Category: NBA Teams

NBA teams blog

Timberwolves re-sign forward Juancho Hernangomez

The Minnesota Timberwolves have re-signed forward Juancho Hernangómez.

Hernangómez appeared in 14 contests for the Timberwolves during the 2019-20 season, averaging 12.9 points, 7.3 rebounds and 1.3 assists in a career-high 29.4 minutes per game.

Hernangómez, 25, joined the Timberwolves after averaging 3.1 points and 2.8 rebounds in 34 contests for Denver during the 2019-20 season In 2018-19, Hernangomez posted a then career-best average of 5.8 points on 43.9% shooting and 36.5% from deep, to go along with 3.8 rebounds in 70 games (25 starts).

The Madrid, Spain native has represented the Spanish National Team throughout his career since 2013 and most recently helped lead Spain to a Gold Medal at the 2019 FIBA World Cup with now-current teammate Ricky Rubio.

Hernangómez was originally drafted by Denver with the 15th overall selection in the 2015 NBA Draft.

Hawks sign former Bulls guard Kris Dunn

The Atlanta Hawks have signed free agent guard Kris Dunn.

“Kris is an elite defender and an intense competitor who will bring real value to our group,” said Hawks President of Basketball Operations and General Manager Travis Schlenk. “We are happy to add him and believe his presence will improve our club.”

In 51 games (32 starts) with the Chicago Bulls last season, the Providence College graduate swiped 1.98 steals per game (second-best in the NBA), adding 7.3 points, 3.6 boards and 3.4 assists in 24.9 minutes. Dunn shot a career-best .444 FG% in 2019-20, including .630 FG% (29-46) over his final eight games played.

Originally selected by Minnesota with the No. 5 overall pick in the 2016 NBA Draft, Dunn holds career averages of 8.3 points, 4.2 assists, 3.3 rebounds and 1.55 steals in 24.3 minutes through 227 contests (126 starts) with the Timberwolves and Bulls. Among players from his draft class, Dunn ranks second in career steals (351) and fourth in assists (948). Since the beginning of the 2016-17 season, Dunn’s 1.55 steals per game rank 15th among all qualifying players and his 351 total steals rank 25th.

The New London, Conn. native will wear jersey No. 32.

Sacramento Kings re-sign guard DaQuan Jeffries

The Sacramento Kings have re-signed guard DaQuan Jeffries.

During the 2019-20 season, on a two-way contract for the Sacramento Kings, Jeffries appeared in 13 games and averaged 3.8 points (.500 FG%, .278 3pt%, .833 FT%), 1.4 rebounds and 10.8 minutes per game. An early entrant out of Tulsa and going undrafted in the 2019 NBA Draft, Jeffries accrued averages of 16.6 points (.461 FG%, .339 3pt%, .705 FT%), 6.9 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 1.2 steals and 31.0 minutes per game in 27 games (22 starts) for the Sacramento Kings G League affiliate, the Stockton Kings.

Jeffries appeared in 56 career games (40 starts) during two seasons at the University of Tulsa (2017-19), averaging 11.5 points (.517 FG%, .375 3pt%, .766 FT%), 5.3 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 1.3 blocks and 25.4 minutes per game. As a senior (2018-19), he played 31 games (all starts) where he averaged 13.0 points (.502 FG%, .366 3pt%, .755 FT%), 5.6 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 1.2 blocks, 1.0 steals and 28.1 minutes per game. Jeffries led the team in points, blocked shots and steals, and earned Third Team All-American Athletic Conference honors.

Kings sign center Chimezie Metu

The Sacramento Kings have signed center Chimezie Metu.

The deal is likely non-guaranteed and just for training camp.

Metu has two years of NBA experience, both with the San Antonio Spurs. Last season, he averaged 3.2 points (.571 FG%, .769 FT%), 1.8 rebounds and 5.8 minutes per game, in 18 games played.

An early entrant out of the University of Southern California, the 49th overall selection in the 2018 NBA Draft by the Spurs has career averages of 2.3 points (.430 FG%, .767 FT%), 1.5 rebounds and 5.3 minutes per game in 47 games in two seasons with San Antonio (2018-20).

A native of Los Angeles, Metu earned First Team All-Pac-12 honors his junior season at USC and ranks third all-time in blocked shots in school history with 168.

Metu will wear No. 25 for the Kings.

Clippers sign rookie center Daniel Oturu

The LA Clippers have signed rookie center Daniel Oturu.

Selected 33rd overall in the second round of the 2020 NBA Draft, Oturu led the Big Ten with 11.3 rebounds and 2.5 blocks to go along with 20.1 points in 33.9 minutes during his sophomore season at Minnesota for the Golden Gophers. The 6-foot-10 center shot 56.3 percent from the field last season, which also led the Big Ten. The Woodbury, Minn., native was named to the 2019-20 Big Ten All-Defense team and 2019-20 All-Big Ten second team for the Gophers.

Knicks sign Michael Kidd-Gilchrist

The New York Knicks have signed forward Michael Kidd-Gilchrist.

Kidd-Gilchrist’s Knicks contract isn’t on the larger side, to say the least. Per the New York Post, “the one-year deal includes just $50,000 in guaranteed money, The Post’s Marc Berman reported.”

