Category: NBA News Blog

NBA news blog

Pelicans sign Dereon Seabron, John Petty Jr. and Daeqwon Plowden

The New Orleans Pelicans have signed guard Dereon Seabron to a two-way contract, and also signed guard John Petty Jr. and guard/forward Daeqwon Plowden.

Seabron, 6-7, 180, played collegiate seasons at North Carolina State, where he averaged 12.1 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 2.2 assists in 56 games. Seabron is coming off of a redshirt sophomore season in which he started 32 games, averaging 17.3 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 3.2 assists en route to being named the ACC’s Most Improved Player and earning All-ACC Second Team honors.

Petty Jr., 6-5, 184, appeared in 31 games for the Pelicans’ G League affiliate, the Birmingham Squadron, in 2021-22 in which he averaged 8.5 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 1.8 assists in 26.2 minutes per game. Prior to turning pro, Petty Jr. played four seasons at Alabama in which he averaged 11.7 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 2.0 assists in 131 games (105 starts), finishing his career with a school-record 311 made three-pointers. In his senior campaign, Petty Jr. averaged 12.6 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 1.9 assists en route to First Team All-SEC honors. Petty Jr. led the SEC with 77 made threes during the 2020-21 season.

Plowden, 6-6, 215, played five seasons at Bowling Green State (2017-22), averaging 10.5 points and 6.1 rebounds in 25.4 minutes per contest. Plowden finished his college career as BGSU’s all-time leader in games played (154), and is the only player in program history to log at least 1,200 career points, 800 rebounds, and 100 blocks.

Mavericks sign Maxi Kleber to contract extension

The Dallas Mavericks have signed forward Maxi Kleber to a contract extension.

Per the Dallas Morning News, “Kleber’s deal is worth $33 million over three years, a person with knowledge of the negotiations said. Kleber was entering the final season of the four-year, $35 million deal he signed in 2019.”

Kleber (6-11, 220) originally signed with Dallas on July 13, 2017, and then re-signed as a free agent on July 10, 2019. In five seasons as a Maverick, he has averaged 7.1 points, 4.8 rebounds, 1.1 assists, 0.9 blocks and 22.7 minutes in 326 games (136 starts).

The Wurzburg, Germany native most recently helped lead the Mavericks to the Western Conference Finals, playing in all 18 games and averaging 8.7 points, 4.6 rebounds and 1.1 assists in 25.4 minutes per contest. His eight 3-pointers in Game 2 vs. Utah are tied for the second-most by a Maverick in a postseason game (Jason Terry, 9 3FGs, 5/8/11).

More from the Dallas Morning News: “The 30-year-old battled nagging injuries and a months-long shooting slump after the All-Star break, but he also played significant minutes as a smallball center after the mid-February trade of Kristaps Porzingis.”

Prior to the NBA, Kleber spent eight seasons playing professionally in Germany and Spain. In 2016-17, he played in 37 Basketball Bundesliga (BBL) games for Bayern Munich and averaged 8.9 points, 5.3 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1.2 blocks enroute to being named a BBL All-Star, All-BBL Second Team and BBL Most Effective Player.

Trail Blazers sign Isaiah Miller, Olivier Sarr, Jared Rhoden and Devontae Cacok

The Portland Trail Blazers have signed forward Devontae Cacok, guard Isaiah Miller, guard Jared Rhoden and center Olivier Sarr to contracts, it was announced today by General Manager Joe Cronin.

The signings are likely for Blazers training camp purposes.

An NBA veteran of three seasons, Cacok has appeared in 36 career games with the Los Angeles Lakers and San Antonio Spurs, posting averages of 2.5 points (62.1% FG, 50.0% FT) and 2.2 rebounds in 6.3 minutes per game. While playing for San Antonio during the 2021-22 campaign, the UNC Wilmington product also appeared in 23 games (22 starts) for the Austin Spurs of the NBA G League, averaging 17.4 points (52.8% FG, 35.1% 3-PT, 63.2% FT), 11.5 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 28.7 minutes per game.

Miller joins the Trail Blazers after spending the 2021-22 season with the Iowa Wolves of the NBA G League where he appeared in 32 games (three starts) and accrued averages of 12.7 points (48.5% FG, 51.0% FT), 4.7 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 1.72 steals in 24.2 minutes per game. The UNC Greensboro alum posted a season-high of 30 points to go along with six rebounds and three steals against the Texas Legends on Jan. 23.

Rhoden, an undrafted rookie out of Seton Hall, appeared in 122 career games (72 starts) over four seasons for the Pirates, posting averages of 10.4 points (40.7% FG, 31.2% 3-PT, 75.4% FT), 5.5 rebounds, 1.1 assists and 1.00 steal in 26.1 minutes per game. A 2022 All-Big East First Team honoree after averaging 15.5 points and 6.7 rebounds, Rhoden left Seton Hall as one of 12 players in program history to log more than 1,200 points and 600 rebounds in a career.

