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Hawks get Carmelo Anthony, Thunder get Dennis Schroder in three-team trade

The Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday acquired Carmelo Anthony and a protected 2022 first-round draft pick from the Oklahoma City Thunder along with Justin Anderson from the Philadelphia 76ers in a three-team transaction, with Mike Muscala going to Philadelphia and Dennis Schröder going to Oklahoma City. As part of the trade, Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot goes from Philadelphia to Oklahoma City.

The Hawks are expected to waive Melo, who reportedly may sign with the Rockets once he clears waivers.

“We want to welcome Dennis and Timothé to Oklahoma City and the Thunder,” said Thunder Executive Vice President and General Manager Sam Presti. “Both of these players represent the continued transition of our style of play. Dennis provides us with another proven playmaker and someone that will only enhance the overall speed of our team. Timothé adds another young, long, versatile wing that can play multiple positions and complement our returning core. We are excited about the added depth and stylistic fit that both players provide as we enter our 11th season of Thunder Basketball.”

“On behalf of the Hawks organization, I’d like to thank Mike and Dennis for their contributions to our team over the last five years,” said Hawks General Manager and Head of Basketball Operations Travis Schlenk. “Both players worked extremely hard to develop and improve throughout their careers in Atlanta and each had a special connection with our fans. We wish them all the best moving forward.”

“Mike Muscala joins our program at a fantastic stage of his career. He has enjoyed some NBA success and his upside in the future is extremely bright,” 76ers Head Coach Brett Brown said. “We will use him both as a backup five and, at times, a power forward. His ability to shoot the ball and the energy with which he plays will help our basketball team.”

Schröder (6-1, 172) has appeared in 352 career games (161 starts) and averaged 12.9 points, 4.8 assists and 2.5 rebounds in 23.7 minutes per contest with Atlanta. Last season, the Braunschweig, Germany native appeared in 67 games (all starts), averaging a career-high 19.4 points, 6.2 assists, 3.1 rebounds and a career-best 1.07 steals in 31.0 minutes per game, making him just the fourth player in Hawks history to average at least 19 points and six assists over the course of a season.

Originally selected 17th overall by Atlanta in the 2013 NBA Draft, Schröder has increased his scoring average in each of his five NBA seasons since entering the league.

Luwawu-Cabarrot (6-6, 205) joins the Thunder after spending the 2017-18 season with Philadelphia where he appeared in 52 games (seven starts) and averaged 5.8 points, 1.4 rebounds and 1.0 assist in 15.5 minutes per game.

Selected 24th overall in the first round of the 2016 NBA Draft by the 76ers, the French native has appeared in 121 career games (26 starts) and holds career averages of 6.1 points, 1.8 rebounds and 1.1 assists in 16.5 minutes per game.

“I want to take this opportunity to thank Carmelo Anthony and acknowledge his professionalism and contributions during his time with the Thunder,” said Presti. “Although his tenure was only one year, the fact that Melo is a part of our history is important to us. We appreciate Carmelo and his agent Leon Rose for their collaboration and communication as we worked to resolve the situation in a fashion that was suitable to everyone. We wish Melo and his family nothing but the best in the future.”

In one season with Oklahoma City, Anthony averaged 16.2 points, 5.8 rebounds and 1.3 assists in 32.1 minutes per game. A 10-time All-Star, he scored his 25,000th career point on Jan. 27 at the Detroit Pistons, making him the 21st player in NBA history to achieve the feat. Anthony is a three-time Olympic gold medalist and the United States Olympic Men’s National Team’s all-time leading scorer.

Knicks sign guard Kadeem Allen

The New York Knicks signed Kadeem Allen today.

The signing may just be a non-guaranteed deal that merely brings Allen to training camp.

A 6-foot-3, 200-pound guard, Allen played for Boston and their G League affiliate Maine last season. In 34 games (33 starts) for the Red Claws, he averaged 17.7 points, 5.5 rebounds, five assists and 2.2 steals over 34.5 minutes, and he received an honor for his efforts — being named to the G League All-Defensive Team. He also played in 18 games (one start) for the Celtics, totaling 19 points and 12 assists over 107 minutes.

