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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, also signed a 10-day contract with Denver on December 4th and appeared in six games (two starts), averaging 3.2 points, 3.8 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 1.5 steals in 16.5 minutes per game.

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.

Lakers’ Anthony Davis out at least four weeks with knee injury

A key Lakers star will be out of action until early 2022. Via the Orange County Register:

Amid a bumpy start, the Lakers (16-14) have continued to insist that at full strength they can be a contender.

But after Jaden McDaniels rolled into Anthony Davis’ left knee Friday night, that timeline got pushed back even further.

The Lakers announced Saturday an enormous injury setback for Davis, 28, who will miss at least four weeks (and could miss more) with an MCL sprain in his knee. The injury was confirmed the day after he was hurt against the Minnesota Timberwolves, when the team was able to get an MRI in Davis’ hometown of Chicago.

Not only will Davis miss a coveted matchup Sunday against the Bulls, his childhood team, but he’ll miss a month in a season quickly gone haywire for the Lakers, who have also been hammered by positive coronavirus tests in the past week.

The Lakers are just 6th in the Western conference.

Their scorers so far in 2021-22 are LeBron James at 25.7 ppg, Davis at 23.3 ppg, Russell Westbrook at 19.4 ppg, new addition Isaiah Thomas at 19.0 ppg in one game played, and Carmelo Anthony mostly off the bench at 13.2 ppg.

Nets sign James Ennis III and Shaquille Harrison to 10-day contracts

The Brooklyn Nets have signed free agent forward James Ennis III and free agent guard Shaquille Harrison to 10-day contracts.

Ennis III (6’6”, 215) has appeared in 388 career games (140 starts) across seven seasons with Orlando, Philadelphia, Houston, Detroit, Memphis, New Orleans and Miami, recording averages of 6.7 points on 45.7 percent shooting from the field, 36.0 percent shooting from 3-point range and 79.7 percent shooting from the free-throw line, 3.3 rebounds and 1.0 assists in 20.5 minutes per game. The 31-year-old has also seen action in 22 career playoff games (nine starts), averaging 7.6 points, 4.4 rebounds and 1.1 assists in 23.2 minutes per contest. Most recently, Ennis III appeared in 41 games (37 starts) for the Orlando Magic during the 2020-21 campaign, averaging 8.4 points on 47.3 percent shooting from the field, 43.3 percent shooting from long distance and 80.5 percent shooting from the charity stripe, 4.0 rebounds and 1.5 assists in 24.1 minutes per game. Ennis III, who has also played professionally in Australia and Puerto Rico, was originally selected by Atlanta with the 50th overall pick in the second round of the 2013 NBA Draft before his rights were traded to Miami on draft night. After beginning his collegiate career at Oxnard College (2009-10) and Ventura College (2010-11), the California native enrolled at Long Beach State University (2011-13), where he was named Big West Player of the Year and earned Honorable Mention All-America honors by the Associated Press in his final season with the 49ers before entering the NBA Draft.

Harrison (6’4”, 195) has appeared in 173 career games (23 starts) across four seasons with Denver, Utah, Chicago and Phoenix, recording averages of 5.2 points, 2.4 rebounds and 1.5 assists in 15.2 minutes per contest while shooting 43.6 percent from the field. The 28-year-old split the 2020-21 season between Utah and Denver, appearing in 34 games and posting averages of 2.1 points and 1.4 rebounds in 9.8 minutes per game. Harrison has appeared in and started seven games for the Delaware Blue Coats in the NBA G League this season, averaging 19.6 points on 52.0 percent shooting from the field, 7.0 rebounds, 5.7 assists and 2.9 steals in 32.2 minutes per contest. He also spent part of his first two professional seasons (2016-18) in the NBA G League with the Northern Arizona Suns. Harrison went undrafted in the 2016 NBA Draft after playing four collegiate seasons (2012-16) at the University of Tulsa, where he earned All-American Athletic Conference Second Team honors as a junior and senior. The Kansas City, Mo., native ranks second all-time in Tulsa history in assists (461) and third in steals (244).

Celtics sign Justin Jackson to a 10-day contract

The Boston Celtics have signed forward Justin Jackson to a 10-day contract.

Jackson, 26, has played in 248 games (61 starts) during his four-year NBA career with Sacramento, Dallas, Oklahoma City, and Milwaukee, averaging 6.6 points on 42.7% shooting (32.1% 3-PT, 79.7% FT), 2.5 rebounds, and 1.1 assists. The Houston, TX native played in 34 games last season with the Thunder and Bucks, producing 7.2 points (40.3% FG, 30.8% 3-PT, 83.8% FT), 2.3 rebounds, and 1.5 assists in 17.0 minutes. Jackson also appeared in five playoff games during Milwaukee’s championship run, scoring six points on 3-of-5 shooting.

Jackson joins the Celtics from the Texas Legends of the NBA G League, where he averaged 22.7 points (47.3% FG, 42.4% 3-PT, 79.2% FT), 7.7 rebounds, and 2.9 assists in 10 games (nine starts) this season.

