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Knicks Waive Knight; Sign Diakite, Goodwin

October 19th, 2023 at 4:18pm CST by Rory Maher

4:18pm: Knight has officially been waived. The Knicks have also signed free agents Mamadi Diakite and Brandon Goodwin to Exhibit 10 contracts (Twitter links). New York now has 20 players under contract.

4:09pm: The Knicks are waiving big man Nathan Knight, league sources tell Fred Katz of The Athletic (Twitter link).

As Katz notes, Knight was signed to a two-way contract, and New York also recently waived Jaylen Martin, so the team now has a pair of two-way spots open.

Knight, who starred in college at William & Mary, has played in 108 NBA games over the past three seasons after going undrafted in 2020. He spent his rookie season with the Hawks on a two-way deal and spent the past two seasons with the Timberwolves.

The Wolves had a minimum-salary team option on Knight for the 2023/24 season but turned it down and opted not to issue him a qualifying offer, so he became an unrestricted free agent on July 1. He signed a two-way deal with the Knicks a couple weeks later.

The 26-year-old forward/center holds career averages of 3.7 points and 2.0 rebounds in 7.8 minutes per night.

Sixers Hire Neil Olshey As Basketball Operations Consultant

October 19th, 2023 at 3:42pm CST by Rory Maher

Former Clippers and Trail Blazers executive Neil Olshey has been serving as a basketball operations consultant with the Sixers since early June, a team spokesperson tells Kyle Neubeck of PHLY Sports.

According to Neubeck, Olshey will report to general manager Elton Brand and president of basketball operations Daryl Morey, with his contract being “open-ended.” For now, Olshey’s focus is on college scouting, but that could change over time, Neubeck notes.

“I am grateful to Daryl and Elton for this opportunity to consult for a storied franchise like the 76ers,” Olshey said in a statement. “I’m thrilled to support a strong front office and contribute to the overall success of the team in any way I can.”

Olshey, 58, worked his way up the Clippers organization prior to being named general manager in 2010. A couple years later, he was hired by the Blazers as their new GM, serving in that role until December 2021, when he was terminated following a month-long investigation into workplace misconduct allegations. He was also Portland’s president of basketball operations.

The Sixers are aware of why Portland fired Olshey and are comfortable having him as a consultant, Neubeck writes. Part of that stems from Olshey’s “extensive executive coaching” over the past couple years, Neubeck adds.

“I’ve had a strong working relationship with Neil for nearly two decades,” Morey said in a statement to PHLY Sports. “I have always admired his approach to talent evaluation and think he’s been one of the very best in that area. I’m happy he’s consulting for our group. He’s already proven to be a valuable resource.”

Nets Waive Darius Bazley

October 19th, 2023 at 2:00pm CST by Rory Maher

2:00pm: Bazley has been released, according to the Nets (Twitter link).

12:56pm: The Nets intend to waive big man Darius Bazley, sources tell Shams Charania of The Athletic (Twitter link).

A former first-round pick (23rd overall in 2019), Bazley signed a one-year deal with Brooklyn this summer as an unrestricted free agent after he didn’t receive a qualifying offer from Phoenix. However, his contract was non-guaranteed, and he was trying to make the Nets’ opening night roster.

With Bazley set to hit the waiver wire, it seems as though Harry Giles and Trendon Watford might have secured roster spots. The three players — all of whom are on non-guaranteed deals — appeared to be competing for the final two spots on the 15-man roster, with Brooklyn having 13 players on guaranteed standard contracts.

A 6’8″ forward/center, Bazley holds career averages of 9.1 PPG and 5.3 RPG on .411/.310/.673 shooting in 228 regular season games (118 starts, 23.6 MPG) with the Thunder and Suns. He averaged 5.7 PPG, 6.3 RPG and 1.0 SPG while shooting 42.9% from deep in three preseason contests with the Nets and is expected to draw interest as a free agent, according to Charania.

