Category: NBA News Blog

NBA news blog

Pistons trade Jerami Grant to Trail Blazers

The Portland Trail Blazers yesterday acquired forward Jerami Grant and the draft rights to Ismael Kamagate in a trade with the Detroit Pistons for the draft rights to Gabriele Procida, a 2025 first-round draft pick (via Milwaukee), a 2025 second-round draft pick and a 2026 second-round draft pick.

“Jerami Grant is a dynamic two-way forward that can impact winning at a high level,” said Trail Blazers General Manager Joe Cronin. “He fits seamlessly into Coach Billups’ system on both sides of the ball. We could not be happier to have him in Portland.”

Grant, 28, averaged 19.2 points (42.6% FG, 35.8% 3-PT, 83.8% FT), 4.1 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 0.94 steals and 1.04 blocks in 47 games (all starts) for the Pistons during the 2021-22 season. A Gold Medalist with Team USA at the 2021 Olympics, Grant has made the NBA playoffs four times, posting averages of 10.5 points (45.6% FG, 34.1% 3-PT, 80.0% FT), 3.7 rebounds and 1.1 assists in 35 games (21 starts).

An eight-year NBA veteran, Grant (6-8, 210) holds career averages of 11.4 points (45.2% FG, 34.9% 3-PT, 72.3% FT), 3.9 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 0.63 steals and 1.11 blocks in 555 games (270 starts) with Detroit, Denver, Oklahoma City and Philadelphia. He was originally selected by the Philadelphia 76ers with the 39th overall pick of the 2014 NBA Draft. Grant, a Portland native, is the son of 13-year NBA veteran Harvey Grant, who played three seasons for the Trail Blazers from 1993-1996.

Orlando Magic sign Bol Bol

The Orlando Magic have re-signed free agent center Bol Bol, President of Basketball Operations Jeff Weltman announced today.

Bol (7’2”, 220, 11/16/99, #10) played in 14 games last season with Denver, averaging 2.4 ppg. and 1.4 rpg. in 5.8 minpg. He scored in double figures once – a career-high 11 points on Jan. 1 @ Houston. Bol was also with Boston and Orlando during the season, but did not appear in any games with either team after undergoing surgery on his right foot on Jan. 18.

Originally selected in the second round (44th overall) of the 2020 NBA Draft by Miami, Bol has played in 53 career NBA regular season games (two starts), all with Denver, averaging 2.7 ppg. and 1.2 rpg. in 6.2 minpg. He was acquired by Orlando from Boston, along with D.J. Dozier, a future second round draft pick and cash considerations in exchange for a future second round draft pick on Feb. 10, 2021.

Rockets re-sign Jae’Sean Tate

The Houston Rockets yesterday re-signed forward Jae’Sean Tate to a multi-year contract.

Tate was eligible for the 2018 NBA Draft following his senior season at Ohio State. He began his professional career overseas before signing as a free agent with the Rockets on Nov. 25, 2020. Tate started 58 of his 70 games played as a rookie in 2020-21 and became the second undrafted player to earn NBA All-Rookie First Team honors going back to 2011-12.

In two seasons as a Rocket, Tate has averaged 11.6 points, 5.4 rebounds, 2.7 assists, and 1.06 steals while shooting 50.1% from the floor. He became the fifth player in NBA history to have reached his total of points (1,713), rebounds (794), assists (400), steals (157), blocks (77), and 3-pointers made (123) through the first 148 games played of a career, joining Vince Carter, Paul Pierce, Lamar Odom, and LeBron James.

Tate has appeared in 148 of a possible 154 games as a Rocket. He tied Detroit’s Saddiq Bey for the most starts (135) by a sophomore over the past two seasons and tied for the sixth-most games played by any player over that span.

Nuggets trade Monte Morris and Will Barton to Wizards for Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Ish Smith

The Washington Wizards yesterday acquired Monte Morris and Will Barton III in a trade with the Denver Nuggets that sent Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Ish Smith to the Nuggets.

“We’re very excited to add Monte and Will as proven players at the point guard and shooting guard positions, two areas that were top priorities for us to address during this offseason,” said Wizards President and General Manager Tommy Sheppard. “Monte has steadily improved his all-around game and is coming off a career year while Will has been a consistent scorer and three-point threat during his time in Denver, and both are obviously familiar with Coach Unseld’s system and style.”

Morris (6-3, 175), a five-year NBA veteran, comes to Washington after averaging career-bests of 12.6 points, 4.4 assists and 3.0 rebounds in 75 games (74 starts) in 2021-22. Morris topped 20 points on seven different occasions last year and dished at least five assists in 34 games while limiting turnovers, as he finished fifth in the league in assist-to-turnover ratio at 4.27:1.

In 280 career games (105 starts) with the Nuggets, Morris has averaged 10.5 points and 3.7 assists per game on .481 shooting from the field and .394 shooting from three with a 4.8:1 assist to turnover ratio. He has averaged double-digit scoring over each of the past two seasons and has shot at least .450 from the field and .370 from three-point territory in each of the past four. He ranked 29th in three-point percentage last season (.395) and connected on multiple three-pointers in 36 games. Morris shot a career-best .414 from three-point range in 2018-19, 13th best in the NBA. The native of Grand Rapids, MI, played four years at Iowa State, leaving as the Cyclones’ all-time winningest player with 100 victories before being selected 51st overall in the 2017 NBA Draft by Denver.

