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Former NBA Lottery Pick John Henson Confirms Retirement

September 11th, 2024 at 2:54pm CST by Luke Adams

Former NBA big man John Henson has no intentions of attempting a comeback, confirming to Spencer Davies of RG.org that he has retired as a player and has moved onto the next stage of his life.

“I was so blessed to play this long,” Henson said. “It’s a lot of opportunities, man. It’s just a matter of one step at a time. I’m only 33, so I have time to explore and figure out what I want to do next. This is just the next phase, and we’ll see where it takes me. But so far, so good.”

The 14th overall pick in the 2012 draft, Henson spent his first seven seasons with the Bucks, then played for the Cavaliers and Pistons during the 2019/20 season. He averaged 7.6 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks in 19.7 minutes per game across 445 career outings (160 starts) from 2012-20. Health issues, including wrist and hamstring injuries, slowed him down and limited his availability during his final seasons.

Though he inked a 10-day contract with the Knicks in April 2021, Henson didn’t appear in any games for New York. The 6’9″ center also signed with Mets de Guaynabo in Puerto Rico in March 2022, but ended up not suiting up for the team.

“I could’ve fought. I could’ve went the G League route and tried to work my way back, but I’ve always just been a guy that basketball’s never life or death for me or my life,” Henson said. “I’m not gonna sit here and bang my head against the wall. My first initial thought was let me finish my education and let me see what happens, and then we’ll go from there.”

According to Davies, Henson has passed on offers in recent years to be a veteran mentor on the G League Ignite’s roster and to join the Capital City Go-Go (the Wizards‘ G League affiliate) as an assistant coach.

Henson’s focus has been on media jobs — he’ll provide color commentary for ACC games and serve as an analyst on SiriusXM’s ACC Today program during the 2024/25 season, per Davies. The big man previously spent two seasons appearing on The Bettor Half Hour on MSG Network.

Montrezl Harrell To Sign With Australian Team

September 10th, 2024 at 8:07pm CST by Dana Gauruder

Free agent big man Montrezl Harrell is headed to Australia, ESPN’s Olgun Uluc reports.

Harrell has agreed to a short-term deal with the Adelaide 36ers. The 2020 NBA Sixth Man of the Year will be an injury replacement for another former NBA forward, Jarell Martin.

Martin is still recovering from a patellar tendon injury and isn’t expected to be available until later in the year, according to Uluc. While Harrell could stick with the 36ers after Martin returns, the team would need to deactivate a local player to make that happen, Uluc adds.

Harrell played eight seasons in the NBA, most recently with the 76ers during the 2022/23 regular season. He averaged 5.6 points and 2.8 rebounds in 11.9 minutes per game that year.

Harrell was waived by Philadelphia in October 2023. He underwent knee surgery last August after he suffered a torn ACL and medial meniscus tear earlier that summer.

The 30-year-old’s best season in the NBA was with the Clippers during the 2019/20 campaign, where he averaged 18.6 points and 7.1 rebounds per game. In 515 career regular season outings, Harrell has averaged 12.1 points and 5.0 rebounds in 20.5 minutes.

Before reaching a deal with Harrell, Adelaide also considered former NBA players Justin Jackson and Thon Maker, sources tell Uluc.

Silver: League Still Isn’t Ready To Tackle Expansion

September 10th, 2024 at 6:20pm CST by Dana Gauruder

The league isn’t quite ready to explore expansion talks, NBA commissioner Adam Silver revealed during a Tuesday press conference. Silver addressed the media after the league’s Board of Governors meeting.

“There was not a lot of discussion in this meeting about expansion, but only largely not for lack of interest, it was that we had said to them that we’re not quite ready,” Silver said, per ESPN’s Tim Bontemps. “It was something that we told our board we plan to address this season, and we’re not quite ready yet. But I think there’s certainly interest in the process, and I think that we’re not there yet in terms of having made any specific decisions about markets or even frankly to expand.”

