Inside Hoops – Page 495 – NBA Blog

Raptors sign Kay Felder

The Toronto Raptors signed guard Kay Felder today.

Felder, 5-foot-9, 176 pounds, averaged 3.6 points, 1.3 assists and 8.8 minutes in 16 games with Chicago and Detroit last season. He also appeared in 20 games with Grand Rapids in the NBA G League, posting averages of 16.8 points, 5.8 assists and 30.1 minutes.

A native of Detroit, Michigan, Felder owns career averages of 3.8 points, 1.3 assists and 9.1 minutes in 58 NBA games with Cleveland, Chicago and Detroit. He was picked in the second-round (54th overall) by Atlanta in the 2016 NBA Draft.

Felder played three collegiate seasons at Oakland (2013-16) where he averaged 17.5 points, 7.8 assists and 35.9 minutes in 101 appearances. As a junior, Felder led the NCAA in assists per game (9.2) and was named Horizon League Player of the Year. He left the Golden Grizzlies as the Horizon League’s all-time leader with 788 career assists.

Thunder add Bob Beyer to coaching staff

The Oklahoma City Thunder last night (Monday) added Bob Beyer to their coaching staff.

Beyer joins Billy Donovan’s staff after spending the past four seasons with the Detroit Pistons, most recently serving as associate head coach for the last two seasons.

Beyer’s coaching career spans more than 30 years at both the NBA and collegiate level. His NBA coaching experience dates back to the 2003-04 season where he first served as an assistant coach with the Toronto Raptors. Beyer later spent 2007-12 on Stan Van Gundy’s Orlando Magic staff, where he helped lead the team to a 259-135 (.657) record and five straight postseason appearances, including a spot in the 2009 NBA Finals.

Prior to joining the NBA ranks, Beyer’s collegiate experience was highlighted by a stint at Texas Tech University under Bob Knight from 2001-03 and as head coach at Siena from 1994-97.

Beyer graduated from Alfred University in 1983 with a bachelor’s degree in history and minors in coaching, writing and secondary education. He earned his master’s degree in curriculum planning and development while later coaching at Albany.

Rockets sign forward Bruno Caboclo

The Houston Rockets on Monday signed forward Bruno Caboclo, whose last name is pronounced “cuh-BO-clo.”

Caboclo (6-9, 218) was originally the 20th overall pick by Toronto in the 2014 NBA Draft. He spent his first three and a half seasons with the Raptors prior to being traded to Sacramento this past February.

Last season, the 22-year-old appeared in a total of 36 G League games while on assignment with Raptors 905 and the Reno Bighorns, averaging 14.2 points, 6.4 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 1.3 steals and 1.5 blocks. Caboclo also averaged 2.4 3-pointers made.

Nets sign Jordan McLaughlin and Mitchell Creek

The Brooklyn Nets signed guard Jordan McLaughlin and guard/forward Mitchell Creek today.

Until we hear otherwise, we will assume the signings are non-guaranteed deals that merely bring Creek and McLaughlin to Nets training camp.

Creek (6’5”, 216), joins the Nets after spending the last eight seasons playing internationally for both Adelaide of the Australian National Basketball League (2010-18) and BG Gottingen of the German Basketball League (2018). Overall, the Australian native appeared in 200 games (101 starts) for Adelaide, averaging 9.4 points, 4.1 rebounds and 1.4 assists in 21.0 minutes per contest. In 2017-18, Creek was named to the All-NBL Second Team after guiding Adelaide to the finals of the NBL playoffs. He concluded the season ranked second on his team in points (14.8) and steals (1.2), third in rebounds (6.0) and fourth in assists (2.6). He then averaged 11.9 points, 2.7 rebounds and 1.3 assists in 21.4 minutes per contest in seven games for BG Gottingen. In international competition, Creek won a gold medal in 2017 while representing Australia in the FIBA Asia Cup in Lebanon.

Creek was also a member of the Dallas Mavericks’ 2018 Las Vegas Summer League team, appearing in five games and averaging 6.8 points and 5.2 rebounds in 18.0 minutes per game.

