NBA notebook: Hawks give Schroder 4-year contract extension
Published 7:46 pm Wednesday, October 26, 2016
Associated Press
ATLANTA — The Atlanta Hawks signed point guard Dennis Schroder a four-year contract extension worth $70 million, a person familiar with the deal said Wednesday.
The deal extends Schroder’s contract through the 2020-21 season. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the Hawks did not release details when announcing a new four-year deal.
The Hawks committed to Schroder by trading Jeff Teague to Indiana in the offseason and added to the commitment with the deal that matches the four-year contract given to small forward Kent Bazemore in the offseason.
Schroder, 23, spent the last three seasons as Teague’s backup. He set career highs with his averages of 11 points and 4.4 assists last season. The Hawks are 11-5 in his 16 career starts.
“Over the past three years, we have watched Dennis grow into an elite competitor and an emerging, two-way player,” said Hawks coach and president of basketball operations Mike Budenholzer in a statement released by the team. “We look forward to his continued development and are excited to make this long-term commitment.”
Schroder announced the deal on his Twitter account. The German player said he was “Glad to be here 4 more years.”
“Since coming from Germany as a rookie, this organization and the entire city of Atlanta has embraced me and watched me grow,” Schroder said in a statement released by the Hawks. “I would like to thank my teammates, the coaching staff and the front office for having faith in me. I’m determined to keep improving as a player and I believe that our team has a chance to accomplish some special things together.”
Schroder and center Dwight Howard, who signed a three-year, $70.5 million deal as a free agent, are the new starters for the Hawks, who open their season on Thursday night against Washington.
No timetable for Simmons’ return
PHILADELPHIA — No. 1 overall draft pick Ben Simmons says there is no timetable for his return from a broken bone in his right foot.
Simmons attended the Philadelphia 76ers’ season opener on Wednesday in street clothes and says he’s taking his time in the rehabilitation process. Simmons was set to watch the game against Oklahoma City from the locker room.
Simmons says he has not discussed the possibility of sitting out the season.
He says, “I’ll come back when I’m ready.”
Simmons was injured last month during a training camp scrimmage. The Australian forward played at LSU last season.
Lakers exercise options
LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles Lakers have exercised their team options for the 2017-18 season on guard D’Angelo Russell and forwards Julius Randle and Larry Nance Jr.
The Lakers announced the expected moves Wednesday before their season opener.
Russell and Nance were first-round picks in the 2015 draft, while Randle was a first-round pick in 2014.
Randle will make nearly $4.15 million next season. After missing 81 games in his rookie season with a broken leg, he averaged 11.3 points and 10.2 rebounds last year while playing 28.2 minutes per game, the fewest among all NBA players averaging a double-double.
Russell will make $5.56 million next season. The No. 2 pick made the NBA All-Rookie second team, averaging 13.2 points and 3.3 assists.
Nance started 22 games for the Lakers last season.
Lin donates $1 million to Harvard
CAMBRIDGE, Mass. — Brooklyn Nets guard Jeremy Lin is donating $1 million to Harvard that will help pay for renovation of the school’s basketball arena and for undergraduate financial aid.
Lin says his time at Harvard prepared him to be successful both on and off the court. He says he wanted to put the same opportunities within reach of other deserving students.
A three-time All-Ivy selection before graduating in 2010, Lin helped establish Harvard as a power in the academic-minded conference. The Crimson had never won an Ivy League basketball championship before winning or sharing five in a row from 2011-15.
The gym now known as Lavietes Pavilion was built in 1926 and originally held Harvard’s indoor track and batting cages. It was refurbished in 1981. The current renovation is expected to be completed in time for the 2017-18 basketball season.
Lin was in Boston with the Nets to play the Celtics in the teams’ NBA openers.
