August 2017 – Page 3 – NBA Blog

Magic sign Adreian Payne to two-way contract

The Orlando Magic have signed free agent forward Adreian Payne to a two-way contract, President of Basketball Operations Jeff Weltman announced today.

Payne (6’10”, 237, 2/19/91) appeared in 18 games last season with Minnesota, averaging 3.5 ppg. and 1.8 rpg. in 7.5 minpg. He also spent time with the Erie BayHawks of the NBA G League. Originally selected in the first round (15th overall) of the 2014 NBA Draft by Atlanta, Payne has played in 102 career NBA regular season games (24 starts) with Atlanta and Minnesota, averaging 4.0 ppg. and 3.0 rpg. in 13.3 minpg. He has also spent time with Fort Wayne, Austin and Erie of the NBA G League.

Payne played in 138 career games (94 starts) during four years at Michigan State University, averaging 8.9 ppg., 5.3 rpg. and 1.02 blkpg. in 20.0 minpg., while shooting .526 (447-850) from the floor. He finished his career as the Spartans’ all-time leader in blocked shots with 141. Payne helped Michigan State reach the NCAA Sweet Sixteen in three consecutive seasons (2011-14) and the Elite Eight in 2013-14. He was named Second Team All-Big Ten in both 2012-13 and 2013-14. As a senior (2013-14), Payne played in 31 games (28 starts), averaging 16.4 ppg., 7.3 rpg. and 1.3 apg. in 28.1 minpg. During the second round of the NCAA Tournament, he poured in a career-high 41 points, including 17-of-17 from the free throw line, on Mar. 20 vs. Delaware.

NBA Two-Way Contracts Explained

Per NBA rules, teams are permitted to sign two players to two-way contracts in addition to the 15-man regular-season roster. A two-way player for Orlando will provide services to the team’s G League affiliate – the Lakeland Magic – but can spend up to 45 days with Orlando, not including any time prior to the start of Lakeland’s training camp and at the conclusion of their season.

Rockets sign Demetrius Jackson to two-way contract

The Rockets have signed free agent guard Demetrius Jackson to a two-way contract.

Jackson (6-1, 201) was the 45th overall pick by Boston in the 2016 NBA Draft following his junior season at Notre Dame. He appeared in five games for the Celtics last season, spending the majority of 2016-17 assigned to their D-League affiliate, the Maine Red Claws. In 32 D-League games, Jackson averaged 14.8 points, 6.0 assists, 5.1 rebounds, and 1.3 steals.

In his NBA debut, Jackson had 8 points, 3 rebounds, and 2 assists in 11 minutes of play vs. Denver on Nov. 6, 2016. He averaged 9.3 points, 4.0 assists, 2.8 rebounds, and 2.00 steals while shooting 46.4% from the floor and 50.0% from 3-point range for Boston in the MGM Resorts NBA Summer League 2017.

About Two-Way Contracts

NBA rosters have expanded from 15 to 17 players with the additional spots available for players under two-way contracts. Teams may have up to two players under two-way contracts who will spend the bulk of the season in the NBA G League (formerly NBA Development League) and not more than 45 days with their NBA team. Only players with four or fewer years of NBA service are able to sign two-way contracts, which can be for either one or two seasons.

Mavericks sign Jeff Withey

The Dallas Mavericks have signed free agent center Jeff Withey.

Withey (7-0, 230) is a four-year veteran who was drafted by the Portland Trail Blazers in the second round (39th overall pick) of the 2013 NBA Draft. His draft rights were acquired by the New Orleans Pelicans on July 10, 2013. He spent his first two seasons in New Orleans before signing with the Utah Jazz as a free agent on Aug. 24, 2015. He has averaged 3.3 points, 2.6 rebounds and 10.3 minutes in 197 career games (15 starts) with New Orleans and Utah.

