Category: NBA News Blog

NBA news blog

Nets will be without Kyrie Irving for upcoming road trip

A Nets team playing at full strength continues to be an elusive endeavor. Via the NY Daily News:

Kyrie Irving will not accompany the Nets on their three-game road trip and instead will tend to a family matter, the team announced on Monday. He will miss the team’s back-to-back games in Portland against the Trail Blazers and in Utah against the league-best Jazz. He will also miss Friday’s matchup against the Detroit Pistons, a team that has proven difficult for Brooklyn to overcome.

The nature of the family matter is not immediately clear, and his absence is precisely why the Nets should fortify their back court and add another point guard to the roster.

Irving has been electric for the Nets at the shooting guard position, averaging a career-high 28 points on shooting percentages that could land him in the vaunted 50-40-90 club. But if the best ability is availability, Irving has not been at his best in his two seasons in Brooklyn.

The Nets are 29-14 this season, which is the second best record in the Eastern conference.

Their leading scorers so far in 2020-21 are Kevin Durant at 29.0 points per game (in just 19 games played), Irving at 28.1 ppg (in 31 games played), and James Harden at 25.4 ppg (in 29 games since being traded from the Rockets to the Nets).

Nets sign forward Alize Johnson to 10-day contract

The Brooklyn Nets have signed free agent forward Alize Johnson to a 10-day contract.

Johnson (6’7”, 212) joins the Nets after most recently playing for the Raptors 905 of the NBA G League. In 15 games (all starts) for the 905 during the 2021 NBA G League season, the 24-year-old averaged a double-double with 16.6 points and 13.3 rebounds to go along with 4.2 assists and 1.3 steals in 32.1 minutes per game. Johnson, who ranked second overall in the NBA G League in rebounds per game, helped lead the Raptors 905 to the top seed in the 2021 NBA G League Playoffs with a 12-3 regular season record. Johnson was originally selected with the 50th overall pick in the second round of the 2018 NBA Draft by the Indiana Pacers. In 31 career games over two seasons (2018-20) with the Pacers, Johnson averaged 1.5 points and 2.2 rebounds in 5.9 minutes per contest. He also spent time with Indiana’s NBA G League affiliate, the Fort Wayne Mad Ants, over the two seasons and averaged 19.5 points, 13.3 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 1.1 steals in 36.7 minutes in 50 total games (all starts).

The Pennsylvania native spent his junior and senior seasons (2016-18) playing collegiately at Missouri State, appearing in 66 total games (all starts) and averaging 14.9 points, 11.1 rebounds and 2.4 assists in 30.7 minutes per game. Johnson was named All-Missouri Valley Conference First Team after both campaigns. He began his collegiate career at Frank Phillips College in Texas before transferring to MSU.

Cavs sign Quinn Cook to another 10-day contract

The Cleveland Cavaliers have signed guard Quinn Cook to a second 10-day contract.

Cook (6-1, 179) has averaged 5.0 points and 2.0 rebounds in 12.8 minutes through four games with the Cavaliers after signing his first 10-day contract with the team on March 12. He also played in 16 games for the Los Angeles Lakers this season before being waived on February 24.

A two-time NBA champion (2018, 2020), Cook has played in 185 regular season games (29 starts) over five NBA seasons with the Dallas Mavericks, New Orleans Pelicans, Golden State Warriors, Lakers and Cavaliers, holding career averages of 6.4 points, 1.7 rebounds and 1.6 assists in 14.1 minutes. He has also appeared in 40 postseason games, including six contests in last year’s title run with the Lakers.

Center Mitchell Robinson set to return for Knicks

The Knicks are set to welcome center Mitchell Robinson back to action. Via the New York Daily News:

The Knicks center, who has missed 15 straight games with a broken hand, was cleared to play ahead of Sunday against the Sixers at the Garden. Robinson was officially listed as questionable because the team wanted to see how he responded to Saturday’s afternoon practice, but then the center tweeted, “I feel toooooo gooooodddd bro I’m ready.”

