Category: NBA News Blog

NBA news blog

Timberwolves sign Chris Silva and Rayjon Tucker to 10-day contracts

The Minnesota Timberwolves have signed forward Chris Silva and guard Rayjon Tucker to 10-day contracts.

Silva was originally signed to Minnesota’s training camp roster on September 20, 2021 where he saw action in one preseason matchup with the Timberwolves, scoring four points and grabbing three rebounds in 6:18 minutes of action. In 12 games with the Iowa Wolves, he is averaging 15.1 points, 9.6 rebounds and 1.8 assists. He leads the Wolves in rebounds per game (9.6) and blocks per game (0.8).

Prior to his time with Minnesota and Iowa, he saw action in 15 total games during the 2020-21 season for the Miami Heat and Sacramento Kings where he averaged 2.1 points and 1.8 rebounds per game. During the 2019-20 season, the 6-8 forward split time between the Heat and the Sioux Falls Skyforce of the NBA G League where he saw action in 44 games for Miami, averaging 3.0 points on 61.5% shooting and 2.9 rebounds.

Tucker has appeared in 13 games for the Wisconsin Herd this season, averaging 17.1 points, 4.8 rebounds and 2.8 assists in 32.2 minutes per game.

Before his time with the Herd, he saw NBA action with the Utah Jazz and the Philadelphia 76ers. During the 2020-21 season in 14 games with the 76ers, he averaged 2.4 points, 0.8 rebounds and 0.4 assists. In 20 games with the Utah Jazz during the 2019-20 season, he held averages of 3.1 points, 1.0 rebounds and 0.3 assists.

Lakers sign Jemerrio Jones to a 10-day contract

The Los Angeles Lakers have signed forward Jemerrio Jones to a 10-day contract, pursuant to the NBA Hardship Exception provisions.

Jones has appeared in 11 games for the Wisconsin Herd this season, averaging 6.5 points, 8.3 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 1.5 steals in 25.7 minutes per game. Jones returns to Los Angeles after averaging 4.5 points, 8.2 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 1.2 steals in 23.8 minutes in six games (two starts) for the Lakers during the 2018-19 season

Lakers sign Mason Jones, waive Chaundee Brown Jr.

The Los Angeles Lakers requested waivers on guard Chaundee Brown Jr. and have signed guard Mason Jones to a two-way contract.

In 12 games with the South Bay Lakers this season, Jones has averaged 18.2 points (.518 FG%, .420 3FG%), 6.1 rebounds, 7.3 assists and 1.2 steals in 30.2 minutes per game. Jones has appeared in 32 career NBA games (one start) for the 76ers and Rockets, averaging 5.3 points, 1.7 rebounds and 1.3 assists in 10.4 minutes.

Dallas Mavericks sign Marquese Chriss to a 10-day contract

The Dallas Mavericks have signed forward Marquese Chriss to a 10-day contract under the COVID-related hardship allowance.

Chriss (6-9, 240) holds career averages of 8.0 points (45.5% FG, 28.9% 3-PT, 66.7% FT), 4.9 rebounds, 1.1 assists and 19.3 minutes in 258 games (147 starts) with Phoenix, Houston, Cleveland and Golden State. He averaged 6.5 points and 6.5 rebounds in two games for Golden State in 2020-21 before suffering a season-ending injury to his right leg.

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.

Chriss will wear #32 for the Mavericks.

Pelicans sign Jared Harper, waive Daulton Hommes

The New Orleans Pelicans have signed guard Jared Harper from the team’s G League affiliate, the Birmingham Squadron, to a two-way contract.

And in a related move, the Pelicans waived two-way player Daulton Hommes.

Harper, 6-0, 175, becomes the first Squadron player to receive a GATORADE Call-Up. In 14 games for the Squadron this season, Harper averaged 21.2 points, 2.7 rebounds and 4.9 assists in 32.7 minutes per game. The Atlanta, Ga., native has appeared in 11 NBA contests with New York and Phoenix over the last two seasons.

