NBA News Blog – Page 424 – NBA Blog

Nets sign Alan Williams to two-way contract

The Brooklyn Nets have signed forward/center Alan Williams to a two-way contract.

Per NBA rules, teams are permitted sign two players to two-way contracts in addition to the 15-man regular season roster. A two-way player for the Nets will provide services primarily to the team’s NBA G League affiliate – the Long Island Nets – but can spend up to 45 days with Brooklyn, not including any time prior to the start of Long Island’s training camp and at the conclusion of their season.

Williams (6’8”, 265) joins Brooklyn after three seasons (2015-18) with the Phoenix Suns. In 62 career games, he averaged 6.4 points and 5.7 rebounds in 13.6 minutes per contest. During the 2017-18 season, Williams appeared in five games, averaging 4.0 points, 4.4 rebounds and 1.6 assists in 14.1 minutes per game. He also appeared in three games with the Northern Arizona Suns of the NBA G League last season, averaging 16.0 points, 9.3 rebounds, 2.0 blocks, 1.3 assists and 1.0 steals in 23.4 minutes per game.

The Phoenix, Ariz., native went undrafted in the 2015 NBA Draft after a four-year collegiate career at UC Santa Barbara (2011-15). Williams led the nation in rebounding in both his junior (11.5) and senior seasons (11.8) and finished as UCSB’s all-time leading rebounder (1,125). He was named First Team All-Big West for three consecutive seasons (2012-15), becoming just the third player in school history to accomplish that feat.

Warriors sign guard Tyler Ulis

The Warriors have signed free agent guard Tyler Ulis. It’s likely just a non-guaranteed deal that merely brings Ulis to Warriors training camp.

Ulis, 22, averaged 7.8 points 4.4 assists, 1.8 rebounds, 1.00 steals and 23.4 minutes in 71 games (43 starts) last season with the Phoenix Suns. The 5’10” guard owns career averages of 7.6 points, 4.1 assists, 1.7 rebounds and 21.1 minutes in 132 games (58 starts) over two seasons with the Suns. The April 2017 NBA Rookie of the Month was originally selected by Phoenix in the second round (34th overall) of the 2016 NBA Draft.

Raul Neto out with hamstring injury

Utah Jazz guard Raul Neto has suffered a right hamstring injury. He will be reevaluated in two weeks.

Entering his fourth season with the Jazz, the 6-foot-1, 179-pound guard appeared in 41 games last year, owning averages of 4.5 points, 1.8 assists and 1.2 rebounds in 12.1 minutes per contest, also seeing action in eight postseason games.

According to the Deseret News, “this injury is the latest setback for the Brazilian, who missed half of the 2017-2018 regular season because of a variety of unrelated injuries. He re-signed with Utah over the summer on a two-year, $4.4 million contract.”

Donovan Mitchell undecided on trying to defend dunk title

Nobody is thinking about 2019 All-Star weekend yet. But when the guy who won the 2018 dunk title is in front of you, it makes sense to ask if he’s thinking of trying to defend it. Here’s the Deseret News reporting on young Jazz star Donovan Mitchell:

Utah Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell is certainly focused on reaching new heights in his sophomore campaign, but the rising star hasn’t decided on whether or not he’ll be defending his slam dunk title.

“I don’t know … that’s a good question,” Mitchell said during Monday’s Utah Jazz Media Day. “I don’t know, we’ll see. I’ll leave it there.”

All-Star Weekend 2019 will be played in Charlotte, North Carolina, on Feb. 15-17.

As a rookie, Mitchell reached a new level of popularity after winning the slam dunk crown at Los Angeles’ Staples Center as a late addition.

Full article

Grizzlies sign Ismaila Kane

The Memphis Grizzlies signed forward Ismaila Kane today.

The signing is probably a non-guaranteed deal that merely brings Kane to Grizzlies training camp.

Kane (6-9, 200) appeared in 13 games last season for Atlanta Metropolitan of the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) and averaged 14.3 points, 11.5 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.69 blocks. The Senegalese native went unselected in the 2018 NBA Draft.

