Inside Hoops – Page 247 – NBA Blog

Trail Blazers seek new president of basketball operations

There is reportedly an interesting possible candidate for the newly vacant Portland Trail Blazers president of basketball operations job. Via the New York Post:

Knicks general manager Scott Perry already has emerged as a candidate to replace fired Trail Blazers president of basketball operations Neil Olshey, according a report by Yahoo Sports.

Olshey was axed Friday after an independent investigation determined he violated the team’s code of conduct. The Blazers announced last month they had hired a private law firm to investigate “concerns around the workplace environment by non-player personnel at the practice facility.”

Perry, who signed a two-year contract extension with the Knicks before this season, was a member of the Pistons’ front office when current Portland coach Chauncey Billups played for Detroit. Chicago Bulls GM Marc Eversley also is expected to be considered for the post, according to the report.

Rebuilding Magic lose to Rockets, fall to 5-19

As with all fully rebuilding teams, the Orlando Magic are a team for the future. Here’s the Via the Orlando Sentinel on their latest:

The Orlando Magic found themselves in a familiar position during their 118-116 loss to the Houston Rockets on Friday night.

After trailing by as many as 13 late in the fourth quarter, the Magic (5-19) used a second-half surge similar to their recent loss to the Philadelphia 76ers and win over the Denver Nuggets on Wednesday to get back into the game.

The Magic went on a 13-0 run to tie the score at 114 with 47 seconds left, but unlike their game against the Nuggets and more in line with their matchup against the 76ers, they didn’t complete the comeback attempt despite holding the Rockets (6-16) to 4 points over the final 4 1/2 minutes.

“If we would’ve played the whole game like we played the last two minutes, we would’ve won the game by 30,” said Cole Anthony, who had game-highs of 26 points and 7 assists. “That’s personally what I think.”

The Magic are 5-10 this season, which is the second worst record in the Eastern conference, just ahead of the 4-18 Detroit Pistons.

The leading Magic scorers so far in 2021-22 are Anthony at 20.2 points per game, then Franz Wagner at 13.6 ppg and Wendell Carter Jr. at 13.1 ppg.

Bucks center Brook Lopez undergoes back surgery

Milwaukee Bucks center Brook Lopez underwent back surgery today in Los Angeles.

The surgery was performed by Dr. Robert Watkins with oversight by Bucks team physician Dr. William Raasch of the Froedtert & the Medical College of Wisconsin health network.

Lopez has been sidelined since the Bucks’ regular season opening win vs. Brooklyn on Oct. 19, where he tallied eight points, five rebounds and three blocks in 28 minutes of action.

Per the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, “no timeline for a potential return was provided, though Bucks head coach Mike Budenholzer believes Lopez will play again at some point. Lopez, 33, had been sidelined with what was characterized as back soreness on the league injury reports since playing in the Bucks’ season opener Oct. 19. Two days later in Miami, Lopez participated in a shootaround but then was scratched from the game. Budenholzer said no specific incident occurred in Miami either.”

Lopez will continue to be listed as out. There is no estimated return date yet.

Bucks sign Wesley Matthews, waive Georgios Kalaitzakis

The Milwaukee Bucks signed free agent swingman Wesley Matthews today.

And in a related transaction, the team waived rookie guard Georgios Kalaitzakis.

A 6-5 guard, Matthews averaged 4.8 points and 1.6 rebounds in 19.5 minutes over 58 games (10 starts) for the Los Angeles Lakers last season.

“Wesley is a proven veteran whose shooting, defense and experience will help us,” said Bucks General Manager Jon Horst. “He is familiar with Coach Bud’s system and our team. We’re excited to have him back with us.”

Per the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, “Matthews would provide some additional depth in the back court for the Bucks behind starters Jrue Holiday and Grayson Allen. Backup point guard George Hill, also 35 years old, has been averaging over 27 minutes per game. Pat Connaughton (28 minutes per game) has also been logging heavy minutes early in the season.”

A 12-year NBA veteran, Matthews has appeared in 849 games (739 starts) over his 12 seasons with Utah, Portland, Dallas, New York, Indiana, Milwaukee, and Los Angeles, and holds career averages of 12.6 points, 2.9 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.0 steal per game. The former Marquette standout who attended high school in Madison, Wis., has also played in 52 playoff games in his career and is averaging 10.9 points, 2.9 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 1.1 steals in postseason action.

Matthews will wear No. 23 with the Bucks.

Pelicans sign forward Gary Clark

The New Orleans Pelicans have signed forward Gary Clark.

Clark, 6-6, 225, has appeared in 132 NBA contests (18 starts) with Houston, Orlando, Denver, and Philadelphia, averaging 3.2 points and 2.6 rebounds in 14.1 minutes per game.

