NBA News Blog – Page 260 – NBA Blog

Toronto Raptors sign forward Isaac Bonga

The Toronto Raptors have signed free agent forward Isaac Bonga.

Bonga, a native of Neuweid, Germany, has appeared in 128 games with the Los Angeles Lakers and Washington Wizards over the past three seasons. He holds career averages of 3.3 points, 2.4 rebounds and 14.1 minutes. Bonga spent the 2020-21 campaign with Washington, averaging 2.0 points and 1.7 rebounds in 40 games.

Bong was originally selected 39th overall by Philadelphia in the 2018 NBA Draft following two seasons with Skyliners Frankfurt in Germany.

Detroit Pistons re-sign guard Rodney McGruder

The Detroit Pistons have re-signed guard Rodney McGruder.

McGruder, 6-4, 205, tallied averages of 5.7 points, 1.4 rebounds, 1.0 assists in 12.1 minutes over 16 games (two starts) with Detroit in 2020-21. The five-year NBA veteran shot .529 from the field and .458 from 3-point range a season ago. McGruder was acquired by Detroit from the L.A. Clippers as part of a three-team trade that also included the Brooklyn Nets on Nov. 19, 2020.

Following a four-year career at Kansas State, McGruder made his NBA debut for the Miami HEAT on Oct. 26, 2016. He went on to play three seasons for Miami before suiting up for the Clippers for the 2019-20 campaign. He has career averages of 5.9 points, 3.0 rebounds, 1.3 assists in 234 NBA games (118 starts) and has played in nine NBA Playoff contests across two playoff appearances, one with each of his former teams.

Knicks re-sign center Nerlens Noel

The New York Knicks have re-signed center Nerlens Noel.

Noel, 6-10, 220-pounds, averaged 5.1 points, 6.4 rebounds, 2.20 blocks and 1.09 steals over 24.2 minutes in 64 games (41 starts) for New York last season. He ranked third in the NBA in blocks per game and was the only player in the NBA to average at least two blocks and one steal. He was signed by New York as a free agent on November 25, 2010.

Originally selected by New Orleans with the sixth overall pick in the 2013 NBA Draft, Noel holds career averages of 7.6 points, 6.2 rebounds, 1.51 blocks and 1.28 steals over 425 games (208 starts) with New York, Oklahoma City, Dallas and Philadelphia. As a rookie with Philadelphia, the Malden, MA-native earned All-Rookie First Team honors after averaging 9.9 points, 8.1 rebounds, 1.77 steals and 1.89 blocks over 30.8 minutes in 75 games (71 starts).

He spent one season at the University of Kentucky, averaging 10.5 points, 9.5 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 4.42 blocks and 2.08 steals over 31.9 minutes in 24 games (24 starts). He earned 2013 SEC Rookie of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year honors and led the SEC conference in total blocks with 106 en route to being named All-SEC first team.

Detroit Pistons re-sign guard Frank Jackson

The Detroit Pistons have re-signed guard Frank Jackson.

Jackson, 6-3, 205, averaged 9.8 points, 2.2 rebounds, 0.9 assists in 18.5 minutes over 40 games (six starts) with Detroit in 2020-21. Jackson shot .457 from the field, .407 from distance and .813 from the free-throw line a season ago while under a two-way contract with the Pistons. He had four games with at least 20 points and scored in double figures in 21 contests.

The Duke product was drafted 31st overall by the Charlotte Hornets in the 2017 NBA Draft and made his NBA debut for the New Orleans Pelicans on Oct. 17, 2018. Jackson holds career averages of 7.9 points, 1.9 rebounds, 1.0 assists in 16.9 minutes over 160 NBA games (24 starts).

Detroit Pistons re-sign guard Cory Joseph

The Detroit Pistons have re-signed guard Cory Joseph.

Joseph, 6-3, 200, averaged 12.0 points, 3.2 rebounds, 5.5 assists, 1.2 steals in 26.4 minutes over 19 games (11 starts) as a Piston. Overall, Joseph played in 63 games in 2020-21, averaging 8.2 points, 2.5 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 1.0 steals in 23.0 minutes with Sacramento and Detroit. He was acquired by the Pistons, along with draft considerations, from the Sacramento Kings on Mar. 25, 2021 in exchange for guard Delon Wright.

