Category: NBA News Blog

NBA news blog

Kings rookie forward Keegan Murray named 2022 NBA Summer League MVP

Sacramento Kings rookie forward Keegan Murray has been named Summer League 2022 Most Valuable Player, as selected by a panel of media. Along with earning MVP honors, the NBA announced Murray as an All-Summer League First Team selection.

Murray started all four games he appeared in at Summer League, averaging 23.3 points, 7.3 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.3 steals in 31.9 minutes per game. Selected with the fourth overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, Murray converted 50.0% of his field goal attempts while also shooting 40.0% from 3-point range. He finished with the highest scoring average by a top-10 pick at Summer League in Las Vegas since 2012.

An Iowa native, Murray also made three appearances during the 2022 California Classic Summer League, accruing averages of 19.7 points and 8.0 rebounds in 30.1 minutes per game. Across seven Summer League contests, the 6-8 forward posted 21.8 points, 7.4 rebounds and 1.3 steals in 31.2 minutes per outing.

2022-23 Brooklyn Nets preseason game schedule

The Brooklyn Nets will open the 2022-23 season with a four-game preseason schedule, highlighted by two home contests versus Eastern Conference opponents on Monday, Oct. 3, versus the Philadelphia 76ers and Thursday, Oct. 6, against the Miami Heat.

The Nets will then travel to Milwaukee on Wednesday, Oct. 12, to take on the Bucks at Fiserv Forum before concluding their preseason slate on Friday, Oct. 14, at the Minnesota Timberwolves inside Target Center.

Brooklyn Nets season ticket memberships and mini plans are on sale now. To learn more and view options, visit brooklynnets.com. Single game tickets for home games at Barclays Center will go on sale at a later date.

YES Network will have preseason coverage as it begins its 21st season as the home for Nets basketball.

DATE OPPONENT LOCATION TIME (ET)

Monday, Oct. 3: Philadelphia 76ers, Barclays Center, 7:30 p.m.

Thursday, Oct. 6: Miami Heat, Barclays Center, 7:30 p.m.

Wednesday, Oct. 12: @Milwaukee Bucks, Fiserv Forum, 8 p.m.

Friday, Oct. 14: @Minnesota Timberwolves, Target Center, 8 p.m.

Nuggets sign Kentavious Caldwell-Pope to contract extension

The Denver Nuggets have signed guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope to a multi-year contract extension, General Manager Calvin Booth announced today.

Caldwell-Pope’s extension is reportedly for two years, $30 million.

Caldwell-Pope, 29, was recently acquired by Denver via trade from Washington. He appeared in 77 games (all starts) for the Wizards last season, averaging 13.2 points, 3.4 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.10 steals per game on 39.0% shooting from three and 89.0% from the charity stripe in 30.2 minutes per game. In four of the past five seasons the sharpshooting guard has shot 38%-or-better from beyond the arc while ranking in the top 10 in catch and shoot three-point percentage over the past two seasons (41.0%) and in the top 10 on open three-pointers last season (44.8%).

Caldwell-Pope has appeared in 683 career games (541 starts) for Detroit, L.A. Lakers and Washington, owning career averages of 11.6 points, 3.1 rebounds 1.7 assists and 1.1 steals while shooting 42.1% from the field and 36.0% from three in 29.2 minutes per game. Caldwell-Pope was an integral part to the Lakers championship run in 2020, starting all 21 playoff games and averaging 10.7 points, 2.1 rebounds and 1.3 assists in 29.0 minutes per game. The nine-year NBA veteran was originally selected with the eighth overall pick in the 2013 NBA Draft by Detroit after spending two seasons at the University of Georgia.

Celtics sign Mfiondu Kabengele to two-way contract

The Boston Celtics yesterday signed forward/center Mfiondu Kabengele to a two-way contract.

Kabengele, 6’10”, has appeared in four games for the Celtics during their 2022 Summer League campaign where he has averaged 14.0 points, 9.3 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and 1.8 blocks in 25.2 minutes per game while shooting 55.9 percent from the field, 36.4 percent from three and 77.8 percent from the free throw line.

