Category: NBA News Blog

NBA news blog

The Wizards are on a four-game winning streak

The Wizards are on a four-game winning streak. Via the Washington Post:

Even after they had defeated the league-leading Utah Jazz on the road and conquered Zion Williamson and the visiting New Orleans Pelicans in overtime, perhaps the best test for these streaking Washington Wizards came Saturday night at Capital One Arena.

The opponent? The lowly Detroit Pistons, last in the East yet a victor against Washington already this month. In fact, the Wizards entered Saturday’s contest with a 3-7 record against the five other teams at the bottom of the conference.

Bradley Beal said Friday that his team’s ability to close out a tight win in overtime against New Orleans showed improvement from a squad that has squandered late leads often. The matchup with Detroit offered the opportunity to showcase a different kind of growth.

Even after losing two starters to injury during the game, Washington was up to the task in a commanding 121-100 win.

In the victory, Beal scored 37, Ish Smith scored 16 off the bench, Russell Westbrook put up 15 points, 14 rebounds and 11 assists, and Robin Lopez added 15 off the bench.

Raptors sign Freddie Gillespie to second 10-day contract

The Toronto Raptors have signed forward Freddie Gillespie to a second 10-day contract.

Gillespie, 6-foot-9, 245 pounds, is averaging 5.8 points, 4.2 rebounds, 15.9 minutes and is shooting .619 (13-21) from the field in five games with the Raptors. He signed his first 10-day contract Thursday, Apr. 8. 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.

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.

Trail Blazers sign Rondae Hollis-Jefferson to second 10-day contract

The Portland Trail Blazers have signed forward Rondae Hollis-Jefferson to a second 10-day contract, it was announced today by president of basketball operations Neil Olshey.

Hollis-Jefferson, 26, has appeared in two games for the Trail Blazers, averaging 2.0 points, 0.5 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 6.0 minutes.

Portland first signed Hollis-Jefferson to a 10-day contract on April 8.

Paul George is getting serious buckets for the Clippers lately

Paul George is putting up serious scoring numbers for the Clippers lately. Via the OC Register:

The Clippers are coming home from their three-game road swing for a bona fide meet-and-greet, a long-awaited home game at Staples Center in front of people who’ve bought to tickets to be there – and possibly to bear witness to some personal scoring history by Paul George.

The Clippers’ star has been on a tear, with a career-high-tying five-game scoring streak of 30-plus points. He’s steered through defenses that have been better able to key on him without Kawhi Leonard in the lineup, and performed despite a nagging toe injury and, in the last game, the lingering effects of illness.

George is averaging 34.8 points in this recent five-game stretch, shooting 53.4% from the field and 52.4% from 3-point range. He’s also averaging 5.8 rebounds, 6.2 assists and 1.4 steals in that span.

The last time he had this kind of run was in Oklahoma City in 2018-19, the season he finished third in MVP voting.

The Clippers are 39-19 this season, which is the third best record in the Westtern conference.

Their leading scorers so far in 2020-21 are Kawhi Leonard at 26.0 ppg, George at 23.6 ppg, then Marcus Morris at 13.1 ppg.

Kings sign center Damian Jones to a second 10-day contract

The Sacramento Kings have signed center Damian Jones to a second 10-day contract, according to Kings General Manager Monte McNair.

Jones signed his first 10-day contract with the Kings on April 7.

The Kings are 22-34 this season, which is the 12th best record in the Western conference.

Their leading scorers so far in 2020-21 are De’Aaron Fox at 25.2 points per game, Buddy Hield at 16.7 ppg, Harrison Barnes at 15.6 ppg, and Richaun Holmes at 14.1 ppg.

Celtics sign Jabari Parker, waive Moe Wagner

The Boston Celtics have signed forward Jabari Parker.

And in a corresponding move, the team waived center Moe Wagner.

Selected with the second overall pick by the Milwaukee Bucks in the 2014 NBA Draft, Parker, 26, has averaged 14.8 points (49.3% FG, 32.3% 3-PT, 74.0% FT), 5.7 rebounds, 2.1 assists, and 28.8 minutes in 288 career games (190 starts) over seven NBA seasons with Milwaukee, Chicago, Atlanta, Washington, and Sacramento. He has averaged at least 14.0 points in four of his seven NBA seasons, including each of the last two years (2018-19/2019-20).

Clippers keep DeMarcus Cousins for another 10 days

DeMarcus Cousins’ attempt to put himself back on the basketball map will continue with the Clippers, at least for another 10 days. Via the OC Register:

The team tweeted Friday morning it had signed veteran center DeMarcus Cousins to a second 10-day contract. The 30-year-old appeared in three games since joining the team on his first 10-day deal April 5, averaging six points and three rebounds in 9.7 minutes per contest. He’s 7 for 15 from the field as a Clipper so far.

