Category: NBA News Blog

NBA news blog

Timberwolves trade Jacob Evans, Omari Spellman and a draft pick to Knicks for Ed Davis

The Minnesota Timberwolves have acquired Ed Davis in a trade with the New York Knicks for Jacob Evans III, Omari Spellman and the Timberwolves’ 2026 Second Round Pick.

Davis, 31, has appeared in 668 regular season games (96 starts) in 10 NBA seasons with Toronto, Memphis, Los Angeles Lakers, Portland, Brooklyn and Utah averaging 6.3 points and 6.6 rebounds. The 6-9 forward played in 28 games with the Utah Jazz last season, averaging 1.8 points and 3.8 rebounds. He saw his best season come with the Brooklyn Nets during the 2018-19 season, in which he saw action in 81 games while averaging 5.8 points on a career-best 61.6% shooting and a career-high 8.6 rebounds per game. The North Carolina product was drafted by the Toronto Raptors in the first round (13th overall) of the 2010 NBA Draft.

Evans, 6-4, 210-pounds, averaged 4.4 points and 1.4 rebounds over 14.4 minutes in 29 games (one start) for Golden State and Minnesota last season. Originally selected with the 28th overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft out of the University of Cincinnati, Evans holds career averages of 2.8 points and 1.1 rebounds over 10.5 minutes in 59 games (two starts).

Spellman, 6-8, 245-pounds, averaged 7.6 points and 4.5 rebounds over 18.1 minutes in 49 games (three starts) last season with the Golden State Warriors. The Cleveland, OH-native was traded by Golden State to Minnesota on Feb. 6, 2020 where he spent the remainder of the season with the Iowa Wolves, the NBA G League affiliate of the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Originally selected with the 30th overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft out of Villanova University, Spellman holds career averages of 6.8 points and 4.3 rebounds over 17.8 minutes in 95 games (14 starts). The 2017-18 Big East Rookie of the Year, he helped lead the Wildcats to the 2018 NCAA Championship in his only season averaging 10.9 points, 8.0 rebounds and 1.48 blocks over 40 games (39 starts).

Hawks sign rookies Onyeka Okongwu, Skylar Mays and Nathan Knight

The Atlanta Hawks have signed rookie forward/center Onyeka Okongwu, rookie guard Skylar Mays and rookie forward/center Nathan Knight, the team announced today. Mays and Knight have been signed to two-way contracts.

Drafted sixth overall by the Hawks in the 2020 NBA Draft, the 6’9 Okongwu led the USC Trojans in points per game, rebounds per game and blocks per game in his only collegiate season, averaging 16.2 points, 8.6 boards and 2.7 blocks in 28 appearances (all starts) in 2019-20. He earned All-Pac-12 First Team honors and was a member of the Pac-12 All-Freshman team after leading the conference in FG% (.616), ranking second in blocks and second in total offensive rebounds (92).

The Chino, Calif. native scored in double figures on 25 occasions and recorded 11 double-doubles, including five contests with at least 20 points and 10 rebounds. He set a USC freshman record with 76 blocked shots, including a school-record tying eight rejections in his first collegiate game on 11/5/19 against Florida A&M.

Mays, selected in the second round (50th overall) by the Hawks in the 2020 NBA Draft, averaged 16.7 points, 5.0 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1.8 steals in 31 games (all starts) en route to an All-SEC First Team selection as a senior in 2019-20. A native of Baton Rouge, LA, the 6’4 Mays became the first player in LSU history to record at least 1,600 points, 400 rebounds, 300 assists and 200 steals.

A summa cum laude graduate with a degree in kinesiology, Mays was the 2019-20 COSIDA Academic All-American Player of the Year, a three-time Academic All-American and a two-time SEC Scholar-Athlete of the Year.

Knight finished the 2019-20 season averaging 20.7 points, 10.5 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1.5 blocks in 29.6 minutes (.524 FG%, .773 FT%) starting all 32 games, finishing second nationally in double-doubles (23). He earned the 2020 Lou Henson National Mid-Major Player of the Year as well as the Colonial Athletic Association’s Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year awards.

The 6’10 Knight earned his degree in business analytics from William & Mary’s Raymond A. Mason School of Business. The Syracuse, NY native attended Nottingham High School in his hometown before finishing at Kimball Union Academy in New Hampshire.

Celtics sign first round draft picks Aaron Nesmith and Payton Pritchard

The Boston Celtics have signed 2020 first round draft picks Aaron Nesmith and Payton Pritchard.

