According to Adrian Wojnarowski, host of Countdown NBA, the Chicago Bulls will try to sign a point guard in the upcoming Free Agency.
The reporter identifies Lonzo Ball and Dennis Schroder as two of the team’s potential targets.
Schroder played for Bulls coach Billy Donovan in the 2019/20 season, the best of his career to date.
This year Ball is averaging 14.7 points, 5.8 assists, 4.8 rebounds and 1.5 steals per game, shooting 37% from beyond the arc.
Speaking to reporters yesterday, Atlanta Hawks coach Nate McMillan gave some updates on De’Andre Hunter, saying the player played a scrimmage in practice and “will go through practice tomorrow, and if he’s feeling good, he’ll go through the walk-through before Monday’s game vs. Wizards”.
Hunter has played just 2 of Hawks’ last 49 games.
Cameron Oliver has agreed to a 10-day contract with the Houston Rockets, reports ESPN’s Olgun Uluc.
Oliver, who averaged 17.3 ppg and 10.0 rpg in Australia’s NBL for the Cairns Taipans, is expected to play Houston’s final four games of the NBA season.
Golden State Warriors guard Damion Lee said he tested positive for COVID-19 despite being fully vaccinated. Lee is considered one of the rare “breakthrough cases”: one of only 6,000 or so people who have tested positive for the virus after going through the full vaccination process, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
“I did test positive for COVID about two weeks ago,” Lee said prior to Thursday night’s 118-97 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder. “I did get the vaccine the middle, end of March, but essentially this was just a rare breakthrough case. … Right now, there’s no timeline in the immediate future for me coming back and playing.”
Lee, who hasn’t played since April 19, said he received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, which requires only one dose, on March 22. He tested positive for COVID-19 on April 21 and experienced a variety of symptoms.”I had headache, chills, sneezing, congestion, soreness, body aches,” Lee said while reading a list off his phone to keep track of everything he dealt with. “It felt like I was hit by a car. Like hit by two cars at once every step I took. It hurt, it was pain, soreness. It felt like there was a weight on my chest for a couple of days, like it was just hard to breathe.”
Fonte: ESPN.
The Orlando Magic are planning to sign Donta Hall for the rest of the season, sources told Shams Charania of The Athletic.
Hall is averaging 3.1 points and 4.4 rebounds in eight games this season for Orlando
The Orlando Magic will not ultimately sign free agent forward Admiral Schofield, reports Josh Robbins of The Athletic.
The Magic intended to sign Admiral Schofield to a 10-day contract and had been granted an injury hardship exception to open a roster spot for him, but a “glitch” arose in Orlando’s plan and the move was called off
Elijah Bryant’s career with Maccabi Tel Aviv is over.
The guard is leaving Israel to join the Milwaukee Bucks on a two-year deal, a source tells Sportando.
As reported by Roi Cohen, Maccabi Tel Aviv will get around $500k as a buyout to free the player.
Rodions Kurucs is expected to be waived by the Bucks to make room for Bryant.
The Perth Wildcats have signed star Australian centre Will Magnay for the remainder of the 2020/21 NBL Season.
It’s a major coup for the Wildcats, with the 208cm big man only recently becoming available following a stint with the New Orleans Pelicans in the NBA.
The 22-year-old is excited to have put pen to paper with the reigning NBL Champions
“To come back and play for a team like Perth, with all its history and its success, and play under a coach like Trevor, it’s a great opportunity,” said Magnay.
“I want to win, there’s a culture there of winning. Stats or awards don’t mean anything if you don’t get that championship at the end. I think this would be a special moment to win one and that’s what I’m here for, to help the boys win.
“My game style is to play hard and play the right way. I’ll do what it takes to win and be a good teammate. That’s what you can expect from me.
“The opportunity to play basketball again, at such a historic team like Perth, is exciting. I’m just dying to get back on the court.”
𝙒𝙄𝙇𝙇 𝙄𝙎 𝘼 𝙒𝙄𝙇𝘿𝘾𝘼𝙏! 😼✍️
The Perth Wildcats have signed star Australian centre Will Magnay for the remainder of the season! #RedArmyhttps://t.co/PWuxNCFD2o
— Perth Wildcats (@PerthWildcats) May 6, 2021
Fonte: Perth Wildcats.
The Pelicans announced that Zion Williamson will be out indefinitely with a fractured left ring finger.
Naji Marshall has agreed to a new three-year, $5.3 million deal with the New Orleans Pelicans, reports Shams Charania of The Athletic. The deal will be fully guaranteed for the rest of this season and next season.
In 26 games this season with the Pelicans, Marshall is averaging 6.4 points, 4.1 rebounds and 2.6 assists in 19.8 minutes per game.
