Portland Trail Blazers star Damian Lillard will return today against the Toronto Raptors, according to Chris Haynes.
Lillard missed the last game against Orlando due to a knee contusion.
Portland Trail Blazers star Damian Lillard will return today against the Toronto Raptors, according to Chris Haynes.
Lillard missed the last game against Orlando due to a knee contusion.
Fonte: Chris Haynes.
Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid has been cleared to resume on-court basketball activities as he nears his return to action.
Embiid has been sidelined for the past two weeks with a bone bruise in his left knee.
Fonte: Derek Bodner.
According to Adrian Wojnarowski, the Los Angeles Lakers are considered a ‘strong frontrunner’ to sign Andre Drummond.
The ESPN reporter adds that the former UConn is expected to announce his decision to join the reigning champs as soon as Sunday.
This year Drummond averaged 17.5 points, 13.5 rebounds, 2.6 assist, 1.6 steals and 1.1 blocks in 25 games for the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Fonte: Espn.
Free agent LaMarcus Aldridge has agreed to a 1-year, veteran minimum deal with the Brooklyn Nets, his agent Jeff Schwartz has confirmed to ESPN. After his buyout with San Antonio, the consensus idea within the NBA was of Miami being the next destination for former Blazers big man.
Aldridge has averaged 13.7 ppg in 21 games for San Antonio this season.
Anthony Davis was cleared to begin advancing his on-court work by Los Angeles Lakers team doctors on Friday, including increasing his “volume and intensity in shooting, dribbling and position specific drills.” Lakers star has been out for nearly six weeks due to calf strain and tendinosis in his right leg.
Los Angeles coach Frank Vogel added that Davis is still not close to returning to the lineup. “We’re in the middle of a ramp up. But he’s still a ways away, so nothing concrete from a days standpoint right now,” said Vogel.
According to Brad Turner of the Los Angeles Times, there are three teams in contention to sign free agent center Andre Drummond: the front runners Los Angeles Lakers and Boston Celtics, plus the New York Knicks.
Drummond’s decision could arrive in the next hours, according to Turner.
The Orlando Magic announced they have waived point guard Jeff Teague.
Teague was acquired by the Magic at the trade deadline in the deal that sent Evan Fournier to Boston.
Fonte: Orlando Magic.
The Detroit Pistons plan to sign Tyler Cook to a second 10-day contract, according to Omari Sankofa of the Detroit Free Press.
When the second 10-day deal expires, the Pistons will have to decide whether to sign him for the rest of the season or not.
Fonte: Omari Sankofa.
Philadelphia 76ers President of Basketball Operations Daryl Morey announced today that the team has signed Paul Reed to a standard NBA contract and Mason Jones to a two-way contract.
Reed, the No.58 pick of the last NBA Draft, has been named the 2021 NBA G League’s MVP and Rookie of the Year.
Jones spent the first part of the regular season with the Houston Rockets, where he averaged 5.8 points in 26 games.
OFFICIAL
We have signed Paul Reed to a standard NBA contract and Mason Jones to a two-way contract.
— Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) March 27, 2021
Following a breakout sophomore season, Julian Champagnie has announced he will enter the NBA Draft process.
The 6-foot-8, 220-pound wing intends to take all the necessary steps to maintain his eligibility should he choose to return to college for his junior season.
“After long thought and multiple discussions with our coaching staff and my family, I have decided that it would be in my best interest to test the NBA Draft process,” said Champagnie. “The feedback that I will gain during this process will be very helpful in making my decision on returning to St. John’s for my junior season. I really look forward to having this opportunity and developing into a better player either for St. John’s or in the National Basketball Association. Playing at the next level has always been a dream of mine, so I am fully committed to getting better on and off the court each day.”
After a BIG EAST All-Freshman campaign in 2019-20 during which he averaged 9.9 points and a team-high 6.5 rebounds, Champagnie took a major leap forward as a sophomore. Champagnie averaged 19.8 points and 7.4 rebounds per game, the former of which led the BIG EAST and the latter of which ranked seventh in the league. The Brooklyn native reached double figures in all 25 of his appearances with 11 showings of 20 or more points and seven double-doubles.
“I think this is without question the right move for Julian at this point in his career,” said Head coach Mike Anderson. “He’ll gain tremendous insight on what he needs to work on to become a threat at the next level, whether that’s next year or in the future. Julian has our unwavering support as he begins this exciting next step on his basketball journey.”
Champagnie’s 19.5 points per game in BIG EAST play secured for him the conference’s league-only scoring title, as he became just the fourth player in St. John’s history to accomplish the feat. Champagnie joined an elite fraternity in that regard, as the only other Red Storm players to do so are Chris Mullin (1983-84), Walter Berry (1985-86) and Marcus Hatten (2001-02).
Champagnie shot 43.3 percent from the floor and 38.0 percent from three-point range while ranking fifth in the BIG EAST with 2.4 made triples per contest. He converted on 88.7 percent of his tries from the charity, good enough for tops in the BIG EAST and 18th in the country.
The Bishop Loughlin product also finished among the top 10 in the BIG EAST for steals (4th-1.4 per game) and blocks (9th- 1.0 per game).
With Champagnie leading the way, St. John’s finished the season with a record of 16-11, including a 10-9 mark in BIG EAST play. The Red Storm’s winning record in BIG EAST was its first since 2014-15 while the team’s four seed in the BIG EAST Tournament was its best since 2000.