Selected 14th overall in the 2020 NBA Draft, Nesmith, a 6-6, 213-pound forward, produced career averages of 14.7 points (44.2% FG, 41.0% 3-PT, 82.5% FT), 5.3 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 0.9 steals, and 31.0 minutes played in 46 collegiate games over two seasons at Vanderbilt University. The 21-year old thrived in limited action as a sophomore in 2019-20, averaging 23.0 points on 51.2% shooting – including a school-record 52.2% shooting mark from beyond the arc – to go along with 4.9 rebounds, 1.4 steals, 0.9 blocked shots, and 35.7 minutes in 14 games.

Nesmith knocked down at least seven three-point field goals in four of his 14 contests this past season, including a career-best eight threes against Southern Methodist University on Jan. 4. His 60 three-point field goals made (of 115) led the Commodores and ranked 10th in the Southeastern Conference.

Pritchard, a 6-2, 190-pound guard, was drafted 26th overall by Boston out of the University of Oregon, where he averaged 20.5 points (46.8% FG, 41.5% 3-PT, 82.1% FT), 4.3 rebounds, 5.5 assists, 1.5 steals, and 36.6 minutes played across 31 games (all starts) as a senior in 2019-20. Named the Pacific 12 Conference Player of the Year and Bob Cousy Point Guard of the Year award recipient this past season, Pritchard produced career highs in points, rebounds, and assists en route to being the University’s first consensus All-American since 1940.

A native Oregonian, Pritchard, 22, averaged 13.5 points on 43.7% shooting (37.9% 3-PT, 80.0% FT), 3.8 rebounds, 4.6 assists, 1.5 steals, and 33.7 minutes in 144 collegiate games (140 starts) across four seasons with the Ducks. He finished his collegiate career as the only player in Pac 12 conference history to tally at least 1,900 points, 500 rebounds, and 600 assists.

Nesmith will wear number 26 with the Celtics, and Pritchard will wear number 11.

Spurs re-sign center Jakob Poeltl

The San Antonio Spurs have re-signed center Jakob Poeltl.

Poeltl’s contract is reportedly a three-year, $27 million deal.

Poeltl played in 66 games for the Spurs last season, including 18 starts, averaging 5.6 points, a career-high 5.7 rebounds, 1.8 assists and a career-best 1.44 blocks while shooting 62.4 percent from the field in 17.7 minutes. After the NBA restart in July, Poeltl contested the second-most shots in the league (114) while starting all eight contests and averaging 8.3 points, 8.1 rebounds and 1.38 blocks in 25.8 minutes. He had a block in 14 straight games from January to February, the longest streak by a Spur last season.

Selected with the ninth overall pick in the 2016 NBA Draft by the Toronto Raptors, the 7-0, 230-pound center has appeared in 279 games in four seasons, averaging 5.5 points, 4.8 rebounds and 1.01 blocks in 16.5 minutes.

San Antonio’s all-time leader in highest field goal percentage in a single season (.645 in 2018-19), Poeltl is both the first Austrian to be selected in the NBA Draft and to appear in an NBA game.

Nuggets sign Greg Whittington to two-way contract

The Denver Nuggets have signed forward Greg Whittington to a two-way contract.

Whittington, 6-8, 212, spent the 2019-20 season playing in Istanbul, Turkey for Galatasaray of the Turkish BSL. He appeared in 25 games (10 starts), averaging 12.4 points, 5.5 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.12 steals while shooting 56.6% from the field and 50.7% from three in 25.8 minutes per game.

The 27-year-old went undrafted in the 2015 NBA Draft and spent the 2015-16 season playing for the Sioux Falls Skyforce of the NBA G League. In two seasons for the Skyforce, Whittington appeared in 36 games (32 starts) averaging 13.8 points, 7.4 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.81 steals while shooting 44.2% from the field in 34.3 minutes. Whittington has spent the previous four seasons playing overseas in multiple countries, including Australia (Sydney Kings, 2016-17), Japan (Levanga Hokkaido, 2017-18), Israel (Hapoel Gilboa Galil, 2018-19) and Turkey (Galatasaray, 2019-20).

Whittington, a native of Columbia, Maryland spent two seasons at Georgetown University, where he averaged 6.5 points, 4.0 rebounds and 1.2 assists in 46 career games.

Lakers sign Marc Gasol

The Los Angeles Lakers have signed center Marc Gasol, it was announced today by Vice President of Basketball Operations and General Manager Rob Pelinka.

Gasol’s Lakers contract is a two-year deal for the veteran’s minimum salary of $2.56 million per year, per multiple reports.

