Inside Hoops – Page 26 – NBA Blog

Thunder sign Branden Carlson to Two-Way Contract

The Oklahoma City Thunder have signed center Branden Carlson to a Two-Way Contract, it was announced yesterday by Executive Vice President and General Manager Sam Presti.

Carlson (7-0, 220) has appeared in 15 games for the Thunder this season after originally being signed on November 16, 2024. The Utah native scored a career-high 11 points and grabbed four rebounds in a win over the Cleveland Cavaliers on January 16 and he is averaging 3.1 points and 1.7 rebounds in 6.3 minutes per game this season with the Thunder.

In five games (all starts) for the Oklahoma City Blue of the NBA’s G League this season, Carlson is averaging 15.2 points, 8.2 rebounds and 1.20 blocks in 25.6 minutes per contest.

Thunder sign Ajay Mitchell to multi-year contract

The Oklahoma City Thunder have signed guard Ajay Mitchell to a multi-year contract, it was announced yesterday by Executive Vice President and General Manager Sam Presti.

In 34 games (one start) this season, Mitchell is averaging 6.4 points, 2.0 rebounds and 1.7 assists in 16.5 minutes. He is one of two rookies this season shooting at least 50% from the field and 40% from 3-point range.

Oklahoma City originally acquired the 2024 draft rights to guard Ajay Mitchell (selected 38th overall) on draft night from the New York Knicks.

76ers trade KJ Martin to Pistons

Philadelphia 76ers President of Basketball Operations Daryl Morey announced yesterday that the team has traded KJ Martin and two future second-round picks (2027 via Milwaukee; 2031 via Dallas) to the Detroit Pistons in exchange for cash considerations.

Originally acquired by the 76ers on Nov. 1, 2023 as part of a three-team, seven-player deal involving the LA Clippers and Oklahoma City Thunder, Martin averaged 4.5 points on 57.0-percent shooting and 2.4 rebounds in 82 games across parts of two seasons in Philadelphia. He produced 6.4 points in 24 games in 2024-25 after re-signing with the 76ers this past offseason.

76ers trade Reggie Jackson to Wizards for Jared Butler

The Washington Wizards yesterday acquired a 2026 first-round pick and guard Reggie Jackson in a trade with the Philadelphia 76ers in exchange for guard Jared Butler and four future second-round picks.

Washington acquires the least favorable pick of the 2026 first round between the LA Clippers, Oklahoma City Thunder, and Houston Rockets (if Houston is 5-30). Washington second-round picks sent to Philadelphia include the 2027 more favorable of Golden State and Phoenix, 2028 via Golden State, 2030 more favorable of Phoenix and Portland, and the Wizards’ own in 2030.

Jackson is in his 14th NBA season and is averaging 4.4 points per game in 31 games this season. He holds career averages of 12.3 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 4.1 assists per game in 884 career games (530 starts).

Butler was on a two-way contract with Washington and had appeared in 32 games this season, averaging 6.9 points and 2.6 assists per game. The fourth-year guard holds career averages of 5.6 points and 2.3 assists per game in 120 games.

Celtics trade Jaden Springer to Rockets

The Houston Rockets yesterday acquired guard Jaden Springer in a trade with the Boston Celtics along with a 2030 second round pick and a protected second round pick in 2027 for a protected second round pick in 2031.

Springer (6-4, 216) was originally the 28th overall pick by Philadelphia in the 2021 NBA Draft following his freshman season at Tennessee. The 22-year-old spent his first two and a half seasons with the Sixers prior to being acquired by the Celtics last February and was a member of their championship team.

In 93 career games with four starts, Springer is averaging 12.2 points, 5.7 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 2.7 steals per 36 minutes played. He was named the 2022-23 NBA G League Finals MVP after helping the Delaware Blue Coats win their first title.

Injury update on Pistons guard Jaden Ivey

Detroit Pistons guard Jaden Ivey continues to progress in his return from a broken left fibula that was suffered on January 1 vs. Orlando. He has transitioned to a walking boot and has begun light weight-bearing activity. Ivey’s progress will be updated in another four weeks as weight-bearing and basketball activities continue to evolve during the rehabilitation process.

Wizards trade Jonas Valanciunas to Kings

The Sacramento Kings announced today that the team has acquired Jonas Valančiūnas in a trade with the Washington Wizards for a 2028 second-round pick and a 2029 second-round pick.

