The Indiana Pacers have exercised their fourth-year option on the rookie scale contract of forward Isaiah Jackson, and the third-year option on the rookie scale contract of guard Bennedict Mathurin.
Category: NBA News Blog
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Pelicans sign Jalen Crutcher, waive Liam Robbins
The New Orleans Pelicans have signed guard Jalen Crutcher.
And in a corresponding move, New Orleans has waived Liam Robbins.
Crutcher, 6-2, 175 pounds, has played in 57 games (39 starts) with the Greensboro Swarm, the Hornets’ G League club, during the previous two seasons. In 32.7 minutes per game, he averages 15.8 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 5.1 assists while shooting .430 from three-point range.
Crutcher spent his four years in college at the University of Dayton, where he averaged 13.5 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 4.9 assists per game across 118 games. In 2020 and 2021, he was named to the first team of the Atlantic 10 conference.
Celtics sign guard Payton Pritchard to contract extension
The Boston Celtics have signed guard Payton Pritchard to a contract extension.
Pritchard’s deal is reportedly a 4-year, $30 million extension.
“In addition to his great skill, Payton brings toughness, resiliency, and diligence that collectively elevate the room,” said Brad Stevens, Celtics President of Basketball Operations. “We are excited that he chose to extend with the Celtics and look forward to what’s ahead.”
Pritchard has played in 185 games (nine starts) for the Celtics, averaging 15.7 minutes per game, 6.6 points, 2.1 rebounds, and 1.7 assists. He has a career field goal percentage of 43.0 percent and a three-point percentage of 40.0 percent. In each of his three seasons with the team, the West Linn, Oregon native has helped the Celtics get to the playoffs.
When Pritchard recorded a triple-double with at least 30 points against Atlanta on April 9 of last year, he became the ninth player in the team’s history to do so. He finished with a career-high 30 points (10-21 FG, 9-16 3FG), 14 rebounds, and 11 assists. Pritchard is one of only two NBA players, along with James Harden, to have made at least nine three-pointers while also tallying a triple-double.
Pritchard played four years of collegiate basketball at the University of Oregon before being selected by the Boston Celtics with the 26th overall choice in the 2020 NBA Draft. He was named the Bob Cousy Point Guard of the Year, making him the first player in Oregon history and the second in Pac-12 history to receive the honor.
Trail Blazers exercise 2024-25 contract option on Shaedon Sharpe
The Portland Trail Blazers have exercised the 2024-25 team option on the Rookie Scale contract of guard Shaedon Sharpe.
The Blazers selected Sharpe with the seventh overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft. During his rookie season, Sharpe averaged 9.9 points (47.2% FG, 36.0% 3-PT, 71.4% FT), 3.0 rebounds, 1.2 assists, and 0.5 steals in 22.2 minutes per game in 80 games (15 starts).
Trail Blazers sign George Conditt, waive Malachi Smith and Antoine Davis
The Portland Trail Blazers have signed center George Conditt.
And in two subsequent moves, the Trail Blazers requested waivers on guards Malachi Smith and Antoine Davis.
Conditt, who stands 6 feet 11 and weighs 234 pounds, spent the 2022–23 season playing for Promitheas Patras of the Greek Basket League as well as Gigantes de Carolina of the Baloncesto Superior Nacional league in Puerto Rico.
Conditt, a Chicago native, played four years of college basketball at Iowa State, where he averaged 9.8 points (56.4% FG, 64.1% FT), 3.5 rebounds, 0.8 assists, 1.1 blocks, and 14.5 minutes per game over 117 games (36 starts).
Hawks sign Brandon Randolph
The Atlanta Hawks have signed guard Brandon Randolph.
Over the course of his three-year NBA G League career, Randolph has played in 61 games (29 starts), donning the uniforms of the Austin Spurs (2022-23) and Wisconsin Herd (2019–20, 2021-23). In 18.7 minutes per game, he averages 11.6 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 1.6 assists (.497 FG%,.343 3FG%, and.747 FT%). Randolph recorded 14.3 points, 3.8 rebounds, 1.9 assists, and 1.0 steal in 27.7 minutes in 43 games (28 starts) in the 2022–23 season (.505 FG%,.351 3FG%,.788 FT%).
Summer League 2023 viewers saw the Yonkers, New York native play in five games (two starts) with the Dallas Mavericks, recording 8.2 points and 2.6 rebounds in 17.6 minutes of action.
Randolph, a 6-6 guard, spent two collegiate seasons at Arizona, appearing in 63 games (35 starts), scoring 8.2 points, and grabbing 2.1 rebounds in 20.4 minutes.
Hawks waive Jarkel Joiner and Keaton Wallace
The Atlanta Hawks have requested waivers on guards Jarkel Joiner and Keaton Wallace.
Joiner and Wallace were signed by the Hawks on Sept. 29, 2023.
NBA preseason began a few days ago. The first Atlanta Hawks preseason game is Tuesday, at home against Cavaliers.
Raptors forward Precious Achiuwa injured
The Toronto Raptors revealed on Friday that forward Precious Achiuwa will miss the team’s open practice after suffering a left groin strain during a training camp exercise.
Achiuwa won’t suit up for the team’s preseason opener against the Sacramento Kings on Sunday in Vancouver.
When the team gets back to Toronto, he’ll get another evaluation, and his health will be updated as needed.
Magic exercise contract options on Paolo Banchero, Jalen Suggs and Franz Wagner
Per President of Basketball Operations Jeff Weltman, the Orlando Magic have exercised their third-year club option on Paolo Banchero, as well as their fourth-year team options on guard Jalen Suggs and forward Franz Wagner.
Orlando originally selected Banchero (6’10”, 250, 11/12/02) in the first round (first overall) of the 2022 NBA Draft. During his rookie season with the Magic last year, he participated in 72 games and made 72 starts while averaging a team-best 20.0 ppg, 6.9 rpg, and 3.7 apg in 33.7 minutes per game. Banchero was selected unanimously for the 2022–23 NBA All–Rookie First Team and was named the 2022–23 Kia NBA Rookie of the Year.
Orlando originally selected Suggs (6’5″, 212, 6/3/01) in the first round (fifth overall) of the 2021 NBA Draft. All with Orlando, he has appeared in 101 regular-season NBA games (64 starts), averaging 10.8 points per game, 3.6 assists per game, 3.3 rebounds per game, and 1.25 steals per game in 25.3 minutes per game.
Orlando originally selected Wagner (6’10”, 230, 8/27/01) in the first round (eighth overall) of the 2021 NBA Draft. He has played and started in 159 regular-season NBA games in his career, all with Orlando, averaging 16.9 points per game, 4.3 rebounds per game, and 3.2 assists per game in 31.7 minutes per game while shooting.850 (460-541) from the charity stripe. Wagner was selected for the NBA All-Rookie First Team for 2021–22.
Contracts for all three players extend through the 2024–25 season.
Rockets sign Reggie Bullock
The Houston Rockets have signed free agent Reggie Bullock, a former 25th overall pick in the 2013 NBA Draft.
Bullock has a career record of 7.7 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 1.2 assists in 512 games with 294 starts.
He has averaged 2.1 3-pointers made on 38.8% shooting over the past six seasons.
Bullock spent two seasons with Dallas before being acquired by San Antonio in a three-team trade with Boston.
He started every game for the Mavericks during their run to the Western Conference Finals in 2021-22, averaging 10.6 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 2.9 3FGM on 39.7% shooting.