The Nets will have 19 players under contract once Bazley is officially released. They have one two-way slot open.

Spurs Waive Khem Birch

October 19th, 2023 at 1:15pm CST by Arthur Hill

1:15pm: Birch has officially been waived, the Spurs announced in a press release.

10:09am: Center Khem Birch will be waived by the Spurs, sources tell Shams Charania of The Athletic (Twitter link).

Birch was part of the return San Antonio received when it traded Jakob Poeltl to Toronto in February. He never appeared in a game for the Spurs, as a right knee issue sidelined him for the rest of the season.

With 16 fully guaranteed contracts, San Antonio had to get rid of at least one of them before Monday’s league-wide cutdown date. Unless Birch gets claimed on waivers, the team will be on the hook for all of his $6,985,000 expiring deal.

The 31-year-old big man appeared in 20 games for Toronto last season, averaging 2.2 points and 1.3 rebounds in 8.1 minutes per night. He went undrafted out of UNLV in 2014 and played six NBA seasons with the Magic and Raptors.

Once the move is finalized, the Spurs will have 18 players on their preseason roster with one two-way spot open.

Sixers’ James Harden Misses Practice Again Thursday

October 19th, 2023 at 11:40am CST by Rory Maher

Sixers guard James Harden missed practice for the second consecutive day on Thursday, a source tells ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski (Twitter link).

A team spokesperson said Harden is “away from the team due to a personal matter,” tweets Kyle Neubeck of PHLY Sports.

Harden has reportedly been in Houston since Philadelphia’s practice on Sunday and is frustrated that he hasn’t been traded to the Clippers. The former league MVP requested a trade to Los Angeles after picking up his $35.6MM player option this summer.

Harden told reporters last week that he didn’t see a path to reconciliation with Philadelphia. He previously called president of basketball operations Daryl Morey a “liar” and that he would “never be a part of an organization that he’s a part of.”

Sam Amick of The Athletic reported yesterday evening that the Clippers and Sixers remain at an impasse in trade talks, despite more conversations in recent days. L.A. doesn’t want to bid against itself and has been unwilling to include Terance Mann in a deal, according to Amick.

Shams Charania of The Athletic reported on Tuesday that even though Harden has been professional when he’s been around the team, he hasn’t attended any of the 76ers’ preseason games, skipped at least one shootaround, and has only participated in one five-on-five scrimmage (on October 7) since rejoining the club. The 34-year-old was also absent for media day at the beginning of the month and missed the first day of training camp as well.

As Bobby Marks of ESPN noted on Wednesday (Twitter link), the fine for missing a practice is modest (starting at $2,500), but if Harden skips a game without the team’s consent, he could face fines of $389K per contest. It’s unclear if the missed practices the past couple days will be excused by the Sixers now that the team is saying Harden is attending to a personal matter.

For example, Ramona Shelburne of ESPN stated on Wednesday (video link) that Harden’s absence is the latest step in his desire to create an uncomfortable situation for the Sixers until he’s traded.

“Somebody close to him told me this is only the beginning of what he plans to do here,” Shelburne said.

Terry Stotts Resigns From Bucks’ Coaching Staff

October 19th, 2023 at 8:59am CST by Arthur Hill

Terry Stotts won’t continue in his role as an assistant coach with the Bucks, tweets ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.

The former Trail Blazers head coach had been out of the league for two years before agreeing to join Adrian Griffin’s new staff in Milwaukee. The Bucks had been searching for an experienced assistant for Griffin, who is in his first year as a head coach.

The 65-year-old Stotts compiled a 402-318 record during his nine seasons as head coach in Portland. He took the Blazers to the playoffs eight times, including a trip to the Western Conference Finals in 2019. Stotts was previously a head coach in Milwaukee, as well as Atlanta, and holds a career record of 517-486.

No explanation has been given on why Stotts decided to step down less than a week before the start of the regular season or if (and how) the team plans to fill the coaching vacancy.

