The Chicago Bulls announced today that the team has waived guards Jordan Crawford and Marcus Simmons.
The players originally signed with Chicago as free agents on Sept. 28, 2015.
Chicago’s roster now stands at 15.
Month: October 2015
Magic waive Greg Stiemsma
The Orlando Magic have waived center Greg Stiemsma (STEAM-smuh), General Manager Rob Hennigan announced today. Orlando’s roster now stands at 15.
Stiemsma appeared in two preseason games with the Magic, averaging 1.5 rpg. in 8.3 minpg.
Orlando begins the 2015-16 regular season on Wednesday, October 28 at home against Washington (7 p.m.).
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope day-to-day with sore foot
Here’s Michigan Live reporting on what is fortunately a fairly minor Pistons injury:
Small, nagging injuries have been a recurring theme for the Detroit Pistons in the precursor to the regular season.
Well, they’re apparently not over.
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope was ruled day-to-day by the team Wednesday with a sore left foot after exiting in the first quarter of Detroit’s 99-94 preseason loss to the Charlotte Hornets.
The Pistons’ starting shooting guard limped off the court with 1:59 remaining never to return. X-rays came back negative, confirming no break in the bone, and head coach Stan Van Gundy said he’ll undergo an MRI on Thursday.
Magic waive Melvin Ejim
The Orlando Magic have waived forward Melvin Ejim (EDGE-um), General Manager Rob Hennigan announced following tonight’s preseason game.
Orlando’s roster now stands at 16.
Ejim appeared in four preseason games with the Magic, averaging 3.5 ppg. and 2.3 rpg. in 8.0 minpg.
Orlando begins the 2015-16 regular season on Wednesday, October 28 at home against Washington (7 p.m.).
Andrew Wiggins a shooting guard?
Here’s the Minneapolis Star Tribune reporting interesting stuff on one of the Timberwolves’ most important young talents:
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In a game gone small, Timberwolves interim coach Sam Mitchell is playing the contrarian.
While playing two point guards in the same lineup becomes more common in the NBA, Mitchell has turned to reigning Rookie of the Year Andrew Wiggins — all 6-8 of him — to start at shooting guard and be Ricky Rubio’s backcourt partner after an experiment to nurture Zach LaVine at that spot lasted but three preseason games.
While coaches such as Phoenix’s Jeff Hornacek and Dallas’ Rick Carlisle have taken to playing two point guards in recent years, Mitchell likes Wiggins’ move from small forward to shooting guard precisely because of his size and the benefits Mitchell believes it presents on both ends of the court.
“You know the NBA,” Mitchell said. “You’ve got to [create] some matchup problems when you go out there. I like Andrew at the 2 [shooting guard]. I think it gives him an advantage because of his size.”
Kings starting lineup still being determined
Here’s the Sacramento Bee reporting on the Kings and the lineup decisions George Karl must make:
There are things Karl still has to sort out as he implements his style of play. Though he said the full starting lineup is yet to be determined, he said some players will have to be happy as “insurance plans,” because there won’t be enough playing time for everyone.
Point guard Rajon Rondo, forward Rudy Gay and center DeMarcus Cousins are locked in as starters. Karl could go with Koufos or rookie Willie Cauley-Stein alongside Cousins and Gay in the frontcourt.
In the backcourt, James Anderson’s defense has earned him a chance at starting at shooting guard. Ben McLemore started every game for the Kings last season, but there is more competition for playing time this season than in the past two seasons. Karl is comfortable with Darren Collison and Marco Belinelli coming off the bench.
New Cleveland Cavaliers alternate jerseys
As the Cleveland Cavaliers enter their 45th anniversary season in 2015-16, they will do so with new threads that uniquely tie the team’s rich history with their electric present and exciting future. The Cavs will debut three new adidas alternate uniforms this season, each reflecting previous eras of Cavaliers basketball while also incorporating current-day trends. The new looks will rotate with four uniforms that continue from last season – home white, road wine, gold alternate and navy alternate.
Utah Jazz sign E.J. Singler
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The Utah Jazz announced today that the team has signed free agent forward E.J. Singler. Until it’s reported otherwise, we will assume this is a non-guaranteed contract.
Singler (6-6, 215, Oregon) spent the 2014-15 season with BC Kalev/Cramo of Estonia, appearing in 60 games (19 starts) and averaged 6.9 points, 3.9 rebounds and 0.8 assists in 17.2 minutes of action. During the 2013-14 campaign, he played for the Idaho Stampede, scoring 14.1 points, 4.7 rebounds and 1.2 assists in 28.2 minutes in 22 games (four starts).
Singler played four years at Oregon (2009-13), averaging 11.7 points, 4.9 rebounds and 2.8 assists in 31.0 minutes during his senior season. His older brother, Kyle, currently plays for the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Utah’s roster now stands at 16 players.
Timberwolves exercise options on LaVine, Payne, Wiggins, Dieng and Muhammad
The Minnesota Timberwolves today announced the team has exercised the third-year options on guard Zach LaVine, forward Adreian Payne and forward Andrew Wiggins, along with the fourth-year options on center Gorgui Dieng and forward Shabazz Muhammad.
Dieng, 25, owns career averages of 7.5 points and 6.8 rebounds in 22.6 minutes per game over 133 contests, all with Minnesota. The Wolves acquired the draft rights to Dieng, along with Muhammad, from the Utah Jazz on June 27, 2013.
LaVine, 20, posted averages of 10.1 points and 3.6 assists in 24.7 minutes per game over 77 games in his rookie season, eventually being named to the 2014-15 All-Rookie Second Team. Minnesota drafted LaVine with the 13th overall selection in the 2014 NBA Draft.
Muhammad, 22, has played two seasons with the Wolves, averaging 8.7 points and 2.8 rebounds in 75 career contests, including averaging 13.5 points in 22.8 minutes per contest last season. Minnesota acquired the draft rights to Muhammad, along with Dieng, from the Utah Jazz on June 27, 2013.
Payne, 24, averaged 6.7 points and 5.1 rebounds in 32 games last season, including averaging 7.2 points and 5.4 rebounds in 29 games with Minnesota. Originally selected with the 15th overall pick by the Hawks in the 2014 NBA Draft, the Wolves acquired him from Atlanta on February 10, 2015.
Wiggins, 20, registered averages of 16.9 points and 4.6 rebounds per game last season en route to being named the 2015 KIA NBA Rookie of the Year. Wiggins was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft and was acquired by the Wolves on August 23, 2014.
Stanley Johnson may come off bench for Pistons
Here’s the Detroit Free Press with an update on the Pistons, whose roster includes an intriguing rookie that has a shot at starting but for now appears likely to come off the bench as a reserve:
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The starting lineup you see tonight against the Charlotte Hornets — with Ersan Ilyasova and Marcus Morris at the forward spots — likely is the grouping that coach Stan Van Gundy will roll with when the Detroit Pistons open the regular season Tuesday at the Atlanta Hawks.
That means the people’s champion — rookie small forward Stanley Johnson — probably will start the season coming off the bench.
Van Gundy cited veteran presence and size as part of his reasoning for going with the 6-10 Ilyasova and 6-9 Morris.