Per the Los Angeles Times, “to make the space to sign Gasol to a two-year deal, the Lakers had to trade starting center JaVale McGee and a future second-round pick to Cleveland in a deal that netted them other considerations, in this case forwards Jordan Bell and Alfonzo McKinnie.”

Gasol played in 44 games (43 starts) for Toronto last season, averaging 7.5 points (.427 FG%, .385 3FG%), 6.3 rebounds and 3.3 assists in 26.4 minutes per game. In 839 games (824 starts) for the Grizzlies and Raptors, he has averaged 14.6 points, 7.6 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 1.4 blocks in 33.0 minutes. Gasol has played and started in 94 career playoff games, notching 13.9 points, 7.7 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 1.4 blocks in 35.2 minutes, while aiding the Raptors in their 2019 title campaign.

More from the Times: “At his best, Gasol, who will turn 36 on Jan. 29, is a floor-spacing center who can hit three-point shots from above the wings while making the right pass at the right moment. He’s a cerebral defender who can use his supreme IQ and experience to make up for diminished quickness and athleticism.”

Per the O.C. Register, “Gasol struggled in the bubble in the most recent postseason, but during Toronto’s 2019 postseason run, he averaged 9 points, 6.4 rebounds, 1.1 blocked shots and 3 assists per game while shooting 38 percent from 3-point range. Gasol has shot better than 36 percent from beyond the arc in his last two seasons at more than three attempts per game.”

A three-time NBA All-Star, Gasol has earned two All-NBA selections and in 2013 became the first European-born player to be named NBA Defensive Player of the Year. He is one of six players in league history to record more than 6,000 career rebounds, 1,100 blocks and 350 three pointers. As a member of the Spanish National Team, Gasol has helped the country earn nine medals, including gold medals at the FIBA World Cup in 2006 and in 2019, and Olympic silver medals in 2008 and 2012.

Utah Jazz plan to allow some fan attendance at home games in 2020-21 NBA season

The Utah Jazz today announced that home games at Vivint Arena will be played with a limited number of fans when the NBA season begins in December amid a series of enhanced health and safety measures implemented throughout the building in consultation with the Utah Department of Health.

The arena will reopen with a reduced seating capacity of 1,500 in the lower bowl only and limited seating on the suite level. Lower and upper bowl season ticket members will be given priority access for socially distanced seating at Jazz games during the arena’s limited capacity.

“The Jazz believe this is a responsible way to start the season from a public health and safety standpoint. Our intent is to increase the number of fans as the season unfolds in compliance with state guidelines,” said Jazz President Jim Olson. “We want to reassure our guests that we are taking the utmost precautions to have a safe and enjoyable experience as they return. We are optimistic for the future and continue to closely monitor the public health situation with State of Utah, Salt Lake County, and Salt Lake City officials as well as the NBA.”

“The Utah Jazz have always been an important part of our community, and the team is making every effort to be an example for how we can start to safely resume these types of activities,” said Rich Saunders, interim executive director of the Utah Department of Health. “The Jazz are committed to working with public health professionals and to doing everything they can to ensure the health and safety of their fans, players, staff, and arena employees by implementing important safeguards and limiting the number of people who can attend games in-person. We certainly look forward to welcoming the Jazz back.”

Any preseason games at Vivint Arena will be played without fans next month. The league recently announced that the 2020-21 NBA season will begin on Dec. 22 and continue through May. The official 72-game schedule will be announced later.

Orlando Magic sign Dwayne Bacon

The Orlando Magic have signed free agent guard Dwayne Bacon, President of Basketball Operations Jeff Weltman announced today.

Bacon (6’6”, 221, 8/30/95) played in 39 games last season (11 starts) with Charlotte, averaging 5.7 ppg., 2.6 rpg. and 1.3 apg. in 17.6 minpg. He led (or tied) the team in scoring twice, scored in double figures ten times and had 20+ points three times, including a career-high 25 points on Nov. 2 @ Golden State.

Originally selected in the second round (40th overall) of the 2017 NBA Draft by New Orleans, Bacon has appeared in 135 career NBA regular season games (30 starts), all with Charlotte, averaging 5.3 ppg., 2.3 rpg. and 1.0 apg. in 16.0 minpg.

