Category: NBA Teams

NBA teams blog

Nets convert David Duke Jr.’s contract from two-way to standard

The Brooklyn Nets have exercised the standard NBA contract conversion option for two-way guard David Duke Jr.

Duke Jr. (6’4″, 207) originally signed as a free agent with the Nets on Aug. 8, 2021, and had his contract converted to a two-way deal on Oct. 16, 2021. He then re-signed a two-way contract with Brooklyn on Sept. 16, 2022. In 43 games (seven starts) over two NBA seasons, Duke Jr. holds career averages of 4.0 points and 2.0 rebounds in 12.1 minutes per game. The Providence, R.I., native has appeared in 21 games off the bench for Brooklyn this season and is averaging 3.1 points and 1.0 rebounds in 8.6 minutes per contest.

The 23-year-old has also played in 35 career regular season games (all starts) for Brooklyn’s NBA G League affiliate, the Long Island Nets, posting averages of 20.4 points, 6.2 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 1.7 steals in 32.5 minutes per game. In 22 games with Long Island this season, Duke Jr. notched a team-leading 22.9 points (fifth in the NBA G League) on 47.8 percent shooting from the field, 32.1 percent shooting from 3-point range and 80.5 percent shooting from the free-throw line, to go with 6.1 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 1.9 steals (10th in the NBA G League) in a team-high 34.2 minutes per game. He earned a selection to the 2023 NBA G League Next Up Game during NBA All-Star Weekend, which featured this season’s top NBA G League performers, and finished third in the 2022-23 Kia NBA G League Most Valuable Player award voting. Duke Jr. also appeared in seven NBA G League Showcase games and played in two postseason games for Long Island this season, averaging 21.6 and 16.0 points per game, respectively.

Prior to joining Brooklyn, Duke Jr. played three collegiate seasons (2018-21) in his hometown at Providence College, where he featured in 91 games (all starts) and was an All-Big East Second Team and Associated Press All-America Honorable Mention selection as a junior.

Brooklyn’s roster now stands at 16 players.

Celtics sign Justin Champagnie

The Boston Celtics have signed forward Justin Champagnie from the Sioux Falls Skyforce, the G League affiliate of the Miami Heat.

Champagnie, a 6’6” forward, appeared in 39 games over two seasons with the Toronto Raptors from 2021-23, where he averaged 2.2 points and 1.9 rebounds in 7.5 minutes per game, while shooting 48.6 percent from the field.

The Brooklyn native averaged 18.2 points and 8.0 rebounds in 31.3 minutes through 23 games (15 starts) with the Skyforce this season.

The University of Pittsburgh product averaged 14.7 points, 8.5 rebounds, 1.0 assists, and 1.1 steals in 53 games (46 starts) before declaring for the 2021 NBA Draft after his sophomore season. Champagnie was named to the 2020-21 All-ACC First Team after averaging 18.4 points, 11.1 rebounds and leading the conference with 13 double-doubles.

Champagnie was the first Pitt player to earn First Team All-ACC accolades, and became the first Panther to claim first team all-league honors since Ashton Gibbs (2011).

Pelicans forward Zion Williamson remains out

New Orleans Pelicans Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations David Griffin announced the following update on forward Zion Williamson:

“After further evaluation, it has been determined that Zion Williamson will continue his rehabilitation and conditioning regimen. We will continue to monitor his progression and updates will be provided as warranted.”

The Pelicans are 41-39 this season, which ties them with the Lakers for the 7th best record in the Western conference.

Williamson has played in 29 games, averaging a very impressive 26.0 points, 7.0 rebounds and 4.6 assists per outing. He’s a big-time star. When healthy.

NBA denies Mavericks’ protest of March 22 loss to Warriors

The NBA today denied the Dallas Mavericks’ protest of their 127-125 loss to the Golden State Warriors on March 22, 2023.

FROM THE LEAGUE:

The Mavericks’ protest asserted that, with approximately two minutes remaining in the third quarter, the officials did not properly administer an out-of-bounds call and a subsequent throw-in that was followed by an uncontested basket by Golden State. But the incident occurred with nearly 14 minutes remaining in the game, and Dallas thereafter took the lead twice in the final four minutes. Under these circumstances, Dallas was not able to show — as required under the standard for NBA game protests — that it was deprived of a fair opportunity to win the game, and the protest failed on that basis alone.

Following the game, Dallas Governor Mark Cuban posted on Twitter that the officials had originally awarded possession to Dallas on the play and then during the timeout changed the call. Those public statements were inaccurate, and in its written submission in support of its protest, Dallas agreed that the referee signaled possession to Golden State.

The NBA concluded that although the game officials could have taken steps to better manage this particular situation, that did not provide a basis for the extraordinary remedy of upholding a game protest.

Nets unveil 2023-24 NBA City Edition Uniform

The Brooklyn Nets have unveiled their 2023-24 Nike NBA City Edition Uniform, created with renowned Brooklyn-based artist KAWS. The uniform was designed as part of a two-year partnership between the Nets and the artist, making this the first-time KAWS has collaborated with a professional sports team.

PER THE TEAM:

The Nets’ newest City Edition uniform mixes authentic details and some of the most notable elements of KAWS’ work, including:

Taking inspiration from KAWS’ 10-part artwork, “TENSION,” the overall uniform design is evocative of the artist’s signature eye-catching abstract paintings, accented by a bold color palette.

KAWS’ signature “XX” design motif is prominently featured on the waistband of the shorts.

The NETS lettering across the chest of the jersey is inspired by the artist’s graphic style with the remixed Nets logo on the shorts given the same treatment.

KAWS’ autograph is woven into the jersey directly above the jock tag.

Pelicans waive two-way guard Dereon Seabron

The New Orleans Pelicans have waived two-way guard Dereon Seabron.

Seabron, 6-7, 180, appeared in five games off the bench this season with New Orleans. Originally signed to a two-way contract on September 9, Seabron appeared in 28 games (25 starts) with the Pelicans’ G League affiliate, the Birmingham Squadron, averaging 17.8 points, 5.1 assists, and 4.8 rebounds in 33.3 minutes per contest.

New Orleans’ roster now stands at 16 players, including one two-way player.

The latest on the Grizzlies

Via the Memphis Commercial Appeal:

The next time the Memphis Grizzlies will play at home will be in the 2023 playoffs. There are still three more games left on the regular season schedule, starting with Wednesday against the New Orleans Pelicans.

Memphis (50-29) is two games ahead of the Sacramento Kings for the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference. Since Wednesday’s game is the second night of a back to back, the Grizzlies will likely be missing a couple of rotation players.

Trail Blazers sign Jeenathan Williams, waive Ryan Arcidiacono

The Trail Blazers have signed guard Jeenathan Williams.

Also, the team waived guard Ryan Arcidiacono.

Williams, 24, has played in 32 games (28 starts) for the Salt Lake City Stars, the NBA G League affiliate of the Utah Jazz, during the 2022-23 season, accruing averages of 14.4 points (52.3% FG, 41.7% 3-PT, 84.8% FT), 4.5 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 29.8 minutes.

Timberwolves center Naz Reid injury update

The Minnesota Timberwolves today announced the following injury update on center Naz Reid, who suffered a left wrist injury at the 8:26 minute mark of the fourth quarter Wednesday at Phoenix:

An MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) taken yesterday at Mayo Clinic Square by Dr. Kelechi Okoroha on Reid revealed a left scaphoid fracture. He will be out indefinitely and further updates to his progress will be provided when available.

In 68 games (11 starts) this season, Reid is averaging career highs with 11.5 points on 53.7% shooting and 4.9 rebounds, along with 1.1 assists per game.