Category: NBA News Blog

NBA news blog

OKC Thunder coaching staff for 2020-21 season announced

New Oklahoma City Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault’s staff is set. Mike Wilks, Dave Bliss and David Akinyooye will be joined by Mike Miller as assistant coaches and Zach Peterson and Kameron Woods will serve as player development coaches.

“This group has proven to be great collaborators during their time with the Thunder, complementing their ability to help develop our team and players,” said Daigneault. “They all share a deep commitment and understanding for the values of the organization and are dedicated to being continuous learners. I’m looking forward to welcoming Mike to the Thunder and our coaching staff as we work to maximize our team and program.”

Wilks is set to begin his second year as an assistant coach after spending the previous seven seasons with Oklahoma City as a senior pro evaluation scout. Wilks is the second former Thunder player (Royal Ivey) to join the team’s coaching ranks. He enjoyed a seven-year NBA playing career where he appeared in 233 games with ten different NBA teams.

Bliss returns for his second season on the Thunder bench after spending the 2018-19 season as a senior player development coach for the Thunder. Bliss returned to Oklahoma City in 2018 after spending the three previous seasons with the New York Knicks as a player development coach. He previously worked with the Thunder as video analyst/player development coach from 2010-15 and last summer Bliss served as the head coach of the Thunder’s summer league team.

Akinyooye enters his second season as an assistant coach with the Thunder after spending the previous four years as an assistant coach with the Oklahoma City Blue. Akinyooye came to Oklahoma City in 2015 following a one-year stint as an assistant coach in Lyon, France with Asvel Lyon-Villeurbanne Basket. Prior to his time in Lyon, he served as a player development quality assurance assistant with the San Antonio Spurs during their 2013-14 NBA championship season.

Miller brings nearly three decades of coaching experience to the Thunder after spending the 2019-20 season as an assistant coach for the New York Knicks before assuming the role of interim head coach last December. Miller was moved to his position on the NBA bench after four years at the helm of the NBA G League’s Westchester Knicks. Before moving to New York in 2015, Miller spent two seasons as an assistant coach with the Austin Spurs, San Antonio’s G League affiliate. He has also spent time as a head coach at Eastern Illinois University (2005-12) and Texas State University (1994-00) and has served as an assistant coach at UC Riverside (2012-13), Kansas State (2001-05), Texas State (1992-94), Sam Houston State (1990-91) and Western Illinois (1989-90).

Peterson returns to the Thunder sideline after spending the 2019-20 campaign with Oklahoma City as a player development coach. Previously, he served as the head video coordinator for the Milwaukee Bucks during the 2018-19 season. Prior to his time in Milwaukee, Peterson spent four years with the Atlanta Hawks, where he quickly climbed the ranks from a video intern in 2014 to an assistant video coordinator in 2016 and finally the head video coordinator for the 2017-18 season. Peterson began his work in sports as he attended Michigan State University from 2009-13, spending his first two years as the student manager for the women’s basketball team before working with the men’s team his junior and senior years.

Woods joins the Thunder bench after two seasons as an assistant coach for the Oklahoma City Blue. He previously played as a forward for the Blue for two seasons. In his G League career, he appeared in 99 games (43 starts) and averaged 4.6 points, 4.9 rebounds and 1.2 assists in 23.7 minutes per game. A Butler University product, Woods finished his four-year collegiate career as the second leading rebounder in the school’s history with 956 rebounds. He led the Bulldogs in blocked shots in all four seasons.

Miami Heat sign rookie guard Breein Tyree

The Miami Heat have signed rookie guard Breein Tyree.

It’s likely just a non-guaranteed training camp contract.

Tyree played a full four years of college hoops at the University of Mississippi (aka Ole Miss). In 130 career games (109 starts), he averaged 13.8 points, 2.7 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 28.0 minutes, on 42.1 percent shooting from the field, 35.6 percent from three-point range and 78.7 percent from the foul line.