The San Diego, Calif., native played four years at the University of Kansas where he saw action in 117 career games (76 starts) for the Jayhawks. In his senior campaign, Withey averaged 13.7 points, 8.5 rebounds and 3.9 blocks per contest while earning NABC Co-Defensive Player of the Year, Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year, First Team All-Big 12 and Second Team All-American.

Adetunji Adedipe named Lakeland Magic assistant GM

Adetunji Adedipe has been named assistant general manager of the Lakeland Magic (G League), it was announce today by Orlando Magic President of Basketball Operations Jeff Weltman.

Adedipe is in his third season with the Orlando Magic organization. He began his career as a basketball operations assistant for the Erie BayHawks of the NBA G League during the 2014-15 season prior to joining IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla. While at IMG, Adedipe coached the Ascenders junior varsity and assisted in NBA pre-draft workouts. During the summer of 2015, he interned with the Philadelphia 76ers in the basketball operations department. Adedipe joined the Orlando Magic in September of 2015 as a basketball operations associate and served as basketball operations coordinator with the Erie BayHawks in 2016-17.

Adedipe was a three-year letterman and former captain of the Ohio University men’s basketball team. The Bobcats advanced to the second round of the NCAA tournament in 2010 with a win over Georgetown. A native of Cleveland, Oh., Adedipe graduated from Ohio University in 2010 and received a master’s degree in comparative politics in 2012.

Heat sign Jordan Mickey

The Miami Heat have signed forward Jordan Mickey.

Per multiple reports, the contract is worth in the ballpark of $1.5 million.

Mickey split last season between the Boston Celtics and the Maine Red Claws of the NBA G League appearing in 12 games (all starts) with the Red Claws averaging 20.8 points, 8.8 rebounds, 2.75 blocks, 1.6 assists and 32.6 minutes while shooting 51.5 percent from the field, 43.8 percent from three-point range and 75.6 percent from the foul line. He also appeared in 25 games (one start) with the Celtics last season and averaged 1.5 points and 1.4 rebounds in 5.6 minutes of action while shooting 44.1 percent from the field.

The former second round pick (33rd overall) of the 2015 NBA Draft has appeared in four postseason games with the Celtics, including two games in the Eastern Conference Finals last season where he totaled four points, five rebounds and a block in 18 minutes. The former Tiger averaged a nation’s best 3.64 blocks in his final season at LSU, blocking at least 100 shots in consecutive seasons to become just the second player in school history to reject at least 100 shots during a single-season, joining Shaquille O’Neal. Additionally, he posted a 25-point, 20-rebound game at Mississippi State on January 31, 2015, becoming just the seventh Tiger to post a 20-20 game since 1974 and the 11th to grab at least 20 boards since 1953.

Warriors praised by NBA players for home court advantage

Here’s the San Francisco Chronicle reporting on the Warriors, who recently received praise from players around the league:

The Golden State Warriors were named the team with the Best Home Court Advantage by the NBA Players Association during the organization’s Players Voice Awards on Friday, which were announced on Twitter.

“Best home court advantage,” said Warriors power forward Andre Iguodala in a video that went along with the announcement. “Gotta go to Oracle Arena.” Other players chimed in, commenting on the energy and excitement of the fans and saying that when they drive up to the arena they see raucous fans waiting to get into the game.

Allan Houston thinks Knicks need an identity

Here’s NY Newsday reporting on the Knicks, who are no longer led by Phil Jackson but have a lot of work to do in reshaping themselves as a squad:

Allan Houston did have kind words for his new bosses, president Steve Mills and general manager Scott Perry. “Steve and Scott have been intentional in their language about what we want to be,” said Houston, who played nine of his 12 seasons with the Knicks. “It starts with identifying what you want to be and then going out and doing it. When I was here playing, it was very exciting and we had an identity. It’s about establishing that identity again. From what I’ve seen, the players are buying into it. I think it’s the first time in a long time that’s been the case.”

