Author: Inside Hoops

InsideHoops.com has been a world leader in NBA basketball coverage for over 20 years. Read our blog, but also be sure to read our main website on www.insidehoops.com

Trail Blazers sign center Cody Zeller

The Portland Trail Blazers have signed free agent center Cody Zeller.

Zeller, 28, arrives in Portland after spending the first eight seasons of his career in Charlotte. He appeared in 48 games (21 starts) for the Hornets during the 2020-21 campaign, posting averages of 9.4 points (55.9% FG, 71.4% FT), 6.8 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 20.9 minutes.

Selected by Charlotte with the fourth overall pick of the 2013 NBA Draft after two years at Indiana, Zeller (6-11, 240) holds career averages of 8.7 points (51.8% FG, 22.7% 3-PT, 72.9% FT), 6.0 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 0.67 blocks and 22.7 minutes.

New Orleans Pelicans hire Jarron Collins and Mike D’Antoni

The New Orleans Pelicans announced today the hiring of Jarron Collins as an assistant coach and Mike D’Antoni as a coaching advisor.

They join assistant coaches Casey Hill, Fred Vinson and Teresa Weatherspoon, along with player development coaches Corey Brewer, Darnell Lazare and Beno Udrih on Head Coach Willie Green’s staff.

“This is a cohesive group of high-character individuals with diverse backgrounds and skill sets,” said Green. “I’m confident that their coaching and playing experience at the highest professional and collegiate levels, combined with their work ethic and team-focused approach, will help build the foundation we need to be successful.”

Collins begins his first season with the Pelicans after serving the previous seven seasons as an assistant coach with the Golden State Warriors. While on Warriors Head Coach Steve Kerr’s staff, Collins helped guide Golden State to five consecutive NBA Finals appearances (2014-19) and three NBA Championships (2015, 2017 & 2018). He began his coaching career as a player development coach with the Warriors during the 2014-15 season before getting promoted to assistant coach. Selected by Utah with the 52nd overall pick in the 2001 NBA Draft, Collins posted career averages of 3.9 points and 2.9 rebounds in 542 regular season games over 10 seasons with Utah, Phoenix, the L.A. Clippers and Portland.

D’Antoni joins New Orleans after serving as an assistant coach with the Brooklyn Nets during the 2020-21 season. D’Antoni has compiled a record of 672-527 (.560 winning percentage) over 16 seasons as a head coach with Denver (1998-99), Phoenix (2003-08), New York (2008-12), L.A. Lakers (2012-14) and Houston (2016-20). He has guided his team to the playoffs 10 times, including three Western Conference Finals appearances (Phoenix – 2005 & 2006; Houston – 2018). D’Antoni has earned Coach of the Year honors twice during his career (Phoenix – 2005; Houston – 2018), becoming one of only 10 head coaches in NBA history to be named Coach of the Year multiple times. He has also served as an assistant coach with Denver (1997-98), Portland (2000-01) and Phoenix (2002-03), as well as associate head coach with Philadelphia (2015-16). A dual citizen of the U.S. and Italy, D’Antoni began his coaching career in Italy, leading Olimpia Milano for four seasons (1990-94) and Benetton Basket for three seasons (1994-97) before being hired by Denver as an assistant coach.

Hill returns for his second season as an assistant coach with the Pelicans. Hill previously served as an assistant coach for the Los Angeles Clippers (2018-20). He spent the 2017-18 season as head coach of the Clippers’ NBA G League affiliate, the Agua Caliente Clippers, leading the team to a 23-27 record in its inaugural season. Hill joined the Clippers after four seasons as head coach of the Santa Cruz Warriors, G League affiliate of the Golden State Warriors, where he led the franchise to its first-ever G League title in 2014-15. Hill and his staff in Santa Cruz earned the 2013-14 NBA G League “Development Champion” award, an annual honor that recognizes the team that best embodies the league’s goals of developing NBA basketball talent via call-ups and assignments. Prior to joining Santa Cruz staff, the Trinity University grad worked under his father, longtime NBA coach Bob Hill, with the Tokyo Apache, a professional team in Japan.

