Category: NBA News Blog

NBA news blog

Pacers trade Caris LeVert to Cavaliers for Ricky Rubio

The Cleveland Cavaliers have acquired forward Caris LeVert and a 2022 second-round pick (via Miami) in a trade with the Indiana Pacers for guard Ricky Rubio, a lottery-protected 2022 first-round pick, 2022 second-round pick (via Houston) and 2027 second-round pick (via Utah), Cavaliers President of Basketball Operations Koby Altman announced today from Cleveland Clinic Courts.

“We are very excited to add a dynamic young player of this caliber and experience,” said Altman. “Caris LeVert fits uniquely into our culture and his Ohio roots brings an immediate connection to our community. We look forward to seeing what type of impact he can make on this roster. We also want to send our best wishes to Ricky Rubio and his family. Ricky has been the consummate professional and his leadership both on and off the court was invaluable and we respect everything he brought to this franchise.”

LeVert (6-6, 205) played in 39 games (all starts) for the Pacers this season, averaging 18.7 points, 4.4 assists and 3.8 rebounds in 31.1 minutes. Over his six-year NBA career, he has appeared in 299 games (170 starts) with Brooklyn and Indiana, owning career averages of 14.7 points, 4.0 assists, 3.9 rebounds and 1.09 steals in 27.4 minutes per contest. He has also appeared in nine career playoff games (six starts), averaging 20.7 points, 5.9 assists, 5.2 rebounds and 1.11 steals in 31.6 minutes. LeVert was selected with the No. 20 overall pick in the 2016 NBA Draft by the Pacers after attending the University of Michigan for four years (2012-2016).

Rubio (6-3, 190) was acquired by the Cavaliers on August 8, 2021 via trade from the Minnesota Timberwolves and played in 34 games this season (eight starts), averaging 13.1 points, 6.6 assists, 4.1 rebounds and 1.44 steals in 28.5 minutes.

LaMelo Ball selected as injury replacement for Kevin Durant in 2022 NBA All-Star Game

Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball has been selected by NBA Commissioner Adam Silver as an injury replacement for Brooklyn Nets forward Kevin Durant for the 2022 NBA All-Star that will be played at 8 p.m. ET on Sunday, Feb. 20, at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland and air live on TNT and ESPN Radio.

Ball, who was previously selected for the 2022 Clorox Rising Stars, is the fourth-youngest player in NBA history to be named an All-Star and one of nine players with an All-Star selection before their 21st birthday. He is the first Hornets player to earn the honor since Kemba Walker in 2019.

In his sophomore campaign, Ball is averaging 19.6 points, 7.1 rebounds, 7.5 assists and 1.5 steals per game in 47 games, all starts. He ranks 26th in points, 10th in assists and 17th in steals per game in the NBA this season and is also 13th in free throw percentage (.875%). Ball has posted four triple-doubles, already tying the Hornets single-season franchise record and is just one of 10 players with four or more triple-doubles on the year. The 20-year-old became the second-youngest player in NBA history to reach five career-triple doubles on Jan. 26 at Indiana.

The 2020-21 KIA NBA Rookie of the Year, Ball is just one of two players averaging at least 19.5 points, 7.0 rebounds, 7.0 assists and 1.5 steals per game this season. His 12 points-assist double-doubles are tied for the fourth most among Eastern Conference guards as he has 16 double-doubles overall this season. Ball has had 12 games with 10 or more assists, ranking fifth in the East, while his 10 games with at least 25 points, five rebounds and five assists ranks tied for fourth among guards in the Eastern Conference this season.

He joins Larry Johnson (1993, 1995), Alonzo Mourning (1994, 1995), Glen Rice (1996, 1997, 1998), Eddie Jones (2000), Baron Davis (2002), Gerald Wallace (2010) and Kemba Walker (2017, 2018, 2019) as the only players in franchise history to be named an NBA All-Star. Ball is just the third Hornets player to earn an All-Star selection in their second season, joining Johnson (1993) and Mourning (1994).

Ball will be among the pool of players that were selected as starters and reserves in each conference that will be drafted by LeBron James and Kevin Durant who will serve as captains after leading their respective conference in fan voting.

