Category: NBA News Blog

NBA news blog

Rockets and Timberwolves complete trade of late 2022 draft first round selections

The Minnesota Timberwolves have acquired the draft rights to the 26th pick forward Wendell Moore Jr. from the Houston Rockets in exchange for the draft rights to the 29th pick guard TyTy Washington Jr. and future second round picks in 2025 and 2027.

Moore Jr., 6-5, averaged 13.4 points (ranking second on Duke), 5.3 rebounds, 4.4 assists (fourth in the ACC) and 1.3 assists per game in his junior season at Duke. In his career, Moore Jr. averaged 45.9% from the field and 35.8% from beyond the arc. He recorded the fifth triple-double in Duke history with 19 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists against Army on Nov. 12, 2021. Moore Jr. nearly tallied a second triple-double on Nov. 22, 2021 where he registered 22 points, eight rebounds and nine assists in 34 minutes of action against The Citadel and was named ACC Player of the Week following the performance.
In 2020-21, Moore Jr. was named to the All-ACC Academic Team for the second straight season, playing all 24 games for the Blue Devils. Over the final 19 games, Moore Jr. started in 15 and averaged 11.2 points per game to close out the season. He notched his first double-double of the season on Feb. 9, 2021 against Notre Dame, where he finished with 24 points on 9-of-16 shooting and added 10 boards.
Prior to the 2020-21 season, Moore Jr. was named one of 11 players nationally to the National Association of Basketball Coaches Player Development Coalition, a diverse collection of Division I men’s basketball student-athletes that provide valuable prospective and feedback on college basketball issues.
As a freshman, Moore Jr. played in 25 games (11 starts) and averaged 7.4 points, 4.2 rebounds and 1.9 assists. Moore Jr. erupted for a career-high 25 points on Feb. 25, 2020 at Wake Forest, connecting on 15-of-16 from the line, a Duke freshman single-game record and becoming the first freshman to reach the feat since Grayson Allen on March 17, 2016. In the same game, he set a Duke record for fewest field goal attempts (eight) in a 20+ point scoring game.
Washington Jr. averaged 12.5 points, 3.9 assists and 3.5 rebounds per game in his one season at the University of Kentucky. The 21-year-old freshman led the SEC in assist-to-turnover ratio (2.35-to-1) and ranked ninth in the SEC in assists. On Jan. 8, 2022, Washington Jr. dished out a league-high 17 assists against the University of Georgia, breaking John Wall’s single-game assist record at Kentucky. The five-time SEC Player of the Week was named to the 2021-2022 All-SEC Second Team and All-Freshman Team.

Rockets trade Christian Wood to Mavericks

The Dallas Mavericks have acquired forward/center Christian Wood in a trade with the Houston Rockets, who receive the draft rights to the 26th overall selection Wendell Moore, guard Sterling Brown, guard Trey Burke, forward Marquese Chriss and center Boban Marjanović.

The Rockets then traded Moore’s rights to Minnesota in exchange for the rights to guard TyTy Washington Jr., who was selected 29th overall in the 2022 NBA Draft, and two future second round picks. Washington was originally drafted by Memphis before his rights were acquired by the Timberwolves.

Wood (6-10, 223) holds career averages of 14.2 points (.519 FG, .380 3FG), 7.3 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 23.6 minutes in 222 games (122 starts) with Philadelphia, Charlotte, Milwaukee, New Orleans, Detroit and Houston. He appeared in 68 games (67 starts) for the Rockets last season and averaged 17.9 points, 10.1 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.0 blocks in 30.8 minutes.

Last season, Wood became the only second player to have posted his totals of points (1,218), rebounds (686), assists (155), blocks (65) and 3-point field goals made (131) through the first 68 games played of a season, joining Karl-Anthony Towns in 2018-19. He also became the fifth different player to have averaged at least 17.0 points and 10.0 rebounds per game while shooting 50.0% or better from the floor and to have hit at least 50 3-pointers while shooting 39.0% or better from deep in a single season, joining Larry Bird, John Collins, Karl-Anthony Towns (3 times), and Chris Webber.

The Long Beach, California, native went undrafted in the 2015 NBA Draft following his sophomore season at UNLV. Wood earned first team All-Mountain West honors in his sophomore season after averaging 15.7 points, 10.0 rebounds and 2.7 blocks in 33 games. Prior to his tenure with the Runnin’ Rebels, Wood won 54 consecutive games while playing for Findlay College Prep and won the ESPN National High School Invitational championship in 2012.

Wood will wear No. 35 for the Mavericks.

Burke (6-0, 185) was in the midst of his second stint with Dallas after being signed to the roster in July 2020, just before the start of the NBA Bubble. Burke averaged 6.4 points (.415 FG, .890 FT), 1.5 assists and 13.7 minutes in 112 games (two starts) since re-joining the organization.

