Category: NBA News Blog

NBA news blog

Mavericks sign Theo Pinson and Marquese Chriss to second 10-day contracts

The Dallas Mavericks have signed guard/forward Theo Pinson and forward Marquese Chriss to second 10-day contracts under the COVID-related hardship allowance.

Pinson (6-5, 212) signed his first 10-day with Dallas on Dec. 20 and has averaged 5.0 points, 3.0 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 15.8 minutes in five games with the club. He recorded seven points, four rebounds, three assists, a career-high four steals and one block in his Mavericks debut against Minnesota on Dec. 21. His four steals, which came in a 114-102 Mavericks win, were the most ever by a Dallas player in his debut with the team.

Chriss (6-9, 240) signed his first 10-day with the Mavericks on Dec. 21 and has averaged 6.3 points (.550 FG), 4.8 rebounds and 12.3 minutes in four games with the club. The Sacramento native posted 13 points (6-11 FG), five boards and two steals in his second game with the team against Milwaukee on Dec. 23.

Boston Celtics legend Sam Jones has passed away

STATEMENT FROM THE BASKETBALL HALL OF FAME

The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame celebrates the life and mourns the passing of legendary Boston Celtic Sam Jones. Enshrined as a member of the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1984, Mr. Jones has passed away at the age of 88.

“Sam Jones was as much of a one-of-a-kind athlete as he was an individual,” said John L. Doleva, President and CEO of the Basketball Hall of Fame. “As one of the greatest champions in American sports history, Sam embodied what it means to be a winner both on and off the court. He was a natural scorer and will forever be one the most clutch performers the game has ever seen. He will be tremendously missed by the entire Hall of Fame family.”

At 6-foot-4, Sam Jones was the prototype of the tall guard. He could run the floor, bang the boards, and his rangy offensive game caused fits in his opponents. As a collegian, Jones was an offensive firehouse scoring 1,770 points while playing for Hall of Fame coach John McLendon at all-black North Carolina Central College. His senior season saw the fiery guard average a double-double in points and rebounds. His scoring aptitude continued and in the NBA he averaged over 17 points a game for his career. Always steady, always on top of his game, Sam Jones was a winner. One half of the “Jones Boys” of Boston, Sam teamed with K.C. Jones in the Celtics backcourt to create havoc in NBA arenas around the country. Jones favored an unorthodox but highly effective bank shot that became the muscle behind his and Boston’s ten NBA championships, including eight in a row from 1959 to 1966.

He received several accolades throughout his storied career, including being the first African American inducted into the North Carolina Hall of Fame in 1969, as well being named to the NBA 25th Anniversary Team as one of the 50 greatest players in NBA history in 1996, as well as the 75th Anniversary Team in 2021. His jersey No. 24 was retired by the Celtics in 1969.

STATEMENT FROM THE BOSTON CELTICS

Sam Jones was one of the most talented, versatile, and clutch shooters for the most successful and dominant teams in NBA history. His scoring ability was so prolific, and his form so pure, that he earned the simple nickname, “The Shooter.” He was also known as “Mr. Clutch.” One of the many testaments to his clutch performances is the fact that his playoff scoring average (18.9) exceeded his regular season output (17.7). His number 24 was retired in 1969, the final year of his Celtics career, which of course resulted in an NBA Championship – his tenth. Only Bill Russell won more championships in his NBA career. The Jones family is in our thoughts as we mourn his loss and fondly remember the life and career of one of the greatest champions in American sports.

Pistons sign Jaysean Paige to a 10-day contract

The Detroit Pistons have signed Jaysean Paige to a 10-day contract using the COVID-related hardship allowance.

Paige, 6-2, 200, has appeared in 14 games this season with the Maine Celtics, the Boston Celtics NBA G League affiliate. He posted averages of 16.9 points, 2.5 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.1 steals while shooting 45.5% from the field, 36.6% from three-point range and 87.0% from the free throw line in 26.3 minutes per game.

Paige played 41 games for Maine during the 2019-20 season averaging 11.0 points, 3.9 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 1.4 steals in 23.4 minutes per game.

Undrafted out of West Virginia, he played two seasons for the Mountaineers (2014-2016) and posted averages of 9.7 points, 2.7 rebounds, 0.9 assists and 1.3 steals in 17.9 minutes over 69 games.

Paige has also played professionally overseas in Germany, North Macedonia, England, Hungary and Puerto Rico.

He will wear No. 42 for the Pistons.

Heat sign Mario Chalmers, Chris Silva and Nik Stauskas to 10-day contracts

The Miami Heat have signed guard Mario Chalmers, forward Chris Silva and guard Nik Stauskas to 10-day contracts using the COVID-Related Hardship Allowance.

