Category: NBA News Blog

NBA news blog

Timberwolves waive PJ Dozier, CJ Elleby and A.J. Lawson

The Minnesota Timberwolves have waived guard PJ Dozier, forward CJ Elleby and guard A.J. Lawson.

Dozier, 6-6, was originally signed by the Wolves on Sept. 26. He spent the last three seasons with the Denver Nuggets where he averaged 6.7 points, 3.1 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game in 97 games (six starts). In five seasons in the NBA with the Oklahoma City Thunder, Boston Celtics and Nuggets, Dozier has tallied 671 points, 318 rebounds and 189 assists throughout 105 career games (six starts).

Elleby, 6-6, totaled two points and five rebounds in two appearances for the Timberwolves during the 2022 preseason. The Federal Way, Wash. native spent last season with the Portland Trail Blazers where he averaged 5.8 points, 3.9 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game in 58 games (28 starts, including starting 28 of the Trail Blazers’ final 30 games). In two seasons with Portland, he accumulated 407 points and 259 rebounds.

Lawson, 6-6, saw action in three preseason games for the Wolves where he scored eight points and handed out six assists. He most recently played for the Dallas Mavericks during the 2022 NBA Summer League where he averaged a team-high 15.6 points on 51.9% from the field including 50.0% from three and 6.0 rebounds per game. He played 10 games (all starts) this past summer for the Guelph Nighthawks of the Canadian Basketball League (CBL) and averaged 16.5 points on 44.3% shooting and 5.4 rebounds in 30.5 minutes per game.

The Timberwolves roster stands at 17 players.

Raptors waive Josh Jackson, D.J. Wilson and Gabe Brown

The Toronto Raptors have waived forwards Josh Jackson, D.J. Wilson and Gabe Brown.

Jackson, 6-foot-8, 194 pounds, appeared in four preseason games, averaging 6.3 points, 1.8 rebounds and 13.1 minutes. He scored in double figures twice in preseason action, including 13 points at Boston on Oct. 5. Jackson holds career averages of 11.3 points, 4.0 rebounds and 23.1 minutes in 291 games with Phoenix, Memphis, Detroit and Sacramento through five NBA seasons (2017-22).

Wilson, 6-foot-10, 228 pounds, posted averages of 6.0 points, 4.3 rebounds and 10.2 minutes in four preseason contests. In five seasons (2017-22), Wilson is averaging 4.4 points, 3.1 rebounds and 12.3 minutes in 146 games with Milwaukee, Houston, and Toronto.

Brown, 6-foot-8, 207 pounds, averaged 4.0 points, 1.0 rebounds and 9.6 minutes in four preseason games. He signed with the Raptors as an undrafted free agent in the summer after four seasons at Michigan State (2018-22), where he was selected to the All-Big Ten Third Team as a senior.

Toronto’s roster now stands at the league maximum 15 players, with two two-way players.

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).