Despite Cousins’ limited usage, coach Tyronn Lue made it clear after Wednesday’s win in Detroit that the Clippers are high on the four-time All-Star, known affectionately as “Boogie,” who joined the team after being waived by Houston 25 games into the season.

Dwyane Wade joins ownership group of the Utah Jazz

STATEMENT FROM THE UTAH JAZZ

The Utah Jazz announced that Dwyane Wade, 13-time NBA All-Star and three-time NBA champion, will join its ownership group. The ownership group is the youngest in the NBA and is led by technology entrepreneur and Qualtrics founder Ryan Smith and his wife Ashley who acquired a majority interest in the Utah Jazz in late 2020. The small ownership group has previously consisted of tech leaders, including legendary investor and Accel partner Ryan Sweeney, and Atlassian co-founder Mike Cannon-Brookes in addition to the Miller family. Today they announced the addition of Wade.

“Dwyane is not only a basketball legend, he is also a great leader, businessman, and human being,” said Ryan Smith, NBA governor of the Utah Jazz. “As we continue to build on the incredible legacy of the Utah Jazz franchise, we are excited to add Dwyane’s experience and expertise to the equation. Utah is an amazing place and I couldn’t be more thrilled about the future of the franchise and the future of this state. Dwyane’s influence will be important to both.”

Smith and Wade have known each other for several years and have engaged in numerous conversations about working together in various business and investment capacities. Shortly after Smith acquired the Utah Jazz, he and Wade began conversations about Wade joining the Utah Jazz ownership group and Smith Entertainment Group (SEG), the first of many joint business ventures.

“Partnering with Ryan and the Utah Jazz is the perfect fit as we share the same vision and values,” said Dwyane Wade. “Not only is this group focused on building a championship franchise, they are also committed to using their platform to do good and actively create a more inclusive, equitable world. We share a lot of the same goals and are trying to go the same places in life. As a businessman, entrepreneur, and investor, I bring a lot to this partnership outside of my basketball experience. I’m excited to help take the Utah Jazz to the next level. I am always looking for new opportunities to grow and challenge myself. I’ve always done things my own way and this is the next step in my journey. As a kid from the south side of Chicago, this partnership goes beyond my wildest dreams of playing basketball, and I hope to inspire the next generation of dreamers.”

Magic sign guard Devin Cannady to two-way contract

The Orlando Magic have signed guard Devin Cannady to a two-way contract, President of Basketball Operations Jeff Weltman announced today.

Cannady (6’2”, 183, 5/21/96) has played in three games with Orlando, averaging 4.7 ppg. in 4.5 minpg. He originally was signed to a 10-day contract by Orlando on Apr. 6, then released from that contract on Apr. 13.

Cannady played in 13 games this season (nine starts) with Lakeland of the NBA G League, averaging 11.7 ppg., 2.8 rpg. and 2.7 apg. in 25.8 minpg., while shooting .400 (28-70) from three-point range. He played and started in all three playoff outings, averaging 15.7 ppg., 4.7 rpg. and 3.3 apg. in 29.7 minpg., while shooting .450 (9-20) from three-point range. During the 2021 NBA G League Final on Mar. 11 vs. Delaware, Cannady tallied 22 points, six rebounds and four assists and was named G League Final MVP, helping Lakeland capture the 2020-21 NBA G League championship.

Prior to joining Lakeland, Cannady signed as a free agent with Orlando on Nov. 27 and appeared in two preseason games with the Magic, tallying six points, two rebounds, one assist and one blocked shot in nine minutes. He was waived on Dec. 19. During the 2019-20 campaign, Cannady played in 40 games (30 starts) with Long Island of the NBA G League, averaging 14.4 ppg., 3.9 rpg., 2.8 apg. and 1.15 stlpg. in 31.0 minpg., while shooting .914 (53-58) from the free throw line.

Cannady played in 104 career games (67 starts) during four seasons at Princeton University (2015-19), averaging 14.6 ppg., 4.1 rpg., 1.6 apg. and 1.09 stlpg. in 31.1 minpg., while shooting .403 (268-665) from three-point range and a school-record .896 (285-318) from the free throw line. He was named Second Team All-Ivy League as a junior in 2017-18 and Honorable Mention All-Ivy League as a sophomore in 2016-17.

Cannady will wear #30 with the Orlando Magic.

Thunder sign guard Justin Robinson to second 10-day contract

The Oklahoma City Thunder has signed guard Justin Robinson to a second 10-day contract, it was announced today by Executive Vice President and General Manager Sam Presti.

Robinson signed his first 10-day contract with the Thunder on April 5, and has seen time in six games this season, averaging 3.5 points, 1.3 assists and 1.0 rebound in 12.1 minutes per game.