Sixers sign DeAndre Jordan

Philadelphia 76ers President of Basketball Operations Daryl Morey announced today that the team has signed DeAndre Jordan.

In a related move, Willie Cauley-Stein has been released from his 10-day contract.

For his career, Jordan has played in 964 games (775 starts) for the L.A. Lakers, Brooklyn, New York, Dallas and the L.A. Clippers, holding career averages of 9.2 points, 10.4 rebounds, 1.0 assists and 1.5 blocks in 27.0 minutes. He has appeared in 57 playoff games (all starts) for the Clippers, averaging 9.8 points, 11.3 rebounds and 2.0 blocks per game.

A 13-year veteran and one-time All-Star, Jordan is the NBA’s all-time leader in career field-goal percentage, having shot .674 (3587-5323) throughout his career. He is the only player in NBA history to shoot at least 70-percent in multiple seasons, doing so four times.

Prior to joining Philadelphia, Jordan played for the Lakers, appearing in 32 games (19 starts) this season, where he averaged 4.1 points and 5.4 rebounds in 12.8 minutes, while shooting .674 from the field.

Jordan has been named to three All-NBA teams, including one First Team selection (2016) and two Third Team selections (2015, 2017). These honors came as he led the league in rebounding in consecutive seasons from 2013-15. He was named to the All-Defensive First Team in 2015 and 2016 and helped the United States win a gold medal at the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.

The former Texas A&M Aggie will wear No. 9 for the 76ers.

On the state of the Minnesota Timberwolves

Here’s the St. Paul Pioneer Press on the state of the Minnesota Timberwolves:

It is only natural to look at the Timberwolves’ next five games and think, “Well, there are five wins.”

They play Oklahoma City on Friday, followed by consecutive games against Portland and another game against the Thunder before facing Orlando.

Oklahoma City is 20-42, Orlando is 15-48 and Portland has lost three straight games, all by 30-plus points. It makes sense that a Timberwolves team that has beaten Golden State, Cleveland and Memphis since the all-star break would roll through those teams. But Wednesday served as a reminder that isn’t always the case.

Denver (36-26) is one of the teams Minnesota (34-29) is chasing in the Western Conference. The Nuggets have played very well of late. They were 15-point favorites Wednesday at home against the Thunder but lost by 12 on a night in which Denver’s starters were a combined 1-for-25 shooting from 3-point range.

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Face masks no longer required at Dallas Mavericks home games

FROM THE MAVERICKS

In accordance with CDC guidelines and Dallas County community levels, the Dallas Mavericks announce an update to the COVID-19 protocol for games at American Airlines Center – face masks are no longer required for fans in attendance.

The change in policy is effective immediately with tonight’s game against Golden State.

The mandated COVID-19 protocol to submit proof of vaccination or negative test within 48 hours of entry still applies for fans seated within 15 feet of the court.

Individuals with a compromised immune system, or similar condition, will have alternative seating options with fully vaccinated and/or negative tested fans to safely enjoy Mavericks games, as requested.

Arco Arena in Sacramento will soon be demolished

Remember Arco Arena in Sacramento? Some super fun Kings basketball was played there. But that was the past. Soon, the building will cease to exist. Via the Sacramento Bee:

The Sacramento Kings announced Wednesday the team will soon begin to demolish its old home, Arco Arena, on the north side of Sacramento.

The team said Wednesday fans would be welcome at an event on Saturday, March 19, to say farewell to the arena. The event is free.

Charlotte Hornets sign guard Isaiah Thomas to 10-day contract

The Charlotte Hornets have signed guard Isaiah Thomas to a 10-day contract.

Thomas signed a 10-day contract with the Los Angeles Lakers and Dallas Mavericks earlier this season, appearing in five games and averaging 8.6 points and 2.0 assists in 22.9 minutes per game in his 11th season in the NBA. He also appeared in four games for the Grand Rapids Gold of the NBA G League, accruing averages of 41.8 points and 6.5 assists per contest. Thomas scored 46 points at Greensboro on Feb. 26, the most points in a game in the G League at that time, as well as 45 points against the Windy City Bulls on Feb. 23.

