Inside Hoops – Page 473 – NBA Blog

Heat sign Justise Winslow to contract extension

The Miami HEAT have signed forward Justise Winslow to a multi-year contract extension.

Winslow, who was originally selected by the HEAT in the first round (10thoverall) in the 2015 NBA Draft, appeared in 68 games (25 starts) last season with Miami and averaged 7.8 points, 5.4 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 24.7 minutes while shooting 42.4 percent from the field and 38 percent from three-point range. He set new career highs last season in points, assists, blocks, field goals made, field goal percentage, three-point field goals made and three-point field goal percentage. He also connected on a career-high four three-point field goals against Brooklyn on December 9, shooting a perfect 4-of-4 from downtown and posted a 19-point, 10-rebound double-double against Philadelphia during the playoffs on April 19, marking as just the ninth double-double off the bench in HEAT postseason history. Additionally, he earned NBA All-Rookie Second Team honors in 2015-16, after appearing in 78 games with the HEAT to become just the fifth rookie to lead the team in games played during a single-season.

Nets sign Drew Gordon, waive Mitch Creek

The Brooklyn Nets have signed forward Drew Gordon.

And in a related move, the Nets have requested waivers on forward Mitch Creek.

Gordon (6’9”, 245) joins the Nets after spending the 2017-18 season with BC Zenit Saint Petersburg. In 21 games (13 starts) in Russia’s VTB United League last season, he averaged 11.1 points and 6.7 rebounds in 20.3 minutes per contest. Over six professional seasons, Gordon has played five seasons overseas in Serbia, Italy, France, Lithuania and Russia and spent the 2014-15 campaign with the Philadelphia 76ers and their NBA G League affiliate, then the Delaware 87ers. In nine games with Philadelphia, Gordon posted averages of 1.9 points and 2.0 rebounds in 7.9 minutes per contest. The San Jose, Calif., native played two collegiate seasons (2008-10) at UCLA before transferring to New Mexico for his final two seasons (2010-12). While playing for the Lobos, Gordon was named to the All-Mountain West first team as a senior and earned second-team honors as a junior, along with being named the conference’s newcomer of the year.

Creek originally signed with Brooklyn as a free agent on Aug. 20 and saw action in the Nets’ preseason contest against the Toronto Raptors in Montreal on Oct. 10.

Clippers sign guard Jamel Artis

The L.A. Clippers have signed guard Jamel Artis.

Artis, 25, spent last season on a two-way contract with the Orlando Magic, appearing in 15 games and averaging 5.1 points, 2.5 rebounds and 1.2 assists in 18.6 minutes. The 6’7”, 213-pound guard appeared in 46 games (all starts) for the Lakeland Magic, averaging 19.5 points, 5.8 rebounds and 2.4 assists, while shooting 46.3 percent from the field in 37.5 minutes. A graduate of the University of Pittsburgh, Artis received an All-ACC honorable mention in his final collegiate season.

Sixers sign Darin Johnson and Cory Jefferson

The Philadelphia 76ers have signed guard Darin Johnson and forward Cory Jefferson.

In related moves, the team has waived guard Matt Farrell and forward DJ Hogg.

A 6-foot-9 forward, Jefferson has spent the last two seasons playing professionally in Italy (Olimpia Milano) and the Philippines (Alaska Aces). This past summer, he participated in both MGM Resorts NBA Summer League 2018 and the 2018 Utah Jazz Summer League as a member of the San Antonio Spurs. Jefferson also played for the NBL’s Melbourne United when Philadelphia hosted the Australian team in a preseason game on Sept. 28.

Jefferson, who was originally selected with the No. 60 overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft, has appeared in 58 career NBA games with Brooklyn and Phoenix and posted averages of 3.5 points and 2.8 rebounds in 10.0 minutes per game. He played his college basketball at Baylor from 2009-14.

Johnson, a 6-foot-7 guard, was chosen by the Blue Coats with the No. 12 overall pick in the 2017 NBA G League Draft and last season appeared in 44 games (eight starts) with Delaware last season. In 17.2 minutes per contest, he held averages of 6.5 points and 1.9 rebounds.