Expansion has been put off while the league negotiated a new Collective Bargaining Agreement and reached new broadcast deals. With those items in the rear view mirror, the league could eventually discuss expansion in the coming months. The first step in that process, according to Bontemps, would be forming a committee of several owners to explore the topic and determine what the next steps would be.

Here’s more from Silver’s press conference and the BOG meeting:

The commissioner would prefer that legalized sports betting had a “federal framework,” rather than being a state competition with varying rules. “I was in favor of a federal framework for sports betting. I still am,” he said. “I still think that the hodgepodge of state by state, it makes it more difficult for the league to administer it. I think it creates competition, understandably, among states to get — just think New York, New Jersey or a situation like that where you’re both competing for the same customer, so you can compete on tax rates and other things and a regulatory framework.”
The league is essentially in wait-and-see mode regarding the potential sales of two franchises, the Timberwolves and the Celtics, according to The Associated Press’ Tim Reynolds. Minnesota’s dispute between current majority owner Glen Taylor and potential majority owners Marc Lore and Alex Rodriguez is headed to arbitration. “That’s a process that exists independent of the league that was set out in the sales agreement,” Silver said. Boston’s ownership group, led by Wyc Grousbeck, intends to sell the majority of its shares later this year or early next year, then close on a sale of the balance of remaining shares in 2028. “I think that Wyc Grousbeck and his ownership group are in the process of working through what the steps will be,” Silver said.
Raptors Governor and Chairman of Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment Larry Tanenbaum has been re-elected as the Board’s chairman, NBA Communications tweets. Tanenbaum has served in that role since 2017.
The league could have a national streaming RSN platform as soon as the 2025/26 season, according to the Sports Business Journal’s Tom Friend. Numerous teams were affected Diamond Sports bankruptcy proceedings. Diamond is the parent company of Bally Sports. “I think coming out of this, when we look at the interest of streaming services to carry local games and all the additional functionality that will come to that, there will be a transition and transition for our viewers, as well, in terms of how they discover those games and how they watch them, that I think the end result will be a much better consumer experience,” Silver said.

NBA Approves Expanded Use Of Replay On Out-Of-Bounds Challenges

September 10th, 2024 at 1:27pm CST by Luke Adams

The NBA Board of Governors voted on Tuesday to approve an expanded use of video replay on coach’s challenges for out-of-bounds calls, according to an announcement from the league. The change will take effect for the 2024/25 season.

Under the new rule, if an instant replay of an out-of-bounds call is triggered by a coach’s challenge, referees will have the ability not just to review who last touched the ball but also whether a foul should have been called.

Within its press release, the league included a video of a crucial last-minute play involving the Mavericks and Timberwolves from Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals to illustrate how the new rule will work.

In that case, referees initially ruled that the ball was last touched by Mavs guard Kyrie Irving before going out of bounds. Dallas challenged the call and it was determined that Timberwolves forward Jaden McDaniels actually touched it last, giving possession to the Mavs, whose challenge was deemed successful.

However, the video replay also showed that Irving fouled McDaniels on his left arm before the ball landed out of bounds, which wasn’t reviewable at the time. If the new rule had been in effect, officials could have called that foul on Irving, giving the Wolves possession of the ball or free throws (if Minnesota was in the bonus) and rendering the Mavs’ challenge unsuccessful.

According to the NBA’s announcement, the competition committee unanimously recommended the rule change to the Board of Governors, who voted to implement it.

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DeMar DeRozan Discusses Free Agency, Decision To Join Kings

September 10th, 2024 at 9:26am CST by Luke Adams

Appearing on Podcast P with Paul George on Monday (YouTube link), new Kings forward DeMar DeRozan explained that finding an opportunity to contend for a championship was his top priority when he entered free agency this July, which is why he and the Bulls didn’t work out a new deal despite having previously expressed mutual admiration.

“I had a hell of a time in Chicago,” DeRozan said. “… Great city, great place. I think I was just looking for an opportunity just to win at a high level, wherever that was going to be. I think coming out of last season, that was my view and my approach on this upcoming season.”

