Category: NBA News Blog

NBA news blog

Lakers waive Quinn Cook

The Los Angeles Lakers today waived guard Quinn Cook.

Cook reportedly had a $3 million salary with the Lakers last season, and reportedly would have made that around that same amount had the team kept him next season.

Cook appeared in 44 games (one start) for the Lakers last season, averaging 5.1 points (.425 FG%), 1.2 rebounds and 1.1 assists in 11.5 minutes per game. He notched 2.2 points per game in six playoff appearances for Los Angeles. Cook has played in 165 regular season games (29 starts) for the Mavericks, Pelicans, Warriors and Lakers, with career averages of 6.8 points (.463 FG%), 1.8 rebounds and 1.7 assists in 15.1 minutes.

Pistons select Killian Hayes at No. 7 overall in 2020 NBA Draft

The Detroit Pistons selected Killian Hayes with the seventh overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft.

Hayes, 6-5, 216, averaged 11.6 points, 3.2 rebounds, 5.3 assists and 1.4 steals in 25.1 minutes through 20 games while playing for ratiopharm Ulm in Germany’s top league (BBL) a season ago. Hayes shot .497 from the floor and .852 from the free-throw line as he led all players under age 22 in scoring and assists in both the EuroCup league and German BBL this past season.

Prior to playing in Germany, the 19-year-old competed professionally in France for Cholet’s senior team from 2017-19. Hayes posted clips of 6.1 points and 2.7 assists on .435 shooting while suiting up in 43 games for the club. He also won a gold medal with France and was named MVP of the 2017 FIBA Under-16 European Championship (16.6 ppg, 7.0 rpg, 5.1 apg).

Hayes was born in Lakeland, Fla., before moving to France. His father, DeRon, played collegiately at Penn State and had a lengthy basketball career overseas, mostly in France.

The seventh overall selection marked the Pistons highest pick in the draft since 2010 and tied the franchise’s fourth-highest pick in any draft since 1981.

Cavs select Isaac Okoro with No. 5 pick in 2020 NBA draft

The Cleveland Cavaliers have selected guard/forward Isaac Okoro (oh-CORE-oh) from Auburn University with the fifth overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft.

In his lone collegiate season at Auburn in 2019-20, Okoro (6-6, 225) played in 28 games (all starts), averaging 12.8 points on .514 shooting, 4.4 rebounds and 2.0 assists in 31.5 minutes per game. He was named to the 2019-20 All-SEC Second Team, All-Freshman Team and All-Defensive Team, becoming just the sixth player in SEC history to be named to an All-Conference Team, All-Defensive Team and All-Freshman Team in the same season, joining Kentucky’s Anthony Davis (2011-12), Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (2011-12) and Nerlens Noel (2012-13), LSU’s Jordan Mickey (2013-14) and Texas A&M’s Robert Williams (2016-17). Okoro is Auburn’s highest draft pick since Chris Morris was selected with the fourth overall pick in the 1988 NBA Draft.

Okoro finished the 2019-20 season ranked 10th among all NCAA Division I freshmen in field goal percentage (.514) and was named to the Auburn Athletic Director’s Honor Roll after maintaining at least a 3.5 GPA in the fall. He became just the fourth Auburn player to ever earn SEC Freshman of the Week twice in a season (Nov. 18 and Dec. 9) and was the second Auburn freshman since 1990 to score in double figures in each of his first six NCAA games. Okoro won a gold medal with USA Basketball at the 2018 FIBA Under-17 Basketball World Cup. He attended McEachern High School in Powder Springs, Georgia, where he averaged 19.7 points, 10.6 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 2.7 steals as a senior in 2018-19 and led the team to a state championship.

Bulls select Patrick Williams with No. 4 pick in 2020 NBA draft

With the 4th overall pick in the 2020 NBA draft, the Chicago Bulls selected Florida State forward Patrick Williams.

Here’s Bulls.com on the move:

Edwards, who doesn’t turn 20 until next August as the second youngest player in this draft, is a physically imposing 6-8, 225 pound forward with a defensive mentality.

