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Miami Heat sign forward Haywood Highsmith to another 10-day contract

The Miami Heat have signed forward Haywood Highsmith to another 10-day contract.

Highsmith, who was previously signed to a 10-day contract by the HEAT on December 30 and again on February 15, has appeared in six games with Miami this season totaling 22 points, nine rebounds and a block while shooting 38.1 percent (8-of-21) from the field and 40 percent (6-of-15) from three-point range. He has also appeared in 17 G League games (11 starts) with the Delaware Blue Coats this season and averaged 13.6 points, 5.5 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 1.24 steals and 29.8 minutes while shooting 49.4 percent from the field and 39.3 percent from three-point range.

After spending four seasons at Wheeling University from 2014-18, Highsmith signed a two-way contract with the Philadelphia 76ers, splitting the season between the Sixers and their G League affiliate, the Delaware Blue Coats. Highsmith appeared in five games with the 76ers in 2018-19 totaling nine points, five rebounds, two assists and a steal while shooting 40 percent (4-of-10) from the field. Additionally, he has appeared in 106 career G League games (76 starts) over three seasons, all with the Blue Coats, averaging 11.7 points, 6.6 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 1.18 steals and 29.6 minutes while shooting 43.5 percent from the field.

Former Pacers coach Dick Versace passes away

Some sad news today, via the Indianapolis Star:

The Bradley University men’s basketball program announced the death of former Pacers coach Dick Versace on Friday. He was 81.

Versace was 73-87 in parts of three seasons with the Pacers, taking over 19 games into 1988-89. The team went 42-40 in 1989-90 and made the playoffs for just the third time in the franchise’s NBA history but Versace was fired after starting the 1990-91 season 9-16, with Bob Hill replacing him.

San Antonio Spurs waive guard Tomas Satoransky

The San Antonio Spurs have waived guard Tomáŝ Satoranský.

Satoranský appeared in one game with the Silver and Black. He was acquired from Portland, along with a 2027 second round pick from Utah, in a three-team deal with the Trail Blazers and Jazz on Feb. 9.

The move is reportedly a buyout agreement, with Satoransky reportedly expected to sign with the Washington Wizards, the team he began his NBA career with and played for from 2016-19.

The Spurs roster now stands at 15 players.

Dallas Mavericks sign Moses Wright to two-way contract

The Dallas Mavericks have signed forward Moses Wright to a two-way contract.

Wright (6-8, 226) went undrafted in the 2021 NBA Draft and signed with the Agua Caliente Clippers of the NBA G League. Wright has averaged 17.6 points (.583 FG%, .407 3FG%), 8.8 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.9 blocks in 17 appearances (all starts) with Agua Caliente, helping them to a 12-5 record this season.

Wright signed a 10-day contract with the Los Angeles Clippers under the COVID-related hardship allowance earlier this season and recorded 1 assist in 1 minute at SAC (12/22/21).

The Raleigh, North Carolina, native spent four years at Georgia Tech prior to entering the NBA and earned ACC Player of the Year honors in his final season with the Yellow Jackets. Wright averaged career highs across the board in 2020-21 with 17.4 points (.532 FG%, .414 3FG%), 8.0 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 1.6 blocks and 1.5 steals per game in 25 games (all starts) and helped Georgia Tech to an ACC Tournament title. Wright was named First-Team All-ACC and was named to the ACC All-Defensive Team.

Wright will wear No. 5 for the Mavericks.

Nuggets sign DeMarcus Cousins for remainder of NBA season

The Denver Nuggets have signed center DeMarcus Cousins for the remainder of the season, President of Basketball Operations Tim Connelly announced today.

Cousins, 6-10, 270, has appeared in eight games with Denver this season, averaging 6.1 points, 6.3 rebounds and 1.1 assists in 13.1 minutes per game while helping the Nuggets to a perfect 8-0 record in those games. He previously appeared in 17 games (five starts) for the Milwaukee Bucks this season, averaging 9.1 points, 5.8 rebounds and 1.1 assists while shooting 46.6% from the field in 16.9 minutes per game. Cousins scored 10+ points in six games and posted two double-doubles in his stint with Milwaukee.

