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Markelle Fultz will enter 2017 NBA Draft

Talented guard Markelle Fultz, who will likely be one of top picks in the 2017 NBA Draft, will officially leave school and go pro, the school announced today. Here’s their announcement:

University of Washington freshman Markelle Fultz will be entering the 2017 NBA Draft, the University announced Friday. Fultz, who was an All-Pac-12 First Team and All-Freshman Team performer after leading the league in points at 23.2 per game, will hire an agent and not return to play for the Huskies.

“It’s been an honor to play in front of the Husky fans and I really appreciate all of the support you guys have given me,” Fultz said. “After sitting down with my Mom and the coaching staff, I’ve made the decision to enter the NBA Draft. Although the season hasn’t gone as planned, it’s really truly been a blessing to be here. I’ve learned a lot of lessons on and off the court, especially from coach Romar and his coaching staff. I’m always going to be a Husky for life.”

“The last three years of Markelle Fultz’s basketball career have been nothing short of amazing,” said head coach Lorenzo Romar. “He has made one of the quickest improvements of any athlete I’ve seen in a long time. Markelle has decided to enter the NBA Draft and we totally support his decision. We appreciate him giving his all, on and off the court, while he was part of our program and I will enjoy watching him play for many years to come. Even though he was only here for a short time, I truly believe he will be a Husky for life and that started before he even enrolled at UW as he went and supported our women’s team last year in the postseason in Maryland. We wish him the best of luck and look forward to following what will likely be an exciting career.”

Fultz finished his time at UW averaging 23.2 points per game, 5.9 assists and 5.7 rebounds while setting the Husky freshman scoring record with his 579 points. He is the first guard in 25 years to average 20-5-5 and was on the watch lists for numerous national awards including the Bob Cousy Award, Naismith Trophy, John R. Wooden Award and the Waymon Tisdale Freshman of the Year Award.

Markieff Morris fined for kick to Mason Plumlee

Markieff Morris fined for kick to Mason Plumlee

Washington Wizards forward Markieff Morris has been fined $25,000 for kicking Denver Nuggets center Mason Plumlee in the groin, it was announced today by Kiki VanDeWeghe, Executive Vice President, Basketball Operations.

The incident, for which Morris was assessed a Flagrant Foul 2 and ejected, occurred with 2:08 remaining in the fourth quarter of the Wizards’ 123-113 win over the Nuggets on March 8 at Pepsi Center.

Rockets sign Troy Williams to 10-day contract

Houston Rockets General Manager Daryl Morey announced today that the team has signed forward Troy Williams to a 10-day contract. Williams is the 38th “Call-up” of the 2016-17 season.

And immediately with this move, the Rockets have assigned Williams to Houston’s single-affiliation NBA D-League partner Rio Grande Valley.

Williams (6-7, 218) was eligible for the 2016 NBA Draft following his junior season at Indiana University and signed as a free agent with Memphis on Aug. 8, 2016. He appeared in 24 games for the Grizzlies this season.

In 23 D-League games, Williams is averaging 12.8 points in just 20.0 minutes per game. He won the D-League Dunk Contest held during NBA All-Star Weekend.

Timberwolves putting up wins lately

Like that mythical guy pushing the boulder, the Timberwolves still have lots of uphill work to do before they reach the playoffs this season, but Wednesday’s 107-91 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers showed again that they’re beating the rock, step by step.

The Wolves won for the seventh time in 11 games, and they did so against a Clippers team featuring Chris Paul and Blake Griffin back in the lineup together.

The last time these teams played, the Clippers played without either superstar and the Wolves prevailed by a mere three points in L.A. in January. This time, the Wolves won in both measurable and immeasurable categories, starting with the lopsided scoreboard, of course, but also including rebounding (50-36) and points in the paint (62-40).

— Minneapolis Star Tribune

DeMarcus Cousins fined for using bad language towards fans

New Orleans Pelicans forward/center DeMarcus Cousins has been fined $50,000 for directing inappropriate language towards fans on separate occasions, it was announced today by Kiki VanDeWeghe, Executive Vice President, Basketball Operations.

The incidents occurred during the Pelicans’ 105-97 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday, March 5 at Staples Center and at the conclusion of the Pelicans’ 88-83 loss to the Utah Jazz on Monday, March 6 at Vivint Smart Home Arena.

