Category: NBA News Blog

NBA news blog

Utah Jazz sign Kris Dunn and Frank Jackson to 10-day contracts

The Utah Jazz have signed guards Kris Dunn and Frank Jackson to 10-day contracts.

Dunn (6-3, 205, Providence) is entering his seventh NBA season, owning career averages of 8.1 points, 5.2 assists, 3.3 rebounds, and 1.5 steals in 245 games (129 starts) with Minnesota (2016-17), Chicago (2017-20), Atlanta (2020-21), and Portland (2021-22).

Drafted in the first round (fifth overall) in the 2016 NBA Draft by the Timberwolves, the New London, Conn., native was a four-year collegiate player at Providence, where he was twice named the Big East Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year (2014-15 and 2015-16) and was a Consensus Second-Team All-America selection following the 2015-16 season.

Jackson (6-3, 205, Duke) has four years of NBA experience, playing for the New Orleans Pelicans (2018-20) and the Detroit Pistons (2020-22). Last season with the Pistons, he averaged 10.6 points over 53 games played. The Utah-native has seen action in 213 career contests with 31 starts, owning career averages of 8.5 points on 42.2 percent from the field, 1.8 boards and 1.0 assists in 18.2 minutes per game.

He joins the Jazz most recently from the team’s G League affiliate, the Salt Lake City Stars, where he has appeared in 17 games (all starts), averaging 22.2 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 2.6 assists in 33.8 minutes per contest, for the 2022-23 regular season. During All-Star weekend, he was selected to participate in the NBA G League Next Up game, where he tallied 15 points, two rebounds, and two assists.

Bulls sign Patrick Beverley, waive Tony Bradley and Malcolm Hill

The Chicago Bulls have signed guard Patrick Beverley.

And in a related move, center Tony Bradley and forward Malcolm Hill have been waived.

Beverley, a 10-year veteran, appeared in 45 games (all starts) and averaged 6.5 points, 3.1 rebounds and 2.6 assists in 26.9 minutes with the Los Angeles Lakers before being traded to Orlando on Feb. 9 – part of a four-team trade. Beverley never suited up with the Magic and was waived by Orlando on Feb. 12.

He has played for four NBA franchises (Houston Rockets, L.A. Clippers, Minnesota Timberwolves, and the L.A. Lakers) across his decade tenure in the league, logging career averages of 8.7 points, 4.2 rebounds and 3.4 assists in 27.4 minutes across 571 NBA games (483 starts). Beverley has also been named to three All-NBA Defensive Teams, including first team honors in 2016-17. That same season, he also became the first player in NBA history to win the NBA Hustle Award.

Beverley will wear No. 21.

Atlanta Hawks reportedly fire coach Nate McMillan

Per multiple reports, the Atlanta Hawks have fired head coach Nate McMillan.

The team is 29-30 this season, which is the 8th best record in the Eastern conference.

Their leading scorers so far in 2022-23 are Trae Young at 26.7 PPG, Dejounte Murray at 20.7 PPG, and De’Andre Hunter at 15.9 PPG.

The Hawks offense has been average in the league this season, while their defense needs improvement.

Orlando Magic convert contract of Admiral Schofield into standard NBA contract

The Orlando Magic have converted the contract of forward Admiral Schofield to a standard NBA contract, President of Basketball Operations Jeff Weltman announced today.

Schofield (6’5”, 240, 3/30/97) signed as a free agent to a two-way contract by Orlando on July 22, 2022. He has played in 27 games this season, averaging 4.6 ppg. and 1.9 rpg. in 13.0 minpg. He also played in two games (one start) with Lakeland of the NBA G League during the NBA G League Winter Showcase, averaging 13.0 ppg., 2.5 rpg. and 1.0 apg. in 24.2 minpg. Schofield has scored in double figures three times, including a season-high 13 points on December 3 @ Toronto and December 18 @ Boston.

Originally selected in the second round (42nd overall) of the 2019 NBA Draft by Philadelphia, Schofield has played in 98 career NBA regular season games (three starts) with Washington and Orlando, averaging 3.8 ppg. and 1.9 rpg. in 12.1 minpg. He has also appeared in 53 career NBA G League regular season games (50 starts) with Capital City, Greensboro and Lakeland, averaging 14.8 ppg., 5.8 rpg. and 2.3 apg. in 29.5 minpg.

Schofield played in 132 career games (94 starts) during four seasons at the University of Tennessee (2015-19), averaging 11.9 ppg., 5.3 rpg. and 1.3 apg. in 24.9 minpg., while shooting .387 (184-476) from three-point range. As a senior (2018-19), he played and started in 37 games, averaging 16.5 ppg., 6.1 rpg. and 2.0 apg. in 31.7 minpg., while shooting .418 (74-177) from three-point range. He was named to the All-SEC First Team by the conference coaches, earned All-SEC Tournament Team honors and was also an honorable mention All-American by Associated Press. As a junior (2017-18), Schofield was named to the All-SEC Second Team by the conference coaches and earned All-SEC Tournament Team honors.

Schofield wears #25 for the Orlando Magic.

Orlando Magic waive R.J. Hampton

The Orlando Magic have waived guard R.J. Hampton, President of Basketball Operations Jeff Weltman announced today.

Upon clearing waivers, Hampton will become a free agent.

Hampton (6’6”, 190, 2/7/01) has played in 26 games this season with Orlando, averaging 5.7 ppg., 1.5 rpg. and 1.3 apg. in 13.9 minpg., while shooting .838 (31-37) from the free throw line. He scored in double figures eight times, including a season-high 15 points on Oct. 30 @ Dallas and Nov. 3 vs. Golden State.

