Category: NBA News Blog

NBA news blog

Grizzlies sign Jaren Jackson Jr. to contract extension

The Memphis Grizzlies have signed forward/center Jaren Jackson Jr. to a multi-year contract extension.

Per the Memphis Commercial Appeal, “Jackson agreed to a four-year, $105 million rookie contract extension, a league source told The Commercial Appeal. The source requested anonymity because terms of the deal have not been made public. Jackson’s new deal is the third largest in franchise history behind Mike Conley’s five-year, $153 million extension in 2016 and Marc Gasol signing a five-year, $113 million extension in 2015.”

Jackson Jr. has appeared in 126 games (117 starts) over three seasons with the Grizzlies and has averaged 15.4 points, 4.7 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 1.52 blocks in 26.9 minutes.

The 22-year-old was selected by Memphis with the fourth overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft after one year at Michigan State University, where he became the second player ever to be named the Big Ten Freshman of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year in the same season. Jackson Jr. was named to the 2018-19 NBA All-Rookie First Team and was selected to the NBA Rising Stars teams in 2019 and 2020 as part of NBA All-Star Weekends in Charlotte and Chicago.

During the 2019-20 season, Jackson Jr. scored a career-high 43 points and tied the franchise record with nine 3-pointers made against the Milwaukee Bucks on Dec. 13, 2019, becoming the youngest player in NBA history (at 20 years, 83 days) to make at least nine threes in a game. He also set club records for points in a single quarter (26, third quarter) and a single half (34, second half) and 3-pointers in a single quarter (seven, third quarter) and single half (eight, second half).

No other player in NBA history has reached Jackson Jr.’s number of 3-pointers made (213) and blocks (192) within his first 126 career games. He ranks second in franchise history in blocks per game and 10th in total blocks.

Rockets add Garrison Mathews, waive Anthony Lamb

The Houston Rockets have claimed guard Garrison Mathews off waivers from Boston and converted his contract to a two-way deal.

And in a related move, the Rockets have waived forward Anthony Lamb.

Mathews (6-5, 215) was eligible for the 2019 NBA Draft after earning Atlantic Sun Conference Player of the Year honors as a senior at Lipscomb. He appeared in a total of 82 games with 24 starts for Washington over the past two seasons while averaging 5.5 points in 16.2 minutes per game. Mathews also hit 95 3-pointers on 38.9% shooting during that span after averaging 3.0 3-pointers made on 39.3% shooting over his final two collegiate seasons.

Spurs exercise contract options on Keldon Johnson and Devin Vassell

The San Antonio Spurs have exercised their fourth-year team option on forward Keldon Johnson, as well as their third-year option on guard Devin Vassell for the 2022-23 season.

Johnson is entering his third year with the Spurs after appearing in 69 games last season and averaging 12.8 points, 6.0 rebounds and 1.8 assists in 28.5 minutes. He is one of three Spurs in franchise history (Tim Duncan and David Robinson) to record multiple games with 25-plus points and 10-or-more rebounds in their first 50 career games. Johnson was a member of this summer’s Team USA Basketball squad that captured the gold medal at the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo. Originally selected by San Antonio in the first round of the 2019 NBA Draft (29th overall), Johnson has seen action in 86 regular season games, averaging 12.0 points, 5.5 rebounds and 1.6 assists in 26.4 minutes.

Vassell enters his second season with San Antonio following his rookie year when he averaged 5.5 points, 2.8 rebounds in 17.0 minutes over 62 games. He became just the seventh rookie in franchise history to record 50-plus three pointers in their first season. The former Florida State Seminole made his NBA debut at Memphis on Dec. 23, 2020, becoming the first rookie to play at least 20 minutes in a Spurs season-opener since James Anderson (27) on Oct. 27, 2010. Vassell became the first Spurs lottery pick since the 1997 season when the Silver and Black selected him with the 11th overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft.

Hornets waive Wes Iwundu

The Charlotte Hornets have waived forward Wes Iwundu.

Iwundu appeared in four games for Charlotte during the preseason, averaging 0.8 points and 1.8 rebounds in 11.0 minutes per game. A four-year veteran, he has accrued averages of 4.3 points and 2.4 rebounds in 16.8 minutes per game in 223 career contests, including 50 starts. Iwundu was originally acquired by the Hornets from New Orleans on Aug. 7 as part of a three-team trade along with a protected 2022 first-round draft pick and cash considerations.

The Hornets roster currently stands at 17 players.

Lakers sign Jay Huff to two-way contract

The Los Angeles Lakers have signed center Jay Huff to a two-way contract.

Huff appeared in 25 games (all starts) for Virginia last season, averaging 13.0 points (.585 FG%, .387 3P%), 7.1 rebounds, 1.0 assist and 2.6 blocks in 27.0 minutes per game.

The 2020-21 ACC All-Defensive First Team selection led the conference in field goal percentage (.585) and scored in double figures 18 times last season.

In four seasons at Virginia, Huff averaged 7.6 points, 4.5 rebounds and 1.6 blocks in 101 career games and helped his team win the 2019 NCAA Championship.

