Rodney Elliot Arrives
The new reinforcement arrives with lots of experience in European leagues, is 34 and is of U.S. nationality. His position is power forward, and comes after most recently playing for Paris Levallois in 2010. He is expected to join the team on December 27.
In what is being described as an amicable parting between two sides that completely hate each other, the Beijing Ducks have released the former NBA All-Star (the former NBA All-Star starter, mind you) after a total of four games played out of a one-season (with an option for a second) contract. Francis was with the team for 13 days and played a total of 14 minutes. He scored two points.Along the way in his strange journey, Francis got his first playing time with an ice pack taped to his ankles (Yahoo again) and his shoes untied for 17 seconds of garbage time at the end of a game, flipped off the ref in his second game, causing his team to be ordered to educate and criticize Francis for his uncivilized behavior (Inquirer Sports), refused to practice on Christmas day (note: it's not a holiday in China), and finally, left the building at half-time of his final game after the coach didn't give him any playing time.
The Los Angeles Lakers have acquired forward Joe Smith from the New Jersey Nets in a three-team trade, it was announced today by General Manager Mitch Kupchak. New Jersey will also send the Lakers Golden State’s second round draft choice in 2011 and Chicago’s second round draft choice in 2012. The Lakers will also receive the draft rights to Sergei Lishouk from Houston, as well as a trade exception. In return, New Jersey will receive guard Sasha Vujacic and a protected 2011 first round draft pick from the Lakers. New Jersey will receive a protected 2012 first round draft pick from Houston, while the Rockets will receive guard Terrence Williams from New Jersey. [...]
In 1,018 career games (619 starts), Smith is averaging 11.0 points and 6.4 rebounds in 26.5 minutes. Signed by New Jersey as a free agent prior to the 2010-11 season, Smith has played in four games this season (three starts), averaging 0.5 points and 0.8 rebounds in 6.3 minutes.
"I've had a crazy road, a great road," said Blake, the 38th pick out of Maryland in the 2003 draft. "I've played for a lot of great coaches. I've started for years. I've come off the bench for years. I've played on bad teams, on good teams. But I think it's all for the best. I've had a chance to experience a lot. I think it's made me grow as a person and as a player and I think I'm in the spot I need to be at right now."
Resurrection will also be the watchword for Francis, who will suit up this season for the Beijing Ducks and is known throughout China as "Folaoda" ("Big Brother Fo") for when he played with Chinese superstar Yao Ming on the NBA Houston Rockets. [...]
The nine-year NBA veteran, who averaged 19 points a game over his career, has still not arrived in Beijing and is expected in the capital next week after the 32-game season starts.
The signings come after the CBA waived a $60,000 monthly salary limit on foreign players, a move aimed at attracting better talent and in turn generating more fan excitement and injecting new energy into the league.
"The only thing I can say is that Francis' salary is not the highest of the CBA foreign players — he is not even among the top few players," Beijing Ducks official Yuan Zhao told the China Youth Daily of Francis' reported 800,000-dollar contract.
Steve Francis, a former member of the Houston Rockets, has signed with the Beijing Shougang Ducks of the Chinese Basketball Association. Francis, 33, has been plagued by knee problems and has seen his N.B.A. stock plummet.
Francis’ deal, according to the Chinese pro basketball blog NiuBBall.com, pays him a guaranteed $800,000 for this season. There is an option for a second year, with a 15 percent raise, if the team picks it up.
The Reno Bighorns have signed guard D.J. Strawberry as a returning player, filling the roster spot vacated by Darrin Govens, who was waived earlier in the week.Last month, it looked like DJ was a lock to play for Scavolini Spar Pesaro and be a teammate of Andre Collins in Italy. But he wanted a guaranteed contract for the season, while the Italian team would only offer a 2 month renewable contract. Then there was a rumor in Italy that Strawberry was signing to play in China instead, but that didn't actually happen either. In the end, he ended up in Reno with the team he played for last spring, which hopefully will give him the best shot at getting back into the NBA again.
Strawberry, a former second round pick in the 2007 NBA Draft, appeared in 26 games for the Bighorns during the 2009-10 season. Strawberry averaged 13.1 points per game and 5.6 assists per game last season.
The 6-5 guard played collegiately at the University of Maryland, and has appeared in 22-career NBA games, all with the Phoenix Suns.
