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Pistons sign rookie Marcus Sasser

The Detroit Pistons have signed rookie Marcus Sasser, who was selected 25th overall by the Pistons in the 2023 NBA Draft, to a contract.

Sasser, 6’2”, 195, averaged 16.8 points, 2.8 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 1.6 steals in 30.8 minutes across 36 games in his senior season at Houston. After leading the Cougars to a 33-4 record and a No. 1 seed in the 2023 NCAA Tournament, Sasser was a consensus 2022-23 All-American First Team selection. Sasser won the American Athletic Conference Player of the Year and Jerry West Shooting Guard of the Year award in 2022-23. In addition, he was a Lefty Driesell Defensive Player of the Year finalist and Naismith Defensive Player of the Year semifinalist.

The Dallas, Texas, native was the first Houston consensus First-Team All-American since Hakeem Olajuwon in 1984. Sasser finished 15th in Houston history with 1,458 career points and set the school record with 276 career 3-pointers.

Pelicans waive Garrett Temple

The New Orleans Pelicans have waived Garrett Temple.

Temple, 6-5, 195, appeared in 84 games (16 starts) over two seasons with New Orleans, averaging 4.3 points, 1.9 rebounds, and 1.0 assists in 15.0 minutes per contest.

Temple holds averages of 6.2 points, 2.3 rebounds, and 1.7 assists in 716 games over his 13-year NBA career with Houston, Sacramento, San Antonio, Milwaukee, Charlotte, Washington, Memphis, the LA Clippers, Brooklyn, Chicago, and New Orleans.

Orlando Magic promote Anthony Parker to general manager and Pete D’Alessandro to executive vice president

The Orlando Magic have restructured their basketball operations, promoting Anthony Parker to general manager and Pete D’Alessandro to executive vice president, President of Basketball Operations Jeff Weltman announced today. Per team policy, terms of the deals are not disclosed.

In addition, John Hammond, who has served 32 seasons in the NBA, will transition to the role of senior advisor to the president of basketball operations.

“We are excited for John’s well-deserved next chapter,” said Weltman. “He has, and will continue to be, an invaluable resource. His experience has helped set the table for the Magic’s future and we look forward to continuing to lean on him in regard to everything from player evaluation to player development. He helped build a great team in Milwaukee and won a championship in Detroit. He has, and will continue to be, a great friend, mentor and confidant to the Magic family.

“We are equally excited for Anthony and Pete in their well-deserved promotions. Anthony brings a unique perspective to our group as a former player and it has been great to watch his progression from player to scout to G League GM to the Magic’s assistant general manager. Anthony is the ultimate team player and we look forward to his continued leadership, experience and energy.

“Pete has been instrumental in multiple areas, ranging from salary cap expertise to coordination with the league office. He is an outstanding leader and his creativity, experience and knowledge are instrumental to what we’re doing.”

Parker has spent the last two seasons (2021-23) as assistant general manager with the Magic. He rejoined Orlando after spending four seasons (2017-21) as general manager of the Lakeland Magic (now Osceola Magic) of the NBA G League. Under his leadership, Lakeland recorded 94 regular season victories since beginning play, tied for the most in the NBA G League during that span. They capped off the 2020-21 campaign by winning the NBA G League championship.

Prior to joining Lakeland, Parker spent five seasons (2012-17) as a scout with the Orlando Magic.

Originally selected in the first round (21st overall) of the 1997 NBA Draft by New Jersey, Parker played in 494 career NBA regular season games (423 starts) during nine seasons (1997-2000, 2006-12) with Philadelphia, Orlando, Toronto and Cleveland, averaging 9.1 ppg., 3.2 rpg. and 2.3 apg. in 27.8 minpg., while shooting .404 (596-1,474) from three-point range. He also appeared and started in 22 career NBA playoff contests, averaging 10.9 ppg., 4.0 rpg., 1.4 apg. and 1.00 stlpg. in 34.9 minpg., while shooting .407 (33-81) from three-point range.

Parker also spent six seasons (2000-06) playing professionally in Europe – five seasons in Israel with Maccabi Tel Aviv and one in Italy with Lottomatica Roma. While with Maccabi, he helped them capture five Israeli Super League national championships, five Israeli National Cups and three European titles (two EuroLeague championships and one FIBA SuproLeague championship). Parker was named EuroLeague MVP in both 2003-04 and 2004-05.

Parker played at Bradley University for four seasons from 1993-97. He completed his collegiate career as one of only two players in school history (joining Hersey Hawkins) to finish in the school’s top 10 all-time lists in scoring (1,683 points, eighth), assists (355, ninth), steals (159, seventh) and blocked shots (78, fifth). Parker was named Most Valuable Player of the Missouri Valley Conference following his junior season (1995-96) and was honored as one of 15 players named to Bradley’s All-Century basketball team in 2003.

