Category: NBA News Blog

NBA news blog

Sixers sign Shawn Long to 10-day contract

The Philadelphia 76ers today “called up” forward-center Shawn Long from the Delaware 87ers of the NBA Development League and signed him to a 10-day contact. Pursuant to the NBA’s roster hardship exception, the Sixers roster now stands at 16.

Long originally signed with the Sixers on July 8, 2016 before being waived on October 24 and joining the Sevens. In 39 games with Delaware, he leads the team with averages of 20 points and 11 rebounds in 30 minutes per game, while shooting 54 percent from the field. He was named a 2017 NBA D-League All-Star.

Long played four collegiate seasons (2013-16) at the University of Louisiana-Lafayette, posting 17 points, 11 rebounds and two blocks in 30 minutes per game. As a senior, he was named 2016 Sun Belt Conference Player of the Year.

Long will wear number 36 for the Sixers.

Hornets sign Johnny O`Bryant to second 10-day contract

The Charlotte Hornets today signed forward Johnny O’Bryant to a second 10-day contract. O’Bryant signed his first 10-day contract with Charlotte on Feb. 24 after becoming the D-League’s 23rd Gatorade Call-Up this season.

O’Bryant has played in two games with the Hornets, averaging 8.5 points on 80.0 percent from the field and 3.0 rebounds in 8.5 minutes per contest. The third-year pro scored a career-high 15 points on 7-of-9 field goals in a win against Denver on March 4. He has also appeared in 25 games (all starts) for the D-League’s Northern Arizona Suns this season, owning averages of 18.4 points, 8.8 rebounds and 1.7 assists, and was selected as a 2017 NBA D-League All-Star‎.

Originally selected with the 36th overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft by the Milwaukee Bucks, O’Bryant has now appeared in 109 NBA games (19 starts) over three seasons with Milwaukee, Denver and Charlotte with career averages of 3.1 points and 2.4 rebounds in 11.8 minutes per game.

A native of Cleveland, Miss., O’Bryant was a three-year collegiate player at Louisiana State (2011-14) and posted career averages of 12.7 points, 7.7 rebounds and 1.3 assists. He earned All-SEC First Team accolades following the 2012-13 and 2013-14 seasons.

Hawks coach Mike Budenholzer suspended

Atlanta Hawks head coach Mike Budenholzer has been suspended one game without pay for making contact with a game official, it was announced today by Kiki VanDeWeghe, Executive Vice President, Basketball Operations. Coach Budenholzer also made contact with a game official last season on November 21, 2015 during a game against the Cleveland Cavaliers.

The most recent incident occurred with 2:42 remaining in the third quarter of the Hawks’ 135-130 loss to the Cavaliers on March 3 at Philips Arena.

Budenholzer will serve his suspension on Sunday, March 5 when the Hawks host the Indiana Pacers.

Festus Ezeli will undergo season-ending knee surgery

Trail Blazers center Festus Ezeli is expected to undergo surgery next week on his left knee, it was announced today by president of basketball operations Neil Olshey.

While the exact surgery date is pending, it will be performed by Dr. Robert LaPrade at the Steadman Clinic in Vail, Colorado.

Ezeli will be out for the remainder of the 2016-17 season.

Bucks sign Terrence Jones

The Milwaukee Bucks have signed forward Terrence Jones to a contract for the remainder of the season, General Manager John Hammond announced today. In a related move, Axel Toupane has been released from his 10-day contract.

Jones, 25, appeared in 51 games (12 starts) with the New Orleans Pelicans this season and posted averages of 11.5 points, 5.9 rebounds, 1.1 assists and 1.0 blocks in 24.8 minutes per game. He was waived by the Pelicans on Feb. 23.

Currently in his fifth NBA season, Jones has played in 229 games and averaged 10.6 points, 5.8 rebounds and 1.0 assists in 24.8 minutes per contest. He spent his first four NBA seasons with the Houston Rockets and also played with the Rio Grande Valley Vipers of the D-League.

