Category: NBA News Blog

NBA news blog

Grizzlies sign Jarrod Uthoff, waive Dusty Hannahs

The Memphis Grizzlies signed forward Jarrod Uthoff to a 10-day contract, as a “Call-Up” from the NBA G League’s Memphis Hustle.

In addition, the Grizzlies waived guard Dusty Hannahs.

Uthoff (6-9, 221) has started all 34 of his games with the Hustle this season and has averaged 18.9 points, 10.7 rebounds, 1.38 steals and 1.15 blocks in 34.9 minutes while shooting 49.0 percent from the field, 36.3 percent from three-point range and 79.0 percent from the free throw line. The 26-year-old, who was named to the Western Conference Midseason All-NBA G League Team on Feb. 10, ranks third in the NBA G League in double-doubles (19) and sixth in rebounds per game.

The Cedar Rapids, Iowa native competed in nine games off the bench for the Dallas Mavericks during the 2016-17 season and averaged 4.4 points and 2.4 rebounds in 12.8 minutes. He also has played professionally in Russia and in the NBA G League for the Fort Wayne Mad Ants, Texas Legends and Raptors 905. He went undrafted in the 2016 NBA Draft after completing his collegiate career at the University of Iowa, where he was named to the All-Big Ten First Team as a senior.

Uthoff will wear jersey #19 for the Grizzlies.

Hannahs (6-4, 195) appeared in two games as a reserve for the Grizzlies and averaged 6.0 points in 6.5 minutes after signing a 10-day contract on Feb. 21. The 26-year-old Little Rock, Arkansas native has averaged a team-high 21.3 points in 33 games (20 starts) for the Hustle this season, helping guide the team to the top spot in the NBA G League Western Conference Standings.

Bulls center Luke Kornet suffers major injury in practice

Chicago Bulls center Luke Kornet suffered a recent injury in practice that has turned out to essentially be season-ending.

Kornet sustained a left foot and ankle injury during February 21 Bulls practice. Subsequent testing revealed that he has a severe ankle sprain and fracture of his fifth metatarsal.

He is estimated to be out 6-to-8 weeks. The final Bulls game of the regular season is around seven weeks from now.

In 15.5 minutes per game this season, Kornet is averaging 6.0 points.

The Bulls are 20-39 this season and have lost nine of their last 10 games.

Hawks center Dewayne Dedmon out with elbow injury

Atlanta Hawks center Dewayne Dedmon underwent a non-surgical procedure to address right elbow pain today.

He will miss the next three games (tomorrow vs. Brooklyn, Saturday vs. Portland, Monday vs. Memphis), will be re-evaluated on Monday.

In six games played for the Hawks this season, Dedmon is averaging 7.3 points and 7.3 rebounds in 22.8 minutes per game. Earlier this season, he played 34 games for the Kings, for whom he averaged 5.1 points and 4.9 rebounds in 15.9 minutes per game.

The Hawks are 17-43 this season.

Lakers sign Markieff Morris, waive DeMarcus Cousins

The Los Angeles Lakers signed forward Markieff Morris and waived center DeMarcus Cousins today.

In 623 career games (347 starts) for Phoenix, Washington, Oklahoma City and Detroit, Morris has averaged 11.6 points (.449 FG%), 5.4 rebounds and 1.7 assists in 25.7 minutes per game. He played in 44 games (16 starts) for the Pistons this season, notching 11.0 points, 3.9 rebounds and 1.6 assists in 22.5 minutes while shooting a career-best 39.7 percent from three-point range.

The Kansas University product owns 46 career double-doubles and has scored 20 or more points on 78 occasions. In 24 NBA Playoff games (19 starts) for the Wizards and Thunder, Morris has totaled 9.8 points, 5.9 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.0 block per game.

Grizzlies forward Jaren Jackson Jr. out with knee injury

The Memphis Grizzlies will be without starting forward Jaren Jackson Jr. for the near future.

In Friday’s game vs. the Los Angeles Lakers, Jackson Jr. sustained an injury while challenging a shot late in the second quarter, and did not return for the second half. Subsequent imaging revealed that the injury is a sprained left knee.

The Memphis Commercial Appeal adds:

It’s a blow to the Grizzlies, who remain 3.5 games ahead of the Portland Trail Blazers for the No. 8 seed in the West. Rookie Brandon Clarke started the second half on Friday and could start on Monday. Clarke started on Nov. 4 when Jackson missed a game because of injury.

Jackson Jr. will be re-evaluated in two weeks.

Ben Simmons dealing with back issue

Sixers point guard Ben Simmons has a back issue. It’s unclear whether it’s a minor injury that will quickly disappear, or something more. Here’s NBC Sports Philly reporting:

Ben Simmons, who missed the first game after the All-Star break Thursday with lower back soreness, left Saturday’s game not even five minutes in and did not return. Simmons will undergo further testing in Philadelphia Sunday, per NBC Sports Philadelphia’s Serena Winters…

The All-Star point guard appeared to reaggravate the injury on a drive against Brook Lopez. After a foul was called on Lopez, Simmons could be seen attempting to stretch his back out. After Simmons made 1 of 2 from the line, Matisse Thybulle fouled Khris Middleton to get a stoppage so Simmons could go back to the locker room.