Parker also excelled academically while at Bradley. As a chemistry major, Parker was a two-time recipient of the Major Robert H. Lawrence Jr. Scholarship, given annually to an African-American student who does outstanding work in the field of chemistry. He switched his major during his senior year to liberal arts and science.

Nets sign rookie Jalen Wilson to two-way contract

The Brooklyn Nets have signed forward Jalen Wilson, the 51st overall pick in the second round of the 2023 NBA Draft, to a two-way contract.

Wilson (6’8″, 225) spent four years (2019-23) at the University of Kansas, appearing in 104 total games (89 starts) and recording averages of 14.2 points on 43.4 percent shooting from the field, 31.6 percent shooting from 3-point range and 73.2 percent shooting from the free-throw line, 7.7 rebounds and 2.0 assists in 30.7 minutes per game. Wilson became just the 10th Jayhawk all-time to register at least 1,400 career points (1,475) and 800 career rebounds (802). The 22-year-old was named a consensus All-America First Team selection and earned Big 12 Player of the Year honors following a redshirt junior season in which he averaged 20.1 points, 8.3 rebounds and 2.2 assists in 35.4 minutes per contest across 36 games (all starts). As a redshirt sophomore, the Denton, Texas, native helped lead the Jayhawks to a national championship while also securing All-Big 12 Third Team honors.

Grizzlies sign Derrick Rose

The Memphis Grizzlies on Monday, July 3 signed guard Derrick Rose.

A 14-year NBA veteran, Rose (6-3, 200) has appeared in 699 regular season games (511 starts) and has averaged 17.7 points, 3.3 rebounds and 5.3 assists in 31.0 minutes for the Chicago Bulls, New York Knicks, Cleveland Cavaliers, Minnesota Timberwolves and Detroit Pistons. Last season, the 34-year-old recorded 5.6 points in 12.5 minutes over 27 games with the Knicks.

Rose also has competed in 52 playoff games (44 starts) over eight trips to the postseason and has averaged 21.9 points, 4.3 rebounds and 6.3 assists in 37.7 minutes.

A native of Chicago, Rose was selected by the Bulls with the first overall pick in the 2008 NBA Draft out of the University of Memphis. He was named the NBA Rookie of the Year in 2009 and the NBA Most Valuable Player in 2011. His other career highlights include a selection to the 2010-11 All-NBA First Team, three consecutive NBA All-Star appearances (2010, 2011, 2012) and 2008-09 All-Rookie First Team honors.

Magic waive Bol Bol

The Orlando Magic yesterday waived forward-center Bol Bol, President of Basketball Operations Jeff Weltman announced.

Bol (7’2”, 220, 11/16/99) played in 70 games (33 starts) last season (2022-23) with Orlando, averaging 9.1 ppg., 5.8 rpg., 1.0 apg. and 1.21 blkpg. in 21.5 minpg., while shooting .546 (261-478) from the floor.

Originally selected in the second round (44th overall) of the 2019 NBA Draft by Miami, Bol has played in 123 career NBA regular season games (35 starts) with Denver and Orlando, averaging 6.3 ppg. and 3.8 rpg. in 14.9 minpg., while shooting .533 (315-591) from the field.

Lakers sign Colin Castleton and D’Moi Hodge to two-way contracts

The Los Angeles Lakers yesterday signed center Colin Castleton and guard D’Moi Hodge to two-way contracts.

Castleton (6’11”, 231) appeared in 26 games (all starts) in his final campaign at the University of Florida last season, averaging 16.0 points, 7.7 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 3.0 blocks in 31.2 minutes per contest, earning him All-SEC First Team honors. The 2023 All-SEC Defensive Team selection led the conference in blocks per game, good for the third-best mark in the NCAA. Across five seasons at Florida (2020-23) and the University of Michigan (2018-20), Castleton posted averages of 10.4 points, 5.6 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 1.7 blocks in 20.9 minutes per game while shooting 53.7 percent from the field.

Hodge (6’4”, 185) most recently played his final collegiate season at the University of Missouri (2022-23) where he averaged 14.7 points, 3.9 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 2.6 steals in 29.1 minutes per game, while shooting an SEC-best 40.0 percent from 3-point range. The British Virgin Islands native led the conference in both total steals (91) and steals per game as a Tiger. Prior to Missouri, Hodge played at Cleveland State University (2020-22) and the State College of Florida (2018-20).

Both players will suit up for the 2023 Los Angeles Lakers’ Summer League team.