The 10-year NBA veteran has played in 631 career games (559 starts) with Sacramento, New Orleans, Golden State, Houston, Los Angeles Clippers, Milwaukee and Denver, holding career averages of 19.9 points, 10.4 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 1.4 steals and 1.2 blocks in 30.4 minutes per game. Cousins has reached the playoffs twice, in 2019 and 2021, appearing in 15 games (five starts), averaging 7.6 points, 3.5 rebounds and 1.6 assists in 12.7 minutes.

The fifth overall pick in the 2010 NBA draft, Cousins was selected to four all-star games as a member of the Sacramento Kings (2015-17) and New Orleans Pelicans (2018). He was also named to the All-NBA Second Team in 2015 and 2016 and he was a gold medal winner for the United States in the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup, as well as the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.

Heat forward Jimmy Butler fined by NBA

Miami Heat forward Jimmy Butler has been fined $25,000 for what the league says is “violating league rules governing media interview access and for his noncompliance with the resulting NBA investigation.”

This results from Butler’s failure to comply with his media availability obligations during NBA All-Star 2022, including following the game on Sunday night.

Yes, Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau watched the dunk contest

It’s no surprise that an NBA coach watched the dunk contest. Surely most if not all of them do. So why the headline? Because it’s just fun to keep track of stuff Tom Thibodeau does. Via the New York Post:

Obi Toppin didn’t expect coach Tom Thibodeau to be as excited as he was after the Knicks’ forward won Saturday’s All-Star Slam Dunk Contest when he arrived Wednesday at the team’s first practice after the break.

“Everybody congratulated me [at practice], said I had some pretty good dunks,’’ Toppin said. “[Thibodeau] definitely did. I was kind of surprised for a second. He was the first one I talked about it with. He was talking to me about the experience and if I got to talk to any of the guys. But that’s my guy. Coach is cool.’’

Thibodeau thought winning — even if it is circus dunks — can be a boost as the Knicks begin their post-All-Star break sprint Friday hosting Miami.

“I did [watch],’’ Thibodeau said. “I’m a Saturday night guy — the 3-point contest. I’m happy for Obi. It’s good for him and good for our organization.’’

Cavs swingman Caris LeVert out 1-2 weeks with foot sprain

Cavaliers guard/forward Caris LeVert will be OUT approximately one to two weeks with a right foot sprain. An MRI administered yesterday at Cleveland Clinic Sports Health confirmed the injury. LeVert will undergo a period of treatment and rehabilitation and his return to play will be updated as appropriate.

Cavaliers guard Darius Garland will be OUT tonight at Detroit with low back soreness. Garland will undergo treatment and rehabilitation over the next couple of days and his return to basketball activities will be updated as appropriate.

Philadelphia 76ers sign Willie Cauley-Stein to 10-day contract

Philadelphia 76ers President of Basketball Operations Daryl Morey announced today that the team has signed Willie Cauley-Stein to a 10-day contract.

After being picked with the No. 6 overall selection in the 2015 NBA Draft, Cauley-Stein has appeared in 420 career games (255 starts) for Sacramento, Golden State and Dallas. He holds career averages of 8.8 points and 5.9 rebounds in 22.1 minutes per outing while shooting .544 from the floor. Cauley-Stein has shot 50-percent-or-better from the field in each of his six professional seasons, including his rookie season where he was named to the All-Rookie Second Team.

Prior to being drafted, Cauley-Stein played three seasons at the University of Kentucky where he was named SEC Defensive Player of the Year as a junior. That season, he was also selected to the All-SEC First Team, the All-SEC Defensive Team and the USA Today first team All-American Team. During his time as a Wildcat, Cauley-Stein recorded 233 blocks which are the second-most in program history. Cauley-Stein also is the only player in school history to record at least 500 rebounds, 200 blocks and 100 steals.

The Spearville, Kansas native will wear No. 00 with the 76ers.