NBA News Blog – Page 333 – NBA Blog

Sacramento Kings re-sign guard DaQuan Jeffries

The Sacramento Kings have re-signed guard DaQuan Jeffries.

During the 2019-20 season, on a two-way contract for the Sacramento Kings, Jeffries appeared in 13 games and averaged 3.8 points (.500 FG%, .278 3pt%, .833 FT%), 1.4 rebounds and 10.8 minutes per game. An early entrant out of Tulsa and going undrafted in the 2019 NBA Draft, Jeffries accrued averages of 16.6 points (.461 FG%, .339 3pt%, .705 FT%), 6.9 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 1.2 steals and 31.0 minutes per game in 27 games (22 starts) for the Sacramento Kings G League affiliate, the Stockton Kings.

Jeffries appeared in 56 career games (40 starts) during two seasons at the University of Tulsa (2017-19), averaging 11.5 points (.517 FG%, .375 3pt%, .766 FT%), 5.3 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 1.3 blocks and 25.4 minutes per game. As a senior (2018-19), he played 31 games (all starts) where he averaged 13.0 points (.502 FG%, .366 3pt%, .755 FT%), 5.6 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 1.2 blocks, 1.0 steals and 28.1 minutes per game. Jeffries led the team in points, blocked shots and steals, and earned Third Team All-American Athletic Conference honors.

Kings sign center Chimezie Metu

The Sacramento Kings have signed center Chimezie Metu.

The deal is likely non-guaranteed and just for training camp.

Metu has two years of NBA experience, both with the San Antonio Spurs. Last season, he averaged 3.2 points (.571 FG%, .769 FT%), 1.8 rebounds and 5.8 minutes per game, in 18 games played.

An early entrant out of the University of Southern California, the 49th overall selection in the 2018 NBA Draft by the Spurs has career averages of 2.3 points (.430 FG%, .767 FT%), 1.5 rebounds and 5.3 minutes per game in 47 games in two seasons with San Antonio (2018-20).

A native of Los Angeles, Metu earned First Team All-Pac-12 honors his junior season at USC and ranks third all-time in blocked shots in school history with 168.

Metu will wear No. 25 for the Kings.

Clippers sign rookie center Daniel Oturu

The LA Clippers have signed rookie center Daniel Oturu.

Selected 33rd overall in the second round of the 2020 NBA Draft, Oturu led the Big Ten with 11.3 rebounds and 2.5 blocks to go along with 20.1 points in 33.9 minutes during his sophomore season at Minnesota for the Golden Gophers. The 6-foot-10 center shot 56.3 percent from the field last season, which also led the Big Ten. The Woodbury, Minn., native was named to the 2019-20 Big Ten All-Defense team and 2019-20 All-Big Ten second team for the Gophers.

Knicks sign Michael Kidd-Gilchrist

The New York Knicks have signed forward Michael Kidd-Gilchrist.

Kidd-Gilchrist’s Knicks contract isn’t on the larger side, to say the least. Per the New York Post, “the one-year deal includes just $50,000 in guaranteed money, The Post’s Marc Berman reported.”

Kidd-Gilchrist, 6-6, 230-pounds, holds career averages of 8.4 points, 5.4 rebounds, 1.2 assists over 24.6 minutes in 446 career games (356 starts) over eight seasons with Charlotte and Dallas. He averaged 2.4 points and 2.7 rebounds over 11.2 minutes in 25 games with the Hornets and Mavericks last season. In 2013, he was named to the NBA’s All-Rookie second team after averaging 9.0 points, 5.8 rebounds and 1.5 assists over 26 minutes in 78 games (77 starts).

More from the Post: “The 27-year-old Kidd-Gilchrist didn’t pan out the way the Hornets thought he would when they drafted him in 2012, but he has become a defensive specialist who could fit in well under new defense-minded Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau.”

The Philadelphia, PA-native was originally selected by Charlotte with the second overall pick in the 2012 NBA Draft after his freshman season at the University of Kentucky. A consensus Second Team All-American, Kidd-Gilchrist helped lead the Wildcats to the 2012 National Championship, earning NCAA Final Four All-Tournament Team honors, as well as First Team All-SEC and All-SEC Defensive Team honors for the season. He played high school basketball at St. Patrick’s in Elizabeth, NJ.

Knicks sign rookie guard Immanuel Quickley

The New York Knicks have signed rookie guard Immanuel Quickley.

Quickley, 6-3, 188-pounds, was selected by Oklahoma City with the 25th overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft and then had his draft rights traded to New York in a three-team deal with Minnesota on Nov. 20.

He averaged 10.1 points on 46.2-percent shooting from the field (39.7-percent from downtown), 2.9 rebounds and 1.5 assists in 67 games (27 starts) over two seasons at the University of Kentucky. He was named the 2019-20 SEC Player of the Year and earned All-SEC first team honors after recording 16.1 points (42.8-percent from downtown) and 4.2 rebounds over 33.0 minutes in 30 games (20 starts).

The Havre de Grace, MD-native was a two-time state champion at the John Carroll School in Bel Air, MD. He was named an All-State selection three times and the 2015-16 Baltimore Sun Metro Player of the Year. He was also a member of the USA U17 and U19 teams, winning gold with the U17 team at the FIBA Championships.

Cavs sign Lamar Stevens, waive Rayjon Tucker

The Cleveland Cavaliers have signed forward Lamar Stevens from Penn State University to a two-way contract.

