Category: NBA News Blog

NBA news blog

Timberwolves sign Greg Monroe to a 10-day contract

The Minnesota Timberwolves have signed center Greg Monroe to a 10-day contract.

Monroe, 31, played in 12 games (one start) this season for the Capital City Go-Go, the G League affiliate of the Washington Wizards, averaging 10.4 points on 51.6% shooting and 8.8 rebounds per game.

The 6-10 center from Georgetown has played in 632 career games (417 starts) with the Detroit Pistons, Milwaukee Bucks, Phoenix Suns, Boston Celtics, Toronto Raptors and Philadelphia 76ers, averaging 13.2 points on 51.4% shooting and 8.3 rebounds. His best season in the NBA came during the 2012-13 season with the Pistons where he appeared in 81 games (all starts) and averaged career-highs in scoring (16.0 ppg), assists (3.5 apg), steals (1.3 spg) and minutes (33.2 mpg). In that same year, Monroe tallied his first of two career triple-doubles on Nov. 7, 2012 at Sacramento when he finished with 21 points, 12 rebounds and 11 assists. He has appeared in 27 playoff games (one start), posting averages of 6.4 points on 48.1% shooting and 4.1 rebounds per game.

Monroe will wear uniform #55.

Wizards sign Jordan Goodwin to a 10-day contract

The Washington Wizards have signed guard Jordan Goodwin to a 10-day contract, via the NBA Hardship Exception provisions.

Goodwin, a 6-3, 200-pound guard from Saint Louis, has played in 14 games (11 starts) with the Capital City Go-Go this season, averaging 15.8 points, 5.9 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game. Goodwin has led the Go-Go in scoring four times this season, including a 30-point performance against the Westchester Knicks on November 5 and is coming off a triple-double performance at the NBA G League Showcase in Las Vegas, where he tallied 10 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists in a win over the Iowa Wolves.

A native of Centreville, Ill., Goodwin left Saint Louis as the school’s all-time leader in steals, while also finishing in the top five in rebounds and assists. Prior to college, Goodwin played for Wizards’ guard Bradley Beal on his Saint Louis-based AAU team, Bradley Beal Elite, from his eighth grade through his senior year of high school.

Hawks sign Chaundee Brown Jr. to a 10-day contract

The Atlanta Hawks have signed guard Chaundee Brown Jr. to a 10-day contract.

Earlier this season, Brown was with the Los Angeles Lakers where he appeared in two games on a two-way contract. After going undrafted in the 2021 NBA Draft, the 6-5 guard saw action in five Summer League contests with the Lakers and five preseason games. In those five preseason outings, he averaged 7.6 points and 1.4 rebounds in 12.1 minutes (.467 FG%, .455 3FG%, .714 FT%).

The Orlando, Fla., native has appeared in six games (all starts) with the South Bay Lakers of the NBA G League this season, averaging 17.0 points, 6.8 rebounds and 1.8 assists in 33.3 minutes (.446 FG%, .333 3FG%, .800 FT%).

Brown played collegiately at Wake Forest (2017-20) before transferring to Michigan (2020-21). During his senior season at Michigan, he helped lead the Wolverines to their fourth consecutive NCAA Sweet 16 and an appearance in the Elite Eight, en route to being named to the All-East Regional Team. Over his four-year collegiate career, Brown saw action in 112 games (77 starts), registering 9.8 points, 4.3 rebounds and 1.1 assists in 24.6 minutes (.435 FG%, .352 3FG%, .812 FT%).

Brown, whose first name is pronounced shawn-dee, will wear No. 45.

Pelicans sign Anthony Tolliver and Justin James to 10-day contracts

The New Orleans Pelicans have signed forwards Anthony Tolliver and Justin James to 10-day contracts, via the COVID hardship exception.

Tolliver, 6-8, 240, holds career averages of 6.1 points and 3.3 rebounds per game in 730 career regular season games (105 starts) over 13 NBA seasons with San Antonio, Portland, Golden State, Minnesota, Atlanta, Charlotte, Phoenix, Detroit, Sacramento, Memphis, and Philadelphia.

Undrafted in the 2007 NBA Draft following a four-year collegiate career at Creighton, Tolliver began his professional career with Cleveland during the 2007-08 preseason. In addition to his time in the NBA and NBA G League, Tolliver has played professionally in Germany and Turkey. As a senior at Creighton, he captured First Team All-MVC honors, averaging 13.4 points, 6.7 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.7 blocks in 31.6 minutes per contest. Tolliver helped lead the Bluejays to a 22-11 record and an appearance in the 2008 NCAA Tournament.

James, 6-7, 190, appeared in 72 games with Sacramento over the past two seasons, averaging 3.2 points, 0.9 rebounds, and 0.6 assists in 7.5 minutes per contest. James most recently appeared in the G League with the Cleveland Charge, averaging 17.8 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 2.7 assists in 14 games this season.