Chalmers, a two-time NBA champion with the HEAT, returns to Miami after recently playing in the G League with the Grand Rapids Gold this season, starting both games he appeared in totaling 17 points, six assists, four rebounds and three steals. Prior to his stint with Grand Rapids, he spent three seasons overseas, appearing in 32 games. The nine-year NBA veteran played eight seasons in Miami, helping the team make four-straight NBA Finals appearances and six postseason berths over that span. He has appeared in 525 career games (383 starts) with the HEAT averaging 8.8 points, 3.8 assists, 2.4 rebounds, 1.51 steals and 27.8 minutes while shooting 42.2 percent from the field and is among Miami’s all-time leaders in steals (second), games played (fourth), assists (fourth), three-point field goals made (fourth), minutes (sixth) and starts (seventh). Chalmers will re-claim the number 15 he wore from 2010-2016.

Silva, who was originally signed by the HEAT on July 11, 2019, returns to Miami after recently signing a 10-day contract with the Minnesota Timberwolves, appearing in one game. He previously started in all 12 games he appeared in with the Iowa Wolves of the G League this season averaging 15.1 points, 9.6 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 1.00 steals and 26.1 minutes while shooting 57.3 percent from the field where he led the team in blocks and free throws made while finishing second in rebounds and field goals made. Silva spent two seasons in Miami from 2019-2021, appearing in 55 games with the HEAT and has now appeared in 60 career NBA games and 14 career G League games (12 starts). Silva will once again wear number 30.

Stauskas recently appeared in 12 G League games (all starts) with the Grand Rapids Gold this season averaging 21.3 points, 5.8 rebounds, 4.4 assists, 1.08 steals and 38.3 minutes while shooting 42.4 percent from the field, 35.2 percent from three-point range and 91.5 percent from the foul line where he led the team in points, assists, three-point field goals made and free throws made. The five-year NBA veteran has spent time with Sacramento, Philadelphia, Brooklyn, Portland and Cleveland, appearing in 335 career NBA games (63 starts). Additionally, he has started in all 27 career G League games he has appeared in as well as appearing in 40 international contests (19 starts) with Baskonia in Spain. Stauskas will wear number 9.

Cavs sign Brandon Goodwin to a 10-day contract, and terminate Tre Scott’s contract

The Cleveland Cavaliers have signed guard Brandon Goodwin to a 10-day contract via the NBA’s hardship exception.

Also today, the Cavs terminated the 10-day contract of Tre Scott, who was signed on December 22 via the NBA’s hardship exception from the Cleveland Charge, the Cavaliers’ exclusively owned and operated NBA G League affiliate.

Goodwin (6-0, 180) has appeared in seven games (5 starts) this season for the Westchester Knicks, the NBA G-League affiliate of the New York Knicks, averaging 15.3 points, 5.1 rebounds, 7.0 assists and 1.86 steals in 35.1 minutes. In three previous NBA seasons (2018-2021), Goodwin spent time in Denver and Atlanta. Last season with the Hawks, Goodwin appeared in 47 games (5 starts) and averaged 4.9 points and 2.0 assists in 13.2 minutes.

Goodwin will wear jersey #26.

Scott appeared in one game on Dec. 26 versus Toronto at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse.

Nuggets sign Rayjon Tucker to a 10-day contract

The Denver Nuggets have signed guard Rayjon Tucker to a 10-day contract.

Tucker, 6-3, 209, has appeared in 13 games (all starts) this season for the Wisconsin Herd of the G League, averaging 17.1 points, 4.8 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 1.77 steals in 32.2 minutes per game. Overall he has appeared in 47 G League games (all starts) for Wisconsin, Salt Lake and Delaware, averaging 20.3 points, 4.8 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1.28 steals per game.

Tucker, 24, has also appeared in 34 career NBA games (20 for the Jazz in ’19-20 and 14 for the 76ers in ’20-21), averaging 2.8 points in 6.8 minutes per game.

The Charlotte, NC native was undrafted in the 2019 NBA Draft after playing his final collegiate season at University of Arkansas at Little Rock where he averaged 20.3 points, 6.7 rebounds and 1.8 assists in 30 games (all starts) and was named All-Sun Belt Second Team. Tucker spent his first two years at Florida Gulf Coast before transferring to Little Rock.

Trail Blazers hire Rodney Billups as an assistant coach

The Portland Trail Blazers have named Rodney Billups as an assistant coach.

Billups, 38, is the younger brother of Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups.

Billups joins the Portland staff from Milwaukee where he served as a scout for the Bucks this season. Prior to that he was the head coach at the University of Denver for five seasons (2016-21). Billups was also a standout collegiate player for Denver (2002-05).

Before joining Denver, Billups served as director of basketball operations for two seasons (2010-12) and as an assistant coach for four seasons (2012-2016) at the University of Colorado under head coach Tad Boyle.

