Raptors sign forward Freddie Gillespie to 10-day contract

The Toronto Raptors have signed forward Freddie Gillespie to a 10-day contract.

Gillespie, 6-foot-9, 245 pounds, averaged 10.5 points, 10.3 rebounds, 2.3 blocks and 27.8 minutes in 15 games (all starts) with the Memphis Hustle in the NBA G League bubble. He shot .570 (73-128) from the field and recorded six double-doubles. Gillespie went undrafted in the 2020 NBA Draft but was picked second overall by the Hustle in the 2020-21 NBA G League Draft.

A native of Saint Paul, Minnesota, Gillespie played two seasons at Division lll Carleton College before transferring to Baylor (2018-20). He averaged 7.6 points, 6.9 rebounds, 1.7 blocks and 23.7 minutes in 56 career games (41 starts) with the Bears. As a senior, Gillespie was voted the Big 12 Most Improved Player and earned All-Big 12 Second Team and All-Defensive Team honours.

Magic waive center Khem Birch

The Orlando Magic have waived center Khem Birch, President of Basketball Operations Jeff Weltman announced today.

Birch (6’9”, 230, 9/28/92) has played in 48 games this season (five starts) with Orlando, averaging 5.3 ppg., 5.1 rpg. and 1.1 apg. in 19.8 minpg. He has appeared in 188 career NBA regular season games (30 starts) from 2017-21, all with the Magic, averaging 4.7 ppg. and 4.4 rpg. in 16.5 minpg., while shooting .518 (326-629) from the floor.

Limited fan attendance at Warriors home games will begin starting April 23

STATEMENT FROM THE WARRIORS

The Golden State Warriors announced today that Chase Center has been approved to host fans for the team’s remaining nine regular season home games, beginning April 23, when the Warriors face the Denver Nuggets.

Per California State Department of Public Health guidelines that were announced on April 2, Chase Center can accommodate up to 35% capacity based on the venue’s plan to require all fans and personnel to produce either proof of a full vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test. The 35% capacity allowance is subject to the State’s physical distancing requirements, and the actual percentage of fan capacity that will be permitted on a per game basis may vary based on local health approval and subsequent guidance issued by the State and the County.

Every person entering Chase Center must produce either proof of a full vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test that was administered within 48 hours prior to the game. Fans who purchase their tickets more than seven days in advance of the game will be eligible to receive, at no cost to the fan, an at-home Lucira Health molecular COVID-19 test to be self-administered within 48 hours of the game, making the Warriors the first sports team to provide fans with an at-home testing solution. Fans will then enroll in CLEAR’s Health Pass where they can securely link their test result and complete a health survey to generate a Health Pass, which they will be required to show for entry to Chase Center.

Additionally, fans who can provide proof of vaccination do not need to produce a negative COVID-19 test, unless they are seated within 30 feet of the court. Fully-vaccinated fans will have the opportunity to purchase tickets in designated sections of the arena bowl.

Chase Center will enforce strict health and safety protocols that have been established in coordination with the California State Department of Health, San Francisco Department of Public Health, and the National Basketball Association (NBA).

Fred VanVleet, DeAndre’ Bembry and Talen Horton-Tucker each suspended one game by NBA

Toronto Raptors guards DeAndre’ Bembry and Fred VanVleet and Los Angeles Lakers guard Talen Horton-Tucker have each been suspended one game without pay and Raptors forward OG Anunoby and Lakers forward-center Montrezl Harrell have each been fined for their roles in an on-court altercation, it was announced today by Kiki VanDeWeghe, Executive Vice President, Basketball Operations.

Bembry, VanVleet and Horton-Tucker have each been suspended for leaving the bench area during an on-court altercation.

Anunoby, who received a technical foul and was ejected, has been fined $30,000 for initiating the incident by grabbing Schröder by the leg and recklessly flipping him to the ground after the two became entangled following a common foul committed by Schröder.

Harrell, who received a technical foul and was ejected, has been fined $20,000 for aggressively entering the altercation and shoving Raptors guard Gary Trent Jr.

The incident occurred with 2:24 remaining in the first quarter in the Lakers’ 110-101 win over the Raptors on April 6 at Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida.

