International Rumors | Hoops Rumors

Southeast Notes: Bryant, Zeller, Monk, Gallinari

January 5th, 2021 at 8:01pm CST by Dana Gauruder

Wizards center Thomas Bryant has learned to play more under control and that has him poised for a career year, according to Ava Wallace of the Washington Post.

“It’s fun to coach him, because he’s emotional. Last year it was not to our advantage. This year, he’s controlling it,” Wizards head coach Scott Brooks said. “… His growth in that area, it’s going to help us win a lot of games this year.”

Bryant is averaging 17.9 PPG and 6.7 RPG, enhancing his future value. He’s under contract with the Wizards through the 2021/22 season, then becomes an unrestricted free agent.

We have more from the Southeast Division:

Hornets big man Cody Zeller said he can’t speed up the healing process after breaking the ring finger on his left hand, Rick Bonnell of the Charlotte Observer writes. He has been relegated to working out — mostly on a stationary bike — to retain conditioning. He had a timetable of 4-6 weeks after undergoing surgery on Christmas Eve. “It’s not like a muscle or something else, where you can kind of work through it. You really have to give it time to heal,” Zeller said. “My rehab has been trying to get some of the swelling out.”
Hornets coach James Borrego will make some rotation changes to spark the offense and attempt to end the team’s three-game skid, Bonnell writes in a separate story. “There are lineup tweaks that will be made for tomorrow. Not necessarily in the starting lineup. But along the way, trying to find some different combinations of guys as we move throughout a game to give us more offense,” Borrego said. Malik Monk could see his playing time expand at Cody Martin‘s expense, Bonnell speculates.
Danilo Gallinari was acquired by the Hawks in a sign-and-trade with the Thunder and made a three-year commitment. However, he’s already thinking about his long-term future, Emiliano Carchia of Sportando relays. In an interview by La Repubblica, Gallinari said he’d like to eventually finish his career by returning to Italy’s Olimpia Milano. “Playing with Olimpia, in a team as strong and ambitious as this season, is a dream for me,” he said.

And-Ones: Montgomery, Thomas, NCAA Tourney, 2021 Draft

January 5th, 2021 at 12:44pm CST by Luke Adams

Former Kentucky forward E.J. Montgomery, who was in training camp with the Bucks last month, has signed with Lithuanian team BC Nevezis, according to an announcement from the club (Twitter link).

After going undrafted in 2020 following his sophomore season with the Wildcats, Montgomery caught on with Milwaukee on a non-guaranteed camp deal, but was cut on December 16. While the Bucks may have, at one point, envisioned Montgomery as a potential G League affiliate player, the Wisconsin Herd opted out of the NBAGL’s bubble plan for 2020/21, opening the door for the 21-year-old to pursue another professional opportunity.

Here are more odds and ends from around the basketball world:

Isaiah Thomas and Excel Sports Management have parted ways, as the free agent point guard continues to seek an NBA comeback, per Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports (Twitter link). Presumably, Thomas will hire new representation to spearhead the effort to land him an NBA job.
The NCAA was forced to cancel March Madness in 2020, but the 2021 event is still scheduled to tip off in mid-March. According to a press release from the NCAA, the plan is for the entire tournament to take place in Indiana to reduce the coronavirus risk associated with travel.
Michael Scotto of HoopsHype spoke to a handful of player agents and team executives about what it looks like when a player requests a trade and how the process typically plays out behind the scenes.
Draft expert Jeff Goodman of Stadium has unveiled his big board for the 2021 NBA draft, which is headed by Gonzaga’s Jalen Suggs. Cade Cunningham (Oklahoma State), Jalen Green (G League Ignite), Evan Mobley (USC), and Jonathan Kuminga (G League Ignite) fill out Goodman’s initial top five. The same five prospects are atop ESPN’s big board, albeit in a different order.

Nigel Williams-Goss Signs With Russian Team

January 5th, 2021 at 10:52am CST by Luke Adams

JANUARY 5: Lokomotiv Kuban has officially signed Williams-Goss for the rest of the season, the team announced today in a press release.

DECEMBER 31: Free agent guard Nigel Williams-Goss is close to finalizing a contract agreement with Russian club Lokomotiv Kuban, according to a report from Serbian outlet MozzartSport (hat tip to Sportando).

Williams-Goss, who was selected by the Jazz with the 55th overall pick in the 2017 draft, is no stranger to international ball, having spent the 2017/18 season with Partizan in Serbia and the ’18/19 campaign with Olympiacos in Greece before arriving in Utah last season.

Although Williams-Goss signed a multiyear contract with the Jazz in 2019, only the first year of that deal was guaranteed, and he was waived earlier this month before the team was on the hook for his ’20/21 salary.

In his first and only NBA season last year, Williams-Goss appeared in just 10 games for Utah and 17 more for the Salt Lake City Stars in the G League. The 26-year-old averaged 15.3 PPG, 5.5 APG, and 3.9 RPG on .508/.352/.778 shooting in 29.6 minutes per contest for the Stars.

