Category: NBA News Blog

NBA news blog

Raptors trade Dennis Schroder, Thaddeus Young to Nets for Spencer Dinwiddie

The Brooklyn Nets have acquired guard Dennis Schröder and forward Thaddeus Young in a trade with the Toronto Raptors for guard Spencer Dinwiddie.

In a related move, the Nets have requested waivers on center Harry Giles III.

Also, the Raptors have waived Dinwiddie

Schröder (6’3″, 175) has played in 51 games (33 starts) this season for the Raptors, producing averages of 13.7 points on 44.2 percent shooting from the field, 35.0 percent shooting from 3-point range and 85.2 percent shooting from the free-throw line, 2.7 rebounds and 6.1 assists in 30.6 minutes per game. His 3.77 assist-to-turnover ratio ranks 10th in the league and represents a career-best mark, while his assists per game and turnovers per game (1.6) are both approaching the best single-season marks of his career. The 30-year-old has not missed a game this season after helping lead his native Germany to the country’s first-ever gold medal at the FIBA World Cup this past summer, earning FIBA World Cup MVP honors in the process. Across 11 NBA seasons with Atlanta (2013-18), Oklahoma City (2018-20), the Los Angeles Lakers (2020-21, 2022-23), Boston (2021-22), Houston (2022) and Toronto (2023-24), Schröder has recorded averages of 14.0 points on 43.4 percent shooting from the field, 33.8 percent shooting from distance and 83.7 percent shooting from the free-throw line, 2.9 rebounds and 4.8 assists in 27.1 minutes per contest in 739 games (350 starts). Schröder was originally selected with the 17th overall pick in the first round of the 2013 NBA Draft by Atlanta after playing professionally for three years in Germany, garnering Bundesliga Most Improved Player and Bundesliga Best German Young Player honors in his final season in 2013 with Phantoms Braunschweig.

Young (6’8″, 225) has seen action in 1,162 games (726 starts) across 17 seasons with Philadelphia (2007-14), Minnesota (2014-15), Brooklyn, Indiana (2016-19), Chicago (2019-21), San Antonio (2021-22) and Toronto (2022-24), registering averages of 12.2 points on 50.3 percent shooting from the field, 5.7 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1.4 steals in 28.3 minutes per contest.

Dinwiddie played in and started 48 games this season for the Nets, recording averages of 12.6 points, 3.3 rebounds and 6.0 assists in 30.7 minutes per game. He appeared in 348 games (206 starts) across two stints with Brooklyn (2016-21, 2023-24), averaging 14.2 points, 3.1 rebounds and 5.7 assists in 28.7 minutes per contest.

Giles played in 16 games off the bench for the Nets this season, averaging 3.4 points and 1.6 rebounds in 5.1 minutes per game. Giles was originally signed as a free agent by Brooklyn on Sept. 6, 2023.

Knicks trade Quentin Grimes, Evan Fournier, Malachi Flynn, Ryan Arcidiacono to Pistons for Bojan Bogdanovic, Alec Burks

The Detroit Pistons have acquired guard Quentin Grimes, forward Evan Fournier, guards Malachi Flynn and Ryan Arcidiacono, two future second round draft picks and cash considerations in a trade with the New York Knicks for forward Bojan Bogdanovic and guard Alec Burks.

Grimes, 6-5, 205, has appeared in 45 games (18 starts) for the Knicks this season while averaging 7.3 points, 2.0 rebounds and 1.2 assists in 20.2 minutes. The 25th overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, Grimes has appeared in 162 games (90 starts) over three seasons with New York, holding career averages of 8.6 points, 2.5 rebounds and 1.5 assists while shooting .436 from the field and .379 from 3-point range. The Houston, Texas, native played one season at the University of Kansas before transferring to the University of Houston. Grimes averaged 17.8 points and 5.7 rebounds in his junior season for the Cougars and was named 2020-21 American Athletic Conference Player of the Year.

Fournier, 6-6, 205, is a 12-year NBA veteran. He has appeared in 675 career games (504 starts) for Denver, Orlando, Boston and New York. Drafted by the Denver Nuggets with the No. 20 overall pick in the 2012 NBA Draft, Fournier holds career averages 13.9 points, 2.7 rebounds and 2.5 assists while shooting .442 from the field and .378 from 3-point range. Fournier spent three seasons with the Knicks, averaging 11.8 points, 2.4 rebounds and 1.9 assists in 26.0 minutes per game. The Saint-Maurice, France, native has won a silver medal for the French national team in the 2020 Summer Olympics and two bronze medals in the 2014 and 2019 FIBA World Cups.

