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Orlando Magic sign rookies Jalen Suggs and Franz Wagner

The Orlando Magic have signed rookie guard Jalen Suggs and rookie forward Franz Wagner, President of Basketball Operations Jeff Weltman announced today.

Suggs (fifth overall) and Wagner (eighth overall) were both selected in the first round of the 2021 NBA Draft.

Suggs (6’4”, 205, 6/3/01) played and started in 30 games last season as a freshman at Gonzaga University, averaging 14.4 ppg., 5.3 rpg., 4.5 apg. and 1.90 stlpg. in 29.0 minpg., while shooting .503 (155-308) from the floor.

Suggs was a consensus All-America Second Team selection. He was named to the 2020-21 All-West Coast Conference First Team, the WCC Newcomer of the Year and the 2021 WCC Tournament Most Outstanding Player. Suggs was also one of five finalists for the 2020-21 Bob Cousy Award, given to the nation’s top point guard, as well as one of five finalists for the 2020-21 USWBA National Freshman of the Year award. He led the Bulldogs to a 31-1 record, with their only loss coming to Baylor in the 2021 NCAA Championship game. Suggs hit a game-winning three-pointer as time expired on Apr. 3 vs. UCLA in the NCAA Final Four.

As a high school senior (2019-20) at Minnehaha Academy in Minneapolis, MN, Suggs was named the National MaxPreps Male Athlete of the Year. He was selected to participate in the 2020 McDonald’s All-American Game and was one of five finalists for the Naismith High School Boys National Player of the Year. During his high school career, Minnehaha went 111-15 (.881) and won three straight 2A state titles. Suggs was the first athlete in Minnesota history to be named the state’s Mr. Basketball and Mr. Football in the same year.

Wagner (6’9”, 225, 8/27/01) played and started in all 28 games last season as a sophomore at the University of Michigan, averaging 12.5 ppg., 6.5 rpg., 3.0 apg., 1.25 stlpg. and 1.04 blkpg. in 31.7 minpg., while shooting .835 (66-79) from the free throw line. He ranked in the top three on the team in scoring, rebounding, assists, steals (led the team) and blocks. Wagner was named to the 2020-21 All-Big Ten Second Team by the coaches and Third Team by the media, helping the Wolverines reach the Elite Eight at the NCAA Tournament. He was named one of 10 semifinalists for the Jerry West Award, given to the nation’s top shooting guard.

Wagner played and started in 55 career games during two seasons (2019-21) at Michigan, averaging 12.0 ppg., 6.1 rpg., 2.0 apg. and 1.25 stlpg. in 31.2 minpg., while shooting .835 (111-133) from the free throw line. As a freshman (2019-20), he played and started in 27 games, averaging 11.6 ppg., 5.6 rpg., 1.0 apg. and 1.26 stlpg. in 30.7 minpg. Wagner was named to the 2019-20 Big Ten All-Freshman Team and was named Big Ten Freshman of the Week three times.

During the 2018-19 campaign, Wagner played on a dual contract with Alba Berlin (BBL) and SSV Iok Bernau in Germany. He was named the 2018-19 BBL Best Young Player, which goes to the league’s most valuable player who is under age 22 and has German nationality.

He is the brother of current Magic player Moritz Wagner.

Sacramento Kings hire Doug Christie as assistant coach

The Sacramento Kings have hired Doug Christie as an assistant coach.

“It’s been a dream of mine to coach for the Sacramento Kings,” said Christie. “I feel like I have some unfinished business. I’d like to thank my family at NBC Sports California as well as KHTK for an amazing ride. I look forward to working with Coach Walton to deliver a winning team to the great fans of Sacramento.”

“Doug has been a pillar within the Sacramento Kings organization for decades,” said Walton. “I’m excited to add his years of basketball knowledge and energy to our coaching staff and our great group of players.”

Christie played 14 seasons in the NBA and played for seven teams, including the Sacramento Kings from 2000-2005 and was named to NBA All-Defensive First team in 2003 and named NBA All-Defensive Second team in 2001, 2002, and 2004 as he helped Sacramento reach the postseason in each of his five seasons with the Kings. Christie is the Sacramento-era leader in career steals (717) and is also second on the all-time leaders list in career steals for the Toronto Raptors (664).

