Pacers sign forward Torrey Craig

The Indiana Pacers have signed free agent forward Torrey Craig.

“Torrey is known for toughness, defense and being a great team guy,” said Pacers President of Basketball Operations Kevin Pritchard. “As a player who went undrafted, Torrey got to where he is through hard work and perseverance. He will be a great addition to our depth and our emphasis on defense.”

After he originally went undrafted in the 2014 NBA Draft out of the University of South Carolina Upstate, Craig played three seasons professionally in Australia and New Zealand before he earned a spot on the Denver Nuggets’ roster for the 2017-18 season. Craig played three seasons for the Nuggets (2017-20) before splitting the 2020-21 regular season with the Milwaukee Bucks and Phoenix Suns.

Craig has played in the postseason in each of the last three seasons, including the 2021 playoffs in which he helped the Suns reach the NBA Finals.

Knicks sign guard M.J. Walker

The New York Knicks have signed guard M.J. Walker to a contract.

It’s likely a non-guaranteed deal that brings Walker to training camp.

Walker, 6-5, 213-pounds, played four seasons at Florida State University (2017-21), averaging nine points, two rebounds and 1.6 assists over 24.3 minutes in 120 games (82 starts). As a senior, he was named to the 2020-21 All-ACC Second Team after producing a career best 12.2 points to go along with 2.5 rebounds and 2.5 assists over 29.0 minutes in 24 games (23 starts).

The Jonesboro, GA-native, recently appeared in three games for the Knicks Summer League entry in Las Vegas, NV. He averaged 4.7 points and 2.7 rebounds over 16.1 minutes.

Utah Jazz add Erdem Can to coaching staff

The Utah Jazz have added Erdem Can to their coaching staff.

Can joins the Jazz having most recently served as an assistant coach for Fenerbahce in the Turkish first division from 2012-21. Under legendary international head coach Željko Obradović, Can helped the team to four Turkish League Championships, three Turkish Cups, five EuroLeague Final Fours, three EuroLeague Finals and one EuroLeague Championship. He has also assisted the Utah Jazz’s summer league coaching staff five times in Salt Lake City and Las Vegas.

The Ankara, Turkey native comes to Utah with a vast career in coaching and as a player. He began his playing career with Sumerbank Basketball Team in Turkey from 1993-96 and finished his career with Mulkiyespor Basketball Team, also in Turkey (1996-98). He also has coaching stops in the Turkish first division with Turk Telekom (2008-10), Olin Edirne (2010-12), serving as head coach for Olin Edirne for two seasons.

Can received a master’s degree in political science and public administration at the Ankara University Faculty of Political Science in 2003.

Nuggets re-sign JaMychal Green

The Denver Nuggets have signed forward JaMychal Green to a multiyear contract, President of Basketball Operations Tim Connelly announced today.

Per the Denver Post, “Green agreed to a 2-year, $17 million deal, according to league sources. Green has a player option on the second year of his deal, a source said, and the deal is fully guaranteed.”

Green, 6-8, 227, appeared in 58 games (five starts) for the Nuggets last season, averaging 8.1 points and 4.8 rebounds while shooting 46.3% from the field and 39.9% from three in 19.3 minutes. He also played in 10 playoff games, averaging 5.4 points, 5.2 rebounds and 1.1 assists in 19.0 minutes.

The seven-year NBA veteran has appeared in 420 career games (157 starts) for San Antonio, Memphis, Los Angeles and Denver, holding career averages of 8.1 points, 6.0 rebounds and 0.9 assists, shooting 47.0% from the field and 38.0% from three-point range.

The 31-year-old native of Montgomery, Alabama originally went undrafted in 2013 NBA Draft after spending four seasons at the University of Alabama. He signed a multiyear contract with the San Antonio Spurs in August of 2014.

In G League, Grand Rapids Gold hire Jason Terry as new head coach

The Grand Rapids Gold, the G League affiliate of the Denver Nuggets, have hired Jason Terry as their new head coach.

The 19-year NBA veteran appeared in 1,410 career games, the ninth most in NBA history. The sharp-shooting NBA Champion owns career averages of 13.4 points, 2.3 rebounds and 3.8 assists while connecting on 2,282 career three-pointers, the seventh most all-time. After wrapping up his prolific playing career in 2018, Terry spent the 2019-20 season as the Assistant General Manager for the G League’s Texas Legends and the 2020-21 season as an assistant coach with his alma mater Arizona Wildcats.

Terry was drafted 10th overall in the 1999 NBA Draft by the Atlanta Hawks where he was named to the All-Rookie Second Team in 1999-00. Terry spent the first five years of his career with the Hawks before being traded to Dallas where he spent the next eight seasons and helped the Mavericks earn an NBA Championship in 2011. Terry appeared in all 21 playoff games during the championship run while averaging 17.5 points (second to Nowitzki), 3.2 assists and shot a scorching 44.2% from beyond the arc. He enjoyed one of his most successful individual seasons in 2008-09 when he was named the Sixth Man of the Year after averaging 19.6 points, 2.4 rebounds and 3.4 assists in 33.7 minutes per game.

The Seattle, Washington native entered the NBA after spending four years at the University of Arizona, including a senior season where he averaged 21.9 points, 3.3 rebounds and 5.5 assists and shot 40% from three-point range. Terry was named Pac-12 Player of the Year, All-Pac-12 First Team and Consensus All-American First Team his final season at Arizona.

