Inside Hoops – Page 271 – NBA Blog

Nuggets hire Popeye Jones as an assistant coach

The Denver Nuggets have hired Popeye Jones as an assistant coach on head coach Michael Malone’s staff.

Jones served as an assistant coach under Doc Rivers with the Philadelphia 76ers last season and spent the prior seven seasons with the Indiana Pacers as an assistant coach.

Jones had a three-year tenure with the Brooklyn/New Jersey Nets front office, starting in player development before transitioning to an assistant coach role. He began his coaching career with the Dallas Mavericks where he worked in player development.

Jones played collegiately at Murray State, where he is fourth on the Racers’ all-time scoring list. In 1992, the school retired his No. 54. A second-round pick in the 1992 NBA Draft, Jones played one season in Italy before joining the Mavericks in 1993. Jones also appeared in 40 games during the 1999-2000 with the Nuggets, averaging 2.6 points and 2.6 rebounds in 8.3 minutes per game.

Jones career spanned 11 seasons, appearing in 535 games (304 starts) for Dallas, Toronto, Boston, Denver, Washington and Golden State, holding career averages of 7.0 points and 7.4 rebounds in 23.5 minutes per game.

Celtics sign Marcus Smart to contract extension

The Boston Celtics have signed seven-year NBA veteran Marcus Smart to a contract extension, the team announced today.

Per the Boston Globe, Smart’s contract extension with the Celtics is a four-year, $77 million deal.

“We are thrilled to have the opportunity to extend Marcus, and thankful that he has chosen to remain a Celtic,” said Celtics President of Basketball Operations Brad Stevens. “In his seven years in Boston, he has made a big impact, on and off the court. It is not a coincidence that every team he’s played on has been in the playoffs, with several series wins throughout the years. He adds to winning on both ends of the floor, and competes with a grit and toughness that few match.”

Per the Boston Globe, “Stevens feels good about this year’s team — returning gold medalist Jayson Tatum, a healthy Jaylen Brown, a re-signed Marcus Smart, and acquisitions Al Horford, Josh Richardson, Dennis Schroder and Enes Kanter along with three first-round picks in the past two years who are expected to help. Stevens believes the Celtics were able to improve the roster with astute moves and maintain cap flexibility for the future. They ridded themselves of Walker’s contract — two years and $74 million remaining — garnered a $17.1 million trade exception for Fournier and then scored by getting Schroder perhaps $10 million per season less than his original asking price.”

Originally drafted by the Celtics with the sixth overall pick in the 2016 NBA Draft, Smart has played all seven of his NBA seasons with Boston and stands as the organization’s longest currently-tenured player. He has produced 10.2 points (37.6% FG, 32.0% 3-PT, 77.7% FT), 3.6 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.6 steals, and 29.4 minutes across 449 career games (228 starts), and is one of three Celtics players to ever average 7.0 points, 3.0 assists, and 1.0 steal through each of their first seven NBA seasons (Larry Bird, Antoine Walker).

“There’s nowhere else I’d rather play and no other fans I’d rather play in front of. I love Boston, and Boston loves me,” said Smart. “We’ve had some great moments and success in my time here, but there’s more to accomplish. I’m ready to put that Celtics jersey back on and get to work out on the Parquet with my teammates.”

Smart, 27, has been selected to the NBA’s All-Defensive First Team twice in his NBA career (2018-19, 2019-20), making him the first Celtics player to earn All-Defensive First Team honors in consecutive seasons since Kevin Garnett in 2007-08 and 2008-09.

In 48 games (45 starts) in 2020-21, Smart averaged career highs in points (13.1 ppg), assists (5.7 apg), and minutes played (32.9 mpg). It was the second straight year in which he recorded at least 12.0 points, 4.0 assists, and 1.5 steals.

A native of Lancaster, TX, Smart currently ranks fourth on the franchise ledger for three-point field goals (677) and sixth all time with 702 steals.

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Mavericks sign Feron Hunt, Carlik Jones and EJ Onu

The Dallas Mavericks have signed rookie free agents Feron Hunt, Carlik Jones and EJ Onu.

The contracts are likely all non-guaranteed deals that merely bring the players to Mavs training camp.

Hunt (F, 6-8, 195) spent four seasons at SMU. In 78 games (41 starts), Hunt averaged 9.6 points, 6.8 rebounds, 0.86 blocks and 26.3 minutes while shooting 55.7% (300-539 FG) from the field. Among SMU leaders, he finished his career ranked fourth in field goal percentage, 32nd in rebounds (533) and T-17th in blocks (67).

