Hornets guard LaMelo Ball undergoes season-ending ankle surgery

Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball has undergone surgery to address a fracture in his right ankle.

The injury was sustained in the third quarter of Charlotte’s win vs. Detroit on Monday.

Ball, who the team expects will make a full recovery, will miss the remainder of the season and further updates regarding his status will be provided as appropriate.

Ball, the third overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, has appeared in 162 games (142 starts) in his three-year career, averaging 19.4 points (42.6 FG%, 37.7 3P%, 82.8 FT%), 6.4 rebounds, 7.3 assists and 1.5 steals in 31.8 minutes per game. He earned the first All-Star nod of his career in 2021-22, becoming the fourth-youngest All-Star in NBA history. Ball was named the NBA Rookie of the Year after averaging 15.7 points, 5.9 rebounds, 6.1 assists and 1.6 steals in 2020-21.

A native of Chino Hills, Calif., Ball appeared in 36 games this season, posting 23.3 points, 6.4 rebounds, 8.4 assists and 1.3 steals in 35.2 minutes per contest.

Bucks waive Sandro Mamukelashvili

The Milwaukee Bucks have requested waivers on Two-Way forward Sandro Mamukelashvili.

Mamukelashvili appeared in 65 games with the Bucks over the last two seasons while on a Two-Way contract and averaged 3.2 points and 2.1 rebounds in 9.6 minutes per game. Originally selected with the 54th overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, Mamukelashvili also played in 30 games (23 starts) with the Wisconsin Herd over the past two seasons where he averaged 20.5 points, 10.4 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game.

Milwaukee’s roster is now at 15 players.

Knicks sign Duane Washington Jr. to two-way contract

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

Washington Jr., 6-3, 197-pounds, was waived by Phoenix on Feb. 1 after averaging 7.9 points, 2.0 assists and 1.2 rebounds over 12.7 minutes in 31 games (three starts) with Suns. He recorded four 20-point performances this season, including career highs of 26 points and seven assists in a win at Memphis on Dec. 27.

He 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 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.

The Frankfurt, Germany-native went undrafted in the 2021 NBA Draft following 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).

Raptors sign Will Barton, waive Juancho Hernangomez

The Toronto Raptors have signed guard Will Barton.

And in a related move, the Raptors have waived forward Juancho Hernangόmez.

Barton, 6-foot-5, 180 pounds, averaged 7.7 points, 2.8 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 19.6 minutes in 40 games with Washington this season. He shot .387 (110-284) from the field, including 38 percent (52-137) from beyond the arc, and scored in double figures 11 times. Barton was waived by the Wizards on Feb. 21.

A native of Baltimore, Maryland, Barton was picked 40th overall by Portland in the 2012 NBA Draft. He holds career averages of 11.4 points, 4.2 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 25.5 minutes in 663 games (284 starts) with Portland, Denver and Washington. Barton played collegiately at Memphis (2010-12) where he was the Conference USA Player of the Year as a sophomore.

Hernangόmez averaged 2.9 points, 2.9 rebounds and 14.6 minutes in 42 games (10 starts) with the Raptors this season after signing as a free agent in July 2022.

Hornets guard LaMelo Ball suffers fracture in right ankle

Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball suffered a fracture in his right ankle in tonight’s home game vs. Detroit. Ball left the game in the third quarter and an x-ray taken at the arena revealed the fracture.

Ball, the third overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, has appeared in 161 games (141 starts) in his career, averaging 19.4 points (42.5 FG%, 37.4 3P%, 83.0 FT%), 6.4 rebounds, 7.3 assists and 1.5 steals in 31.9 minutes per game. The Chino Hills, California product garnered 2020-21 NBA Rookie of the Year honors and earned the first All-Star selection of his career in 2021-22.

Ball will be listed as out for the Hornets’ next game vs. Phoenix on March 1 and updates regarding his status will be provided as appropriate.

Rockets sign Willie Cauley-Stein to 10-day contract

The Houston Rockets have signed center Willie Cauley-Stein to a 10-day contract.

Cauley-Stein (7-0, 240) was briefly with the Rockets during the preseason prior to joining their NBA G League affiliate, Rio Grande Valley. In 10 regular season games for the Vipers, he has averaged 9.4 points, 6.2 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 1.3 blocks and 1.2 steals in 28.3 minutes per game while shooting 64.5% from the floor. Cauley-Stein also appeared in 16 games for Rio Grande Valley during the G League Showcase.

The seven-year NBA veteran was originally the sixth overall pick by Sacramento in the 2015 draft and spent last season with Dallas and Philadelphia. In 422 career games with 256 starts, Cauley-Stein has averaged 8.7 ppg, 5.9 rpg and 1.4 apg in 22.0 mpg while shooting 54.4% from the floor.

Thunder sign Lindy Waters III to multi-year contract

The Oklahoma City Thunder have signed guard Lindy Waters III to a multi-year contract, it was announced today by Executive Vice President and General Manager Sam Presti.

Originally signed to a Two-Way Contract on Feb. 10, 2022, Waters III has appeared in 25 games with the Thunder this season and averaged 4.4 points and 1.7 rebounds in 11.2 minutes per game. In 20 games (19 starts) this season with the Oklahoma City Blue, he has posted averages of 16.3 points, 5.3 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 1.15 steals in 34.8 minutes per game.