Inside Hoops – Page 269 – NBA Blog

Nuggets re-sign Austin Rivers

The Denver Nuggets have re-signed guard Austin Rivers to a multiyear contract, President of Basketball Operations Tim Connelly announced today.

Rivers, 6-4, 200, appeared in 15 games (five starts) for Denver last season, averaging 8.7 points, 2.6 assists and 2.3 rebounds in 26.9 minutes while shooting 41.8% from the field. He also appeared in 10 playoff games (nine starts) and averaged 9.2 points, 2.1 assists and 1.7 rebounds, shooting 41.5% from three in 30.5 minutes per game. He scored 21 points and connected on five three-pointers in a pivotal Game 3 win at Portland that helped Denver earn a third-consecutive first round playoff victory. Rivers originally signed a 10-day contract with the Nuggets on April 20, 2021 and then signed for the remainder of the season on April 30, 2021.

The 10-year NBA veteran holds career averages of 9.1 points, 2.3 assists and 2.1 rebounds while shooting 41.8% from the field and 35.0% from long distance in 588 career games (156 starts) with Denver, New Orleans, L.A. Clippers, Washington, Houston and New York.

Rivers was drafted 10th overall by New Orleans in 2012 after spending one season at Duke University. In his lone collegiate season he averaged a team-high 15.5 points on 43.3% shooting in 34 games, becoming the third freshman ever to lead Duke in scoring.

In G League, South Bay Lakers name Miles Simon as new head coach

The South Bay Lakers have named Miles Simon as head coach, it was announced today by team President/CEO Joey Buss and General Manager Nick Mazzella. Simon will be the ninth head coach in franchise history and will continue to serve as an assistant coach with the Los Angeles Lakers.

Simon joins the South Bay organization after spending four seasons as an assistant coach with Los Angeles, having been a member of the 2020 NBA Championship staff under Head Coach Frank Vogel. Simon has twice led the charge for the Lakers summer league teams, leading the team to a championship game berth for the second consecutive summer in 2018, after taking home the 2017 Las Vegas Summer League title as an assistant on the staff. Since joining the Lakers, Simon has at times been responsible for the pre-draft workout process and has assisted with the offseason development programs for current Lakers players.

“We are extremely excited to have Miles lead the South Bay Lakers as our new head coach,” Buss said. “His vast experience as a coach and player will be invaluable to the organization as we look to establish a winning culture in our pursuit of a championship.”

“I couldn’t be happier to continue my career with the Lakers organization as South Bay’s head coach. It is an honor to lead such a successful franchise and I look forward to working with our team both on and off the court,” Simon said “South Bay has a strong track record of developing NBA talent and I can’t wait to build upon our history as one of the top teams in the NBA G League. After winning the NBA world championship in 2020 with the Lakers, I expect to bring that pedigree to South Bay as well. I want to thank Jeanie, Rob, Kurt, Frank, Joey and Nick for the opportunity and I can’t wait to get to work.”

Simon first joined the Lakers organization after serving as head coach of the 2017 USA Junior National Select Team for the Nike Hoops Summit, leading the USA to a victory over the World Select Team. Simon won gold medals as an assistant for the 2016 USA Men’s U17 World Championship Team, as well as the 2015 USA Men’s U16 National Team. In addition to his work with USA Basketball, Simon has also served as a college basketball analyst for ESPN.

“Miles has been an integral member of the Lakers organization for many years, both as an assistant coach on a championship team and as the leader of our summer league rosters,” said Mazzella. “His ability to develop players will be vital to our franchise and we know that he will build a winning and positive atmosphere around our organization.”

The Arizona alumnus was the 1997 NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player after leading the Wildcats to a National Championship as a junior. Upon graduation, Simon played one season for the Orlando Magic before spending time overseas and in the CBA. After his playing career, Simon spent three seasons (2005-08) as an assistant coach at Arizona on Lute Olson’s staff.

Sixers sign guard Grant Riller to two-way contract

The Philadelphia 76ers have signed guard Grant Riller to a two-way contract.

Riller spent the 2020-21 season playing on a two-way contract with the Charlotte Hornets and for their G League affiliate, the Greensboro Swarm.

