Category: NBA News Blog

NBA news blog

Jordan Poole shines for Warriors in first preseason game of year

It’s always fun to see who stands out in preseason games. Because, quite often, for minutes reasons, it often isn’t who you’d expect. On the Warriors, here’s the Bay Area News Group/San Jose Mercury News:

It’s one preseason game. An exhibition. It’s important not to overreact.

But after watching the Warriors play Monday night in Portland, it’s hard to not be excited about the team’s possibilities this season.

This team looks significantly better than last year’s operation. Lightyears ahead, perhaps…

Now, Jordan Poole looking like the third Splash Brother — he had 30 points in the preseason opener Monday — was obviously a critical aspect of the Warriors’ success in Portland. Poole thrived in the latter part of last season and was rightly slotted in as the Dubs’ two-guard next to Steph Curry again Monday. That’s his job until Klay Thompson returns (and perhaps for a while after that, even). Poole had a few defensive mistakes Monday, but he has also improved enough on that side of the ball since his mid-season G-League stint that he should also be part of the Dubs’ closing lineup — even with Thompson in the fold.

Utah Jazz waive guard Justin James

The Utah Jazz have waived guard Justin James.

James (6-6, 190, Wyoming) was originally signed to a two-way contract by Utah on Sept. 22.

Per the Salt Lake Tribune, “the deal means that the Jazz have another two-way spot to fill before entering the season. They could upgrade the contract of one of their training camp signees, Derrick Alston Jr, Marques Bolden, Malik Fitts, or MaCio Teague; or they could choose to look outside the organization for a logical pickup.”

Trail Blazers exercise 2022-23 contract option on Nassir Little

The Portland Trail Blazers have exercised the 2022-23 team option on the Rookie Scale contract of forward Nassir Little.

Portland selected Little with the 25th overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft. Little, 21, appeared in 48 games (two starts) for the Trail Blazers during the 2020-21 season, posting averages of 4.6 points (46.7% FG, 35.0% 3-PT, 71.9% FT), 2.7 rebounds, 0.5 assists and 13.3 minutes. For his career, Little has averaged 4.1 points, 2.5 rebounds and 0.5 assists in 96 games (seven starts).

Miami Heat expand Ruth Riley Hunter’s role, add her to basketball operations department

The Miami Heat announced today that Ruth Riley Hunter will expand her current broadcast role and serve as Broadcast Analyst & Basketball Analytics/Player Programs Manager.

Riley Hunter, an Olympic Gold Medalist, two-time WNBA Champion, WNBA Finals MVP, NCAA Champion, Sports Business Leader, Global Humanitarian and a 2019 Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame inductee will add basketball analytics and other Basketball Operations related duties to her current broadcast role where she will begin her fourth season serving as the team’s radio analyst on all home games as well as a television studio analyst for all home and road games. Since being drafted by the Miami Sol after graduating from Notre Dame Summa Cum Laude with a degree in Psychology in 2001, she has garnered a wealth of experience and basketball knowledge including a 13-year playing career in the WNBA as well as serving as General Manager of the WNBA’s San Antonio Stars, First Vice President of the WNBA Player’s Association, a NBA/WNBA Ambassador and Global Director of the NBA Academy’s Women’s Program.

In her time as General Manager of the Stars, Riley Hunter governed the team’s business and financial operations, implemented strategic planning, managed all team personnel decisions and captained the basketball operations staff, coaching staff and scouts. In addition to her basketball acumen, she has served as a spokesperson for organizations such as Share Our Strength and the United Nations Foundation and was selected a JCI Ten Outstanding Young Persons of the World Honoree.

Comcast drops MSG Network from Xfinity channel lineup

A ton of Knicks fans have lost TV access to the team’s games as the season approaches. Hopefully it’s just temporary. Here’s the latest, via the New York Post:

Another promising Knicks season is around the corner – but hundreds of thousands of New Jersey and Connecticut fans may not be able to watch it due to a dispute between MSG Network and Comcast.

According to a Garden release, Comcast has chosen to drop MSG Network from its Xfinity channel lineup “despite our best efforts to reach a new agreement.’’

If the situation drags on, Comcast subscribers will miss 85 percent of Knicks games. MSG Network will broadcast 70 of the 82 contests – with the rest on national networks.

The disagreement will also affect games for the NHL’s Islanders, Rangers and Devils.

The Clippers are fully vaccinated, says coach Tyronn Lue

Here’s the the Los Angeles Times with a Clippers health update:

The Clippers are fully vaccinated, coach Tyronn Lue said Wednesday.

“Our guys are vaccinated, so, we just have to do whatever the league tells us to do, we try to abide by the rules and kind of go from there,” Lue said at San Diego State, where the Clippers are holding training camp. “And we talked about it last year, just being able to adapt and do what we need to do to play the game that we love. And so, certain players, certain people have different beliefs, so I respect those beliefs. And our guys are fully vaccinated, so I respect their beliefs as well.”

Asked again whether the Clippers are fully vaccinated, Lue answered, “yes.”