Toupane was signed to a 10-day contract on Feb. 25 and saw action in two games with the Bucks.

Jones will wear uniform number 6. Milwaukee’s roster now stands at 15 players.

Cavs sign Derrick Williams for remainder of season

The Cleveland Cavaliers have signed forward Derrick Williams to a contract for the remainder of the season, Cavaliers General Manager David Griffin announced today from Cleveland Clinic Courts.

Williams (6-8, 245) has appeared in nine games with the Cavaliers this season, averaging 10.3 points on .561 shooting from the field and 3.1 rebounds in 24.2 minutes. He originally signed with the Cavs on Feb. 9, the first of two consecutive 10-day contracts. Prior to joining Cleveland, he played in 25 games (11 starts) with Miami this season and averaged 5.9 points and 2.9 rebounds in 15.1 minutes.

Playing in his sixth NBA season, Williams has appeared in 410 games (112 starts) with Minnesota, Sacramento, New York, Miami and Cleveland and holds career averages of 9.1 points and 4.1 rebounds in 21.1 minutes. He was drafted out of Arizona as the No. 2 pick in the 2011 NBA Draft by the Timberwolves and earned All-Rookie Second Team honors in 2012.

Hawks add Jose Calderon via waiver wire

The Atlanta Hawks Basketball Club has claimed guard Jose Calderon off of waivers, it was announced today by President of Basketball Operations/Head Coach Mike Budenholzer.

“We feel fortunate to be able to add a player of Jose’s caliber at this point in the season,” Budenholzer said. “His unselfish nature and ability to shoot with range fits our style of play and his experience will add to our locker room.”

In his 12th season, Calderon has appeared in 772 career regular season games (557 starts), averaging 9.7 points, 6.3 rebounds and 2.6 assists (.473 FG%, .411 3FG%, .875 FT%). He’s also played in 18 postseason contests.

As a member of the Spanish national team, he’s won the FIBA World Cup (2006), two Olympic silver medals (2008, 2012) and a bronze medal (2016).

Calderon will wear uniform No. 13.

Darius Morris named D-League Player of Month

Rio Grande Valley Vipers guard Darius Morris today was named the NBA Development League Player of the Month for games played in February.

Morris (6-4, Michigan) led Rio Grande Valley to a 6-2 record behind averages of 21.9 points, 7.5 assists, 5.1 rebounds and 1.8 steals. He shot 46.6 percent from the field and scored over 25 points in four games in February. On Feb. 10, he recorded a triple-double with 19 points, 13 assists and 10 rebounds in a 116-112 victory over the Sioux Falls Skyforce. On Feb. 14, he hit a season-high six three pointers on his way to 26 points and added 14 assists and six rebounds in a 141-133 win over the Texas Legends.

Morris is averaging 20.3 points, 6.5 assists, 4.5 rebounds and 1.3 steals this season. He was selected by the Los Angeles Lakers with the 41st overall pick in NBA Draft 2011 presented by State Farm. He last appeared in the NBA with the Brooklyn Nets during the 2014-15 season.

Other players who received consideration for the monthly award were Delaware’s James Webb III, Grand Rapids’ Kevin Murphy, Los Angeles’ David Nwaba (called up by the Los Angeles Lakers on Feb. 28), Northern Arizona’s Elijah Millsap, Raptors 905’s Brady Heslip and Texas’ Jameel Warney.

Mike Dunleavy out with ankle injury

Mike Dunleavy out with ankle injury

Atlanta Hawks guard/forward Mike Dunleavy has been diagnosed with right ankle synovitis.

An MRI taken at the Emory Orthopaedics and Spine Center on Feb. 28th revealed the injury and a second opinion by Dr. Richard Ferkel of the Southern California Orthopedic Institute also confirmed the diagnosis.

Dunleavy will now undergo a period of rest, treatment and rehabilitation and his status will be updated as appropriate.