Author: Inside Hoops

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Big game for Bulls from Zach LaVine

It’s just preseason, but still, a big game is a big game. Here’s NBC Sports Chicago reporting on Bulls guard Zach LaVine, who now has big responsibility on his young shoulders:

The Bulls once again struggled defensively in Monday night’s 110-104 loss to the Charlotte Hornets…

Jabari Parker will have better nights: At least we hope he does. It was a second (third, really) consecutive disappointing outing – for the Bulls’ top free agent…

Zach LaVine still looks like it’s all coming together

On the flip side, the Bulls’ other large offseason investment continues to produce. Zach LaVine was arguably the best player on the floor (when taking the Bulls’ defense into consideration). He scored 26 points on just 15 shots, a serious improvement in the efficiency department. Ironically he was at his best after an ugly long missed 2-pointer that was tightly contested early in the shot clock. It looked like 2017-18 Zach LaVine.

Then the new school LaVine showed up. He looked comfortable coming off screens and pulling up from beyond the arc, finishing in transition and getting to the basket. He did a little bit of everything, which is a far cry from what he did last season. An aggressive LaVine and a smart shot taking LaVine is a tough one to stop on the offensive end. Another night, another positive for the $78 million man.

Chris Bosh praises Knicks coach Dave Fizdale

Chris Bosh, who perhaps may someday play in the league again but for now is enjoying life while his sneakers hang nearby, has some very positive words about new Knicks head coach Dave Fizdale. Here’s the New York Post reporting:

Chris Bosh isn’t sure if he will play again, but he said he will give himself until the All-Star break to make that decision.

But Bosh is sure of one thing. His former assistant coach David Fizdale is the real deal and should eventually recruit at least one superstar.

Bosh, who has suffered from multiple blood clots, was at the Knicks preseason game against the Wizards at the Garden and caught up with the Knicks’ first-year coach after the contest. Bosh, who has not played in an NBA game since the 2015-16 season, played for Fizdale when the latter was an assistant coach in Miami.

“We always tried to make it simple,’’ Bosh said. “If you’re trying to accomplish something, you have to know where you’re going. You have to have a core set of values, which [Fizdale] has. You also have to be confident. Which I know he is. You got to work hard. I know that he’s going to inspire the guys to do what they need to do on the court and off the court to get the job done. Once he inspires them, it’s on the players. That’s what great coaches do.

Phoenix Suns fire general manager Ryan McDonough

Phoenix Suns fire general manager Ryan McDonough

The Phoenix Suns have fired general manager Ryan McDonough.

It’s surprising that this happened in preseason. It’s an unusual time for any team to fire their GM. Logically it’s done during a key stretch of the regular season, or perhaps at the end of the season, as offseason for the team begins. To do it right in the middle of preseason is unusual.

In the interim, general manager duties will be handled by Vice President of Basketball Operations James Jones and Assistant General Manager Trevor Bukstein. Jones will manage basketball operations including oversight of coaches, players and staff, while Bukstein will be the primary contact for player transactions.

“After much thought and a long evaluation of our basketball operations, I have decided to relieve Ryan McDonough of his duties as general manager of the Phoenix Suns,” said Suns Managing Partner, Robert Sarver. “Our focus in the short term is to prepare for the upcoming NBA season and to continue pursuing opportunities to strengthen our roster. Over the course of the season, we will explore both internal and external options as we look to restructure our basketball front office leadership. On behalf of the entire organization, I want to thank Ryan for his efforts and contributions during his five-plus years with the Suns. We wish him nothing but the best moving forward.”

Spurs waive Jaron Blossomgame

Spurs waive Jaron Blossomgame

The San Antonio Spurs have waived forward Jaron Blossomgame.

Blossomgame played in three preseason games for San Antonio, and averaged 3.7 points and 1.7 rebounds in 6.3 minutes pr outing.

He was drafted by the Spurs 59th overall in the second round of the 2017 NBA Draftt. Blossomgame spent last season with the Austin Spurs (G League), who won the G League Championship.

Mavericks sign Donte Ingram and Rashad Vaughn, and waive Jalen Jones and Codi Miller-McIntyre

Mavericks sign Donte Ingram and Rashad Vaughn, and waive Jalen Jones and Codi Miller-McIntyre

The Dallas Mavericks have signed guard/forward Donte Ingram and guard Rashad Vaughn. And in a related move, the Mavericks also requested waivers on forward Jalen Jones and guard Codi Miller-McIntyre.

Ingram (6-6, 215) went undrafted in 2018 after a four-year college career at Loyola University Chicago. He started all 38 games for Loyola as a senior in 2017-18, and averaged 11.0 points, a team-best 6.4 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 0.9 steals and 30.6 minutes en route to earning Second Team All-Missouri Valley Conference honors.

The 6-6 guard/forward played a key role in helping the 11th-seeded Ramblers earn their first Final Four appearance since 1963. He hit the game-winning 3-pointer with 0.3 seconds left to lift Loyola past Miami, 64-62, in the opening round of the 2018 NCAA tournament held at American Airlines Center on March 15.