The Wilmington, NC-native was originally selected by Boston in the second round (53rd overall) of the 2017 NBA Draft, following two seasons at the University of Arizona and two seasons at Hutchinson Community College (NC). As a senior at Arizona, he averaged 9.8 points, four rebounds, three assists and a team-leading 1.6 steals.

Bulls sign Rawle Alkins to two-way contract

The Chicago Bulls signed guard Rawle Alkins to a two-way contract today.

The 6-foot-5, 220-pound native of Brooklyn, New York went undrafted in 2018 after playing two seasons of college hoops at Arizona. He was named a Pac-12 All-Conference Honorable Mention in his sophomore season, and was a Pac-12 All-Freshman Team member in 2016-17.

Overall, in his career at Arizona, he averaged a modest 11.8 points, 4.9 rebounds and 2.2 assists over 60 games (57 starts) with the Wildcats. He scored a career-high 26 points in a win at New Mexico on 12/16/17.

Alkins, whose full name is pronounced “RAW-lee ALL-kins,” played in six games (4 starts) for the Toronto Raptors MGM Resorts Summer League squad this year and averaged 9.0 points, 4.7 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.33 steals in 21.3 minutes per contest.

He will wear No. 20 for the Bulls.

Charlotte Hornets unveil new white Classic Edition uniform

The Charlotte Hornets today unveiled a new white Classic Edition uniform to be worn during the 2018-19 season when the franchise celebrates the 30th Anniversary of the inaugural 1988-89 Hornets season.

Like the teal version from the 2017-18 campaign, the uniform echoes the design worn by the original Charlotte Hornets from their inception in 1988 through 1997.

“With the success of our teal Classic Edition uniforms last season, we felt it was only right to bring the white version back this year as part of our 30th Anniversary celebration,” said Hornets President & Vice Chairman Fred Whitfield. “As we look to replicate the experience and excitement of the early days of the Hornets, wearing the white uniform that the original team wore every night at the Charlotte Coliseum brings another layer of authenticity for our fans.”

The new uniform will be worn during the series of “Classic Night” games, which will celebrate the history of the Hornets and feature music and game presentation elements designed to take fans back to the Charlotte Coliseum of the late ‘80s and early ‘90s. The “Classic Night” games will honor some of the organization’s all-time great players and feature giveaways, including bobbleheads and T-shirts, that highlight some of the top players and moments in Hornets history.

There will be a minimum of six “Classic Night” games during the 2018-19 season.

Based on the uniform worn during the Hornets’ first decade, the white jersey includes the familiar crossover v-neck and multi-colored pinstripes in light blue, royal blue, green and purple. The shorts feature the classic Hornets logo on the waist and the identical royal blue, white and teal trim as the original.

Like the rest of the team’s uniforms, the white Classic Edition features the logos of Nike’s Jordan Brand on the right chest and partner LendingTree on the left chest.

Nuggets sign guard Monte Morris, who was on a two-way deal last season

The Denver Nuggets have signed guard Monte Morris to a multi-year contract.

Morris, 6-3, 180, spent the 2017-18 season on a two-way contract with the Denver Nuggets. He appeared in 37 games (35 starts) for the Rio Grande Valley Vipers of the G League, averaging 17.8 points, 6.5 assists and 4.4 rebounds while shooting 47.2% from the field. Most recently, Morris appeared in four games for the Nuggets 2018 Las Vegas Summer League team, posting averages of 17.5 points, 6.3 assists and 3.3 rebounds in 28.1 minutes.

The 23-year-old was drafted by Denver with the 51st pick in the 2017 NBA draft after playing four seasons at Iowa State University. Morris appeared in 140 career games (121 starts) for the Cyclones and was named All-Big 12 First Team as a senior in 2017 after setting the NCAA single-season record with a 5.17 assist-to-turnover ratio.

Clippers re-sign Montrezl Harrell

The L.A. Clippers re-signed free-agent forward Montrezl Harrell today.