With the Swarm, Riller played and started in 11 of the team’s 15 games, and averaged 13.1 points, 1.7 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game, shooting .490 from the floor, .462 from three-point range (second in G League) and .867 from the foul line. He scored a season-high 28 points (10-15 FG, 6-8 3FG) on February 26 against Raptors 905.

Riller totaled 20-plus points in three of his 11 G League games, and scored in double figures seven times.

He also made seven appearances at the NBA level with the Hornets, averaging 2.6 points per game in limited minutes.

Riller was selected by the Hornets with the No. 56 overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft out of the College of Charleston. In four collegiate seasons, he posted career averages of 18.7 points, 3.3 boards and 2.8 assists while holding a career field-goal percentage of .519.

Per NBA rules, teams are allowed to have a maximum of two players signed to two-way contracts, in addition to players under standard NBA contracts.

A two-way player for the 76ers will provide services to the team’s G League affiliate – the Delaware Blue Coats – but is not allowed to be active for more than 50 NBA games.

Riller will wear No. 5 with Philadelphia.

Three-team NBA trade sends Lauri Markkanen to Cavs, Larry Nance Jr. to Trail Blazers

As part of a three-team NBA trade, the Cleveland Cavaliers have acquired forward Lauri Markkanen (LAU-ree MARK-a-nin) in a sign and trade agreement from the Chicago Bulls, Cavaliers General Manager Koby Altman announced today from Cleveland Clinic Courts.

In the deal, Cleveland traded forward Larry Nance Jr. to the Portland Trail Blazers and a protected 2023 second round pick (via Denver) to Chicago. The Bulls also received forward Derrick Jones Jr. from Portland and the Trail Blazers’ lottery-protected 2022 first round pick as part of the trade.

“We are extremely fortunate as an organization to be in a position to acquire another young and talented player with the skill-set of Lauri Markkanen,” said Altman. “He has the proven ability to play multiple positions and stretch the floor from the perimeter and, at 24-years-old, we believe his best basketball is in front of him. We are committed to establishing a winning culture in Cleveland that can be sustained over time and Lauri helps elevate that description. I also want to thank Larry for his outstanding and impactful contributions to our team, both on and off the court. His selfless acts of kindness and support for small businesses in Northeast Ohio during a global pandemic says a lot about his character. He remained steadfast in his commitment to helping others in their time of need and it was an inspiration to us all. Larry truly embraced the community, its fans and his teammates and he will be missed. The Cavaliers have a tremendous amount of respect and admiration for Larry as a person and a player, and we wish him and his family all the best in Portland.”

Markkanen (7-0, 238) played in 51 games (26 starts) for the Bulls last season, averaging 13.6 points and 5.3 rebounds in 25.8 minutes per contest. He also shot career highs in field goal percentage (.480) and three-point percentage (.402), while going .826 from the foul line. Markkanen connected on 119 three-pointers in 2020-21, his fourth consecutive season with over 100 triples. He also became just the fourth player in Bulls franchise history to shoot a perfect 7-of-7 from beyond the arc, accomplishing that feat against Philadelphia on March 11, 2021.

A native of Finland, Markkanen was originally drafted out of the University of Arizona by the Minnesota Timberwolves with the No. 7 overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft. Traded on draft night to Chicago, he spent his entire four-year NBA career with the Bulls, averaging 15.6 points and 7.1 rebounds in 29.5 minutes over 221 games (195 starts). Markkanen was an All-NBA Rookie First Team selection in 2018 and leaves the Bulls ranked sixth all-time in franchise history in three-pointers made with 493.

“Larry is a talented and versatile player that impacts winning on both ends of the floor,” said Trail Blazers president of basketball operations Neil Olshey. “We welcome him and his family to Portland and look forward to his contributions on the court and in our community.”

Originally selected by the L.A. Lakers with the 27th overall pick of the 2015 NBA Draft, Nance (6-7, 245) holds career averages of 8.3 points (52.9% FG, 33.3% 3-PT, 68.75 FT), 6.7 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 1.26 steals and 24.2 minutes in 350 games (123 starts) with the Lakers and Cleveland. A native of Akron, Ohio, Nance played collegiately for four seasons at Wyoming.

