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Raptors racking up losses in a tough season

The Raptors aren’t having the best of seasons, to put it mildly. Via the Toronto Sun:

Things are dire in Raptor-land. It’s going to take a miracle for them to get back into the middle of the conference and there have been no signs one is coming. They’re going to have to be excellent to even get to seventh or eight in the East (which would mean they’d only have to win one play-in game to qualify for the playoffs, instead of the 9-10 teams, which will have to win two). Long-term there’s no question it would be more beneficial to nab a Top-10 pick, preferably a Top-5 prospect in what’s believed to be a pretty good. And the veterans are battered and exhausted and could benefit from a lower-stress finish/rest down the stretch (although it’s hard to see Kyle Lowry agreeing to a shut-down or an ease-down, since he is reportedly trying to land a new two-year contract for significant money and needs to prove he is still elite and durable at 35. Fred VanVleet is third in minutes-per-game, and 13th in overall minutes despite missing some games while in the protocols. His foot scare against Detroit had to have sent shockwaves through the organization and maybe have them questioning what they’re doing here and how much sense it makes.

The Raptors are just 18-29 this season, which is the 11th best record in the Eastern conference.

Their leading scorers so far in 2020-21 are Fred VanVleet and Pascal Siakim each at 20.1 points per game, Kyle Lowry at 17.0 ppg, OG Anunoby at 14.7 ppg, and Chris Boucher off the bench at 13.4 ppg

They recently traded Norman Powell, who was the team’s third leading scorer at 19.6 ppg, for Gary Trent Jr. and Rodney Hood.

Clippers playing well lately, riding six-game winning streak

The Clippers are on a six-game winning streak, and playing much better basketball these days than they were early in the season. Via the LA Times:

There are myriad ways to measure the differences between now and a five-week stretch starting in mid-February in which the Clippers scuffled to a 5-8 record.

In those five weeks the Clippers’ offensive rating of 111.6 ranked 16th, their 113.8 defensive rating ranked 23rd and their rebounding rate ranked 12th.

Since the winning streak began March 20, the Clippers’ offensive rating of 126 points per 100 possessions leads the league by a mammoth seven-point gap — the same margin that separates teams ranked two through 11.

Their defensive rating of 106.1 ranks seventh. Their rebounding percentage ranks third. Their average margin of victory is 17.6 points. They are turning the ball over the third-fewest percentage of possessions, as well.

The Clippers are now 32-16 this season, which is the third best record in the Western conference.

Their leading scorers so far in 2020-21 are Kawhi Leonard at 25.9 points per game, Paul George at 22.5 ppg, and Marcus Morris at 12.7 ppg.

Key 2021 NBA Draft dates announced

The NBA announced today that the 2021 NBA Draft will take place on Thursday, July 29, beginning at 8 p.m. ET.

The first round will be televised by ESPN and ABC, and the second round will air on ESPN.

The NBA also announced additional key dates relating to the 2021 NBA Draft:

The 2021 NBA Draft Combine: Subject to evolving public health conditions, Microsoft Surface NBA Draft Combine 2021 is scheduled to take place Monday, June 21 through Sunday, June 27. ESPN networks plan to televise the NBA Draft Combine, with coverage featuring five-on-five games and strength and agility testing.

The 2021 NBA Draft Lottery will take place on Tuesday, June 22, airing on ESPN at 8:30 p.m. ET.

The 2021 NBA Early Entry Application and Withdrawal Deadlines: The deadline for an early entry player to apply for this year’s NBA Draft is Sunday, May 30 at 11:59 p.m. ET. The deadline for an early entry player to withdraw from the NBA Draft is Monday, July 19 at 5 p.m. ET.

Spurs sign center Gorgui Dieng, who was recently waived by Grizzlies

The San Antonio Spurs have signed center Gorgui Dieng.

Dieng, 6-10/250, spent the first half of this season with the Memphis Grizzlies before being waived on March 26. In 22 games, he averaged 7.9 points, 4.5 rebounds in 1.3 assists in 16.9 minutes while shooting .519 from the field. Dieng appeared in 39 games over parts of two seasons in Memphis, averaging 7.6 points, 5.0 rebounds and 1.1 assists in 17.7 minutes after he was acquired by the Grizzlies from the Minnesota Timberwolves on Feb. 6, 2020.

