Inside Hoops – Page 118 – NBA Blog

Diamond Sports Group, owner of Bally Sports regional TV networks, files for bankruptcy

Diamond Sports, which owns 19 Bally Sports regional networks — including Bally Sports North — made official its bankruptcy filing Tuesday, an unsurprising move that nonetheless brings the perilous nature of the future of local sports on TV into further focus.

While Diamond pledged to continue broadcasting the games of the 42 teams across the NHL, NBA and MLB that fall under the Bally umbrella, it’s clear that the affected leagues are at the very least creating plans — both short- and long-term — for an upcoming time when the distribution model will be quite different.

Via the Cleveland.com:

The DSG release said it filed for bankruptcy to eliminate over $8 billion in debt. DSG is a subsidiary of Sinclair Broadcast Group. The release said, “DSG expects that its Bally Sports regional sports networks (“RSN”) will continue to operate in the ordinary course during the Chapter 11 process. Diamond is well capitalized with approximately $425 million of cash on hand to fund its business and restructuring.”

David Preschlack, CEO of Diamond, in the release said, “DSG will continue broadcasting games and connecting fans across the country with the sports and teams they love. With the support of our creditors, we expect to execute a prompt and efficient reorganization and to emerge from the restructuring process as a stronger company.”

Timberwolves forward/center Karl-Anthony Towns remains out

The Minnesota Timberwolves today announced the following injury update on forward/center Karl-Anthony Towns, who has been sidelined since Nov. 28 due to a right calf strain:

Towns is continuing to progress in his rehabilitation program and has been participating in basketball activities. He is expected to return in the coming weeks and further updates to his playing status will be provided when available.

In 21 games (all starts) this season, Towns is averaging 20.8 points on 50.5% shooting, 8.2 rebounds and 5.3 assists per game.

Grizzlies guard Ja Morant suspended eight games by NBA

NBA STATEMENT REGARDING MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES’ JA MORANT

The NBA announced today that Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant has been suspended eight games without pay for conduct detrimental to the league. The discipline is in response to Morant’s live streaming of a video on March 4 in which he is holding a firearm in an intoxicated state while visiting a Denver area nightclub. Morant will be eligible to return for the team’s game against the Dallas Mavericks on Monday, March 20.

A meeting took place today in the NBA’s New York offices between NBA Commissioner Adam Silver and Morant to discuss Morant’s conduct. NBA Executive Vice President, Head of Basketball Operations Joe Dumars and NBPA Executive Director Tamika Tremaglio, among others, attended the meeting.

The league office conducted an investigation of the March 4 incident. Based on the information obtained during the investigation, the league did not conclude that the gun at issue belonged to Morant, was brought by him into the nightclub or was displayed by him beyond a brief period. The investigation also did not find that Morant possessed the gun while traveling with the team or in any NBA facility, and the Colorado authorities did not find sufficient cause to charge Morant with a crime.

“Ja’s conduct was irresponsible, reckless and potentially very dangerous,” said Silver. “It also has serious consequences given his enormous following and influence, particularly among young fans who look up to him. He has expressed sincere contrition and remorse for his behavior. Ja has also made it clear to me that he has learned from this incident and that he understands his obligations and responsibility to the Memphis Grizzlies and the broader NBA community extend well beyond his play on the court.”

Kings forward Trey Lyles suspended, Bucks center Brook Lopez fined

Sacramento Kings forward Trey Lyles has been suspended one game without pay and Milwaukee Bucks center Brook Lopez has been fined $25,000 for their roles in an on-court altercation, it was announced today by Joe Dumars, Executive Vice President, Head of Basketball Operations.

The incident began when Lyles fouled and then pushed Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo in the back. Lopez escalated the situation by confronting Lyles. Lyles further escalated the situation by striking Lopez in the face and grabbing and holding Lopez around the neck area.

The incident, for which Lyles was assessed two technical fouls and ejected and for which Lopez was assessed one technical foul and ejected, occurred with 15.4 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter of the Bucks’ 133-124 win over the Kings on Mar. 13 at Golden 1 Center.

Lyles will serve his suspension on Wednesday, March 15 when the Kings play the Chicago Bulls at United Center.

Bucks sign Meyers Leonard for remainder of season

The Milwaukee Bucks have signed center Meyers Leonard to a contract for the remainder of the season.

Leonard played in five games with the Bucks this season while on two 10-day contracts and averaged 2.8 points and 2.0 rebounds in 6.8 minutes per game.

The 7-foot center has now appeared in 452 games with Portland, Miami and Milwaukee in his NBA career and holds averages of 5.6 points and 3.9 rebounds in 15.9 minutes per game.

Cavaliers sign Sam Merrill to multi-year contract

The Cleveland Cavaliers have signed guard Sam Merrill to a multi-year contract, Cavaliers President of Basketball Operations Koby Altman announced today from Cleveland Clinic Courts.

Merrill (6-4, 197) signed a 10-day contract with the team on March 3rd and appeared in one game for the Cavaliers. Prior to joining Cleveland, Merrill appeared in 35 games (34 starts) this season for the Cleveland Charge, the Cavaliers’ exclusively owned and operated NBA G League affiliate, averaging 16.4 points, 3.4 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.1 steals in 33.7 minutes. He scored a season-high 32 points, including a Charge franchise record 10-14 (.714) shooting from the three-point line on February 22 against the Greensboro Swarm.

