Category: NBA Teams

NBA teams blog

Grizzlies sign Dusty Hannahs to 10-day contract

The Memphis Grizzlies signed guard Dusty Hannahs to a 10-day contract today. This as a “Call-Up” from their NBA G Leagues affiliate team, the Memphis Hustle.

Hannahs (6-4, 195) has appeared in 33 games (20 starts) for the Hustle this season and has averaged a team-high 21.3 points, 2.1 rebounds and 2.2 assists in 30.4 minutes, guiding the team to the current top spot in the NBA G League Western Conference standings. Hannahs also has shot 47.5 percent from the field, 46.4 percent from three-point range and 91.4 percent from the free throw line (his third consecutive season to shoot at least 90 percent from the foul line) during his third season with the Hustle. In addition, he is tied for fourth in the NBA G League in three-pointers made (109).

The Hustle’s all-time leading scorer (1,848 points), Hannahs was selected to the Western Conference Midseason All-NBA G League Team on Feb. 10 and was named the NBA G League Player of the Week for games played from Nov. 25-Dec. 1. The second player in club history to receive a weekly honor, Hannahs averaged 30.0 points, 3.0 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 2.00 steals without any turnovers while shooting 60.6 percent from the field and 63.6 percent from three-point range in a pair of wins.

A native of Little Rock, Arkansas, Hannahs competed in two games as a reserve for the Grizzlies last season and totaled eight points, one rebound, five assists and one steal in 26 minutes. The 26-year-old went undrafted in the 2017 NBA Draft after finishing his collegiate career at the University of Arkansas.

Hannahs will wear jersey #5 for the Grizzlies.

Pistons waive Markieff Morris, as two sides reach buyout agreement

The Detroit Pistons and Markieff Morris have reached an agreement to buy out the veteran forward’s contract. The Pistons have requested waivers on Morris.

Morris signed as a free agent with the Pistons on July 6, 2019. He averaged 11.0 points, 3.9 rebounds and 1.6 assists while shooting .450 from the field and a career-best .397 from three-point range in 44 games (16 starts) during his time with Detroit.

On this move, ESPN.com today reported the following: “Morris had signed a two-year contract with Detroit in July that was to have paid him $3.2 million this season and included a $3.36 million player option for next season. Morris had a total of $4.3 million remaining over the length of the deal. In order to secure a buyout, Morris relinquished the rights to the full amount he was owed, sources told ESPN’s Bobby Marks.”

Pistons sign Derrick Walton Jr. to 10-day contract

The Detroit Pistons signed guard Derrick Walton Jr. to a 10-day contract today.

Walton Jr., 6-0, 189, last played for the Los Angeles Clippers this season. In 23 games (one start), he averaged 2.2 points, 0.7 rebounds and 1.0 assists before being traded to the Atlanta Hawks on February 6. He was then waived by the Hawks. In 39 career NBA games with Miami and the Clippers, Walton Jr. has averaged 2.0 points, 0.8 rebounds and 1.0 assists.

A native of Detroit, MI, Walton Jr. starred collegiately at the University of Michigan where he guided the Wolverines to back-to-back NCAA tournaments in 2016 and 2017. He also led Michigan to the 2017 Big Ten Championship and was named the tournament’s MVP.

Walton Jr. played high school basketball at Chandler Park Academy in Harper Woods, MI, where he was coached by his father, Derrick Walton Sr.

Celtics guard Kemba Walker out with swollen knee

Celtics guard Kemba Walker’s knee is in need of some rest. Here’s the Boston Herald today:

Kemba Walker, who had been on a minutes restriction prior to last Sunday’s NBA all-star game, pushed through that barrier with a 29-minute appearance, after also playing well beyond the restriction with 46 minutes in the Celtics’ double-overtime win over the Clippers on Feb. 13.

And now, after the Celtics guard had to have his swollen knee drained this week, load management appears to be back in place. He’ll miss tonight’s game against the Timberwolves after also taking an anti-inflammatory injection, though Brad Stevens stressed at this morning’s shootaround that Walker is not expected to miss a long stretch of time.

If the Celtics could do this past week over again, Kemba wouldn’t have played in the All-Star game. But what’s done is done. Fortunately, he should be back in action soon. The question is, at what strength. Every player’s knees, and certainly those belonging to a star point guard, need to be at 100 percent for the playoffs. Which don’t begin until mid April. So that’s not a concern for right now. But here’s hoping we aren’t discussing this a few weeks from now.

