Category: NBA News Blog

NBA news blog

Kings trade Richaun Holmes and Olivier-Maxence Prosper to Mavericks

The Sacramento Kings have finalized a trade with the Dallas Mavericks. Sacramento sent center Richaun Holmes and the draft rights to the 24th selection of the 2023 NBA Draft, Olivier-Maxence Prosper, to Dallas in exchange for cash considerations.

“Richaun is a dynamic and skilled center who brings a unique blend of athleticism, energy and versatility to the court,” said Mavericks General Manager Nico Harrison. “O-Max took on the most difficult defensive matchups every night at Marquette, and his energy and enthusiasm on the court will be felt right away for us.”

Holmes (6-10, 240) holds career averages of 8.9 points (.606 FG%, .747 FT%), 5.4 rebounds, 1.0 assists, 1.0 blocks and 19.8 minutes in 418 games (161 starts) with Philadelphia, Phoenix and Sacramento. He spent the past four seasons with the Kings and averaged 10.4 points (.644 FG%, .375 3FG%, .788 FT%), 6.6 rebounds, 1.0 assists, 1.1 blocks and 23.2 minutes in 192 games (137 starts).

The Lockport, Illinois, native was selected by Philadelphia with the 37th overall pick in the 2015 NBA Draft. As a senior at Bowling Green, he garnered First Team All-MAC and MAC Defensive Player of the Year honors.

Holmes will wear No. 20 for the Mavericks.

Cavaliers sign Georges Niang and Ty Jerome

The Cleveland Cavaliers have signed forward Georges (George) Niang and guard Ty Jerome, President of Basketball Operations Koby Altman announced today.

Niang (6-7, 230) has appeared in 383 games (19 starts) during his seven-year career with Philadelphia, Utah and Indiana, holding career averages of 6.5 points and 2.1 rebounds in 15.6 minutes and shooting a .403 three-point percentage. He has also shot .400 or better from beyond the arc in each of his last five NBA seasons and once recorded a 31-game streak with at least one made three-pointer (1/15/22-3/23/22), the sixth-longest streak in Sixers franchise history. Last season with the 76ers, Niang appeared in a career-high 78 games (one start), averaging 8.2 points and 2.4 Rebounds in 19.4 minutes while shooting .401 (154-384) from the three-point line. He also had the 13th highest three-point percentage among all NBA players with at least 150 threes made.

Niang appeared in 46 career postseason games with Philadelphia (23 games) and Utah (23 games), averaging 4.8 points and 1.5 rebounds in 14.2 minutes while shooting a .423 from the field (80-189 FG%) for his postseason career. Niang was selected 50th overall in the 2016 NBA Draft by the Indiana Pacers following four seasons in college at Iowa State.

Jerome (6-5, 195) has played in 157 games (seven starts) over four NBA seasons with Phoenix, Oklahoma City and Golden State. Last season, Jerome appeared in 45 games (two starts) for the Golden State Warriors, averaging 6.9 points and 3.0 assists in 18.1 minutes while shooting a career-best .927 from the free-throw line (38-41 FT) as well as a career-high .488 from the field (118-242 FG). Jerome has scored in double figures in 52 games in his career, as well as six occasions with 20 or more points. Last season, Jerome recorded a season-high 22 points (9-13 FG, 3-4 3P, 1-1 FT), a career-high-tying eight assists, one steal and one block in a career-high 41 minutes on Jan. 20 in Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse. Jerome was selected with the 24th overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft by the Philadelphia 76ers, following three seasons at University of Virginia, winning the NCAA National Championship in 2019.

Niang will wear jersey #20 and Jerome will wear #2 for Cleveland this season.

Celtics sign Oshae Brissett

The Boston Celtics have signed forward Oshae Brissett to a contract.

Brissett, 6-7/210, has appeared in 172 career NBA games (43 starts) in four seasons with the Toronto Raptors (2019-20) and Indiana Pacers (2021-23). He owns career averages of 7.4 points and 4.2 rebounds in 19.2 minutes per game. Last season, he played in 65 games (two starts) with the Pacers and averaged 6.1 points and 3.4 rebounds in 16.7 minutes per game. He scored a season-high 18 points against Orlando on Nov. 21, including a season-high-tying four three pointers.

