Category: NBA News Blog

NBA news blog

Grizzlies sign Matthew Hurt and Sean McDermott, waive Justin Bean and Jacob Gilyard

The Memphis Grizzlies have signed forward Matthew Hurt and wing Sean McDermott.

In addition, the Grizzlies waived forward Justin Bean and guard Jacob Gilyard.

Hurt (6-9, 235) was named to the All-ACC First Team and was recognized as the ACC Most Improved Player after averaging 18.3 points while shooting 55.6 percent from the field and 44.4 percent from 3-point range during his sophomore year (2020-21) at Duke University. Unselected in the 2021 NBA Draft, the 22-year-old Minnesota native was a member of the NBA G League’s Memphis Hustle last season but did not appear in a regular season game due to injury.

McDermott (6-6, 195) has appeared in 18 games for the Grizzlies (2020-21) and 17 games for the Hustle (2020-22) since he went unselected in the 2020 NBA Draft. The 25-year-old Indiana native played four seasons at Butler University (2016-20), where he averaged 7.8 points and shot 40.3 percent from 3-point range.

Bean (6-7, 210) recorded three points and two rebounds in six minutes in one preseason appearance after he was signed by the Grizzlies on Sept. 23. The 25-year-old Oklahoma native went unselected in the 2022 NBA Draft after playing four seasons at Utah State University, where he was named to the All-Mountain West Second Team unanimously twice (2021, 2022) and to the Mountain West All-Defensive Team twice (2020, 2022).

Gilyard (5-9, 160) registered two rebounds and one assist in 18 minutes in one preseason game after he was signed by Memphis on Sept. 23. The 24-year-old Missouri native went unselected in the 2022 NBA Draft following a five-year collegiate career at Richmond University, where he set an NCAA Division I record with 466 total steals and was named the 2019-20 Atlantic 10 Defensive Player of the Year.

Utah Jazz sign Darryl Morsell, waive Saben Lee

The Utah Jazz have signed guard Darryl Morsell.

And in a related move, the team has waived guard Saben Lee.

Morsell (6-5, 205, Marquette) was a five-year collegiate player with Maryland (2017-21) and Marquette (2021-22). During his final season, he owned averages of 13.4 points on 44.6 percent shooting, along with 3.6 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 1.2 steals in 31 games (all starts). In his final season at Maryland, he was named the 2020-21 Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year and garnered All-Big Ten Defensive Team honors.

For his career, the Baltimore, Md., native appeared in 157 games (138 starts), averaging 9.6 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 2.2 assists in 28.4 minutes per contest.

Lee (6-2, 183, Vanderbilt) was originally acquired via trade on Sept. 26, 2022 from Detroit.

Heat convert Jamal Cain’s contract, sign Mychal Mulder, and waive Darius Days

The Miami Heat have converted Jamal Cain to a two-way contract, and have signed guard Mychal Mulder.

In addition, the team waived Darius Days.

Cain, who was signed by the HEAT on July 15, has appeared in three preseason games with Miami averaging 12.0 points, 6.3 rebounds, 2.33 steals, 1.7 assists and 23.0 minutes while shooting 53.8 percent from the field and 44.4 percent from three-point range. As a graduate transfer at Oakland, Cain started in all 30 games in which he appeared and averaged 19.9 points, 10.2 rebounds, 1.83 steals and 34.9 minutes while shooting 49.9 percent from the field and 84.1 percent from the line. He was named the Horizon League Co-Player of the Year and was selected to the Horizon All-League and NABC All-District 12 first teams. He earned Conference Player of the Week on four different occasions and was the only Horizon League player to average a double-double. Cain led the team in points, rebounds and field goals made while finishing second in blocks, steals and free throws made.

Mulder, who was previously signed to a two-way contract by the HEAT on March 24, 2022, appeared in two games with Miami last season totaling 14 points, three rebounds, two assists and a block while shooting 40 percent (4-of-10) from the field, 50 percent (4-of-8) from three-point range and a perfect 2-of-2 from the foul line. He also appeared in 13 games (12 starts) with Miami’s G League affiliate, the Sioux Falls Skyforce, last season averaging 16.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 35.1 minutes while shooting 48.4 percent from the field and 42.1 percent from three-point range. Mulder will wear number 15.

Days, who was signed to a two-way contract by the HEAT on July 16, appeared in two games with Miami this preseason totaling two points, four rebounds, an assist and a block. Additionally, Days was signed to a Summer Contract prior to being waived.

Rockets sign Willie Cauley-Stein

The Houston Rockets have signed free agent center Willie Cauley-Stein.

Cauley-Stein (7-0, 240) was originally the sixth overall pick by Sacramento in the 2015 NBA Draft. In seven seasons, he has appeared in 422 games with 256 starts while averaging 8.7 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 1.4 assists in 22.0 minutes per game. For his career, Cauley-Stein has shot 54.4% from the floor, including 59.0% over the past three seasons.

Over a span of three seasons from 2017-18 through 2019-20, Cauley-Stein was the only player in the league to have averaged at least 11.0 ppg, 7.0 rpg, 2.0 apg and 1.00 spg in fewer than 31.0 mpg. He is the only player in the history of the University of Kentucky to have recorded career totals of at least 500 rebounds, 200 blocks and 100 steals.

Orlando Magic sign Alex Morales and Jay Scrubb, waive Aleem Ford and Zavier Simpson

The Orlando Magic have signed free agent guards Alex Morales and Jay Scrubb.

In addition, Orlando has waived Aleem Ford and Zavier Simpson.

Morales (6’6”, 195, 11/21/97) played and started in 26 games last season with Wagner College, averaging 17.6 ppg., 8.0 rpg., 3.8 apg. and 1.77 stlpg. in 33.9 minpg. He was named the 2021-22 Northeast Conference (NEC) Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year. Morales was also the NEC Player of the Year in 2020-21.

Morales appeared in 74 career games (71 starts) during three seasons at Wagner College (2019-22), averaging 15.9 ppg., 6.9 rpg., 3.7 apg. and 1.51 stlpg. in 33.1 minpg. He also played one season (2018-19) at Prince George’s Community College in Maryland.

Morales will wear #23 with the Orlando Magic.

Scrubb (6’5”, 220, 9/1/00) played in 18 games last season with the L.A. Clippers, averaging 2.7 ppg. in 6.7 minpg. He also played in and started in two outings with Agua Caliente of the NBA G League, averaging 24.0 ppg., 3.0 apg., 2.5 rpg. and 1.50 stlpg. in 27.4 minpg.

Originally selected in the second round (55th overall) of the 2020 NBA Draft by Brooklyn. Scrubb has appeared in 22 career NBA games (one start), all with the L.A. Clippers, averaging 3.8 ppg. and 1.4 rpg. in 9.3 minpg.

Scrubb played in 59 career games during two seasons at John A. Logan College (2018-20), a junior college in Carterville, Illinois, averaging 21.0 ppg., 7.9 rpg. and 2.1 apg., while shooting .395 (92-233) from three-point range. He was named the 2019-20 National Junior College Athletic Association Player of the Year. Scrubb became the first Junior College player selected in the NBA Draft since 2004.

Scrubb will wear #0 with the Orlando Magic.

Ford appeared in three preseason games with the Magic, averaging 2.3 ppg. and 2.0 rpg. in 8.4 minpg. Simpson played in two preseason games with Orlando, averaging 1.5 ppg., 2.5 apg. and 1.5 rpg. in 8.2 minpg. Both were originally signed by Orlando as free agents on September 24.