During the 2024-25 season, Valančiūnas is averaging 11.5 points (54.7 FG%, 89.6 FT%), 8.2 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 20.1 minutes per game in 49 games (12 starts). He ranks 24th in rebounds per game, 19th in total rebounds (404) and in field goal percentage, tied for 16th in total offensive rebounds (120), 20th in total defensive rebounds (284) and seventh in free throw percentage this season.

In 13 seasons, Valančiūnas has posted career averages of 13.3 points (56.0 FG%, 79.3 FT%), 9.4 rebounds, 1.4 assists in 25.4 minutes per game in 905 career games (839 starts) with Toronto (2012-19), Memphis (2018-21), New Orleans (2021-24) and Washington (2024-25). Among active players, he ranks 13th in rebounds per game, ninth in total boards (8,500), sixth in total offensive rebounds (2,485) and 12th in total defensive rebounds (6,016) and in field goal percentage. Valančiūnas was selected to the All-Rookie Second Team for his performance during the 2012-13 season and has been a member of the men’s senior Lithuanian national team since 2011.

Pelicans trade Daniel Theis to Thunder

The Oklahoma City Thunder has acquired center Daniel Theis and a 2031 second-round draft pick in a trade with the New Orleans Pelicans for cash considerations, it was announced today by Executive Vice President and General Manager Sam Presti.

Theis [tice] (6-8, 254) has appeared in 411 career games (160 starts) and averaged 7.1 points on 53.7% shooting, 4.7 rebounds and 1.3 assists in 18.8 minutes per game over the course of eight NBA seasons as a member of the Boston Celtics, Chicago Bulls, Houston Rockets, Indiana Pacers, Los Angeles Clippers and New Orleans Pelicans.

The 2031 second-round draft pick acquired by the Thunder is the least favorable of New Orleans and Orlando.

Injury update on Timberwolves forward Julius Randle

The Minnesota Timberwolves today announced the following injury update on forward Julius Randle, who suffered a right groin strain on Thursday, Jan. 30 at the 10:12 minute mark of the second quarter during the Timberwolves at Utah Jazz game:

An MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) taken at Mayo Clinic by Dr. Kelechi Okoroha on Randle revealed a right adductor strain and was confirmed via second opinion by Dr. Benjamin Domb of American Hip Institute. Randle will be re-evaluated in two weeks, and further updates of his progress will be provided when available.

76ers trade Caleb Martin to Mavericks

Philadelphia 76ers President of Basketball Operations Daryl Morey announced today that the team has acquired Quentin Grimes and a 2025 second-round pick (more favorable of Denver and Philadelphia) in a trade. In exchange, the 76ers traded Caleb Martin to Dallas.

Martin (6-5, 205) holds career averages of 8.5 points (.449 FG%, .359 3FG%, .739 FT%), 3.9 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 24.5 minutes per game in 297 games (112 starts) with the Charlotte Hornets, Miami Heat and 76ers. In 31 games (24 starts) for Philadelphia this season, Martin has averaged 9.1 points, 4.4 rebounds, 1.7 assists and a career-high 30.4 minutes while shooting 37.9% (33-87 3FG) from beyond the arc.

The sixth-year veteran went undrafted in 2019 after finishing his collegiate career at Nevada, where he was a two-time First Team All-Mountain West honoree (2018, 2019) and named the Mountain West Player of the Year in 2018. Martin helped Miami win the Eastern Conference title in 2023, before signing with Philadelphia as a free agent on July 6, 2024.

Grimes has appeared in 47 games (12 starts) for Dallas this season, averaging 10.2 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 2.1 assists in 22.8 minutes per game. His career-best 39.8-percent mark from three-point range on 4.3 attempts per contest ranked second on the Mavericks in 2024-25. On Dec. 1 at Portland, Grimes scored a season-high 28 points (9-13 FG, 5-7 3FG), which marked one of his seven 20-plus points performances this season. He’s scored in double figures in 23 of his 47 appearances overall.

Originally selected by the LA Clippers with the No. 25 overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, Grimes has played in 215 career games (102 starts) over three-plus seasons for Dallas, Detroit, and New York. He holds lifetime averages of 8.9 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 1.7 assists in 23.3 minutes per game. Prior to the NBA, Grimes starred collegiately at Houston from 2019-21 after playing his freshman season at Kansas. As a junior, he earned AAC Co-Player of the Year honors as he helped lead the Cougars to a 28-4 record and an appearance in the 2021 Final Four, while averaging a team-best 17.8 points per contest.

Grimes will wear No. 25 for the 76ers.