Drafted 40th overall by Sacramento in the 2019 NBA Draft out of the University of Wyoming, James averaged 22.1 points, 8.5 rebounds, 4.4 assists, 1.5 steals and 38.2 minutes per game in 32 starts during his senior season in 2018-19. James totaled the second most points in a single season in program history (706) and led the Mountain West Conference in points per game, ranking his scoring average 19th in the nation. James earned All-Mountain West First Team honors as selected by the media and was chosen by the coaches to the All-Mountain West Second Team. James finished third in career points (2,061) in Wyoming Men’s Basketball history and fourth in career points in Mountain West Conference history.

Tolliver will wear #43 and James will wear #21 for the Pelicans. New Orleans’ roster now stands at 20 players.

Pistons sign Deividas Sirvydis to a 10-day contract

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

Sirvydis, 6-8, 190, has appeared in 14 games this season with the Motor City Cruise, the Detroit Pistons’ NBA G League affiliate. He posted averages of 12.9 points, 4.6 rebounds and 2.0 assists in 25.7 minutes per game.

The Lithuania native has one year of NBA experience, posting clips of 2.1 points and 1.5 rebounds in 6.7 minutes over 20 NBA games last season with the Pistons. Sirvydis was the 37th overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft by the Dallas Mavericks and his draft rights were acquired by the Pistons as part of a draft day trade.

Sirvydis will wear No. 91 for the Pistons.

Mavericks waive Eugene Omoruyi

The Dallas Mavericks have requested waivers on forward Eugene Omoruyi.

Omoruyi (6-6, 235) signed a two-way contract with Dallas on Aug. 13 after going undrafted in the 2021 NBA Draft. He averaged 1.8 points and 1.8 rebounds in four games with the Mavericks. Omoruyi recently underwent surgery on his right big toe after suffering an injury in a Texas Legends game on Dec. 15. He is expected to make a full recovery and return to basketball activities in four to six months.

Omoruyi finished his collegiate career at Oregon, where he earned All-Pac-12 First Team honors, after playing three seasons at Rutgers. In his four-year collegiate career, Omoruyi averaged 9.9 points, 4.8 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 0.9 steals and 22.8 minutes in 121 games (72 starts).

Trail Blazers sign Jarron Cumberland, Cameron McGriff and Brandon Williams to 10-day contracts

The Trail Blazers have signed guard Jarron Cumberland, forward Cameron McGriff and guard Brandon Williams to 10-day contracts, via the NBA’s Hardship Exception.

Cumberland, 24, arrives in Portland after averaging 20.3 points, 7.7 rebounds and 7.0 assists and earning MVP honors at the 2021 NBA G League Winter Showcase. In 13 total games (three starts) for the Delaware Blue Coats this season, Cumberland (6-5, 205) has averaged 9.4 points (43.2% FG, 34.1% 3-PT, 85.7% FT), 3.7 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 1.08 steals and 21.1 minutes. A four-year player at Cincinnati (2016-20), he went undrafted in the 2020 NBA Draft before playing eight games for the Rio Grande Vipers and Raptors 905 of the NBA G League in 2020-21. Cumberland will wear No. 34 for the Trail Blazers.

McGriff, 24, joins the Trail Blazers from the Greensboro Swarm of the NBA G League. In 14 games (one start) this season, McGriff (6-7, 220) has averaged 10.2 points (45.5% FG, 36.4% 3-PT, 84.6% FT), 4.9 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 22.4 minutes. After a four-year career at Oklahoma State (2016-20), he went undrafted in the 2020 NBA Draft and played the 2020-21 season for Okapi Aalstar in Belgium. He will wear No. 8 for Portland.

Williams, 22, has appeared in 10 games (six starts) for the Westchester Knicks of the NBA G League this season, averaging 17.7 points (36.4% FG, 28.3% 3-PT, 83.3% FT), 4.0 rebounds, 4.7 assists, 2.00 steals and 31.1 minutes. The Arizona product earned Pac-12 All-Freshman Honorable Mention honors during the 2018-19 season before redshirting his sophomore campaign and going undrafted in the 2021 NBA Draft. Williams (6-2, 190) will wear No. 5 for the Trail Blazers.

Raptors sign Daniel Oturu to a 10-day contract

The Toronto Raptors have signed center Daniel Oturu from the NBA G League to a 10-day contract, via the COVID hardship exception.

Oturu, 6-foot-8, 240 pounds, is averaging 20.6 points, and team highs of 9.7 rebounds and 1.9 blocks, in 32.3 minutes in seven games with the Windy City Bulls. He is shooting .632 (60-95) from the field, .375 (6-16) from three-point range and .706 (12-17) at the free throw line. Oturu has scored in double figures in all seven games, including 20+ points five times, and recorded three double-doubles.

A native of Brooklyn, New York, Oturu was picked 33rd overall by the Minnesota Timberwolves in the 2020 NBA Draft. He was acquired by the Los Angeles Clippers where he averaged 1.8 points, 1.6 rebounds and 5.4 minutes in 30 games as a rookie last season.

