NBA Blog: The NBA basketball news blog section of Inside Hoops
The Oklahoma City Thunder have signed forward/center Olivier Sarr to a Two-Way Contract.
Sarr (6-11, 240) appeared in 12 games (seven starts) last season for the Thunder’s G League affiliate, the Oklahoma City Blue, and averaged 12.8 points, 8.8 rebounds and 2.42 blocks in 24.9 minutes per game. During the 2022-23 season, Sarr saw action in nine games (one start) for the Thunder and averaged 4.0 points on 50.0 percent shooting to go along with 3.4 rebounds in 12.7 minutes per game.
The Oklahoma City Thunder have signed guard Lindy Waters III to a Two-Way Contract.
In two seasons with the Thunder, Waters III appeared in 66 games (one start) and averaged 6.3 points on 36.0 percent 3-point shooting to go along with 2.2 rebounds in 15.1 minutes per game. Additionally, Waters III saw action in 29 games (26 starts) with the Oklahoma City Blue over the past two seasons and averaged 13.7 points on 42.7 percent 3-point shooting, 5.0 rebounds and 2.4 assists in 29.8 minutes per game.
The Dallas Mavericks have signed forward Derrick Jones Jr.
Jones (6-6, 210) holds career averages of 6.3 points, 3.2 rebounds and 18.7 minutes in 344 games (97 starts) with Phoenix, Miami, Portland and Chicago. Over 22 career postseason games, including 15 played during the Heat’s run to the NBA Finals in 2020, he has averaged 2.0 points in 7.5 minutes.
“We are excited to welcome Derrick to Dallas,” said Mavericks General Manager Nico Harrison. “Derrick has always showcased a team-first approach with his ability to adapt his game to complement his teammates. His versatility on both ends of the floor will allow us to utilize his skillset and athleticism in a variety of different lineups.”
The seven-year veteran won the AT&T Slam Dunk contest at NBA All-Star in 2020, and his block percentage of 3.7 ranked 16th in the league during the 2020-21 season. Jones went undrafted in 2016 before signing with the Suns. He saw time in the G League in 2016-17 and 2017-18 with both the Northern Arizona Suns and Sioux Falls Skyforce, and averaged 16.3 points, 6.7 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 1.3 steals, 1.6 blocks and 30.2 minutes across both seasons.
Jones played one year at UNLV in 2015-16 and averaged 11.5 points, 4.5 rebounds and 1.3 blocks in 30 games (15 starts). He finished the season as the Runnin’ Rebels’ second-leading scorer, and he scored in double figures 18 times, including five games with at least 20 points.
He will wear No. 55 for the Mavericks.
The Pelicans will be featured on national television 12 times during the 2023-24 campaign. ESPN is scheduled to broadcast four Pelicans games – at Oklahoma City (Nov. 1), at Golden State (Jan. 10), at LA Clippers (Feb. 7), and vs. Miami (Feb. 23). TNT will broadcast two Pelicans contests – vs. Memphis (Dec. 19) and at Sacramento (Apr. 11). NBA TV will televise six Pelicans games – vs. New York (Oct. 28), vs. Golden State (Oct. 30), at L.A. Lakers (Feb. 9), at Miami (Mar. 22), vs. Milwaukee (Mar. 28), and vs. Boston (Mar. 30).
The 2023-24 NBA regular season will begin on Tuesday, October 24 and will end on Sunday, April 14, 2024.
The 2023 In-Season Tournament starts Friday, Nov. 3 and culminates with the Championship on Saturday, Dec. 9.
The 2024 NBA Play-In Tournament for the playoffs will take place from Tuesday, April 16 through Friday, April 19.
The 2024 NBA Playoffs will begin on Saturday, April 20.
The 2024 NBA Finals will begin on Thursday, June 6.
The Miami Heat made a series of roster moves today.
The team signed center Brandon McCoy, forward Drew Peterson, forward Cole Swider, forward Justin Champagnie, guard Alondes Williams and guard Caleb Daniels.
Following these transactions, the Heat then waived McCoy and signed Jamal Cain to a Two-Way Contract.
Peterson appeared in four NBA2K24 Summer League games (all starts) with the HEAT in Las Vegas and averaged 10.0 points, 2.8 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.50 steals while shooting 46.7 percent from the field, a team-high 47.1 percent from three-point range and 80 percent from the foul line. He spent last season at USC where he was named to the All-Pac-12 First Team after leading the team in rebounds, assists, starts and minutes while finishing second in points, scoring average, blocks, field goals made, three-point field goals made and free throws made.
Swider split last season between the Los Angeles Lakers and their G League affiliate, the South Bay Lakers. He appeared in 27 regular season games (19 starts) with South Bay and averaged 17.1 points, 4.8 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 28.7 minutes while shooting 50.6 percent from the field, 43.6 percent from three-point range and 83.8 percent from the foul line, helping the team to a playoff berth. He also appeared in seven games with the Los Angeles Lakers, totaling nine points, seven rebounds and four assists.
