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Four-team NBA trade sends Serge Ibaka to Bucks

The LA Clippers have completed a four-team trade with the Detroit Pistons, Milwaukee Bucks and Sacramento Kings. As part of the deal, the Clippers acquired Rodney Hood and Semi Ojeleye from Milwaukee, as well as the draft rights to Vanja Marinkovic from Sacramento. Milwaukee received Serge Ibaka and cash considerations from the Clippers. The Kings received the draft rights to David Michineau from the Clippers.

Ibaka, 32, appeared in 35 games this season for the Clippers, averaging 6.6 points and 4.3 rebounds. The 6-foot-10 center has appeared in 884 games and owns career averages of 12.3 points, 7.2 rebounds and 2.0 blocks in 13 NBA seasons with the Clippers, Toronto Raptors, Orlando Magic and Oklahoma City Thunder. Prior to the NBA, he played professionally in Spain for three seasons (2006-09).

“Serge is one of the best rim protectors of his era and we are grateful to have had him with us for the past two seasons,” said Clippers president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank. “We all saw the tremendous amount of work he put into his recovery from back surgery. He was determined to contribute this season, and he did, providing valuable shooting and defense.”

Hood, 29, appeared in 39 games for the Bucks this season, averaging 3.3 points and 1.7 rebounds in 14.9 minutes. Originally selected with the 23rd overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft out of Duke University, Hood has appeared in 435 career games with the Utah Jazz, Cleveland Cavaliers, Portland Trail Blazers, Raptors and Bucks, averaging 10.6 points, 2.6 rebounds and 1.7 assists. The Meridian, Miss., native has also played in 44 postseason contests, averaging 7.9 points and 2.2 rebounds.

Ojeleye, 27, has played in 20 games for the Bucks this season, averaging 2.9 points and 2.9 rebounds in 15.4 minutes. The Overland Park, Kans., native has appeared in 274 career games with the Boston Celtics and Bucks, averaging 3.4 points and 2.2 rebounds. The 37th overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft, he was the AAC Player of the Year from Southern Methodist University in 2017.

Wizards trade Montrezl Harrell to Hornets

Charlotte Hornets President of Basketball Operations & General Manager Mitch Kupchak announced today that the team has acquired center Montrezl Harrell from the Washington Wizards in exchange for center Vernon Carey Jr., guard Ish Smith and the Boston Celtics’ 2023 second-round pick, which is top-45 protected.

“Ish returns to us as a respected veteran leader who can guide our young players as we continue to compete over the stretch run of the season,” said Wizards President and General Manager Tommy Sheppard. “Vernon is a talented young player who can build on his brief but promising NBA experience while continuing to develop within our system.”

In his seventh NBA season, Harrell is averaging 14.1 points, 6.7 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game in 46 games, including three starts, for the Washington Wizards. The Tarboro, NC, native ranks fourth in the NBA in field goal percentage (64.5%) this season and is averaging 9.8 points in the paint per game, which ranks first among NBA reserves (25th overall). In his 43 appearances off the bench this season, Harrell is averaging 13.7 points per game, which is good for the sixth-highest scoring average among NBA reserves.

The 2019-20 NBA Sixth Man of the Year, Harrell holds career averages of 13.0 points, 5.3 rebounds and 1.4 assists in 21.6 minutes per game in 433 total games with the Rockets (2015-17), Clippers (2017-20), Lakers (2020-21) and Wizards (2021-22). He currently ranks fourth in NBA history in career field goal percentage (61.9%) and has finished in the top ten league-wide in field goal percentage in each of the last four seasons. The University of Louisville product was selected 32nd overall in the 2015 NBA Draft.

Carey appeared in 23 career games for the Hornets over the course of two seasons, averaging 2.3 points and 1.4 rebounds in 5.6 minutes per game after being selected 32nd overall in the 2020 NBA Draft out of Duke University.

Smith appeared in 37 games for the Hornets this season, averaging 4.5 points, 2.6 assists and 1.5 rebounds in 13.8 minutes per game after signing with Charlotte as a free agent on Aug. 7, 2021. For his career, the North Carolina native and Wake Forest product holds career averages of 7.6 points, 3.8 assists and 1.5 rebounds in 19.9 minutes per game over 691 appearances (167 starts) with Houston, Memphis, Golden State, Orlando, Milwaukee, Phoenix, Oklahoma City, Philadelphia, New Orleans, Detroit, Washington and Charlotte.

