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Rockets sign Willie Cauley-Stein to 10-day contract

The Houston Rockets have signed center Willie Cauley-Stein to a 10-day contract.

Cauley-Stein (7-0, 240) was briefly with the Rockets during the preseason prior to joining their NBA G League affiliate, Rio Grande Valley. In 10 regular season games for the Vipers, he has averaged 9.4 points, 6.2 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 1.3 blocks and 1.2 steals in 28.3 minutes per game while shooting 64.5% from the floor. Cauley-Stein also appeared in 16 games for Rio Grande Valley during the G League Showcase.

The seven-year NBA veteran was originally the sixth overall pick by Sacramento in the 2015 draft and spent last season with Dallas and Philadelphia. In 422 career games with 256 starts, Cauley-Stein has averaged 8.7 ppg, 5.9 rpg and 1.4 apg in 22.0 mpg while shooting 54.4% from the floor.

Thunder sign Lindy Waters III to multi-year contract

The Oklahoma City Thunder have signed guard Lindy Waters III to a multi-year contract, it was announced today by Executive Vice President and General Manager Sam Presti.

Originally signed to a Two-Way Contract on Feb. 10, 2022, Waters III has appeared in 25 games with the Thunder this season and averaged 4.4 points and 1.7 rebounds in 11.2 minutes per game. In 20 games (19 starts) this season with the Oklahoma City Blue, he has posted averages of 16.3 points, 5.3 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 1.15 steals in 34.8 minutes per game.

Atlanta Hawks hire Quin Snyder as new head coach

The Atlanta Hawks have hired Quin Snyder as the franchise’s 15th full-time head coach.

Snyder served as head coach of the Utah Jazz from the 2014-15 to 2021-22 seasons, accumulating a 372-264 record (.585) and leading the Jazz to the playoffs in six of his eight seasons. Over his final six seasons (2016-17 to 2021-22), the Jazz compiled a 294-178 record, the third-highest winning percentage (.623) in the NBA and best in the Western Conference over that span. Utah started the 2020-21 season with a 23-5 record, earning Snyder the honor of being named the head coach of the 2021 Western Conference All-Star Team, and finished the regular season with the best record in the NBA (52-20; .722) and the fifth-highest single-season winning percentage in Jazz history. His 372 wins are the second-most in the franchise history behind only Jerry Sloan.

Snyder finished sixth in NBA Coach of the Year voting in 2017, second in 2018, eighth in 2019 and third in 2021. He is a four-time Western Conference Coach of the Month.

Prior to joining the Jazz in 2014-15, Snyder was an assistant coach with the Hawks during the 2013-14 season on Head Coach Mike Budenholzer’s staff.

“From our first conversation, it was clear that Quin had all the characteristics we were looking for in our next head coach. He has both an incredible basketball and emotional IQ, and we share the same core values and basketball philosophies of having honest communication and collaboration with players, tremendous attention to detail and placing a great emphasis on player development,” Fields said. “We are excited to welcome him, his wife Amy and their family back to Atlanta.”

“I am thrilled to go back to Atlanta as the next head coach of the Hawks. Landry has a tremendous reputation as an incredibly bright, high character, high quality individual and it was quickly evident that we share a passion and commitment to building a winning team with a strong foundation and high standards. I am excited to collaborate with Landry to create a successful program that devoted Hawks fans are proud of and cheer for and am grateful to Tony, Jami and the Ressler family for this opportunity. My family and I are looking forward to immersing ourselves in the community and calling Atlanta home.”

Over his eight seasons with Utah, the Jazz allowed the fewest points per game (102.0) in the NBA, the fifth-lowest field goal percentage (.449) and 10th lowest three-point percentage (.355) in addition to ranking 5th in rebounding (44.9). Offensively over that span, Utah ranked 5th in three-point field goal percentage (.366) and 6th in three-point field goal attempts per game (31.5).

The Jazz reached the playoffs in six consecutive seasons, advancing to the Western Conference Semifinals on three occasions (2017, 2018 and 2021). Snyder’s teams amassed a 21-30 record (.412) in the postseason.

