Category: NBA Teams

NBA teams blog

Lakers add Avery Bradley via waiver wire

The Los Angeles Lakers have been awarded guard Avery Bradley on a waiver claim, it was announced today by Vice President of Basketball Operations and General Manager Rob Pelinka.

Per SCNG via the Press Enterprise, “Bradley was cut earlier this preseason by the Golden State Warriors, and he gives the Lakers immediate depth at positions where they’ve seen injuries early on. ESPN reported that Bradley is on a non-guaranteed contract. The 6-foot-2 Bradley played 49 games for the Lakers during the 2019-20 season, starting primarily as the defender on the opposing ball-handler and picking up full-court assignments.”

Bradley returns to Los Angeles after averaging 8.6 points, 2.3 rebounds and 1.3 assists in 49 games for the Lakers during the 2019-20 Championship season.

Hawks sign Kevin Huerter to contract extension

The Atlanta Hawks have signed guard Kevin Huerter to a contract extension, which begins with the 2022-23 season.

Per multiple reports, Huerter’s extension is for four years, $65 million.

“It was important to our group to secure Kevin as a part of our team moving forward,” said Hawks President of Basketball Operations and General Manager Travis Schlenk. “He’s developed into a versatile, two-way player who can fit any lineup and can play minutes all over the perimeter. We are excited his future is in Atlanta.”

Per the Atlanta Journal Constitution, “Huerter joins teammates Trae Young, John Collins and Clint Capela in securing contract extensions entering the season as the Hawks maintain even more continuity from the team that won two games in the Eastern Conference finals last year.”

In 69 games (49 starts) last season, the 6’7 guard averaged 11.9 points, 3.5 assists, 3.3 rebounds and a team-best 1.2 steals (tied for 31st in the NBA) in 30.8 minutes (.432 FG%, .363 3FG%, .781 FT%). He scored 10-19 points 39 times and 20-29 seven times, recording three double-doubles. Huerter led the team in total minutes played (2,126), in rebounding once, assists three times, steals 26 times and blocks five times.

More from the Journal Constitution: “Last season, Huerter’s stock rose considerably when he took a leap forward on defense, often asked to guard one of the opposing team’s best players, with two-way wings De’Andre Hunter and Cam Reddish out injured for much of the year, and guard Bogdan Bogdanovic missing time due to injury, as well.”

In 18 playoff contests in 2021 (10 starts), he put in 11.1 points, 3.8 rebounds and 2.8 assists in 31.0 minutes (.428 FG%, .347 3FG%, .706 FT%). In helping vault the Hawks to the Eastern Conference Finals for the second time in Atlanta franchise history, Huerter finished with a career playoff high 27 points, seven rebounds, three assists and a steal in 40 minutes (10-18 FGs, 2-4 3FGs and 5-7 FTs) in a 103-96 win in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals at Philadelphia.

He appeared in 56 games (48 starts) in 2019-20, averaging 12.2 points, 4.1 rebounds and 3.8 assists in 31.4 minutes (.413 FG%, .380 3FG%, .828 FT%), finishing second on the team with 127 3FGM, including two games with six triples. Huerter scored in double figures 35 times, including six games with 20-or-more.

As a rookie in 2018-19, the Maryland product compiled 9.7 points, 3.3 rebounds and 2.9 assists in 27.3 minutes (.419 FG%, .385 3FG%, .732 FT%) in 75 games (59 starting assignments). Among qualifying rookies, he ranked third in 3FG% (36th in the NBA), sixth in apg, 7th in spg, 7th in mpg, 10th in ppg and 12th in rpg. He was named to the 2019 NBA All-Rookie Second Team.

Atlanta selected Huerter in the first round (19th overall) of the 2018 NBA Draft.

Pacers sign Malcolm Brogdon to contract extension

The Indiana Pacers have signed guard Malcolm Brogdon to a multi-year contract extension.

Per multiple reports, Brogdon’s extension is a two-year, $45 million deal.

According to the Indianapolis Star, this “brings Brogdon to a guaranteed $89.3 million for four years. The extension prevents him from being traded for the next six months, meaning he can’t be traded this season. Brogdon had been involved in rumors he would be part of a package in a trade to the Philadelphia 76ers for Ben Simmons.”