The former 2019 first round draft pick by Brooklyn has appeared in a total of 51 NBA games split between the LA Clippers and the Cleveland Cavaliers.

The Toronto, Ontario native played in 33 games for the NBA G-League Champion Rio Grande Valley Vipers last season where he averaged 17.5 points, 9.7 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 0.94 blocks in 29.3 minutes per game while shooting 58.9 percent from the field and 39.6 percent from three.

Per Boston.com, “the Celtics still have three open roster spots, so there is a chance Kabengele could ultimately play his way into a regular NBA deal. For now, though, he’s thrilled to have this chance on a two-way contract. “I think my main goal is to work on my skill and my craft, and whatever manifests out of that I’ll be happy with,” he said.”

Atlanta Hawks sign rookie Tyrese Martin

The Atlanta Hawks have signed Tyrese Martin, the No. 51 overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, to a multi-year contract.

Through four NBA Summer League contests for the Hawks, Martin is averaging 12.0 points, 3.8 rebounds and 1.8 assists in 24.2 minutes (.475 FG%). He poured in a game-high 21 points on 9-14 shooting from the floor in Atlanta’s 95-88 win over Miami on July 12.

Atlanta acquired Martin’s draft rights, along with cash considerations, from the Golden State Warriors in exchange for the draft rights to Ryan Rollins, the No. 44 pick, on June 23.

Martin saw action in 29 games (all starts) for UConn during the 2021-22 campaign, tallying 13.6 points, 7.5 rebounds and 1.9 assists in 32.1 minutes (.449 FG%, .430 3FG%, .689 FT%).

The 6-6 guard transferred to UConn following a two-year stint at Rhode Island (2018-20). In his two seasons suiting up for UConn, the Huskies made back-to-back appearances in the NCAA Tournament (2021, 2022), punching their ticket in consecutive seasons for the first time since 2011 and 2012. During his time at UConn, Martin appeared in 51 games (50 starts), averaging 12.2 points, 7.5 rebounds and 1.5 assists in 31.2 minutes (.446 FG%, .393 3FG%, .682 FT%). He was named to the 2022 Big East All-Tournament Team and the U.S. Basketball Writers Association District I All-District Team.

Throughout his four-year collegiate career, Martin saw action in 114 games (99 starts), notching 11.1 points, 6.7 rebounds and 1.3 assists in 30.8 minutes (.435 FG%, .346 3FG%, .670 FT%). A native of Allentown, Pennsylvania, he attended William Allen High School, finishing with 1,120 career points. Following high school, Martin attended Massanutten Military Academy in Woodstock, Virginia, leading the team to a 32-4 record during the 2017-18 season.

Miami Heat sign Darius Days and Marcus Garrett, waive Mychal Mulder and Javonte Smart

The Miami Heat have signed forward Darius Days and guard Marcus Garrett to two-way contracts.

In addition, Miami has waived Mychal Mulder and Javonte Smart.

Days, who played all four collegiate seasons at LSU from 2018-22, recently appeared in three Summer League games with the San Antonio Spurs averaging 13.7 points and 10.0 rebounds in 21.8 minutes of action while shooting 55.6 percent from the field, 37.5 percent from three-point range and a perfect 5-of-5 from the line. He led the team in rebounds and scored in double-figures in each of the three games. Days finished his LSU career as just one of 10 players in school history to record at least 1,300 points and 800 rebounds and became just the third LSU player since 1978 to have at least 1,300 points, 800 rebounds and 125 steals. He recorded 85 career wins, the most in school history over the last 25 years. Among the all-time school leaders, Days finished 10th in rebounds (830), 20th in steals (125) and 28th in points (1,305).