Oturu played two collegiate seasons at Minnesota (2018-20), averaging 20.1 points and 11.3 rebounds in 31 games as a sophomore. For his efforts he earned All-Big Ten first team honours.

Atlanta Hawks sign Anthony “Cat” Barber and Malik Ellison to 10-day contracts

The Atlanta Hawks have signed guards Anthony “Cat” Barber and Malik Ellison to 10-day contracts.

Barber has appeared in 14 games (three starts) with the College Park Skyhawks this season, Atlanta’s NBA G League affiliate, averaging 13.1 points, a team-high 5.8 assists and 3.9 rebounds in 26.3 minutes per game (.445 FG%, .367 3FG%, .759 FT%). The 6-1 point guard was recently named to the NBA G League All-Showcase Team after tallying 24.5 points, 9.5 rebounds and 8.5 assists in the team’s two wins at the annual event (.531 FG%, .500 3FG%, .875 FT%). He recorded his first career triple-double in a 141-89 win over the Texas Legends on Dec. 22, registering 20 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists in 31 minutes.

Barber, who owns five years of NBA G League experience, has played for the Skyhawks (2019-20, 2021-22), Erie BayHawks (2018-19), Greensboro Swarm (2016-19) and Delaware Blue Coats (2016-17). He has appeared in 163 NBA G League contests (87 starts) averaging 15.9 points, 3.6 rebounds and 5.1 assists in 30.0 minutes over his career (.446 FG%, .303 3FG%, .723 FT%).

In addition to his five years in the NBA G League, Barber brings three years of international experience to Atlanta, having played for four teams during those three seasons: Ironi Nahariya (Israel; 2017-18, 2018-19), Enel Brindisi (Italy; 2017-18), Guelph Nighthawks (Canada; 2020-21) and Mitteldeutscher BC (Germany; 2020-21).

After going undrafted in the 2016 NBA Draft, Barber signed a contract with the Philadelphia 76ers on Aug. 31, 2016. He saw action in two preseason contests with the Sixers before being waived on Oct. 24, 2016. Barber played with the New Orleans Pelicans during the 2016 NBA Summer League in Las Vegas and with the Dallas Mavericks in 2017 in Orlando.

The North Carolina State product appeared in 104 games (84 starts) over his three-year collegiate career, averaging 14.5 points, 3.3 rebounds and 3.9 assists in 31.3 minutes (.428 FG%, .347 3FG%, .793 FT%). The 173-pound guard ranks 17th in NC State history in career points (1,507) and eighth in total assists (403).

Ellison, the son of Savannah native and former No. 1 overall pick Pervis Ellison, has appeared in 14 games (eight starts) as a rookie this season for the College Park Skyhawks, registering 10.5 points and 4.9 rebounds in 29.7 minutes per game (.505 FG%, .423 3FG%, .640 FT%).

The 6-6 guard played collegiately at St. John’s (2015-17), Pittsburgh (2018-19) and Hartford (2019-20). As a senior at Hartford, Ellison appeared in 23 games (all starts) and averaged 18.7 points, 9.7 rebounds and 1.7 assists in 34.8 minutes, garnering America East First Team honors (.514 FG%, .630 FT%). Throughout his collegiate career, he saw action in 112 contests (74 starts), notching 9.2 points, 4.5 rebounds and 2.0 assists in 24.8 minutes (.455 FG%, .304 3FG%, .612 FT%).

Barber will wear No. 5, while Ellison will wear No. 28.

Boston Celtics sign Al-Farouq Aminu and Norvel Pelle to 10-day contracts

The Boston Celtics have signed 10-year NBA veteran Al-Farouq Aminu and center Norvel Pelle to 10-day contracts, the team announced today.

Aminu, 31, has played in 711 career NBA games (445 starts) over 10 seasons with the LA Clippers, New Orleans, Dallas, Portland, Orlando, and Chicago, averaging 7.5 points (42.0% FG, 33.2% 3-PT, 74.6% FT), 6.0 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 1.0 steal, and 24.9 minutes. Originally selected eighth overall by the Clippers in the 2010 NBA Draft out of Wake Forest, Aminu has produced 11.3 points on 43.4% shooting (39.1% 3-PT), 7.3 rebounds, and 1.4 assists in 40 career NBA playoff games (33 starts) across five separate postseason appearances.

Pelle, 28, has competed in parts of two NBA seasons with Philadelphia, Brooklyn, Sacramento, and New York from 2019-20 to 2020-21, averaging 2.1 points on 52.4% shooting, 2.5 rebounds, and 1.1 blocked shots in 37 games. He played in 24 of his career 37 games with the 76ers as a rookie in 2019-20, tallying 2.4 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks. Pelle joins the Celtics from the Cleveland Charge of the NBA G League, where he posted 8.9 points on 51.9% shooting (87.5% FT), 8.3 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks in nine games (six starts).

Aminu will wear number 72, and Pelle will wear number 29 for Boston.