“Malcolm has established himself as a very important part of our organization, not only with his performance on the court but also by the character he displays beyond it,” said Pacers President of Basketball Operations Kevin Pritchard. “He has become one of our undisputed leaders – continually supporting his teammates and setting them up for success – while also demonstrating the drive, dedication, and work ethic necessary to establish himself as one of the premier guards in the NBA.”

Brogdon, the 2016-17 NBA Rookie of the Year, was acquired by the Pacers on July 6, 2019, and has appeared in 297 career regular-season games, posting averages of 15.1 points, 4.7 assists and 4.1 rebounds in 29.8 minutes per game. Additionally, he was named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team and was selected to participate in both the 2017 and 2018 NBA Rising Stars Challenges at All Star weekend. During the 2018-19 season, Brogdon became only the eighth player in NBA history record a “50/40/90” season, when he shot 50.5% from the field, 42.6% from three-point range, and a league-leading 92.8% from the free-throw line.

Grizzlies sign Jaren Jackson Jr. to contract extension

The Memphis Grizzlies have signed forward/center Jaren Jackson Jr. to a multi-year contract extension.

Per the Memphis Commercial Appeal, “Jackson agreed to a four-year, $105 million rookie contract extension, a league source told The Commercial Appeal. The source requested anonymity because terms of the deal have not been made public. Jackson’s new deal is the third largest in franchise history behind Mike Conley’s five-year, $153 million extension in 2016 and Marc Gasol signing a five-year, $113 million extension in 2015.”

Jackson Jr. has appeared in 126 games (117 starts) over three seasons with the Grizzlies and has averaged 15.4 points, 4.7 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 1.52 blocks in 26.9 minutes.

The 22-year-old was selected by Memphis with the fourth overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft after one year at Michigan State University, where he became the second player ever to be named the Big Ten Freshman of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year in the same season. Jackson Jr. was named to the 2018-19 NBA All-Rookie First Team and was selected to the NBA Rising Stars teams in 2019 and 2020 as part of NBA All-Star Weekends in Charlotte and Chicago.

During the 2019-20 season, Jackson Jr. scored a career-high 43 points and tied the franchise record with nine 3-pointers made against the Milwaukee Bucks on Dec. 13, 2019, becoming the youngest player in NBA history (at 20 years, 83 days) to make at least nine threes in a game. He also set club records for points in a single quarter (26, third quarter) and a single half (34, second half) and 3-pointers in a single quarter (seven, third quarter) and single half (eight, second half).

No other player in NBA history has reached Jackson Jr.’s number of 3-pointers made (213) and blocks (192) within his first 126 career games. He ranks second in franchise history in blocks per game and 10th in total blocks.

Rockets add Garrison Mathews, waive Anthony Lamb

The Houston Rockets have claimed guard Garrison Mathews off waivers from Boston and converted his contract to a two-way deal.

And in a related move, the Rockets have waived forward Anthony Lamb.

Mathews (6-5, 215) was eligible for the 2019 NBA Draft after earning Atlantic Sun Conference Player of the Year honors as a senior at Lipscomb. He appeared in a total of 82 games with 24 starts for Washington over the past two seasons while averaging 5.5 points in 16.2 minutes per game. Mathews also hit 95 3-pointers on 38.9% shooting during that span after averaging 3.0 3-pointers made on 39.3% shooting over his final two collegiate seasons.

Spurs exercise contract options on Keldon Johnson and Devin Vassell

The San Antonio Spurs have exercised their fourth-year team option on forward Keldon Johnson, as well as their third-year option on guard Devin Vassell for the 2022-23 season.

Johnson is entering his third year with the Spurs after appearing in 69 games last season and averaging 12.8 points, 6.0 rebounds and 1.8 assists in 28.5 minutes. He is one of three Spurs in franchise history (Tim Duncan and David Robinson) to record multiple games with 25-plus points and 10-or-more rebounds in their first 50 career games. Johnson was a member of this summer’s Team USA Basketball squad that captured the gold medal at the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo. Originally selected by San Antonio in the first round of the 2019 NBA Draft (29th overall), Johnson has seen action in 86 regular season games, averaging 12.0 points, 5.5 rebounds and 1.6 assists in 26.4 minutes.

