Category: NBA News Blog

NBA news blog

D’Angelo Russell reportedly re-signing with Lakers

Per ESPN.com:

Co-heads of CAA Basketball Austin Brown and Aaron Mintz, along with Antonio Russell, have confirmed that D’Angelo Russell has an agreement on a two-year, $37 million contract with the Los Angeles Lakers.

A player option for the next year is part of the agreement.

In a three-team trade involving the Lakers, Minnesota Timberwolves, and Utah Jazz, Russell, who was originally selected by the Lakers with the No. 2 overall pick in 2015, returned to Los Angeles in February. He came from the Wolves to take the place of departing Russell Westbrook.

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Overtime Elite forwards Tyler Smith and Izan Almansa sign with NBA G League Ignite

Overtime Elite forwards Tyler Smith and Izan Almansa have signed with NBA G League Ignite.

“As the basketball landscape evolves, the G League continues to solidify its place as a central development pathway for top talent throughout the world,” said NBA G League President Shareef Abdur-Rahim. “We are thrilled to welcome Tyler and Izan to the NBA G League family, where they’ll have the opportunity to learn from our NBA-caliber coaches and veterans and battle against top talent in our league. We’re excited to continue to build on the foundation started at OTE to help Tyler and Izan prepare for successful NBA careers.”

A Houston native, Smith attended George Bush High School in Fort Bend County, Texas, before signing his first professional contract with Overtime Elite in August 2021. Prior to joining OTE, the consensus five-star prospect was ranked by ESPN as the No. 8 player in the 2023 high school class.

In 2022-23 with OTE’s Cold Hearts, Smith averaged 15.7 points, 8.0 rebounds and 1.3 blocks while shooting 47.5 percent from the field, earning All-OTE Second Team honors. In his rookie season with Team OTE in 2021-22, Smith finished fourth in the league in three-point field goal percentage (36.2).

Almansa, who is from Spain, is currently projected as the No. 18 pick in the 2024 NBA Draft by ESPN. He spent the past two seasons with Overtime Elite, averaging 9.3 points, 8.6 rebounds and 2.3 assists during the 2022-23 season with YNG Dreamerz.

Last summer playing for Spain, Almansa became the first player to win MVP honors at both the FIBA U17 World Cup and the FIBA U18 European Championship.

“OTE’s mission is to develop players at a customized and accelerated rate, and Tyler and Izan are perfect examples of players who bought in and utilized every resource OTE offers for player development both on and off the court,” said Damien Wilkins, General Manager and Head of Basketball for OTE. “We have proven success in building a strong foundation for players as they look to continue their basketball careers, and we are proud and excited for both of these guys as they head to compete at G League Ignite.”

Smith and Almansa join 2023 McDonald’s All-Americans Matas Buzelis and Ron Holland, NBA Academy graduates Thierry Darlan and Babacar Sane, second-year Ignite player London Johnson and Texas high school standout Dink Pate on Ignite’s 2023-24 roster.

Ignite has produced four top 10 NBA Draft picks in the previous three years – the most by any program in that span – in Jalen Green (2021, No. 2, Houston Rockets), Jonathan Kuminga (2021, No. 7, Golden State Warriors), Dyson Daniels (2022, No. 8, New Orleans Pelicans) and Scoot Henderson (2023, No. 3, Portland Trail Blazers). Ignite has had a total of 10 NBA Draft picks in the last three years, which is the highest total for a program in that period.

San Antonio Spurs sign Victor Wembanyama to his rookie contract

The San Antonio Spurs have signed forward Victor Wembanyama to his rookie contract.

Wembanyama, 7-3/225, was selected with the first overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft. Prior to the NBA with French-club Boulogne-Levallois Metropolitans 92 in the LNB Pro A French League, he helped lead the team to the 2023 LNB Pro A Finals and a 23-11 regular season record. In 34 regular season games with Mets 92, Wembanyama averaged 21.6 points, 10.4 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 3.0 blocks in 32.3 minutes. In 10 postseason games, he averaged 17.3 points, 9.2 rebounds, 2.7 blocks and 2.7 assists per game.

The Le Chesnay, France native wrapped up the season earning league MVP, Defensive Player of the Year, Best Young Player, Scoring Champion, Blocked Shots Champion and was named to the All-LNB First Team. Throughout his career, he’s earned Best Young Player three times (2021, 2022, 2023), is a two-time LNB All-Star (2022, 2023), two-time All-LNB First Team and won the 2022 LNB Pro A Championship with ASVEL Basket.

The 19-year-old began his professional basketball career at age 15 with Nanterre 92 in the EuroCup League from 2019-21. Prior to joining Mets 92 for the 2022-23 season, Wembanyama played for the French club ASVEL Basket from 2021-22.

Wembanyama will be part of the Spurs Summer League team in Las Vegas at the 2K24 Summer League starting July 7.

Timberwolves hire Corliss Williamson as an assistant coach

The Minnesota Timberwolves today named Corliss Williamson Assistant Coach.

