Category: NBA News Blog

NBA news blog

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.

NBA promotes four referees to 2022-23 officiating staff

NBA G League referees Cheryl Flores, Robert Hussey, Matt Kallio and Dannica Mosher have been promoted to full-time NBA staff officials for the 2022-23 season, it was announced today by Monty McCutchen, NBA Senior Vice President, Head of Referee Development and Training.

“Cheryl, Robert, Matt and Dannica have demonstrated the ability and professionalism required to be a fulltime NBA officiating staff member,” said McCutchen. “We are excited for them to have reached this milestone in their careers.”

Flores and Mosher join Lauren Holtkamp-Sterling, Simone Jelks, Ashley Moyer-Gleich, Natalie Sago, Jenna Schroeder and Danielle Scott to bring the total of female full-time officials to eight for the 2022-23 season.

The 2022-23 NBA regular season will tip off on Tuesday, Oct. 18 with a doubleheader on TNT as the Philadelphia 76ers visit the reigning Eastern Conference champion Boston Celtics (7:30 p.m. ET) and the defending NBA champion Golden State Warriors host the Los Angeles Lakers (10 p.m. ET).

Magic sign Simi Shittu, waive Drake Jeffries

The Orlando Magic have signed free agent forward-center Simi Shittu.

Also today, Orlando waived guard Drake Jeffries, who did not appear in any preseason games for the Magic.

Shittu (6’10”, 240, 11/7/99) played in 16 games last season Israel with Ironi Ness Ziona of the Israeli Basketball Premier League, averaging 7.0 ppg. and 4.9 rpg. in 17.2 minpg.

Shittu has appeared in 53 career NBA G League games (28 starts) with Windy City and Westchester, averaging 12.8 ppg., 7.3 rpg. and 1.3 apg. in 21.8 minpg., while shooting .566 (282-498) from the field.

A native of Burlington, Ontario, Canada, Shittu appeared in 32 games (31 starts) during his freshman season at Vanderbilt University (2018-19), averaging 10.9 ppg., 6.7 rpg. and 1.8 apg. in 26.7 minpg., before declaring for the NBA Draft. He attended the Vermont Academy in Rockingham, Vermont, where he was named a 2018 McDonald’s All-American.

Shittu will wear #15 with the Orlando Magic.

Orlando’s roster stands at 20 players

Trail Blazers waive Isaiah Miller and Jared Rhoden

The Portland Trail Blazers have waived guards Isaiah Miller and Jared Rhoden, it was announced today by General Manager Joe Cronin.

Miller appeared in three preseason games for the Trail Blazers and totaled six points, five rebounds and three steals.

Rhoden tallied 10 points, four rebounds and one steal in two preseason appearances for the Trail Blazers.

Per the Oregonian, this “leaves the Blazers with a maximum 15 players on their roster, which includes center Olivier Sarr, the only remaining player signed by the team to a training camp contract. The 7-foot Sarr, who played last season with Oklahoma City, appears to have a strong chance to make the Blazers’ final roster.”

Mavericks waive Marcus Bingham Jr., Mouhamadou Gueye, Tyler Hall and D.J. Stewart Jr.

The Dallas Mavericks have requested waivers on Marcus Bingham Jr., Mouhamadou Gueye, Tyler Hall and D.J. Stewart Jr.

All four players were originally signed prior to training camp on September 21. Hall and Gueye saw action in two preseason games, while Bingham and Hall played in one game.

The Mavericks training camp roster now stands at 16 players.

Pacers exercise contract options on Tyrese Haliburton, Aaron Nesmith, Chris Duarte and Isaiah Jackson

The Indiana Pacers have picked up the fourth-year option on guards Tyrese Haliburton and Aaron Nesmith, and the third-year option on guard Chris Duarte and forward Isaiah Jackson.

Per the Indianapolis Star, “the moves keep all four under contract through 2023-24, the fourth years of Haliburton and Nesmith’s respective careers and the third for Duarte and Jackson.”

More from the Star: “The Pacers acquired Haliburton from the Sacramento Kings last season in a trade involving Domantas Sabonis. He averaged 17 points and 10 assists per game in 26 games after the deal. At 22 years old and entering his third season, he’s now among the Pacers most experienced players as they rebuild.”

Jazz sign Micah Potter, waive Jeenathan Williams

The Utah Jazz have signed center Micah Potter to a two-way contract.

The team has also waived guard/forward Jeenathan Williams.

Potter (6-10, 248, Wisconsin) appeared in 33 games (all starts) for the Sioux Falls Skyforce of the NBA G League in 2021-22, owning averages of 17.0 points on 53.6 percent from the field and 44.1 percent from three, 9.9 boards, 1.7 assists, and 1.1 blocks in 28.8 minutes per game. Following his first professional season, he garnered 2021-22 All-G League Rookie Team honors.

A four-year collegiate player, the Mentor, Ohio native competed for Ohio State (2016-18) and Wisconsin (2019-21), owning career averages of 7.6 points and 4.3 rebounds in 15.9 minutes per contest. As a Badger, he owned averages of 11.6 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 1.0 assists in 20.3 minutes per game.

Williams (6-5, 205, Buffalo) was signed by the Jazz on Oct. 11, 2022.

Pistons’ Marvin Bagley III out 3-4 weeks with knee injury

An MRI performed earlier today on Detroit Pistons forward/center Marvin Bagley III revealed a bone bruise and sprained medial collateral ligament (MCL) in the right knee that was injured during last night’s game vs. Oklahoma City. The injury took place at the 11:04 mark of the first quarter.

The injury will require rest and rehabilitation and Bagley III is expected to miss the next three to four weeks.

Pistons forward Marvin Bagley hurts knee

A Pistons update, via the Detroit News:

Searching for their first victory of the preseason, the Pistons hosted the Oklahoma City Thunder on Tuesday and not only lost their third consecutive game, but they lost their starting power forward in the process.

Marvin Bagley III suffered a right knee injury less than one minute into the game and did not return, leaving the team with two healthy active big men in Isaiah Stewart and Jalen Duren.

Despite the injury, the Pistons remained competitive against the Thunder until they fell into an offensive drought in the third quarter. The dry spell ultimately led to a 115-99 loss, dropping them to an 0-3 record.

Hopefully Bagley’s injury is minor.