Category: NBA News Blog

NBA news blog

Sacramento Kings sign Neemias Queta and rookie Keon Ellis to two-way contracts

The Sacramento Kings have signed center Neemias Queta and rookie guard Keon Ellis to two-way contracts, according to General Manager Monte McNair.

During his rookie season, Queta appeared in 14 games with Sacramento as a Two-Way player, averaging 3.2 points (.447 FG%, .647 FT%), 2.2 rebounds, 0.4 assists, 0.1 steals and 8.6 minutes per game.

Undrafted out of the University of Alabama, Ellis appeared in 33 games (all starts), averaging 12.1 points (.439 FG%, .366 3pt%, .881 FT%), 6.1 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 1.9 steals and 30.9 minutes per game during his senior season (2021-22).

The 6-6, 175-pound guard earned All-SEC Defensive Team accolades (2021-22), led the SEC, and ranked 24th nationally in free throw percentage (.881) in 2021-22, finished fifth in the SEC in steals (1.94), eighth in three-pointers made per game (2.03) and 14th in rebounding (6.1) in 2021-22. Prior to Alabama, Ellis played two seasons at Florida Southwestern State College (2018-20) and was named to the National Junior College Athletic Association All-American Second Team in 2019-20.

Cavaliers sign rookies Ochai Agbaji and Isaiah Mobley

The Cleveland Cavaliers have signed 2022 NBA Draft picks Ochai Agbaji and Isaiah Mobley, President of Basketball Operations Koby Altman announced today from Cleveland Clinic Courts.

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 also finished second in the Big-12 in three-point percentage (.409) and three-point field goals made per game (2.64). He helped lead Kansas to its fourth national championship in program history under head coach Bill Self and was named the 2022 NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player. Agbaji also finished as a 2021-22 consensus All-American First Team selection as well as the 2021-22 Big 12 Player of the Year.

The four-year guard played in 122 games (116 starts) in his career at Kansas, averaging 13.6 points (.374 3FG%), 4.4 rebounds and 1.0 steals in 32.6 minutes and finished fourth in Kansas history in three-pointers made (250 3FGM). During his tenure, Agbaji also set a program record by making a three-pointer in 53 consecutive games. He also ended his Kansas career ranked 15th in points (1,652), seventh in consecutive starts (98) and ninth in minutes played (3,978) and he is also a three-time All-Big 12 as well as an Academic All-Big 12 selection.

Mobley (6-10, 240), who signed a Two-Way contract with the Cavaliers, appeared in 32 games (all starts) as a junior for USC this past season, averaging team-highs in points (14.2) and rebounds (8.3) in 34.1 minutes. Mobley played in 95 career games (72 starts) for the Trojans and held career averages of 10.1 points, 7.0 rebounds and 2.0 assists in 27.5 minutes. His brother Evan Mobley was an NBA All-Rookie First Team selection for the Cavaliers this past season and was selected with the 3rd pick by the Cavaliers in the 2021 NBA Draft.

Thunder sign Eugene Omoruyi to two-way contract

The Oklahoma City Thunder have signed forward Eugene Omoruyi to a Two-Way Contract, it was announced today by Executive Vice President and General Manager Sam Presti.

Omoruyi (6-6, 235) [oh-mo-ROO-yee] spent part of the 2021-22 season on a Two-Way Contract with the Dallas Mavericks where in four appearances, he totaled seven points, seven rebounds and two assists in 18 minutes. In eight games (seven starts) with the Mavericks’ G League affiliate, the Texas Legends, he averaged 15.8 points, 6.6 rebounds and 2.9 assists in 25.3 minutes per game.

Hornets sign rookie Bryce McGowens to two-way contract

The Charlotte Hornets have signed guard/forward Bryce McGowens to a two-way contract.

McGowens was drafted in the second round (40th pick overall) by the Minnesota Timberwolves in the 2022 NBA Draft, and traded to the Hornets.

