Knicks sign Duane Washington Jr. to two-way contract

The New York Knicks have signed guard Duane Washington Jr. to a two-way contract.

Washington Jr., 6-3, 197-pounds, was waived by Phoenix on Feb. 1 after averaging 7.9 points, 2.0 assists and 1.2 rebounds over 12.7 minutes in 31 games (three starts) with Suns. He recorded four 20-point performances this season, including career highs of 26 points and seven assists in a win at Memphis on Dec. 27.

He began his career in Indiana, averaging 9.9 points on 37.7% shooting from downtown with 1.8 assists over 20.2 minutes in 48 games (seven starts) during the 2021-22 season. Among qualified NBA rookies, he ranked 12th in points per game, third in three-point percentage and ninth with 81 made three-pointers. Washington set a Pacers rookie record by making seven three-pointers at New Orleans on Jan. 24. He also appeared in 11 games (all starts) with the Fort Wayne Mad Ants of the NBA G League, averaging 19.5 points, 4.4 assists and 3.4 rebounds over 32.5 minutes.

The Frankfurt, Germany-native went undrafted in the 2021 NBA Draft following a three-year career at Ohio State University where he earned All-Big Ten honors in his final season after averaging a team-high 16.4 points to go along with 3.4 rebounds and 2.9 assists over 32.2 minutes in 31 games all starts).

Raptors sign Will Barton, waive Juancho Hernangomez

The Toronto Raptors have signed guard Will Barton.

And in a related move, the Raptors have waived forward Juancho Hernangόmez.

Barton, 6-foot-5, 180 pounds, averaged 7.7 points, 2.8 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 19.6 minutes in 40 games with Washington this season. He shot .387 (110-284) from the field, including 38 percent (52-137) from beyond the arc, and scored in double figures 11 times. Barton was waived by the Wizards on Feb. 21.

A native of Baltimore, Maryland, Barton was picked 40th overall by Portland in the 2012 NBA Draft. He holds career averages of 11.4 points, 4.2 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 25.5 minutes in 663 games (284 starts) with Portland, Denver and Washington. Barton played collegiately at Memphis (2010-12) where he was the Conference USA Player of the Year as a sophomore.

Hernangόmez averaged 2.9 points, 2.9 rebounds and 14.6 minutes in 42 games (10 starts) with the Raptors this season after signing as a free agent in July 2022.

Hornets guard LaMelo Ball suffers fracture in right ankle

Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball suffered a fracture in his right ankle in tonight’s home game vs. Detroit. Ball left the game in the third quarter and an x-ray taken at the arena revealed the fracture.

Ball, the third overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, has appeared in 161 games (141 starts) in his career, averaging 19.4 points (42.5 FG%, 37.4 3P%, 83.0 FT%), 6.4 rebounds, 7.3 assists and 1.5 steals in 31.9 minutes per game. The Chino Hills, California product garnered 2020-21 NBA Rookie of the Year honors and earned the first All-Star selection of his career in 2021-22.

Ball will be listed as out for the Hornets’ next game vs. Phoenix on March 1 and updates regarding his status will be provided as appropriate.

Rockets sign Willie Cauley-Stein to 10-day contract

The Houston Rockets have signed center Willie Cauley-Stein to a 10-day contract.

Cauley-Stein (7-0, 240) was briefly with the Rockets during the preseason prior to joining their NBA G League affiliate, Rio Grande Valley. In 10 regular season games for the Vipers, he has averaged 9.4 points, 6.2 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 1.3 blocks and 1.2 steals in 28.3 minutes per game while shooting 64.5% from the floor. Cauley-Stein also appeared in 16 games for Rio Grande Valley during the G League Showcase.

The seven-year NBA veteran was originally the sixth overall pick by Sacramento in the 2015 draft and spent last season with Dallas and Philadelphia. In 422 career games with 256 starts, Cauley-Stein has averaged 8.7 ppg, 5.9 rpg and 1.4 apg in 22.0 mpg while shooting 54.4% from the floor.

Thunder sign Lindy Waters III to multi-year contract

The Oklahoma City Thunder have signed guard Lindy Waters III to a multi-year contract, it was announced today by Executive Vice President and General Manager Sam Presti.

Originally signed to a Two-Way Contract on Feb. 10, 2022, Waters III has appeared in 25 games with the Thunder this season and averaged 4.4 points and 1.7 rebounds in 11.2 minutes per game. In 20 games (19 starts) this season with the Oklahoma City Blue, he has posted averages of 16.3 points, 5.3 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 1.15 steals in 34.8 minutes per game.

Atlanta Hawks hire Quin Snyder as new head coach

The Atlanta Hawks have hired Quin Snyder as the franchise’s 15th full-time head coach.

Snyder served as head coach of the Utah Jazz from the 2014-15 to 2021-22 seasons, accumulating a 372-264 record (.585) and leading the Jazz to the playoffs in six of his eight seasons. Over his final six seasons (2016-17 to 2021-22), the Jazz compiled a 294-178 record, the third-highest winning percentage (.623) in the NBA and best in the Western Conference over that span. Utah started the 2020-21 season with a 23-5 record, earning Snyder the honor of being named the head coach of the 2021 Western Conference All-Star Team, and finished the regular season with the best record in the NBA (52-20; .722) and the fifth-highest single-season winning percentage in Jazz history. His 372 wins are the second-most in the franchise history behind only Jerry Sloan.

