An MRI taken Saturday night postgame vs. Utah on Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard revealed a grade one strain to the soleus muscle in the right lower leg.
Lillard will be re-evaluated in one to two weeks.
Trail Blazers sign Ibou Badji to two-way contract, waive Olivier Sarr
The Portland Trail Blazers have signed center Ibou Badji to a two-way contract.
Also today, the team waived center Olivier Sarr.
Badji, 7-1, averaged 7.4 points (61.8% FG, 66.7% FT), 6.6 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 2.6 blocks in seven games (all starts) this season with the Wisconsin Herd, the NBA G League affiliate of the Milwaukee Bucks. A native of Senegal, he also played for the country in the 2019 FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup and averaged 6.9 points, 5.1 rebounds and 3.1 blocks in seven games.
Sarr was signed to a two-way contract on September 7, 2022 and appeared in four preseason games for the Trail Blazers, averaging 4.0 points and 2.8 rebounds in 11.0 minutes.
Timberwolves sign A.J. Lawson to a two-way contract
The Minnesota Timberwolves have signed guard A.J. Lawson to a two-way contract.
In four games (all starts) this season for the College Park Skyhawks, the Atlanta Hawks G League affiliate, Lawson, 22, averaged a team-best 22.3 points on 62.3% shooting, including 52.9% from three, 6.5 rebounds and 2.5 assists in 36.9 minutes per game.
Lawson played on the Dallas Mavericks entry in the 2022 NBA Summer League where he averaged a team-high 15.6 points on 51.9% from the field including 50.0% from three and 6.0 rebounds per game. Additionally, the 6-6 guard played 10 games (all starts) this past summer for the Guelph Nighthawks of the Canadian Basketball League (CBL) and averaged 16.5 points on 44.3% shooting and 5.4 rebounds in 30.5 minutes per game.
The Toronto native saw action in 33 games (26 starts) for the Skyhawks last season where he averaged 11.8 points on 48.1% shooting and 6.3 rebounds. Lawson played three seasons at the University of South Carolina where he totaled 1,153 points, 325 rebounds and 167 assists in 81 games (80 starts).
Lawson was originally signed to a two-way deal with the Wolves on July 27, 2022 before being waived on Oct. 15, 2022.
He will wear #00 for the Timberwolves.
Pelicans assign Kira Lewis Jr. to the G League
New Orleans Pelicans guard Kira Lewis Jr. has been assigned to the Birmingham Squadron, the team’s NBA G League affiliate.
Lewis Jr., who was drafted by New Orleans with the 13th overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, has appeared in 78 games over two seasons and holds careers averages of 6.2 points, 1.4 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game.
The University of Alabama product sustained a torn ACL and Grade 2 MCL sprain in his right knee during a game against the Denver Nuggets on December 8, 2021.
Miami Heat sign Orlando Robinson to a two-way contract, waive Dru Smith
The Miami Heat have signed center Orlando Robinson to a two-way contract.
Also today, the Heat waived guard Dru Smith from his two-way contract.
Robinson has started in all four games with the HEAT’s G League affiliate, the Sioux Falls Skyforce, averaging a team-leading 20.0 points, 9.2 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 1.25 steals, 1.00 blocks and 31.2 minutes while shooting 53.2 percent from the field and a perfect 7-of-7 from the foul line. He leads the team in points, rebounds, blocks and field goals made and posted a 21-point, 10-rebound double-double at Iowa on November 5. He was previously signed by Miami on July 7 before being waived on October 13 after appearing in four preseason games.
Robinson played three seasons at Fresno State where he started in all 90 career games. In his final season as a junior, Robinson started all 36 games with the Bulldogs and averaged 19.4 points, 8.4 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 1.19 blocks, 1.00 steals and 33.2 minutes. He became just one of two players in NCAA history to accumulate at least 700 points, 300 rebounds and 100 assists in a single season. Robinson was named to the All-Mountain West First Team, the NABC All-District 17 First Team and was selected as a Lefty Driesell Defensive All-American. He led the team in points, rebounds, blocks, field goals made, free throws made and minutes and finished second on the team in assists and steals. Additionally, he recorded 18 20-point games, including three 30-point performances, and posted 12 double-doubles.
Robinson will wear number 25.
Smith appeared in one game with the HEAT this season, totaling two points, one rebound and a steal in 5:37 minutes of action.
Knicks reportedly receiving trade interest in Immanuel Quickley
Via the New York Post:
It’s still early for trades in the NBA season, but the Knicks are apparently getting calls on one of their young pieces.
Immanuel Quickley has drawn trade interest, SNY reported on Friday, with multiple teams calling New York about its third-year guard.
Through 12 games, Quickley is averaging 7.5 points, 5.3 rebounds and 3.1 assists in 21.3 minutes off the bench. He is shooting a career-low 28.3 percent from beyond the arc, though his corner 3 with 40.5 seconds left in Friday’s game against the Pistons helped the Knicks pull away for a win.
Pacers center Daniel Theis out after knee surgery
Indiana Pacers center Daniel Theis underwent a successful surgical procedure on his right knee to address persistent soreness.
Theis will be out indefinitely, and his status will be updated as appropriate.
Per the Indianapolis Star, “Theis, who was acquired from the Boston Celtics in July in the trade that sent away Malcolm Brogdon, has not appeared in a game yet this season.”
Raptors forward Precious Achiuwa out with ankle injury
Toronto Raptors forward Precious Achiuwa has been diagnosed with partial tears in ligaments in his right ankle.
Achiuwa will wear a walking boot for the next 10 days and will be listed as out indefinitely.
Achiuwa is averaging 8.8 points, 7.0 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 20.4 minutes in 12 games this season. He has scored in double figures seven times with two double-doubles.
Celtics forward Jayson Tatum is dealing with a wrist issue
Celtics star forward Jayson Tatum is dealing with what is hopefully a minor issue. Via the Boston Herald:
Tatum is playing a little bit hurt right now. The Celtics star said after Wednesday’s win that he’s managing some discomfort in his left wrist, the same one he revealed that he fractured and played through during last season’s run to the NBA Finals. Tatum had tape on the wrist during Wednesday’s game.
“Same wrist, same hand, something a little different that we’re just managing at this moment,” Tatum said. “Nothing that I got to have surgery. It’s bothering me, but just tape it up and go out there and continue to play.”
The issue hasn’t seemed to affect Tatum’s performances as he’s playing the best basketball of his career to start this season. He’s averaging 31.2 points per game after Wednesday’s 31-point performance – which included 26 in the second half – while playing elite defense.
The full Warriors rotation isn’t quite set yet
Via the San Jose Mercury News:
There are a few reasons for the Warriors’ defensive woes, but the bench’s inexperience has been at the top of that list. Golden State is winning the minutes superstar Stephen Curry is on the court but losing the ones he’s off.
As a result, the Warriors’ rotation remains fluid, and the team’s youngest players are dealing with uncertainty night in and night out. Kuminga has ridden the bench in three games. He earned a spot in the rotation after impressing last weekend against New Orleans when the majority of the starters sat out. But the 20-year-old was reminded how valuable those opportunities are Monday when he didn’t see the court in the second half of the Warriors’ win over the Kings after tallying five points and finishing minus-17 in nine minutes during the opening quarters.