Since retirement he has trained athletes on every level, studied the game and it’s fundamentals meticulously, which has led him to a revolutionary approach with Mind, Body and Sport. The 14-year NBA veteran attended Rainier Beach High School in Seattle, Wash., where he led the Vikings to their first state basketball championship in 1988. After graduating from Rainier Beach, Christie headed south to Pepperdine University in Malibu, Calif., where he played three seasons for the Waves from 1989-92. Christie ranks third in career steals (168) in program history and was won back-to-back WCC Player of the Year awards (1990-92).

Toronto Raptors hire Trevor Gleeson, Nathaniel Mitchell and Earl Watson as assistant coaches

The Toronto Raptors announced Monday that Trevor Gleeson, Nathaniel Mitchell and Earl Watson have been added to Head Coach Nick Nurse’s staff as assistant coaches. Eric Khoury will return to the team as an assistant coach after two seasons with Raptors 905, Toronto’s G League affiliate.

Lead assistant Adrian Griffin will return to the Toronto bench for a fourth season, along with assistant coaches John Corbacio, Jon Goodwillie, Jim Sann, and player development consultant Jamaal Magloire.

“This staff brings different coaching backgrounds to our team, and I think that’s really important. There’s a diversity of thought, there’s a bunch of varying opinions, and that leads to creativity on the court and off,” Nurse said. “I think that’s going to serve the Raptors really well and we’re looking forward to getting out on the court together with our team.”

Gleeson joins the Raptors following eight successful seasons (2013-21) as head coach of the Perth Wildcats in Australia’s National Basketball League (NBL) where he accumulated a record of 171-98 (.636). Gleeson captured five NBL championships with the Wildcats (2014, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2020) and was named the NBL 2021 Coach of the Year.

A native of Warrnambool, Victoria, Gleeson received his first coaching opportunity in the NBL as a development coach with the Brisbane Bullets (1997-2000). He had coaching stints in the Continental Basketball Association (2000-04) and South Korea (2004-06) before returning to Australia with the Townsville Crocodiles (2006-11) and Melbourne Tigers (2011-12). Gleeson led the Crocodiles to consecutive semi-final appearances and for his efforts was named the 2011 NBL Coach of the Year.

On the international stage, Gleeson has served as an assistant with the Australia Boomers (2014-16) and was part of the 2014 FIBA World Cup and 2016 Rio Olympics.

Mitchell spent the last three seasons (2018-21) as an assistant coach with the Charlotte Hornets. Prior to joining the Hornets, he was an assistant in the NBA G League with Raptors 905 (2015-18) and the Maine Red Claws (2014-15). Mitchell began his coaching career as graduate assistant for the men’s basketball team at Fresno State (2013-14). A native of Toronto, Mitchell has been part of Canada’s senior men’s national team staff since 2016.

Watson enjoyed a 13-year (2001-2014) NBA playing career with Seattle/Oklahoma City, Memphis, Denver, Indiana, Utah and Portland. He was chosen 40th overall by the SuperSonics in the 2001 NBA Draft.

A native of Kansas City, Kansas, Watson began his coaching career as an assistant with the Austin Spurs (2014-15) in the NBA G League. He served as an assistant coach with the Phoenix Suns the following season before being named interim head coach midway through the 2016-17 campaign. The Suns retained Watson as their head coach at the end of the year where he led Phoenix for parts of three seasons before being relieved of his duties early into the 2017-18 season.

Watson graduated from UCLA in 2019 with a degree in history, and was named Alumni of the Year by the UCLA Latino Alumni Association. He founded the Earl Watson Elite AAU program – now West Coast Elite – and co-founded the Earl Watson Early Childhood Centre in his hometown of Kansas City. He worked as a broadcaster with NBA TV and the Pac-12 Networks from 2017 to 2021.

Trail Blazers hire Scott Brooks, Roy Rogers, Steve Hetzel, Edniesha Curry and Milt Palacio as assistant coaches

The Portland Trail Blazers have hired Scott Brooks, Roy Rogers, Steve Hetzel, Edniesha Curry and Milt Palacio as assistant coaches and Parker Hines as video coordinator, adding to head coach Chauncey Billups’ staff, it was announced today by president of basketball operations Neil Olshey.