New Orleans Pelicans sign forward Alize Johnson to 10-day contract

The New Orleans Pelicans have signed forward Alize Johnson to a 10-day contract.

Johnson, 6’7”, 212, has appeared in 68 career games (one start) across four seasons with Indiana, Brooklyn, Chicago, and Washington, recording averages of 2.5 points and 3.0 rebounds in 7.5 minutes per contest while shooting .493 from the field. Johnson has appeared in 19 games this season with the Bulls and Wizards, averaging 1.7 points and 2.5 rebounds in 7.3 minutes per game.

A native of Williamsport, Pa., Johnson was selected 50th overall in the 2018 NBA Draft out of Missouri State where he averaged 14.9 points, 11.1 rebounds, and 2.4 assists across two seasons.

Johnson will wear #24 with the Pelicans.

New Orleans’s roster now stands at 17 players, including two two-way players.

Lakers sign D.J. Augustin and Wenyen Gabriel, waive DeAndre Jordan and Sekou Doumbouya

The Los Angeles Lakers have signed guard D.J. Augustin and signed forward Wenyen Gabriel to a two-way contract, it was announced today. In related moves, the Lakers requested waivers on DeAndre Jordan and Sekou Doumbouya.

Augustin appeared in 34 games (two starts) for Houston this season, averaging 5.4 points, 1.2 rebounds and 2.2 assists in 15.0 minutes per game. In 955 career games (334 starts) for Charlotte, Indiana, Toronto, Chicago, Detroit, Oklahoma City, Denver, Orlando, Milwaukee and Houston, Augustin has averaged 9.6 points, 1.9 rebounds and 3.9 assists per game. Across his 14-year career, Augustin has shot 38 percent from three-point range and has shot above 40 percent from three in six separate seasons.

Gabriel appeared in seven games for the Clippers and Nets this season, averaging 2.0 points and 2.1 rebounds in 6.7 minutes. He has appeared in 58 career NBA games (one start) for the Clippers, Nets, Pelicans, Trail Blazers and Kings, averaging 2.6 points and 2.1 rebounds in 9.0 minutes.

Lakers reportedly might waive DeAndre Jordan

The Lakers reportedly plan to thin their center depth a bit in order to add to their backcourt. Via the Los Angeles Times:

The Lakers intend to sign veteran guard D.J. Augustin, waiving center DeAndre Jordan to clear the necessary roster spot, a person with knowledge of the situation not authorized to speak publicly told the The Times.

Augustin, 34, last played for Houston, which waived him Feb. 10. He averaged 5.4 points and 2.2 assists in 34 games with the Rockets.

Houston Rockets weekly notes: Feb. 28, 2022

ROCKETS TEAM NOTES

Jae’Sean Tate is the only player averaging at least 12.0 points, 5.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.00 steals while playing fewer than 31.0 minutes per game this season… over the past four games, he is averaging 17.0 ppg, 6.0 rpg, 3.8 apg and 1.5 spg while shooting 63.4% from the floor.

Dennis Schröder recorded his first double-double of 2021-22 against the Clippers on Sunday with 11 points, a season-best 10 assists and a season-high tying 8 rebounds… in three starts as a Rocket, he is averaging 14.3 ppg, 9.3 apg and 5.7 rpg.

The Rockets have hit 14+ 3-pointers in consecutive games for the first time since 1/31 and 2/2… all but one of Houston’s wins this season have come when hitting at least 14 3FGM this season… the Rockets rank tied for sixth in 3-pointers made this season (13.3 per).

Houston has recorded 25+ assists in seven of the past 12 games after doing so four times the 17 games prior… the Rockets recorded an assist on 61.7% of their field goals made over the past 12 games, up from 55.5% the previous 17 games.