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NBA D-League Assignments/Recalls: 11/28/16

November 28th, 2016 at 11:00pm CST by Luke Adams

Here are Monday’s D-League assignments and recalls from around the NBA:

11:00pm:

The Nets have assigned forward Anthony Bennett to their Long Island affiliate, the team announced in a press release. He has played 10 games for Brooklyn, averaging 5.3 points and 2.6 rebounds per night.

2:32pm:

The Warriors have recalled rookie center Damian Jones from the D-League, the team announced today in a press release. It’s not clear if Jones is ready to make his NBA debut quite yet, or if he’s just being called up to practice with Golden State for now.
A day after he was on the receiving end of an emphatic dunk by Wayne Selden, forward Rakeem Christmas has been recalled by the Pacers, according to a team release. Christmas contributed 18 points and seven boards to the Fort Wayne Mad Ants’ win on Sunday.
The Magic have assigned rookie center Stephen Zimmerman to the Erie BayHawks, the team announced today (via Twitter). A second-round pick in June, Zimmerman has only appeared in two regular season games so far for Orlando.
Chris McCullough continues to be shuttled back and forth between the Brooklyn Nets and the Long Island Nets. The team announced today in a press release that he has been sent back to the D-League, where he has appeared in four games so far for Long Island, averaging 17.5 PPG and 6.5 RPG.

NBA D-League Assignments/Recalls: 11/27/16

November 27th, 2016 at 7:21pm CST by Arthur Hill

Here are Sunday’s D-League assignments and recalls from around the NBA:

Forwards Anthony Bennett and Chris McCullough were recalled by the Nets after being assigned to Long Island earlier today for the D-League team’s game against Grand Rapids, the team announced in an email. Bennett had 22 points, eight rebounds and five assists, while McCullough put up 15 points and nine rebounds.
The Raptors have recalled Jakob Poeltl, Bruno Caboclo and Fred VanVleet from Raptors 905, according to The Toronto Sun. All three had been sent down to participate in Satuday’s game against Maine.
The Spurs assigned rookie guards Dejounte Murray, Bryn Forbes and Nicolas Laprovittola to Austin, writes Tom Orsborn of The San Antonio News-Express. They are expected to be recalled in time for San Antonio’s game on Tuesday.
The Pelicans have recalled rookie forward Cheick Diallo from Austin, the team announced in an email. He has played six games in the D-League and just one for New Orleans.
The Mavericks recalled rookie center A.J. Hammons from the Texas Legends, according to an email from the team. He was assigned Saturday for a game against Salt Lake in which he scored eight points and grabbed four rebounds.
The Bulls have recalled forward/center Cristiano Felicio and guards Jerian Grant and R.J. Hunter from their Windy City affiliate, the team announced in an email.

Atlantic Notes: Noel, Knicks, Noah, Bennett

November 20th, 2016 at 6:06pm CST by Arthur Hill

Injured forward Nerlens Noel met with Sixers coach Brett Brown on Saturday to discuss the tam’s plans for him when he returns, writes Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer. Noel had surgery October 24th because of inflamed tissue above his left knee and has been doing rehab work in Alabama. He returned to Philadelphia on Friday to begin team-supervised workouts. “I’m not able right now to lay out the perfect road map to everybody,” Brown said. “But it was a great conversation. It was good to see him as we always do with our players and me with Nerlens. I’ve been with him a long time. It’s very clear and candid what his role and what’s going to happen. How are we going to try to make it work.”

There’s more from the Atlantic Division:

The Knicks had a team meeting Saturday with coaches and president Phil Jackson to discuss some early-season issues, according to Stefan Bondy of The New York Daily News. Carmelo Anthony called the meeting productive, and said Jackson didn’t speak. “Nah, he actually just listened this time,” Anthony said, “which is good.”
Joakim Noah understands that his first month in a Knicks uniform has been disappointing, relays Ian Begley of ESPN.com. The free agent center, who came to New York on a four-year, $72MM deal, has seen his playing time decrease lately as coach Jeff Hornacek relies more on a small-ball lineup. “There’s still things I feel like I need to do a lot better,” Noah said. “I’m not happy with where I am right now. I feel like I can definitely play better, but I’m not going to get frustrated with the process. I’m giving everything I’ve got and looking forward to being better with this team, but not being frustrated with the process.”
Nets coach Kenny Atkinson is being rewarded for his faith in former overall number one pick Anthony Bennett, according to NetsDaily.com. Bennett turned in two good performances this week, including 12 points in 21 minutes Friday night. “It was just an opportunity [for him],” said Atkinson, who urged Brooklyn’s front office to give Bennett a chance. “We look at practice and we look at how he’s been working, how he’s been doing and I felt like he deserved an opportunity.”

