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The Memphis Grizzlies waived guard Chris Crawford and forward Vince Hunter today.
Crawford (6-4, 222), originally signed on Sept. 23, made four preseason appearances (zero starts) for the Grizzlies and averaged 3.8 points, 1.8 rebounds and 2.8 assists in 16.3 minutes.
Hunter (6-8, 208), who was signed on Oct. 9, competed in four preseason games (zero starts) for Memphis and averaged 8.8 points and 4.0 rebounds in 19.4 minutes.
The Grizzlies’ roster now stands at 18 players.
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The Boston Celtics announced today that they have waived Marcus Georges-Hunt, Damion Lee and Jalen Jones.
The Celtics roster now stands at 17.
The Celtics this season are built around Isaiah Thomas, Avery Bradley, Jae Crowder and Al Horford, plus Marcus Smart, Gerald Green and rookie Jaylen Brown, among others.
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Philadelphia 76ers forward Elton Brand announced today that he has informed the team of his intention to retire at the conclusion of the 2016 preseason.
“Elton Brand symbolizes professionalism and class in every sense,” said Sixers President of Basketball Operations Bryan Colangelo. “A stellar college and 17-year pro career speaks to his high-level basketball ability, and his profound impact on people and his teammates represents what kind of incredible human being he is. On behalf of the entire organization, it has been an honor to have the opportunity to work with Elton and to have him be part of the 76ers’ family and larger Philadelphia community.”
Over 17 NBA seasons, Brand appeared in 1,058 career games with 868 starts for Chicago, the Los Angeles Clippers, Philadelphia, Dallas and Atlanta. The 6’ 8” Brand posted career averages of 16 points, nine rebounds, two assists and two blocks per game. His 1,828 blocks rank him 20th all-time in NBA history. He played 34,910 career minutes, which ranks him 67th all-time. Brand was also the recipient of the 2005-06 Joe Dumars Trophy, presented each season to the player who exemplifies the ideals of sportsmanship on the court.
Brand originally joined the Sixers on July 9, 2008, when he signed a free-agent contract with the team. He spent four seasons in Philadelphia before spending 2012-15 with Dallas and Atlanta. Brand then signed with the Sixers on January 4, 2016 and then again on September 7, 2016. All told as a member of the Sixers, Brand appeared in 263 games (222 starts) and averaged 13 points and seven rebounds in 30.4 minutes per contest.
A two-time NBA All-Star, Brand was the first overall pick in the 1999 NBA Draft by the Chicago Bulls and was named Rookie of the Year.
A native of Peekskill, N.Y., Brand was named a McDonald’s All-American following his senior year of high school and attended Duke University. In his second and final season at Duke, Brand helped the Blue Devils reach the NCAA Championship game while also earning consensus National Player of the Year honors.
An active member in the community throughout his NBA career, Brand established the Elton Brand Foundation in the spring of 2000 and donated $235,000 to open a reading and learning center in his hometown in 2004.
Brand is also a founding member and president of Gibraltar Films, a company engaged in film investment, acquisition, production, and distribution of motion pictures.
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The Detroit Pistons have exercised their team option on the contract of forward Stanley Johnson through the 2017-18 NBA season.
Johnson, the eighth overall pick in the 2015 NBA Draft, averaged 8.1 points, 4.2 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 23.1 minutes in 73 games (six starts) during his rookie season.
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The Indiana Pacers exercised their team option on center Myles Turner’s contract for the 2017-18 season.
This was an expected move. Turner is one of the team’s main young building blocks.
The 6-foot-11, 243-pound Turner averaged 10.3 points and 5.5 rebounds in 22.8 minutes per game last season as a rookie.
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The Warriors waived guards Phil Pressey, Cameron Jones and Elliot Williams today.
Jones appeared in five preseason games, averaging 5.0 points, 1.4 rebounds and 1.0 assist in 11.5 minutes. Pressey also appeared in five games, averaging 2.4 points and 1.0 assist in 10.7 minutes. Williams missed all six preseason games due to right knee surgery. All three players were originally signed on September 16, 2016.
