Spurs exercise option on Mahinmi rookie contract. The Spurs exercised their third-year option on center Ian Mahinmi’s rookie contract Wednesday.

Mahinmi, who turns 22 next week and is entering his second season in San Antonio, is now signed through 2009-10. Financial terms weren’t disclosed.

Mahinmi began last season with the Spurs but spent most of it with their developmental league team in Austin. He finished among the league leaders in scoring (16.8 points per game), rebounding (8.0), blocks (1.7) and field-goal percentage (62).

The native of France was drafted in the first round by the Spurs in 2005 and signed with San Antonio two years later after spending four seasons in the French A League.

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Nuggets exercise option on F Balkman.

The Denver Nuggets on Wednesday exercised the fourth-year option on forward Renaldo Balkmans contract.

Under the leagues pay scale, Balkman now will earn $2.03 million in 2009-10.

Balkman, who was acquired this summer in a trade with the New York Knicks, averaged 5.5 points, 3.3 rebounds and 1.3 steals in four preseason games for the Nuggets.

In two seasons with the Knicks, Balkman averaged 4.2 points and 3.8 rebounds in 133 games. He was selected by New York with the 20th overall pick in the 2006 draft.

Denver opens its season Wednesday night on the road against the Utah Jazz.

Posted on October 30th, 2008 by admin
Filed under: NBA basketball news