Category: NBA News Blog

NBA news blog

Bulls guard Lonzo Ball reportedly may need knee surgery

The Bulls are having a fantastic season, but they could soon face a temporary setback. Via the ESPN.com:

Chicago Bulls guard Lonzo Ball may need arthroscopic surgery on his left knee for a meniscus tear, and a decision on the procedure is expected to come this week, sources told ESPN on Thursday.

The scope would sideline Ball for four to six weeks, sources said.

The Bulls and Ball’s agent — Klutch Sports CEO Rich Paul — are discussing options with doctors, but the procedure looms if a recent change in nonsurgical treatment won’t allow Ball to play through what’s described as a slight meniscus tear, sources said.

The Bulls are 28-15 this season, which is the best record in the Eastern conference.

Their leading scorers so far in 2021-22 are DeMar DeRozan at 25.7 ppg, Zach LaVine at 24.9 ppg, and Nikola Vucevic at 16.3 ppg.

Ball this season is averaging 13.0 ppg, 5.4 rpg and 5.1 apg.

Trade sends Bryn Forbes to Nuggets, Bol Bol and P.J. Dozier to Celtics, Juancho Hernangomez to Spurs

The Denver Nuggets have acquired guard Bryn Forbes in a three-team trade with the San Antonio Spurs and Boston Celtics. Boston receives forward Bol Bol and guard P.J. Dozier from Denver while San Antonio receives forward Juancho Hernangomez and cash considerations from Boston and a protected 2028 second round pick and cash considerations from Denver.

Forbes, 6-2, 205, has appeared in 40 games (one start) for San Antonio this season, averaging 9.1 points, 1.6 rebounds and 1.0 assists while shooting .417 from three-point range in 16.9 minutes per game. The six-year NBA veteran spent the first four years of his career with the Spurs before spending the 2020-21 season as a member of the NBA Champion Milwaukee Bucks before returning to San Antonio prior to the 2021-22 season. He has appeared in 371 career games (166 starts) for San Antonio and Milwaukee, averaging 9.1 shoots and shooting .413 from beyond the arc.

The Lansing, MI native has proven to be one of the most consistent deep threats in the NBA, ranking third in three-point field goal percentage over the last four seasons among players with 1,000-plus attempts (trailing only Joe Harris and Seth Curry). He has appeared in 37 career playoff games (seven starts), including 20 during Milwaukee’s championship run, averaging 6.6 points, 1.6 rebounds and 1.7 assists in 16.5 minutes. The 28-year-old went undrafted out of Michigan State University in 2016 but signed a multiyear contract with San Antonio prior to his rookie season.

Forbes will wear #6 for the Nuggets.

Bol, 22, 7-2, was drafted by Miami with the 44th overall pick in the 2019 draft and was acquired by Denver in a draft night trade. In three seasons with the Nuggets, Bol appeared in 53 games (two starts), averaging 2.7 points and 1.2 rebounds, while shooting 47.8% from the field in 6.2 minutes per game.

Dozier, 6-6, 205, appeared in 97 games (six starts) for Denver over the last three seasons, averaging 6.7 points, 3.1 rebounds and 1.9 assists in 19.0 minutes per game. He originally went undrafted in the 2017 NBA Draft after spending two years at the University of South Carolina. He signed as a two-way player with Oklahoma City in 2017-18 and signed as a two-way player with Boston for the 2018-19 season. He signed a two-way deal with Denver prior to the 2019-20 season before having his contract converted to a full NBA contract in June 2020.

Hernangómez, 6-9/215, has appeared in 18 games for the Celtics this season. Originally selected with the 15th overall pick in the 2016 NBA Draft by the Nuggets, Hernangómez has played for three teams in his six-year career. A native of Spain, he holds career averages of 5.4 points and 3.4 rebounds in 15.7 minutes over 275 games.

Grizzlies sign Shaquille Harrison to 10-day contract

The Memphis Grizzlies have signed guard Shaquille Harrison to a 10-day contract under the NBA’s COVID-related hardship exception.

Harrison (6-4, 195) has appeared in 175 career games (23 starts) over five NBA seasons with Phoenix, Chicago, Utah, Denver and Brooklyn and has averaged 5.2 points, 2.4 rebounds and 1.5 assists and 15.2 minutes. He totaled four points, four rebounds, three assists, one steal and one block in 23 minutes in two games for the Nets earlier this season.

