Category: NBA News Blog

NBA news blog

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.”

Timberwolves sign rookies Anthony Edwards and Jaden McDaniels

The Minnesota Timberwolves have signed No. 1 overall NBA draft pick Anthony Edwards and No. 28 overall draft pick Jaden McDaniels.

The Wolves acquired McDaniels from the Oklahoma City Thunder along with Ricky Rubio in exchange for the draft rights to No. 17 overall pick Aleksej Pokuševski and forward James Johnson.

Edwards, 6-5, averaged 19.1 points and 5.2 rebounds in 33.0 minutes per game as a freshman last season. He tallied 610 points for the 2019-20 season, a total that ranks seventh on Georgia’s single-season scoring list (second among freshmen) and 10th all-time among SEC freshmen. The Atlanta native closed out the 19-20 season as the nation’s freshman scoring leader (19.1), standing as one of only three freshmen ranked in the top 100.

The 19-year-old shot 40.2 percent from the field (203-of-505) in his one season as a Bulldog. He ranked in the top 20 in six Georgia single-season statistical categories, including second in 3-point attempts (245), fifth in field goal attempts (505), 11th in 3-pointers (72), 17th in free throws (132) and 19th in both scoring average (19.1 ppg) and free throw attempts (171). During his freshman campaign, Edwards notched 27 double-figure scoring outings, 14 20-point performances, three 30-point contests and three double-doubles. A highlight from his freshman campaign includes scoring 37 points against Michigan State on Nov. 26, the most by a Georgia freshman since 1975.
Edwards was voted SEC Freshman of the Year by league coaches, becoming the first Bulldog to garner the honor since its inception in 2001. Among other acknowledgements, he was named SEC Newcomer of the Year by the Associated Press, becoming the third Georgia honoree in team history.
McDaniels, a 6-9 forward joins the Timberwolves after spending one season at the University of Washington where he averaged 13.0 points, 5.8 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.4 blocks. He was the only player in any of the major conferences to average at least 1.4 blocks and 1.4 three-pointers made per game in 2019-20. The Federal Way, Washington native is the younger brother of Charlotte Hornets forward Jalen McDaniels.

Timberwolves sign forward Tyler Cook

The Minnesota Timberwolves have signed forward Tyler Cook to a training camp contract.

Cook, 23-years-old, 6-foot-8, played very limited minutes last season for the Cleveland Cavaliers and Denver Nuggets. He was originally signed by the Nuggets on Aug. 13, 2019.

He played in 29 games in the G League for the Oklahoma City Blue and Canton Charge where he averaged 12.9 points on 58.2% shooting and 5.7 rebounds per game.

Cook played three seasons for the University of Iowa, averaging 14.1 points and 6.7 rebounds in 93 games (92 starts). As a junior, he was named All-Big Ten Second First Team by the media and All-Big Ten Third team by the coaches.

Kings sign Glenn Robinson III, who split time last season with Warriors and Sixers

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

During the 2019-20 campaign, Robinson III competed in 62 games (52 starts) and averaged 11.7 points (.486 FG%, .391 3pt%, .860 FT%), 4.4 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 0.9 steals and 28.8 minutes for the Philadelphia 76ers and Golden State Warriors. Robinson III posted career-highs in points (11.7), assists (1.5), rebounds (4.4), field goal percentage (.486), free-throw percentage (.860) and minutes played (28.8) per game as well as starts (52) during the 2019-20 season.

A six-year veteran from the University of Michigan, Robinson III has accrued career averages of 6.0 points (.459 FG%, .373 3pt%, .768 FT%), 2.6 rebounds and 17.5 minutes per game in 281 games (103 starts) for five teams: Philadelphia (2019-20, 2014-15), Golden State (2019-20), Detroit Pistons (2018-19), Indiana Pacers (2015-18), and the Minnesota Timberwolves (2014-15).

Originally selected by the Timberwolves with the 40th overall selection in the 2014 NBA Draft, Robinson III spent two seasons at the University of Michigan where he helped lead the Wolverines to the national championship game as a freshman in 2013.

Robinson III will wear No. 30 for the Kings.

Spurs sign forward Cam Reynolds

The San Antonio Spurs have signed forward Cam Reynolds.

It’s likely a non-guaranteed deal that merely brings Reynolds to Spurs training camp.

Reynolds, listed at 6-foot-8, 225 lbs., spent last season as a two-way player for the Milwaukee Bucks.

A native of Pearland, Texas, Reynolds started all 37 of the games he played with Milwaukee’s G League affiliate, the Wisconsin Herd, averaging 14.8 points, 5.2 rebounds and 1.5 assists in 31.6 minutes.

After spending four years at Tulane and going undrafted in the 2018 NBA Draft, Reynolds appeared in 19 games for the Minnesota Timberwolves in the 2018-19 season, averaging 5.0 points and 1.6 rebounds in 13.7 minutes.

The Spurs will kick off the 2020-21 season on Saturday, Dec. 12 when they host the Oklahoma City Thunder in a preseason game at the AT&T Center.

The current Spurs roster stands at 18 players.