As a senior in 2019-20, Tyree averaged a team-leading 19.7 points, plus 3.7 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 1.29 steals and 34.2 minutes while shooting 42.6 percent from the field, 36 percent from three-point range and 82.2 percent from the foul line. He made the All-SEC First Team by the coaches and was named to the All-SEC Second Team by the Associated Press.

Raptors sign center Aron Baynes, who played for Suns last season

The Toronto Raptors this past Wednesday, November 25 signed free agent center Aron Baynes to a multi-year contract.

Per multiple reports, Baynes’ contract with the Raptors is a two-year deal for around $14.3 million.

Listed at 6-foot-10, 260 pounds, Baynes averaged career highs of 11.5 points, 5.6 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 22.2 minutes in 42 games (28 starts) playing for the Phoenix Suns last season. He shot .480 (183-381) from the floor, a career-best .351 (59-168) from three-point range and .747 (56-75) at the free throw line. Baynes scored 20 or more points seven times, including a career-high 37 points (12-23 FG, 9-14 3PT, 4-4 FT) March 6 vs. Portland, and posted three double-doubles.

According to the Toronto Star, Baynes “does not have the pedigree of either [Serge] Ibaka or [Marc] Gasol but he is a serviceable big man on a team that will be led by a core of Kyle Lowry, Fred VanVleet, Pascal Siakam, OG Anunoby and Norm Powell.”

In 469 NBA games (137 starts) with San Antonio (2012-15), Detroit (2015-17), Boston (2017-19) and Phoenix (2019-20), Baynes owns career averages of 6.0 points, 4.5 rebounds and 15.8 minutes. He is shooting .495 (1109-2239) from the field and .327 (84-257) from beyond the arc. Baynes has made 80 threes over the last two seasons after making just four in his first six NBA seasons combined.

More from the Star: “While Baynes won’t be a ball-dominant big man, his rim protection and toughness will be sorely needed on a smallish Toronto roster.”

Sacramento Kings sign De’Aaron Fox to contract extension

The Sacramento Kings made a big investment on Wednesday (November 25, 2020), signing guard De’Aaron Fox to a multi-year contract extension.

Accorrding to the Sacramento Bee, Fox “received a maximum five-year, $163 million extension that could reach the $195.6 million super max with incentives.”

“De’Aaron is amongst the elite young guards in the league and I can’t say enough about how excited we are to have his talent, leadership and potential remain in Sacramento for years to come,” said General Manager Monte McNair. “His speed and dynamic playmaking ability along with his aggressive defensive mindset are core to our team’s identity. Not only is De’Aaron a fierce competitor who is committed to winning here, his charisma and integrity are characteristics we value greatly. I anticipate a bright future ahead for him and the organization.”

Entering his fourth season in the NBA, the fifth overall pick of the 2017 NBA Draft has career averages of 16.2 points (.451 FG%, .328 3pt%, .718 FT%), 3.4 rebounds, 6.1 assists and 30.3 minutes per game in 205 games (190 starts) with the Kings.

During the 2019-20 campaign, Fox averaged 21.1 points (.480 FG%, .292 3pt%, .705 FT%), 3.8 rebounds, 6.8 assists, and 32.0 minutes per game through 51 games (49 starts).

Last season, Fox registered career-highs in points per game, field-goal percentage, points in a game (39), and field goals made in a game (17).

“I would like to thank Vivek and Monte for this opportunity to continue my career with the Kings,” said Fox. “It has been an honor to play in front of the best fans in all of sports and begin my career here in Sacramento. I look forward to getting back on the court with my teammates, competing hard every night and leading this team to the next level.”

Kings will reportedly sign Frank Kaminsky

The Sacramento Kings will reportedly be signing Frank Kaminsky. Here’s the Sacramento Bee:

The Kings got off to a slow start in free agency while the Bogdan Bogdanovic saga played out, but general manager Monte McNair was working overtime on Thanksgiving Day.

McNair signed a second free agent Thursday, adding Frank Kaminsky on a short-term deal a day after signing Hassan Whiteside. Kaminsky agreed to a non-guaranteed one-year-deal with the Kings, a league source told The Sacramento Bee.

