Magic Johnson is reportedly now a billionaire

Per ESPN.com:

NBA Hall of Famer and businessman Earvin “Magic” Johnson is officially a billionaire, according to Forbes.

Johnson joins Michael Jordan, LeBron James and Tiger Woods as the fourth athlete to earn billionaire status. Earlier this year, he added a minority stake in the Washington Commanders to his portfolio. He also has a 2.3% stake in the Los Angeles Dodgers and minority ownership of LAFC and Los Angeles Sparks.

Forbes estimates Johnson’s net worth to be $1.2 billion as a result of his stakes in teams and investments in a variety of industries.

FULL ARTICLE

Trail Blazers guard Anfernee Simons out with thumb injury, will undergo surgery

Portland Trail Blazers guard Anfernee Simons injured his right thumb during Wednesday’s game at LA Clippers.

A subsequent MRI conducted Thursday evening revealed a tear of the ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) of the right thumb.

Simons is set to have surgery and is expected to miss 4-6 weeks.

Per the Oregonian: “Expected to be the team’s leading scorer this season following the departure of Damian Lillard, Simons scored 18 points to go along with four assists in the Blazers’ 123-111 loss the the Clippers.”

On Klay Thompson and the Warriors

Per the Bay Area News Group:

It seems likely Klay Thompson will be playing out the final year of his contract this season without an extension, but he’s not complaining.

Rather than bemoan the lack of a contract beyond this year, the 33-year-old Thompson sees it as an opportunity to “savor” what could technically be his final season with the Warriors.

“You never know what’s going to happen. I’m going to savor this as much as I can,” Thompson said hours before Friday night’s game in Sacramento. “Especially in this uniform. I was here before it was sweet, before it was four championships.”

FULL ARTICLE

Timberwolves exercise contract option on Wendell Moore Jr.

The Minnesota Timberwolves have exercised their team option on guard Wendell Moore Jr.

Moore Jr., 22, enters his second season in the NBA after appearing in 29 games (two starts) in his rookie campaign last season, averaging 1.4 points on 41.9% shooting, 0.6 rebounds and 0.6 assists. In his first career start during the Nov. 30 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies, the Richmond, Va. native finished with seven points, a career-high three rebounds and two assists. In eight regular season games for the Iowa Wolves, the NBA G League affiliate of the Timberwolves, Moore Jr. averaged 19.4 points on 42.0% shooting, 4.5 rebounds and 5.0 assists.

Contract year for Pelicans center Jonas Valanciunas

Per the New Orleans Times-Picayune:

The productive and durable Valanciunas made it clear in the offseason that he is comfortable in New Orleans. But he and the team could not agree on an extension, so Valanciunas will play out the final year of his contract without knowing what’s on the other side of it.

“I’m not thinking about that at all,” he said. “I am just going to play hoop. To play basketball. It’s one year at a time. I am just going to leave everything out there.

“Where the future is going to take me, it’s a mystery. But it’s funny that way. You don’t know what can happen tomorrow. You have to enjoy today. You have to enjoy this year. You have to enjoy every game you play. You just try to be the best version of you. That’s what my approach is.”

The Pelicans won 36 games in Valanciunas’ first season here and snuck into the playoffs. In his second season, they won 42 games but were eliminated in the Western Conference play-in tournament. Valanciunas said the disappointment of the way last season ended has made him and his teammates come back motivated.

FULL ARTICLE

Pacers sign head coach Rick Carlisle to contract extension

The Indiana Pacers have signed Head Coach Rick Carlisle to a contract extension.

“It goes without saying that Coach Carlisle is one of the most creative and successful coaches in the history of the league, so there was never a question that he continues to be the right person to lead our team,” said President of Basketball Operations Kevin Pritchard. “His ties to this organization and community run deep, his guidance and leadership are invaluable to our players and staff, and we’re looking forward to working together for years to come as we build something special for our fans.”

Per the Indianapolis Star, “Indiana would win just 25 games in 2021-22 and 35 last season but this extension is a signal that Carlisle is central piece to the team’s rebuild. Haliburton became an All-Star last season and was signed to a five-year max contract extension this offseason worth up to $260 million”

The Pacers 143-120 win over the Washington Wizards at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Wednesday night marked the 897th career win for Coach Carlisle.