A French native and Kentucky alum, Sarr appeared in 22 games (two starts) and averaged 7.0 points (57.4% FG, 44.8% 3-PT, 82.8 FT%), 4.2 rebounds, 0.9 assists and 19.1 minutes per game for the Oklahoma City Thunder during his rookie campaign in the 2021-22 season.

Mojave King and Leonard Miller sign with NBA G League Ignite

Australia’s Mojave King, a graduate of the NBA Global Academy, and Canadian forward Leonard Miller have signed with NBA G League Ignite, NBA G League President Shareef Abdur-Rahim announced today.

The duo will be part of an Ignite roster that features potential top prospect for the 2023 NBA Draft Scoot Henderson, French U18 National Team star Sidy Cissoko and Nigeria’s Efe Abogidi.

More on each signee is below:

MOJAVE KING

The 6-5 guard spent the previous two seasons in the National Basketball League’s (NBL) Next Stars program, playing for the Cairns Terrapins and Adelaide 36ers. His most recent action came this summer with the Southland Sharks, where he averaged 18.1 points, 4.2 rebounds and 3.2 assists in 16 games.

Born in New Zealand but raised in Australia, King joined the NBL’s Next Stars Program after attending the NBA Global Academy in Canberra, Australia, which serves as the NBA’s hub for top high school-age prospects from outside the U.S. During his time at NBA Global Academy, King helped his team win several high-profile international events, including the 2019 NBA Academy Games in Atlanta, Georgia, and the 2020 Torneo Junior Ciutat de L’Hospitalet in Barcelona, where he averaged a tournament-best 19.2 points and 13 points, respectively.

King becomes the fourth NBA Academy graduate to sign with Ignite, joining fellow Australian Dyson Daniels, the eighth pick in the 2022 NBA Draft by the New Orleans Pelicans, India’s Princepal Singh and fellow 2022-23 Ignite signee Abogidi.

LEONARD MILLER

Miller was the youngest participant in the NBA’s pre-draft process this spring, including the NBA Draft Combine in May, before electing not to enter this year’s draft.

A standout prospect from Scarsborough, Miller most recently joined Canada’s U23 squad in July’s Globl Jam international showcase. In April, he teamed up with fellow Ignite signee Cissoko on the World Select squad at the 2022 Nike Hoop Summit, where Miller scored 11 points, including two 3-pointers, plus five rebounds, two assists and two blocks. He previously represented Canada at the 2019 FIBA U16 Americas Championship, averaging 4.2 points and 1.3 rebounds in 7.1 minutes per game.

The 2022 BioSteel Canadian Boys Player of the Year, Miller averaged 31 points and 11.6 rebounds on his Fort Erie International Academy team to earn Ontario Scholastic Basketball Association Most Valuable Player honors.

Ignite opens the season on Friday, Nov. 4 against Oklahoma City Blue in the team’s new home arena, The Dollar Loan Center in Henderson, Nev.

Nets sign Markieff Morris

The Brooklyn Nets have signed free agent forward Markieff Morris.

Morris (6’9”, 245) has appeared in 715 games (376 starts) across 11 seasons with Miami (2021-22), L.A. Lakers (2020-21), Detroit (2019-20), Oklahoma City (2019), Washington (2016-19) and Phoenix (2011-16), recording averages of 10.9 points on 44.6 percent shooting from the field, 34.1 percent shooting from 3-point range and 77.7 percent shooting from the free-throw line, 5.2 rebounds and 1.6 assists in 24.8 minutes per contest.

Per the New York Post, “the Nets now have four of their maximum 20 training camp spots left open: All three Exhibit 10 deals, as well as one of their two-way contracts (undrafted rookie Alondes Williams got the other). Restricted free agent David Duke Jr. had initially rejected their two-way offer in hopes of landing a standard deal, but the signing of Morris to the final standard spot ended that possibility.”

Morris, who is 33 years old, was limited to just 17 games played last season with the Heat due to injury, posting averages of 7.6 points, 2.6 rebounds and 1.4 assists in 17.6 minutes per game. Prior to his injury-shortened campaign in 2021-22, Morris was 10th in the league in games played (698) from his rookie season in 2011-12 through the 2020-21 season.

Morris has made six playoff appearances in his career, including helping to lead the Lakers to the 2020 NBA Championship.

The Philadelphia native has seen action in 51 playoff games (22 starts), registering averages of 7.2 points on 42.1 percent shooting from the field, 36.9 percent shooting from distance and 80.0 percent shooting from the free-throw line, 4.1 rebounds and 1.2 assists in 20.4 minutes per game.

Morris was selected with the 13th pick in the first round of the 2011 NBA Draft by the Suns after spending three years (2008-11) at the University of Kansas, where he was named All-Big 12 Second Team as a junior.

