Category: NBA News Blog

NBA news blog

Trail Blazers guard Anfernee Simons out with thumb injury, will undergo surgery

Portland Trail Blazers guard Anfernee Simons injured his right thumb during Wednesday’s game at LA Clippers.

A subsequent MRI conducted Thursday evening revealed a tear of the ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) of the right thumb.

Simons is set to have surgery and is expected to miss 4-6 weeks.

Per the Oregonian: “Expected to be the team’s leading scorer this season following the departure of Damian Lillard, Simons scored 18 points to go along with four assists in the Blazers’ 123-111 loss the the Clippers.”

Timberwolves exercise contract option on Wendell Moore Jr.

The Minnesota Timberwolves have exercised their team option on guard Wendell Moore Jr.

Moore Jr., 22, enters his second season in the NBA after appearing in 29 games (two starts) in his rookie campaign last season, averaging 1.4 points on 41.9% shooting, 0.6 rebounds and 0.6 assists. In his first career start during the Nov. 30 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies, the Richmond, Va. native finished with seven points, a career-high three rebounds and two assists. In eight regular season games for the Iowa Wolves, the NBA G League affiliate of the Timberwolves, Moore Jr. averaged 19.4 points on 42.0% shooting, 4.5 rebounds and 5.0 assists.

Pacers sign head coach Rick Carlisle to contract extension

The Indiana Pacers have signed Head Coach Rick Carlisle to a contract extension.

“It goes without saying that Coach Carlisle is one of the most creative and successful coaches in the history of the league, so there was never a question that he continues to be the right person to lead our team,” said President of Basketball Operations Kevin Pritchard. “His ties to this organization and community run deep, his guidance and leadership are invaluable to our players and staff, and we’re looking forward to working together for years to come as we build something special for our fans.”

Per the Indianapolis Star, “Indiana would win just 25 games in 2021-22 and 35 last season but this extension is a signal that Carlisle is central piece to the team’s rebuild. Haliburton became an All-Star last season and was signed to a five-year max contract extension this offseason worth up to $260 million”

The Pacers 143-120 win over the Washington Wizards at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Wednesday night marked the 897th career win for Coach Carlisle.

Nets exercise contract options on Day’Ron Sharpe and Cam Thomas

The Brooklyn Nets have exercised the fourth-year team options for center Day’Ron Sharpe and guard Cam Thomas.

Sharpe appeared in 48 games (three starts) during the 2022-23 season and averaged 4.7 points and 4.2 rebounds in 11.5 minutes per game. The 21-year-old also played in two contests as a reserve during the 2023 postseason, registering averages of 3.0 points, 3.0 rebounds and 2.5 assists in 9.8 minutes per game.

Thomas played in 57 games (four starts) last season, averaging 10.6 points, 1.7 rebounds and 1.4 assists in 16.6 minutes per contest. The Chesapeake, Va., native saw action in two 2023 postseason games and averaged 3.0 points over 7.8 minutes per game.

Magic sign Cole Anthony to contract extension

The Orlando Magic yesterday signed guard Cole Anthony to a contract extension.

Anthony’s extension is reportedly a three-year, $39 million deal.

Anthony (6’3”, 198, 5/15/00) appeared in 60 games (four starts) last season with Orlando, averaging 13.0 ppg., 4.8 rpg. and 3.9 apg. in 25.9 minpg., while shooting a team-high .894 (152-170) from the free throw line. He was tied for 10th in the NBA in free throw percentage. Anthony had eight 20+ point games as a reserve, which ranked third in the Eastern Conference. He scored 730 points off the bench (13.0 ppg., 56 games), which ranked fourth in the Eastern Conference and eighth in the NBA.

Originally selected in the first round (15th overall) of the 2020 NBA Draft by Orlando, Anthony has played in 172 career NBA regular season games (103 starts), all with the Magic, averaging 14.2 ppg., 5.0 rpg. and 4.6 apg. in 28.4 minpg., while shooting .861 (477-554) from the free throw line. Anthony participated in the Rising Stars event during 2022 NBA All-Star in Cleveland.

Anthony (6’3”, 190, 5/15/00) played in 22 games (20 starts) during his only season (2019-20) at the University of North Carolina, averaging 18.5 ppg., 5.7 rpg., 4.0 apg. and 1.32 stlpg. in 34.9 minpg. He led the Tar Heels in scoring and had the second-highest scoring average for a freshman in school history. Anthony was named Third Team All-ACC and to the All-ACC Freshman Team.

Timberwolves sign Jaden McDaniels to contract extension

The Minnesota Timberwolves yesterday signed forward Jaden McDaniels to a multi-year contract extension.

McDaniels’ deal is reportedly a five-year, $136 million extension.

