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Jose Calderon involved with athlete-focused tech event

For those of you who woke up today wondering what Jose Calderon is up t, here’s the Toronto Star with an update:

Jose Calderon carved out an excellent NBA career assisting others.

Why wouldn’t the one-time Raptors point guard keep doing it now that he’s retired?

Calderon, who played eight seasons in Toronto and remains one of the all-time favourites among fans, is leading an Athlete Tech Summit this week to assists players from all sports to prepare for their post-career lives.

“Tech now is in everything, it doesn’t matter what you like, there is always some kind of tech part,” Calderon said in a telephone interview Wednesday morning. “It could be in health or in sports or whatever you can name.”

Nuggets sign Michael Porter Jr. to contract extension

The Denver Nuggets have signed forward Michael Porter Jr. to a multi-year contract extension, President of Basketball Operations Tim Connelly announced today.

Per the Denver Post, Porter Jr.’s deal is a “five-year, max contract extension worth as much as $207 million.”

Porter Jr., 23, had the best season of his young career in 2020-21, helping lead Denver to 47 wins in a 72-game shortened season and the three seed in the Western Conference Playoffs. In 61 games (54 starts), he averaged career-highs in points (19.0), rebounds (7.3), assists (1.1), field goal percentage (54.2%), three-point field goal percentage (44.5%) and minutes per game (31.3). He posted a career-high 39 points (8-12 3FG’s), along with six rebounds, three blocks and two assists vs. Houston on Apr. 24th.He became the first player since Joel Embiid in 2017 to post those numbers in the second year of their career and the third Nugget in franchise history to make seven or more three pointers in consecutive games.

More from the Denver Post: “Tim Connelly isn’t tossing chips to center of the poker table anymore. He’s pushing gold bricks. Connelly, the Nuggets’ president of basketball operations, has committed to roughly $115 million over the winter of 2022-’23 to Denver’s Core Four of Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray, Aaron Gordon and Michael Porter Jr. That little flyover team on Chopper Circle, the one which has the reigning NBA MVP, is slated in 2023 to become just the fourth league franchise to boast three players on max contracts. The other three: the Lakers, Nets and Warriors. High rollers, all.”

Porter Jr. had one of the best shooting seasons in Nuggets history, finishing with 170 three-point field goals in 61 games played, ranking him fourth all-time for a single season in NBA franchise history. He also finished with the highest three-point percentage for a season (min. 150 attempts) in franchise history connecting on 44.5% from long distance. Additionally, he had 11 games posting at least five three pointers, tying the single season record for most games with at least five (Randy Foye, 2013-14).

Porter Jr. ascended in his role following the loss of Jamal Murray for the season on Apr. 12th. In the 17 games that followed, he averaged 23.5 points, 6.1 rebounds and 1.5 assists while shooting 56.0% from the field and 48.9% from three. In that span, he had 12 games scoring 20+ points and eight games with four or more three pointers.

The Columbia, Missouri, native appeared in his second postseason in 2021 helping the Nuggets reach the second round of the playoffs for the third straight season. Porter Jr. started all 10 playoff games, averaging 21.9 points, 8.4 rebounds and 1.3 assists, shooting 54.2% from the field and 44.5% from three in 33.2 minutes. He posted four games of 20+ points, including 26 points in both games five and six of the first round to help eliminate Portland.

Porter Jr. was drafted by the Nuggets with the 14thoverall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft out of the University of Missouri and missed his rookie campaign as he rehabbed from a lower back injury. Over two seasons with Denver, he has appeared in 116 games (62 starts), averaging 14.4 points, 6.1 rebounds and 1.0 assists while shooting 53.2% from the field and 43.9% from long range in 24.3 minutes per game. He has increased his scoring, rebounding, assists, field goal percentage and three-point percentage in each season of his career. Additionally, the Nuggets are 27-9 (.750) in Porter Jr.’s career when he scores 20+ points in game.

The latest on Warriors SG Klay Thompson is good

There’s good news on Warriors shooting guard Klay Thompson, via the ESPN.com:

Golden State Warriors swingman Klay Thompson is starting to look more like his old basketball self amid his rehabilitation from a torn right Achilles injury.

Participating in his first official team practice since suffering the injury in an offseason workout Nov. 18, 2020, Thompson knocked down shots from all over the court, much to the delight of his teammates and coaches.

“Klay looked great,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr said after his team’s first practice Tuesday. “Shooting the lights out. His team won the daily shooting competition. And he was smiling, laughing, joking around, it was really fun to see the old Klay back.”

On paper, the Warriors don’t look like a championship contender these days, but they certainly belong back in the playoffs if Stephen Curry and Draymond Green get a healthy and effective Klay back alongside them once again.

