Category: NBA News Blog

NBA news blog

Thunder sign guard Frank Jackson, who played for Pelicans last season

The Oklahoma City Thunder has signed guard Frank Jackson.

Jackson, listed at 6-foot-3, 205 lbs., has played in 120 career NBA games (18 starts) with the New Orleans Pelicans, averaging 7.2 points, 1.8 rebounds and 1.1 assists in 16.4 minutes per game.

During the 2020 NBA Restart in the Bubble at Disney Wide World of Sports, the Duke product appeared in all eight games (one start) with the Pelicans and averaged 10.8 points on 47.3 percent shooting from the field, 2.5 assists and 1.5 rebounds in 17.6 minutes per game, earning the second-highest net rating on the team (8.9) and the third-best assist to turnover ratio (3.33).

Pelicans sign guard Rawle Alkins, who most recently played in Portugal

The New Orleans Pelicans have signed guard Rawle Alkins.

Alkins, listed at 6-foot-5, 225 lbs., most recently played overseas in Portugal for FC Porto.

A new York native, Alkins played college hoops for the Arizona Wildcats, went undrafted in 2018, and in the 2018-19 NBA season was with the Chicago Bulls. But he mostly played in the G League for their affiliate team, the Windy City Bulls, for whom he averaged 11.3 points, 5.5 rebounds and 2.9 assists per game.

Miami Heat sign BJ Johnson

The Miami have signed guard/forward BJ Johnson.

Johnson last season, signed to a two-way contract, played for the Orlando Magic and their G League affiliate, the Lakeland Magic. For the Magic, he played in 10 games, averaging 3.0 points in 8.3 minutes per game. For Lakeland in the G League, he played in 28 games, all as a starter, averaging 22.9 points, 6.4 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 2.07 steals in 35.9 minutes per outing.

In the 2018-19 NBA season, Johnson bounced around between the Atlanta Hawks, Sacramento Kings, Orlando Magic and Lakeland Magic.

As a college basketball player, Johnson played two seasons at La Salle University after transferring from Syracuse University.

Warriors add Dwayne Sutton, Axel Toupane and Kaleb Wesson to training camp

The Golden State Warriors have finalized their training camp roster ahead of the team’s 2020-21 Training Camp, which will open Monday at the team’s Chase Center practice facility.

The team also announced the signing of free agent forwards Dwayne Sutton, Axel Toupane (too-PAN) and Kaleb Wesson.

Sutton, 23, averaged 9.1 points, 8.2 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 31.5 minutes in 31 games as a senior at Louisville and was a 2019-20 All-ACC Honorable Mention selection. In three seasons with the Cardinals, the 6’5” forward posted averages of 7.7 points, 6.2 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 25.7 minutes in 101 games. Sutton spent his freshman season at UNC-Asheville and transferred to Louisville as a walk-on, earning a scholarship the following season.

Toupane, 28, most recently played with SIG Strasbourg of LNB Pro A in France. A two-year NBA veteran (2015-17), Toupane owns career NBA averages of 3.5 points, 1.3 rebounds and 14.1 minutes in 25 games with the Denver Nuggets, Milwaukee Bucks and New Orleans Pelicans. The 6’7” forward has also played with Zalgiris of the LKL League in Lithuania, Greek club Olympiacos of the Euro League and Unicaja of Liga ACB in Spain.

Wesson, 21, averaged 14.0 points 9.3 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 29.5 minutes in 31 games during his junior season last year at Ohio State. He was a 2019-20 All-Big Ten Second Team selection and USBWA All-District pick. In three seasons at Ohio State, the 6’9” forward averaged 12.9 points, 7.0 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 25.3 minutes in 96 games.

Pistons sign LiAngelo Ball to non-guaranteed contract

The Detroit Pistons announced today the team’s 2020-21 training camp roster, including the signing of Anthony Lamb and LiAngelo Ball to contracts.

According to multiple reports, Ball’s contract with the Pistons is a one-year, non-guaranteed deal. And per the Detroit News, it’s “an Exhibit-10 contract. The one-year, non-guaranteed contract gets Ball an invitation to training camp and likely an opportunity on the Pistons’ G League affiliate, provided there is a G League season during the pandemic.”

Ball, 6-5, 230, played professionally in Lithuania during the 2019-20 season. He is the brother of Pelicans guard Lonzo Ball and Hornets rookie guard LaMelo Ball.

Lamb, 6-6, 225, went undrafted in the 2020 NBA draft after a four-year collegiate career at the University of Vermont. In 118 career games, he averaged 16.4 points and 6.5 rebounds per game. A top-10 finalist for the 2019-20 Julius Erving Small Forward of the Year Award as a senior, Lamb was named the America East Player of the Year both as a junior and senior.

Timberwolves sign Ade Murkey to training camp contract

The Minnesota Timberwolves signed swingman Ade Murkey to a training camp contract today.