The 28-year-old has started all 10 of his appearances with the NBA G League’s Delaware Blue Coats this season and has averaged 19.8 points, 6.1 rebounds, 5.7 assists and 2.90 steals. He has played two additional seasons in the NBA G League with the Northern Arizona Suns. A native of Kansas City, Mo., Harrison went undrafted in the 2016 NBA Draft following a four-year collegiate career at the University of Tulsa, where he ranks second in program history in assists (461) and steals (244).

Portland Trail Blazers announce multiple basketball staff updates

The Portland Trail Blazers President of Business Operations Dewayne Hankins and Interim General Manager Joe Cronin announced promotions in leadership and basketball staff to align with future business goals.

Ashley Clinkscale has been promoted to Executive Vice President / Chief Communications and Impact Officer. In this new role, Clinkscale will continue to oversee Corporate Communications, Community and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, and in addition will be overseeing Basketball Communications, Player Relations and Alumni Relations.

Andrea Bailey has been promoted to Executive Vice President / Chief Revenue Officer. Bailey will oversee all revenue departments including Commercial Partnerships, Ticket Sales & Service, Premium Sales & Service and lead on finding emerging revenue streams utilizing digital assets, esports and our facilities.

Ryan Flaherty has been promoted to Senior Vice President of Brand Marketing. Flaherty will oversee Brand & Fan Development, Broadcast, Content, Creative Services, Game Operations & Events and Retail, all teams integral to creating Trail Blazers fans and growing the brand internationally.

Rebecca Felch has transitioned to the role of Chief of Staff. In this role, Felch will drive forward business objectives while playing a key role in annual business planning. She has been with the Trail Blazers for over seven years working as both Executive Assistant to the President / CEO and Chief of Staff.

Hankins will continue overseeing the new leadership team after taking over as President of Business Operations in November 2021, his ninth season with the Trail Blazers organization, with the goal of creating a more innovative, data-driven business model.

“I’m excited to announce these leadership changes and for where we are heading as one united organization,” said Hankins. “Our employees, fans and community stakeholders expect a lot from us, and this realignment will best prepare us for the challenge.”

Additionally, Interim General Manager Joe Cronin has announced promotions and new team members to the Basketball Operations department.

Geoff Clark has been promoted to Director of Player Health and Performance. With over 24 years of experience with the Trail Blazers, including the last 12 as Head Athletic Trainer, Clark will lead the Trail Blazers team of medical and performance staff in providing preventative maintenance and rehabilitative health care to players. The recipient of the 2014 National Basketball Athletic Trainers Association Trainer of the Year award, his experience includes four minor league seasons with the Los Angeles Dodgers and an eight-year physical therapy stint while being assigned to the CBA’s Yakima Sun Kings.

After two and a half seasons as the Trail Blazers Assistant Athletic Trainer/Physical Therapist, Jessica Cohen has been promoted to Head Athletic Trainer. Cohen is credentialed as both a Certified Athletic Trainer and a Licensed Physical Therapist. In 2021, she became board certified in Sports Physical Therapy (SCS) by the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties. Cohen joined the Trail Blazers from the WNBA where she spent two seasons as the Atlanta Dream’s Head Athletic Trainer and Physical Therapist following five seasons with the Chicago Sky.

Dr. Chantelle Green joins the Trail Blazers as the Director of Mind Health & Wellness. In this role, Dr. Green is responsible for helping players deal psychologically with the demands of the sport and to improve their personal development and performance. She will also provide mind health education and awareness to players and staff.

Sheri Sam is joining the Trail Blazers as Scouting Manager. Sam will work closely with the team’s basketball operations staff, performing a number of player evaluation, information gathering, salary cap and basketball analytics duties.

“As we continue forward, we want to align all aspects of our business and set up our players and staff for success,” said Cronin. “These promotions and new team members represent a great step in achieving that goal.”

Miami Heat promote two executives

The HEAT Group announced today the promotions of two executives from Vice President to the level of Senior Vice President: Garrick Amos and Edson Crevecoeur. Amos’s new title will be Senior Vice President, Ticket & Premium Sales & Service, and Crevecoeur’s new title will be Senior Vice President, Strategy & Data Analytics // Chief Operating Officer, 601 Analytics. These promotions further enhance the diversity of voices and talent at the executive level of the business operations division.

“I am very proud to welcome both Garrick and Edson to the executive team of our franchise,” said Eric Woolworth, President of The HEAT Group’s Business Operations. “Both these individuals are respected and proven industry leaders in their fields of expertise and we are lucky to have them.”

