Category: NBA News Blog

NBA news blog

Klay Thompson says staying off social media has helped his jumpshot

Via the San Jose Mercury News/Bay Area News Group:

After strong performances over his last three games, Klay Thompson’s shooting percentage is steadily climbing closer to his career average heading into Friday’s game against the Utah Jazz.

A few weeks ago, Thompson decided to stop scrolling the comment sections on his social media platforms.

Coincidence? Not at all. Thompson says there is a “direct correlation” between his social media strike and his improved play.

“I have so much more time on my hands,” Thompson said after the Warriors’ shootaround on Friday. “On social media looking at the comments, I learned if you lurk you’re going to get hurt.”

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Heat sign Dru Smith to two-way contract, waive Orlando Robinson

The Miami Heat have signed guard Dru Smith to a two-way contract.

Also today, the Heat waived center Orlando Robinson from his two-way contract.

Smith, who was previously converted to a two-way contract by the HEAT on October 13 before being waived on November 13, has started all three games with Miami’s G League affiliate, the Sioux Falls Skyforce and averaged 17.7 points, 7.3 rebounds, 4.3 assists, 3.00 steals, 1.33 blocks and 34.0 minutes while shooting 48.8 percent from the field, 42.1 percent from three-point range and 80 percent from the foul line. He scored 28 points against the Windy City Bulls on November 19 while also recording four steals and blocking three shots.

Smith started all 25 games he appeared in as a senior at Missouri in 2020-21, averaging 14.1 points, 3.9 assists, 3.5 rebounds, 2.04 steals and 33.9 minutes while shooting 44.4 percent from the field, 39.8 percent from three-point range and 83 percent from the foul line. He was named to the All-SEC First Team and became the first player in school history to be named to the SEC All-Defensive Team after leading the conference in steals for the second consecutive season. He also led the team in points, assists, steals, field goals made, free throws made and minutes and earned Conference Player of the Week three times, the most by any player that season.

Robinson appeared in two games with the HEAT this season, totaling 14 points, nine rebounds, two steals, an assist and a block.

Jimmy Butler likely back in action soon for Heat

Via the South Florida Sun Sentinel:

With Jimmy Butler missing his fifth consecutive game due to soreness in his right knee Friday against the visiting Washington Wizards, the expectation is that he will be back in time for the Miami Heat’s two games next week against the Boston Celtics.

Butler last played in the Nov. 18 road loss to the Toronto Raptors, when he went 38 minutes two nights after playing 35 in a home victory against the Phoenix Suns. Two games before that, he played 42 in an overtime victory over the Charlotte Hornets.

With Tyler Herro back from eight-game absence with an ankle sprain, and with Victor Oladipo working toward his season debut as he works back from his own knee pain, the expectation is an attempt to somewhat lighten the minutes load on Butler, who has three seasons beyond this on his contract, at $140 million.

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Lakers guard Patrick Beverley suspended three games for incident with Deandre Ayton

Los Angeles Lakers guard Patrick Beverley has been suspended three games without pay for forcefully shoving Phoenix Suns center Deandre Ayton from behind and knocking him to the court, it was announced today by Joe Dumars, Executive Vice President, Head of Basketball Operations. The suspension was based in part on Beverley’s history of unsportsmanlike acts.

The incident, for which Beverley was assessed a technical foul and ejected, occurred with 3:55 remaining in the fourth quarter of the Lakers’ 115-105 loss to the Suns on Nov. 22 at Footprint Center.

Beverley will begin serving his suspension Nov. 25 when the Lakers face the San Antonio Spurs at AT&T Center.

To view the incident, click on the following link: https://www.nba.com/watch/video/lakers-vs-suns-11-22-22

76ers sign Saben Lee, waive Michael Foster Jr.

The Philadelphia 76ers have signed Saben Lee to a two-way contract.

In a related move, the team has waived Michael Foster Jr.

Lee joins Philadelphia after appearing in seven games this season with the Toronto Raptors’ G League affiliate, Raptors 905, where he averaged 21.7 points and 6.0 assists while shooting .563 from the floor. He’s one of six G League players averaging 20-plus points, while shooting at least 55-percent from the field.

Prior to Raptors 905, Lee spent two seasons with Detroit, appearing in 85 NBA games (seven starts) with averages of 5.6 points, 2.2 rebounds and 3.3 assists. In 19 regular-season G League games with the Motor City Cruise last season, he posted 24.0 points, 4.8 rebounds, 7.2 assists and 2.3 steals per game.

Originally selected by Utah with the No. 38 overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, Lee played collegiately at Vanderbilt where was named to the All-SEC Second Team as a junior.

Lee will wear No. 9 with the 76ers.

Ja Morant may return sooner than expected for Grizzlies

Via the Memphis Commercial Appeal:

Ja Morant may be healing at a faster rate than anticipated.

The Memphis Grizzlies updated Morant to questionable ahead of Tuesday’s game against the Sacramento Kings. Morant was initially listed as doubtful on Monday.

He’ll undergo testing ahead of the game to determine if he will be able to play.

Morant injured his left ankle on Friday against the Oklahoma City Thunder. The team announced that he suffered a grade 1 ankle sprain and would be evaluated week-to-week.

FULL ARTICLE

Wizards sign Devon Dotson, and waive Jordan Schakel

The Washington Wizards have signed guard Devon Dotson to a two-way contract.

And in a related move, Washington waived forward Jordan Schakel, who appeared in six games with the team after being signed to a two-way contract in March 2022.

Dotson, a 6-1, 185-pound guard from Kansas, has played in seven games this season with the Capital City Go-Go, averaging 12.1 points, 4.1 rebounds and 7.3 assists per game. On November 15, Dotson recorded the third triple-double in Capital City history, scoring 17 points with 10 rebounds and 10 assists.

Dotson spent 2022 Summer League, preseason and training camp with Washington after spending his first two seasons in the league with Chicago. The Charlotte, N.C. native appeared in 22 total games, averaging 2.4 points per game with the Bulls.

Trail Blazers sign Ibou Badji to two-way contract, waive Olivier Sarr

The Portland Trail Blazers have signed center Ibou Badji to a two-way contract.

Also today, the team waived center Olivier Sarr.

Badji, 7-1, averaged 7.4 points (61.8% FG, 66.7% FT), 6.6 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 2.6 blocks in seven games (all starts) this season with the Wisconsin Herd, the NBA G League affiliate of the Milwaukee Bucks. A native of Senegal, he also played for the country in the 2019 FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup and averaged 6.9 points, 5.1 rebounds and 3.1 blocks in seven games.

Sarr was signed to a two-way contract on September 7, 2022 and appeared in four preseason games for the Trail Blazers, averaging 4.0 points and 2.8 rebounds in 11.0 minutes.