Following his collegiate playing career, Billups played professionally with BK Riga of the Latvian Basketball League and Kouvot of the Finnish Korisliiga before joining the college coaching ranks.

Magic sign Tim Frazier and Freddie Gillespie to second 10-day contracts

The Orlando Magic have signed guard Tim Frazier and forward Freddie Gillespie to second 10-day contracts.

Both players were originally signed to 10-day contracts via hardship exceptions by the NBA on December 21.

Frazier (6’1”, 170, 11/1/90) has played in five games (one start) with Orlando, averaging 4.6 ppg., 3.4 apg. and 1.8 rpg. in 20.0 minpg. Last season (2020-21), he appeared in five games with Memphis, averaging 1.6 ppg., 3.2 apg. and 1.6 rpg. in 12.4 minpg.

Undrafted by an NBA franchise, Frazier has played in 282 career NBA regular season games (82 starts) with Philadelphia, Portland, New Orleans, Washington, Milwaukee, Detroit, Memphis and Orlando, averaging 5.0 ppg., 4.0 apg. and 2.3 rpg. in 17.7 minpg. He has also appeared in 49 career NBA G League regular season games (47 starts), all with Maine, averaging 15.9 ppg., 9.5 apg., 7.4 rpg. and 1.61 stlpg. in 34.7 minpg., while shooting .370 (51-138) from three-point range and .803 (191-238) from the free throw line. Frazier was named the 2014-15 NBA G League Most Valuable Player and NBA G League Rookie of the Year.

Frazier played in 135 career games (113 starts) at Penn State University from 2009-14, averaging 11.4 ppg., 4.7 apg., 3.9 rpg. and 1.45 stlpg. in 30.6 minpg. He finished his collegiate career as the Nittany Lions’ all-time leader in assists with 641. Frazier was named to both the All-Big Ten First Team in Big Ten All-Defensive Team in 2011-12, while leading the conference in assists during both the 2011-12 and 2013-14 campaigns.

Gillespie (6’9”, 245, 6/14/97) has played in five games (one start) with Orlando, averaging 3.0 ppg., 4.6 rpg. and 1.00 blkpg. in 12.9 minpg. He has also played in 12 games (11 starts) this season with Memphis of the NBA G League, averaging 11.4 ppg., 12.2 rpg., 1.0 apg., 2.75 blkpg. and 1.17 stlpg. in 33.2 minpg. At the time of his original signing, he was leading the team in rebounding (T-2nd in NBA G League) and led the entire NBA G League in blocked shots.

Last season (2020-21), Gillespie played in 20 games (two starts) during his rookie campaign with Toronto, averaging 5.6 ppg., 4.9 rpg. and 1.00 blkpg. in 19.6 minpg., while shooting .524 (44-84) from the floor. He has also appeared in 27 career NBA G League regular season games (26 starts), all with Memphis, averaging 10.9 ppg., 11.3 rpg., 1.4 apg., 2.48 blkpg. and 1.22 stlpg. in 30.2 minpg., while shooting .563 (130-231) from the floor.

Gillespie played in 56 career games (41 starts) during two seasons (2018-20) at Baylor University, averaging 7.6 ppg., 6.9 rpg. and 1.68 blkpg. in 23.7 minpg., while shooting .582 (171-294) from the field. He was named Big 12 Most Improved Player in 2019-20, as well as earning All-Big 12 Second Team and All-Big 12 Defensive Team honors. Gillespie began his collegiate career at Carleton College, a NCAA Division III school located in Northfield, Minnesota.

Nuggets sign Davon Reed to another 10-day contract

The Denver Nuggets have signed guard Davon Reed to another 10-day contract, President of Basketball Operations Tim Connelly announced today.

Reed, 6-5, 208, signed a 10-day contract with Denver on December 4th and again on December 19th. He has appeared in nine games (two starts), averaging 5.0 points, 3.4 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 1.2 steals in 17.1 minutes per game while shooting 43.8% from three-point range.

He has appeared in eight games (all starts) this season with the Nuggets’ G-League affiliate Grand Rapids Gold, averaging 15.1 points, 8.1 rebounds, 6.0 assists and 1.90 steals in 35.8 minutes per game. He also played for the Nuggets in both this year’s preseason and Vegas Summer League entry.

Reed, 26, previously appeared in 31 career NBA games for the Phoenix Suns (21 games in 2017-18) and Indiana Pacers (10 games in 2018-19). He has appeared in 94 career G-League games (89 starts) for Northern Arizona, Fort Worth, Sioux Falls and Grand Rapids, averaging 13.0 points, 6.3 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.1 steals per game.

The New Jersey Native was drafted with the 32nd overall pick in the second round of the 2017 NBA Draft. He spent four years at the University of Miami where he was named to the ACC All-Defensive Team and ACC All-Third Team in 2017.