Category: NBA News Blog

NBA news blog

Wizards sign Jaime Echenique to a 10-day contract

The Washington Wizards have signed center Jaime Echenique to a 10-day contract via the NBA Hardship Exception provisions.

Echenique, a 6-11, 258-pound center, originally spent 2021 Summer League, training camp and preseason with the Wizards, appearing in two preseason games. The Colombian has played in 14 games (13 starts) with the Capital City Go-Go this season, averaging 12.6 points and 9.2 rebounds per game while shooting .554 from the floor. Echenique has tallied six double-doubles and currently ranks third in the NBA G League with 25 blocks on the season.

Originally from Barranquilla, Colombia, Echenique began his collegiate career at Trinity Valley Community College in Athens, Texas before transferring to and graduating from Wichita State. Echenique also played in Spain with Acunsa GBG during the 2020-21 season, averaging 12.8 points and 4.6 rebounds in 18 games.

Wizards sign Brad Wanamaker to a 10-day contract

The Washington Wizards have signed guard Brad Wanamaker to a 10-day contract via the NBA Hardship Exception provisions.

Wanamaker, a 6-3, 210-pound guard, has played in 190 career games in the NBA with the Celtics, Warriors, Hornets and Pacers, averaging 5.5 points, 1.7 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game. In 22 games (one start) with Indiana this season, Wanamaker averaged 3.5 points and 2.2 assists per game.

Prior to the NBA, Wanamaker played seven seasons overseas in Turkey, Germany, Italy and France. Originally from Philadelphia, Pa., Wanamaker attended the University of Pittsburgh where he graduated with the eighth-most games played in program history.

Heat sign Kyle Guy and Aric Holman to 10-day contracts

The Miami Heat have signed guard Kyle Guy and center Aric Holman to 10-day contracts using the COVID-Related Hardship Allowance.

Guy recently appeared in 11 G League games (10 starts) with the Cleveland Charge this season averaging 21.8 points, 7.4 rebounds, 4.9 assists, 1.00 steals and 35.0 minutes while shooting 44.6 percent from the field, 36.3 percent from three-point range and 75.9 percent from the foul line where he led the team in rebounds and three-point field goals made while finishing second in points and minutes and third in assists, steals, field goals made and free throws made. He was originally selected by New York in the second round (55th overall) in the 2019 NBA Draft before being traded to Sacramento where he appeared in 34 career NBA games with the Kings from 2019-21. Additionally, he appeared in 37 games (29 starts) with Sacramento’s G League affiliate, the Stockton Kings, and averaged 21.5 points, 4.8 assists, 3.4 rebounds, 1.14 steals and 36.9 minutes while shooting 41.3 percent from the field, 40 percent from three-point range and 75.8 percent from the foul line.

Guy will wear number 5.

Holman recently appeared in 14 G League games (four starts) with the Austin Spurs this season averaging 7.7 points, 4.6 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 1.43 blocks and 20.5 minutes while shooting 46.9 percent from the field where he led the team in blocks and finished third in rebounds. Prior to joining Austin, Holman spent the 2020-21 season overseas in Germany where he appeared in 54 games (31 starts) with Ratiopharm Ulm and averaged 6.5 points, 4.0 rebounds, 1.0 assists and 17.5 minutes while shooting 48 percent from the field. Holman, who played all four seasons at Mississippi State from 2015-19, appeared in 40 G League games (two starts) with the Texas Legends during the 2019-20 season and averaged 9.7 points, 4.3 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 17.2 minutes while shooting 46.3 percent from the field.

Holman will wear number 35.

Heat sign Haywood Highsmith to a 10-day contract

The Miami Heat have signed forward Haywood Highsmith to a 10-day contract using the COVID-Related Hardship Allowance.

Highsmith recently appeared in 12 G League games (four starts) with the Delaware Blue Coats this season averaging 14.0 points, 5.0 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 1.25 steals, 1.00 blocks and 27.8 minutes while shooting 47.2 percent from the field, 39.1 percent from three-point range and 73.7 percent from the foul line, helping the Blue Coats win the 2021 Winter Showcase championship. He finished third on the team in points, blocks and three-point field goals made.

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. He has also appeared in 101 career G League games (70 starts) over three seasons, all with the Blue Coats, averaging 11.7 points, 6.6 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 1.14 steals and 29.3 minutes while shooting 42.9 percent from the field.

Highsmith will wear number 24.

Grizzlies sign Dakota Mathias to a 10-day contract

The Memphis Grizzlies have signed wing Dakota Mathias to a 10-day contract, under the NBA’s COVID-related hardship exception.

Mathias (6-4, 200) appeared in eight games (two starts) and averaged 6.0 points and 1.6 assists in 15.4 minutes last season as a rookie for the Philadelphia 76ers. The 26-year-old started all 42 of his appearances for the NBA G League’s Texas Legends during the 2019-20 season and averaged 18.1 points, 4.9 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.02 steals in 36.1 minutes while shooting 39.5% from 3-point range on 8.8 long-range attempts per game.

