Inside Hoops – Page 215 – NBA Blog

Boston Celtics sign Malik Fitts and Kelan Martin to second 10-day contracts

The Boston Celtics have signed forwards Malik Fitts and Kelan Martin to their second 10-day contracts.

Fitts, 24, has competed in 11 NBA games over the past two seasons with the LA Clippers, Utah, and Boston, averaging 0.8 points, and 1.3 rebounds in 4.5 minutes. The California native played in seven games with the Jazz in 2021-22 and produced career highs of six points and seven rebounds at Toronto on Jan. 7.

Martin, 26, has played in 94 games over parts of three NBA seasons with Minnesota, Indiana, and Boston, averaging 5.6 points on 41.5% shooting (30.9% 3-PT, 88.9% FT), 2.4 rebounds, and 0.6 assists in 13.4 minutes. The Kentucky native produced 6.3 points (41.7% FG), 2.0 rebounds, and 16.4 minutes in 27 games (one start) for the Pacers this season, reaching double figures in scoring on three occasions.

Both Fitts and Martin competed in one game for the Celtics during their first 10-day contracts, which were signed on Feb. 23.

Celtics sign Nik Stauskas

The Boston Celtics have signed guard Nik Stauskas.

Per Boston.com, “Stauskas scored 100 points combined in his last two G-League games for the Grand Rapids Gold, including a 57-point explosion on Tuesday. Stauskas set the record for points in a half with 38.”

Originally selected by Sacramento with the eighth overall pick of the 2014 NBA Draft, Stauskas, 28, has averaged 6.8 points (38.9% FG, 35.4% 3-PT, 81.4% FT), 2.1 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 0.4 steals, and 19.8 minutes in 337 NBA games (63 starts) over six NBA seasons with the Kings, Philadelphia, Brooklyn, Portland, Cleveland, and Miami. Stauskas competed in two games with the Heat earlier this season, tallying 11 points on 3-of-8 shooting (2-4 3-PT) and three boards.

Stauskas has played in 26 games (25 starts) with the Grand Rapids Gold of the NBA G League this season, averaging 23.8 points on 47.6% shooting (41.6% 3-PT, 87.9% FT), 5.8 rebounds, and 4.5 assists in 38.0 minutes. He scored a career-high and set the franchise scoring record with 57 points on 20-of-29 shooting (11-15 3-PT) against the Wisconsin Herd on March 1, and tallied 43 points on 16-of-21 shooting (9-13 3-PT) the very next night against the Lakeland Magic, becoming the second player in G League history to produce 100+ points in a two-game span.

Stauskas will wear no. 13 for Boston.

No return date yet for Knicks guard Derrick Rose

Derrick Rose has barely been on the court for the New York Knicks this season, and it’s unclear when his availability will change. Via New York Newsday:

Derrick Rose appeared on the floor at the Knicks’ morning shootaround Friday, not in uniform and not ready to rejoin the team on the court. But the Knicks at least had him with them, helping to provide some measure of leadership as they struggle through a downward spiral.

Rose hasn’t played since Dec. 16. He had ankle surgery later in December and had a second procedure last week to deal with an infection at the site of the first surgery.

“He can’t really do much,” coach Tom Thibodeau said. “Just gotta be patient, let it clear up. That’s it.”

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Lakers issues this season are on both ends of the court

The Lakers have all sorts of issues this season, and it isn’t just on one end of the floor. They’re 16th in the league in defensive efficiency. And the offense? Here’s the Los Angeles Times:

Since winning the NBA title in 2020, there’s been a steady erosion of that identity. The team tried to recapture its defensive magic the following season despite losing role players like guard Danny Green and center JaVale McGee, but injuries to LeBron James and Anthony Davis sabotaged any hopes of dominating on defense.

This summer the Lakers continued to move away from that style, focusing their attention more on offensive-minded acquisitions in a quest to take pressure off of James’ shoulders.

The results have been a twofold failure. One, the offense has been the more consistent issue despite the investments. The team is 24th in offensive efficiency. Second, because of that, James has had to take on more offensive responsibilities, with league scouts excusing some tendencies to rest on the defensive end because, as one put it, “he can’t be doing everything.”

Following the loss to the Clippers, James said that defensive issues start on the perimeter at the point guard spot and push back to the big men who have been unable to quickly transition from the outside back to the inside once a shot goes up. A healthy Davis would mitigate some of that. But he’s not healthy.

“It’s been challenging for us this year defensively,” James said Thursday.

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Miami Heat will soon have Victor Oladipo in action

The Miami Heat, who at 42-22 have the best record in the Eastern Conference, are about to get stronger. Via the Miami Herald:

League sources confirmed an ESPN report that [Victor] Oladipo is expected to make his season debut during the Heat’s season-long seven-game homestand that begins Saturday. The Athletic reported Thursday that the plan is for Oladipo to make his return in Monday’s matchup against the Houston Rockets.

