Category: NBA News Blog

NBA news blog

Suns sign guard Jawun Evans to two-way contract

The Phoenix Suns today signed guard Jawun Evans (pronounced Juh-WAN) to a two-way contract.

Evans has played in 14 games this season with the Suns’ NBA G League affiliate, the Northern Arizona Suns.

A 6-0, 190-pound guard, Evans played in 48 games as a rookie with the LA Clippers last season and averaged 4.8 points, 2.1 assists and 1.8 rebounds in 16.2 minutes. He recorded five games scoring in double figures including two games with a career-high 15 points. On Dec. 15 of last season at Washington, Evans set career highs with 15 points and five steals in addition to recording six rebounds and six assists.

The seventh GATORADE Call-Up in the NBA this season and ninth in Northern Arizona Suns history, Evans leads the NAZ Suns with 18.5 points per game in addition to averaging 4.6 assists, 4.1 rebounds and 1.5 steals in 14 appearances. Over his last seven games, Evans has the second most total points in the NBA G League (173). Evans has three 30-point games with NAZ this season as he scored 30-plus in three straight from Nov. 27-Dec. 1, including a career-high 33 points on Dec. 1 at Iowa and on Nov. 27 vs. Memphis.

The 22-year-old was initially the 39th overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft by Philadelphia before being traded to the Clippers. Evans played two seasons at Oklahoma State University, earning All-Big 12 First Team in 2017 and Big 12 Freshman of the Year in 2016. Evans averaged 16.6 points and 5.8 assists in 54 career games with the Cowboys, and averaged 19.2 points and 6.4 assists in 2016-17. Born in Greenville, South Carolina, Evans was a 2015 McDonald’s All American after he completed his career at Kimball High School in Dallas, Texas.

Evans will wear uniform No. 0.

Pistons guard Ish Smith injured

Pistons guard Ish Smith injured

An MRI has revealed that Detroit Pistons guard Ish Smith has suffered a right adductor muscle tear. The injury occurred in the second quarter of the Pistons game at Milwaukee on December 5. Smith will be out and reassessed in two weeks.

Now in his 9th NBA season, Smith in 2018-19 is averaging 9.2 points, 1.9 rebounds and 3.0 assists in 22 games.

According to the Detroit News, “it’s the third injury to the Pistons’ backcourt, along with Reggie Bullock (left ankle sprain) and Luke Kennard (right shoulder sprain). Kennard has returned and played in the last two games but has been ineffective as he’s tried to gain his game speed and timing back.”

Warriors center Damian Jones out after surgery

Warriors center Damian Jones out after surgery

Warriors center Damian Jones, who suffered a torn left pectoral muscle in last Saturday’s game against the Pistons in Detroit, underwent what the team describes as successful surgery on Wednesday to repair the injury.

The surgery was performed by Dr. Benjamin Domb at Adventist Medical Health Center in Chicago and will enable Jones to begin rehabilitation in six weeks.

According to the Mercury News, “with All-Star center DeMarcus Cousins rehabbing his left Achilles tendon, Jones mostly assumed the starting position and experienced varying success and struggles. He averaged 5.4 points, 3.1 rebounds. 2.6 fouls and a block in 17.1 minutes in 24 games, including 22 as a starter. With Draymond Green also sidelined for 13 of the past 15 games because of a sprained right toe in his right foot, the Warriors currently only have fourth-year forward Kevon Looney, second-year forward Jordan Bell and two-way player Marcus Derrickson at the center spot.”

Pelicans sign Andrew Harrison to two-way contract

The New Orleans Pelicans signed guard Andrew Harrison to a two-way contract today.

Harrison, 6-6, 213, appeared in 11 games earlier this season (one with Memphis, 10 with Cleveland), averaging 4.1 points, 1.5 assists and 1.4 rebounds in 13.5 minutes per contest. Selected 44th overall by Phoenix in the 2015 NBA Draft out of the University of Kentucky, Harrison has appeared in 139 games (64 starts) for Memphis and Cleveland, holding career averages of 7.2 points, 2.8 assists and 2.0 rebounds in 21.2 minutes per game.

According to the New Orleans Times-Picayune, “Harrison started out this season with Memphis but was waived on Nov. 1. He was picked up by the Cavaliers just eight days later. ”

More from the Times-Picayune: “Harrison becomes the fourth Kentucky player on the Pelicans’ roster joining Anthony Davis, Julius Randle and Darius Miller. Harrison and Randle played together as freshman at Kentucky during the 2013-14 season.”

Harrison will wear #1 for the Pelicans and be available for the team’s home game tonight against Dallas.

