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Rockets and Thunder complete Kevin Porter Jr., Victor Oladipo trade

The Houston Rockets have traded guard Kevin Porter Jr. and two future second round picks to Oklahoma City in exchange for guard Victor Oladipo and forward/center Jeremiah Robinson-Earl.

Per the Thunder, Porter Jr. will be “waived immediately.”

Oladipo (6-4, 213) is entering his 11th NBA season with career averages of 16.9 points, 4.5 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 1.60 steals and 1.6 3-pointers made in 504 games with 397 starts. He appeared in 20 games for the Rockets during 2020-21 prior to being acquired by Miami, where he spent the past two seasons.

The two-time All-Star is one of eight players in NBA history with career averages of at least 16.0 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 3.0 apg, 1.50 spg and 1.50 3FGM joining LaMelo Ball, Stephen Curry, Paul George, James Harden, Jrue Holiday, LeBron James and Kawhi Leonard. Oladipo was the NBA’s Most Improved Player in 2017-18 while also earning All-NBA Third Team and All-Defensive First Team honors.

Robinson-Earl (6-9, 240) was the 32nd overall pick by New York in the 2021 NBA Draft before his rights were acquired by Oklahoma City. In two seasons for the Thunder, he appeared in 92 games with 56 starts while averaging 7.2 ppg and 4.9 rpg in 20.7 mpg.

Over the past two seasons, Robinson-Earl was one of eight players who averaged at least 7.0 ppg, 4.0 rpg and 1.0 3FGM in fewer than 21.0 mpg. In 20 games as a starter in 2022-23, he averaged 8.7 ppg, 5.5 rpg and 1.2 apg along with 1.4 3FGM on 39.7% shooting.

In a related move, the Rockets have waived forward Matthew Mayer.

Grizzlies sign Jason Preston and Timmy Allen, waive Matthew Hurt and Mychal Mulder

The Memphis Grizzlies have signed guard Jason Preston and wing Timmy Allen.

In addition, the Grizzlies waived forward Matthew Hurt and guard Mychal Mulder.

Preston (6-3, 181) appeared in 37 games (33 starts) for the Ontario Clippers last season during the NBA G League Showcase and regular season and averaged 15.3 points, 5.5 rebounds and 7.1 assists in 32.8 minutes. The Orlando native also saw action in 14 games during his NBA rookie campaign with the Los Angeles Clippers and averaged 2.9 points, 1.6 rebounds and 1.9 assists in 8.8 minutes. Selected with the 33rd overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, the 24-year-old was named to the 2020-21 All-MAC First Team as a junior at Ohio.

Allen (6-6, 210) started all 35 games and averaged 10.5 points, 5.6 rebounds and 3.5 assists in 28.4 minutes last season as a redshirt senior at Texas. The Arizona native was named to the 2021-22 All-Big 12 Second Team and Big 12 All-Newcomer Team the previous season with the Longhorns following three years at Utah, where he was selected to the 2020-21 All-Pac 12 First Team. Undrafted in the 2023 NBA Draft, the 23-year-old competed for the Grizzlies during the 2023 Salt Lake Summer League and NBA Summer League 2023 in Las Vegas.

Hurt (6-9, 235), who signed with Memphis on Sept. 30, appeared in two preseason games and totaled three points, three rebounds and one assist. The 23-year-old Minnesota native appeared in 45 games (13 starts) for the Memphis Hustle last season and averaged 13.9 points, 3.9 rebounds and 1.3 assists in 23.0 minutes during the NBA G League Showcase and regular season.

Mulder (6-3, 184), who also signed with Memphis on Sept. 30, competed in two preseason games and recorded three points and two rebounds. The 29-year-old native of Canada has played three NBA seasons with the Golden State Warriors, Orlando Magic and Miami Heat and five NBA G League seasons with the Windy City Bulls and Sioux Falls Skyforce.

Pelicans sign Izaiah Brockington, waive Landers Nolley II

The New Orleans Pelicans have signed guard Izaiah Brockington.

And in a related move, New Orleans waived Landers Nolley II.

With the Birmingham Squadron, the Pelicans’ G League affiliate, Brockington, 6-4, 200, participated in two games last year. Brockington was named to the All-Big 12 First Team in 2021–2022 after averaging 16.9 points, 6.8 rebounds, 1.6 assists, and 1.3 steals during his senior year at Iowa State University. Brockington played in 125 games for St. Bonaventure, Penn State, and Iowa State during the course of his four-year collegiate career, averaging 10.4 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 1.3 assists.