Coach Tom Thibodeau said the plan is to eventually integrate Robinson back into the starting lineup, even though Nerlens Noel has performed well in his extended absence.

The Knicks are 21-21 this season, which ties them with the Hornets for the 6th best record in the Eastern conference.

Their leading scorers so far in 2020-21 are Julius Randle at 22.9 points per game, and RJ Barrett at 17.2 ppg.

Rockets trade P.J. Tucker, Rodions Kurucs to Bucks for D.J. Augustin, D.J. Wilson, draft pick

The Houston Rockets have traded forwards P.J. Tucker and Rodions Kurucs to the Milwaukee Bucks in exchange for guard D.J. Augustin, forward D.J. Wilson, and the Bucks first round pick in 2023.

The Rockets also received the right to swap their 2021 second round pick for Milwaukee’s 2021 first round pick (Top 9 protected), while the Bucks re-acquired their 2022 first round pick which Houston obtained from Cleveland as part of a four-team trade earlier this season.

Augustin (6-0, 183) was originally the ninth overall pick by Charlotte in the 2008 NBA Draft following his sophomore season at Texas. In 901 career games with 326 starts, he has averaged 9.7 points, 4.0 assists and 1.9 rebounds while shooting 37.9% from 3-point range.

Over the past three seasons, Augustin was one of five players to have averaged at least 10.0 ppg and 4.0 apg while playing fewer than 26.0 minutes per game. Rockets head coach Stephen Silas was an assistant coach with Charlotte during Augustin’s final two seasons with the Bobcats from 2010-11 through 2011-12.

Wilson (6-10, 224) was originally the 17th overall pick by Milwaukee in the 2017 NBA Draft following his junior season at Michigan. He appeared in 119 career games for the Bucks while averaging 4.0 points and 2.9 rebounds in 11.9 minutes per game.

While on assignment in the G League the past three seasons, Wilson averaged 16.0 points, 6.1 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 1.9 3-pointers made on 38.2% shooting. He was the recipient of Michigan’s Rudy Tomjanovich Most Improved Player Award in his final collegiate season.

Tucker spent the past three and a half seasons with the Rockets while averaging 6.5 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 1.18 steals in 268 games with 220 starts. Since the start of 2012-13, he has played the most games of any player in the league.

Kurucs was acquired by Houston from Brooklyn earlier this season as part of a four-team trade with Cleveland and Indiana. He appeared in 11 games as a Rocket.

Kings forward Marvin Bagley III out at least four weeks with hand injury

Sacramento Kings forward Marvin Bagley III (left fourth metacarpal fracture) consulted with a hand specialist and it has been determined that surgery is not required.

The Kings say there should be an update on Bagley’s status in around four weeks.

Bagley in 37 games played (all starts) this season is averaging 13.9 points (.502 FG%, .354 3pt%, .560 FT%), 7.4 rebounds, 0.9 assists, and 25.7 minutes per game.

LaVar Ball says he hopes Pelicans trade Lonzo Ball

LaVar Ball hasn’t been heard from much this season, but with the NBA trade deadline approaching he has come out with his latest headline-snatching quotes. Via the New Orleans Times-Picayune:

The NBA trade deadline is exactly one week away, and the New Orleans Pelicans have a difficult decision to make about the future of their backcourt.

Lonzo Ball is in the final season of his rookie deal. New Orleans must decide if it wants to cut bait on the improving but inconsistent 23-year-old, or hold onto him and enter restricted free agency, where it would have to reward him with a new deal or risk losing him for nothing.

In an appearance on ESPN radio in Los Angeles on Thursday, LaVar Ball, the outspoken patriarch of one of America’s most well-known basketball-playing families, said he hopes his oldest son gets moved.

“I don’t know what they’re going to do,” LaVar said. “I hope he gets traded, though. Here’s the thing. I don’t like watching him play like he plays.”

The Pelicans are 17-23 this season, which ties them with the rebuilding Thunder for the 11th best record in the Western conference. A disappointing season so far.

