Category: NBA News Blog

NBA news blog

Sixers convert Michael Foster Jr.’s deal to a two-way contract, and waive Charlie Brown Jr.

The Philadelphia 76ers have converted Michael Foster Jr. to a two-way contract.

And in a related move, the team has waived Charlie Brown Jr.

Originally signed as an undrafted free agent on July 10, Foster Jr. saw 18 minutes of action across three preseason games for the 76ers this year. The 19-year-old played in 15 games during the G League Ignite tour in 2021-22, averaging 16.3 points (.444 FG%) and 10.4 rebounds in 31.2 minutes.

Signed to a two-way contract on Jan. 11, 2022, Brown Jr. played in 19 games and made two starts for the 76ers throughout the 2021-22 season. The Pennsylvania native played in each of the team’s four preseason contests this season.

Philadelphia’s roster stands at 16 players (includes two-way players).

Magic waive Devin Cannady, Jay Scrubb and Simi Shittu

The Orlando Magic have waived guard Devin Cannady, guard Jay Scrubb and forward-center Simi Shittu.

Cannady (6’1”, 190, 5/21/96) played in four preseason games with Orlando, averaging 4.0 ppg. and 2.0 rpg. in 7.3 minpg.

Last season, Cannady appeared in five games with Orlando, averaging 10.0 ppg., 2.0 apg., 1.2 rpg. and 1.00 stlpg. in 28.9 minpg., while shooting .405 (15-37) from three-point range. He also played in 16 games (11 starts) with Lakeland of the NBA G League, averaging 15.8 ppg., 2.8 rpg. and 1.9 apg. in 26.5 minpg., while shooting .468 (59-126) from three-point range and .957 (22-23) from the free throw line.

Scrubb (6’5”, 220, 9/1/00) did not play in any preseason games with Orlando. He was signed as a free agent on October 8.

Shittu (6’10”, 240, 11/7/99) did not play in any preseason games with Orlando. He was signed as a free agent on October 12.

Orlando’s roster stands at 17 players.

Jazz waive Frank Jackson, Tyler Cook and Isaiah Miller

The Utah Jazz have waived forward Tyler Cook, and guards Frank Jackson and Isaiah Miller.

Cook (6-8, 255, Iowa) is entering his fourth NBA season, owning career averages of 3.8 points on 65.4 percent from the field, and 2.5 rebounds in 65 games (three starts) with Cleveland, Denver, Detroit, Brooklyn, and Chicago.

Jackson (6-3, 205, Duke) is entering his fifth NBA season, owning career averages of 8.5 points on 43.3 percent from the field and 33.3 percent from three-point range, to go with 1.8 rebounds, and 1.0 assists in 213 games (31 starts) with New Orleans and Detroit.

Miller (6-0, 180, UNC Greensboro) spent the 2021-22 season with the Iowa Wolves of the NBA G League, where he appeared in 32 games (three starts) and averaged 12.7 points on 48.5 percent shooting from the field, 4.7 rebounds, 2.9 assists, and 1.7 steals in 24.2 minutes per game.

Jazz sign Tyler Cook, Frank Jackson and Isaiah Miller

The Utah Jazz have signed forward Tyler Cook, and guards Frank Jackson and Isaiah Miller.

Cook (6-8, 255, Iowa) is entering his fourth NBA season, owning career averages of 3.8 points on 65.4 percent from the field, and 2.5 rebounds in 65 games (three starts) with Cleveland, Denver, Detroit, Brooklyn, and Chicago. In 2021-22 he played in 20 games (two starts) with the Bulls, averaging 3.4 points and 2.7 rebounds in 10.0 minutes per contest. He also appeared in 17 games (16 starts) with the Windy City Bulls of the NBA G League, averaging 17.2 points on 68.4 percent from the field, 7.6 rebounds, and 2.1 assists in 28.0 minutes per contest.

The 25-year-old played three collegiate seasons at the University of Iowa, where he saw action in 93 games (92 starts), tallying career averages of 14.1 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 1.8 assists in 28.0 minutes per game. He was named to the 2016-17 All-Big Ten Freshman Team and the 2018-19 All-Big Ten Second Team.

