Category: NBA News Blog

NBA news blog

Raptors sign Paul Watson to standard contract, Yuta Watanabe to two-way contract

The Toronto Raptors announced Sunday they have signed forward Paul Watson to a standard NBA contract and forward Yuta Watanabe to a two-way player contract. Watson originally signed a two-way player contract with the club Jan. 15, 2020.

On Saturday, the Raptors waived forwards Oshae Brissett, Alize Johnson and Henry Ellenson.

Watson, 6-foot-6, 210 pounds, averaged 3.1 points, 1.7 rebounds and 8.7 minutes in 10 games with Atlanta and Toronto last season. He set career highs with 22 points (8-13 FG, 4-6 3PT, 2-3 FT) and six rebounds in 27 minutes in the regular season finale Aug. 14 vs. Denver. Watson also appeared in 30 games with Raptors 905 in the NBA G League where he averaged 19.0 points, 6.4 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 1.1 steals and 35.3 minutes. For his efforts Watson was named to All-NBA G League Midseason Eastern Conference Team.

Watanabe, 6-foot-9, 205 pounds, split last season between the Memphis Grizzlies and Memphis Hustle of the NBA G League. He averaged 2.0 points, 1.1 rebounds and 5.8 minutes in 18 games with the Grizzlies. In 22 appearances with the Hustle, Watanabe posted averages of 17.2 points, 5.7 rebounds and 32.7 minutes.

A native of Japan, Watanabe owns career averages of 2.3 points, 1.5 rebounds and 8.5 minutes in 33 games with Memphis where he has spent the last two seasons (2018-20) as a two-way player.

Toronto’s roster currently stands at 17 players with Jalen Harris and Watanabe as two-way players.

Orlando Magic waive Devin Cannady, Robert Franks and Jon Teske

The Orlando Magic have waived guard Devin Cannady, forward Robert Franks and center Jon Teske.

Cannady (6’2”, 183, 5/21/96) appeared in two preseason games with the Magic, tallying six points, two rebounds, one assist and one blocked shot in nine minutes. He was originally signed as a free agent by Orlando on November 27. Last season, 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.

Franks (6’7”, 255, 12/18/96) played in two preseason games with Orlando, recording five points and one steal in 10 minutes. He was originally signed as a free agent by the Magic on November 27. Last season, Franks played in 36 games for both the Greensboro Swarm and Stockton Kings of the NBA G League, averaging 17.3 ppg. and 6.4 rpg. in 32.2 minpg.

Teske (7’1”, 265, 5/4/97) appeared in one preseason game with the Magic, pulling down four rebounds in five minutes. He was originally signed as a free agent by Orlando on November 27. Last season, Teske played and started in 31 games as a senior at the University of Michigan, averaging 11.6 ppg., 6.7 rpg., 1.1 apg., 1.84 blkpg. and 1.00 stlpg. in 27.8 minpg. He was the only member of the Wolverines to start in all 31 games.

Orlando’s roster now stands at 17 players, including two-way players Jordan Bone and Karim Mané.

Hornets waive Keandre Cook, Javin DeLaurier, Xavier Sneed and Kahlil Whitney

The Charlotte Hornets have waived guard Keandre Cook, forward Javin DeLaurier, forward Xavier Sneed and forward Kahlil Whitney.

Cook (6-5, 187) went undrafted in the 2020 NBA Draft after two seasons at Missouri State University. The Baltimore native appeared in 33 games during his senior season, averaging 14.9 points, 4.6 rebounds and 1.4 assists in 32.1 minutes per game to earn All-Missouri Valley Conference Second Team honors. He appeared in one preseason game for the Hornets.

DeLaurier (6-10, 237) played four years at Duke University, averaging 3.4 points and 3.8 rebounds in 13.4 minutes per game in 114 career contents. The Shipman, Virginia native went undrafted and appeared in one preseason game for the Hornets.

Sneed (6-5, 220) made three appearances for the Hornets during the preseason, totaling six points and four rebounds in 15 minutes. The St. Louis native went undrafted after a decorated career at Kansas State University. He appeared in 32 games and averaged 14.2 points, 4.8 rebounds, 1.8 steals and 1.7 assists in 32.5 minutes per game as a senior, earning All-Big 12 honorable mention accolades.

Whitney (6-6, 210) played collegiately for the University of Kentucky. The Chicago native went undrafted after averaging 3.3 points and 1.7 rebounds in 12.8 minutes in 18 games for the Wildcats. A heralded recruit out of high school, Whitney was a 2019 McDonald’s All-American and participant in the 2019 Jordan Brand Classic. He appeared in one preseason game for the Hornets.

After waiving Cook, DeLaurier, Sneed and Whitney, the Hornets roster stands at 16 players.

Timberwolves waive Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, Tyler Cook, Zylan Cheatham and Charlie Brown Jr.

The Minnesota Timberwolves have waived guard Charlie Brown Jr. and forwards Zylan Cheatham, Tyler Cook and Rondae Hollis-Jefferson.

Brown Jr., 6-6, totaled 20 points and 4 rebounds last season in 10 games with Atlanta. He was originally signed by the Hawks on July 1, 2019. The 23-year-old played in 29 games in the G League for the College Park Skyhawks where he averaged 17.1 points on 42.2% shooting and 6.7 rebounds per game.

Cheatham, 6-5, played in four games with the New Orleans Pelicans during the 2019-20 season. The 25-year-old played in 34 games (30 starts) in the G League for the Erie Bayhawks where he averaged 16.2 points on 53.4% shooting and 11.6 rebounds per game.