They’re being led in scoring by Zion Williamson at 25.6 points per game, Brandon Ingram at 23.9 ppg, then Ball at 14.2 ppg.

For the season, Ball is averaging 4.2 rebounds, 5.5 assists and 1.3 steals per game, shooting 42.6% FG and 38.9% from three-point range.

Pistons sign forward Tyler Cook to 10-day contract

The Detroit Pistons have signed forward Tyler Cook to a 10-day contract.

Cook, 6-8, 255, averaged 20.8 points (60% FG), 9.6 rebounds and 4.4 assists this season in eight games with the Iowa Wolves of the NBA’s G League. Overall, he’s averaged 14.6 points and 6.5 rebounds in 37 career G League games (18 starts).

Cook has seen action in 17 career NBA games with Cleveland, Denver and Brooklyn and averaged 1.5 points and 0.9 rebounds while shooting 60% from the field and 87.5% from the free throw line.

The St. Louis, MO native played collegiately at the University of Iowa where he averaged 14.1 points, 6.7 rebounds and 1.8 assists in three seasons with the Hawkeyes.

Warriors center James Wiseman reportedly out for at least the next week

Warriors center James Wiseman will be out for at least one week. Via the Memphis Commercial Appeal:

James Wiseman’s return to FedExForum will be delayed until next season after the Golden State Warriors rookie and former Memphis Tigers standout entered the NBA’s health and safety protocols Wednesday night.

Warriors coach Steve Kerr said that Wiseman is out for at least seven days and remaining in Houston, making him unavailable for Friday and Saturday’s games in Memphis against the Grizzlies.

It would have been Wiseman’s first game in FedExForum since Nov. 8, 2019. He appeared in three games with Memphis before the school declared him ineligible and the NCAA suspended him for 12 games due to alleged violations during his recruitment.

The Warriors 21-20 this season, which is the 9th best record in the Western conference.

Wiseman this season is averaging 11.8 points, 6.0 rebounds and 1.0 blocks in 20.8 minutes per game.

The team’s leading scorers this season are Stephen Curry at 29.0 ppg, Andre Wiggins at 17.2 ppg, Kelly Oubre Jr. at 15.2 ppg, and then Wiseman.

Heat trade Meyers Leonard, draft pick to Thunder for Trevor Ariza

The Oklahoma City Thunder yesterday acquired a 2027 second-round draft pick, forward/center Meyers Leonard and generated a trade exception in a trade with the Miami Heat for forward Trevor Ariza.

Leonard, who was recently caught on a live video game stream spewing an antisemitic slur, will not be reporting to Oklahoma City and will not be an active member of the organization.

Oklahoma City will have one year from today to exercise the trade exception.

As part of the announcement, the Heat issued the following statement: “Meyers was a key part of our team that made a run to the NBA Finals and we will always be grateful for his contributions and leadership last season. His recent comments were very hurtful and disappointing, but, we are encouraged that he has spent this last week meeting with community leaders, Rabbis and Holocaust survivors to greater understand the impact of his words and we hope that his education will continue. We wish Meyers and Elle the best of luck in the future.”

Ariza, a 16-year NBA veteran, has appeared in 1,064 career NBA games (731 starts) averaging 10.5 points, 4.8 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 1.49 steals and 29.7 minutes while shooting 42.3 percent from the field. He split last season between Sacramento and Portland, appearing in 21 games (all starts) most recently with the Trail Blazers averaging 11.0 points, 4.8 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 1.62 steals and 33.4 minutes while shooting 49.1 percent from the field, 40 percent from three-point range and 87.2 percent from the foul line, helping Portland to a postseason berth. He scored in double-figures 19 times last season, including four 20-point performances. He recorded 22 multi-steal games, including a season-high six against the Los Angeles Lakers on January 31. Ariza, who was born in Miami, has made nine postseason appearances where he helped the Lakers win the 2009 NBA Championship after appearing in 23 games (all starts) in their playoff run.