Originally selected in the first round (24th overall) of the 2020 NBA Draft by Milwaukee, Hampton has played in 141 career NBA regular season games (15 starts) with Denver and Orlando, averaging 7.0 ppg., 2.9 rpg. and 2.0 apg. in 18.8 minpg. He was acquired by the Magic from Denver, along with Gary Harris and a future first round draft pick, in exchange for Gary Clark and Aaron Gordon on Mar. 25, 2021.

Hampton appeared in 116 career games (15 starts) with the Magic, averaging 8.0 ppg., 3.1 rpg. and 2.3 apg. in 20.8 minpg.

Bulls guard Lonzo Ball will not return to play this season

On behalf of Chicago Bulls Executive Vice President – Basketball Operations Artūras Karnišovas:

“Despite making significant increases in strength and function over the past several months, Bulls guard Lonzo Ball continues to experience performance limiting discomfort during participation in high level basketball-related activities. Considering the required time period to achieve the necessary level of fitness to return-to-play and the current stage of the NBA season, Ball will not return this season. The focus for Ball will continue to be on the resolution of his discomfort and a full return for the 2023-24 season.”

Nets and head coach Jacque Vaughn agree to contract extension

The Brooklyn Nets and Head Coach Jacque Vaughn have agreed to a multi-year contract extension.

“Jacque has made an immediate and immeasurable impact on our entire organization since assuming the role of head coach earlier this season,” said Nets General Manager Sean Marks. “On the court, he’s clearly demonstrated his leadership through his ability to connect and communicate at a very high level while displaying tremendous instincts for the game. As a person, they don’t come any better than Jacque. His character is impeccable, and there is not a better representative for our team and our borough. We are thrilled to have Jacque lead the Nets for years to come.”

Vaughn took over as Brooklyn’s acting head coach on Nov. 1 and assumed the position on a full-time basis on Nov. 9. Since Nov. 1, Vaughn has guided the Nets to the fifth-best record in the league (32-19), trailing only Boston (38-15), Denver (37-15), Philadelphia (34-15) and Milwaukee (35-17), and the third-best road record in the league (16-11), behind only New York (17-9) and Boston (16-9).

Miami Heat sign Kevin Love

The Miami Heat have signed forward/center Kevin Love.

Per the South Florida Sun Sentinel, “Love, who has been assigned No. 42, was signed to the remaining $3.1 million the Heat had from their biannual exception. The agreement means the Heat cannot put their biannual exception into play in 2023 NBA free agency.”

Per the Miami Herald, “Love (6-8, 251 pounds) helps address multiple Heat needs as a shooting big who can play as a center when Adebayo is on the bench as part of smaller lineups or alongside Adebayo as a power forward. There’s also the possibility that Love will become the Heat’s new starting power forward if the team wants to shift Caleb Martin (6-5, 205 pounds) back to a bench role to play his more natural position as an athletic two-way wing.”

Love, a 2016 NBA Champion, has appeared in 41 games this season (three starts) with the Cleveland Cavaliers. In his three starts, Love averaged 15.3 points, 10.3 rebounds and 2.3 assists while shooting 38.9 percent from the field, 39.3 percent from three-point range and 87.5 percent from the foul line. He scored 21 points, dished out 10 assists and grabbed eight rebounds on November 4 at Detroit, becoming the first player in Cavs history to record at least those numbers off the bench, doing so in only 23:26 minutes, the least amount of time by any reserve in NBA history during the shot clock era (1954).

Love started this season averaging at least 12 points, 7.5 rebounds and 2.5 assists while shooting at least 40 percent from three-point range to become the first player since the 1979-80 campaign to average at least those totals through the first 10 games of a season while playing under 21 minutes per game. He grabbed a season-high 17 rebounds on January 2 vs. Chicago and scored a season-high 29 points on October 30 vs. New York, connecting on a career-tying eight three-point field goals, including five in the fourth quarter, the most treys during a final frame in his career.

Additionally, the HEAT have taken 57 charges this season, the second-most in the NBA, as Love joins the team with 17 of his own, tying the fourth-most by any player in the league this season.

The 15-year NBA veteran has career averages of 17.2 points, 10.5 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 30.4 minutes while shooting 43.9 percent from the field, 37.2 percent from three-point range and 83 percent from the foul line. He has shot at least 36 percent from three-point range in 11 different seasons and is just one of four players in NBA history to shoot at least 35 percent from downtown and average at least 10 rebounds in their career.

After nine seasons in Cleveland, he leaves the Cavaliers among the all-time leaders in field goals made (second), defensive rebounds (third), total rebounds (sixth), free throws made (eighth), rebounds per game (eighth), points (ninth) and field goals made (10th).

Love will wear number 42.

Miami Heat sign Cody Zeller

The Miami Heat have signed nine-year NBA veteran Cody Zeller.

Zeller last appeared in 27 games with the Portland Trail Blazers during the 2021-22 season and averaged 5.2 points and 4.6 rebounds in 13.1 minutes of action while shooting 56.7 percent from the field and 77.6 percent from the foul line. The former fourth overall pick in the 2013 NBA Draft and 2013-14 NBA All-Rookie Second Team selection scored in double figures twice last season while grabbing at least six rebounds 11 times and dishing out multiple assists on three occasions. Additionally, Zeller has appeared in 494 career NBA games (273 starts) averaging 8.5 points, 6.0 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 22.2 minutes while shooting 52 percent from the field and 73.1 percent from the foul line.

Zeller will wear number 44.