The New York Knicks and Julius Randle plan on discussing a contract extension this offseason, reports Brian Windhorst of ESPN.
Randle’s base salary this season is $18.9 million and will receive another $2 million in bonuses. Knicks can add up to four years to Randle’s contract, but they are limited on what they can offer on a raise to a max of 20 percent.
If New York guarantees Randle’s $19.8 million salary for next season, they can add $106 million in guaranteed money for 4 years. With incentives included, Randle could make as much as $140 million over five years. Former Lakers forward could wait until the 2022 offseason and either sign a five-year max worth up to $201.5 million or a four-year max with a rival team for up to $149.4 million.
Fonte: Brian Windhorst.
The Golden State Warriors will sign forward Juan Toscano-Anderson to a standard NBA contract, as reported by The Athletic’s Shams Charania and Anthony Slater. Warriors will give the remaining two-way contract to Jordan Bell.
Toscano-Anderson is averaging 5.4 ppg and 4.1 rpg this season.
New Orleans Pelicans two-way forward Naji Marshall has agreed to a new three-year, $5.3 million deal.
Marshall is averaging 19.7’ minutes, 6.4 points and 4.1 rebounds this season in NBA.
Marshall’s new deal with the Pelicans has three fully guaranteed seasons (2021-23) — and a guarantee trigger date for the 2023-24 season, sources said. https://t.co/IZvrgyQJmH
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) May 6, 2021
Pacers head coach Nate Bjorkgren talked about the rumors on his future: «You know I don’t make excuses for things. I’m a young coach. I’m learning, I’m growing and I’m trying to be better. This is on me. I’m the head coach and fingers should be pointed at me. I love coaching this team and the relationships with these coaches and players, I’ve just got to keep getting better».
Baskonia and Luca Vildoza have agreed to part ways, the spanish team announced.
“Luca Vildoza will start a new professional adventure away from Vitoria-Gasteiz after leaving Baskonia. Club and player have reached an agreement to separate their paths after four seasons in which the Argentine point guard has played a total of 228 official games.
Author of the basket that gave Saski Baskonia his last league title, Vildoza arrived in Gasteiz in the summer of 2017 as the last great Argentine talent to defend the Baskonia shirt. The international albiceleste leaves as current league champion and MVP of the final.
Saski Baskonia appreciates your work, dedication and commitment during these four seasons and wishes you the best of luck on a personal and professional level”
”
Comunicado oficial: Luca Vildoza#GoazenBaskonia
— TD Systems Baskonia (@Baskonia) May 5, 2021
Luca Vildoza agreed to a four-year, $13.6 million contract with the New York Knicks.
According to Adrian Wojnarowski, the contract of the Argentine guard is guaranteed only for this season (about 3.5 million dollars).
“Three non-guaranteed years on the contract give the Knicks the chance to evaluate Vildoza in the Olympics, summer league and training camp before committing to a full guarantee on next season”.
According to Chema de Lucas, Vildoza will pay Baskonia a $ 2 million buy-out.
This year the Argentine guard averaged 10.9 points and 3.7 assist in ACB, and 10.2 with 3.5 assist in Euroleague.
Fonte: Wojnarowski.
The Portland Trail Blazers are expected to part ways with coach Terry Stotts at the end of the current season, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic.
“If Stotts can’t ‘pull a rabbit out of his hat’ with a playoff miracle of sorts, as one source put it, the Blazers are expected to opt for a new coaching voice,” Charania wrote. “And the Damian Lillard timeline, it seems, is playing a big part here.”
Los Angeles Lakers assistant Jason Kidd, Atlanta Hawks interim coach Nate McMillan and Los Angeles Clippers assistant Chauncey Billups are among the names Portland might look toward to replace Stotts.
Elijah Bryant is expected to leave Maccabi Tel Aviv now to join the Milwaukee Bucks.
Rodions Kurucs could be on his way to part ways with the Bucks to make room for Bryant, sources added.
Rodions Kurucs could be on his way to part ways with the Bucks to make room for Bryant, sources added https://t.co/zTVOFrClCl
— Emiliano Carchia (@Carchia) May 5, 2021
Sacramento Kings rookie Tyrese Haliburton is likely done for season with knee injury.
Per ESPN, Haliburton won’t require surgery and is expected to make a full recovery, the team said Tuesday night.
He has had an outstanding rookie season, averaging 13 points, 5.3 assists and 1.5 steals.
Sacramento Kings guard Tyrese Haliburton has no ligament damage to his left knee, an MRI revealed, but likely will miss the rest of the season.
The Los Angeles Lakers will be without LeBron James in back-to-back on Friday and Saturday against Clippers and Blazers.
Per ESPN,Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James is expected to miss back-to-back games against the LA Clippers and Portland Trail Blazers on Thursday and Friday to rest his injured right ankle, sources told ESPN.
