Category: NBA News Blog

NBA news blog

Nets waive Justin Harper and Dahntay Jones

nets

The Brooklyn Nets have waived forward Justin Harper and guard/forward Dahntay Jones, General Manager Billy King announced today.

Today is the day all NBA teams must trim their rosters to 15 players or less. The Nets, now at 15 players, have done this. 

Harper (6’10”, 225), who signed with Brooklyn on September 18, appeared in six preseason contests with averages of 9.0 points, and 4.7 rebounds in 19.1 minutes per game.

Jones (6’6”, 215), who signed with Brooklyn on September 10, averaged 7.5 points and 2.0 rebounds in four preseason games. It would not surprise us if another team decides to add him to their roster.

The NBA regular season begins tomorrow. 

Pacers waive Toney Douglas

Pacers waive Toney Douglas

The Indiana Pacers announced Monday they have requested waivers on 6-2 guard Toney Douglas.

He played in five preseason games and averaged 6.6 points and 1.6 assists per game.

At this point in his career, Douglas may latch onto another team’s roster, but he also might fall out of the league. If we had to guess, the veteran has a fairly good shot at sticking around in the league for another season.

Pistons wave Danny Granger

Pistons wave Danny Granger

The Detroit Pistons have requested waivers on forward Danny Granger, who used to have serious NBA game but is now mostly an afterthought. Injuries messed him up.

Granger, 32, was acquired from the Phoenix Suns along with Marcus Morris and Reggie Bullock on July 9, 2015, in exchange for a 2020 second round draft selection.

The 10-year NBA veteran, who has appeared in 586 regular season games (431 starts) with the Indiana Pacers (2005-14), Los Angeles Clippers (2013-14) and Miami HEAT (2014-15), owns averages of 16.8 points, 4.9 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 1.0 steals and 31.5 minutes per game.

Lakers waive Jabari Brown

Lakers waive Jabari Brown

The Los Angeles Lakers have waived guard Jabari Brown, General Manager Mitch Kupchak announced today.

Which means, unless the team makes another change, Metta World Peace has made the roster.

Brown appeared in six games for the Lakers this preseason, averaging 6.0 points, 1.5 rebounds, and 0.8 assists in 14.3 minutes per game. In 19 games (five starts) for the Lakers last season, Brown, who was signed to a multi-year contract on April 1, averaged 11.9 points, 2.1 assists, and 1.9 rebounds in 29.9 minutes per contest.

The Lakers roster now stands at 15.

Jazz sign Eric Atkins and add Phil Pressey off waivers

The Utah Jazz announced today that the team has signed free agent guard Eric Atkins and has claimed second-year guard Phil Pressey off waivers.

Atkins (6-2, 182, Notre Dame) spent the 2014-15 season with KAOD BC of Greece, appearing in 26 games (19 starts) and averaged 7.0 points, 2.2 rebounds and 2.9 assists in 23.4 minutes of action.

Atkins played four years at Notre Dame (2010-14), averaging 13.9 points, 2.8 rebounds and 4.9 assists in 37.8 minutes during his senior season.

Pressey (5-11, 175, Missouri) was waived by Portland on Oct. 23 after appearing in four preseason games with the Trail Blazers, averaging 4.8 points, 1.8 rebounds and 2.0 assists in 16.4 minutes of action. He was signed by the Trail Blazers on July 24.

The 24-year-old guard has appeared in 125 career NBA games (11 starts) over two seasons with the Boston Celtics, averaging 3.1 points, 1.5 rebounds and 2.9 assists in 13.9 minutes per game. He was signed as an undrafted rookie free agent by the Celtics in July of 2013.

A Dallas native, Pressey played three years at Missouri (2010-13), averaging 11.9 points, 3.3 rebounds and 7.1 assists in 33.9 minutes in 34 games as a junior. His father, Paul, played 11 seasons in the NBA with stints in Milwaukee, San Antonio and Golden State.

Utah’s roster now stands at 17 players.

Magic exercise contract options on Aaron Gordon, Shabazz Napier, Elfrid Payton, Victor Oladipo

The Orlando Magic have exercised their third-year team options on forward Aaron Gordon, guard Shabazz Napier, and guard Elfrid Payton, while also exercising their fourth-year team option on guard Victor Oladipo, General Manager Rob Hennigan announced today.

All four players are now signed through the 2016-17 season.