McLaughlin (6’1”, 185) joins the Nets after four years at the University of Southern California. He started all but one of his 128 career games for the Trojans, recording averages of 12.9 points, 5.8 assists, 3.5 rebounds and 1.7 steals in 33.5 minutes per contest. As a senior, McLaughlin recorded a USC single-season record 281 assists, which ranked first in the Pac-12 and third in the NCAA, and averaged 12.8 points, a career-high 7.8 assists, 3.7 rebounds and a career-high 2.0 steals in 35.3 minutes per game. The Etiwanda, Calif., native ranks second all-time in USC history in assists (738), third in steals (213), fourth in points (1,648) and fifth in 3-pointers made (185). He is also one of just three Pac-12 players all-time to record 700 or more assists and 1,600 or more points during his career.

McLaughlin was a member of the Nets’ 2018 Las Vegas Summer League team, appearing in five games and averaging 7.0 points, 4.2 assists and 1.8 rebounds in 19.6 minutes per game.

Hawks sign Alex Poythress and Daniel Hamilton

The Atlanta Hawks signed forward Alex Poythress guard/forward Daniel Hamilton today.

Poythress’ deal is confirmed by the team to be a two-way contract. Hamilton’s contract is probably a non-guaranteed deal that merely brings him to training camp.

The Hawks are in serious rebuilding mode. There isn’t a single player on the roster right now that is considered a star in today’s NBA. The good news is, this means there’s plenty of opportunity for almost everybody on this super-young roster to step up and quickly put their name on the map.

Eyes will certainly be on rookies Trae Young and Kevin Huerter, and young power forward John Collins, among others.

And then there’s Jeremy Lin. Maybe we’ll see Linsanity 2.0. Don’t count on it, because Lin is older now and coming back from serious injury. But if it were to happen, this is the year and the roster for such a blessing to occur.

As for today’s pair of signings, here’s more on each player:

Hamilton spent last season on a two-way contact with the Oklahoma City Thunder and Oklahoma City Blue of the NBA G League. In six games with the Thunder, he averaged 2.0 points and 1.3 assists in 4.7 minutes (.455 FG%, .400 3FG%). He started 45 games with the Blue, averaging 16.1 points, 9.0 rebounds, 7.8 assists and 1.2 steals in 32.8 minutes (.406 FG%, .813 FT%).

As a rookie in 2016-17, Hamilton appeared in 49 contests (47 starts) with the Blue, compiling 14.9 points, 8.0 rebounds, 4.7 assists and 1.3 steals in 31.2 minutes (.426 FG%, .374 3FG%, .767 FT%).

Following two seasons at Connecticut, Hamilton was selected with the 56th overall pick of the 2016 NBA Draft by Denver, before his rights were traded to Oklahoma City in exchange for cash considerations.

As a sophomore for the Huskies, he was one of two Division I players in the country (joining Ben Simmons) with 450 points, 300 rebounds and 150 assists. On the season, he averaged 12.5 points, 8.9 rebounds, 4.7 assists and 1.1 steals in 31.9 minutes, which earned him Second Team All-AAC honors.

A native of Los Angeles, CA, he attended Crenshaw High School before transferring to St. John Bosco for his final two seasons. He will wear No. 5.

Poythress (POY-thress) finished last season with the Indiana Pacers, where he appeared in 25 games. He began the season on a two-way contract with the Pacers and the Fort Wayne Mad Ants (originally signing on August 22, 2017), before his contract was converted on December 28, 2017.

In seven starts with the Mad Ants, he averaged 20.0 points, 8.9 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.3 blocks in 24.0 minutes (.482 FG%, .675 FT%).

As a rookie in 2016-17, the 6’9” forward signed a 10-day contract with the Philadelphia 76ers on April 1, 2017 and averaged 10.7 points and 4.8 rebounds in 26.2 minutes (.463 FG%, .800 FT%) in six contests. He also appeared in 46 games (45 starts) with the Mad Ants prior to signing with the 76ers, and put in 18.5 points, 7.1 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.4 blocks in 31.1 minutes (.528 FG%, .403 3FG%, .783 FT%). Poythress earned All-NBA G League Second Team and All-NBA G League Rookie team honors, also earning a spot in the NBA G League All-Star Game that season.

