Category: NBA Teams

NBA teams blog

On the Heat starting power forward spot

Per the South Florida Sun Sentinel:

It possibly could wind up like during the playoffs, where it’s situational, with Kevin Love starting against bigger front lines and Caleb Martin starting against small-ball alignments. But Erik Spoelstra has shown during the regular season that lineup continuity is the preference. Still, several factors could come into play. Foremost, if Jimmy Butler misses the expected 20 or so games, then Caleb could be the option to start at small forward (if it’s not Josh Richardson). And I also could envision Spoelstra toying with Love as his backup center, which could reduce the chance of Kevin starting. Still lots of moving parts, and lots of time before a decision is needed. Heck, Haywood Highsmith could potentially also enter the equation at power forward.

FULL ARTICLE

On Cade Cunningham’s return from injury for the Pistons

Per the Detroit Free Press:

Last season, the Detroit Pistons’ season was largely derailed with Cade Cunningham’s season-ending shin surgery.

But Cunningham has reportedly fully recovered, and the third-year guard will play for the USA Select Team in Vegas next month. Clips have emerged on social media of Cunningham playing with other pros this summer.

What does the return of Cunningham, the Pistons’ lead guard, from injury mean for the logjam in the backcourt on the roster?

There is a nice mix of veterans with Monte Morris and Alec Burks, and youngsters Jaden Ivey, Killian Hayes and Marcus Sasser.

Both Burks and Morris provide savvy and experience. Burks shot 41.4% from beyond the 3-point line last season, averaging 12.8 points per game. His role off the bench won’t change.

FULL ARTICLE

Knicks sign guard Duane Washington Jr.

The New York Knicks have signed guard Duane Washington Jr. to a contract.

Washington Jr., 23-years-old (6-3, 197-pounds), averaged 7.9 points, 2.0 assists and 1.2 rebounds over 12.7 minutes in 31 games (three starts) last season with the Phoenix Suns. He recorded four 20-point performances during the 2022-23 season, including career highs of 26 points and seven assists in a win at Memphis on Dec. 27.

The Frankfurt, Germany-native began his career in Indiana, averaging 9.9 points on 37.7% shooting from downtown with 1.8 assists over 20.2 minutes in 48 games (seven starts) during the 2021-22 season. Among qualified NBA rookies, he ranked 12th in points per game, third in three-point percentage and ninth with 81 made three-pointers. Washington Jr. set a Pacers rookie record by making seven three-pointers at New Orleans on Jan. 24. He also appeared in 11 games (all starts) with the Fort Wayne Mad Ants of the NBA G League, averaging 19.5 points, 4.4 assists and 3.4 rebounds over 32.5 minutes.

He spent a three-year career at Ohio State University where he earned All-Big Ten honors in his final season after averaging a team-high 16.4 points to go along with 3.4 rebounds and 2.9 assists over 32.2 minutes in 31 games (all starts).

Bucks re-sign Thanasis Antetokounmpo

The Milwaukee Bucks on Friday, July 28 re-signed forward Thanasis Antetokounmpo.

Antetokounmpo appeared in 37 games last season, his fourth campaign with the Bucks where he’s appeared in 162 games (11 starts) over that span.

Originally drafted by New York with the 51st overall selection in the 2014 NBA Draft, Antetokounmpo appeared in two games for the Knicks during the 2015-16 season. He signed with Milwaukee prior the 2019-20 season after playing three seasons (Spain, 2016-17; Greece, 2017-19) overseas.

Wizards sign guard Jared Butler to two-way contract

The Washington Wizards have signed guard Jared Butler to a two-way contract.

Butler (6-3, 195) has appeared in 48 career NBA games (two starts) with the Oklahoma City Thunder (2022-23) and Utah Jazz (2021-22), recording career averages of 4.1 points and 1.5 assists in 9.1 minutes per game.

Butler appeared in six games (one start) for the Thunder last season, averaging 6.2 points and 1.3 assists while shooting .469 from the field and .500 from three-point range. He also played in 27 games (all starts) with the Grand Rapids Gold and Oklahoma City Blue of the NBA G League during the 2022-23 season, posting averages of 16.7 points, 6.3 assists and 3.3 rebounds per game.

Originally selected with the 40th overall pick by Utah in the 2021 NBA Draft out of Baylor University, Butler averaged 3.8 points and 1.5 assists in 42 games (one start) with the Jazz in 2021-22 while also posting 18.3 points and 6.0 assists in three games for the Salt Lake City Stars, the team’s NBA G League affiliate. He was the first consensus All-America First Team selection in Baylor history after leading the Bears to the 2021 NCAA National Championship.

Spurs re-sign forward Sandro Mamukelashvili

The San Antonio Spurs have re-signed forward Sandro Mamukelashvili.

Mamukelashvili, 6-10/240, was originally signed by the Spurs on March 3, 2023. In 19 games for the Silver and Black, he averaged 10.8 points, 6.8 rebounds and 2.4 assists in 23.3 minutes.

Prior to joining the Spurs, Mamukelashvili was on a two-way contract with the Milwaukee Bucks. He appeared in 24 games with the Bucks and averaged 2.4 points and 2.3 rebounds in 9.0 minutes. In 11 games with the Bucks G League affiliate, the Wisconsin Herd, he averaged 19.5 points, 9.1 rebounds and 3.6 assists in 30.6 minutes.

