NBA News Blog – Page 487 – NBA Blog

Hawks sign Isaiah Taylor

The Atlanta Hawks have signed Isaiah Taylor, the team announced.

Taylor saw action in four regular season games and three playoff contests for Houston as a rookie in 2016-17, after signing with the Rockets on Feb. 27. Additionally, the 6’3 guard averaged 21.0 points, 6.0 assists and 3.0 rebounds in 34.9 minutes (.515 FG%, .457 3FG%, .816 FT%) in 25 games (19 starting assignments) for the Rio Grande Valley Vipers of the NBA G League, while being named to the league’s All-Rookie Team.

A three-year letterman (2013-16) at the University of Texas, Taylor played in 92 career games (all starts) for the Longhorns and averaged 13.6 points, 4.5 assists, 3.1 rebounds and 1.0 steals in 30.8 minutes (.404 FG%, .792 FT%). As a junior, he was named First-Team All-Big 12 after posting 15.0 points, 5.0 assists and 2.8 rebounds in 30.9 minutes (.420 FG%, .811 FT%) in 33 games. He was named Third-Team All-Big 12 as a sophomore, as well as Honorable Mention and to the conference’s All-Newcomer Team as a freshman.

Taylor will wear No. 22.

Suns exercise options on Devin Booker, Dragan Bender and Marquese Chriss

The Phoenix Suns have exercised their 2018-19 options on guard Devin Booker, forward Dragan Bender and forward Marquese Chriss.

Booker led the Suns with 22.1 points per game last season, the third-highest scoring average ever posted by a player 20-years-old-or-younger at season’s end, behind only LeBron James in 2004-05 and Kevin Durant in 2008-09. The 13th overall pick in the 2015 NBA Draft, Booker’s 2,774 total points through his first two seasons trail only James, Durant and Carmelo Anthony for the fourth-most ever by an NBA player before his 21st birthday.

Bender averaged 7.2 points and 7.0 rebounds this preseason, after averaging 3.4 points, 2.4 rebounds and 0.51 blocks in 43 appearances as a rookie last season, missing 31 games to a right ankle injury. The 4th overall pick and youngest player in the 2016 NBA Draft, Bender averaged 14.2 points, 6.0 rebounds and 2.4 assists for the Suns at NBA Summer League 2017 in Las Vegas, and also played for Croatia’s national team at FIBA EuroBasket 2017 this past summer.

Chriss was named to the 2016-17 NBA All-Rookie Second Team for averaging 9.2 points on 44.9 percent shooting, 4.2 rebounds, 0.85 blocks and 0.82 steals while playing all 82 games. The 8th overall pick in the 2016 NBA Draft, Chriss led all rookies in games started (75) and dunks (103), and was one of just two first-year players along with Joel Embiid to rank in the top 10 on the rookie leaderboard in scoring average, rebounds per game, blocks per game and steals per game.

The Suns open their 50th season with the Coca-Cola & Fry’s Food Stores Tip Off on Wednesday, October 18 when the team hosts the Portland Trail Blazers at Talking Stick Resort Arena at 7 p.m. Tickets are still available at Suns.com or by calling 602-379-SUNS.

Rodney McGruder undergoes surgery

The Miami HEAT announced that guard Rodney McGruder underwent successful surgery to repair a left tibia stress fracture. The 90-minute procedure was performed by Dr. Charles Jordan and HEAT team physician Dr. Harlan Selesnick at Miami Orthopedics & Sports Medicine Institute at Doctors Hospital. He is expected to begin rehabilitation in one week. A timetable for his return has not been set.

McGruder appeared in five preseason games (five starts) with the HEAT, averaging 7.2 points, 2.8 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 22.3 minutes while shooting 51.9 percent from the field and 44.4 percent from three-point range.

Warriors sign Quinn Cook to two-way contract

The 2017 NBA Champion Golden State Warriors have signed free agent Quinn Cook to a two-way contract, the team announced Tuesday.