Marjanović (7-4, 290) was originally signed by Dallas in July 2019 and, in three seasons with the Mavericks, averaged 5.6 points, 3.8 rebounds and 8.5 minutes in 97 games (eight starts). Last season, he contributed 4.5 points and 1.8 rebounds in 5.8 minutes over 22 games.

Brown (6-5, 219) signed with the Mavericks in August 2021 and averaged 3.3 points, 3.0 rebounds and 12.8 minutes in 49 appearances (three starts).

Chriss (6-9, 240) signed a contract with the Mavericks in January 2022 after his third 10-day contract under the COVID-related hardship allowance expired. In 34 appearances with Dallas, Chriss averaged 4.5 points, 3.0 rebounds and 10.1 minutes.

With 3rd pick in 2022 NBA draft, Rockets selected Jabari Smith Jr.

During last night’s 2022 NBA Draft, the Houston Rockets selected forward Jabari Smith Jr. with the third overall pick and forward Tari Eason (TAR-ee) with the 17th overall pick.

Smith (6-10, 220) was an early entry candidate following his freshman season at Auburn. He averaged 16.9 points, 7.4 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 1.1 steals and 1.0 blocks along with 2.3 3-pointers made on 42.9% shooting. Smith earned consensus second-team All-American honors and was named National Freshman of the Year by the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) and the U.S. Basketball Writers Association (USBWA).

Dating back to 1992-93, the 19-year-old 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. Over that same span, Smith was one of four freshmen to have averaged at least 16.0 ppg, 7.0 ppg, 2.0 3FGM and 1.00 bpg. He hit at least one 3-pointer in each of the final 29 games of the season.

Last year, the Rockets selected NBA All-Rookie First Team member Jalen Green with the second overall pick. The last time Houston selected players in the top-three in consecutive drafts was in 1983 with Hakeem Olajuwon (No. 1) and in 1984 with Ralph Sampson (No. 1) and Rodney McCray (No. 3). Prior to tonight, the last time any team selected players in the top-three in consecutive drafts was when Boston, Philadelphia, and the Los Angeles Lakers all did so in 2016 and 2017.

Eason (6-8, 216) was an early entry candidate following his sophomore season with Louisiana State after beginning his collegiate career at Cincinnati. He averaged 16.9 points on 52.1% shooting for the Tigers, up from 7.3 ppg on 46.2% shooting as a freshman and became the first player in SEC history to be named Sixth Man of the Year while also earning All-SEC First Team honors. Over the final 17 games last season, Eason averaged 18.4 ppg while shooting 42.9% from 3-point range.

In 2021-22, Eason was one of four players to have averaged at least 16.0 ppg, 6.0 rpg, 1.50 spg and 1.00 bpg. He recorded multiple steals in 20 of his 33 games played and was one of 10 semifinalists for the Naismith Defensive Player of the Year Award.

Nuggets trade JaMychal Green to Thunder

The Oklahoma City Thunder has acquired forward JaMychal Green and a protected 2027 first-round draft pick from the Denver Nuggets in exchange for the draft rights to Peyton Watson, the 30th overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, and two future second-round draft picks.

Green (6-8, 227) has appeared in 487 career games (165 starts) and posted averages of 7.9 points on 47.2 percent shooting to go along with 5.7 rebounds in 20.8 minutes per game. The Alabama native has played for the San Antonio Spurs, Memphis Grizzlies, LA Clippers and Denver during his nine-year NBA career.

Watson, 6-8, 200, played in 32 games, averaging 3.3 and 2.9 rebounds in 12.7 minutes per game for UCLA as a freshman. He was named to the honorable mention Pac-12 All-Freshman Team and ranked second on the team in blocked shots (19). He also helped lead the USA Men’s Basketball U19 Team to the gold medal at the FIBA U19 World Cup in July 2021.

With 2nd pick in 2022 NBA draft, Thunder selected Chet Holmgren

The Oklahoma City Thunder selected forward Chet Holmgren (second overall), guard Jalen Williams (12th overall) and forward Jaylin Williams (34th overall) in the 2022 NBA draft yesterday.

The Thunder also acquired the rights to forward Ousmane Dieng, the 11th overall pick, from the New York Knicks in exchange for three protected 2023 first-round draft picks.

Holmgren (7-0, 195) played one season with the Gonzaga Bulldogs, appearing in 32 games (31 starts), averaging 14.1 points, 9.9 rebounds and 3.66 blocks in 26.8 minutes per game. He was awarded the 2021-22 WCC Defensive Player of the Year, WCC Newcomer of the Year and was named to the 2021-22 All-America Second Team by AP and Sporting News.

Dieng (6-10, 216) [oose-mon jeng] spent the 2021-22 season with the New Zealand Breakers of the NBL, seeing action in 23 games (11 starts), averaging 8.9 points, 3.2 rebounds and 1.1 assists in 20.8 minutes per game.

