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Cleveland Cavaliers forward Evan Mobley will miss Wednesday night’s game at Philadelphia due to a right ankle sprain and will remain out approximately 1-2 weeks.
Imaging taken at Cleveland Clinic Sports Health confirmed the injury. Mobley will undergo a period of treatment and rehabilitation and his status will be updated as appropriate.
The Long Island Nets, the NBA G League affiliate of the Brooklyn Nets, have named Shawn Swords, Lance Harris and Travis Voigt as assistant coaches on Head Coach Ronnie Burrell’s staff.
Swords joins Long Island after spending the last 15 seasons (2007-2022) as head coach at Laurentian University in Ontario, Canada, where he also played five collegiate seasons (1992-97). Prior to beginning his coaching career, he played professionally overseas for a decade (1997-2007) in France and Italy and on Team Canada, including playing for his country at 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, Australia.
Harris enters his second season as an assistant coach with Long Island. He spent the 2020-21 season with the Brooklyn Nets as a video seasonal assistant. Harris previously spent one season (2019-20) as an assistant coach at Lindenwood University in St. Charles, Mo. Prior to beginning his career in basketball operations, he played professionally overseas for more than a decade (2007-19) in Slovenia, France, Turkey, Russia, Italy, Ukraine and Greece following four collegiate seasons (2003-07) at Kansas State.
Voigt enters his first season with the LI Nets after spending the 2021-22 season as director of basketball operations with the NBA G League’s Sioux Falls Skyforce. He originally joined the Skyforce staff ahead of the 2019-20 season as a basketball operations assistant and served in the same role the following season. Voigt previously spent two seasons overseas (2017-19) as a player development coach for the Shanxi Flame, Shaanxi Wolves and the Hebei Win Power in China. Prior to beginning his career in basketball operations and player development, he played four collegiate seasons (2014-18) at North Central University.
Andrew Cobian and Jonathan D’Angelo rejoin Long Island this season as head player development and video coordinator and head athletic trainer, respectively. The Nets have also named Tevin Baskin as assistant player development and video coordinator.
The Orlando Magic have named Jake Chapman as the team’s radio play-by-play announcer.
Chapman enters his tenth season with the Orlando Magic. This marks his 14th season covering the NBA. In addition to his play-by-play duties, Chapman also serves as the radio producer, pregame and postgame radio host for the Magic Radio Network.
You can hear Chapman call all of the action on 96.9 The Game and the Magic Radio Network, beginning tonight (Monday, October 3) with the Magic’s preseason opener at Memphis. Tip-off is 8 p.m. ET.
Chapman began his career with the Magic in 2006 as a radio intern. He became the Magic’s radio producer in 2009 and served in that role until 2014. During Chapman’s first stint as radio producer, he produced Eastern Conference Finals game broadcasts, oversaw the launch of the Magic’s daily radio show, Magic Drive Time hosted by Dante Marchitelli, built up Magic Radio’s social media presence and helped with the digitization process of Magic Radio’s studio operations. He left the Magic in 2014 to become the pre- and postgame host and executive producer of the Detroit Pistons Radio Network. After his stay in Detroit, Chapman worked in his native Cleveland, OH as a producer and host for 92.3 The Fan and the Cleveland Browns Radio Network. He also covered the Cleveland Cavaliers’ 2018 trip to the NBA Finals.
When Chapman returned to the Magic in 2019, he worked to expand the Magic’s podcast offerings – the Orlando Magic Audio Network. He continued producing all Magic radio broadcasts while adding pre-and post-game hosting responsibilities for all games. Chapman also re-assumed producing and co-hosting duties for Magic Drive Time hosted by Dante Marchitelli, the Magic’s daily radio show on its flagship station, 96.9 The Game.
A native of Cleveland, Oh., Chapman earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the Ohio State University in 2006.
Orlando Magic games can be heard on the Magic Radio Network, with radio affiliates across the state of Florida. FM 96.9 The Game serves as the flagship station in Orlando, where you can also listen on AM 740.