Bacon played in 69 career games (68 starts) during two seasons at Florida State University (2015-17), averaging 16.5 ppg., 5.0 rpg. and 1.6 apg. in 28.8 minpg. As a sophomore (2016-17), he played and started in 35 games, averaging 17.2 ppg., 4.2 rpg., 1.7 apg. and 1.00 stlpg. in 28.8 minpg. Bacon led the Seminoles in scoring and, along with current Magic player Jonathan Isaac, guided Florida State to a 3-seed in the West region of the 2017 NCAA Tournament, tying for the highest-ever seeding in school history. He was named to the All-ACC Second Team. As a freshman (2015-16), Bacon played in 34 games (33 starts), averaging 15.8 ppg., 5.8 rpg. and 1.5 apg. in 28.8 minpg. He led the team in scoring, earned ACC Rookie of the Week honors a school-record five times and was named to the All-ACC Freshman Team.

Bacon will wear #8 with the Orlando Magic.

Orlando Magic re-sign Michael Carter-Williams

The Orlando Magic have re-signed free agent guard Michael Carter-Williams, President of Basketball Operations Jeff Weltman announced today.

Carter-Williams (6’6”, 190, 10/10/91) played in 45 games last season with Orlando, averaging 7.2 ppg., 3.3 rpg., 2.4 apg. and 1.09 stlpg. in 18.5 minpg. He led (or tied) the team in scoring once, in rebounding once and in assists four times. Carter-Williams scored in double figures 14 times and 20+ points once, including a season-high 20 points on Mar. 10 @ Memphis. He missed the 2020 NBA Playoffs due to a strained tendon in his left foot.

Originally selected in the first round (11th overall) of the 2013 NBA Draft by Philadelphia, Carter-Williams has appeared in 360 career NBA regular season games (192 starts) with Philadelphia, Milwaukee, Chicago, Charlotte, Houston and Orlando, averaging 10.4 ppg., 4.4 rpg., 4.4 apg. and 1.31 stlpg. in 25.3 minpg. He has also played in 16 career playoff games, averaging 7.5 ppg., 3.2 rpg. and 2.9 apg. in 21.0 minpg. Carter-Williams was named NBA Rookie of the Year in 2013-14, after averaging 16.7 ppg., 6.3 apg., 6.2 rpg. and 1.86 stlpg. in 34.5 minpg. during 70 games with Philadelphia.

Raptors re-sign Fred VanVleet

The Toronto Raptors have re-signed free agent guard Fred VanVleet to a multi-year contract.

Per multiple reports, VanVleet’s Raptors contract is a four-year, $85 million deal. The final season is a player option, according to ESPN.

“In the last four years, we’ve seen Fred move from leader of Raptors 905, to leader of the Bench Mob to a leader of a championship team. The constant has been his leadership, no matter his role,” Raptors president Masai Ujiri said. “We look forward to the coming years with Fred as one of the voices and hearts of our team. We bet on Fred.”

Per the Toronto Sun, “VanVleet, who famously and loyally followed his own advice to “Bet on Yourself” reaped the benefits signing the largest total value contract for any undrafted player in NBA history. In his four years in the NBA so far VanVleet has improved in every statistical category from year to year. Last season when he averaged career bests in scoring, assists, rebounds, steals, three-point field goal percentage. He also finished fourth in the league in steals per game.”

VanVleet, 6-foot, 195 pounds, averaged career highs of 17.6 points, 6.6 assists, 3.8 rebounds, 1.9 steals (fourth in the NBA) and 35.7 minutes in 54 games (all starts) last season. He shot .413 (319-773) from the floor, .390 (146-374) from three-point range and a career-best .848 (168-198) at the free throw line. VanVleet scored 20 or more points in 22 games, including a career-high 36 points Aug. 3 at Miami, and recorded eight double-doubles. In the postseason, he helped the Raptors reach the Eastern Conference Semifinals, averaging team highs of 19.6 points, 6.9 assists and 39.1 minutes in 11 contests.

“For me, ‘Bet on Yourself’ isn’t just a motto on a shirt. It really is at the centre of who I am and how I decide to live and to work,” VanVleet said. “I’m really happy to be staying in Toronto with my Raptors family, and to be able to continue with this great organization and to work towards our goal of our next championship.”

A native of Rockford, Illinois, VanVleet was a finalist for the 2018 NBA Sixth Man of the Year Award. He has appeared in 231 regular-season games (82 starts) during four seasons with Toronto (2016-20), averaging 10.5 points, 4.1 assists and 23.8 minutes. VanVleet helped the Raptors capture their first NBA championship in 2019 and owns averages of 9.6 points, 3.2 assists and 24.3 minutes in 48 career playoff appearances (12 starts).

More from the Suns: “On top of that he’s a perfect fit in Nick Nurse’s rotation which demands equal parts defensive tenacity, basketball IQ and an ability to shoot the basketball.”

VanVleet joined the Raptors as an undrafted free agent in 2016 following a four-year collegiate career at Wichita State (2012-16).