Category: NBA News Blog

NBA news blog

Utah Jazz sign former BYU guard Jake Toolson

The Utah Jazz have signed guard Jake Toolson.

According to KSL Sports, Toolson signed an Exhibit 10 contract.

Per KSL, “Exhibit 10 contracts are one year NBA contracts for the league’s minimum salary. Traditionally, teams use exhibit 10 deals to audition a player during training camp, while retaining the option to assign that player to the team’s G League affiliate if they are waived.”

Toolson, listed at 6-foot-5, 205 lbs., played two seasons at BYU (2014-16) before transferring to Utah Valley (2017-19) and then returning to BYU (2019-20) for his final collegiate season.

In the 2019-20 NCAA season, Toolson averaged 15.2 points on 47.2 percent from the field and 47.0 percent from three, along with 4.8 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 1.1 steals in 33.6 minutes per contest, garnering 2019-20 All-WCC First Team accolades.

During his last season at Utah Valley, he was named the 2018-19 WAC Player of the Year.

The Gilbert, Ariz., native appeared in 136 games (105 starts) with BYU and Utah Valley, owning career averages of 11.0 points on 49.7 percent shooting and 43.3 percent from beyond the arc, to go with 3.8 boards and 2.4 assists in 25.7 minutes per contest.

Utah Jazz sign Trent Forrest and Jarrell Brantley to two-way contracts

The Utah Jazz signed guard Trent Forrest and forward Jarrell Brantley to two-way contracts today.

Forrest, listed at 6-foot-4, 210 lbs., played four years of college basketball at Florida State, where during his senior season he averaged 11.6 points, 4.5 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.9 steals per game. He was named to the 2019-20 All-ACC Second Team.

Brantley, 24 years old, listed at 6-foot-7, 250 lbs., played in nine Jazz games last season, and averaged 2.7 points, 2.2 rebounds and 1.2 assists in 10.7 minutes per game. He also played quite a bit in the G League, where in 33 games (all starts) with the Salt Lake City Stars he averaged 18.9 points on 51.6 percent shooting from the field, 7.7 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 1.5 steals in 32.5 minutes per contest Brantley’s fine play resulted in him being named to the 2019-20 All-NBA G League First Team and All-Rookie team.

He was originally drafted by the Indiana Pacers in the second round of the 2019 NBA Draft (50th overall), and was traded to the Jazz on draft night.

Magic re-sign forward James Ennis III

The Orlando Magic have re-signed free agent forward James Ennis III.

It’s reportedly just a one-year deal.

According to the Orlando Sentinel, “Ennis’ signing brings the Magic roster to the maximum of 15 players on standard league contracts. Orlando re-signed guard Michael Carter-Williams and forward Gary Clark and brought in former Hornets shooting guard Dwayne Bacon in other free-agency moves.”

Ennis (6’6”, 215, 7/1/90) played in 69 games (18 starts) last season with both Philadelphia and Orlando, averaging 6.6 ppg. and 3.6 rpg. in 18.3 minpg. He was acquired by the Magic on Feb. 6 from Philadelphia in exchange for a 2020 second round draft pick. Ennis appeared in 20 games (18 starts) with Orlando, averaging 8.4 ppg., 4.8 rpg. and 1.1 apg. in 24.5 minpg. He scored in double figures 16 times (eight times with Orlando) and 20+ points once, including a season-high 20 points on Nov. 29 @ New York. Ennis also played and started in five playoff outings, averaging 7.0 ppg., 5.8 rpg., 1.2 apg. and 1.00 stlpg. in 23.8 minpg.

Originally selected in the second round (50th overall pick) in the 2013 NBA Draft, Ennis has appeared in 347 career NBA regular season games (103 starts) with Miami, Memphis, New Orleans, Detroit, Houston, Philadelphia and Orlando, averaging 6.5 ppg. and 3.3 rpg. in 20.1 minpg. He has also played in 22 career playoff games (nine starts), averaging 7.6 ppg., 4.4 rpg. and 1.1 apg. in 23.2 minpg.

More from the Sentinel: “Ennis initially declined to exercise his $2.13 million player option for 2020-21 and entered free agency.”

Heat sign forward Paul Eboua, who spent recent seasons playing in Italy

The Miami Heat have signed forward Paul Eboua, who has spent the last four basketball seasons playing overseas.

