NBA News Blog – Page 239 – NBA Blog

Pistons hire Ben Wallace as a basketball operations and team engagement advisor

The Detroit Pistons announced today that Ben Wallace will join the Pistons organization as a basketball operations and team engagement advisor. In this role, Wallace will assist Troy Weaver and the basketball operations staff, Dwane Casey and the coaching staff and serve as a mentor and development asset for players on the Pistons roster and those joining the Motor City Cruise. The former Pistons’ great will also engage on select organizational business initiatives and community efforts.

“Ben is a Hall of Famer and a Pistons legend who has continued to come back home and support our team and our organization,” said team owner Tom Gores. “He embodies everything we are building here and will be a real asset to Dwane, Troy and the rest of our staff. Ben helped set the standard for what it means to be a Piston and will be a tremendous influence for our young players.”

A September Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame inductee, Wallace played 1,088 career NBA games over 16 seasons with Washington, Orlando, Detroit, Chicago and Cleveland. He was acquired by Detroit from the Orlando Magic in 2000, spent nine seasons with the Pistons collecting NBA Defensive Player of the Year honors four times (2002, 2003, 2005, 2006) and was named an NBA All-Star four times (2003-06). Undrafted out of Virginia Union, Wallace was an All-NBA Second Team selection three times (2003, 2004, 2006), All-NBA Third Team selection twice (2002 and 2005), an NBA All-Defensive First Team selection five times (2002, 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2006), and an All-Defensive Second Team selection once (2007). During his first stint with Detroit (2000-06), the Pistons made the playoffs in five of seven years, winning Eastern Conference Championships in 2004 and 2005 and the NBA Championship in 2004. Wallace is the franchise’s all-time leader in regular-season and playoff blocks (1,486 and 215, respectively) and ranks first among Pistons’ all-time playoff leaders in rebounds (1,237). He holds franchise single-game records for blocks in a game (10 – twice), defensive rebounds in a quarter (10) and blocks in a quarter (6). In 655 games with the Pistons, Wallace averaged 6.6 points, 11.1 rebounds, 2.3 blocks, 1.4 steals and 1.5 assists in 32.6 minutes per game.

Wallace, a native of White Hall, AL, recorded 10,482 rebounds during his career, becoming one of only 40 players, and the only undrafted player (Moses Malone was drafted in the 1974 American Basketball Association Draft by the Portland Trail Blazers in the ABA Dispersal Draft in 1976) in NBA history to record 10,000 rebounds. He is also one of only 11 players in NBA history to record 10,000 rebounds and 2,000 blocks and is the shortest player at 6’9 to record 2,000 career blocks. Overall, Wallace averaged 5.7 points, 9.6 rebounds, 2.0 blocks, 1.3 steals and 1.3 assists in 29.5 minutes per game. His No. 3 jersey was retired by the Pistons in 2016.

Hornets waive DJ Carton and Xavier Sneed

The Charlotte Hornets have waived DJ Carton and Xavier Sneed.

Carton did not appear in a game for the Hornets during the preseason. He averaged 5.8 points and 2.8 assists in four games with Charlotte at the 2021 MGM Resorts NBA Summer League. An undrafted rookie out of Marquette, Carton averaged 13.0 points, 4.1 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game in 27 games during the 2020-21 season.

Sneed was also a member of the Hornets 2021 Summer League Roster in Las Vegas, where he averaged 6.3 points, 3.3 rebounds and 2.0 assists in four games. He did not make an appearance for Charlotte during the 2021 preseason. Sneed appeared in 13 games last season with Charlotte’s G League affiliate, the Greensboro Swarm, averaging 8.1 points, 4.0 rebounds and 1.9 steals per game.

Magic sign Jeremiah Tilmon, waive Jon Teske

The Orlando Magic have signed free agent center Jeremiah Tilmon.

Also today, the Magic have also waived center Jon Teske.

Tilmon (6’10”, 260, 11/25/98) played in 24 games (23 starts) last season as a senior at the University of Missouri, averaging 12.4 ppg., 7.3 rpg. and 1.42 blkpg. in 27.6 minpg., while shooting .614 (113-184) from the field. He was named to the 2020-21 All-SEC Second Team. Most recently, Tilmon played in one game with Orlando during the 2021 MGM Resorts NBA Summer League in Las Vegas, recording three points, three rebounds and one assist in 5:48 of action.

Tilmon appeared in 105 career games (97 starts) during four seasons (2017-21) at the University of Missouri, averaging 9.7 ppg., 5.4 rpg. and 1.08 blkpg. in 22.8 minpg., while shooting .574 (407-709) from the floor.

Tilmon will wear #23 with the Orlando Magic.

Teske was signed as a free agent by Orlando on September 8 and played in two preseason games, averaging 2.5 ppg. and 2.0 rpg in 5.8 minpg.

Longtime official Nets scorer Herb Turetzky is retiring

The Brooklyn Nets announced today the retirement of Herb Turetzky after a remarkable 54-year run as the only official scorer in the franchise’s history. In recognition of his years of dedication to the Nets organization, Turetzky has been named official scorer emeritus.

“For 54 years, I’ve had the best seat in the house,” Turetzky said. “It’s been a joy to work with so many incredible people over the years, and I am very proud to be a part of this great organization.”