Barton III (6-6, 190) has played 10 NBA seasons with Portland and Denver, appearing in 623 games (284 starts) and averaging 11.6 points, 4.3 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game while shooting .362 from three-point range. In his seven-and-a-half seasons in Denver after being acquired at the 2015 trade deadline, Barton III averaged 14.0 points, 5.0 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game and leaves the Nuggets as the franchise’s all-time leader in three-pointers made (804).

In 71 games (all starts) with the Nuggets last season, Barton III averaged 14.7 points, 4.8 rebounds, 3.9 assists in 32.1 minutes per contest. He shot .438 from the field and .365 from three-point territory while attempting a career-high 6.1 three-pointers per game. The 31-year-old guard scored in double-figures in 57 games and totaled 20 or more points on 17 occasions. The Memphis product averaged 10+ points in every season with Denver (2015-2022) and has shot .360 or better from three-point range in five of the last six seasons. The Baltimore native was originally selected with the 40th overall pick in the 2012 NBA Draft by Portland.

Morris and Barton III combined to average 27.8 points, 7.8 rebounds and 8.2 assists per game on .444 shooting from the field and .407 shooting from three during the 2021-22 NBA Playoffs.

Caldwell-Pope started in 77 games in his lone season in Washington after being acquired as part of the five-team deal from the Los Angeles Lakers, averaging 13.2 points and 3.4 rebounds per game. In his second stint in Washington, Ish Smith averaged 8.6 points, 3.0 rebounds and 5.2 assists per game in 28 games after being acquired at the trade deadline from Charlotte.

“We wish KCP and Ish and their families the very best and we thank them for their time with the Wizards,” said Sheppard.

Grizzlies re-sign Tyus Jones

The Memphis Grizzlies yesterday re-signed guard Tyus Jones to a multi-year contract extension.

Jones (6-0 ¼, 196) appeared in 73 games (23 starts) last season, his third with the Grizzlies, and averaged a career-high 8.7 points, 2.4 rebounds and 4.4 assists in 21.2 minutes while shooting 45.1% from the field, a career-best 39.0% from 3-point range and 81.8% from the free throw line. Jones set single-season career highs for field goals made (249) and 3-pointers made (80).

The 26-year-old established a new NBA single-season record with a 7.04 assist-to-turnover ratio last season, eclipsing the previous league record (6.96) he set during the 2018-19 season. Jones has led all qualified players in this category for each of the last four seasons, tying Chris Paul (2012-16) for the longest such streak in NBA history.

A native of Minneapolis, Jones has competed in 208 games (38 starts) for Memphis and has averaged 7.5 points, 2.0 rebounds and 4.2 assists in 19.2 minutes since signing with the Grizzlies as a free agent on July 7, 2019. He has helped guide Memphis to the NBA Playoffs in each of the past two seasons and helped the Grizzlies record the second-best record in the NBA (56-26), tying a franchise record, last season.

Selected with the 24th overall pick in the 2015 NBA Draft, Jones has competed in 455 games (72 starts) and has averaged 6.2 points, 1.8 rebounds and 3.7 assists in 18.4 minutes with the Grizzlies and Minnesota Timberwolves. He led Duke to the 2015 NCAA championship as a freshman.

Miami Heat re-sign Dewayne Dedmon

The Miami Heat have re-signed center Dewayne Dedmon.

“Dewayne brings essential attributes to the center position, including size, length, physicality, rebounding, scoring and a defensive mentality to protect the rim,” said HEAT President Pat Riley. “He has proven to be a great veteran for us and we are fortunate to have him back.”

Dedmon appeared in 67 games (15 starts) with the HEAT last season and averaged 6.3 points and 5.8 rebounds in 15.9 minutes of action while shooting 56.6 percent from the field, 40.4 percent from three-point range and 75 percent from the foul line. He finished second on the team in blocks and offensive rebounds and third in total rebounds and charges taken. He led the team in blocks 22 times, in rebounds 11 times, plus/minus 10 times, steals twice and assists once while leading Miami’s reserves in rebounds a team-high 28 times and blocks on a team-high 19 occasions. He also appeared in 14 postseason games on Miami’s run to the Eastern Conference Finals and averaged 3.8 points and 3.0 rebounds in 9.8 minutes of action while shooting 46.7 percent from the field and 83.3 percent from the foul line.

Dedmon has now appeared in 477 regular season games (209 starts) during his nine-year NBA career and has averaged 6.4 points and 5.9 rebounds in 17.8 minutes while shooting 52.7 percent from the field.

Miami Heat re-sign Caleb Martin

The Miami HEAT have re-signed forward Caleb Martin.

“Caleb is a multi-position player with tremendous energy that had a career year with us,” said HEAT President Pat Riley. “He works hard and deserves this as much as any young player in the league. We are extremely happy he has decided to come back.”

