Category: NBA News Blog

NBA news blog

Miami Heat sign rookie Jamaree Bouyea

The Miami Heat have signed rookie guard Jamaree Bouyea.

Bouyea has appeared in six Summer League games (one start) with the HEAT between the California Classic and the Las Vegas NBA2K23 Summer League averaging 6.2 points, 3.7 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.50 steals. He previously played his entire collegiate career at the University of San Francisco, appearing in 160 games (105 starts), finishing as the school’s all-time leader in games played and wins while finishing third in assists and steals and fifth in points and field goals made. In his final season, Bouyea started all 34 games and averaged 17.3 points, 5.0 rebounds, 4.0 assists, 1.82 steals and 36.2 minutes. He earned All-WCC First Team honors and was named to the NABC All-District First Team. He ranked third in the conference in scoring and led the team in points, assists, steals, field goals made and free throws made. He scored in double-figures in all but five games, including a career-high 36 points in the final game against Murray State in the NCAA Tournament.

Trail Blazers sign rookie Jabari Walker

The Portland Trail Blazers have signed rookie forward Jabari Walker to a standard NBA contract, it was announced today by General Manager Joe Cronin.

Walker, 19, was selected by Portland with the 57th overall pick of the 2022 NBA Draft. He has played in three games for the Trail Blazers at the 2022 NBA Summer League, posting averages of 13.0 points (68.2% FG, 37.5% 3-PT, 66.7% FT), 8.3 rebounds and 1.0 assist in 19.6 minutes per game.

Walker (6-9, 215) played two seasons at Colorado where he averaged 11.5 points (47.9% FG, 39.9% 3-PT, 78.3% FT), 7.2 rebounds and 0.9 assists in 59 games (33 starts). He was named All-Pac-12 First Team as a sophomore in 2021-22 after averaging 14.6 points (fourth in the Pac-12) and 9.4 rebounds (first in the Pac-12) to go with 1.2 assists in 33 games (all starts). He recorded 17 double-doubles in 2021-22, ranking 10th among all NCAA Division 1 players and leading the Pac-12 Conference. Walker was a 2020-21 Pac-12 Conference All-Freshman Team selection after averaging 7.6 points and 4.3 rebounds during his first collegiate campaign.

A native of Wichita, Kansas, Walker is the son of 10-year NBA veteran Samaki Walker.

Timberwolves sign Bryn Forbes

The Minnesota Timberwolves have signed guard Bryn Forbes.

It’s reportedly a one-year deal for the league minimum.

Forbes, 6-2, split time last season with the Denver Nuggets and San Antonio Spurs where he averaged 8.8 points on 42.9% shooting, including 41.4% from three, 1.2 rebounds and 1.0 assists in 75 games (two starts). In eight seasons in the NBA with the Spurs, Milwaukee Bucks and Nuggets, Forbes has appeared in 406 career games (167 starts) while holding career averages of 9.1 points on 43.8% shooting, including 41.3% from deep, 1.7 rebounds and 1.2 assists per game.

Per the St. Paul Pioneer Press, “Forbes, who turns 29 years old this month, adds needed shooting and guard play to Minnesota’s bench and fills one of the spots vacated by the Timberwolves’ trade that shipped so much bench depth to Utah.”

The Lansing, Mich. native has seen action in 42 postseason matchups (seven starts) during five trips to the playoffs, including winning the 2020-21 NBA Championship with the Bucks. He holds playoff career averages of 6.3 points and 1.5 rebounds in 16.4 minutes per game.

Nuggets sign DeAndre Jordan

The Denver Nuggets have signed center DeAndre Jordan.

Jordan’s contract is reportedly a one-year deal for the league minimum.

Jordan, 6-11, 265, appeared in 48 games (20 starts) for the Los Angeles Lakers and Philadelphia 76ers last season, averaging 4.3 points and 5.5 rebounds while shooting 64.3% from the field in 13.0 minutes per game. He also played in three playoff games for the Sixers (two starts), averaging 3.3 points and 2.3 rebounds in 10.3 minutes.

The 14-year NBA veteran has appeared in 980 career games (776 starts) for the Los Angeles Clippers, Dallas, New York, Brooklyn, Los Angeles Lakers and Philadelphia. He holds career averages of 9.1 points, 10.3 rebounds, 1.5 blocks and 1.0 assists in 26.7 minutes per game. Jordan has been named All-NBA First Team once (2015-16) and All-NBA Third Team twice (2014-15, 2015-16) while being named to the NBA All-Defensive First Team two times (2014-15, 2015-16). He earned an All-Star selection as a member of the Los Angeles Clippers in 2017 as well.

The 33-year-old native of Houston, TX was drafted by the Los Angeles Clippers with the 35th overall pick in the 2008 NBA draft after playing one season at Texas A&M.

