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

Kings sign forward Louis King to two-way contract

The Sacramento Kings have signed forward Louis King to a two-way contract, according to Kings General Manager Monte McNair.

During the NBA G League single site in Orlando, Fla., King played for the Westchester Knicks and accrued averages of 13.7 points (.521 FG%, .456 3pt%, .810 FT%), 4.9 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 1.5 steals and 32.2 minutes per game in 15 appearances while ranking sixth in overall three-point field goal percentage. Undrafted out of the University of Oregon, King appeared in 10 games with the Detroit Pistons during the 2019-20 season.

Cavs sign Mfiondu Kabengele to standard contract

The Cleveland Cavaliers have signed forward/center Mfiondu Kabengele (fee-ON-doo cabin-gelly) to a multi-year contract, Cavaliers General Manager Koby Altman announced today from Cleveland Clinic Courts.

Kabengele (6-9, 250) has played in seven games with the Cavaliers this season after signing his first 10-day contract with the team on April 10 and a second 10-day contract on April 21, averaging 3.4 points on .529 shooting from the field, 1.9 rebounds and 1.0 assist in in 9.4 minutes. He also appeared in 23 games for the Los Angeles Clippers this season before being traded to the Sacramento Kings on March 22. Kabengele, who was waived by the Kings on March 25, owns career averages of 2.2 points in 5.3 minutes over 42 games during his two NBA seasons with the Clippers and Cavaliers. The 23-year-old also played in 27 contests (all starts) for the Agua Caliente Clippers of the NBA G League in 2019-20, averaging 18.7 points, 9.3 rebounds, 1.1 steals and 1.9 blocks in 31.2 minutes.

Selected with the 27th pick in the 2019 NBA Draft by Brooklyn, Kabengele played two collegiate seasons at Florida State, earning the 2018-19 ACC Sixth Man of the Year award and 2019 All-ACC Tournament First Team honors. He is the nephew of NBA legend and Basketball Hall of Famer Dikembe Mutombo.

Nuggets sign Austin Rivers for remainder of season

The Denver Nuggets have signed veteran guard Austin Rivers for the remainder of the season, President of Basketball Operations Tim Connelly announced today.

Rivers, 6-4, 200, signed a 10-day contract with the Nuggets on April 20th and has appeared in six games for Denver, averaging 6.2 points, 1.8 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.20 steals in 24.5 minutes per game.

The nine-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 34.7% from long distance in 579 career games (151 starts) with New Orleans, L.A. Clippers, Washington, Houston, New York and Denver.

The 28-year-old, provides valuable postseason experience, playing in a total of 45 playoff games (six starts), averaging 7.4 points, 2.2 rebounds and 1.3 assists, shooting 40.3% from the field in 20.2 minutes with Houston and the L.A. Clippers. Rivers has a total of 16 career postseason games scoring 10 or more points.

Rivers was drafted 10th overall by New Orleans in 2012 after spending one season at Duke University. In his lone 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.

Injury updates on Timberwolves’ Malik Beasley and Jarrett Culver

The Minnesota Timberwolves today announced the following medical updates on guards Malik Beasley and Jarrett Culver:

On Monday, Apr. 26, Beasley underwent follow-up imaging at Mayo Clinic Square for an evaluation of his left hamstring injury. He continues to progress positively and resumed on-court workouts on Tuesday, Apr. 27. He will continue to be evaluated weekly by the Timberwolves medical staff.

In 37 games (36 starts) this season, Beasley is averaging 19.6 points on 44.0% shooting, 4.4 rebounds and 2.4 assists.

Culver initially suffered a right ankle injury on Jan. 25 and was evaluated by Dr. Aaron Krych at Mayo Clinic Square. After an initial period of non-operative management and continued symptoms, imaging revealed a loose body and the decision was made to proceed with operative management. Culver will undergo arthroscopic surgery with debridement of scar tissue and loose body performed by ankle specialist Dr. Richard Ferkel on Friday, May 7 in Los Angeles. He will be sidelined the remainder of the season.

In 34 games (seven starts) this season, Culver is averaging 5.3 points on 41.1% shooting, 3.1 rebounds and 0.7 assists.

LaMelo Ball could return for Hornets soon

Some key Hornets players could make their return from injury soon, including star rookie point guard LaMelo Ball. Here’s a status update, via the Charlotte Observer:

In a sense, the two days off might be of more consequence to the Hornets right now than game days. The plan is for LaMelo Ball (broken wrist) and Malik Monk (sprained ankle) to scrimmage with the non-rotation players to test whether they are ready for games.

Small forward Gordon Hayward is further away from playing. He is still wearing a walking boot to protect his sprained right foot.

There’s hope Ball and Monk can both play this weekend. Ball has been out since March 20 and Monk since April 1, so each will need time to re-acclimate; their impact won’t be automatic. However, anything they can contribute could make a difference with just 10 regular season games left and the Hornets so shorthanded.

