Pistons sign Kevin Knox

The Detroit Pistons have signed forward Kevin Knox II.

Knox II (6-7, 215) suited up for the Pistons and Portland Trail Blazers in 2022-23, averaging 6.6 points, 2.8 rebounds and 15.1 minutes in 63 games. He appeared in 42 games for the Pistons and averaged 5.6 points, 2.6 rebounds and 0.4 assists while shooting 47% from the field in 14.1 minutes per game.

The Phoenix native was traded from Detroit to Portland on Feb. 9, 2023, as part of a four-team trade with Atlanta, Golden State and Portland. Following the trade, Knox II appeared in 21 games for the Trail Blazers where he averaged 8.5 points and 3.3 rebounds in 17.1 minutes. He holds career averages of 7.5 points, 2.9 rebounds and 18.0 minutes in 275 career NBA games (66 starts).

Drafted ninth overall by New York in the 2018 NBA Draft, Knox II played collegiately for one season at Kentucky where he earned SEC Co-Freshman of the Year while being named to the SEC All-Freshman and All-SEC Tournament First Team in 2017-18.

Udonis Haslem named Vice President of Basketball Development for the Miami Heat

The Miami Heat announced yesterday that three-time NBA Champion and 20-year veteran Udonis Haslem has joined the front office as Vice President, Basketball Development. Haslem’s responsibilities include being a resource to the coaching staff, mentoring both HEAT and Skyforce players as well as representing the organization in the community and in business endeavors.

“Born and raised in Miami, UD has been an integral part of the success of the HEAT for 20 years,” said HEAT President Pat Riley. “It’s great that he has chosen to continue to build on his incredible legacy here in Miami, where he belongs.”

Haslem recently retired last season after spending his entire 20-year NBA career with the HEAT, accumulating three NBA Championships, seven Eastern Conference Championships, 12 Divisional Titles and 16 postseason appearances, having never missed the playoffs in consecutive seasons. He is one of only three players in NBA history to play at least 20 years with one franchise, joining only Kobe Bryant and Dirk Nowitzki. Haslem was a 16-time HEAT captain, and most in team history, and finished as the franchise’s all-time leader in offensive, defensive and total rebounds, becoming the only undrafted player in NBA history to become their team’s all-time rebound leader. His 5,791 boards are the fourth-most among undrafted players in the Modern Draft Era (1966), trailing only Moses Malone, Ben Wallace and Brad Miller. In addition to being Miami’s all-time rebounding leader, Haslem ranks second in games played, second in starts, second in minutes, fifth in field goals made, fifth in double-doubles, seventh in points, ninth in field goal percentage, 10th in blocks and 11th in steals. Among the HEAT’s all-time postseason leaders, he ranks first in offensive rebounds, second in total rebounds, second in games played, third in defensive rebounds, third in starts, third in minutes, fifth in double-doubles, seventh in field goals made, seventh in free throws made, eighth in points, eighth in blocks and tied for ninth in double-figure scoring games. Additionally, Haslem’s 147 postseason appearances are the most by an undrafted player in league history.

Timberwolves guard Jordan McLaughlin out with knee injury

The Minnesota Timberwolves today announced the following injury update on guard Jordan McLaughlin who experienced right knee soreness in the third quarter of yesterday’s game vs. the Boston Celtics.

An MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) taken today at Mayo Clinic Square by Dr. Kelechi Okoroha on McLaughlin revealed a right knee MCL sprain. He will be re-evaluated in four weeks and further updates of his progress will be provided at that time.

Pistons injury parade continues

Detroit Pistons guard Joe Harris suffered a sprained AC joint in his right shoulder in Sunday’s game vs. Phoenix.

Harris will be reevaluated in 10-14 days.

Per the Detroit Free Press, “Detroit now has seven injured players. Bojan Bogdanovic (right calf strain), Monte Morris (right quad strain) and Isaiah Livers (left ankle sprain) have yet to make their season debuts. Alec Burks (left forearm contusion) has missed four consecutive games. And Jaden Ivey (illness) will miss his third straight game against the Milwaukee Bucks on Wednesday.”

