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Portland Trail Blazers guard Gary Payton II underwent an off-season procedure in July to address a core muscle injury, the team announced.
The procedure was performed by Dr. William C. Meyers and Dr. Alexander E. Poor at The Vincera Institute in Philadelphia.
The team says Payton’s rehab is progressing well, and that he is expected to make a full recovery by the start of the regular season.
Dennis Schroder is back on the Los Angeles Lakers. The team signed the free agent guard today.
“We are extremely pleased to welcome Dennis Schröder back to the Lakers,” said Pelinka. “Not only do Dennis and Coach Ham share a player-coach history together, but they also reflect one another’s mentality of toughness with an extremely competitive edge. Dennis will add both depth and an on-ball defensive presence to our core at the guard position. He is also a proven scorer and playmaker. We are really excited for Dennis to get to camp and get back to work in L.A. after his highly successful run with his national team this offseason.”
Per the Los Angeles Times, “Schroder’s one-year contract with the team is for the veteran’s minimum, a person with knowledge of the deal not authorized to speak publicly told The Times. Schroder, 28, turned down a lucrative contract extension with the Lakers during the 2020-21 season before leaving the organization the following summer in free agency.”
Schröder appeared in 64 games (29 starts) for the Celtics and Rockets last season, averaging 13.5 points (.344 3FG%), 3.3 rebounds and 4.6 assists in 28.7 minutes. Schröder returns to Los Angeles after averaging 15.4 points, 3.5 rebounds, 5.8 assists and 1.1 steals in 61 games (all starts) for the Lakers during the 2020-21 season.
A nine-year NBA veteran, Schröder has appeared in 621 career games (267 starts) for Atlanta, Oklahoma City, Los Angeles, Boston and Houston, holding career averages of 14.2 points, 2.9 rebounds and 4.7 assists in 26.5 minutes. In 52 career playoff games (12 starts) with the Hawks, Thunder and Lakers, he has averaged 13.3 points, 2.4 rebounds and 3.9 assists.
The Minnesota Timberwolves will host an open practice, dubbed Fan Fest, on Saturday, Oct. 1 at 2:00 p.m. at Target Center.
Timberwolves Head Coach Chris Finch and his staff will lead an open practice and scrimmage. It will be the first chance that fans can watch players including Karl-Anthony Towns, Rudy Gobert, D’Angelo Russell and Anthony Edwards together on the court. It will be the first time the team will take the Target Center court together ahead of the 2022-23 season.
“We are thrilled to welcome our community to Target Center for Fan Fest,” said Minnesota Timberwolves and Lynx CEO Ethan Casson. “After an exciting play-off experience, we are eager for another inspiring season of Timberwolves basketball.”
Doors open at 2:00 p.m. and fans will see on-court contests and can shop new merchandise including the latest Statement Edition Collection at the Timberwolves Team Store in Target Center. The team will take the court at 3:00 p.m. for open practice.
Fan Fest tickets are required for entry. All tickets are complimentary with a $1 per ticket processing fee. Get tickets at: www.Timberwolves.com/fan-fest.
The Brooklyn Nets have signed free agent guard Chris Chiozza.
Chiozza (5’11”, 179) has seen action in 91 career NBA games (four starts) across four seasons with Golden State (2021-22), Brooklyn (2020, 2020-21), Washington (2019) and Houston (2019), averaging 3.3 points, 1.3 rebounds and 2.4 assists in 11.4 minutes per game. The Memphis, Tenn., native returns to the Nets after spending the 2021-22 season with the Warriors, appearing in 34 games (one start) with the 2022 NBA champions and averaging 2.0 points, 1.1 rebounds and 1.9 assists in 10.9 minutes per contest. In 40 games (three starts) over his two seasons in Brooklyn, Chiozza posted averages of 5.1 points, 1.6 rebounds and 3.0 assists in 12.8 minutes per game while shooting 39.2 percent from the field, 44.8 percent from 3-point range and 81.8 percent from the free-throw line. He also appeared in and started 10 games with the Long Island Nets, Brooklyn’s NBA G League affiliate, during the 2019-20 season and has appeared in 70 career NBA G League games (68 starts) across three seasons with Santa Cruz, Long Island, Capital City and Rio Grande Valley, registering averages of 13.0 points, 4.8 rebounds, 7.5 assists and 2.0 steals in 33.1 minutes per contest.
The 26-year-old went undrafted in the 2018 NBA Draft after spending four years (2014-18) at the University of Florida. Following his senior season, the Gators’ all-time assists leader (571) was named to the All-SEC First Team.
The Brooklyn Nets have re-signed guard David Duke Jr. to a two-way contract.