Nuggets sign Michael Porter Jr. to contract extension

The Denver Nuggets have signed forward Michael Porter Jr. to a multi-year contract extension, President of Basketball Operations Tim Connelly announced today.

Per the Denver Post, Porter Jr.’s deal is a “five-year, max contract extension worth as much as $207 million.”

Porter Jr., 23, had the best season of his young career in 2020-21, helping lead Denver to 47 wins in a 72-game shortened season and the three seed in the Western Conference Playoffs. In 61 games (54 starts), he averaged career-highs in points (19.0), rebounds (7.3), assists (1.1), field goal percentage (54.2%), three-point field goal percentage (44.5%) and minutes per game (31.3). He posted a career-high 39 points (8-12 3FG’s), along with six rebounds, three blocks and two assists vs. Houston on Apr. 24th.He became the first player since Joel Embiid in 2017 to post those numbers in the second year of their career and the third Nugget in franchise history to make seven or more three pointers in consecutive games.

More from the Denver Post: “Tim Connelly isn’t tossing chips to center of the poker table anymore. He’s pushing gold bricks. Connelly, the Nuggets’ president of basketball operations, has committed to roughly $115 million over the winter of 2022-’23 to Denver’s Core Four of Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray, Aaron Gordon and Michael Porter Jr. That little flyover team on Chopper Circle, the one which has the reigning NBA MVP, is slated in 2023 to become just the fourth league franchise to boast three players on max contracts. The other three: the Lakers, Nets and Warriors. High rollers, all.”

Porter Jr. had one of the best shooting seasons in Nuggets history, finishing with 170 three-point field goals in 61 games played, ranking him fourth all-time for a single season in NBA franchise history. He also finished with the highest three-point percentage for a season (min. 150 attempts) in franchise history connecting on 44.5% from long distance. Additionally, he had 11 games posting at least five three pointers, tying the single season record for most games with at least five (Randy Foye, 2013-14).

Porter Jr. ascended in his role following the loss of Jamal Murray for the season on Apr. 12th. In the 17 games that followed, he averaged 23.5 points, 6.1 rebounds and 1.5 assists while shooting 56.0% from the field and 48.9% from three. In that span, he had 12 games scoring 20+ points and eight games with four or more three pointers.

The Columbia, Missouri, native appeared in his second postseason in 2021 helping the Nuggets reach the second round of the playoffs for the third straight season. Porter Jr. started all 10 playoff games, averaging 21.9 points, 8.4 rebounds and 1.3 assists, shooting 54.2% from the field and 44.5% from three in 33.2 minutes. He posted four games of 20+ points, including 26 points in both games five and six of the first round to help eliminate Portland.

Porter Jr. was drafted by the Nuggets with the 14thoverall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft out of the University of Missouri and missed his rookie campaign as he rehabbed from a lower back injury. Over two seasons with Denver, he has appeared in 116 games (62 starts), averaging 14.4 points, 6.1 rebounds and 1.0 assists while shooting 53.2% from the field and 43.9% from long range in 24.3 minutes per game. He has increased his scoring, rebounding, assists, field goal percentage and three-point percentage in each season of his career. Additionally, the Nuggets are 27-9 (.750) in Porter Jr.’s career when he scores 20+ points in game.

Jazz sign Marques Bolden and Malik Fitts

The Utah Jazz have signed forwards Marques Bolden and Malik Fitts.

The deals are likely non-guaranteed, and for training camp purposes.

Bolden (6-10, 249, Duke) has played in seven games with the Cleveland Cavaliers over two seasons (2019-21) during his professional career. Prior to that, he spent three seasons at Duke, appearing in 88 games (24 starts), averaging 3.8 points, 3.3 rebounds and 1.1 blocks in 13.6 minutes per game. In his final season at Duke in 2018-19, he averaged 5.3 points, 4.5 boards and 1.7 blocks in 19.0 minutes per game.

Fitts (6-8, 230, St. Mary’s) played in three NBA games with the Los Angeles Clippers during the 2020-21 season and also appeared in 14 games (six starts) with the Agua Caliente Clippers of the NBA G League, averaging 11.1 points, 4.0 boards and 1.5 assists. Collegiately, Fitts spent two seasons at St. Mary’s (2018-20), where he averaged 15.9 points, 7.3 rebounds, 1.1 assists and 1.3 steals in 68 career games (66 starts). At St. Mary’s, he earned 2019-20 All-WCC First Team and 2018-19 All-WCC Second Team honors. Fitts began his collegiate career playing one season at South Florida.

Sixers hire Jamie Young as assistant coach, and promote Dwayne Jones

The Philadelphia 76ers announced today that Jamie Young has joined Head Coach Doc Rivers’ staff as an assistant coach and Dwayne Jones, who previously served under Rivers as a skill development coach, has been promoted to assistant coach/skill development.

And the Delaware Blue Coats, NBA G League Affiliate of the 76ers, also announced today that Coby Karl has been named the team’s head coach and that J.P. Clark and Isaiah Fox have joined his staff as assistant coaches.

