Suns officially announce signing of guard Barbosa
Jail for ex-NBA player Ortiz
PHOENIX, July 20, (Agencies): The Phoenix Suns have announced the signing of veteran guard Leandro Barbosa.
Barbosa returned from his native Brazil, where he was preparing for the Rio Olympics, to be re-introduced by the Suns on Tuesday.
Barbosa played eight of his 13 seasons with the Suns. He spent his first seven NBA seasons with Phoenix and returned for the 2013-14 season. He played the past two seasons for Golden State, helping the Warriors win the NBA title in 2014-15.
The agreement with Barbosa had been widely reported on July 7. He signed a two-year, $8 million contract. Only $500,000 of the $4 million in the second year of the deal is guaranteed.
Barbosa, selected by San Antonio as the 28th overall pick in 2003, was traded to Phoenix on draft night.
Former NBA player Jose Ortiz has been sentenced to 45 days in jail in Puerto Rico for a probation violation involving community service.
Ortiz was accused of not serving all 600 hours of community service after pleading guilty to drug charges. A judge ordered Tuesday that Ortiz serve the remaining 278 hours after his release from jail. He has until May 2017.
Ortiz was arrested in June 2011 after federal agents seized 218 marijuana plants at his house.
The 6-foot-10 athlete is one of the best basketball players the U.S. territory has produced. He played two seasons with the Utah Jazz, the last in 1989-1990. He was on the Puerto Rican national team for more than 20 years and played in four Olympics.
In the bid to get the band back together to defend their 2016 NBA championship, one contract situation appears to be greater than other negotiating challenges this summer, and it’s not LeBron James’ deal.
J.R. Smith and the Cavaliers are far apart in contract talks, per multiple reports, and the 30-yearold might not see a better offer, at least from luxury-tax strapped Cleveland.
Smith played a key role for the Cavaliers under coach Tyronn
Lue, and even with the addition of shooting guard Mike Dunleavy — acquired from the Chicago Bulls via trade — the Cavs don’t want to take another hit to their rotation.
Memphis Grizzlies center Marc Gasol will not play for Spain in the Summer Olympics due to the broken right foot he suffered in February.
Gasol, a two-time NBA All-Star, was hopeful he would be recovered in time to plan in Rio de Janeiro but is now focusing on making sure he’s ready to go for the 2016-17 NBA season.
Gasol has teamed with older brother Pau on past Spain national teams. Pau Gasol will play in the Rio Games.
Recently acquired Orlando
Magic guard Jodie Meeks underwent surgery to stabilize the fifth metatarsal in his right foot, the team announced.
Meeks, 28, will be sidelined indefinitely, according to the Magic.
Meeks played in just three games with the Detroit Pistons last season after breaking the foot in an Oct. 28 game against the Utah Jazz. Orlando acquired him on June 29 in exchange for a future second-round draft pick.
The Detroit Pistons signed rookie forward Henry Ellenson to a multiyear contract, the team announced.
Ellenson was the 18th pick in last month’s NBA draft.
The 6-foot-11 Ellenson averaged 17 points and 9.7 rebounds for Marquette last season. He averaged 12.4 points and 7.4 rebounds in five summer league games for Detroit.
The Brooklyn Nets signed freeagent guard Joe Harris to a multiyear deal, the club announced.
Harris played in 56 games for the Cleveland Cavaliers over the past two seasons. He averaged 2.5 points in 9.1 minutes per game.
Harris was a college standout at Virginia and ranks second in school history with 263 career 3-pointers.