NBA News Blog – Page 331 – NBA Blog

OKC Thunder will play home games without fans in attendance for start of 2020-21 NBA season

STATEMENT FROM THE OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER

“As we continue planning for the start of the 2020-21 NBA season, our absolute top priority is the health and safety of our guests and our community. For months, we have worked in close collaboration with Chesapeake Energy Arena, the City of Oklahoma City, local health officials, and the NBA to put into place thorough health and safety measures to allow for reduced seating capacity. However, as we review ongoing and concerning trends in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations in Oklahoma, we want to exercise an abundance of caution to help control the spread of the virus in our community. Therefore, the Thunder has made the decision to begin the season without fans in the arena.

“We will continue to monitor and evaluate the situation over the coming weeks to determine when fans will be able to attend our games.

“We will take all necessary steps to create a safe environment for those who will be in attendance for games as the upcoming season begins, including players, coaches, staff, media and broadcasters.

“We urge everyone to take all the vital steps necessary to control the spread of the virus, especially wearing masks, washing hands and maintaining proper physical distance. As a community, we must all work together to get through this safely and move forward to welcome our fans into the arena to enjoy Thunder Basketball this season.”

Charlotte Hornets will play home games without fans for start of 2020-21 NBA season

STATEMENT FROM THE CHARLOTTE HORNETS

With health and safety as our top priority, the Charlotte Hornets, in consultation with state and local government officials, have determined that home games at Spectrum Center will be held without fans when the 2020-21 NBA season begins.

We will continue to work with state and local health officials, as well as the NBA, to develop a plan that will allow fans to return to Spectrum Center in both a safe and timely manner. We are optimistic that conditions will improve in the coming months and hope to be able to have fans in attendance later in the season.

In the meantime, we will continue to implement enhanced safety procedures and will share additional information on these measures as we get closer to having fans return to Spectrum Center.

Knicks re-sign Elfrid Payton

The New York Knicks have re-signed guard Elfrid Payton.

The team waived Payton recently, but have now brought him back on what is reportedly a one-year, $5 million deal.

Payton, 6-4, 195-pounds, averaged 10.0 points, 7.2 assists and 4.7 rebounds over 27.7 minutes in 45 games (36 starts) for New York last season. The Gretna, LA native was originally signed on July 8, 2019 and then waived on November 19, 2020.

He holds career averages of 11.0 points, 6.6 assists and 4.4 rebounds over 29.3 minutes in 387 games (331 starts) over six seasons with Orlando, Phoenix, New Orleans and New York. He was originally selected by Philadelphia 10th overall in the 2014 NBA Draft out of the University of Louisiana at Lafayette.

Sacramento Kings hire Kyle Draper as additional TV play-by-play announcer

The Sacramento Kings announced today that Kyle Draper has been named as the team’s additional TV play-by-play announcer, following the recent announcement of new primary TV announcer Mark Jones, and host of “Kings Pregame Live” and “Kings Postgame Live” on NBC Sports California. Draper, who arrives in Sacramento with more than 20 years of television experience, will call select games alongside analyst and Kings legend Doug Christie on NBC Sports California when Jones is on assignment for ESPN.

Since 2009, Draper has worked for NBC Sports Boston, serving as host of “Celtics Pregame Live” and “Celtics Postgame Live” and as the fill-in play-by-play announcer for the network’s live-game coverage of the Celtics. He’s also covered various other events for NBC Sports Boston, including the NBA Draft Lottery, NBA Draft and Celtics training camp. In addition, Draper has filled in as play-by-play announcer for NBC Sports Chicago’s live coverage of the Chicago Bulls.

“We are excited to welcome Kyle to the Kings family and add his engaging presence to our talented broadcast team of Mark Jones and Doug Christie,” said Kings Owner and Chairman Vivek Ranadivé. “His significant experience in the media industry will greatly add to the telecasts, and we look forward to watching him work his magic in Sacramento.”

“Kyle’s deep passion and knowledge of the NBA will further complement our expert Kings coverage all season long,” added NBC Sports Bay Area/California Senior Vice President and General Manager Matt Murphy. “With the recent addition of Mark joining Doug for the majority of our Kings telecasts, we are thrilled to be able to showcase Kyle’s exceptional talents as both a play-by-play broadcaster and studio host beginning next month.”

“It is an honor to join the Kings broadcast team and I would like to thank Vivek and the organization for this amazing opportunity,” said Draper. “For generations, Kings fans have demonstrated an incredible devotion to their team, and I can’t wait to connect with them while beginning a new chapter in Sacramento.”

Prior to his broadcasting career in the league, Draper garnered experience throughout the news industry from several roles including sports director at WHAS-TV (ABC) in Louisville, Ky., and as a general news reporter, producer and sports anchor in Yakima, Wash., and La Crosse, Wis. Draper is a graduate of Winona State University, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in communications and has also attended Temple University.

Miami Heat sign Max Strus

The Miami Heat have signed guard/forward Max Strus.

It is likely a non-guaranteed deal that merely brings Strus to Heat training camp.

Strus split last season between the Chicago Bulls and their G League affiliate, the Windy City Bulls. He appeared in two games with Chicago totaling five points and one rebound in 6:14 minutes of action while shooting 2-of-3 from the field and connecting on his only free throw. He also appeared in 13 games (12 starts) for Windy City before suffering a season-ending injury and averaged 18.2 points, 5.9 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 34.9 minutes while shooting 41.5 percent from the field and 96.3 percent from the foul line.

Strus played two seasons at DePaul University after transferring from Lewis University. As a senior at DePaul in 2018-19, he appeared in 35 games (all starts) and averaged 20.1 points, 5.9 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 37.4 minutes while shooting 42.9 percent from the field, 36.3 percent from three-point range and 84.2 percent from the foul line. Among DePaul’s all-time leaders, he finished third in three-point field goals made (194), fourth in career scoring average (18.6) and fifth in career free throw percentage (.825). He scored 705 points as a senior, joining Mark Aguirre as the only players in school history to score at least 700 points in a single season. Additionally, Strus recorded eight career 30-point games, joining Aguirre (17), George Mikan (13) and Tom Kleinschmidt (8) as the only players in program history with at least five 30-point games.

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.