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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.

Charlotte Hornets sign guard Isaiah Thomas to 10-day contract

The Charlotte Hornets have signed guard Isaiah Thomas to a 10-day contract.

Thomas signed a 10-day contract with the Los Angeles Lakers and Dallas Mavericks earlier this season, appearing in five games and averaging 8.6 points and 2.0 assists in 22.9 minutes per game in his 11th season in the NBA. He also appeared in four games for the Grand Rapids Gold of the NBA G League, accruing averages of 41.8 points and 6.5 assists per contest. Thomas scored 46 points at Greensboro on Feb. 26, the most points in a game in the G League at that time, as well as 45 points against the Windy City Bulls on Feb. 23.

New Orleans Pelicans sign forward Alize Johnson to 10-day contract

The New Orleans Pelicans have signed forward Alize Johnson to a 10-day contract.

Johnson, 6’7”, 212, has appeared in 68 career games (one start) across four seasons with Indiana, Brooklyn, Chicago, and Washington, recording averages of 2.5 points and 3.0 rebounds in 7.5 minutes per contest while shooting .493 from the field. Johnson has appeared in 19 games this season with the Bulls and Wizards, averaging 1.7 points and 2.5 rebounds in 7.3 minutes per game.

A native of Williamsport, Pa., Johnson was selected 50th overall in the 2018 NBA Draft out of Missouri State where he averaged 14.9 points, 11.1 rebounds, and 2.4 assists across two seasons.

Johnson will wear #24 with the Pelicans.

New Orleans’s roster now stands at 17 players, including two two-way players.

Lakers sign D.J. Augustin and Wenyen Gabriel, waive DeAndre Jordan and Sekou Doumbouya

The Los Angeles Lakers have signed guard D.J. Augustin and signed forward Wenyen Gabriel to a two-way contract, it was announced today. In related moves, the Lakers requested waivers on DeAndre Jordan and Sekou Doumbouya.

Augustin appeared in 34 games (two starts) for Houston this season, averaging 5.4 points, 1.2 rebounds and 2.2 assists in 15.0 minutes per game. In 955 career games (334 starts) for Charlotte, Indiana, Toronto, Chicago, Detroit, Oklahoma City, Denver, Orlando, Milwaukee and Houston, Augustin has averaged 9.6 points, 1.9 rebounds and 3.9 assists per game. Across his 14-year career, Augustin has shot 38 percent from three-point range and has shot above 40 percent from three in six separate seasons.

Gabriel appeared in seven games for the Clippers and Nets this season, averaging 2.0 points and 2.1 rebounds in 6.7 minutes. He has appeared in 58 career NBA games (one start) for the Clippers, Nets, Pelicans, Trail Blazers and Kings, averaging 2.6 points and 2.1 rebounds in 9.0 minutes.

Lakers reportedly might waive DeAndre Jordan

The Lakers reportedly plan to thin their center depth a bit in order to add to their backcourt. Via the Los Angeles Times:

The Lakers intend to sign veteran guard D.J. Augustin, waiving center DeAndre Jordan to clear the necessary roster spot, a person with knowledge of the situation not authorized to speak publicly told the The Times.

Augustin, 34, last played for Houston, which waived him Feb. 10. He averaged 5.4 points and 2.2 assists in 34 games with the Rockets.

Houston Rockets weekly notes: Feb. 28, 2022

ROCKETS TEAM NOTES

Jae’Sean Tate is the only player averaging at least 12.0 points, 5.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.00 steals while playing fewer than 31.0 minutes per game this season… over the past four games, he is averaging 17.0 ppg, 6.0 rpg, 3.8 apg and 1.5 spg while shooting 63.4% from the floor.

Dennis Schröder recorded his first double-double of 2021-22 against the Clippers on Sunday with 11 points, a season-best 10 assists and a season-high tying 8 rebounds… in three starts as a Rocket, he is averaging 14.3 ppg, 9.3 apg and 5.7 rpg.

The Rockets have hit 14+ 3-pointers in consecutive games for the first time since 1/31 and 2/2… all but one of Houston’s wins this season have come when hitting at least 14 3FGM this season… the Rockets rank tied for sixth in 3-pointers made this season (13.3 per).

Houston has recorded 25+ assists in seven of the past 12 games after doing so four times the 17 games prior… the Rockets recorded an assist on 61.7% of their field goals made over the past 12 games, up from 55.5% the previous 17 games.

Washington Wizards sign guard Tomas Satoransky

The Washington Wizards have signed guard Tomas Satoransky.

He had just recently been waived by the San Antonio Spurs on February 26.

Satoransky (6-7, 210) returns to the Wizards, where he spent the first three seasons of his NBA career (2016-19) and was originally drafted by the team in the second round of the 2012 NBA Draft. In his three seasons in Washington, Satoransky played in 210 games (87 starts), averaging 6.6 points, 2.8 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game. Satoransky notched his only career triple-double as a member of the Wizards on Jan. 11, 2019, finishing with 18 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists. He also appeared in all 16 of his career playoff games during his time in Washington.

After his time with the Wizards, Satoransky spent two years in Chicago (where he averaged career-highs of 9.9 points, 5.4 assists, 3.9 rebounds and 1.2 steals during the 2019-20 season) and spent the first half of this season in New Orleans before being traded to Portland and then San Antonio. In total, he owns career averages of 7.0 points, 2.9 rebounds and 4.0 assists per game in 365 career games. Satoransky played three seasons in Spain after being drafted in 2012, including the final two with Barcelona, before transitioning to the NBA in 2016-17.

A native of the Czech Republic, Satoransky has represented his national team at several FIBA events including the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo, where he became the first Czech basketball player to serve as the country’s flag bearer.

Satoransky’s signing brings the Wizards’ roster to 17, including two-way players.