The Toronto native holds career NBA clips of 7.0 points, 2.6 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 0.8 steals in 663 games (134 starts). Joseph has suited up for San Antonio, Indiana, Toronto, Sacramento and Detroit through 10 NBA seasons. He was drafted 29th overall by the Spurs in the 2011 NBA Draft following his freshman campaign at Texas.

Thunder sign rookie forward Jeremiah Robinson-Earl

The Oklahoma City Thunder yesterday signed rookie forward Jeremiah Robinson-Earl.

Robinson-Earl (6-9, 230) spent two seasons at Villanova and during his sophomore season he posted averages of 15.7 points, 8.5 rebounds and 2.2 assists in 34.4 minutes per game. As a sophomore, he led the Wildcats in scoring and rebounding.

The Thunder acquired the rights to Robinson-Earl (No. 32 overall pick), from the New York Knicks on July 30, 2021 in exchange for the rights to the No. 34 and No 36 picks.

Pelicans sign rookie Trey Murphy III

The New Orleans Pelicans announced yesterday that the team has signed rookie forward Trey Murphy III.

Murphy III, the 17th overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, was acquired by the Pelicans from the Memphis Grizzlies on August 7, 2021. He appeared in 25 games (20 starts) for the University of Virginia last season, averaging 11.3 points and 3.4 rebounds per game while shooting 43.3 percent from three-point range. In his first two collegiate seasons at Rice University, Murphy III appeared in 61 games (25 starts) for the Owls and averaged 10.9 points and 4.0 rebounds in 25.2 minutes per game.

Mavericks sign Sterling Brown

The Dallas Mavericks announced yesterday that they have signed free agent guard Sterling Brown.

Brown (6-5, 219) was selected by Philadelphia with the 46th pick of the 2017 NBA Draft. His draft rights were traded to Milwaukee, where he spent the first three seasons of his career.

Brown spent last season with the Houston Rockets, where he averaged career highs in points (8.2), rebounds (4.4) and assists (1.4) in 51 games (14 starts). Over four NBA seasons, Brown has averaged 5.9 points, 3.4 rebounds and 1.1 assists in 215 appearances (26 starts).

A native of Maywood, Illinois, Brown played four seasons at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, where he averaged 8.2 points, 4.8 rebounds and 3.0 assists. He finished his collegiate career in 2017 as the school’s all-time leader in wins (109).

Brown will wear #0.

Lakers sign Chaundee Brown Jr. and Mac McClung

The Los Angeles Lakers have signed Chaundee Brown Jr. and Mac McClung, it was announced yesterday.

In 112 games (74 starts) for Wake Forest and Michigan, Brown Jr. averaged 9.8 points, 4.3 rebounds and 1.1 assists in 24.6 minutes. In his lone season at Michigan, Brown Jr. averaged 8.0 points and 3.1 rebounds and was named to the 2021 NCAA All-East Regional Team.

In 79 games (78 starts) for Georgetown and Texas Tech, McClung averaged 14.7 points, 2.8 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 1.0 steal in 27.9 minutes. A 2020-21 All-Big 12 Second Team selection, McClung averaged 15.5 points, 2.7 rebounds and 2.1 assists in his lone season at Texas Tech.

Trail Blazers sign Tony Snell

The Portland Trail Blazers yesterday signed free agent guard/forward Tony Snell.

Snell, 29, played in 47 games (23 starts) for Atlanta during the 2020-21 season, posting averages of 5.3 points (51.5% FG, 56.9% 3-PT, 100% FT), 2.4 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 21.1 minutes. His 56.9% shooting from the three-point-line (62-of-109) is the best mark in NBA history among players to attempt at least 40 three-pointers in a season.

An eight-year NBA veteran, Snell (6-6, 213) holds career averages of 6.4 points (43.3% FG, 39.7% 3-PT, 84.4% FT), 2.3 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 22.4 minutes in 548 games (298 starts) with Chicago, Milwaukee, Detroit and Atlanta. He was selected by Chicago with the 20th overall pick of the 2013 NBA Draft out of New Mexico.