Month: October 2015

Arron Afflalo recovering from hamstring injury

Arron Afflalo is one of the key new Knicks. If the team is going to play respectable basketball this season, he’s likely going to be one of the big reasons why. But a bad hamstring will delay that possibility. Here’s the New York Post reporting:

Arron Afflalo recovering from hamstring injury

Knicks guard Arron Afflalo insisted he is doing, and would continue to do, everything to get back on the court for the Knicks as soon as possible. He even said he had hoped to be ready for opening night despite his ailing left hamstring.

But that would only work if opening night were in two weeks. The Knicks open Wednesday in Milwaukee.

“I want to say I guess I just have to give it another two weeks or so but it’s hard to judge,” Afflalo said after sitting out the open practice the Knicks staged Sunday at Columbia University. “I’m just going to go based on how I feel and with what the medical staff tells me.”

Afflalo was injured in the final preseason game, Thursday in Boston. He left the game in the third quarter — after coach Derek Fisher debated even using him in the second half — with what was called a tight left hamstring.

Jazz sign Eric Atkins and add Phil Pressey off waivers

The Utah Jazz announced today that the team has signed free agent guard Eric Atkins and has claimed second-year guard Phil Pressey off waivers.

Atkins (6-2, 182, Notre Dame) spent the 2014-15 season with KAOD BC of Greece, appearing in 26 games (19 starts) and averaged 7.0 points, 2.2 rebounds and 2.9 assists in 23.4 minutes of action.

Atkins played four years at Notre Dame (2010-14), averaging 13.9 points, 2.8 rebounds and 4.9 assists in 37.8 minutes during his senior season.

Pressey (5-11, 175, Missouri) was waived by Portland on Oct. 23 after appearing in four preseason games with the Trail Blazers, averaging 4.8 points, 1.8 rebounds and 2.0 assists in 16.4 minutes of action. He was signed by the Trail Blazers on July 24.

The 24-year-old guard has appeared in 125 career NBA games (11 starts) over two seasons with the Boston Celtics, averaging 3.1 points, 1.5 rebounds and 2.9 assists in 13.9 minutes per game. He was signed as an undrafted rookie free agent by the Celtics in July of 2013.

A Dallas native, Pressey played three years at Missouri (2010-13), averaging 11.9 points, 3.3 rebounds and 7.1 assists in 33.9 minutes in 34 games as a junior. His father, Paul, played 11 seasons in the NBA with stints in Milwaukee, San Antonio and Golden State.

Utah’s roster now stands at 17 players.

Magic exercise contract options on Aaron Gordon, Shabazz Napier, Elfrid Payton, Victor Oladipo

The Orlando Magic have exercised their third-year team options on forward Aaron Gordon, guard Shabazz Napier, and guard Elfrid Payton, while also exercising their fourth-year team option on guard Victor Oladipo, General Manager Rob Hennigan announced today.

All four players are now signed through the 2016-17 season.

Gordon (6’9”, 220, 9/16/95) played in 47 games (eight starts) last season with the Magic, averaging 5.2 ppg. and 3.6 rpg. in 17.0 minpg. He ranked among all NBA rookies in rebounding (11th) and blocked shots (8th). Gordon was originally selected by Orlando in the first round (fourth overall) of the 2014 NBA Draft.

Napier (6’1”, 175, 7/14/91) appeared in 51 games (ten starts) last season with Miami, averaging 5.1 ppg., 2.5 apg. and 2.2 rpg. in 19.8 minpg., while shooting .364 (43-118) from three-point range. He ranked among all NBA rookies in three-point field goal percentage (3rd) and assists (7th). Napier was originally selected by Charlotte in the first round (24th overall) of the 2014 NBA Draft. He was acquired by Orlando along with cash considerations in exchange for a conditional second round draft pick on July 27, 2015.

Payton (6’4”, 185, 2/22/94) played in all 82 games (63 starts) last season with the Magic, averaging 8.9 ppg., a team-high 6.5 apg., 4.3 rpg. and a team-high 1.73 stlpg. in 30.3 minpg., while compiling an assists-to-turnover ratio of 2.63 (533/203). He was named to the 2014-15 NBA All-Rookie First Team and finished fourth in voting for NBA Rookie of the Year. Payton ranked 13th in the NBA in steals, 14th in assists and 16th in assists-to-turnover ratio. He also among all NBA rookies in scoring (8th), rebounding (T-8th), assists (1st), field goal percentage (7th), steals (2nd) and minutes played (4th). Payton was originally selected by Philadelphia in the first round (10th overall) of the 2014 NBA Draft. He was acquired by Orlando in exchange for the draft rights to Dario Saric, a future first round draft pick and a future second round draft pick on June 26, 2014.