Assuming Williams-Goss officially completes a deal with Lokomotiv Kuban, he’ll be joining a team that features several former NBA players, including Alan Williams, Jordan Crawford, and Kevin Hervey. Lokomotiv Kuban plays in the VTB United League and the EuroCup.

And-Ones: Westphal, Weber, Free Agency, Extensions

January 3rd, 2021 at 7:02pm CST by JD Shaw

NBA commissioner Adam Silver released the following statement on the passing of Paul Westphal, who played 12 NBA seasons from 1972-1984 and lost his life on Saturday after a bout with brain cancer at age 70:

“Paul Westphal was a Hall of Famer and one of the great all-around players of his era. His toughness, skill and intellect made him a key contributor on the Boston Celtics’ 1974 championship team and a perennial All-Star with the Phoenix Suns. … He will be remembered for his generosity, leadership and love for the game, which defined his many years in the NBA. We extend our deepest condolences to Paul’s wife, Cindy, and their family.”

Westphal, a five-time NBA All-Star, played for Boston, Phoenix, Seattle and New York during his career. He later transitioned into coaching for over 30 years, most recently serving as an assistant with the Nets from 2014-16.

In honor of Westphal’s legacy, NBA teams observed a moment of silence before each of the scheduled games on Saturday.

Here are some other odds and ends from around the basketball world:

Free agent guard Briante Weber has signed in France with BCM Gravelines, the team announced (Twitter link). Weber spent part of last season in France with Metropolitans 92, holding per-game averages of 12.2 points and 4.6 assists. He has made past NBA stops with the Grizzlies, Heat, Warriors, Hornets and Rockets.
John Hollinger of The Athletic examines the free agent class of 2021, listing Kawhi Leonard as the consensus best player to potentially reach the open market. Leonard could decline a player option worth $36MM to test free agency next summer.
Danny Leroux of The Athletic explores the chances of any remaining contract extensions being finalized in 2020/21. Several veteran players are eligible to sign extensions with their teams, including Victor Oladipo (Pacers), Dennis Schroder (Lakers) and Mike Conley (Jazz).

And-Ones: Johnson, Martin, COVID-19 Protocols, Bender

January 1st, 2021 at 8:11pm CST by Dana Gauruder

Mavericks forward James Johnson and Hornets forwards Cody Martin and Caleb Martin have been fined for their roles in an on-court altercation on Wednesday, according to an NBA press release.

Johnson, who was ejected, was fined $40K for deliberately pushing Cody Martin out of bounds, aggressively confronting him, and initiating the incident. Cody, who was also ejected, was fined $25K for pushing Johnson in retaliation and making contact with a game official. Caleb Martin was fined $20K for entering the altercation and making contact with a game official.

We have more from around the basketball world:

The NBA is planning to require players and many team staffers to wear sensor devices during all team-organized activities outside of games starting January 7, according to ESPN’s Baxter Holmes. The plan is aimed on improving its contact tracing program. Players and specific staff members, such as coaches, will be required to wear Kinexon SafeZone contact sensor devices on the team plane, the team bus, during practices and while traveling to and from the arena or their home practice facility.
The league is placing more responsibility on team officials to monitor and mete out discipline for COVID-19 protocol violations among players and staff, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reports. The NBA told teams that they’re required to notify the league office of any discipline imposed. The league office still holds the power to override team decisions on player punishments.
Maccabi Tel Aviv has extended the contract of former NBA big man Dragan Bender for the remainder of the season, Emiliano Carchia of Sportando writes. Bender signed with the Israeli team in September. Bender played seven games with the Bucks last season before being waived in February. He joined the Warriors on a pair of 10-day deals and averaged 9.0 PPG and 5.9 RPG in nine games before the hiatus began.

Ty Lawson To Sign In Greece

January 1st, 2021 at 12:03pm CST by JD Shaw

Free agent guard Ty Lawson is signing in Greece with Kolossos H Hotels, landing his first contract since being banned from the Chinese Basketball Association last fall, sources told Hoops Rumors.

Lawson, 33, holds nine years of NBA experience, making past stops with Denver, Houston, Indiana, Sacramento and Washington. He signed with the Wizards prior to the 2018 playoffs, averaging 5.8 points and 19.2 minutes in five postseason contests.

Lawson was the No. 18 pick of the 2009 NBA Draft to Minnesota, who then traded the North Carolina product to Denver. He spent the first six seasons of his career with the Nuggets, averaging a career-best 17.6 points and 8.8 assists per game in 2013-14.

The team is expected to formally announce the agreement in the coming days, jump-starting the third overseas stint of Lawson’s professional career.

Jerian Grant Signs With Greek Team

December 31st, 2020 at 7:55am CST by Luke Adams

Free agent point guard Jerian Grant will continue his playing career in Greece, having signed with Promitheas Patras, the team announced today in a press release.

Grant, 28, was drafted with the 19th overall pick in 2015 and appeared in 279 regular season games over the next five years for New York, Chicago, Orlando, and Washington. Over the course of those five seasons, he averaged 6.1 PPG and 2.9 APG on .411/.323/.770 shooting in 17.9 minutes per contest.