New York Notes: Bennett, Rose, Randle, Lin

October 11th, 2016 at 2:48pm CST by Luke Adams

Since joining the Nets, former No. 1 overall pick Anthony Bennett has described the team as a good fit for him and has talked about attempting to revitalize his career in Brooklyn. However, the situation isn’t just a good one for Bennett — it could also pay off for the Nets if the forward can deliver on the promise he showed as a prospect.

“It’s double-edge. We both have really good opportunities, and that’s the way we look at it,” said Nets head coach Kenny Atkinson, per Brian Lewis of The New York Post. “Anthony Bennett is showing some real life as a rotation big, and he’s pushing for minutes. He did a lot of good things. He’s a system fit: He’s fast, he’s athletic, he’s long, he can roll to the rim, he can shoot. I’m tempering my enthusiasm, but I really like what we saw the other night. He really fits the modern NBA, runs the court.”

As we wait to see whether Bennett can provide positive value in Brooklyn, let’s check in on a few more notes from out of the Big Apple…

According to an Associated Press report (via ESPN.com), the judge in Derrick Rose‘s civil trial said on Tuesday that he’s considering a mistrial, suggesting that the plaintiff’s lawyers have been “unbelievably careless” in production of exhibits. If there’s a mistrial, a new trial would likely happen during the NBA’s regular season, further complicating matters for Rose and the Knicks.
Chasson Randle chose the Knicks over the Thunder as a free agent this summer, a source tells Marc Berman of The New York Post. As Berman details, head coach Jeff Hornacek and star forward Carmelo Anthony have both praised Randle, who is vying for New York’s final regular-season roster spot.
A year before they signed Jeremy Lin to a three-year, $36MM contract, the Nets had targeted the free agent point guard with their mini mid-level exception, sources tell Mike Mazzeo of ESPN.com. However, Lin said Brooklyn was “never legitimately a contender in terms of where I wanted to go” in 2015. In 2016, that changed, as Mazzeo outlines in an interesting piece.
In a piece for the New York Post, Lewis examines Nets offseason addition Joe Harris, who signed with Brooklyn after spending time with the Cavaliers.

Atlantic Notes: Bennett, Lowry, Bradley

October 8th, 2016 at 11:45am CST by Eddie Scarito

Anthony Bennett is hoping to salvage his NBA career with the Nets this season. In an interview with Oliver Maroney of Basketball Insiders, Bennett addressed his individual goals for the season, telling the scribe, “I just want to come in and become a part of the Nets family. My work ethic is something that I want to speak for itself. I want to show my ability to lead by example, a skill I got through playing with Team Canada. This year, one of my goals is to have fun with the game again. And I want to represent the city of Brooklyn and the Brooklyn Nets the best I can on and off the court.”

In response to a question about why he believed Brooklyn would be a good fit for him, Bennett told Maroney, “Our mix of youth and experience is something that makes us unique. We have good chemistry, everybody seems to be unselfish and is playing the game the right way. I just want to fit in the best I can with the team, starting with my defense and rebounding. My offensive game will be an extension of those things.”

Here’s more from the Atlantic Division:

Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony was reportedly never a fan of Jeremy Lin‘s when the two were teammates. When asked about Lin potentially becoming the face of the Nets franchise, ‘Melo may have taken a veiled shot at the point guard, Ian Begley of ESPN.com writes. “What do I think about it? … He is the face of that franchise, believe it or not. He came up, they paid him and now the ball is in his hands,” Anthony said. “So now he’s one of the franchise players over there. What do you want me to say about that? I’m happy for him, excited for him to see how it’s going to work out, turn out over there.” The wording in question is the “believe it or not” portion of the statement, Begley adds. It should be noted that during the same interview, Anthony said that he’d love to have Line back with the Knicks.
Given the current economics around the NBA, it should come as no surprise that Kyle Lowry intends to opt out of his deal with the Raptors at season’s end, writes Doug Smith of The Toronto Star. The scribe also classifies the point guard as a “young 30-years-old,” given that he was a reserve for a large portion of his career.
Avery Bradley has made his name in the NBA as a tenacious defender, but the Celtics guard wants to change the perception that he’s limited offensively, Chris Forsberg of ESPN.com relays. “I want people to see me as a two-way player,” said Bradley. “A defensive player and an offensive player. It’s fun, man. That’s what the game is supposed to be about: always wanting to get better, be the best you can be. I hold myself to that every single summer, every single year. I’m just trying to improve. I love the game of basketball so much. I have a lot of goals for myself. I want to make sure I compete every single day.“

