Author: Inside Hoops

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Rockets sign Willie Cauley-Stein

The Houston Rockets have signed free agent center Willie Cauley-Stein.

Cauley-Stein (7-0, 240) was originally the sixth overall pick by Sacramento in the 2015 NBA Draft. In seven seasons, he has appeared in 422 games with 256 starts while averaging 8.7 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 1.4 assists in 22.0 minutes per game. For his career, Cauley-Stein has shot 54.4% from the floor, including 59.0% over the past three seasons.

Over a span of three seasons from 2017-18 through 2019-20, Cauley-Stein was the only player in the league to have averaged at least 11.0 ppg, 7.0 rpg, 2.0 apg and 1.00 spg in fewer than 31.0 mpg. He is the only player in the history of the University of Kentucky to have recorded career totals of at least 500 rebounds, 200 blocks and 100 steals.

Orlando Magic sign Alex Morales and Jay Scrubb, waive Aleem Ford and Zavier Simpson

The Orlando Magic have signed free agent guards Alex Morales and Jay Scrubb.

In addition, Orlando has waived Aleem Ford and Zavier Simpson.

Morales (6’6”, 195, 11/21/97) played and started in 26 games last season with Wagner College, averaging 17.6 ppg., 8.0 rpg., 3.8 apg. and 1.77 stlpg. in 33.9 minpg. He was named the 2021-22 Northeast Conference (NEC) Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year. Morales was also the NEC Player of the Year in 2020-21.

Morales appeared in 74 career games (71 starts) during three seasons at Wagner College (2019-22), averaging 15.9 ppg., 6.9 rpg., 3.7 apg. and 1.51 stlpg. in 33.1 minpg. He also played one season (2018-19) at Prince George’s Community College in Maryland.

Morales will wear #23 with the Orlando Magic.

Scrubb (6’5”, 220, 9/1/00) played in 18 games last season with the L.A. Clippers, averaging 2.7 ppg. in 6.7 minpg. He also played in and started in two outings with Agua Caliente of the NBA G League, averaging 24.0 ppg., 3.0 apg., 2.5 rpg. and 1.50 stlpg. in 27.4 minpg.

Originally selected in the second round (55th overall) of the 2020 NBA Draft by Brooklyn. Scrubb has appeared in 22 career NBA games (one start), all with the L.A. Clippers, averaging 3.8 ppg. and 1.4 rpg. in 9.3 minpg.

Scrubb played in 59 career games during two seasons at John A. Logan College (2018-20), a junior college in Carterville, Illinois, averaging 21.0 ppg., 7.9 rpg. and 2.1 apg., while shooting .395 (92-233) from three-point range. He was named the 2019-20 National Junior College Athletic Association Player of the Year. Scrubb became the first Junior College player selected in the NBA Draft since 2004.

Scrubb will wear #0 with the Orlando Magic.

Ford appeared in three preseason games with the Magic, averaging 2.3 ppg. and 2.0 rpg. in 8.4 minpg. Simpson played in two preseason games with Orlando, averaging 1.5 ppg., 2.5 apg. and 1.5 rpg. in 8.2 minpg. Both were originally signed by Orlando as free agents on September 24.

Lakers sign LJ Figueroa and Shaquille Harrison, waive Dwayne Bacon and Javante McCoy

The Los Angeles Lakers have signed guards LJ Figueroa and Shaquille Harrison, it was announced today.

And in a related move, the Lakers have requested waivers on guards Dwayne Bacon and Javante McCoy.

Figueroa (6’6”, 200) appeared in 32 NBA G League games (23 starts) with the Santa Cruz Warriors during the 2021-22 season, averaging 16.6 points, 8.8 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.0 steals in 27.6 minutes per game. Prior to entering the G League, Figueroa played in the Dominican Republic for Leones de Santo Domingo. In 2021, the 24-year-old helped lead the team to the Liga Nacional de Baloncesto Championship. Figueroa, who went undrafted in the 2021 NBA Draft, played collegiate basketball at the University of Oregon (2020-21), St. John’s University (2018-20) and Odessa College (2017-18).