Duke Jr. originally signed with Brooklyn on Aug. 8, 2021, and had his deal converted to a two-way contract on Oct. 16, 2021. In 22 games (seven starts) for Brooklyn during the 2021-22 season, he averaged 4.7 points and 3.0 rebounds in 15.5 minutes per game. The 22-year-old also appeared in and started 13 regular season games for the Long Island Nets, Brooklyn’s NBA G League affiliate, during the 2021-22 campaign, recording averages of 16.2 points, 6.3 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 1.5 steals in 29.5 minutes per contest. Duke Jr. most recently competed for Brooklyn’s summer league team in Las Vegas, registering averages of 19.0 points, 4.6 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 1.4 steals in 28.6 minutes per game across five games.
Prior to joining the Nets, the Providence, R.I., native went undrafted in the 2021 NBA Draft after a three-year collegiate career (2018-21) at Providence College. Starting all 91 career games, he averaged 11.5 points on 39.4 percent shooting from the field and 37.7 percent shooting from distance, 4.2 rebounds and 3.2 assists in 30.8 minutes per game. In his final season as a junior in 2020-21, Duke Jr. averaged career highs with 16.8 points, 6.3 rebounds and 4.8 assists in 37.1 minutes per game on his way to being named to the All-BIG EAST Second Team and an Associated Press All-American Honorable Mention selection. Duke Jr. also represented the United States at the 2019 Pan American Games in Peru, where he helped lead Team USA to a bronze medal.
The Utah Jazz have waived forwards Paris Bass and Xavier Sneed.
Bass (6-8, 200, Detroit-Mercy) spent the 2021-22 season with the Phoenix Suns and the South Bay Lakers of the NBA G League. With the Suns, he appeared in two games, averaging 3.0 points and 2.0 rebounds in 3.5 minutes per contest and with South Bay posted averages of 17.4 points, 7.0 boards, 1.7 assists, and 1.4 steals in 26 games (one start).
Sneed (6-5, 215, Kansas State) appeared in seven games during the 2021-22 season with the Jazz on a two-way contract. He averaged 15.1 points, 5.9 rebounds, 2.7 assists, and 1.3 steals in 15 games last season with the Salt Lake City Stars.
The Atlanta Hawks have signed guard Malik Ellison.
It’s likely a non-guaranteed deal that merely brings Ellison to Hawks training camp.
Ellison, the son of Savannah native and former No. 1 overall pick Pervis Ellison, appeared in 40 total games (14 starts) with the College Park Skyhawks during the 2021-22 NBA G League season, averaging 8.4 points and 5.0 rebounds in 24.9 minutes (.471 FG%, .383 3FG%, .754 FT%). He signed a 10-day contract with Atlanta on Dec. 25, 2021, becoming one of six Skyhawks to earn an NBA Call-Up last season.
The 6-6 guard saw action in four NBA 2K23 Summer League contests and two Salt Lake City Summer League matches, suiting up for the Philadelphia 76ers. In total, he appeared in six games (three starts), notching 7.0 points, 3.8 rebounds and 1.0 assist in 19.1 minutes (.625 FG%, 1.000 FT%).
Ellison played collegiately at St. John’s (2015-17), Pittsburgh (2018-19) and Hartford (2019-20). As a senior at Hartford, he appeared in 23 games (all starts), registering 18.7 points, 9.7 rebounds and 1.7 assists in 34.8 minutes, garnering America East First Team honors (.514 FG%, .630 FT%). Throughout his collegiate career, he saw action in 112 contests (74 starts), notching 9.2 points, 4.5 rebounds and 2.0 assists in 24.8 minutes (.455 FG%, .304 3FG%, .612 FT%).
The Utah Jazz announced today that Alex Jensen, Lamar Skeeter, and Bryan Bailey will serve as assistant coaches on first-year head coach Will Hardy’s staff with Evan Bradds, Irv Roland, Sean Sheldon, and Jason Terry. Chris Jones and Sanjay Lumpkin will serve as player development coaches. In addition, Jeff Hornacek will rejoin the Jazz as a coaching consultant, and Becca Ward will serve as director of team operations.
Jensen will enter his 10th season as assistant coach for the Utah Jazz. Jensen’s coaching experience includes one season as a player development assistant with the Jazz and two seasons as the head coach of the NBA Development League’s Canton Charge. Jensen served as head coach of the 2022 USA Basketball AmeriCup Team, which earned bronze at the 2022 FIBA AmeriCup.
Skeeter concluded his sixth season as an assistant coach with the Jazz in 2021-22 after spending the previous two seasons as a player development/video analyst. Before moving to Salt Lake City, Skeeter spent a season with the Atlanta Hawks as a basketball operations intern in the summer of 2013 before transitioning into the player development/video intern for the 2013-14 campaign.
