NBA News Blog – Page 150 – NBA Blog

Sixers forward P.J. Tucker cleared to play after recent knee surgery

Philadelphia 76ers forward P.J. Tucker recently underwent an arthroscopic procedure on his left knee.

He’s been cleared for on-court work and will participate in training camp in Charleston, South Carolina.

Per the Philly Voice, “based on conversations with people around the team this offseason — and Doc Rivers’ own assertions to kick off media day — Tucker is going to play a critical, multi-faceted role for the Sixers in 2022-23. In addition to the minutes he’s expected to play at forward, Tucker will be part of the plan at backup center behind Joel Embiid, one of several players who will factor into their gameplan when the MVP candidate is off of the floor.”

And per the Philadelphia Inquirer in early July, “Tucker, a 6-foot-5, 245-pound power forward, averaged just 7.6 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 2.1 assists this past season for the Miami Heat. But he shot a career-best 41.5% from beyond the three-point line.”

Sacramento Kings basketball operations promotions and staff additions

Today, the Sacramento Kings announced staff promotions and new hires ahead of the 2022-23 season.

Alvin Gentry has been named Vice President of Basketball Engagement. Mark Toyoda has been elevated to Senior Director of Basketball Administration. Melanie Stocking has been promoted to Senior Director of Team Operations. Saagar Sarin has been promoted to Director of Pro Personnel. Aram Palamoudian has been promoted to Basketball Operations Coordinator.

Jas Randhawa has been promoted to Senior Director of Athlete Health Joel Noland has been promoted to Head Athletic Trainer, Zac Howe has been elevated to Head Strength & Conditioning Coach, Rachel Mack has been promoted to Performance Chef & Nutritionist, and Avery Jacobs has been promoted to Media Relations Coordinator.

The Kings also announced the following staff additions: Samantha Lord (Basketball Administration Coordinator), Scott Layden (Scout), Devin Green (Scout), Cory Kennedy (Director of Performance), Nicholas Taylor (Assistant Strength & Conditioning Coach), Crystal Lee (Assistant Athletic Trainer), Shannon Malone (Director of Media Relations), Michael Martinez (Manager of Media Relations), Olivia Gordon (Basketball Operations Intern), Sam Longwood (Coaching Associate), Shane Lawal (Player Development Associate), Damarious Borden (Performance Culinary Intern).

2022-23 Clippers training camp roster

The LA Clippers have announced their 2022-23 Training Camp roster.

Following Media Day today, the Clippers will travel to Las Vegas for practice. The Clippers will then head to Seattle to play two preseason games against Maccabi Ra’anana on Friday, September 30, and the Portland Trail Blazers on Monday, October 3, at Climate Pledge Arena.

Below is the 2022 Clippers’ Training Camp roster:

NO. PLAYER POS HT WT BIRTHDATE PRIOR TO NBA/HOME COUNTRY YRS

33 Nicolas Batum F 6’8″ 230 12/14/1988 Le Mans / France 14

4 Brandon Boston Jr. G 6’6″ 188 11/28/2001 Kentucky / USA 1

9 Moses Brown C 7’2” 245 10/13/1999 UCLA / USA 3

7 Amir Coffey F/G 6’7″ 210 6/17/1997 Minnesota / USA 3

23 Robert Covington F 6’7” 209 12/14/1990 Tennessee State / USA 9

00 Michael Devoe G 6’4” 183 12/17/1999 Georgia Tech / USA R

25 Moussa Diabaté (2W) F/C 6’11” 210 1/21/2002 Michigan / France R

13 Paul George F 6’8″ 220 5/2/1990 Fresno State / USA 12

1 Reggie Jackson G 6’2″ 208 4/16/1990 Boston College / USA 11

5 Luke Kennard G 6’5″ 206 6/24/1996 Duke / USA 5

2 Kawhi Leonard F 6’7″ 225 6/29/1991 San Diego State / USA 10

14 Terance Mann F/G 6’5″ 215 10/18/1996 Florida State/ USA 3

15 Xavier Moon G 6’2” 165 1/2/1995 Morehead State / USA 1

16 Juwan Morgan F 6’7” 232 4/17/1997 Indiana / USA 4

8 Marcus Morris Sr. F 6’8″ 218 9/2/1989 Kansas / USA 11

24 Norman Powell G 6’3” 215 5/25/1993 UCLA / USA 7

0 Jason Preston G 6’3″ 181 8/10/1999 Ohio / USA R

11 John Wall G 6’3″ 210 9/6/1990 Kentucky / USA 10

12 Lucas Williamson G 6’4” 205 1/28/1999 Loyola Chicago / USA R

40 Ivica Zubac C 7’0″ 240 3/18/1997 Mega Leks (Serbia) / Croatia 6

Pistons sign Jules Bernard and Stanley Umude to Exhibit 10 contracts

The Detroit Pistons announced today the team’s 2022-23 training camp roster including the signing of Jules Bernard and Stanley Umude to Exhibit 10 contracts.

Below is the Pistons 2022-23 Training Camp Roster:

NO POS NAME HT WT DOB PRIOR TO NBA/COUNTRY YRS

35 F/C Marvin Bagley III 6-11 235 3/14/99 Duke/USA 4

24 G Jules Bernard 6-6 205 1/21/00 UCLA/USA R

41 G/F Saddiq Bey 6-8 215 4/9/99 Villanova/USA 2

27 G Buddy Boeheim 6-6 195 11/11/99 Syracuse/USA R

5 G Alec Burks 6-6 214 7/20/91 Colorado/USA 11

2 G/F Cade Cunningham 6-6 220 9/25/01 Oklahoma State/USA 1

6 G/F Hamidou Diallo 6-5 202 7/31/98 Kentucky/USA 4

0 C Jalen Duren 6-10 250 11/18/03 Memphis/USA R

7 G Killian Hayes 6-5 216 7/27/01 France 2

23 G Jaden Ivey 6-4 200 2/13/02 Purdue/USA R

18 G Cory Joseph 6-3 200 8/20/91 Texas/Canada 11

8 F Braxton Key 6-8 230 2/14/97 Virginia/USA 1

20 F Kevin Knox II 6-7 215 8/11/99 Kentucky/USA 4

12 F Isaiah Livers 6-7 230 7/27/98 Michigan/USA 1

17 G Rodney McGruder 6-4 205 7/29/91 Kansas State/USA 6

9 C Nerlens Noel 6-11 220 4/10/94 Kentucky/USA 8

28 C Isaiah Stewart 6-9 250 5/22/01 Washington/USA 2

14 G Stanley Umude 6-6 210 4/12/99 Arkansas/USA R

* G Kemba Walker 6-0 184 5/8/90 Connecticut/USA 11

*- Not with team

Cavaliers add Jamorko Pickett, Sharife Cooper, Nate Hinton and Mamadi Diakite to training camp

The Cleveland Cavaliers have signed forwards Mamadi Diakite and Jamorko Pickett as well as guards Nate Hinton and Sharife Cooper to their 2022 training camp roster, Cavaliers President of Basketball Operations Koby Altman announced today from Cleveland Clinic Courts.

Diakite (6-9, 224) played in 13 games (three starts) for Oklahoma City last season, averaging 4.3 points and 4.5 rebounds in 14.5 minutes. Diakite also won an NBA championship during the 2020-21 season with the Milwaukee Bucks. The third year forward went undrafted in 2020 after a four-year collegiate career at the University of Virginia (2016-2020), winning an NCAA National Championship in 2019.

Pickett (6-9, 206) played in 13 games for the Detroit Pistons last season, averaging 3.9 points and 2.5 rebounds in 13.5 minutes as well as 31 games (30 starts) for the Motor City Cruise in the NBA G League, averaging 14.9 points and 6.7 rebounds in 32.8 minutes. Pickett spent four years at Georgetown University (2017-2021) and recently played for the Cavaliers at the 2022 NBA Summer League in Las Vegas.

