Category: NBA News Blog

NBA news blog

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).

Spurs re-sign center Drew Eubanks

The San Antonio Spurs yesterday re-signed center Drew Eubanks.

Eubanks, 6-10/245, has spent the past two seasons with the Silver and Black as a two-way player. During the NBA restart in Orlando, Eubanks appeared in all eight games and averaged 7.0 points, 6.3 rebounds and 1.38 blocks in 17.6 minutes. The first two-way player to ever start a game for the Spurs, he has appeared in a total of 45 games for San Antonio, averaging 3.3 points and 1.9 rebounds in 8.6 minutes while shooting 62.4 percent from the field.

Eubanks has played in 54 games with the Austin Spurs, San Antonio’s G League affiliate, over the past two seasons. The former Oregon State Beaver averaged 16.1 points, 7.2 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 2.20 blocks while shooting 63.6 percent from the field for Austin.

Rockets trade Trevor Ariza to Pistons for Christian Wood

The Houston Rockets yesterday acquired free agent forward/center Christian Wood from Detroit as part of a sign-and-trade.

The Rockets traded forward Trevor Ariza, the rights to Isaiah Stewart (16th pick in 2020 NBA Draft), a future Houston second round pick, and cash considerations to the Pistons in exchange for Wood, a future Detroit first round pick, and a future L.A. Lakers second round pick.

Ariza, the rights to Stewart, and a future Portland first round pick were acquired from the Blazers in exchange for forward Robert Covington on Nov. 22, 2020.

Wood (6-10, 223) was eligible for the 2015 NBA Draft following his sophomore season at UNLV. The 25-year-old finished eighth in voting for the Most Improved Player award in 2019-20 while averaging 13.1 points and 6.3 rebounds in 62 games for Detroit.

Over his final 22 games played last season, Wood averaged 19.7 ppg and 8.1 rpg while shooting 56.0% from the floor, 40.3% from 3-point range, and 77.4% from the foul line. For the season, he joined Enes Kanter (2016-17) as the only players in league history to have averaged at least 13.0 ppg and 6.0 rpg in fewer than 22.0 mpg in a single season.

Wood spent most of 2018-19 assigned to the Bucks G League affiliate, the Wisconsin Herd and ranked second in the league in scoring with 29.3 ppg and third in rebounding with 14.0 rpg. In 123 career G League games, Woods averaged 22.6 ppg, 10.9 rpg, and 1.8 bpg.

Knicks staff hirings announced, including Darren Erman as assistant coach

The New York Knicks announced today the following staff hirings: Darren Erman, assistant coach; Aaron Brooks, two-way liaison; Larry Greer, advance scout/assistant coach; Richard Williams, strength and conditioning coach; Reggie Johnson and TJ Zanin, scouts; and Ike Azotam, Christopher Santo and Gabriel Snider, assistant video coordinators.

Erman joins the Knicks as an assistant coach having served as Head Coach of the Maine Red Claws, the NBA G-League team affiliate of the Boston Celtics since 2019. The Red Claws finished third in the Eastern Conference with a 28-14 record, an increase of 19 wins from the previous season. He previously served as an assistant coach for the New Orleans Pelicans (2015-18), Boston Celtics (2007-10, 2014-15) and Golden State Warriors (2010-14). During his time as an NBA assistant, he helped guide the Pelicans in 2017-18 to a 48-34 record, which was the franchise’s most wins since the 2008-09 season. This resulted in a trip to the Conference Semifinals. During his first stint in Boston, he worked alongside fellow assistant coach Tom Thibodeau and helped guide the Celtics to the 2008 NBA Championship, their first championship since 1986. In Golden State, he helped snap the Warriors five-year playoff drought, achieving their first 50-win season since 1993-94. Prior to coaching Maine, he also served as the Celtics Director of Scouting for the 2014-15 season. He began his coaching career at St. Anthony High School as an assistant coach (2003-05) and then at NCAA Division III Brandeis University as an assistant coach (2005-07). Erman attended Emory University where he was a student coach, graduating in 1997.

Brooks joins the Knicks after recently playing in Australia with the Illawarra Hawks in 2019. He played 10 seasons in the NBA, averaging 9.7 points and three assists over 20.8 minutes in 645 games (183 starts) for Houston, Phoenix, Sacramento, Denver, Chicago, Indiana and Minnesota. He played for Tom Thibodeau in Chicago during the 2014-15 season and in Minnesota during the 2017-18 season. Originally selected 26th overall by Houston in the 2007 NBA Draft, he was named the NBA’s Most Improved Player in 2009-10 after averaging a career best 19.6 points, 5.3 assists and 2.6 rebounds over 35.6 minutes in 82 games (all starts). He played collegiately at the University of Oregon for four seasons.

