According to Nikos Varlas of Eurohoops, Fenerbahce is considered “strong” in the mix of clubs interested into signing Serbian guard Marko Guduric, who has just been waived by the Memphis Grizzlies. There are two unnamed European clubs chasing Guduric, according to Varlas.
Before considering European offers, Guduric will see if any NBA team will pick up his $2.7M contract for next season in the next 48 hours. Guduric averaged 3.9 points in 44 NBA games for Memphis last season.
Fonte: Nikos Varlas.
The New York Knicks are set to hire Pops Mensah-Bonsu as the president and director of their G-League operations, sources told Mike Vorkunov and Shams Charania of The Athletic.
Former British big man Mensah-Bonsu was the GM of the Wizards’ G-League team last season.
Fonte: The Athletic.
LaVar Ball was mad at the Pistons for waiving his son LiAngelo Ball.
Per Bleacher Report, “I definitely have thoughts on that. The people in Detroit are great. I love the fans, but the franchise over there is raggedy as hell. They don’t know a good player. I was giving them a lottery pick for free! Has the skills to play and the notoriety to bring everybody to the game. How do you throw that out the window? They’re gonna learn the hard way. My boys are gonna end up together playing somewhere. ‘Gelo can shoot the lights out. That was raggedy what they did. But hey, they’re gonna learn the hard way.”
Noah Vonleh tested positive for COVID-19, Chris Haynes reports. The big man out of Indiana will be waived by the Chicago Bulls.
Vonleh confirmed the news in a statement: “Unfortunately, I have tested positive for COVID, and so my time with the Bulls has come to an end. Thank you to the organization for everything. Though it was a short time, I appreciate the opportunity. I am thankfully feeling good, and I look forward to working my way to another NBA opportunity once I’m cleared to play again”.
Yahoo Sources: Chicago Bulls forward Noah Vonleh has tested positive for COVID-19 and begins mandatory 10-day quarantine. He will be waived. I’m told he is feeling good overall.
— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) December 14, 2020
Noah Vonleh issues statement to @YahooSports on testing positive for COVID-19. pic.twitter.com/Uhtgd79qCx
— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) December 14, 2020
The Los Angeles Lakers have waived Kevon Harris, Tres Tinkle and Zavier Simpson.
They were signed to Exhibit 10 deals.
Fonte: NBA.com.
The Houston Rockets have reportedly asked the Philadelphia 76ers for three future first round picks and All NBA guard Ben Simmons in an eventual trade for former MVP James Harden, as reported by writer Yaron Weitzman.
The Sixers are believed to be, within the NBA world, the most likely destination for James Harden in the future, according to previous NBA sources.
Fonte: Yaron Weitzman.
RETAbet Bilbao is expected to sign American guard John Jenkins, reports José Manuel Cortizas of El Correo. Jenkins, who has played 171 NBA games between 2012 and 2019 (with Atlanta, Phoenix, Dallas, New York and Washington), has recently appeared for Team USA for the FIBA AmeriCup Qualifiers.
He has played in ACB fo San Pablo Burgos averaging 12.6 points in 22 games in 2017-18. He appeared, during the 2019-20 season, for Jiangsu Kendia and Hapoel Eliat.
Fonte: El Correo.
The Detroit Pistons have waived Anthony Lamb, Louis King and LiAngelo Ball, sources told James Edwards III of The Athletic.
Ball signed an Exhibit 10 (a non-guaranteed) deal with the Pistons earlier in December.
Fonte: The Athletic.
Former MVP Russell Westbrook is unlikely to play in both games of a back-to-back this season, according to Washington Wizards coach Scott Brooks.
“He’s not a youngster anymore even though he still has as much energy as anybody as I’ve seen,” said Brooks. Westbrook also sat out similar games last season with the Houston Rockets.
Fonte: NBC Sports.
The Portland Trail Blazers expect Zach Collins to return to the court sometime in mid or late January, well into the NBA season.
Collins, who is currently able to do light workouts during training camp, had ankle surgery in September.
Draymond Green and James Wiseman are expected to miss the Golden State Warriors’ final two preseason games due to following league protocol, as reported by ESPN.
Bob Myers said last week that two Warriors players had tested positive for COVID-19. While Golden State’s GM did not name the individuals, Green and Wiseman are the only two players who have not participated in practice.
James Harden continues to push for a trade from the Houston Rockets depot the trade the team made for John Wall, reports Adrian Wojnarowski and Ramona Shelburne of ESPN. Wall made his debut with the Rockets this weekend and he expressed hope that Harden might become excited about the possibility of playing together.
While this isn’t personal against Wall, one source told ESPN said there’s “no change” in Harden’s wish to be traded.
The Miami Heat would have interest in James Harden if the Houston Rockets decide to trade him, according to Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald.
Miami is among Harden’s preferred trade destinations.
Fonte: Miami Herald.
The New York Knicks announced that they’ve waived forward Andrew White III.
White had an Exhibit 10 deal and will likely play for the Westchester Knicks in the G League.
Fonte: New York Knicks.
Forward Thad Young will miss the Chicago Bulls’ preseason game against the Houston Rockets on Sunday due to a leg infection.
Billy Donovan said that Young has been dealing with the infection for a few weeks and considers the player to be day-to-day with the injury: “Things haven’t gotten worse. It’s gotten better for him. But I think the doctors want to keep a close eye on him with that infection and just make sure he’s healing properly,” he said.