Prior to joining the Hawks in 2013-14, Snyder worked as an assistant coach for CKSA Moscow (2012-13), the Los Angeles Lakers (2011-12) and Philadelphia 76ers (2010-11). From 2007-10, Snyder was head coach of the Austin Toros (the NBA G League affiliate of the San Antonio Spurs), recording a 94-56 (.627) mark, while leading the Toros to three straight playoff appearances and the 2008 National Basketball Development League championship game. He was the 2008-09 D-League Coach of the Year.

Snyder began his head coaching career at the University of Missouri in 1999, where in seven seasons, he led the Tigers to a 128-96 (.571) record, and four NCAA Tournaments including an Elite Eight appearance. Prior to starting with Missouri, he served as a with assistant with the Los Angeles Clippers (1992-93) and at Duke (1995-99) under Mike Krzyzewski. The former Duke guard (1985-89) played in 136 games over four years with the Blue Devils, reaching three Final Fours, averaging 6.2 points. Snyder earned undergraduate degrees in philosophy and political science from Duke, later earning a Juris Doctor and M.B.A. from Duke as well. He is a native of Mercer Island, WA.

Orlando Magic sign Michael Carter-Williams

The Orlando Magic have signed free agent guard Michael Carter-Williams, President of Basketball Operations Jeff Weltman announced today.

Originally selected in the first round (11th overall) of the 2013 NBA Draft by Philadelphia, Carter-Williams (6’6”, 205, 10/10/91) has appeared in 391 career NBA regular season games (217 starts) with Philadelphia, Milwaukee, Chicago, Charlotte, Houston and Orlando, averaging 10.3 ppg., 4.4 rpg., 4.4 apg. and 1.27 stlpg. in 25.3 minpg. He has also played in 16 career playoff games (six starts), averaging 7.5 ppg., 3.2 rpg. and 2.9 apg. in 21.0 minpg.

Carter-Williams was signed as a free agent by Orlando to a 10-day contract on March 15, 2019. He played in 88 games (25 starts) with the Magic from 2019-22, averaging 7.5 ppg., 3.9 rpg. and 3.3 apg. in 21.1 minpg. Carter-Williams was waived by Orlando on February 10, 2022.

Carter-Williams was named NBA Rookie of the Year in 2013-14 and selected to the 2013-14 NBA All-Rookie First Team.

Carter-Williams will wear #11 with the Orlando Magic.

Kings sign PJ Dozier, waive KZ Okpala

The Sacramento Kings have signed PJ Dozier to a contract, according to General Manager Monte McNair.

And in a related move, Sacramento waived KZ Okpala.

Dozier signed two 10-day contracts with Sacramento earlier this season, appearing in four games with the Kings. He has played in 11 regular season games for the Iowa Wolves, the Minnesota Timberwolves G League affiliate, averaging 20.5 points, 6.1 rebounds, 4.1 assists and 1.3 steals in 33.1 minutes per game.

The 26-year-old has seen action in 109 regular season NBA games and 12 NBA playoff games. Dozier, a Columbia, South Carolina, native played for the Denver Nuggets from 2019-2022.

Okpala appeared in 35 games for Sacramento this season. The fourth-year forward was selected 32nd overall in the 2019 NBA Draft out of Stanford.

Wizards sign Jordan Goodwin to multi-year contract

The Washington Wizards yesterday signed guard Jordan Goodwin to a multi-year NBA contract.

“Jordan has worked extremely hard during his time with us and that has paid off both for him and for our team with this opportunity,” said Wizards President and General Manager Tommy Sheppard. “He is a great example of our development program as well as the importance and impact of having the Go-Go as part of our organization.”