Brooks joins the Trail Blazers after serving as the head coach of the Washington Wizards for the last five seasons. In 12 seasons as a head coach with Oklahoma City (2008-15) and Washington, Brooks has a career record of 521-414 (.557). The 2010 NBA Coach of the Year, Brooks has led his teams to eight playoff berths, including a trip to the NBA Finals in 2012 and Western Conference Finals appearances in 2011 and 2014. He has four 50-win seasons to his credit, including a 60-22 mark with the Thunder during the 2012-13 season. Before becoming a head coach, Brooks worked as an assistant coach with Seattle/Oklahoma City (2007-08), Sacramento (2006-07) and Denver (2003-06).

A native of Lathrop, California, Brooks played collegiately at Texas Christian University, San Joaquin Delta College and UC Irvine before embarking on a 10-year NBA career with Philadelphia, Minnesota, Houston, Dallas, New York and Cleveland. Brooks won an NBA championship in 1994 as a member of the Houston Rockets.

Rogers arrives in Portland with 13 years of experience as an NBA assistant coach. He spent the 2020-21 season with the LA Clippers, where he worked alongside Billups and helped the team reach the Western Conference Finals. Rogers spent the 2019-20 season on the Chicago bench and before that spent three seasons with Houston, which included an appearance in the Western Conference Finals in 2018. He has also worked as an assistant coach with Washington (2014-16), Brooklyn (2013-14), Detroit (2011-12), Boston (2010-11) and New Jersey (2008-10). As a player, Rogers appeared in 137 games in three NBA seasons with Vancouver, Boston, Toronto and Denver. He played four seasons at Alabama from 1992-96 before being selected with the 22nd pick of the 1996 NBA Draft.

Hetzel has spent the last seven seasons as an assistant coach under Steve Clifford, first in Charlotte (2014-18) and most recently in Orlando (2018-21). He previously was the head coach of the Canton Charge of the NBA G League during the 2013-14 season. In his lone season in Canton, Hetzel led the Charge to a 28-22 record, finishing second in the East division. Prior to Canton, Hetzel spent four seasons as a player development coach with the Detroit Pistons (2009-13). He began his NBA career in the video room, first as an assistant video coordinator with San Antonio in the 2005-06 season and then as video coordinator for Cleveland for three seasons (2006-09). Hetzel graduated from Michigan State in 2005, where he served as a student manager for the men’s basketball team.

Curry joins the coaching staff from the University of Maine where she was an assistant coach with the men’s basketball team from 2018-21. She previously served as a player development and assistant coach for the Maine women’s basketball program from 2015-17. Curry is a graduate of the NBA Assistant Coaches’ Program where she gained experience working at the NBA Draft Combine and the NBA G League Showcase. In 2019, Curry served as a guest coach for San Antonio’s summer league team and assisted with Minnesota’s pre-draft workouts. She has also coached and done player development work internationally in Vietnam, China, Israel and Palestine. As a player, Curry played in the WNBA for Phoenix and Los Angeles along with teams overseas in Greece, Poland, Israel and Hungary from 2002-09. It is a return to the Pacific Northwest for Curry, who graduated from the University of Oregon, where she played the final two seasons of her college career.

Palacio comes to the Trail Blazers after most recently spending two seasons as an assistant coach with the Long Island Nets of the NBA G League from 2018-20. Previously, Palacio served for one season as head coach of Durham United in the Canadian Basketball League (2016-17) and spent two seasons as the director of player development at the University of Idaho. A Los Angeles native and Colorado State alumnus, Palacio played seven seasons in the NBA with Vancouver, Boston, Phoenix, Cleveland, Toronto and Utah from 1999-2006 before playing six seasons overseas from 2007-13. Palacio has dual citizenship in Belize, where he played for the national team and now serves as its head coach.