Celtics sign Danilo Gallinari

The Boston Celtics have signed free agent forward Danilo Gallinari.

“We are thrilled to welcome Danilo to Boston”, said Celtics President of Basketball Operations, Brad Stevens. “With his elite shooting abilities, he has long been established as of the league’s best scorers with size.”

Gallinari, a 6’11” forward, appeared in 66 games for the Atlanta Hawks last season averaging 11.7 ponts, 4.7 rebounds, and 1.5 assists while shooting 38.1 percent from the field. Born in Sant’Angelo Lodigiano, Italy, he was tied for fourth in the NBA last season in free throw percentage at 90.4 percent. Gallinari was originally drafted by the New York Knicks with the sixth overall pick in the 2008 NBA Draft, and has appeared in 728 games averaging 15.6 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 1.9 assists while shooting 38.2 percent from the field.

Gallinari will wear #8 for the Celtics.

Atlanta Hawks sign Frank Kaminsky

The Atlanta Hawks have signed free agent center Frank Kaminsky.

Kaminsky joins the Hawks from the Phoenix Suns, where he saw action in nine games during the 2021-22 campaign, tallying 10.6 points, 4.6 rebounds and 1.4 assists in 20.1 minutes (.545 FG%, .333 3FG%, .900 FT%). In a win over the Portland Trail Blazers on Nov. 10, the 7-0 center poured in a career-high 31 points on 12-18 shooting from the floor, in addition to seven rebounds, three assists and one block in 32 minutes. It was announced on Nov. 21, 2021, that Kaminsky would miss the remainder of the season due to a stress reaction in his right knee.

Drafted with the ninth overall pick in the 2015 NBA Draft by the Charlotte Hornets, Kaminsky has appeared in 377 games (49 starts) throughout his career, notching 9.4 points, 4.1 rebounds and 1.6 assists in 21.0 minutes (.429 FG%, .348 3FG%, .743 FT%). He has also seen action in 17 postseason contests (five starts), including 10 appearances in the Suns’ run to the 2021 NBA Finals, averaging 4.2 points, 2.6 rebounds and 1.3 assists in 15.2 minutes.

The seven-year NBA veteran has suited up for the Charlotte Hornets (2015-19) and Phoenix Suns (2019-22), posting 171 double digit scoring outings. Kaminsky played for Team USA in the 2017 BBVA Rising Stars Challenge at NBA All-Star Weekend in New Orleans, netting a team-high 33 points on 12-16 shooting from the floor, including a 9-13 clip from three-point territory, in 20 minutes as a reserve.

The Lisle, Illinois native enjoyed a four-year career at Wisconsin, becoming the first player in Wisconsin history to win National Player of the Year (Wooden, Naismith, Oscar Robertson) and the 18th consensus All-American in UW history. He appeared in 144 games (79 starts) as a Badger, averaging 10.1 points, 4.6 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 1.1 blocks in 20.4 minutes (.522 FG%, .369 3FG%, .763 FT%). Kaminsky left Wisconsin as just the second player in program history to post 1,000 points, 500 rebounds and 100 blocks, setting the UW career blocks record with 153 rejections.

San Antonio Spurs sign Dominick Barlow to two-way contract

The San Antonio Spurs have signed forward Dominick Barlow to a two-way contract.

Barlow, 6-10/220, spent the 2021-22 season playing in the Overtime Elite League with Team Overtime, averaging 14.8 points, 5.9 rebounds, 1.2 blocks and 1.08 steals over 25.2 minutes per game. Originally from Dumont, New Jersey, Barlow logged 371 total points after scoring double figures in 22 of 25 games, including a season-high 27 points (5-6 3PT) against DME Academy, ranking him third in the league. In OTE’s inaugural season, the forward shot 53.0% from the field, 33.9% from three and 76.4% from the foul line.

During his senior year at Dumont High school, he was named the 2020-21 North Jersey Boys Basketball Player of the Year, averaging 27.6 points, 17.0 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 2.6 blocks.

Currently playing for the Spurs Summer League team, Barlow is averaging 6.0 points and 6.0 rebounds in 23.1 minutes over two games in the NBA 2K23 Summer League.

Barlow will wear No. 26 for the Spurs.

Trade sends Alec Burks, Nerlens Noel from Knicks to Pistons

The Detroit Pistons have acquired Alec Burks, Nerlens Noel, a 2023 second-round draft pick, originally belonging to Detroit, a 2026 second-round draft pick, via Minnesota or New York, dependent on draft position, and cash considerations in a trade with the New York Knicks for the draft rights to Nikola Radicevic and a protected second-round pick in 2025.