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Luguentz Dort sustained a concussion during yesterday’s team practice and has been placed in the NBA’s concussion protocol.
Per the NBA’s Concussion Policy, Dort will now begin the NBA-mandated Return-to-Participation Protocol. This process includes a series of steps designed to ensure an athlete exhibits symptom-free behavior before resuming basketball activities. There is no predetermined timetable to complete the protocol, as each injury and player is different and recovery time can vary in each case.
The Miami Heat have signed guard Tyler Herro to a contract extension.
Per the South Florida Sun Sentinel, “the team and Herro have agreed on a contract extension, a four-year deal that an NBA executive confirmed to the Sun Sentinel that is worth as much as $130 million, kicking in at the start of the 2023-24 season.”
“Tyler is an impact multi-faceted player and we are excited to have him signed for the next five years,” said HEAT President Pat Riley. “His improvement every year since we drafted him has led to this day. We believe he will continue to get better.”
Also per the Sun Sentinel, “because of NBA-salary cap policies, with the agreement Herro essentially cannot be traded during 2022-23, because of the sharp spike in his salary from the $5.7 million he will earn this season on the final year of his rookie deal. Herro’s agreement includes $120 million in guaranteed salary, with an additional $10 million in possible incentives, an NBA source confirmed.”
Herro, the 2021-22 NBA Sixth Man of the Year, appeared in 66 games last season (10 starts) and averaged 20.7 points, 5.0 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 32.6 minutes while shooting 44.7 percent from the field, 39.9 percent from three-point range and 86.8 percent from the foul line, scoring a team-best 1,367 points while his 86.8 percent from the line was the fourth-highest percentage for a single-season in team history. He averaged 20.8 points off the bench, the highest by a reserve in the NBA and his 1,162 bench points were the most for a single-season by any reserve in HEAT franchise history. He recorded eight 30-point games off the bench, tying for the third-most by a non-starter for a single-season in NBA history and became the only player in HEAT history to record multiple 30-point games as a reserve and already has more than all other 30-point such games combined in franchise history (five). His 20 25-point games tied for the fourth-most ever in league history (since starts were tracked in 1970-71) and his 32 20-point games shattered Miami’s previous single-season record of 15. Herro scored a career-high 35 points on April 5 vs. Charlotte, tying for the most by a reserve in team history and posted a 30-point, 10-rebound double-double off the bench on October 23 at Indiana, becoming the first HEAT reserve to ever score at least 30 points and grab at least 10 rebounds in a single game. He scored 27 points in the season opener on October 21 vs. Milwaukee, tying the sixth-most ever by a reserve for a season opener in NBA history as he finished the season with 175 made three-point field goals, joining Duncan Robinson, Max Strus, Kyle Lowry and Gabe Vincent to mark just the second time in HEAT history at least five different players made at least 100 treys in a single season.
Herro, an NBA All-Rookie Team selection and two-time NBA Rising Stars honoree, has appeared in 175 career games (33 starts) and averaged 16.7 points, 4.7 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 30.3 minutes while shooting 44 percent from the field, 38.5 percent from three-point range and 85.1 percent from the foul line. He has increased his scoring average in each of his three seasons, averaging 13.5 points as a rookie to 15.1 points the following year and most recently last season to 20.7 points. He has scored in double-figures 142 times, including 62 20-point games and 11 30-point performances. Herro scored the 2,000th point of his career on December 4 at Milwaukee, tying the second fastest and the second youngest to the mark in team history. Additionally, he already ranks among the HEAT’s all-time leaders in scoring average (8th), three-point field goals made (12th), three-point field goal percentage (15th), field goal percentage (19th) and points (22nd).
The Denver Nuggets have signed General Manager Calvin Booth to a multi-year contract extension, KSE Vice Chairman Josh Kroenke announced today.