“I’m excited to add even more talent to what I consider to be the best coaching staff in the NBA,” Rivers said. “Having the opportunity to create synergy between the 76ers and Blue Coats is important for our program’s success and the talented coaches on our staff make our players and this organization better.”

Young joins the 76ers after spending the last 20 seasons with the Boston Celtics organization, including the last 10 as an assistant coach. During his tenure in Boston, Young also spent time in the scouting and video departments. Rivers and Young worked together with the Celtics while Rivers served as the team’s head coach from 2004-13. He graduated from Blackburn College (Carlinville, IL) in 1998 with a bachelor’s degree in physical education, where he played both basketball and football. Originally from Indiana, Young is married to his wife Jaynene and the couple has a son, Jamieson.

Jones enters his sixth season with Philadelphia, and his first as an assistant coach/skill development. He spent the previous five seasons working in the team’s skill development department after joining the 76ers staff in December 2016. Jones enjoyed a 12-year professional career, including six NBA seasons with five NBA teams and international stops in China, Philippines, Qatar, Venezuela and Argentina. He also competed in the NBA G League and is the league’s all-time leading rebounder with a total of 1,770. A 2005 graduate of Philadelphia’s Saint Joseph’s University, Jones holds a degree in sociology. He and his wife Jessica have two sons, Dwayne III and Dylan.

Karl most recently served as head coach of the South Bay Lakers (NBA G League/Lakers) from 2016-21, where he compiled a 102-92 record and collected a division championship and conference semifinals appearance. During his tenure in South Bay, five players were called up to Los Angeles, including Jemerrio Jones, Johnathan Williams, Scott Machado, Andre Ingram, and Travis Wear. Prior to joining the Lakers, Karl spent two seasons as an assistant coach for the Westchester Knicks (NBA G League/Knicks). Before shifting to the sidelines, Karl enjoyed an eight-year professional basketball career including stops with the Lakers, Cleveland Cavaliers, and Golden State Warriors, as well as significant time in the NBA G League with Los Angeles, Idaho and Reno.

During the 2008 Playoff series between the Lakers and Denver Nuggets, Karl and his father, NBA coaching legend George Karl, became the first father-son duo to oppose one-another in the NBA postseason. Undrafted after a standout career at Boise State, including First-Team All-WAC honors his senior season, Karl also saw success playing oversees in the Liga ACB, EuroLeague, LBA and others. He’s been married to his wife Kristen for nine years and the couple has two daughters, Kennedy and Payton.

Clark, a Florida native, brings over a decade’s worth of coaching experience to Delaware including eight seasons in the NBA/G League. Clark spent seven seasons with the Los Angeles Clippers starting in player development and finishing as an assistant coach. Prior to joining the Clippers, Clark spent one season in a dual role with the Boston Celtics/Maine Red Claws. Before joining the NBA ranks, Clark began his coaching career at Colgate University as the director of basketball operations for one season before a two-year stint at the University of Central Florida in the same role. Clark played Division II basketball at Flagler College and later earned a master’s degree from UCF.

Fox returns to Delaware for his second stint as an assistant coach for the Blue Coats, having served in the role from 2019-2020. He previously served as an assistant coach with the South Bay Lakers, Los Angeles’ G League affiliate. Prior to joining the Lakers, Fox coached at Monrovia High School in Monrovia, California, where he also served as a sports program coordinator at a local YMCA chapter. A former McDonald’s All-America nominee, the 6-foot-9 Fox was a four-year letter winner for the University of Arizona basketball team from 2002-06 under Naismith Hall of Fame Head Coach Lute Olson. Fox was selected in the 2008 NBA G League Draft and his professional playing experience included stints in Australia, Mexico and Japan.

Sixers sign Shaquille Harrison

The Philadelphia 76ers have signed guard Shaquille Harrison.

Harrison joins Philadelphia after splitting the 2020-21 season with Utah and Denver. In total, he saw action in 34 games last season, with averages of 2.1 points, 1.4 rebounds and 0.7 assists in 9.8 minutes per contest.

For his career, Harrison has appeared in 173 games (23 starts) over four NBA seasons with Denver, Utah, Chicago and Phoenix and holds career averages of 5.2 points, 2.4 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.0 steals in 15.2 minutes per game.

During his first two professional seasons, Harrison also spent time in the G League with the Northern Arizona Suns, appearing in 84 games (24 starts) and averaging 10.3 points, 4.3 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game. For his G League career, he’s shot .458 from the field.

Following a standout four-year career at Tulsa, Harrison signed with the Phoenix Suns prior to the start of the 2016-17 season.

Originally from Kansas City, Missouri, Harrison played four seasons for the Golden Hurricane where he started all 133 games of his collegiate career. As a senior, he averaged 15.1 points per game, along with team-best averages of 5.5 rebounds and 4.1 assists and was named the 2015-16 American Athletic Conference Men’s Basketball Scholar-Athlete of the Year.

Harrison will wear No. 8 for the 76ers.