Jalen Williams (6-6, 195) spent three seasons at Santa Clara University, appearing in 33 games (all starts), averaging 18.0 points, 4.4 rebounds and 4.2 assists in 34.8 minutes per game. He ranked second in the WCC in scoring and sixth in assists en route to being named to the All-WCC First Team.

Jaylin Williams (6-10, 240) played two seasons at the University of Arkansas, appearing in 37 games (35 starts), averaging 10.9 points, 9.8 rebounds and 1.29 steals in 31.6 minutes per game in his sophomore season. He was named to the 2021-22 SEC All-Defensive Team and the All-SEC First Team by coaches.

Orlando Magic select Paolo Banchero with first pick in 2022 NBA Draft

With the first overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, the Orlando Magic selected forward Paolo Banchero.

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.

His name is correctly pronounced “pow-loh ban-CARE-oh.”

Welcome to the NBA, Paolo.

New Orleans Pelicans and Bally Sports New Orleans agree to media rights extension

The New Orleans Pelicans today announced a rights extension with Bally Sports New Orleans that ensures the regional network will remain the team’s exclusive local media partner.

“When we constructed this new agreement with Bally Sports New Orleans the main priority was distribution and the ability to deliver our games directly to our fans. With the upcoming launch of Bally Sports+, Bally Sports’ direct-to-consumer platform, any Pelicans fan will be able to have access to Bally Sports New Orleans in the team’s local territory. This partnership allows us to continue to deliver unique, compelling Pelicans content across multiple platforms with the highest production quality,” said Dennis Lauscha, President, New Orleans Pelicans. “We are still working every option with Bally Sports New Orleans to improve the accessibility, ancillary content and distribution of Pelicans programming to all of our fans across Louisiana and the Gulf Coast region.”

“The New Orleans Pelicans have been a great partner over the years and we look forward to building this relationship into the future,” said Steve Simspon, SVP and GM, Bally Sports New Orleans. “Our ability to deliver Pelicans content to as many local fans as possible, on both linear distribution channels and the all-new Bally Sports+ streaming product this fall, is incredibly exciting as we continue to grow the next generation of Pelicans fans.”

Under the new agreement, Bally Sports New Orleans will continue to produce approximately 75 regular season games each season, along with select preseason contests and first round playoff games. The Pelicans hired Endeavor to consult on their local media rights deal, which extends the partnership between the team and the Network that started in 2012.

“The New Orleans Pelicans engaged our company to consult with them seeking the best deal that would accomplish two goals: deliver Pelicans basketball directly to all consumers, both linear and live stream, and do so in a manner that was high quality, efficient and cost effective to the consumer,” said Karen Brodkin, Executive Vice President, Endeavor. “We examined a number of options that were taken into consideration, but Bally Sports New Orleans, with its new Bally Sports+ platform and high-quality production, proved best for the Pelicans and their fans.”

In addition to producing approximately 75 regular season games, Bally Sports New Orleans will provide extensive team coverage including Pelicans Live pregame and postgame shows, as well as Pelicans Insider, a bi-weekly program featuring player and coach profiles, game highlights and behind-the-scenes content.

Lauscha added, “We will continue to work with Bally Sports New Orleans to produce more unique and exclusive Pelicans content to build around the game and deliver it directly to our fans. The excitement about the team grows daily and it is our job to not only bring that content to our fans but also unfettered access to watch our games.”

Magic trade 35th pick in 2022 NBA Draft to Lakers

The Los Angeles Lakers have acquired the 35th overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft from the Orlando Magic in exchange for a future second round pick and cash considerations.

Orlando will receive the better of either the Lakers or Washington’s second round pick (which is owed to Los Angeles) in 2028.

The 2022 NBA Draft will take place tonight at 5 p.m. PT from the Barclays Center in Brooklyn.

Kings trade 49th pick in 2022 NBA Draft to Cavaliers

The Cleveland Cavaliers have acquired the 49th pick in tonight’s NBA Draft from the Sacramento Kings (from Chicago via Memphis) in exchange for cash considerations and the draft rights to Aleksandar Vezenkov, Cavaliers President of Basketball Operations Koby Altman announced today from Cleveland Clinic Courts. The Cavaliers now have picks 14, 39, 49 and 56 in the draft.

Vezenkov (6-9, 225) was acquired on January 14, 2021 from the Brooklyn Nets as part of a three-team trade that brought Jarrett Allen to Cleveland. He was drafted 57th overall by Brooklyn in the 2017 NBA Draft.

Pistons reportedly trading Jerami Grant to Trail Blazers

The Detroit Pistons are fully rebuilding, while the Portland Trail Blazers look to remain competitive. Via the Detroit News:

The Detroit Pistons on Wednesday night made a big move to position themselves for the offseason, trading leading scorer Jerami Grant to the Portland Trail Blazers for a 2025 first-round draft pick and additional second-round picks, a league source confirmed to The Detroit News.

Enjoy Thursday’s NBA draft.