Category: NBA News Blog

NBA news blog

Knicks sign Theo Pinson to two-way contract

The New York Knicks have signed guard/forward Theo Pinson to a two-way contract.

Pinson, 6-foot-5, 212-pounds, was claimed off waivers from Brooklyn on June 26 and participated in OTAs with New York in September before the team declined his option on November 19. He appeared in 51 games over two seasons with Brooklyn averaging 3.9 points, 1.8 rebounds and 1.5 assists over 11.3 minutes last season. In 2019-20, he also appeared in nine games (all starts) for the Long Island Nets (G League), averaging 15.1 points, 6.6 rebounds and 5.1 assists over 31.8 minutes. In 43 career games with Long Island, he holds career averages of 19.5 points, 6.1 rebounds and 5.9 assists over 34.8 minutes in 43 games (all starts).

The Greensboro, NC-native was originally signed by Brooklyn to a two-way contract on Sep. 19, 2018 after going undrafted out of the University of North Carolina in the 2018 NBA Draft.

Hornets waive Ray Spalding

The Charlotte Hornets have waived forward Ray Spalding.

Spalding originally signed a two-way contract with the Hornets on January 15, 2020.

Spalding appeared in 16 games (six starts) for the Greensboro Swarm in the 2019-20 NBA G League season averaging 12.0 points, 8.7 rebounds and 1.0 blocks in 24.7 minutes per game. Spalding was originally drafted with the 56th overall selection in the 2018 NBA Draft by the Philadelphia 76ers. Spalding was traded on draft night to the Dallas Mavericks and has spent time with the Mavericks and Suns prior to joining the Hornets.

Hornets waive Nicolas Batum

The Charlotte Hornets have waived forward Nicolas Batum.

Charlotte originally acquired Batum from the Portland Trail Blazers in exchange for guard Gerald Henderson and forward Noah Vonleh on June 24, 2015.

Batum appeared in 22 games with the Hornets during the 2019-20 season, including three starts, averaging 3.6 points, 4.5 rebounds and 3.0 assists in 23.0 minutes per game. The 25th overall pick in the 2008 NBA Draft, Batum has appeared in 789 career games (714 starts), averaging 11.6 points, 5.2 rebounds and 3.8 assists over twelve NBA seasons. He has seen action in 39 total playoff games (29 starts) with averages of 10.4 points, 4.5 rebounds and 2.6 assists, including five playoff games with Charlotte in 2015-16. The Lisseux, France product ranks fifth in Charlotte franchise history in three-point field goals made (496) and seventh in assists (1,521).

Spurs sign Keita Bates-Diop to a two-way contract

The San Antonio Spurs have signed forward Keita Bates-Diop to a two-way contract.

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

Bates-Diop, 6-8/230, split last season between the Minnesota Timberwolves and Denver Nuggets, appearing in a total of 44 games and averaging 6.5 points and 2.9 rebounds in 16.9 minutes. After being dealt to Denver as part of a four-team trade on Feb. 5, he played in five Playoff games for the Nuggets in Orlando. Suiting up in 30 regular season contests with Minnesota as a rookie in 2018-19, the forward holds career averages of 5.9 points and 2.8 rebounds in 16.8 minutes.

Prior to being selected by the Timberwolves in the second round of the 2018 NBA Draft (48th overall), Bates-Diop spent four seasons at Ohio State and averaged 19.8 points, 8.7 rebounds and 1.65 blocks in his final season to earn Big Ten Player of the Year in 2018.

Bates-Diop will wear No. 31 for the Silver and Black.

Raptors sign DeAndre’ Bembry

The Toronto Raptors have signed free agent forward DeAndre’ Bembry.

Bembry, 6-foot-5, 210 pounds, averaged 5.8 points, 3.5 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 1.3 steals and 21.3 minutes in 43 games (four starts) with Atlanta last season. He shot .456 (104-228) from the field, scored in double figures five times and recorded two double-doubles. Bembry set career highs with 22 points Nov. 22 at Detroit and eight assists Oct. 31 vs. Miami.

A native of Charlotte, North Carolina, Bembry owns career averages of 6.2 points, 3.4 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 1.0 steals and 19.4 minutes in 189 games (23 starts) with the Hawks (2016-20). He was picked 21st overall by Atlanta in the 2016 NBA Draft.

Prior to the NBA, Bembry was a three-year captain at Saint Joseph’s (2013-16) where he averaged 15.7 points, 6.7 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 36.1 minutes in 101 career games and was named the Atlantic-10 Player of the Year as a junior.

Raptors sign center Alex Len

The Toronto Raptors signed free agent center Alex Len.

According to the Toronto Star, Len is “on a minimum-value contract with no hefty guarantees.”

Len, 7-foot, 250 pounds, averaged 8.0 points, 5.8 rebounds and 17.6 minutes while shooting .555 (177-319) from the field in 55 games (12 starts) with the Atlanta Hawks and Sacramento Kings last season. He scored in double figures 21 times, including two 20-point performances, and had eight double-doubles.

Len owns career averages of 8.0 points, 6.3 rebounds, 1.0 blocks and 19.6 minutes in 467 games (183 starts) with Phoenix, Atlanta and Sacramento. He was picked fifth overall by the Suns in the 2013 NBA Draft.

A native of Antratsit, Ukraine, Len played two seasons at Maryland (2011-13) where he earned honourable mention all-ACC and all-ACC defensive team honours as a sophomore. On the international stage, he represented Ukraine 2010 FIBA Europe U18 Championship and 2009 FIBA Europe U16 Championship.