“Calvin has been a huge part of what we’ve done here over the last five seasons and I have the utmost confidence in him as our General Manager,” said Kroenke. “Cal has seen the game from every angle and has an extremely bright basketball mind. I look forward to continuing alongside Calvin and the rest of the organization with the goal of bringing an NBA championship to the city of Denver.”
Per the Denver Post, the deal “will keep him in Denver through at least the 2024-25 season, league sources said. In addition, the majority of the staff received extensions through the 2024-25 season, sources said, adding stability to Denver’s front office moving forward. Booth took over this past summer as GM following the abrupt departure of former president of basketball operations Tim Connelly to Minnesota.”
Booth, 46, enters his sixth season with the Nuggets after being hired as Assistant General Manager in the summer of 2017 and promoted to General Manager in 2020. Since arriving in Denver, Booth has played an integral part in the scouting and drafting process as well as the free agent and trade markets. His first off-season as lead decision maker saw him bring in veteran NBA champion Kentavius Caldwell-Pope, veterans Ish Smith and DeAndre Jordan and versatile wing Bruce Brown along with rookie draft picks Christian Braun, Peyton Watson and Ismael Kamagate.
Prior to arriving in Denver, Booth spent four seasons (2013 – 2017) in the Minnesota Timberwolves’ front office, initially as a scout before rising through the ranks to Director of Player Personnel. Booth also served as a scout for the New Orleans Pelicans during the 2012-13 season before transitioning to Minnesota.
Before beginning his front office career, Booth played for seven different teams over a 10-year career in the NBA. He appeared in 366 games (83 starts), averaging 3.3 points, 2.8 rebounds and 1.00 blocks per game. The Reynoldsburg, OH native was drafted by the Washington Wizards in the second round (35th overall) of the 1999 NBA Draft after playing four years at Penn State University where he was named Big 10 Defensive Player of the Year in 1998.
The Memphis Grizzlies have signed center Steven Adams to a multi-year contract extension.
The extension is reportedly for two years, $25.2 million.
Per ESPN.com, “Adams, 29, was entering the final year of his deal, and now is under contract for three years and $43.1 million for a Grizzlies franchise trying to take the next step to championship contention.”
Adams (6-11, 265) averaged 6.9 points and set career highs with averages of 10.0 rebounds and 3.4 assists over 76 games (75 starts) last season, his first with the Grizzlies following a trade from the New Orleans Pelicans. Memphis posted the second-best record in the NBA during the 2021-22 regular season at 56-26, which tied the franchise record and earned the Grizzlies the Southwest Division championship, the first division title in franchise history.
Per the Memphis Commercial Appeal, “retaining Adams likely temporarily ends the discussion of Jaren Jackson Jr. moving to center. The Grizzlies view Adams as a key component to the team’s championship goals. His rebounding and screen-setting were big parts of the Grizzlies’ identity last season. Many players in the NBA also call him one of the league’s strongest players.”
The 29-year-old led the NBA last season with 349 total offensive rebounds and 4.6 offensive rebounds per game, breaking the single-season franchise records previously set by Zach Randolph during the 2009-10 season. He helped Memphis top the league with 18.6 second chance points per game, the highest mark by any NBA team since the league began tracking the stat in the 1996-97 season.
A native of New Zealand who played collegiately at the University of Pittsburgh, Adams was selected by the Oklahoma City Thunder with the 12th overall pick in the 2013 NBA Draft and has played 664 career games (599 starts) over a nine-year career with Oklahoma City, New Orleans and Memphis. He owns NBA career averages of 9.3 points, 8.0 rebounds and 1.5 assists in 26.8 minutes and holds the eighth-highest field goal percentage (.587) in NBA history.
The Phoenix Suns had a great 2021-22 regular season, before crashing hard in the playoffs. There’s plenty of reason to expect a quality next regular season as well. Here’s the Arizona Republic one Suns change we may see:
Suns fans will see more of Mikal Bridges running the point this season.
He won’t just be on the wing sticking threes, slashing to the paint to finish plays, blocking shots or on the island defending against their opponent’s top scorers.
