Category: NBA News Blog

NBA news blog

Utah Jazz sign E.J. Singler

Utah Jazz sign E.J. Singler

The Utah Jazz announced today that the team has signed free agent forward E.J. Singler. Until it’s reported otherwise, we will assume this is a non-guaranteed contract.

Singler (6-6, 215, Oregon) spent the 2014-15 season with BC Kalev/Cramo of Estonia, appearing in 60 games (19 starts) and averaged 6.9 points, 3.9 rebounds and 0.8 assists in 17.2 minutes of action. During the 2013-14 campaign, he played for the Idaho Stampede, scoring 14.1 points, 4.7 rebounds and 1.2 assists in 28.2 minutes in 22 games (four starts).

Singler played four years at Oregon (2009-13), averaging 11.7 points, 4.9 rebounds and 2.8 assists in 31.0 minutes during his senior season. His older brother, Kyle, currently plays for the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Utah’s roster now stands at 16 players.

Timberwolves exercise options on LaVine, Payne, Wiggins, Dieng and Muhammad

The Minnesota Timberwolves today announced the team has exercised the third-year options on guard Zach LaVine, forward Adreian Payne and forward Andrew Wiggins, along with the fourth-year options on center Gorgui Dieng and forward Shabazz Muhammad.

Dieng, 25, owns career averages of 7.5 points and 6.8 rebounds in 22.6 minutes per game over 133 contests, all with Minnesota. The Wolves acquired the draft rights to Dieng, along with Muhammad, from the Utah Jazz on June 27, 2013.

LaVine, 20, posted averages of 10.1 points and 3.6 assists in 24.7 minutes per game over 77 games in his rookie season, eventually being named to the 2014-15 All-Rookie Second Team. Minnesota drafted LaVine with the 13th overall selection in the 2014 NBA Draft.

Muhammad, 22, has played two seasons with the Wolves, averaging 8.7 points and 2.8 rebounds in 75 career contests, including averaging 13.5 points in 22.8 minutes per contest last season. Minnesota acquired the draft rights to Muhammad, along with Dieng, from the Utah Jazz on June 27, 2013.

Payne, 24, averaged 6.7 points and 5.1 rebounds in 32 games last season, including averaging 7.2 points and 5.4 rebounds in 29 games with Minnesota. Originally selected with the 15th overall pick by the Hawks in the 2014 NBA Draft, the Wolves acquired him from Atlanta on February 10, 2015.

Wiggins, 20, registered averages of 16.9 points and 4.6 rebounds per game last season en route to being named the 2015 KIA NBA Rookie of the Year. Wiggins was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft and was acquired by the Wolves on August 23, 2014.

Bucks waive Jorge Gutierrez, Marcus Landry, Josh Powell

Bucks waive Jorge Gutierrez, Marcus Landry, Josh Powell

The Milwaukee Bucks have requested waivers on guard Jorge Gutierrez and forwards Marcus Landry and Josh Powell, General Manager John Hammond announced today.

Gutierrez appeared in four preseason games and averaged 3.0 points and 2.8 assists. Landry averaged 2.5 points and 1.5 rebounds in four contests, while Powell also saw action in four games during the preseason.

The Bucks roster now stands at 15 players.

Lamar Odom now in Los Angeles

Here’s the Orange County Register reporting the latest on former NBA star Lamar Odom:

Lamar Odom now in Los Angeles

Lamar Odom was transported by helicopter Monday to a Los Angeles hospital, according to multiple reports, where he will continue his rehabilitation after being found unconscious at a Nevada brothel last week.

KTLA/5 reported Odom has been admitted to Cedar-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles.

His estranged wife, Khloe Kardashian, reportedly accompanied him. The reality TV star has been a constant presence at his side since Odom arrived at Sunrise Hospital and Medical Center in Las Vegas last Tuesday.

Blake Griffin scores 29 in preseason win

Here’s the Los Angeles Daily News blog reporting on the Clippers and star power forward Blake Griffin, who appears ready for regular season action to begin. The Clippers on paper look like a championship contender, but the problem there is, plenty of other Western conference teams do as well. As for yesterday:

Blake Griffin scores 29 in preseason win

Clippers forward Blake Griffin led everyone with 29 points, J.J. Redick scored 15 and DeAndre Jordan had 10 points, 10 rebounds and four steals and the Clippers demolished Golden State 130-95 on Tuesday night in exhibition play at Staples Center.

