Category: NBA News Blog

NBA news blog

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.

Devin Booker picked as injury replacement for Anthony Davis on 2021 NBA All-Star team

Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker has been named by NBA Commissioner Adam Silver to replace injured Los Angeles Lakers forward Anthony Davis in the 2021 NBA All-Star Game, which will be played on Sunday, March 7 at State Farm Arena in Atlanta.

Booker has earned his second straight NBA All-Star selection. He is averaging a team-high 24.7 points (16th in the NBA), 4.3 assists and 3.8 rebounds while shooting a career-high 50.1 percent from the field, 38.1 percent from three-point range and 84.8 percent from the free throw line in 26 games this season.

Behind Booker and fellow NBA All-Star Chris Paul, Phoenix has posted the league’s fourth-best record (20-10) and produced its best start through 30 games of a season since 2007-08. With the selection of Booker and Paul, the Suns have multiple NBA All-Stars in a season for the first time since 2009-10 (Steve Nash and Amar’e Stoudemire).

Davis will miss the NBA All-Star Game after sustaining a right calf strain against the Denver Nuggets on Feb. 14. He was voted by NBA head coaches as an All-Star reserve, his eighth consecutive All-Star selection. Davis is averaging 22.5 points, 8.4 rebounds and 1.78 blocks in 23 games this season.

According to NBA rules, when a player selected to the All-Star Game is unable to participate, the Commissioner shall choose a replacement from the same conference as the player who is being replaced. Davis and Booker both play for Western Conference teams.

The NBA All-Star Game rosters will be determined through the NBA All-Star Draft, where team captains Kevin Durant of the Brooklyn Nets and LeBron James of the Lakers will select from the pool of players named starters and reserves in each conference. TNT will air the NBA All-Star Draft on Thursday, March 4 at 8 p.m. ET.

In the two-round NBA All-Star Draft, Booker will be selected with the All-Star Game reserves in the second round. The starters will be selected in the first round. Davis will be assigned to the same All-Star team that drafts Booker.

In COVID-19 tests since February 17, two new NBA players test positive

Of the 455 players tested for COVID-19 since Feb 17, 2 new players have returned confirmed positive tests.

Anyone who has returned a confirmed positive test, or has been identified as having been in close contact to an infected person, is isolated or quarantined until they are cleared under the rules established by the NBA and the Players Association in accordance with CDC guidance.