Category: NBA News Blog

NBA news blog

In Nuggets news, team names Calvin Booth as General Manager

The Denver Nuggets have named Calvin Booth the team’s new General Manager, President of Basketball Operations Tim Connelly announced today.

“Calvin is one of the brightest basketball minds in our league,” said Connelly. “We are very fortunate to have him as part of our organization and are extremely excited for his new role.”

Booth, 44, is in his third season with the Nuggets after being hired as Assistant General Manager in the summer of 2017. Since arriving in Denver, Booth has played an integral part in the scouting and drafting of Monte Morris, Michael Porter Jr., Bol Bol and Vlatko Cancar. The Nuggets saw improved records in each of Booth’s first two seasons, including a trip to the Western Conference Semi-Finals last season.

Prior to arriving in Denver, Booth spent four seasons (2013 – 2017) in the Minnesota Timberwolves’ front office, initially as a scout before rising through the ranks to Director of Player Personnel. Booth also served as a scout for the New Orleans Pelicans during the 2012-13 season before transitioning to Minnesota.

Before beginning his front office career, Booth played for seven different teams over a 10-year career in the NBA. He appeared in 366 games (83 starts), averaging 3.3 points, 2.8 rebounds and 1.00 blocks per game. The Reynoldsburg, OH native was drafted by the Washington Wizards in the second round (35th overall) of the 1999 NBA Draft after playing four years at Penn State University where he was named Big 10 Defensive Player of the Year in 1998.

Wizards guard Bradley Beal will miss NBA restart at Disney in Orlando

Washington Wizards guard Bradley Beal will not participate in the NBA’s 2019-20 season restart in Orlando due to a right rotator cuff injury.

The decision was made in full consultation with Wizards Chief of Athlete Care & Performance Daniel Medina, Wizards Orthopedist Dr. Wiemi Douoguih, Beal and his representation.

“Bradley did everything possible to be ready to play, but after closely monitoring his individual workouts we came to the conclusion that it was best for him to sit out the upcoming games in Orlando and avoid the risk of further injury,” said Wizards General Manager Tommy Sheppard. “Although he was able to play through the majority of the season with the injury, the layoff from March until now did not leave any of us feeling comfortable that he would have enough time to be ready to perform at the extremely high level we are all accustomed to seeing and agreed that not participating in the games in Orlando was the right decision.”

Per the Washington Post: “General Manager Tommy Sheppard said in an online news conference Tuesday that he does not think surgery is an option for Beal. Sheppard believes the guard initially injured himself during a game in Phoenix in November but was adamant that the injury won’t be a long-term problem. Sheppard was confident that on a normal offseason timeline Beal would have been ready to play, but having to be game-ready after such a long hiatus amid the novel coronavirus pandemic and then a short period of preparation posed issues.”

Beal experienced discomfort with his shoulder early in the season and worked with the team’s medical and performance staff to manage the injury. The symptoms worsened over the course of the hiatus and he began to rehabilitate the injury with the intent of returning to play. He will not travel with the team to Orlando and will continue his rehabilitation process over the summer.

“This was a difficult decision and one that I did not take lightly as the leader of this team,” said Beal. “I wanted to help my teammates compete for a playoff spot in Orlando, but also understand that this will be best for all of us in the long term. I appreciate the support of my teammates, the fans and the entire organization and look forward to returning next season to continue the progress we have made.”

At the postponement of the season on March 12, Beal was averaging 30.5 points per game (to go along with a career-high 6.1 assists), trailing only James Harden’s 36.7 points per game. He also led the NBA in points per game since January 1 at 33.6. Beal tallied back-to-back 50-point nights on February 23 (53 at Chicago) and 24 (55 vs. Milwaukee), becoming just the sixth player in NBA history with back-to-back 50-point nights and the first since Kobe Bryant in 2007. Beal has recorded 50 20-plus-point games, 31 30-plus-point games, 10 40-plus-point games and two 50-plus-point games, placing him in the top three in the league in each category.

