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Trail Blazers hire Rodney Billups as an assistant coach

The Portland Trail Blazers have named Rodney Billups as an assistant coach.

Billups, 38, is the younger brother of Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups.

Billups joins the Portland staff from Milwaukee where he served as a scout for the Bucks this season. Prior to that he was the head coach at the University of Denver for five seasons (2016-21). Billups was also a standout collegiate player for Denver (2002-05).

Before joining Denver, Billups served as director of basketball operations for two seasons (2010-12) and as an assistant coach for four seasons (2012-2016) at the University of Colorado under head coach Tad Boyle.

Following his collegiate playing career, Billups played professionally with BK Riga of the Latvian Basketball League and Kouvot of the Finnish Korisliiga before joining the college coaching ranks.

Magic sign Tim Frazier and Freddie Gillespie to second 10-day contracts

The Orlando Magic have signed guard Tim Frazier and forward Freddie Gillespie to second 10-day contracts.

Both players were originally signed to 10-day contracts via hardship exceptions by the NBA on December 21.

Frazier (6’1”, 170, 11/1/90) has played in five games (one start) with Orlando, averaging 4.6 ppg., 3.4 apg. and 1.8 rpg. in 20.0 minpg. Last season (2020-21), he appeared in five games with Memphis, averaging 1.6 ppg., 3.2 apg. and 1.6 rpg. in 12.4 minpg.

Undrafted by an NBA franchise, Frazier has played in 282 career NBA regular season games (82 starts) with Philadelphia, Portland, New Orleans, Washington, Milwaukee, Detroit, Memphis and Orlando, averaging 5.0 ppg., 4.0 apg. and 2.3 rpg. in 17.7 minpg. He has also appeared in 49 career NBA G League regular season games (47 starts), all with Maine, averaging 15.9 ppg., 9.5 apg., 7.4 rpg. and 1.61 stlpg. in 34.7 minpg., while shooting .370 (51-138) from three-point range and .803 (191-238) from the free throw line. Frazier was named the 2014-15 NBA G League Most Valuable Player and NBA G League Rookie of the Year.

Frazier played in 135 career games (113 starts) at Penn State University from 2009-14, averaging 11.4 ppg., 4.7 apg., 3.9 rpg. and 1.45 stlpg. in 30.6 minpg. He finished his collegiate career as the Nittany Lions’ all-time leader in assists with 641. Frazier was named to both the All-Big Ten First Team in Big Ten All-Defensive Team in 2011-12, while leading the conference in assists during both the 2011-12 and 2013-14 campaigns.

Gillespie (6’9”, 245, 6/14/97) has played in five games (one start) with Orlando, averaging 3.0 ppg., 4.6 rpg. and 1.00 blkpg. in 12.9 minpg. He has also played in 12 games (11 starts) this season with Memphis of the NBA G League, averaging 11.4 ppg., 12.2 rpg., 1.0 apg., 2.75 blkpg. and 1.17 stlpg. in 33.2 minpg. At the time of his original signing, he was leading the team in rebounding (T-2nd in NBA G League) and led the entire NBA G League in blocked shots.

Last season (2020-21), Gillespie played in 20 games (two starts) during his rookie campaign with Toronto, averaging 5.6 ppg., 4.9 rpg. and 1.00 blkpg. in 19.6 minpg., while shooting .524 (44-84) from the floor. He has also appeared in 27 career NBA G League regular season games (26 starts), all with Memphis, averaging 10.9 ppg., 11.3 rpg., 1.4 apg., 2.48 blkpg. and 1.22 stlpg. in 30.2 minpg., while shooting .563 (130-231) from the floor.

Gillespie played in 56 career games (41 starts) during two seasons (2018-20) at Baylor University, averaging 7.6 ppg., 6.9 rpg. and 1.68 blkpg. in 23.7 minpg., while shooting .582 (171-294) from the field. He was named Big 12 Most Improved Player in 2019-20, as well as earning All-Big 12 Second Team and All-Big 12 Defensive Team honors. Gillespie began his collegiate career at Carleton College, a NCAA Division III school located in Northfield, Minnesota.

Nuggets sign Davon Reed to another 10-day contract

The Denver Nuggets have signed guard Davon Reed to another 10-day contract, President of Basketball Operations Tim Connelly announced today.

Reed, 6-5, 208, signed a 10-day contract with Denver on December 4th and again on December 19th. He has appeared in nine games (two starts), averaging 5.0 points, 3.4 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 1.2 steals in 17.1 minutes per game while shooting 43.8% from three-point range.

He has appeared in eight games (all starts) this season with the Nuggets’ G-League affiliate Grand Rapids Gold, averaging 15.1 points, 8.1 rebounds, 6.0 assists and 1.90 steals in 35.8 minutes per game. He also played for the Nuggets in both this year’s preseason and Vegas Summer League entry.

Reed, 26, previously appeared in 31 career NBA games for the Phoenix Suns (21 games in 2017-18) and Indiana Pacers (10 games in 2018-19). He has appeared in 94 career G-League games (89 starts) for Northern Arizona, Fort Worth, Sioux Falls and Grand Rapids, averaging 13.0 points, 6.3 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.1 steals per game.

