Category: NBA News Blog

NBA news blog

LaMelo Ball could return for Hornets soon

Some key Hornets players could make their return from injury soon, including star rookie point guard LaMelo Ball. Here’s a status update, via the Charlotte Observer:

In a sense, the two days off might be of more consequence to the Hornets right now than game days. The plan is for LaMelo Ball (broken wrist) and Malik Monk (sprained ankle) to scrimmage with the non-rotation players to test whether they are ready for games.

Small forward Gordon Hayward is further away from playing. He is still wearing a walking boot to protect his sprained right foot.

There’s hope Ball and Monk can both play this weekend. Ball has been out since March 20 and Monk since April 1, so each will need time to re-acclimate; their impact won’t be automatic. However, anything they can contribute could make a difference with just 10 regular season games left and the Hornets so shorthanded.

The Hornets are 30-32 this season, which is the 8th best record in the Eastern conference.

Ball is averaging 15.9 points, 5.9 rebounds and 6.1 assists in 28.6 minutes per game so far this season, in 41 games played.

Kings sign center Damian Jones, who had been on 10-day deals, to standard contract

The Sacramento Kings have signed center Damian Jones to a multi-year contract, according to Kings General Manager Monte McNair.

“Damian provides a defensive presence and has fit in nicely with our group,” said McNair. “We are excited to see his continued growth in Sacramento.”

During the 2020-21 season, Jones has appeared in six games (two starts) with the Kings after originally signing his first 10-day contract with the team on April 7 and a second 10-day contract on April 17.

Cavs sign guard Jeremiah Martin to two-way contract

The Cleveland Cavaliers have signed guard Jeremiah Martin to a Two-Way contract, Cavaliers General Manager Koby Altman announced today from Cleveland Clinic Courts.

Martin (6-3, 185) spent the 2020-21 NBA G League season with the Long Island Nets, playing in 15 games (all starts) and averaging 18.5 points, 3.7 rebounds, 5.1 assists and 2.4 steals in 31.8 minutes. He was previously a Two-Way player with the Brooklyn Nets during the 2019-20 season, originally signing a Two-Way contract on Jan. 15, 2020 and playing in nine NBA games with averages of 7.1 points and 2.0 assists in 11.0 minutes. Martin also appeared in three postseason contests for Brooklyn during the 2020 Playoffs, averaging 4.0 points in 9.0 minutes. He remained a Two-Way player with Brooklyn through the 2020 Preseason before being waived on Dec. 22, 2020.

Martin played four years collegiately at Memphis from 2015-19, competing in 124 games (98 starts) with career averages of 13.1 points, 3.2 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.8 steals in 29.7 minutes. As a senior in 2018-19, he was unanimously named First-Team All-AAC after posting averages of 19.7 points, 4.3 rebounds, 4.4 assists and 2.2 steals in 34.3 minutes through 36 games (all starts). His 19.7 points per game led the AAC, making him the first Memphis player to lead the conference in scoring since Will Barton in 2012. Following his senior campaign, Martin was selected to participate in the 2019 Portsmouth Invitational Tournament, consisting of 64 of the top senior basketball players in the nation, and was named to the All-Tournament Team. He finished his career at Memphis ranked 10th all-time in scoring (1,625 points), and his 708 points his final season were the second-highest ever by a senior in school history.

Trail Blazers sign Rondae Hollis-Jefferson for remainder of season

The Portland Trail Blazers have signed forward Rondae Hollis-Jefferson for the remainder of the 2020-21 season, it was announced today by president of basketball operations Neil Olshey.

Hollis-Jefferson, 26, has appeared in six games (one start) for the Trail Blazers since signing his first 10-day contract with the team on April 8. In those outings, he has posted averages of 3.2 points (41.7% FG, 64.3% FT), 2.5 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 0.50 blocks and 11.0 minutes.

Playing in his sixth season out of the University of Arizona, Hollis-Jefferson (6-6, 217) holds career averages of 9.2 points (44.8% FG, 21.2% 3-PT, 73.7% FT), 5.6 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 0.93 steals and 22.4 minutes in 300 games (154 starts) with Brooklyn, Toronto and Portland.

Kings sign Chimezie Metu to standard NBA contract, and waive Chris Silva

The Sacramento Kings have signed forward-center Chimezie Metu to a multi-year contract, according to Kings General Manager Monte McNair.

And in a subsequent move, the team has waived forward Chris Silva.

Metu had been with the Kings on a two-way contract.

According to the Sacramento Bee, “a league source told The Sacramento Bee that Metu agreed to a three-year deal.”

“Chimezie has worked hard this season and done a terrific job to earn his place on the team,” said McNair. “He provides toughness and energy to the group. We are happy to watch his career develop in a Kings uniform.”

During the 2020-21 season, Metu has appeared in 28 games (no starts) with the Kings, averaging 5.1 points (.556 FG%, .690 FT%), 2.5 rebounds and 10.2 minutes per game.