With his current averages of 30.5 points, 4.2 rebounds and 6.1 assists per game on 45.5% shooting from the field, Beal joins Stephen Curry, Dwyane Wade, LeBron James and Michael Jordan as the only players to post averages of at least 30.0 points, 6.0 rebounds and 4.0 assists per game on 45.0% or better shooting in a single season since 1975. Beal scored 25-or-more points in 21-straight games from January 20 – March 6, the longest streak in franchise history and the second-longest NBA streak in the last 10 seasons. During the streak, Beal passed Jeff Malone for second place on the franchise’s all-time scoring list.

Rockets sign veteran forward Luc Mbah a Moute

The Houston Rockets signed free agent forward Luc Mbah a Moute today.

Mbah a Moute (6-foot-8, 230 pounds) was originally the 37th overall pick by Milwaukee in the 2008 NBA Draft. He hasn’t played much in recent seasons: no games so far in 2019-20, and in the 2018-19 season he played four games for the Los Angeles Clippers.

His overall NBA career average is 6.4 points and 4.1 rebounds in 686 career games with 453 starts.

Mbah a Moute won’t score much, but should provide solid defense off the Houston bench.

Per the Houston Chronicle: “He hasn’t played in two years,” Rockets coach Mike D’Antoni said of Mbah a Moute’s potential to crack the Rockets’ rotation. “I don’t know. I have no clue. That’s why the three weeks (of workouts) and the eight games will be highly important to get the rotation down. Whether it’s eight, nine or 10 guys, that’ll be determined. Hopefully we can make a good choice there.”

The Cameroonian native appeared in 61 games with 15 starts for Houston in 2017-18. The Rockets were 17-1 when he scored in double-figures. Since the start of 2016-17, Mbah a Moute has shot 49.3% from the floor and 37.4% from 3-point range.

Rodrigue Beaubois signs in Turkey with Anadolu Efes Istanbul

Here’s Euroleaguebasketball.net with an update on former NBA guard Rodrigue Beaubois, who is 6-foot-1, 170 pounds and played in the NBA from 2009-13, averaging 7.1 points per game for the Dallas Mavericks:

Anadolu Efes Istanbul moved towards keeping its team together by bringing back guard Rodrigue Beaubois, who signed on a two-year deal with the club on Monday. Beaubois (1.90 meters, 32 years old) has played the last two seasons with Efes, helping the club reach the 2019 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Championship Game. Last season he averaged 9.5 points, 1.6 rebounds and 1.7 assists in 26 games in 2019-20. He joined Efes in 2018 after two years with KIROLBET Baskonia Vitoria Gasteiz.

Pelicans sign Sindarius Thornwell as Substitute Player for NBA restart

The New Orleans Pelicans have signed free agent guard Sindarius Thornwell as a substitute player for the remainder of the 2019-20 season.

Thornwell, 6-4, 215, most recently played for the Rio Grande Valley Vipers of the NBA G League, appearing in 40 games (26 starts) while averaging 9.2 points, 5.3 rebounds, 4.6 assists and 1.4 steals in 29.0 minutes per contest. Selected 48th overall out of the University of South Carolina by the Milwaukee Bucks in the 2017 NBA Draft, Thornwell has appeared in 137 career regular season games with the Los Angeles Clippers, holding averages of 2.5 points and 1.3 rebounds in 10.7 minutes.

Per the New Orleans Times-Picayune, “Pelicans forward Darius Miller will not travel with the team to Orlando as he recovers from a torn Achilles suffered before the season. Teams are allowed to bring a max total of 17 players.”

Thornwell will wear #12 for the Pelicans.

Wizards sign Jerian Grant, who played for Capital City Go-Go this season

The Washington Wizards have signed guard Jerian Grant.

