Category: NBA News Blog

NBA news blog

Grizzlies sign Ahmad Caver and Matthew Hurt, waive Sean McDermott and Romeo Weems

The Memphis Grizzlies have signed guard Ahmad Caver and forward Matthew Hurt.

In addition, the Grizzlies waived wing Sean McDermott and forward Romeo Weems.

Caver (6-2, 174) has appeared in 54 games (two starts) in two seasons with the NBA G League’s Memphis Hustle following a four-year collegiate career at Old Dominion. Unselected in the 2019 NBA Draft, the 25-year-old competed in 15 games off the bench for the Hustle last season and averaged 16.5 points, 4.1 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 1.93 steals in 29.4 minutes while shooting 52.5 percent from the field and 42.5 percent from 3-point range.

Hurt (6-9, 235) was selected to the 2020-21 All-ACC First Team and was named the 2020-21 ACC Most Improved Player after boosting his scoring average from 9.8 points as a freshman to a conference-leading 18.3 points during his sophomore year at Duke. The 21-year-old also shot 55.6 percent from the field and 44.4 percent from 3-point range last season. Unselected in the 2021 NBA Draft, Hurt appeared in 55 games (46 starts) in two years with the Blue Devils and averaged 13.5 points, 4.8 rebounds and 1.1 assists in 25.9 minutes.

McDermott (6-6, 195), signed on Sept. 23, appeared in 18 games off the bench as a rookie for the Grizzlies last season and averaged 2.2 points and 1.1 rebounds in 8.8 minutes. Unselected in the 2020 NBA Draft following a four-year collegiate career at Butler, the 24-year-old also started six games for the Hustle and averaged 17.8 points, 4.5 rebounds and 1.5 assists in 30.8 minutes.

Weems (6-7, 210), signed on Oct. 8, made two appearances for the Grizzlies this preseason and averaged 2.0 points, 2.0 rebounds and 1.00 steals in 13.0 minutes. Unselected in the 2021 NBA Draft, the 20-year-old appeared in 50 games (47 starts) in two years at DePaul and averaged 7.7 points, 4.9 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 1.30 steals in 29.6 minutes.

Pelicans exercise contract options on Zion Williamson, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Jaxson Hayes and Kira Lewis Jr.

The New Orleans Pelicans have exercised fourth-year options on guard Nickeil Alexander-Walker, center Jaxson Hayes, and forward Zion Williamson, and a third-year option on guard Kira Lewis Jr.

Alexander-Walker has appeared in 93 games (14 starts) in two seasons with the Pelicans, averaging 8.3 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 2.1 assists in 17.2 minutes per contest. In 2020-21, he raised his rookie averages in points (+5.3), rebounds (+1.3), and assists (+0.3).

Hayes has appeared in 124 contests (17 starts) in his first two professional seasons, averaging 7.4 points and 4.2 rebounds in 16.5 minutes per game while shooting .647 from the field.

Williamson has posted averages of 25.7 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 3.2 assists, while shooting .604 from the floor, .333 from three-point range and .683 from the free throw line in 85 career appearances (all starts) with New Orleans. The 2021 All-Star selection is coming off of a sophomore season in which he averaged 27.0 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 3.7 assists in 33.2 minutes per game while shooting .611 from the floor. Williamson became the first player in NBA history to average at least 27 points on .600 shooting for an entire season.

Selected 13th overall in the 2020 NBA Draft, Lewis Jr. appeared in 54 games off the bench in his rookie campaign, averaging 6.4 points, 2.3 assists and 1.3 rebounds in 16.7 minutes per contest while shooting.386 from the floor, .333 from three-point range and .843 from the line.

Pelicans sign guard John Petty Jr.

The New Orleans Pelicans have signed guard John Petty Jr.

Petty Jr., 6-5, 184, played four seasons at Alabama in which he averaged 11.7 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 2.0 assists in 131 games (105 starts), finishing his career with a school-record 311 made three-pointers. Petty Jr. is coming off of a senior campaign where he averaged 12.6 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 1.9 assists en route to First Team All-SEC honors. Petty Jr. led the SEC with 77 made threes during the 2020-21 season.

The Pelicans roster now stands at 18.

Cavaliers sign Ed Davis and Justin James

The Cleveland Cavaliers have signed forward Ed Davis, Cavaliers General Manager Koby Altman announced today from Cleveland Clinic Courts.

The Cavs today also signed guard Justin James (6-7, 190) to their 2021 training camp roster.

Davis (6-9, 225) appeared in 23 games (seven starts) for the Minnesota Timberwolves during the 2020-21 season, averaging 2.1 points and 5.0 rebounds in 13.0 minutes. Over 11 NBA seasons with Toronto, Memphis, L.A. Lakers, Portland, Brooklyn, Utah and Minnesota, Davis has played in 691 games (103 starts) and holds career averages of 6.2 points on .566 shooting from the field and 6.6 rebounds in 19.6 minutes. Additionally, Davis has played in 33 postseason games, averaging 3.2 points and 4.6 rebounds in 11.8 minutes. Davis was originally drafted out of North Carolina as the No. 13 overall pick in the 2010 NBA Draft by the Raptors.

James appeared in 36 games during the 2020-21 season for the Sacramento Kings, averaging 3.9 points in 8.6 minutes. James was drafted No. 40 overall in the 2019 NBA draft by the Kings after spending four years at University of Wyoming.

Fanbo Zeng signs with G League Ignite

Fanbo Zeng, a top international prospect from China, has signed to play with NBA G League Ignite, NBA G League President Shareef Abdur-Rahim announced today.