Cook joins Chris Boucher as the Warriors’ two-way players.

Cook, 24, appeared in five games this preseason with the Atlanta Hawks, averaging 3.4 points and 1.2 assists in 9.4 minutes per game. During the 2016-17 NBA season he played in five games with Dallas and nine games with New Orleans, averaging 5.6 points and 1.9 assists in 13.4 minutes per contest. After a four-year career at Duke, the undrafted guard spent the 2015-16 season and a majority of the 2016-17 campaign with the Canton Charge of the G League, averaging 22.6 points, 6.0 assists, 4.0 rebounds, 1.16 steals and 36.0 minutes in 82 games (75 starts). He was twice named to the G League All-Star Team, and earned 2017 G League All-Star Game MVP honors after recording 18 points, a game-high 12 assists and seven rebounds in 25 minutes. He was also named the 2016 G League Rookie of the Year.

The Washington, D.C. native, concluded his collegiate career 28th on Duke’s all-time scorers list with 1,571 points. He was one of just seven players in school history to record 1,000 points and 500 assists and set a Duke record with a career assist-to-turnover ratio of 2.52:1. He ranks fourth all-time at Duke in career free throw percentage (.853) and his 143 games played are tied for the seventh most in school history.

Per NBA rules, teams are permitted to sign two players to two-way contracts in addition to the 15-man regular-season roster. Players signed to a two-way contract may accrue no more than 45 days of service with their respective NBA club during the regular season, spending the remainder of the season with the team’s G League affiliate. The Warriors’ two-way players will have the ability to spend time with both Golden State and the team’s G League affiliate in Santa Cruz.

Thunder sign PJ Dozier to two-way contract

The Oklahoma City Thunder has signed guard PJ Dozier to a two-way contract, it was announced Tuesday by Executive Vice President and General Manager Sam Presti.

In two seasons at South Carolina, Dozier (6-6, 205) appeared in 70 games (64 starts) and averaged 10.4 points, 3.9 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 1.34 steals in 24.0 minutes per game.

During the 2017 NCAA Tournament, Dozier averaged 12.3 points, 4.8 rebounds and 2.9 assists per game as he helped the Gamecocks clinch their first Final Four berth in school history.

Starting in the 2017-18 season, each team is allowed two players on two-way contracts, in addition to the standard 15 players on the roster. Players on two-way contracts spend most of the season in the NBA G League, but can be called up to their NBA team for a maximum of 45 days.

Bucks sign Gary Payton II to two-way contract

The Milwaukee Bucks have signed Gary Payton II to a Two-Way contract.

Payton II, 24, originally signed with Milwaukee on April 2 and played in six games during the 2016-17 season where he averaged 3.3 points, 2.2 assists and 2.0 rebounds. He appeared in four preseason games and averaged 7.5 points, 3.3 rebounds and 2.0 assists.

NBA rules permit teams to have two Two-Way players on their roster at any given time, in addition to their 15-man regular season roster. A Two-Way player for the Bucks will provide services primarily for the team’s G League affiliate – the Wisconsin Herd – but can spend up to 45 days with Milwaukee, not including any time prior to the start of the Herd’s training camp and following the conclusion of the G League regular season.

Timberwolves hire Shawn Parker as public address announcer

The Minnesota Timberwolves have announced the hire of Shawn Parker as the team’s public address announcer. The hire follows an extensive search that drew over 400 interested applicants.

Shawn Parker, a Washington D.C. native, has an extensive sports background and is certified by the National Association of Sports Public Address Announcers (NASPAA). Shawn was most recently the PA announcer at George Washington University and for the Women’s Football Alliance’s three-time national Champion D.C. Divas. He has also been the hockey voice of the 2015 World Police and Fire Games and the 2016 USA Hockey High School National Championships, as well as has experience as a boxing announcer for several D.C.-based champions including world light middleweight champion, Jarrett “Swift” Hurd.