Grant, a 6-4, 204-pound guard, appeared in 39 games (37 starts) with the Wizards’ NBA G League affiliate, the Capital City Go-Go, this season, averaging 16.3 points, 4.3 rebounds and 5.9 assists per game. At the conclusion of the NBA G League season in March, Grant was shooting .469 from the field and .435 from three-point range, the fifth-best percentage in the league. Grant topped 20-plus points 12 times on the season and tallied five double-doubles (three point-assist and two point-rebound).

According to the Washington Post, Grant is a replacement player for “forward Davis Bertans, their best three-point shooter, who is opting to stay home when the NBA season resumes July 30 in Florida.”

Also from the Post: “As a replacement for Bertans, the point guard will make the league’s prorated minimum salary, and he will be a free agent when the season ends. His contract will not count against Washington’s salary cap.”

A native of Silver Spring, MD, and a DeMatha product, Grant has appeared in 273 games with 61 starts in his four-year NBA career with the New York Knicks, Chicago Bulls and Orlando Magic. In 60 games with the Magic in 2018-19, Grant averaged 4.2 points and 2.6 assists per game and holds career averages of 6.1 points and 2.9 assists per game.

Grant, the son of former Washington Bullet Harvey Grant, played four seasons at Notre Dame, where he was twice named to all-conference teams and was a Consensus All-American in the 2014-15 season. He was originally selected by the Wizards with the 19th overall pick in the 2015 NBA Draft, but was traded on draft night to the Atlanta Hawks and then again to the New York Knicks.

Mavericks sign Trey Burke as Substitute Player for NBA restart at Disney World

The Dallas Mavericks have signed guard Trey Burke as a substitute player for the remainder of the 2019-20 season.

Burke (6-0, 185) returns for his second stint with Dallas after appearing in for 25 games (one start) for the club last season. After being acquired by the franchise in the seven-player trade that brought Kristaps Porzingis, Tim Hardaway Jr. and Courtney Lee to Dallas on Jan. 31, 2019, Burke averaged 9.7 points and 2.6 assists in 17.4 minutes for the Mavericks over the second half of the 2018-19 campaign.

Per the Dallas Morning News, “mandatory team workouts are scheduled to begin on July 1. The 22 teams are scheduled to arrive in the Orlando “bubble” at staggered times between July 7-9, then hold one-week training camps and prepare for the July 30 resumption of the season, with each team playing eight regular-season games.”

The seven-year veteran holds career averages of 10.5 points, 2.0 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 22.9 minutes in 386 games (128 starts) with Utah, Washington, New York, Dallas and Philadelphia. After signing with the 76ers last summer, Burke appeared in 25 games for Philadelphia this season and averaged 5.9 points, 2.1 assists and 13.2 minutes before being waived on Feb. 6.

Burke was an early entry candidate for the 2013 NBA Draft after his sophomore season at Michigan. He was selected ninth overall by Minnesota before having his draft rights traded to Utah for the 14th and 21st picks. As a first-year player, he averaged 12.8 points, 3.0 rebounds, 5.7 assists and 32.3 minutes in 70 games (68 starts) for the Jazz en route to earning All-Rookie First Team honors.

The Columbus, Ohio, native, was named the National College Player of the Year, a Consensus First Team All-American and the Bob Cousy Award winner as a sophomore while helping the Wolverines reach the national championship game in 2013.

Burke played both of his collegiate seasons alongside Hardaway Jr. at Michigan. Hardaway Jr. (24th overall pick) and Burke went on to become the first pair of Wolverines taken in the first round of a draft since Juwan Howard (fifth) and Jalen Rose (13th) in 1994.

The 27-year-old will wear No. 32.

Trail Blazers sign Jaylen Adams as a Substitute Player for NBA season restart

The Portland Trail Blazers have signed guard Jaylen Adams as a Substitute Player for the remainder of the 2019-20 season.

He’s reportedly a sub for veteran Blazers small forward Trevor Ariza, who has decided not to rejoin the team as they head to Florida to restart the NBA season at Disney World.