A nine-year NBA veteran, Dieng holds career averages of 7.9 points, 6.1 rebounds and 1.4 assists in 21.8 minutes in 537 total games played. Selected in the first round of the 2013 NBA Draft (21st overall) by the Utah Jazz, he was dealt to the Timberwolves on draft night and spent his first six-plus seasons with Minnesota.

A native of Senegal, Dieng won the 2013 NCAA Championship in his final season as a junior at the University of Louisville.

Dieng will wear No. 7 for the Silver and Black.

The Spurs roster now stands at 17 players.

Lakers bulk up at center, sign Andre Drummond

The Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday signed center Andre Drummond, Vice President of Basketball Operations and General Manager Rob Pelinka announced.

“Andre Drummond gives us powerful, anchor-point skills on both ends of the court,” Pelinka said. “We feel extremely fortunate to add a player of his caliber and magnitude to our core group at this stage of our journey to defend the NBA title.”

Drummond appeared in 25 games (all starts) for Cleveland this season, averaging 17.5 points, 13.5 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 1.6 steals and 1.2 blocks in 28.9 minutes per game. In 624 games (573 starts) for the Cavaliers and Pistons, he has averaged 14.6 points, 13.8 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 1.4 steals and 1.5 blocks in 30.9 minutes. Drummond has played and started in eight career playoff games, tallying 15.5 points, 11.0 rebounds, 1.1 assists and 1.4 blocks in 32.3 minutes.

Per the Los Angeles Times, “the Lakers aren’t adding George Mikan here, but they’re getting a good two-way center who has probably been undervalued over the last handful of seasons because he’s never played on a team with weapons like the Lakers have. At full strength, he’ll give them a dimension the Lakers haven’t had this season — a big man who can operate at and above the rim, making him an ideal partner for James and Dennis Schroder in pick-and-roll sets. And defensively, he’s an active player who blocks shots, gets steals and owns the glass — he’s led the league in rebounding five times and is averaging 13.5 this season.”

A two-time NBA All-Star, Drummond has led the league in rebounding four times and was named to the All-NBA Third Team following the 2015-16 season. Drummond is one of 20 players in league history to record more than 9,000 career points, 8,500 rebounds, 850 steals and 950 blocks. He is also the NBA’s all-time leader in seasons with at least 1,000 points, 1,000 rebounds, 100 steals and 100 blocks, having accomplished the feat four times.

Nets get even stronger, sign LaMarcus Aldridge

The Brooklyn Nets have signed free agent forward LaMarcus Aldridge.

Aldridge (6’11”, 265) has appeared in 1,024 career NBA games (980 starts) across 15 seasons with Portland (2006-15) and San Antonio (2015-21), averaging 19.4 points on 49.1 percent shooting from the field and 81.1 percent shooting from the free-throw line, 8.3 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.1 blocks in 34.2 minutes per contest.

Per the New York Post, “granted, the 35-year-old’s Aldridge’s defense has become something of a weakness the past few seasons, and he was bought out by the Spurs. But he overlapped with [Nets GM Sean] Marks, who was San Antonio’s assistant GM in 2015, when they signed the big man to a four-year, $80 million deal. Aldridge won’t make that with the Nets, and shouldn’t be viewed as having the same potential. But after the Nets signed [Blake] Griffin before the buyout market even started, the signing of Aldridge is just the latest example of their drawing power and ability to lure accomplished veterans serious about competing for a title.”

A seven-time NBA All-Star (2012-16, 2018-19), Aldridge most recently saw action in 21 contests (18 starts) for the Spurs this season, averaging 13.7 points, 4.5 rebounds and 1.7 assists in 25.9 minutes per game. The Dallas native is a five-time All-NBA selection, taking home second-team honors twice (2015, 2018) and third-team honors on three occasions (2011, 2014, 2016). Among active NBA players, Aldridge currently ranks third in field goals made (8,034), fifth in rebounds (8,454), sixth in points (19,887), eighth in blocks (1,129) and ninth in games played (1,024). The 35-year-old, who helped lead San Antonio to the conference finals in the 2017 NBA Playoffs, has appeared in the postseason nine times in his career, averaging 20.8 points on 45.5 percent shooting from the field and 82.4 percent shooting from the free-throw line to go along with 8.5 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 1.4 blocks in 37.1 minutes per game in 72 total contests (all starts).

