NBA News Blog – Page 431 – NBA Blog

Grizzlies waive Kobi Simmons

The Memphis Grizzlies on Tuesday waived guard Kobi Simmons.

Simmons (6-4, 170) saw action in 32 games (12 starts) for the Grizzlies last season and averaged 6.1 points, 1.6 rebounds and 2.1 assists in 20.1 minutes during his rookie campaign. The 21-year-old also started all 26 of his appearances for the NBA G League’s Memphis Hustle and averaged 15.1 points, 2.7 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 1.04 steals in 30.9 minutes.

The Alpharetta, Georgia native, who played his lone collegiate season at the University of Arizona, signed a two-way contract with the Grizzlies on July 1, 2017 after going unselected in the 2017 NBA Draft.

Sixers announce promotions in their basketball operations department

The Philadelphia 76ers today promoted several key members of its basketball operations department.

Elton Brand will continue to serve as General Manager of the Delaware Blue Coats of the NBA G League and has added the title of Vice President of Basketball Operations for the 76ers. In addition to his work in Delaware, the former No. 1 overall pick will contribute extensively to all areas of the 76ers’ basketball operations department.

Ned Cohen, who joined the team in 2016 after a successful 12-year run in the NBA league office, has been promoted to Assistant General Manager. In his expanded role, Cohen will oversee all facets of roster and salary cap management, among other leadership duties. He previously served as 76ers Vice President of Basketball Operations and Chief of Staff.

Marc Eversley, promoted to Senior Vice President of Player Personnel, will expand his duties in his third season with the team. In addition to his role overseeing player personnel and talent evaluation, Eversley will leverage his nearly two decades of experience in the industry to amplify the team’s recruiting and strategic decision-making processes. This includes an increased focus on all areas of pro personnel, as well as efforts to attract, acquire and retain elite NBA talent.

Alex Rucker has been promoted to Senior Vice President of Analytics and Strategy. Rucker, who also joined the team in 2016, will continue to lead the NBA’s largest analytics and strategy team as it supports, elevates and helps grow the 76ers’ innovative basketball operations efforts. He previously served as 76ers Vice President of Analytics and Strategy.

Additionally, the team has announced that Kevin Young has been promoted and will join fellow Assistant Coaches Monty Williams and Billy Lange on the front of the bench this season. Meanwhile, respected coaching veteran Jim O’Brien will now serve as Senior Advisor to the Head Coach.

“We believe we have one of the NBA’s most talented and innovative front offices and we’re thrilled to announce these promotions as we approach the 2018-19 season,” Harris said. “Thanks to the leadership of executives like Elton, Ned, Marc and Alex, as well as Head Coach Brett Brown, our team is incredibly well-positioned for not only this season, but for seasons to come. We’re focused on continuing to build a team with championship DNA and the talent and drive of our front office reflects that.”

“Our team has made tremendous strides in recent seasons and is now one of the most promising and exciting teams in the NBA,” Blitzer said. “A lot of the progress and growth we’ve experienced can be attributed to the work our front office and coaching staff have done to strengthen and solidify a culture and infrastructure of winning. We’re pleased to announce these promotions for a group of smart, strategic and motivated leaders.”

Hawks sign Vince Carter

As his NBA career winds down, Vince Carter isn’t ring-chasing. In fact, he’s doing pretty close to the opposite, joining what should be one of the league’s weakest teams in the 2018-19 NBA season.

Carter on Friday (yesterday) signed with the Atlanta Hawks, who are completely rebuilding their roster from the ground up.

According to ESPN.com, it’s just a one-year deal. Which isn’t surprising, as he could retire any season now.

Carter clearly loves to play basketball. On a roster like Atlanta’s, he has a legit chance to get some pretty decent minutes. Though the best thing for the Hawks to do is focus on developing their young players. But Carter is a great teacher and should make the kids on the squad better, both in practice and actual season games.

Carter played in 58 games (four starts) last season with Sacramento, where he averaged 5.4 points, 2.6 rebounds and 1.2 assists in 17.7 minutes (.403 FG%, .345 3FG%, .757 FT%).

In 20 NBA seasons with Toronto, New Jersey, Orlando, Phoenix, Dallas, Memphis and Sacramento, Carter possesses career averages of 17.7 points, 4.5 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 1.0 steals in 31.4 minutes (.437 FG%, .373 3FG%, .799 FT%), appearing in 1405 regular season games (973 starts). In 88 playoff contests (66 starts), he’s averaged 18.1 points, 5.4 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 1.1 steals in 34.5 minutes (.416 FG%, .338 3FG%, .796 FT%).