Last season, Eboua played in Italy. In 18 games (12 starts) for VL Pesaro of the Lega Basket Serie A, he put up modest stats: 7.4 points, 5.3 rebounds in 21.6 minutes per game, on 45.9% shoooting. His season-high in scoring was 20 points, on January 5 against Trieste. His season-high in rebounding was 12 boards on January 19 against Sassari.

Miami Heat sign rookie Precious Achiuwa

The Miami Heat have signed rookie Precious Achiuwa.

Achiuwa (whose name is pronounced “ah-CHEW-uh”), was drafted 20th overall in the first round of the 2020 NBA Draft by the Heat. He did big things in college basketball, having been named 2019-20 American Athletic Conference Player of the Year and Freshman of the Year

In his one season of college hoops at Memphis, Achiuwa played in 31 games (all starts) and averaged 15.8 points, 10.8 rebounds, 1.87 blocks, 1.10 steals, 1.0 assists and 30.5 minutes, shooting 49.3 percent from the field.

He was an All-AAC First Team, an All-AAC Freshman Team and an NABC All-District 24 First Team selection.

Achiuwa was the only player in the AAC to rank in the top five in rebounding (1st), blocks (3rd), scoring (5th) and field goal percentage (5th).

He was the only freshman in the nation to average a double-double as he led all freshman nationally with 18.

His 18 double-doubles also tied for the seventh-most ever during a single season in school history as he finished seventh in the nation in double-doubles and 13th in rebounds per game.

Achiuwa grabbed 334 rebounds, the second-most by a Memphis freshman in program history and just 11 short from tying the all-time record. He led the Tigers in points (489), total rebounds, defensive rebounds (241), offensive rebounds (93), blocks (58), field goals made (182), free throws made (112) and double-doubles.

For the Heat, Achiuwa will wear number 15.

Cavs sign former Knicks guard Damyean Dotson

Former Knicks guard guard Damyean Dotson has found a new home.

The Cleveland Cavaliers have signed Dotson today, to a multi-year contract.

Per multiple reports, Dotson’s Cavs contract is a two-year deal for around $4 million.

Dotson, listed at 6-foot-5, 205 lbs., played in 48 games for the Knicks last season, averaging 6.7 points and 1.9 rebounds in 17.4 minutes. He hit .362% from three-point range, and scored double-digits 13 times, including a season-high 21 points (7-10 FG, 4-7 3FG) against Toronto on January 24th.

In his first three NBA seasons, all with New York, Dotson appeared in 165 games (42 starts), for a career average of 7.8 points and 2.6 rebounds in 20.1 minutes per game.

The Houston, Texas native was the 44th overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft from the University of Houston.

Grizzlies sign rookie Desmond Bane

The Memphis Grizzlies have signed 2020 first round draft pick Desmond Bane to a multi-year contract.

Bane (6-6, 215) was acquired by the Grizzlies using the Boston Celtics’ 30th overall pick pursuant to a three-team trade also involving the Portland Trail Blazers. The 22-year-old was named to the 2019-20 All-Big 12 First Team and selected as a finalist for the 2019-20 Jerry West Shooting Guard of the Year Award last season as a senior at Texas Christian University.

A native of Richmond, Ind., Bane started all 32 games for the Horned Frogs last season and averaged 16.6 points, 6.4 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 1.47 steals in 36.1 minutes. He led the Big 12 in 3-pointers made (92) and attempted (208) as well as 3-point field goal percentage (.442).

Bane, who shot at least 40 percent from 3-point range in each of his final three collegiate seasons, left TCU as the program’s all-time leader in 3-pointers made (249) as well as the school’s all-time leader for wins (84) and games played (141).

Hawks sign former Kings guard Bogdan Bogdanovic

The Atlanta Hawks have signed restricted free agent guard Bogdan Bogdanovic.

Per multiple reports, Bogdanovic’s Hawks contract is a four-year deal for $72 million.

According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, “the Kings have elected not to match the Hawks’ offer for the 28-year-old restricted free agent, the AJC confirmed, and thus he will play for Atlanta this season, rounding out a handful of moves that have significantly improved its roster.”

“Bogdan has a great feel for the game, and we expect him to be a great fit for us with his high-level offensive skill set, experience and toughness,” said Hawks President of Basketball Operations and General Manager Travis Schlenk. “It’s no secret that one of our biggest areas of focus in free agency was adding shooting and quality depth. With Bogdan as part of our incoming group, we feel those are now areas of strength.”