Cook, 6-8, played in one game during the preseason for the Timberwolves recording two points, three rebounds and two assists. The 23-year-old totaled 23 points and 14 rebounds last season in 13 games with Cleveland and Denver. He was originally signed by the Timberwolves on Dec. 2, 2019.

Hollis-Jefferson, 6-6, played in three preseason games with the Timberwolves, averaging 7.7 points and 2.0 rebounds. During the 2019-20 season, he averaged 7.0 points and 4.7 rebounds in 60 games with the Toronto Raptors. The five-year veteran has played in 294 career games (153 starts) with Toronto and Brooklyn, holding career averages of 9.3 points and 5.6 rebounds.

Rockets waive Gerald Green

The Houston Rockets waived guard/forward Gerald Green.

“Gerald is a truly exceptional human being that is beloved by our organization, the City of Houston and Rockets fans all over the world,” said Rockets General Manager Rafael Stone. “He has given us so much on the court during his time with the Rockets, but we’re even more proud of the impact he’s had in the community. When Houston was hit its hardest by Hurricane Harvey, Gerald did whatever he could to help those in need. Gerald is all heart and he will forever be a part of the Rockets family.”

Green was originally the 18th overall pick by Boston in the 2005 NBA Draft and has appeared in 658 career games with 118 starts. From the time he originally signed with the Rockets on Dec. 28, 2017 through the end of the 2018-19 season, Green had the most 3-pointers made (255) of any reserve in the NBA.

Utah Jazz waive Yogi Ferrell and Malcolm Miller

The Utah Jazz have waived guard Yogi Ferrell and forward Malcolm Miller.

Ferrell (6-0, 178, Indiana) has four years of NBA experience with the Brooklyn Nets, Dallas Mavericks and Sacramento Kings, owning career averages of 7.8 points, 2.3 assists and 2.1 assists in 20.4 minutes per contest. In 2019-20 he saw action in 50 games for the Kings, averaging 4.4 points, 1.4 assists and 1.0 rebounds in 10.6 minutes per contests.

Miller (6-7, 210, Holy Cross) has played in three NBA seasons with the Toronto Raptors, where he’s averaged 2.0 points on 43.4 percent from the field in 55 career contests (five starts). The Gaithersburg, MD., native has appeared in 97 games (79 starts) in the G League with the Maine Red Claws and Toronto 905, owning career averages of 12.1 points on 46.2 percent from the field, 4.5 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 1.0 blocks in 29.9 minutes per game.

Mavericks waive Courtney Lee

The Dallas Mavericks have waived guard Courtney Lee.

Lee (6-5, 215) originally joined the Mavericks as part of the seven-player trade that brought Kristaps Porzingis, Tim Hardaway Jr. and Trey Burke to Dallas in January 2019.

The 13-season veteran holds career averages of 9.6 points, 2.6 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 1.0 steals and 27.1 minutes in 811 games (518 starts) with Orlando, New Jersey, Houston, Boston, Memphis, Charlotte, New York and Dallas. Last year, Lee averaged 4.5 points, 1.3 rebounds and 0.5 assists in 14.4 minutes through 24 games (nine starts). Lee did not play in the NBA Restart due to a calf injury.

Lee appeared in Dallas’ final preseason game on Thursday, recording three points in six minutes vs. Minnesota.

The Mavericks roster now stands at 17 players, including two-way players.

Nets convert Reggie Perry’s contract into a two-way contract

The Brooklyn Nets have exercised the two-way player conversion option on forward Reggie Perry.

Perry originally signed with Brooklyn on Nov. 27 and appeared in both of the Nets’ preseason games, registering averages of 2.5 points and 4.5 rebounds in 11.6 minutes per game.

After being selected with the 57th overall pick in the second round of the 2020 NBA Draft by the Los Angeles Clippers, Perry’s draft rights were traded to Brooklyn in a three-team deal with the Clippers and Detroit Pistons. He played two collegiate seasons (2018-20) at Mississippi State, recording averages of 13.4 points, 8.6 rebounds and 1.4 assists in 27.3 minutes per contest in 65 games (49 starts). As a sophomore last season, Perry appeared in and started 31 games, averaging 17.4 points, 10.1 rebounds and 2.3 assists in 31.1 minutes per game en route to earning consensus All-SEC First Team honors from coaches and media and being named the SEC’s Co-Player of the Year by the Associated Press. The Thomasville, Ga., native also earned All-SEC Freshman Team honors for his play during the 2018-19 season, when he averaged 9.7 points and 7.2 rebounds in 23.9 minutes per game in 34 contests (18 starts). In addition to his time with the Bulldogs, the 20-year-old competed on USA Basketball’s team in the 2019 FIBA U19 World Cup, where he won a gold medal, was named Most Valuable Player and was selected to the All-Tournament Team.

Nets waive Chris Chiozza, Elie Okobo and Paul Eboua

The Brooklyn Nets have waived guards Chris Chiozza and Elie Okobo and forward Paul Eboua.

Chiozza originally signed a two-way contract with Brooklyn on Jan. 4 and then re-signed with the Nets on Dec. 1. He appeared in Brooklyn’s preseason game against Washington on Dec. 13, totaling eight points, two rebounds and two assists in nine minutes off the bench.

Okobo originally signed with the Nets on Dec. 16, while Eboua signed with Brooklyn on Dec. 18.

Brooklyn’s roster now stands at 17 players.