One of the concerns about the Bulls in recent seasons was the lack of physical, dominating play.

Williams would presumably address that with an aggressive game, a long seven-foot wing span and in perhaps a tribute to the late Jerry Krause a wide frame and broad shoulders that suggest ample room to grow. Krause, the longtime Bulls general manager, was known for spotting the extreme physical characteristics, which led the Bulls to Scottie Pippen.

Though Williams comes with warnings signs, in part, because of his youth and inexperience.

He’s primarily, at least for now, a scorer with a spot up mid range game and cutting to the basket scoring. He didn’t attempt many threes and shot just over 30 percent. But making more than 80 percent of his free throws suggests he will be a capable shooter.

Williams will have plenty of opportunity to earn minutes quite immediately on a Bulls squad with plenty of holes to fill.

Knicks waive Elfrid Payton, Taj Gibson, Wayne Ellington and Kenny Wooten

The New York Knicks announced today that the team has waived guards Wayne Ellington and Elfrid Payton, forward Kenny Wooten and center Taj Gibson. The Knicks have also declined to exercise the team options on Theo Pinson and Bobby Portis.

Ellington, 6-5, 207-pounds, originally signed with the Knicks as a free agent on Jul. 8, 2019. The Wynnewood, PA-native appeared in 36 games (one start) for the Knicks, averaging 5.1 points and 1.8 rebounds over 15.5 minutes.

Gibson, 6-10, 232-pounds, originally signed with the Knicks as a free agent on Jul. 8, 2019. The Brooklyn, NY-native averaged 6.1 points and 4.3 rebounds over 16.5 minutes in 62 games (56 starts).

Payton, 6-4, 185-pounds, originally signed with the Knicks as a free agent on Jul. 8, 2019. Last season the Gretna, LA-native recorded 10.0 points, 7.2 assists, 4.7 rebounds and 1.56 steals over 27.7 minutes in 45 games (36 starts).

Pinson, 6-5, 212-pounds, spent last season with the Brooklyn Nets averaging 3.6 points, 1.7 assists and 1.6 rebounds over 11.1 minutes in 33 games. Pinson was claimed off waivers by the Knicks on June 26, 2020.

Portis, 6-11, 255-pounds, originally signed with the Knicks as a free agent on Jul. 8, 2020. The Little Rock, AR-native posted 10.1 points, 5.1 rebounds and 1.5 assists over 21.1 minutes in 66 games (five starts).

Wooten, 6-8, 235-pounds, originally signed an Exhibit 10 contract with the Knicks on Sep. 9, 2019 after going undrafted in the 2019 NBA Draft. His contract was converted to a two-way contract on Jan. 14, 2020. The Stockton, CA-native averaged 7.6 points, 6.1 rebounds and 3.56 blocks over 27 games (19 starts) for the Westchester Knicks last season.

Hornets pick LaMelo Ball third overall in 2020 NBA draft

The Charlotte Hornets tonight selected guard LaMelo Ball with the third overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft.

The 6-7 Ball played for the Illawara Hawks of Australia’s National Basketball League during the 2019-20 season, earning NBL Rookie of the Year honors. In 12 games played, he averaged 17.0 points, 7.5 rebounds, 7.0 assists and 1.7 steals per game, ranking second in the league in assists and steals, eighth in rebounding and 17th in scoring. Ball became the youngest player in league history to record a triple-double when he tallied 32 points, 11 rebounds and 13 assists against the Cairns Taipans. He then became the fourth player in NBL history and first since 2005 to record back-to-back triple-doubles when he tallied 25 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists vs. the New Zealand Breakers.

A native of Anaheim, California, Ball averaged 39.6 points, 14.6 rebounds and 11.5 assists in the Junior Basketball Association in 2018, winning a championship and earning All-Star honors in the league created by his father Lavar. In 2017-18, he left Chino Hills High School before the start of his junior season and played in eight games for Vytautas Prienai in Lithuania’s LKL, averaging 6.5 points and 2.4 assists.

