Month: October 2018

Blazers exercise contract options on Caleb Swanigan and Zach Collins

Blazers exercise contract options on Caleb Swanigan and Zach Collins

The Portland Trail Blazers have exercised 2019-20 team options on the rookie contracts of forward Caleb Swanigan and forward/center Zach Collins.

The Trail Blazers acquired Collins, the 10th overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft, in a draft day trade and selected Swanigan with the 26th overall pick in the same draft.

In his rookie 2017-18 season with the Trail Blazers, Collins (7-0, 235) posted averages of 4.4 points (39.8% FG, 31.0% 3-PT, 64.3% FT), 3.3 rebounds, 0.8 assists, 0.26 steals, 0.47 blocks and 15.8 minutes in 66 games (one start).

Swanigan (6-9, 250) averaged 2.3 points (40.0% FG, 12.5% 3-PT, 66.7% FT), 2.0 rebounds, 0.5 assists, 0.19 steals, 0.11 blocks and 7.0 minutes in 27 games (three starts) during his rookie 2017-18 season.

Bulls add Tyler Ulis off waivers, then give him two-way contract

The Chicago Bulls have claimed guard Tyler Ulis off waivers to bring their roster to 17 total players. And in a subsequent transaction, the Bulls exercised the Two-Way player conversion option on Ulis.

Ulis (5-10, 150) was waived by the Golden State Warriors on Oct. 12, 2018. He appeared in four games (one start) for Golden State this preseason and averaged 3.0 points, 1.5 rebounds and 1.5 assists in 10.2 minutes per game. Originally selected by Phoenix with the 34th overall pick in the 2016 NBA Draft, Ulis played for the Suns for two seasons. He has averaged 7.6 points, 1.7 rebounds and 4.1 assists through 132 games (58 starts) in his NBA career. Ulis was named Rookie of the Month in April of 2017.

The Chicago native played for Kentucky for two seasons (2014-16) and posted career averages of 11.3 points, 2.4 rebounds and 5.3 assists in 30.1 minutes over 72 games. While in high school, Ulis was a two-time Illinois All-State selection and Southtown Star Player of the Year. He ended his career at Marian Catholic High School as the all-time leading scorer (2,335), leader in assists (578) and leader in steals (283).

Clippers trade Wesley Johnson to Pelicans

The New Orleans Pelicans have acquired forward Wesley Johnson from the Los Angeles Clippers in exchange for center Alexis Ajinca.

In a subsequent transaction, the Clippers then waived Ajinca.

“Wes is a versatile player and a consummate professional who impacts the game on both ends of the court, and brings a strong, positive presence to the locker room,” said Frank. “We want to thank Wes for his contributions to the Clippers organization, and wish him, and his family, the best of luck in New Orleans.”

Johnson, 31, averaged 5.1 points and 2.9 rebounds in 17.8 minutes across 222 appearances (52 starts) in three seasons with L.A. The eight-year NBA veteran holds career averages of 7.2 points and 3.2 rebounds in 22.7 minutes through 571 games (321 starts) with the Clippers, Minnesota Timberwolves, Phoenix Suns and Los Angeles Lakers. The Corsicana, Texas native was originally drafted by the Timberwolves with the 4th pick in the first round of the 2010 NBA Draft. The 6-foot-7 forward played his first two years of collegiate basketball at Iowa State before transferring to Syracuse.

Ajinca, 30, holds career averages of 5.3 points and 3.9 rebounds across 293 appearances in seven NBA seasons with Charlotte, Dallas, Toronto and New Orleans. A native of Saint-Etienne, France, the 7’2”, 248-pound center was selected 20th overall by Charlotte in the 2008 NBA Draft.

Clippers waive Jawun Evans as opening night approaches

Clippers waive Jawun Evans as opening night approaches

The L.A. Clippers have waived guard Jawun Evans.

“We had a productive and very competitive training camp and preseason, and all of our players deserve to be on the team. As difficult as these decisions can be, we are very proud of this group and excited to begin the season with them,” said Frank. “Jawun is a highly competitive, intelligent player who worked extremely hard this summer and throughout camp. We are grateful for Jawun’s contributions to the Clippers and wish him the absolute best moving forward.”

Evans, 22, appeared in 48 games in his rookie season with L.A., averaging 4.8 points, 2.1 assists and 1.8 rebounds in 16.2 minutes. A product of Oklahoma State, he led the Big 12 in scoring (19.2 ppg), was an AP All-America Honorable Mention selection and was named to the All-Big 12 First Team as a sophomore. He was named the Big 12 Freshman of the Year in 2015-16 and was a McDonald’s and Parade All-American out of Kimball High School in Dallas.

