Dallas Mavericks Blog – Page 23 – NBA Blog

J.J. Barea receives October NBA Cares Community Assist Award

Dallas Mavericks guard J.J. Barea has received the October NBA Cares Community Assist Award in recognition of his continuous relief efforts in Puerto Rico following devastation caused by Hurricane Maria, the NBA announced today.

The award recognizes an NBA player each month who best reflects the passion that the league and its players share for giving back to their communities.

Kaiser Permanente and the NBA are honoring Barea for his work to immediately initiate aid for Puerto Rico following Hurricane Maria. Coordinating five trips to the territory where he was born and raised, Barea used the Mavericks’ team plane, with help from owner Mark Cuban, to personally deliver much-needed supplies in the days after the hurricane. Working with partners in North Texas, Barea has provided more than 100,000 pounds of supplies to the island, including 32 generators, 14,000 pounds of water, 10,000 pounds of food and 3,000 pounds of medical supplies, diapers, clothing, cleaning products and toiletries on the first trip alone.

Barea also launched a fundraiser on YouCaring.com for families affected by the hurricane that has raised more than $250,000, and personally raised nearly $500,000. Additionally, he worked with the Mavericks to donate 100 percent of all single-game ticket sales from their Oct. 25 game against the Memphis Grizzlies to Puerto Rico, generating an additional $114,000 for the island’s recovery.

“Puerto Rico is such a small island and I think help is going to be needed there for at least the next year, maybe longer,” said Barea. “This effort is something I will carry with me forever, and anything I can do to help people put things back in order is a must for me.”

Before the Mavericks’ home game against the Boston Celtics tonight, NBA Cares Ambassador Bob Lanier will present the award to Barea during an oncourt ceremony. In addition, Kaiser Permanente and the NBA will donate $10,000 to the J.J. Barea Foundation.

Dallas Mavericks sign Antonius Cleveland, waive Gian Clavell

The Dallas Mavericks have signed guard/forward Antonius Cleveland to a two-way contract. In a related move, the Mavericks requested waivers on guard Gian Clavell.

A native of Memphis, played four seasons at Southeast Missouri State University (2013-17) before going undrafted in 2017. As a senior in 2016-17, he averaged 16.6 points, 5.1 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 1.4 steals and 32.9 minutes in 33 games (all starts) for the Redhawks on his way to being named All-Ohio Valley Conference First Team.

Cleveland played on Portland’s summer league team in 2017 and spent the 2017 preseason with Golden State. He appeared in six games for Golden State’s G League affiliate, the Santa Cruz Warriors, in 2017-18, averaging 14.2 points, 3.8 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.3 steals in 25.9 minutes.

He will wear number 44 for the Mavericks.

The 2017-18 season will mark the first year NBA two-way contracts will be implemented. NBA teams are allowed to have up to two players under two-way contracts who will spend the bulk of the season in the NBA G League and not more than 45 days with their NBA team.

Two-way players are paid a corresponding daily amount based on the number of days they play in each league. Only players with four-or-fewer years of NBA experience are able to sign two-way contracts, which can be for either one or two seasons.

Clavell saw action in seven game for the Mavericks this season averaging 2.9 points and 1.0 rebound in 9.1 minutes per game.

Mavericks convert Gian Clavell deal into two-way contract

The Dallas Mavericks have exercised the two-way player conversion option in the contract of guard Gian Clavell. This option makes Clavell the Mavericks second two-way player, along with Johnathan Motley.

Clavell (6-4, 185) was originally signed on August 1 and played in all six preseason games for the Mavericks. He averaged 8.8 points, 3.0 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 1.2 steals in 17.5 minutes per contest.

A native of Caguas, Puerto Rico, Clavell competed for the Miami Heat’s summer league teams in both Orlando and Las Vegas. In five games in Las Vegas, he averaged 12.4 points, 2.6 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 24.6 minutes while shooting 45.2 percent (19-of-42) from the field, 40.6 percent (13-of-32) from 3-point range and 91.7 percent (11-of-12) from the foul line.

The former Colorado State standout went undrafted in the 2017 NBA Draft after earning Mountain West Player of the Year honors as a redshirt senior last season. In 27 games for the Rams in 2016-17, he averaged a MWC-best 20.4 points, 6.3 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 2.0 steals in 36.6 minutes.