Vinson begins his 12th season as an assistant coach in New Orleans. Prior to joining the Pelicans, Vinson was an assistant coach for the Los Angeles Clippers from 2007-09. In addition to his duties as an assistant coach, Vinson also served as director of player programs for the Clippers, where he was responsible for mentoring young players and easing their transition to the NBA. Vinson played 13 years of professional basketball, including two NBA seasons with the Atlanta Hawks and Seattle SuperSonics. In addition to playing in the United States Basketball League, Continental Basketball Association and American Basketball Association, Vinson spent several years overseas with professional clubs in the Philippines, Israel, Venezuela, Poland and France. In 2003, Vinson was a member of the CBA Champion Yakima Sun Kings, in addition to being named a CBA All-Star that season. He also holds the record for most points in a game in Guaiqueries de Margarita (Venezuela) team history with 53.

Weatherspoon returns for her third season with the Pelicans, including her second season as an assistant coach after serving as a two-way player development coach in 2019-20. Prior to joining the Pelicans, Weatherspoon served as the director of player and franchise development with the WNBA’s New York Liberty from 2016-19. Weatherspoon served as the head coach at her alma mater, Louisiana Tech University, from 2009-14, leading the Lady Techsters to a 99-71 (.582) record over six seasons, making consecutive trips to the NCAA tournament in 2010 and 2011, and winning the WAC tournament in 2010. She initially joined the women’s basketball program at Louisiana Tech in the 2008-09 season, serving as associate head coach after serving as the head coach of the Westchester (NY) Phantoms of the American Basketball Association during the 2007-08 season. After a collegiate playing career at Louisiana Tech from 1984-88, where she helped lead her team to the 1988 NCAA National Championship during her senior campaign, Weatherspoon embarked on a 16-year playing career, beginning overseas with stops in Italy, France and Russia from 1988-1996, then joining the New York Liberty from 1997-03, and finishing her professional career as a member of the Los Angeles Sparks in 2004. In 254 career regular season games in the WNBA, Weatherspoon averaged 5.0 points, 5.3 assists, 3.1 rebounds and 1.8 steals while earning multiple accolades along the way, including back-to-back Defensive Player of the Year awards in 1997 and 1998, four consecutive All-WNBA Second Team nods from 1997-2000 and five straight All-Star appearances from 1999-2003. At the conclusion of her career, Weatherspoon was named one of the WNBA’s top 15 players of all time in 2011 and was a member of the WNBA Top 20@20 list in 2016. A 2010 inductee into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame, Weatherspoon was recently enshrined into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Massachusetts as part of the 2019 class.

Brewer enters his second season with the Pelicans as a player development coach. Selected seventh overall in the 2007 NBA Draft, the 13-year NBA veteran holds career averages of 8.7 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 1.5 assists in 819 regular season games for Minnesota, Dallas, Denver, Houston, the L.A. Lakers, Oklahoma City, Philadelphia and Sacramento. Brewer averaged 11.3 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 2.8 assists during his three-year collegiate career and was a key member of the University of Florida’s back-to-back National Championship teams in 2006 and 2007, earning the NCAA Basketball Tournament Most Outstanding Player Award in 2007.

Lazare begins his third season as a player development coach in New Orleans. Prior to joining the Pelicans, Lazare served as player development coach and assistant video coordinator for the Memphis Grizzlies and previously served as an assistant coach for the NBA G League’s Iowa Energy. The Baton Rouge native played four years at Louisiana State University, where he appeared in 120 games and helped lead the Tigers to the 2006 Final Four. Lazare played professionally in the NBA G League for the Maine Red Claws, Fort Wayne Mad Ants, and Idaho Stampede, as well as overseas in Sweden, Ukraine, Australia, and the United Kingdom.