Grizzlies waive Rajon Rondo, who may return to Lakers

The Memphis Grizzlies today announced the team waived guard Rajon Rondo.

Rondo was acquired by Grizzlies from the Los Angeles Clippers on Aug. 16.

Per ESPN.com, “Rondo will likely sign with the Lakers, sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, upon clearing waivers after a contract buyout with the Memphis Grizzlies on Saturday. Rondo, 35, was traded from the LA Clippers to the Grizzlies earlier this month as a part of the Eric Bledsoe deal, but he reached an agreement on the final year of his contract worth $8.3 million to go back on the market.”

Rockets re-sign guard Armoni Brooks

The Houston Rockets have re-signed guard Armoni Brooks.

Brooks (6-3, 195) began last season with the Rockets G League affiliate, Rio Grande Valley, before signing a two-way contract with Houston on April 3. He appeared in 20 games with five starts for the Rockets while averaging 11.2 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 1.5 assists in 26.0 minutes per game.

The University of Houston product has the most 3-pointers made (60) through the first 20 games of a career in NBA history; the previous record was 48. Brooks scored 10+ points in each of the final seven games of 2020-21 (18.4 ppg) after doing so four times his first 13 games played (7.2 ppg).

Mavericks waive guard Nate Hinton

The Dallas Mavericks have waived guard Nate Hinton.

Hinton (6-5, 210) went undrafted in the 2020 NBA Draft after two seasons at the University of Houston and signed with Dallas as a two-way player on Dec. 1, 2020. He played in 21 games for the Mavericks last season.

Most recently, Hinton played for the Mavericks at the MGM Resorts NBA Summer League in Las Vegas where he averaged 7.8 points, 6.0 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 1.4 steals in five games (all starts).

Cleveland Cavaliers hire Sidney Lowe as assistant coach

The Cleveland Cavaliers have hired Sidney Lowe as an Assistant Coach, Cavaliers General Manager Koby Altman and Head Coach J.B. Bickerstaff announced today from Cleveland Clinic Courts.

Lowe has been on the coaching sidelines for nearly three decades and returns to Cleveland where he was an assistant coach for five seasons under Mike Fratello from 1994-1999. Over that stretch, he was part of a staff that helped the Cavaliers garner three playoff appearances (1995, 1996, 1998). The Washington, DC, native and former NBA point guard was most recently an assistant coach with the Detroit Pistons for the past three seasons (2018-2021), including an NBA postseason berth in 2019.

“Sidney brings a wealth of coaching experience and familiarity to our staff,” said Bickerstaff. “He is a great teacher of the game and his ability to build lasting relationships across the board is integral to the growth of our overall culture here in Cleveland. Sidney also brings all of the character traits we value as a human being – loyalty, trust and integrity. I look forward to working with him and building something special together with our young and talented roster.”

Lowe began his coaching career with the Minnesota Timberwolves in 1992, when he became an assistant coach under then-head coach Jimmy Rodgers. He was promoted to head coach midway through the 1992-93 season and remained in the position through the 1993-94 season. Following five years as an assistant with Cleveland (1994-1999) and one with Minnesota (1999-2000), Lowe was named head coach of the Vancouver Grizzlies in 2000 and remained at the helm until 2002-03. He was the lead assistant to head coach Flip Saunders staff in Detroit during the 2005-06 season, a year the team advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals. Lowe also served as head coach at his alma mater, North Carolina State (2006-11), where in his first season he became the third coach in school history to win 20 games and defeat the three other ACC North Carolina institutions (North Carolina, Duke and Wake Forest). After coaching at NC State, Lowe returned to the NBA and spent three seasons as an assistant with the Utah Jazz (2011-2014), two with the Timberwolves (2014-2016) and two with the Washington Wizards (2016-2018).

As a player, Lowe was originally selected by the Chicago Bulls with the first pick of the second round (25th overall) in the 1983 NBA Draft and spent four seasons with Indiana, Detroit, Atlanta, Charlotte and Minnesota. He also competed in the Continental Basketball Association, leading the Albany Patroons and Tampa Bay Thrillers to CBA titles. Lowe played college basketball under the late Jim Valvano at North Carolina State, earning Final Four All-Tournament honors while helping lead the Wolfpack to the 1983 NCAA Championship.