Bogdanovic, 28, averaged 15.1 points, 3.4 assists, 3.4 rebounds and 1.1 steals in 29.0 minutes for the Kings last season (.440 FG%, .372 3FG%, .741 FT%), appearing in 61 games (28 starts). He was tied for 24th in the NBA in three-pointers made (164). In his three-year career in Sacramento, the native of Belgrade, Serbia has totaled 13.5 points, 3.5 assists, 3.2 rebounds and 1.0 steals in 28.2 minutes (.434 FG%, .374 3FG%, .806 FT%) in 209 games (97 starts).

Originally the 27th overall pick in the first round of the 2014 NBA Draft by Phoenix, the 6-foot-6 Bogdanovic played internationally for Partizan (Serbia) and Fenerbahce (Turkey) before coming to the NBA.

He will wear jersey No. 13.

Utah Jazz sign rookies Udoka Azubuike and Elijah Hughes

The Utah Jazz yesterday signed center Udoka Azubuike and forward Elijah Hughes.

Selected 27th overall in the first round of the 2020 NBA Draft by the Jazz, Azubuike (7-0, 270, Kansas) was a four-year collegiate player and in 2019-20 posted averages of 13.7 points on 74.8 percent from the field, along with 10.5 rebounds and 2.6 blocks in 31 games. Following his senior season, he earned Consensus 2019-20 All-America Second Team honors, also being named the 2019-20 Big 12 Player of the Year and garnering 2019-20 All-Big 12 First Team accolades.

For his career, the native of Lagos, Nigeria appeared in 87 games (79 starts) with averages of 12.3 points on 74.6 percent from the field, 7.9 rebounds and 2.0 blocks. He left Kansas as the school’s all-time leader in field goal percentage and eighth in all-time blocks (172).

Hughes (6-6, 215, Syracuse) was drafted 39th overall in the second round of the 2020 NBA Draft by New Orleans and acquired by Utah on draft night. He led the ACC in scoring in 2019-20, averaging 19.0 points to go with 4.9 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 1.2 steals in 32 games (all starts). He was a 2019-20 All-ACC First Team selection and 2019-20 All-District pick by both the NABC and USBWA.

The Beacon, N.Y., native spent two seasons at Syracuse, appearing in 66 games (all starts), owning career averages of 16.3 points, 4.6 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.2 steals in 34.6 minutes per game. He began his collegiate career at East Carolina in 2016-17.

Grizzlies sign Sean McDermott and Killian Tillie to two-way contracts

The Memphis Grizzlies yesterday signed forward/center Killian Tillie and wing Sean McDermott to two-way contracts.

Tillie (6-10, 220) started all 24 of his appearances last season for Gonzaga University and averaged 13.6 points, 5.0 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.00 steals in 24.6 minutes while shooting 53.5 percent from the field, 40.0 percent from 3-point range and 72.6 percent from the free throw line. Tillie was selected to the All-West Coast Conference First Team and was named a finalist for the Karl Malone Power Forward of the Year Award.

A native of Cagnes-sur-Mer, France, Tillie appeared in 108 games (59 starts) during his four-year collegiate career at Gonzaga and averaged 9.5 points, 4.6 rebounds and 1.4 assists in 20.3 minutes, shooting at least 40 percent from 3-point range in all four seasons and finishing his career with a mark of 44.4 percent from beyond the arc. Undrafted in the 2020 NBA Draft, the 22-year-old helped guide the Bulldogs to the 2017 NCAA Championship Game as a freshman and teamed with Grizzlies forward Brandon Clarke at Gonzaga during their 2018-19 junior seasons.

McDermott (6-6, 195) started all 31 games last season for Butler University and averaged 11.7 points, 6.3 rebounds and 1.0 assists in 32.9 minutes while shooting 47.4 percent from the field, 39.4 percent from 3-point range and 86.8 percent from the free throw line. He ranked second on the Bulldogs in both scoring and rebounding and led the team in 3-pointers (65) and free throw percentage.

A native of Anderson, Ind., McDermott appeared in 125 games (80 starts) over his four-year collegiate career and averaged 7.8 points and 3.9 rebounds in 24.0 minutes while shooting 46.7 percent from the field, 40.3 percent from 3-point range and 82.4 percent from the free throw line for the Bulldogs. Undrafted in the 2020 NBA Draft, the 24-year-old left Butler ranked seventh in program history in 3-pointers made (200).