Clavell spent two years at Northwest Kansas Technical College (2012-14) before transferring to CSU. He attended high school in Miami (at Hialeah Gardens HS), as did fellow Mavericks guard J.J. Barea (Miami Christian School), who also hails from Puerto Rico.

Mavericks waive Maalik Wayns, P.J. Dozier and Jameel Warney

The Dallas Mavericks have waived P.J. Dozier, Jameel Warney and Maalik Wayns.

Dozier (6-6, 205) was signed on August 8, 2017. He appeared in four games (starting one) for the Mavericks this preseason and averaged 5.0 points and 5.5 rebounds in 13.2 minutes per game.

Warney (6-8, 260) was signed on October 13, 2017. He did not appear in any games for the Mavericks.

Wayns (6-2, 200) was signed on August 9, 2017. He appeared in all six games for the Mavericks during the exhibition season and averaged 4.5 points and 3.2 assists in 12.5 minutes per game.

Mavericks sign Jameel Warney, waive Brandon Ashley

The Dallas Mavericks have signed free agent forward Jameel Warney and requested waivers on forward Brandon Ashley.

Warney (6-8, 260) was signed as a free agent on July 27, 2016 and played in three preseason games last year for the Mavericks averaging 4.0 points and 2.7 rebounds in 9.2 minutes per contest. He was waived on October 16, 2016. He played for the Texas Legends of the G League in 2016-17 and averaged 17.3 points, 8.0 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 1.2 blocks and 29.2 minutes in 44 games (34 starts).

Warney went undrafted in the 2016 NBA Draft after four successful seasons at Stony Brook University where he averaged 15.8 points, 9.4 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 2.0 blocks and 30.7 minutes in 135 career collegiate games. In his senior season with the Seawolves, Warney averaged 19.8 points, 10.8 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 3.0 blocks in 33 games on his way to earning America East Player and Defensive Player of the Year. He finished his career at Stony Brook as the school’s all-time leader in points (2,132), rebounds (1,275), blocks (275) and games (135).

Ashley (6-9, 230) was signed on August 3, 2017 and played in five games (one start) for the Mavericks this preseason. He averaged 3.2 points and 2.8 rebounds in 13.9 minutes per game.

Seth Curry out with leg injury

Dallas Mavericks guard Seth Curry will be out indefinitely after being diagnosed with a stress reaction of his left tibia.

No timetable has been set for his return and he will be reevaluated weekly.

According to the Dallas Morning News, “Curry was one of the Mavericks’ best players after entering the starting lineup last season in January. He averaged 12.8 points and shot 42.5 percent from 3-point range.”

Mavericks re-sign Nerlens Noel

The Dallas Mavericks have re-signed center Nerlens Noel.

According to the Dallas Morning News, “restricted free agent center Nerlens Noel has ended a summer-long negotiations stalemate by signing a one-year qualifying offer of $4.1 million to return to Dallas for the 2017-18 season.”

Noel (6-11, 220), who was acquired by the Mavericks from the Philadelphia 76ers in a trade-deadline deal on Feb. 23, averaged 8.5 points, 6.8 rebounds, 0.9 assists, 1.0 steal, 1.1 blocks and 21.9 minutes in 22 games (12 starts) with Dallas last year.

More from the Dallas Morning News: “The Mavericks source confirmed an earlier report by ESPN’s Chris Hayes. Saturday’s news comes less than a week after Noel replaced agent Happy Walters with Klutch Sports’ Rich Paul, who also represents LeBron James. It’s also a bold and risky move by Noel, who could have signed a more lucrative long-term deal with the Mavericks or another franchise before the regular-season begins on Oct. 17.”

For the 2016-17 season, Noel posted averages of 8.7 points, 5.8 rebounds, 1.0 assist, 1.3 steals, 1.0 block and 20.5 minutes in 51 games (19 starts) with Philadelphia and Dallas.

The three-year veteran out of Kentucky holds career averages of 10.0 points, 7.5 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 1.6 steals, 1.5 blocks and 27.6 minutes in 193 games (152 starts) with the Sixers and the Mavericks. He has shot 51.1 percent from the floor for his career.

