Category: NBA News Blog

NBA news blog

Orlando Magic exercise contract options on Maurice Harkless, Andrew Nicholson, Tobias Harris and Nikola Vucevic

orlando magic

The Orlando Magic have exercised their third-year team option on the contracts of forward Maurice Harkless and Andrew Nicholson, while also exercising their fourth-year team option on the contracts of Tobias Harris and Nikola Vučević, General Manager Rob Hennigan announced today.

All four players are now under contract through the 2014-15 season.

Harkless (6-9, 220, 5/11/93) played in 76 games (59 starts) during his rookie campaign (2012-13) with Orlando, averaging 8.2 ppg., 4.4 rpg. and 1.16 stlpg. in 26.0 minpg. He ranked sixth in the NBA in steals-to-turnover ratio (1.28, 88/69) and 40th in steals. Harkless also ranked among all NBA rookies in scoring (11th), rebounding (9th), field goal percentage (8th, .461), steals (2nd) and blocked shots (8th, 0.82 blkpg.). He was acquired by Orlando as part of a four-team, 12-player trade on Aug. 10, 2012, along with Vučević. Harkless was originally selected in the first round (15th overall) of the 2012 NBA Draft by Philadelphia.

Harris (6-9, 235, 7/15/92) was acquired by Orlando in a six-player trade with Milwaukee on Feb. 21, 2013. He appeared in 55 games (34 starts) with both the Magic and the Bucks in 2012-13, averaging 11.0 ppg., 5.2 rpg. and 1.3 apg. in 23.6 minpg. In 27 games with Orlando, Harris averaged 17.3 ppg., 8.5 rpg., 2.1 apg. and 1.37 blkpg. in 36.1 minpg. On Mar. 29 @ Charlotte, he poured in a career-high 30 points, becoming the second-youngest player in Magic history to score 30+ points in a game (20 years, 257 days old). Harris was originally selected in the first round (19th overall) of the 2011 NBA Draft by Charlotte.

Nicholson (6-9, 250, 12/8/89) played in 75 games (28 starts) during his rookie season (2012-13) with Orlando, averaging 7.8 ppg. and 3.4 rpg. in 16.7 minpg., while shooting .527 (256-486) from the field. He ranked among all NBA rookies in scoring (14th), rebounding (16th), field goal percentage (4th) and free throw percentage (5th, .798). Nicholson participated in the 2013 BBVA Rising Stars Challenge at NBA All-Star Weekend, tallying six points and three rebounds in 10 minutes.

Vučević (7-0, 250, 10/24/90) appeared and started in 77 games in 2012-13 for Orlando, averaging 13.1 ppg., a team-high 11.9 rpg., 1.9 apg. and a team-best 1.03 blkpg. in 33.2 minpg., while shooting .519 (461-889) from the floor. He ranked second in the NBA in rebounding, third in double-doubles (team-high 46), tied for 21st in field goal percentage and tied for 33rd in blocked shots. Vučević finished fourth in voting for the NBA’s Most Improved Player Award. On Dec. 31 vs. Miami, he broke the franchise record for most rebounds in a single game, pulling down 29 boards and breaking the mark previously held by Shaquille O’Neal (28, Nov. 20, 1993 @ New Jersey).

Utah Jazz waive Brian Cook, Dominic McGuire, Justin Holiday, Lester Hudson and Scott Machado

utah jazz

The Utah Jazz announced today that the team has waived forwards Brian Cook and Dominic McGuire, and guards Justin Holiday, Lester Hudson and Scott Machado. Following the moves, Utah’s roster now stands at 15 players.

The Jazz will tip off its 40th NBA campaign against Northwest Division rival Oklahoma City Thunder on October 30 at EnergySolutions Arena at 7 p.m. MT (ROOT, 1280 AM/97.5 FM).

Cook (6-9, 251, Illinois) appeared in six preseason games for Utah, averaging 6.2 points and 1.8 rebounds in 10.7 minutes per game. McGuire (6-9, 231, Fresno State) saw action in five preseason games, averaging 2.4 points and 1.4 rebounds in 10.4 minutes. Holiday (6-6, 176, Washington) played in seven preseason contests, averaging 3.4 points in 10.4 minutes. Hudson (6-3, 209, Tennessee-Martin) averaged 4.6 points, 2.4 rebounds and 2.2 assists in 14.8 minutes in five preseason games, while Machado (6-1, 203, Iona) made six preseason appearances, averaging 1.3 points, 1.2 rebounds and 2.0 assists in 11.5 minutes.