A native of Pendleton, South Carolina, McGowens averaged 16.8 points and 5.2 rebounds in 33.3 minutes per game as a freshman at Nebraska in 2021-22, starting all 31 games in which he appeared. The 6-7 guard/forward earned All-Big Ten Third Team honors and was named Big Ten Newcomer of the Year by the media. McGowens led the Cornhuskers in scoring and ranked ninth in the Big Ten, while also ranking third in the conference in free-throw percentage (83.1%).

McGowens, who set Nebraska’s single-season freshman records for total points (522) and free throws made (162), ranked third nationally among freshmen in points per game and led all freshman nationally in free throws made. His average of 17.3 points in Big Ten play was the highest scoring average in conference games by a freshman since D’Angelo Russell in 2014-15. He scored 20 points or more in 11 games and became just the second freshman in program history with multiple 25-point performances, tallying six on the season.

Miami Heat sign rookie Nikola Jovic

The Miami HEAT have signed their first round draft pick (27th overall) Nikola Jović.

Jović, who was named the 2022 All-Adriatic League Top Prospect of the Year, appeared in 25 games with Mega Basket last season and averaged 11.7 points, 4.4 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 27.2 minutes while shooting 42.8 percent from the field, 35.6 percent from three-point range and 75.4 percent from the foul line. He finished second on the team in scoring average, field goals made and three-point field goals made and third in rebounds per game. Jović scored in double-figures 16 times, including three 20-point games, while attempting 236 field goals, 118 from two-point range and 118 from three-point range. The 19-year-old was named to the All-Tournament Team while representing Serbia in the 2021 FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup and was named MVP of the Belgrade qualifier in the 2020-21 Euroleague Tournament.

Jović is currently participating with the HEAT’s Summer League team in both the California Classic in San Francisco and the NBA 2K23 Summer League in Las Vegas with Miami’s first game today vs. the Lakers.

Hornets sign rookie center Mark Williams

The Charlotte Hornets have signed center Mark Williams.

Selected with the 15th pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, Williams appeared in 39 games with averages of 11.2 points, 7.4 rebounds and 2.8 blocks in 23.5 minutes per game as a sophomore during the 2021-22 season at Duke. Williams was named the ACC Defensive Player of the Year and was a finalist for the Naismith Defensive Player of the Year after he led the ACC and ranked 12th in the nation in blocks per contest (2.8) and became just the second player in Duke history with 100 blocks (110) in a single season. He also ranked fourth in the ACC with eight double-doubles and sixth in the conference in rebounding, being named to the All-ACC Second Team by the media and Third Team by the coaches. His 72.1% field goal percentage was the second-best single-season percentage in school history, and he was the only player in the country to shoot better than 70.0% from both the field and the free-throw line.

In two seasons at Duke, Williams averaged 9.7 points, 6.3 rebounds and 2.3 blocks in 20.4 minutes per game over 62 career games. He finished his career with 142 blocked shots, which places him seventh on Duke’s all-time blocks leaders list.

Rockets sign rookie Trevor Hudgins to two-way contract

The Houston Rockets yesterday signed free agent rookie guard Trevor Hudgins to a two-way contract.

Hudgins (6-0, 180) was eligible for the 2022 NBA Draft following his redshirt senior season at Division II’s Northwest Missouri State. He led the Bearcats to three Division II championships and an overall record of 131-8, including a perfect 38-0 mark during his freshman season in 2018-19.

For his career, Hudgins averaged 20.4 points, 5.0 assists, 2.3 rebounds and 1.4 steals while shooting 51.7% from the floor, 46.5% from 3-point range and 87.8% from the line. He was named NABC Division II Player of the Year as both a junior and a senior, becoming the fourth Division II player to have won the award in consecutive years.

During a six-point loss to No. 4 ranked Duke in a 2019 exhibition game, Hudgins scored a game-high 27 points while hitting seven 3-pointers. He averaged 3.6 3FGM over his final three seasons. Some former Rockets who attended Division II schools include Mario Elie, Caldwell Jones, Major Jones, Moochie Norris, and Purvis Short.

Pistons sign Buddy Boeheim to two-way contract

The Detroit Pistons have signed Buddy Boeheim to a two-way contract.

