Category: NBA News Blog

NBA news blog

Nets forward Kevin Durant will remain out through the NBA All-Star break

After a routine follow-up MRI on his left hamstring, it was determined that Brooklyn Nets forward Kevin Durant will require an additional recovery period that will result in him remaining out through the NBA All-Star break.

Per the team, “the latest images provided a clearer picture of the hamstring and while we are confident that Durant will return at full strength, this extra recovery time will allow him to perform at the level at which he has been playing this season once he returns.”

Durant will continue to undergo rehabilitation and will be re-assessed following the break.

At 22-12, the Nets have the second best record in the Eastern conference. Durant has played in 19 of the team’s 34 games this season and has been their leading scorer, averaging 29.0 points per game.

Lakers sign center Damian Jones to 10-day contract

The Los Angeles Lakers have signed center Damian Jones to a 10-day contract, Vice President of Basketball Operations and General Manager Rob Pelinka announced today.

Per the OC Register, “he’s expected shore up the big man depth that has been frustratingly thin since Anthony Davis has been out with injury.”

Jones has played in 118 career games (49 starts) for Golden State, Atlanta and Phoenix, with averages of 4.3 points (.657 FG%) and 2.8 rebounds in 13.3 minutes. Last season with Atlanta, Jones notched 5.6 points (.680 FG%) and 3.7 rebounds. In 14 games for Phoenix this year, he tallied 1.6 points and 1.3 rebounds per game.

More from the OC Register: “Without Davis, the Lakers are in need of shot-blocking, which might be an area where Jones can help.”

Raptors coach Nick Nurse and his assistants will miss games due to health and safety protocols

Due to health and safety protocols, six members of the Toronto Raptors coaching staff, including head coach Nick Nurse, will not be on the bench beginning with Friday’s game against the Houston Rockets.

They will continue to work remotely. There aren’t any details yet on their eventual return.

Per the Toronto Star, “the Raptors had been one of the few teams to escape any significant issues related to the COVID-19 pandemic this season. No player or coach had missed a game before tonight, and they have not had a game postponed.”

Atlanta Dream sold to Larry Gottesdiener, Renee Montgomery and Suzanne Abair

The WNBA and NBA Boards of Governors have unanimously approved the sale of the Atlanta Dream to Larry Gottesdiener, Chairman of Northland, an industry-leading national real estate firm. The three-member investor group is comprised of former Dream star Renee Montgomery, Northland President and Chief Operating Officer Suzanne Abair, and Gottesdiener.

“With the unanimous WNBA and NBA votes, today marks a new beginning for the Atlanta Dream organization and we are very pleased to welcome Larry Gottesdiener and Suzanne Abair to the WNBA,” said WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert. “I admire their passion for women’s basketball, but more importantly, have been impressed with their values. I am also thrilled that former WNBA star Renee Montgomery will be joining the ownership group as an investor and executive for the team. Renee is a trailblazer who has made a major impact both in the game and beyond.”

“It is a privilege to join a team of inspiring women who strive for excellence on the court and equity off the court,” said Larry Gottesdiener. “I would like to express my gratitude to Commissioner Engelbert, Commissioner Silver, and the WNBA and NBA Boards of Governors for the opportunity.”

Two-time WNBA champion Renee Montgomery will be the first former player to become both an owner and executive of a WNBA team. Montgomery sat out the 2020 season to focus on social justice issues and recently announced her retirement from the league after 11 seasons.

“My Dream has come true,” said Renee Montgomery. “Breaking barriers for minorities and women by being the first former WNBA player to have both a stake in ownership and a leadership role with the team is an opportunity that I take very seriously. I invite you to join me as the Dream builds momentum in Atlanta!”

Founded in 2007, the Dream has qualified for the WNBA Playoffs eight times and has reached the WNBA Finals three times. The team’s former owners, Dream Too LLC, the Atlanta Dream ownership group, purchased the team in 2011.

Mary Brock and Kelly Loeffler commented on the transaction saying, “Ten years ago we stepped up to keep the Dream in Atlanta, as an important asset for a vibrant and diverse city. It was also important to us to help level the playing field for women’s professional sports. We are proud of what we accomplished and wish the team well in their next chapter. We will always value the hard work and dedication, and the memories, fans and friendships that sustained our commitment to the Atlanta Dream over the last decade.”

The Dream will play the 2021 season at the Gateway Center Arena at College Park, a multi-purpose sports and entertainment venue. The 2021 WNBA regular season schedule will be announced at a later date.

Raptors sign forward Donta Hall to 10-day contract

The Toronto Raptors announced Friday they have signed forward Donta Hall to a 10-day contract.