A native of Harbin, China, Fanbo was among ESPN’s top-ranked forwards in the class of 2022. He spent two years at Windermere Prep in Florida before returning to China in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. As a sophomore in 2019-20, Fanbo averaged 15.5 points, 7.2 rebounds, 2.6 blocks and 2.1 assists to earn Class 3A First Team All-State and Orlando Sentinel All-Area First Team honors.

NBA G League Ignite is a first-of-its-kind program that gives top young prospects a chance to begin their professional careers while receiving mentorship and life skills training in preparing for the NBA Draft.

Fanbo joins an elite group of young talent, including Jaden Hardy, Michael Foster, MarJon Beauchamp, Dyson Daniels and Scoot Henderson on Ignite’s latest roster. The mix of top youth standouts and NBA and G League veterans look to continue the program’s success after its inaugural season, which featured strong debuts by elite prospects Jalen Green, Jonathan Kuminga, Daishen Nix and Isaiah Todd, and international standout Princepal Singh.

Raptors waive Freddie Gillespie and Reggie Perry

The Toronto Raptors have waived forwards Freddie Gillespie and Reggie Perry.

Gillespie, 6-foot-8, 243 pounds, averaged 2.8 rebounds and 7.5 minutes across five preseason contests. In 20 games (two starts) with Toronto during the 2020-21 season, Gillespie posted averages of 5.6 points, 4.9 rebounds and 19.6 minutes. Prior to his time with the Raptors, Gillespie averaged 10.5 points, 10.3 rebounds, 2.3 blocks and 27.8 minutes in 15 games with the Memphis Hustle in the NBA G League bubble in Orlando.

Perry, 6-foot-9, 255 pounds, appeared in two preseason games, averaging 6.8 minutes, 4.0 points and one rebound. He was selected in the second round (57th overall) by the LA Clippers in the 2020 NBA Draft and his rights were traded to Brooklyn in a three-team deal with Detroit. In 26 games as a rookie with the Nets last season, he posted averages of 3.0 points, 2.8 rebounds and 8.1 minutes.

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).

Pelicans waive James Banks, Malcolm Hill and Wenyen Gabriel

The New Orleans Pelicans have waived center James Banks, guard Malcolm Hill, and forward Wenyen Gabriel.

Banks, 6-10, 250, most recently played for Hapoel Be’er Sheva of the Israeli Super League, appearing in 13 games and averaging 5.1 points, 4.8 rebounds and 1.8 blocks in 20.5 minutes per game. Banks appeared in 31 games (29 starts) during the 2019-20 season for Georgia Tech, where he was voted to the ACC’s All-Defensive team after averaging 9.5 points, 7.6 rebounds, 1.0 assists and 2.5 blocks per game.

Hill, 6-6, 225, played four seasons overseas in the Philippines, Germany, Kazakhstan and Israel from 2016-21. During the 2020-21 season, appeared in 19 games (13 starts) averaging 10.0 points, 4.6 rebounds and 1.4 assists in 21.3 minutes per game for Hapoel Jerusalem of the Israeli Basketball Premier League and the Basketball Champions League.

Gabriel, 6-9, 205, appeared in 21 games off the bench for New Orleans last season, averaging 3.4 points and 2.6 rebounds in 11.5 minutes per contest.

The Pelicans roster now stands at 17.

Clippers sign Terance Mann to contract extension

The LA Clippers have signed Terance Mann to a multi-year contract extension.

Per the Los Angeles Times, “on top of exercising their $1.9-million team option for the 2022-23 season on Mann, the Clippers on Tuesday reached an agreement with the wing on a two-year contract extension, according to two people with knowledge of the deal. The extension is worth $22 million overall, one of the people said. It begins in 2023-24, when Mann will receive $10.5 million; the following season, his salary rises to $11.4 million.”

“Terance personifies many of the qualities we value,” said Lawrence Frank, Clippers president of basketball operations. “He is a giving teammate and an unrelenting worker who improves himself and those around him every day. In only two seasons, we’ve watched him grow from a second-round pick to a key contributor on a playoff team. We want him to be a big part of our future, and we’re glad he wants the same. We’re thrilled for Terance and excited for what’s to come.”

Listed at 6-foot-5, 215 lbs, the guard-forward was originally selected by the Clippers with the 48th overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft.

Mann set career highs in points (7.0), rebounds (3.6), assists (1.6) and FG% (50.9) last season.

A native of Brooklyn, N.Y., Mann also appeared in 19 playoff games in 2021, averaging 7.6 points and 2.7 rebounds while shooting 51.9% from the field.

In Game 6 of the Western Conference semifinals, Mann became the first player in franchise history to score at least 20 points in a postseason quarter, finishing with 39 and sparking the Clippers to their first conference finals appearance.

Over two seasons with the team, Mann owns career averages of 5.3 points, 2.8 rebounds and 1.5 assists in 108 appearances.

Lakers sign Sekou Doumbouya to two-way contract

The Los Angeles Lakers have signed Sekou Doumbouya to a two-way contract.

Doumbouya has appeared in 94 NBA games (30 starts) for the Detroit Pistons, averaging 5.6 points and 2.8 rebounds in 17.3 minutes. Originally drafted with the 15th overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft, Doumbouya played 16 NBA G League games (14 starts) for Grand Rapids during the 2019-20 season, averaging 17.4 points, 5.5 rebounds and 1.5 assists in 27.0 minutes per game.