Category: NBA News Blog

NBA news blog

Pelicans sign rookie Antonio Reeves

The New Orleans Pelicans recently signed rookie guard Antonio Reeves.

Reeves, 6-5, 187, appeared in five games for the Pelicans during NBA 2K25 Summer League in Las Vegas, averaging 11.8 points, 2.4 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.0 steals, while shooting .412 from the field and .320 from three-point distance.

In the 2023-24 season at the University of Kentucky, Reeves averaged 20.2 points on .512 shooting, including .447 from three, 4.2 rebounds and 1.6 assists per game. Reeves was the SEC’s third-leading scorer, earning All-SEC First Team and All-American Third Team honors, while also being named a finalist for the Jerry West Shooting Guard of the Year Award and one of 15 players on the John R. Wooden Award National Ballot. The Chicago, Ill., native was named Southeastern Conference Sixth Man of the Year for the 2022-23 season.

2024-25 Celtics preseason game schedule

The 18-time Champion Boston Celtics will open the preseason against the Denver Nuggets at the NBA Abu Dhabi Games 2024. Boston and Denver will play two games at Etihad Arena on Friday, October 4 and Sunday, October 6.

The Celtics will return to TD Garden to play against the Philadelphia 76ers on Saturday, October 12 at 8:00PM as part of the team’s five-game exhibition slate for the 2024-25 NBA season.

Boston’s preseason schedule continues at TD Garden when the Celtics host the Toronto Raptors on Sunday, October 13 at 7:00PM.

Additionally, the Celtics will play against the Toronto Raptors at Scotiabank Arena on Tuesday, October 15 at 7:00PM.

Cavs sign Evan Mobley to contract extension

The Cleveland Cavaliers recently signed forward/center Evan Mobley to a multi-year contract extension.

“We are thrilled to sign Evan to a long-term extension, solidifying his place as a cornerstone of our franchise,” said Cavaliers President of Basketball Operations Koby Altman. “Evan has quickly established himself as one of the premier defensive players in the league, and we’ve only scratched the surface of his overall potential. Since drafting him, he only knows winning basketball and has proven to be pivotal to our team’s success. His exceptional work ethic, versatility, and commitment to excellence both on and off the court truly embody what it means to be a Cleveland Cavalier. We believe Evan’s best basketball is still ahead of him, and we couldn’t be more excited to continue building something special together for many years to come.”

Mobley (7-0, 215) played in 50 games (all starts) for the Cavaliers this past season and posted career highs in field goal percentage (.580, 11th-best in NBA), three-point percentage (.373), free throw percentage (.719), rebounds (9.4) and assists (3.2), to go along with 15.7 points and 1.44 blocks in 30.6 minutes per contest. He also registered 21 double-doubles and was one of only four NBA players to average at least 15.0 points, 9.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.4 blocks (Anthony Davis, Victor Wembanyama, Joel Embiid). Mobley’s 2.17 blocks per game during the 2024 NBA Playoffs were the most by any Cavalier in a single playoffs since 1992 (Larry Nance, 2.71). In the First Round, Mobley set the franchise record for most blocks in a single playoff series with 21 against Orlando. Additionally, Mobley became the third-youngest Cavalier to record 30 or more points in a postseason game (LeBron James, Daniel Gibson) when he tallied 33 points, seven rebounds, four assists, one steal and two blocks in 43 minutes versus Boston on May 15.

Spurs re-sign Sandro Mamukelashvili

The San Antonio Spurs recently re-signed forward Sandro Mamukelashvili.

Mamukelashvili, 6-10/240, averaged 11.4 points, 9.9 rebounds and 2.1 assists in 26.0 minutes over the final eight games (five starts) of last season, the first time he played more than 20 minutes in a game all year. In 65 total games for the Silver and Black over two seasons, he holds averages of 6.1 points, 4.2 rebounds and 1.5 assists in 13.8 minutes.

Originally signed by the Spurs on March 3, 2023, prior to joining San Antonio, Mamukelashvili was on a two-way contract with the Milwaukee Bucks. The Tbilisi, Georgia native was selected in the second round of the 2021 NBA Draft (54th overall) by the Indiana Pacers before being traded to Milwaukee on draft night. Prior to the NBA, Mamukelashvili spent four seasons at Seton Hall, playing in a total of 104 games (68 starts) and winning 2021 Big East Player of the Year.

Magic sign Cory Joseph

The Orlando Magic recently signed free agent guard Cory Joseph.