It is possible James could miss more games, sources said, as he works through discomfort in the ankle that kept him out six weeks until a two-game return that saw home losses to Toronto and Sacramento over the weekend.
The Indiana Pacers may part ways with coach Nate Bjorkgren at the end of the season.
Per ESPN, Bjorkgren has significant work to do with his relationships among players throughout the team and with some members of the organization, but has thus far shown a willingness to try to address those issues, sources told ESPN.
The Pacers, 30-34 and ninth in the Eastern Conference, have been beset with injuries and missed games this season, but Bjorkgren’s style of coaching and communication — on the court, in the locker room and in individual settings with players and staff — has often been the root of team turmoil this season, sources said.
Fonte: ESPN.
The Cleveland Cavaliers have signed center Anderson Varejão to a 10-day contract, Cavaliers General Manager Koby Altman announced today from Cleveland Clinic Courts. The team was granted a hardship exception by the NBA in order to acquire Varejão.
“Andy embodies all that the city of Cleveland stands for and beyond, and we couldn’t be more excited to bring his experience, leadership and character back into this locker room,” said Altman. “His infectious work ethic and commitment to our community have earned him his rightful place in the fabric of this organization and all of Northeast Ohio, and have established a genuine admiration that resonates strongly throughout our passionate fan base. There are not many athletes who can impact the game of basketball the way Andy has over his career, and I feel that our players will benefit greatly from their daily interaction with him. We are thrilled to welcome Andy and family back to the Cavaliers.”
OFFICIAL: #Cavs sign C @VAREJAOANDERSON to a 10-day contract.
DETAILS: https://t.co/c3bsTscc8P pic.twitter.com/h42lHA2v3H
— Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs) May 4, 2021
Fonte: NBA.com.
The Orlando Magic have signed free agent guard Sindarius Thornwell to a two-way contract.
In addition, guard Devin Cannady has been waived.
This year Thornwell played in 14 games with the New Orleans Pelicans.
PRESS RELEASE:@OrlandoMagic sign free agent guard @Sin_City_803 to a two-way contract#MagicTogether pic.twitter.com/UW4HXbPG3e
— Orlando Magic PR (@Magic_PR) May 4, 2021
In an interview with Yahoo Sports, Cleveland Cavaliers forward Kevin Love more than welcomed the idea of eventually playing with Damian Lillard and the Portland Trail Blazers.
“Who wouldn’t play with Dame Lillard? It would be special”, Love said of the prospect. Former All Star grew up in Oregon and became the all-time leading scorer in Oregon High School’s basketball history before going to UCLA.
Fonte: Yahoo Sports.
Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James will miss tonight’s back-to-back game against the Denver Nuggets with a sore right ankle, reports Shams Charania of The Athletic.
James’ status is uncertain as of now for Lakers’ next game, Thursday vs Clippers, after he re-aggravated his ankle in 4th quarter of Sunday’s loss to the Toronto Raptors. Los Angeles has lost 6 of the last 7 games played.
In recent days, German guard Dennis Schröder made the accidental revelation that him and LeBron James are the only two Lakers players currently not vaccinated against COVID-19.
Schröder said the following in an interview with N-TV last week: “Vaccinating is a difficult thing for me (…) I think LeBron James is not vaccinated and I’m either (…) I’m someone who doesn’t like to take painkillers. I always try to do without them to get along with whole things (…) Quarantine? I can not do that again. If that happened now, I would skip a series completely. I couldn’t deal with that myself”.
Fonte: N-TV.
The Brooklyn Nets will keep Mike James for ten more days.
James is averaging 7.4ppg and 4.2apg in five games with the Nets.
The Nets plan to sign Mike James to a second 10-day contract on Monday, league sources say.
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) May 3, 2021
Sacramento Kings rookie guard Tyrese Haliburton suffered a left knee injury that forced him to exit Sunday’s game against the Dallas Mavericks in the third quarter.
Haliburton will have an MRI on Monday, according to coach Luke Walton. There’s initial optimism he might have avoided a serious injury, sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
“We’ll hope for the best,” Walton said. “We won’t know anything until tomorrow. We’ll find out after the MRI.
The Philadelphia 76ers announced they have signed Anthony Tolliver to a contract for the rest of the season.
We have signed Anthony Tolliver to a contract for the rest of the season. pic.twitter.com/xwBA0iH2cJ
— Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) May 2, 2021
The Orlando Magic have officially waived Donta Hall to clear a roster spot for Ignas Brazdeikis.
PRESS RELEASE:@OrlandoMagic sign free agent forward @_iggy_braz to a 10-day contract#MagicTogether pic.twitter.com/eEe4W5P2Jy
— Orlando Magic PR (@Magic_PR) May 2, 2021