Bembry will serve his suspension tonight when the Raptors play host to the Chicago Bulls at Amalie Arena. VanVleet, who has missed the past two games with an injury, will serve his suspension in the next regular season game for which he is eligible and physically able to play.

Horton-Tucker will serve his suspension tonight when the Lakers face the Miami Heat at AmericanAirlines Arena.

Pistons sign forward Tyler Cook to multi-year contract

The Detroit Pistons have signed forward Tyler Cook to a multi-year contract.

Per the Detroit Free Press, “his stint with the Pistons will now last until the end of the season, at least, as the franchise signed him to a standard NBA contract with an option for 2021-22. The contract is non-guaranteed for next season, but will become guaranteed five days after the yet-to-be-announced free agency moratorium period, a league source told the Detroit Free Press.”

Cook, 6-8, 255, signed a 10-day contract with the Pistons on March 18, followed by a second 10-day deal on March 28. He has appeared in 11 games with the Pistons averaging 4.0 points (63% FG), and 2.8 rebounds in 13.8 minutes per game. Overall, Cook has seen action in 28 career NBA games with Detroit, Cleveland, Denver and Brooklyn and averaged 2.5 points and 1.7 rebounds.

Cook, 23, averaged 20.8 points (60% FG), 9.6 rebounds and 4.4 assists this season in eight games with the Iowa Wolves of the NBA’s G League. Overall, he’s averaged 14.6 points and 6.5 rebounds in 37 career G League games (18 starts).

The St. Louis, MO native played collegiately at the University of Iowa where he averaged 14.1 points, 6.7 rebounds and 1.8 assists in three seasons with the Hawkeyes.

Kings sign center Damian Jones to 10-day contract

The Sacramento Kings have signed center Damian Jones to a 10-day contract, according to Kings General Manager Monte McNair.

During the 2020-21 season, Jones most recently appeared in eight games (six starts) with the Los Angeles Lakers, averaging 5.4 points (.941 FG%, .917 FT%), 3.3 rebounds, 0.9 blocks and 14.0 minutes per game.

In five NBA seasons, the 6-11, 245-pound Vanderbilt alum has garnered career averages of 4.3 points (.672 FG%, .686 FT%), 2.9 rebounds, 0.7 blocks and 13.3 minutes per game in 126 games (55 starts) with four teams: Golden State (2016-19), Atlanta (2019-20), Phoenix (2020-21) and Los Angeles Lakers (2020-21).

Sacramento’s roster stands at 17 players.

Pelicans guard Josh Hart out after thumb surgery

New Orleans Pelicans guard Josh Hart underwent surgery to repair a torn UCL in his right thumb. The surgery was performed by Dr. Michelle Carlson at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York.

Hart will be re-examined and an update on his return to play will be made available in approximately three weeks.

Additionally, an MRI taken yesterday on Pelicans guard Nickeil Alexander-Walker revealed a moderate left high ankle sprain. Alexander-Walker will be re-evaluated in two weeks and further updates will be provided upon re-evaluation.

Heat will reportedly add center Dewayne Dedmon

The Heat will reportedly soon add to their frontcourt depth. Via the Miami Herald:

The Heat plans to sign veteran center Dewayne Dedmon, giving Miami insurance behind Bam Adebayo, according to two sources briefed on the situation.

The deal, which is expected to be for the remainder of the season, is contingent on Dedmon going through COVID protocols successfully and passing a physical.

Timberwolves guard Malik Beasley out with hamstring injury

An MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) taken today at Mayo Clinic Square on Minnesota Timberwolves guard Malik Beasley revealed a grade 3 left hamstring injury. Beasley will be sidelined between 4-6 weeks and will be reassessed in three weeks. Further updates to his progress will be issued when available.

In 37 games (36 starts) this season, Beasley is averaging 19.6 points on 44.0% shooting, 4.4 rebounds and 2.4 assists.

Per the Minneapolis Star Tribune, “guard D’Angelo Russell did return to the lineup Monday at Target Center against Sacramento. Russell had left knee surgery and missed the past 30 games.”