Dejounte Murray selected as injury replacement for Draymond Green in 2022 NBA All-Star Game

San Antonio Spurs guard Dejounte Murray has been selected as an injury replacement for Draymond Green in the 2022 NBA All-Star Game. The fifth-year Spur will make his first career All-Star appearance.

Murray is the only player in the NBA averaging at least 19.0 points, 8.0 rebounds and 9.0 assists this season. The Spurs guard holds averages of 19.6 points, 8.4 rebounds, 9.2 assists and 2.06 steals. There has never been a player in NBA history that has averaged more than 19.0 points, 8.0 rebounds, 9.0 assists and 2.0 steals for an entire season.

Leading the league in steals and ranking fourth in assists, Murray has 10 triple-doubles this season which is second in the league behind only Denver’s Nikola Jokić (14). The former Washington Husky has twice as many triple-doubles already this year (10) than any other player in Spurs history previously had in an entire season (5, David Robinson in 1993-94 and Johnny Moore in 1984-85).

Murray becomes the first Spurs player named to an All-Star roster since LaMarcus Aldridge in 2019. The Spurs have now had at least one All-Star selection in 41 of the 45 All-Star Games since joining the NBA in 1976, the most of any team in that span.

Joining Murray as Western Conference All-Stars are: LeBron James (Los Angeles Lakers), Ja Morant (Memphis), Nikola Jokić (Denver), Andrew Wiggins (Golden State), Stephen Curry (Golden State), Devin Booker (Phoenix), Luka Doncic (Dallas), Rudy Gobert (Utah), Draymond Green (Golden State), Donovan Mitchell (Utah), Chris Paul (Phoenix), Karl-Anthony Towns (Minnesota).

The Eastern Conference All-Stars: Kevin Durant (Brooklyn), Giannis Antetokounmpo (Milwaukee), Joel Embiid (Philadelphia), Trae Young (Atlanta), DeMar DeRozan (Chicago), Jimmy Butler (Miami), Darius Garland (Cleveland), Zach Lavine (Chicago), Khris Middleton (Milwaukee), James Harden (Brooklyn), Jayson Tatum (Boston), Fred VanVleet (Toronto), LaMelo Ball (Charlotte – injury replacement).

The 71st NBA All-Star Game will take place on Sunday, Feb. 20 at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland, where there will be a celebration for the league’s 75th anniversary.

Nuggets center Nikola Jokic keeps moving up NBA all-time triple-doubles list

Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic keeps moving up the NBA’s all-time triple-doubles list. Via ESPN.com:

Nikola Jokic, inching closer to tying Wilt Chamberlain on the career triple-doubles list, joined the Hall of Famer as the only players with multiple 25-point triple-doubles on 80% shooting in NBA history on Sunday.

Jokic had 27 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists while shooting 12-of-15 from the field in a 124-104 win over the Brooklyn Nets. He has an NBA-best 14 triple-doubles this season and 71 for his career, just seven away from tying Chamberlain for sixth all-time.

The Nuggets are 29-24 this season, which is the sixth best record in the Western conference.

Their leading scorers so far in 2021-22 are Jokic at 25.9 ppg, Will Barton at 15.3 ppg, Aaron Gordon at 14.5 ppg, and Monte Morris at 12.8 ppg. Star point guard Jamal Murray is injured and hasn’t played this season.

Erik Spoelstra will coach Team Durant in 2022 NBA All-Star Game

Miami Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra and his staff will coach Team Durant in the 2022 NBA All-Star Game, which will be played on Sunday, Feb. 20 at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland. The matchup between Team Durant and Team LeBron will air live at 8 p.m. ET on TNT and ESPN Radio in the United States and reach fans in 215 countries and territories in 59 languages.

By virtue of the Chicago Bulls’ 119-108 loss to the Philadelphia 76ers today, the Heat (34-20, .630) clinched the best record in the Eastern Conference through games played on Sunday, Feb. 6 (today). As a result, Spoelstra has earned a spot as a head coach in the NBA All-Star Game for the second time. He coached the Eastern Conference in the 2013 NBA All-Star Game.