Brandon Knight will miss preseason with injury

A new Rocket who will likely have a big role off the bench will be out at least for preseason, reports the Houston Chronicle:

Rockets guard Brandon Knight, who missed last season with the Suns because of a knee injury, will be out for the preseason and likely beyond.

Acquired along with Marquese Chriss for Ryan Anderson and De’Anthony Melton, Knight was expected to compete for a role as a third point guard behind James Harden and Chris Paul, and could be in the mix to earn a role playing with Harden, Paul or Eric Gordon in small lineups.

Full article

Atlanta Hawks injury updates

Guard/forward Justin Anderson continues to progress in his rehabilitation from surgery on June 29th to address recurring tibial stress syndrome in his left leg. He is currently symptom free and progressing as expected. He will be listed as out for the beginning of training camp on Tuesday, Sept. 25th and his status will be updated as appropriate.

Center Dewayne Dedmon, diagnosed with an avulsion fracture in his left ankle on Sept. 4th, continues to progress in his recovery as he enters his second week of weight-bearing rehabilitation. He will be listed as out for the beginning of training camp and his status will be updated as appropriate.

Guard/forward Daniel Hamilton presented with symptoms of a shoulder injury earlier in September. An MRI taken at the Emory Sports Medicine Complex on Sept. 11th revealed a tear in his right rotator cuff. He has elected a non-surgical treatment plan, and has begun a rehab plan on court. He will be reviewed by the medical team in one week and his rehab/return to play will progress as tolerated.

Guard Jeremy Lin continues his recovery from a ruptured patella tendon of the right knee suffered on Oct. 18th, 2017. He has returned to regular basketball activities with limited restrictions and is expected to participate in training camp.

Forward Omari Spellman experienced left shin soreness during a workout last week. An MRI taken at the Emory Sports Medicine Complex confirmed soft tissue inflammation. He will be listed as out for the next 7-10 days followed by a gradual return to activity, and his status will be updated as appropriate.

Thunder hire new TV play-by-play announcer

Today, Monday, features lots of NBA team media days around the league. Tons of news will come out, especially on which players gained or lost weight, bulked up, plus rotational news, etc. But there are also specific roles that various organizations must still fill, often in the broadcast department. Here’s the Oklahoman with some Thunder news:

On Thunder Media Day, the team fittingly unveiled its next television voice.

The Thunder has hired Chris Fisher as its new television play-by-play announcer. Fisher will be the lead voice for the Thunder’s 70 game broadcasts on Fox Sports Oklahoma during the 2018-19 season.

Fisher spent the last eight seasons as the play-by-play announcer for University of Southern California men’s basketball, as well as the halftime and postgame show host for USC football. The Los Angeles native’s play-by-play career spans more than a decade, with experience in Pac-12 sports as well as minor league baseball.

Full article

Wizards hosting open practice, free for fans, on September 28, 2018

The Washington Wizards will host their annual Open Practice on Friday, September 28, 2018 at 6:00 p.m. at the Entertainment and Sports Arena in Congress Heights.

The event is open to the public and seating will be on a first-come, first-served basis.

The first 500 fans through the door will receive a free T-shirt, and the first 200 fans will receive a pass to participate in a post-practice autograph session with select Wizards players.

Activities planned for the event in addition to the open practice and team scrimmage include a dunk contest, half-court shooting contest, performances by the Wizards Dancers and Wiz Kids and music from the Ballou High School Band.

Fans interested in attending the open practice are encouraged to RSVP here:

http://info.washingtonwizards.com/Wiz-OpenPractice09-20-18.

Doors for the open practice will open at 5:00 p.m.

Omer Asik out indefinitely with inflammatory arthritis

Bulls center Omer Asik is out indefinitely with inflammatory arthritis that flared up over the summer. He has been receiving ongoing medical treatment and management, but his return to basketball activities is yet to be determined.

Asik came to the Bulls in a trade with the New Orleans Pelicans on Feb. 1, 2018. He also played for Chicago in the 2010-11 and 2011-12 NBA seasons. He has career averages of 2.9 points and 4.4 rebounds in 152 games for the Bulls.