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Trail Blazers guard Gary Payton II was reevaluated by Dr. William C. Meyers at The Vincera Institute in Philadelphia on Monday.
Payton has been cleared to increase conditioning and on court activity in preparation to return to play.
Payton will miss Wednesday’s game vs. Memphis and the upcoming six-game road trip at which a timeline for return to game action will be determined.
The Dallas Mavericks have assigned guard Jaden Hardy to the Texas Legends of the NBA G League.
Hardy (6-4, 198) has played 10 minutes in two games with the Mavericks this season, posting two rebounds and one assist. The rookie will be with the Legends through their back-to-back at the Austin Spurs on Friday, Nov. 4, and Saturday, Nov. 5.
The Utah Jazz have named Quincy Lewis, the team’s 1999 first round draft selection, as their first-ever director of alumni relations. In this newly created position, Lewis will lead the team’s alumni programming and initiatives across the organization and in the community.
“Our organization has a deep appreciation for the many players who have helped build our franchise,” said Jazz General Manager Justin Zanik. “Throughout the process of finding the best candidate for this position, it was clear that Quincy was the perfect fit. His experience as a former Jazzman combined with his knowledge of the business of basketball makes him uniquely suited to lead our alumni relations program.”
Selected by the Jazz with the 19th overall pick in the 1999 NBA Draft, Lewis spent three seasons in Utah (1999-2002), appearing in 145 games and averaging 3.8 points and 1.4 rebounds in 12.3 minutes per game. He also played one season with the Minnesota Timberwolves (2003-04) and had a six-year stint internationally playing with Maccabi Tel Aviv (2002-03), Lucentum Alicante (2003-05, 2006-07), Olympiacos (2005-06), and Bilbao Basket (2007-09).
“I’m excited to have the opportunity to return to the Jazz organization and the state of Utah in this new role,” said Lewis. “Getting drafted by the franchise and spending three years here was a dream come true. The chance to come back and be part of the team in a different capacity brings things full circle. I’m looking forward to working with former players and to grow and strengthen their connections with not only the team but also the community at large.”
The Little Rock, Ark., native played four collegiate seasons at the University of Minnesota (1995-99), appearing in 127 career games, averaging 12.7 points, 4.0 boards, and 1.5 assists. As a senior in 1998-99, he averaged 23.1 points per game, earning the Big Ten Conference’s scoring title and All-American recognition.
After retiring from professional basketball, Lewis moved into collegiate administration at his alma mater, where he held various roles primarily within development and alumni relations. Lewis also spent a decade as a pregame, halftime, and post-game analyst for Fox Sports North, providing commentary for Minnesota Timberwolves games.
The Philadelphia 76ers have exercised the fourth-year contract option for Tyrese Maxey and the third-year contract option for Jaden Springer, both set to take effect for the 2023-24 season.
Maxey, now in his third professional season, holds career averages of 13.7 points (.480 FG, .403 3FG), 2.6 rebounds, 3.3 assists, and 26.9 minutes in 143 games (89 starts). The Texas native played in 75 games (74 starts) in his second NBA season in 2021-22, upping his scoring average from 8.0 to 17.5 while shooting .485 from the floor. His points-per-game increase ranked as the largest among second-year players last season, while his .427 mark from three-point range was third in the NBA. A 2022 Rising Stars selection, Maxey reached the 20-point mark on 25 occasions, including five games of 30-plus points.
Originally selected by the 76ers with the No. 21 overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, Maxey, 21, has averaged 22.6 points on .504 shooting (.468 3FG), 3.7 rebounds, 3.4 assists, and 1.1 steals in seven games (all starts) this season. He set career highs in both points (44) and three-point field goals (nine) at Toronto on Oct. 28, becoming just the second player in 76ers franchise history to tally 40-plus points prior to the age of 22 (Iverson, five times).
Springer, 20, has tallied seven points on 3-of-4 shooting in four career appearances for the 76ers. The No. 28 overall selection of the 2021 NBA Draft has competed in 19 career G League games (18 starts) for the Delaware Blue Coats, averaging 14.9 points, 4.7 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.5 steals in 26.8 minutes per contest. Springer helped lead Delaware to its second consecutive appearance in the G League Finals.
Named to the 2021-22 Southeastern Conference All-Freshman Team during his lone collegiate season at Tennessee, Springer led the Volunteers in scoring (12.5 ppg), three-point percentage (.435 3FG), and free throws made (81). His .810 free throw percentage ranked ninth in the SEC and represents the highest-ever mark by a Tennessee freshman with at least 100 attempts.
The Houston Rockets have exercised the third-year options for Jalen Green, Alperen Sengun, Usman Garuba and Josh Christopher.
Green was the second overall pick by Houston in the 2021 NBA Draft. He is averaging 20.7 points this season after scoring 20-plus points in 17 of the final 25 games in 2021-22 while earning All-Rookie First Team honors. Green is averaging 2.8 3-pointers made on 37.0% shooting this season and is tied for the fourth-most 3FGM (174) through the first 73 games played of a career.