Vassell enters his second season with San Antonio following his rookie year when he averaged 5.5 points, 2.8 rebounds in 17.0 minutes over 62 games. He became just the seventh rookie in franchise history to record 50-plus three pointers in their first season. The former Florida State Seminole made his NBA debut at Memphis on Dec. 23, 2020, becoming the first rookie to play at least 20 minutes in a Spurs season-opener since James Anderson (27) on Oct. 27, 2010. Vassell became the first Spurs lottery pick since the 1997 season when the Silver and Black selected him with the 11th overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft.

Hornets waive Wes Iwundu

The Charlotte Hornets have waived forward Wes Iwundu.

Iwundu appeared in four games for Charlotte during the preseason, averaging 0.8 points and 1.8 rebounds in 11.0 minutes per game. A four-year veteran, he has accrued averages of 4.3 points and 2.4 rebounds in 16.8 minutes per game in 223 career contests, including 50 starts. Iwundu was originally acquired by the Hornets from New Orleans on Aug. 7 as part of a three-team trade along with a protected 2022 first-round draft pick and cash considerations.

The Hornets roster currently stands at 17 players.

Lakers sign Jay Huff to two-way contract

The Los Angeles Lakers have signed center Jay Huff to a two-way contract.

Huff appeared in 25 games (all starts) for Virginia last season, averaging 13.0 points (.585 FG%, .387 3P%), 7.1 rebounds, 1.0 assist and 2.6 blocks in 27.0 minutes per game.

The 2020-21 ACC All-Defensive First Team selection led the conference in field goal percentage (.585) and scored in double figures 18 times last season.

In four seasons at Virginia, Huff averaged 7.6 points, 4.5 rebounds and 1.6 blocks in 101 career games and helped his team win the 2019 NCAA Championship.

Celtics sign Brodric Thomas to two-way contract

The Boston Celtics have signed guard Brodric Thomas to a two-way contract.

Thomas, 24, played in 32 NBA games with Houston and Cleveland as a rookie in 2020-21, averaging 3.9 points (36.1% FG), 1.7 rebounds, 0.9 assists, 0.5 steals, and 12.5 minutes. The 6-5 guard scored in double figures twice, including a 14-point, 4-rebound, 3-steal performance at Brooklyn on May 16.

Thomas also earned Second Team All-NBA G League honors and was selected to the NBA G-League All-Rookie Team after averaging 18.5 points on 44.7% shooting (41.3% 3-PT), 7.3 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 1.9 steals, 1.1 blocked shots, and 33.5 minutes in 14 games (13 starts) with Rio Grande Valley and Canton.

In three collegiate seasons at Truman State University from 2017-18 to 2019-20, the Bolingbrook, Illinois native produced 18.8 points (48.3% FG, 38.1% 3-PT), 6.7 rebounds, 3.6 assists, and 1.6 steals across 80 career games (78 starts). He was named to the Great Lakes Valley Conference All-First Team and All-Defensive Team in each of his collegiate campaigns and earned GLVC Conference Player of the Year honors in 2020.

Raptors waive forward Ishmail Wainright

The Toronto Raptors have waived forward Ishmail Wainright.

Wainright, 6-foot-4, 241 pounds, averaged 4.3 rebounds, 3.0 rebounds and 11.7 minutes in three preseason games. He recorded seven points and four rebounds in the preseason finale Oct. 12 at Washington. Wainright signed with the Raptors as a free agent in the summer, after spending the last three seasons overseas in France (2020-21) and Germany (2018-20).

Toronto’s roster now stands at the league maximum 15 players, with two two-way players.

The Raptors finished their 2021 preseason schedule with a 3-2 mark. They will open the 2021-22 regular season Wednesday, Oct. 20 when they host the Washington Wizards at Scotiabank Arena at 7:30 p.m. (TSN / Sportsnet 590 The FAN).