Category: NBA News Blog

NBA news blog

Knicks sign Nerlens Noel, who played for Thunder last season

The New York Knicks yesterday signed forward/center Nerlens Noel.

Per multiple reports, Noel’s Knicks contract is a one-year, $5 million deal.

With Mitchell Robinson the team’s young prime talent at the center spot, Noel will likely play backup.

Listed at 6-foot-10, 220 pounds), Noel averaged 7.4 points on 68.4-percent shooting, 4.9 rebounds and 1.49 blocks over 18.5 minutes in 61 games (seven starts) for the Oklahoma City Thunder last season. He was one of three players in the NBA to appear in at least 50 games and record a field goal percentage of 68-percent or greater and average at least 1.49 blocks (Rudy Gobert and Mitchell Robinson (via Elias)).

Noel also became the first player in NBA history to shoot at least 68-percent from the field and at least 75-percent from the free-throw line (minimum 25 games; Elias). Originally selected by New Orleans with the sixth overall pick in the 2013 NBA Draft, Noel holds career averages of 8.0 points, 6.2 rebounds, 1.39 blocks and 1.31 steals over 361 games (167 starts) with Oklahoma City, Dallas and Philadelphia. As a rookie with Philadelphia, the Malden, MA-native earned All-Rookie First Team honors after averaging 9.9 points, 8.1 rebounds, 1.77 steals and 1.89 blocks over 30.8 minutes in 75 games (71 starts).

Noel spent one season at the University of Kentucky, averaging 10.5 points, 9.5 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 4.42 blocks and 2.08 steals over 31.9 minutes in 24 games.

Utah Jazz bring back Derrick Favors, who played for Pelicans last season

Derrick Favors is back on the Jazz.

Utah yesterday signed the forward/center Derrick Favors to a contract that is reportedly a three-year deal for $27 million.

“Since he joined the Jazz originally during the 2010-11 season, Derrick Favors was an important part of the franchise and community,” said Jazz Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations Dennis Lindsey. “We jumped at the chance to bring him back. His toughness, physicality and selflessness are key reasons he’s had such success in this league and we’re excited about what he brings to our team.”

Per the Salt Lake Tribune, “Favors’ return will shore up the team’s big-man minutes behind All-Star center Rudy Gobert, and give them the rotational flexibility to play two-big lineups when necessary.”

Favors (6-10, 265, Georgia Tech) spent the 2019-20 season with the New Orleans Pelicans, owning averages of 9.0 points on 61.7 percent from the field, a career-best 9.8 rebounds and 1.6 assists in 24.4 minutes per contest.

The 29-year-old rejoins the Jazz after spending nine seasons with Utah from 2010-19. During those years, he averaged 12.1 points on 52.6 percent from the field, 7.4 boards and 1.2 assists in 26.3 minutes per contest. The Atlanta native ranks fourth in all-time Jazz rebounds (4,250), offensive rebounds (1,448) and field goal percentage (.526), as well as fifth in defensive rebounds (2,802), seventh in blocks (772) and field goals (2,821) and 10th in games played (576).

More from the Tribune: “Favors also was a popular figure not only among the Jazz fanbase, but within the locker room. He should bolster the second-unit scoring as well, given his established pick-and-roll chemistry with point-forward Joe Ingles.”

During his previous tenure in Utah, he helped the Jazz to four postseason appearances (2012, 2017-19), averaging 9.4 points on 57.4 percent from the field, 6.2 rebounds and 1.8 blocks in 31 games (14 starts).

Drafted by the Nets with the third overall pick (first round) in the 2010 NBA Draft, Favors was originally acquired by Utah on Feb. 23, 2011 via trade.

Kings trade KJ Martin Jr’s draft rights to Rockets

The Houston Rockets have acquired the rights to rookie guard KJ Martin Jr. in a trade with the Sacramento Kings in exchange for cash considerations and a future L.A. Lakers second round pick attained via trade with Detroit.