Kidd-Gilchrist, 6-6, 230-pounds, holds career averages of 8.4 points, 5.4 rebounds, 1.2 assists over 24.6 minutes in 446 career games (356 starts) over eight seasons with Charlotte and Dallas. He averaged 2.4 points and 2.7 rebounds over 11.2 minutes in 25 games with the Hornets and Mavericks last season. In 2013, he was named to the NBA’s All-Rookie second team after averaging 9.0 points, 5.8 rebounds and 1.5 assists over 26 minutes in 78 games (77 starts).

More from the Post: “The 27-year-old Kidd-Gilchrist didn’t pan out the way the Hornets thought he would when they drafted him in 2012, but he has become a defensive specialist who could fit in well under new defense-minded Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau.”

The Philadelphia, PA-native was originally selected by Charlotte with the second overall pick in the 2012 NBA Draft after his freshman season at the University of Kentucky. A consensus Second Team All-American, Kidd-Gilchrist helped lead the Wildcats to the 2012 National Championship, earning NCAA Final Four All-Tournament Team honors, as well as First Team All-SEC and All-SEC Defensive Team honors for the season. He played high school basketball at St. Patrick’s in Elizabeth, NJ.

Knicks sign rookie guard Immanuel Quickley

The New York Knicks have signed rookie guard Immanuel Quickley.

Quickley, 6-3, 188-pounds, was selected by Oklahoma City with the 25th overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft and then had his draft rights traded to New York in a three-team deal with Minnesota on Nov. 20.

He averaged 10.1 points on 46.2-percent shooting from the field (39.7-percent from downtown), 2.9 rebounds and 1.5 assists in 67 games (27 starts) over two seasons at the University of Kentucky. He was named the 2019-20 SEC Player of the Year and earned All-SEC first team honors after recording 16.1 points (42.8-percent from downtown) and 4.2 rebounds over 33.0 minutes in 30 games (20 starts).

The Havre de Grace, MD-native was a two-time state champion at the John Carroll School in Bel Air, MD. He was named an All-State selection three times and the 2015-16 Baltimore Sun Metro Player of the Year. He was also a member of the USA U17 and U19 teams, winning gold with the U17 team at the FIBA Championships.

Cavs sign Lamar Stevens, waive Rayjon Tucker

The Cleveland Cavaliers have signed forward Lamar Stevens from Penn State University to a two-way contract.

In a separate move, the Cavaliers have waived forward Rayjon Tucker, who was acquired in a trade with the Utah Jazz on Nov. 27.

Stevens (6-8, 225) played four years collegiately at Penn State from 2016-20, averaging 16.3 points, 6.5 rebounds and 1.9 assists in 32.2 minutes over 135 career contests (all starts). As a senior in 2019-20, he appeared in 31 games (all starts) and averaged 17.6 points, 6.9 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 1.1 steals and 1.2 blocks in 31.1 minutes. Stevens, who led Penn State and finished fourth in the Big Ten in scoring (17.6) his senior year, was named to the 2019-20 All-Big Ten First Team as well as the 2019-20 Senior CLASS All-America Second Team for his achievements on and off the court.

Stevens averaged double figures in scoring in each of his four collegiate seasons and ranks second on Penn State’s career scoring list (2,207). He holds program records for field goals made (801) and starts (135), and finished his collegiate career as part of the winningest class in Penn State’s Big Ten era (76 wins). Stevens was named to the 2018-19 All-Big Ten First Team by media and 2018-19 Second Team by coaches. During his time at Penn State, he was a two-time NABC and USBWA All-District selection, and was named the 2018 NIT Most Outstanding Player.

Nets re-sign guard Tyler Johnson

The Brooklyn Nets have re-signed free agent guard Tyler Johnson.

Johnson (6’4”, 190) most recently signed with Brooklyn on June 24, appearing in eight seeding games (four starts) for the Nets in the NBA’s restart in Orlando and recording averages of 12.0 points, 3.0 rebounds and 3.0 assists in 24.2 minutes per contest. In the 2020 NBA Playoffs, the six-year NBA veteran appeared in four games (two starts) for Brooklyn, averaging 13.8 points, 1.8 rebounds and 2.3 assists in 23.2 minutes per contest.

Prior to signing with the Nets last summer, Johnson appeared in 31 games (three starts) during the 2019-20 season with the Phoenix Suns, recording averages of 5.7 points, 1.7 rebounds and 1.6 assists in 16.6 minutes per game.

The Grand Forks, N.D., native went undrafted in the 2014 NBA Draft, beginning his first professional season with the NBA G League’s Sioux Falls Skyforce. Johnson played in 15 games with the Skyforce before signing two 10-day contracts and a multi-year deal with Miami in early 2015.

Prior to beginning his professional career, Johnson spent four years (2010-14) at Fresno State, earning All-Mountain West Conference Second Team honors as a senior.

Lakers re-sign Kostas Antetokounmpo to a two-way contract

The Los Angeles Lakers yesterday re-signed Kostas Antetokounmpo to a two-way contract.

Antetokounmpo appeared in 38 games (37 starts) for the South Bay Lakers last season, averaging 14.1 points (.623 FG%), 7.8 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.3 blocks in 25.4 minutes. He tallied 10 double-doubles with South Bay and scored in double figures 33 times, including eight games with 20+ points. In five games with Los Angeles, Antetokounmpo averaged 1.4 points in 4.0 minutes.