Though clearly not intended as a criticism, Houston’s observation was a commentary on the tenure of the Knicks’ previous president, Phil Jackson; the direction in which Jackson wanted to take the team never seemed clear. The current regime appears committed to getting younger and more athletic. To that end, the Knicks brought back shooting guard Tim Hardaway Jr., signing him to a huge free-agent contract this offseason.

Celtics will retire Paul Pierce jersey number on February 11, 2018

The Boston Celtics will retire Paul Pierce’s No. 34 after a mid-season game against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Sunday, February 11, cementing his 15-year Celtics legacy which includes countless accolades, significant milestones, and the 2008 NBA Championship.

“We teamed up with Paul from the beginning of our ownership and grew to be champions together,” said Celtics Co-Owner and Governing Partner Wyc Grousbeck. “He’s a great person and a great Celtic.”

Ten other Celtics players donned the number 34 prior to Pierce getting drafted by the team with the 10th overall pick in the 1998 draft. Now, after witnessing Pierce’s name skyrocket up a majority of the franchise’s historic leaderboards during his time in Boston, the 17-time NBA champions are raising his number among the other Celtics legends and champions.

“I will always be grateful for the sacrifices Paul made to help the Celtics be great,” said Celtics President of Basketball Operations Danny Ainge. “His love for the game was contagious and his talents and hard work were legendary. He was one of the greatest players of his era.”

“The moment I was drafted by the Celtics, I knew I was joining one of the most historic organizations in the NBA,” said Pierce. “For 15 years, I played at the Garden, looking up at the jerseys of some of the most iconic players in the game – Russell, Bird, and Cousy. To now be recognized alongside those names is such an honor. I have always said I would be a Celtic for life, and now it is really coming true.”

Pierce’s No. 34 will be ceremoniously lifted to the rafters of TD Garden less than 10 years after he helped raise the Celtics’ 17th championship banner up to the very same ceiling in 2008. Going head-to-head with the rival Los Angeles Lakers in his first career NBA Finals appearance, Pierce followed up a 22-point performance in a Game 1 victory with 28 more points on 9-of-16 shooting (4-4 3-PT) and eight assists in Boston’s Game 2 triumph. His 38 points in Game 5 of those Finals represented his second-highest scoring total in 26 postseason games that year.

Pierce was named the NBA Finals Most Valuable Player that year, making him the third Celtic to collect MVP honors in his first NBA Finals appearance (JoJo White – 1974, Cedric Maxwell – 1981). He averaged 21.8 points (43.2% FG, 39.3% 3-PT, 83.0% FT), 4.5 rebounds, 6.3 assists, 1.08 steals and 38.8 minutes in that six-game series en route to the Celtics’ first championship banner since 1986.

“Paul was a transcendent player, a great leader, and wonderful teammate; simply one of the great Celtics in every way,” said Celtics Co-Owner Steve Pagliuca. “His number in the rafters will forever remind us of the joy he brought to the game of basketball and his love for the fans and the city of Boston.”

While his role in the 2008 NBA Finals will forever be remembered as a key part of his Celtics legacy, it was a performance earlier that postseason that is widely remembered as one of his more iconic moments in green and white. Battling the Cavaliers in a decisive Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals, Pierce and LeBron James battled head-to-head in a back-and-forth scoring affair that saw both stars score over 40 points. The Celtics captain unloaded for a team-high 41 points (13-23 FG, 4-6 3-PT) to upend Cleveland, 97-92, and advance to the Eastern Conference Finals.

Pierce’s 15 seasons in Boston from 1998-99 to 2012-13 trails only John Havlicek (16) for the most ever spent in a Celtics uniform. He produced 21.8 points (44.7% FG, 37.0% 3-PT, 80.6% FT), 6.0 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 1.44 steals and 36.6 minutes in his achievement-filled 1,102 career games with the franchise.

