Category: NBA News Blog

NBA news blog

Sixers sign Ricky Council IV to standard NBA contract

The Philadelphia 76ers yesterday signed Ricky Council IV to a standard NBA contract.

Originally signed to a two-way contract prior to this season, Council IV has appeared in 31 games as a rookie with the 76ers, averaging 5.5 points on 48.2-percent shooting and 1.4 rebounds in 9.1 minutes per game. He has logged at least 10 minutes of action in 11 of his 31 appearances, producing 10.5 points on 54.2-percent shooting in those contests.

Council IV has tallied at least 10 points on eight occasions, including a career-best 19-point, 10-rebound performance at Washington on Feb 10. He became the seventh rookie in franchise history – and the first since Dario Šarić in 2017 – to produce at least 19 points and 10 boards off the bench.

In 27 games with Philadelphia’s G League affiliate, the Delaware Blue Coats, Council IV recorded 23.8 points on 47.3-percent shooting, 5.3 rebounds, and 1.9 assists. He reached the 30-point mark on five occasions and connected on at least three triples 12 times.

Last season, Council IV appeared in 36 games (29 starts) collegiately for the University of Arkansas, where he ranked fifth in the Southeastern Conference with a team-high 16.1 points to go along with 3.6 rebounds. The All-SEC Second Team selection scored in double figures in 31 of his appearances this season.

Celtics sign center Neemias Queta

The Boston Celtics have signed center Neemias Queta to a standard contract.

Queta has appeared in 26 games with the Celtics since signing a two-way contract with the franchise on September 17, 2023. The 7-0 center is recording career-highs in his first season with Boston, averaging 4.6 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 0.6 blocks in 11.4 minutes per game.

Queta scored a career-high 14 points on 4-of-7 made field goals and grabbed a career-high 12 rebounds in the Celtics’ 145-108 win over the Los Angeles Clippers on Dec. 23. Queta has recorded both of his career double-doubles this season, including his 10-point, 10-rebound performance against the Golden State Warriors on Dec. 19.

The Lisbon, Portugal native has averaged 14.4 points, 8.8 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 1.1 steals, and 1.9 blocks in eight games with the Celtics’ G-League affiliate, the Maine Celtics, this season. Queta helped Maine advance to the G-League Finals for the first time in franchise history after recording 16 points and a G-League career-high 19 rebounds in their Eastern Conference Championship win over the Long Island Nets (99-77).

Queta played three years at Utah State University before being selected by the Kings with the 39th overall pick in the 2021 NBA draft, becoming the first Portuguese player in NBA history.

Grizzlies sign forward Timmy Allen to 10-day contract

The Memphis Grizzlies have signed forward Timmy Allen to a 10-day contract.

Allen (6-6, 210) appeared in 46 games (18 starts) for the Memphis Hustle during the NBA G League Showcase Cup and regular season and averaged 9.5 points, 4.1 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.0 steals in 26.4 minutes.

Unselected in the 2023 NBA Draft, the 24-year-old Arizona native was named to the 2021-22 All-Big 12 Second Team as a senior at Texas.

Allen will wear jersey #0 for the Grizzlies.

Pistons sign guard Jaylen Nowell to 10-day contract

The Detroit Pistons have signed guard Jaylen Nowell to a 10-day contract.

Nowell, 6-4, 201, is a five-year NBA veteran and has appeared in 193 career games (four starts) for Minnesota and Memphis. The No. 43 overall pick by the Timberwolves in the 2019 NBA Draft, Nowell holds career averages of 8.9 points, 2.2 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 0.5 steals in 17.1 minutes per game. Nowell appeared in nine games for the Grizzlies this season, averaging 5.7 points, 1.6 rebounds and 1.8 assists in 17.3 minutes.

In 28 games this season with the Stockton Kings, the NBA’s G League affiliate of the Sacramento Kings, Nowell is averaging 17.4 points, 3.6 rebounds and 3.6 assists in 27.9 minutes per game.

A native of Seattle, Nowell played collegiately at the University of Washington from 2017-19 where he was named Pac-12 Player of the Year and First-Team All-Pac-12 for the Huskies in 2019.

Raptors sign center Malik Williams to 10-day contract

The Toronto Raptors have signed center Malik Williams to a 10-day contract.

Williams, 6-foot-11, 250 pounds, averaged 11.1 points, 9.3 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 23.2 minutes in 33 regular season games (24 starts) with the Sioux Falls Skyforce, the G League affiliate of the Miami Heat, this year. He shot .436 (143-328) from the field. Williams scored in double figures 21 times including a career-high 29 points Jan. 19 against the Maine Celtics.

A native of Fort Wayne, Indiana, Williams went undrafted in the 2022 NBA Draft and spent last season with Anwil Wloclawek of the Polish OBL where he averaged 8.1 points, 5.5 rebounds and 17.7 minutes, while shooting .445 (89-200) from the field in 31 games (18 starts).

Williams played collegiately at Louisville and averaged 7.2 points, 5.5 rebounds and 17.9 minutes, shooting .444 (311-701) from the field in 123 games (62 starts) over five seasons (2017-22).

Hornets head coach Steve Clifford to step down at end of season

Charlotte Hornets Head Coach Steve Clifford announced today that he will step down from his role as head coach when his contract expires at the conclusion of the 2023-24 regular season. Clifford will serve as head coach for the team’s seven remaining games and is expected to move into an advisory role with the front office next season. The Hornets will begin their search for a new head coach immediately.

“This is the appropriate time for me to step down,” said Clifford. “I believe this is best for me and the organization. I’m excited about the future of the Hornets – our young core of players, Jeff’s leadership of our basketball operations and Rick and Gabe’s vision for the organization. I want to thank all the Hornets players and staff for their work the past two seasons and our Hornets fans for their continued support of our team.”

“Dating back to our time together in Brooklyn, I have a tremendous amount of appreciation for Coach Cliff, and I understand his decision to step down,” said Hornets Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations Jeff Peterson. “His basketball knowledge, teaching ability and work ethic are well-respected throughout the NBA. He has had to endure some very difficult circumstances the past two years, and yet our players have continued to compete, work hard and develop. On behalf of the entire Hornets organization, I want to thank Steve for all his efforts, and we look forward to having him remain a part of the organization.

“While Steve will continue to coach the team for the remainder of the season, we will immediately begin the search process for our next head coach. We will look to hire someone that shares our values and vision in developing our young core and creating a culture and identity based on teamwork, accountability and competitiveness. We will conduct a thorough search process to select the best head coach for the Hornets moving forward.”

Clifford was hired on June 24, 2022, marking his second stint with the Hornets. He previously served as head coach from 2013 – 2018, leading the team to two playoff appearances, and his 241 victories as Charlotte’s head coach are the most in franchise history. Clifford also served as head coach of the Orlando Magic for three seasons (2018-21), guiding the team to two playoff berths. He became the 75th coach in NBA history to amass 300 wins. In total, Clifford has more than 25 years of NBA experience as a scout, assistant coach and head coach.

Raptors sign Kobi Simmons to a 10-day contract

The Toronto Raptors have signed guard Kobi Simmons to a 10-day contract.

Simmons, 6-foot-5, 180 pounds, is averaging 15.9 points, 4.9 assists, 4.1 rebounds and 31.6 minutes in 23 regular season games (19 starts) with Raptors 905 in the NBA G League this year. He is shooting .438 (124-283) from the field, .388 (50-129) from three-point range, and .830 (44-53) at the foul line. Simmons has scored in double figures in 19-of-23 games and 20+ points six times, including a career-high 36 points Mar. 11 at Osceola.