Nets exercise contract options on Day’Ron Sharpe and Cam Thomas

The Brooklyn Nets have exercised the fourth-year team options for center Day’Ron Sharpe and guard Cam Thomas.

Sharpe appeared in 48 games (three starts) during the 2022-23 season and averaged 4.7 points and 4.2 rebounds in 11.5 minutes per game. The 21-year-old also played in two contests as a reserve during the 2023 postseason, registering averages of 3.0 points, 3.0 rebounds and 2.5 assists in 9.8 minutes per game.

Thomas played in 57 games (four starts) last season, averaging 10.6 points, 1.7 rebounds and 1.4 assists in 16.6 minutes per contest. The Chesapeake, Va., native saw action in two 2023 postseason games and averaged 3.0 points over 7.8 minutes per game.

Magic sign Cole Anthony to contract extension

The Orlando Magic yesterday signed guard Cole Anthony to a contract extension.

Anthony’s extension is reportedly a three-year, $39 million deal.

Anthony (6’3”, 198, 5/15/00) appeared in 60 games (four starts) last season with Orlando, averaging 13.0 ppg., 4.8 rpg. and 3.9 apg. in 25.9 minpg., while shooting a team-high .894 (152-170) from the free throw line. He was tied for 10th in the NBA in free throw percentage. Anthony had eight 20+ point games as a reserve, which ranked third in the Eastern Conference. He scored 730 points off the bench (13.0 ppg., 56 games), which ranked fourth in the Eastern Conference and eighth in the NBA.

Originally selected in the first round (15th overall) of the 2020 NBA Draft by Orlando, Anthony has played in 172 career NBA regular season games (103 starts), all with the Magic, averaging 14.2 ppg., 5.0 rpg. and 4.6 apg. in 28.4 minpg., while shooting .861 (477-554) from the free throw line. Anthony participated in the Rising Stars event during 2022 NBA All-Star in Cleveland.

Anthony (6’3”, 190, 5/15/00) played in 22 games (20 starts) during his only season (2019-20) at the University of North Carolina, averaging 18.5 ppg., 5.7 rpg., 4.0 apg. and 1.32 stlpg. in 34.9 minpg. He led the Tar Heels in scoring and had the second-highest scoring average for a freshman in school history. Anthony was named Third Team All-ACC and to the All-ACC Freshman Team.

Timberwolves sign Jaden McDaniels to contract extension

The Minnesota Timberwolves yesterday signed forward Jaden McDaniels to a multi-year contract extension.

McDaniels’ deal is reportedly a five-year, $136 million extension.

McDaniels, 23, has played all three of his NBA seasons with Minnesota, appearing in 212 games (137 starts), holding averages of 9.6 points on 48.2% shooting, 3.9 rebounds and 1.4 assists in 27.0 minutes per game. Last season, McDaniels established himself as one of the elite perimeter defenders in the league, appearing in 79 games (all starts), averaging career-highs of 12.1 points and a 51.7% field goal percentage to go along with 3.9 rebounds per game and led all qualified wing players in block percentage (1.5%). He totaled 76 blocks and 74 steals during the 2022-23 season, the only player in the NBA last year to tally 75+ blocks and 70+ steals.

The Federal Way, Wash. native has appeared in six playoff games for the Wolves, averaging 9.3 points on 52.9% shooting, including 50.0% from three-point range. In 33:27 minutes of action off the bench during Game 6 vs. Memphis on April 29, 2022, McDaniels ended the game with a playoff career-high 24 points on 8-of-9 shooting, including a playoff career-high 5-of-6 from deep, the most points off the bench in a playoff game in franchise history.

The Wolves originally acquired McDaniels’ draft rights as the 28th overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft from the Los Angeles Lakers.

Detroit Pistons injury updates on Bojan Bogdanovic, Monte Morris and Isaiah Livers

Some Detroit Pistons injury updates were announced today, on the opening night of the 2023-24 NBA regular season:

Pistons forward Bojan Bogdanovic is out with a right calf strain. He will be reevaluated in four weeks.

Pistons guard Monte Morris suffered a right quad strain during a recent rehab session that ramped up basketball activities after missing time with lower back soreness. He will be reevaluated in three weeks.

Isaiah Livers (Grade III left ankle sprain) is making progress towards returning to basketball activities. He will be reevaluated in approximately four weeks.