Memphis Grizzlies waive Andre Barrett, Melvin Ely, Tony Gaffney and Willie Reed

Grizzlies

The Memphis Grizzlies waived Andre Barrett, Melvin Ely, Tony Gaffney and Willie Reed, the team announced today.

Barrett (5-10, 172) logged two minutes in his lone preseason appearance on Oct. 20 at Atlanta. The 31-year-old, who signed with Memphis on Oct. 10, holds career averages of 3.3 points, 1.1 rebounds and 2.0 assists in 12.2 minutes in 67 games (one start) in four seasons for the Houston Rockets, Orlando Magic, Phoenix Suns, Toronto Raptors, Chicago Bulls and Los Angeles Clippers.

Ely (6-10, 260) averaged 1.3 points and 0.7 rebounds in 6.2 minutes in three preseason games after signing with the Grizzlies on Sept. 29. The 35-year-old holds career averages of 5.3 points, 3.3 rebounds and 0.7 assists on .460 shooting in 16.0 minutes in 373 games (55 starts) over eight seasons with the Los Angeles Clippers, Charlotte Bobcats, San Antonio Spurs, New Orleans Hornets and Denver Nuggets.

Gaffney (6-8, 213) registered 2.0 points and 2.9 rebounds in 10.7 minutes in seven preseason games after signing with Memphis on Sept. 29. The 28-year-old has played professionally in Israel (2009-10), Turkey (2010-11), the NBA D-League’s Utah Flash (2010-11), Germany (2011-12) and Spain (2012-13).

Reed (6-10, 220) posted 2.6 points and 1.0 rebounds in 6.4 minutes in five preseason games after signing with Memphis on April 17. The 23-year-old averaged 14.8 points, 7.8 rebounds and 1.77 blocks on .557 shooting in 29.3 minutes in 48 games (30 starts) for the NBA D-League’s Springfield Armor last season before signing with the Grizzlies.

The Grizzlies’ roster now stands at 13 players.

Milwaukee Bucks waive Trey McKinney Jones, Olek Czyz and Stephen Graham

Bucks

The Milwaukee Bucks have requested waivers on guard Trey McKinney Jones and forwards Olek Czyz and Stephen Graham, General Manager John Hammond announced today.

Graham (6-6, 215) appeared in five preseason games and averaged 5.8 points and 1.4 rebounds per game. Czyz (6-7, 240) played in four contests during the preseason and averaged 4.8 points and 1.0 rebound, while McKinney Jones (6-5, 216) played in two games and averaged 1.5 points per game. All three players signed as free agents on Sept. 30.

The Bucks roster now stands at 15 players.

Boston Celtics waive Damen Bell-Holter, DeShawn Sims, Chris Babb and Kammron Taylor

boston celtics

The Boston Celtics announced today that they have waived forwards Damen Bell-Holter and DeShawn Sims and guards Chris Babb and Kammron Taylor. The Celtics roster stands at 14.

Bell-Holter, a 6’9” forward, appeared in three games for the Celtics during the preseason totaling one rebound in five minutes of action.

Sims, a 6’8” forward, averaged 2.3 points in 4.0 minutes per game while appearing in three games during the preseason.

Babb, a 6’5” guard, appeared in five games for the team during preseason while totaling 16 points, four rebounds and three assists in 30 minutes of action.

Taylor, a 6’2” guard, appeared in three games for the Celtics during preseason and scored two points in seven total minutes of action.

Brooklyn Nets waive Jorge Gutierrez, Chris Johnson and Adonis Thomas

nets

It’s “get rid of extra players” time in the NBA, as teams need to trim their rosters to 15 players or less by the start of the NBA regular season, which tips off Tuesday.

And so, the Brooklyn Nets have requested waivers on guard Jorge Gutierrez and forwards Chris Johnson and Adonis Thomas, Nets General Manager Billy King announced today.