Per the Oregonian, the Blazers “will open the restart with a key game against the eighth-place Memphis Grizzlies on July 31, the first of eight “seeding games” that the Blazers will play in Orlando. The Blazers, who currently sit 3.5 games behind the Grizzlies in the standings, are a combined 3-12 against the teams they will face in Orlando.”

Adams, 24, played for the Wisconsin Herd of the NBA G League during the 2019-20 season, posting averages of 21.5 points (48.6% FG, 40.7% 3-PT, 78.8% FT), 5.1 rebounds, 5.7 assists and 1.82 steals in 33 games (32 starts). He finished second in voting for the 2019-20 NBA G League Most Valuable Player Award.

After going undrafted out of St. Bonaventure in 2018, Adams (6-0, 225) signed a two-way contract with the Atlanta Hawks. He appeared in 34 games (one start) for the Hawks during the 2018-19 season, averaging 3.2 points (34.5% FG, 33.8% 3-PT, 77.8% FT), 1.8 rebounds and 1.9 assists.

He will wear No. 10 for the Trail Blazers.

Lakers sign J.R. Smith as Substitute Player for NBA season restart

Once again, shooting guard J.R. Smith is back by LeBron James’ side.

The Los Angeles Lakers signed Smith today, as a Substitute Player for the NBA season restart, which is taking place in July at Disney World in Florida.

Per the Los Angeles Times, “although Smith is designated as a replacement for [Avery] Bradley, the Lakers’ rotation at the position is likely to begin with Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Alex Caruso.”

In 971 NBA career games (395 starts) for New Orleans, Denver, New York and Cleveland, Smith, who will turn 35 years old in September, was the 2013 NBA Sixth Man of the Year. His career average is 12.5 points, 3.2 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.0 steal in 27.0 minutes per game, and 37.3 percent shooting from three-point range. He most recently appeared in 11 games (four starts) for the Cavaliers during the 2018-19 season, notching 6.7 points, 1.6 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.0 steal in 20.2 minutes per game.

Trail Blazers broadcaster Kevin Calabro is stepping down

Portland Trail Blazers Television Play-By-Play announcer Kevin Calabro is stepping down after four years with the Trail Blazers to focus on his family.

“This was a very difficult decision to make and I want to thank the Allen family and Chris McGowan for their support and understanding,” said Calabro. “I’ll always be grateful to the Rip City fans for welcoming me into the family.”

Recognized as one of the top play-by-play announcers in the country, Calabro joined the Trail Blazers in the 2016-17 season alongside the broadcast team of Analyst Lamar Hurd and Courtside Reporter Brooke Olzendam. Together with Director of Broadcasting Jeff Curtin, Television Producer Dan Hyatt and a talented broadcast crew, the Trail Blazers broadcast team won Northwest Regional EMMYs for Best Sports Broadcast in 2019 and Best Sports Play-By-Play in 2018.

“Kevin brought years of experience and professionalism to the Trail Blazers broadcast team with a one-of-a-kind voice that is unmistakable,” said Chris McGowan, President and CEO of the Trail Blazers and Rose Quarter. “We appreciate Kevin sharing his energy and talents with Rip City and wish him the best in his next chapter.”

Trail Blazers Television Studio Host Jordan Kent will be filling the role of play-by-play broadcaster for the remainder of the 2019-20 season set to tip off on July 31 in Orlando.

Calabro was named Oregon’s top sports broadcaster in 2018 to go with multiple such honors in the state of Washington during his 21-year tenure as the voice of the Seattle SuperSonics. During his career in the NBA he has broadcast for TNT, NBA TV, ESPN Television and for three years served as the radio voice for the NBA for ESPN radio working with Hall of Famers Dr. Jack Ramsay and Hubie Brown.

Calabro began his affiliation with the NBA in 1979 as a radio pregame host and part time public announcer for his hometown Indiana Pacers. He got his first shot as a play-by-play man doing hockey for the Indianapolis Checkers. His first NBA stint was with the Kansas City Kings at the age of 25.