Miami Heat re-sign Udonis Haslem for his 18th season

The Miami Heat have re-signed forward Udonis Haslem.

“It’s great to have UD back,” said HEAT President Pat Riley. “His role is so critical for our team. Besides being able to still play, UD keeps everyone together in the locker room and on the road, teaching and mentoring. I think it’s a role he really loves and we are glad he decided to come back for another season.”

Haslem, a three-time NBA Champion, has played his entire 17-year NBA career with the HEAT and currently holds the longest streak by any active player with only one team in the league. He has appeared in 858 career regular season games (500 starts) and averaged 7.6 points, 6.7 rebounds and 25.1 minutes while shooting 48.9 percent from the field and 75.5 percent from the foul line. The Miami native is the franchise all-time leader in offensive, defensive and total rebounds and also ranks among the HEAT’s all-time leaders in games played (2nd), starts (2nd), minutes (2nd), double-doubles (4th), field goals made (5th), points (7th), field goal percentage (7th), free throws made (8th), double-figure scoring efforts (8th), blocks (9th), steals (10th), assists (16th) and free throw percentage (21st). Additionally, he is the only undrafted player in NBA history to lead a franchise in total rebounds and has served as captain of the HEAT in each of the past 13 seasons, the longest tenure in team history.

Haslem has also seen action in 147 postseason games (84 starts) as a member of the HEAT and averaged 5.7 points, 5.6 rebounds and 21.7 minutes while shooting 48 percent from the floor and 71.3 percent from the foul line. In addition to being the HEAT’s all-time leader in offensive rebounds in postseason play he also ranks among Miami’s all-time postseason leaders in games played (2nd), total rebounds (2nd), games started (3rd), minutes (3rd), defensive rebounds (3rd), double-doubles (4th), field goals made (5th), free throws made (5th), steals (5th), dunks (5th), points (6th), double-figure scoring efforts (tied-6th), blocked shots (7th) and assists (10th).

Timberwolves sign guard Ashton Hagans to a two-way contract

The Minnesota Timberwolves have signed guard Ashton Hagans to a two-way contract.

Hagans, 21, appeared in 30 games as a sophomore for the University of Kentucky in 2019-20, averaging 11.5 points, a team-high 6.4 assists, 3.9 rebounds and a team-high 1.93 steals. He led the SEC and finished 16th in the nation in assists, with his 6.4 apg ranking fourth in UK history for a season as a sophomore. One of four finalists for 2019-20 Naismith Defensive Player of the Year, Hagan’s 1.78 career steals per game is third in Kentucky history, trailing only Rajon Rondo and Derek Anderson.

The Cartersville (GA) native led Newton High School to two regional championships and was named both Gatorade Georgia Player of the Year and Mr. Georgia Basketball. Hagans averaged 20.2 points, 10.7 assists, 7.6 rebounds and 3.6 steals his final year in high school while leading Newton to the 7A state semifinals.

Wizards sign Cassius Winston, Caleb Homesley, Yoeli Childs and Marlon Taylor

The Washington Wizards have signed guard Cassius Winston to a Two-Way Contract.

The team also signed Yoeli Childs, Caleb Homesley, and Marlon Taylor to Exhibit 10 contracts.

The Wizards acquired the rights to Cassius Winston from Michigan State (53rd overall pick) after trading the rights to Vit Krejci (37th overall pick) and Admiral Schofield to Oklahoma City in exchange for the 53rd pick and Memphis’ 2024 second round pick (which was owned by Oklahoma City) on November 19.

Winston averaged 18.6 points and 5.9 assists per game as a senior and 18.8 points and 7.5 assists per game as a junior at Michigan State to earn All-America Second Team honors in both seasons, All-Big Ten honors as a senior and Big Ten Player of the Year honors as a junior while leading the Spartans to the 2019 Final Four. He is one of four players in NCAA D-I history to record at least 1,900 points and 850 assists and finished his career with 894 assists, the most in Big Ten and Michigan State history.

Childs, (6-8, 225) went undrafted out of BYU, where he averaged 22.2 points and 9.0 rebounds while shooting .574 from the field in 19 games during his senior season (2019-20). A native of South Jordan, Utah, Childs became the first player in school history to score at least 2,000 points and grab at least 1,000 rebounds in their career.

Homesley, (6-6, 205) averaged 15.3 points and 5.7 rebounds while shooting .474 from the field during his senior season (2019-20) at Liberty University. Originally from Indian Trail, North Carolina, Homesley was named the 2020 Atlantic Sun Player of the Year.

Taylor, (6-5, 209) went undrafted out of LSU during his senior season (2019-20), where he averaged 5.9 points and 4.1 rebounds in 23.2 minutes per game. He scored a career-high 30 points versus Georgia (3/7) in his final collegiate game at LSU.

Grizzlies sign rookie forward Xavier Tillman

The Memphis Grizzlies have signed 2020 second round draft pick Xavier Tillman Sr. to a multi-year contract.

Tillman Sr. (6-8, 245) was selected with the 35th overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft and acquired by the Grizzlies from the Sacramento Kings.

A native of Grand Rapids, Mich., Tillman Sr. was named the 2019-20 Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year and selected to the 2019-20 All-Big Ten Second Team last season as a junior at Michigan State University. The 21-year-old started all 31 games for the Spartans last season and averaged 13.7 points, 10.3 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 1.19 steals and 2.10 blocks in 32.1 minutes.

Tillman Sr., who teamed with Grizzlies forward/center Jaren Jackson Jr. when both were freshman at Michigan State (2017-18), finished his collegiate career as Michigan State’s all-time leader in blocks (153).