Hines is hired as Portland’s video coordinator after spending the 2020-21 season as an assistant coach with the Austin Spurs of the NBA G League. He spent the four prior seasons with San Antonio, holding the roles of assistant video coordinator (2018-20), video coordinator quality assurance assistant (2017-18) and basketball operations quality assurance assistant (2016-17). Hines is a graduate of Augsburg University where he played guard from 2010-15.

Miami Heat exercise contract option on Goran Dragic

The Miami Heat have exercised their team option on Goran Dragic.

Per the Miami Herald, “just a few hours before the deadline, the Heat ultimately decided to exercise the $19.4 million team option in Goran Dragic’s contract and declined the $15 million team option in forward Andre Iguodala’s contract. The Heat was already considered one of the favorites to land Kyle Lowry in free agency before Sunday’s news, but the decision to exercise Dragic’s option solidifies Miami’s spot as the frontrunner to add the veteran guard, according to league sources. Teams can begin negotiating with free agents on Monday at 6 p.m. and officially begin signing free agents on Friday at 12:01 p.m.”

Dragić appeared in 50 games (11 starts) last season with the HEAT and averaged 13.4 points, 4.4 assists, 3.4 rebounds and 26.7 minutes while shooting 43.2 percent from the field, 37.3 percent from three-point range and a new career high 82.8 percent from the foul line. The 13-year NBA veteran has appeared in 867 career regular season games (522 starts) and averaged 13.9 points, 4.8 assists, 3.1 rebounds and 28.0 minutes while shooting 46.2 percent from the field, 36.4 percent from three-point range and 76.6 percent from the foul line.

Mavericks exercise contract option on Willie Cauley-Stein

The Dallas Mavericks have picked up the second-season contract option for center Willie Cauley-Stein that is reportedly worth $4.1 million.

Per the Dallas Morning News, “Cauley-Stein seemingly became more expendable Saturday when Dallas acquired promising 21-year-old center Moses Brown from Boston to complete the trade of Josh Richardson from the Mavericks to the Celtics. A Mavericks source, however, said on Saturday the team planned to keep Cauley-Stein “unless something crazy falls in our lap.”

Cauley-Stein (7-0, 240) holds career averages of 9.1 points, 6.0 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 22.6 minutes in 402 career games (253 starts) with Sacramento, Golden State and Dallas. Last season, he averaged 5.3 points, 4.5 rebounds and 17.1 minutes in 53 games (16 starts). The career 54.5% shooter has shot at least 50% from the floor in each of his seven NBA seasons, including a career-high 63.2% (115-182 FG) last year.

The Spearville, Kansas, native was acquired by Dallas from Golden State on Jan. 25, 2020, in exchange for a 2020 second round pick.

Cauley-Stein was the sixth overall pick by Sacramento in the 2015 NBA Draft after a three-year career at University of Kentucky. He earned NBA All-Rookie Second Team honors following his rookie campaign in 2015-16.

As a junior at Kentucky (2014-15), Cauley-Stein was named First Team All-SEC, the SEC Defensive Player of the Year and a consensus First Team All-American. Cauley-Stein was also a two-time All-SEC Defensive Team selection (2013-14, 2014-15) and garnered SEC All-Freshman Team honors for the Wildcats in 2012-13.

Detroit Pistons waive Cory Joseph, Deividas Sirvydis and Tyler Cook

The Detroit Pistons have waived guard Cory Joseph, forward Tyler Cook and guard/forward Deividas Sirvydis.

Joseph, 6-3, 200, was acquired by the Pistons, along with draft consideration, from the Sacramento Kings on March 25, 2021 in exchange for guard Delon Wright. In 19 games (11 starts) as a Piston he averaged 12.0 points, 3.2 rebounds and 5.5 assists in 26.4 minutes per game. Overall, Joseph played in 63 games in 2020-21 averaging 8.2 points, 2.5 rebounds and 3.4 assists with Sacramento and Detroit.

Cook, 6-8, 255, signed a multi-year contract with Detroit on April 7, 2021 following two 10-day contracts with the Pistons. In 28 games (one start), he averaged 5.5 points and 3.3 rebounds in 15.0 minutes per game.

Sirvydis, 6-8, 190, saw action in 20 games last season and averaged 2.1 points and 1.5 rebounds in 6.7 minutes per game.

