Celtics secure first-round pick Williams
BOSTON — The Boston Celtics have signed first-round draft pick Robert Williams.
The team announced the signing Thursday. Terms were not disclosed.
Williams, a forward/center from Texas A&M, was selected 27th overall last month with the Celtics’ lone draft pick.
Williams’ signing comes days after he received a lecture from the team about accountability following a pair of offthe-court incidents.
The 20-year-old slept through a scheduled conference call with reporters the day after the draft and then failed to catch a flight from his native Louisiana to Boston in time for a summer league practice.
Williams will wear jersey No. 44.
Boston signed free-agent guard Brad Wanamaker earlier this week.
Source: Bjelica headed to Sixers
Nemanja Bjelica is moving from Minnesota to Philadelphia.
A person familiar with the negotiations says the free-agent forward has agreed to a one- year contract with the 76ers worth nearly $4.5 million. The person spoke to the Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the deal has not been announced.
Bjelica gives Philadelphia more shooting depth, needed in an offseason where the 76ers lost Ersan Ilyasova and Marco Belinelli.
Bjelica shot 42 percent from 3-point range last season, his best clip in his three NBA years. The 30-year-old Serbian had a long career in Europe before coming to the NBA with Minnesota in 2015.
He was originally drafted by Washington in 2010.
Magic, Briscoe agree to terms
Isaiah Briscoe, a 22-year-old point guard who participated in an Orlando minicamp last month and has practiced with the franchise’s summer league team, has agreed to a deal with the Magic, according to ESPN.
Although the terms of the agreement are unclear, the University of Kentucky product has a chance to make Orlando’s opening-night roster.
Magic assistant coach Pat Delany, who is serving as the team’s summer league head coach, has been impressed with Briscoe.
“Toughness, competitiveness — that’s stuff that, as coaches, we can’t even teach,” Delany said. “It’s in his DNA. You can see that in him.
“Is it perfect all the time? No. But he’s a willing listener. He’s willing to get better. And that type of tendency just accentuates itself to everybody else on the team. He’s been a leader, another tough guy. His game has continued to grow even in the short time we’ve had him.”
Trail Blazers sign guard Stauskas
Nik Stauskas is officially a member of the Portland Trail Blazers, after signing a oneyear, $1.6 million contract.
Even though the league’s offseason moratorium does not end until 12:01 p.m. EDT Friday, short-term minimum-salary signings are permitted under the league’s collective bargaining agreement.
Portland will be Stauskas’ fourth team in his five NBA seasons. He’s a career 35 percent 3-point shooter.
“Nik is a versatile and talented perimeter player that will seamlessly fit into our style of play,” Portland general manager Neil Olshey said.