2023-24 Houston Rockets coaching staff announced

Houston Rockets head coach Ime Udoka has announced his staff for the upcoming 2023-24 NBA season. Joining the team as assistant coaches will be Ben Sullivan, Royal Ivey, Garrett Jackson, Tiago Splitter, Cam Hodges and Mike Moser.

Sullivan was an assistant coach with Boston the past two seasons, including on Udoka’s staff in 2021-22. Prior to joining the Celtics, Sullivan spent seven seasons as an assistant on Mike Budenholzer’s staff in both Atlanta and Milwaukee and helped the Bucks win the championship in 2020-21. Sullivan began his NBA career as an assistant video coordinator with San Antonio after being recommended by Udoka, who at the time was an assistant coach with the Spurs.

Ivey joins the Rockets from Brooklyn, where he spent the past three seasons as an assistant coach, including alongside Udoka on Steve Nash’s staff in 2020-21. After finishing his 10-year NBA career, Ivey became an assistant coach for Oklahoma City’s G League affiliate, the Blue. He eventually transitioned into an assistant coach for the Thunder and was also an assistant coach with his hometown Knicks. Ivey completed his career at the University of Texas at Austin as the school’s all-time leader in starts.

Jackson spent the past two seasons as a player enhancement coach for Boston. The Portland native played overseas following his collegiate career at USC and Saint Mary’s. Jackson was a graduate manager for Hawaii men’s team in 2018-19 before taking an internship with the Spurs video department.

Splitter spent the past four seasons as an assistant coach with the Nets and worked alongside Udoka in 2020-21. Following a standout playing career in Spain, Splitter joined the Spurs in 2010-11 and started 18 playoff games during their championship run in 2013-14. He has been an assistant coach for the Brazilian National team and served as head coach of their under-23 squad.

Hodges was a coaching associate for the Los Angeles Clippers for the past three seasons after serving as player development coach for Philadelphia in 2019-20 when Udoka was an assistant. He also worked three seasons as a player development assistant for the Spurs. Hodges, who served eight years in the U.S. Army Reserve, played overseas before interning with the Erie Bayhawks in the G League.

Moser was a player enhancement coach for Boston last season after serving as an assistant coach for the Oregon Ducks women’s team in 2021-22. As a redshirt senior for Oregon, he earned All-Pac-12 Honorable Mention. Moser played overseas for several years with stops in Lithuania, Israel, Kosovo, Qatar, Finland, and France.

Rockets sign rookies Amen Thompson and Cam Whitmore

The Houston Rockets yesterday signed rookies Amen Thompson and Cam Whitmore.

Thompson (6-7, 215) was the fourth overall pick by Houston in the 2023 NBA Draft. He spent the past two seasons with Overtime Elite, (OTE) an Atlanta-based league which offers players ages 16 through 20 a pathway to becoming professional athletes. His twin brother, Ausar, was selected fifth overall by Detroit, making them the first brothers picked top-10 in the same draft in NBA history.

While leading his team, the City Reapers, to the OTE championship last season, Amen averaged 17.2 points, 9.2 assists and 7.2 rebounds up from regular season averages of 16.3 ppg, 6.2 apg and 6.4 rpg. The 20-year-old ranked third in the league in assists and sixth in scoring. In 51 career OTE games (regular season and playoffs), Thompson averaged 2.2 steals and 1.2 blocks while shooting 53.6% from the floor.

Whitmore (6-7, 235) was the 20th overall pick by the Rockets in the 2023 NBA Draft. As a freshman at Villanova last season, he averaged 12.5 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 1.4 spg and 1.4 3-pointers made. Over the past 15 seasons, Whitmore was one of four Division I freshman to have averaged at least 12.0 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 1.00 spg and 1.0 3FGM while playing fewer than 28.0 mpg.

At the 2022 FIBA Under-18 Americas Championship, Whitmore averaged 18.7 points and was named MVP after leading USA Basketball to the gold medal. The former McDonald’s All-American will turn 19 years old on July 8.

Jazz sign Joey Hauser to two-way contract

The Utah Jazz yesterday signed forward Joey Hauser to a two-way contract.

Hauser (6-9, 220, Michigan State) appeared in 34 games (all starts) for the Spartans last season, owning averages of 14.4 points on 48.4 percent from the field and 46.1 percent from three, 7.0 boards, and 1.8 assists in 34.1 minutes per game.

The Green Bay, Wis., native appeared in 131 career-collegiate games over four seasons (Michigan State 2020-23 and Marquette 2018-19) and holds career averages of 10.3 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 1.8 assists in 26.9 minutes per contest. Following his freshman season at Marquette, which included five Big East Freshman of the Week accolades, he earned 2018-19 Big East All-Freshman Team honors.