Spurs sign LaMarcus Aldridge to contract extension

The San Antonio Spurs have signed LaMarcus Aldridge to a contract extension.

The extension is reportedly a three-year deal, worth around $72 million.

The 2017-18 season will mark Aldridge’s third year with the Silver and Black after originally signing with the team on July 9, 2015. An 11-year NBA veteran, he is just one of three players, along with LeBron James and Dwyane Wade, to score 1,000 points or more in each of the last 10 seasons. Aldridge has been named to the All-NBA Team four times (Second Team in 2015, Third Team in 2011, 2014 and 2016), earned All-Rookie First Team honors in 2007, and has been selected as an All-Star five times (2012-2016).

In Aldridge’s first two seasons with the Spurs, San Antonio posted back-to-back 60-plus win seasons for the first time in team history going a franchise-best 67-15 in 2015-16 and 61-21 during the 2016-17 season. In 146 games with the Silver and Black, Aldridge is averaging 17.6 points, 7.9 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 1.16 blocks in 31.5 minutes while shooting .495 (1,036-2,094) from the field and .836 (479-573) from the foul line. During the 2015-16 season he was selected to the All-NBA Third Team and was named an All-Star for the fifth time in his career. Aldridge has appeared in 26 playoff games with the Spurs, averaging 18.6 points, 7.8 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 1.15 blocks in 33.6 minutes in the postseason.
Originally drafted by the Chicago Bulls with the second overall pick in the 2006 NBA Draft, Aldridge was dealt to the Portland Trail Blazers in a draft-night trade. He spent his first nine NBA seasons with the Trail Blazers where he appeared in 648 regular season games, averaging 19.4 points, 8.4 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.02 blocks in 35.5 minutes. He is the Trail Blazers all-time leader in rebounds (5,434), second in points (12,562), and fourth in games played (648) and blocked shots (658). His 234 double-doubles also rank first all-time in Trail Blazers history.

In 794 regular season NBA games, Aldridge has averaged 19.1 points, 8.3 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.04 blocks in 34.5 minutes. The 32-year-old has appeared in 60 playoff games, averaging 20.6 points, 8.4 rebounds, 1.52 blocks and 1.5 assists in 37.5 minutes.

Prior to his NBA career, Aldridge spent two seasons at the University of Texas (2004-06). He was named the Big 12 Defensive Player of The Year and was selected to the All-Big 12 First Team as a sophomore.

Timberwolves waive Amile Jefferson, Melo Trimble and Shawne Williams

The Minnesota Timberwolves finalized their 2017-18 Opening Night roster on Saturday, October 14 by waiving Amile Jefferson, Melo Trimble and Shawne Williams.

The Wolves open their 29th season of basketball on Wednesday, October 18 at the San Antonio Spurs at 8:30 pm CT. Opening night will be broadcast on ESPN, Fox Sports North and the radio home of the Wolves, 830 WCCO. The team’s home opener is Friday, October 20 vs. the Utah Jazz.

Magic sign Jamel Artis to two-way contract

The Orlando Magic have signed free agent guard Jamel Artis to a two-way contract.

Artis (#0, 6’7”, 215, 1/12/93) played in 135 career games (98 starts) during four years at the University of Pittsburgh, averaging 12.6 ppg., 4.6 rpg. and 2.3 apg. in 27.6 minpg., while shooting .378 (170-450) from three-point range. He finished his career as one of only three players in Pitt history to record at least 1,600 points, 500 rebounds and 300 assists. Artis was named Third Team All-ACC by the coaches in 2014-15 and earned All-ACC Academic Team honors in 2013-14. As a senior (2016-17), he played in 32 games (31 starts), averaging 18.2 ppg., 4.9 rpg. and 3.3 apg. in 34.3 minpg. On Jan. 11, 2017 @ Louisville, Artis poured in a career-high 43 points.

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