Harrison (6’4”, 195) has appeared in 175 career NBA games (23 starts) across five seasons for Brooklyn, Denver, Utah, Chicago and Phoenix, owning career averages of 5.2 points, 2.4 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.0 steals in 15.2 minutes per game. He played two games for the Nets last season, averaging 2.0 points, 2.0 rebounds and 1.5 assists in 11.3 minutes. Harrison appeared in nine playoff games with the Nuggets during the 2020-21 season and has played 111 career G League games (50 starts) across three seasons with Delaware and Northern Arizona.

Bacon was signed by the Lakers on Sept. 26, and recently appeared in two preseason games for the purple and gold, averaging 5.5 points, 4.0 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game.

McCoy was signed by Los Angeles on July 24, 2022.

LA Clippers and Bally Sports SoCal agree to a media rights extension

The LA Clippers and Bally Sports SoCal have agreed to a multi-year media rights extension, continuing the networks’ 27-year relationship with the team. Bally Sports SoCal will produce, televise, and stream 63 Clippers games during the 2022-23 regular season.

“We’re proud to continue growing our long-term partnership with the Clippers organization,” said Rebecca Schulte, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Bally Sports West, SoCal, and San Diego. “We look forward to furthering our commitment to innovation and are thrilled to be bringing Clippers basketball to as many fans as possible across cable, satellite, streaming TV, and new this season, Bally Sports+, our direct-to-consumer streaming service.”

Brian Sieman, Jim Jackson, and Mike Fratello will return to the call on Bally Sports SoCal, joined by on-court reporters Kristina Pink and Jaime Maggio. The network will continue to air Clippers Live prior to and immediately following all home and road telecasts. Led by Jeanne Zelasko, Don MacLean, Corey Maggette, and Noah Eagle, the half-hour show will offer in-depth analysis, exclusive interviews and more

Rockets notes: team faces Raptors in preseason tonight

Tonight is the second of four preseason games for the Rockets… Houston plays at Miami on Monday before wrapping up its preseason schedule at Indiana a week from now on 10/14.

Houston outrebounded San Antonio 60-44 in its preseason opener on 10/2… the Rockets outrebounded the opposition 29 times last season after doing so 19 times in 2020-21.

Jae’Sean Tate is set to return to the lineup tonight after missing the preseason opener due to injury… he is the fifth player to have reached his totals of points, rebounds, assists, steals, blocks and 3-pointers made through the first 148 games played of a career.

Kevin Porter Jr. had 6 assists with 2 turnovers in the preseason opener vs. San Antonio… he had an assist-to-turnover ratio of 2.54 over his final 32 games played last season, up from a 1.53 ratio his first 29 games played.

Miami Heat notes: on taking charges, game sellouts, and Udonis Haslem

SOME MIAMI HEAT TEAM NOTES

The HEAT took 111 charges last season, the most by far in the NBA with Houston finishing second on the list with 64. The 111 charges are the most during a single-season over the last 10 years (since the stat was kept by PBPStats.com in 2010-11). Additionally, Kyle Lowry took a team-leading 25, tying the third-most by any player in the league. Below are the most single-season charges taken in the NBA since the 2010-11 campaign.

Miami has currently sold out 492-straight overall games, which includes both the regular season and playoffs, the sixth-longest sellout streak in NBA history. Additionally, 271 of those 492 overall sellouts have been at over capacity, where fans have purchased Standing Room Only tickets in the Upper 400 Level.

Udonis Haslem, who made his NBA debut with the HEAT during the 2003-04 season, enters his 20th season with Miami, becoming just the third player in NBA history to play at least 20 years with one NBA franchise in their career, joining only Kobe Bryant and Dirk Nowitzki. Additionally, he is the only undrafted player in NBA history to lead a franchise in total rebounds and has served as captain in each of the past 15 seasons, the longest tenure in team history.