In four seasons at University of Kentucky (2012-16), he finished his career with 966 points, 597 rebounds and 77 blocks, becoming the 12th player in program history with at least 900 points, 500 rebounds and 70 blocks. As a senior in 2015-16, Poythress compiled 10.2 points and 6.0 rebounds in 23.6 minutes (.601 FG%, .706 FT%), playing 31 games and starting 23.

He was named Tennessee’s Mr. Basketball following his senior year at Northeast High School in Clarksville, TN, also earning Parade and McDonald’s All-America honors. Poythress was born in Savannah, GA. He will wear No. 22.

Only players with three-or-fewer years of NBA experience are permitted to sign two-way contracts. Per league rules, teams are allowed to have up to two two-way players on their roster at any given time, in addition to their 15-man regular season roster. A two-way player for the Hawks will primarily play for the team’s NBA G League Affiliate, the Erie BayHawks, but can spend up to 45 days with Atlanta, not including any time prior to the start of Erie’s training camp and after the conclusion of their season.

Kemba Walker discusses his future

The Knicks could use a well-established point guard. Kemba Walker fits that description. But he’s a Hornet, and isn’t predicting that to change anytime soon. Of course, in this particular situation it makes all the sense in the world for Kemba to talk about the Hornets and no one but the Hornets. Here’s the Hartford Courant with more:

Kemba Walker can’t avoid it. Whenever he sets foot in the five boroughs, the questions come from every direction.

“I’ve been hearing it for years,” Walker said Thursday, after working with youngsters at the National Basketball Players Association summer camp. “Every time I come home, ‘When are you going to come home and play for the Knicks?’ I know it’s a special place, I was a Knicks fan growing up, always rooted for the home team. But I just can’t see myself in a Knicks jersey, only because I’ve only been in one jersey.”

Walker, 28, a two-time All-Star, is seven years removed from that never-to-be-forgotten UConn finish, and seven years into his NBA career, all with the Hornets, entering his prime and a year away from free agency…

There is also temptation for the Hornets to trade him now and get maximum value in return. Walker, who has averaged more than 20 points per game in each of the last three seasons, has been a popular figure in the summer’s trade rumors.

“At first, it bothers you,” he said. “Who wouldn’t it bother? Who wants to hear his name in trade rumors? But I’m seven years in, it’s not the first time. It’s something I’ve gotten over. What can I do?”

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Rudy Gay says he is 100 percent healthy

Entering the 2018-19 NBA season, the Spurs are built around LaMarcus Aldridge and new addition DeMar DeRozan. Almost everyone else on the roster is part of the supporting cast. But then there’s Rudy Gay, who in 2015-16 with the Kings scored 17.2 points per game and in 2016-17 with the Kings put up 18.7 ppg. But then in 2017-18 with the Spurs, Gay’s minutes dropped from over 30 minutes per game both those previous two seasons to 21.6 minutes per game last season, and he scored just 11.5 ppg. But now Rudy says he’s fully healthy. And the Spurs could definitely use another scorer. Can he fill that role? Will he receive the minutes to make it happen? First, a health update, from the San Antonio Express-News:

For starters, Gay is finally 100 percent after last season’s valiant but often painful return from the season-ending ruptured left Achilles tendon he suffered in January 2017 with the Sacramento Kings.

“Everything is clicking,” he said. “I feel athletic again.”

Gay credits his sense of well being to a summer of hard work in the gym and weight room intermingled with his usual full schedule of community involvement and NBA outreach, including playing in the league’s Africa Game 2018.

“I’ve been working hard, man,” Gay said at his boys’ high school basketball showcase for East Coast teams he hosts annually. “I lost about five pounds. Last year was a little bit of a struggle for me, so I tried to alleviate that by taking the weight off my feet by losing a couple of pounds through working out and eating better. It’s now or never right now for me.”