Pistons re-sign Hamidou Diallo

The Detroit Pistons have re-signed guard Hamidou Diallo.

Diallo, 6-5, 202, was acquired by the Pistons from the Oklahoma City Thunder on March 13, 2021, in exchange for Svi Mykhailiuk and future draft consideration. In 20 games (four starts) as a Piston, Diallo averaged 11.2 points, 5.4 rebounds and 1.2 assists in 23.3 minutes. Overall, he recorded career-high averages of 11.6 points (48% FG), 5.2 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 23.6 minutes in 52 games (nine starts) with the Thunder and Pistons last season.

Diallo, 23, was selected 45th overall in the 2018 NBA Draft by the Brooklyn Nets and subsequently involved in two trades to Charlotte and then Oklahoma City following the draft. In 149 career NBA games (15 starts), he’s averaged 7.5 points, 3.6 rebounds, 1.0 assists, 0.7 steals in 17.8 minutes with Oklahoma City and Detroit. He also won the NBA Slam Dunk Contest as a rookie at the 2019 NBA All-Star Weekend in Charlotte.

A native of Queens, N.Y., Diallo played one season collegiately at Kentucky in 2017-18, averaging 10.0 points, 3.6 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 0.8 steals in 24.8 minutes over 37 games (all starts).

Knicks sign forward Aamir Simms

The New York Knicks have signed forward Aamir Simms.

Per the New York Post, “Simms will be joining them for training camp. The team has signed the former Clemson star to an Exhibit 10 contract, a source confirmed.”

Simms, 6-8, 245-pounds, played four seasons at Clemson University (2017-21) and averaged 9.2 points, 5.2 rebounds and 1.6 assists over 25.3 minutes in 122 games (100 starts). As a senior, Simms was named to the 2020-21 All-ACC Second Team after producing a career best 13.4 points on 53.2-percent shooting from the field (40-percent from downtown) with 6.4 rebounds and 2.7 assists over 29.7 minutes in 24 games (all starts).

The Palmyra, VA-native, recently appeared in four games for the Knicks Summer League entry in Las Vegas, NV. He averaged 3.8 points and 2.8 rebounds over 11.1 minutes.

Knicks sign Dwayne Bacon

The New York Knicks have signed guard Dwayne Bacon.

Bacon, 6-6, 221-pounds, appeared in all 72 games (50 starts) for Orlando last season, recording career highs of 10.9 points and 3.1 rebounds with 1.3 assists over 25.7 minutes. In four NBA seasons, he holds career averages of 7.3 points, 2.6 rebounds and 1.1 assists over 19.4 minutes in 207 games (80 starts) with Charlotte and Orlando.

He was originally selected by New Orleans in the second round (40th overall pick) of the 2017 NBA Draft after two seasons at Florida State University (2015-17). The Lakeland, FL-native, averaged 16.5 points, 5.0 rebounds and 1.6 assists over 28.8 minutes in 69 games (67 starts) with the Seminoles. He was named to the 2015-16 ACC All-Freshman team and to the 2016-17 All-ACC Second team.

Pelicans sign Jose Alvarado and Daulton Hommes to two-way contracts

The New Orleans Pelicans have signed guard Jose Alvarado and forward Daulton Hommes to two-way contracts.

Alvarado, 6-0, 179, started all 26 games during the 2020-21 season for Georgia Tech, where he was named the ACC Defensive Player of the Year and earned All-ACC Second Team honors after averaging 15.2 points, 4.1 assists, and 2.8 steals per game. In four seasons with the Yellow Jackets, Alvarado appeared in 106 games (104 starts) and finished with career averages of 13.5 points, 3.6 rebounds, 3.6 assists, and 2.1 steals in 34.9 minutes played.

Hommes, 6-8, 215, most recently played for Vanoli Cremona of the Italian Lega Basket Serie A, averaging 16.4 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 1.7 assists in 28 games while shooting .468 from the floor, .427 from deep, and .863 from the foul line. Undrafted in 2019 out of Point Loma Nazarene University, Hommes appeared in 36 games (six starts) with the G League’s Austin Spurs in the 2019-20 season, in which he averaged 8.3 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 1.3 assists in 19.6 minutes per game.

Pelicans re-sign Josh Hart

The New Orleans Pelicans have re-signed guard Josh Hart.

“Josh brings tenacity, competitiveness and infectious energy to our team every time he steps on the court,” said Pelicans Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations David Griffin. “We are excited to welcome him back and grateful that he wanted to continue his evolution with our Pelicans family.”

Hart, who was originally acquired by New Orleans from the Los Angeles Lakers as part of a three-team trade on July 6, 2019, appeared in 47 games (four starts) for the Pelicans last season, averaging 9.2 points, 8.0 rebounds, and 2.3 assists in 28.7 minutes per game.

Selected with the 30th overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft, Hart has appeared in 242 games (65 starts) with the Lakers and Pelicans over four seasons, holding career averages of 8.7 points, 5.4 rebounds and 1.6 assists in 26.0 minutes per contest.

The Silver Spring, Maryland native appeared in 146 games (77 starts) over four collegiate seasons at Villanova University, averaging 13.2 points, 5.6 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1.1 steals in 28.0 minutes. As a senior, Hart was named the Big East Player of the Year after averaging 18.7 points, 6.4 rebounds and 2.9 assists during the 2016-17 season.