The Heat overcame all of these absences in Brooklyn on Thursday behind a dominant performance from center Bam Adebayo, who finished with 30 points, 11 rebounds and six assists. Tyler Herro also stepped up with 27 points and eight assists.

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Trail Blazers sign Drew Eubanks to second 10-day contract

The Trail Blazers have signed center Drew Eubanks to a second 10-day contract, the team announced today.

Eubanks, 25, has averaged 9.3 points (70.6% FG, 66.7% FT), 7.7 rebounds, 0.7 assists and 22.3 minutes in three games (all starts) since signing his first 10-day contract with Portland on February 22. For the season, Eubanks is averaging 4.9 points (54.5% FG, 74.1% FT), 4.2 rebounds, 1.0 assist and 12.7 minutes in 52 games (12 starts) with San Antonio and Portland.

A product of Reynolds High School in Troutdale, Oregon, Eubanks (6-9, 245) played three seasons at Oregon State from 2015-18 before going undrafted in the 2018 NBA Draft. He holds career averages of 4.7 points (57.0% FG, 74.3% FT), 3.8 rebounds, 0.8 assists and 0.67 blocks in 151 games (18 starts) for the Spurs and Trail Blazers.

Sixers sign DeAndre Jordan

Philadelphia 76ers President of Basketball Operations Daryl Morey announced today that the team has signed DeAndre Jordan.

In a related move, Willie Cauley-Stein has been released from his 10-day contract.

For his career, Jordan has played in 964 games (775 starts) for the L.A. Lakers, Brooklyn, New York, Dallas and the L.A. Clippers, holding career averages of 9.2 points, 10.4 rebounds, 1.0 assists and 1.5 blocks in 27.0 minutes. He has appeared in 57 playoff games (all starts) for the Clippers, averaging 9.8 points, 11.3 rebounds and 2.0 blocks per game.

A 13-year veteran and one-time All-Star, Jordan is the NBA’s all-time leader in career field-goal percentage, having shot .674 (3587-5323) throughout his career. He is the only player in NBA history to shoot at least 70-percent in multiple seasons, doing so four times.

Prior to joining Philadelphia, Jordan played for the Lakers, appearing in 32 games (19 starts) this season, where he averaged 4.1 points and 5.4 rebounds in 12.8 minutes, while shooting .674 from the field.

Jordan has been named to three All-NBA teams, including one First Team selection (2016) and two Third Team selections (2015, 2017). These honors came as he led the league in rebounding in consecutive seasons from 2013-15. He was named to the All-Defensive First Team in 2015 and 2016 and helped the United States win a gold medal at the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.

The former Texas A&M Aggie will wear No. 9 for the 76ers.

On the state of the Minnesota Timberwolves

Here’s the St. Paul Pioneer Press on the state of the Minnesota Timberwolves:

It is only natural to look at the Timberwolves’ next five games and think, “Well, there are five wins.”

They play Oklahoma City on Friday, followed by consecutive games against Portland and another game against the Thunder before facing Orlando.

Oklahoma City is 20-42, Orlando is 15-48 and Portland has lost three straight games, all by 30-plus points. It makes sense that a Timberwolves team that has beaten Golden State, Cleveland and Memphis since the all-star break would roll through those teams. But Wednesday served as a reminder that isn’t always the case.

Denver (36-26) is one of the teams Minnesota (34-29) is chasing in the Western Conference. The Nuggets have played very well of late. They were 15-point favorites Wednesday at home against the Thunder but lost by 12 on a night in which Denver’s starters were a combined 1-for-25 shooting from 3-point range.

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Face masks no longer required at Dallas Mavericks home games

FROM THE MAVERICKS

In accordance with CDC guidelines and Dallas County community levels, the Dallas Mavericks announce an update to the COVID-19 protocol for games at American Airlines Center – face masks are no longer required for fans in attendance.

The change in policy is effective immediately with tonight’s game against Golden State.

The mandated COVID-19 protocol to submit proof of vaccination or negative test within 48 hours of entry still applies for fans seated within 15 feet of the court.

Individuals with a compromised immune system, or similar condition, will have alternative seating options with fully vaccinated and/or negative tested fans to safely enjoy Mavericks games, as requested.

Arco Arena in Sacramento will soon be demolished

Remember Arco Arena in Sacramento? Some super fun Kings basketball was played there. But that was the past. Soon, the building will cease to exist. Via the Sacramento Bee:

The Sacramento Kings announced Wednesday the team will soon begin to demolish its old home, Arco Arena, on the north side of Sacramento.

The team said Wednesday fans would be welcome at an event on Saturday, March 19, to say farewell to the arena. The event is free.