Thunder sign Lindy Waters III to two-way contract, and waive Paul Watson Jr.

The Oklahoma City Thunder has signed guard Lindy Waters III to a Two-Way Contract, it was announced today by Executive Vice President and General Manager Sam Presti.

In a separate transaction, the Thunder has waived forward Paul Watson Jr.

Waters III (6-6, 215) has appeared in 28 games (14 starts) for the Thunder’s G League affiliate, the Oklahoma City Blue, this season and averaged 8.3 points, 3.3 rebounds, 1.1 assists and 1.11 steals in 19.9 minutes per game. He is shooting 48.8 percent from beyond the arc during the regular season, which ranks fourth in the G League.

The Norman, Okla. native played four seasons at Oklahoma State University where he appeared in 121 games (104 starts) and averaged 9.5 points, 3.6 rebounds and 2.1 assists in 27.9 minutes per game. He earned second team Academic All-Big 12 honors in 2020 and ended his career as just the 11th OSU player to record at least 1,000 points, 250 assists and 100 steals.

Raptors trade Goran Dragic to Spurs

The Toronto Raptors have acquired forwards Drew Eubanks and Thaddeus Young, along with a 2022 second round draft pick in a trade with the San Antonio Spurs for guard Goran Dragic and a protected 2022 first round draft pick.

Eubanks, 6-foot-10, 245 pounds, is averaging 4.7 points, 4.0 rebounds and 12.1 minutes in 49 games (nine starts) this season. He is shooting .528 (84-159) from the field and has scored in double figures six times. Eubanks scored a career-high 18 points Nov. 10 vs. Sacramento and recorded his lone double-double of the year with 14 points and a season-best 11 rebounds Nov. 7 at Oklahoma City.

A native of Troutdale, Oregon, Eubanks owns career averages of 4.6 points, 3.8 rebounds and 11.7 minutes in 148 games (15 starts) all with the Spurs. He signed with San Antonio as an undrafted free agent in 2018 following three seasons at Oregon State (2015-18), where he was an All-Pac-12 Honourable Mention as a sophomore.

Young, 6-foot-8, 235 pounds, is posting averages of 6.1 points, 3.6 rebounds and 14.2 minutes in 26 contests this season. He is shooting .578 (74-128) from the floor and has scored in double digits on eight occasions, including a season-high 17 points twice.

A native of New Orleans, Louisiana, Young is in his 15th NBA season after being picked 12th overall by Philadelphia in the 2007 NBA Draft. Young holds career averages of 12.9 points, 5.9 rebounds and 29.6 minutes in 1,059 games (711 starts) with Philadelphia, Minnesota, Brooklyn, Indiana, Chicago, and San Antonio. He has also reached the postseason eight times, averaging 10.2 points, 6.1 rebounds and 29.2 minutes in 51 career playoff contests (17 starts). Prior to being drafted by the Sixers, Young played one season at Georgia Tech (2006-07).

Dragic is averaging 8.0 points, 2.8 rebounds and 17.9 minutes in five games with the Raptors this season. He has been away from the team handling a personal matter for the last 33 games (Nov. 28 – Feb. 9). Dragic was acquired from Miami this past summer along with Precious Achiuwa as part of a sign-and-trade for Kyle Lowry.

Celtics trade Bol Bol and P.J. Dozier to Magic, who waive Michael Carter-Williams and E’Twaun Moore

The Orlando Magic have acquired center Bol Bol, guard P.J. Dozier, a future second round draft pick and cash considerations in a trade with the Boston Celtics for a future protected second round draft pick (2023, protected 31-55), President of Basketball Operations Jeff Weltman announced today.

In addition, Orlando has waived guard Michael Carter-Williams and guard E’Twaun Moore.

Orlando also used a Traded Player Exception (TPE) to complete the deal. A TPE is what one team receives in exchange for a player traded to another team that can absorb that player into salary cap space.

Bol and Dozier were both acquired by Boston from Denver as part of a three-way trade on Jan. 19, 2022 that also included San Antonio. Juancho Hernangomez went to San Antonio and Bryn Forbes went to Denver in the trade.

Bol (7’2”, 220, 11/16/99) played in 14 games this season with Denver, averaging 2.4 ppg. and 1.4 rpg. in 5.8 minpg. He underwent surgery on his right foot on Jan. 18.

