Category: NBA News Blog

NBA news blog

Raptors waive Justise Winslow, Mouhamadou Gueye and Jeff Dowtin Jr.

The Toronto Raptors yesterday waived guard Jeff Dowtin Jr., and forwards Mouhamadou Gueye and Justise Winslow.

Toronto finished the preseason with a 4-0 record. The Raptors will open the 2023-24 regular season Wednesday night when they host the Minnesota Timberwolves at Scotiabank Arena at 7:30 p.m. (Sportsnet / Sportsnet 590 The FAN).

Timberwolves waive Trevor Keels, Tyrese Martin, DJ Carton and Matt Ryan

The Minnesota Timberwolves have waived guards D.J. Carton, Trevor Keels, Tyrese Martin and forward Matt Ryan.

Carton spent the 2022-23 season with the Iowa Wolves, the NBA G League affiliate of the Timberwolves, where he saw action in 41 games (23 starts). He averaged 14.5 points on 55.9% shooting from the field, including 34.0% from deep, 4.3 rebounds, 5.4 assists and 1.0 steal in 32.5 minutes per contest. The Bettendorf, Iowa native was a member of the Timberwolves entry in the NBA 2K24 Summer League 2023 where he appeared in five games (two starts) and averaged 9.0 points on 45.5% shooting and a team-high 6.8 assists.

Keels, 6-4, saw action in three games last season with the New York Knicks. Prior to joining New York, Keels played in 24 games (all starts), with the Westchester Knicks of the NBA G League, posting averages of 14.5 points, 3.0 rebounds and 3.5 assists in 31.4 minutes per contest. The Clinton, Md. native, was selected by the Knicks with the 12th pick in the second round (42nd overall) of the 2022 NBA Draft after one season at Duke.

Martin, 6-6, played in 16 games with the Atlanta Hawks during the 2022-23 season, averaging 1.3 points in 4.1 minutes per game. Additionally, the Allentown, Pa. native, saw action in 23 games (all starts) for the College Park Skyhawks of the NBA G League, where he averaged 18.0 points on 50.3% shooting from the field, 9.2 rebounds and 1.9 assists in 33.9 minutes per game, including a Skyhawks franchise-record 46-point performance against the Grand Rapid Gold on March 17, 2023. The 24-year-old was selected by the Golden State Warriors with the 21st pick in the second round (51st overall) in the 2022 NBA Draft after being named to the 2022 Big East All-Tournament Team as a member of the University of Connecticut Huskies.

Ryan, 6-7, wrapped up his second NBA season by making 34 appearances (22 with Minnesota and 12 with the L.A. Lakers) averaging 3.6 points, 0.8 rebounds and 0.5 assists in 9.1 minutes per game. He set a career-high with 22:25 minutes of action off the bench on Feb. 7 at Denver and tallied a career-high-tying 11 points on a career-high-tying 4-of-8 from the field, including a career-best-tying 3-of-7 from deep. Ryan also dished out a career-high four assists, besting his previous high of two (2x; MR: vs. Toronto on Jan. 19). The White Plains, N.Y. native has seen action in 35 career games with the Boston Celtics, Lakers and Timberwolves. He owns career averages of 3.6 points, 0.7 rebounds and 0.5 assists per game.

The Timberwolves roster stands at 17 players.

Pelicans exercise contract options on Dyson Daniels and Trey Murphy III

The New Orleans Pelicans yesterday exercised a third-year option on guard Dyson Daniels and a fourth-year option on guard/forward Trey Murphy III.

Selected 8th overall in the 2022 NBA Draft, Daniels has appeared in 59 games (11 starts) for New Orleans, averaging 3.8 points, 3.2 rebounds and 2.3 assists in 17.7 minutes per contest while shooting .418 from the floor, .314 from three-point range and .650 from the line.

Murphy III, selected 17th overall in the 2021 NBA Draft, has appeared in 141 games (66 starts) over two seasons for New Orleans, averaging 10.5 points, 3.0 rebounds and 1.1 assists in 23.5 minutes per contest while shooting .461 from the floor, .400 from three-point range and .900 from the line

Nets waive Darius Bazley

The Brooklyn Nets have waived forward Darius Bazley.

Bazley signed with Brooklyn as a free agent on July 16 and played in three preseason games, averaging 5.7 points, 6.3 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.0 steals in 20.1 minutes per contest. Bazley has appeared in 228 regular season games (118 starts) over four seasons (2019-23) with Oklahoma City and Phoenix and holds career averages of 9.1 points, 5.3 rebounds and 1.2 assists in 23.6 minutes per game.

Spurs waive Khem Birch

The San Antonio Spurs have waived center Khem Birch.

Birch was acquired on Feb. 9, along with a 2024 Toronto first round pick and second round picks in 2023 and 2025 in a trade with the Raptors last season. In 282 career games, he holds career averages of 5.0 points, 4.4 rebounds in 17.1 minutes while shooting 52.0% from the floor.

The Spurs roster now stands at 18 players.

Cavaliers exercise 4th-year contract option on Evan Mobley

The Cleveland Cavaliers have exercised the fourth-year (2024-25) contract option on Evan Mobley, Cavaliers President of Basketball Operations Koby Altman announced today from Cleveland Clinic Courts.

