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The Indiana Pacers have waived guard Kelan Martin.
At 14-25, the Pacers are currently 13th in the Eastern conference. Their leading scorers so far this season are Malcolm Brogdon at 19.0 points per game, Domantas Sabonis at 18.7 ppg, and Caris LeVert at 17.8 ppg.
The Pacers roster – including hardship exceptions – currently stands at 20.
The Los Angeles Lakers have signed forward Stanley Johnson to a 10-day contract, it was announced today by Vice President of Basketball Operations and General Manager Rob Pelinka.
Johnson has averaged 6.8 points, 2.8 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 1.0 steal in 25.2 minutes through five games (three starts) with Los Angeles this season. He has appeared in 376 career games (80 starts) for the Raptors, Pelicans, Pistons and Lakers, averaging 6.2 points, 3.1 rebounds and 1.4 assists in 19.8 minutes.
The Washington Wizards have signed center Greg Monroe to a 10-day contract via the NBA Hardship Exception provisions.
Monroe recently completed a 10-day contract with the Minnesota Timberwolves, where he played in three games, averaging 6.7 points, 7.0 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game. Monroe’s appearance on December 27 with Minnesota marked the first game played for the now 10-year veteran since the 2018-19 season.
Monroe originally signed with the Go-Go on November 7 and appeared in 12 games (one start), where he has averaged 10.4 points and 8.8 rebounds in his first career NBA G League season. Monroe has notched four double-doubles this season, including a 17-point, 10-rebound performance against the Delaware Blue Coats on December 11.
Monroe will join his hometown Wizards, marking the eighth different team in his now 10-year NBA career. He has played in 635 career games with Detroit, Milwaukee, Phoenix, Boston, Toronto, Philadelphia and Minnesota averaging 13.1 points and 8.3 rebounds per game. Monroe averaged a double-double in 2014-15 and averaged at least 10 points per game in seven of the nine seasons of his career. Monroe made three playoff appearances with Milwaukee, Boston and Philadelphia, advancing as far as the Eastern Conference Finals with the Boston Celtics in 2017-18.
Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard will undergo further evaluation and consultation concerning his lower abdominal tendinopathy, the team announced today.
Lillard will miss Portland’s next three games against Miami (Jan. 5), Cleveland (Jan. 7) and Sacramento (Jan. 9). He will be reevaluated next week.
Further updates will be provided as appropriate.
In 29 games (all starts) this season, Lillard has averaged 24.0 points (40.2% FG, 32.4% 3-PT, 89.3% FT), 4.1 rebounds and 7.3 assists in 36.4 minutes per game. Among NBA leaders, he ranks 11th in scoring, 10th in assists and 16th in free throw percentage.
The New Orleans Pelicans announced today that forward Zion Williamson will be continuing his rehabilitation away from the team at this time while remaining under the supervision of the Pelicans medical staff.
“Since we notified everyone on December 16 of his latest imaging, it was decided then by our medical team to dial his rehab back to only partial weight bearing activities. He continues along that path,” stated Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations David Griffin. “We also agreed that in order to put Zion in the best position to succeed, he will rehab away from the team at this time so he can focus on the task at hand.”
“As you can imagine, this has been a very difficult process for me,” said Williamson. “I know there’s work to be done in my recovery before I can safely return to the court, but I will continue to put in the time necessary so I can get back on the floor with my team and represent Pelicans fans and the city of New Orleans at the highest level. Basketball means everything to me, and I am thankful for the Pelicans organization and everyone who has surrounded me with love and support throughout this journey – my family, friends, teammates, coaches, staff, fans, and everybody who has stood behind me and uplifted me when I needed it most.”
NBA Vice President, Basketball Operations and two-time NBA champion Malik Rose has been named Head of Basketball Operations for the NBA G League, it was announced today by NBA G League President Shareef Abdur-Rahim. Rose replaces Brad Walker, who was named Commissioner of the America East Conference in August.
In his new role, Rose will lead the NBA G League’s efforts at expanding its talent pipeline and advancing integration of basketball operations between the G League and the NBA while focusing on basketball innovation and competition. He will also oversee NBA G League Ignite.
“We are thrilled to have Malik join the NBA G League as Head of Basketball Operations,” said Abdur-Rahim. “With his success as a player at the highest levels of the game and extensive background as an executive in both the NBA and G League, Malik has the experience, vision and expertise to help accelerate our progress and further deepen the connection between the two leagues.”
“I am grateful for the opportunity to transition from NBA Basketball Operations to this exciting position alongside Shareef and a talented staff with the NBA G League,” said Rose. “As someone who benefited greatly from his experience in the NBA G League, I know firsthand its importance to the NBA’s business and see enormous potential for continued growth.”
