Category: NBA News Blog

NBA news blog

Raptors end preseason with OT win over Celtics

Preseason around the league ends tonight. As for the Raptors, here’s the Toronto Star:

There really wasn’t much any of the players fighting for the final Raptors roster spot could have done here Friday night.

It will be the overall body of work — a combination of practices and games and scrimmages — that will determine who’ll end up on the team and who’ll be seeking employment elsewhere, likely on Saturday.

“I think they’re all pretty well aware that they need to have good performances. This one’s probably not any different than any of them,” Raptors coach Nick Nurse said before Toronto finished its pre-season with a 137-134 victory over the Boston Celtics in overtime at the Bell Centre.

With Pascal Siakam rested, O.G. Anunoby had a dominant offensive game and led the Raptors with 32 points in 29 minutes. Scottie Barnes was more aggressive than in the first four pre-season games and finished with 25 points.

And the Boston Herald:

On a strange night at a buzzing Bell Centre in Montreal, the Celtics coach got a good test but was probably glad it was just a tune-up. Jayson Tatum was given a rare preseason ejection, Malcolm Brogdon left the game hurt and the Celtics couldn’t overcome O.G. Anunoby’s 32 points and Scottie Barnes’ 25 in a 137-134 overtime loss to the Raptors, though Mazzulla has plenty to process before Tuesday’s opener…

With less than a minute to play in the third quarter, Tatum – who had already been assessed one technical foul earlier in the period – picked up a routine personal foul but picked up his second technical foul and was ejected after appearing to wave off an official sarcastically. That kicked off a confusing sequence in which Williams also got a technical and the Celtics were given another technical for a delay of game because Tatum didn’t leave the floor right away.

Kings sign Jeriah Horne and Alex O’Connell, waive Wes Iwundu and Jordan Ford

The Sacramento Kings have signed guards Jeriah Horne and Alex O’Connell.

Also today, the Kings waived guards Jordan Ford and Wes Iwundu.

Horne (6-7, 220), a Kansas City, Mo. native, was undrafted in the 2022 NBA Draft before joining the Kings Summer League roster, where he averaged 6.7 points per game while shooting 47.1 percent from the field.

From Roswell, Ga., O’Connell (6-6, 185) spent three seasons at Duke (2017-20) before transferring to Creighton (2020-22). He was undrafted in the 2022 NBA Draft before joining the Kings for NBA Summer League, averaging 5.6 points and 4.4 rebounds per game.

Ford (6-1, 175), a Folsom, Calif. native, spent four years at St. Mary’s from 2016-20. Ford spent the 2021-22 season with the Agua Caliente Clippers, averaging 9.7 points and 3.4 assists per game while shooting 40.8 percent from 3-point range.

Iwundu (6-6, 195) played in 14 games for the Cleveland Charge during the 2021-22 season. The Houston native averaged 7.9 points, 5.8 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game.

Hornets waive Anthony Duruji and Jaylen Sims

The Charlotte Hornets have waived Anthony Duruji and Jaylen Sims.

Duruji originally signed with the Hornets as a free agent on Sept. 12 and appeared in two preseason games, logging eight total minutes.

Sims originally signed as a free agent on Sept. 12 and appeared in one preseason game, recording three rebounds in four minutes.

After these moves, the Hornets roster stands at 18 players.

Utah Jazz announce promotions and new additions to basketball operations staff

The Utah Jazz have promoted several members of its basketball operations staff while also welcoming new additions:

Bart Taylor has been elevated to vice president of player personnel.

Marquis Newman has taken on the role of director of pro personnel/general manager of the Salt Lake City Stars.

Lindsay Twiss was elevated to vice president of player and alumni relations.

Whitli Godderidge was promoted to vice president of family relations and basketball operations.

Ashley Rinehart was promoted to director of team travel and player relations with Lynzie Sorenson serving as manager of family relations.

Shawn James will take on a new role as manager of college scouting.

Additionally, the team has brought on Katie Benzan, Tide Osifeso, and William McNeill as basketball operations generalists.

The Utah Jazz Performance Healthcare staff has brought on Dantren Anderson as its assistant strength & conditioning coach, and added McKennon Powell as assistant equipment manager. Maddie Brower was elevated to serve as a performance health logistics and COVID assistant. Harveaire Berrien and Clarence Mohammed have joined the Jazz’s team security staff.

Grizzlies sign Dakota Mathias, waive EJ Onu and Romeo Weems

The Memphis Grizzlies have signed wing Dakota Mathias.

Also today, the Grizzlies waived forward/center EJ Onu and forward Romeo Weems.

Mathias (6-4, 200) has appeared in 14 games (two starts) for the Grizzlies and Philadelphia 76ers and has averaged 3.9 points and 1.0 assists in 10.0 minutes in two seasons (2020-22). Unselected in the 2018 NBA Draft following his collegiate career at Purdue University, the 27-year-old Ohio native also has played for the NBA G League’s Texas Legends and in Spain for the ACB’s Joventut Badalona.

Onu (6-11, 240), who was signed on Oct. 13, competed in 25 games (six starts) for the NBA G League’s Memphis Hustle last season and averaged 6.0 points, 3.7 rebounds and 2.20 blocks in 17.4 minutes. Unselected in the 2021 NBA Draft out of Shawnee State University, the 23-year-old Cleveland native also has played for the Legends and the Niagara River Lions of the Canadian Elite Basketball League.

