NBA notes: Bobcats officially sign Sessions to two-year deal

The Charlotte Bobcats signed free agent point guard Ramon Sessions from the Los Angeles Lakers.

The Myrtle Beach native had agreed to a two-year contract after opting out of his contract with the Lakers, but made it official Friday.

He replaces D.J. Augustin, who signed with the Indianapolis Pacers shortly after the Bobcats rescinded their qualifying offer to him.

A five-year NBA veteran, the 6-foot-3 Sessions has played in 323 career games with the Bucks, Timberwolves, Cavaliers and Lakers, averaging 11.1 points, 5.0 assists and 3.1 rebounds in 25.4 minutes.

Bobcats president of basketball operations Rod Higgins said Sessions ?is a quality point guard who can both distribute and score,? and that the Bobcats are ?excited to be adding a player of his caliber and ability.?

Also Friday, the Bobcats announced they?ve signed second-round draft pick Jeffrey Taylor.

The 6-foot-7 small forward from Vanderbilt was the 31st overall pick in this year?s NBA draft.

Financial terms were not released.

Rockets waive Scola

The Houston Rockets waived forward Luis Scola on Friday, clearing more salary space with a major move in mind.

The one-time use of the amnesty clause allows Scola to leave without his remaining contract counting against the team?s salary cap or luxury tax. Scola is due to make about $21 million over the next three seasons.

A fan favorite in Houston, the 6-foot-9 Scola averaged 14.5 points and 7.7 rebounds in five seasons with the Rockets. Scola grabbed 2,984 rebounds with the Rockets to rank ninth on the team?s career list.

The Rockets have torn apart their 2011-12 roster as they reportedly push Orlando to send them All-Star center Dwight Howard. Cutting Scola would allow Houston to absorb multiple undesirable contracts from Orlando in a potential deal.

Clippers re-sign Billups

Five-time All-Star Chauncey Billups is staying with the Los Angeles Clippers.

The team said Friday that the unrestricted free agent has re-signed, a move coach Vinny Del Negro had mentioned a day earlier.

Billups averaged 15 points, 4 assists and 2.5 rebounds while playing 30.4 minutes in 20 games for the Clippers last season. His season ended in early February when Billups tore his left Achilles tendon in a game at Orlando. But he stayed with the team and served as a de facto coach during the Clippers? run to the Western Conference semifinals.

Mavs add Brand, Kaman

The Dallas Mavericks won the bidding Friday to obtain two-time All-Star forward Elton Brand off waivers, the latest in a series of moves to build their roster after a frustrating start in free agency.

Brand was available after the Philadelphia 76ers this week used the one-time amnesty provision in the new CBA to let him go and not have the $18.1 million he is owed in the final season of his five-year deal count against their salary cap or luxury tax.

Dallas also completed a one-year deal with 7-foot center Chris Kaman, who had tweeted two days earlier that he reached an agreement with the Mavericks.

Around the league

The Indiana Pacers re-signed free agents Roy Hibbert and George Hill, two key members of their rebuilding project. ? The Minnesota Timberwolves traded center Brad Miller and two second-round picks to New Orleans and waived swingman Martell Webster as they prepare to file a formal offer to Portland restricted free agent Nicolas Batum. The Wolves made the moves on Friday, one day after using the amnesty clause on center Darko Milicic. The Wolves received a conditional second-round pick from the Hornets for Miller, who has said he will retire.

Source: http://www.myrtlebeachonline.com/2012/07/13/2938372/nba-notes-bobcats-officially-sign.html

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