“Montrezl is a tough, hard-playing, gritty competitor who is committed to winning,” said Frank. “We love his passion and energy, and are very excited to have Trezz back in a Clippers uniform.”

According to ESPN.com, the deal is a two-year, $12 million contract.

Harrell, 24, appeared in 76 games for the Clippers last season, averaging 11.0 points and 4.0 rebounds, while shooting 63.5 percent from the field in 17.0 minutes. Initially acquired by L.A. on June 28, 2017 via trade, the 6’8”, 240-pound forward holds career averages of 8.7 points and 3.4 rebounds across 173 appearances spanning three NBA seasons with the Clippers and the Houston Rockets.

A native of Tarboro, North Carolina, Harrell was selected 32nd overall by Houston in the 2015 NBA Draft. He played three collegiate seasons at the University of Louisville, where he was a member of the 2013 NCAA Championship team as a freshman, earned First Team All-AAC honors as a sophomore in 2014 and received the Karl Malone Award as the nation’s top power forward as a junior in 2015.

Lakers sign Travis Wear to two-way contract

The Los Angeles Lakers have signed forward Travis Wear to a two-way contract, it was announced today by General Manager Rob Pelinka.

Wear played in 17 games for the Lakers in 2017-18, averaging 4.4 points and 2.2 rebounds in 13.4 minutes per game. Signed mid-season from the South Bay Lakers, Wear notched 16.7 points (.445 FG%, .419 3P%), 8.3 rebounds and 2.0 assists in 33 G League games (29 starts) last season.

Per NBA rules, teams are permitted to have up to two players under two-way contracts on their roster at any given time, in addition to their 15-man regular season roster.

Knicks sign Noah Vonleh, who played last season with Blazers and Bulls

The New York Knicks signed free agent forward Noah Vonleh today.

Vonleh, 6-9, 245 pounds, spent last season with Portland and Chicago, averaging 4.9 points and 5.8 rebounds in 16.2 minutes over 54 total games (16 starts). The 22-year-old was selected by Charlotte with the ninth overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft.

Vonleh started last season with Portland where he averaged 3.6 points and 5.1 rebounds in 14.4 minutes over 33 games (12 starts). He was traded mid-season to the Bulls and appeared in 21 contests (four starts), recording 6.9 points and 6.9 rebounds over 19.0 minutes.

The Haverhill, MA-native holds career averages of 4.1 points and 4.7 rebounds over 15.5 minutes in 231 total games (113 starts) played with Charlotte, Portland and Chicago. He was traded from Charlotte to Portland on June 24, 2015.

Vonleh played one season for Indiana University where he was named Big Ten Freshman of the Year and third team All-Big Ten. In 30 games (29 starts) he averaged 11.3 points, 9.0 rebounds and 1.4 blocks.

Cavs sign Kevin Love to contract extension

Kyrie Irving is long gone. LeBron James is recently gone. But the Cleveland Cavaliers are keeping Kevin Love for years to come

The Cavs and Love signed a new multi-year contract extension today. Per multiple reports, the deal is for four years and $120 million.

“We are very excited to announce Kevin’s long-term commitment to the Cavaliers and Cleveland. This quickly became a partnership the second we began these discussions. Collaboration and winning matter greatly to Kevin and that was reflected in this extension,” said Cavs General Manager Koby Altman. “Kevin’s talent and character are both at a very high level and he has earned his role at the center of what we want to do moving forward. As a five-time All-Star and NBA Champion, Kevin has a special understanding of exactly what success and winning require.”

“When I first came to Cleveland, I came with a long-term mindset,” said Love. “I came here to win. We developed a culture here that reflects that. I’m super excited and I couldn’t be happier. It’s a big commitment for me and it’s a big commitment from the Cavaliers, so I want to thank Dan Gilbert, Koby Altman and the entire organization. I enjoy playing here, I’m excited about the team that we have and look forward to our future together. Cleveland fans have been special from day one and I’m also looking forward to continuing to be a part of this great community.”