The Cavaliers waived guard Markel Brown, forward Jonathan Holmes and forward Cory Jefferson today.
Brown appeared in six preseason games for the Cavs, averaging 4.8 points and 1.7 rebounds in 14.3 minutes per game.
Holmes appeared in six preseason games for the Cavs, averaging 9.7 points and 3.3 rebounds in 17.4 minutes per game.
Jefferson appeared in six preseason games for the Cavs, averaging 7.7 points and 5.2 rebounds in 20.3 minutes per game.
Charlotte Hornets General Manager Rich Cho announced today that the team has waived guard Andrew Andrews.
Andrews (6-2, 200, Washington) signed with the Hornets on Sept. 7 and appeared in three games, averaging 4.0 points on .429 percent from the field, 1.3 rebounds and 1.0 assists in 10.4 minutes per contest.
The team’s roster now stands at 18.
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The NBA Development League and the Sacramento Kings today announced that the team has acquired a controlling interest in the NBA D-League’s Reno Bighorns. With the purchase, the Kings become the 15th NBA team to own and operate its NBA D-League affiliate.
“With today’s purchase, half of NBA teams now own and operate their NBA D-League affiliate – an important milestone that proves how essential developing top young NBA talent has become,” said NBA D-League President Malcolm Turner. “I’m thrilled to welcome Vivek Ranadivé and the Sacramento Kings’ ownership group to the NBA D-League family and want to thank Herb Santos for his integral role in Bighorns basketball.”
Longstanding partners, the Bighorns and Kings have been affiliated since the 2008-09 season, Reno’s inaugural NBA D-League campaign. Prior to the 2013-14 season, the teams entered into a single-affiliation partnership, with the NBA franchise managing basketball operations for the NBA D-League club. With today’s purchase, the Kings will now assume all business operations of the Bighorns.
“We’re excited to deepen our relationship with the Bighorns and the Reno/Tahoe community,” said Kings owner and chairman Vivek Ranadivé. “This is an incredible opportunity to develop players, front-office staff and future business executives for the Sacramento Kings, while simultaneously contributing meaningfully to the Reno entertainment, commercial and non-profit ecosystem.”
Five current Kings have NBA D-League experience. Additionally, head coach Dave Joerger and assistant coaches Bryan Gates and Duane Ticknor all made the jump to the NBA coaching ranks following stints on NBA D-League benches.
Since the team’s inception, more than 10 Bighorns have earned GATORADE Call-Ups to the NBA, including San Antonio Spurs guard Danny Green. Additionally, 16 NBA players have spent time on assignment in Reno, including current NBA players Jeremy Lin and Hassan Whiteside.
“It has been a tremendous honor and privilege to grow basketball and provide family-friendly entertainment in the Reno community over the past five years,” said Bighorns minority owner Herb Santos. “I cannot thank everyone enough for the years of support and look forward to continuing to cheer for the Bighorns alongside each of you.”
On Nov. 2, the Kings will join the Bighorns for a Celebration Day featuring Kings talent in order to give fans in Reno an opportunity to connect directly with the Sacramento organization. Those interested in purchasing a season-ticket membership can sign up on the priority list at RenoBighorns.com/membership or by calling 888-91-KINGS to have first shot at securing seats before they go on sale to the public on Nov. 2.
Launched in 2001, the NBA D-League has expanded from an eight-team league to a record 22 teams for the 2016-17 season, all of which will be singly affiliated with an NBA parent club. The NBA D-League will tip off its 16th season on Nov. 11.
Knicks guard Derrick Rose won his civil trial today. Here’s the NY Daily News reporting:
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A California jury has rejected a woman’s $21.5 million rape lawsuit against Knicks’ star Derrick Rose.
The jury deliberated for just under four hours Wednesday in Los Angeles federal court before finding the accuser hadn’t proven her claim that Rose and two friends gang-raped her while she was drunk or drugged in her central California apartment.
Rose showed no emotion as the verdict was read, and just shook his lawyer’s hand.
Outside of court, he said he was thankful the jury “understood and agreed with me.”