Blue Devils making moves in free agent period, summer league
C-Booz Joins Deng in Windy City
After five seasons in Salt Lake City with the Utah Jazz, Carlos Boozer is now a Bull. The two-time NBA All-Star inked a five-year, $80 million deal with Chicago where he will team with former Devil Luol Deng. With a nucleus of Derrick Rose, Deng, Boozer and Joakim Noah, Chicago should be one of the favorites in the Eastern Conference next season. Rose is excited to pair up with Boozer and get that pick-and-roll game going, stating, “(Boozer) will definitely help us. He’s a guy who is always talking. You can tell he’s an outgoing guy. The organization finds a way to pick good guys. He has played in winning organizations all his life. We need a winner.”
Boozer made the playoffs in each of the past four seasons, advancing past the first round three times and reaching the Western Conference finals in 2007. For his career, the Alaska native is averaging 17.2 PPG and 10.2 RPG. He won a national championship at Duke in 2001 and a gold medal in 2008 on Coach K’s U.S. National Team.
“We are confident that his skill set, toughness and leadership are all qualities that make him a great fit for the Bulls, and he will add a low-post element to our team that we have been searching for,” said Bulls GM Gar Forman. “Post players, with the skills that Carlos possesses, are at a premium in the NBA and we believe that we have landed one of the best big men in the NBA.”
A Third Blue Devil in Chicago?
Shortly after signing Carlos Boozer to a five-year deal, Chicago extended an offer sheet to restricted free agent J.J. Redick. Valued at $20 million over three years, the deal could make J.J. the starting shooting guard for a talented Bulls squad. The all-time Duke leading scorer shouldn’t call the movers in just yet though, because Orlando can match the deal and keep Redick in Orlando. After his career year this season where he averaged 9.6 PPG and shot 40% from downtown in 22 MPG, it sounds like the Magic want to keep J.J. around.
“I’m not worried about what J.J. might get from somebody,” Magic coach Stan Van Gundy said. “That would simply leave us with a decision, but the ball rests in our court. We’ll just have to make the decision when the time comes. Our intention is — and I know that from talking to [General Manager] Otis [Smith] — our intention is to match.”
If Redick did jump to the Windy City, a starting five of Rose-Redick-Deng-Boozer-Noah would be worth watching every night for Duke fans. Deng and Redick were teammates on Duke’s 2004 Final Four team and Boozer jumped to the league a year before J.J. arrived in Durham in 2002-03.
Blue Devil Magic in Orlando
Should J.J. remain in Orlando, he won’t be the only Blue Devil on the squad. Chris Duhon has signed a four-year, $15 million deal where he will serve as the backup PG to Jameer Nelson after a pair of seasons in NYC with the Knicks. Van Gundy offered high praise for Duhon, stating, “I think he’s capable of playing big minutes. I think with Jameer’s injury history that’s an important thing for us. I think we’re a team that needs to improve our passing, and I think Chris is one of the best passers out there, particularly on the pick-and-roll. … And then I think he’s a very capable defender.”
Maggette on the Move
Corey Maggette was sent from Golden State to Milwaukee in late June, where he will join a solid Bucks team that includes Andrew Bogut, Brandon Jennings and injured guard Michael Redd. Corey averaged 19.8 PPG last season, and has three years and approximately $31 million left on his contract. A standout freshman at Duke in 1999, Maggette posted the league’s highest scoring average last season for anyone who played fewer than 30 minutes a game.
Blue Devils in the NBA in 2010-11
As many as 17 former Duke players could suit up for NBA teams this fall, with 12 Blue Devils holding contracts or contract offers, and four hoping to ink deals before the season gets rolling in October.
Shane Battier: $7,354,500 (Houston)
Carlos Boozer: $13,000,000+ (estimated – Chicago)
Elton Brand: $15,959,099 (Philly)
Luol Deng: $11,355,850 (Chicago)
Chris Duhon: $3,500,000 (estimated – Orlando)
Mike Dunleavy: $10,561,984 (Indiana)
Gerald Henderson: $2,103,840 (Charlotte)
Grant Hill: $3,324,000 (Phoenix)
Dahntay Jones: $2,500,000 (Indiana)
Corey Maggette: $9,600,000 (Milwaukee)
Josh McRoberts: $885,120 (Indiana)
J.J. Redick: $6,000,000 (estimated – Chicago or Orlando)
Free Agents: Shelden Williams (TBD), Shavlik Randolph (Miami summer league), Jon Scheyer (Miami summer league), Brian Zoubek (New Jersey summer league), DeMarcus Nelson (Milwaukee)
NBA Summer League Update
Five Blue Devils are involved in NBA summer league action, with Orlando games recently wrapping up and games in Las Vegas now underway…
*Gerald Henderson: In four summer league games in Orlando, G averaged 14.8 PPG, 3.5 RPG, and 2.8 APG, winning three of his four games. He finished his summer campaign by connecting on a game-winning layup at the buzzer to push Charlotte past Philly on July 8th. The 2009 Duke All-American hopes to take on an expanded role this season with the Bobcats, and his summer performance should help.
*Josh McRoberts: In three summer league games in Orlando, Josh averaged 14.0 PPG, 3.7 RPG and 3.7 APG and the Pacers posted a 2-1 record. McRoberts’ best game came on July 7th when he scored 21 points (5-6 FG, 10-10 FG), dished out four assists and grabbed three boards in a win over Utah. McRoberts found his way into the Pacer rotation towards the second half of last season and hopes to provide key minutes for Indiana this year.
*Brian Zoubek: Zoubs made five starts for the NJ Nets summer league squad in Orlando and Duke fans won’t be surprised to hear that he rebounded well and didn’t take a ton of shots. The 2010 national champion averaged 3.4 PPG and 6.0 RPG to help New Jersey to a 3-2 record. Zoubs hopes to make the Nets squad and provide the team with a strong presence as a rebounder, screener and defender.
*Shavlik Randolph: Shav got the start for Miami in the Heat’s first summer league game last night in Vegas and scored 18 points while hauling in six boards. Randolph was added to the Miami roster late last season and hopes to make the squad this year. With the Heat clearing salary space to sign Wade, Bosh and LeBron, the team only has one other player currently signed for 2010-11 in addition to the 2008 U.S. National Team teammates.
*Jon Scheyer: Jon joins Shav on the Heat summer league team and the 2010 national champ didn’t surprise Duke fans when he hit the decisive bucket in his first game last night (video below). Scheyer scored three of his 11 points in the game with Miami trailing by one with 39 seconds left, and Miami ultimately won 77-72. The Illinois native added five boards and three assists in 29 minutes of action. Like Randolph, Jon hopes to make the Heat roster and is in a good position because the squad needs shooters and players who won’t break the bank.
*DeMarcus Nelson: DeMarcus is playing with the Milwaukee Bucks summer league squad, hoping to land a roster spot after playing in Italy in addition to an NBA stint with Golden State.
Tags: "carlos boozer", "chris duhon", "corey maggette", "luol deng"