According to USA Today, “Extending Love signals Cleveland’s decision to avoid a rebuild in the post-LeBron era. Instead of trading Love for younger players and draft picks, the Cavs made it clear – at least in the short term – they want to see if they can remain competitive in the East without James, who signed a four-year deal with the Los Angeles Lakers earlier this month.”

And according to CBS Sports, “From Love’s perspective, this is easy to understand. It’s a hell of a lot of money, and it gives him the opportunity to be the No. 1 option for the first time since the 2013-14 season. His last four seasons with LeBron James have had wild ups and downs, and while he learned how to function as a complementary player — and quietly had the most efficient season of his career last year — he never fully got to be himself. Now, whether or not he finishes this contract in Cleveland, he will at least get to prove that he can still carry an offense … while being compensated handsomely.”

Love (6-10, 251) was an NBA All-Star this past season, appearing in 59 games (all starts) for Cleveland and averaging 17.6 points and a team-high 9.3 rebounds in 28.0 minutes per game. He also shot .415 from beyond the arc and a career-high .880 from the foul line. Love was one of just four NBA players to make at least 100 three-pointers while averaging at least 9.0 rebounds in 2017-18 (Karl-Anthony Towns, Nikola Jokic, DeMarcus Cousins). In addition, he recorded 31 double-doubles and scored 20 points or more on 26 occasions, including a season-high 38 points in just 25 minutes versus Miami on Nov. 28. He posted 17 outings of at least 20 points and 10 rebounds.

The 6-10 forward was originally acquired by the Cavs in a three-team trade with Minnesota and Philadelphia on August 23, 2014. Over the past four seasons, Love has appeared in 271 games (all starts) with Cleveland, while averaging a double-double with 17.1 points and 10.0 rebounds in 31.3 minutes per contest. Since the 2014-15 season, he leads the team in total rebounds (2,705), double-doubles (145) and three-pointers (584). In Cavaliers history, Love already ranks fourth in three-pointers made, 10th in defensive rebounds (2,165) and 12th in total rebounds. He has also helped the Cavs reach the postseason in all four years, which includes winning an NBA Championship in 2016. Over his 63 career playoff games (62 starts) with Cleveland, Love has averaged 15.3 points and 9.7 rebounds in 31.1 minutes per game, while recording 27 double-doubles and shooting .404 from beyond the arc and .854 from the charity stripe.

Love, who is a 10-year NBA veteran, is one of only eight players in NBA history to accumulate 11,000 points, 7,000 rebounds and 1,000 three-pointers (Dirk Nowitzki, Jason Kidd, Kobe Bryant, Paul Pierce, LeBron James, Rasheed Wallace, Antawn Jamison), as well as the only player to ever hold a career average at least 10.0 rebounds and knock down 1,000 three-pointers or more. In 635 regular season games (553 starts) with Minnesota and Cleveland, Love has averaged 18.3 points, 11.3 rebounds and 2.3 assists in 32.2 minutes per game. Since entering the league in 2008-09, he has registered the second-most double-doubles with 401 (Dwight Howard-498) and has gone on to average at least 9.0 rebounds in all 10 of his NBA seasons. The UCLA product has also earned five NBA All-Star selections (2011, 2012, 2014, 2017, 2018), two All-NBA Second Team honors (2012, 2014), an Olympic gold medal (2012) and was winner of the league’s Most Improved Player award (2011) and Three-Point Contest at All-Star Weekend in Orlando (2012).

Mavs sign Ding Yanyuhang, who has played professionally in China for years

The Dallas Mavericks yesterday signed guard-forward Ding Yanyuhang (pronounced yin-you-hong).

Ding (6-7, 205) has spent the last seven seasons playing professionally for China’s Shandong Golden Stars. In 45 games for Shandong in 2017-18, he averaged 26.0 points, 5.2 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1.6 steals per game en route to winning his second consecutive Chinese Basketball Association Domestic MVP award.

Ding played on the Mavericks’ Orlando and Las Vegas summer league teams in 2017.

The Xinjiang, China native has represented the Chinese national team in international competition, including the 2016 Olympic Games.