Jazz sign Marques Bolden and Malik Fitts

The Utah Jazz have signed forwards Marques Bolden and Malik Fitts.

The deals are likely non-guaranteed, and for training camp purposes.

Bolden (6-10, 249, Duke) has played in seven games with the Cleveland Cavaliers over two seasons (2019-21) during his professional career. Prior to that, he spent three seasons at Duke, appearing in 88 games (24 starts), averaging 3.8 points, 3.3 rebounds and 1.1 blocks in 13.6 minutes per game. In his final season at Duke in 2018-19, he averaged 5.3 points, 4.5 boards and 1.7 blocks in 19.0 minutes per game.

Fitts (6-8, 230, St. Mary’s) played in three NBA games with the Los Angeles Clippers during the 2020-21 season and also appeared in 14 games (six starts) with the Agua Caliente Clippers of the NBA G League, averaging 11.1 points, 4.0 boards and 1.5 assists. Collegiately, Fitts spent two seasons at St. Mary’s (2018-20), where he averaged 15.9 points, 7.3 rebounds, 1.1 assists and 1.3 steals in 68 career games (66 starts). At St. Mary’s, he earned 2019-20 All-WCC First Team and 2018-19 All-WCC Second Team honors. Fitts began his collegiate career playing one season at South Florida.

Sixers hire Jamie Young as assistant coach, and promote Dwayne Jones

The Philadelphia 76ers announced today that Jamie Young has joined Head Coach Doc Rivers’ staff as an assistant coach and Dwayne Jones, who previously served under Rivers as a skill development coach, has been promoted to assistant coach/skill development.

And the Delaware Blue Coats, NBA G League Affiliate of the 76ers, also announced today that Coby Karl has been named the team’s head coach and that J.P. Clark and Isaiah Fox have joined his staff as assistant coaches.

“I’m excited to add even more talent to what I consider to be the best coaching staff in the NBA,” Rivers said. “Having the opportunity to create synergy between the 76ers and Blue Coats is important for our program’s success and the talented coaches on our staff make our players and this organization better.”

Young joins the 76ers after spending the last 20 seasons with the Boston Celtics organization, including the last 10 as an assistant coach. During his tenure in Boston, Young also spent time in the scouting and video departments. Rivers and Young worked together with the Celtics while Rivers served as the team’s head coach from 2004-13. He graduated from Blackburn College (Carlinville, IL) in 1998 with a bachelor’s degree in physical education, where he played both basketball and football. Originally from Indiana, Young is married to his wife Jaynene and the couple has a son, Jamieson.

Jones enters his sixth season with Philadelphia, and his first as an assistant coach/skill development. He spent the previous five seasons working in the team’s skill development department after joining the 76ers staff in December 2016. Jones enjoyed a 12-year professional career, including six NBA seasons with five NBA teams and international stops in China, Philippines, Qatar, Venezuela and Argentina. He also competed in the NBA G League and is the league’s all-time leading rebounder with a total of 1,770. A 2005 graduate of Philadelphia’s Saint Joseph’s University, Jones holds a degree in sociology. He and his wife Jessica have two sons, Dwayne III and Dylan.

Karl most recently served as head coach of the South Bay Lakers (NBA G League/Lakers) from 2016-21, where he compiled a 102-92 record and collected a division championship and conference semifinals appearance. During his tenure in South Bay, five players were called up to Los Angeles, including Jemerrio Jones, Johnathan Williams, Scott Machado, Andre Ingram, and Travis Wear. Prior to joining the Lakers, Karl spent two seasons as an assistant coach for the Westchester Knicks (NBA G League/Knicks). Before shifting to the sidelines, Karl enjoyed an eight-year professional basketball career including stops with the Lakers, Cleveland Cavaliers, and Golden State Warriors, as well as significant time in the NBA G League with Los Angeles, Idaho and Reno.

During the 2008 Playoff series between the Lakers and Denver Nuggets, Karl and his father, NBA coaching legend George Karl, became the first father-son duo to oppose one-another in the NBA postseason. Undrafted after a standout career at Boise State, including First-Team All-WAC honors his senior season, Karl also saw success playing oversees in the Liga ACB, EuroLeague, LBA and others. He’s been married to his wife Kristen for nine years and the couple has two daughters, Kennedy and Payton.

Clark, a Florida native, brings over a decade’s worth of coaching experience to Delaware including eight seasons in the NBA/G League. Clark spent seven seasons with the Los Angeles Clippers starting in player development and finishing as an assistant coach. Prior to joining the Clippers, Clark spent one season in a dual role with the Boston Celtics/Maine Red Claws. Before joining the NBA ranks, Clark began his coaching career at Colgate University as the director of basketball operations for one season before a two-year stint at the University of Central Florida in the same role. Clark played Division II basketball at Flagler College and later earned a master’s degree from UCF.