Harper previously played in the G League with the Northern Arizona Suns and Westchester Knicks, holding career G League averages of 20.7 points, 2.8 rebounds, 5.7 assists, and 1.1 steals in 60 contests.

Harper appeared in 106 career games (104 starts) in three seasons at Auburn (2016-19), averaging 13.5 points and 4.8 assists while shooting .384 in 29.5 minutes per game. The two-time All-SEC Second Team selection led the Tigers to the school’s first-ever Final Four appearance in 2018-19 and ranks fifth in Auburn school history with 511 assists.

Harper will wear #2 for the Pelicans.

Cleveland Cavaliers sign Justin Anderson and Luke Kornet to 10-day contracts

The Cleveland Cavaliers have signed forward Justin Anderson and center Luke Kornet to 10-day contracts via the NBA’s hardship exception, Cavaliers General Manager Koby Altman announced today from Cleveland Clinic Courts.

Anderson (6-6, 230) has appeared in 11 games (all starts) this season for the Fort Wayne Mad Ants, the NBA G League affiliate of the Indiana Pacers, averaging 14.3 points, 6.5 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 1.0 steals in 33.8 minutes per contest. Anderson, who was an All-NBA G League Third Team selection in 2020, has also played five NBA seasons from 2015-2020 with Dallas, Philadelphia, Atlanta and Brooklyn. Over 226 career NBA games (24 starts), he holds career averages of 5.2 points and 2.5 rebounds in 13.1 minutes. Additionally, Anderson has played in 15 career postseason contests and was drafted No. 21 overall in the 2015 NBA Draft by the Mavericks.

Kornet (7-2, 250) has appeared in 10 games (all starts) this season for the Maine Celtics, the NBA G League affiliate of the Boston Celtics, averaging 11.9 points, 7.5 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 2.7 blocks in 27.4 minutes per contest. Kornet, who was an All-NBA G League Third Team selection in 2018, has also played four NBA seasons from 2017-2021 with New York, Chicago and Boston, including last season (2020-21), appearing in 31 games with the Chicago Bulls and Boston Celtics. Over 133 career NBA games (35 starts), he holds career averages of 5.8 points and 2.6 rebounds in 15.2 minutes. Additionally, Kornet played in two postseason contests for Boston last season.

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

The Orlando Magic have signed free agent guard Tim Frazier and free agent forward Freddie Gillespie to 10-day contracts, President of Basketball Operations Jeff Weltman announced today.

Both players were signed via hardship exceptions by the NBA.

Orlando currently has five players (Mo Bamba, Ignas Brazdeikis, R.J. Hampton, Terrence Ross and Moritz Wagner) placed in the league’s Health and Safety Protocols.

Frazier (6’1”, 170, 11/1/90) played in five games last season (2020-21) 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 277 career NBA regular season games (81 starts) with Philadelphia, Portland, New Orleans, Washington, Milwaukee, Detroit and Memphis, averaging 5.0 ppg., 4.0 apg. and 2.3 rpg. in 17.6 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.

Frazier will wear #8 with the Orlando Magic.

Gillespie (6’9”, 245, 6/14/97) has played in all 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 signing, he leads the team in rebounding (T-2nd in NBA G League) and leads the entire NBA G League in blocked shots.

Last season, 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.

Gillespie will wear #44 with the Orlando Magic.

Jayson Tatum and Karl-Anthony Towns named NBA Players of the Week

Celtics All-Star forward Jayson Tatum has been named the Eastern Conference Player of the Week and Timberwolves center Karl-Anthony Towns named Western Conference Player of the Week for games played Dec. 13-19.

It is the first time this season – and the fifth time in Tatum’s career – that he has received the conference’s weekly award.

Tatum produced a team-best 31.3 points on 50.0% shooting (36.1% 3-PT, 86.7% FT), 7.3 rebounds, 4.0 assists, 1.3 steals, and 38.8 minutes over three home games – including two Boston wins – against Milwaukee, Golden State, and New York. He registered at least 25 points and 5+ rebounds in each of the three contests, including a season-high 42 points on 16-of-25 shooting (7-13 3-PT) in Boston’s 117-103 victory over the Bucks on Dec. 13.