New Orleans’s roster now stands at 17, including two two-way players (Harrison and Trevon Bluiett).

Per NBA rules, each team is allowed to carry two players on two-way contracts in addition to the standard 15 players on the roster. Players signed to two-way contracts will spend the majority of the year in the NBA G League, but can be called up to their NBA team for a maximum of 45 days during the season.

Chicago Bulls coaching staff is restructured

Changes to new Chicago Bulls head coach Jim Boylen’s coaching staff were made today.

Assistant coach Nate Loenser has been elevated to the bench, while director of player development Shawn Respert, has also been elevated to the bench, as he now joins Boylen’s staff as an assistant coach. Longtime NBA coaching veteran Dean Cooper comes to the Bulls after starting the season as an assistant coach with Chicago’s G League affiliate, the Windy City Bulls. Assistant coach Randy Brown notified the Bulls today that he has resigned from his post with the team.

In summary, Boylen’s coaching staff is now comprised of Pete Myers, Loenser, Respert, Cooper and Karen Stack Umlauf.

Loenser is in his second season as an assistant coach with the Bulls. He served as head coach of the Windy City Bulls during the team’s inaugural season in 2016-17. He spent the 2015-16 as Chicago’s video coordinator, after having coached at the University of Southern Mississippi and Iowa State. “Nate is a very bright, young coach who has earned this opportunity,” said Boylen.

Respert most recently served as the team’s director of player development since the start of 2017-18 season. Prior to coming to Chicago, he was a regional scout and assistant coach with the Memphis Grizzlies. While with the Grizzlies, he was a member of David Joerger’s staff for three seasons (2013-16). He also spent three seasons with the Minnesota Timberwolves, where he worked as an assistant coach with an emphasis on player development. He worked four seasons with the Houston Rockets as an assistant coach (2008-11). “Shawn is in charge of our player development and I feel it is vital that he is on our bench with our players,” said Boylen.

Cooper reunites with Boylen having worked together on Rudy Tomjanovich’s staff with the Houston Rockets. Before his term in Hoffman Estates with the Windy City Bulls, he was the head coach of the Salt Lake City Stars/Idaho Stampede for three seasons (2014-2017). Prior to his time with Salt Lake City, Cooper enjoyed a second stint with the Houston Rockets as an assistant coach for Kevin McHale (2012-14). His first tour with the Rockets spanned nine seasons (1999-2008) where he held several roles, including video coordinator, assistant coach, personnel scout, director of scouting and vice president of player personnel. He also spent time with the Minnesota Timberwolves as the director of player development for two seasons (2010-12). “Dean is a veteran coach who has a ton of experience and someone I have a great comfort level with,” said Boylen.

Brown, an assistant coach with the Bulls since 2015, was offered an opportunity to remain on the staff, but declined the post. “I’m disappointed Randy has made this decision, but I understand he has to do what is best for him,” said Boylen.

Hawks forward Taurean Prince out with ankle injury

Atlanta Hawks forward Taurean Prince sustained a left ankle injury during the fourth quarter of last night’s contest vs. the Warriors. A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) performed today at the Emory Sports Medicine Complex revealed a ligament sprain, bone bruise and associated soft tissue inflammation.

He’ll be re-evaluated in approximately three weeks.

The Hawks are 5-19 this season through Monday’s games, which ties them with the Bulls for the worst record in the Eastern conference. Prince, who has started 20 of the 21 games he’s played in this season, is third on the team in scoring at 15.0 ppg.

Gone from Knicks, Joakim Noah signs with Grizzlies

The Memphis Grizzlies have signed center Joakim Noah for the remainder of the season.

The team is 13-9 so far this season. Noah will provide depth off the bench.

Noah (6-11, 230) was named the 2013-14 NBA Defensive Player of the Year, was selected to the 2013-14 All-NBA First Team and finished fourth in the Most Valuable Player voting after setting career highs with averages of 12.6 points, 11.3 rebounds, 5.4 assists and 1.24 steals for the Bulls that season. His career highlights also include two consecutive NBA All-Star appearances (2013, 2014), three NBA All-Defensive honors (Second Team in 2011, First Team in 2013 and 2014) and the 2015 J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award.

According to the Memphis Commercial Appeal, “Noah, a 33-year-old center, will sign a one-year, minimum salary contract worth $1.73 million after undergoing a team physical, a source confirmed.”

The 33-year-old has appeared in 625 games (511 starts) since he was selected ninth overall in the 2007 NBA Draft and has averaged 8.9 points, 9.3 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 1.35 blocks in 28.6 minutes over 11 NBA seasons with the Chicago Bulls (2007-16) and New York Knicks (2016-18). He has recorded 192 double-doubles and seven triple-doubles in his regular season career. Noah also has started all 60 of his playoff games and has averaged 9.7 points, 11.0 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.77 blocks in 35.0 minutes.