Joseph (6’3”, 200, 8/20/91) played in 26 regular season games last season with Golden State, averaging 2.4 ppg., 1.6 apg. and 1.2 rpg. in 11.4 minpg. On Feb. 8, he was traded to Indiana, then subsequently waived by the Pacers.

Originally selected in the first round (29th overall) of the 2011 NBA Draft by San Antonio, Joseph has played in 816 career NBA regular season games (175 starts) with San Antonio, Toronto, Indiana, Sacramento, Detroit and Golden State, averaging 6.9 ppg., 3.0 apg. and 2.5 rpg. in 21.7 minpg. He has also played in 82 career NBA playoff outings (two starts), averaging 5.2 ppg., 1.7 apg. and 1.5 rpg. in 14.5 minpg. Joseph won an NBA Championship in 2013-14 with San Antonio.

A native of Toronto, Ontario, Canada, Joseph was a member of the Canadian National Team during the 2019 FIBA World Cup. Prior to being drafted, he played and started in 36 games as a freshman during his only season (2010-11) at the University of Texas, averaging 10.4 ppg., 3.6 rpg., 3.0 apg. and 1.03 stlpg. in 32.4 minpg. Joseph was named to the 2010-11 Big 12 All-Freshman Team.

Joseph will wear #10 with the Orlando Magic.

Nets sign Keon Johnson to multi-year contract

The Brooklyn Nets recently signed guard Keon Johnson to a multi-year contract.

Johnson (6’4″, 185) originally signed a two-way contract with Brooklyn on Nov. 1, 2023, and recorded averages of 6.2 points and 1.4 rebounds in 12.3 minutes per game in five games with the Nets in the 2023-24 season. He also saw action in 26 regular season games (one start) last season with Brooklyn’s NBA G League affiliate, the Long Island Nets, posting averages of 18.2 points on 47.8 percent shooting from the field, 37.9 percent shooting from 3-point range and 80.3 percent shooting from the free-throw line, 6.4 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 1.1 steals in 27.7 minutes per contest. In three postseason games (all starts) with Long Island, the 22-year-old recorded averages of 19.7 points, 7.3 rebounds, 4.7 assists and 1.0 steals over 36.5 minutes per game. Most recently, Johnson has suited up in four games (all starts) for Brooklyn’s NBA 2K25 Summer League team in Las Vegas, averaging 16.3 points on 45.1 percent shooting from the floor, 4.8 rebounds, 5.8 assists and 1.5 steals across 30.7 minutes per contest.

Sixers sign Jeff Dowtin Jr. to two-way contract

The Philadelphia 76ers recently signed Jeff Dowtin Jr. to a two-way contract.

Dowtin Jr. recently played in seven summer-league games with the 76ers between Salt Lake City and Las Vegas, averaging of 17.1 points, 3.1 rebounds, and a team-best 5.7 assists. He tallied at least 15 points in each of his seven summer contests, including a trio of 18-point games.

In Salt Lake City, Dowtin Jr. averaged 17.0 points and 5.3 assists, making him one of four players to average at least 15 points and five assists.

Originally joining the 76ers via a two-way contract on March 2 of last season before signing a standard NBA contract with the franchise on April 4, Dowtin Jr. produced a career-best 4.3 points on 55.6-percent shooting (47.4% 3FG), 1.7 rebounds, and 2.3 assists in 12 games. The Rhode Island product scored a career-high 12 points on 4-of-5 shooting (2-3 3FG) at Phoenix on March 20, while dishing out a career-best six assists on two separate occasions.

Orlando Magic renegotiate and extend contract of Jonathan Isaac

The Orlando Magic in the first week of July agreed to renegotiate and extend the contract of forward Jonathan Isaac.

Isaac (6’10”, 233, 10/3/97) played in 58 games (two starts) last season with Orlando, averaging 6.8 ppg., 4.5 rpg. and a team-high 1.21 blkpg. in 15.8 minpg., while shooting .510 (146-286) from the floor and .375 (42-112) from three-point range. He tied for 14th in the NBA in blocked shots. Isaac led (or tied) the team in scoring once and in rebounding five times. He scored in double figures 13 times and 20+ points once, including a career-high-tying 25 points on Mar. 23 vs. Sacramento. Isaac recorded at least one blocked shot 41 times and two-or-more blocks 21 times, while notching at least one steal 33 times and two-or-more steals 10 times. He also played in seven playoff games (three starts), averaging 6.3 ppg., 4.9 rpg. and 1.29 blkpg. in 21.0 minpg.