Knicks sign Tyler Hall to a 10-day contract

The New York Knicks signed guard Tyler Hall to a 10-day contract today.

Hall, 6-5, 209-pounds, is currently averaging 14.6 points, 4.2 rebounds and 3.2 assists over 38.5 minutes in 11 games for the Westchester Knicks, the official NBA G League affiliate of the New York Knicks. He holds career averages of 10.4 points, 3.7 rebounds, 2.2 assists over 28.2 minutes in 64 games (41 starts) over parts of three seasons with Westchester. He appeared in three games for the Knicks Summer League entry this past summer, averaging two points and one rebound over 7.9 minutes in three games.

The Rock Island, IL-native went undrafted in 2019 after a four-year collegiate career at Montana State University. As a senior, he was named to the 2018-19 All-Big Sky First Team after averaging 20.5 points, 4.7 rebounds and 2.8 assists over 33.5 minutes in 32 games (all starts). He amassed 2,518 points over his collegiate career, becoming one of 74 players in Division I history to accomplish that feat.

Sacramento Kings sign Justin Robinson to a 10-day contract

The Sacramento Kings signed guard Justin Robinson to a 10-day contract today.

Robinson has appeared in 35 games through three seasons with Washington (2019-20), Oklahoma City (2020-21) and Milwaukee (2021-22). During the 2020-21 season, he accrued averages of 15.5 points, 6.0 assists, 3.4 rebounds and 1.7 steals in 15.5 minutes per game through 13 games with the Philadelphia 76ers G League affiliate, Delaware Blue Coats.

Robinson went undrafted in the 2019 NBA Draft following four years at Virginia Tech, earning ACC All-Second Team honors during his junior season.

Nets bring back Kyrie Irving, who will only be able to play road games

Official statement from Brooklyn Nets General Manager Sean Marks on guard Kyrie Irving, who currently still cannot play home games at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center due to New York’s vaccine mandate:

“After discussions with our coaches, players and staff, the organization has decided to have Kyrie Irving rejoin the team for games and practices in which he is eligible to participate. We arrived at this decision with the full support of our players and after careful consideration of our current circumstances, including players missing games due to injuries and health and safety protocols. We believe that the addition of Kyrie will not only make us a better team but allow us to more optimally balance the physical demand on the entire roster. We look forward to Kyrie’s return to the lineup, as well as getting our entire roster back together on the court.”

Per the New York Daily News, “news of his return comes as the NBA reels in the wake of the spread of the COVID-19 Omicron variant. Irving, who has opted not to get vaccinated, will return as a second wave of positive COVID-19 cases hits the NBA entering the new year, in particular a Nets team currently missing seven players in the league’s health and safety protocols.”

Lakers sign Isaiah Thomas to a 10-day contract

The Los Angeles Lakers have signed guard Isaiah Thomas to a 10-day contract pursuant to the NBA Hardship Exception provisions.

Thomas has appeared in 528 career NBA games (361 starts) for the Pelicans, Wizards, Nuggets, Cavaliers, Celtics, Suns, Kings and Lakers, averaging 18.1 points, 2.4 rebounds and 4.9 assists in 28.8 minutes. The 10-year NBA veteran most recently played one game for the Grand Rapids Gold in the NBA G League, totaling 42 points, six rebounds, eight assists and two steals in 43 minutes.

Thomas returns to Los Angeles after averaging 15.6 points, 2.1 rebounds and 5.0 assists in 26.8 minutes in 17 games (one start) for the Lakers during the 2017-18 season.

Orlando Magic sign Aleem Ford, Hassani Gravett, B.J. Johnson and Admiral Schofield to 10-day contracts

The Orlando Magic have signed free agent forward Aleem Ford, free agent guard Hassani Gravett (GRAV-it), free agent guard/forward B.J. Johnson and free agent forward Admiral Schofield to 10-day contracts, President of Basketball Operations Jeff Weltman announced today.

The four players were signed via hardship exceptions by the NBA. Orlando has five players (Mo Bamba, Ignas Brazdeikis, R.J. Hampton, Terrence Ross and Moritz Wagner) ruled out tonight vs. Miami due to league Health and Safety Protocols.

Ford (6’8”, 220, 12/22/97) has played in 12 games (seven starts) this season with Lakeland of the NBA G League, averaging 9.6 ppg., 4.4 rpg. and 1.3 apg. in 28.1 minpg. Undrafted by an NBA franchise, he played in 126 career games (82 starts) during four seasons at the University of Wisconsin (2017-21), averaging 6.5 ppg. and 3.3 rpg. in 22.5 minpg.

Ford will wear #11 with the Orlando Magic.

Gravett (6’2”, 190, 7/16/96) has played and started all 12 games this season with Lakeland of the NBA G League, averaging 13.6 ppg., 5.2 rpg., 2.8 apg. and 1.83 stlpg. in 34.5 minpg.