New York Notes: Wroten, Hernangomez, Bennett

August 19th, 2016 at 12:55pm CST by Arthur Hill

The Knicks had long-term plans for point guard Tony Wroten when they signed him in mid-March, Charley Rosen of Today’s Fastbreak reveals in the latest installment of “The Phil Jackson Chronicles.” Wroten, who was waived in June after New York traded for Derrick Rose, was originally set to get an extended audition this offseason. Jackson, the team president, said the Knicks signed Wroten during the season rather than waiting for free agency because it wanted to have him available for summer league play.

“Signing Tony now also gives us more time to evaluate him,” Jackson said in March about Wroten, who was recovering from surgery on a partially torn ACL in his right knee. “Can he make it all the way back? Can he grasp our philosophy? Tony is only 22 and, if everything does work out, he certainly fits the description of the type of point guard that we’re looking for. It’s a futuristic move for us. A move that gives us another choice. And it’s one of the things we have to do to find suitable talent.” Wroten never appeared in a game for the Knicks. The Grizzlies claimed him off waivers, then released and later re-signed him.

There’s more news from the Atlantic Division:

Willy Hernangomez, a Spanish center who will face Team USA at the Olympics today, has a chance to be part of the Knicks‘ rotation next season, writes Fred Kerber of The New York Post. That’s the opinion of ESPN’s Fran Fraschilla, who is considered an expert on international basketball. “He does not have ‘starter’ or ‘stardom’ written all over him yet, but he has a chance because of his youth, mobility and size to develop into a good player in time,” Fraschilla said. “If you could find a 6-11 second-round pick who’s only 22 years old and is beginning to prove himself both at the Olympics and in the second-best league in the world in Spain, you’d say it is a bonus for the Knicks.”
Former overall No. 1 pick Anthony Bennett says he likes the “brand new vibe” in Brooklyn as he tries to resurrect his career with the Nets, relays NetsDaily.com. “For the most part, [I’m] going in here with an open mind, no pressure, just going out there and playing,” Bennett says in a new video posted on YouTube. Bennett signed a two-year deal that will pay him a guaranteed $1,015,696 this season and $1,087,745 if he’s on the roster for opening night in 2017.

Nets Notes: Bennett, Marks, Lin

July 21st, 2016 at 10:15am CST by Will Joseph

Anthony Bennett‘s two-year deal with the Nets is a low-risk, high-reward gamble for Brooklyn, considering the team has few draft picks, Brian Lewis of the New York Post details. Bennett will make a guaranteed $1,015,696 this season and another $1,087,745 if he’s on the roster opening night 2017, Lewis reports. The former No. 1 overall pick is focused on sharpening his rebounding and using his athleticism on defense, but Bennett’s confidence must also improve for him to stick, Lewis writes.

Here’s more out of Brooklyn:

The Nets enter their fifth season in Brooklyn still lacking an identity, but instead of depending on aging stars with large contracts, the team’s hopes rest in GM Sean Marks‘ and head coach Kenny Atkinson‘s abilities, Seth Berkman of The New York Times writes. Bojan Bogdanovic and Brook Lopez are the only players on the Nets who have played at least two seasons with the team, as Berkman points out.
A significant reason Jeremy Lin joined the Nets was because he wants to prove he can be a full-time starting point guard, Michael Scotto of The Associated Press relays. “That’s a huge thing for me because in free agency I kind of said I want to see how great I can become,” Lin said. “I’ve played a lot of different roles, I’ve sacrificed for a lot of teams I’ve been on in the past. I’ve taken smaller roles to try to help the team succeed. Now I have that chance to take a much bigger role and be a much bigger part.”

Atlantic Notes: Kaun, Sixers, Raptors, Nets

July 17th, 2016 at 4:45pm CST by Will Joseph

In a move that was expected, the Sixers announced they waived Sasha Kaun days after acquiring him. The Sixers acquired Kaun in a deal from the Cavs on Friday. Kaun, 31, played his college ball at Kansas and was selected with the 56th overall pick in the 2008 NBA draft. Kaun agreed to a two-year contract with the Cavaliers last summer, and still has one season remaining on that deal — he’s owed $1,333,420 in 2016/17. In his lone season in Cleveland, Kaun didn’t see much action, averaging only 3.8 minutes in 25 games.

