July 2018 – Page 3 – NBA Blog – NBA Basketball Blog

Sixers sign Jonah Bolden

The Philadelphia 76ers on Wednesday signed forward Jonah Bolden.

It’s not yet known if this contract will definitely carry into the regular season or if it’s a non-guaranteed deal that merely brings Bolden to training camp.

“We have been following Jonah Bolden for a while and are very excited to bring him into our program as a young, up-and-coming prospect,” Brown said. “He experienced positive growth and development last season at Maccabi Tel Aviv, a team led by Neven Spahija, who is a friend of our program and an excellent coach. Jonah’s style of play is that of a modern-day player and we’re thrilled to grow our team with him.”

The 76ers selected Bolden with the No. 36 overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft. The 22-year-old spent the 2017-18 season with Maccabi Tel Aviv in Israel, helping the team win the Israeli Basketball Super League title. In 26 BSL games (24 starts), the 6-foot-10 Bolden posted 7.6 points, 6.6 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 1.2 steals in 20.5 minutes per game, as the team compiled a 28-11 record.

In 29 EuroLeague games (28 starts), Bolden averaged 6.9 points, 5.5 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.2 steals in 21.1 minutes per contest and was named a finalist for the EuroLeague Rising Star Award. The Australia native posted double-figure points on nine occasions as he shot .487 from the field in EuroLeague play, connecting on 77 of his 158 attempts. Bolden ranked fourth in the league in defensive rebounds (125), seventh in steals (34) and eighth in blocks (27).

Bolden has appeared in three summer leagues as a member of the 76ers, most recently appearing in six games with Philadelphia at MGM Resorts Summer League 2018, where he posted 6.5 points and 6.0 rebounds per game. Last summer, the Australia native participated in both the 2017 Utah Jazz Summer League and MGM Resorts NBA Summer League 2017.

Prior to the 2017 NBA Draft, Bolden played for Serbia’s KK FMP, averaging 12.6 points and 7.0 rebounds across Basketball League of Serbia and Adriatic League play. He earned the Adriatic League’s Top Prospect Award in 2017, joining teammate Dario Šarić, Denver’s Nikola Jokić and Cleveland’s Ante Zizic as recent award recipients. Bolden spent the 2015-16 season at UCLA, where he appeared in 31 games (11 starts) for the Bruins and tallied 4.6 points and 4.8 rebounds in 21.7 minutes per contest.

A native of Sydney, Australia, Bolden was a member of the Australian U-19 National Team, representing his home country in the 2013 FIBA U-19 World Championship. His father, Bruce, played 17 seasons in Australia’s National Basketball League, competing against Ben Simmons’ father, Dave, and Brown, who was a coach in the league.

Raptors hire Adrian Griffin, Phil Handy, Sergio Scariolo and Nate Bjorkgren as assistant coaches

The Toronto Raptors have hired Adrian Griffin, Sergio Scariolo, Nate Bjorkgren and Phil Handy as assistant coaches. The group will join Patrick Mutumbo, Jim Sann and Eric Khoury to form head coach Nick Nurse’s staff for the 2018-19 season.

“Adrian, Sergio, Nate and Phil each bring something different to our staff and our team. They have a blend of experiences that will give our team a unique perspective,” Nurse said. “We’ve already had substantive conversations about where Raptors basketball is and where we intend to go, and we can’t wait to get to work in earnest.”

The big Raptors change this offseason was the recent trade of DeMar DeRozan to the Spurs for Kawhi Leonard. It is presumed that Leonard actually will play for the Raptors, but speculation looms that there’s a chance he could be traded again before the start of the 2018-19 regular season. But for now, Leonard is a Raptor. He joins guard Kyle Lowry as the team’s main stars, with a supporting cast that includes center Jonas Valanciunas, power forward Serge Ibaka and shooting guard Danny Green, who was part of that same Spurs-Raptors trade.

As for the team’s new assistant coaches, Griffin joins the Raptors following two seasons as an assistant coach with Oklahoma City (2016-18). In addition to the Thunder, Griffin has previous assistant coaching stints with Orlando (2015-16), Chicago (2010-15) and Milwaukee (2008-10). He began his coaching career as assistant coach/player development with the Bucks. During the summer of 2014, Griffin also worked with the USA Basketball Men’s National Team that captured the gold medal at the FIBA Basketball World Cup in Spain.