Rose joins the NBA G League after working since June 2020 in NBA Basketball Operations, where he interfaced directly with teams and players regarding league programs, rules, new initiatives and competitive elements. Before joining the league office, Rose served as Assistant General Manager of the Detroit Pistons and General Manager of the Erie BayHawks, the NBA G League affiliate of the Atlanta Hawks now known as the College Park Skyhawks. He was named the 2017-18 NBA G League Basketball Executive of the Year.
Rose played 13 seasons in the NBA after being selected by the Hornets with the 44th overall pick in the 1996 NBA Draft. He won NBA championships in 1999 and 2003 as a member of the San Antonio Spurs. In addition to the Hornets and Spurs, Rose played for the New York Knicks and Oklahoma City Thunder.
A Philadelphia native, Rose received his bachelor’s degree with a dual concentration in computer information systems and education from Drexel University, where he played four years of college basketball. He also holds a master’s degree in sports management from Drexel.
The Philadelphia 76ers have signed forward Braxton Key to a 10-day contract.
Key most recently played for the 76ers’ G League affiliate, the Delaware Blue Coats, playing a vital role in the team’s AT&T Winter Showcase title. In the championship game against the Oklahoma City Blue, Key led all scorers with 28 points (9-18 FG, 5-6 FT) along with 11 rebounds and three assists.
In 15 games this season with the Blue Coats, Key posted three double-doubles which ranks tied for second on the team, while posting averages of 13.1 points, 7.3 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 2.0 steals and 1.2 blocks in 25.9 minutes per game. Among players that made at least 10 G League appearances, Key is one of three players to hold averages of at least 10 points, five rebounds and two steals, and each have now received an NBA GATORADE Call-Up this season. His 30 total steals rank second in the G League.
Key is in the midst of his second G League season with Delaware, which selected him in the 2021 NBA G League Draft, following the completion of his collegiate career at the University of Virginia in 2020. In 27 career G League games, Key holds averages of 9.2 points, 5.1 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.4 steals in 20.0 minutes per game.
Prior to transferring to Virginia, he spent two seasons at the University of Alabama, where he earned SEC All-Freshman Team honors in 2016-17. Key was a crucial reserve for the 2018-19 national champion Virginia team, averaging nearly 20 minutes per contest off the bench. In his final collegiate season, he started 25 of the Cavaliers’ 27 games, as the team finished the 2019-20 campaign with a 23-7 record, second in the ACC.
He is the nephew of Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Famer Ralph Sampson, who also starred at Virginia, earning National Player of the Year honors three times.
The Charlotte, North Carolina native will wear No. 17 with the 76ers.
The Milwaukee Bucks have signed Luke Kornet to a 10-day contract under the NBA’s hardship allowance.
A 7-2, 250-pound center, Kornet most recently appeared in two games with the Cleveland Cavaliers last month while on a 10-day contract. Prior to that, the Vanderbilt product played in 10 games (all starts) earlier this season with the Maine Celtics of the NBA G League where he averaged 11.9 points, 7.5 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 2.7 blocks per game.
Undrafted in the 2017 NBA Draft, Kornet has appeared in 135 career games (35 starts) with New York, Chicago, Boston and Cleveland throughout his NBA career and holds averages of 5.8 points, 2.0 rebounds and 1.0 assist in 15.1 minutes per game.
Kornet’s father, Frank, was drafted by the Bucks (30th overall) in the second round of the 1989 NBA Draft and played two seasons with Milwaukee.
Kornet will wear number 35 with the Bucks. Milwaukee’s roster now stands at 18 players.
The Oklahoma City Thunder has acquired guard Miye Oni and a 2028 second-round draft pick from the Utah Jazz in exchange for cash considerations, it was announced today by Executive Vice President and General Manager Sam Presti.
Oni (6-5, 206) has appeared in 80 games (one start) over three seasons with the Jazz and has career averages of 1.8 points and 1.4 rebounds in 8.4 minutes per game.
In a related move, the Thunder has waived forward Gabriel Deck.
Philadelphia 76ers President of Basketball Operations Daryl Morey announced today that the team has signed Charlie Brown Jr. to a 10-day contract.
Most recently, Brown played for Dallas on a 10-day contract, playing 15 total minutes across three games. Prior to joining the Mavericks, Brown saw action in 11 NBA G League games this season with the 76ers’ affiliate, the Delaware Blue Coats. He averaged 16.3 points, 7.7 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.8 steals per contest for Delaware, and earned NBA G League Player of the Week honors for games played from Nov. 15-21.
For his career, Brown has seen action in 22 NBA games with Dallas, Oklahoma City and Atlanta after going undrafted in 2019.
A Philadelphia native, Brown played his college basketball at Saint Joseph’s, where he averaged 19.0 points and 6.2 rebounds in his final season with the Hawks. Following the season, he was named to the 2018-19 All-Atlantic 10 Second Team.
Brown will wear No. 16 for Philadelphia.