Injury update on Pelicans forward Kenrich Williams

New Orleans Pelicans forward Kenrich Williams, who has missed the last 18 games of the 2019-20 season due to right lower back soreness, received an injection to treat pain and inflammation over NBA All-Star Weekend. The injection was performed by Dr. Rey Bosita at the Texas Back Institute.

Williams will be re-evaluated by the team in one week.

The Pelicans are 23-32 this season, which is the 11th best record in the Western conference.

Clippers sign Reggie Jackson

The L.A. Clippers signed free agent guard Reggie Jackson today.

“Reggie is a proven playmaker and scorer, and we are looking forward to adding his experience and creativity to our team,” said Frank.

Jackson, 29, appeared in 14 games for the Detroit Pistons this season, averaging 14.9 points, 5.1 assists and 2.9 rebounds in 27.2 minutes. The 6’3”, 208-pound guard holds career averages of 12.9 points, 4.4 assists and 3.0 rebounds in 544 appearances across eight NBA seasons with the Oklahoma City Thunder and Detroit. Before being selected by Oklahoma City with the 24th overall pick in the 2011 NBA Draft, Jackson played three collegiate seasons at Boston College, where as a junior he was named first-team All-ACC.

Timberwolves forward Jake Layman cleared for practice

Minnesota Timberwolves forward Jake Layman, who has missed the last 39 games while recovering from a sprained left toe originally suffered November 18 at Utah, underwent evaluations by multiple foot specialists. Following the assessments, Layman was given clearance today to begin practicing.

Layman will continue to be monitored closely by the Timberwolves medical staff as he progresses. He is expected to be re-evaluated in one week and further updates to his playing status will be updated as appropriate.

In 14 games, two starts, this season with Minnesota, Layman is averaging a career-high 10.5 points on 46.2 percent shooting, including a career-best 35.2 percent shooting from deep.

Kings forward Marvin Bagley remains out at least three more weeks

Although Kings forward Marvin Bagley III (left midfoot sprain) continues to progress through the reconditioning process, under the supervision of the team’s physicians and in coordination with foot specialist Dr. Martin O’Malley at the Hospital for Special Surgery, he is not yet ready to return.

Bagley recently incorporated stationary shooting and partial-weight bearing conditioning activities into his regimen, in addition to ongoing strength work.

An update regarding Bagley’s status will be provided in three weeks.

Al Horford coming off the bench for Sixers

For the time being, it appears the Sixers will be bringing veteran power forward Al Horford off the bench. Here’s Philly Voice reporting:

Al Horford will remain in a bench role with the Sixers moving forward, which he revealed to reporters himself during media availability on Wednesday afternoon.

“It’s what the team needs right now, and that’s what we’re doing,” Horford said. “I didn’t really give it much thought to be honest, I’m just refreshed being back and ready for the second half of the season…I’m playing similar to how I was playing before.” …

Exactly who will start in Horford’s place was left purposefully unclear, though if we’re looking at the Clippers game as a guideline, Furkan Korkmaz and Glenn Robinson III were the first two players to get a crack at starters minutes.

As has been said pretty much all season, the chemistry experiment between Ben Simmons, Horford and Joel Embiid remains ongoing.

We’re way past the halfway point of the season, but the Sixers are still mixing and matching.

Wendell Carter Jr. set to return for Bulls

The Bulls should have young center Wendell Carter Jr. back in action soon. Possibly tomorrow. Here’s the Chicago Sun-Times:

Bulls center Wendell Carter Jr. watched Friday night as other first- and second-year NBA players ran up and down the United Center court during the Rising Stars game. He wanted to join them but couldn’t because of the high ankle sprain he suffered Jan. 6 in a loss to the Mavericks…

Carter participated in most of practice at the Advocate Center and hinted he could return to the lineup Thursday night against the Hornets.

In other good news, forward Otto Porter Jr., who has been out with a foot injury since November, was a full participant in practice, though his return timeline is still uncertain.

The Bulls are in a state of rebuild. The squad is all about the future. As for the present, winning would be nice, but the team’s main goal should be to develop young talent, like Carter.