Fox returns to Delaware for his second stint as an assistant coach for the Blue Coats, having served in the role from 2019-2020. He previously served as an assistant coach with the South Bay Lakers, Los Angeles’ G League affiliate. Prior to joining the Lakers, Fox coached at Monrovia High School in Monrovia, California, where he also served as a sports program coordinator at a local YMCA chapter. A former McDonald’s All-America nominee, the 6-foot-9 Fox was a four-year letter winner for the University of Arizona basketball team from 2002-06 under Naismith Hall of Fame Head Coach Lute Olson. Fox was selected in the 2008 NBA G League Draft and his professional playing experience included stints in Australia, Mexico and Japan.

Sixers sign Shaquille Harrison

The Philadelphia 76ers have signed guard Shaquille Harrison.

Harrison joins Philadelphia after splitting the 2020-21 season with Utah and Denver. In total, he saw action in 34 games last season, with averages of 2.1 points, 1.4 rebounds and 0.7 assists in 9.8 minutes per contest.

For his career, Harrison has appeared in 173 games (23 starts) over four NBA seasons with Denver, Utah, Chicago and Phoenix and holds career averages of 5.2 points, 2.4 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.0 steals in 15.2 minutes per game.

During his first two professional seasons, Harrison also spent time in the G League with the Northern Arizona Suns, appearing in 84 games (24 starts) and averaging 10.3 points, 4.3 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game. For his G League career, he’s shot .458 from the field.

Following a standout four-year career at Tulsa, Harrison signed with the Phoenix Suns prior to the start of the 2016-17 season.

Originally from Kansas City, Missouri, Harrison played four seasons for the Golden Hurricane where he started all 133 games of his collegiate career. As a senior, he averaged 15.1 points per game, along with team-best averages of 5.5 rebounds and 4.1 assists and was named the 2015-16 American Athletic Conference Men’s Basketball Scholar-Athlete of the Year.

Harrison will wear No. 8 for the 76ers.

Hornets name Marlon Garnett, Nick Friedman and Norman Richardson as assistant coaches

The Charlotte Hornets have named Marlon Garnett, Nick Friedman and Norman Richardson as assistant coaches under head coach James Borrego.

The team has also promoted Jackson Simmons to Head Video Coordinator while Klint Carlson. And Daniel Dixon have been named Assistant Video Coordinators.

“I am excited to add Marlon and Norman to our staff, who both bring high-level professional experience as players and coaches. I’m also thrilled for Coach Friedman in his ascension to becoming an assistant coach on our staff after his work as a player development coach.” said Hornets Head Coach James Borrego. “We are looking forward to what they can bring to our group and are excited about what they will contribute to the development of our program here in Charlotte.”

Garnett is heading into his sixth season as an assistant coach after spending the previous three seasons as an assistant coach for the Atlanta Hawks from 2018-21. Prior to his tenure with Atlanta, he was an assistant coach/player development coordinator with the Phoenix Suns from 2016-18. During the 2015-16 season, Garnett was a player development and quality assurance assistant with the San Antonio Spurs as he served as the head coach at Union Academy in Monroe, NC, in 2014-15.

A long-time professional player, Garnett appeared in 24 games during the 1998-99 season with the Boston Celtics and played internationally in Turkey, Spain, Italy, Croatia, Iran, Puerto Rico and Slovakia. A Los Angeles native, he played collegiately at Santa Clara and was named West Coast Conference Player of the Year as a senior during the 1996-97 season.

Friedman receives a promotion after spending the last two seasons with the Hornets as a Player Development Coach where he served in a hybrid role with both the Hornets and Greensboro Swarm’s coaching staff. He previously worked for three years as a coach in the G League with the Rio Grande Valley Vipers, Main Red Claws and Norther Arizona Suns. Prior to his time in the G League, Friedman worked under the coaching staff at the University of Miami. The Massachusetts native attended Bates College where he was a member of the basketball team.

Richardson joins the Hornets after spending the 2020-21 season as an assistant coach for Charlotte’s G League affiliate, the Greensboro Swarm. Previously, he was an assistant coach for the Indiana Pacers affiliate, the Fort Wayne Mad Ants, for three seasons (2017-20). Prior to Fort Wayne, he broke into the NBA G League as an assistant coach with the former affiliate of the Orlando Magic, the Erie BayHawks, in 2016-17. His coaching background includes being a skills development coach for Findley Prep School in Henderson, Nevada, and an assistant coach at Agassi Prep High School in Las Vegas. Richardson’s coaching career began in Germany where he served as the head coach for TSV/Bietigheim from 2012-14.