Bailey concluded his third season with the Jazz player development department in 2021-22 after spending the previous two seasons as an assistant coach for the Salt Lake City Stars. Prior to joining the Stars, he spent the 2016-17 season as an assistant coach for the Westchester Knicks of the NBA G League.
Bradds will join the Utah coaching staff, most recently serving as a player enhancement coach for the Boston Celtics in 2021-22. He has additional coaching experience as an assistant for the G League’s Maine Red Claws in 2017-18 and as a video analyst with the Celtics (2018-20).
Terry joins the Jazz after most recently being the head coach of the G League’s Grand Rapids Gold in 2021-22 and an assistant coach at the University of Arizona in 2020-21. Prior to his coaching professions, Terry had an illustrious 19-year NBA career (1999-18), playing for six different teams and earning an NBA Championship in 2011 with the Dallas Mavericks.
Roland will enter his second year on the organization coaching staff. Roland is a longtime basketball coach, player development specialist, player, and basketball trainer, having last coached in the NBA with the Houston Rockets. He got his start in the NBA in 2004 as a video assistant with the Boston Celtics and went on to work in various roles in video and player development with the Hornets, Suns and Rockets.
Sheldon will be in his first season on the Jazz coaching staff, previously spending five seasons with the San Antonio Spurs in various capacities, including head video coordinator, assistant video coordinator and quality assurance assistant. Prior to his time with the Spurs, he served as a graduate assistant at Michigan State while earning his master’s degree in 2017-18. Prior to entering coaching, he played professionally in Switzerland in 2016-17 after a four-year career at William and Mary.
Jones is in his fourth season, and Lumpkin is in his third season with the team, previously serving in the development/advance scouting and video department. Jones was a four-year collegiate player at Pittsburgh (2013-17) and Lumpkin competed five seasons at Northwestern (2012-17) going on to play two seasons in the NBA G League with the then Erie BayHawks (2018-20).
Hornacek rejoins the Jazz previously serving as an assistant coach with the franchise from 2011-13. He has other prior coaching experience with the Houston Rockets as an assistant (2020-22), head coach of the New York Knicks (2016-18) and Phoenix Suns (2013-16). As a player, he appeared in 1077 games (910 starts) with Phoenix (1986-92), Philadelphia (1993-94) and Utah (1994-00). His jersey was retired by the Jazz on Nov. 19, 2002.
Additionally, Anthony Beaumont will serve as video coordinator with Andrew Warren and Matthew Temple serving as assistant video coordinators on Hardy’s staff.
The Atlanta Hawks today announced the date and time for their 2022 Open Practice: Wednesday, Sept. 28 at 7 p.m. at State Farm Arena.
The team’s Open Practice, run by Hawks Head Coach Nate McMillan, is a chance for fans to watch a real NBA practice and get a first look at the team’s 2022-23 roster, which features All-NBA Third Team guard Trae Young and 2022 NBA All-Star guard Dejounte Murray.
“The buzz surrounding the Hawks this offseason has been amazing, and we couldn’t be more thrilled to welcome fans back to the award-winning State Farm Arena,” said Hawks CEO Steve Koonin. “Our Open Practice presented by Sharecare is an incredible opportunity to see our team’s newest players and learn about the hard work that our players put in on a daily basis.”
Members from Hawks Entertainment teams including PA announcer Big Tigger, in-game host Shamea Morton and DJ MoHawk will be on site. Harry the Hawk, the ATL Hawks Dancers and the Flight Crew will join them.
Fans should enter State Farm Arena through Gates 1-5 as doors will open at 6 p.m. Seating is general admission. Fans can purchase tickets for $5 at Ticketmaster.com. All ticket proceeds will go to the Atlanta Hawks Foundation.
The Charlotte Hornets today unveiled a new Statement Edition uniform to be worn starting with the 2022-23 NBA season.
Per the team:
The Statement Edition uniform remains purple but now features a “Hornets” wordmark on the chest in white with teal trim. The numbers on the front and back of the jersey follow the same design, while the player name on the back is white with no outline. The word “Charlotte” appears on the bottom left front above the jocktag. The side panels feature a teal cell pattern that continues onto the shorts in a design inspired by a stinger. The shorts include a “C-cell” logo on the waistband and the team’s secondary logo on each leg. Both the jersey and shorts have a tone-on-tone cell pattern at the openings for the neck, arms and legs. For the 2022-23 season, the jersey also includes the No. 6 patch that will be worn on the right shoulder of all NBA uniforms in memory of Bill Russell.
Like all Hornets uniforms, the right chest of the Statement Edition jersey features the Jumpman logo of NIKE, Inc.’s Jordan Brand and the left chest sports the logo of LendingTree, now in its sixth season as the team’s Official Jersey Patch Partner.