The Toronto, Ontario native has also made 42 appearances and 31 starts over two seasons in the NBA G League and earned All G League Second Team honors in 2020-21 with the Fort Wayne Mad Ants when he averaged 18.6 points, 9.8 rebounds, and 2.2 assists per game. Brissett originally signed with Toronto as a free agent on July 23, 2019, and appeared in 19 games during his rookie campaign with the Raptors.

Lakers sign Jaxson Hayes

The Los Angeles Lakers signed center Jaxson Hayes, it was announced today by Vice President of Basketball Operations and General Manager Rob Pelinka.

Hayes (7’0”, 217) joins the purple and gold after spending the last four seasons (2019-23) with the New Orleans Pelicans. The 23-year-old appeared in 47 games (two starts) in 2022-23 and registered averages of 5.0 points (.551 FG%) and 2.8 rebounds in 13.0 minutes per game.

In 241 career NBA games (47 starts), Hayes has averaged 7.5 points (.622 FG%) and 4.0 rebounds in 16.8 minutes per contest. Hayes has recorded seven games with at least 20 points in his career and has shot over 60.0 percent from the field in three of his four NBA seasons. The Norman, Okla., native appeared in six postseason contests (all starts) following the 2021-22 season, averaging 5.8 points (.560 FG%) and 2.5 rebounds in 13.8 minutes per game.

Hayes was originally selected by the Atlanta Hawks with the eighth overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft out of the University of Texas. In one season with the Longhorns (2018-19), where he was named Big 12 Freshman of the Year and an All-Big 12 Second Team honoree, he averaged 10.0 points (.728 FG%), 5.0 rebounds and 2.2 blocks in 23.3 minutes per game. Hayes ranked fourth in the league in blocked shots (71), helping him earn a spot on the Big 12 All-Defensive Team.

Nets re-sign Cam Johnson

The Brooklyn Nets have re-signed forward Cam Johnson to a multi-year contract.

It’s reportedly a four-year, $108 million deal.

“Re-signing Cam was our top priority throughout this free agency period, and we are thrilled to have him remain in Brooklyn as a core member of the Nets for years to come,” said Nets General Manager Sean Marks. “Since the moment he arrived last season, Cam immediately embraced a leadership role both on and off the court. His versatile skillset as a two-way wing has proven to be an ideal fit with our roster, and we look forward to the positive impact he will continue to bring to our team and the Brooklyn community.”

Nets trade Patty Mills to Rockets

The Brooklyn Nets have traded guard Patty Mills and a 2028 second round draft pick (via Milwaukee) to the Houston Rockets in exchange for future draft considerations.

“Patty was an exemplary representative of the Nets during his two years in Brooklyn, both for his contributions on the court and his impact in the community,” said Nets General Manager Sean Marks. “We thank Patty for all he has brought to our organization and wish him and Alyssa nothing but the best in their next chapter.”

Mills originally signed with the Nets on Aug. 10, 2021, and appeared in 121 games (50 starts) across two seasons (2021-23) in Brooklyn, registering averages of 9.7 points on 40.9 percent shooting from the field, 39.3 percent shooting from 3-point range and 82.0 percent shooting from the free-throw line, 1.7 rebounds and 2.0 assists in 24.1 minutes per game. In the 2022-23 campaign, Mills played in 40 games (two starts) and averaged 6.2 points on 41.1 percent shooting from the field, 36.6 percent shooting from distance and 83.3 percent shooting from the free-throw line, 1.1 rebounds and 1.4 assists in 14.2 minutes per contest. Mills has played in 860 games (107 starts) in 14 seasons with Brooklyn, San Antonio (2011-21) and Portland (2009-11), notching averages of 9.0 points, 1.7 rebounds and 2.3 assists in 20.4 minutes per game while shooting 42.6 percent from the field, 38.9 percent from 3-point range and 85.4 percent from the free-throw line.

Pelicans re-sign Herbert Jones

The New Orleans Pelicans have re-signed Herbert Jones to a multi-year contract.

It is reportedly a 4-year, $54 million deal.

Jones, 6-7, 212, started all 66 games for New Orleans during the 2022-23 season, averaging 9.8 points, 4.1 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 1.6 steals and 0.6 blocks per game while shooting .469 from the field, .335 from behind the arc and .764 from the free throw line. Among all NBA players, Jones finished the 2022-23 campaign tied for seventh in steals per game (1.6), tied for sixth in deflections per game (3.4) and tied eighth in total charges drawn (19).

