Category: NBA News Blog

NBA news blog

Pelicans and Jonas Valanciunas agree to contract extension

Pelicans big man Jonas Valanciunas will be sticking around for a while. Via the New Orleans Times Picayune:

For the second consecutive season, the Pelicans signed their starting center to a contract extension without ever watching him play a regular-season game in a New Orleans uniform.

Wednesday, the Pelicans and Jonas Valanciunas agreed to a two-year, $30.1 million extension, which will keep the 6-foot-11, 265-pound Lithuanian big man under contract through the 2023-24 season, a source said…

Only 11 months earlier, the Pelicans signed Steven Adams to a two-year extension worth $35 million. Adams averaged 7.6 points last season, the fewest since his rookie season, and was traded in July.

The Pelicans sent Adams and Eric Bledsoe to the Memphis Grizzlies in a salary shedding maneuver. They got back Valanciunas in the trade and were forced to move down seven spots in last summer’s draft.

Jaylen Brown had some breathing issues due to COVID-19

The NBA season started yesterday, and the Celtics have their first game of the new year tonight. Fortunately for them, young star Jaylen Brown will be in action. Here’s ESPN.com on what Brown just went through:

Boston Celtics star Jaylen Brown, who tested positive for COVID-19 on Oct. 8, will be in the starting lineup for Wednesday’s opener against the New York Knicks, coach Ime Udoka said.

Brown, who had been listed as questionable on Tuesday afternoon, said he had “some mild symptoms for the most part,” including some breathing issues that he used meditation to navigate through.

“The most concerning was my breathing,” Brown said. “I had to really focus to get my breathing kind of back to normal. … But the more I focused on it, the better I was able to gain more efficiency in it.”

Jim Boylen named head coach of November 2021 USA Basketball World Cup Qualifying Team

Former college and NBA head coach Jim Boylen has been selected head coach of the November 2021 USA Basketball World Cup Qualifying Team, and assisting him on the bench will be experienced USA Basketball coaches Ty Ellis and Othella Harrington.

The USA squad will train Nov. 20-25 in Houston and will participate in the first competition window of 2021-23 FIBA World Cup Qualifying games that will be played in a bubble format in Chihuahua, Mexico. The Americans will face Cuba on Nov. 28 and will meet host Mexico on Nov. 29.

Players selected to represent the USA in the FIBA World Cup Qualifying games are expected to primarily be from the NBA G League.

“I am excited, honored and thankful to take on the responsibilities of head coach for USA Basketball’s World Cup Qualifying Team. To have this opportunity to represent my country in the November FIBA World Cup Qualifying games is truly humbling,” said Boylen. “I have previous coaching experience with both Othella Harrington and Ty Ellis. They’re really good coaches and they have international experience, so, their basketball knowledge and advice will be invaluable. I’m really looking forward to this amazing opportunity.”

This will be Boylen’s first experience with USA Basketball.

DeMar DeRozan buys new Chicago mansion

DeMar DeRozan reportedly has himself a new house that has an interesting former owner. Via the Chicago Tribune:

The Chicago Bulls’ newly acquired star forward DeMar DeRozan has been revealed as the $4.5 million buyer of a River North mansion sold earlier this month by the ex-wife of Bulls great Michael Jordan.

Juanita Vanoy Jordan bought the six-bedroom, 10,179-square-foot Georgian-style mansion in 2007, a year after she and His Airness divorced. The mansion is in a neighborhood with several ties to past Chicago Bulls stars. Former Chicago Bulls forward Jimmy Butler owned a six-bedroom, 10,000-square-foot mansion on the block until selling it for $4.2 million in 2017.

Celtics re-sign Jabari Parker

After recently waiving him, the Boston Celtics have re-signed forward Jabari Parker.

Signed by the Celtics on April 16 of last season, Parker, 26, averaged 6.4 points (54.2% FG, 76.9% FT), 3.6 rebounds, 1.0 assist, and 13.8 minutes over 10 games played with Boston in 2020-21. He played in four postseason games during Boston’s First Round series against Brooklyn, producing 8.5 points on 61.9% shooting, and 3.8 rebounds in 14.8 minutes.