Champagnie split last season between the Boston Celtics, Toronto Raptors and the HEAT’s G League affiliate, the Sioux Falls Skyforce. He appeared in 23 regular season games (15 starts) with the Skyforce and averaged 18.2 points, 8.0 rebounds, 1.0 assists and 31.3 minutes while shooting 52 percent from the field, leading the team in total rebounds. He also appeared in five NBA games, two with the Celtics and three with the Raptors.
Williams split last season between the Brooklyn Nets and their G League affiliate, the Long Island Nets. He appeared in 24 regular season games (12 starts) with Long Island and averaged 13.5 points, 4.6 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 1.21 steals and 27.6 minutes while shooting 51.3 percent from the field, 37.5 percent from three-point range and 71.9 percent from the foul line. He also appeared in one game with the Brooklyn Nets, grabbing a rebound in 5:16 minutes of action in a, 136-133, win at Indiana on December 10.
Daniels appeared in four NBA2K24 Summer League games with the HEAT in Las Vegas and averaged 4.8 points and 1.0 rebounds while shooting 41.2 percent from the field and 40 percent from three-point range. He spent last season at Villanova where he led the team in assists, three-point field goals made, minutes, games played and starts while earning the BIG EAST Sportsmanship Award.
Cain, who was previously signed by the HEAT on July 15, 2022, split last season between the HEAT and Miami’s G League affiliate, the Sioux Falls Skyforce. He appeared in 15 regular season games (all starts) with the Skyforce and averaged 22.1 points, 9.1 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 1.33 steals and 33.5 minutes while shooting 54.9 percent from the field, 37.5 percent from three-point range and 81.8 percent from the foul line, helping the team to the Western Conference Finals. Cain also appeared in 15 games with the HEAT last season averaging 4.4 points and 2.6 rebounds in 12.4 minutes of action.
The Philadelphia 76ers have announced their four-game preseason schedule ahead of the 2023-24 NBA season.
The schedule begins when the 76ers travel to Boston on Sunday, Oct. 8 to face the Celtics with tipoff set for 6 p.m. ET.
Philadelphia then returns home to face Boston for its second preseason game on Wednesday, Oct. 11 at The Center at 7 p.m. ET.
The third game of the slate takes the 76ers to Brooklyn on Monday, Oct. 16 for a 7:30 p.m. ET game against the Nets.
That will be followed by the final exhibition which will come on Friday, Oct. 20 when Philadelphia welcomes the Atlanta Hawks for a 7 p.m. ET game at The Center.
The Oklahoma City Thunder has announced its complete 2023 preseason schedule today. The Thunder will play five games, including one international game and three games in the state of Oklahoma.
The Thunder opens the preseason at home with a matchup against the San Antonio Spurs on Monday, Oct. 9 before traveling to Montreal to participate in the NBA Canada Series against the Detroit Pistons on Thursday, Oct. 12. The team then travels to Charlotte for a meeting with the Hornets on Sunday, Oct. 15 before returning to Oklahoma to play the Milwaukee Bucks on Tuesday, Oct. 17 at Paycom Center and the Detroit Pistons on Thursday, Oct. 19 at BOK Center for its 14th annual preseason game in Tulsa.
The Minnesota Timberwolves today named Ernest Scott as Head Coach of the Iowa Wolves, the team’s G League affiliate.
Minnesota also announced the promotion of Nathan Bubes to Assistant Coach and Michael DiBenedetto to Assistant Coach/Director of Operations for the Wolves.
“I couldn’t be happier for Ernest, Nathan, and Michael to take on these new roles with our team in Iowa and continue to develop our young players,” said Timberwolves Director of Player Personnel /Iowa Wolves General Manager Jonathan Wallace. “Ernest has worked hard to earn this role and has developed great relationships with players, staff and the community in Iowa. We look forward to Nathan and Michael joining him in Des Moines as we prepare for the upcoming season.”
“I am proud of the professional development of Ernest, Nathan and Michael to lead them to their new positions with the Iowa Wolves,” said Timberwolves Head Coach Chris Finch. “We are excited for the future of our G League team and know that these three will do a phenomenal job leading our program in Iowa.”
“I am grateful to be named the Head Coach of the Iowa Wolves and represent the Timberwolves organization in the best light possible,” Scott said. “I’m excited to continue being a part of the community in Des Moines and execute the vision and goals of Coach Finch and the Timberwolves in everything we do on and off the court.”
San Antonio Spurs guard Devonte’ Graham has been suspended for two games without pay for pleading guilty to a charge of impaired driving, in violation of the law of the State of North Carolina, the NBA announced today.
Graham’s suspension will commence with the next NBA regular season game that he is eligible and able to play.