Ingram was named the Most Outstanding Player of the 2018 MVC Championship after leading Loyola to a victory over Illinois State in the MVC title game. It gave the school its first NCAA Tournament berth since 1985.

The Chicago native started all five games for the Bulls’ Las Vegas summer league team in 2018, averaging 6.0 points, 4.8 rebounds and 1.4 assists in 26.8 minutes.

Vaughn (6-6, 210) was selected 17th overall by Milwaukee in the 2015 NBA Draft. He owns career averages of 3.0 points, 1.1 rebounds and 12.0 minutes in 139 games (eight starts) with Milwaukee, Brooklyn and Orlando.

In 28 games for the Bucks, Nets and Magic in 2017-18, Vaughn averaged 2.3 points in 7.6 minutes per contest.

Vaughn spent this past summer teaming with Mavericks two-way guard Daryl Macon on the Miami Heat’s summer league squads that competed in Las Vegas and Sacramento. In five games (two starts) in Las Vegas, Vaughn averaged 10.0 points, 3.8 rebounds and 2.2 assists in 21.0 minutes. In two games in Sacramento, he averaged 8.0 points, 2.0 rebounds and 1.5 assists in 20.0 minutes.

In his lone season at UNLV, Vaughn averaged 17.8 points, 4.8 rebounds and 1.6 assists in 23 games (all starts) en route to earning 2015 MWC Freshman of the Year honors. He declared for the draft following the 2014-15 season.

Jones (6-7, 220) appeared in one game for Dallas this preseason and had three points and one rebound in 7 minutes against the Beijing Ducks on Sept. 29. The Dallas native played in 12 regular-season games with the Mavericks as a rookie in 2017-18, averaging 5.8 points and 2.9 rebounds in 13.5 minutes.

Miller-McIntyre (6-3, 205) saw action in two games for Dallas this exhibition season after signing with the team on Aug. 1.

Lakers waive Jeffrey Carroll and Joel Berry II

Lakers waive Jeffrey Carroll and Joel Berry II

The Los Angeles Lakers on Monday waived guards Joel Berry II and Jeffrey Carroll.

The move comes as no surprise, as players around the league signed to non-guaranteed contracts primarily for training camp and preseason purposes will steadily be cut as preseason wraps up later this week.

Berry II totaled 5 points, 3 assists and 1 rebound in three preseason games, while Carroll appeared in one preseason game for the Lakers.

Hawks sign Isaac Humphries

The Atlanta Hawks have signed forward/center Isaac Humphries.

In 26 games (six starts) last season with the Sydney Kings of the NBL, the native of Australia averaged 6.9 points, 3.7 rebounds and 1.0 blocks in 16.5 minutes (.583 FG%, .653 FT%) en route to NBL Rookie of the Year honors.

He also appeared in 12 contests last year with FMP Beograd in Serbia, averaging 4.5 points and 2.2 rebounds in 9.0 minutes (.650 FG%).

Humphries played two years at University of Kentucky before declaring for the 2017 NBA Draft. As a sophomore with the Wildcats, he compiled 2.8 points and 2.8 rebounds (.511 FG%, .600 FT%) in 8.3 minutes, appearing in 38 games (one start).

Jazz now 4-0 in preseason

Yeah, preseason win-loss records don’t mean anything, but it’s still cool being 4-0. There’s no negative to winning. Feel free to go win things today. Win some things that matter, then win some things that don’t, and you’ll still probably just enjoy the winning.

Here’s the Salt Lake Tribune on the Jazz:

After a lackluster defensive effort in the first half, the Jazz’s bench unit ratcheted up the intensity on both ends in the fourth quarter against the Trail Blazers on Sunday, rallying for a 123-112 victory at the Moda Center in Portland, Ore., to bolster their preseason record to 4-0.

Donovan Mitchell scored a team-high 21 points for Utah, which outscored Portland 39-20 over the final 12 minutes of action.

Joe Ingles and Alec Burks added 12 each for the Jazz.

The end result was a bit deceiving, considering that fourth quarter featured a Jazz lineup of Ekpe Udoh, Royce O’Neale, Grayson Allen, Georges Niang and Burks feasting on the likes of Caleb Swanigan, Meyers Leonard, Nik Stauskas, Anfernee Simons and Wade Baldwin IV.

The Jazz are worth watching this season. If you aren’t a Jazz fan, take this into account and turn your TV on when they play, and turn to that channel. See how we guided you through the process? You’re welcome.

Pistons waive Chris McCullough

The Detroit Pistons waived forward Chris McCullough today.

McCullough, 6-11, 200, was signed to the training camp roster on September 25 and did not see action in any of the Pistons’ two preseason games.

McCullough has played in 59 career NBA games with the Brooklyn Nets and Washington Wizards. He was drafted 29th overall in the 2015 NBA Draft by the Brooklyn Nets from Syracuse University.