Inside Hoops – Page 261 – NBA Blog

On new Wizards point guard Spencer Dinwiddie

Spencer Dinwiddie’s time with the Nets revealed he has some big-time talent. Then injuries put that show on hold. Now he’s on the Wizards, alongside star scoring guard Bradley Beal. Here’s the Washington Times:

[Russell] Westbrook is now gone, which leaves Beal, once again, having to adjust to a new backcourt partner. Upon trading Westbrook to the Los Angeles Lakers, the Wizards brought in Spencer Dinwiddie to be their starting point guard — giving him a three-year, $54 million contract as part of a five-team sign-and-trade. His arrival marks the fourth straight year Beal and the Wizards will have a new starting point guard on opening night: John Wall in 2018, Ish Smith in 2019, Westbrook in 2020 and now Dinwiddie.

Compared to Wall and Westbrook — two All-Star point guards — Dinwiddie brings a fundamentally different style to Washington. Wall and Westbrook thrived on racing out in transition, using their game-changing speed to get downhill and attack the rim. Dinwiddie, however, is more measured: the former Brooklyn Nets guard has a quick first step, but plays at a slower pace.

With Washington’s first preseason game Tuesday against the Houston Rockets, the Wizards have spent training camp getting used to Dinwiddie leading the offense.

Jordan Poole shines for Warriors in first preseason game of year

It’s always fun to see who stands out in preseason games. Because, quite often, for minutes reasons, it often isn’t who you’d expect. On the Warriors, here’s the Bay Area News Group/San Jose Mercury News:

It’s one preseason game. An exhibition. It’s important not to overreact.

But after watching the Warriors play Monday night in Portland, it’s hard to not be excited about the team’s possibilities this season.

This team looks significantly better than last year’s operation. Lightyears ahead, perhaps…

Now, Jordan Poole looking like the third Splash Brother — he had 30 points in the preseason opener Monday — was obviously a critical aspect of the Warriors’ success in Portland. Poole thrived in the latter part of last season and was rightly slotted in as the Dubs’ two-guard next to Steph Curry again Monday. That’s his job until Klay Thompson returns (and perhaps for a while after that, even). Poole had a few defensive mistakes Monday, but he has also improved enough on that side of the ball since his mid-season G-League stint that he should also be part of the Dubs’ closing lineup — even with Thompson in the fold.

Heat guard Tyler Herro off to good start in preseason

Heat guard Tyler Herro got off to a strong start in preseason today. Via the Sun Sentinel:

There was a time when Tyler Herro was the walking embodiment of Miami Heat trade rumors.

Such as at March’s NBA trading deadline. Then August’s start of offseason personnel period.

And then there are nights such as Monday’s 125-99 preseason victory over the Atlanta Hawks at FTX Arena, when a reminder was offered of what remains in place and what just a calendar year earlier helped fuel the Heat to within two victories of the 2020 NBA title.

With Jimmy Butler given the night off for rest, Herro scored 16 first-quarter points on the way to 26 in 26 minutes, in a display that bodes promising for what is expected to be a sixth-man role.

It was an encouraging opening statement for the Heat in an exhibition that included several, including a heartening Heat debut by Kyle Lowry, offensive consistency from Bam Adebayo and encouraging moments from Duncan Robinson, Max Strus and even Omer Yurtseven and KZ Okpala.

New key Knicks expected to start right away

The Knicks added a few big names this offseason, and the players will likely start right away, starting in preseason tomorrow. Via the New York Newsday:

Kemba Walker and Evan Fournier, the two free agent pickups, are expected to be in the starting lineup on opening night when the Knicks host Boston on October 20. So you can expect Thibodeau to try somewhere in the four-game exhibition schedule to get a look at how those two work with Julius Randle, RJ Barrett and Nerlens Noel. Noel will be the starting center at least until Robinson is ready.

While some teams hold out their starters, Thibodeau did play Randle and Barrett in all four preseason games last season, playing Barrett for more than 30 minutes per game and Randle just slightly under 30.

Last season, Thibodeau didn’t push Immanuel Quickley into the rotation at all in the first game, then used him sparingly in the second one before accelerating his playing time in the final two games and into the season. That could hint at a similar strategy for rookies Quinton Grimes and Miles McBride, although the absence of two key defensive players in Payton and Bullock could push Thibodeau to look for an answer somewhere quickly.

On Goran Dragic no longer being a member of the Miami Heat

For the first time in a long time, the Miami Heat will be taking the court without guard Goran Dragic on the roster. Via the Miami Herald:

“At the end of the day, this is a bottom line business. It’s about winning,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said in advance of Monday night’s preseason opener against the Atlanta Hawks at FTX Arena. “But you really also want to be able to develop meaningful lasting relationships. That’s the part that you treasure the most. That’s the most gratifying in this profession for all of us, when you have these shared experiences that build incredible memories.