The second overall pick in the first round of the 2006 NBA Draft, Aldridge played collegiately at the University of Texas for two seasons (2004-06), appearing in 53 career games (all starts) for the Longhorns and averaging 13.5 points, 8.2 rebounds, 1.3 steals and 1.8 blocks in 30.2 minutes per game. Following his final season in Austin, Aldridge was named First-Team All-Big 12 and the conference’s defensive player of the year.

Thunder sign center Moses Brown to standard NBA contract

The Oklahoma City Thunder have signed center Moses Brown to a multi-year contract.

The UCLA product was originally signed to a Two-Way Contract by the Thunder on Dec. 9, 2020 after spending the 2019-20 season as a two-way player for the Portland Trail Blazers.

Brown has appeared in 16 games (five starts) with the Thunder this season, registering averages of 8.3 points, 7.9 rebounds and 1.13 blocks in 17.5 minutes per contest, shooting 61.9 percent from the field. The Queens, N.Y. native was also named to the All-NBA G League First Team and the NBA G League All-Defensive Team after he appeared in 14 games (all starts) with the Oklahoma City Blue this year and averaged 18.9 points, 13.9 rebounds and 1.71 blocks in 26.4 minutes per contest, shooting 54.9 percent.

Thunder waive Austin Rivers

The Oklahoma City Thunder has waived guard Austin Rivers, it was announced today by Executive Vice President and General Manager Sam Presti.

Rivers was originally acquired from the New York Knicks in a three-team trade on March 25.

The 6-foot-4, 200-pound Rivers has an NBA career average of 9.1 points, 2.1 rebounds and 2.3 assists in 24.4 minutes per game. His career-high scoring season was in 2017-18 when he averaged 15.1 ppg while playing 33.7 minutes per game for the Clippers.

Thunder guard Luguentz Dort diagnosed with concussion

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Luguentz Dort sustained a concussion during yesterday’s game against the Boston Celtics and he has been placed in the NBA’s concussion protocol.

Per the NBA’s Concussion Policy, Dort will now begin the NBA-mandated Return-to-Participation Protocol. This process includes a series of steps designed to ensure an athlete exhibits symptom-free behavior before resuming basketball activities.

There is no predetermined timetable to complete the protocol, as each injury and player is different and recovery time can vary in each case.

Sixers sign Paul Reed and Mason Jones

Philadelphia 76ers President of Basketball Operations Daryl Morey announced today that the team has signed Paul Reed to a standard NBA contract and Mason Jones to a two-way contract.

Reed, who signed a two-way contract with the 76ers on Nov. 28, 2020, was named the 2021 NBA G League Most Valuable Player and Rookie of the Year earlier this week. He was the only player to average at least 22 points and 11 rebounds per game during the G League season, while leading the Delaware Blue Coats to the playoffs for the first time in franchise history. Reed led the G League with 12 double-doubles in 15 games and was the first player in Delaware franchise history to earn either MVP or Rookie of the Year honors.

The No. 58 overall selection in the 2020 NBA Draft by Philadelphia, Reed shot .588 from the field, .444 from three-point range and .789 from the free-throw line for the Blue Coats as he was named to the All-NBA G League First Team, All-Rookie Team and All-Defensive Team. He was the only player among the G League’s top-10 in total rebounds with at least 20 three-pointers made (24). In addition to his time in the G League, Reed has seen action in eight games at the NBA level with the 76ers, scoring a career-high six points on two occasions.

Jones, a rookie from Arkansas, appeared in 26 games for Houston earlier this season while on a two-way contract. With the Rockets, he averaged 5.8 points, 2.0 rebounds and 1.5 assists in 11.8 minutes per game. Jones played his sophomore and junior seasons at Arkansas after beginning his collegiate career at Connors State College. Following the 2019-20 season, he was named SEC Co-Player of the Year after averaging 22.0 points, 5.5 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 1.6 steals per game, leading the Razorbacks to a 20-12 record. He was also named to the All-SEC First Team and was the only player in the conference to lead his team in scoring, rebounding, assists and steals.

In both of his collegiate seasons, Jones was teammates with 76ers rookie Isaiah Joe, whom Philadelphia selected with the No. 49 selection in the 2020 NBA Draft.