The Hornets are 30-32 this season, which is the 8th best record in the Eastern conference.

Ball is averaging 15.9 points, 5.9 rebounds and 6.1 assists in 28.6 minutes per game so far this season, in 41 games played.

Kings sign center Damian Jones, who had been on 10-day deals, to standard contract

The Sacramento Kings have signed center Damian Jones to a multi-year contract, according to Kings General Manager Monte McNair.

“Damian provides a defensive presence and has fit in nicely with our group,” said McNair. “We are excited to see his continued growth in Sacramento.”

During the 2020-21 season, Jones has appeared in six games (two starts) with the Kings after originally signing his first 10-day contract with the team on April 7 and a second 10-day contract on April 17.

Cavs sign guard Jeremiah Martin to two-way contract

The Cleveland Cavaliers have signed guard Jeremiah Martin to a Two-Way contract, Cavaliers General Manager Koby Altman announced today from Cleveland Clinic Courts.

Martin (6-3, 185) spent the 2020-21 NBA G League season with the Long Island Nets, playing in 15 games (all starts) and averaging 18.5 points, 3.7 rebounds, 5.1 assists and 2.4 steals in 31.8 minutes. He was previously a Two-Way player with the Brooklyn Nets during the 2019-20 season, originally signing a Two-Way contract on Jan. 15, 2020 and playing in nine NBA games with averages of 7.1 points and 2.0 assists in 11.0 minutes. Martin also appeared in three postseason contests for Brooklyn during the 2020 Playoffs, averaging 4.0 points in 9.0 minutes. He remained a Two-Way player with Brooklyn through the 2020 Preseason before being waived on Dec. 22, 2020.

Martin played four years collegiately at Memphis from 2015-19, competing in 124 games (98 starts) with career averages of 13.1 points, 3.2 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.8 steals in 29.7 minutes. As a senior in 2018-19, he was unanimously named First-Team All-AAC after posting averages of 19.7 points, 4.3 rebounds, 4.4 assists and 2.2 steals in 34.3 minutes through 36 games (all starts). His 19.7 points per game led the AAC, making him the first Memphis player to lead the conference in scoring since Will Barton in 2012. Following his senior campaign, Martin was selected to participate in the 2019 Portsmouth Invitational Tournament, consisting of 64 of the top senior basketball players in the nation, and was named to the All-Tournament Team. He finished his career at Memphis ranked 10th all-time in scoring (1,625 points), and his 708 points his final season were the second-highest ever by a senior in school history.

Trail Blazers sign Rondae Hollis-Jefferson for remainder of season

The Portland Trail Blazers have signed forward Rondae Hollis-Jefferson for the remainder of the 2020-21 season, it was announced today by president of basketball operations Neil Olshey.

Hollis-Jefferson, 26, has appeared in six games (one start) for the Trail Blazers since signing his first 10-day contract with the team on April 8. In those outings, he has posted averages of 3.2 points (41.7% FG, 64.3% FT), 2.5 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 0.50 blocks and 11.0 minutes.

Playing in his sixth season out of the University of Arizona, Hollis-Jefferson (6-6, 217) holds career averages of 9.2 points (44.8% FG, 21.2% 3-PT, 73.7% FT), 5.6 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 0.93 steals and 22.4 minutes in 300 games (154 starts) with Brooklyn, Toronto and Portland.

Kings sign Chimezie Metu to standard NBA contract, and waive Chris Silva

The Sacramento Kings have signed forward-center Chimezie Metu to a multi-year contract, according to Kings General Manager Monte McNair.

And in a subsequent move, the team has waived forward Chris Silva.

Metu had been with the Kings on a two-way contract.

According to the Sacramento Bee, “a league source told The Sacramento Bee that Metu agreed to a three-year deal.”

“Chimezie has worked hard this season and done a terrific job to earn his place on the team,” said McNair. “He provides toughness and energy to the group. We are happy to watch his career develop in a Kings uniform.”

During the 2020-21 season, Metu has appeared in 28 games (no starts) with the Kings, averaging 5.1 points (.556 FG%, .690 FT%), 2.5 rebounds and 10.2 minutes per game.

Cavs forward Taurean Prince undergoes ankle surgery

Cleveland Cavaliers forward Taurean Prince underwent successful left ankle arthroscopic surgery yesterday at the Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) in New York City, New York.

Prince missed the Cavaliers’ previous three games with left ankle soreness.

Recent imaging at Cleveland Clinic Sports Health and continuous evaluation by the Cavaliers medical staff confirmed that surgery was needed to alleviate ongoing discomfort experienced over the past several weeks.

The procedure was performed by Dr. Martin O’Malley.

Prince will be out indefinitely.