A native of Malden, Mass., Noel was originally selected by the New Orleans Pelicans with the sixth overall pick in the 2013 NBA Draft. His rights were later traded to Philadelphia along with a future first-round pick in exchange for Jrue Holiday and Pierre Jackson.

As a rookie in 2014-15, Noel averaged 9.9 points, 8.1 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 1.8 steals, 1.9 blocks and 30.8 minutes per game in 75 games (71 starts) while garnering NBA All-Rookie First Team honors.

In his lone season at Kentucky (2012-13), Noel averaged 10.5 points, 9.5 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 2.1 steals, 4.4 blocks and 31.9 minutes en route to earning First Team All-SEC, SEC Defensive Player of the Year and SEC Rookie of the Year honors. On Jan. 29, 2013, Noel set the UK single-game record with 12 blocked shots in a victory over No. 16 Ole Miss.

Noel suffered a torn ACL in a game against the Florida Gators on Feb. 12, 2013, ending his 2012-13 season. Despite the injury, Noel declared for the 2013 NBA Draft following his freshman year. He missed the entire 2013-14 NBA season recovering from knee surgery.

The 23-year-old was the top-rated player by both ESPNU recruiting and Scout.com coming out of high school and was rated the second-best prospect by Rivals.com

The Mavericks’ 2017-18 training camp roster is now set at 20 players.

Mavericks sign Jeff Withey

The Dallas Mavericks have signed free agent center Jeff Withey.

Withey (7-0, 230) is a four-year veteran who was drafted by the Portland Trail Blazers in the second round (39th overall pick) of the 2013 NBA Draft. His draft rights were acquired by the New Orleans Pelicans on July 10, 2013. He spent his first two seasons in New Orleans before signing with the Utah Jazz as a free agent on Aug. 24, 2015. He has averaged 3.3 points, 2.6 rebounds and 10.3 minutes in 197 career games (15 starts) with New Orleans and Utah.

The San Diego, Calif., native played four years at the University of Kansas where he saw action in 117 career games (76 starts) for the Jayhawks. In his senior campaign, Withey averaged 13.7 points, 8.5 rebounds and 3.9 blocks per contest while earning NABC Co-Defensive Player of the Year, Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year, First Team All-Big 12 and Second Team All-American.

Mavs ready to begin 38th season

The Dallas Mavericks have announced their 2017-18 schedule, which will tip-off at American Airlines Center vs. Atlanta on Oct. 18 at 7:30 p.m. CT.

The 2017-18 campaign will mark the Mavericks’ 38th season and their 17th playing at American Airlines Center. Dallas will play its first two games of the season at home before traveling to division-rival Houston on Oct. 21 for its first road test.

The Mavericks’ national TV schedule includes five games on ESPN, one on TNT and five on NBA TV.

All five of the Mavericks’ ESPN games will come against Western Conference opponents, with three of those coming on the road. The Mavericks’ first ESPN telecast will come at the Los Angeles Clippers on Nov. 1. The remaining four ESPN games are: vs. San Antonio (Dec. 12), vs. Houston (Jan. 24), at Phoenix (Jan. 31) and at the Los Angeles Lakers (Feb. 23).

TNT’s lone Dallas game comes when the Mavericks visit the Golden State Warriors for the first time on Dec. 14.

Dallas will also have five games televised on NBA TV, all coming on the road.

Mavericks sign Maalik Wayns

The Dallas Mavericks have signed free agent guard Maalik Wayns.

Wayns (6-2, 200) is a two-year NBA veteran with career averages of 2.7 points and 1.0 assist in 29 career games (one start) with Philadelphia and L.A. Clippers.

The Philadelphia native spent last season as the starting point guard for Maccabi Rishon in Israel. He averaged 15.1 points, 4.1 assists, 3.4 rebounds, 1.4 steals and 30.1 minutes in 16 games, while shooting .445 from the floor, .413 from behind-the-arc and .737 from the foul line.

The former Villanova standout went undrafted in the 2012 NBA Draft after foregoing his senior season with the Wildcats. As a junior, Wayns averaged 17.6 points, 4.6 assists, 3.8 rebounds and 33.6 minutes on his way to earning Second Team All-Big East.