NBA News Blog – Page 683 – NBA Blog

Timberwolves players will wear commemorative patch for Flip Saunders

The Minnesota Timberwolves today announced that the team will wear a commemorative patch on their jersey during the 2015-16 season in honor of recently passed President of Basketball Operations and Head Coach Flip Saunders.

The patch will be worn for the first time on Monday, November 2, as the Timberwolves open the home portion of the 2015-16 season against the Portland Trail Blazers at Target Center. The team will wear the patch for all home and road games for the balance of the season beginning on November 2.

Charlotte Hornets are getting their own D-League team

The NBA Development League and Hornets Sports & Entertainment today announced that the Charlotte Hornets have acquired the right to own and operate an NBA D-League team. The team will be located in Greensboro, N.C., and will play its 24 home games at the Pavilion at the Greensboro Coliseum Complex, which will be renovated into a basketball fieldhouse, beginning with the 2016-17 season. With the purchase, the Hornets become the record 11th NBA team to fully own and operate its NBA D-League affiliate, while the NBA D-League expands to a record 20 teams.

“Today is a historic day for the NBA D-League, the Hornets and the city of Greensboro,” said Malcolm Turner, NBA D-League President. “Having a 20th NBA D-League team, and the 11th that is owned by an NBA team, is an important and noteworthy achievement. We are thrilled to welcome Hornets Sports & Entertainment into the growing family of NBA D-League owners and are excited to continue to work with the city of Greensboro to bring NBA D-League basketball to fans across the state of North Carolina. I’m already looking forward to tipping off the team’s first season in November of next year.”

“This is an important step for our franchise,” said Hornets Sports & Entertainment Chairman Michael Jordan. “Having our own team will allow us to use the NBA D-League in a more efficient and worthwhile way. By operating our own club, it will be a seamless transition for our players, coaches and front office when we assign a player because the NBA D-League team will follow the same principles and run the same sets as the Hornets. Placing the team in Greensboro also allows us to expand the Hornets’ brand to another city in our region that has a great basketball tradition.”

Four members of the current Hornets roster have played in the NBA’s official minor league – Troy Daniels, P.J. Hairston, Jeremy Lamb and Jeremy Lin. The Hornets assigned two players to develop their games in the NBA D-League last season, and they have signed 12 players from the League since the 2004-05 campaign, including 2004-05 NBA D-League MVP Matt Carroll. Additionally, Charlotte assistant coaches Pat Delany and Steve Hetzel joined the Hornets following stints as NBA D-League head coaches in Sioux Falls and Canton, respectively.

The Hornets, who began the process to acquire an NBA D-League team earlier this year, join the Cleveland Cavaliers (Canton Charge), Golden State Warriors (Santa Cruz Warriors), Indiana Pacers (Fort Wayne Mad Ants), Los Angeles Lakers (L.A. D-Fenders), New York Knicks (Westchester Knicks), Oklahoma City Thunder (Oklahoma City Blue), Philadelphia 76ers (Delaware 87ers), San Antonio Spurs (Austin Spurs), Toronto Raptors (Raptors 905) and Utah Jazz (Idaho Stampede) as NBA teams to fully own and operate their NBA D-League affiliate.

Located 90 miles northeast of Charlotte, the Greensboro Coliseum Complex is a multi-building facility that includes the 22,000-seat Greensboro Coliseum; the 167,000-square-foot Special Events Center, which includes a 5,000-seat mini-arena; the 30,000-square-foot Pavilion; the 7,600-seat White Oak Amphitheatre; a 12,000-square-foot banquet facility; the 300-seat Odeon Theatre; the Greensboro Aquatic Center; and the ACC Hall of Champions. The Greensboro Coliseum Complex hosts more than 1,100 events annually and has welcomed more than 60 million guests since its grand opening.

Bucks exercise options on Tyler Ennis, Jabari Parker, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Michael Carter-Williams

The Milwaukee Bucks have exercised the third-year contract options on Tyler Ennis and Jabari Parker, and the fourth-year contract options on Giannis Antetokounmpo and Michael Carter-Williams, General Manager John Hammond announced today.

All of these moves were expected. While the jury is still out on Ennis, the other three players are considered key building blocks and the foundation of the franchise.