Originally drafted by New Orleans with the 35th overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, Jones has appeared in 144 games (135 starts) for the Pelicans, averaging 9.7 points, 3.9 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.6 steals in 29.8 minutes per contest while shooting .473 from the floor, .336 from three-point range and .802 from the foul stripe.

Pelicans sign center Cody Zeller

The New Orleans Pelicans have signed free agent center Cody Zeller.

Zeller, 6-11, 245, most recently played for the Miami HEAT, where he averaged 6.5 points and 4.3 rebounds in 14.5 minutes per game while shooting .627 from the floor and .686 from the free throw line. During the 2023 NBA Playoffs, Zeller appeared in 21 games for the HEAT, averaging 2.2 points and 2.3 rebounds while shooting .571 from the floor.

Over his 10-year NBA career, Zeller has appeared in 509 games (275 starts) for Charlotte, Portland and Miami, averaging 8.4 points, 5.9 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 0.6 blocks in 22.0 minutes per contest. The former Indiana Hoosier holds career shooting averages of .522 from the field and .730 from the free throw stripe.

Spurs re-sign forward Julian Champagnie

The San Antonio Spurs have re-signed forward Julian Champagnie.

Champagnie, 6-8/220, joined the Silver and Black midway through the 2022-23 season on a two-way contract. In 15 games (three starts) with San Antonio, he averaged 11.0 points and 4.0 rebounds in 20.9 minutes. The New York native scored a season-high 26 points in a win over the Sacramento Kings on April 2, the second-most points ever for a rookie on a two-way contract. Champagnie scored in double-digits in the final five games of the season, including 20-plus in three of the five games. He appeared in eight games with the Austin Spurs and averaged 18.1 points, 8.4 points, 2.5 assists in 33.9 minutes.

Prior to joining the Spurs, Champagnie was on a two-way contract with the Philadelphia 76ers. He appeared in two games with the 76ers and 18 G League games with the Delaware Blue Coats, averaging 14.3 points, 5.7 rebounds and 1.8 assists in 28.5 minutes.

Champagnie went undrafted in the 2022 NBA Draft after spending three years (2019-22) at St. John’s University, where he garnered All-Big East First Team honors as a sophomore and junior. The former Red Storm forward averaged 16.0 points, 6.8 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 1.6 steals in 30.7 minutes in 88 games.

The second-year forward is currently playing on the Spurs Summer League team, where he’s averaging 29.0 points, 6.5 rebounds and shooting 45.5% from three in 25.9 minutes through two games.

Mavericks trade Cason Wallace and Davis Bertans to Thunder for Dereck Lively II

The Oklahoma City Thunder has acquired the draft rights to guard Cason Wallace (10th overall) and forward Dāvis Bertāns in a trade with the Dallas Mavericks for the draft rights to Dereck Lively II (12th overall), it was announced today by Executive Vice President and General Manager Sam Presti.

Wallace (6-4, 193) was named to the SEC All-Freshman team this past season after averaging 11.7 points, 4.3 assists, 3.7 rebounds and 2.0 steals in 32 games at the University of Kentucky. His 63 steals this past season represent the third most by a freshman in Kentucky history.

Bertans (6-10, 225) has appeared in 432 NBA games (40 starts) and averaged 7.8 points, 2.5 rebounds and 1.0 assist in 18.2 minutes per game with the San Antonio Spurs, Washington Wizards and Mavericks.

Lively (7-1, 234) was an early-entry candidate to this year’s draft after spending one season at Duke. In his lone season with the Blue Devils, he averaged 5.2 points (.658 FG%), 5.4 rebounds and 2.4 blocks per game across 34 appearances. Lively was named to the ACC All-Freshman Team and the ACC All-Defensive Team.

“We really love Dereck’s combination of size, shot blocking ability and defensive versatility,” Mavericks General Manager Nico Harrison said. “As one of the youngest players in the draft we are looking forward to Dereck growing with the team and fostering his development.”

In his lone year at Duke, Lively blocked 82 shots – only five shy of the NCAA lead. With a 7-4 wingspan, he led all Division I freshmen in blocks and ranked second in the ACC (eighth nationally).

The Philadelphia native was ranked as the No. 1 overall player in the ESPN 100 for the class of 2022 as a five-star center out of Westtown School in West Chester, PA. He was named the Pennsylvania Gatorade Player of the Year in 2022 after leading Westtown to a 31-7 record and the Pennsylvania Independent Schools Athletic Association state championship in 2022.