Gravett signed as a free agent with Orlando on Sep. 8, 2021 and played in three preseason games with the Magic, averaging 5.0 ppg. and 1.3 rpg. in 10.2 minpg., before being waived on Oct. 16. He appeared in 12 games during the 2020-21 campaign with MZT Skopje of the Macedonian League, averaging 12.4 ppg., 4.0 rpg., 3.1 apg. and 1.17 stlpg. in 25.4 minpg. Gravett helped MZT Skopje win the 2020-21 Macedonian League championship and the 2021 North Macedonian Basketball Cup.

Gravett has appeared in 54 career NBA G League regular season games (40 starts), all with Lakeland, averaging 12.1 ppg., 4.4 rpg., 3.7 apg. and 1.20 stlpg. in 31.6 minpg., while shooting .364 (95-261) from three-point range.

Gravett played in 97 career games (30 starts) during three seasons (2016-19) at the University of South Carolina, averaging 7.2 ppg., 3.0 rpg. and 2.4 apg. in 23.8 minpg. During the 2018-19 season, he played in 32 games (five starts), averaging 11.4 ppg., 3.8 rpg. and 2.4 apg. in 29.6 minpg., while shooting .399 (65-163) from three-point range and was named SEC Sixth Man of the Year by the conference’s coaches.

Gravett will wear #12 with the Orlando Magic.

Johnson (6’7”, 200, 12/21/95) has played and started in 10 games this season with Lakeland of the NBA G League, averaging 24.7 ppg., 7.5 rpg., 1.3 apg. and 1.00 stlpg. in 34.5 minpg. He currently leads Lakeland in both scoring and rebounding.

Johnson signed as a free agent with Orlando on Sep. 8, 2021, but did not appear in any preseason action with the Magic, before being waived on Oct. 16. He played and started in 14 games in 2020-21 with Long Island of the NBA G League, averaging 18.4 ppg., 5.6 rpg., 1.6 apg. and 1.00 stlpg. in 31.1 minpg. Johnson also appeared in 11 games last season with Brisbane of the National Basketball League in Australia, averaging 10.0 ppg. and 3.7 rpg. in 21.5 minpg.

Johnson has played in 17 career NBA games with Atlanta, Sacramento and Orlando, averaging 3.1 ppg. and 1.4 rpg. in 7.8 minpg. He played in 10 games with the Magic during the 2019-20 campaign, averaging 3.0 ppg., and 1.5 rpg. in 8.3 minpg. Johnson has also appeared in 91 career NBA G League regular season games (84 starts) with Lakeland and Long Island, averaging 19.2 ppg., 5.7 rpg., 1.5 apg. and 1.49 stlpg. in 32.4 minpg., while shooting .402 (187-465) from three-point range and .821 (247-301) from the free throw line.

Johnson appeared in 56 career games (55 starts) in two seasons (2016-18) with La Salle University, averaging 19.1 ppg., 7.3 rpg. and 1.21 stlpg. in 33.8 minpg. During his senior campaign with the Explorers (2017-18), he played and started in 27 games, averaging 20.8 ppg., 8.3 rpg. and 1.30 stlpg. in 35.2 minpg., while shooting .869 (126-145) from the free throw line. Johnson was named Second Team All-Atlantic 10 Conference in 2017-18. He also played in 35 career games during two seasons (2013-15) at Syracuse University, averaging 3.4 ppg. and 2.5 rpg. in 12.0 minpg.

Johnson will wear #24 with the Orlando Magic.

Schofield (6’5”, 240, 3/30/97) has played in all 12 games (10 starts) this season with Lakeland of the NBA G League, averaging 14.4 ppg., 7.2 rpg. and 1.8 apg. in 33.0 minpg.

Schofield signed as a free agent with Orlando on Sep. 21, 2021. He played in two preseason games with the Magic, averaging 1.5 ppg. in 5.8 minpg., before being waived on Oct. 16. Schofield played in 14 games (11 starts) during the 2020-21 campaign with Greensboro of the NBA G League, averaging 10.1 ppg., 5.7 rpg. and 2.1 apg. in 26.2 minpg.

Originally selected in the second round (42nd overall) of the 2019 NBA Draft by Philadelphia, Schofield has played in 33 career NBA regular season games (two starts) with Washington, averaging 3.0 ppg. and 1.4 rpg. in 11.2 minpg. He has also appeared in 59 career NBA G League regular season games (54 starts) with Capital City, Greensboro and Lakeland, averaging 14.3 ppg., 5.9 rpg. and 2.0 apg. in 30.2 minpg.

Schofield played in 132 career games (94 starts) during four seasons at the University of Tennessee (2015-19), averaging 11.9 ppg., 5.3 rpg. and 1.3 apg. in 24.9 minpg., while shooting .387 (184-476) from three-point range. As a senior (2018-19), he played and started in 37 games, averaging 16.5 ppg., 6.1 rpg. and 2.0 apg. in 31.7 minpg., while shooting .418 (74-177) from three-point range. He was named to the All-SEC First Team by the conference coaches, earned All-SEC Tournament Team honors and was also an honorable mention All-American by Associated Press. As a junior (2017-18), Schofield was named to the All-SEC Second Team by the conference coaches and earned All-SEC Tournament Team honors.

Schofield will wear #25 with the Orlando Magic.