Category: NBA News Blog

NBA news blog

Miami Heat make a series of roster moves

The Miami Heat made a series of roster moves today.

The team signed center Brandon McCoy, forward Drew Peterson, forward Cole Swider, forward Justin Champagnie, guard Alondes Williams and guard Caleb Daniels.

Following these transactions, the Heat then waived McCoy and signed Jamal Cain to a Two-Way Contract.

Peterson appeared in four NBA2K24 Summer League games (all starts) with the HEAT in Las Vegas and averaged 10.0 points, 2.8 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.50 steals while shooting 46.7 percent from the field, a team-high 47.1 percent from three-point range and 80 percent from the foul line. He spent last season at USC where he was named to the All-Pac-12 First Team after leading the team in rebounds, assists, starts and minutes while finishing second in points, scoring average, blocks, field goals made, three-point field goals made and free throws made.

Swider split last season between the Los Angeles Lakers and their G League affiliate, the South Bay Lakers. He appeared in 27 regular season games (19 starts) with South Bay and averaged 17.1 points, 4.8 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 28.7 minutes while shooting 50.6 percent from the field, 43.6 percent from three-point range and 83.8 percent from the foul line, helping the team to a playoff berth. He also appeared in seven games with the Los Angeles Lakers, totaling nine points, seven rebounds and four assists.

Champagnie split last season between the Boston Celtics, Toronto Raptors and the HEAT’s G League affiliate, the Sioux Falls Skyforce. He appeared in 23 regular season games (15 starts) with the Skyforce and averaged 18.2 points, 8.0 rebounds, 1.0 assists and 31.3 minutes while shooting 52 percent from the field, leading the team in total rebounds. He also appeared in five NBA games, two with the Celtics and three with the Raptors.

Williams split last season between the Brooklyn Nets and their G League affiliate, the Long Island Nets. He appeared in 24 regular season games (12 starts) with Long Island and averaged 13.5 points, 4.6 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 1.21 steals and 27.6 minutes while shooting 51.3 percent from the field, 37.5 percent from three-point range and 71.9 percent from the foul line. He also appeared in one game with the Brooklyn Nets, grabbing a rebound in 5:16 minutes of action in a, 136-133, win at Indiana on December 10.

Daniels appeared in four NBA2K24 Summer League games with the HEAT in Las Vegas and averaged 4.8 points and 1.0 rebounds while shooting 41.2 percent from the field and 40 percent from three-point range. He spent last season at Villanova where he led the team in assists, three-point field goals made, minutes, games played and starts while earning the BIG EAST Sportsmanship Award.

Cain, who was previously signed by the HEAT on July 15, 2022, split last season between the HEAT and Miami’s G League affiliate, the Sioux Falls Skyforce. He appeared in 15 regular season games (all starts) with the Skyforce and averaged 22.1 points, 9.1 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 1.33 steals and 33.5 minutes while shooting 54.9 percent from the field, 37.5 percent from three-point range and 81.8 percent from the foul line, helping the team to the Western Conference Finals. Cain also appeared in 15 games with the HEAT last season averaging 4.4 points and 2.6 rebounds in 12.4 minutes of action.

2023-24 Philadelphia 76ers preseason game schedule

The Philadelphia 76ers have announced their four-game preseason schedule ahead of the 2023-24 NBA season.

The schedule begins when the 76ers travel to Boston on Sunday, Oct. 8 to face the Celtics with tipoff set for 6 p.m. ET.

Philadelphia then returns home to face Boston for its second preseason game on Wednesday, Oct. 11 at The Center at 7 p.m. ET.

The third game of the slate takes the 76ers to Brooklyn on Monday, Oct. 16 for a 7:30 p.m. ET game against the Nets.

That will be followed by the final exhibition which will come on Friday, Oct. 20 when Philadelphia welcomes the Atlanta Hawks for a 7 p.m. ET game at The Center.

OKC Thunder 2023-24 preseason game schedule

The Oklahoma City Thunder has announced its complete 2023 preseason schedule today. The Thunder will play five games, including one international game and three games in the state of Oklahoma.

The Thunder opens the preseason at home with a matchup against the San Antonio Spurs on Monday, Oct. 9 before traveling to Montreal to participate in the NBA Canada Series against the Detroit Pistons on Thursday, Oct. 12. The team then travels to Charlotte for a meeting with the Hornets on Sunday, Oct. 15 before returning to Oklahoma to play the Milwaukee Bucks on Tuesday, Oct. 17 at Paycom Center and the Detroit Pistons on Thursday, Oct. 19 at BOK Center for its 14th annual preseason game in Tulsa.

Timberwolves name Ernest Scott as head coach of Iowa Wolves G League team

The Minnesota Timberwolves today named Ernest Scott as Head Coach of the Iowa Wolves, the team’s G League affiliate.

Minnesota also announced the promotion of Nathan Bubes to Assistant Coach and Michael DiBenedetto to Assistant Coach/Director of Operations for the Wolves.

“I couldn’t be happier for Ernest, Nathan, and Michael to take on these new roles with our team in Iowa and continue to develop our young players,” said Timberwolves Director of Player Personnel /Iowa Wolves General Manager Jonathan Wallace. “Ernest has worked hard to earn this role and has developed great relationships with players, staff and the community in Iowa. We look forward to Nathan and Michael joining him in Des Moines as we prepare for the upcoming season.”

“I am proud of the professional development of Ernest, Nathan and Michael to lead them to their new positions with the Iowa Wolves,” said Timberwolves Head Coach Chris Finch. “We are excited for the future of our G League team and know that these three will do a phenomenal job leading our program in Iowa.”