Knicks sign Nerlens Noel, who played for Thunder last season

The New York Knicks yesterday signed forward/center Nerlens Noel.

Per multiple reports, Noel’s Knicks contract is a one-year, $5 million deal.

With Mitchell Robinson the team’s young prime talent at the center spot, Noel will likely play backup.

Listed at 6-foot-10, 220 pounds), Noel averaged 7.4 points on 68.4-percent shooting, 4.9 rebounds and 1.49 blocks over 18.5 minutes in 61 games (seven starts) for the Oklahoma City Thunder last season. He was one of three players in the NBA to appear in at least 50 games and record a field goal percentage of 68-percent or greater and average at least 1.49 blocks (Rudy Gobert and Mitchell Robinson (via Elias)).

Noel also became the first player in NBA history to shoot at least 68-percent from the field and at least 75-percent from the free-throw line (minimum 25 games; Elias). Originally selected by New Orleans with the sixth overall pick in the 2013 NBA Draft, Noel holds career averages of 8.0 points, 6.2 rebounds, 1.39 blocks and 1.31 steals over 361 games (167 starts) with Oklahoma City, Dallas and Philadelphia. As a rookie with Philadelphia, the Malden, MA-native earned All-Rookie First Team honors after averaging 9.9 points, 8.1 rebounds, 1.77 steals and 1.89 blocks over 30.8 minutes in 75 games (71 starts).

Noel spent one season at the University of Kentucky, averaging 10.5 points, 9.5 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 4.42 blocks and 2.08 steals over 31.9 minutes in 24 games.

Utah Jazz bring back Derrick Favors, who played for Pelicans last season

Derrick Favors is back on the Jazz.

Utah yesterday signed the forward/center Derrick Favors to a contract that is reportedly a three-year deal for $27 million.

“Since he joined the Jazz originally during the 2010-11 season, Derrick Favors was an important part of the franchise and community,” said Jazz Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations Dennis Lindsey. “We jumped at the chance to bring him back. His toughness, physicality and selflessness are key reasons he’s had such success in this league and we’re excited about what he brings to our team.”

Per the Salt Lake Tribune, “Favors’ return will shore up the team’s big-man minutes behind All-Star center Rudy Gobert, and give them the rotational flexibility to play two-big lineups when necessary.”

Favors (6-10, 265, Georgia Tech) spent the 2019-20 season with the New Orleans Pelicans, owning averages of 9.0 points on 61.7 percent from the field, a career-best 9.8 rebounds and 1.6 assists in 24.4 minutes per contest.

The 29-year-old rejoins the Jazz after spending nine seasons with Utah from 2010-19. During those years, he averaged 12.1 points on 52.6 percent from the field, 7.4 boards and 1.2 assists in 26.3 minutes per contest. The Atlanta native ranks fourth in all-time Jazz rebounds (4,250), offensive rebounds (1,448) and field goal percentage (.526), as well as fifth in defensive rebounds (2,802), seventh in blocks (772) and field goals (2,821) and 10th in games played (576).

More from the Tribune: “Favors also was a popular figure not only among the Jazz fanbase, but within the locker room. He should bolster the second-unit scoring as well, given his established pick-and-roll chemistry with point-forward Joe Ingles.”

During his previous tenure in Utah, he helped the Jazz to four postseason appearances (2012, 2017-19), averaging 9.4 points on 57.4 percent from the field, 6.2 rebounds and 1.8 blocks in 31 games (14 starts).

Drafted by the Nets with the third overall pick (first round) in the 2010 NBA Draft, Favors was originally acquired by Utah on Feb. 23, 2011 via trade.

Kings trade KJ Martin Jr’s draft rights to Rockets

The Houston Rockets have acquired the rights to rookie guard KJ Martin Jr. in a trade with the Sacramento Kings in exchange for cash considerations and a future L.A. Lakers second round pick attained via trade with Detroit.

The 19-year-old is the son of Kenyon Martin, who was the first overall pick in the 2000 NBA Draft. Martin Jr. attended Sierra Canyon School in California, where he was teammates with Scotty Pippen Jr. and Cassius Stanley, who was selected by Indiana with the 54th overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft.

