Category: NBA News Blog

NBA news blog

Clippers re-sign center Mason Plumlee

The LA Clippers have re-signed center Mason Plumlee, announced Lawrence Frank, Clippers president of basketball operations.

“Mason made an immediate imprint last season with his playmaking, finishing and feel for the game,” said Frank. “He is a selfless, dependable teammate who consistently excels in his role. We’re grateful to have him back.”

Plumlee, 33, appeared in 23 games for the Clippers after a midseason acquisition from the Charlotte Hornets, averaging 7.5 points, 6.9 rebounds and 1.7 assists. The 7-foot center set career-highs last season in total points (857), rebounds (700) and FG% (68.0).

Originally selected with the 22nd overall pick in the 2013 NBA Draft, Plumlee has appeared in 740 games with the Brooklyn Nets, Portland Trail Blazers, Denver Nuggets, Detroit Pistons, Hornets and Clippers, averaging 8.6 points, 6.9 rebounds and 2.5 assists while shooting 59.5% from the field. The Fort Wayne, Ind., native has also appeared in 65 career playoff games and was named to the 2013-14 All-Rookie First Team.

Thunder sign rookie guard Cason Wallace

The Oklahoma City Thunder has signed rookie guard Cason Wallace to a multi-year contract, it was announced today by Executive Vice President and General Manager Sam Presti.

Wallace (6-4, 193) was drafted 10th overall in the 2023 NBA Draft and acquired from the Dallas Mavericks. He was named to the SEC All-Freshman team this past season after averaging 11.7 points, 4.3 assists, 3.7 rebounds and 1.97 steals in 32 games at the University of Kentucky.

The Texas native was a three-time SEC Freshman of the Week honoree and ranked second in the SEC in assists and fourth in steals. His 63 steals this past season represent the third most by a freshman in Kentucky history.

Magic sign Joe Ingles

The Orlando Magic have signed free agent forward Joe Ingles, President of Basketball Operations Jeff Weltman announced today.

Ingles’ Magic contract is reportedly a two-year, $22 million deal.

“We would like to welcome Joe (Ingles) to the Magic family,” said Weltman. “Joe is a smart, tough player who truly impacts winning in every way. His shooting, playmaking and experience will be a welcome addition to our team.”

Ingles (6’9”, 235, 10/2/87) played in 46 games last season (2022-23) with Milwaukee, averaging 6.9 ppg., 3.3 apg. and 2.8 rpg. in 22.7 minpg., while shooting .409 (83-203) from three-point range and .857 (18-21) from the free throw line. He was tied for 24th in the NBA in three-point field goal percentage. Ingles scored in double figures 10 times, including a season-high 17 points on Jan. 9 @ New York. He also appeared in five playoff games, averaging 6.8 ppg., 2.0 apg. and 1.2 rpg. in 17.8 minpg., while shooting .500 (10-20) from three-point range.

Not drafted by an NBA franchise, Ingles has played in 636 career NBA regular season games (313 starts) with Utah and Milwaukee, averaging 8.5 ppg., 3.7 apg. and 3.2 rpg. in 25.5 minpg., while shooting .408 (1,154-2,825) from three-point range. He has also played in 50 career playoff games (40 starts), averaging 9.5 ppg., 3.6 apg., 3.5 rpg. and 1.06 stlpg. in 29.9 minpg., while shooting .400 (106-265) from three-point range. For three straight seasons (2016-19), Ingles appeared in all 82 games. He stands as Utah’s all-time franchise leader in three-point field goals made with 1,071.

Ingles was a member of the Australian Men’s National Team, including participating in four Olympic Games (2008, 2012, 2016 and 2020). He has appeared in 55 career national team games, averaging 10.3 ppg., 3.8 rpg. and 3.5 apg.

Ingles will wear #7 for the Orlando Magic. Two-way player Kevon Harris will switch to #8.

Timberwolves sign rookie Jaylen Clark to two-way contract

The Minnesota Timberwolves have signed rookie guard Jaylen Clark to a two-way contract.

Clark was selected by the Wolves with the 53rd overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft.

Clark, 6-5, was named the 2022-23 Naismith Defensive Player of the Year, 2022-23 NABC Defensive Player of the Year and 2022-23 Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year, UCLA’s first defensive player of the year winner since Russell Westbrook in 2007-08. He averaged 13.0 points, 1.9 assists and a Pac-12 leading 2.6 steals per game (tied for fourth-best in the nation).