Udrih returns for his second season with the Pelicans as a player development coach. Udrih previously served as an assistant coach for the New York Knicks’ NBA G League affiliate, the Westchester Knicks, during the 2019-20 season. Selected 28th overall in the 2004 NBA Draft, the Slovenian native holds career averages of 8.4 points, 2.1 rebounds, and 3.4 assists in 831 regular season games for San Antonio, Sacramento, Milwaukee, Orlando, New York, Memphis, Miami and Detroit, winning two NBA Championships with the Spurs (2005, 2007). In addition to his 13-year NBA career, Udrih has played professionally in Israel, Russia, Italy, Lithuania, and his native Slovenia, winning multiple championships across Europe.

Ormandy returns for his seventh season with the Pelicans, including his fifth as video coordinator after serving as the team’s assistant video coordinator from 2015-17. Prior to joining the Pelicans, Ormandy served as a video intern with the NBA Champion Golden State Warriors during the 2014-15 season and the Houston Rockets during the 2013-14 season. In 2012-13, he served as a graduate assistant coach for the men’s basketball team at Fairleigh Dickinson University. Ormandy is joined by video assistant Jon Tramer, who enters his third season in New Orleans, along with player development assistant Brandon Demas, who returns for his fourth season with the team.

Charlotte Hornets sign Scottie Lewis and Arnoldas Kulboka to two-way contracts

The Charlotte Hornets have signed guard Scottie Lewis and forward Arnoldas Kulboka to two-way contracts.

A sophomore out of Florida, the Hornets drafted Lewis with the No. 56 pick in the 2021 NBA Draft after he accrued averages of 7.9 points, 3.1 rebounds and 1.6 steals in 25.5 minutes per game in 21 games during the 2020-21 season. In his two seasons with the Gators, Lewis averaged 8.2 points, 3.4 rebounds and 1.3 steals in 27.6 minutes per contest, making 51 career appearances. The former Gator was a 2019-20 SEC All-Freshman Team selection and earned McDonald’s All-American honors after his senior season at Ranney School.

A 6-10 forward from Lithuania, Kulboka spent last season in the Liga ACB, Spain’s top professional basketball division, with Bilbao Basket where he averaged 9.2 points and 4.0 rebounds in 22.8 minutes per game in 33 games. He appeared in six games for Bilbao Basket at the Basketball Champions League, averaging 6.2 points and 4.7 rebounds in 19.3 minutes per game. Charlotte drafted Kulboka 55th overall in the 2018 NBA Draft as he also spent the 2019-20 season with Bilbao Basket and has played professional basketball internationally since the 2014-15 season when he was with U18 Zalgiris Kaunas.

Charlotte Hornets sign rookies James Bouknight and Kai Jones

Charlotte Hornets have signed rookie guard James Bouknight and rookie forward/center Kai Jones.

A 6-5 guard out of Connecticut, Bouknight was selected 11th overall by Charlotte at the 2021 NBA Draft after he averaged 18.7 points, 4.7 rebounds and 1.1 steals in 31.7 minutes per game in 15 games during the 2020-21 season. For his performance, Bouknight was named to the All-BIG EAST First Team as well as NABC District I Player of the Year as a sophomore. Over his two seasons with the Huskies, Bouknight made 43 appearances and averaged 15.0 points, 4.7 rebounds and 1.5 assists in 27.9 minutes per game.

Selected with the 19th overall pick out of Texas in the 2021 NBA Draft, Jones averaged 8.8 points and 4.8 rebounds in 22.9 minutes per game, appearing in 26 games during the 2020-21 season. Jones went on to being named 2020-21 Big 12 Sixth Man of the Year and was an All-Big 12 honorable mention. A native of the Bahamas, Jones averaged 6.2 points, 4.0 rebounds and 1.0 blocks in 19.8 minutes per game in 53 career games over his two-year collegiate career. The former Longhorn was acquired by the Hornets via a draft night trade with the New York Knicks as he became just the fifth Bahamian player to be selected in the NBA Draft.

Lakers sign Joel Ayayi and Austin Reaves to two-way contracts

The Los Angeles Lakers have signed guards Joel Ayayi and Austin Reaves to two-way contracts.