McDaniels, 23, has played all three of his NBA seasons with Minnesota, appearing in 212 games (137 starts), holding averages of 9.6 points on 48.2% shooting, 3.9 rebounds and 1.4 assists in 27.0 minutes per game. Last season, McDaniels established himself as one of the elite perimeter defenders in the league, appearing in 79 games (all starts), averaging career-highs of 12.1 points and a 51.7% field goal percentage to go along with 3.9 rebounds per game and led all qualified wing players in block percentage (1.5%). He totaled 76 blocks and 74 steals during the 2022-23 season, the only player in the NBA last year to tally 75+ blocks and 70+ steals.

The Federal Way, Wash. native has appeared in six playoff games for the Wolves, averaging 9.3 points on 52.9% shooting, including 50.0% from three-point range. In 33:27 minutes of action off the bench during Game 6 vs. Memphis on April 29, 2022, McDaniels ended the game with a playoff career-high 24 points on 8-of-9 shooting, including a playoff career-high 5-of-6 from deep, the most points off the bench in a playoff game in franchise history.

The Wolves originally acquired McDaniels’ draft rights as the 28th overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft from the Los Angeles Lakers.

Detroit Pistons injury updates on Bojan Bogdanovic, Monte Morris and Isaiah Livers

Some Detroit Pistons injury updates were announced today, on the opening night of the 2023-24 NBA regular season:

Pistons forward Bojan Bogdanovic is out with a right calf strain. He will be reevaluated in four weeks.

Pistons guard Monte Morris suffered a right quad strain during a recent rehab session that ramped up basketball activities after missing time with lower back soreness. He will be reevaluated in three weeks.

Isaiah Livers (Grade III left ankle sprain) is making progress towards returning to basketball activities. He will be reevaluated in approximately four weeks.

Mavericks sign Josh Green to contract extension

The Dallas Mavericks have agreed to a multi-year contract extension with guard Josh Green.

Green’s deal is reportedly a three-year, $41 million extension.

Green (6-6, 210) enters his fourth season having increased his averages in each one prior. In 2022-23, he posted career-high averages of 9.1 points, 3.0 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 25.7 minutes. Green also shot 53.7% from the field (205-382 FG), 40.2% from three (68-169 3FG) and 72.3% (68-94 FT) from the free throw line. When called upon to be a starter last season, he averaged 11.8 points, 3.6 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 31.3 minutes in 21 games.

“We have seen Josh work extremely hard over his time with the Mavs to become an impactful player on both ends of the floor,” said Mavericks GM and VP of Basketball Operations Nico Harrison. “His energy is contagious for our group, and when he’s in the game he pushes his teammates to play at a different speed. Josh is a high-level person and teammate, and we are happy to have him with our program for the long term.”

The Australian native played one year of college basketball at Arizona before being selected 18th overall by Dallas in the 2020 NBA Draft. Green owns career averages of 5.8 points, 2.5 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 18.2 minutes over 166 games (29 starts) in his three seasons, and he has 17 games of playoff experience.

Green produced six games with at least 20 points in 2022-23 after not scoring 20 or more points in any game his first two seasons. He tallied a career-high 29 points, including 12 in the third quarter, in 37 minutes at Utah on Feb. 6, and was a +39 on the night. During the month of February, he scored in double figures in a career-best six consecutive games. In March, Green posted three consecutive games with 20-or-more points.

Representing his national team, Green has played for Australia in the 2023 FIBA World Cup and 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo, where he won a bronze medal – the country’s first-ever Olympic medal in men’s basketball.

Trail Blazers sign Duop Reath, waive Ibou Badji

The Portland Trail Blazers yesterday signed center Duop Reath to a two-way contract.

The team have also requested waivers on center Ibou Badji.

During the 2023 Preseason, Reath appeared in four games and averaged 7.8 points (47.6% FG, 33.3% 3-PT, 72.7% FT), 4.2 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 16.2 minutes per game for the Trail Blazers. Reath participated in 2023 Las Vegas Summer League with the Portland Trail Blazers where he averaged 13.0 points and 7.4 rebounds in five games.

In April of 2023, the LSU alum signed with Al Riyadi Beirut of Lebanon and in 10 games, he posted 21.4 points, 9.9 rebounds, 1.1 assists and 2.5 blocks in 32 minutes per game. Reath was also a member of the 2020 Australian National Team along with fellow Trail Blazers teammate Matisse Thybulle as they earned a bronze medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

Pistons convert Stanley Umude deal to two-way contract

The Detroit Pistons have converted Stanley Umude’s contract to a two-way contract.

Umude signed an Exhibit 10 deal on August 7.

Umude (6-6, 210) appeared in 43 games for the Motor City Cruise, the NBA G-League affiliate of the Detroit Pistons, last season and averaged 15.4 points, 5.2 rebounds and 1.3 assists in 27.5 minutes per game. Umude signed a 10-day contract with Detroit on Feb. 10, 2022, and appeared in one game for the Pistons during the 2022-23 season.

A native of Portland, Ore., Umude appeared in 138 collegiate games with South Dakota and Arkansas. He averaged 14.2 points, 5.3 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 0.7 steals, while shooting 46.8% from the field, during his college career and helped Arkansas to the 2022 NCAA Elite Eight during his one season with the Razorbacks.