Flynn, 6-1, 175, has appeared in 45 games this season averaging 4.6 points, 1.4 rebounds and 1.3 assists in 11.9 minutes for the New York Knicks and Toronto Raptors. A four-year NBA veteran, Flynn played four seasons for the Toronto Raptors (2020-23) before being traded to the Knicks on Dec. 30, 2023. The Tacoma, Wash., native played two seasons collegiately at Washington State before transferring to San Diego State. The No. 29 overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, Flynn was named Second Team All-American, Mountain West Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the year in his senior year at San Diego State.

Arcidiacono, 6-3, 195, is in his seventh NBA season. In 257 career NBA games, he’s averaged 4.0 points, 1.8 rebounds and 1.9 assists with Chicago, New York and Portland. The Philadelphia, Pa., native played four seasons at Villanova University (2012-16) where he helped the wildcats to the 2016 NCAA championship. Arcidiacono was named 2015 Big East Player of the Year and crowned Most Outstanding Player in the 2016 NCAA tournament. Undrafted in 2016, Arcidiacono signed a two-way contract with the Chicago Bulls prior to the 2017-18 season.

Bogdanovic, 6-7, 226, appeared in 87 games (86 starts) for Detroit, averaging 21.1 points, 3.6 rebounds and 2.6 assists while shooting .481 from the field and .413 from 3-point range across two seasons. Bogdanovic was acquired via trade from the Utah Jazz on Sept. 22, 2022. He holds career averages of 15.8 points, 3.6 rebounds and 1.7 assists in 690 career games.

Burks, 6-6, 214, appeared in 94 games for Detroit over two seasons, averaging 12.7 points, 2.9 rebounds and 1.9 assists while shooting .416 from the field and .407 from 3-point range. Burks was acquired via trade from the New York Knicks on July 11, 2022. He holds career averages of 10.9 points, 3.4 rebounds and 2.0 assists in 719 career games.

Jazz trade Kelly Olynyk, Ochai Agbaji to Raptors for Kira Lewis Jr., Otto Porter Jr.

The Toronto Raptors have acquired forward-center Kelly Olynyk and guard Ochai Agbaji in a trade with the Utah Jazz for guard Kira Lewis Jr., forward Otto Porter Jr. and a 2024 first round draft pick.

Olynyk, 6-foot-11, 240 pounds, is averaging 8.1 points, 5.1 rebounds, 4.4 assists and 20.4 minutes in 50 contests (eight starts) this season with the Jazz. He is shooting .562 (145-258) from the floor, including .429 (36-84) from three-point range, and has scored 10+ points in 14 games.

A native of Toronto, Olynyk played three collegiate seasons at Gonzaga (2009-13) and was picked 13th overall by Dallas in the 2013 NBA Draft. He owns career averages of 10.2 points, 5.2 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 22.5 minutes in 728 contests (242 starts) with Boston, Miami, Houston, Detroit and Utah.

On the international stage Olynyk has been a longstanding member of Canada’s Senior Men’s National Team, helping the squad win bronze at the 2023 FIBA World Cup and qualify for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

Agbaji, 6-foot-5, 215 pounds, is averaging 5.4 points, 2.5 rebounds and 19.7 minutes in 51 games (10 starts) this season. He is shooting .426 (106-249) from the field and has scored in double figures eight times. Agbaji scored a season-high 21 points (7-14 FG, 5-10 3PT, 2-2 FT) Dec. 6 at Dallas.

A native of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Agbaji was acquired by Utah after he was picked 14th overall by Cleveland in the 2022 NBA Draft. He holds career averages of 6.7 points, 2.2 rebounds and 20.1 minutes in 110 games (32 starts) with the Jazz.

Prior to the NBA, Agbaji played four seasons at Kansas (2018-22) where he was named the NCAA Final Four Most Outstanding Player and earned consensus All-America First Team honours as a senior after helping the Jayhawks capture the 2022 NCAA National Championship.

Lewis was acquired from Indiana on Jan. 17 and appeared in one game with the Raptors. Porter averaged 3.6 points, 2.1 rebounds and 13.9 minutes in 23 games (three starts) with the Raptors after signing as a free agent in July 2022.

Mavericks, Thunder trade the right to swap a draft pick

In a trade agreement today, the Dallas Mavericks have agreed to the right to swap their own 2028 first-round pick with Oklahoma City’s own 2028 first-round pick in order to obtain a 2024 first-round pick from the Thunder.

Oklahoma City will trade the second-least favorable of the Houston Rockets 2024 draft pick (top-four protected), the Los Angeles Clippers 2024 draft pick, the Utah Jazz 2024 draft pick (top-10 protected) or Oklahoma City’s own 2024 draft pick.

