He also received a pair of 10-contracts from the Memphis Grizzlies during the 2012-13 NBA season, and was called up to the Boston Celtics during the 2013-14 season. In all, Johnson has appeared in 59 NBA games with averages of 5.9 points and 2.3 rebounds in 18.9 minutes per contest.
JAZZ EXTEND COTTON FOR A 2ND 10-DAY CONTRACT
Utah Jazz have signed Bryce Cotton to a second 10-day contract.
Via Jazz Release:
The Utah Jazz announced today that team has signed guard Bryce Cotton to a second 10-day contract. Cotton signed his first 10-day with the Jazz on Feb. 24 and has appeared in one Jazz game, posting three points, two rebounds, one assist and one steal in seven minutes in a win at Denver on Feb. 27.When the Jazz signed him from the NBA Development League’s Austin Spurs, Cotton (6-1, 165, Providence) was averaging 22.4 points (third in the D-League), 4.7 rebounds, 4.6 assists and 1.3 steals in 40.5 minutes in 34 games (all starts). He scored in double figures on 31 occasions and recorded 20-plus points in 20 games. He also registered 40-or-more points twice, including a season-high 43 points, eight rebounds, nine assists and two steals at Reno Bighorns. His 43 points rank tied for third in the D-League in scoring performances. Cotton was named D-League Performer of the Week on Feb. 23.A native of Tucson, Ariz., Cotton played four seasons at Providence (2010-14). He earned All-Big East First Team honors twice (2013, 2014) and was named the 2014 Big East Tournament Most Outstanding Player. He finished his career ranked fourth all-time in scoring at Providence and became the fifth player from a major conference to average 20-plus points and five-or-more assists in a season since 2002, when he did so as a senior.
… AND ADD BENIMON
The Jazz have also added Idaho Stampede’s Jerrelle Benimon to a 10-day contract, leaving their roster at 15.
Via Jazz Release:
The Utah Jazz announced today that the team has signed forward Jerrelle Benimon of the Jazz’s NBA Development League affiliate, the Idaho Stampede, to a 10-day contract. Benimon becomes the NBA’s 43rd overall NBA D-League Call-Up of the 2014-15 season and the 32nd different player to be called up.Benimon (6-8, 245, Towson) appeared in 35 games (29 starts) for the Stampede this season, averaging 19.9 points (ninth in the D-League), 10.6 rebounds (sixth in the D-League), 4.3 assists and 1.0 steals in 34.9 minutes per contest. He is also shooting 62.4 percent from the floor this season, which ranks eighth in the D-League. Benimon recorded 19 double-doubles, including one triple-double (20 points, 17 rebounds, 12 assists vs. Reno Bighorns on Nov. 28). He scored in double figures in 33 games, including 19 contests with 20-plus points and two games of 30-or-more points. Benimon was selected to the 2015 NBA D-League All-Star Team, and was also named to the Honorable Mention All-Showcase team earlier this season.
The 23-year-old forward attended 2014 training camp with the Denver Nuggets, averaging 2.0 points and 2.7 rebounds in 8.1 minutes in six preseason games before being waived on Oct. 22.
A native of Warrenton, Va., Benimon played two seasons at Georgetown (2009-11) before transferring to Towson (2011-14). He was named Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) Player of the Year twice (2013, 2014), becoming just the eighth player in conference history to win back-to-back player of the year honors. Benimon also earned All-CAA First Team honors in 2013 and 2014 and was selected to the 2014 CAA All-Defensive Team. He was not selected in the 2014 NBA Draft.