Indiana Pacers and Bally Sports Indiana extend media rights agreement

Pacers Sports & Entertainment announced yesterday a multi-year media rights extension with Bally Sports Indiana, the longtime television home of the Pacers and Fever.

Under the agreement, Bally Sports Indiana will continue to televise and stream all available regular season Pacers games, two pre-season games, and available first-round post-season games each season. The regional sports network will also carry up to 10 Fever games per season. Bally Sports Indiana is entering its 27th season as the Pacers’ media partner.

“The partnership renewal with Bally Sports Indiana allows Pacers and Fever fans to access the basketball content they love however they choose to consume it,” said PS&E Chief Executive Officer Rick Fuson. “The upcoming launch of Bally Sports+ complements the traditional content distribution model by delivering our games and other programming directly to the consumer. This ensures a direct connection to anyone in the region, a major priority for us as we finalized this deal.”

“We’re extremely proud of our 27-year partnership with the Pacers and thrilled to announce an extension of our media rights,” said Jack Donovan, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Bally Sports Indiana. “Pacers Sports & Entertainment is one of the most-respected organizations in sports, and the Pacers consistently generate some of the highest local-market TV ratings in the NBA. We look forward to continuing to deliver high-quality productions of Pacers basketball to as many fans as possible, on cable, satellite, streaming TV and now via a new way to watch: Bally Sports+, our direct-to-consumer streaming service.”

Trail Blazers waive Norvel Pelle

The Portland Trail Blazers have waived center Norvel Pelle, it was announced today by General Manager Joe Cronin.

Pelle was originally signed to a contract on August 3, 2022.

Per the Oregonian, “Pelle, 29, has played in 40 NBA games over the past three seasons with zero starts. He went undrafted in 2014 and has spent several years in the G League. He played three games last season with Utah while on a 10-day contract.”

Jazz trade Donovan Mitchell to Cavs

The Cleveland Cavaliers have acquired NBA All-Star guard Donovan Mitchell in a trade with the Utah Jazz, Cavaliers President of Basketball Operations Koby Altman announced today from Cleveland Clinic Courts.

In exchange, Cleveland has sent guard Collin Sexton (via sign and trade), forward Lauri Markkanen, guard Ochai Agbaji and three future unprotected first round draft picks (2025, 2027, 2029) to Utah, while also agreeing to swap picks in 2026 and 2028.

“The acquisition of Donovan Mitchell presented us with an incredible opportunity to bring one of the NBA’s most dynamic young All-Stars to Cleveland,” said Altman. “Already a special and proven talent at just 25-years-old, Donovan brings a competitive mentality that organically fits with the core group of this team. We are excited to see the impact that someone of Donovan’s caliber can bring to the Cavaliers with his ability to score the basketball, but also make plays for his teammates. We welcome Donovan and his entire family to Northeast Ohio. I also want to thank Collin and Lauri for their contributions to our team as well as Ochai, who has a very promising future in this league. The Cavaliers have a tremendous amount of respect and admiration for all three players and wish them and their families all the best in Utah.”

Mitchell (6-3, 215), who was a 2022 NBA All-Star, played in 67 games (all starts) for the Jazz last season while averaging 25.9 points (9th-best in NBA), 4.2 rebounds, a career-high 5.3 assists, and a career-best 1.5 steals in 33.8 minutes. He also made 3.6 three-pointers per contest, which was the fourth-highest in the league, and scored at least 20 points on 52 occasions and 30-plus points in 23 outings. Mitchell earned Western Conference Player of the Month for games played in December 2021, the first Jazz player to earn the accolade since Deron Williams in November 2010, and was the Western Conference Player of the Week for Nov. 29-Dec. 5, 2021. Additionally, he averaged 12.4 points as the ball-handler in pick-and-roll plays (2nd-best in NBA) and had the highest effective field goal percentage (.538) of the top five players in that category. Mitchell’s 232 three-pointers were tied for seventh in the NBA and was the fifth straight season he had knocked down over 170 threes. On March 16 versus Chicago, he connected on a career-best nine three-pointers and scored 37 points, including 25 points in the third quarter, tying the Jazz franchise record for a single period.

A three-time NBA All-Star (2020-22), Mitchell owns career averages of 23.9 points, 4.2 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 1.3 steals in 33.7 minutes over 345 games (337 starts) in five NBA seasons, all with Utah. He leaves the Jazz ranking second in their team’s history in three-pointers made (958) and eighth in points scored (8,234). Mitchell is also just the sixth player in NBA history to total over 8,000 points, 1,500 assists and 1,400 rebounds through their first career 345 contests, joining LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Michael Jordan, Pete Maravich and Oscar Robertson. The 6-3 guard has also reached the playoffs in all five of his NBA seasons, appearing in 39 total postseason games (all starts) with averages of 28.3 points, 4.9 rebounds, 4.7 assists and 1.18 steals in 37.0 minutes per contest. An NBA All-Rookie First Team selection (2018) and NBA Slam Dunk Contest champion (2018), Mitchell was originally selected by Denver as the No. 13 overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft before being traded to the Jazz on draft night.

