Category: NBA News Blog

NBA news blog

Wizards create new team award named after Dr. Edwin Bancroft (E.B.) Henderson

The Washington Wizards announced today that a new team award will be named after Dr. Edwin Bancroft (E.B.) Henderson. The annual award will go to the Wizards player most philanthropically active in the Washington, D.C. community.

FROM THE WIZARDS:

Known as the “Grandfather of Black Basketball” in Washington, D.C., Dr. Henderson was a sports historian, educator, administrator, coach, athlete, and civil rights activist. He wrote over 3,000 letters to the editor for The Washington Post and other newspapers on civil rights and race relations.

The University of the District of Columbia recently honored Dr. Henderson by renaming its athletics facility as the Dr. Edwin Bancroft Henderson Sports Complex. To help kickstart the public fundraising efforts, Ted Leonsis, through the Leonsis Foundation, Monumental Sports & Entertainment and Washington Wizards, donated $200,000 to the fund which will support capital upgrades to the sports complex, student scholarships and sports camps for youth.

Celtics sign forward Matt Ryan to two-way contract

The Boston Celtics have signed forward Matt Ryan to a two-way contract.

Ryan, 24, has played in 28 games (seven starts) for the Grand Rapids Gold of the NBA G League in 2021-22, averaging 15.8 points on 42.7% shooting (38.5% 3-PT, 95.2% FT), 3.0 rebounds, and 1.6 assists in 28.7 minutes. He has scored in double figures in 19 of 28 games this season, including a season-high 39-point performance on 12-of-23 shooting against Delaware on Jan. 16 (one of three 30-point games).

A 6-7 forward, Ryan has connected on at least five 3-point field goals eight times this season, shooting over 40.0% from beyond the arc in five of those contests. He made a season-best nine 3-point field goals and tallied 34 points against Cleveland on Jan. 8.

Ryan played in two games for Team USA at the most recent FIBA World Cup Qualifiers from Feb. 24-27, ranking second on the team in scoring at 13.5 points while shooting 9-of-18 from beyond the arc in 18.0 minutes.

A New York native, Ryan competed collegiately in four seasons over five years with Notre Dame, Vanderbilt, and Chattanooga, averaging 7.9 points (40.4% FG, 36.3% 3-PT, 84.2% FT), 2.5 rebounds, 0.9 assists, and 18.9 minutes over 134 NCAA games (62 starts). He concluded his collegiate career at Chattanooga in 2019-20, producing 15.4 points (42.3% FG, 35.9% 3-PT, 87.9% FT), 4.9 rebounds, 1.9 assists, and 30.6 minutes in 33 games (all starts).

Raptors sign forward D.J. Wilson to third 10-day contract

The Toronto Raptors have signed forward D.J. Wilson to a third 10-day contract.

The Raptors originally signed Wilson to a 10-day contract Dec. 23, then a second 10-day deal Jan. 7 – both via the COVID hardship exception.

Wilson, 6-foot-10, 231 pounds, averaged 8.0 points, 4.7 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 16.0 minutes in three games during his first two stints with the Raptors. He recorded 15 points, eight rebounds, four assists and a career-high five steals Dec. 26 at Cleveland.

A native of Mount Shasta, California, Wilson has also appeared in 31 games (23 starts) with the Oklahoma City Blue in the NBA G League this season. He is averaging 17.4 points, 10.6 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 27.8 minutes. Wilson is shooting .530 (214-404) from the field, has scored 20+ points 12 times and recorded 17 double-doubles with the Blue. He set career highs with 37 points Jan. 29 at Agua Caliente and 17 rebounds Feb. 9 vs. Sioux Falls.

Wilson was picked 17th overall by Milwaukee in the 2017 NBA Draft after three collegiate seasons at Michigan (2014-17). He holds career averages of 4.4 points, 3.1 rebounds and 12.4 minutes in 145 games (six starts) with Milwaukee, Houston, and Toronto.

Weekly Washington Wizards notes: Feb. 28, 2022

WIZARDS TEAM NOTES

Washington is shooting the ball at a .430 clip (65-151 3PT) from beyond the arc during the last five games. This ranks as the HIGHEST mark among all teams in the NBA during that span.

The Wizards are averaging 9.0 steals per game over the last six contests which is tied with Phoenix for the best mark in the league over that span.