Jackson (6-3, 205, Duke) is entering his fifth NBA season, owning career averages of 8.5 points on 43.3 percent from the field and 33.3 percent from three-point range, to go with 1.8 rebounds, and 1.0 assists in 213 games (31 starts) with New Orleans and Detroit. The 24-year-old averaged a career-best 10.6 points in 53 games with the Pistons last season.

The native of Alpine, Utah was originally drafted by Charlotte with the 31st pick in the 2017 NBA draft before being traded to New Orleans on draft night. Collegiately, he played one season at Duke (2016-17), where he averaged 10.9 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 1.7 assists per game, helping the Blue Devils to an ACC tournament title. He attended Lone Peak High School in Highland, Utah, and was named Co-MVP of the 2016 McDonald’s All-American Game.

Miller (6-0, 180, UNC Greensboro) spent the 2021-22 season with the Iowa Wolves of the NBA G League, where he appeared in 32 games (three starts) and averaged 12.7 points on 48.5 percent shooting from the field, 4.7 rebounds, 2.9 assists, and 1.7 steals in 24.2 minutes per game. The Covington, Ga., native played with the Utah Jazz entries at the 2022 Salt Lake City Summer League and NBA Summer League in Las Vegas, posting averages of 3.5 points, 2.8 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 1.3 steals in four games.

The 24-year-old attended UNC Greensboro, where he played in 132 games (80 starts) over four seasons (2017-21), posting collegiate career averages of 14.9 points, 4.8 rebounds, 2.6 assists, and 2.4 steals in 25.6 minutes per game. He earned Southern Conference Defensive Player of the Year honors three times (2019-21) and the Southern Conference Player of the Year twice (2020-21).

Cavs exercise contract options on Evan Mobley and Isaac Okoro

The Cleveland Cavaliers have exercised the third-year (2023-24) contract option on Evan Mobley and the fourth-year (2023-24) contract option on Isaac Okoro, Cavaliers President of Basketball Operations Koby Altman announced today from Cleveland Clinic Courts.

Mobley (7-0, 215), who was selected third overall by the Cavaliers in the 2021 NBA Draft and was a unanimous All-Rookie First Team selection, appeared in 69 games (all starts) last season with averages of 15.0 points on .508 shooting from the field, 8.3 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.67 blocks in 33.8 minutes. He became just the fourth rookie in NBA history to average at least 14.0 points, 8.0 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.5 blocks, joining Pau Gasol (2001-02), Tim Duncan (1997-98) and Chris Webber (1993-94). The runner-up for the 2021-22 NBA Rookie of the Year award, Mobley led all first-year players in rebounds (8.3), blocks (1.67) and field goal percentage (.508) and ranked second in minutes (33.8), fifth in points (15.0), seventh in steals (0.81) and eighth in assists (2.5). He also led all NBA rookies in double-doubles with 21, which is tied for the fourth-most ever by a Cavaliers rookie. At NBA All-Star Weekend in Cleveland, Mobley helped Team Barry capture the title at Clorox Rising Stars and followed that up with another championship performance that lifted Team Cavs to the Taco Bells Skills Challenge crown. Mobley went on to finish the season as the eighth NBA rookie since 1992-93 to accumulate at least 1,000 points, 500 rebounds, 150 assists, 100 blocks and 50 steals, along with Karl-Anthony Towns (2015-16), Elton Brand (1999-00), Tim Duncan (1997-98), Shaquille O’Neal (1993-94), Chris Webber (1993-94), Vin Baker (1993-94) and LaPhonso Ellis (1992-93). Additionally, Mobley had at least one block in 56 games, the second-most in the entire NBA behind only Memphis’ Jaren Jackson Jr. (71 games), and his 36 multi-block performances were more than the rest of the top five NBA Draft picks in his class combined (25). Mobley totaled 115 blocks, which ranked fourth all-time by a rookie in franchise history.