In 30 games this season (all starts), Tatum has averaged 26.2 points (42.3% FG, 33.2% 3-PT, 81.9% FT), a career-high 8.6 rebounds, and 3.6 assists in 36.5 minutes. He has tallied at least 20 points in all nine games played in the month of December, averaging 30.6 points on 48.7% shooting (36.6% 3-PT), 8.8 rebounds, and 3.4 assists during that stretch.

This is the fifth time in his career that Towns has won the weekly award (Nov. 20, 2017, April 11, 2016, Mar. 13, 2017 and Oct. 28, 2019). Towns joins Kevin Garnett (15 times) as the only players in Timberwolves history to win the league’s weekly award five or more times.

Towns is the only player in the NBA this season to average 20+ ppg while shooting 50% or better from the field and 40% or better from three. Following the 3-0 week by the Timberwolves, he ranks 12th in the NBA in scoring (24.4 ppg) and tied for 17th in rebounds (9.0 rpg).

The 7-0 center has helped the Timberwolves climb back to .500 on the season, moving to 15-15 after Sunday night’s 111-105 win over the Dallas Mavericks, tied for the second-best 30-game start for the Wolves since 2006-07.

In the Dec. 15 124-107 victory at Denver, Towns scored 32 points on 12-of-18 shooting, while adding four rebounds, four assists and three steals, marking his seventh 30+ point game of the season and extending his franchise record to 85 career games with 30 or more points. With his three-pointer with 6:40 left in the third quarter against the Nuggets, Towns eclipsed 10,000 career points, joining Garnett as the only players in Timberwolves history to score 10,000+ points. He additionally became the first player from the 2015 draft class to notch 10,000 career points.

On Dec. 17 against the Los Angeles Lakers, Towns tallied his 12th 20+ point/10+ rebound game of the season (218th career), finishing with 28 points on 11-of-20 shooting, 10 rebounds, four assists and three blocks. Since he entered the league in 2015-16, no other player has registered more 20/10 games.

Towns finished the week on Dec. 19 against the Mavericks, leading the way for the Wolves with 24 points, seven rebounds and six assists, accounting for his 24th 20+ point game of the season (292nd career). He shot 11-of-13 from the charity stripe, marking a season-high for free throws made and was his third game of the season tallying 10+ free throws. The stat line also marked Towns’ seventh game of the season with 20+ points/5+ rebounds/5+ assists.

Celtics sign C.J. Miles to a 10-day contract

The Boston Celtics have signed 15-year NBA veteran C.J. Miles to a 10-day contract.

Originally selected by Utah in the second round (34th overall) of the 2005 NBA Draft, Miles, 34, has averaged 9.6 points on 41.1% shooting (35.8% 3-PT, 80.9% FT), 2.4 rebounds, 1.1 assists, and 20.4 minutes in 848 career NBA games (303 starts) with the Jazz, Cleveland, Indiana, Toronto, Memphis, and Washington.

Miles (G/F) has averaged at least 10.0 points in six of his 15 NBA seasons, including four straight double-digit scoring years from 2014-15 to 2017-18. The Dallas, TX native last played in the NBA in 2019-20, when he produced 6.4 points over 10 games with the Wizards.

Mavericks sign Theo Pinson to a 10-day contract

The Dallas Mavericks have signed forward Theo Pinson to a 10-day contract under the COVID-related hardship allowance.

Pinson (6-5, 212) spent the past two seasons with the New York Knicks after signing with the Brooklyn Nets as an undrafted rookie free agent in 2018. Pinson spent the beginning of this season with the Maine Celtics of the NBA G League, where he was averaging 16.4 points, 4.6 rebounds, 4.4 assists and 1.3 steals per game across 12 appearances (all starts). Pinson played four years at the University of North Carolina prior to entering the NBA and helped the Tar Heels win the 2017 NCAA Championship.

Pinson will wear #1 for the Mavericks.