Wizards rookie forward Corey Kispert is tied for sixth among all NBA rookies in three-point field goal percentage (.319) this season. Kispert recorded a three-point field goal in 13 consecutive games (1/23 to 2/25), a Wizards rookie franchise record.

The Wizards returned from the All-Star break with back-to-back games versus the Spurs and Cavs. The Wizards begin a three game homestand on Tuesday, March 1.

No set return date yet for Knicks guard Derrick Rose

It’s unclear when Derrick Rose will be back in action for the New York Knicks. Via the New York Post:

Tom Thibodeau wouldn’t commit to Knicks point guard Derrick Rose returning in March.

The Knicks revealed Rose’s “minor procedure” Friday involved cleaning up a skin infection that developed where he underwent surgery in mid-December to remove a bone spur. Hence, it’s unclear on how invasive a procedure it was amid a report which stated he could be back in two weeks.

However, Thibodeau didn’t sound like that timetable was firm. The Knicks said he’s out indefinitely.

Cleveland Cavaliers sign guard Tim Frazier to 10-day contract

The Cleveland Cavaliers have signed guard Tim Frazier to a 10-day contract, Cavaliers President of Basketball Operations Koby Altman announced today from Cleveland Clinic Courts.

Frazier (6-0, 172) has appeared in 287 career NBA games (84 starts) with Philadelphia, Portland, New Orleans, Washington, Milwaukee, Detroit, Memphis and Orlando. He holds career averages of 4.9 points, 4.0 assists and 2.3 rebounds in 17.7 minutes. Additionally, Frazier has played in 15 postseason games over his career. Frazier has also played in 49 games (47 starts) over two seasons in the NBA G League and was named the 2015 NBA G League Most Valuable Player, posting averages of 16.1 points, 9.5 assists, 7.1 rebounds and 1.66 steals in 35.6 minutes with the Maine Celtics during the 2014-15 season.

This season with the Magic, Frazier appeared in 10 games (3 starts), averaging 3.7 points and 3.3 assists in 20.0 minutes per contest. Frazier will wear jersey number 12 for the Cavaliers.

Miami Heat sign forward Haywood Highsmith to another 10-day contract

The Miami Heat have signed forward Haywood Highsmith to another 10-day contract.

Highsmith, who was previously signed to a 10-day contract by the HEAT on December 30 and again on February 15, has appeared in six games with Miami this season totaling 22 points, nine rebounds and a block while shooting 38.1 percent (8-of-21) from the field and 40 percent (6-of-15) from three-point range. He has also appeared in 17 G League games (11 starts) with the Delaware Blue Coats this season and averaged 13.6 points, 5.5 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 1.24 steals and 29.8 minutes while shooting 49.4 percent from the field and 39.3 percent from three-point range.

After spending four seasons at Wheeling University from 2014-18, Highsmith signed a two-way contract with the Philadelphia 76ers, splitting the season between the Sixers and their G League affiliate, the Delaware Blue Coats. Highsmith appeared in five games with the 76ers in 2018-19 totaling nine points, five rebounds, two assists and a steal while shooting 40 percent (4-of-10) from the field. Additionally, he has appeared in 106 career G League games (76 starts) over three seasons, all with the Blue Coats, averaging 11.7 points, 6.6 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 1.18 steals and 29.6 minutes while shooting 43.5 percent from the field.

Former Pacers coach Dick Versace passes away

Some sad news today, via the Indianapolis Star:

The Bradley University men’s basketball program announced the death of former Pacers coach Dick Versace on Friday. He was 81.

Versace was 73-87 in parts of three seasons with the Pacers, taking over 19 games into 1988-89. The team went 42-40 in 1989-90 and made the playoffs for just the third time in the franchise’s NBA history but Versace was fired after starting the 1990-91 season 9-16, with Bob Hill replacing him.

San Antonio Spurs waive guard Tomas Satoransky

The San Antonio Spurs have waived guard Tomáŝ Satoranský.

Satoranský appeared in one game with the Silver and Black. He was acquired from Portland, along with a 2027 second round pick from Utah, in a three-team deal with the Trail Blazers and Jazz on Feb. 9.

The move is reportedly a buyout agreement, with Satoransky reportedly expected to sign with the Washington Wizards, the team he began his NBA career with and played for from 2016-19.

The Spurs roster now stands at 15 players.