Hinton (6-5, 210) has appeared in 23 NBA games over two seasons with Dallas and Indiana. He also appeared in 33 games (32 starts) last season for the Fort Wayne Mad Ants in the NBA G League, averaging 18.1 points, 9.0 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 2.2 steals in 37.2 minutes and played two seasons collegiately at the University of Houston (2018-2020).

Cooper (6-1, 180) appeared in 13 games last season for the Atlanta Hawks and 22 regular season games (20 starts) for the College Park Skyhawks, NBA G League affiliate of the Hawks. With the Skyhawks, Cooper averaged 17.1 points and 7.3 assists in 30.7 minutes. Cooper played one season collegiately (2020-21) at Auburn University, averaging 20.2 points, 8.1 assists and 4.3 rebounds in 33.3 minutes, becoming one of two Division I freshman in the last 30 years (Trae Young) to average at least 20 points and eight assists per game.

Pistons health updates on Alec Burks, Kevin Knox and Nerlens Noel

The Detroit Pistons announced today the following player health updates as the team enters training camp.

Alec Burks is expected to miss the start of training camp while he continues rehabilitation for a navicular fracture. His status will be re-evaluated in three weeks.

Kevin Knox II (right gastroc strain) and Nerlens Noel (reconditioning/plantar faciitis) will see limited participation at the beginning of training camp as they rehab and work towards full participation.

Utah Jazz sign Cody Zeller

The Utah Jazz have signed center Cody Zeller.

The deal is reportedly a training camp contract.

Per the Salt Lake Tribune, “the 29-year-old Zeller signed a minimum deal with Portland last year but fell out of the NBA after suffering a knee injury that required surgery. The Trail Blazers waived him in early February.”

Zeller (6-11, 240, Indiana) is entering his 10th NBA season, owning career averages of 8.5 points on 52.0 percent from the field, along with 6.0 rebounds, and 1.4 assists in 494 games (273 starts) with Charlotte (2013-21) and Portland (2021-22). He has additional postseason experience, competing with Charlotte during the 2014 and 2016 playoffs, appearing in 11 games (two starts), averaging 6.1 points and 4.2 boards in 17.3 minutes per game. He was taken with the fourth overall pick in the first round of the 2013 NBA Draft by Charlotte, and following his rookie season, he was named to the 2013-14 All-NBA Rookie Second Team.

The native of Washington, Ind., played two-collegiate seasons at Indiana, averaging 16.1 points, 7.3 boards, 1.3 assists, 1.2 blocks, and 1.2 steals in 72 games (all starts), earning 2012-13 Consensus All-American Second Team and All-Big Ten First Team honors. During his freshman season at Indiana, he was named the 2011-12 Big Ten Freshman Team and garnered 2011-12 All Big-Ten Second Team and All-Big Ten Freshman Team accolades.

Nets sign Marcus Zegarowski

The Brooklyn Nets have signed guard Marcus Zegarowski.

Zegarowski (6’2”, 181) was drafted by Brooklyn with the 49th overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft and spent the 2021-22 season with Brooklyn’s NBA G League affiliate, the Long Island Nets. In eight regular season games (seven starts) with Long Island, Zegarowski averaged 10.1 points, 2.8 rebounds and 2.5 assists in 27.5 minutes per game. He also appeared in 13 games for Long Island during the NBA G League Showcase Cup, registering averages of 12.5 points, 3.2 rebounds and 2.5 assists in 30.4 minutes per contest.

The 24-year-old played in 92 games (75 starts) across three years (2018-21) at Creighton, recording averages of 14.1 points on 47.1 percent shooting from the field, 42.3 percent shooting from 3-point range and 77.2 percent shooting from the free-throw line, 3.5 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 1.1 steals in 32.2 minutes per contest. In his junior season, he appeared in and started 29 games for the Bluejays, posting averages of 15.8 points, 3.6 rebounds, 4.3 assists and 1.3 steals in 33.6 minutes per game. Zegarowski was an All-Big East First Team selection as a junior, All-Big East Second Team selection as a sophomore and was named to the Big East All Freshman team after his first season. The Hamilton, Mass., native finished his collegiate career in Creighton’s top 10 in 3-pointers made (215) and 3-point percentage.