Spoelstra is in his 14th season as Miami’s head coach and his 27th season as a member of the Heat organization. He was named the NBA Eastern Conference Coach of the Month for games played in December, marking the ninth time he has won Coach of the Month honors.

The winningest coach in Heat history, Spoelstra has led Miami to two NBA championships, five Eastern Conference championships and 10 playoff appearances. Under Spoelstra, Miami won back-to-back NBA championships in the 2011-12 and 2012-13 seasons.

Each head coach in the NBA All-Star Game will lead the team that includes the captain from the same conference. Spoelstra will coach the All-Star team captained by Brooklyn Nets forward Kevin Durant.

Phoenix Suns head coach Monty Williams previously earned the spot to coach the All-Star team captained by Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James.

Return date for Heat forward Markieff Morris remains unclear

It remains unclear when the Miami Heat will be at full strength. Via the Miami Herald:

Heat forward Markieff Morris, who has been sidelined since Nuggets center Nikola Jokic shoved him to the floor three months ago, wants to play in games but the team still has not cleared him to do so, multiple sources told The Miami Herald this week.

The Heat’s position has left in question when or if the veteran power forward will return to play this season.

Morris’ injury — sustained in that Nov. 8 game in Denver — was termed “whiplash” by the Heat. The Heat is now listing him as out because of a “return to competitive reconditioning.” But the team has declined to discuss his status, what he has been cleared to do physically or whether he will play again this season.

Bucks sign Greg Monroe to 10-day contract

The Milwaukee Bucks have signed center Greg Monroe to a 10-day contract.

A 10-year NBA veteran who appeared in 165 games with the Bucks between 2015-17, Monroe most recently played in five games earlier this season with the Minnesota Timberwolves and Washington Wizards while on two 10-day contracts. In those five games, Monroe shot 59.1% from the field and averaged 5.6 points, 6.2 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 1.0 block in 16.2 minutes per game.

Per the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, “they got me out here (Friday) night to Portland and finalized everything this morning — I’m here and I’m ready to play,” Monroe said after shootaround at the Moda Center. “They’re just trying to get me up to speed so far.” Monroe has remained in game shape, as he’s played in 12 games for the Capital City Go-Go of the G League along with two other 10-day NBA contracts. He said he’s expecting to play anywhere from 10 to 15 minutes against the Trail Blazers.”

A 6-11, 265-pound center, Monroe has appeared in 637 games (417 starts) throughout his NBA career with Detroit, Milwaukee, Phoenix, Boston, Toronto, Philadelphia, Minnesota and Washington and holds averages of 13.1 points, 8.3 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.1 steals per game. In his three seasons with the Bucks, the Georgetown product averaged 13.3 points, 7.6 rebounds and 2.2 assists across 165 regular season games (67 starts) while shooting 52.6% from the field.

Monroe will wear number 15 with the Bucks. Milwaukee’s roster now stands at 17 players.

Trail Blazers trade Norman Powell and Robert Covington to Clippers for Eric Bledsoe, Justise Winslow and Keon Johnson

The LA Clippers have acquired Norman Powell and Robert Covington from the Portland Trail Blazers in exchange for Eric Bledsoe, Justise Winslow, Keon Johnson and the Pistons 2025 second-round pick, announced Lawrence Frank, Clippers president of basketball operations.

Powell, 28, appeared in 40 games for the Trail Blazers this season and started 39 of them, averaging 18.7 points, 3.3 rebounds and 2.1 assists. Originally selected with the 46th overall pick in the 2015 NBA Draft, Powell has appeared in 416 career games with the Trail Blazers and Raptors, averaging 11.2 points, 2.6 rebounds and 1.5 assists while shooting 46.2% from the field.

“Norm is a two-way player who can score from all three levels, spread the floor with his shooting and guard multiple positions with his length and versatility,” said Frank. “He was part of a championship team in Toronto before joining the Blazers. Norm has SoCal roots, having grown up in San Diego and starred at UCLA, and we’re thrilled to bring him back.”

Covington, 31, appeared in 48 games for the Trail Blazers this season, averaging 7.6 points, 5.7 rebounds and 1.5 steals. The Tennessee State University graduate has appeared in 514 career games, averaging 11.6 points, 5.8 rebounds and 1.6 steals with Houston, Philadelphia, Minnesota and Portland. Covington was named to the NBA All-Defensive Team in 2017-18.