Originally selected in the first round (sixth overall) of the 2017 NBA Draft by Orlando, Isaac has played in 205 career NBA regular season games (108 starts), all with the Magic, averaging 8.4 ppg., 5.1 rpg. and 1.37 blkpg. in 22.2. He stands ninth on the Magic’s all-time blocked shots list with 280.

Isaac wears #1 with the Orlando Magic.

Orlando Magic sign Kentavious Caldwell-Pope

The Orlando Magic back in the first week of July signed free agent guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope.

“We are thrilled to add a player like Kentavious (Caldwell-Pope) to our team,” said President of Basketball Operations Jeff Weltman. “He is not only an outstanding defender and an excellent shooter, he brings high character and a championship pedigree to our backcourt. We’re very excited to welcome Kentavious to the Orlando Magic family.”

Caldwell-Pope (6’5”, 204, 2/18/93) played and started in 76 regular season games last season with Denver, averaging 10.1 ppg., 2.4 rpg., 2.4 apg. and 1.29 stlpg. in 31.6 minpg., while shooting .406 (125-308) from three-point range and .894 (101-113) from the free throw line. He ranked 16th in the NBA in steals and 34th in three-point field goal percentage. Caldwell-Pope scored in double figures 39 times and 20+ points five times, including a season-high 24 points on Apr. 6 vs. Atlanta. He also played and started in 12 playoff games, averaging 8.1 ppg., 2.9 rpg., 2.6 apg. and 1.42 stlpg. in 35.0 minpg.

Originally selected in the first round (eighth overall) of the 2013 NBA Draft by Detroit, Caldwell-Pope has played in 835 career NBA regular season games (693 starts) with Detroit, the L.A. Lakers, Washington and Denver, averaging 11.4 ppg., 3.0 rpg., 1.8 apg. and 1.15 stlpg. in 29.6 minpg., while shooting .369 (1,420-3,852) from three-point range and .819 (1,303-1,590) from the free throw line. He has also played and started in 62 career NBA playoff outings, averaging 10.1 ppg., 2.8 rpg., 1.7 apg. and 1.23 stlpg. in 32.4 minpg., while shooting .365 (114-312) from three-point range and .847 (72-85) from the free throw line. Caldwell-Pope won an NBA Championship in 2019-20 with the L.A. Lakers and 2022-23 with Denver.

Prior to being drafted, Caldwell-Pope played in 64 career games (60 starts) during two seasons (2011-13) at the University of Georgia, averaging 15.8 ppg., 6.1 rpg., 1.5 apg. and 1.92 stlpg. in 33.0 minpg. As a sophomore (2012-13), he appeared in 32 games (30 starts), averaging 18.5 ppg., 7.1 rpg., 1.8 apg. and 2.03 stlpg. in 33.9 minpg. Caldwell-Pope was named to the All-SEC First Team and was the SEC Player of the Year.

Hawks sign rookie Zaccharie Risacher

The Atlanta Hawks back in the first week of July signed rookie forward Zaccharie Risacher.

The Hawks selected Risacher with the first overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, as he became Atlanta’s first No. 1 overall pick since the 1975 NBA Draft.

Risacher most recently suited up for JL Bourg (France), appearing in 32 French League Pro A regular season games (23 starts), averaging 10.1 points and 3.8 rebounds in 21.9 minutes of play (.439 FG%, .352 3FG%, .740 FT%). He was named the 2023-24 French League Best Young Player, as well as the French LNB Pro A Best Young Player of the Month twice, earning the recognition in October and November.

The 2023-24 EuroCup Rising Star Award recipient saw action in 23 EuroCup games, averaging 11.3 points, 3.3 rebounds and 1.0 assist in 23.5 minutes (.503 FG%, .450 3FG%, .688 FT%).

Risacher played in 50 career French League Pro A regular season contests, owning averages of 7.3 points and 2.9 rebounds in 18.3 minutes (.425 FG%, .338 3FG%, .729 FT%). Prior to suiting up for JL Bourg, he played two seasons with French club ASVEL (2021-23), where he played alongside 2023 No. 1 overall pick Victor Wembanyama during the 2021-22 season.

The 6-9 forward made his Senior National Team debut with France at the FIBA EuroBasket 2025 Qualifiers in February 2024. He also represented France at the 2023 FIBA U19 World Cup, winning the silver medal, and helped lead France to the bronze medal at the 2022 FIBA U17 World Cup.

Risacher, who was born in Spain, grew up in Lyon, France. His father, Stephane, won the silver medal for basketball with France at the 2000 Sydney Olympics.