Carter was the 1999 NBA Rookie of the Year, has been named All-NBA twice (second team in 2001 and third team in 2000), is an eight-time All-Star and finished in the Top 10 in scoring six times. He won the NBA’s Slam Dunk contest in 2000, also taking home a gold medal that same year as part of the United States Men’s Basketball team in Sydney, Australia.

Nick Young reportedly arrested in Hollywood

It’s the offseason. Stuff happens in the offseason. Of course, stuff happens during the season, too – but in the offseason, every news item gets more attention. Especially if the words “Hollywood” and “arrest” are concerned. Here’s one thing that happened: Nick Young was taken into custody, according to TMZ:

Nick Young — aka Swaggy P — was arrested in Hollywood late Friday night after an incident during a traffic stop with police … TMZ Sports has learned.

Law enforcement sources tell us … the former Golden State Warriors star was pulled over just before midnight for a routine traffic violation when something went wrong.

We’re told the 33-year-old refused to cooperate with the officers on scene, and so he was arrested for obstruction of justice.

One witness tells us … cops took Young out of his vehicle and ordered him up against a wall where he was handcuffed and taken into custody.

Full article

Heat sign guard Briante Weber

The Miami Heat signed guard Briante Weber today.

Weber has appeared in 74 games (55 starts) with the HEAT’s G League affiliate, the Sioux Falls Skyforce, and averaged 13.9 points, 6.5 rebounds, 6.0 assists, 2.58 steals and 33.3 minutes while shooting 46.8 percent from the field, 36.2 percent from three-point range and 78.5 percent from the foul line. Weber has part of three seasons in the NBA with the HEAT, Memphis Grizzlies, Golden State Warriors, Charlotte Hornets, Los Angeles Lakers and the Houston Rockets, appearing in 45 career NBA games (four starts) and averaging 3.2 points, 1.9 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 13.6 minutes of action. Originally signed by Miami on October 19, 2015 and re-signed on Apr. 10, 2016, Weber has appeared in one regular season game and two postseason contests with the HEAT.

Weber played all four seasons at Virginia Commonwealth finishing as VCU’s all-time career steals leader (374), shattering the previous 29-year old record by 117, capping his career third on the NCAA’s steals list, just 12 shy from becoming the all-time career leader before missing the final 10 games of his senior season due to injury. He became the first player in conference history to be named the Atlantic 10 Defensive Player of the Year in three consecutive seasons, including his senior, junior and sophomore seasons, and also set a program record with a recorded 45.5-inch vertical leap.

Celtics sign PJ Dozier to two-way contract

The Boston Celtics today signed guard PJ Dozier to a two-way contract.

Dozier, 21, is set to compete on his second two-way contract in as many NBA seasons, having previously held a two-way position with Oklahoma City in 2017-18. He made his NBA debut with the Thunder on Feb. 8, 2018 at the Lakers, one of two contests he saw action in.

In 43 games played (38 starts) with the Oklahoma City Blue of the NBA G League last season, Dozier (6-7, 201 lbs.) produced 12.9 points (46.5% FG, 34.0% 3-PT), 5.6 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.4 steals in 28.4 minutes. The University of South Carolina product scored at least 20 points on five occasions, including a season-high 26 points (10-19 FG) on Jan. 28 against the South Bay Lakers.

Dozier participated in five games on Oklahoma City’s 2018 NBA Las Vegas Summer team in July, averaging 11.0 points on 52.0% shooting and 1.40 steals in 23.0 minutes.

A native of Columbia, SC, Dozier capped off his two-year collegiate career on a high note in 2017 after contributing to the Gamecocks’ first-ever NCAA Tournament Final Four appearance. He averaged 15.6 points (50.8% FG), 4.8 rebounds and 2.4 assists in five tournament games and was selected to the NCAA Tournament All-Region team.

Raptors sign Kay Felder

The Toronto Raptors signed guard Kay Felder today.

Felder, 5-foot-9, 176 pounds, averaged 3.6 points, 1.3 assists and 8.8 minutes in 16 games with Chicago and Detroit last season. He also appeared in 20 games with Grand Rapids in the NBA G League, posting averages of 16.8 points, 5.8 assists and 30.1 minutes.

A native of Detroit, Michigan, Felder owns career averages of 3.8 points, 1.3 assists and 9.1 minutes in 58 NBA games with Cleveland, Chicago and Detroit. He was picked in the second-round (54th overall) by Atlanta in the 2016 NBA Draft.