In 37 career NBA games (two starts) with Milwaukee, Memphis and Cleveland, Merrill has connected on 28-71 (.394) from the three-point arc. During the 2020-21 season, he ended his rookie season as a NBA Champion with the Bucks, where he was teammates with current Cavaliers Two-Way player Mamadi Diakite. Merrill also appeared in five games with the Memphis Hustle (Grizzlies G-League affiliate) with averages of 11.2 points, 4.4 rebounds and 3.4 assists in 28.9 minutes.

Merrill was selected by the New Orleans Pelicans as the 60th overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft after a four-year collegiate career at Utah State University. He was a two-time All-Mountain West First Team selection (2019 & 2020) and named Mountain West Player of the Year in 2019.

Jazz sign Kris Dunn to multi-year deal

The Utah Jazz have signed guard Kris Dunn to a multi-year deal.

Per the Deseret News, “the decision to keep the 6-foot-3, 205-pound Dunn through the rest of the season doesn’t come as much of a surprise, as Dunn has averaged 11.6 points, 4.8 assists, 4.8 rebounds and 1.6 steals in 22.2 minutes per game over nine contests since joining the Jazz out of the NBA G League in February.”

Dunn (6-3, 205, Providence) has appeared in nine games with the Jazz this season, averaging 11.6 points on 53.1 percent shooting, 4.8 rebounds, 4.8 assists, and 1.6 steals in 22.2 minutes per game. In his seventh NBA season, he owns career averages of 8.3 points, 4.2 assists, 3.4 rebounds, and 1.5 steals in 254 games (129 starts) with Minnesota (2016-17), Chicago (2017-20), Atlanta (2020-21), Portland (2021-22), and Utah (2022-23).

Drafted in the first round (fifth overall) in the 2016 NBA Draft by the Timberwolves, the New London, Conn., native was a four-year collegiate player at Providence, where he was twice named the Big East Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year (2014-15 and 2015-16) and was a Consensus Second-Team All-America selection following the 2015-16 season.

Damon Stoudamire hired as Georgia Tech’s new basketball coach

Via the Atlanta Journal Constitution:

Georgia Tech moved quickly to chart its new course in men’s basketball. Boston Celtics assistant coach Damon Stoudamire was hired Monday as the new coach of the Yellow Jackets. Following reports of the 13-year NBA veteran emerging as a candidate in the morning, the hire was finalized in the afternoon.

The move comes three days after athletic director J Batt dismissed coach Josh Pastner after seven seasons.

“I am humbled and honored to be the head coach at Georgia Tech,” Stoudamire said in a statement. “It is an incredible honor to be entrusted with leading such a tradition-rich program. I am excited to get to work with the goal of consistently having our team compete at the championship level that we all know we can and should compete at. I’m proud to represent Georgia Tech and can’t wait to walk out of the tunnel and onto the floor at the Thrillerdome in front of our fans. Go Jackets!”

It remains unclear when Nets guard Ben Simmons will resume play

Don’t hold your breath waiting for Ben Simmons to resume play for the Nets. If it happens, it happens. Via the NY Post:

Jacque Vaughn has repeatedly insisted the Nets haven’t discussed shutting injured Ben Simmons down.

But asked Sunday if Simmons is coming back this season, Vaughn was conspicuously noncommittal.

“Yeah, I think first of all I’ll just be pretty simple. He’s still managing his back and knee soreness,” Vaughn said cryptically. “He’s back home in Brooklyn. We’ll get a chance to kind of see where he’s at when we get back home after this trip.”

Simmons missed his 10th consecutive game Sunday in the Nets’ 122-120 win over the Nuggets, and his 26th of the season.

The Nets are 39-29 this season, which is the 5th best record in the Eastern conference.

Simmons is averaging 6.9 points, 6.3 rebounds and 6.1 assists in 26.3 minutes per game.

Pistons sign Eugene Omoruyi to second 10-day contract

The Detroit Pistons have signed forward Eugene Omoruyi to a second 10-day contract.

Omoruyi, 6-7, 244, has averaged 8.2 points (47% FG), 2.6 rebounds, 0.4 assists and 0.4 steals in 18.2 minutes over five games with Detroit. He also appeared in 23 games (two starts) with Oklahoma City this season and averaged 4.9 points, 2.3 rebounds, 0.5 assists and 0.6 steals in 11.8 minutes per game.

A native of Orangeville, Ontario, Omoruyi holds career NBA clips of 5.0 points, 2.3 rebounds, 0.5 assists and 0.5 steals in 32 games (two starts) over two NBA seasons with Dallas, Detroit and Oklahoma City. Omoruyi began his collegiate career at Rutgers University where he played three seasons. He played his final season at the University of Oregon where he was named All-Pac-12 Frist Team and helped the Ducks to the 2021 NCAA Sweet 16. In 121 career games, he averaged 9.9 points, 4.8 rebounds and 1.6 assists in 22.8 minutes per game.