Wizards assistant coach Mike Batiste suspended

Washington Wizards assistant coach Mike Batiste has been suspended two games without pay by the NBA for entering the spectator stands in an attempt to confront a fan, it was announced today by Byron Spruell, President, League Operations.

The incident occurred with 15 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter of the Wizards’ 121-100 loss to the Miami Heat on Feb. 7 at Capital One Arena. Batiste will begin serving his suspension tonight when the Wizards play host to the Brooklyn Nets.

Wizards trade Aaron Holiday to Suns

The Washington Wizards have acquired cash considerations in a trade with the Phoenix Suns for guard Aaron Holiday. The trade also generated a trade exception for the Wizards.

Holiday (6-0, 185), has appeared in 41 games (14 starts) for Washington this season, averaging 6.1 points, 1.9 assists and 1.6 rebounds in 16.2 minutes per game. He holds career averages of 7.4 points, 2.3 assists and 1.7 rebounds in 223 games (55 starts) over four NBA seasons with Indiana and Washington. Holiday was originally acquired by the Wizards in a five-team trade with Indiana, Los Angeles, Brooklyn and San Antonio on August 6, 2021.

Four-team NBA trade sends Donte DiVincenzo to Kings, Marvin Bagley III to Pistons

The Sacramento Kings have acquired guard Donte DiVincenzo (DEE-vin-chen-zo) from the Milwaukee Bucks, forward Josh Jackson and forward Trey Lyles from the Detroit Pistons as part of a four-team trade that will send Marvin Bagley III to Detroit.

“We are pleased to bring Donte, Josh and Trey here to Sacramento,” said Kings General Manager Monte McNair. “Adding shooting, defense and versatility to our team are very valuable as we continue to build. We would also like to thank Marvin Bagley III and wish him all the best in the future.”

In his fourth season out of Villanova, DiVincenzo has accrued career averages of 8.8 points (.424 FG%, .343 3pt%, .745 FT%), 4.7 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 1.0 steals and 23.2 minutes per game in 176 games (90 starts) for the Milwaukee Bucks (2018-22) and was a member of the 2021 NBA Championship team.

A University of Kansas product, Jackson has averaged 11.6 points, 4.1 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 23.6 minutes per game in 279 career games (92 starts) in five seasons with the Phoenix Suns (2017-19), Memphis Grizzlies (2019-20) and Detroit Pistons (2020-22).

During the 2021-22 season, Lyles is posting a career-high 10.4 points (.456 FG%, .784 FT%) to go along with 4.8 rebounds, 1.1 assists and 19.4 minutes per game in 51 games and three starts for Detroit. A six-year veteran out of Kentucky, Lyles has garnered a career average of 7.6 points (.438 FG%, .336 3pt%, .726 FT%), 4.3 rebounds and 1.1 assists in 425 games (106 starts) with four teams: Utah Jazz (2015-16), Denver Nuggets (2017-19), San Antonio Spurs (2019-21) and Detroit (2021-22).

In subsequent moves, the Kings have requested waivers on Jahmi’us Ramsey and Robert Woodard II.

Four-team NBA trade sends Serge Ibaka to Bucks

The LA Clippers have completed a four-team trade with the Detroit Pistons, Milwaukee Bucks and Sacramento Kings. As part of the deal, the Clippers acquired Rodney Hood and Semi Ojeleye from Milwaukee, as well as the draft rights to Vanja Marinkovic from Sacramento. Milwaukee received Serge Ibaka and cash considerations from the Clippers. The Kings received the draft rights to David Michineau from the Clippers.

Ibaka, 32, appeared in 35 games this season for the Clippers, averaging 6.6 points and 4.3 rebounds. The 6-foot-10 center has appeared in 884 games and owns career averages of 12.3 points, 7.2 rebounds and 2.0 blocks in 13 NBA seasons with the Clippers, Toronto Raptors, Orlando Magic and Oklahoma City Thunder. Prior to the NBA, he played professionally in Spain for three seasons (2006-09).

“Serge is one of the best rim protectors of his era and we are grateful to have had him with us for the past two seasons,” said Clippers president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank. “We all saw the tremendous amount of work he put into his recovery from back surgery. He was determined to contribute this season, and he did, providing valuable shooting and defense.”

Hood, 29, appeared in 39 games for the Bucks this season, averaging 3.3 points and 1.7 rebounds in 14.9 minutes. Originally selected with the 23rd overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft out of Duke University, Hood has appeared in 435 career games with the Utah Jazz, Cleveland Cavaliers, Portland Trail Blazers, Raptors and Bucks, averaging 10.6 points, 2.6 rebounds and 1.7 assists. The Meridian, Miss., native has also played in 44 postseason contests, averaging 7.9 points and 2.2 rebounds.