Hunt attended DeSoto High School in suburban DFW and averaged 11.2 points and 7.1 rebounds as a senior.

Jones (G, 6-1, 185) finished his collegiate career at Louisville, where he was an All-ACC First Team selection and the 2020-21 AP ACC Rookie of the Year. Jones became the first person in Louisville history to reach double figures in his first 17 games as a Cardinal.

Prior to joining Louisville, the Cincinnati native played three seasons at Radford and was named the 2019-20 Big South Player of the Year after being the only NCAA Division I player to average at least 20.0 points, 5.0 rebounds and 5.0 assists that year.

Onu (C, 6-11, 240) played 125 career games (64 starts) over four years at Shawnee State in Portsmouth, Ohio. Onu averaged 12.6 points, 6.9 rebounds and 4.2 blocks last season en route to helping Shawnee State to the NAIA championship.

The Richmond Heights, Ohio, native finished his 2020-21 campaign as a First Team NAIA All-American, the Mid-South Conference Player of the Year and a First Team All-Mid-South Conference selection. He also garnered his third consecutive Mid-South Conference Defensive Player of the Year award. Onu finished his career as Shawnee State’s all-time leader in blocks (529).

The Mavericks training camp roster stands at 20 players.

Pacers sign forward Torrey Craig

The Indiana Pacers have signed free agent forward Torrey Craig.

“Torrey is known for toughness, defense and being a great team guy,” said Pacers President of Basketball Operations Kevin Pritchard. “As a player who went undrafted, Torrey got to where he is through hard work and perseverance. He will be a great addition to our depth and our emphasis on defense.”

After he originally went undrafted in the 2014 NBA Draft out of the University of South Carolina Upstate, Craig played three seasons professionally in Australia and New Zealand before he earned a spot on the Denver Nuggets’ roster for the 2017-18 season. Craig played three seasons for the Nuggets (2017-20) before splitting the 2020-21 regular season with the Milwaukee Bucks and Phoenix Suns.

Craig has played in the postseason in each of the last three seasons, including the 2021 playoffs in which he helped the Suns reach the NBA Finals.

Knicks sign guard M.J. Walker

The New York Knicks have signed guard M.J. Walker to a contract.

It’s likely a non-guaranteed deal that brings Walker to training camp.

Walker, 6-5, 213-pounds, played four seasons at Florida State University (2017-21), averaging nine points, two rebounds and 1.6 assists over 24.3 minutes in 120 games (82 starts). As a senior, he was named to the 2020-21 All-ACC Second Team after producing a career best 12.2 points to go along with 2.5 rebounds and 2.5 assists over 29.0 minutes in 24 games (23 starts).

The Jonesboro, GA-native, recently appeared in three games for the Knicks Summer League entry in Las Vegas, NV. He averaged 4.7 points and 2.7 rebounds over 16.1 minutes.

Utah Jazz add Erdem Can to coaching staff

The Utah Jazz have added Erdem Can to their coaching staff.

Can joins the Jazz having most recently served as an assistant coach for Fenerbahce in the Turkish first division from 2012-21. Under legendary international head coach Željko Obradović, Can helped the team to four Turkish League Championships, three Turkish Cups, five EuroLeague Final Fours, three EuroLeague Finals and one EuroLeague Championship. He has also assisted the Utah Jazz’s summer league coaching staff five times in Salt Lake City and Las Vegas.

The Ankara, Turkey native comes to Utah with a vast career in coaching and as a player. He began his playing career with Sumerbank Basketball Team in Turkey from 1993-96 and finished his career with Mulkiyespor Basketball Team, also in Turkey (1996-98). He also has coaching stops in the Turkish first division with Turk Telekom (2008-10), Olin Edirne (2010-12), serving as head coach for Olin Edirne for two seasons.

Can received a master’s degree in political science and public administration at the Ankara University Faculty of Political Science in 2003.

Nuggets re-sign JaMychal Green

The Denver Nuggets have signed forward JaMychal Green to a multiyear contract, President of Basketball Operations Tim Connelly announced today.

Per the Denver Post, “Green agreed to a 2-year, $17 million deal, according to league sources. Green has a player option on the second year of his deal, a source said, and the deal is fully guaranteed.”