Pelicans medical updates on CJ McCollum and Jose Alvarado

The New Orleans Pelicans announced today the following medical updates:

CJ McCollum, who was diagnosed with a small pneumothorax in his right lung, was re-examined yesterday. Medical imaging showed positive healing. He will be re-evaluated at a later date.

Jose Alvarado, who sustained a right ankle sprain during an offseason workout, continues to make good progress in his return to play progression. Alvarado has returned to light on-court work and is expected to return to full team practice in the next 1-2 weeks.

Dillon Brooks goes wild in Rockets win over Kings

Per the Sacramento Bee:

Houston Rockets forward Dillon Brooks threw up three fingers and stared down the Sacramento bench after hitting a big 3-pointer in the fourth quarter of Saturday’s game against the Kings. Brooks blew the Kings a kiss moments later after burying another long ball to seal Sacramento’s fate.

Brooks had 26 points and nine rebounds to lead the Rockets to a 107-89 victory over the Kings before a sellout crowd of 18,055 at Toyota Center in Houston. Brooks made 9 of 14 from the field and 2 of 4 from 3-point range, both coming during a decisive stretch late in the fourth quarter.

“(Brooks) got in a rhythm,” Kings guard Davion Mitchell said. “He had a really good game. He hits shots. He got comfortable. He’s a basketball player. We’re all competitive and he hit shots. He’s going to talk trash. If he wasn’t hitting shots, he wouldn’t be doing the same thing, so it’s OK. We’ll live with the results and we’ll see them again.”

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Reflections from Chet Holmgren on Steph Curry

Per NBC Sports Bay Area:

Chet Holmgren proved himself a worthy adversary for the Warriors on Friday night, but it wasn’t the first time the Oklahoma City Thunder phenom has impressed Steph Curry on the court.

After Golden State’s 141-139 victory over OKC at Paycom Center in the NBA In-Season Tournament opener, the 21-year-old reflected on facing Curry for the first time after attending the SC30 Select Camp as a high schooler in 2019.

“First time playing against him in the NBA, obviously touched on it earlier but great players over there, and he’s one of them,” Holmgren told reporters of Curry after the game. “Definitely got to know where he is at all times. It’s a cool first full-circle moment, I guess you could call it, you know, going to his camp however many years ago it was and now being in the league with him and playing and competing.”

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On the development of Michael Porter Jr.

Per the Denver Post:

The old cliché about defending champions evolving from hunters to the hunted has meaning that’s two-fold in the case of Michael Porter Jr.

As opponents attempt to identify any potential weak spots they can exploit on Denver’s championship roster, Porter’s checkered history as a defender might stand out. The Nuggets generally switch one through four in their starting unit, so it’s easy enough for teams to hunt a one-on-one matchup against Porter for their top scorer. Then play iso-ball.

The problem is, Porter isn’t playing like someone who should be hunted at the defensive end.

One of the smoothest 3-point shooters in the NBA is shooting 18 for 68 at his speciality since the start of the NBA Finals in June — that’s 26.5% over an 11-game stretch — but the story of his 2023-24 season so far is the same as his Finals arc.

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Heat starting lineup has been ever-changing so far this season

Per the Sun Sentinel:

Considering the Miami Heat have started an NBA-high five lineups in six games, perhaps Erik Spoelstra should be taken at his word about Kevin Love being shuffled out of Friday night’s mix not necessarily meaning the veteran forward has been shuffled out of the Miami Heat’s consciousness.

But what Friday night’s victory over the Washington Wizards showed was that with Love out of the starting lineup there isn’t necessarily a role as a reserve, with Thomas Bryant playing as the reserve in the power rotation and small ball largely ruling the night in Spoelstra’s rotation.

“Look, nobody likes being 1-4, losing four straight. It sucked,” Spoelstra said of the record the Heat took into the Wizards game. “I hate having to make those kind of decisions, because from everybody outside, it looks like it’s an indictment on one particular player. It’s not. It’s really not.

“I hated having to make that move, because Kevin brings so much from a spirit and connection and leadership standpoint. But this is just a move for now.”

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