Celtics sign Brodric Thomas to two-way contract

The Boston Celtics have signed guard Brodric Thomas to a two-way contract.

Thomas, 24, played in 32 NBA games with Houston and Cleveland as a rookie in 2020-21, averaging 3.9 points (36.1% FG), 1.7 rebounds, 0.9 assists, 0.5 steals, and 12.5 minutes. The 6-5 guard scored in double figures twice, including a 14-point, 4-rebound, 3-steal performance at Brooklyn on May 16.

Thomas also earned Second Team All-NBA G League honors and was selected to the NBA G-League All-Rookie Team after averaging 18.5 points on 44.7% shooting (41.3% 3-PT), 7.3 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 1.9 steals, 1.1 blocked shots, and 33.5 minutes in 14 games (13 starts) with Rio Grande Valley and Canton.

In three collegiate seasons at Truman State University from 2017-18 to 2019-20, the Bolingbrook, Illinois native produced 18.8 points (48.3% FG, 38.1% 3-PT), 6.7 rebounds, 3.6 assists, and 1.6 steals across 80 career games (78 starts). He was named to the Great Lakes Valley Conference All-First Team and All-Defensive Team in each of his collegiate campaigns and earned GLVC Conference Player of the Year honors in 2020.

Raptors waive forward Ishmail Wainright

The Toronto Raptors have waived forward Ishmail Wainright.

Wainright, 6-foot-4, 241 pounds, averaged 4.3 rebounds, 3.0 rebounds and 11.7 minutes in three preseason games. He recorded seven points and four rebounds in the preseason finale Oct. 12 at Washington. Wainright signed with the Raptors as a free agent in the summer, after spending the last three seasons overseas in France (2020-21) and Germany (2018-20).

Toronto’s roster now stands at the league maximum 15 players, with two two-way players.

The Raptors finished their 2021 preseason schedule with a 3-2 mark. They will open the 2021-22 regular season Wednesday, Oct. 20 when they host the Washington Wizards at Scotiabank Arena at 7:30 p.m. (TSN / Sportsnet 590 The FAN).

Memphis Grizzlies waive Kris Dunn, David Stockton and Matthew Hurt

The Memphis Grizzlies have waived guard Kris Dunn, forward Matthew Hurt and guard David Stockton to finalize the 2021-22 regular season roster.

The Grizzlies will tip-off the 2021-22 regular season against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday, Oct. 20, at FedExForum.

Dunn (6-3, 205), who was acquired from Boston via trade on Sept. 15, appeared in one preseason game for the Grizzlies on Oct. 5. The 27-year-old has appeared in 231 games (126 starts) and has averaged 8.2 points, 3.3 rebounds and 4.1 assists in 24.1 minutes in five seasons with the Timberwolves, Bulls and Hawks since he was selected fifth overall in the 2016 NBA Draft out of Providence.

Hurt (6-9, 235), who was signed on Oct. 14, was selected to the 2020-21 All-ACC First Team and was named the 2020-21 ACC Most Improved Player after scoring a conference-leading 18.3 points last season as a sophomore at Duke. The 21-year-old went unselected in the 2021 NBA Draft.

Stockton (5-11, 165), who was signed on Oct. 15, is a six-year veteran of the NBA G League who averaged 14.3 points, 3.7 rebounds and 5.6 assists in 29.5 minutes in 15 games last season with the Memphis Hustle. The 30-year-old also has played parts of two NBA seasons with the Sacramento Kings (2014-15) and Utah Jazz (2017-18) since going unselected in the 2014 NBA Draft.

OKC Thunder waive Mamadi Diakite, Justin Jaworski and Oliver Sarr

The Oklahoma City Thunder has waived forward Mamadi Diakite, guard Justin Jaworski and center Oliver Sarr it was announced today by Executive Vice President and General Manager Sam Presti.

Diakite appeared in two preseason games for the Thunder and averaged 4.5 points and 2.0 rebounds in 12.2 minutes. He was originally claimed off waivers by the Thunder on Sept. 26, 2021.

Jaworski and Sarr did not appear in a preseason contest.

The Thunder roster now stands at 17.

Trail Blazers waive Patrick Patterson, Marquese Chriss and Quinn Cook

The Portland Trail Blazers have waived Marquese Chriss, Quinn Cook, and Patrick Patterson, it was announced today by president of basketball operations Neil Olshey.

All three players were signed to training camp contracts in September.

Chriss appeared in all four preseason games for the Trail Blazers, posting averages of 4.8 points, 3.0 rebounds, 1.00 steal and 13.2 minutes.

Cook played in two preseason games for Portland, averaging 3.5 points, 1.0 rebound, 0.5 assists and 13.3 minutes.

In two preseason appearances, Patterson averaged 3.5 points, 4.0 rebounds and 13.7 minutes.

Portland’s roster stands at 14 roster players and two two-way players.

The Trail Blazers begin the 2021-22 regular season at Moda Center on Wednesday, October 20 against Sacramento.