In a separate move, the Cavaliers have waived forward Rayjon Tucker, who was acquired in a trade with the Utah Jazz on Nov. 27.

Stevens (6-8, 225) played four years collegiately at Penn State from 2016-20, averaging 16.3 points, 6.5 rebounds and 1.9 assists in 32.2 minutes over 135 career contests (all starts). As a senior in 2019-20, he appeared in 31 games (all starts) and averaged 17.6 points, 6.9 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 1.1 steals and 1.2 blocks in 31.1 minutes. Stevens, who led Penn State and finished fourth in the Big Ten in scoring (17.6) his senior year, was named to the 2019-20 All-Big Ten First Team as well as the 2019-20 Senior CLASS All-America Second Team for his achievements on and off the court.

Stevens averaged double figures in scoring in each of his four collegiate seasons and ranks second on Penn State’s career scoring list (2,207). He holds program records for field goals made (801) and starts (135), and finished his collegiate career as part of the winningest class in Penn State’s Big Ten era (76 wins). Stevens was named to the 2018-19 All-Big Ten First Team by media and 2018-19 Second Team by coaches. During his time at Penn State, he was a two-time NABC and USBWA All-District selection, and was named the 2018 NIT Most Outstanding Player.

Nets re-sign guard Tyler Johnson

The Brooklyn Nets have re-signed free agent guard Tyler Johnson.

Johnson (6’4”, 190) most recently signed with Brooklyn on June 24, appearing in eight seeding games (four starts) for the Nets in the NBA’s restart in Orlando and recording averages of 12.0 points, 3.0 rebounds and 3.0 assists in 24.2 minutes per contest. In the 2020 NBA Playoffs, the six-year NBA veteran appeared in four games (two starts) for Brooklyn, averaging 13.8 points, 1.8 rebounds and 2.3 assists in 23.2 minutes per contest.

Prior to signing with the Nets last summer, Johnson appeared in 31 games (three starts) during the 2019-20 season with the Phoenix Suns, recording averages of 5.7 points, 1.7 rebounds and 1.6 assists in 16.6 minutes per game.

The Grand Forks, N.D., native went undrafted in the 2014 NBA Draft, beginning his first professional season with the NBA G League’s Sioux Falls Skyforce. Johnson played in 15 games with the Skyforce before signing two 10-day contracts and a multi-year deal with Miami in early 2015.

Prior to beginning his professional career, Johnson spent four years (2010-14) at Fresno State, earning All-Mountain West Conference Second Team honors as a senior.

Lakers re-sign Kostas Antetokounmpo to a two-way contract

The Los Angeles Lakers yesterday re-signed Kostas Antetokounmpo to a two-way contract.

Antetokounmpo appeared in 38 games (37 starts) for the South Bay Lakers last season, averaging 14.1 points (.623 FG%), 7.8 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.3 blocks in 25.4 minutes. He tallied 10 double-doubles with South Bay and scored in double figures 33 times, including eight games with 20+ points. In five games with Los Angeles, Antetokounmpo averaged 1.4 points in 4.0 minutes.

Clippers re-sign Patrick Patterson

The LA Clippers have re-signed free agent Patrick Patterson.

Patterson, 31, appeared in 59 games for the Clippers last season, averaging 4.9 points and 2.6 rebounds while connecting on 39.0 percent of his three-point attempts.

The 6-foot-8 forward holds career averages of 6.7 points and 4.0 rebounds while shooting 44.8 percent in 10 NBA seasons with the Houston Rockets, Sacramento Kings, Toronto Raptors, Oklahoma City Thunder and Clippers.

A native of Huntington, W.V., Patterson played three collegiate seasons at the University of Kentucky, before being selected by the Houston Rockets with the 14th overall pick in the 2010 NBA Draft. At Kentucky, he was a three-time All-SEC honoree, the 2008 SEC Rookie of the Year and a member of the 2010 All-SEC Defensive Team.

Clippers re-sign Marcus Morris

The LA Clippers have re-signed free agent Marcus Morris Sr.

The Clippers acquired Morris, 31, during the 2019-20 season from the New York Knicks. He appeared in 19 games as a Clipper, averaging 10.1 points and 4.1 rebounds in 28.9 minutes. In the 2020 NBA Playoffs, Morris shot a playoff career-high 47.5 percent from behind the arc and averaged 11.8 points and 4.8 rebounds in 29.8 minutes.

“We are delighted that Marcus has chosen to continue his career with the Clippers,” said Frank. “We obviously depend on his scoring, shooting ability, and defensive versatility. With his experience, toughness, and team-first approach, we will look to him as a leader as well.”

Before joining the Clippers, Morris appeared in 43 games for the Knicks and averaged career-highs in points (19.6), three-pointers made (2.7) and three-point field goal percentage (43.9).

The Philadelphia, Pa., native holds career averages of 12.1 points and 4.7 rebounds in nine NBA seasons with the Houston Rockets, Phoenix Suns, Detroit Pistons, Boston Celtics, Knicks and Clippers.

The 6-foot-8 forward played three collegiate seasons at the University of Kansas, where he was named Big 12 Player of the Year as a Junior in 2011, before being selected with the 14th overall pick in the 2011 NBA Draft by the Houston Rockets. Kansas retired his No. 22 jersey in 2020.