Greer joins the Knicks with over three decades of coaching and scouting experience. He most recently spent one year with the Phoenix Suns as an assistant coach (2019-20). Prior to Phoenix, he spent two years with the Minnesota Timberwolves working under Tom Thibodeau, first as an advance scout (2017-18) and then as an assistant coach (2018-19). Previously, he worked for the Houston Rockets as an advance scout (2005-07) and for the Portland Trail Blazers as an advance scout (2007-10) and assistant coach (2010-12). In between stints with the Suns and the Timberwolves, Greer was an assistant coach at Arizona State University (2012-15) where he helped lead the Sun Devils to consecutive 20-plus win seasons as well as a 2014 NCAA tournament appearance. He started his coaching career as an assistant coach for Brandeis University (1989-1992) before coaching at Boston University (1994-95, 2002-03) and Wright State (2003-05).

Williams joins the Knicks from the Houston Rockets where he spent three seasons as the teams’ Sports Performance Enhancement Specialist (2017-2020). Prior to Houston, Williams spent 13 years with the Los Angeles Clippers (2004-2017) as Head Strength and Conditioning Coach. He started his career with the Denver Nuggets in 2002 as an Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach after graduating from Western State College of Colorado with a degree in Kinesiology/Health Promotion and Wellness.

Johnson joins the Knicks after 25 years with the Dallas Mavericks where he started as a merchandising coordinator before moving into the role of video coordinator from 1997-2004. For the last 16 years, Johnson has worked with the Mavericks as an advance scout. He graduated from Southwest Baptist University in 1992, where he played football and was a two-time member of the All-MIAA conference team.

Zanin joins the Knicks after spending two seasons as the Director of College Scouting for the Charlotte Hornets. Previously, he served as a scout for the Charlotte Hornets (2015-17), Brooklyn Nets (2013-15), Los Angeles Clippers (2010-13) and Philadelphia 76ers (2005-2010). Zanin began his NBA career with the Memphis Grizzlies, spending three seasons with the team as a video coordinator (2001-05). From 2009-15, Zanin helped guide Team USA to three gold medals during his tenure as scout for USA Basketball. Prior to his time with Team USA, he was a scout for the Chinese National Basketball Team for two years (2006-08), during which China finished within the top eight at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, the best in the country’s history. He graduated from West Chester University in 1998 with a degree in business management.

NBA All-Star weekend in Indianapolis, Indiana rescheduled from 2021 to 2024

The NBA and the Indiana Pacers announced today that NBA All-Star in Indianapolis, which was originally scheduled for Feb. 12-14, 2021, will now be held Feb. 16-18, 2024. Public health conditions prevented the Pacers, the NBA All-Star Host Committee and the NBA from appropriately planning and executing fan-focused All-Star activities in Indianapolis that were envisioned for this February.

The 2024 NBA All-Star Game will take place at Bankers Life Fieldhouse, home of the Pacers, on Sunday, Feb. 18, 2024. Plans for a revised NBA All-Star 2021 will be announced at a later date.

“While we are disappointed that the NBA All-Star Game will not take place in Indianapolis in 2021, we are looking forward to the Pacers and the city hosting the game and surrounding events in 2024,” said NBA Commissioner Adam Silver. “I want to thank Herb Simon, Steve Simon, Rick Fuson and the entire Pacers organization as well as the NBA All-Star 2021 Host Committee and the community of Indianapolis for working with us to reschedule our All-Star activities.”

“We are excited about the opportunity to bring Indiana the very best All-Star experience in 2024,” said Pacers owner Herb Simon. “The efforts of so many Hoosiers to prepare for NBA All-Star 2021 put us ahead of the game for the hard work to come, and we are so grateful to the NBA for once again recognizing Indianapolis as a city that delivers world-class events.”

NBA All-Star 2024 in Indianapolis will follow Cleveland in 2022 and Salt Lake City in 2023 as All-Star host. The 2024 game will mark the second NBA All-Star in Indianapolis, which hosted the midseason classic in 1985.

Pelicans sign new center Steven Adams to contract extension

The New Orleans Pelicans and center Steven Adams have agreed to a multi-year contract extension.

Per multiple reports, it’s a two-year, $35 million extension through the 2022-23 season.

Adams, 7-0, 265, who was acquired by New Orleans in a four-team trade involving Denver, Milwaukee and Oklahoma City, has spent his entire seven-year career with the Thunder, appearing in 530 career regular season games, holding averages of 9.8 points on .589 shooting from the field, 7.6 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 0.9 steals and 1.0 blocks. The New Zealand native appeared in 63 games in 2019-20, averaging 10.9 points on .592 shooting from the floor, 9.3 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.1 blocks. Selected 12th overall out of the University of Pittsburgh in the 2013 NBA Draft, Adams ranks fifth all-time in OKC/Seattle franchise history in blocks (531) and first in field goal percentage.