Selected with the second overall pick by the Milwaukee Bucks in the 2014 NBA Draft, Parker has averaged 14.5 points (49.4% FG, 32.1% 3-PT, 74.1% FT), 5.6 rebounds, 2.0 assists, and 28.3 minutes in 298 career games (190 starts) over seven NBA seasons with Milwaukee, Chicago, Atlanta, Washington, Sacramento, and Boston. He has averaged at least 14.0 points in four of his seven NBA seasons, including two straight years from 2018-19 to 2019-20.

Timberwolves exercise contract options on Anthony Edwards and Jaden McDaniels

The Minnesota Timberwolves have exercised their third-year options on guard Anthony Edwards and forward Jaden McDaniels.

Edwards, 20, enters his second season in the NBA after finishing up his rookie season where he started 55 games while playing in all 72 games, the only NBA rookie to play in all 72. He averaged 19.3 points, 4.7 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 1.1 steals in 32.1 minutes per game. The Atlanta native shot 41.7% from the floor, 32.9% from beyond the arc and 76.6% from the free throw line. Edwards’ 19.3 points per game marked the most by any rookie in Timberwolves history and his 171 total three-pointers are the second-most in a single-season by a Wolves player, behind Kevin Love (190 in 2013-14). He finished the season ranked in the top 10 among rookies in multiple statistical categories, including first among rookies in points per game (19.3), tied for fifth in steals (1.1) and ninth in assists per game (2.9). Edwards was drafted by Minnesota in the first round (first overall) of the 2020 NBA Draft.

McDaniels, 21, wrapped up his rookie season last year averaging 6.8 points on 44.7% shooting, 3.7 rebounds and 1.0 blocks per game in 63 games played. Among all rookies, the Federal Way, Wash. native ranked second in total blocks (60) and 10th in total three-pointers (72). The Wolves originally acquired the draft rights to the 6-9 forward from the Oklahoma City Thunder on November 20, 2020. He was drafted in the first round (28th overall) by the Los Angeles Lakers of the 2020 NBA Draft.

Raptors exercise contract options on Precious Achiuwa and Malachi Flynn

The Toronto Raptors have exercised the third-year team option on the rookie scale contracts of forward Precious Achiuwa (ah-CHEW-uh) and guard Malachi Flynn.

Both players are now signed through the 2022-23 season.

Achiuwa, 6-foot-8, 244 pounds, was acquired from the Miami Heat along with Goran Dragic as part of a sign-and-trade for Kyle Lowry. He averaged 5.0 points, 3.4 rebounds and 12.1 minutes in 61 games (four starts) as a rookie last season. For his efforts, Achiuwa was named to the World Team roster for the 2021 NBA Rising Stars. He was picked 20th overall by Miami in the 2020 NBA Draft.

Flynn, 6-foot-1, 176 pounds, was selected 29th overall by the Raptors in the 2020 NBA Draft. He averaged 7.5 points, 2.9 assists, 2.5 rebounds and 19.7 minutes in 47 games (14 starts) during his rookie campaign. Flynn scored in double figures in 17 contests, including 20 or more on four times. He earned Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month honours for April; posting averages of 12.7 points, 4.8 assists, 4.1 rebounds and 28.3 minutes in 15 games.

Lakers add Avery Bradley via waiver wire

The Los Angeles Lakers have been awarded guard Avery Bradley on a waiver claim, it was announced today by Vice President of Basketball Operations and General Manager Rob Pelinka.

Per SCNG via the Press Enterprise, “Bradley was cut earlier this preseason by the Golden State Warriors, and he gives the Lakers immediate depth at positions where they’ve seen injuries early on. ESPN reported that Bradley is on a non-guaranteed contract. The 6-foot-2 Bradley played 49 games for the Lakers during the 2019-20 season, starting primarily as the defender on the opposing ball-handler and picking up full-court assignments.”

Bradley returns to Los Angeles after averaging 8.6 points, 2.3 rebounds and 1.3 assists in 49 games for the Lakers during the 2019-20 Championship season.

Hawks sign Kevin Huerter to contract extension

The Atlanta Hawks have signed guard Kevin Huerter to a contract extension, which begins with the 2022-23 season.