Antetokounmpo, 20, appeared in 81 games (71 starts) last year during his sophomore campaign and averaged 12.7 points with 6.7 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.0 blocks in 31.4 minutes per contest. He posted double-figure scoring in 60 games in 2014-15, including seven 20-plus scoring outings. In his two NBA seasons, the 6-11 forward has played in 158 games (94 starts), averaging 9.8 points, 5.6 rebounds and 2.3 assists in 28.1 minutes per game. In 2014-15, Antetokounmpo became the youngest Buck in franchise history to amass 1,000 points with Milwaukee.

Carter-Williams, 24, appeared in 66 games (63 starts) split between Philadelphia and Milwaukee last season, averaging 14.6 points, 5.3 rebounds, 6.7 assists (11th in the NBA) and 1.7 steals (15th in the NBA) in 32.6 minutes per game. Over two seasons, the 2013-14 Kia NBA Rookie of the Year has played a total of 136 games (133 starts), averaging 15.7 points, 5.8 rebounds, 6.5 assists and 1.8 steals. With these averages, Carter-Williams joins a list of Oscar Robertson, Magic Johnson, Grant Hill, Steve Francis and LeBron James as the only players to average at least 15.0 points, 5.0 rebounds and 6.0 assists through their first two NBA seasons.

Ennis, 21, split time between Phoenix and Milwaukee last year during his rookie season and averaged 3.7 points, 2.2 assists and 1.1 rebounds in 12.5 minutes over 33 contests. He made his debut in the Bucks starting lineup on March 14 at Memphis, logging career highs in assists (11), rebounds (4) and minutes played (36). With his 11 assists, Ennis became the third Bucks player in franchise history under 21 years old to record 10-plus assists in a game, joining Brandon Jennings and T.J. Ford.

Parker, 20, competed in 25 games (all starts) as a rookie for the Bucks in 2014-15 before missing the remainder of the season due to a left ACL tear. In his 25 games played, Parker averaged 12.3 points, 5.5 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 1.2 steals per contest. The Duke product was named NBA Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month for October and November of 2014 after he helped lead the Bucks to a 10-8 mark by averaging 11.9 points, 6.1 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 1.3 steals per game. Parker recorded consecutive double-doubles in his first week of NBA action last season (11 pts/10 rebs on 10/31 vs. PHI and 13 pts/11 rebs on 11/1 at WAS), making him the first teenager in 30 years to record multiple double-doubles in his first three career games.

Under the terms of the NBA’s current collective bargaining agreement, the first two years of a first round draft pick’s contract are guaranteed, while the third and fourth year of the contract are the team’s option.

Suns exercise options on Archie Goodwin, Alex Len, T.J. Warren

The Phoenix Suns have exercised their 2016-17 contract options on guard Archie Goodwin, center Alex Len and forward T.J. Warren.

These moves were expected, and aren’t a surprise.

Goodwin, who has spent each of his first two NBA seasons with the Suns, averaged career-highs of 5.6 points, 1.8 rebounds, 1.1 assists and 13.0 minutes in 41 games in 2014-15. The 29th overall pick of the 2013 NBA Draft, Goodwin averaged 14.5 points and 3.5 rebounds in the two games in which he started last season. At NBA Summer League 2015 in Las Vegas, Goodwin ranked second on the team with an average of 15.9 points as he helped the Suns reach the 2015 Summer League Championship Game. During the preseason, Goodwin averaged 5.7 points, 1.8 assists and 1.0 steals in 15.8 minutes.

Len led the Suns with 1.6 blocks per game during the preseason, also averaging 10.2 points and 6.0 rebounds. In 2014-15, he produced a breakthrough second season as he emerged as one of the league’s best shot blockers, ranking seventh in the NBA among qualified players with 2.5 blocks per 36 minutes. The fifth overall pick of the 2013 NBA Draft, Len averaged career-bests of 6.3 points, 6.6 rebounds, 1.5 blocks and 22.0 minutes in 69 games. In 44 starts last season, Len posted 6.9 points, 7.7 rebounds, 1.9 blocks and 24.2 minutes as the Suns posted a 23-21 record in those games. Len’s 1.9 blocks per game after entering the regular starting lineup on Dec. 15 ranked eighth in the NBA from that date forward.

Warren led the Suns in scoring with an average of 13.7 points during the preseason, in addition to averaging 5.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.8 steals. One of the NBA’s most efficient rookie scorers in 2014-15, he ranked seventh among rookies who played at least 600 total minutes with an average of 14.4 points per 36 minutes, the highest by a Suns rookie playing at least 600 minutes since Amar’e Stoudemire in 2002-03. Overall, the 14th pick of the 2014 NBA Draft averaged 6.1 points, 2.1 rebounds and 15.4 minutes in 40 games. Warren excelled at NBA Summer League 2015 in Las Vegas, being named to the All-NBA Summer League First Team after averaging a team-high 18.7 points on 54.0 percent shooting in seven games.