Magic guard Markelle Fultz out with toe fracture

Orlando Magic guard Markelle Fultz has suffered a fracture in his big left toe. No surgery is required.

He has been placed in a walking boot and his return to play will depend on how he responds to rehabilitation and treatment.

Fultz suffered the injury during a preseason workout prior to returning to Orlando and imaging confirmed the fracture.

Per the Orlando Sentinel, “Fultz is entering the second season of a 3-year, $50 million contract ($35 million guaranteed) he signed with the Magic in December 2020. He has a $16.5 million salary for 2022-23 that’s fully guaranteed, while $2 million of his $17 million salary is guaranteed for the 2023-24 season. Next season’s salary will become fully guaranteed if he’s on the roster past July 1, 2023.”

Fultz (6’4”, 210, 5/29/98) played in 18 games (three starts) last season with Orlando, averaging 10.8 ppg., 5.5 apg., 2.7 rpg. and 1.11 stlpg. in 20.0 minpg., while shooting .806 (25-31) from the free throw line. He led (or tied) the team in assists seven times. Fultz scored in double figures 13 times, including a season-high 19 points on Mar. 30 @ Washington. He dished out 10+ assists twice, including a career-high 15 assists on Apr. 10 vs. Miami, and had one double-double.

Training camp for the Orlando Magic begins on Tuesday, Sep. 27

Magic sign Aleem Ford and Zavier Simpson, waive Joel Ayayi

The Orlando Magic have signed free agents Aleem Ford and Zavier Simpson, President of Basketball Operations Jeff Weltman announced today.

In addition, the Orlando Magic have waived guard Joel Ayayi.

Training camp begins on Tuesday, September 27 at the AdventHealth Training Center.

Ford (6’8”, 220, 12/22/97) played in five games last season with Orlando, after signing a 10-day contract on Dec. 17. He averaged 2.8 ppg. and 3.0 rpg. in 14.7 minpg. Ford also appeared in 31 games (25 starts) with Lakeland of the NBA G League, averaging 12.5 ppg., 4.2 rpg. and 1.7 apg. in 31.1 minpg., while shooting .387 (82-211) from three-point range.

Ford played in 126 career games (82 starts) during four seasons at the University of Wisconsin (2017-21), averaging 6.5 ppg. and 3.3 rpg. in 22.4 minpg.

Ford will wear #12 with the Orlando Magic.

Simpson (6’0”, 190, 2/11/97) played and started in four games last season with Oklahoma City, averaging 11.0 ppg., 7.5 apg., 5.3 rpg., 1.25 stlpg. and 1.00 blkpg. in 43.5 minpg. He also played in all 35 games (29 starts) with Oklahoma City of the NBA G League, averaging 14.5 ppg., 6.8 apg., 5.1 rpg. and 1.49 stlpg. in 32.4 minpg.

Simpson has appeared in 50 career NBA G League games (44 starts), all with Oklahoma City, averaging 13.1 ppg., 6.6 apg., 4.8 rpg. and 1.32 stlpg. in 31.2 minpg.

Simpson played in 146 career games (96 starts) during four seasons at the University of Michigan (2016-20), averaging 7.6 ppg., 4.6 rpg., 3.3 rpg. and 1.07 stlpg. in 25.2 minpg. He was named to the All-Big Ten Second Team twice (2018-19, 2019-20) and to the All-Big Ten Defensive Team in 2018-19. Simpson finished his collegiate career as the school’s all-time leader in games played, tied (with Jon Teske) as the Wolverines’ all-time winningest player (108 victories) and second on the school’s all-time list in assists (667).

Orlando’s roster now stands at 20 players.