Per multiple reports, Huerter’s extension is for four years, $65 million.

“It was important to our group to secure Kevin as a part of our team moving forward,” said Hawks President of Basketball Operations and General Manager Travis Schlenk. “He’s developed into a versatile, two-way player who can fit any lineup and can play minutes all over the perimeter. We are excited his future is in Atlanta.”

Per the Atlanta Journal Constitution, “Huerter joins teammates Trae Young, John Collins and Clint Capela in securing contract extensions entering the season as the Hawks maintain even more continuity from the team that won two games in the Eastern Conference finals last year.”

In 69 games (49 starts) last season, the 6’7 guard averaged 11.9 points, 3.5 assists, 3.3 rebounds and a team-best 1.2 steals (tied for 31st in the NBA) in 30.8 minutes (.432 FG%, .363 3FG%, .781 FT%). He scored 10-19 points 39 times and 20-29 seven times, recording three double-doubles. Huerter led the team in total minutes played (2,126), in rebounding once, assists three times, steals 26 times and blocks five times.

More from the Journal Constitution: “Last season, Huerter’s stock rose considerably when he took a leap forward on defense, often asked to guard one of the opposing team’s best players, with two-way wings De’Andre Hunter and Cam Reddish out injured for much of the year, and guard Bogdan Bogdanovic missing time due to injury, as well.”

In 18 playoff contests in 2021 (10 starts), he put in 11.1 points, 3.8 rebounds and 2.8 assists in 31.0 minutes (.428 FG%, .347 3FG%, .706 FT%). In helping vault the Hawks to the Eastern Conference Finals for the second time in Atlanta franchise history, Huerter finished with a career playoff high 27 points, seven rebounds, three assists and a steal in 40 minutes (10-18 FGs, 2-4 3FGs and 5-7 FTs) in a 103-96 win in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals at Philadelphia.

He appeared in 56 games (48 starts) in 2019-20, averaging 12.2 points, 4.1 rebounds and 3.8 assists in 31.4 minutes (.413 FG%, .380 3FG%, .828 FT%), finishing second on the team with 127 3FGM, including two games with six triples. Huerter scored in double figures 35 times, including six games with 20-or-more.

As a rookie in 2018-19, the Maryland product compiled 9.7 points, 3.3 rebounds and 2.9 assists in 27.3 minutes (.419 FG%, .385 3FG%, .732 FT%) in 75 games (59 starting assignments). Among qualifying rookies, he ranked third in 3FG% (36th in the NBA), sixth in apg, 7th in spg, 7th in mpg, 10th in ppg and 12th in rpg. He was named to the 2019 NBA All-Rookie Second Team.

Atlanta selected Huerter in the first round (19th overall) of the 2018 NBA Draft.

Pacers sign Malcolm Brogdon to contract extension

The Indiana Pacers have signed guard Malcolm Brogdon to a multi-year contract extension.

Per multiple reports, Brogdon’s extension is a two-year, $45 million deal.

According to the Indianapolis Star, this “brings Brogdon to a guaranteed $89.3 million for four years. The extension prevents him from being traded for the next six months, meaning he can’t be traded this season. Brogdon had been involved in rumors he would be part of a package in a trade to the Philadelphia 76ers for Ben Simmons.”

“Malcolm has established himself as a very important part of our organization, not only with his performance on the court but also by the character he displays beyond it,” said Pacers President of Basketball Operations Kevin Pritchard. “He has become one of our undisputed leaders – continually supporting his teammates and setting them up for success – while also demonstrating the drive, dedication, and work ethic necessary to establish himself as one of the premier guards in the NBA.”

Brogdon, the 2016-17 NBA Rookie of the Year, was acquired by the Pacers on July 6, 2019, and has appeared in 297 career regular-season games, posting averages of 15.1 points, 4.7 assists and 4.1 rebounds in 29.8 minutes per game. Additionally, he was named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team and was selected to participate in both the 2017 and 2018 NBA Rising Stars Challenges at All Star weekend. During the 2018-19 season, Brogdon became only the eighth player in NBA history record a “50/40/90” season, when he shot 50.5% from the field, 42.6% from three-point range, and a league-leading 92.8% from the free-throw line.