Mobley (7-0, 215), played in a team-best 79 games (all starts) last season and averaged career highs in points (16.2), rebounds (9.0), assists (2.8), minutes (34.4) and field goal percentage (.554, 17th-best in NBA), to go along with 1.51 blocks (ninth-best in NBA) and 0.76 steals. Mobley was also named to the 2022-23 NBA All-Defensive First Team, ranking first in the league in defensive win shares (4.8), tied for first in contested three-pointers per game (3.6) and fourth in the NBA in total contested shots per game (11.4). Additionally, he recorded at least one block in 59 games (fourth-most in NBA) and his 119 total blocks were the sixth-most in the NBA. Mobley also helped the Cavaliers rank No. 1 in defensive rating (109.9) and No. 1 in opponent points per game (106.9). He finished third in the NBA in Defensive Player of the Year voting and became the seventh player in Cavaliers history to earn Defensive Team honors joining Jim Brewer, Jim Cleamons, Larry Nance Sr., Bobby Phills, LeBron James and Anderson Varejao. Mobley also registered a career-high 24 double-doubles and was one of only three NBA players this past season averaging at least 15.0 points on .500 shooting or better, 8.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.0 blocks (Joel Embiid, Anthony Davis). The No. 3 pick in the 2021 NBA Draft by the Cavaliers and a unanimous NBA All-Rookie First Team selection following the 2021-22 season, Mobley owns career averages of 15.6 points on .533 shooting from the field, 8.7 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.58 blocks in 34.1 minutes over 148 games (all starts) in two NBA seasons with Cleveland.

Timberwolves sign DJ Carton, waive Vit Krejci

The Minnesota Timberwolves have signed guard D.J. Carton.

In a subsequent move, the team announced it has waived guard Vít Krejčí.

Carton spent the 2022-23 season with the Iowa Wolves, the NBA G League affiliate of the Timberwolves, where he saw action in 41 games (23 starts). He averaged 14.5 points on 55.9% shooting from the field, including 34.0% from deep, 4.3 rebounds, 5.4 assists and 1.0 steal in 32.5 minutes per contest. The Pineville, NC native was a member of the Timberwolves entry in the NBA 2K24 Summer League 2023 where he appeared in five games (two starts) and averaged 9.0 points on 45.5% shooting and a team-high 6.8 assists.

Krejčí, 6-8, spent last season with the Atlanta Hawks where he totaled 36 points and 26 rebounds in 29 games. Prior to the Hawks, he played his rookie season with the Oklahoma City Thunder averaging 6.2 points on 40.7% shooting, 3.4 rebounds and 1.9 assists in 30 appearances (eight starts). He was originally signed by the Timberwolves on Sept. 14.

Grizzlies sign Adonis Arms and David Johnson, waive Jason Preston and Timmy Allen

The Memphis Grizzlies have signed wing Adonis Arms and guard David Johnson.

In addition, the Grizzlies waived guard Jason Preston and wing Timmy Allen.

Arms (6-6, 205) competed in 46 games (28 starts) for the Memphis Hustle and Grand Rapids Gold during the 2022-23 NBA G League Showcase and regular season and averaged 12.5 points, 5.5 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 1.2 steals in 25.1 minutes. The 25-year-old Milwaukee native went unselected in the 2022 NBA Draft following his senior year at Texas Tech, where he was named 2021-22 All-Big 12 Honorable Mention.

Johnson (6-4, 205) appeared in 41 games (17 starts) for Raptors 905 during the 2022-23 NBA G League Showcase and regular season and averaged 9.5 points, 2.6 rebounds and 2.7 assists in 20.1 minutes. The 22-year-old also played 32 games for Raptors 905 and two games for the Toronto Raptors during the 2021-22 season. A native of Louisville, Johnson played two years collegiately with the Cardinals before going unselected in the 2021 NBA Draft.

Preston (6-3, 181), who signed with Memphis on Oct. 16, appeared in 37 NBA G League games for the Ontario Clippers and 14 NBA games for the Los Angeles Clippers last season. The 24-year-old Orlando native was selected 33rd overall in the 2021 NBA Draft following his junior year at Ohio.

Allen (6-6, 210), who also signed with Memphis on Oct. 16, started all of his 35 appearances last season as a redshirt senior at Texas. The 23-year-old Arizona native, who was a member of the Grizzlies’ 2023 summer league team, went unselected in the 2023 NBA Draft.

Magic sign Daeqwon Plowden, waive Miye Oni

The Orlando Magic have signed free agent guard-forward Daeqwon Plowden.

In addition, Orlando has waived guard/forward Miye Oni. He did not appear in any preseason games with the Magic.

Plowden (6’6”, 216, 8/29/98) played in 24 games last season with Birmingham of the NBA G League, averaging 8.3 ppg., 3.5 rpg. and 1.3 apg. in 20.4 minpg., while shooting .368 (25-68) from three-point range and .862 (25-29) from the free throw line.

Undrafted by an NBA franchise, Plowden played in 154 career games (113 starts) during five seasons at Bowling Green State University (2017-22), averaging 10.5 ppg. and 6.1 rpg. in 25.5 minpg. He was named to the All-Mid-American Conference Second Team in 2019-20 and was named to the All-MAC Third Team in both 2020-21 and 2021-22. Plowden was also selected to the 2021-22 MAC All-Defensive team. He is BGSU’s all-time leader in games played (154) and is the only player in program history to record at least 1,200 points, 800 rebounds and 100 blocked shots.

Plowden will wear #29 with the Orlando Magic.

Orlando’s roster remains at 21 players