Murkey, listed at 6-foot-5, played a full four seasons of college hoops. He put up modest stats at the University of Denver, averaging 10.6 points, 4.0 rebounds and 2.0 assists. He did receive the honor of being named to the 2020 All-Summit League Second Team.

A native of Minneapolis, Minnesota, the local favorite played at St. Croix Lutheran High School and left as the school’s all-time leader in both assists and steals. And during his high school senior season, Murkey set the single season scoring record.

Sixers sign Justin Anderson, Derrick Walton Jr. and re-sign Ryan Broekhoff

The Philadelphia 76ers made bench moves today, signing Justin Anderson and Derrick Walton Jr., and re-signing Ryan Broekhoff.

Anderson was drafted 21st overall in 2015 by the Dallas Mavericks. He’s played in the NBA for five seasons, for the Mavs, Sixers, Hawks and Nets, for a career average of 5.2 points and 2.5 rebounds in 13.1 minutes per game. He played in 10 games for the Nets last season.

Walton Jr. has played in 42 NBA games over the last two seasons, suiting up for the Pistons, Clippers and Heat. He’s also played in the G League, as well as overseas in Lithuania and Germany.

Broekhoff had previously signed with the Sixers in June. Last season, he suited up for the Mavericks, for whom he averaged 4.2 points and 2.5 rebounds in 10.6 minutes per game. He has overseas basketball experience, playing in Russia and Turkey.

The jersey numbers for the three players are as follows: Anderson will wear No. 9, Walton Jr. No. 5, and Broekhoff No. 45.

Sixers sign rookies Tyrese Maxey, Isaiah Joe and Paul Reed

The Philadelphia 76ers have signed Tyrese Maxey (drafted No. 21 overall) and Isaiah Joe (No. 49 overall) to standard NBA contracts, and Paul Reed (No. 58 overall) to a two-way contract.

Maxey, Joe and Reed were selected by Philadelphia in the 2020 NBA Draft.

Maxey, a Texas native, played one collegiate season at Kentucky, appearing in 31 games (28 starts) and tallying 14.0 points, 4.3 rebounds and 3.2 assists in a team-high 34.5 minutes per contest. Following his freshman season, Maxey was named to the 2019-20 All-SEC Second Team as well as the SEC All-Freshman Team. The former McDonald’s All-American notched a team-best 19.0 points per game in contests against top-25 opponents last season. Internationally, Maxey helped the United States earn a gold medal with the U-18 U.S. National Team in the 2018 U-18 FIBA Americas.

Joe spent two collegiate seasons at Arkansas, in his home state, where he saw action in 60 games (59 starts), notching 15.2 points, 3.4 rebounds and 1.7 assists in 33.1 minutes per contest. Last season, Joe led the SEC with 3.6 threes per game, finishing with the fourth-highest average in the nation. Joe set an SEC freshman record with 113 three-pointers in his first season at Arkansas and was selected to the 2018-19 SEC All-Freshman Team.

Reed, originally from Florida, played his college ball at DePaul, appearing in 93 games (58 starts) over three seasons, posting 10.6 points and 7.5 rebounds in 23.2 minutes per contest. As a junior, Reed averaged a double-double with 15.1 points and 10.7 rebounds, as he was named to the All-Big East Second Team. Reed, who improved his scoring and rebounding averages over each of his three seasons with the Blue Demons, tallied 142 career blocked shots as a collegian, third in DePaul school history.

Per NBA rules, teams are permitted to have a maximum of two players under two-way contracts in addition to the players under standard NBA contracts. A two-way player for the 76ers will provide services to the team’s G League affiliate – the Delaware Blue Coats – but may not be active for more than 50 NBA games.

Maxey will wear No. 0, Joe will wear No. 7 and Reed will sport No. 44 for the 76ers.

Pacers guard Malcolm Brogdon wins 2019-20 J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award

Indiana Pacers guard Malcolm Brogdon has won the 2019-20 J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award, as administered and selected by the Professional Basketball Writers Association (PBWA). Named after the NBA’s second commissioner, the honor is presented annually by the PBWA to a player, coach or athletic trainer who shows outstanding service and dedication to the community.

Brogdon was one of five finalists for the 2019-20 J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award, along with Milwaukee Bucks guard Jrue Holiday (who played for the New Orleans Pelicans in 2019-20), Cleveland Cavaliers forward Kevin Love, Minnesota Timberwolves guard Josh Okogie and Atlanta Hawks head coach Lloyd Pierce.

The finalists were chosen by a committee of PBWA members from nominees submitted by NBA teams. The winner was determined by a vote of the entire PBWA, which is composed of more than 200 writers and editors who cover the NBA regularly for newspapers, magazines and online news outlets.

“The depth and breadth of Malcolm Brogdon’s commitment to making a positive difference is inspiring,” said PBWA President Josh Robbins of The Athletic. “Members of the Professional Basketball Writers Association salute him and commend his fellow finalists and nominees for their exemplary work.”