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On new Mavs center DeAndre Jordan

Here’s the Dallas Morning News reporting on new Mavericks center DeAndre Jordan. The former Clipper is an interesting addition to the Mavs, who are rebuilding yet are giving Jordan big money to help boost their win total for one season. Whether he’ll be on the team beyond 2018-19 remains to be seen:

The Mavericks were challenged in the rebounding department, so having Jordan should immediately help that shortcoming. He also will help their offensive efficiency as he’s led the league in effective field-goal percentage five times in the last six seasons. It’ll come down to how well Jordan and Dennis Smith Jr. mesh in the pick and roll, which figures to be an even bigger part of the Mavericks’ system this year. Luka Doncic working with Jordan is intriguing, too. And you might even see the high-low post of Dirk Nowitzki and Jordan. The bottom line is that having Jordan opens up a whole new array of options for coach Rick Carlisle.

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Former NBA GM Bob Bass dies

Some sad news in the NBA world came Friday. Here’s the Charlotte Observer reporting:

Bob Bass is the one general manager ever to trade former NBA superstar Kobe Bryant.

He did so much more than that in a pro basketball career that spanned five decades. He was the most impactful GM in Charlotte NBA history. Bass died Friday in San Antonio at the age of 89. He suffered two strokes recently.

Bass began as Hornets GM in 1995, working for owner George Shinn, and retired in 2004 after guiding the franchise through the move to New Orleans. Yes, he traded two future Hall of Famers in Bryant and Alonzo Mourning. He also got the Hornets to the playoffs in seven of his nine seasons, oversaw the only two seasons of 50 or more victories in franchise history, and won the NBA Executive of the Year in 1997 after the Hornets won 54 games.

Bass was as old-school as anyone I’ve covered. He grew up in Oklahoma, married a fellow coach, Pat, of Native American descent, and built a career working for pre-merger American Basketball Association teams on shoestring budgets. He once told me about selling off office furniture to pay some bills at one of his ABA stops in Denver, Miami, Memphis and San Antonio.

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Here’s a statement on Bob Bass from the Charlotte Hornets: “The Charlotte Hornets are saddened to learn of the passing of Bob Bass. After coming to Charlotte in 1995, Bob was responsible for some of the most successful teams in Hornets history and left an indelible mark on our franchise. Under his leadership the Hornets never finished a season with a record under .500, and his team building earned him the NBA’s Executive of the Year Award in 1997. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his wife Pat, sons Kelly and Kip, and the entire Bass family.”

And here’s a statement from Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich: “Over the course of four decades, Bob Bass had a huge impact in both the ABA and NBA. BB was a true pioneer in the world of professional basketball. His knowledge, passion and dedication to the game were inspiring. We send our condolences to the entire Bass family.”

Noah Vonleh ready to bring rebounding skills to Knicks

The Knicks are in a rebuilding phase. The squad is build around Kristaps Porzingis (injured), Tim Hardaway Jr. and Enes Kanter. They’re hoping Frank Ntilikina can develop, and that new additions Mario Hezonja, Kevin Knox (rookie) and Mitchell Robinson (rookie) can be difference-makers. But another new team member, Noah Vonleh, has been in the NBA since 2014 and is still looking to get serious minutes in a rotation. One thing Vonleh is sure to bring to the Knicks is excellent rebounding ability. Here’s the New York post with more:

Noah Vonleh may be regarded as another lottery-pick disappointment on the Knicks’ roster, but the 6-foot-9, 245-pound power forward has one exceptional attribute he will bring to the Garden — rebounding.

“To be in the NBA, you have to have an elite skill and do something really well,’’ Vonleh told The Post in his first comments since signing as a free agent July 24.

“Rebounding has always been the biggest thing for me. Since I was a young kid, I was always able to rebound. I got a good eye for what angle it’s coming off and just going after it. That’s my skill that got me in the NBA. That’s what I get myself going with.’’

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