76ers trade Danuel House Jr. to Pistons

The Detroit Pistons have acquired guard/forward Danuel House Jr., a 2024 second round draft pick and cash considerations in a trade with the Philadelphia 76ers for future 2028 second round draft pick.

House, 6-6, 220, has averaged 7.3 points, 2.5 rebounds and 1.1 assists in 294 career NBA games with Washington, Phoenix, Houston, New York, Utah and Philadelphia. House went undrafted in the 2016 NBA Draft and signed as a free agent with the Wizards. He averaged career highs of 10.5 points and 4.2 rebounds during the 2019-20 season with the Rockets.

A Texas native, House played his first two collegiate seasons at the University of Houston before transferring to Texas A&M where he led the Aggies in scoring in his final two seasons. House averaged 14.1 points, 4.7 rebounds and 2.0 assists for his college career and earned honorable mention All-American honors by the Associated Press as a senior.

Pistons trade Kevin Knox II to Jazz

The Detroit Pistons have acquired forward Simone Fontecchio in a trade with the Utah Jazz for Kevin Knox II, the rights to Gabriele Procida and draft considerations.

Fontecchio, 6-8, 209, is in his second NBA season after signing with Utah as an international free agent out of Italy in 2022. He is averaging career-highs across the board this season with 8.9 points, 3.5 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 23.2 minutes in 50 games (34 starts). Fontecchio is shooting a career-high 39 percent from 3-point range this season and has made at least half of his 3-point attempts in 19 outings. In 102 career NBA games with the Jazz (40 starts), he has averaged 7.6 points (.363 3FG), 2.6 rebounds and 1.1 assists.

A native of Pescara, Italy, the 28-year-old Fontecchio played professionally for 11 seasons overseas prior to entering the NBA. A three-time Italian Super Cup winner (2016-18) and a 2014 Lega Basket Serie A All-Star, he competed for Team Italy in the 2023 FIBA World Cup and averaged 18.0 points and 5.6 rebounds, leading the Italian team to the quarterfinals. Fontecchio also reached the quarterfinals with the Italian National Team in the 2020 Tokyo Summer Olympics. In his 2021-22 season with Baskonia in Liga ACB (Spain), he averaged an international career-high 12.4 points (.410 3FG).

Knox II, 6-7, 215, appeared in 73 games for Detroit over the past two seasons, averaging 6.3 points, 3.5 rebounds and 15.8 minutes per game (12 starts). Originally selected No. 9 overall by the New York Knicks in 2018, Knox signed as a free agent with Detroit in 2022 and was traded to Portland in a four-team deal at the 2023 trade deadline. He re-signed with the Pistons on Nov. 8, 2023, and averaged 7.2 points and 2.4 rebounds in 31 games (11 starts) for Detroit this season.

Per the Detroit News, “Knox, a former lottery pick, has been traded by Detroit at the NBA’s annual deadline for the second consecutive season. Last February, he was part of a four-team deadline day trade and was sent to the Portland Trail Blazers, as part of the deal to acquire James Wiseman. He’s become a journeyman since entering the league in 2018, but had a more productive second stint with the Pistons this season. Now, he’ll head to a Jazz team that is hovering around the 10th seed in the Western Conference playoff picture.”

Procida, 6-7, 191, was acquired in a trade with Portland in 2022 after being selected No. 36 overall in the 2022 NBA Draft. The 21-year-old native of Como, Italy, has not yet played in the NBA and is averaging 8.7 points, 1.6 rebounds, 0.9 assists and 1.5 steals in 17.8 minutes across 23 games for ALBA Berlin in the EuroLeague this season.

Grizzlies, Celtics trade Xavier Tillman, Lamar Stevens

The Boston Celtics have acquired forward/center Xavier Tillman in a trade with the Memphis Grizzlies for forward Lamar Stevens and two future second-round draft picks.

Tillman (6-8, 245) has appeared in 34 games (13 starts) with the Grizzlies this season and is averaging 6.0 points, 4.6 rebounds, and a career-high 1.7 assists while shooting 40.8 percent from the field. The four-year big is also averaging career highs of 1.2 steals and 1.0 blocks, standing as one of just 14 players in the league with at least one block and one steal per game this year and the only player to do so in less than 25 minutes per game.

Tillman has registered two of his six career double-doubles this season, including in the Grizzlies’ regular season opener, when he scored 17 points and grabbed a season-high 12 rebounds. This season, Tillman posted a career-high five blocks on December 26 at New Orleans, and a career-best six steals on January 13 versus New York. In 184 career games with Memphis, he owns career averages of 5.0 points and 2.7 rebounds in 15.0 minutes per game.