Per the Houston Chronicle, KJ had this to say: “Being around it and seeing it all my life, now I’m in the situation my dad was in a way, I’m just very excited,” Martin said. “I feel like it made me a better player. People ask, ‘Is it harder for you because of your dad?” I kind of take it as an advantage. A lot of kids don’t see that type of stuff and be around NBA guys and see how they work. I took all that in and put it to use for myself. It paid off.”

Martin (6-6, 215) was the 52nd overall pick by the Kings in the 2020 NBA Draft. He spent last season with IMG Academy’s post-graduate team, which posted a 29-3 record, and averaged 19.6 points and 8.3 rebounds while shooting 69.1% from inside-the-arc.

More from the Chronicle: “The league is crowded with second generation players Devin Booker (Melvin,) Jalen Brunson (Rick,) Bol Bol (Manute,) Amir Coffey (Rick,) Steph and Seth Curry (Del,) Jae Crowder (Corey,) Ed Davis (Terry,) Darius Garland (Winston,) Jerami Grant (Harvey,) Al Horford (Tito,) Jaren Jackson Jr., Kevin Love (Stan,) Wesley Matthews (Wes,) Larry Nance Jr., Jabari Parker (Sonny,) Gary Payton II, Austin Rivers (Doc,) Glenn Robinson III, Domantas Sabonis (Arvydas,) Garrett Temple (Hollis,) Klay Thompson (Mychal,) Gary Trent Jr., Andrew Wiggins (Mitchell,) and Justise Winslow (Ricky.)”

Knicks sign Jared Harper to two-way contract

The New York Knicks yesterday signed guard Jared Harper to a two-way contract.

Listed at 5-foot-11, 175 pounds, Harper was a two-way player for the Suns last season. He played sparingly for the Suns, appearing in three games, but in the G League for Northern Arizona he averaged 20.8 points (16th in G League), 5.7 assists and 2.8 rebounds over 29.8 minutes over the course of 33 games.

The Suns originally signed Harper to a two-way contract on July 18, 2019 after he undrafted out of Auburn University.

During his junior and final season at Auburn, Harper was chosen as the NCAA Tournament Midwest Regional Most Outstanding Player after averaging 17.5 points, 6.5 assists and 1.5 rebounds in the school’s run to the 2019 NCAA Final Four.

Raptors re-sign forward Chris Boucher

The Toronto Raptors yesterday re-signed Chris Boucher.

Boucher’s Raptors contract is reportedly a two-year, $13.5 million deal. The second year is reportedly not fully guaranteed.

The 6-foot-10, 200-pound forward averaged 6.6 points, 4.5 rebounds, a team-high 1.0 blocks and 13.2 minutes in 62 games last season. He shot 47.2% FG, 32.2% from three-point range, and 78.4% from the free throw line.

Per the Toronto Star, Boucher “has gained weight since the NBA stalled because of the coronavirus pandemic in March and is learning how to use it to his advantage. Still, the lanky Boucher is unlikely to become a “big” big man anytime soon, so capitalizing on the strength he does have, his athleticism and his speed will be key to making strides.”

Boucher scored in double figures in 15 games with three 20-point outings and recorded five double-doubles. He also led the reserves in scoring 13 times.

Boucher scored a career-high 25 points (9-15 FG, 3-7 3PT, 4-5 FT) Aug. 10 at Milwaukee and finished with 19 points and a career-best 15 rebounds Mar. 3 at Phoenix, becoming just the fourth player in Raptors history with 15+ points and 15+ rebounds as a reserve.

Boucher grew up in Montreal, Canada, so it’s special that his NBA career is on the rise while playing in nearby Toronto.

The Toronto Sun worded it this way: “From homeless at 16, to starring in the NCAA before going undrafted thanks to a torn ACL, to a new $6.5 million US guaranteed contract for the upcoming NBA season, Chris Boucher’s journey is the stuff of Hollywood scripts.”