A native of Wichita, Kansas, Griffin played nine NBA seasons with Boston, Dallas, Houston, Chicago and Seattle. He averaged 4.0 points, 3.2 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 16.8 minutes in 477 regular-season appearances. Griffin also played in 48 playoff games and was part of the 2006 Dallas team that reached the NBA Finals. Prior to the NBA, Griffin played for the Atlantic City Seagulls (USBL), Connecticut Pride (CBA), Roseto (Italy) and Long Island Surf (USBL). In 1998-99, he was named CBA Most Valuable Player and Finals MVP while leading Connecticut to the championship. Griffin played collegiately for four seasons at Seton Hall (1992-94) and was inducted into the school’s Athletics Hall of Fame in 2010.

Scariolo joins the Raptors following a successful coaching career in Europe that spans 20 years. Since 2009, he has led the Spanish National Team as head coach and guided the program to a silver medal at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London and a bronze medal at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janerio. Spain has also won the FIBA Eurobasket tournament three times (2009, 2011 and 2015) under his watch.

A native of Brescia, Italy, Scariolo got his first head coaching job in 1989 with Vuelle Pesaro and led the club to the 1990 Italian League championship. He was also named Italian League Coach of the Year in 1994 with Fortitudo Bologna. In 1997, Scariolo moved to Spain and led Tau Ceramica to the 1999 Spanish Cup before joining Real Madrid later that year. He went on to claim the Spanish Cup and the Spanish League title during his first season at Real Madrid and was named Spanish League AEEB Coach of the Year in 2000. In 2003, Scariolo joined Unicaja and led the club to the 2005 Spanish Cup, 2006 Spanish League title and an appearance in the 2007 EuroLeague Final Four. Scariolo has also coached Khimki Moscow (2008-10), Olimpia Milano (2011-13) and Saski Baskonia (2013-14).

Bjorkgren joined the Raptors as an advance scout during the 2017-18 season following two seasons as an assistant coach with the Phoenix Suns (2015-17). Prior to joining the Suns, he had a successful tenure as a head coach in the NBA G League, amassing a 126-74 (.630) record in four seasons with the Bakersfield Jam (2014-15), Iowa Energy (2013-14), Santa Cruz Warriors (2012-13) and Dakota Wizards (2011-12). Bjorkgren was as an assistant coach on Nurse’s staff in Iowa from 2007-11, helping the Energy win the 2010-11 NBA G League Championship.

A native of Storm Lake, Iowa, Bjorkgren played collegiately at Buena Vista University and the University of South Dakota. At Buena Vista, he led the Beavers to their first conference title in 21 years in 1997

Handy joins the Raptors following five seasons (2013-18) with the Cleveland Cavaliers as director, player development/assistant coach, and two seasons (2011-13) as an assistant coach with the Los Angeles Lakers.

A native of San Leandro, California, Handy has strong ties to the Bay Area where he spent five years (2006-11) coaching young talent with the AAU Club Team 94 and training NBA players during the off-season. He ran his own basketball training business for over 13 years, working with top level talent in the from NBA, Europe and the collegiate ranks.

Handy was a standout at the University of Hawaii, earning WAC All-Defensive Player of the Year and All-Newcomer honours. He had two NBA stints as a player with Golden State and Portland.

His professional playing career also included stops in Israel, France, England, Germany, Italy and Australia.

Hawks get Carmelo Anthony, Thunder get Dennis Schroder in three-team trade

The Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday acquired Carmelo Anthony and a protected 2022 first-round draft pick from the Oklahoma City Thunder along with Justin Anderson from the Philadelphia 76ers in a three-team transaction, with Mike Muscala going to Philadelphia and Dennis Schröder going to Oklahoma City. As part of the trade, Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot goes from Philadelphia to Oklahoma City.

The Hawks are expected to waive Melo, who reportedly may sign with the Rockets once he clears waivers.

“We want to welcome Dennis and Timothé to Oklahoma City and the Thunder,” said Thunder Executive Vice President and General Manager Sam Presti. “Both of these players represent the continued transition of our style of play. Dennis provides us with another proven playmaker and someone that will only enhance the overall speed of our team. Timothé adds another young, long, versatile wing that can play multiple positions and complement our returning core. We are excited about the added depth and stylistic fit that both players provide as we enter our 11th season of Thunder Basketball.”

“On behalf of the Hawks organization, I’d like to thank Mike and Dennis for their contributions to our team over the last five years,” said Hawks General Manager and Head of Basketball Operations Travis Schlenk. “Both players worked extremely hard to develop and improve throughout their careers in Atlanta and each had a special connection with our fans. We wish them all the best moving forward.”

“Mike Muscala joins our program at a fantastic stage of his career. He has enjoyed some NBA success and his upside in the future is extremely bright,” 76ers Head Coach Brett Brown said. “We will use him both as a backup five and, at times, a power forward. His ability to shoot the ball and the energy with which he plays will help our basketball team.”

