Category: NBA News Blog

NBA news blog

Rockets sign Bruno Caboclo, Sterling Brown, Jae’Sean Tate and Mason Jones

The Houston Rockets have re-signed forward Bruno Caboclo in addition to signing a trio of free agents in guard Sterling Brown, guard Mason Jones, and forward Jae’Sean Tate. Jones was signed to a two-way contract.

Caboclo (6-9, 218) was originally acquired by Houston via trade from Memphis on Feb. 6, 2020 and appeared in eight games for the Rockets over the remainder of the season. The Brazilian native was the 20th overall pick by Toronto in the 2014 NBA Draft and has appeared in 99 career games. In 2018-19, Caboclo averaged career-highs of 8.3 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 1.5 assists for the Grizzlies.

Brown (6-5, 219) was the 46th overall pick by Philadelphia in the 2017 NBA Draft before his rights were traded to Milwaukee. He played 20-plus minutes (rounded) 40 times over the past two seasons while averaging 9.2 points, 5.2 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 1.4 3-pointers made in those games. Brown finished his collegiate career with the most wins of any player in SMU history and spent his first two and a half seasons playing for Hall of Fame coach Larry Brown.

Jones (6-5, 200) was an early entry candidate for the 2020 NBA Draft following his junior season at Arkansas. He was named the 2019-20 SEC Co-Player of the Year by media and led the nation in both free throws made (233) and attempted (282) while finishing eighth in scoring (22.0 ppg). His brother, Matt, played at Duke and in the G League while his sister, Jordan, played at Texas A&M and was selected in the 2016 WNBA Draft.

Tate (6-4, 230) was eligible for the 2018 NBA Draft following his senior season at Ohio State. He spent last season with the Sydney Kings of the Australian National Basketball League and helped the team reach the Finals while earning All-NBL First Team honors. In 2018-19, Tate played for the Antwerp Giants in the Belgian Pro Basketball League and was selected as one of the five best offensive players.

Three-team NBA trade sends Trevor Ariza to Thunder, James Johnson to Mavericks

In a three-team trade today, the Dallas Mavericks have acquired forward James Johnson from the Oklahoma City Thunder. In the deal, the Mavericks sent guard Delon Wright to the Detroit Pistons and forward Justin Jackson to the Thunder. The Pistons dealt forward Trevor Ariza to Oklahoma City. The Thunder acquired a 2023 second round pick (best from either Dallas or Miami) and a 2026 second round draft pick from Dallas.

Ariza (6-8, 215) has appeared in 1,064 career games (731 starts) with New York, Orlando, L.A. Lakers, Houston, New Orleans, Washington, Phoenix, Sacramento and Portland, registering averages of 10.5 points, 4.8 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 1.49 steals in 29.7 minutes per contest. Last season the former NBA champion split the season between Sacramento and Portland. In his time with Portland, the Miami native appeared in 21 games (all starts) and averaged 11.0 points, 4.8 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.62 steals in 33.4 minutes per game, shooting 49.1 percent from the field and 40.0 percent from three-point range.

Jackson (6-7, 220) has seen action in 214 career games (58 starts) with Sacramento and Dallas, recording averages of 6.5 points, 2.6 rebounds and 1.0 assist in 19.5 minutes per game, shooting 43.1 percent from the floor. Last season with Dallas, the North Carolina product appeared in 65 games (three starts), averaging 5.5 points and 2.4 rebounds in 16.1 minutes per contest, shooting 84.0 percent from the free throw line.

Johnson has appeared in 634 career games (220 starts) with Chicago, Toronto, Sacramento, Memphis, Miami and Minnesota, averaging 8.0 points, 3.6 rebounds and 2.1 assists in 20.6 minutes per game, shooting 47.7 percent from the field. He was originally acquired from Minnesota on Nov. 20.

Celtics sign Jayson Tatum to contract extension

The Boston Celtics on Wednesday, November 25 signed All-Star forward Jayson Tatum to a contract extension.

According to the Boston Globe, “Tatum and the Celtics have agreed to a five-year, $195 million designated rookie max extension. The contract will begin during the 2021-22 season and it includes a player option in the fifth and final year.”