Earning his iconic nickname “The Truth” during his third NBA season in 2000-01, Pierce tops the franchise lists in three-point field goals (1,823), free throws (6,434) and steals (1,583), while also placing as the Celtics’ second all-time leading scorer with 24,021 career points. He currently ranks in the organization’s top 10 lists in games played (3rd – 1 ,102), minutes played (3rd – 40,360), field goals (3rd – 7,882), field goal attempts (2nd – 17,630), three-point field goal attempts (1st – 4,928), free throw attempts (1st – 7,979), offensive rebounds (8th – 1,008), rebounds (7th – 6,651), assists (5th – 4,305), and blocked shots (4th – 668).

Pierce’s No. 34, which was also retired collegiately at the University of Kansas on Jan. 25, 2003, will represent the 22nd retired number in Celtics franchise history. He becomes the first Celtic to have his number retired since Cedric Maxwell’s No. 31 was retired on Dec. 15, 2003.

Knicks sign Jamel Artis, Nigel Hayes, Xavier Rathan-Mayes

The Knicks have signed forwards Jamel Artis and Nigel Hayes and guard Xavier Rathan-Mayes.

Until we hear otherwise, we will assume these are non-guaranteed or very partially-guaranteed deals that merely bring these players to training camp.

Artis, 6-7, 213-pounds, played four seasons at the University of Pittsburgh, averaging 12.6 points, on 47-percent shooting, 4.6 rebounds and 2.3 assists over 27.6 minutes in 135 games. As a senior, he averaged 18.2 points, 4.9 rebounds and a team-high 3.3 assists over 34.3 minutes in 32 games. Artis finished his career as one of three players in the program’s history to register at least 1,600 points, 500 rebounds and 300 assists in a career. The Baltimore, MD-native was a member of the Knicks’ entry in the 2017 NBA summer league in Orlando, FL to average 8.8 points over 19.4 minutes in five games.

Hayes, 6-8, 254-pounds, played four seasons at the University of Wisconsin, averaging 12.4 points, on 44.6-percent shooting, and 5.3 rebounds over 29.6 minutes in 150 games. As a senior, he averaged 14.0 points and 6.6 rebounds over 32.4 minutes in 37 games. His postseason honors included the 2015-16 All-Big Ten First Team and 2013-14 Big Ten Sixth Man of the Year and helped his Badger squad reach the 2014-15 National Championship game. Hayes ranks third on Wisconsin’s all-time scoring list (1,857 points) and is the only Badger to end his career in the school’s Top-10 in points, rebounds and assists. The Toledo, OH-native was a member of the Knicks’ entry in the 2017 NBA summer league in Orlando, FL to average 5.2 points and 5.0 rebounds over 15.4 minutes in five games.

Rathan-Mayes, 6-4, 208-pounds, played three seasons at Florida State University, averaging 12.4 points and 4.5 assists over 30.5 minutes in 100 games. As a junior (2016-17), he averaged 10.6 points on 45.3-percent shooting, 4.8 assists and 3.2 rebounds over 27.7 minutes in 35 games. He is fourth in Seminole history with 451 career assists and earned 2016-17 All-ACC Defensive team honors. The Markham, Ontario-native was a member of the Knicks’ entry in the 2017 NBA summer league in Orlando, FL to average 6.0 points and 3.5 assists over 17.8 minutes in four games.

John Wall speaks out on Charlottesville

Here’s what Wizards guard John Wall had to say about recent troubling non-basketball, non-sports events in Charlottesville, Virginia that have gripped the nation as of late, per the Washington Post:

“It’s been difficult. It’s been tough,” Wall said, referring to the previous week. “We go through times where times are going in the right direction for us. Our country is going in a positive way. Then we turn back around and revert back to the stuff we try to tell our kids not to do or what our parents told us … they went through in the past, and we thought we got away from that.

“It’s kind of amazing to understand that in 2017 going into 2018, we’re still dealing with the same type of things that our great, great grandparents dealt with and we thought we were going in a positive direction,” Wall continued. “All we can do is not use it as retaliation and try to stay positive and understand that we want to give these kids a brighter [outlook] of what’s going on and not use it to go back at these people.”