As a freshman at Chino Hills High School in 2015-16, Ball won a state championship along with his brothers, Lonzo, currently with the New Orleans Pelicans, and LiAngelo. He was MaxPreps’ 2015-16 Co-National Freshman of the Year, sharing the honor with his teammate and fellow 2020 NBA Draft prospect Onyeka Okongwu. As a sophomore in 2016-17, he scored 92 points in a game, posting the second highest single-game total in California high school history.

Ball and his eldest brother Lonzo, who was the No. 2 overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft, become the first set of brothers to both be selected in the top three of the NBA Draft.

Warriors select James Wiseman second overall in 2020 NBA draft

The Golden State Warriors have selected center James Wiseman with the second overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft.

Wiseman, 19, averaged 19.7 points on 76.9% from the field (20-of-26 FG), 10.7 rebounds, 3.00 blocks and 23.0 minutes in three games (all starts) during his lone season at the University of Memphis. The 7-1 center was on the 2019-20 preseason watch lists for the Wooden Award, Naismith Trophy, Lute Olson Award, NABC Player of the Year and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award. Additionally, he was one of five players on the 2019-20 Associated Press Preseason All-America Team. As a senior at Memphis East High School, Wiseman was named the 2018-19 Gatorade National Player of the Year and Morgan Wootten Player of the Year and was ranked as the nation’s top recruit in 2019 by ESPN. Wiseman won a gold medal with USA Basketball at the 2017 FIBA U16 Americas Championship.

Wiseman joins Rick Barry (1965) as the only #2 overall draft picks in Warriors franchise history and represents the highest Warriors draft pick since Joe Smith was selected first overall in 1995. He is the team’s first Lottery pick since Harrison Barnes in 2012 (seventh overall) and first top five selection since Mike Dunleavy Jr. in 2002 (third overall).

Timberwolves select Anthony Edwards first overall in 2020 NBA draft

The Minnesota Timberwolves tonight selected guard Anthony Edwards from the University of Georgia with the first overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft.

“We look forward to welcoming Anthony to the Timberwolves family as this year’s number one draft selection,” said President of Basketball Operations Gersson Rosas. “We are excited to add this young talent to our roster and continue his development to make him the best player he can be as he joins All-Star center Karl-Anthony Towns and All-Star guard D’Angelo Russell here in Minneapolis.”

Edwards, 6-5, averaged 19.1 points and 5.2 rebounds in 33.0 minutes per game as a freshman last season. He tallied 610 points for the 2019-20 season, a total that ranks seventh on Georgia’s single-season scoring list (second among freshmen) and 10th all-time among SEC freshmen. The Atlanta native closed out the 19-20 season as the nation’s freshman scoring leader (19.1), standing as one of only three freshmen ranked in the top 100.

The 19-year-old shot 40.2 percent from the field (203-of-505) in his one season as a Bulldog. He ranked in the top 20 in six Georgia single-season statistical categories, including second in 3-point attempts (245), fifth in field goal attempts (505), 11th in 3-pointers (72), 17th in free throws (132) and 19th in both scoring average (19.1 ppg) and free throw attempts (171). During his freshman campaign, Edwards notched 27 double-figure scoring outings, 14 20-point performances, three 30-point contests and three double-doubles. A highlight from his freshman campaign includes scoring 37 points against Michigan State on Nov. 26, the most by a Georgia freshman since 1975.

Edwards was voted SEC Freshman of the Year by league coaches, becoming the first Bulldog to garner the honor since its inception in 2001. Among other acknowledgements, he was named SEC Newcomer of the Year by the Associated Press, becoming the third Georgia honoree in team history. Edwards collected a school-record four SEC Freshman of the Week selections, on Dec. 2 (after Maui Jim Maui Invitational), Feb. 3 (vs. Missouri and Texas A&M), Feb. 24 (after victories over No. 13/12 Auburn and at Vanderbilt) and March 2 (after averaging 31.0 ppg in contests against South Carolina and Arkansas). For his first SEC Freshman of the Week selection on Dec 2, Edwards became the first UGA freshman since Jumaine Jones in 1998 to record consecutive double-doubles.