Mavericks sign Taze Moore

The Dallas Mavericks have signed guard Taze Moore.

Moore (6-5, 195) played in 39 games for Dallas’ G League club Texas Legends in 2022–23, averaging 10.8 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 2.7 assists per game. Moore was not selected in the 2022 NBA Draft.

Moore also participated in 2023 Summer League for the Mavericks, where he averaged 7.0 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 2.4 assists over the course of five games while shooting 60.0% (15-25 FG).

Moore spent four years of collegiate basketball at Cal State Bakersfield before moving to Houston for his final two years of eligibility in 2021–2022. He played in 36 games (31 starts) with the Cougars, averaging 10.4 points, 4.9 rebounds, 2.9 assists, and 1.6 steals, and was named the Great Clips Slam Dunk Champion.

No contract extension agreement expected just yet between Warriors and Klay Thompson

Per NBC Sports Bay Area:

It doesn’t appear as if Klay Thompson and the Warriors will be working out a contract extension any time soon.

ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski joined “NBA Countdown” prior to Golden State’s preseason matchup with the Sacramento Kings and reported that the two sides have not made progress toward an extension and it’s becoming increasingly likely the Warriors star could enter free agency after the 2023-24 NBA season.

“I’m told that there has been absolutely no progress on a Klay Thompson extension in Golden State and that they are both still apart on years and money and there’s a very real possibility that Klay Thompson goes into free agency next summer without a deal and I think that’s where it gets complicated for Golden State,” Wojnarowski said.

FULL ARTICLE

Warriors give Stephen Curry and Chris Paul a preseason rest

Per the Bay Area News Group:

After just two preseason games with Steph Curry and Chris Paul on the court together, the Warriors made a change.

Both Curry and Paul were being held out to rest in the team’s third preseason game.

Curry scored 18 points in 21 minutes and Paul scored six points in 20 minutes during the Warriors’ 129-125 win over the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday night.

FULL ARTICLE

Pelicans forward Naji Marshall out with bone bruise in knee

New Orleans Pelicans forward Naji Marshall, who hyperextended his right knee in the second quarter of Saturday’s preseason game against the Atlanta Hawks, underwent an MRI and has been diagnosed with a bone bruise.

Marshall will be reevaluated in two weeks.

Last season, Marshall averaged 9.1 points, 3.6 rebounds and 2.5 assists in 23.3 minutes per game.

The latest on James Harden and the Sixers

Per the Philadelphia Inquirer:

One can only hope the James Harden saga gets resolved quickly.

The point guard is either going to come back and play for the 76ers or hurry up and get moved to another NBA team.

He is practicing with the Sixers and performing his normal post-practice shooting routine. He’s “ramping up” with the hope of being available to play in the Oct. 20 preseason finale against the Hawks at the Wells Fargo Center. But skeptics wonder if Harden is only doing this because he expects to be traded.

So what’s going to happen if the Clippers, who are interested, backs out of negotiations? What will Harden do then? Will he become a distraction and make things uncomfortable for the Sixers?

FULL ARTICLE

Miami Heat waive Drew Peterson and Alondes Williams

The Miami Heat have waived Drew Peterson and Alondes Williams.

Peterson, who had been signed by the HEAT on August 11 at the time, played in just one preseason game for Miami, earning two points, five rebounds, and an assist in 20:59 of playing time.

Williams, who was originally signed on August 11 by the HEAT, played in just one preseason game with Miami, tallying nine points, four rebounds, two assists, and two steals in 18:10 of play.

Mavericks waive Jordan Walker, Joe Wieskamp and Mike Miles Jr.

The Dallas Mavericks have waived guard Mike Miles Jr., guard Jordan Walker and guard/forward Joe Wieskamp.

On July 14, 2023, Miles Jr. signed a Two-Way deal but did not participate in Dallas’ first three preseason contests.

On August 14, 2023, Walker and Wieskamp both signed with the Mavericks as free agents. They each played in each of Dallas’ three preseason games. In 8.1 minutes per game, Walker averaged 5.7 points and 1.7 assists. Wieskamp played 3.8 minutes per game on average and scored three points in the opening game against Minnesota on October 5.