Inside Hoops – Page 496 – NBA Blog

Jayson Tatum enjoys workout with Kobe Bryant

Even when an NBA player gains some experience and isn’t awe-struck by anyone he’s up against, it’ll always be special for the player to work out with their sports idol. Here’s NESN.com reporting on talented young Celtic Jayson Tatum and a photo Tatum posted in late July:

Jayson Tatum has spent his offseason improving his game and his body, with a little help from his childhood idol.

The Boston Celtics rookie forward posted photos of himself working out with Los Angeles Lakers great Kobe Bryant, who Tatum has said was his favorite player growing up.

Tatum’s unique scoring ability and silky mid-range jump shot has drawn comparisons to Bryant dating all the way back to his days at Chaminade College Preparatory School in St. Louis. But there’s no doubt the Black Mamba had a few pointers for the Duke product as he prepares to embark on his sophomore NBA season.

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Tom Chambers reportedly charged with assault

Here’s the Deseret Morning News reporting on long-retired NBA star Tom Chambers:

Former Utah Jazz and Utah Utes power forward Tom Chambers was charged with assault stemming from an incident that happened in April of this year, the Arizona Republic reported.

Police said the incident happened on April 15 in a Scottsdale, Arizona, restaurant, according to the Republic. Another patron, 22-year-old Alexander Berglet, began to insult the former NBA player, TMZ reported, and Chambers told police he reacted after Berglet said, “Your mom should have killed you when you came out of the womb as ugly as you are, your arms are silly, your chest is this. Your belly is big.”

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Grizzlies sign guard Markel Crawford

The Memphis Grizzlies on Thursday signed guard Markel Crawford to the team’s training camp roster.

Crawford (6-4, 210) appeared in seven games (one start) for the Grizzlies during NBA Summer League 2018 in Las Vegas and averaged 9.6 points and 1.9 rebounds in 18.4 minutes while shooting 53.1 percent from the field and 45.8 percent from three-point range. The 23-year-old Memphis native also saw action in three games as a reserve during the 2018 Utah Jazz Summer League and averaged 5.7 points in 12.8 minutes.

Unselected in the 2018 NBA Draft, Crawford started 25 of his 32 games last season as a redshirt senior at Ole Miss and averaged 9.2 points, 4.0 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.19 steals in 30.9 minutes. He spent his first four collegiate seasons at the University of Memphis following his high school career at Melrose High School in Memphis.

According to the Memphis Commercial Appeal, “Crawford transferred to Ole Miss for his final year of eligibility, but played in 95 games for the Tigers between 2014 and 2017. He averaged 8.0 points in his three years under former Memphis coaches Josh Pastner and Tubby Smith.”

Jazz sign center Isaac Haas

The Utah Jazz have signed center Isaac Haas.

Until we hear otherwise, we will assume it is a non-guaranteed contract for training camp.

Haas (7-2, 290, Purdue) competed for the Jazz at the 2018 Utah Jazz Summer League and NBA Summer League in Las Vegas. He saw action in four games at the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas, totaling 15 points, 19 rebounds, four steals and three blocks in those contests.

He appeared in 35 games (all starts) as a senior in 2017-18, posting averages of 14.7 points, 5.7 rebounds and 1.3 blocks in 23.4 minutes per game. A finalist for the 2018 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award, Haas also earned an AP Honorable Mention and All-Big Ten Third team recognition following his final collegiate season.

Playing in 139 career games (76 starts) at Purdue, the Hokes Bluff, Ala. native finished his career ranked 20th in points (1,555), 20th in rebounds (643), fourth in field goal percentage (.589), seventh in blocked shots (124) and fourth in games played.

Hornets waive Mangok Mathiang

Yesterday, the Charlotte Hornets waived Mangok Mathiang.

Mathiang signed a two-way contract with Charlotte on Aug. 2, 2017. In 2017-18, the 6-10 forward from Louisville appeared in four games with the Hornets, averaging 2.0 points and 2.5 rebounds in 5.0 minutes per contest. He also appeared in 43 games (36 starts) for the Hornets G League affiliate, the Greensboro Swarm, averaging 10.8 points, 9.2 rebounds, 1.4 blocks and 1.1 assists in 25.3 minutes per game.

Utah Jazz waive David Stockton

The Utah Jazz yesterday waived guard David Stockton.

According to the Deseret News, “this comes after German club Medi Bayreuth announced in early August it had signed the younger Stockton. His brother Michael, who played at Westminster College in Salt Lake City, also plays in Germany.”

Stockton appeared in three games with Utah, averaging 3.3 points in 3.0 minutes per contest in 2017-18. He tallied a season-high five points at Minnesota on April 1.