Additionally, Clark was named to the 2022-23 All-Pac-12 Second Team and was a two-time Pac 12 All-Defensive Team honoree (2021-22 and 2022-23).

The Riverside, Calif., native played on an AAU team with current NBA players Evan and Isaiah Mobley and Onyeka Okongwu. Clark attended the same high school (Etiwanda High School) as current Timberwolves guard Jordan McLaughlin.

Pelicans sign E.J. Liddell to multi-year contract

The New Orleans Pelicans yesterday signed forward E.J. Liddell to a multi-year contract.

Liddell, 6-6, 240, who was selected by New Orleans with the 41st overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft out of The Ohio State University, missed all of last season due to a torn ACL in his right knee.

During his junior season (2021-22) at Ohio State, Liddell averaged 19.4 points, 7.9 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 2.6 blocks per game en route to consensus third-team All-American, first-team All-Big Ten and Big Ten All-Defensive honors. Liddell led the Buckeyes in scoring, rebounding, blocks, free throws made and attempted and was second in assists.

Pacers trade Chris Duarte to Kings

The Sacramento Kings yesterday acquired guard Chris Duarte in a trade with the Indiana Pacers for a 2028 second-round pick and a 2030 second-round pick.

During the 2022-23 season, Duarte averaged 7.9 points and 2.5 rebounds per game in 46 games (12 starts) for the Pacers. He was selected to participate in the 2022 NBA Rising Stars Challenge and went on to be named to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team after posting averages of 13.1 points, 4.1 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.0 steals per contest in 55 games (39 starts) in 2021-22.

Duarte appeared in 101 games (51 starts) for the Pacers, averaging 10.7 points and 3.4 rebounds per game. He was selected 13th overall in the 2021 NBA Draft out of Oregon after receiving Pac-12 Player of the Year honors for his performance during the 2020-21 season.

Rockets sign Jeff Green

The Houston Rockets have signed free agent forward Jeff Green.

Green (6-8, 235) recently finished his 15th NBA season by averaging 17.2 minutes played during Denver’s championship playoff run. In 1,107 career games with 650 starts, he has averaged 12.4 points, 4.2 rebounds and 1.5 assists in 28.5 minutes per game.

Over the past three seasons, Green averaged 9.8 ppg, 3.2 rpg and 1.4 apg in 24.0 mpg while shooting 50.3% from the floor. In 68 games for Brooklyn in 2020-21, he averaged 1.5 3-pointers made on a career-best 41.2% shooting. Rockets head coach Ime Udoka was an assistant coach with the Nets that season.

This will mark Green’s second stint as a Rocket. He joined the team during the 2019-20 season and helped Houston advance to the Conference Semifinals as part of the Orlando “bubble” experience.

Green made his NBA debut as a 21-year-old with the Seattle Supersonics in 2007 and has teamed with eight players who won the MVP award at some point during their career: Kevin Durant, Kevin Garnett, James Harden, LeBron James, Nikola Jokić, Shaquille O’Neal, Derrick Rose and Russell Westbrook.

Cavaliers sign Emoni Bates, Isaiah Mobley and Craig Porter Jr. to two-way contracts

The Cleveland Cavaliers have signed forward Emoni Bates, forward Isaiah Mobley and guard Craig Porter Jr. to two-way contracts, Cavaliers President of Basketball Operations Koby Altman announced today.

Reflective of the NBA’s new collective bargaining agreement, teams will be able to roster up to three players on a Two-Way contract this upcoming season.

Bates (6-9, 190) was selected 49th overall by the Cavaliers in the 2023 NBA Draft and appeared in 30 games (all starts) as a sophomore for Eastern Michigan University this past season, averaging team-highs in points (19.2) and rebounds (5.8) in 33.5 minutes. Bates, an All-Mid-American Conference Third Team selection, also recorded four double-doubles and his 19.2 points per game average ranked 39th nationally and third in the MAC. Additionally, Bates finished fourth in the MAC in three-point field goals made per game (2.5) and shot 76-230 (.330 3FG%) from beyond the arc on the season. His 76 made three-pointers ranked eighth in a single season in program history. Bates registered a season-high 43 points at Toledo on Jan. 24, the ninth-best single game total in the NCAA this season. He started his collegiate career at the University of Memphis before transferring to Eastern Michigan and was named the 2020 Gatorade National High School Player of the Year.