“We want to extend our sincerest appreciation to Herb for his more than five decades of faithful service to the organization,” said Nets General Manager Sean Marks. “Herb is part of the fabric of Nets basketball, and it’s fitting that he was able to finish his career in his home borough. Herb, his wife, Jane, and their family will always be a part of the Brooklyn Nets family.”

“We are all grateful to Herb for his enduring impact on the Nets organization,” said John Abbamondi, CEO of BSE Global. “For over five decades, Herb had a front row seat to the development and evolution of our franchise, and he will forever hold an unparalleled place in Nets history. We are looking forward to welcoming Herb and the Turetzky family back to Barclays Center this season so he can enjoy his first-ever Nets game as a fan following 54 years of incredible service.”

A native of Brooklyn’s Brownsville neighborhood, Turetzky scored the first game in franchise history, a matchup between the New Jersey Americans and Pittsburgh Pipers of the American Basketball Association (ABA) on Oct. 23, 1967 at the Teaneck Armory, while he was a senior at Long Island University. That game began a career that spanned more than 2,200 games and was eventually certified as a record for professional basketball games scored in the Guinness Book of World Records. Turetzky also worked 1,465 consecutive regular season and playoff games, beginning in the 1984-85 season and concluding in Oct. 2018. Turetzky’s tenure saw him score games in nine home arenas with more than 500 players donning a Nets uniform in that time. He was on hand to score the greatest moments in franchise history, including ABA championships in 1974 and 1976 and consecutive trips to the NBA Finals in 2002 and 2003.

Turetzky has earned a number of honors throughout his career with the Nets, including his induction into the New York City Basketball Hall of Fame and the Basketball Old Timers of America Hall of Fame.

Clippers guard Jason Preston undergoes foot surgery

Clippers point guard Jason Preston underwent surgery today in Los Angeles to repair ligaments in his right foot.

He is expected to miss an extended period of time and there is no timetable for his return.

Per the team’s website, “the Clippers acquired the draft rights to Preston, the 33rd overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, from the Orlando Magic in exchange for the Detroit Pistons 2026 second-round selection and cash considerations.”

More from the Clippers’ site: “Preston averaged 15.7 points, 7.3 rebounds and 7.3 assists (fifth highest in the country) during his junior season at Ohio University. The 6-foot-4 guard finished first on his team in points per game, minutes per game, assists per game and second in rebounds per game.”

Hawks sign DaQuan Jeffries, waive A.J. Lawson

The Atlanta Hawks today signed guard DaQuan Jeffries and waived guard A.J. Lawson.

Jeffries, 6’5, spent last season with the Sacramento Kings and Houston Rockets, averaging 4.1 points and 2.3 rebounds in 15.9 minutes (.417 FG%, .875 FT%) in 31 games (five starts). In 44 career contests (five starts) over two seasons, the Tulsa product has averaged 4.0 points and 2.0 rebounds in 14.4 minutes (.438 FG%, .857 FT%).

Undrafted in 2019, Jeffries spent time at Oral Roberts and Western Texas before finishing at Tulsa from 2017-19. He is a native of Edmond, OK.

Lakers forward Trevor Ariza out after ankle surgery

Lakers forward Trevor Ariza had an arthroscopic debridement procedure performed on his right ankle today.

Team doctors will reevaluate Ariza in approximately eight weeks.

Per ESPN.com, “Ariza returned to L.A. for a second stint with the franchise after winning a championship alongside Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol in 2009, signing a veterans minimum contract after being recruited by Russell Westbrook to join shortly after Westbrook was traded from Washington.”

Pacers trade Edmond Sumner to Nets

The Brooklyn Nets have acquired guard Edmond Sumner and a 2025 second round draft pick in a trade with the Indiana Pacers (via Miami) for the draft rights to guard Juan Pablo Vaulet.

Sumner has appeared in 108 games (29 starts) across four seasons (2017-21) with the Pacers, recording averages of 5.7 points, 1.5 rebounds and 1.1 assists in 14.1 minutes per game. He was originally selected by Indiana with the 52nd overall pick in the second round of the 2017 NBA Draft.

Vaulet was selected with the 39th overall pick in the second round of the 2015 NBA Draft by Charlotte, and his draft rights were traded to Brooklyn.

Nets trade Sekou Doumbouya to Rockets, who waive Khyri Thomas

The Houston Rockets today announced they have acquired a 2024 second round pick and forward Sekou Doumbouya in a trade with the Brooklyn Nets, who receive cash considerations.

And in a related move, the Rockets have waived guard Khyri Thomas who appeared in five of the final six games for Houston last season.

Doumbouya was acquired by Brooklyn in a trade with the Detroit Pistons on Sept. 4. He played 13 minutes in the Nets’ preseason victory at the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday afternoon, totaling 11 points and four rebounds. In 94 games (30 starts) across two seasons (2019-21) with the Pistons, Doumbouya averaged 5.6 points and 2.8 rebounds in 17.3 minutes per game.

Status update on Suns guard Devin Booker

Here’s the Arizona Republic with the latest on Suns shooting guard Devin Booker:

Phoenix Suns coach Monty Williams said Devin Booker had “a lot more pop to his step” Tuesday, but still isn’t ready to play the two-time All-Star after sitting him for Monday’s preseason opener at Sacramento.

“I think Book is still a few days away from us even talking about him playing,” Williams said after Tuesday’s practice. “I think he needs more practice time. We weren’t able to do any 5-on-5. We’d love to have him in that environment before we put him on the floor. So we haven’t even talked about that as a staff yet.”