Richardson was a four-year player for Hofstra (1997-01) and played professionally for the Indiana Pacers and Chicago Bulls in 2001-02. The Brooklyn native played professionally until 2010, including stops with former NBA Development League franchises (North Charleston Lowgators in 2003, Fayetteville Patriots in 2006) and overseas.

Simmons is promoted to Head Video Coordinator after serving as the team’s Assistant Video Coordinator for the last three seasons. He was the Director of Basketball Operations for Western Carolina during the 2017-18 season. A Webster, NC native, Simmons played four seasons at North Carolina from 2011-15.

Carlson and Dixon are both elevated to Assistant Video Coordinators after spending the 2020-21 season with the Hornets as Basketball Operations interns. An Iowa native, Carlson played basketball collegiately at Northern Iowa from 2013-18. Dixon spent three seasons in the G League as a player from 2017-20 after playing at William & Mary from 2013-17.

Lakers sign Austin Reaves to a standard NBA contract

The Los Angeles Lakers have signed guard Austin Reaves to a standard NBA contract.

Reaves originally signed a two-way contract with Los Angeles on August 3, 2021 and appeared in five games for the Lakers at the MGM Resorts NBA Summer League, averaging 6.6 points, 3.8 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.0 steal in 22.2 minutes. In two games at the California Classic, Reaves averaged 9.0 points, 4.0 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 1.5 steals and 2.0 blocks in 26.5 minutes.

Reaves appeared in 25 games (all starts) for Oklahoma last season, averaging 18.3 points (.443 FG%, .305 3P%), 5.5 rebounds and 4.6 assists in 34.5 minutes. The 2020-21 All-Big 12 First Team selection led the conference in free throws made (147) and ranked fifth in true shooting percentage (.579) last season. In four years at Oklahoma and Wichita State, Reaves averaged 10.8 points, 3.8 rebounds and 2.6 assists while shooting 34.7 percent (156-449 3FG) from three-point range.

Indiana Pacers home arena renamed as Gainbridge Fieldhouse

Pacers Sports & Entertainment (PS&E) has announced that Indianapolis-based Gainbridge is the new naming partner for the NBA’s most iconic arena, and the home of the Indiana Pacers, Indiana Fever, and hundreds of events throughout the year has been renamed Gainbridge Fieldhouse.

“Just as the Fieldhouse is so much more than simply a basketball arena, the chance to partner with a bold, forward-thinking company like Gainbridge means so much more than just putting a name on a building,” said PS&E President & Chief Operating Officer Rick Fuson. “Our organizations share a vision for engaging new generations of consumers, strengthening our city and state economies, and investing in our community with intentionality. We could not have asked for a better aligned partner, and we look forward to growing together for years to come.”

“We couldn’t be more excited to join the Pacers and Fever at the new Gainbridge Fieldhouse. It really is the ‘Fieldhouse of the Future,’ where we’ll be hosting a wide range of exciting sports and entertainment events with new and improved space, infrastructure and technology,’’ said Group 1001 President & Chief Executive Officer Dan Towriss. “This unveiling is such a critical moment for us as we join in experiencing this amazing venue with a bold new Gainbridge Fieldhouse brand. This partnership goes farther than just this new venue because together, we can make an even bigger impact with our aligned commitment to improving communities through sports and education.’’

Cavaliers sign Tacko Fall, Mitch Ballock, Kyle Guy and R.J. Nembhard to training camp roster

The Cleveland Cavaliers have signed center Tacko Fall and guards Mitch Ballock, Kyle Guy and R.J. Nembhard to their 2021 training camp roster.

Fall (7-6, 310) played in 18 games for the Boston Celtics last season, averaging 2.6 points, 2.9 rebounds and 1.11 blocks in 7.6 minutes. The third-year center went undrafted in 2019 after a four-year collegiate career at the University of Central Florida (2015-2019).

Ballock (6-5, 205), who spent four years at Creighton University (2017-2021), recently played in four games for the Philadelphia 76ers during the 2021 MGM Resorts NBA Summer League in Las Vegas.

Guy (6-1, 170) played in 31 games for the Sacramento Kings in 2020-21. The third-year guard spent most of his rookie campaign in 2019-20 with the Stockton Kings of the NBA G League, appearing in 37 games (29 starts) while averaging 21.5 points (seventh-best in G League), 3.4 rebounds, 4.8 assists and 1.1 steals in 36.9 minutes.

Nembhard (6-5, 200), an undrafted guard out of Texas Christian University, competed in four contests for the Miami Heat in the 2021 MGM Resorts NBA Summer League in Las Vegas, where he averaged 7.0 points, 3.5 rebounds and 1.8 assists in 15.7 minutes.