The league’s Competition Committee has recommended increasing the active roster list to 15 players this upcoming season, up from 13 players, reports The Athletic’s Shams Charania.
The Board of Governors will meet on December 17th for a final decision.
Fonte: Shams Charania.
The Denver Nuggets have exercised the fourth-year team option on Michael Porter Jr, extending his rookie scale contract through the 2021-22 season.
Last year, in his playoff debut, Porter jr averaged over 11 points and 6 rebounds per game.
We've picked up Michael Porter Jr.'s option for the 2021-22 season.#MileHighBasketball pic.twitter.com/OZbBBDDowL
— Denver Nuggets (@nuggets) December 10, 2020
The Utah Jazz announced today that the team has signed guard Trevon Bluiett. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not released.
Bluiett (6-6, 198, Xavier) appeared in 41 games (15 starts) in 2019-20 with the Salt Lake City Stars, averaging 14.9 points on 48.7 percent from the field and 42.5 percent from three, along with 3.4 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.0 steals in 29.3 minutes per contest.
We have signed guard Trevon Bluiett.https://t.co/s5Dtu0jgnW
— utahjazz (@utahjazz) December 11, 2020
Fonte: NBA.com.
ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski talked about Giannis Antetokounmpo’s situation as we approach the Dec. 21 deadline for him to sign a contract extension with the Bucks.
“The challenge for the Bucks is just selling him on winning,” said Wojnarowski. “I know this about Giannis: his decision is not about wanting to be in a big market and have all the trimmings that come with Los Angeles or New York or wherever it is. I don’t think that’s part of his decision making. I think at his core he’s immensely loyal. I believe he loves the people in Milwaukee. Loves that community. He loves the organization. But he wants to win and that’s what he’s weighing.”
Fonte: RealGM.
The New York Knicks have officially waived big man Skal Labissiere.
The Knicks have also signed Tyler Hall to a non-guaranteed contract, per ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
The San Antonio Spurs signed and waived undrafted rookie center Kylor Kelley.
Kelley was signed to an Exhibit 10 deal with the plan for him to spend the season with the Spurs’ G League affiliate.
Fonte: NBA transactions log.
The Philadelphia 76ers are considered “the most likely destination” to trade for James Harden, league sources tell Marc Stein of the New York Times.
The Houston Rockets continue to insist they will not trade Harden, while the 76ers have insisted they will not trade Ben Simmons. Both sides are expected to eventually reach a point to reverse course on that position.
The 76ers are believed to be able to beat any rival team’s offer for Harden due to the status of Simmons as one of the NBA’s best young stars. Harden’s initial preferred trade destination was the Brooklyn Nets.
The New York Knicks have waived shooting guard Jacob Evans, the team announced.
Evans had a fully guaranteed contract worth $2 million for 2020-21.
Fonte: New York Knicks.
The Sacramento Kings have waived rookie wing Quinton Rose, according to the NBA’s official transactions log.
Rose, an undrafted rookie from Temple, had an Exhibit 10 contract with the Kings.
The Brooklyn Nets announced they have requested waivers on guard Jordan Bowden and forward Nate Sestina.
Both players were on Exhibit 10 deals and will most likely play in the G League with the Long Island Nets.
Fonte: Brooklyn Nets.
The Memphis Grizzlies announced that the team has signed guard Ahmad Caver and waived forward Mario Hezonja.
Multiple teams are expected to express interest in the Croatian forward, according to Shams Charania.
Fonte: Memphis Grizzlies.
Minneapolis/St. Paul – Minnesota Timberwolves President of Basketball Operations Gersson Rosas today announced the team has signed guard Charlie Brown Jr. to a training camp contract. Per team policy, terms of the agreement were not released.
Brown Jr., 6-6, totaled 20 points and 4 rebounds last season in 10 games with Atlanta. He was originally signed by the Hawks on July 1, 2019.
The 23-year-old played in 29 games in the G League for the College Park Skyhawks where he averaged 17.1 points on 42.2% shooting and 6.7 rebounds per game.
Brown Jr. played two seasons for Saint Joseph’s University, averaging 16.0 points and 5.6 rebounds in 63 games. As a sophomore, he was named to the Atlantic 10 All-Conference Second Team as well as won the A-10 scoring crown, averaging 19.0 points per game.
Fonte: Minnesota Timberwolves.
The NBA is set to administer a daily point-of-care, rapid testing system for the upcoming season, sources told Shams Charania and Fred Katz of The Athletic.
The tests will deliver results within 30 minutes when a team is at home, and within 90 minutes during road games. Should a test return invalid, players will take another test at least 30 minutes after the results of the initial test.
Fonte: The Athletic.
The Minnesota Timberwolves are reportedly interested in a trade for PJ Tucker of the Houston Rockets, reports Darren Wolfson of Skor North.
Tucker is on the last year of his contract with the Houston Rockets, and will earn aprox. $7.9M in 2020-21.
Gar Forman is joining the New Orleans Pelicans front office as a special advisor.
Former Chicago Bulls GM will focus in the scouting area.
Former Chicago Bulls GM Gar Forman is joining the New Orleans Pelicans front office as a special advisor, sources tell ESPN. Forman will focus in the scouting area for David Griffin and Trajan Langdon.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) December 10, 2020