Clippers Still Won’t Include Terance Mann In James Harden Trade

October 18th, 2023 at 8:01pm CST by Arthur Hill

The Clippers‘ refusal to part with Terance Mann continues to be the main obstacle to a potential trade involving Sixers guard James Harden, reports Sam Amick of The Athletic.

Two people involved in the negotiations tell Amick that the teams talked again on Monday, with Philadelphia offering to give up Harden in exchange for Mann, an unprotected first-round pick, a first-round pick swap and other players to match Harden’s salary. However, Clippers president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank refused to make Mann available, which has been the team’s position since trade talks began.

Sixers president of basketball operations Daryl Morey said Frank was being “unserious,” according to Amick’s sources, and sarcastically suggested the Clippers should offer Paul George if they’re so determined to hold onto their lesser assets. Frank quickly dismissed the idea of parting with George.

Amick notes that the exchange leaves negotiations at the same impasse where they began when Harden made his trade demand in late June. The Sixers don’t have any traction on a deal with L.A. or anyone else as the start of the season looms next week.

Harden showed his displeasure with the situation by skipping Wednesday’s practice and has been away from the team since Sunday. A report earlier today said management plans to give him a chance to explain his absence before imposing any fines, which would start at $2,500 for a missed practice and could reach $389K for each missed game.

Harden is communicating with the Sixers through general manager Elton Brand, according to Amick. Harden remains angry at Morey over the way his contract was handled, and it’s not clear what his intentions are regarding the October 26 season opener.

The Sixers believe Harden’s anger should be directed at the Clippers, Amick adds. The position of Philadelphia’s front office is that Harden could have the trade he wants if L.A. would include Mann, and the Sixers would be left with enough assets to pursue a high-level player who could replace Harden and keep the team in title contention.

Sources tell Amick that Philadelphia already has trades lined up that would fetch a first-round pick in exchange for Mann. That pick would be used as part of a package to acquire another star later in the season. The Sixers see that as an equitable outcome considering the otherwise limited return they would be getting in exchange for Harden, according to Amick.

However, Harden believes L.A. has already made a reasonable offer and Morey is “moving the goalposts,” Amick adds. The Clippers have offered two first-round picks, but Morey isn’t satisfied with their quality because they have protections and could eventually turn into second-rounders if they don’t convey by a certain date.

Harden’s absence is the latest step in his desire to create an uncomfortable situation for the Sixers until he’s traded, Ramona Shelburne of ESPN stated in an appearance on NBA Today (video link).

“Somebody close to him told me this is only the beginning of what he plans to do here,” Shelburne said.

Isaiah Roby, Jaylen Martin Waived By Knicks

October 18th, 2023 at 4:37pm CST by Arthur Hill

The Knicks have waived forward Isaiah Roby and swingman Jaylen Martin, the team announced (via Twitter).

Roby, 25, signed with New York on the final day of the 2022/23 regular season. He spent most of the season with the Spurs, appearing in 42 games and averaging 4.1 points and 2.5 rebounds in 11.3 minutes per night before being released in early March. Roby spent his first three NBA seasons with Oklahoma City.

Martin signed a two-way contract with the Knicks this summer after going undrafted out of the Overtime Elite League. His departure leaves New York with an open two-way slot as the others are currently held by Nathan Knight and Dylan Windler.

Roby got into two of the team’s three preseason games and averaged 8.0 PPG and 2.5 RPG. Martin made one three-minute appearance during the preseason.

Neither player had any guaranteed money for this season, so the moves won’t cost the Knicks anything. The team is down to 19 players on its roster, with 12 fully guaranteed contracts.

James Harden Not At Sixers’ Wednesday Practice

October 18th, 2023 at 10:58am CST by Luke Adams

10:58am: Harden has been in Houston since traveling there after the Sixers’ practice on Sunday, a league source tells Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer (Twitter link).