Oladipo (6’4”, 210, 5/4/92) played in 72 games (71 starts) last season with the Magic, averaging 17.9 ppg., 4.2 rpg., 4.1 apg. and 1.67 stlpg. in a team-high 35.7 minpg., while shooting a team-best .819 (262-320) from the free throw line. He was tied for eighth in the NBA in minutes played, ranked 16th in steals, 21st in scoring and tied for 36th in assists. Oladipo has appeared in 152 regular season games during his NBA career, all with Orlando, averaging 15.8 ppg., 4.2 rpg., 4.1 apg. and 1.64 stlpg. in 33.3 minpg. He was originally selected by Orlando in the first round (second overall) of the 2013 NBA Draft and was named to the 2013-14 NBA All-Rookie First Team.

Tragic: Flip Saunders has died

Announcement from the Timberwolves:

It is with extreme sadness that the Minnesota Timberwolves today learned that Phil “Flip” Saunders, who served as the team’s President of Basketball Operations and Head Coach, in addition to being a minority owner of the team, passed away today at age 60.

The organization will follow up with more information as it becomes available.

Pistons exercise contract options on Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Reggie Bullock

The Detroit Pistons have exercised team options on the contracts of guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and forward Reggie Bullock.

In two seasons with the Pistons, Caldwell-Pope has appeared in 162 games (123 starts) averaging 9.3 points, 2.5 rebounds, 1.0 assists and 1.0 blocks in 25.7 minutes per game. He led the team in 3-pointers made (153), total minutes (2,587) and minutes per game (31.5) last season. Caldwell-Pope was named to the BBVA Compass Rising Stars Challenge at NBA All-Star 2015. The 6-foot-5, 205-pound guard was selected by Detroit in the first round (#8 overall) of the 2013 NBA Draft.

Bullock was acquired by Detroit on July 9 from the Phoenix Suns. He appeared in six preseason games with the Pistons and averaged 10.7 points, 2.2 rebounds and 1.8 assists in 19.3 minutes per game. Drafted by the Clippers with the 25th overall selection in the first round of the 2013 NBA Draft, Bullock owns career averages of 2.3 points, 1.3 rebounds and 9.3 minutes in 79 games.

Pistons waive Ryan Boatright

The Detroit Pistons announced today that the team has requested waivers on guard Ryan Boatright.

A 6’0”, 170-pound guard, Boatright went undrafted out of Connecticut in the 2015 NBA Draft and signed with the Pistons on October 23. In four preseason games with the Brooklyn Nets, Boatright averaged 4.3 points, 1.5 rebounds and 3.8 assists in 13.9 minutes per game.

Wizards waive Josh Harrellson, Jaron Johnson, Toure Murry, Jaleel Roberts, Ish Smith

The Washington Wizards announced today that the team has waived center Josh Harrellson, guards Jaron Johnson and Toure Murry, center Jaleel Roberts and guard Ish Smith.

Harrellson appeared in seven preseason games, recording 27 points and 12 rebounds over 51 minutes. Johnson played in six preseason games and totaled 12 points in 28 minutes. Murry appeared in four preseason games and tallied 14 points in 30 minutes. Roberts played in three preseason games and totaled 10 points and three rebounds in 21 minutes. Smith made five appearances in the preseason and tallied 11 points and 20 assists in 57 minutes.

Nuggets waive Nick Johnson, Oleksiy Pecherov, Devin Sweetney

The Denver Nuggets have waived Nick Johnson, Oleksiy Pecherov and Devin Sweetney, General Manager and Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations Tim Connelly announced today.

Johnson, 6-3, 202, appeared in six games (one start) for Denver in the preseason, averaging 2.2 points, 2.2 rebounds and 1.7 assists in 17.7 minutes per game.

Pecherov, 7-0, 232, appeared one preseason game for Denver, averaging 6.0 points and 1.0 rebounds in 7.4 minutes per game.

Sweetney, 6-6, 200, played in four preseason games for Denver, averaging 1.3 points in 3.3 minutes per game.

The Nuggets roster now stands at 15 players.