The Grand Rapids, Michigan native was selected with 35th overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft after playing three seasons at Michigan State. During his collegiate career, Tillman was honored as the 2020 Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year and received the 2019 Big Ten Conference Sixth Man of the Year award.

Stevens appeared in 19 games for the Celtics this season and averaged 2.8 points and 1.6 rebounds in 6.4 minutes per game while shooting 46.7 percent from the floor.

Earl Cureton passes away at age 66

Earl Cureton, former Pistons player and community ambassador with the organization for the last 10 years, passed away unexpectedly this morning at the age of 66.

A 12-year NBA veteran, Cureton was originally drafted by the Philadelphia 76ers with the 58th overall pick in the 1979 NBA Draft. Known as “The Twirl”, the 6-9 forward was a part of two NBA championships teams, the 76ers in 1982-83 and the Houston Rockets in 1993-94. Cureton also played three seasons with the Detroit Pistons (1983-86, where he averaged 5.9 points in 234 games) and spent time with the Chicago Bulls, LA Clippers, Charlotte Hornets and Toronto Raptors.

A basketball journeyman, Cureton made coaching stops in the NBA, United States Basketball League and Continental Basketball Association following his retirement from the NBA in 1997. He was also an assistant coach with the ABA’s Long Beach Jam in 2004, alongside coaching legend Paul Westhead. When Westhead left to become an assistant for the Orlando Magic, Cureton took over as head coach and led the Jam to an ABA Championship.

Cureton played collegiately at Division I Robert Morris University before transferring to University of Detroit Mercy for his final two seasons under head coach Dick Vitale. His number 24 was retired by U of D on Jan. 23, 2020. Fulfilling a life-long dream 30 years later, Cureton went back to U of D and earned his college degree in Human Services and was awarded his Bachelor of Science in 2011. A native Detroiter, Cureton prepped at Finney High School.

Statement from the Detroit Pistons Organization: “The Detroit Pistons organization is deeply saddened by the passing of Earl Cureton, a person who meant so much to the organization as a colleague, former player, community ambassador and friend. As tough a competitor as he was during his playing years on the court, he was equally kind-hearted, outgoing and impactful off it. He represented our franchise with great passion and truly enjoyed working to give back and improve the lives of Detroiters in the city he loved so much. We extend our heartfelt condolences to Earl’s family and countless friends and teammates during this most difficult time.”

Statement from Pistons Owner Tom Gores: “Earl was one of the most generous, positive and caring people I knew. He was a loving father, devoted to his family, and I was honored to be his friend. He was a champion as a player and an important ambassador in our community. We are heartbroken over his loss.”

Former Pistons player and Hall of Famer Isiah Thomas: “All of us are hurting with the unexpected loss of Earl Cureton. He was a tremendous teammate, tough competitor, a champion and a great human being. Earl always held the Detroit community close to his heart and worked tirelessly to make a difference for the city he loved. He will be greatly missed.”

Grizzlies trade Steven Adams to Rockets

The Houston Rockets yesterday acquired center Steven Adams in a trade with the Memphis Grizzlies for guard Victor Oladipo and three future second round draft picks.

Adams (6-11, 265) was originally the 12th overall pick by Oklahoma City in the 2013 NBA Draft and is in his 11th season. In 706 career games with 641 starts, he is averaging 9.2 points, 8.2 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 0.96 blocks in 26.8 minutes per game while shooting 59.7% from the floor. Adams has also appeared in 66 career playoff games.

Last season for Memphis, Adams averaged 8.6 ppg, a career-high 11.5 rpg, 2.3 apg and 1.10 bpg in 27.0 mpg. He became the second player in NBA history (Andre Drummond in 2020-21) to have averaged at least 8.0 ppg, 11.0 rpg and 2.0 apg while playing fewer than 28.0 mpg in a single season.

The New Zealand native led the NBA in offensive rebounding in each of the past two seasons (5.1 per in 2022-23 and 4.6 in 2021-22) and is averaging a league-best 4.5 orpg going back to 2017-18. He has the third-most offensive boards (2,599) among active players and ranks ninth in NBA history in offensive rebounds per 36 minutes played (4.9 per) among players with at least 350 games played.

Oladipo (6-4, 213) has competed in 504 games (397 starts) over 10 seasons and has averaged 16.9 points, 4.5 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 1.6 steals in 32.2 minutes for Orlando, Indiana, Houston and Miami since he was selected with the second overall pick in the 2013 NBA Draft.