More from the Commercial Appeal: “The Knicks waived Noah in October using the stretch provision to unload the remainder of a four-year, $72 million deal he signed with the team in the summer of 2016.”

Born in Manhattan, Noah played three seasons at the University of Florida (2004-07), where he was a member of two NCAA Championship teams (2006, 2007).

Noah will wear #55 for the Grizzlies.

Bulls fire head coach Fred Hoiberg, promote Jim Boylen

The Chicago Bulls fired head coach Fred Hoiberg today, and immediately promoted associate head coach Jim Boylen to head coach.

Often, when a head coach is fired, a temporary (interim) coach is named, but the Bulls decided there was no reason to wait and immediately gave Boylen the job.

Hoiberg was named Chicago’s head coach on June 2, 2015 after spending five seasons as head coach at Iowa State. During his time with the Bulls, he coached the team to a record of 115-155 (.426). In 2017, he guided the team to the First Round of the NBA Playoffs, where they were ousted by the Boston Celtics in six games.

According to the Chicago Tribune, “Paxson also put to rest any questions about general manager Gar Forman’s job security, saying, “Gar is absolutely safe.”

More from the Tribune: “Hoiberg, who compiled a 115-155 record and one playoff berth in his three-plus seasons, arrived at the team’s practice facility Monday morning prepared to run the 11 a.m. practice. Paxson and Forman were there to relieve him of his duties.”

In a statement released this morning, Bulls Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations John Paxson said:

“Decisions like this one are never easy to make, however I felt this was the right choice for our organization at this time. After a thorough evaluation, I elected to make this move with the overall development of our team in mind. As a team, I believe it is imperative that we make unfaltering strides in the right direction and build the right habits to help put our players in the best position to evolve not only now, but into the future. I want to thank Fred for his dedication and efforts, as well as for his enduring commitment to our team.”

According to NBC Sports Chicago, “yes, the Bulls are 5-19, on an NBA-worst six-game losing streak and headed toward the NBA Draft Lottery for a third time in four years. They’re 29th in the NBA in offensive efficiency and 28th in net rating. But no team has suffered more injuries than the Bulls this season, especially to key contributors, and at one point last month Fred Hoiberg was forced to start a backcourt of Cameron Payne and Ryan Arcidiacono. What chance did he have of surviving this? The answer, Paxson said Monday afternoon at the Advocate Center, was a lack of “energy and competitive spirit” the front office noticed in games, practices and the locker room the last few weeks. That passion, Paxson said, had been evident even during last year’s tank-inspired 27-win season.”

Boylen joined the Bulls on June 17, 2015. With 33 years of coaching experience, that includes 20 seasons in the NBA, Boylen has been a part of three NBA Championship teams. He entered the NBA in 1992-93 with the Houston Rockets, where he broke in as the team’s video coordinator/scout. Following four seasons in that role, he was promoted to assistant coach on Rudy Tomjanovich’s staff. He has also served as an assistant coach with Golden State (2003-04), Milwaukee (2004-05), Indiana (2011-13) and San Antonio (2013-14). Additionally, he has coached collegiately at Michigan State, where he served on the staffs for both Jud Heathcote and Tom Izzo. Most recently on the collegiate level, he was head coach at the University of Utah, where he led the Utes to the 2009 NCAA Tournament.

The Chicago Tribune reports: “Jim Boylen is the new Bulls coach and never has been the Bulls coach (if you don’t count that one day on Easter; see below). Jim Boylan, however, was the Bulls interim head coach in 2007-08. The two actually worked together at Michigan State. Boylan was Scott Skiles’ longtime right-hand man and went 24-32 down the stretch of the 2007-08 season. Boylan almost fared well enough to keep the job. But as the Bulls lucked into drafting Derrick Rose that offseason, John Paxson began a coaching search that ultimately netted Vinny Del Negro.”

Hornets forward Marvin Williams injures shoulder

 

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Charlotte Hornets forward Marvin Williams underwent a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) exam today, and it turns out his injury is a right shoulder strain. The injury took place with 8:45 left in the second quarter of the Hornets’ loss last night to the New Orleans Pelicans.

Williams will miss Wednesday’s game at Minnesota, and will be re-evaluated next week.

This season, the 6-foot-9 forward is averaging 8.3 points and 5.1 rebounds in 24.8 minutes per game through 23 games (all starts). He scored his 10,000th career point earlier this season, becoming the fourth player in franchise history to total 500 career three-point field goals.