Gutierrez, who was signed to the training camp roster on September 30, appeared in five preseason games, averaging 1.8 points and 3.0 rebounds per game.

Johnson, who was also signed to the training camp roster on September 30, played in seven preseason games, averaging 5.6 points and 2.0 rebounds per game.

Thomas, who was signed to the training camp roster on October 18, did not appear in any preseason games for the Nets.

The Nets roster now stands at 15 players.

Utah Jazz sign Jamaal Tinsley

Utah Jazz sign Jamaal Tinsley

Crafty veteran point guard Jamaal Tinsley is back in the NBA.

The Utah Jazz announced today that the team has signed Tinsley, who we assume will be making the league minimum.

Tinsley (6-3, 188, Iowa State) has appeared in 539 games (399 starts) over 10 NBA seasons with Indiana, Memphis and Utah and owns career averages of 8.6 points, 3.0 rebounds, 6.1 assists and 1.4 steals. The Brooklyn, N.Y., native re-joins Utah after having spent each of the last two seasons in a Jazz uniform, playing in a total of 103 games (33 starts) and averaging 3.6 points, 4.0 assists and 1.6 rebounds in 16.8 minutes per game during that span. Tinsley saw action in 66 games (32 starts) for the Jazz during the 2012-13 season, averaging 3.5 points, 4.4 assists, 1.7 rebounds and 1.0 steal in 18.5 minutes, his highest totals in every category (other than scoring) since 2007-08. He also ranked 18th (tied) in the NBA in assists-per-turnover rate at 2.74. As a starter, Tinsley posted a 20-12 record while averaging 4.8 points, 5.4 assists, 2.2 rebounds and 1.2 steals in 23.8 minutes.

The former Iowa State product was originally selected by the Vancouver Grizzlies in the first round (27th overall) of the 2001 NBA Draft. He has twice ranked in the NBA’s Top 10 in assists (2001-02, 2002-03) and steals (2002-03, 2006-07) and was a 2002 NBA All-Rookie Second Team selection. Tinsley was also the top overall pick in the 2011 NBA Development League Draft by the Los Angeles D-Fenders and appeared in eight games before signing with the Jazz prior to the 2011-12 season.

Los Angeles Lakers waive forward Marcus Landry

The Los Angeles Lakers have waived forward Marcus Landry, it was announced today.

Landry, a 6-7 forward out of Wisconsin, has spent time over the past three years with the Maine Red Claws and Reno Bighorns of the NBA Development League and internationally with teams in Spain, China, Venezuela and Puerto Rico. During his two seasons (2010-11 and 2012-13) with the Bighorns, Landry played in 84 games (83 starts) averaging 16.9 points, 4.6 rebounds and 1.6 assists in 36.0 minutes.

Signing with the New York Knicks as an undrafted rookie free agent in 2009, Landry played for both the Knicks and Celtics during the 2009-10 campaign averaging 2.4 points and 1.1 rebounds in 6.1 minutes over 18 games.

The Milwaukee, Wisconsin native appeared in six preseason games for the Lakers, averaging 4.0 points and 1.2 rebounds in 13.4 minutes per game.

The Lakers roster now stands at 15 players.

Thunder exercise contract options on Reggie Jackson, Jeremy Lamb, Perry Jones

OKC Thunder

The Oklahoma City Thunder exercised its fourth-year option on guard Reggie Jackson and third-year options on guard Jeremy Lamb and forward Perry Jones, it was announced today by Executive Vice President and General Manager Sam Presti.

In two seasons with the Thunder, Jackson has appeared in 115 games and averaged 4.5 points, 1.7 assists and 1.9 rebounds in 13.0 minutes per game. Most recently, Jackson appeared in 11 games (nine starts) with Oklahoma City during the 2013 playoffs and posted averages of 13.9 points, 3.6 assists and 4.9 rebounds in 33.5 minutes per contest.

In one season with the Thunder, Lamb appeared in 23 games while recording averages of 3.1 points in 6.4 minutes per contest.

During his rookie season with Oklahoma City, Jones saw action in 38 games (one start) and averaged 2.3 points and 1.6 rebounds in 7.4 minutes per game.