Category: NBA News Blog

NBA news blog

Rookie Isaac Okoro hits preseason game-winner for Cavs

NBA preseason began Friday. On Saturday, the Cleveland Cavaliers won in a really fun way, with a rookie hitting a game-winner. Via the News Herald:

It was the preseason opener of their 51st season, but for the 2020-21 Cavaliers, their game against the Pacers played Dec. 12 at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse was like a playoff game, or at least the first game in franchise history.

The Cavaliers are truly in a new beginning under Coach J.B. Bickerstaff, and it could not have ended better. Rookie Isaac Okoro made a layup, was fouled with 0.3 seconds to play and then made the free throw to win a 107-104 thriller.

Unfortunately, no fans were there to witness it. They are banned from preseason games because of the novel coronavirus, which means the FieldHouse will also be fanless Dec. 14 when the Cavs host the Pacers in their second of four preseason games. State and local officials have set the maximum number of fans at 300 for regular-season games.

Okoro finished with 18 points on 6-of-9 shooting.

The Cavs will face the Pacers again tonight, then head to New York for two preseason bouts with the Knicks.

Wizards rookie Deni Avdija plays well in NBA preseason debut

Washington Wizards rookie Deni Avdija looks very good in his NBA preseason debut yesterday. Via the Washington Times:

Even for Deni Avdija, a rookie who comes to the Washington Wizards already with professional experience in Israel, it took a moment to settle in after stepping onto the court for his first NBA preseason game Sunday night.

“In the beginning, I’m going to be honest and I’ll say, like, ‘Whoa,’” Avdija said postgame. “Like, you’re in Barclays Center and you’re playing against all those players you saw on TV.”

But Avdija wasn’t star-struck — at least not for long — in a matchup against Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving and the Brooklyn Nets. In Washington’s first preseason game, the first-round draft pick soon came into his own, showing a confidence that helped buoy his team during the 119-114 loss.

The 19-year-old finished with 15 points on 6-for-6 shooting to go along with four rebounds and two assists in 24 minutes. While Bradley Beal and Russell Westbrook didn’t play — meaning Wizards fans didn’t get a real hint of what the squad might look like this season — Avdija’s debut shows early promise that he could be a key contributor in his first year.

Pistons waive LiAngelo Ball, Louis King and Anthony Lamb

The Detroit Pistons have waived guard LiAngelo Ball and forwards Louis King and Anthony Lamb.

King played on a two-way contract with the Pistons last season while Lamb and Ball were signed on December 3, 2020.

Ball, King and Lamb did not play in the first Pistons preseason game on Friday, but King and Lamb did get a few minute of action on Sunday.

Per the Detroit News, “King’s departure is somewhat surprising because he was one of the Pistons’ two-way contracts last season. A 6-foot-7 forward, King played in 10 games last season and averaged 2 points, 1 rebound and shot 36% on 3-pointers.”

Ball’s two brothers, Lonzo and LaMelo, are both in the NBA. But LiAngelo has been considered a longshot to make the league.

It was an incredibly short NBA offseason, especially for Heat and Lakers

Here’s the Miami Herald discussing how short the offseason was for the Heat. Of course, this also applies to the Lakers, who beat the Heat in six games in the 2020 NBA Finals:

The Miami Heat had a two-month offseason to recover from a season that took about a year to complete.

The NBA offseason lasted just 71 days, which is the fewest between the end of a season and the start of the next season in NBA, MLB, NHL and NFL history, according to Elias Sports.

COVID-19 is the reason for the abbreviated offseason, with the pandemic extending last season all the way to October. The Heat lost to the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 6 of the NBA Finals on Oct. 11, and the Heat begins the 2020-21 regular season on Dec. 23.

“If I’m honest, nobody cares if you’re ready or not,” guard Goran Dragic said when asked if the Heat will be ready after the short break.

Clint Capela makes debut in a Hawks jersey

NBA preseason began yesterday. It’ll be an incredibly brief period of exhibition games, with the regular season starting December 22.

One of the teams making the biggest splashes this offseason was the Atlanta Hawks, who fell 116-102 to the Orlando Magic. But one key Hawks addition was made last season: center Clint Capela, who arrived to the team while injured. He made his debut yesterday. Via the Atlanta Journal Constitution:

Not long after Lloyd Pierce subbed Clint Capela out in the fourth quarter, Capela asked him if he could get back in the game.