Sengun was originally the 16th overall pick by Oklahoma City in the 2021 NBA Draft before his rights were acquired by the Rockets. He is averaging 15.3 ppg and 10.3 rpg in four games played this season, up from 9.5 ppg and 5.4 rpg as a rookie in 2021-22. Dating back to 1976-77, Sengun is the first player to have recorded at least 60 points and 40 rebounds while playing fewer than 100 minutes through the first four games played in a season.
Garuba was the 23rd overall pick by the Rockets in the 2021 NBA Draft. In 28 career games, he is averaging 7.5 ppg, 12.5 rpg, 2.5 apg, 1.7 spg and 1.4 bpg per 36 minutes played. This past summer, Garuba helped Spain win the FIBA EuroBasket Championship.
Christopher was the 24th overall pick by Houston in the 2021 NBA Draft. Over the final 18 games of 2021-22, he averaged 11.1 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 2.6 apg and 1.1 spg in 22.6 mpg while shooting 47.8% from the floor. Christopher had the third-most games of recording multiple steals (21) by any rookie last season.
All four players are 20 years old.
The Portland Trail Blazers today announced that guard/forward Josh Hart has entered the NBA’s Concussion Protocol following last night’s game.
Per the NBA’s Concussion Policy, Hart must go through the return-to-participation process, which can begin no earlier than 24 hours from the time of injury. The return-to-participation process includes a series of steps designed to ensure an athlete exhibits symptom free behavior before resuming full basketball activities. There is no timeframe to complete the process, as each injury and player is different and recovery time can vary in each case.
The 0-5 Lakers are still trying to find out the best way to utilize Russell Westbrook’s skill-set. Via ESPN.com:
Russell Westbrook came off the bench in a regular-season game for the first time since his rookie year in the Los Angeles Lakers’ 111-102 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves and impressed his team by taking to the role.
“He was great,” said LeBron James, who said Westbrook’s energy “catapulted” L.A.’s overall effort. “He was great all game.”
Westbrook played 33 minutes, more than he had in any of the three games he started this season, and finished with 18 points, eight rebounds and three assists. However, he shot 6-for-17 overall and 5-for-10 from the free throw line and was responsible for five of the Lakers’ 22 team turnovers.
Anthony Davis didn’t play, so LeBron started alongside a very limited supporting cast.
The Orlando Magic have exercised their third-year team options on guard Jalen Suggs and forward Franz Wagner, as well as their fourth-year team options on guard Cole Anthony and forward Chuma Okeke.
All four players are now signed through the 2023-24 season.
Anthony (6’3”, 195, 5/15/00) was originally selected in the first round (15th overall) of the 2020 NBA Draft by Orlando. He has played in 116 career NBA regular season games (102 starts), all with the Magic, averaging 14.9 ppg., 5.1 rpg. and 5.0 apg. in 29.8 minpg., while shooting .842 (336-399) from the free throw line. Anthony participated in the Rising Stars event during 2022 NBA All-Star in Cleveland.
Okeke (6’8”, 230, 8/18/98) was originally selected in the first round (16th overall) of the 2019 NBA Draft by Orlando. He has appeared in 120 career NBA regular season games (39 starts), all with the Magic, averaging 8.1 ppg., 4.5 rpg., 1.9 apg. and 1.21 stlpg. in 24.6 minpg., while shooting .813 (87-107) from the free throw line.
Suggs (6’5”, 210, 6/3/01) was originally selected in the first round (fifth overall) of the 2021 NBA Draft by Orlando. He has played in 50 career NBA regular season games (47 starts), all with the Magic, averaging 11.8 ppg., 4.3 apg., 3.5 rpg. and 1.28 stlpg. in 27.0 minpg. Suggs participated in the Rising Stars event during 2022 NBA All-Star in Cleveland.
Wagner (6’10”, 225, 8/27/01) was originally selected in the first round (eighth overall) of the 2021 NBA Draft by Orlando. He has appeared and started in 84 career NBA regular season games, all with the Magic, averaging 15.2 ppg., 4.6 rpg. and 3.0 apg. in 31.0 minpg., while shooting .860 (196-228) from the free throw line. Wagner was named to the 2021-22 NBA All-Rookie First Team, was named the NBA’s Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month for December 2021 and participated in the Rising Stars event during 2022 NBA All-Star in Cleveland.
The New Orleans Pelicans have exercised the team’s fourth-year option on guard Kira Lewis Jr. and their third-year option on guard/forward Trey Murphy III.
Selected 13th overall in the 2020 NBA Draft, Lewis Jr. has appeared in 78 games off the bench for New Orleans, averaging 6.2 points, 2.2 assists and 1.4 rebounds in 16.0 minutes per contest while shooting.391 from the floor, .298 from three-point range and .841 from the line.
Murphy III, selected 17th overall in the 2021 NBA Draft, has appeared in 66 games (two starts) for New Orleans, averaging 6.0 points and 2.6 rebounds in 14.9 minutes per contest while shooting .420 from the floor, .410 from three-point range and .877 from the line.
Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard exited Wednesday night’s game in the third quarter vs. Miami. An MRI taken Thursday confirmed a grade one strain of the right calf.
Lillard will be re-evaluated in 1-2 weeks.