The Tbilisi, Georgia native was selected in the second round of the 2021 NBA Draft (54th overall) by the Indiana Pacers before being traded to Milwaukee on draft night. Prior to the NBA, Mamukelashvili spent four seasons at Seton Hall and in a total of 104 games (68 starts), the 2021 Big East Player of the Year averaged 9.5 points, 5.4 rebounds and 1.6 assists in 23.7 minutes.

Spurs sign rookie forward Sidy Cissoko

The San Antonio Spurs have signed rookie forward Sidy Cissoko.

Cissoko, 6-7/225, was drafted by the Spurs with the 44th overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft. In one season with G League Ignite, he averaged 12.8 points, 3.5 assists and 2.8 rebounds in 29.3 minutes, starting in all 28 regular season games. He recorded eight games with 20-plus points on his way to a 2023 Rising Stars Challenge selection at NBA All-Star weekend and becoming one of 24 players named to the inaugural G League Next Up Game.

In five games with San Antonio in the NBA 2K24 Las Vegas Summer League, Cissoko averaged 5.2 points, 5.8 rebounds and 2.8 assists in 23.8 minutes. The Paris, France native made his professional debut in 2021 with Baskonia in the Spanish ACB League before being loaned out to Baskonia’s satellite club, Iraurgi SB, in the second-tier LEB Oro where he averaged 10.8 points, 3.0 rebounds and 2.4 assists in 32 games. Cissoko was named to the World Select Team at the 2022 Nike Hoop Summit. In the same year, he represented France at the FIBA U-18 European Championship.

Cissoko will wear No. 25 for the Spurs.

Spurs re-sign forward Dominick Barlow to two-way contract

The San Antonio Spurs have re-signed forward Dominick Barlow to a two-way contract.

Barlow, 6-9/220, is coming off his first season with the Silver and Black. In 28 games with San Antonio last season as a two-way player, he averaged 3.9 points and 3.6 rebounds in 14.6 minutes per game, including a season-high 21 points and 19 rebounds in the final game of the season in Dallas on April 9. On April 2 at Sacramento, he posted a 12-point, 10-rebound double-double to go with 5 assists, becoming just the sixth Spurs rookie with a 10/10/5 game. The rookie also played in 18 games (11 starts) with the Austin Spurs, San Antonio’s G League affiliate, and averaged 16.1 points, 8.4 rebounds and 1.7 blocks in 29.7 minutes. He recorded a season-high 32 points at Rio Grande Valley.

Barlow most recently appeared in four games for San Antonio in the NBA 2K24 Las Vegas Summer League where he averaged 17.0 points, 8.3 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.25 blocks in 27.9 minutes. The New Jersey native first signed a two-way contract with San Antonio on July 11, 2022, becoming the first-ever Overtime Elite athlete to sign with an NBA team.

Celtics sign Jaylen Brown to massive contract extension

The Boston Celtics have agreed to a contract extension with All-NBA forward Jaylen Brown.

Brown signed the contract at MIT’s Media Lab where he was hosting his 7uice Foundation’s Bridge program.

The deal is reportedly a five-year contract extension worth $304 million.

“I appreciate the investment and commitment from the Celtics and from the rest of the community. That investment and commitment will be felt in return from me here in Boston, on and off the floor, but also hopefully soon, around the world,” said Jaylen Brown. “The Bridge program students being here is special for me today; you guys represent the next generation, you represent the future, and everything I do is try to make this world a better place.”

“Jaylen Brown brings passionate energy and excellence to whatever he does, on the court and in the community,” said Wyc Grousbeck, Boston Celtics Lead Owner. “Jaylen is absolutely key to our relentless drive to win Banner 18. I’m very glad to be celebrating this partnership with him today.”

Brown was selected to his first All-NBA team last season when he was named to the 2022-23 Kia All-NBA Second Team after he appeared in 67 games (all starts) and made his second-consecutive All-Star game. The Georgia native averaged career-highs of 26.6 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 3.5 assists, as well as his best field goal percentage (49.1) and free-throw percentage (76.5).

“We are thrilled that Jaylen has decided to extend his contract and remain a Celtic for a long time,” said Brad Stevens, President of Basketball Operations. “In addition to his individual accolades, Jaylen has been one of the NBA’s winningest players in both the regular and postseason over the past seven years. I’ve been so impressed with how he has attacked every day with a relentless work ethic, a desire to improve, and a competitiveness to help his team win. Equally as impressive is his continued commitment to making a difference in the community.”

The seven-year NBA veteran was originally drafted by Boston with the third overall pick in the 2016 NBA Draft, and is the longest tenured Celtic entering this year. In 470 career games (363 starts), Brown has averaged 17.9 points, 5.2 rebounds, 2.2 assists, and 1.0 steals in 29.7 minutes per game, while shooting 47.7 percent from the field and 36.5 percent from three-point range.

Brown ranks fifth in franchise history in made three-point field goals with 883 threes and moved into 17th on the Celtics’ all-time scoring list with 8,428 points. Brown became the seventh Celtic since 1994 to reach 1,000 career assists before turning 27 years old when he dished out a season-high nine assists on March 6, 2023 (26 yrs, 133 d).

Brown has led the Celtics to the playoffs in each of his seven seasons, including five Eastern Conference Finals appearances and a trip to the 2022 NBA Finals. Brown is tied for the 14th-most playoff appearances in franchise history with 105 games and ranks 11th in scoring with 1,911 points in the postseason.