“I am grateful to be named the Head Coach of the Iowa Wolves and represent the Timberwolves organization in the best light possible,” Scott said. “I’m excited to continue being a part of the community in Des Moines and execute the vision and goals of Coach Finch and the Timberwolves in everything we do on and off the court.”

Raptors sign Garrett Temple, Mouhamadou Gueye and Kevin Obanor

The Toronto Raptors have signed guard-forward Garrett Temple, and forwards Mouhamadou Gueye and Kevin Obanor.

Both Gueye and Obanor recently played for the Raptors at NBA Summer League 2023 in Las Vegas.

Temple, 6-foot-5, 190 pounds, spent last year with New Orleans and has played 13 seasons in the NBA (2009-11, 2012-23) with 11 teams – Houston, Sacramento, San Antonio, Milwaukee, Charlotte, Washington, Memphis, LA Clippers, Brooklyn, Chicago and New Orleans. He owns career averages of 6.2 points, 2.3 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 20.9 minutes in 716 games (288 starts). Temple also played one season overseas, appearing in 28 games with Novipiù Casale Monferrato in Italy during the 2011-12 campaign.

A native of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Temple went undrafted in 2009 before signing with the Rockets. He played collegiately at Louisiana State University (2005-09), where he left LSU as the all-time leader in games played (134), starts (131) and minutes played (4,432). As a senior, Temple was named Second Team All-SEC and earned SEC All-Defensive Team honours for the second straight year.

Gueye, 6-foot-9, 210 pounds, averaged 8.6 points, 5.1 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 1.9 blocks and 20.7 minutes in 29 Showcase Cup and regular season games with the Texas Legends in the NBA G League last season. He shot .576 (102-177) from the field and scored in double figures 13 times. A native of Staten Island, New York, Gueye played two seasons at Stony Brook (2019-21) before transferring to Pittsburgh (2021-22) where he became the first player in Panthers history to lead the team in both three-point field goals (43) and blocks (67) in the same season.

Obanor, 6-foot-8, 235 pounds, was an All-Big 12 Honourable Mention last season after averaging team highs of 14.4 points, 6.4 rebounds and 31.0 minutes in 32 games (all starts) as a fifth-year senior at Texas Tech. He scored in double digits in 24 contests, including 20 or more eight times, and recorded two double-doubles. The Houston native played three seasons at Oral Roberts (2018-21) prior to transferring to Texas Tech for his final two years of college eligibility (2021-23).

Knicks sign guard Duane Washington Jr.

The New York Knicks have signed guard Duane Washington Jr. to a contract.

Washington Jr., 23-years-old (6-3, 197-pounds), averaged 7.9 points, 2.0 assists and 1.2 rebounds over 12.7 minutes in 31 games (three starts) last season with the Phoenix Suns. He recorded four 20-point performances during the 2022-23 season, including career highs of 26 points and seven assists in a win at Memphis on Dec. 27.

The Frankfurt, Germany-native began his career in Indiana, averaging 9.9 points on 37.7% shooting from downtown with 1.8 assists over 20.2 minutes in 48 games (seven starts) during the 2021-22 season. Among qualified NBA rookies, he ranked 12th in points per game, third in three-point percentage and ninth with 81 made three-pointers. Washington Jr. set a Pacers rookie record by making seven three-pointers at New Orleans on Jan. 24. He also appeared in 11 games (all starts) with the Fort Wayne Mad Ants of the NBA G League, averaging 19.5 points, 4.4 assists and 3.4 rebounds over 32.5 minutes.

He spent a three-year career at Ohio State University where he earned All-Big Ten honors in his final season after averaging a team-high 16.4 points to go along with 3.4 rebounds and 2.9 assists over 32.2 minutes in 31 games (all starts).

Bucks re-sign Thanasis Antetokounmpo

The Milwaukee Bucks on Friday, July 28 re-signed forward Thanasis Antetokounmpo.

Antetokounmpo appeared in 37 games last season, his fourth campaign with the Bucks where he’s appeared in 162 games (11 starts) over that span.

Originally drafted by New York with the 51st overall selection in the 2014 NBA Draft, Antetokounmpo appeared in two games for the Knicks during the 2015-16 season. He signed with Milwaukee prior the 2019-20 season after playing three seasons (Spain, 2016-17; Greece, 2017-19) overseas.

Wizards sign guard Jared Butler to two-way contract

The Washington Wizards have signed guard Jared Butler to a two-way contract.

Butler (6-3, 195) has appeared in 48 career NBA games (two starts) with the Oklahoma City Thunder (2022-23) and Utah Jazz (2021-22), recording career averages of 4.1 points and 1.5 assists in 9.1 minutes per game.

Butler appeared in six games (one start) for the Thunder last season, averaging 6.2 points and 1.3 assists while shooting .469 from the field and .500 from three-point range. He also played in 27 games (all starts) with the Grand Rapids Gold and Oklahoma City Blue of the NBA G League during the 2022-23 season, posting averages of 16.7 points, 6.3 assists and 3.3 rebounds per game.

Originally selected with the 40th overall pick by Utah in the 2021 NBA Draft out of Baylor University, Butler averaged 3.8 points and 1.5 assists in 42 games (one start) with the Jazz in 2021-22 while also posting 18.3 points and 6.0 assists in three games for the Salt Lake City Stars, the team’s NBA G League affiliate. He was the first consensus All-America First Team selection in Baylor history after leading the Bears to the 2021 NCAA National Championship.