Beginning his collegiate career at Washington, Johnson eventually transferred to California State University, Northridge. As a redshirt junior in 2016-17, he averaged 13.8 points, 3.7 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game.

Mavs bring back Ding Yanyuhang

The Dallas Mavericks have brought back guard-forward Ding Yanyuhang (pronounced yin-you-hong), re-signing him today.

Ding (6-7, 205) was originally signed by the Mavericks on July 23 and played in one preseason game for Dallas. His only action of the exhibition season was on Monday in Shenzhen, and he was waived on Oct. 10.

Ding has spent the last seven seasons playing professionally for China’s Shandong Golden Stars. In 45 games for Shandong in 2017-18, he averaged 26.0 points, 5.2 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1.6 steals per game en route to winning his second consecutive Chinese Basketball Association Domestic MVP award.

Ding played on the Mavericks’ Orlando and Las Vegas summer league teams in 2017.

The Xinjiang, China native has represented the Chinese national team in international competition, including the 2016 Olympic Games.

Thunder waive Abdul Gaddy, Scotty Hopson, Donte Grantham and Dez Wells

The Oklahoma City Thunder have waived guards Abdul Gaddy and Scotty Hopson, and forwards Donte Grantham, and Dez Wells.

Gaddy saw action in four preseason games and averaged 1.0 point, 1.8 assists and 1.3 rebounds in 6.6 minutes per game.

Grantham, Hopson and Wells were originally signed by the Thunder on October 10.

Pelicans waive Darius Morris and Brandon McCoy

The New Orleans Pelicans have waived guard Darius Morris and center Brandon McCoy.

McCoy, who signed with the Pels on September 29, played in three preseason games, and averaged 2.7 points and 2.7 rebounds.

Morris, originally signed on September 4, appeared with New Orleans in three preseason contests, and averaged 1.7 assists per game.

New Orleans’s roster currently stands at 18, including one two-way player (Trevon Bluiett).

Warriors waive Kendrick Nunn, Tyler Ulis, Deyonta Davis and Danuel House Jr

The Golden State Warriors have waived guards Kendrick Nunn and Tyler Ulis and forwards Deyonta Davis and Danuel House Jr.

Nunn saw action off the bench in three games, averaging 2.3 points in 9.6 minutes per game.

Ulis appeared in four games (one start), averaging 3.0 points, 1.5 rebounds and 1.5 assists in 10.2 minutes per game.

Davis who was originally signed on October 11, did not appear in a game for the Warriors.

House Jr. played in three games (one start), averaging 3.3 points and 2.0 rebounds in 13.9 minutes per game.

Pistons waive center Johnny Hamilton

The Detroit Pistons have waived center Johnny Hamilton.

Hamilton, 7-0, 230, appeared in one game this preseason with Detroit and recorded six points, three rebounds and one block at San Antonio on October 5.

Preseason for the league ended Friday. Teams must trim down their rosters in the next few days. The regular season for the league begins Tuesday, October 16.

Raptors convert Chris Boucher contract into a two-way contract

The Toronto Raptors have exercised the two-way player conversion option on forward Chris Boucher.

What this means is Boucher will spend the majority of the season playing in the G League.

Boucher totaled nine points, two rebounds, four blocks and 19 minutes in four games during the preseason. He shot .429 (3-for-7) from three-point range.

Boucher, 6-foot-10, 200 pounds, spent last season with Golden State as a two-way player. He appeared in one game with the Warriors and averaged 11.8 points, 7.5 rebounds, 2.1 blocks and 22.2 minutes in 20 contests with Santa Cruz, their NBA G League affiliate.

Boucher, who grew up in Montreal, played collegiately at Oregon (2015-17) and was named to the Pac-12 All-Defensive Team and was a Pac-12 All-Conference Honourable Mention as both a junior and senior.

The Raptors open the 2018-19 regular season Wednesday night at Scotiabank Arena when they host the Cleveland Cavaliers at 7:30 p.m.