Okoro (6-6, 225), the Cavaliers’ No. 5 pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, appeared in 67 games (61 starts) last season and averaged 8.8 points and 3.3 rebounds in 29.6 minutes per contest. The Auburn University product scored in double figures in 26 games, including four 20-point performances. Over his final 28 outings, Okoro shot 23-50 (.460) from beyond the arc, the 10th-best three-point percentage in the NBA over that span (Feb. 9-April 10). His percentages from the field (.420 to .480), three-point range (.290 to .350) and free throw line (.726 to .768) all increased from his rookie campaign, and his plus/minus of +99 was tied for the seventh-best among all second-year players. He also played with Mobley for Team Barry at 2022 NBA All-Star Weekend in Cleveland, helping them win the Clorox Rising Stars title. An NBA All-Rookie Second Team selection in 2020-21, Okoro was just the third player in franchise history to record at least 500 points, 50 three-pointers, 50 steals and 20 blocks in his rookie season, joining LeBron James and Kyrie Irving. Entering his third NBA season, Okoro has appeared in 134 career regular season games (128 starts) for the Cavaliers with averages of 9.2 points and 3.0 rebounds in 31.0 minutes per contest.

Timberwolves exercise contract options on Anthony Edwards and Jaden McDaniels

The Minnesota Timberwolves have exercised the fourth-year options on guard Anthony Edwards and forward Jaden McDaniels.

Edwards, 21, wrapped up his second season in the NBA after appearing in 72 games (all starts) and averaged 21.3 points on 44.1% shooting, 4.8 rebounds, 3.8 assists and a team-high 1.5 steals in 34.2 minutes per game. The No. 1 overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, led all second-year players in scoring with 22.7 ppg (tying for 19th league-wide), while leading all sophomores last season in 40+ point games (3) and tied for the most 30+ point games (9). The Atlanta native led all second-year players in three-pointers made per game (3.0) and total points (1,533), ranked third in total steals (105), fifth in total blocks (46) and ninth in total rebounds (343).

Highlights from Edwards’ second season included scoring 40 points (14 in the fourth quarter) on 14-of-27 shooting, including 5-of-13 from three and nine assists during the Wolves’ 109-107 win against Portland on Jan. 25. The performance marked his second 40+ point game of the season (fourth career). He added a season-high-tying three blocks and three steals to become the first player in NBA history to reach 40 points, nine rebounds, five three-pointers, three blocks and three steals in a single game. With his fourth career 40+ point game, Edwards tied Luka Dončić and Kevin Durant for the second-most 40+ point games in NBA history before turning 21 years old. In his 100th career game Edwards notched 38 points on 14-of-21 shooting, including a career-high and franchise record 10-of-14 from deep during Minnesota’s 124-107 win at Denver on Dec. 15. He became the youngest player (20 y, 132d) in NBA history to connect on 10+ threes in a game. Additionally, with his 38 points during that game, he eclipsed 2,000 career points, becoming the seventh player in NBA history to score 2,000 points in his first 100 games at age 20 or younger, joining Carmelo Anthony, Dončić, Durant, Kyrie Irving, LeBron James and Zion Williamson.

McDaniels, 22, enters his third season in the NBA after finishing up his second year where he appeared in 70 games (31 starts). He saw increases in almost every statistical category, averaging 9.2 points on 46.0% shooting, 4.2 rebounds and 1.1 assists in 25.8 minutes per game. Among all rookies, the Federal Way, Wash. native ranked third in total blocks (54) and fifth in blocks per game (0.8). The Wolves originally acquired the draft rights to the 6-9 forward from the Oklahoma City Thunder on Nov. 20, 2020. He was drafted in the first round (28th overall) by the Los Angeles Lakers of the 2020 NBA Draft.

A highlight from the Federal Way, Washington native’s second season included registering a career-high 22 points on 9-of-9 shooting, marking his second career game with 20+ points on Jan. 30 vs Utah. There has been only one other player in Timberwolves history to shoot perfect from the field (min. nine field goals attempted), joining Dante Cunningham on Feb. 2, 2013 vs. New Orleans Hornets.

Wizards convert Jordan Goodwin’s contract, waive Devon Dotson, Quenton Jackson, Craig Sword and Jaime Echenique

The Washington Wizards have converted guard Jordan Goodwin to a two-way contract, while waiving Devon Dotson, Quenton Jackson, Craig Sword and Jaime Echenique – who was signed earlier today – to set the roster at 17.

Goodwin played in 46 games for the Capital City Go-Go last season, averaging 16.1 points, 6.2 rebounds and 4.4 assists per game. The Saint Louis product earned a call-up with the Wizards in December, appearing in two games. Goodwin led the Go-Go in scoring and set the franchise mark with 94 steals on the season, good for the fourth-most in the NBA G League.