Schröder (6-1, 172) has appeared in 352 career games (161 starts) and averaged 12.9 points, 4.8 assists and 2.5 rebounds in 23.7 minutes per contest with Atlanta. Last season, the Braunschweig, Germany native appeared in 67 games (all starts), averaging a career-high 19.4 points, 6.2 assists, 3.1 rebounds and a career-best 1.07 steals in 31.0 minutes per game, making him just the fourth player in Hawks history to average at least 19 points and six assists over the course of a season.

Originally selected 17th overall by Atlanta in the 2013 NBA Draft, Schröder has increased his scoring average in each of his five NBA seasons since entering the league.

Luwawu-Cabarrot (6-6, 205) joins the Thunder after spending the 2017-18 season with Philadelphia where he appeared in 52 games (seven starts) and averaged 5.8 points, 1.4 rebounds and 1.0 assist in 15.5 minutes per game.

Selected 24th overall in the first round of the 2016 NBA Draft by the 76ers, the French native has appeared in 121 career games (26 starts) and holds career averages of 6.1 points, 1.8 rebounds and 1.1 assists in 16.5 minutes per game.

“I want to take this opportunity to thank Carmelo Anthony and acknowledge his professionalism and contributions during his time with the Thunder,” said Presti. “Although his tenure was only one year, the fact that Melo is a part of our history is important to us. We appreciate Carmelo and his agent Leon Rose for their collaboration and communication as we worked to resolve the situation in a fashion that was suitable to everyone. We wish Melo and his family nothing but the best in the future.”

In one season with Oklahoma City, Anthony averaged 16.2 points, 5.8 rebounds and 1.3 assists in 32.1 minutes per game. A 10-time All-Star, he scored his 25,000th career point on Jan. 27 at the Detroit Pistons, making him the 21st player in NBA history to achieve the feat. Anthony is a three-time Olympic gold medalist and the United States Olympic Men’s National Team’s all-time leading scorer.

Knicks sign guard Kadeem Allen

The New York Knicks signed Kadeem Allen today.

The signing may just be a non-guaranteed deal that merely brings Allen to training camp.

A 6-foot-3, 200-pound guard, Allen played for Boston and their G League affiliate Maine last season. In 34 games (33 starts) for the Red Claws, he averaged 17.7 points, 5.5 rebounds, five assists and 2.2 steals over 34.5 minutes, and he received an honor for his efforts — being named to the G League All-Defensive Team. He also played in 18 games (one start) for the Celtics, totaling 19 points and 12 assists over 107 minutes.

The Wilmington, NC-native was originally selected by Boston in the second round (53rd overall) of the 2017 NBA Draft, following two seasons at the University of Arizona and two seasons at Hutchinson Community College (NC). As a senior at Arizona, he averaged 9.8 points, four rebounds, three assists and a team-leading 1.6 steals.

Bulls sign Rawle Alkins to two-way contract

The Chicago Bulls signed guard Rawle Alkins to a two-way contract today.

The 6-foot-5, 220-pound native of Brooklyn, New York went undrafted in 2018 after playing two seasons of college hoops at Arizona. He was named a Pac-12 All-Conference Honorable Mention in his sophomore season, and was a Pac-12 All-Freshman Team member in 2016-17.

Overall, in his career at Arizona, he averaged a modest 11.8 points, 4.9 rebounds and 2.2 assists over 60 games (57 starts) with the Wildcats. He scored a career-high 26 points in a win at New Mexico on 12/16/17.

Alkins, whose full name is pronounced “RAW-lee ALL-kins,” played in six games (4 starts) for the Toronto Raptors MGM Resorts Summer League squad this year and averaged 9.0 points, 4.7 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.33 steals in 21.3 minutes per contest.

He will wear No. 20 for the Bulls.

Charlotte Hornets unveil new white Classic Edition uniform

The Charlotte Hornets today unveiled a new white Classic Edition uniform to be worn during the 2018-19 season when the franchise celebrates the 30th Anniversary of the inaugural 1988-89 Hornets season.

Like the teal version from the 2017-18 campaign, the uniform echoes the design worn by the original Charlotte Hornets from their inception in 1988 through 1997.

“With the success of our teal Classic Edition uniforms last season, we felt it was only right to bring the white version back this year as part of our 30th Anniversary celebration,” said Hornets President & Vice Chairman Fred Whitfield. “As we look to replicate the experience and excitement of the early days of the Hornets, wearing the white uniform that the original team wore every night at the Charlotte Coliseum brings another layer of authenticity for our fans.”