Burks, 6-6, 214, recorded clips of 11.7 points, 4.9 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.0 steals in 28.6 minutes through 81 games (44 starts) with the Knicks in 2021-22. He scored at least 20 points in nine contests, including a season-best 34 points against the Pistons on Dec. 29, 2021. Burks had 43 games with multiple 3-pointers and made at least four triples 14 times a year ago.

The Grandview, Mo. native has 11 years of NBA experience after he was drafted 12th overall by the Utah Jazz in the 2011 NBA Draft. Burks has suited up for the Jazz, Cleveland Cavaliers, Sacramento Kings, Golden State Warriors, Philadelphia 76ers and Knicks with career marks of 10.6 points, 3.5 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 0.7 steals in 625 NBA games (135 starts).

A former standout at Colorado, Burks played two seasons collegiately for the Buffaloes while garnering Big 12 Rookie of the Year honors and All-Big 12 First Team honors as a sophomore.

Noel, 6-11, 220, tallied 3.4 points, 5.6 rebounds, 1.2 steals and 1.2 blocks in 22.5 minutes over 25 games (11 starts) with the Knicks last season. He pulled down double-digit rebounds twice and had multiple blocks in nine games in 2021-22. Noel spent two seasons with New York, appearing in 89 games (52 starts) since 2020-21.

The former sixth overall pick in the 2013 NBA Draft, Noel has played eight seasons in the league for the Philadelphia 76ers, Dallas Mavericks, Oklahoma City Thunder and Knicks. He was named to the 2014-15 All-Rookie First Team and has ranked in the top-15 in the NBA in steals twice and blocks three times, including ranking third (2.2 bpg) in 2020-21.

Hailing from Malden, Mass., Noel played collegiately for the Kentucky Wildcats in 2012-13. He was named to the All-SEC First Team and was selected to the SEC All-Defense and SEC All-Freshman teams. Noel also earned SEC Defensive Player of the Year and SEC Rookie of the Year in his lone season with the Wildcats.

Radicevic, 6-6, 200, was acquired by Detroit via trade from the Denver Nuggets on Nov. 22, 2020. He was drafted 57th overall by the Denver Nuggets in the 2015 NBA Draft.

Orlando Magic sign rookie Caleb Houstan

The Orlando Magic have signed forward Caleb Houstan, President of Basketball Operations Jeff Weltman announced today.

Houstan was selected by Orlando in the second round (32nd overall) of the 2022 NBA Draft.

Houstan (6’8”, 205, 1/9/03) played and started in all 34 games last season as a freshman at the University of Michigan, averaging 10.1 ppg., 4.0 rpg. and 1.4 apg. in 32.1 minpg., while shooting .355 (60-169) from three-point range. He led the Wolverines in three-point field goals made. Houstan scored in double figures 17 times and had 20+ points twice. He had ten games with 3+ three-pointers made and four games with 4+ three-pointers. Houstan was named the Big Ten Freshman of the Week for the period ending Jan. 24 and helped Michigan reach the Sweet Sixteen during the NCAA Tournament for the fifth consecutive time.

A native of Mississauga, Ontario, Canada, Houstan played three seasons at Montverde Academy in Montverde, FL. During his sophomore (2019-20) and junior (2020-21) seasons, he helped Montverde to a No. 1 prep ranking in the nation and back-to-back Geico Prep National titles. As a junior (2020-21), Houstan was named Florida’s Gatorade Player of the Year, while also being named a 2021 McDonald’s All-American, a Naismith Second Team All-American and to the Sports Illustrated All-American Third Team. He reclassified from the Class of 2022 to 2021, foregoing his senior season to head to Michigan. Houstan was also a member of the Canadian National Team during the 2021 FIBA U19 World Cup, helping Canada to the bronze medal (only its second medal in World Cup history), the 2019 FIBA U16 Americas Championship and the 2018 FIBA U17 World Cup (as a 15-year-old).

Sixers sign rookie Michael Foster Jr.

The Philadelphia 76ers have signed forward Michael Foster Jr.

Foster Jr. joined the 76ers’ Salt Lake City Summer League roster and appeared in each of the team’s games at Vivint Arena, including one start. He is currently participating in the NBA 2022 Summer League in Las Vegas.

Prior to signing with the 76ers, Foster Jr. played for G League Ignite, where last season he averaged 15.5 points, 9.5 rebounds and 2.4 assists in 25 appearances.

Before joining Ignite, Foster Jr. averaged 32.2 points, 18.4 rebounds and 4.1 assists in his senior season for Hillcrest Prep, leading the team to a 37-1 record and earning him the No. 7 spot in the 2021 ESPN 100 rankings of top high school prospects. The Milwaukee native was also named a 2021 McDonald’s All-American.