Mavericks trade Josh Richardson to Celtics for Moses Brown

The Boston Celtics have acquired guard Josh Richardson from the Dallas Mavericks in exchange for center Moses Brown.

A six-year NBA veteran, Richardson, 27, has posted career averages of 12.3 points (42.7% FG, 35.8% 3-PT, 83.2% FT), 3.2 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 1.1 steals, 0.6 blocked shots, and 30.6 minutes in 373 career games (299 starts) with Miami, Philadelphia, and Dallas. He has averaged at least 10.0 points in each of his last five seasons from 2015-16 to 2020-21, including a career-high 16.6 points per game with Miami in 2018-19.

Richardson produced 12.1 points (42.7% FG, 33.0% 3-PT, 91.7% FT), 3.3 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 1.0 steals, and 30.3 minutes in 59 games (56 starts) with the Mavericks last season, marking the fourth time over the last five seasons he has recorded at least 10.0 points and 1.0 steals. The Oklahoma native was one of four NBA players to average 10.0 points and 1.0 steals while shooting at least 91.0% from the free throw line in 2020-21 (Paul/Curry/Irving).

Brown (7-2, 245) holds career averages of 7.3 points (.540 FG%), 7.6 rebounds, 0.9 blocks and 18.3 minutes in 52 games (32 starts) with Portland and Oklahoma City.

The 21-year-old averaged 8.6 points, 8.9 rebounds, 0.7 steals, 1.1 blocks and 21.4 minutes in 43 games (32 starts) with the Thunder last season. He recorded 21 points (8-10 FG) and a career-high 23 rebounds, including 17 points and 19 boards in the first half alone, against Boston on March 27. Brown became the first player since Shaquille O’Neal in 1998 to produce 17 points and 19 boards in a single half. His 19 first-half boards also set a Thunder franchise record for most in a half and were the most by any NBA player in a half in 2020-21.

After going undrafted in the 2019 NBA Draft, Brown spent the 2019 preseason with Portland and signed a two-way contract with the club on Oct. 17, 2019. He appeared in nine games for the Trail Blazers as a rookie while also seeing action in 30 G League games for the Mavericks’ affiliate, the Texas Legends, that year.

Brown signed a two-way deal with the Thunder on Dec. 8, 2020, and went on to earn All-NBA G League First Team and NBA G League All-Defensive Team honors for the Oklahoma City Blue in the bubble. After his 21-point, 23-rebound effort against the Celtics on March 27, he signed a multi-year deal with the Thunder the following day.

On June 18, Brown was traded along with Al Horford to Boston in the deal that sent Kemba Walker to Oklahoma City.

A native of New York City, Brown played one collegiate season at UCLA and earned Pac-12 All-Freshman Team honors for the Bruins in 2018-19.

Jalen Green goes from G League Ignite to Rockets

During Thursday’s 2021 NBA Draft, the Houston Rockets selected guard Jalen Green with the second overall pick.

Green (6-6, 178), who turned 19 years old on Feb. 9, was the first player to sign with NBA G League Ignite, a team dedicated to the development and mentorship of top young prospects in preparation for the NBA Draft. In 15 G League games last season, he averaged 17.9 points, 4.1 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 1.53 steals, and 2.1 3-pointers made. Green tallied 30 points, 7 assists, 5 boards, and 3 steals in the Ignite’s lone playoff game vs. Raptors 905.

As a senior at California’s Prolific Prep in 2019-20, Green averaged 31.5 points, 7.5 rebounds and 5.0 assists. He was ranked as the No. 1 high school prospect in the Class of 2020 by ESPN and was a McDonald’s All-American.

Green won gold medals with USA Basketball at the 2019 FIBA U19 World Cup, 2018 FIBA U17 World Cup, and 2017 FIBA Americas U16 Championship.

The only other time the Rockets drafted a player second overall was in 1970 with the selection of Rudy Tomjanovich. Houston also acquired the draft rights to Steve Francis, who was the No. 2 overall pick by Vancouver in the 1999 NBA Draft. Including Francis, the second overall pick has produced 16 Rookie of the Year winners, most recently Ja Morant in 2019-20 and Kevin Durant in 2007-08.