Boeheim, 6-6, 195, averaged 19.2 points, 3.4 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 1.5 steals in 38.0 minutes over a span of 32 games during his senior campaign at Syracuse. Boeheim led the ACC in scoring average during the 2021-22 season and ranked second in the conference in 3-pointers made per game (2.8). He garnered All-ACC First Team and All-ACC Tournament First Team honors last season.

In his four years with the Orange, Boeheim held career marks of 14.6 points, 2.4 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 1.1 steals in 31.5 minutes through 121 games (94 starts). He shot .410 from the field and .362 from distance en route to finishing second in school history in 3-pointers made (309). His 1,765 total points ranks 13th all-time in Syracuse history.

A native of Fayetteville, N.Y., Boeheim attended Brewster Academy and is the son of longtime Syracuse head coach, Jim Boeheim. Boeheim’s brother, Jimmy, also played at Syracuse during the 2021-22 season after transferring from Cornell.

Orlando Magic sign rookie Paolo Banchero

The Orlando Magic yesterday signed forward Paolo Banchero, President of Basketball Operations Jeff Weltman announced.

Banchero was selected by Orlando in the first round (first overall) of the 2022 NBA Draft.

Banchero (6’10”, 250, 11/12/02) played and started in all 39 games last season as a freshman at Duke University, averaging 17.2 ppg., 7.8 rpg., 3.2 apg. and 1.05 stlpg. in 33.0 minpg., while shooting .478 (245-513) from the floor. He led all true freshmen in the nation in scoring. Banchero led the Blue Devils in scoring and rebounding, while ranking second in minutes played. He also ranked fifth in the Atlantic Coast Conference in rebounding and sixth in the conference in scoring.

Banchero was named Second Team All-America by the NABC and USBWA, while being a Third Team All-America selection by The Associated Press and The Sporting News. Among his many accolades, he was one of 15 finalists for the John R. Wooden Award, given to the nation’s most outstanding player, and one of five finalists for the Karl Malone Power Forward of the Year Award. Banchero was named to the All-ACC First Team, the ACC All-Freshmen Team and was the ACC Freshman of the Year. He was also named to the ACC All-Tournament Team, the NCAA All-Tournament Team and the NCAA West Region’s Most Outstanding Player, leading Duke to the 2022 NCAA Final Four.

While at O’Dea High School in Seattle, WA, Banchero led the team to the Class 3A state championship as a sophomore (2018-19) and was named the game’s Most Valuable Player. As a junior (2019-20), he was named Washington’s Gatorade Player of the Year, a MaxPreps Junior All-American and the MaxPreps National Junior Player of the Year. Despite his senior season being postponed due to the pandemic, Banchero was named a 2021 McDonald’s All-American, a Naismith First Team All-American and a Sports Illustrated All-American.

Rockets sign rookies Jabari Smith Jr., Tari Eason and TyTy Washington Jr.

The Houston Rockets yesterday signed rookies Jabari Smith Jr., Tari Eason, and TyTy Washington Jr.

Smith (6-10, 220) was the third overall pick by Houston in the 2022 NBA Draft following his freshman season at Auburn. He averaged 16.9 ppg, 7.4 rpg, 2.0 apg, 1.1 spg and 1.0 bpg along with 2.3 3-pointers made on 42.9% shooting. Dating back to 1992-93, Smith joined Kevin Durant as the only freshmen to have averaged at least 16.0 ppg, 7.0 rpg and 2.0 3FGM while shooting 40.0% or better from behind-the-arc.

Eason (6-8, 216) was the 17th overall pick by Houston in the 2022 NBA Draft following his sophomore season at Louisiana State. He averaged 16.9 points on 52.1% shooting last season, up from 7.3 ppg on 46.2% shooting as a freshman for Cincinnati. Eason became the first player in SEC history to be named Sixth Man of the Year while also earning All-SEC First Team honors.

Washington (6-3, 197) was the 29th overall pick by Memphis in the 2022 NBA Draft before his rights were acquired by the Rockets. As a freshman at Kentucky last season, he averaged 12.5 ppg, 3.9 apg, 3.5 rpg and 1.3 spg while shooting nearly 50% from inside-the-arc. Washington set the Wildcats single-game school record with 17 assists vs. Georgia on Jan. 8.