Capela was about four minutes under the 24-to-25 minute restriction Pierce had assigned everyone, but he decided to keep the center, making his debut in a Hawks jersey and playing in his first NBA setting since Jan. 29, out for the final stretch of the game…

Most of the returning Hawks players haven’t played since March 11, but Capela has been out even longer, bothered by a nagging heel injury until he eventually started feeling better this summer. He’s now fully healthy, but it will take a while for him to get back in game shape. In just 20 minutes, though, he already helped alleviate the Hawks’ rebounding woes.

Capela finished with 14 rebounds (nine defensive, five offensive) in a smaller amount of playing time than he’ll normally get, and helped the Hawks out-rebound the Magic, 61-49.

A number of key Hawks played very limited minutes yesterday, and didn’t have their best games. But the squad is one to watch once the season begins.

Nuggets promote Wes Unseld Jr. to Associate Head Coach

The Denver Nuggets promoted Wes Unseld Jr. to Associate Head Coach today.

“We are extremely fortunate to have Wes as part of our organization,” stated Connelly. “He’s one of the most respected coaches in our league, and for good reason. He’s a tireless worker with a fantastic mind for the game. He’s been a vital part of our success and will make a fantastic head coach in the very near future.”

“Wes is extremely deserving of this promotion. He is one of the hardest working people I’ve come across in this league and he has been an integral part of my coaching staff since we both arrived in Denver in 2015,” said Nuggets Head Coach Michael Malone. “I’ve said many times over the years that Wes is ready and deserving of a head coaching position in the NBA and it’s only a matter of time until that day comes.”

Unseld Jr. begins his sixth season with the Nuggets coaching staff in his primary role of overseeing the defensive game plans.

Prior to joining the Nuggets, Unseld Jr. spent two seasons as an assistant coach with the Orlando Magic (2012-2014) and spent the 2011-12 campaign as an assistant coach with the Golden State Warriors.

Prior to his time in Golden State, Unseld Jr. spent 13 seasons with the Washington Wizards organization, including six seasons as an assistant coach from 2005-11. He played a key role in player development for the Wizards, helping Washington to four consecutive playoff appearances from 2004-08.

Unseld Jr. began his NBA career in 1997, just four days after graduating from John Hopkins University, as a professional and college scout for Washington. He was promoted later that same year to advance scout. In addition to his nine-year tenure as advance pro scout for the Wizards, he also spent three seasons (1998-2000) as an advance scout for the WNBA’s Washington Mystics and one season serving as assistant coach as well (1998).

A native of Maryland, Unseld Jr. played on the men’s basketball team at John Hopkins for three seasons.

Jazz sign guard Trevon Bluiett

The Utah Jazz have signed guard Trevon Bluiett.

Bluiett, who is 26 years old and listed at 6-foot-6, 198 lbs., spent last season playing in the G League for the Salt Lake City Stars. In 41 games (15 starts), he averaged 14.9 points, 3.4 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.0 steals in 29.3 minutes per game, shooting 48.7 percent from the field and 42.5 percent from three-point range.

Bluiett played four years of college basketball, for Xavier.

Grizzlies sign Ahmad Caver, waive Mario Hezonja

The Memphis Grizzlies have signed guard Ahmad Caver.

In addition, the team waived forward Mario Hezonja.

Caver (6-2, 175) appeared in 39 games (two starts) and averaged 9.9 points, 3.2 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 1.28 steals in 24.4 minutes last season for the NBA G League’s Memphis Hustle. Unselected in the 2019 NBA Draft, the Atlanta native was named to the 2018-19 All-Conference USA First Team as a senior at Old Dominion and led the Big Blue to the 2019 C-USA Championship.

Hezonja (6-8, 220) has appeared in 330 games (69 starts) and has averaged 6.9 points, 3.1 rebounds and 1.3 assists in 18.5 minutes over five NBA seasons (2015-20) with the Orlando Magic, New York Knicks and Portland Trail Blazers. Memphis acquired the 30th overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft from the Boston Celtics to select Desmond Bane and acquired Hezonja from the Trail Blazers as part of a three-team trade on Nov. 20.

Mavericks sign veteran guard Courtney Lee

The Dallas Mavericks have signed veteran guard Courtney Lee.

Lee, listed at 6-foot-5, 215 lbs., 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 35-year-old, 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 played four seasons at Western Kentucky where, in 127 starts, he averaged 17.6 points, 5.2 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 1.9 steals in 31.2 minutes. He was named First Team All-Sun Belt in each of his final three seasons (2005-08) and earned 2008 Sun Belt Player of the Year honors as a senior.

Lee, a native of Indianapolis, will join the team after clearing medical protocols.

Lee will wear No. 45.