Martin, who was originally signed by the HEAT to a two-way contract on September 14 and later converted to a standard contract on February 15, appeared in 60 games (12 starts) with Miami last season and averaged 9.2 points, 3.8 rebounds, 1.1 assists and 22.9 minutes while shooting 50.7 percent from the field, 41.3 percent from three-point range and 76.3 percent from the foul line. In his 12 starts, Martin averaged 13.7 points, 5.3 rebounds and 1.3 assists while shooting 52.8 percent from the field and a perfect 12-of-12 from the line. He set single season career highs in points, rebounds, steals, blocks, field goals made, three-point field goals made, free throws made and field goal percentage. He finished third on the team in blocks, fourth in dunks and tied for fourth in three-point plays. He led the team in steals and blocks 16 times each, in plus/minus on seven occasions, in scoring three times and in minutes and rebounds twice each while also topping the reserves in steals a team-high 23 times. Additionally, Martin appeared in 17 postseason games on Miami’s run to the Eastern Conference Finals and averaged 4.5 points and 2.2 rebounds in 12.3 minutes of action.

Martin has now appeared in 131 regular season games (16 starts) during his three-year NBA career and has averaged 7.1 points, 3.1 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 19.1 minutes while shooting 45.5 percent from the field, 36.3 percent from three-point range and 72.5 percent from the foul line. He has also appeared in 28 career G League games (all starts) and averaged 21.3 points, 6.0 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 1.61 steals and 36.9 minutes while shooting 47 percent from the field and 37.1 percent from three-point range.

Lakers sign Thomas Bryant

The Los Angeles Lakers have signed center Thomas Bryant.

His deal is reportedly a one-year contract for the league minimum.

Bryant appeared in 27 games (nine starts) for the Wizards last season, averaging 7.4 points (.520 FG%) and 4.0 rebounds in 16.3 minutes. Bryant returns to Los Angeles after appearing in 15 games as a rookie for the Lakers during the 2017-18 season. Across five seasons with Los Angeles and Washington, Bryant has appeared in 170 games (108 starts) with career averages of 10.2 points, 5.7 rebounds and 1.3 assists in 20.1 minutes, while shooting 59.0 percent from the field and 35.0 percent from three-point range.

Per ESPN.com, “Bryant was originally drafted by the Lakers in the second round of the 2017 draft, but he was waived after a rookie season that saw him play in only 52 games. He gives this Lakers team more frontcourt depth and a starting-caliber center to pair alongside Anthony Davis.”

Grizzlies sign rookie Kennedy Chandler

The Memphis Grizzlies have signed 2022 second round draft pick, guard Kennedy Chandler, to a multi-year contract.

A Memphis native, Chandler (6-0, 171) was acquired by the Grizzlies with the No. 38 overall pick pursuant to a draft-night trade with the San Antonio Spurs. The 19-year-old guided the Volunteers to the 2022 SEC Tournament championship last season and became the second player in program history to be named the SEC Tournament MVP, joining Allan Houston (1991).

Chandler started all 34 of his appearances for Tennessee and averaged 13.9 points, 3.2 rebounds, 4.7 assists and 2.18 steals in 30.8 minutes while shooting 46.4% from the field and 38.3% from 3-point range. He ranked second in the SEC in steals. He was named to the All-SEC Second Team and SEC All-Freshman Team last season.

Knicks trade Kemba Walker and Jalen Duren to Pistons

The Detroit Pistons have acquired the draft rights to Jalen Duren, the No. 13 selection in the 2022 NBA Draft, and Kemba Walker in a trade with the New York Knicks for a 2025 first-round draft pick via the Milwaukee Bucks.

Duren, 6-10, 250, averaged 12.0 points, 8.1 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 0.8 steals and 2.1 blocks in 25.2 minutes over 29 games for Memphis in 2021-22. In his lone collegiate season, Duren was named American Athletic Conference (AAC) Freshman of the Year and was both an All-AAC First Team and All-Freshman Team selection. Duren was also a six-time AAC Freshman of the Week choice and earned All-AAC Tournament Team honors in postseason play.

The Philadelphia native led the AAC in rebounds and blocks last season, while leading Memphis in scoring on .597 shooting from the field. He recorded three games with at least 20 points and nine games with double-digit rebounds, including becoming the fourth freshman in the nation since 2010-11 to record at least 20 points, 19 rebounds and five blocks in a game.

Duren was the youngest player (18 years, 231 days) in the NBA Draft this year and played at Montverde Academy for his junior year in high school after competing for two seasons at Roman Catholic in Philadelphia.

Walker, 6-0, 184, tallied clips of 11.6 points, 3.0 rebounds and 3.5 assists in 25.6 minutes over 37 games (all starts) for the New York Knicks last season. The four-time NBA All-Star holds career marks of 19.5 points, 3.8 rebounds, 5.3 assists and 1.2 steals through 741 NBA games (696 starts) across 11 seasons with the Charlotte Hornets, Boston Celtics and the Knicks.