Felder played three collegiate seasons at Oakland (2013-16) where he averaged 17.5 points, 7.8 assists and 35.9 minutes in 101 appearances. As a junior, Felder led the NCAA in assists per game (9.2) and was named Horizon League Player of the Year. He left the Golden Grizzlies as the Horizon League’s all-time leader with 788 career assists.

Thunder add Bob Beyer to coaching staff

The Oklahoma City Thunder last night (Monday) added Bob Beyer to their coaching staff.

Beyer joins Billy Donovan’s staff after spending the past four seasons with the Detroit Pistons, most recently serving as associate head coach for the last two seasons.

Beyer’s coaching career spans more than 30 years at both the NBA and collegiate level. His NBA coaching experience dates back to the 2003-04 season where he first served as an assistant coach with the Toronto Raptors. Beyer later spent 2007-12 on Stan Van Gundy’s Orlando Magic staff, where he helped lead the team to a 259-135 (.657) record and five straight postseason appearances, including a spot in the 2009 NBA Finals.

Prior to joining the NBA ranks, Beyer’s collegiate experience was highlighted by a stint at Texas Tech University under Bob Knight from 2001-03 and as head coach at Siena from 1994-97.

Beyer graduated from Alfred University in 1983 with a bachelor’s degree in history and minors in coaching, writing and secondary education. He earned his master’s degree in curriculum planning and development while later coaching at Albany.

Rockets sign forward Bruno Caboclo

The Houston Rockets on Monday signed forward Bruno Caboclo, whose last name is pronounced “cuh-BO-clo.”

Caboclo (6-9, 218) was originally the 20th overall pick by Toronto in the 2014 NBA Draft. He spent his first three and a half seasons with the Raptors prior to being traded to Sacramento this past February.

Last season, the 22-year-old appeared in a total of 36 G League games while on assignment with Raptors 905 and the Reno Bighorns, averaging 14.2 points, 6.4 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 1.3 steals and 1.5 blocks. Caboclo also averaged 2.4 3-pointers made.

Nets sign Jordan McLaughlin and Mitchell Creek

The Brooklyn Nets signed guard Jordan McLaughlin and guard/forward Mitchell Creek today.

Until we hear otherwise, we will assume the signings are non-guaranteed deals that merely bring Creek and McLaughlin to Nets training camp.

Creek (6’5”, 216), joins the Nets after spending the last eight seasons playing internationally for both Adelaide of the Australian National Basketball League (2010-18) and BG Gottingen of the German Basketball League (2018). Overall, the Australian native appeared in 200 games (101 starts) for Adelaide, averaging 9.4 points, 4.1 rebounds and 1.4 assists in 21.0 minutes per contest. In 2017-18, Creek was named to the All-NBL Second Team after guiding Adelaide to the finals of the NBL playoffs. He concluded the season ranked second on his team in points (14.8) and steals (1.2), third in rebounds (6.0) and fourth in assists (2.6). He then averaged 11.9 points, 2.7 rebounds and 1.3 assists in 21.4 minutes per contest in seven games for BG Gottingen. In international competition, Creek won a gold medal in 2017 while representing Australia in the FIBA Asia Cup in Lebanon.

Creek was also a member of the Dallas Mavericks’ 2018 Las Vegas Summer League team, appearing in five games and averaging 6.8 points and 5.2 rebounds in 18.0 minutes per game.

McLaughlin (6’1”, 185) joins the Nets after four years at the University of Southern California. He started all but one of his 128 career games for the Trojans, recording averages of 12.9 points, 5.8 assists, 3.5 rebounds and 1.7 steals in 33.5 minutes per contest. As a senior, McLaughlin recorded a USC single-season record 281 assists, which ranked first in the Pac-12 and third in the NCAA, and averaged 12.8 points, a career-high 7.8 assists, 3.7 rebounds and a career-high 2.0 steals in 35.3 minutes per game. The Etiwanda, Calif., native ranks second all-time in USC history in assists (738), third in steals (213), fourth in points (1,648) and fifth in 3-pointers made (185). He is also one of just three Pac-12 players all-time to record 700 or more assists and 1,600 or more points during his career.

McLaughlin was a member of the Nets’ 2018 Las Vegas Summer League team, appearing in five games and averaging 7.0 points, 4.2 assists and 1.8 rebounds in 19.6 minutes per game.