Born August 5, 2001, Edwards played at Therrell High School before transferring to Holy Spirit Prep in 2017. As a senior he posted averages of 25.7 ppg, 9.6 rpg, 2.7 apg, 2.1 spg and 1.1 bpg for the Cougars, leading the charge to a runner-up finish in the GISA Class 3A state tournament. During his junior year, Edwards led Holy Spirit to a 24-5 record and the GISA 3A state title after averaging 22.5 ppg, 6.0 rpg, 4.1 apg, 2.4 spg and 1.4 bpg per game.

Knicks and Jazz trade draft picks, Ante Tomic

The New York Knicks have acquired the 23rd overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft as well as the draft rights to Ante Tomić from the Utah Jazz in exchange for the 27th and 38th overall selections in the 2020 NBA Draft.

Tomić (7-2, 265-pound center), was originally selected by Utah in the second round (44th overall) of the 2008 NBA Draft. He has played his entire professional career overseas, most recently signing with Jovenut (Spain) after playing for FC Barcelona (2012-2020), Real Madrid (2010-12) and Zagreb (2004-10). The 33-year-old, Croatia-native, has won four Spanish Cups (2012, 2013, 2018, 2019) and one Liga ACB title (2014). He was named the Adriatic League MVP in 2009 and is a four-time All-ACB selection and two-time All-Euro League first team selection.

Wizards announce additions to their athlete care and performance group

The Washington Wizards announced today three new additions to their athlete care and performance group, with Director of Player Health Dr. Michael Ashton, Director of Physical and Performance Therapy Dr. Michael Davis and Director of Athletic Performance Adam Petway joining the team under Monumental Basketball Chief of Athlete Care & Performance Dr. Daniel Medina.

“Dr. Ashton, Dr. Davis and Adam all have tremendous experience in their respective positions across various sports entities and add expertise across many different disciplines,” said Medina. “They will combine with our existing staff to maximize health and performance for the Wizards and assist with providing the best care possible for all of the athletes in the Monumental Basketball family.”

Ashton, Davis and Petway join Medina and Vice President of Player Performance Mark Simpson, Wizards Director of Player Rehabilitation and Therapy Jesse Phillips, Wizards/Go-Go Assistant Athletic Trainer Carlos Bustamante, Mystics Athletic Trainer Chalisa Fonza, Mystics Strength Coach Sarah Walls and Nutritionist Sue Saunders in the athlete care and performance group. The staff will continue to work in conjunction with MedStar Health and assist one another across the Monumental Basketball platform.

Ashton, a dual-credentialed clinician, will play a leading and pivotal role in the provision of medical care, integrative rehabilitation services and injury reduction strategies. In addition, he will perform the functions of a head athletic trainer and will provide technical leadership to the Monumental Basketball athletic trainers. After 10 years working as a physical therapist in orthopedic and sports settings, Ashton joined the Oklahoma City Thunder organization as a physical therapist and athletic trainer, serving in a dual role for the G League’s Oklahoma City Blue before transitioning to the Thunder full time in 2018.

Michael Davis will add his experience in the prevention, clinical management, and return to play strategies for the Wizards, while also providing technical leadership for all Monumental Basketball teams. He brings over 17 years of experience working as a physical therapist in neurological, orthopedic, circulatory, and sports settings, working with athletes from the NBA, NFL, NHL, MLS, and combat sports. Davis comes to the Wizards most recently from the Oklahoma City Thunder, where he worked for the past five seasons after joining the organization as a performance physical therapist in 2015.

Petway will be responsible for leading the delivery of evidence-based strength and conditioning programs for the Wizards and will work very closely with other members of the athlete care and performance group in the execution of player injury prevention and recovery programs. Petway comes to the organization from the Philadelphia 76ers, where he spent the last two seasons as the team’s lead biomechanist and strength coach. He began his career in the DMV area with strength and conditioning roles at The Catholic University of America, The George Washington University, and the University of Maryland before working as director of strength and conditioning for men’s basketball at the University of Arkansas.