Goodwin has appeared in 40 games (four starts) with the Wizards on a two-way contract this season, averaging 6.3 points, 3.3 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.0 steals per game. The second-year guard from Saint Louis has notched at least two steals in 10 games this season, including a five-steal effort on December 9 and six-steal game on December 10, becoming the first Wizard player to record back-to-back games with five-plus steals since Larry Hughes in 2005. Goodwin netted a career-high 19 points with his five steals, four rebounds and three assists in 34 minutes from off the bench on December 9 at Indiana.

Goodwin was signed to a two-way contract with Washington after spending the 2021-22 season with the Capital City Go-Go and participating in 2022 training camp with the Wizards. Goodwin played in 46 games for the Go-Go last season, averaging 16.1 points, 6.2 rebounds and 4.4 assists per game. He earned a call-up with the Wizards in December 2021, appearing in two games. Goodwin led the Go-Go in scoring and set the franchise mark with 94 steals on the season, good for the fourth-most in the NBA G League. Goodwin played in four games with the Go-Go this season, averaging 19.3 points, 6.8 rebounds and 5.0 assists per game.

Pistons sign R.J. Hampton

The Detroit Pistons have signed guard R.J. Hampton.

Hampton, 6-4, 175, averaged 5.7 points, 1.5 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 0.6 steals in 13.9 minutes over 26 games with Orlando this season. Overall, Hampton played 116 games (15 starts) over three seasons with the Magic, averaging 8.0 points, 3.1 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 0.6 steals in 20.8 minutes.

The Dallas native holds career NBA clips of 7.0 points, 2.9 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 0.6 steals in 141 games (15 starts) over three NBA seasons with Denver and Orlando. He was drafted 24th overall by Milwaukee in the 2020 NBA Draft before being traded to Denver on draft night. Prior to the NBA, Hampton played one season for the New Zealand Breakers of the National Basketball League.

Hampton will wear #14 for the Pistons.

Utah Jazz sign Kris Dunn and Frank Jackson to 10-day contracts

The Utah Jazz have signed guards Kris Dunn and Frank Jackson to 10-day contracts.

Dunn (6-3, 205, Providence) is entering his seventh NBA season, owning career averages of 8.1 points, 5.2 assists, 3.3 rebounds, and 1.5 steals in 245 games (129 starts) with Minnesota (2016-17), Chicago (2017-20), Atlanta (2020-21), and Portland (2021-22).

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.

Jackson (6-3, 205, Duke) has four years of NBA experience, playing for the New Orleans Pelicans (2018-20) and the Detroit Pistons (2020-22). Last season with the Pistons, he averaged 10.6 points over 53 games played. The Utah-native has seen action in 213 career contests with 31 starts, owning career averages of 8.5 points on 42.2 percent from the field, 1.8 boards and 1.0 assists in 18.2 minutes per game.

He joins the Jazz most recently from the team’s G League affiliate, the Salt Lake City Stars, where he has appeared in 17 games (all starts), averaging 22.2 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 2.6 assists in 33.8 minutes per contest, for the 2022-23 regular season. During All-Star weekend, he was selected to participate in the NBA G League Next Up game, where he tallied 15 points, two rebounds, and two assists.

Bulls sign Patrick Beverley, waive Tony Bradley and Malcolm Hill

The Chicago Bulls have signed guard Patrick Beverley.

And in a related move, center Tony Bradley and forward Malcolm Hill have been waived.

Beverley, a 10-year veteran, appeared in 45 games (all starts) and averaged 6.5 points, 3.1 rebounds and 2.6 assists in 26.9 minutes with the Los Angeles Lakers before being traded to Orlando on Feb. 9 – part of a four-team trade. Beverley never suited up with the Magic and was waived by Orlando on Feb. 12.

He has played for four NBA franchises (Houston Rockets, L.A. Clippers, Minnesota Timberwolves, and the L.A. Lakers) across his decade tenure in the league, logging career averages of 8.7 points, 4.2 rebounds and 3.4 assists in 27.4 minutes across 571 NBA games (483 starts). Beverley has also been named to three All-NBA Defensive Teams, including first team honors in 2016-17. That same season, he also became the first player in NBA history to win the NBA Hustle Award.

Beverley will wear No. 21.