Utah Jazz assign Joel Bolomboy to D-League

The Utah Jazz announced today that the team has assigned forward Joel Bolomboy to the Salt Lake City Stars, the Jazz’s exclusively owned and operated NBA D-League team. He is expected to participate in Stars practice today at Taylorsville Recreation Center.

This will be the first assignment this season for Bolomboy. Bolomboy (6-9, 235, Weber State) has appeared in two games for the Jazz this season, averaging 1.5 points, 0.5 rebounds and 0.5 blocked shots in 2.6 minutes per game. He registered three points, one rebound and one blocked shot at Los Angeles Clippers on Oct. 30.

Bolomboy is the fifth player to be assigned to the D-League under the Jazz-Stars single affiliation. Other players on the current Jazz roster with D-League experience include Rudy Gobert and Shelvin Mack.

Kings sign Jordan Farmar

Kings sign Jordan Farmar

The Sacramento Kings today signed free agent guard Jordan Farmar, according to Vice President of Basketball Operations and General Manager Vlade Divac.

Farmar averaged 6.5 points (.471 FG%, 5-11 3pt, .833 FT%), 1.8 rebounds and 2.8 assists in four preseason contests with Sacramento, including 14 points (5-8 FG, 4-5 3pt), one rebound and five assists against the L.A. Lakers on Oct. 13. A 10-year NBA veteran, Farmar has tallied career averages of 7.7 points (.423 FG%, .374 3pt%, .739 FT%), 1.9 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 19.5 minutes per game in 502 contests.

Al Horford in NBA concussion protocol program

Al Horford in NBA concussion protocol program

Celtics center/forward Al Horford reported being hit in the head Monday (October 31) during practice and was asymptomatic Monday evening and during the pre-practice period on Tuesday (November 1) and he was subsequently cleared to practice.

However symptoms presented during practice and Horford was immediately removed from practice. He was evaluated last night by Celtics team physicians and has been placed in to the NBA’s concussion protocol program.

Horford is out for tonight’s game against the Chicago Bulls and his status will be updated as appropriate per the NBA concussion protocol.

Thunder trade Ersan Ilyasova to Sixers for Jerami Grant

The Oklahoma City Thunder has acquired forward Jerami Grant and a trade exception from the Philadelphia 76ers in exchange for forward Ersan Ilyasova and a protected draft pick, Thunder Executive Vice President and General Manager Sam Presti announced today.

Oklahoma City will convey its first round pick, in the first allowable draft beginning in 2020, unless that pick falls within the top 20 picks of that year’s draft. If the pick is within the top 20, the Thunder will instead send the 76ers its own second round draft picks in 2022 and 2023.

The 22-year-old Grant (6-8, 210) has appeared in 144 games (63 starts) over three seasons with Philadelphia, averaging 8.2 points, 3.9 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.38 blocks in 24.2 minutes per game. This season, Grant is averaging 8.0 points, 3.5 rebounds 2.00 blocks and 20.5 minutes per contest.

Originally selected by the 76ers with the 39th overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft, Grant spent two seasons at Syracuse where he averaged 12.1 points and 6.8 rebounds as a sophomore. He scored in in double-figures in 24 of his 32 games played that season.

Celtics exercise contract options on Marcus Smart and Terry Rozier

Celtics exercise contract options on Marcus Smart and Terry Rozier

The Celtics today exercised the contract options for Terry Rozier’s third year and Marcus Smart’s fourth year. Per team policy, terms of the deals were not disclosed.

Rozier, a 6’2” guard, has appeared in all three games for the Celtics during the 2016-17 season and has posted averages of 6.0 points, 3.3 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.33 steals in 23.9 minutes per game. He posted a career-high of eight points to go along with four rebounds and four assists against Chicago on October 27, 2016. During his rookie season last year, Rozier appeared in 39 games for the Celtics and totaled 72 points, 63 rebounds and 37 assists in 311 minutes. He increased his production during the 2016 preseason when he averaged 9.6 points, 2.1 rebounds and 2.3 assists in 17.2 minutes per game while shooting 54.0 percent from the field and 60.0 percent from three.

Smart, a 6’4” guard, has posted career averages of 8.4 points, 3.7 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 1.5 steals in 128 career games since the Celtics drafted him 6th overall out of Oklahoma State in the 2014 NBA Draft. During the 2015-16 season, Smart posted career-highs in points (9.1 per game) and rebounds (4.2 per game) while being selected to participate in the 2016 Rising Stars Challenge during All-Star weekend.

Hawks sign Ryan Kelly

Hawks sign Ryan Kelly

The Atlanta Hawks have signed forward Ryan Kelly, it was announced today by President of Basketball Operations/Head Coach Mike Budenholzer. He is expected to be in uniform for tonight’s game vs. Sacramento.

Kelly, who spent training camp with the Hawks, appeared in six preseason contests.

The 6’10 Kelly spent the last three years with the Los Angeles Lakers after being selected in the second round (48th overall) of the 2013 NBA Draft, averaging 6.5 points, 3.3 rebounds and 1.4 assists in 20.5 minutes in 147 games (59 starts). A four-year letterman at Duke, Kelly was a member of the Blue Devils’ 2010 NCAA Champion team.

He will wear uniform no. 30.

Jeremy Lamb out with hamstring injury

Jeremy Lamb out with hamstring injury

Hornets guard Jeremy Lamb suffered a strained left hamstring in the Hornets home game on Oct. 29, 2016 against the Boston Celtics. The injury occurred with 4:40 remaining in the second quarter and he did not return to the game.

Lamb is listed as out and will be reevaluated in one to two weeks.

The fifth-year Connecticut product is averaging 7.0 points, 4.0 rebounds and 1.0 assists per game in three appearances in the 2016-17 season. In five seasons, Lamb has averaged 7.5 points, 2.7 rebounds and 1.1 assists per game in 217 games (8 starts).

The Hornets are 2-1 this season, which began less than one week ago. They’re getting 23.3 points per game from point guard Kemba Walker, while Nicolas Batum, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist and Frank Kaminsky are all averaging 11.0 ppg.

Hornets exercise option on Frank Kaminsky

Hornets exercise option on Frank Kaminsky

The Hornets on Sunday exercised their third-year option on forward/center Frank Kaminsky.

“We are excited to keep Frank Kaminsky as a part of our team’s core,” said Hornets General Manager Rich Cho. “We have been very pleased with Frank’s development both offensively and defensively. We look forward to what he will continue to contribute to our organization while evolving into an even better player.”

The 23-year-old Kaminsky (7-0, 242, Wisconsin) enters his second NBA season after appearing in 81 games (three starts) as a rookie in 2015-16, averaging 7.5 points, 4.1 rebounds and 1.2 assists in 17.3 minutes per game. He scored in double-digits 23 times including two games of 20-or-more scored and nine games of 15-plus points. Kaminsky was selected by the Hornets ninth overall in the first round of the 2015 NBA Draft.

Nets exercise contract options on Rondae Hollis-Jefferson and Chris McCullough

The Brooklyn Nets exercised their team options for the 2017-18 season on forwards Rondae Hollis-Jefferson and Chris McCullough.

Hollis-Jefferson, selected with the 23rd pick in the 2015 NBA Draft by Portland and acquired via trade by the Nets on draft night, has appeared in 32 career games (20 starts), averaging 5.5 points, 5.2 rebounds and 1.4 assists in 21.4 minutes per game.

McCullough, the 29th pick in the 2015 NBA Draft, has seen action in 25 career games (four starts), recording averages of 4.6 points and 2.8 rebounds in 14.6 minutes per game.