The New Jersey Native was drafted with the 32nd overall pick in the second round of the 2017 NBA Draft. He spent four years at the University of Miami where he was named to the ACC All-Defensive Team and ACC All-Third Team in 2017.

Wizards sign Jaime Echenique to a 10-day contract

The Washington Wizards have signed center Jaime Echenique to a 10-day contract via the NBA Hardship Exception provisions.

Echenique, a 6-11, 258-pound center, originally spent 2021 Summer League, training camp and preseason with the Wizards, appearing in two preseason games. The Colombian has played in 14 games (13 starts) with the Capital City Go-Go this season, averaging 12.6 points and 9.2 rebounds per game while shooting .554 from the floor. Echenique has tallied six double-doubles and currently ranks third in the NBA G League with 25 blocks on the season.

Originally from Barranquilla, Colombia, Echenique began his collegiate career at Trinity Valley Community College in Athens, Texas before transferring to and graduating from Wichita State. Echenique also played in Spain with Acunsa GBG during the 2020-21 season, averaging 12.8 points and 4.6 rebounds in 18 games.

Wizards sign Brad Wanamaker to a 10-day contract

The Washington Wizards have signed guard Brad Wanamaker to a 10-day contract via the NBA Hardship Exception provisions.

Wanamaker, a 6-3, 210-pound guard, has played in 190 career games in the NBA with the Celtics, Warriors, Hornets and Pacers, averaging 5.5 points, 1.7 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game. In 22 games (one start) with Indiana this season, Wanamaker averaged 3.5 points and 2.2 assists per game.

Prior to the NBA, Wanamaker played seven seasons overseas in Turkey, Germany, Italy and France. Originally from Philadelphia, Pa., Wanamaker attended the University of Pittsburgh where he graduated with the eighth-most games played in program history.

Heat sign Kyle Guy and Aric Holman to 10-day contracts

The Miami Heat have signed guard Kyle Guy and center Aric Holman to 10-day contracts using the COVID-Related Hardship Allowance.

Guy recently appeared in 11 G League games (10 starts) with the Cleveland Charge this season averaging 21.8 points, 7.4 rebounds, 4.9 assists, 1.00 steals and 35.0 minutes while shooting 44.6 percent from the field, 36.3 percent from three-point range and 75.9 percent from the foul line where he led the team in rebounds and three-point field goals made while finishing second in points and minutes and third in assists, steals, field goals made and free throws made. He was originally selected by New York in the second round (55th overall) in the 2019 NBA Draft before being traded to Sacramento where he appeared in 34 career NBA games with the Kings from 2019-21. Additionally, he appeared in 37 games (29 starts) with Sacramento’s G League affiliate, the Stockton Kings, and averaged 21.5 points, 4.8 assists, 3.4 rebounds, 1.14 steals and 36.9 minutes while shooting 41.3 percent from the field, 40 percent from three-point range and 75.8 percent from the foul line.

Guy will wear number 5.

Holman recently appeared in 14 G League games (four starts) with the Austin Spurs this season averaging 7.7 points, 4.6 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 1.43 blocks and 20.5 minutes while shooting 46.9 percent from the field where he led the team in blocks and finished third in rebounds. Prior to joining Austin, Holman spent the 2020-21 season overseas in Germany where he appeared in 54 games (31 starts) with Ratiopharm Ulm and averaged 6.5 points, 4.0 rebounds, 1.0 assists and 17.5 minutes while shooting 48 percent from the field. Holman, who played all four seasons at Mississippi State from 2015-19, appeared in 40 G League games (two starts) with the Texas Legends during the 2019-20 season and averaged 9.7 points, 4.3 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 17.2 minutes while shooting 46.3 percent from the field.

Holman will wear number 35.

Heat sign Haywood Highsmith to a 10-day contract

The Miami Heat have signed forward Haywood Highsmith to a 10-day contract using the COVID-Related Hardship Allowance.

Highsmith recently appeared in 12 G League games (four starts) with the Delaware Blue Coats this season averaging 14.0 points, 5.0 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 1.25 steals, 1.00 blocks and 27.8 minutes while shooting 47.2 percent from the field, 39.1 percent from three-point range and 73.7 percent from the foul line, helping the Blue Coats win the 2021 Winter Showcase championship. He finished third on the team in points, blocks and three-point field goals made.

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. He has also appeared in 101 career G League games (70 starts) over three seasons, all with the Blue Coats, averaging 11.7 points, 6.6 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 1.14 steals and 29.3 minutes while shooting 42.9 percent from the field.

Highsmith will wear number 24.

Grizzlies sign Dakota Mathias to a 10-day contract

The Memphis Grizzlies have signed wing Dakota Mathias to a 10-day contract, under the NBA’s COVID-related hardship exception.

Mathias (6-4, 200) appeared in eight games (two starts) and averaged 6.0 points and 1.6 assists in 15.4 minutes last season as a rookie for the Philadelphia 76ers. The 26-year-old started all 42 of his appearances for the NBA G League’s Texas Legends during the 2019-20 season and averaged 18.1 points, 4.9 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.02 steals in 36.1 minutes while shooting 39.5% from 3-point range on 8.8 long-range attempts per game.

Unselected in the 2018 NBA Draft after a four-year collegiate career at Purdue, Mathias played his first professional season for Joventut Badalona in the Spanish ACB.