Miami Heat convert Caleb Martin’s contract from two-way to standard

The Miami Heat have converted the two-way contract of Caleb Martin into a standard NBA contract.

Martin, who was originally signed by the HEAT to a two-way contract on September 14, has appeared in 44 games (10 starts) with Miami this season and averaged 9.5 points, 4.0 rebounds, 1.0 assists and 22.9 minutes while shooting 50.6 percent from the field, 37.9 percent from three-point range and 73.9 percent from the foul line. He has scored in double-figures 21 times, including two 20-point performances, and posted an 18-point, 10-rebound double-double in a win at Atlanta on January 12. He set career highs in points (28), field goals made (9) and three-point field goals made (6) while tying his career high in blocks (2) in a victory on December 8 vs. Milwaukee.

Martin has appeared in 115 career NBA games (14 starts) and averaged 6.9 points, 3.1 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 18.6 minutes while shooting 44.7 percent from the field. He has also appeared in 28 career G League games (all starts) and averaged 21.3 points, 6.0 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 1.61 steals and 36.9 minutes while shooting 47 percent from the field and 37.1 percent from three-point range. Additionally, Martin helped lead Nevada to a 29-4 record and an NCAA Tournament berth in 2019 as a senior after appearing in 34 games (33 starts) averaging 19.2 points, 5.1 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 1.44 steals and 34.1 minutes while leading the team in points, scoring average, steals, field goals made, three-point field goals made and free throws made.

Miami Heat sign forward Haywood Highsmith to 10-day contract

The Miami Heat have signed forward Haywood Highsmith to a 10-day contract.

Highsmith, who was previously signed to a 10-day contract by the HEAT on December 30, appeared in four games with Miami totaling 12 points, five rebounds and a block in 41:34 minutes of action while shooting 50 percent (4-of-8) from the field and 57.1 percent (4-of-7) from three-point range. He has also appeared in 17 G League games (11 starts) with the Delaware Blue Coats this season and averaged 13.6 points, 5.5 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 1.24 steals and 29.8 minutes while shooting 49.4 percent from the field and 39.3 percent from three-point range.

After spending four seasons at Wheeling University from 2014-18, Highsmith signed a two-way contract with the Philadelphia 76ers, splitting the season between the Sixers and their G League affiliate, the Delaware Blue Coats. Highsmith appeared in five games with the 76ers in 2018-19 totaling nine points, five rebounds, two assists and a steal while shooting 40 percent (4-of-10) from the field. Additionally, he has appeared in 106 career G League games (76 starts) over three seasons, all with the Blue Coats, averaging 11.7 points, 6.6 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 1.18 steals and 29.6 minutes while shooting 43.5 percent from the field.

Highsmith will wear number 24.

Rockets convert Daishen Nix’s contract from two-way to standard

The Houston Rockets have converted rookie guard Daishen Nix from a two-way contract into a standard NBA contract.

Nix was eligible for the 2021 NBA Draft and originally signed with Houston on Aug. 25. He spent last season with the G League Ignite, where he was teammates with fellow Rockets rookie Jalen Green.

In eight games for Houston this season, Nix is averaging 16.1 points, 5.4 rebounds, 5.4 assists and 3.8 steals per 36 minutes played. He has also appeared in 27 games for the Rockets G League affiliate, Rio Grande Valley, while averaging 19.7 ppg, 6.0 apg, 5.6 rpg and 2.3 spg. Last season, Nix joined current teammate Kevin Porter Jr. as two of the three G League players who averaged at least 5.0 rebounds and 5.0 assists.

Nix turned 20 years old on Feb. 13.

Bucks guard Pat Connaughton out after surgery

Milwaukee Bucks guard Pat Connaughton underwent surgery Monday to repair the fractured fourth metacarpal on his right hand. Connaughton injured his hand in the Bucks game at Phoenix on Feb. 10.

The surgery was performed by Dr. Michelle Carlson at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York.

Connaughton is expected to be sidelined for approximately four weeks.

Per ESPN.com, “losing him will be a significant blow to a Bucks team that has increasingly relied on his productivity this season.”

In 54 games (18 starts) this season, Connaughton is averaging a career-best 10.1 points with 4.4 rebounds and 1.2 assists in a career-high 27.0 minutes per game.

Timberwolves will reportedly sign Patrick Beverley to a contract extension

The Timberwolves are reportedly signing guard Patrick Beverley to a contract extension. Via the St. Paul Pioneer Press:

The Timberwolves rewarded the veteran guard with a one-year, $13 million extension agreed to Monday, a source confirmed to the Pioneer Press.

The deal keeps Beverley, who was set to become a free-agent this summer, in Minnesota through the 2022-23 campaign. The extension number is just a tick below Beverley’s $14.3 million cap hit this season.