DeRozan noted with a laugh that he had to wait for George to make his free agent decision before he was able to get clarity on his own options. After George agreed to sign with the 76ers, there were no contenders with cap room pursuing DeRozan, but Sacramento expressed interest in bringing him in and had the ability to make him a competitive contract offer via a sign-and-trade deal.

“Sac came about and they were showing interest. Like, real interest,” DeRozan said. “So when I sat back and looked at it and analyzed the team, great players, great coach. I just always remember the last couple years always seeing them light the damn beam and winning and all that.”

When George interjected to observe that the Kings have built “a movement” during the past couple years, snapping a lengthy playoff drought and gaining respectability under head coach Mike Brown, DeRozan agreed.

“That’s definitely one thing you always want to be a part of, is a contagious culture of an organization that wants to win,” DeRozan said. “When I looked at all that, I just felt like it fit. It was a big key piece that I felt like I could bring from a leadership standpoint and definitely from a skill standpoint that could kind of push us over the edge. It became more and more appealing as I weighed it. I kind of took a while to sign because I just wanted to make sure the next decision I made gave me the best opportunity to win. I’m definitely looking forward to it.”

Asked by George what other teams he considered in free agency, DeRozan identified Philadelphia as one possibility he looked at, though the Sixers may have been eliminated as an option after using most of their cap space to sign George. DeRozan said he also considered another Eastern Conference contender, along with his two hometown teams.

“I was thinking about Philly. Philly definitely was an option. Lakers was an option, always. Clippers was an option. And the Heat was an option,” DeRozan said. “I’d say those teams, for sure, were the real, legitimate options for me, that I was considering.”

The Lakers and Heat are operating right up against the second tax apron, so they would’ve needed to shed salary to acquire DeRozan unless he was willing to take a substantial pay cut.

Davis Bertans Signs With Dubai BC

September 10th, 2024 at 7:47am CST by Luke Adams

Veteran NBA forward Davis Bertans has signed with Dubai Basketball Club, the team announced on social media (Instagram link).

Rumors circulated over the weekend that Bertans was on the verge of heading back overseas and joining Dubai on a multiyear deal that will include NBA outs. The newly formed franchise, which is entering its first season, will compete in the ABA (Adriatic) League in 2024/25.

“Davis Bertans clearly brings exceptional basketball talent to the table,” head coach Jurica Golemac said in a statement. “As an eight-season NBA player with substantial European experience, his arrival underscores the commitment and ambition of our project, while also greatly enhancing the credibility of our newly established franchise.”

The 42nd overall pick in the 2011 NBA draft, Bertans played in his home country of Latvia in addition to Slovenia, Serbia, and Spain from 2007-16 before eventually making the move stateside. The 6’10” forward began his career with the Spurs, then enjoyed a breakout 2019/20 season in Washington that earned him a five-year, $80MM contract from the Wizards as a free agent in the summer of 2020.

However, Bertans’ production and playing time dipped following the signing of that contract, and he was eventually traded to Dallas in 2022’s Kristaps Porzingis deal before being salary-dumped to Oklahoma City during the 2023 draft when the Thunder moved up for Cason Wallace. Bertans was subsequently sent to Charlotte as the primary salary-matching piece in the Gordon Hayward trade at the 2024 deadline, then was waived by the Hornets earlier this offseason.

Over the course of his eight NBA seasons, Bertans established himself as an extremely dangerous outside shooter, making 39.6% of his career three-point attempts. While his combination of size and floor-spacing ability had value, the 31-year-old didn’t bring a whole lot else to the table. He averaged 7.7 points and 2.4 rebounds in 18.0 minutes per game across 475 career regular season contests (41 starts).

Bertans had been planning to work out for the Warriors in the hopes of receiving an opportunity to compete for a roster spot, but will forgo that opportunity in favor of guaranteed money in Dubai.