After suiting up as a substitute player for the Wizards during the summer restart, Grant signed a training camp contract with the Rockets, but didn’t make the team’s regular season roster and was cut on December 16.

Grant’s deal with Promitheas Patras – a club that competes in the Greek League and the EuroCup – will reunite him with his brother Jerai Grant, who signed with the Greek squad last week. Both Jerian and Jerai are brothers of Pistons forward Jerami Grant.

Amile Jefferson Signs With Turkish Team

December 29th, 2020 at 8:37am CST by Luke Adams

Free agent power forward Amile Jefferson has signed with Galatasaray, the Turkish club announced today in a press release. The contract will cover the remainder of the 2020/21 season.

Jefferson, 27, spent part of the 2017/18 season on a two-way contract with the Timberwolves after going undrafted out of Duke. He subsequently signed a two-way deal with the Magic for the ’18/19 season and then was promoted to Orlando’s standard roster at the start of the ’19/20 campaign before being waived in February.

Despite spending parts of three seasons on NBA rosters, Jefferson has seen limited playing time, averaging 1.4 PPG and 1.5 RPG in 30 total games (4.7 MPG). He has thrived at the G League level, however, recording 18.5 PPG, 12.2 RPG, and 2.9 APG in 88 NBAGL contests (34.2 MPG) for the Iowa Wolves and Lakeland Magic.

Jefferson was with the Celtics during the preseason after signing an Exhibit 10 contract, but was waived 10 days ago when the club set its regular season roster. He’ll look to help jump-start a Galatasaray squad that is off to a slow start this season, with a 5-9 record in Turkish League play.

Nick Young Signing With Team In China

December 28th, 2020 at 8:51am CST by Luke Adams

Nick Young will resume his playing career overseas, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic, who reports (via Twitter) that the veteran guard is signing with the Zhejiang Lions of the Chinese Basketball Association.

Young, who entered the NBA as a first-round pick in 2007, played for six teams during 12 years in the league, starting his career with the Wizards and later enjoying a lengthy stint with the Lakers.

He won a championship in 2018 with the Warriors and last played for the Nuggets to open the ’18/19 season before being waived nearly two years ago. The 35-year-old averaged 11.4 PPG on .418/.376/.836 shooting in 720 total regular season games (22.8 MPG).

Young said in October 2019 that he expected to call it a career if he didn’t get an NBA opportunity last season, but it seems he’s not ready to announce his retirement quite yet. He’s one of a pair of longtime NBA guards apparently headed to China this week, with Jordan McRae said to be joining the Beijing Ducks.

And-Ones: Vaccines, Miller, Evans, Villanova

December 27th, 2020 at 8:50pm CST by JD Shaw

The NBA has issued a memo to its 30 teams, warning that franchises will not be allowed to pursue or administer COVID-19 vaccines on a team-wide basis ahead of public health guidelines for prioritization, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.

The league will make exceptions for team physicians, health-related personnel, older staff members, and those with underlying conditions, however, Wojnarowski notes.

Throughout the country, states are administering vaccine doses to healthcare workers as the fight against COVID-19 rapidly accelerates. The vaccines come from Pfizer and Moderna, with a country-wide expectation that those with an increased risk of contracting the virus will have access to the vaccine sooner.

Seniors and those with underlying conditions would naturally come next, though many have questioned whether the NBA would move quickly and get its players and staffers vaccinated sooner than expected.

“It goes without saying that in no form or way will we jump the line,” commissioner Adam Silver said last week. “We will wait our turn to get the vaccine. When you think about the logistical feat that now the federal and state governments are undertaking, where if every citizen ultimately requires two doses and with a population of over 300 million, it’s beyond comprehension when you start to begin to think about the logistical challenges of transporting and distributing this vaccine.”

Here are some other odds and ends from around the basketball world:

Veteran forward Quincy Miller has signed overseas in Portugal with Benfica, he announced on social media, as relayed by Ricardo Brito Reis of Sport TV (Twitter link). Miller last played in the NBA with Sacramento and Detroit during the 2014/15 season, also holding experience with Denver. He appeared in 69 total games after being drafted No. 38 overall in 2012.
Free agent guard Jawun Evans has signed in Greece with Promitheas Patras, according to EuroBasket (Twitter link). Evans, 24, most recently played in the NBA G League with Toronto, making past NBA stops with the Clippers, Suns and Thunder. He was the No. 39 pick in 2017 after spending two seasons at Oklahoma State.
Villanova has paused all basketball activities after head coach Jay Wright and another staff member tested positive for the coronavirus, Adam Zagoria of Zagsblog.com writes. Wright, 59, is now in isolation with mild symptoms. “Our players have been very diligent and disciplined with all of the COVID protocols,” he said. “Unfortunately, we have had two staff members test positive. I am one of them. My symptoms are mild, and we remain connected as a team and staff by phone and Zoom. I am grateful to our Team Physician, Dr. Mike Duncan, who has worked tirelessly to help guide us safely through this.”