Fonte: Redstormsports.
Cam Reynolds agreed to a 10-day contract with the San Antonio Spurs, reports ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
Reynolds averaged 15.5 ppg in the G League bubble with the Austin Spurs. He played two preseason games this season with San Antonio.
The day after the trade deadline is also the day of the “missed deals”.
According to Sam Amick of The Athletic, the Toronto Raptors believed they were “very close” to a trade agreement with the Philadelphia 76ers involving Kyle Lowry: it would have been a 3-teams deal with Danny Green going to a third team.
Adam Himmelsbach of the Boston Globe, instead, reports that the Boston Celtics pursued a trade for Nikola Vucevic before he was moved by the Orlando Magic to the Chicago Bulls. Boston offered multiple first round picks and were a finalist.
Andre Drummond has agreed to a contract buyout with the Cleveland Cavaliers and will become a free agent, sources tell The Athletic’s Shams Charania.
Former Pistons center will be one of the most coveted free agents on the buyout market now.
LaMarcus Aldridge cash buyout with the Spurs was $5.8M as reported by ESPN.
The cash buyout for LaMarcus Aldridge with the Spurs was $5.8M, sources tell ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) March 25, 2021
American big man will have conversations with the Miami Heat, Los Angeles Lakers, Los Angeles Clippers and Brooklyn Nets before deciding on his next destination.
Yahoo Sources: LaMarcus Aldridge will have conversations with the Miami Heat, Los Angeles Lakers, Los Angeles Clippers and Brooklyn Nets before deciding on his next destination.
— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) March 26, 2021
New York Knicks reportedly to waive Vincent Poirier.
French big man arrived from Sixers in the three-team deal with Oklahoma City.
The Knicks are planning to waive 7-footer Vincent Poirier, who arrived from Sixers in the three-team deal with Oklahoma City, sources tell ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) March 25, 2021
LaMarcus Aldridge gave back $7.25M (of the $24M he was due) in contract buyout with the San Antonio Spurs, sources tell The Athletic’s Shams Charania.
The Miami Heat are a strong candidate to sign the former All-Star as a free agent, per sources, with Portland among others in mix.
OKC Thunder have waived Meyers Leonard.
Leonard was traded to OKC from the Miami Heat.
The forward is out for the season with injury.
The Oklahoma City Thunder have waived center Meyers Leonard, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) March 25, 2021
Lakers star LeBron James is expected to miss four to six weeks with his high ankle sprain, sources tell Shams Charania of The Athletic. James suffered the injury last Saturday against the Atlanta Hawks.
The Los Angeles Lakers were already without Anthony Davis, who is expected to miss approximately two more weeks.
The Sacramento Kings are expected to release forward Jabari Parker, reports The Athletic’s Jason Jones.
Parker is on an expiring $6.5M deal.
The San Antonio Spurs are proceeding to buy out LaMarcus Aldridge in which he’ll become an unrestricted free agent, league sources tell Yahoo Sports’ Chris Haynes first.
ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski added that once Aldridge will complete a buyout with the Spurs, the Miami Heat are expected to emerge as a frontrunner to sign him. Former Blazers plans to talk with several teams before finalizing a decision.
The Golden State Warriors have traded Brad Wanamaker to the Charlotte Hornets and Marquese Chriss to the San Antonio Spurs, saving up some luxury tax money.
The Boston Celtics have traded Daniel Theis to the Chicago Bulls in exchange for Mo Wagner, reports Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.
Kyle Lowry will remain in Toronto.
The guard was pursued by several teams but he will stay in Toronto.
The Raptors are keeping Kyle Lowry, source tells ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) March 25, 2021
The Miami Heat have traded for Victor Oladipo from the Houston Rockets, reports Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.
Shams Charania of The Athletic adds that Houston landed a draft swap, Avery Bradley and Kelly Olynyk.
The Dallas Mavericks have acquired, in a direct trade, JJ Redick and Nicolò Melli from the New Orleans Pelicans, reports Shams Charania of The Athletic.
Pelicans receive James Johnson, Wes Iwundu and a 2nd round pick from Dallas.
The Cleveland Cavaliers were not able to trade Andre Drummond who is out of the team since weeks.
The two sides will try to reach a buyout agreement and once he clears waivers, Drummond could sign with the Lakers.
The Cleveland Cavaliers and Andre Drummond will work out a buyout, league sources tell @YahooSports.
— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) March 25, 2021
Lonzo Ball will not leave the New Orleans Pelicans.
The guard will finish the season with New Orleans.
Ball was targeted by several NBA teams but no deal happened.
No Lonzo Ball trade, sources tell ESPN. He's staying in New Orleans.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) March 25, 2021
Toronto Raptors are trading guard Terrence Davis to Sacramento for a future second round pick, source tells ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski
Toronto therefore clears an additional roster spot.
The Atlanta Hawks and the Los Angeles Clippers have agreed on a deal to send Rajon Rondo to LA, reports Shams Charania of The Athletic.
Atlanta will receive Lou Williams, two 2nd round pick and cash.
The Miami Heat and the Los Angeles Lakers are the two teams in competition for Raptors guard Kyle Lowry, reports Shams Charania.
Heat are offering a package center around Duncan Robinson, with the Raptors aiming at Tyler Herro; the Lakers are proposing a package centered around Dennis Schröder and KCP, with Toronto requiring Talen Horton-Tucker.