Hall will join Toronto’s G-League affiliate Raptors 905 and is expected to be in the lineup tonight against the Greensboro Swarm.

A native of Luverne, Alabama, Hall is averaging 8.9 points, 9.0 rebounds, 1.8 blocks and 23.5 minutes in nine games with Team Ignite of the NBA G League this season. He is shooting .614 (35-for-57) from the field and has recorded three double-doubles.

Hall, 6-foot-10, 230 pounds, split the 2019-20 season between the Grand Rapids Drive of the G League and Detroit Pistons and Brooklyn Nets in the NBA. He began the season with the Drive, posting averages of 15.4 points, 10.5 rebounds, 1.3 blocks and 28.6 minutes in 38 games. For his efforts, Hall was named to the All-NBA G League Second Team and All-Rookie Team. Hall signed the first of consecutive 10-day contracts with the Pistons in late February before signing as a Substitute Player with the Nets for the Orlando bubble. He averaged 4.3 points, 4.2 rebounds and 14.8 minutes in nine games with Detroit and Brooklyn.

Hall went undrafted after a four-year career at Alabama (2015-19) where he averaged 7.5 points, 6.3 rebounds and 20.8 minutes in 135 games and was named to the SEC All-Defensive Team his final two seasons.

Kings sign center Norvel Pelle to 10-day contract

The Sacramento Kings have signed center Norvel Pelle to 10-day contract.

Pelle appeared in three games for the Canton Charge in the NBA G League single site in Orlando, FL., and averaged 10.0 points (.700 FG%, .250 FT%), 10.7 rebounds, 3.0 blocks and 24.3 minutes per game. In two seasons, the 6-10, 231-pound center has accrued averages of 2.3 points (.509 FG%, .500 FT%), 2.9 rebounds, 1.3 blocks and 9.6 minutes per game in 27 games for two teams; Brooklyn (2020-21) and Philadelphia (2019-20).

Sacramento’s roster stands at 17 players.

Kings waive forward Glenn Robinson III

The Sacramento Kings have waived forward Glenn Robinson III, according to General Manager Monte McNair.

Robinson III appeared in 23 games (two starts) with the Kings, averaging 5.3 points (.424 FG%, .364 3pt%, .913 FT%), 2.0 rebounds, 0.9 assists and 16.1 minutes per game. A seven-year veteran from the University of Michigan, Robinson III has accrued career averages of 5.9 points (.457 FG%, .373 3pt%, .779 FT%), 2.6 rebounds and 17.4 minutes per game in 304 games (105 starts) for six teams: Sacramento (2020-21), Philadelphia (2019-20, 2014-15), Golden State (2019-20), Detroit Pistons (2018-19), Indiana Pacers (2015-18), and the Minnesota Timberwolves (2014-15).

Sacramento’s roster now stands at 16 players.

Jazz waive guard Shaquille Harrison

The Utah Jazz yesterday waived guard Shaquille Harrison.

Harrison (6-4, 189, Tulsa) appeared in 17 games with the Jazz in 2020-21, averaging 1.0 points in 3.3 minutes per contest.

The Jazz are 26-6 this season, which is the best record in the NBA. They’ve been the surprise of the league. Coming into the season they were expected to be a very good team, and certainly a playoff team, but they have exceeded all expectations.

Cavs sign Brodric Thomas to two-way contract, waive Marques Bolden

The Cleveland Cavaliers last night waived Two-Way center Marques Bolden and signed guard Brodric Thomas to a Two-Way contract.

Bolden (6-10, 249) played in six games with the Cavaliers this season and was a member of Cleveland’s 2020 training camp roster. He has played in three games (all starts) this season with the Canton Charge, the Cavaliers’ exclusively owned and operated NBA G League affiliate, averaging 6.3 points on .583 shooting from the field, 6.0 rebounds and 1.7 blocks in 17.0 minutes.

Thomas (6-5, 185) played in four games this season with the Houston Rockets after joining the team’s 2020 training camp roster and being converted to a Two-Way player for Houston on Dec. 19. He was waived by the Rockets on Feb. 12 and returned to their NBA G League affiliate, the Rio Grande Valley Vipers, on Feb. 14. Thomas has played in eight games (all starts) this season with the Vipers, averaging 16.4 points, 7.8 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 1.6 steals and 1.1 blocks in 33.3 minutes. He played 80 games (78 starts) collegiately at Truman State, averaging 18.8 points, 6.7 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 1.6 steals and 1.1 blocks in 31.8 minutes over three seasons, and went undrafted in the 2020 NBA Draft.