Green, 6-8, 227, appeared in 58 games (five starts) for the Nuggets last season, averaging 8.1 points and 4.8 rebounds while shooting 46.3% from the field and 39.9% from three in 19.3 minutes. He also played in 10 playoff games, averaging 5.4 points, 5.2 rebounds and 1.1 assists in 19.0 minutes.

The seven-year NBA veteran has appeared in 420 career games (157 starts) for San Antonio, Memphis, Los Angeles and Denver, holding career averages of 8.1 points, 6.0 rebounds and 0.9 assists, shooting 47.0% from the field and 38.0% from three-point range.

The 31-year-old native of Montgomery, Alabama originally went undrafted in 2013 NBA Draft after spending four seasons at the University of Alabama. He signed a multiyear contract with the San Antonio Spurs in August of 2014.

In G League, Grand Rapids Gold hire Jason Terry as new head coach

The Grand Rapids Gold, the G League affiliate of the Denver Nuggets, have hired Jason Terry as their new head coach.

The 19-year NBA veteran appeared in 1,410 career games, the ninth most in NBA history. The sharp-shooting NBA Champion owns career averages of 13.4 points, 2.3 rebounds and 3.8 assists while connecting on 2,282 career three-pointers, the seventh most all-time. After wrapping up his prolific playing career in 2018, Terry spent the 2019-20 season as the Assistant General Manager for the G League’s Texas Legends and the 2020-21 season as an assistant coach with his alma mater Arizona Wildcats.

Terry was drafted 10th overall in the 1999 NBA Draft by the Atlanta Hawks where he was named to the All-Rookie Second Team in 1999-00. Terry spent the first five years of his career with the Hawks before being traded to Dallas where he spent the next eight seasons and helped the Mavericks earn an NBA Championship in 2011. Terry appeared in all 21 playoff games during the championship run while averaging 17.5 points (second to Nowitzki), 3.2 assists and shot a scorching 44.2% from beyond the arc. He enjoyed one of his most successful individual seasons in 2008-09 when he was named the Sixth Man of the Year after averaging 19.6 points, 2.4 rebounds and 3.4 assists in 33.7 minutes per game.

The Seattle, Washington native entered the NBA after spending four years at the University of Arizona, including a senior season where he averaged 21.9 points, 3.3 rebounds and 5.5 assists and shot 40% from three-point range. Terry was named Pac-12 Player of the Year, All-Pac-12 First Team and Consensus All-American First Team his final season at Arizona.

Pistons re-sign Hamidou Diallo

The Detroit Pistons have re-signed guard Hamidou Diallo.

Diallo, 6-5, 202, was acquired by the Pistons from the Oklahoma City Thunder on March 13, 2021, in exchange for Svi Mykhailiuk and future draft consideration. In 20 games (four starts) as a Piston, Diallo averaged 11.2 points, 5.4 rebounds and 1.2 assists in 23.3 minutes. Overall, he recorded career-high averages of 11.6 points (48% FG), 5.2 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 23.6 minutes in 52 games (nine starts) with the Thunder and Pistons last season.

Diallo, 23, was selected 45th overall in the 2018 NBA Draft by the Brooklyn Nets and subsequently involved in two trades to Charlotte and then Oklahoma City following the draft. In 149 career NBA games (15 starts), he’s averaged 7.5 points, 3.6 rebounds, 1.0 assists, 0.7 steals in 17.8 minutes with Oklahoma City and Detroit. He also won the NBA Slam Dunk Contest as a rookie at the 2019 NBA All-Star Weekend in Charlotte.

A native of Queens, N.Y., Diallo played one season collegiately at Kentucky in 2017-18, averaging 10.0 points, 3.6 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 0.8 steals in 24.8 minutes over 37 games (all starts).

Knicks sign forward Aamir Simms

The New York Knicks have signed forward Aamir Simms.

Per the New York Post, “Simms will be joining them for training camp. The team has signed the former Clemson star to an Exhibit 10 contract, a source confirmed.”

Simms, 6-8, 245-pounds, played four seasons at Clemson University (2017-21) and averaged 9.2 points, 5.2 rebounds and 1.6 assists over 25.3 minutes in 122 games (100 starts). As a senior, Simms was named to the 2020-21 All-ACC Second Team after producing a career best 13.4 points on 53.2-percent shooting from the field (40-percent from downtown) with 6.4 rebounds and 2.7 assists over 29.7 minutes in 24 games (all starts).

The Palmyra, VA-native, recently appeared in four games for the Knicks Summer League entry in Las Vegas, NV. He averaged 3.8 points and 2.8 rebounds over 11.1 minutes.