Lakers’ Wood Undergoes Knee Surgery, Out At Least Eight Weeks

September 9th, 2024 at 3:00pm CST by Luke Adams

Lakers big man Christian Wood underwent a successful arthroscopic surgical procedure on his left knee on Monday, the team announced today.

According to the Lakers, Wood will be reevaluated in approximately eight weeks. That timeline indicates he’ll miss all of training camp and the preseason, as well as the start of the regular season. He’ll remain sidelined until at least early November, if not longer.

It’s the second procedure Wood has undergone on that troublesome knee this year. His 2023/24 season came to an early end when he was sidelined by a left knee injury in February that forced him to undergo arthroscopic surgery in March. The veteran forward/center was technically cleared to play in the final two games of the Lakers’ first-round series vs. Denver, but the club opted not to use him after such a long layoff.

After signing a two-year, minimum-salary contract with Los Angeles a year ago, Wood played a limited role for the team in his first year in L.A., averaging 6.9 points and 5.1 rebounds in 17.4 minutes per game (50 games). His shooting percentages – 46.6% from the floor and 30.7% on three-pointers – were well below his career rates.

On the heels of a down year, it came as no surprise when the 28-year-old exercised his minimum-salary player option for 2024/25, guaranteeing his $3.04MM salary for the coming season.

Today’s Wood news is the second discouraging health update out of Laker Land within the past few days. A recent report indicated that forward Jarred Vanderbilt isn’t as far along as hoped in his recovery from the foot issue that kept him on the shelf for much of last season. However, with no formal word on that front from the team or the player, that should still be treated as a rumor for now.

With Wood unavailable to open the season, Anthony Davis and Jaxson Hayes figure to handle the brunt of the minutes at center for the Lakers.

Cavaliers Officially Sign Tristan Thompson, JT Thor

September 9th, 2024 at 12:02pm CST by Luke Adams

SEPTEMBER 11: Thompson’s agreement is a one-year, non-guaranteed deal, sources inform Michael Scotto of HoopsHype (Twitter link).

SEPTEMBER 9: A pair of previously reported Cavaliers signings are official, according to the transaction log at NBA.com, which lists center Tristan Thompson and forward JT Thor as having completed their respective deals with the team.

Thompson, whose signing was also announced in a press release posted to the Cavaliers’ website, reportedly inked a one-year contract with the club. While the full details have yet to be confirmed, it’s believed to be a minimum-salary deal that’s either partially or fully guaranteed.

The fourth overall pick in the 2011 draft, Thompson spent his first nine NBA seasons with the Cavaliers before bouncing around the league and spending time with the Celtics, Kings, Pacers, Bulls, and Lakers from 2020-23. He returned to Cleveland last season, signing a one-year contract with the club almost exactly a year ago and appearing in 49 games in 2023/24.

Once a fixture in the Cavs’ starting lineup and one of the NBA’s top rebounders, Thompson played a limited role last season, contributing 3.3 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 1.0 assist in just 11.2 minutes per contest during the regular season.

The 33-year-old, who was suspended for 25 games from January to March for an SPED (steroids and performance enhancing drugs) violation, averaged only 8.7 MPG in 10 postseason appearances off the bench. However, the team is said to value his veteran leadership in the locker room.

Thor has signed a two-way contract with Cleveland, joining Emoni Bates and Luke Travers as the three players filling the club’s two-way slots.

The 37th overall pick in the 2021 draft, Thor spent the first three years of his career in Charlotte. He averaged 3.2 points and 2.1 rebounds in 165 games (11 starts; 12.2 MPG) with the Hornets from 2021-24, then became an unrestricted free agent this summer when the team turned down its option for 2024/25 and declined to issue him a qualifying offer.

Thor, a former Auburn standout, played for South Sudan’s national team at the Paris Olympics this summer, averaging 6.7 points and 4.7 rebounds in 16.5 minutes per game as the club went 1-2 in pool play, failing to advance to the single-elimination round.