Pelicans sign Ish Smith

The New Orleans Pelicans signed guard Ish Smith today.

Smith, 6-0, 175, spent the 2015 preseason with Washington, appearing in five games while averaging 2.2 points and 4.0 assists in 11.5 minutes per game. Undrafted out of Wake Forest in 2010, Smith has appeared in 246 career regular season games with Houston, Memphis, Golden State, Orlando, Milwaukee, Phoenix, Oklahoma City and Philadelphia, holding career averages of 3.6 points, 2.3 assists and 1.5 rebounds in 12.3 minutes per game.

New Orleans’ roster now stands at 15, the regular season maximum.

Spurs exercise contract option on Kyle Anderson

The San Antonio Spurs have exercised their third-year option on forward Kyle Anderson for the 2016-17 season. This was an expected move and will surprise no one.

Originally selected by the Spurs in the first round of the 2014 NBA Draft (30th overall), Anderson averaged 2.3 points and 2.3 rebounds in 11.2 minutes over 32 games last season. The former UCLA Bruin also appeared in 26 games with the Austin Spurs, San Antonio’s NBA D-League affiliate, where he averaged 21.3 points, 8.7 rebounds and 4.8 assists in 40.1 minutes.

Anderson was named MVP of the 2015 NBA Summer League after averaging 21.0 points, 6.0 rebounds and 1.9 assists in 27.3 minutes over seven games, helping the Spurs win the 2015 Las Vegas Summer League Championship.

Raptors set opening night roster

The Toronto Raptors announced Monday their roster for Wednesday’s regular season opener against the Indiana Pacers at Air Canada Centre (TSN/Sportsnet 590 The FAN, 7:30 p.m.).

The Raptors waived Michael (Michael) Kyser, Ronald Roberts, Shannon Scott and Axel Toupane (too-PON) Saturday to get to the league roster limit of 15 players.

Toronto recorded a club-record 49 wins and earned its second consecutive Atlantic Division crown last season.

Toronto returns eight players that ended last season with the team. Newcomers to the roster are Canadian Anthony Bennett (Minnesota), Bismack Biyombo (Charlotte), DeMarre Carroll (Atlanta), Canadian Cory Joseph (San Antonio), Norman Powell (UCLA), Luis Scola (Indiana) and Delon Wright (Utah, first-round draft pick).

Grizzlies waive Ryan Hollins

The Memphis Grizzlies have waived center Ryan Hollins.

Hollins (7-0, 230) appeared in seven preseason games for the Grizzlies, posting 5.4 points and 3.0 rebounds in 11.5 minutes. The 31-year-old originally was signed by Memphis on Sept. 28.

It would not be surprising to see Hollins land on another roster soon.

The Grizzlies’ roster currently stands at 15 players.

Sixers set regular season roster

The Philadelphia 76ers announced they have waived guards Pierre Jackson, J.P. Tokoto, Scottie Wilbekin and Jordan McRae, and forward Furkan Aldemir.

Additionally, the Sixers signed center Jordan Railey, who has also been waived and will be a Designated Affiliate of the NBA Development League Delaware 87ers.

The team is rebuilding, still. On and on, the rebuild goes. Where it stops, no one knows.

Mavericks waive Maurice Ndour

The Dallas Mavericks have requested waivers on forward Maurice Ndour.

Ndour (6-9, 200) was originally signed by the Mavericks on July 22. He saw action in four preseason games for Dallas and averaged 4.8 points, 1.5 rebounds and 1.5 steals in 22.8 minutes per game. The rookie forward missed the final three games of the exhibition season with a left tibial stress reaction.

Ndour spent two years at Monroe College where he was a two-time National Junior College Athletic Association All-Region selection before transferring to Ohio University. In his first season at Ohio, Ndour averaged 13.8 points and 7.0 rebounds while starting 31 of his 36 games. As a senior for the Bobcats, he increased those averages to 16.0 points, 8.3 rebounds and 2.3 blocks per game on his way to being named All-Mid-American Conference Second Team.

The Mavericks’ roster is now set for their season opener at Phoenix on Wednesday, Oct. 28.