“Robert is a proven vet, a versatile wing and an excellent team defender who also stretches the floor with his shooting,” added Frank.

Bledsoe, 32, has appeared in 53 games for the Clippers this season, averaging 9.9 points, 4.1 assists and 3.4 rebounds. The Birmingham, Ala., native has appeared in 755 games and owns career averages of 13.7 points, 4.7 assists and 3.9 rebounds in 27.8 minutes during his 12-year NBA career with the Clippers, Suns, Bucks and Pelicans. Selected 18th overall in the 2010 NBA Draft out of the University of Kentucky, Bledsoe has been named to two NBA All-Defensive Teams and was selected to the All-Rookie Second Team in 2011.

“Eric is a model teammate and was a rock for us this season: running the offense, defending the ball and attacking the rim,” said Frank. “Every night, he answered the call, helping us remain competitive even when shorthanded.”

Winslow, 25, has appeared in 37 games for the Clippers this season, averaging 4.2 points, 3.6 rebounds and 1.4 assists. The 6-foot-6 forward has played in 304 career games with averages of 8.3 points, 5.1 rebounds and 2.5 assists over seven seasons with Miami, Memphis and the Clippers. The 10th overall pick in the 2015 NBA Draft out of Duke University, Winslow was named to the 2015-16 All-Rookie Second Team after averaging 6.4 points and 5.2 rebounds.

“Justise’s role often changed, depending on circumstances, but his preparation, professionalism and upbeat spirit never wavered,” said Frank. “He too played an integral part in the competitiveness of the group with his playmaking and defense.”

Johnson, 19, was selected 21st overall in the 2021 NBA Draft and appeared in 15 games for the Clippers, averaging 3.5 points and 1.4 rebounds in 9.0 minutes. The 6-foot-4 guard has also played in seven games for the Clippers G League affiliate, where he averaged 15.4 points, 4.7 rebounds and 3.1 assists in 31.1 minutes. The Shelbyville, Tenn., native played one season at the University of Tennessee, where he was named to the 2020-21 SEC All-Freshman First Team.

“Keon is an incredible athlete, with a bright future, who demonstrated his potential on the NBA and G League stages. He has a long and promising career ahead,” said Frank.

Pelicans sign Zylan Cheatham and Miye Oni to 10-day contracts

The New Orleans Pelicans have signed forward Zylan Cheatham and guard Miye Oni to 10-day contracts via the COVID hardship exception.

Cheatham, 6’7”, 220, has appeared in five career games with New Orleans and Utah, holding averages of 2.4 points and 1.8 rebounds in 11.2 minutes per contest. This season, Cheatham holds averages of 15.3 points and 12.0 rebounds in 12 G League games (10 starts) with the Salt Lake City Stars and the Pelicans’ G League affiliate, the Birmingham Squadron.

Oni, 6’5”, 206, has appeared in 80 career games (one start) in three seasons with the Utah Jazz, recording averages of 1.8 points and 1.4 rebounds in 8.4 minutes per contest.

Cheatham will wear #45 and Oni will wear #18 with the Pelicans.

New Orleans’s roster now stands at 20 players, including two two-way players.

Indiana Pacers sign Reggie Perry to 10-day contract

The Indiana Pacers have signed forward Reggie Perry to a 10-day contract under the NBA’s COVID-related hardship exception.

In 12 games (10 starts) during the G League regular season playing for Raptors 905, NBA G League affiliate of the Toronto Raptors, he is averaging 18.7 points,10.8 rebounds, and 2.3 assists in 29.9 minutes.

Perry received his first NBA call up this season from the Portland Trailblazers, signing a 10-day contract on December 28th. In two games with the Trail Blazers, he averaged 5.5 points, 3.5 rebounds and 1.0 assists in 20.5 minutes.

The Mississippi State product was selected in the second round of the 2020 NBA Draft by the Brooklyn. In the 2021 G League season, Perry averaged 18.1 points, 8.9 rebounds, and 2.9 assists across 15 games (14 starts) for the Long Island Nets.

Perry will wear number 0 for the Pacers.