Unselected in the 2018 NBA Draft after a four-year collegiate career at Purdue, Mathias played his first professional season for Joventut Badalona in the Spanish ACB.

Nets sign Shaquille Harrison to a second 10-day contract

The Brooklyn Nets have signed guard Shaquille Harrison to a second 10-day contract.

Harrison (6’4”, 195) signed his first 10-day contract with Brooklyn on Dec. 18 and has appeared in two games with the Nets, posting averages of 2.0 points, 2.0 rebounds and 1.5 assists in 11.3 minutes per game. Harrison has seen action in 175 career games (23 starts) across five seasons with Brooklyn, Denver, Utah, Chicago and Phoenix, recording averages of 5.2 points, 2.4 rebounds and 1.5 assists in 15.2 minutes per contest while shooting 43.6 percent from the field.

The 28-year-old split the 2020-21 season between Utah and Denver, appearing in 34 games and notching averages of 2.1 points and 1.4 rebounds in 9.8 minutes per game.

Harrison has appeared in and started seven games for the Delaware Blue Coats in the NBA G League this season, averaging 19.6 points on 52.0 percent shooting from the field, 7.0 rebounds, 5.7 assists and 2.9 steals in 32.2 minutes per contest.

He also spent part of his first two professional seasons (2016-18) in the NBA G League with the Northern Arizona Suns.

Harrison went undrafted in the 2016 NBA Draft after playing four collegiate seasons (2012-16) at the University of Tulsa, where he earned All-American Athletic Conference Second Team honors as a junior and senior.

The Kansas City, Mo., native ranks second all-time in Tulsa history in assists (461) and third in steals (244).

Cavaliers guard Ricky Rubio suffers season-ending injury

Cleveland Cavaliers guard Ricky Rubio left Tuesday night’s road game at New Orleans in the fourth quarter with a left knee injury and did not return to action.

Further examination of the injury postgame and a MRI administered today at Cleveland Clinic Sports Health revealed a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL).

Rubio will miss the remainder of the 2021-22 season.

Per Cleveland.com, “this is the second time he has torn his left ACL. The first time came in 2012 when he was a member of the Timberwolves.”

Pistons sign Micah Potter to a 10-day contract

The Detroit Pistons have signed Micah Potter to a 10-day contract, using the COVID-related hardship allowance.

Potter, 6-10, 248, has appeared in 11 games (all starts) this season with the Sioux Falls Skyforce, the Miami HEAT NBA G League affiliate. He posted averages of 14.1 points, 10.6 rebounds, 1.1 assists and 1.1 blocks in 26.3 minutes per game.

Potter saw action in six games (two starts) for the Miami HEAT during the 2021-22 NBA Summer League, averaging 7.3 points, 3.5 rebounds and 1.0 assists in 14.0 minutes per game.

Collegiately, he spent two years at Ohio State (2016-18) before transferring to Wisconsin for the 2019-20 season. During his college career, Potter appeared in 80 games and tallied clips of 5.7 points and 3.7 rebounds in 13.5 minutes.

Potter will wear No. 19 for the Pistons.

Mavericks sign Isaiah Thomas to a 10-day contract

The Dallas Mavericks have signed guard Isaiah Thomas to a 10-day contract, under the COVID-related hardship allowance.

Thomas (5-9, 185) is an 11-year veteran with career averages of 18.0 points (.435 FG, .362 3FG, .872 FT), 2.4 rebounds, 4.9 assists and 28.8 minutes in 532 games (362 starts) with Sacramento, Phoenix, Boston, Cleveland, the L.A. Lakers, Denver, Washington and New Orleans. He recently signed a 10-day contract with the Lakers on Dec. 17 and averaged 9.3 points, 2.0 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 25.3 minutes in four games (1 start) in his second stint with the franchise.

Thomas enjoyed his best statistical seasons as a member of the Boston Celtics, where he was a two-time All-Star (2016, 2017) and averaged 24.7 points, 6.0 assists, 1.0 steals and 32.2 minutes in 179 games (155 starts) with the franchise. He averaged a career-best 28.9 points for Boston in 2016-17, ranking third in the league in scoring behind Russell Westbrook (31.6 ppg) and James Harden (29.1 ppg), who finished first and second, respectively, in voting for the 2016-17 NBA Most Valuable Player Award. Thomas, who finished fifth in MVP voting that year, was named to the 2016-17 All-NBA Second Team.

The 5-9 guard was selected by Sacramento with the final pick (60th overall selection) of the 2011 NBA Draft and went on to earn NBA All-Rookie Second Team accolades for the Kings in 2011-12.

A native of Tacoma, Washington, Thomas played three seasons at the University of Washington, where he was named First Team All-Pac-10 as both a sophomore and a junior (2010, 2011). Thomas also earned Pac-10 Freshman of the Year and Second Team All-Pac-10 honors for the Huskies (2009).

Thomas will wear No. 2 for the Mavericks – the same number he donned at Washington and had retired by the school in 2018.