Originally selected in the second round (44th overall) of the 2019 NBA Draft by Miami, Bol has played in 53 career NBA regular season games (two starts), all with Denver, averaging 2.7 ppg. and 1.2 rpg. in 6.2 minpg. He has also appeared in eight career NBA G League regular season games with Windy City, averaging 12.0 ppg., 5.8 rpg. and 2.25 blkpg. in 19.3 minpg.

Dozier (6’6”, 205, 10/25/96) played in 18 games this season with Denver, averaging 5.4 ppg., 3.5 rpg. and 1.6 apg. in 18.9 minpg. He suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee on Nov. 23 and will miss the remainder of the 2021-22 season.

Undrafted by an NBA franchise, Dozier has played in 105 career NBA regular season games (six starts) with Oklahoma City, Boston and Denver, averaging 6.4 ppg., 3.0 rpg. and 1.8 apg. in 18.0 minpg. He has also appeared in 107 career NBA G League regular season games (100 starts) with Oklahoma City, Maine and Windy City, averaging 17.9 ppg., 6.4 rpg., 5.2 apg. and 1.36 stlpg. in 32.8 minpg.

Carter-Williams (6’6”, 205, 10/10/91) has not played this season due to left ankle injury recovery. He underwent surgery on Aug. 23, 2021 to remove a bone fragment and to repair a ligament in his left ankle. Carter-Williams 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 was originally signed to a 10-day contract by the Magic on Mar. 15, 2019 and played in 88 games (25 starts) with the Magic, averaging 7.5 ppg., 3.9 rpg. and 3.3 apg. in 21.1 minpg.

Moore (6’3”, 190, 2/25/89) has not played this season due to a sprained left knee. He was signed as a free agent by Orlando on Sep. 9, 2021. Moore has appeared in 598 career NBA regular season games (191 starts) with Boston, Orlando, Chicago, New Orleans and Phoenix, averaging 7.9 ppg., 2.0 rpg. and 1.8 apg. in 21.0 minpg. He also spent two seasons with Orlando from 2012-14. Moore played in 154 regular season games (24 starts) with the Magic during that span, averaging 7.1 ppg., 2.1 apg. and 2.0 rpg. in 20.7 minpg.

On the new-look Sacramento Kings after Tyrese Haliburton trade

Here’s the Sacramento Bee on the new-look Kings, who recently made a controversial trade by sending talented youth away and getting experience in return:

With De’Aaron Fox working the perimeter and Domantas Sabonis manning the top of the key, setting screens at the 3-point line or making passes from the elbows, the Kings offense just seemed to make sense against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday.

The presence of Sabonis allowed Chimezie Metu to cut down the baseline and hammer home dunks fed by the new center’s creative passing. Sabonis’ floor vision, use of angles and positioning also led to 3-point shooters getting open looks.

It all led to a win, most importantly, with the Golden 1 Center crowd reaching a different level of intensity in the fourth quarter spurred by clutch shots, defensive stops and breakaway baskets. Wednesday’s victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves, 132-119, came in Sabonis’ Sacramento debut. It was a breath of fresh air, an oasis in a desert, hot chocolate on a cold day for a franchise that’s spent most of the season broiled in frustration.

One could even call it: fun.

Could the Kings become fun again? Say what you will about the decision to trade promising 21-year-old Tyrese Haliburton to get Sabonis from the Indiana Pacers. We’ve done that plenty. Sacramento’s new product on the court has the potential reach levels of fun that feel foreign to a team that’s missed the playoffs an NBA-high 15 consecutive seasons.

And the fun could come from a free-wheeling style that’s still in its infancy.

Steve Kerr pleasantly surprised by NBA coaching list honor

Here’s the Bay Area News Group, via the San Jose Mercury News, on Warriors head coach Steve Kerr being pleasantly surprised by an NBA coaching list honor:

When the NBA’s list of the top 15 coaches of all time was released Tuesday, Warriors coach Steve Kerr said it was “shocking” to see his name on it.

Kerr, who has won three championships and taken his team to the Finals five times in eight seasons with Golden State, was one of four active coaches to earn the honor, which was decided by a voting panel of all 30 current head coaches and 13 more former head men.

“I didn’t anticipate that,” Kerr said Wednesday before tipoff against the Utah Jazz. “It was very humbling and an incredible honor to see my name on that list. But I also know it’s a direct result of having incredible talent on our roster. If you look at that list, pretty much every coach would agree the reason they’re on there is because they were blessed with great talent and then were able to have success.”