“That’s what I have with Goran. I think back to obviously the really competitive experiences we had in the playoffs. But equally as important and equally as gratifying to me are the trips over to Slovenia and visiting him and his family, and seeing where he was from, how he is and how people respond to him in his country. It was really cool.”

The Heat traded Dragic and center Precious Achiuwa to the Toronto Raptors to acquire six-time All-Star guard Kyle Lowry this past summer. Dragic, 35, publicly expressed his desire to be moved to another team shortly after the deal was made, but Toronto has yet to fulfill his request and the affable Dragic is preparing to begin the season with the Raptors.

Utah Jazz waive guard Justin James

The Utah Jazz have waived guard Justin James.

James (6-6, 190, Wyoming) was originally signed to a two-way contract by Utah on Sept. 22.

Per the Salt Lake Tribune, “the deal means that the Jazz have another two-way spot to fill before entering the season. They could upgrade the contract of one of their training camp signees, Derrick Alston Jr, Marques Bolden, Malik Fitts, or MaCio Teague; or they could choose to look outside the organization for a logical pickup.”

Trail Blazers exercise 2022-23 contract option on Nassir Little

The Portland Trail Blazers have exercised the 2022-23 team option on the Rookie Scale contract of forward Nassir Little.

Portland selected Little with the 25th overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft. Little, 21, appeared in 48 games (two starts) for the Trail Blazers during the 2020-21 season, posting averages of 4.6 points (46.7% FG, 35.0% 3-PT, 71.9% FT), 2.7 rebounds, 0.5 assists and 13.3 minutes. For his career, Little has averaged 4.1 points, 2.5 rebounds and 0.5 assists in 96 games (seven starts).

Miami Heat expand Ruth Riley Hunter’s role, add her to basketball operations department

The Miami Heat announced today that Ruth Riley Hunter will expand her current broadcast role and serve as Broadcast Analyst & Basketball Analytics/Player Programs Manager.

Riley Hunter, an Olympic Gold Medalist, two-time WNBA Champion, WNBA Finals MVP, NCAA Champion, Sports Business Leader, Global Humanitarian and a 2019 Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame inductee will add basketball analytics and other Basketball Operations related duties to her current broadcast role where she will begin her fourth season serving as the team’s radio analyst on all home games as well as a television studio analyst for all home and road games. Since being drafted by the Miami Sol after graduating from Notre Dame Summa Cum Laude with a degree in Psychology in 2001, she has garnered a wealth of experience and basketball knowledge including a 13-year playing career in the WNBA as well as serving as General Manager of the WNBA’s San Antonio Stars, First Vice President of the WNBA Player’s Association, a NBA/WNBA Ambassador and Global Director of the NBA Academy’s Women’s Program.

In her time as General Manager of the Stars, Riley Hunter governed the team’s business and financial operations, implemented strategic planning, managed all team personnel decisions and captained the basketball operations staff, coaching staff and scouts. In addition to her basketball acumen, she has served as a spokesperson for organizations such as Share Our Strength and the United Nations Foundation and was selected a JCI Ten Outstanding Young Persons of the World Honoree.

Comcast drops MSG Network from Xfinity channel lineup

A ton of Knicks fans have lost TV access to the team’s games as the season approaches. Hopefully it’s just temporary. Here’s the latest, via the New York Post:

Another promising Knicks season is around the corner – but hundreds of thousands of New Jersey and Connecticut fans may not be able to watch it due to a dispute between MSG Network and Comcast.

According to a Garden release, Comcast has chosen to drop MSG Network from its Xfinity channel lineup “despite our best efforts to reach a new agreement.’’

If the situation drags on, Comcast subscribers will miss 85 percent of Knicks games. MSG Network will broadcast 70 of the 82 contests – with the rest on national networks.

The disagreement will also affect games for the NHL’s Islanders, Rangers and Devils.

The Clippers are fully vaccinated, says coach Tyronn Lue

Here’s the the Los Angeles Times with a Clippers health update:

The Clippers are fully vaccinated, coach Tyronn Lue said Wednesday.

“Our guys are vaccinated, so, we just have to do whatever the league tells us to do, we try to abide by the rules and kind of go from there,” Lue said at San Diego State, where the Clippers are holding training camp. “And we talked about it last year, just being able to adapt and do what we need to do to play the game that we love. And so, certain players, certain people have different beliefs, so I respect those beliefs. And our guys are fully vaccinated, so I respect their beliefs as well.”

Asked again whether the Clippers are fully vaccinated, Lue answered, “yes.”