Williamson comes to the Wolves after previous coaching stops with the Sacramento Kings (2013-16), Orlando Magic (2016-18) and Phoenix Suns (2018-19).

“Corliss is a fantastic addition to our staff,” said Timberwolves Head Coach Chris Finch. “He brings a wealth of experience, both in the NBA and on the collegiate level. He will make a significant impact in a variety of areas of the team. We look forward to welcoming him and his family to our Timberwolves family.”

Prior to his coaching career, Williamson enjoyed a 12-year NBA playing career from 1995-2007 that featured stops with Detroit, Philadelphia and Sacramento, highlighted by being a member of the 2004 Pistons Championship team. Regarded as one of the best role players during his career, “Big Nasty” was named 2001-02 NBA Sixth Man of the Year. In 822 career games (293 starts), he averaged 11.2 points on 49.0% shooting and 3.9 rebounds. From 1995-96 through 2006-07, no player in the NBA totaled more bench points (5,192) than Williamson.

“I can’t wait to join the Minnesota Timberwolves staff and be a part of what Tim and Chris are building here in Minnesota,” Williamson said. “We have a lot of talent on this roster and I’m excited to get to work with our guys to help them be the best players on and off the court.”

Prior to coaching in the NBA, the Russellville, Ark. native served as an assistant coach for Arkansas Baptist College from 2007-2009 before being named the school’s head coach in 2009. Williamson also served as the head coach at the University of Central Arkansas from 2010-2013.

Lakers waive Mo Bamba and Shaquille Harrison

The Los Angeles Lakers requested waivers on center Mo Bamba and guard Shaquille Harrison, it was announced today.

Bamba appeared in nine games (one start) for the Lakers last season, averaging 3.7 points and 4.6 rebounds in 9.8 minutes per game. The 25-year-old appeared in three postseason games for Los Angeles, averaging 1.0 rebounds in 3.3 minutes. Bamba was acquired by Los Angeles on Feb. 9.

Harrison played in eight postseason games for Los Angeles last season, averaging 1.3 points and 1.1 assists in 3.5 minutes per game. The 29-year-old was signed by the Lakers on April 9.

Magic exercise option on Goga Bitadze for 2023-24 season

The Orlando Magic have exercised their team option on center Goga Bitadze for the 2023-24 season, President of Basketball Operations Jeff Weltman announced today.

In addition, Orlando has declined its team options on Michael Carter-Williams and Admiral Schofield.

Bitadze (6’11”, 230, 7/20/99) played in 38 combined games (one start) last season (2022-23) with both Indiana and Orlando, averaging 4.4 ppg., 3.6 rpg. and 1.0 apg. in 12.0 minpg., while shooting .552 (69-125) from the floor. He appeared in 21 games with the Pacers, averaging 3.3 ppg. and 2.3 rpg. in 9.6 minpg. Bitadze was waived by Indiana on Feb. 9, then signed as a free agent by Orlando on Feb. 13. He played in 17 games (one start) with the Magic, averaging 5.8 ppg., 5.2 rpg. and 1.2 apg. in 15.0 minpg. Bitadze scored in double figures six times (five times with Orlando), including a season-high 14 points on Oct. 22 @ Detroit and had 10+ rebounds twice, including a career-high 15 rebounds on Oct. 22 @ Detroit and on Apr. 7 @ Brooklyn.

Originally selected in the first round (18th overall) of the 2019 NBA Draft by Indiana, Bitadze has played in 187 career NBA regular season games (22 starts) with Indiana and Orlando, averaging 4.9 ppg. and 3.0 rpg. in 11.9 minpg.

A native of Georgia, Bitadze has been playing against professional competition since he was 16 years old. Prior to being drafted by Indiana in 2019, he spent his international career playing in Georgia, Serbia and Montenegro. Bitadze has been a member of the Georgian National Team.

Bitadze wears #35 with the Orlando Magic.

Rockets exercise option on KJ Martin’s contract

The Houston Rockets have picked up the fourth-year team option on forward KJ Martin’s contract.

Martin was originally the 52nd pick by Sacramento in the 2020 NBA Draft before his rights were acquired by the Rockets. In three seasons, he has appeared in 206 games while averaging 10.5 points, 4.8 rebounds and 1.3 assists. Martin ranked 12th in the NBA in field goal percentage last season (.569) and seventh in dunks (173).

The Rockets also announced they have waived guard Daishen Nix. He appeared in 81 games for Houston over the past two seasons.

Trail Blazers extend qualifying offers to Ibou Badji and John Butler Jr.

The Portland Trail Blazers have extended qualifying offers to center Ibou Badji and forward John Butler Jr., making both players restricted free agents, General Manager Joe Cronin announced today.

By extending qualifying offers to Badji and Butler, Portland obtains the Right of First Refusal on any offer sheet they may sign with another team.

Badji originally signed a two-way contract with the Trail Blazers on November 18, 2022. Butler appeared in 19 games (1 start) during his rookie campaign for Portland and averaged 2.4 points (32.1% FG, 75.0% FT), 0.9 rebounds and 11.6 minutes per game as a two-way player.