Mobley (6-10, 240) appeared in 12 games for the Cavaliers during his rookie year this past season and recorded a career-high 18 points on 7-12 (.583) shooting from the field, four rebounds, three steals and two blocks in 29 minutes on April 6 at Orlando. As a Two-Way player during the 2022-23 season, Mobley also appeared in 22 games (all starts) in the NBA G League for the Cleveland Charge, the Cavaliers’ exclusively owned and operated NBA G League team, holding averages of 21.0 points (.522 FG%, .353 3FG%, .730 FT%), 8.5 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 1.14 blocks in 33.0 minutes. He was selected 49th overall in the 2022 NBA Draft by Cleveland after spending three seasons (2019-2022) at University of Southern California.

Porter Jr. (6-2, 178) spent last season at Wichita State University, averaging 13.5 points, 6.2 rebounds, 4.9 assists, 1.52 steals and 1.48 blocks in 33.5 minutes, becoming the first player in program history to lead the team in rebounding, assists, blocks, and steals in the same season. He also became the second Shocker in the last 50 years (Fred VanVleet) to record a triple-double, finishing with 15 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists on February 26 at Tulane. Porter Jr. played three seasons total at Wichita State, appearing in 75 games (59 starts) for the Shockers during his Division-I collegiate playing career and averaged 8.6 points, 4.7 rebounds and 3.6 assists in 26.1 minutes. He also played two Junior College seasons at Vincennes University in Vincennes, Indiana, helping lead them to an NJCAA national championship in 2019.

Nets trade Joe Harris to Pistons

The Detroit Pistons have acquired guard/forward Joe Harris, along with future draft considerations, in a trade with the Brooklyn Nets for cash considerations.

Harris, 6-6, 220, averaged 7.6 points, 2.2 rebounds and 1.4 assists in 20.6 minutes per game while shooting 45.7% from the field and 42.6% from 3-point range with the Nets last season. He’s averaged 11.6 points, 3.4 rebounds and 1.7 assists over his last seven seasons in Brooklyn and helped the Nets to the NBA Playoffs in each of the last five seasons. Harris led the NBA in 3-point field goal percentage in 2019 (.474) and 2021 (.475) and is the Nets’ all-time leader in 3-point field goals made.

“It’s difficult to put into words just how much Joe has meant to this franchise,” said Nets General Manager Sean Marks. “For seven years he displayed the character, drive and team-first approach that served as a model for his teammates and staff alike. Joe helped define what it means to be a Net, while fully embracing being a part of the Brooklyn community. We’re grateful for everything Joe has done and wish him and his family the very best going forward. He will forever remain part of our Nets family.”

Drafted 33rd overall by Cleveland in the 2014 NBA Draft, Harris played two seasons for the Cavaliers and averaged 2.5 points in 9.1 minutes per game. The Chelan, Wash., native played four seasons at the University of Virginia and averaged 12.6 points and 3.8 rebounds while shooting 44.5% from the field in 135 career games (128 starts). Harris led Virginia to the NCAA Tournament during his sophomore and senior seasons.

Wizards trade Monte Morris to Pistons

The Detroit Pistons have acquired guard Monte Morris in a trade with the Washington Wizards for future draft considerations.

The Wizards acquired a 2027 second round pick from Detroit (the more favorable of the picks from Brooklyn and Dallas that Detroit previously acquired).

Washington also generated a traded player exception in the deal.

Morris, 6-2, 183, averaged 10.3 points, 3.4 rebounds and 5.3 assists in 27.3 minutes per game while shooting 48% from the field and 38.2% from 3-point range with the Wizards last season. His 5.3 assists and 3.4 rebounds per game marked single-season career-highs and his 5.43 assist-to-turnover ratio ranked second in the NBA during the 2022-23 season. Since entering the league in 2017-18, Morris’ career 48.1% field goal percentage ranks eighth-best among all guards in the NBA (min. 2000 field goal attempts).

Drafted 51st overall by Denver in the 2017 NBA Draft, Morris played five seasons for the Nuggets and averaged 10.5 points and 4.0 assists in 25.2 minutes per game while shooting 39.4% from behind-the-arc. The Flint, Mich., native played four seasons at Iowa State University where he was a three-time All-Big 12 selection. In high school, Morris led Flint Beecher to back-to-back Class C Michigan state titles in 2012 and 2013 and won Michigan’s Mr. Basketball award in 2013.