The Cavs now have 16 players under contract, with 13 on standard deals and three on two-way pacts. Isaac Okoro, the NBA’s lone remaining restricted free agent, is the favorite to fill the 14th spot on the standard roster. Cleveland will likely keep the 15th spot open to start the season to maximize flexibility and save some money.

Hornets’ Vasilije Micic Dismisses Trade Rumors

September 8th, 2024 at 9:01am CST by Arthur Hill

Serbian point guard Vasilije Micic confirmed that he will remain with the Hornets and dismissed offseason trade speculation, according to Johnny Askounis of Eurohoops. Speaking to the media after a mural dedication ceremony in Belgrade, Micic said he is looking forward to the start of training camp with the team.

“I am staying in Charlotte. That is official,” he said. “All these rumors out there, I did not want to comment until something concrete. Probably, there was some interest, but nothing enough for me to comment. I am happy they want me here and I think the next season will be more productive for me.”

The Hornets acquired Micic at the February trade deadline in the deal that sent Gordon Hayward to Oklahoma City. He appeared in 30 games after the trade, making 21 starts and averaging 10.8 points, 2.1 rebounds and 6.2 assists while shooting 43.7% from the field and just 29.4% from three-point range.

Micic will likely be moved to a reserve role this season as LaMelo Ball returns from ankle tendinopathy. Micic came off the bench in all 30 games he played for OKC.

Last year was the first NBA season for the 30-year-old, who was taken 52nd overall by Philadelphia as a draft and stash pick in 2014. He was a star in the EuroLeague for several years, mainly for Anadolu Efes in Turkey.

There have been rumors over the summer that the Nuggets may have interest in acquiring Micic to team him up with countryman Nikola Jokic. They have played together on the Serbian national team for several years and captured a bronze medal at the Paris Olympics.

“I would like to play with Jokic, but I do not know what will happen,” Micic said. “I think I need one more year to show what I can do in the United States. Whatever you do outside American soil, they still only trust players proven in the USA. So, I think that one season with a trade and two solid months is not enough for a team of such caliber to be sure to bring me in. But maybe next season. We will see.”

Micic will make $7.7MM this season, and the Hornets hold an $8.1MM option for 2025/26. He will become a free agent next summer if the team decides not to exercise that option.

Bulls Sign E.J. Liddell To Exhibit 10 Contract

September 7th, 2024 at 4:00pm CST by Tristan Tucker

4:00pm: The signing is official, according to RealGM’s transaction log. It’s an Exhibit 10 deal, Hoops Rumors can confirm.

11:30am: The Bulls have agreed to a contract with forward E.J. Liddell, according to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype (Twitter link). While the details of the contract aren’t yet known, it’s probably safe to assume it’s an Exhibit 10 deal, with Chicago having also signed Talen Horton-Tucker and Kenneth Lofton Jr. to such contracts in recent weeks.

Liddell, the No. 41 pick in the 2022 draft, spent two years with the Pelicans. He missed what would have been his rookie season in 2022/23 with a knee injury before playing eight games with New Orleans last season.

This offseason, Liddell was moved to the Hawks as part of the trade that sent Dejounte Murray to the Pelicans. He was then re-routed to the Suns before being waived.

In 29 G League games last season, Liddell averaged 17.3 points, 8.0 rebounds and 1.8 blocks while shooting 50.8% from the floor and 27.0% from deep. The Ohio State product averaged 14.1 points across 92 career collegiate games as well.

If Liddell’s contract is an Exhibit 10 deal, he’ll be competing for one of the Bulls’ last remaining roster spots. As noted above, Chicago has Horton-Tucker and Lofton alongside Marcus Domask on training camp contracts. Chicago has 15 players on standard contracts but Onuralp Bitim‘s contract is non-guaranteed. The Bulls also have one two-way spot open.

It looks as though the Bulls are fielding an open competition heading into training camp. Bitim will battle to hold his 15th spot on the roster while the Exhibit 10 players compete for either that spot or the Bulls’ open two-way. It’s important to note that Liddell, Lofton and Domask are eligible for two-way deals while Horton-Tucker is not.