Nick Young’s house burglarized

The celebrity burglary thiefstravaganza continues … this time, crooks struck the L.A. home of Lakers star Nick Young (again!) and made off with $500k in cash and jewelry after taking his entire safe!!!

Law enforcement sources confirm … Young’s Valley residence was hit in February when the bad guys entered through an unlocked door and pilfered the NBA star’s valuables.

We’re told crooks took roughly $30k in cash plus 3 gold chains, a custom ring and a locked safe containing other valuables.

— TMZ Sports

Hornets sign Briante Weber to second 10-day contract

The Hornets have signed guard Brianté Weber to a second 10-day contract. Weber signed his first 10-day contract with Charlotte on Feb. 27. The Hornets roster now stands at 15 players.

Weber has seen action in one game with Charlotte, tallying two points at Phoenix on March 2. In his NBA career, the 6-2 guard has appeared in 15 games (four starts) over two seasons with the Memphis Grizzlies, Miami Heat, Golden State Warriors and Hornets, averaging 3.0 points, 1.9 rebounds and 1.7 assists in 14.5 minutes per contest. Weber appeared in two postseason games with the Heat, logging six minutes of action during the 2016 NBA Playoffs.

The Virginia Commonwealth University product also played with the Sioux Falls Skyforce of the NBA Development League this season. The 24-year-old appeared in 31 games (all starts) posting averages of 16.5 points, 7.5 rebounds, 7.4 assists and 3.3 steals in 36.8 minutes per game. Weber was named NBA D-League Player of the Month in January, and was also selected as a 2017 NBA D-League All-Star.

Mavericks sign Manny Harris and Jarrod Uthoff to 10-day contracts

The Dallas Mavericks announced today that they have signed guard Manny Harris and forward Jarrod Uthoff to 10-day contracts.

Harris (6-5, 185) is a three-year veteran with career averages of 6.4 points, 2.7 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 17.6 minutes in 89 games (20 starts) with Cleveland and the L.A. Lakers. After going undrafted in the 2010 NBA Draft, Harris signed as a rookie free agent with the Cleveland Cavaliers. He saw action in 54 games (15 starts) during his rookie campaign with Cleveland and averaged 5.9 points, 2.6 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 17.3 minutes. Harris was waived by the Cavaliers following his second season in Cleveland and spent the 2012-13 season in Ukraine with BC Azovmash. In 2013-14, he had a short stint back in the NBA with the Lakers that saw him average 8.1 points and 3.8 rebounds in just nine games.

Most recently, Harris was with the Texas Legends of the NBA Development League where he has averaged 26.3 points, 7.6 rebounds, 4.0 assists, 2.2 steals and 39.2 minutes in 37 games (36 starts) this season.

The Detroit native was an early entry candidate into the NBA Draft after three collegiate seasons at Michigan where he averaged 17.0 points, 5.7 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 1.5 steals and 34.0 minutes in 98 career games (97 starts).

Uthoff (6-9, 220) went undrafted in the 2016 NBA Draft and signed as a rookie free agent with the Toronto Raptors. He appeared in one preseason game for the Raptors before being waived on Oct. 22. He was acquired by Raptors 905 of the NBA Development League on Oct. 30 and was traded the Fort Wayne Mad Ants on Jan. 27. In a combined 35 games (7 starts) in the D-League this season, Uthoff is averaging 10.7 points, 6.2 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 23.9 minutes per contest.

The Cedar Rapids, Iowa native played collegiately at the University of Iowa and, as a senior, earned First Team All-Big Ten and Second Team All-America honors while averaging 18.9 points, 6.3 rebounds, 1.1 assists and 2.6 blocks. Uthoff joins Yogi Ferrell and A.J. Hammons as the third Maverick from the 2016 All-Big Ten First Team.

Harris will wear No. 6 and Uthoff will wear No. 19 for the Mavericks.

Pelicans sign Wayne Selden Jr to 10-day contract

The New Orleans Pelicans today signed free agent guard Wayne Selden Jr. to a 10-day contract.

Selden, 6-4, 232, has most recently played for the Iowa Energy of the NBA Development League, appearing in 35 games while posting averages of 18.5 points, 4.8 rebounds and 2.9 assists in 30.6 minutes.

Selden will wear #25 for the Pelicans and be available for tonight’s contest vs. Toronto.

New Orleans’ roster stands at 15.