The team plans to give him a chance to explain his unexcused absence from today’s practice before making a decision on potential discipline, tweets Shelburne. As Bobby Marks of ESPN tweets, the fine for missing a practice is modest (starting at $2,500), but if Harden skips a game without the team’s consent, he could face fines of $389K per contest.

Meanwhile, Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN says (via Twitter) that the gap between the Clippers and Sixers in Harden trade talks remains “sizable.”

10:21am: Sixers guard James Harden is a “no-show” at the team’s Wednesday practice, sources tell Shams Charania of The Athletic (Twitter link). According to Charania, Harden hasn’t been with the team since Sunday.

After skipping media day at the start of the month and then missing the first day of training camp, Harden reported to the Sixers and didn’t appear to be making any waves. However, he still wants to be traded after requesting a change of scenery in June and told reporters last week that he didn’t see a path to reconciliation with Philadelphia’s front office.

Charania reported on Tuesday that even though Harden has been professional when he’s been around the team, he hasn’t attended any of the 76ers’ preseason games, skipped at least one shootaround, and has only participated in one five-on-five scrimmage (on October 7) since rejoining the club.

During his media session last Friday, Harden suggested that he still intends to play while he awaits a trade, adding that he might return to the court for the team’s last preseason game. It’s unclear if that’s still the plan or if his mindset has changed in recent days. According to Kyle Neubeck of PHLY Sports (Twitter link), if Harden is going to play in this Friday’s preseason finale, today would have been an important “ramp-up” day.

Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports wrote on Tuesday that one reason Harden wasn’t making waves in camp was a belief that the Sixers and Clippers weren’t significantly far apart in their trade talks. However, Fischer reported later on Tuesday that there’s still a gap the two teams haven’t been able to bridge and that Harden appears increasingly likely to still be a 76er when the regular season begins.

According to Fischer (Twitter link), Harden is currently in Houston instead of Philadelphia, as he was on media day. He remains frustrated by the lack of progress toward a trade to Los Angeles, per Ramona Shelburne of ESPN (Twitter link).

Nuggets GM: Comments On Hyland, MPJ Weren’t Intended For “Public Consumption”

October 18th, 2023 at 7:59am CST by Luke Adams

Appearing on ESPN2 on Tuesday night, Nuggets general manager Calvin Booth was asked about comments he made recently to Kevin O’Connor of The Ringer about Bones Hyland and Michael Porter Jr. While he didn’t dispute the accuracy of his quote, Booth indicated he didn’t expect it to show up in O’Connor’s story.

“Under no circumstances would I make or approve of those kind of comments for public consumption,” Booth said (Twitter link via Harrison Wind of DNVR Sports). “It’s not my character as a person or executive, and I think it’s an unfair characterization of Michael and Bones.

“I think Bones is a great kid, has a bright future ahead of him, a charismatic player in our game. And obviously Michael is a core piece of our program with his character and offensive and defensive prowess. So I think that was unfair for those things to be put out there and hopefully it doesn’t happen in the future.”

Addressing the Nuggets’ decision to trade Hyland at last season’s deadline, Booth had candidly explained his thinking to O’Connor.

“I knew you couldn’t have two guys that couldn’t guard, and we couldn’t have two guys that were young and kind of more ‘me guys,'” he said. “Mike makes $30 million. He’s one of the best shooters in the NBA. So, Bones, there’s no place for you.”

While those comments don’t come off as particularly flattering to either Hyland or Porter, O’Connor clarified on Twitter that he didn’t view them, in context, as a shot at either player.

“Being a ‘me guy’ wasn’t a knock,” O’Connor wrote. “You want at least one guy who can shoot without any fear from anywhere. It’s part of what makes MPJ special, there was just too much of the same. Plus MPJ improved (defensively), as written about in the context of the article.”

Based on Booth’s comments on Tuesday, it sounds like he believed he was speaking off the record when he discussed his thinking for trading Hyland. While his frank assessment was refreshing when compared to typical executive-speak, the fact that he’s already walking it back suggests that he’ll be more guarded when talking to reporters in the future.