The 19-year-old is the son of Kenyon Martin, who was the first overall pick in the 2000 NBA Draft. Martin Jr. attended Sierra Canyon School in California, where he was teammates with Scotty Pippen Jr. and Cassius Stanley, who was selected by Indiana with the 54th overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft.

Per the Houston Chronicle, KJ had this to say: “Being around it and seeing it all my life, now I’m in the situation my dad was in a way, I’m just very excited,” Martin said. “I feel like it made me a better player. People ask, ‘Is it harder for you because of your dad?” I kind of take it as an advantage. A lot of kids don’t see that type of stuff and be around NBA guys and see how they work. I took all that in and put it to use for myself. It paid off.”

Martin (6-6, 215) was the 52nd overall pick by the Kings in the 2020 NBA Draft. He spent last season with IMG Academy’s post-graduate team, which posted a 29-3 record, and averaged 19.6 points and 8.3 rebounds while shooting 69.1% from inside-the-arc.

More from the Chronicle: “The league is crowded with second generation players Devin Booker (Melvin,) Jalen Brunson (Rick,) Bol Bol (Manute,) Amir Coffey (Rick,) Steph and Seth Curry (Del,) Jae Crowder (Corey,) Ed Davis (Terry,) Darius Garland (Winston,) Jerami Grant (Harvey,) Al Horford (Tito,) Jaren Jackson Jr., Kevin Love (Stan,) Wesley Matthews (Wes,) Larry Nance Jr., Jabari Parker (Sonny,) Gary Payton II, Austin Rivers (Doc,) Glenn Robinson III, Domantas Sabonis (Arvydas,) Garrett Temple (Hollis,) Klay Thompson (Mychal,) Gary Trent Jr., Andrew Wiggins (Mitchell,) and Justise Winslow (Ricky.)”

Knicks sign Jared Harper to two-way contract

The New York Knicks yesterday signed guard Jared Harper to a two-way contract.

Listed at 5-foot-11, 175 pounds, Harper was a two-way player for the Suns last season. He played sparingly for the Suns, appearing in three games, but in the G League for Northern Arizona he averaged 20.8 points (16th in G League), 5.7 assists and 2.8 rebounds over 29.8 minutes over the course of 33 games.

The Suns originally signed Harper to a two-way contract on July 18, 2019 after he undrafted out of Auburn University.

During his junior and final season at Auburn, Harper was chosen as the NCAA Tournament Midwest Regional Most Outstanding Player after averaging 17.5 points, 6.5 assists and 1.5 rebounds in the school’s run to the 2019 NCAA Final Four.

Raptors re-sign forward Chris Boucher

The Toronto Raptors yesterday re-signed Chris Boucher.

Boucher’s Raptors contract is reportedly a two-year, $13.5 million deal. The second year is reportedly not fully guaranteed.

The 6-foot-10, 200-pound forward averaged 6.6 points, 4.5 rebounds, a team-high 1.0 blocks and 13.2 minutes in 62 games last season. He shot 47.2% FG, 32.2% from three-point range, and 78.4% from the free throw line.

Per the Toronto Star, Boucher “has gained weight since the NBA stalled because of the coronavirus pandemic in March and is learning how to use it to his advantage. Still, the lanky Boucher is unlikely to become a “big” big man anytime soon, so capitalizing on the strength he does have, his athleticism and his speed will be key to making strides.”

Boucher scored in double figures in 15 games with three 20-point outings and recorded five double-doubles. He also led the reserves in scoring 13 times.

Boucher scored a career-high 25 points (9-15 FG, 3-7 3PT, 4-5 FT) Aug. 10 at Milwaukee and finished with 19 points and a career-best 15 rebounds Mar. 3 at Phoenix, becoming just the fourth player in Raptors history with 15+ points and 15+ rebounds as a reserve.

Boucher grew up in Montreal, Canada, so it’s special that his NBA career is on the rise while playing in nearby Toronto.

The Toronto Sun worded it this way: “From homeless at 16, to starring in the NCAA before going undrafted thanks to a torn ACL, to a new $6.5 million US guaranteed contract for the upcoming NBA season, Chris Boucher’s journey is the stuff of Hollywood scripts.”

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.