Garrett, who originally signed a two-way contract with the HEAT on September 2, 2021 before being waived on January 16, appeared in 12 games with the HEAT last season before undergoing season-ending wrist surgery. He recently appeared in three Summer League games (two starts) with the HEAT and averaged 7.3 points, 4.3 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 1.00 steals. Garrett was a three-time Big 12 All-Defensive Team selection at Kansas, finishing with 181 career steals, tying the 10th-most in school history.

Mulder, who was signed to a two-way contract by the HEAT on March 24, appeared in two games with Miami last season averaging 7.0 points, 1.5 rebounds, 1.0 assists and 22.1 minutes.

Smart, who was signed to a two-way contract by the HEAT on February 15, appeared in four games with Miami last season averaging 5.0 points and 1.3 rebounds in 10.0 minutes of action.

Utah Jazz sign rookie Johnny Juzang to two-way contract

The Utah Jazz have signed rookie guard/forward Johnny Juzang to a two-way contract.

Juzang (6-7, 215, UCLA) played in 30 games (29 starts) with the Bruins last season and averaged 15.6 points, 4.7 rebounds and 1.8 assists, earning 2021-22 All-Pac-12 First Team honors.

The Los Angeles-native averaged 19.3 points and 4.6 rebounds in nine career NCAA Tournament games. He helped lead UCLA to the Sweet 16 in 2022 and the Final Four in 2021, the program’s first Final Four appearance since 2008. He ranks 10th on the Bruin’s all-time scoring list in the NCAA Tournament with 174 points.

Juzang appeared in 85 career-collegiate games over three seasons (UCLA 2020-22 and Kentucky 2019-20) and holds career averages of 11.6 points, 3.6 rebounds and 1.3 assists in 25.5 minutes per contest.

2022-23 Timberwolves preseason schedule

The Minnesota Timberwolves today announced the team’s 2022 preseason schedule. The Wolves will play five exhibition contests, including one game at Target Center.

The fans first chance to see the 2022-23 Wolves at Target Center will be when the team concludes its preseason schedule on Friday, Oct. 14, as they host the Brooklyn Nets. This will mark the second year in a row that the Timberwolves will play the Nets in the preseason.

Minnesota will begin its 2022 preseason by traveling for the first four preseason games, including matchups against the Miami Heat at FTX Arena on Tuesday, Oct. 4 and Thursday, Oct. 6 at the Los Angeles Lakers in Las Vegas. The Wolves wrap up their exhibition games with two contests at Crypto.com Arena against LA Clippers on Saturday, Oct. 9 and the Lakers on Wednesday, Oct. 12.

2022 TIMBERWOLVES PRESEASON SCHEDULE

All Times Central

DATE OPPONENT LOCATION TIPOFF

Oct. 4 Miami Heat FTX Arena 6:30 p.m.

Oct. 6 Los Angeles Lakers T-Mobile Arena (Las Vegas) 9:00 p.m.

Oct. 9 LA Clippers Crypto.com Arena TBD

Oct. 12 Los Angeles Lakers Crypto.com Arena 9:00 p.m.

Oct. 14 Brooklyn Nets Target Center 7:00 p.m.

Miami Heat sign rookie Jamal Cain

The Miami Heat have signed forward Jamal Cain.

Cain has appeared in three Summer League games with the HEAT between the California Classic and Las Vegas Summer League averaging 7.7 points, 5.0 rebounds, 2.33 steals and 1.0 assists while shooting 50 percent from the field and 70 percent from the foul line.

Per the Miami Herald, “Cain signed an Exhibit 10 contract, which comes with a small financial guarantee and an invitation to training camp.”

He previously played four seasons at Marquette before transferring to Oakland University. 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.

Additionally, Cain led the team in points, rebounds and field goals made while finishing second in blocks, steals and free throws made.

More from the Herald: “Exhibit 10 deals do not count against the salary cap or hard cap and can be converted to a two-way contract or standard one-year minimum contract prior to the start of the regular season. In addition, Exhibit 10 contracts can pay the player from $5,000 to $50,000 if they are waived by their respective NBA team and then move on to that team’s G League affiliate and stay there at least 60 days.”