Ayayi appeared in 32 games (31 starts) for Gonzaga last season, averaging 12.0 points (.575 FG%, .389 3P%), 6.9 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.1 steals in 31.3 minutes. The 2020-21 All-WCC First Team honoree ranked third in the conference in true shooting percentage (.665) and scored in double figures 21 times last season. In three seasons at Gonzaga, Ayayi averaged 8.8 points, 5.2 rebounds and 2.3 assists in 88 career games and was named the Most Outstanding Player of the 2020 WCC Tournament.

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.

Sixers waive George Hill

Philadelphia 76ers President of Basketball Operations Daryl Morey announced today that the team has waived 13-year veteran George Hill.

Hill was acquired by the 76ers from the Oklahoma City Thunder in a three-team trade on March 25. During his time with Philadelphia, Hill appeared in 16 regular-season games with averages of 6.0 points, 2.0 rebounds and 1.9 assists in 18.9 minutes per game.

He also saw action in 12 playoff games with the 76ers, posting averages of 4.7 points along with 1.3 rebounds and 1.5 assists.

Toronto Raptors waive Rodney Hood, DeAndre’ Bembry and Paul Watson

The Toronto Raptors announced Tuesday that they have waived guard DeAndre’ Bembry, forward Rodney Hood and forward Paul Watson.

Bembry appeared in 51 games for the Raptors during the 2020-21 campaign, averaging 5.7 points, 2.9 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 19.1 minutes. He originally signed as a free agent Nov. 29, 2020.

Hood averaged 3.9 points, 1.8 rebounds and 12.7 minutes during 17 games for Toronto in 2020-21. He was acquired Mar. 25, 2021 along with Gary Trent Jr. from Portland in exchange for Norman Powell.

Watson averaged 4.1 points and 1.7 rebounds in 25 games for Toronto over the past two seasons. He joined the Raptors on two-way contract in Jan. 15, 2020 and signed a full NBA contract Dec. 19, 2021.

Trail Blazers sign forward Trendon Watford to two-way contract

The Portland Trail Blazers have signed forward Trendon Watford to a two-way contract, it was announced today by president of basketball operations Neil Olshey.

Watford, 20, averaged 16.3 points (48.0% FG, 31.6% 3-PT, 65.1% FT), 7.4 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 1.11 steals in 28 games (all starts) as a sophomore at LSU during 2020-21 season. He ranked sixth in the SEC in scoring and fifth in rebounding while earning All-SEC First Team honors from the Associated Press. In the postseason, Watford scored a career-high 30 points against Alabama in the SEC Tournament Championship Game and averaged 11.0 points and 7.5 rebounds in two NCAA Tournament games.

A native of Birmingham, Alabama, Watford (6-9, 240) played in 59 games in his two seasons at LSU, averaging 14.9 points (48.4% FG, 29.0% 3-PT, 66.2% FT), 7.3 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 0.98 steals. He was selected to the All-SEC Freshman Team following the 2019-20 season.

Brooklyn Nets hire Brian Keefe as an assistant coach

The Brooklyn Nets have named Brian Keefe as an assistant coach on Head Coach Steve Nash’s staff.

Keefe joins the Nets after most recently serving as an assistant coach with the Oklahoma City Thunder during the 2019-20 season, his second stint with the franchise. He previously spent time as an assistant coach with the Los Angeles Lakers (2016-19) and New York Knicks (2014-16), as well as a seven-year stay (2007-14) with the Thunder as both a player development coach and assistant coach, beginning with the franchise’s final season in Seattle (2007-08). Keefe started his NBA career as a video coordinator with the San Antonio Spurs for two seasons (2005-07) and was part of the 2007 NBA championship team. Prior to working in the NBA, the Winchester, Mass., native was an assistant coach at Bryant University for four seasons (2001-05) and a graduate assistant with the South Florida men’s basketball program for one year (2000-01). Keefe played collegiately for two seasons (1994-96) at UC Irvine, earning All-Big West Second Team honors as a sophomore. He then transferred to UNLV for his final two years of collegiate eligibility where he helped lead the Runnin’ Rebels to an NCAA Tournament berth in 1998.