Gordon (6’9”, 220, 9/16/95) played in 47 games (eight starts) last season with the Magic, averaging 5.2 ppg. and 3.6 rpg. in 17.0 minpg. He ranked among all NBA rookies in rebounding (11th) and blocked shots (8th). Gordon was originally selected by Orlando in the first round (fourth overall) of the 2014 NBA Draft.

Napier (6’1”, 175, 7/14/91) appeared in 51 games (ten starts) last season with Miami, averaging 5.1 ppg., 2.5 apg. and 2.2 rpg. in 19.8 minpg., while shooting .364 (43-118) from three-point range. He ranked among all NBA rookies in three-point field goal percentage (3rd) and assists (7th). Napier was originally selected by Charlotte in the first round (24th overall) of the 2014 NBA Draft. He was acquired by Orlando along with cash considerations in exchange for a conditional second round draft pick on July 27, 2015.

Payton (6’4”, 185, 2/22/94) played in all 82 games (63 starts) last season with the Magic, averaging 8.9 ppg., a team-high 6.5 apg., 4.3 rpg. and a team-high 1.73 stlpg. in 30.3 minpg., while compiling an assists-to-turnover ratio of 2.63 (533/203). He was named to the 2014-15 NBA All-Rookie First Team and finished fourth in voting for NBA Rookie of the Year. Payton ranked 13th in the NBA in steals, 14th in assists and 16th in assists-to-turnover ratio. He also among all NBA rookies in scoring (8th), rebounding (T-8th), assists (1st), field goal percentage (7th), steals (2nd) and minutes played (4th). Payton was originally selected by Philadelphia in the first round (10th overall) of the 2014 NBA Draft. He was acquired by Orlando in exchange for the draft rights to Dario Saric, a future first round draft pick and a future second round draft pick on June 26, 2014.

Oladipo (6’4”, 210, 5/4/92) played in 72 games (71 starts) last season with the Magic, averaging 17.9 ppg., 4.2 rpg., 4.1 apg. and 1.67 stlpg. in a team-high 35.7 minpg., while shooting a team-best .819 (262-320) from the free throw line. He was tied for eighth in the NBA in minutes played, ranked 16th in steals, 21st in scoring and tied for 36th in assists. Oladipo has appeared in 152 regular season games during his NBA career, all with Orlando, averaging 15.8 ppg., 4.2 rpg., 4.1 apg. and 1.64 stlpg. in 33.3 minpg. He was originally selected by Orlando in the first round (second overall) of the 2013 NBA Draft and was named to the 2013-14 NBA All-Rookie First Team.

Tragic: Flip Saunders has died

Announcement from the Timberwolves:

It is with extreme sadness that the Minnesota Timberwolves today learned that Phil “Flip” Saunders, who served as the team’s President of Basketball Operations and Head Coach, in addition to being a minority owner of the team, passed away today at age 60.

The organization will follow up with more information as it becomes available.

Pistons exercise contract options on Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Reggie Bullock

The Detroit Pistons have exercised team options on the contracts of guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and forward Reggie Bullock.

In two seasons with the Pistons, Caldwell-Pope has appeared in 162 games (123 starts) averaging 9.3 points, 2.5 rebounds, 1.0 assists and 1.0 blocks in 25.7 minutes per game. He led the team in 3-pointers made (153), total minutes (2,587) and minutes per game (31.5) last season. Caldwell-Pope was named to the BBVA Compass Rising Stars Challenge at NBA All-Star 2015. The 6-foot-5, 205-pound guard was selected by Detroit in the first round (#8 overall) of the 2013 NBA Draft.

Bullock was acquired by Detroit on July 9 from the Phoenix Suns. He appeared in six preseason games with the Pistons and averaged 10.7 points, 2.2 rebounds and 1.8 assists in 19.3 minutes per game. Drafted by the Clippers with the 25th overall selection in the first round of the 2013 NBA Draft, Bullock owns career averages of 2.3 points, 1.3 rebounds and 9.3 minutes in 79 games.

Pistons waive Ryan Boatright

The Detroit Pistons announced today that the team has requested waivers on guard Ryan Boatright.

A 6’0”, 170-pound guard, Boatright went undrafted out of Connecticut in the 2015 NBA Draft and signed with the Pistons on October 23. In four preseason games with the Brooklyn Nets, Boatright averaged 4.3 points, 1.5 rebounds and 3.8 assists in 13.9 minutes per game.