Weems (6-7, 210), who also was signed on Oct. 13, appeared in three games for the Hustle during the 2021 NBA G League Showcase Cup. The 21-year-old Detroit native was selected in the 2021 NBA Draft following his sophomore year at DePaul University.

76ers waive Charles Bassey and Isaiah Joe

The Philadelphia 76ers yesterday waived Charles Bassey and Isaiah Joe.

Selected by Philadelphia with the No. 53 pick of the 2021 NBA Draft, Bassey averaged 3.0 points (.638 FG%), 2.7 rebounds, and 7.3 minutes in 23 games played during his rookie campaign in 2021-22. The 6-11 big man scored in double figures twice, including a 13-point, 10-rebound effort at Memphis on Dec. 13, 2021.

Joe has played in 96 career games over two seasons with the 76ers, averaging 3.7 points (.355 FG%, .349 3FG%, .855 FT%), 1.0 rebounds, 0.6 assists, and 10.3 minutes. The 2020 second-round draft pick (No. 49 overall) tallied five double-digit scoring games in his second professional season, including a career-high 18 points on 6-of-9 shooting (5-8 3FG) against Houston on Jan. 3, 2022.

Philadelphia’s roster stands at 17 (includes two-way players).

Heat convert Dru Smith’s contract to two-way, waive Jamaree Bouyea, Marcus Garrett, Mychal Mulder and Orlando Robinson

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

In addition, Miami has waived Jamaree Bouyea, Marcus Garrett, Mychal Mulder and Orlando Robinson.

Smith, who originally signed with the HEAT on September 20, appeared in all five preseason games with Miami and averaged 7.4 points, 2.4 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 15.1 minutes while shooting 45.5 percent from the field and 41.7 percent from three-point range. Last season, he appeared in 10 games (five starts) with Miami’s G League affiliate, the Sioux Falls Skyforce, and averaged 8.0 points, 3.3 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 1.20 steals and 27.5 minutes. 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.

Bouyea, who signed with the HEAT on July 14, appeared in four preseason games with Miami and averaged 8.5 points, 2.5 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 1.25 steals and 17.2 minutes.

Garrett, who signed a two-way contract with the HEAT on July 16, appeared in four preseason games (one start) with Miami and averaged 3.3 points, 2.5 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 1.25 steals and 18.4 minutes.

Mulder, who signed with the HEAT on October 9, appeared in one preseason game with Miami totaling three points and an assist in 9:34 minutes of action.

Robinson, who signed with the HEAT on July 7, appeared in four preseason games (one start) with Miami and averaged 3.3 points, 2.3 assists, 2.0 rebounds and 11.9 minutes.

Trail Blazers convert Olivier Sarr’s deal to a two-way contract

The Portland Trail Blazers have converted center Olivier Sarr to a two-way contract.

In three preseason contests for the Trail Blazers, Sarr averaged 4.7 points (50.0% FG, 1-3 3-PT, 83.3 FT%), 2.7 rebounds and 1.3 blocks in 11.9 minutes per game.

The French native and Kentucky alum appeared in 22 games (two starts) and averaged 7.0 points (57.4% FG, 44.8% 3-PT, 82.8 FT%), 4.2 rebounds, 0.9 assists and 19.1 minutes per game for the Oklahoma City Thunder during his rookie campaign in the 2021-22 season.

Sarr left Tuesday night’s game at Golden State with a sprain of the right wrist. A subsequent MRI taken place on Wednesday confirmed a right wrist sprain. A timeline for return will be established after further evaluation in one week.

Grizzlies sign EJ Onu and Romeo Weems, waive Matthew Hurt and Sean McDermott

The Memphis Grizzlies have signed forward/center EJ Onu and forward Romeo Weems.

Also today, the Grizzlies waived forward Matthew Hurt and wing Sean McDermott.

Onu (6-11, 240) appeared in 25 games (six starts) for the NBA G League’s Memphis Hustle last season and averaged 6.0 points, 3.7 rebounds and 2.20 blocks in 17.4 minutes. The 23-year-old Cleveland native also played for the NBA G League’s Texas Legends and the Niagara River Lions of the Canadian Elite Basketball League. Onu went unselected in the 2021 NBA Draft after leading Shawnee State University to the 2021 NAIA national championship.

Weems (6-7, 210) made three appearances for the Hustle during the 2021 NBA G League Showcase Cup. The 21-year-old Detroit native, who played for the Grizzlies last preseason, went unselected in the 2021 NBA Draft following his sophomore season at DePaul University.

Hurt (6-9, 235), who was signed by the Grizzlies on Oct. 10, competed in eight games for the Hustle during the 2021 NBA G League Showcase Cup. The 22-year-old Minnesota native went unselected in the 2021 NBA Draft after he was named to the All-ACC First Team as a sophomore at Duke University.

McDermott (6-6, 195), who also was signed by the Grizzlies on Oct. 10, has played 18 games for the Grizzlies and 17 games for the Hustle over the past two seasons. The 25-year-old Indiana native went unselected in the 2020 NBA Draft after a four-year collegiate career at Butler University.