After Bridges was last season’s Defensive Player of the Year runner-up to Celtics’ Marcus Smart, Suns coach Monty Williams wants to add more responsibilities to Bridges and his so-called “twin,” Cam Johnson, who’s also starting at the four spot to replace Jae Crowder, to occasionally initiate the offense.
Williams wants to them to manage that duty with primary ball handler Chris Paul to take the load off him bringing the ball up the floor.
The Oklahoma City Thunder have acquired guard Sterling Brown, guard Trey Burke, forward Marquese Chriss and forward David Nwaba, and generated two trade exceptions, in a trade with the Houston Rockets for center Derrick Favors, forward Maurice Harkless, guard Ty Jerome, guard Théo Maledon, a 2026 second-round pick and cash considerations.
Brown (6-5, 219) has played in 264 career games (29 starts) with Milwaukee, Houston and Dallas, and owns averages of 5.4 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 1.0 assist in 16.8 minutes per game. The SMU product averaged 3.3 points and 3.0 rebounds in 12.8 minutes per game last season with the Mavericks.
Burke (6-0, 185) has appeared in 498 career games (130 starts) spanning nine seasons with Utah, Washington, New York, Dallas, and Philadelphia, and averaged 9.6 points, 1.8 rebounds and 3.1 assists while shooting 41.0 percent from the field in 20.9 minutes per game. Selected with the ninth overall pick in the 2013 NBA draft, the Columbus, Ohio native was named to the 2014 All-Rookie First Team.
Chriss (6-9, 240) has appeared in 292 career games (147 starts) since being selected with the eighth overall pick in the 2016 NBA Draft and has seen action with Phoenix, Houston, Cleveland, Golden State and Dallas. The Sacramento, Calif. native owns career averages of 7.6 points, 4.7 rebounds and 1.0 assist while shooting 45.6 percent from the field in 18.3 minutes per game.
Nwaba (6-5, 219) has appeared in 237 career games (50 starts) with the L.A. Lakers, Chicago, Cleveland, Brooklyn and Houston, and registered averages of 6.8 points, 3.7 rebounds and 1.0 assist in 19.3 minutes per game. Last season, the six-year veteran saw action in 46 games (four starts) and averaged 5.1 points and 3.3 rebounds while shooting 48.3 percent from the field in 13.2 minutes per game with the Houston Rockets.
In one season with the Thunder, Favors appeared in 39 games (18 starts) and averaged 5.3 points on 51.6 percent shooting from the field and 4.7 rebounds in 16.7 minutes per game last year.
Harkless was previously acquired by the Thunder on Sept. 27, 2022, from the Atlanta Hawks.
Jerome appeared in 81 games (five starts) with the Thunder over the last two seasons, and averaged 8.6 points, 2.1 rebounds, and 2.8 assists in 19.6 minutes per game.
Maledon appeared in 116 career games (56 starts) and averaged 8.8 points, 2.9 rebounds and 2.9 assists in 23.2 minutes per game with the Thunder from 2020-22.
Oklahoma City will have one year from today to exercise the trade exceptions. The 2026 second-round pick owed to Houston will be the second-least favorable of Oklahoma City, Dallas and Philadelphia.
The 2022-23 NBA preseason game slate has begun, starting off overseas, with the Warriors facing the Wizards in Japan. Via the Bay Area News Group:
James Wiseman had butterflies when he checked into Friday’s preseason opener in the first quarter and for good reason.
Not only did Wiseman have to wait 1 1/2 years to suit back up for the Warriors, but Friday night also was the first time he’s ever played an NBA game in front of a full arena.
And boy, did Wiseman give the crowd of more than 20,000 engaged fans a lot to cheer about.
Wiseman made his 7-foot presence known in the Warriors’ 96-87 win over the Washington Wizards, throwing down five dunks, including an alley-oop in the second quarter off an assist from Steph Curry.
Wiseman finished with a game-high 20 points on 8-for-11 shooting. He also grabbed nine rebounds playing just under 24 minutes off the bench.