Cavs forward Taurean Prince undergoes ankle surgery

Cleveland Cavaliers forward Taurean Prince underwent successful left ankle arthroscopic surgery yesterday at the Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) in New York City, New York.

Prince missed the Cavaliers’ previous three games with left ankle soreness.

Recent imaging at Cleveland Clinic Sports Health and continuous evaluation by the Cavaliers medical staff confirmed that surgery was needed to alleviate ongoing discomfort experienced over the past several weeks.

The procedure was performed by Dr. Martin O’Malley.

Prince will be out indefinitely.

Raptors sign forward Freddie Gillespie

The Toronto Raptors have signed forward Freddie Gillespie.

Gillespie, 6-foot-9, 245 pounds, is averaging 5.3 points, 3.6 rebounds, 1.0 blocks and 16.0 minutes in 10 games with the Raptors across two 10-day contracts (Apr. 8-27). He is shooting 60 percent (21-35) from the field and has scored a season-high 10 points twice: Apr. 18 vs. Oklahoma City and Apr. 16 vs. Orlando.

Prior to joining Toronto, Gillespie posted averages of 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.

A native of Saint Paul, Minnesota, Gillespie played two seasons at Division lll Carleton College (2015-17) before transferring to Baylor (2018-20). As a senior, he was voted the Big 12 Most Improved Player and earned All-Big 12 Second Team and All-Defensive Team honours.

Pelicans sign Didi Louzada

The New Orleans Pelicans have signed guard Didi Louzada to a multi-year contract.

Louzada, 6-5, 210, has played the last two seasons for the Sydney Kings (NBL Australia), where he appeared in 45 games and averaged 10.3 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 1.8 assists.

Selected with the 35th pick in the 2019 draft by Atlanta, Louzada’s draft rights were acquired by New Orleans along with draft rights to Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Jaxson Hayes, in exchange for the draft rights to De’Andre Hunter, Solomon Hill, and a future second-round draft pick on July 6, 2019.

The Brazilian native appeared in four games as a member of the Pelicans’ Summer League team in 2019, averaging 11.0 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 2.0 assists.

Louzada will wear #0 for the Pelicans. New Orleans’ roster currently stands at 16 players.

Magic coach Steve Clifford remains out due to coronavirus

Magic coach Steve Clifford remains out with coronavirus and won’t be with the team Wednesday in Cleveland. Via the Orlando Sentinel:

It will be the third straight game he has missed while in the protocols. Still, Clifford, 59, remains asymptomatic and said he feels great as he continues to deal with a COVID-19 infection.

Clifford first tested positive after Thursday’s game against the Pelicans. He had two negative tests Friday before a second positive result came back Saturday morning and the team had to cancel its scheduled practice. Subsequent tests confirmed Clifford has the virus, and he then missed Sunday’s game against the Pacers and Monday’s game against the Lakers as he entered the health and safety protocols.

We wish him a complete and speedy recovery.

Orlando Magic sign Moritz Wagner, release Robert Franks

The Orlando Magic have signed free agent center Moritz Wagner for the remainder of the regular season, President of Basketball Operations Jeff Weltman announced today.

In addition, forward Robert Franks has been released from his 10-day contract.

Wagner (6’11”, 245, 4/26/97) played in 34 games this season (14 starts) with both Washington and Boston, averaging 5.6 ppg., 2.7 rpg. and 1.1 apg. in 12.8 minpg. He appeared in 25 games (13 starts) with the Wizards, averaging 7.1 ppg., 2.9 rpg. and 1.3 apg. in 15.0 minpg. Wagner was traded to Boston as part of a three-team deal on Mar. 25. He played in nine games (one start) with the Celtics, averaging 1.2 ppg. and 2.1 rpg. in 6.8 minpg. Wagner was waived by Boston on Apr. 16.

Originally selected in the first round (25th overall) of the 2018 NBA Draft by the L.A. Lakers, Wagner has played in 122 career NBA regular season games (24 starts) with the Lakers, Washington and Boston, averaging 6.5 ppg., 3.2 rpg. and 1.0 apg. in 14.1 minpg.

Wagner played in 107 career games (77 starts) during three seasons at the University of Michigan (2015-18), averaging 10.4 ppg. and 4.5 rpg. in 21.0 minpg. As a junior (2017-18), he played and started in 39 games, averaging 14.6 ppg. and 7.1 rpg. in 27.6 minpg., while shooting .528 (216-409) from the floor and .394 (63-160) from three-point range. Wagner was named to the 2017-18 All-Big Ten Second Team and was later named the Most Outstanding Player at the 2018 Big Ten Tournament, leading the Wolverines to the Big Ten Conference Tournament championship. He also earned 2018 NCAA West Region All-Tournament Team honors and the NCAA Final Four All-Tournament Team, helping Michigan reach the NCAA Championship game.

Wagner will wear #21 with the Orlando Magic.