On Kyle Kuzma getting to play alongside LeBron James

LeBron James is bringing his basketball legacy to Los Angeles. Young Laker talent like Kyle Kuzma is sure to benefit. Here’s Michigan Live reporting:

The four-time MVP has played in the Finals for eight straight years, winning the championship with Cleveland in 2016 after capturing back-to-back crowns with the Miami Heat in 2012 and 2013.

Now, he’ll be wearing the same jersey as Kuzma, who will literally get to rub shoulders with one of the greatest players of all-time on a daily basis.

“I think it’s going to impact a lot,” Kuzma said Wednesday. “He’s the ultimate professional. He’s a guy that’s one of the first guys in the gym and one of the last ones to leave. Usually I say I’m the first one in the gym but he’s beaten me to the gym a couple times already.

“We’re both excited for the season. It’s going to be a great year for us. I kind of had a good hunch in my stomach he was going to come (to the Lakers). It’s good. Anytime you can play with one of the greatest players of all-time it’s going to bode well for you.”

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On Devin Harris rejoining the Mavericks

Devin Harris recently rejoined the Mavericks. As the team rebuilds, Harris will likely play a backup role, to younger players who may be a part of the team’s future. Here’s the Dallas Morning News reporting on his return:

It’s doubtful Harris would have returned to the roster had Yogi Ferrell not changed his mind after orally agreeing to a two-year, $5.3 million deal. He will back up both guard positions and serve as mentor in a crowded backcourt that includes starters Dennis Smith Jr. and Luka Doncic, J.J. Barea, Wesley Matthews and Jalen Brunson.

As of opening night, Harris will have played 10 of his 15 seasons in Dallas.

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Heat sign forward Marcus Lee

The Miami Heat signed forward Marcus Lee today.

It’s likely a non-guaranteed deal that merely brings Lee to Heat training camp.

According to the South Florida Sun Sentinel, “the agreement with Lee follows an agreement with undrafted Kansas guard Malik Newman last week and two-way contracts for undrafted forwards Duncan Robinson and Yante Maten, giving the team four players from the most recent draft class.”

Lee began his collegiate career at the University of Kentucky before transferring to the University of California, Berkeley for his senior season where he appeared in 32 games (all starts) with the Golden Bears last season and averaged 11.4 points, 7.2 rebounds, 1.63 blocks, 1.3 assists and 27.8 minutes while shooting 56.3 percent from the field. He finished eighth among the school’s all-time single-season blocks list with 52 and was the only player to start all 32 games. As a junior at Kentucky, Lee shot a single-season school record 68 percent from the field while helping the Wildcats to the SEC Championship. Additionally, he recently appeared in seven Summer League games (five starts) with the Cleveland Cavaliers in Las Vegas and averaged 6.1 points, 4.7 rebounds and 1.57 blocks in 15.9 minutes of action while shooting 70 percent (21-of-30) from the field.

More from the Sun Sentinel: “addition of Lee gives the Heat 17 players under contract, three shy of the NBA offseason maximum.”

Bulls sign Derrick Walton Jr

The Chicago Bulls have signed guard Derrick Walton Jr., presumably just to their training camp roster.

According to the Chicago Tribune, “the Bulls have 14 guaranteed contracts, including two point guards in starter Kris Dunn and backup Cameron Payne. Ryan Arcidiacono, who split time between the Bulls and the G League on a two-way contract last season, also signed to battle for a roster spot in training camp.”

According to the Detroit News, “Walton, 23, faces long odds and could be left battling for a two-way contract with guard Antonius Cleveland and Arcidiacono, with Chicago’s other two-way deal already taken by guard Rawle Alkins.

Walton (6-1, 189) was undrafted in 2017, but signed with the Miami Heat on a Two-Way contract on July 24, 2017. In the 2017-18 season, he played in 16 games for the Heat and averaged 1.8 points, 1.0 rebounds and 1.0 assists in 9.2 minutes per game. Walton posted a season-high seven points and five assists in a win against the Dallas Mavericks on Dec. 22, 2017. During his time in the NBA G League with the Sioux Falls Skyforce, Walton started in all 27 games in which he played, and he posted 16.1 points, 7.1 assists, 4.0 rebounds and 1.48 steals in 32.4 minutes per game.

The Detroit native played four seasons at the University of Michigan, where he holds career averages of 11.6 points, 4.4 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 1.15 steals in 31.9 minutes per game. Walton is the only player in Wolverine history to record 1,000 points, 500 rebounds and 400 assists in his career. As a senior in 2016-17, he was named to the All-Big Ten Second Team and the Big Ten Tournament Most Valuable Player.