Three reserves – Austin Rivers, Jamal Crawford and Josh Smith – all scored in double figures with Rivers getting 16 and Smith and Crawford 13 apiece.

The Clippers – now 2-3 in exhibition play – had lost their previous three games. They lost their most recent game – to Charlotte in China – by 42 points.

Lakers waive Michael Frazier II and Robert Upshaw

The Los Angeles Lakers have waived guard Michael Frazier II and center Robert Upshaw, it was announced today by General Manager Mitch Kupchak.

Frazier II, an undrafted rookie from Florida, was originally signed by the Lakers on August 25. He appeared in four preseason games for Los Angeles, averaging 2.0 points, 2.3 rebounds, and 0.8 assists in 13.5 minutes per game.

Upshaw saw action in four of the Lakers’ seven preseason contests, averaging 2.5 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 0.75 blocks in 14.1 minutes per game. The undrafted rookie out of Washington was originally signed on September 14.

The Lakers roster now stands at 17.

Nets waive Ryan Boatright, Quincy Miller, Chris Daniels

The Brooklyn Nets have requested waivers on guard Ryan Boatright, forward Quincy Miller and center Chris Daniels, General Manager Billy King announced today.

Boatright (6’0”, 170) signed with Brooklyn as a free agent on July 2 after going undrafted out of Connecticut in the 2015 NBA Draft. In four preseason games with the Nets, Boatright posted averages of 4.3 points, 1.5 rebounds and 3.8 assists in 13.9 minutes per game.

Miller (6’9”, 210) was acquired by the Nets from the Detroit Pistons on July 13 in exchange for guard Steve Blake. In four preseason appearances with Brooklyn, Miller averaged 1.5 points and 2.0 rebounds in 7.4 minutes per game.

Daniels (6’9”, 265) signed with the Nets as a free agent on September 23 and averaged 7.4 points and 2.8 rebounds in 13.0 minutes per game across five preseason appearances with Brooklyn.

The Nets roster now stands at 17 players.

Jazz waive Bryce Cotton and Treveon Graham

The Utah Jazz announced today that the team has waived guard Bryce Cotton and guard/forward Treveon Graham.

Following the moves, Utah’s roster now stands at 15 players.

Cotton (6-1, 166, Providence) appeared in two preseason games for Utah, averaging 6.5 points, 2.5 rebounds and 0.5 assists in 17.1 minutes per game. He saw action in 15 games for the Jazz last season after being called up from the NBA Development League’s Austin Spurs.

Graham (6-6, 226, VCU) appeared in two preseason games for the Jazz, averaging 1.0 rebounds in 9.1 minutes of action. He was signed as a free agent on Aug. 17.

Warriors sign Xavier Henry and Chris Udofia

Warriors sign Xavier Henry and Chris Udofia

The Golden State Warriors have signed free agent guard/forward Xavier (zah-vee-ay) Henry and free agent forward Chris Udofia to contracts, the team announced today.

Henry, 24, averaged 2.2 points and 9.6 minutes in nine games with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2014-15 before suffering a ruptured left Achilles tendon in practice on November 24, 2014. In five NBA seasons with the Memphis Grizzlies (2010-11), New Orleans Hornets (2011-13) and Lakers (2013-15), the 6’6” swingman holds career marks of 5.7 points, 1.9 rebounds and 15.7 minutes over 185 games (23 starts). Henry was originally selected by the Grizzlies with the 12th overall pick of the 2010 NBA Draft following his freshman season at the University of Kansas.

Udofia, 23, appeared in 28 games with Elitzur Yavne in Israel last season, compiling averages of 10.8 points, 8.8 rebounds and 1.68 blocks in 27.8 minutes. The 6’6” forward played four seasons at the University of Denver, averaging 12.1 points, 4.9 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 2.06 blocks, 1.14 steals and 29.5 minutes in 124 games (98 starts). Udofia, who finished his career as Denver’s all-time leader in blocks (256) and games played, was named the Summit League Defensive Player of the Year in 2013-14 and the Sun Belt Defensive Player of the Year in 2011-12.

Golden State’s training camp roster currently stands at 19 players.