Timberwolves opening roster is set

The Minnesota Timberwolves have set the team’s 2018-19 Opening Night Roster.

On Saturday the Wolves announced the team had waived Canyon Barry, Darius Johnson-Odom, William Lee and Jonathan Stark. Minnesota’s 2018 Opening Night Roster stands at 16 players.

Minnesota will open its 2018-19 regular season Wednesday night in San Antonio vs. the Spurs. The Wolves will play host to the Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday, October 19 in the team’s Home Opener.

Pistons give Zach Lofton a two-way contract, and waive Reggie Hearn

Pistons give Zach Lofton a two-way contract, and waive Reggie Hearn

The Detroit Pistons have exercised their two-way player conversion option on guard Zach Lofton.

Also, guard Reggie Hearn has been waived by the team.

Lofton, 6-4, 180, appeared in four games with the Pistons this preseason and averaged 5.5 points (.471 FG, .400 3FG), 2.0 rebounds and 0.5 assists in 8.9 minutes per game. A member of the Pistons’ team at the 2018 MGM Resorts NBA Summer League in Las Vegas, NV, Lofton played last season at New Mexico State where he averaged 20.1 points and 5.0 rebounds per game and was named the Southwestern Athletic Conference Player of the Year.

Hearn, 6-5, 210, played in one game this preseason, recording three points at San Antonio on October 5. He was signed to a two-way contract on January 15, 2018 and appeared in three games with the Pistons where he averaged 1.0 points in 2.3 minutes per game.

Knicks exercise contract option on Frank Ntilikina

The New York Knicks have exercised their third-year contract option on guard Frank Ntilikina.

So far in his young NBA career, the 6-foot-6, 200-pound Ntilikina has shown some nice defensive skills, but offensively and especially as a point guard is still learning the ropes. Which is par for the course. His NBA career is just getting started. He’s a Knick to watch in 2018-19.

Ntilikina as a rookie last season averaged 5.9 points, 3.2 assists and 2.3 rebounds over 78 games (nine starts). The 20-year-old became the youngest player in franchise history to appear in a game on Oct. 19, 2017 and represented the franchise in the 2018 Rising Stars Challenge in Los Angeles, CA. The native of Strasbourg, France, was originally selected by New York with the eighth overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft.

As for his recent play in preseason, here’s the New York Post: “Ntilikina’s gains in weight and height are manifesting themselves on the court. The extra bulk — about 10 pounds — has him stronger to the rack and sturdier in guarding power forwards on switches. Ntilikina’s progress in the preseason was overshadowed by a point-guard race that didn’t do the Frenchman justice. (Fizdale started four different players at the position in five games).”

Nets exercise contract options on Caris LeVert and Jarrett Allen

The Brooklyn Nets have exercised the 2019-20 contract options for guard Caris LeVert and center Jarrett Allen.

The moves were expected, and likely a very easy decision for the Nets, as the two players are talented, still reaching their potential, and worth keeping around.

Allen appeared in 72 games (31 starts) in his rookie season, registering averages of 8.2 points, 5.4 rebounds and 1.2 blocks in 20.0 minutes per game. The 20-year-old was selected by Brooklyn with the 22nd overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft.

LeVert has appeared in 128 games (36 starts) in his first two seasons with the Nets, recording averages of 10.4 points, 3.5 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1.0 steals in 24.2 minutes per contest. During the 2017-18 campaign, the 24-year-old recorded averages of 12.1 points, 3.7 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 1.2 steals in 26.2 minutes per game. LeVert was originally selected with the 20th overall pick in the 2016 NBA Draft by the Indiana Pacers before being acquired by Brooklyn in a trade on July 7, 2016.

Warriors give Marcus Derrickson a two-way contract

The Golden State Warriors have exercised the two-way player conversion option on forward Marcus Derrickson.

Derrickson joins guard Damion Lee as the Warriors’ two-way players.

Derrickson, who originally signed with Golden State on September 20, appeared in five preseason games with the Warriors (four starts), averaging 14.0 points and 4.8 rebounds in 21.4 minutes per game.

Derrickson, 22, an undrafted early-entry candidate in 2018 Draft, averaged 15.9 points, 8.1 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 32.0 minutes in 29 games (all starts) during his junior season at Georgetown University. He was named to the All-Big East Second Team and ranked second in Big East Conference in three-point field goal percentage (.500 3FG%, 29-of-58 3FG).

Per NBA rules, teams are permitted to sign two players to two-way contracts in addition to the 15-man regular-season roster. Players signed to a two-way contract may accrue no more than 45 days of service with their respective NBA club during the regular season, spending the remainder of the season with the team’s G League affiliate. The Warriors’ two-way players will have the ability to spend time with both Golden State and the team’s G League affiliate in Santa Cruz.