Atlanta Hawks sign Skylar Mays to two-way contract

The Atlanta Hawks have signed guard Skylar Mays to a two-way contract.

Mays, a 6’4 guard, averaged 3.8 points and 1.1 rebounds in 8.2 minutes as a rookie for the Hawks last season (.449 FG%, .350 3FG%, .880 FT%) in 33 contests. He scored in double-figures five times, including Feb. 12 vs. San Antonio, when Mays set a career-high in points (20), adding three assists in 17 minutes (7-10 FGs, 4-5 3FGs, 2-2 FTs). In Atlanta’s final regular season game (May 16 vs. Houston), he finished with 16 points, a career-best seven assists and two blocks in a career-high 27 minutes (7-11 FGs, 2-5 3FGs). Mays also played in seven postseason games, totaling eight points.

In four contests with the Hawks at the 2021 NBA Las Vegas Summer League, he compiled 18.8 points, 3.8 assists, 2.5 rebounds and 1.5 steals in 28.7 minutes (.463 FG%, .333 3FG%, 16-16 FTs).

Selected by the Hawks in the second round (50th overall) of the 2020 NBA Draft, Mays originally signed a two-way contract with the Hawks on Nov. 24, 2020. As a senior at LSU in 2019-20, he averaged 16.7 points, 5.0 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1.8 steals in 34.5 minutes, earning first-team All SEC honors. The three-time CoSIDA Academic All-American was the 2020 Academic All-American of the Year. He is a summa cum laude graduate with a degree in kinesiology.

Grizzlies trade Patrick Beverley to Timberwolves

The Memphis Grizzlies have acquired guard Jarrett Culver and forward Juancho Hernangómez in a trade with the Minnesota Timberwolves for guard Patrick Beverley.

In addition, the Grizzlies have waived guard/forward Sean McDermott.

Beverley, 33, has appeared in 468 regular season games (384 starts) in nine NBA seasons with the Houston Rockets and Los Angeles Clippers, averaging 8.8 points on 41.5% shooting, 4.3 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game. The 6-1 guard played in 37 games (34 starts) for the Clippers last season, averaging 7.5 points on 42.3% shooting, 3.2 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game. His best game in 2020-21 came on Jan. 5 vs. San Antonio when he finished with a season-high 20 points on 7-of-10 shooting, including 6-of-9 from deep, eight rebounds and a season-high eight assists. Beverley has seen action in 59 career playoff games (48 starts), including 17 games (seven starts) in last season’s playoffs and has averaged 7.9 points on 41.2% shooting, 4.5 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game.

The University of Arkansas product is a three-time NBA All-Defensive team selection, including being named to the NBA All-Defensive First Team in 2016-17, his final season with the Rockets. Originally drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers with the 42nd overall pick in the 2009 NBA Draft, the Chicago native spent three seasons overseas in Greece, Russia, and Ukraine. He signed as a free agent

Culver (6-6, 195) has appeared in 97 games (42 starts) and holds career averages of 7.8 points, 3.3 rebounds and 1.4 assists in 20.7 minutes in two seasons with Minnesota. The 22-year-old Dallas native was selected by Phoenix with the sixth overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft after guiding Texas Tech University to the 2019 NCAA Championship Game as a sophomore.

Hernangómez (6-9, 214) has appeared in 257 games (57 starts) and owns career averages of 5.7 points and 3.5 rebounds in 16.4 minutes over his five-year NBA career with Denver and Minnesota. A native of Madrid, Spain, the 25-year-old was drafted by Denver with the 15th overall pick in the 2016 NBA Draft.

McDermott (6-6, 195) appeared in 18 games off the bench for the Grizzlies as a rookie last season and averaged 2.2 points and 1.1 rebounds in 8.8 minutes. Undrafted in the 2020 NBA Draft out of Butler University, the 24-year-old native of Anderson, Ind., also competed in six games for the NBA G League’s Memphis Hustle.