With eight seasons under his belt, Kerr is the most junior of all of the coaches on the list, but his .696 winning percentage is second only to Phil Jackson and his three NBA championships are more than all but four others: Jackson (11), Red Auerbach (9), Pat Riley (5), Gregg Popovich (5).

Kerr’s success has continued this season, as the Warriors are only behind the Phoenix Suns in overall league standings.

Raptors now on a 7-game winning streak

Here’s the Toronto Star on the red-hot Raptors who tonight won their 7th game in a row:

The Raptors love to hunt mismatches with their egalitarian offence — because they have a handful of big, strong wings who can exploit them — and they were operating at near top efficiency for a large part of their outing Wednesday night in Oklahoma City.

If Pascal Siakam wasn’t bullying the slender Aleksej Pokuševski, OG Anunoby was toying with teenage Josh Giddey, and Scottie Barnes bullied his way through Tre Mann a time or two as Toronto stretched its win streak to a season-high seven games with a 117-98 victory over the Thunder.

“I think they continue to move it around and exploit what’s there,” Nick Nurse said after the game. “(I’m) pretty happy with the drawing of multiple defenders and then just taking what’s there. Those five (starters) just continue to find each other and … (there) seems to be a pretty even (shot) distribution going on now, which is good.”

Three-team NBA trade sends Joe Ingles to Trail Blazers, Nickeil Alexander-Walker to Jazz

The Utah Jazz have acquired guard Nickeil Alexander-Walker from the Portland Trail Blazers and forward Juancho Hernangomez from the San Antonio Spurs in a three-team trade, sending Portland forward Joe Ingles, guard/forward Elijah Hughes and a future second-round draft pick. The Spurs received guard Tomas Satoransky from Portland and a future second-round draft pick from the Jazz.

Ingles, 34, averaged 7.2 points (40.4% FG, 34.7% 3-PT, 77.3%), 2.9 rebounds and 3.5 assists in 45 games (15 starts) for the Jazz this season. A veteran forward in his eighth NBA season, Ingles played professionally in his home country of Australia as well as Spain and Israel prior to signing with Utah in 2014. Ingles (6-8, 220) holds career averages of 8.6 points (44.9% FG, 40.8% 3-PT, 76.8% FT), 3.2 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 0.92 steals in 590 career games (313 starts) for the Jazz. The runner-up for the 2020-21 NBA Sixth Man of the Year award, Ingles suffered a torn left ACL on January 30.

Hughes, 23, is averaging career-highs of 3.1 points (41.7% FG, 35.7% 3-PT, 100% FT), 1.2 rebounds and 0.4 assists in 14 games (one start) for the Jazz this season. The second-year guard out of Syracuse was selected with the 39th pick in the second round of the 2020 NBA Draft by the New Orleans Pelicans. The New York-native holds career averages of 2.3 points (37.9% FG, 35.3% 3-PT, 85.7% FT), 0.8 rebounds and 0.4 assists in 32 career games (one start).

Alexander-Walker (6-5, 205, Virginia Tech) is in his third NBA season, averaging 12.8 points, 3.3 rebounds and 2.8 assists (all career-highs) in 26.3 minutes per contest. He’s totaled six games with 20-or-more points, two games with 30-plus points and two double-doubles during the 2021-22 season.

For his career, Alexander-Walker has played in 143 games (33 starts), all for the New Orleans Pelicans, with career averages of 9.9 points, 2.7 rebounds and 2.3 assists in 20.4 minutes per game. The Toronto, Ontario, Canada-native was originally drafted in the first round of the 2019 NBA Draft (17th overall) by Brooklyn (traded to New Orleans on draft night).

Hernangomez (6-9, 215, Spain) is in his sixth NBA season, appearing in 23 games in 2021-22 with Boston and San Antonio. For his career, he owns averages of 5.3 points and 3.4 rebounds in 280 games (57 starts) with Denver (2016-20), Minnesota (2019-21), Boston and San Antonio (2021-22). He was originally drafted by Denver in the first round (15th overall in the 2016 NBA Draft).

The 26-year-old has additional professional playing experience in Spain where he began his career with Estudiantes of the ACB in 2013-14. He spent three seasons with Estudiantes (2013-16), and in his final season with the club, averaged 9.7 points on 45.5 percent from the field and 5.7 rebounds in 23.7 minutes per contest.