Ojeleye, 27, has played in 20 games for the Bucks this season, averaging 2.9 points and 2.9 rebounds in 15.4 minutes. The Overland Park, Kans., native has appeared in 274 career games with the Boston Celtics and Bucks, averaging 3.4 points and 2.2 rebounds. The 37th overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft, he was the AAC Player of the Year from Southern Methodist University in 2017.

Wizards trade Montrezl Harrell to Hornets

Charlotte Hornets President of Basketball Operations & General Manager Mitch Kupchak announced today that the team has acquired center Montrezl Harrell from the Washington Wizards in exchange for center Vernon Carey Jr., guard Ish Smith and the Boston Celtics’ 2023 second-round pick, which is top-45 protected.

“Ish returns to us as a respected veteran leader who can guide our young players as we continue to compete over the stretch run of the season,” said Wizards President and General Manager Tommy Sheppard. “Vernon is a talented young player who can build on his brief but promising NBA experience while continuing to develop within our system.”

In his seventh NBA season, Harrell is averaging 14.1 points, 6.7 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game in 46 games, including three starts, for the Washington Wizards. The Tarboro, NC, native ranks fourth in the NBA in field goal percentage (64.5%) this season and is averaging 9.8 points in the paint per game, which ranks first among NBA reserves (25th overall). In his 43 appearances off the bench this season, Harrell is averaging 13.7 points per game, which is good for the sixth-highest scoring average among NBA reserves.

The 2019-20 NBA Sixth Man of the Year, Harrell holds career averages of 13.0 points, 5.3 rebounds and 1.4 assists in 21.6 minutes per game in 433 total games with the Rockets (2015-17), Clippers (2017-20), Lakers (2020-21) and Wizards (2021-22). He currently ranks fourth in NBA history in career field goal percentage (61.9%) and has finished in the top ten league-wide in field goal percentage in each of the last four seasons. The University of Louisville product was selected 32nd overall in the 2015 NBA Draft.

Carey appeared in 23 career games for the Hornets over the course of two seasons, averaging 2.3 points and 1.4 rebounds in 5.6 minutes per game after being selected 32nd overall in the 2020 NBA Draft out of Duke University.

Smith appeared in 37 games for the Hornets this season, averaging 4.5 points, 2.6 assists and 1.5 rebounds in 13.8 minutes per game after signing with Charlotte as a free agent on Aug. 7, 2021. For his career, the North Carolina native and Wake Forest product holds career averages of 7.6 points, 3.8 assists and 1.5 rebounds in 19.9 minutes per game over 691 appearances (167 starts) with Houston, Memphis, Golden State, Orlando, Milwaukee, Phoenix, Oklahoma City, Philadelphia, New Orleans, Detroit, Washington and Charlotte.

Thunder sign Lindy Waters III to two-way contract, and waive Paul Watson Jr.

The Oklahoma City Thunder has signed guard Lindy Waters III to a Two-Way Contract, it was announced today by Executive Vice President and General Manager Sam Presti.

In a separate transaction, the Thunder has waived forward Paul Watson Jr.

Waters III (6-6, 215) has appeared in 28 games (14 starts) for the Thunder’s G League affiliate, the Oklahoma City Blue, this season and averaged 8.3 points, 3.3 rebounds, 1.1 assists and 1.11 steals in 19.9 minutes per game. He is shooting 48.8 percent from beyond the arc during the regular season, which ranks fourth in the G League.

The Norman, Okla. native played four seasons at Oklahoma State University where he appeared in 121 games (104 starts) and averaged 9.5 points, 3.6 rebounds and 2.1 assists in 27.9 minutes per game. He earned second team Academic All-Big 12 honors in 2020 and ended his career as just the 11th OSU player to record at least 1,000 points, 250 assists and 100 steals.

Raptors trade Goran Dragic to Spurs

The Toronto Raptors have acquired forwards Drew Eubanks and Thaddeus Young, along with a 2022 second round draft pick in a trade with the San Antonio Spurs for guard Goran Dragic and a protected 2022 first round draft pick.

Eubanks, 6-foot-10, 245 pounds, is averaging 4.7 points, 4.0 rebounds and 12.1 minutes in 49 games (nine starts) this season. He is shooting .528 (84-159) from the field and has scored in double figures six times. Eubanks scored a career-high 18 points Nov. 10 vs. Sacramento and recorded his lone double-double of the year with 14 points and a season-best 11 rebounds Nov. 7 at Oklahoma City.

A native of Troutdale, Oregon, Eubanks owns career averages of 4.6 points, 3.8 rebounds and 11.7 minutes in 148 games (15 starts) all with the Spurs. He signed with San Antonio as an undrafted free agent in 2018 following three seasons at Oregon State (2015-18), where he was an All-Pac-12 Honourable Mention as a sophomore.