The new uniform will be worn during the series of “Classic Night” games, which will celebrate the history of the Hornets and feature music and game presentation elements designed to take fans back to the Charlotte Coliseum of the late ‘80s and early ‘90s. The “Classic Night” games will honor some of the organization’s all-time great players and feature giveaways, including bobbleheads and T-shirts, that highlight some of the top players and moments in Hornets history.

There will be a minimum of six “Classic Night” games during the 2018-19 season.

Based on the uniform worn during the Hornets’ first decade, the white jersey includes the familiar crossover v-neck and multi-colored pinstripes in light blue, royal blue, green and purple. The shorts feature the classic Hornets logo on the waist and the identical royal blue, white and teal trim as the original.

Like the rest of the team’s uniforms, the white Classic Edition features the logos of Nike’s Jordan Brand on the right chest and partner LendingTree on the left chest.

Nuggets sign guard Monte Morris, who was on a two-way deal last season

The Denver Nuggets have signed guard Monte Morris to a multi-year contract.

Morris, 6-3, 180, spent the 2017-18 season on a two-way contract with the Denver Nuggets. He appeared in 37 games (35 starts) for the Rio Grande Valley Vipers of the G League, averaging 17.8 points, 6.5 assists and 4.4 rebounds while shooting 47.2% from the field. Most recently, Morris appeared in four games for the Nuggets 2018 Las Vegas Summer League team, posting averages of 17.5 points, 6.3 assists and 3.3 rebounds in 28.1 minutes.

The 23-year-old was drafted by Denver with the 51st pick in the 2017 NBA draft after playing four seasons at Iowa State University. Morris appeared in 140 career games (121 starts) for the Cyclones and was named All-Big 12 First Team as a senior in 2017 after setting the NCAA single-season record with a 5.17 assist-to-turnover ratio.

Clippers re-sign Montrezl Harrell

The L.A. Clippers re-signed free-agent forward Montrezl Harrell today.

“Montrezl is a tough, hard-playing, gritty competitor who is committed to winning,” said Frank. “We love his passion and energy, and are very excited to have Trezz back in a Clippers uniform.”

According to ESPN.com, the deal is a two-year, $12 million contract.

Harrell, 24, appeared in 76 games for the Clippers last season, averaging 11.0 points and 4.0 rebounds, while shooting 63.5 percent from the field in 17.0 minutes. Initially acquired by L.A. on June 28, 2017 via trade, the 6’8”, 240-pound forward holds career averages of 8.7 points and 3.4 rebounds across 173 appearances spanning three NBA seasons with the Clippers and the Houston Rockets.

A native of Tarboro, North Carolina, Harrell was selected 32nd overall by Houston in the 2015 NBA Draft. He played three collegiate seasons at the University of Louisville, where he was a member of the 2013 NCAA Championship team as a freshman, earned First Team All-AAC honors as a sophomore in 2014 and received the Karl Malone Award as the nation’s top power forward as a junior in 2015.

Lakers sign Travis Wear to two-way contract

The Los Angeles Lakers have signed forward Travis Wear to a two-way contract, it was announced today by General Manager Rob Pelinka.

Wear played in 17 games for the Lakers in 2017-18, averaging 4.4 points and 2.2 rebounds in 13.4 minutes per game. Signed mid-season from the South Bay Lakers, Wear notched 16.7 points (.445 FG%, .419 3P%), 8.3 rebounds and 2.0 assists in 33 G League games (29 starts) last season.

Per NBA rules, teams are permitted to have up to two players under two-way contracts on their roster at any given time, in addition to their 15-man regular season roster.

Knicks sign Noah Vonleh, who played last season with Blazers and Bulls

The New York Knicks signed free agent forward Noah Vonleh today.

Vonleh, 6-9, 245 pounds, spent last season with Portland and Chicago, averaging 4.9 points and 5.8 rebounds in 16.2 minutes over 54 total games (16 starts). The 22-year-old was selected by Charlotte with the ninth overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft.

Vonleh started last season with Portland where he averaged 3.6 points and 5.1 rebounds in 14.4 minutes over 33 games (12 starts). He was traded mid-season to the Bulls and appeared in 21 contests (four starts), recording 6.9 points and 6.9 rebounds over 19.0 minutes.

The Haverhill, MA-native holds career averages of 4.1 points and 4.7 rebounds over 15.5 minutes in 231 total games (113 starts) played with Charlotte, Portland and Chicago. He was traded from Charlotte to Portland on June 24, 2015.

Vonleh played one season for Indiana University where he was named Big Ten Freshman of the Year and third team All-Big Ten. In 30 games (29 starts) he averaged 11.3 points, 9.0 rebounds and 1.4 blocks.