Snyder finished sixth in NBA Coach of the Year voting in 2017, second in 2018, eighth in 2019 and third in 2021. He is a four-time Western Conference Coach of the Month.

Prior to joining the Jazz in 2014-15, Snyder was an assistant coach with the Hawks during the 2013-14 season on Head Coach Mike Budenholzer’s staff.

“From our first conversation, it was clear that Quin had all the characteristics we were looking for in our next head coach. He has both an incredible basketball and emotional IQ, and we share the same core values and basketball philosophies of having honest communication and collaboration with players, tremendous attention to detail and placing a great emphasis on player development,” Fields said. “We are excited to welcome him, his wife Amy and their family back to Atlanta.”

“I am thrilled to go back to Atlanta as the next head coach of the Hawks. Landry has a tremendous reputation as an incredibly bright, high character, high quality individual and it was quickly evident that we share a passion and commitment to building a winning team with a strong foundation and high standards. I am excited to collaborate with Landry to create a successful program that devoted Hawks fans are proud of and cheer for and am grateful to Tony, Jami and the Ressler family for this opportunity. My family and I are looking forward to immersing ourselves in the community and calling Atlanta home.”

Over his eight seasons with Utah, the Jazz allowed the fewest points per game (102.0) in the NBA, the fifth-lowest field goal percentage (.449) and 10th lowest three-point percentage (.355) in addition to ranking 5th in rebounding (44.9). Offensively over that span, Utah ranked 5th in three-point field goal percentage (.366) and 6th in three-point field goal attempts per game (31.5).

The Jazz reached the playoffs in six consecutive seasons, advancing to the Western Conference Semifinals on three occasions (2017, 2018 and 2021). Snyder’s teams amassed a 21-30 record (.412) in the postseason.

Prior to joining the Hawks in 2013-14, Snyder worked as an assistant coach for CKSA Moscow (2012-13), the Los Angeles Lakers (2011-12) and Philadelphia 76ers (2010-11). From 2007-10, Snyder was head coach of the Austin Toros (the NBA G League affiliate of the San Antonio Spurs), recording a 94-56 (.627) mark, while leading the Toros to three straight playoff appearances and the 2008 National Basketball Development League championship game. He was the 2008-09 D-League Coach of the Year.

Snyder began his head coaching career at the University of Missouri in 1999, where in seven seasons, he led the Tigers to a 128-96 (.571) record, and four NCAA Tournaments including an Elite Eight appearance. Prior to starting with Missouri, he served as a with assistant with the Los Angeles Clippers (1992-93) and at Duke (1995-99) under Mike Krzyzewski. The former Duke guard (1985-89) played in 136 games over four years with the Blue Devils, reaching three Final Fours, averaging 6.2 points. Snyder earned undergraduate degrees in philosophy and political science from Duke, later earning a Juris Doctor and M.B.A. from Duke as well. He is a native of Mercer Island, WA.

Orlando Magic sign Michael Carter-Williams

The Orlando Magic have signed free agent guard Michael Carter-Williams, President of Basketball Operations Jeff Weltman announced today.

Originally selected in the first round (11th overall) of the 2013 NBA Draft by Philadelphia, Carter-Williams (6’6”, 205, 10/10/91) has appeared in 391 career NBA regular season games (217 starts) with Philadelphia, Milwaukee, Chicago, Charlotte, Houston and Orlando, averaging 10.3 ppg., 4.4 rpg., 4.4 apg. and 1.27 stlpg. in 25.3 minpg. He has also played in 16 career playoff games (six starts), averaging 7.5 ppg., 3.2 rpg. and 2.9 apg. in 21.0 minpg.

Carter-Williams was signed as a free agent by Orlando to a 10-day contract on March 15, 2019. He played in 88 games (25 starts) with the Magic from 2019-22, averaging 7.5 ppg., 3.9 rpg. and 3.3 apg. in 21.1 minpg. Carter-Williams was waived by Orlando on February 10, 2022.

Carter-Williams was named NBA Rookie of the Year in 2013-14 and selected to the 2013-14 NBA All-Rookie First Team.

Carter-Williams will wear #11 with the Orlando Magic.

Kings sign PJ Dozier, waive KZ Okpala

The Sacramento Kings have signed PJ Dozier to a contract, according to General Manager Monte McNair.

And in a related move, Sacramento waived KZ Okpala.

Dozier signed two 10-day contracts with Sacramento earlier this season, appearing in four games with the Kings. He has played in 11 regular season games for the Iowa Wolves, the Minnesota Timberwolves G League affiliate, averaging 20.5 points, 6.1 rebounds, 4.1 assists and 1.3 steals in 33.1 minutes per game.

The 26-year-old has seen action in 109 regular season NBA games and 12 NBA playoff games. Dozier, a Columbia, South Carolina, native played for the Denver Nuggets from 2019-2022.

Okpala appeared in 35 games for Sacramento this season. The fourth-year forward was selected 32nd overall in the 2019 NBA Draft out of Stanford.