Young, 6-foot-8, 235 pounds, is posting averages of 6.1 points, 3.6 rebounds and 14.2 minutes in 26 contests this season. He is shooting .578 (74-128) from the floor and has scored in double digits on eight occasions, including a season-high 17 points twice.

A native of New Orleans, Louisiana, Young is in his 15th NBA season after being picked 12th overall by Philadelphia in the 2007 NBA Draft. Young holds career averages of 12.9 points, 5.9 rebounds and 29.6 minutes in 1,059 games (711 starts) with Philadelphia, Minnesota, Brooklyn, Indiana, Chicago, and San Antonio. He has also reached the postseason eight times, averaging 10.2 points, 6.1 rebounds and 29.2 minutes in 51 career playoff contests (17 starts). Prior to being drafted by the Sixers, Young played one season at Georgia Tech (2006-07).

Dragic is averaging 8.0 points, 2.8 rebounds and 17.9 minutes in five games with the Raptors this season. He has been away from the team handling a personal matter for the last 33 games (Nov. 28 – Feb. 9). Dragic was acquired from Miami this past summer along with Precious Achiuwa as part of a sign-and-trade for Kyle Lowry.

Celtics trade Bol Bol and P.J. Dozier to Magic, who waive Michael Carter-Williams and E’Twaun Moore

The Orlando Magic have acquired center Bol Bol, guard P.J. Dozier, a future second round draft pick and cash considerations in a trade with the Boston Celtics for a future protected second round draft pick (2023, protected 31-55), President of Basketball Operations Jeff Weltman announced today.

In addition, Orlando has waived guard Michael Carter-Williams and guard E’Twaun Moore.

Orlando also used a Traded Player Exception (TPE) to complete the deal. A TPE is what one team receives in exchange for a player traded to another team that can absorb that player into salary cap space.

Bol and Dozier were both acquired by Boston from Denver as part of a three-way trade on Jan. 19, 2022 that also included San Antonio. Juancho Hernangomez went to San Antonio and Bryn Forbes went to Denver in the trade.

Bol (7’2”, 220, 11/16/99) played in 14 games this season with Denver, averaging 2.4 ppg. and 1.4 rpg. in 5.8 minpg. He underwent surgery on his right foot on Jan. 18.

Originally selected in the second round (44th overall) of the 2019 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 has also appeared in eight career NBA G League regular season games with Windy City, averaging 12.0 ppg., 5.8 rpg. and 2.25 blkpg. in 19.3 minpg.

Dozier (6’6”, 205, 10/25/96) played in 18 games this season with Denver, averaging 5.4 ppg., 3.5 rpg. and 1.6 apg. in 18.9 minpg. He suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee on Nov. 23 and will miss the remainder of the 2021-22 season.

Undrafted by an NBA franchise, Dozier has played in 105 career NBA regular season games (six starts) with Oklahoma City, Boston and Denver, averaging 6.4 ppg., 3.0 rpg. and 1.8 apg. in 18.0 minpg. He has also appeared in 107 career NBA G League regular season games (100 starts) with Oklahoma City, Maine and Windy City, averaging 17.9 ppg., 6.4 rpg., 5.2 apg. and 1.36 stlpg. in 32.8 minpg.

Carter-Williams (6’6”, 205, 10/10/91) has not played this season due to left ankle injury recovery. He underwent surgery on Aug. 23, 2021 to remove a bone fragment and to repair a ligament in his left ankle. Carter-Williams has appeared in 391 career NBA regular season games (217 starts) with Philadelphia, Milwaukee, Chicago, Charlotte, Houston and Orlando, averaging 10.3 ppg., 4.4 rpg., 4.4 apg. and 1.27 stlpg. in 25.3 minpg. He was originally signed to a 10-day contract by the Magic on Mar. 15, 2019 and played in 88 games (25 starts) with the Magic, averaging 7.5 ppg., 3.9 rpg. and 3.3 apg. in 21.1 minpg.

Moore (6’3”, 190, 2/25/89) has not played this season due to a sprained left knee. He was signed as a free agent by Orlando on Sep. 9, 2021. Moore has appeared in 598 career NBA regular season games (191 starts) with Boston, Orlando, Chicago, New Orleans and Phoenix, averaging 7.9 ppg., 2.0 rpg. and 1.8 apg. in 21.0 minpg. He also spent two seasons with Orlando from 2012-14. Moore played in 154 regular season games (24 starts) with the Magic during that span, averaging 7.1 ppg., 2.1 apg. and 2.0 rpg. in 20.7 minpg.