Sexton (6-1, 192), who appeared in 11 games (all starts) with the Cavaliers last season before missing the final 71 contests due to a left knee meniscus tear, finished the 2021-22 campaign with averages of 16.0 points, a career-high 3.3 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 0.91 steals in 28.7 minutes. Selected as the No. 8 overall pick by Cleveland in the 2018 NBA Draft, Sexton owns career averages of 20.0 points, 3.0 rebounds and 3.3 assists in four NBA seasons with the Cavaliers.

Markkanen (7-0, 238) was acquired by Cleveland in a sign and trade agreement from the Chicago Bulls on August 28, 2021. In his lone season with the Cavaliers (2021-22), Markkanen played in 61 games (all starts), averaging 14.8 points, 5.7 rebounds and 0.74 steals in 30.8 minutes. Markkanen owns career averages of 15.4 points and 6.8 rebounds in 29.7 minutes during his five NBA seasons (four with Chicago and one with Cleveland).

Agbaji (6-5, 215) was selected by the Cavaliers with the 14th pick in the 2022 NBA Draft. Agbaji started in all 39 games this past season as a senior at Kansas, averaging a Big-12 leading 18.8 points and 5.1 rebounds in a team-high 35.0 minutes. Agbaji was named the 2022 NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player and also finished as a 2021-22 consensus All-American First Team selection, the 2021-22 Big-12 Player of the Year and Big-12 Male Athlete of the Year.

Key info on the 2022-23 NBA G League season

The NBA G League has released its complete 2022-23 game schedule, which begins on Friday, November 4.

For the second consecutive season, the schedule will be split into two parts: the 18-game Showcase Cup followed by a 32-game regular season.

Beginning in 2022-23, games that advance to overtime will be determined by a Final Target Score. The winner of an overtime game during the season will be the first team to reach or surpass the Final Target Score, which will be the tied score after four quarters plus seven. For example, if the teams are tied at 100-100, the Final Target Score would be 107. Overtime will be untimed and games will end when a team makes a basket or free throw to reach or surpass the Final Target Score.

Additionally, all 31 games at the 2022 G League Winter Showcase in Las Vegas will utilize a 25-point Final Target Score during an untimed fourth quarter. Under this model, the Final Target Score will be the leading team’s score after three quarters plus 25.

The Showcase Cup begins on Friday, Nov. 4 and culminates with a single-elimination tournament to crown a champion at the 2022 G League Winter Showcase from Dec. 19-22. During the Showcase Cup, teams are separated into four regional pods and play 16 games against one another in NBA G League markets. The teams with the best winning percentage in each regional pod, along with the next four teams across the league with the best win-percentages, will advance to compete for the Showcase Cup during Winter Showcase.

Following the Showcase Cup, team records will reset in advance of the 32-game regular season, which tips off on Dec. 27. At the conclusion of the regular season, the top six teams in each conference will qualify for the NBA G League Playoffs, followed by the NBA G League Finals in April 2023.

The 2021 Showcase Cup champion Delaware Blue Coats open their Showcase Cup defense on Friday, Nov. 4 against the Greensboro Swarm at the Greensboro Coliseum. The 2021-22 NBA G League Champion Rio Grande Valley Vipers will receive their championship rings on Friday, Nov. 11 when they host the Birmingham Squadron at the Bert Ogden Arena.

All 30 NBA G League teams, including NBA G League Ignite and the México City Capitanes, will compete in a total of 50 games during the 2022-23 season. NBA G League Ignite will debut its new home, The Dollar Loan Center in Henderson, Nev., on Friday, Nov. 4 against the Oklahoma City Blue. Capitanes will host the first-ever NBA G League regular season game played in México at the Arena Ciudad de México when it takes on the defending champion Vipers on Sunday, Nov. 6.

Celtics forward Danilo Gallinari injured, suffers torn ACL in left knee

Boston Celtics forward Danilo Gallinari has been diagnosed with a torn ACL in his left knee.

Gallinari sustained the injury while playing for his home nation of Italy in a FIBA World Cup qualifier against Georgia on August 27.

And via Boston.com:

The Celtics agreed to a two-year deal with Gallinari in July, hoping that the 6-foot-10 veteran could add some shooting and offensive depth. In his 14 NBA seasons, Gallinari has averaged 38.2 percent shooting from 3-point range.

This also isn’t the first time that Gallinari has torn his left ACL, having originally done so in April of 2013. Then a member of the Denver Nuggets, the injury required multiple surgeries and kept him from making his return until the 2014-2015 season.