“Jayson has emerged as one of the best two-way players in the NBA through his first three seasons, and will continue to get better and better as a player and a leader,” said Celtics President of Basketball Operations Danny Ainge. “He possesses unique scoring and playmaking abilities, and has displayed exceptional poise and maturity in how he approaches the game. He’s someone who, at 22 years of age, will be a central figure to this organization’s championship aspirations for many years to come.”

“I am incredibly grateful to the Celtics organization, and the city of Boston for this opportunity,” said Tatum. “I love this city, this organization, and the best fans in the NBA. I plan on being here for a very long time.”

More from the Globe: “Tatum’s extension includes about $163 million in guaranteed salary as well as escalator clauses that will vault the figure to about $195 million if Tatum meets incentives. Rookie extensions can be for up to 25 percent of the salary cap, but Tatum will be eligible for 30 percent if he receives All-NBA honors or is named defensive player of the year this season.”

A first-time NBA All-Star in 2019-20, Tatum, 22, produced a team-high 23.4 points on 45.0% shooting (40.3% 3-PT) in just his third NBA season. The St. Louis, MO native added 7.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists, and 1.4 steals in 66 games (all starts) to become the first Celtics player to register 23.0 points and 7.0 rebounds in a single season since Paul Pierce in 2003.

Tatum’s All-Star season resulted in his selection to the 2019-20 All-NBA Third Team, making him the second Celtics player in franchise history to receive All-NBA honors prior to his 23rd birthday.

Originally drafted by the Celtics with the third overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft, Tatum has averaged 17.3 points (45.7% FG, 40.1% 3-PT, 82.9% FT), 6.0 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 1.2 steals, 0.8 blocked shots, and 31.8 minutes played in 225 career games (all starts) over three NBA seasons. The 22-year-old has improved his marks in scoring, rebounds, assists, and steals in each season since joining the professional ranks, and is the only player in NBA history to accumulate 3,900 points, 1,300 rebounds, and 400 3-point field goals through his first three seasons.

After surgery, Klay Thompson to miss another full NBA season

Golden State Warriors guard Klay Thompson on Wednesday, November 25 underwent surgery to fix a torn right Achilles.

The surgery will likely keep Thompson sidelined for the entire 2020-21 NBA season. Which means he’ll have been out of the NBA for an entire two seasons before he returns to action.

The 30-year-old sharpshooter suffered the injury while working out in the Los Angeles area on November 18.

According to the San Francisco Chronicle, “though the additions of Kelly Oubre Jr., Brad Wanamaker and Kent Bazemore should bolster Golden State’s wing depth, the Warriors know there is no way to truly replace Thompson. His shooting range, defense and selflessness were a driving force behind the team’s recent dynasty.”

A three-time NBA Champion and five-time NBA All-Star, Thompson missed the entire 2019-20 NBA season after suffering a torn left ACL in Game 6 of the 2019 NBA Finals (June 13, 2019). He has appeared in 615 regular season games during his nine-year NBA career, averaging 19.5 points, 3.5 rebounds and 2.3 assists in 33.1 minutes per game.

Atlanta Hawks sign forward Solomon Hill

The Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday, November 25 signed free agent forward Solomon Hill.

“Solomon is a player who has been on four playoff teams and has competed on the highest level,” said Hawks President of Basketball Operations and General Manager Travis Schlenk. “We are fortunate to add his veteran presence to our group.”

Hill has played in 364 regular season NBA games (172 starts) over the course of seven NBA seasons with Indiana, New Orleans, Memphis and Miami. The Los Angeles native holds career averages of 5.8 points, 3.2 rebounds and 1.6 assists in 22.0 minutes per matchup (.395 FG%, .336 3FG%, .801 FT%). Hill has appeared in 24 playoff contests with the Pacers, Pelicans and Heat, shooting .463 (19-41) from beyond-the-arc and .923 (24-26) from the free-throw line in postseason play. The 6’7 forward played in four NBA Finals games in 2020 for the Heat.

The 23rd overall pick in the 2013 NBA Draft by Indiana, Hill was a four-year player at the University of Arizona and left tied for the most games played (139) in Wildcats history.

He will wear jersey No. 18.

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.