Here’s hoping it’s a minor issue.

Kings hand Clippers another loss

Saturday afternoon in Los Angeles, the Kings came to town and beat the Clippers, 112-103. In the win, Sacramento got 20 or more points from starting guards De’Aaron Fox and Bogdan Bogdanovic as well as backup forward Kent Bazemore. The Clippers were still without starters Patrick Beverley and Paul George. Here’s the Sacramento Bee:

The Kings went nearly two years without beating the Los Angeles Clippers. Now they’ve done it twice in three weeks…

Bogdan Bogdanovic scored 20 points for the Kings (23-33), who have won eight of their last 12 games. De’Aaron Fox finished with 19 points and eight assists. Harry Giles III recorded his first career double-double, posting 14 points and 11 rebounds.

Kawhi Leonard had 31 points, eight rebounds and five assists for the Clippers (37-19). Lou Williams came off the bench to score 24 points.

The Kings made a franchise-record 21 3-point goals in a 124-103 victory over the Clippers on Jan. 30 in Los Angeles. The Kings snapped a 10-game losing streak against the Clippers with the win, beating them for the first time since March 26, 2017.

And the LA Times:

Kawhi Leonard led all scorers with 31 points and was even serenaded with “MVP” chants less than a week after the Clippers’ star was named the most valuable player of the NBA All-Star game. His dunk with 57 seconds remaining trimmed the Clippers’ deficit from eight to six, but Kings guard De’Aaron Fox answered with a layup of his own with 39 seconds remaining to effectively shutter the Clippers’ comeback and continue his torture of the Los Angeles defense.

The Clippers added a lot of depth recently, but a clear picture of the team as a whole won’t be visible until Pat and PG13 are back in action.

Pistons sign Donta Hall, from G League, to 10-day contract

The Detroit Pistons signed forward/center Donta Hall to a 10-day contract today.

Hall, 6-9, 229, appeared in 36 games (35 starts) this season with the Grand Rapids Drive, the NBA’s G League affiliate of the Pistons. He’s averaged 15.4 points (66% FG), 10.5 rebounds, 1.0 assists, 1.4 blocks and 1.0 steals in 28.6 minutes per game.

Collegiately, Hall played four seasons at the University of Alabama where he averaged 7.5 points, 6.3 rebounds and 1.7 blocks in 135 games and was named to the SEC All-Defensive as a junior.

The Luverne, AL native was a member of the Pistons 2019 Summer League team and was also in training camp with Detroit this season.

Grizzlies sign Dusty Hannahs to 10-day contract

The Memphis Grizzlies signed guard Dusty Hannahs to a 10-day contract today. This as a “Call-Up” from their NBA G Leagues affiliate team, the Memphis Hustle.

Hannahs (6-4, 195) has appeared in 33 games (20 starts) for the Hustle this season and has averaged a team-high 21.3 points, 2.1 rebounds and 2.2 assists in 30.4 minutes, guiding the team to the current top spot in the NBA G League Western Conference standings. Hannahs also has shot 47.5 percent from the field, 46.4 percent from three-point range and 91.4 percent from the free throw line (his third consecutive season to shoot at least 90 percent from the foul line) during his third season with the Hustle. In addition, he is tied for fourth in the NBA G League in three-pointers made (109).

The Hustle’s all-time leading scorer (1,848 points), Hannahs was selected to the Western Conference Midseason All-NBA G League Team on Feb. 10 and was named the NBA G League Player of the Week for games played from Nov. 25-Dec. 1. The second player in club history to receive a weekly honor, Hannahs averaged 30.0 points, 3.0 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 2.00 steals without any turnovers while shooting 60.6 percent from the field and 63.6 percent from three-point range in a pair of wins.

A native of Little Rock, Arkansas, Hannahs competed in two games as a reserve for the Grizzlies last season and totaled eight points, one rebound, five assists and one steal in 26 minutes. The 26-year-old went undrafted in the 2017 NBA Draft after finishing his collegiate career at the University of Arkansas.

Hannahs will wear jersey #5 for the Grizzlies.

Pistons waive Markieff Morris, as two sides reach buyout agreement

The Detroit Pistons and Markieff Morris have reached an agreement to buy out the veteran forward’s contract. The Pistons have requested waivers on Morris.

Morris signed as a free agent with the Pistons on July 6, 2019. He averaged 11.0 points, 3.9 rebounds and 1.6 assists while shooting .450 from the field and a career-best .397 from three-point range in 44 games (16 starts) during his time with Detroit.

On this move, ESPN.com today reported the following: “Morris had signed a two-year contract with Detroit in July that was to have paid him $3.2 million this season and included a $3.36 million player option for next season. Morris had a total of $4.3 million remaining over the length of the deal. In order to secure a buyout, Morris relinquished the rights to the full amount he was owed, sources told ESPN’s Bobby Marks.”