The Smithfield, NC., native most recently played for the NBA G League’s Mexico City Capitanes, appearing in eight games (four starts) and averaging 14.4 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 1.1 assists in 31.3 minutes per contest. Clark is the first player in Capitanes history to receive an NBA Call Up and becomes the third G League player this season to earn a promotion. Clark previously played in the G League with the Rio Grande Valley Vipers, and holds career G League averages of 14.7 points, 6.5 rebounds, 2.2 assists, and 1.6 steals in 19 contests.

Clark appeared in 139 career games (137 starts) during four seasons at the University of Cincinnati (2014-18), averaging 10.5 points, 8.1 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 1.3 blocks, and 1.2 steals in 28.8 minutes per game, while shooting .525 from the floor and .383 from three-point range. In his 2017-18 senior campaign, he averaged 12.9 points, 8.7 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 1.4 steals, and 1.2 blocks in 28.5 minutes per game. Clark was named the 2017-18 American Athletic Conference Player of the Year and was a two-time American Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Year (2016-17, 2017-18).

Clark will wear #12 with the Pelicans. New Orleans’s roster now stands at 18 players, including two two-way players.

A Drazen Petrovic biopic film is being produced

We’re looking forward to this one. Via Variety.com:

Legendary Croatian-born NBA player Dražen Petrović will be portrayed in Danilo Šerbedžija’s upcoming biopic film “Higher Force – The Drazen Petrovic Story” (working title).

The film was penned by Ivan Turkovic Krnjak (“Lovebox”) and is being produced by Ljubo Zdjelarević and Ivor Šiber at Zagreb-based Kinoteka. The film will shoot next year in Croatia, Germany, and in the U.S. across Portland and New Jersey. It will be released in 2023 on the 30th anniversary of Petrović’ death.

Trail Blazers forward Nassir Little out with ankle sprain

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) confirms Portland Trail Blazers forward Nassir Little with a left ankle sprain, it was announced today by president of basketball operations Neil Olshey.

The injury occurred at the 2:24 mark of the third quarter in Portland’s game at Utah on Monday, November 29.

Little will continue his recovery protocol and be re-evaluated in one week.

In 21 games (two starts) this season, Little is averaging career highs of 8.3 points (47.8% FG, 31.7% 3-PT, 82.8% FT), 5.3 rebounds and 0.8 assists in 22.4 minutes per game. He has scored in double figures seven times and recorded one double-double.

G League: Long Island Nets waive Isaiah Wright

The Long Island Nets, the NBA G League affiliate of the Brooklyn Nets, have requested waivers on guard Isaiah Wright.

Wright was acquired from the available player pool on Nov. 16 to replace Long Island guard Josh Gray while he played for USA Basketball in the FIBA World Cup Qualifying Games. In two appearances with the Nets, Wright recorded five points, two rebounds and two steals in 29 minutes total.

Heat center Bam Adebayo out with thumb injury, will undergo surgery

Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo suffered a torn Ulnar Collateral Ligament in his right thumb against Denver on November 29 and will undergo surgery this weekend.

A timetable on his return will be provided post-surgery.

Adebayo has started in all 18 games he has appeared in this season and averaged 18.7 points, 10.2 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 1.11 steals and 32.9 minutes while shooting 51.9 percent from the field.

Per the South Florida Sun Sentinel, “the most versatile element of the Miami Heat lineup, the player the defense is designed around and a fulcrum for the offense, is expected to be sidelined for six weeks…. The other two centers on the Heat roster are veteran Dewayne Dedmon, who is expected to start in place of Adebayo, and rookie Omer Yurtseven, who has received only nominal playing time to this stage.”

Bucks sign Javonte Smart, waive Justin Robinson

The Milwaukee Bucks yesterday signed guard Javonte Smart to a Two-Way contract.

And in a related transaction, the Bucks waived two-way guard Justin Robinson.

Smart (6-4, 205), appeared in five games (all starts) with the Sioux Falls Skyforce of the NBA G League this season and averaged 22.0 points, 4.4 rebounds and 3.6 assists in 35.5 minutes per game while shooting 49.4% from the field and 39.6% from three. After going undrafted in the 2021 NBA Draft out of LSU, the 22-year-old played in six NBA Summer League games with the Heat before appearing in five of Miami’s preseason contests where he averaged 8.8 points, 2.6 rebounds and 1.6 assists in 18.1 minutes per game.

A 2021 Second Team All-SEC selection, Smart averaged 16.0 points, 4.0 assists, 3.7 rebounds and 1.3 steals per game and led the SEC in three-point field goal percentage (.402) in his final season with the Tigers. In three seasons at LSU, the Baton Rouge native appeared in 93 games, making 76 starts, and averaged double figures in scoring each season.

Smart will wear No. 6 with the Bucks.

Originally signed to a Two-Way contract on Sept. 15, Robinson appeared in 17 games with the Bucks this season and averaged 2.8 points and 1.2 assists in 11.6 minutes per game.