Amos joined the HEAT in 2009 as Vice President of Season Ticket Services after a stint with the New Orleans Hornets as their director of fan experience. His professional history encompasses a broad business acumen, which was acquired during his years working in the hotel and hospitality industry. At the HEAT, he previously served as Vice President of Season Ticket Services overseeing 4,000 season ticket accounts. He was later promoted to Assistant General Manager of then-AmericanAirlines Arena, which included managing the operations of the Arena’s food and beverage vendors, Hyde nightclub, 601 (restaurant) as well as the organization’s culture and engagement efforts. He also supervised the Premium Services Department, which includes Premium account holders as well as the Suite Level and AmericanAirlines Lounges.

Amos has been recognized repeatedly throughout his career including earning the NBA’s Pete Winemiller Guest Experience Innovation Award in 2019, the Miami Transit Authority Award for community excellence (2004) and the City-Community Award bestowed by the Irvin, Texas Chamber of Commerce (2018). During his HEAT tenure, the team has consistently recorded a 90%+ season ticket member renewal rate, which is among the best in the League.

Crevecoeur joined the HEAT in 2014 bringing more than 15 years of expertise in strategy and data analytics. He has helped empower and transform the HEAT and FTX Arena into businesses that make highly informed, data-driven decisions. During his HEAT tenure, Crevecoeur has led the franchise’s transition to cloud-based technologies, integrating information across lines of business into a single source of truth, accessible by the right audience, via the right channels at the right time. He is the architect of 601 Analytics, a proprietary, stand-alone data platform, which now offers its solutions to the sports and live entertainment industry. Because of his work, the HEAT has been recognized as a leader in the technology space by industry giant Microsoft. Prior to joining the HEAT, he served in senior technical and leadership roles on enterprise-scale data initiatives for Fortune 500 companies such as SunGard Higher Education, Glaxo-Smith Kline and Viacom.

Jazz sign Danuel House Jr. to 10-day contract

The Utah Jazz have signed forward Danuel House Jr. to a 10-day contract.

House Jr. (6-6, 215, Texas A&M) is in his sixth NBA season and previously signed a 10-day contract with Utah on Jan. 6, seeing action in three games, averaging 5.3 points on 44.4 percent from three-point range, 2.3 rebounds and 1.3 assists. He has also played with Washington (2016-17), Phoenix (2017-18), Houston (2018-22) and New York (2021-22) owning career averages of 8.8 points, 3.7 rebounds and 1.3 assists in 24.9 minutes per game.

The Houston-native has additional NBA G League experience, competing for Delaware (2016-17), Northern Arizona (2017-18) and Rio Grande Valley (2017-19), playing in 60 total games (42 starts), averaging 18.2 points, 5.3 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.2 steals in 32.0 minutes per contest.

Myles Turner out with stress reaction in left foot

Indiana Pacers forward/center Myles Turner – who missed yesterday’s game against the Clippers due to a sore left ankle/foot – has been examined by multiple specialists, who have determined the injury to be a stress reaction in his left foot.

Turner will continue to receive treatment and will be re-examined in two weeks, at which time the Pacers’ medical team will re-assess his status.

Miami Heat sign Kyle Guy to two-way contract

The Miami Heat have signed Kyle Guy to a two-way contract.

Guy, who was originally signed to a 10-day contract by the HEAT on December 30 and re-signed to a second 10-day on January 10, has appeared in six games with Miami averaging 8.2 points, 2.3 assists, 1.3 rebounds and 17.1 minutes while shooting 51.4 percent from the field, 45 percent from three-point range and 80 percent from the foul line. Prior to joining Miami, Guy appeared in 11 G League games (10 starts) earlier this season with the Cleveland Charge and averaged 21.8 points, 7.4 rebounds, 4.9 assists, 1.00 steals and 35.0 minutes.

Mavericks sign Marquese Chriss to multi-year contract, and waive Willie Cauley-Stein

The Dallas Mavericks announced today that they have signed forward Marquese Chriss to a multi-year contract.

And in an additional move, Dallas has requested waivers on center Willie Cauley-Stein.

Chriss (6-9, 240) was in the midst of his third 10-day contract under the COVID-related hardship allowance and has averaged 6.8 points, 3.9 rebounds and 11.9 minutes in 12 games with Dallas. Chriss has scored in double figures in three games with the Mavericks.

Chriss was selected by Sacramento with the eighth overall pick of the 2016 NBA Draft and subsequently traded to Phoenix, where he earned NBA All-Rookie Second Team honors in his first season. Chriss played collegiately for one season at Washington.