Jarrett Allen selected as injury replacement for James Harden in 2022 NBA All-Star Game

Cleveland Cavaliers center Jarrett Allen has been named by NBA Commissioner Adam Silver to replace injured Philadelphia 76ers guard James Harden on Team LeBron in the 2022 NBA All-Star Game.

The matchup between Team LeBron and Team Durant in the 71st NBA All-Star Game will be played on Sunday, Feb. 20 at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland, airing live at 8 p.m. ET on TNT and ESPN Radio in the United States and reaching fans in 215 countries and territories in 59 languages.

Allen has earned his first NBA All-Star selection. He is averaging a career-high 16.2 points, a career-high 11.1 rebounds and 1.35 blocked shots in 49 games this season. A five-year NBA veteran, Allen ranks ninth in the league in rebounds per game and 13th in blocks per game. He also ranks second in the NBA in field goal percentage at a career-high 66.5 percent and tied for sixth in double-doubles with 30.

The 23-year-old Allen is the second Cleveland player to be named a first-time NBA All-Star this season, joining guard Darius Garland, who was drafted by Team Durant. Behind Allen and Garland, the Cavaliers (35-22) have the third-best record in the Eastern Conference.

Harden will not play in the 2022 NBA All-Star Game because of a left hamstring injury. He was selected by NBA head coaches as a reserve.

Weekly Washington Wizards notes: Feb. 14, 2022

WASHINGTON WIZARDS TEAM NOTES

Wizards rookie forward Corey Kispert (12.4 ppg, 5.0 rpg) is one of five rookies to average at least 12 points and 5 rebounds per game over the last five games.

Washington forward Kyle Kuzma (2,009) eclipsed 2,000 total rebounds for his career with 13 on 2/10 vs. BKN.

The Wizards notched their 20th ‘clutch’ win of the season on 2/10 vs. BKN, defeating the Nets 113-112. Washington’s 20 clutch wins this season is tied for the second-most among all teams in the NBA.

The Wizards will close out their five game homestand on Monday, February 14 vs. Detroit before heading out on the road for back-to-back games at Indiana and Brooklyn before the All-Star break.

At the trade deadline, Washington acquired forward-center Kristaps Porzingis from Dallas and guard Ish Smith and center Vernon Carey Jr. from Charlotte.

Guard Bradley Beal underwent successful surgery to repair a torn scapholunate ligament of his left wrist. He is expected to be out for the remainder of the season.

Tyreke Evans has been reinstated as an NBA player – he is now an unrestricted free agent

The NBA and the National Basketball Players Association today granted the request of Tyreke Evans to be reinstated as an NBA player, after Evans was dismissed and disqualified from the league on May 17, 2019, for testing positive for a prohibited substance under the NBA/NBPA Anti-Drug Program.

Pursuant to an agreement between the NBA and the National Basketball Players Association, Evans is now an Unrestricted Free Agent who may negotiate over the terms and conditions of a Player Contract with any team, and who, subject to other applicable CBA rules, may enter into a Player Contract with any team beginning 12:00 p.m. (ET) on Friday, February 18, 2022.

Weekly Houston Rockets notes: Feb. 14, 2022

HOUSTON ROCKETS TEAM NOTES

Kevin Porter Jr. had 30 points vs. Toronto on 2/10 and 27 points at New Orleans on 2/8 after not having more than 23 points in a game prior this season… over his past 12 games played, Porter is averaging 17.3 ppg on 49.7% shooting from the floor and 48.2% shooting from 3-point range.

Dennis Schröder is set to make his Rockets debut at Utah on 2/14… over the past five seasons (2016-17 through 2020-21), he joined D’Angelo Russell as the only players to have averaged at least 17.0 points, 5.0 assists and 3.0 rebounds in fewer than 31.0 minutes per game.

The Rockets will play all three of their games on the road this week heading into NBA All-Star Weekend… Jalen Green, Jae’Sean Tate, and Alperen Sengun will participate in Friday night’s Rising Stars event while Green is one of four competitors in Saturday Night’s Slam Dunk contest.

Houston has scored 50+ points in the paint in five of the past six games and 29 times overall this season, matching its total from 2020-21… the Rockets rank seventh in PIP this season (48.7 per) after finishing 18th in 2020-21 (46.7 per).

Health update on Bulls guard Zach LaVine

Here’s the Chicago Tribune with the latest on star Bulls scoring guard Zach LaVine:

The short-handed Chicago Bulls could lose yet another key player ahead of the All-Star break after Zach LaVine will reportedly fly to Los Angeles to receive special treatment on his left knee, according to ESPN.

LaVine sat out Saturday’s 106-101 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder due to an aggravation in his left knee. The guard previously played two games through back spasms before finally sitting out the next two games.