Here’s more from the Atlantic Division:

The Celtics, who have 13 players under guaranteed contracts if restricted free agent Tyler Zeller is not included, may have an opening on their roster because first-round picks Guerschon Yabusele and Ante Zizic are expected to stay overseas, Gary Washburn of the Boston Globe writes. Boston GM Danny Ainge said a decision should be made this week, Washburn relays.
The first year of Anthony Bennett‘s two-year deal with the Nets is guaranteed, but the second is not, Eric Pincus of Basketball Insiders tweets.
The Nets‘ Plan B after their offers for Tyler Johnson and Allen Crabbe were matched has not looked especially pretty and it seems new Nets GM Sean Marks had to scramble after his initial plan fell through, Joel Brigham of Basketball Insiders opines.
DeMar DeRozan didn’t bother to meet with other teams and decided to likely take less money to stay with the Raptors, which speaks to his loyalty, Doug Smith of the Toronto Star writes in a mailbag response.

Atlantic Notes: Calderon, Jackson, Sullinger, Bennett

July 15th, 2016 at 10:18am CST by Arthur Hill

Former Knicks point guard Jose Calderon believes he would have been better off as a backup in New York, according to Marc Berman of The New York Post. Calderon, who will turn 35 in September, was shipped to the Bulls last month in the trade that brought back Derrick Rose. Calderon says team president Phil Jackson made the right move in acquiring Rose and thinks he would have performed better with fewer minutes. “Like I said, I was ready for a different role and I was ready for a different role the last couple of years,” Calderon said. “Maybe there wasn’t the player to put ahead of me. I always said I wasn’t the one putting me in the starting role or playing me 35 minutes. It could’ve been a guy like a Derrick Rose and I would’ve been the backup point guard. It’s a tough position to play. You have to know your strengths and weaknesses. I’ve been in the league 12 years and I know what I do best or not do as well. It’s nothing personal. It’s what the team needed. Hopefully it will work better.’’

Calderon, who was later traded from the Bulls to the Lakers, will get his wish to be a reserve in L.A., where he will back up second-year point guard D’Angelo Russell. Currently training for the Olympics with the Spanish National Team, Calderon has one year left on his contract at $7.6MM, and said he hopes to play three more seasons in the NBA.

There’s more from the Atlantic Division:

Jackson issued a challenge to his rebuilt team Thursday on social media, Berman writes in a separate piece. In a pair of tweets, Jackson wrote, “Here’s what: We have brought change to the Knicks team. The real dimension of change is how much the players what to unite in this change” and “It’s not about bonding and being friends, it’s about joining in the effort of playing HARD on every effort. #respect“ (Twitter links). Nine of the 14 players the Knicks currently have under contract weren’t with the team last season.
The chance to win an NBA title meant more than money to Jared Sullinger when he chose the Raptors, writes Doug Smith of The Toronto Star. Sullinger, who became an unrestricted free agent this week when the Celtics pulled their qualifying offer, signed a one-year, $6MM deal with Toronto on Thursday. “Money is great but when it comes to certain situations, money can’t buy you happiness,” Sullinger said. “I think winning keeps you happy when you’re playing an 82-game season. I’ve been through a season where we lost a lot and it’s not a lot of fun.” The Raptors won 56 games this year and reached the Eastern Conference finals.
The Nets will try to get more out of Anthony Bennett than he produced in his first three NBA stops, writes Bud Shaw of Cleveland.com. Shaw contends that former Cavaliers GM Chris Grant’s decision to take Bennett, who reached an agreement Thursday on a deal with Brooklyn, first overall in 2013 was the biggest mistake in the Cavs’ draft history.

Nets, Anthony Bennett Reach Agreement

July 14th, 2016 at 11:37am CST by Luke Adams

Former first overall pick Anthony Bennett has reached an agreement on a new contract with the Nets, reports Shams Charania of The Vertical (Twitter link). According to Charania, it’ll be a two-year, minimum-salary contract, with a guaranteed salary in year one.

Michael Scotto of The Associated Press (Twitter link) first reported that talks between Bennett and the Nets were in the “advanced stages,” with the two sides nearing a deal. He confirms that an agreement is in place, tweeting that the second year features a partial guarantee.

We heard over the weekend that Brooklyn had interest in Bennett, and that wasn’t the first time the team and player had been linked. The former UNLV power forward was invited to the Nets’ mini-camp for free agents in late May and seemingly made a positive impression on the club’s decision-makers. Bennett also

The first player taken in the 2013 draft, Bennett never developed into the sort of player the Cavaliers hoped he would. After one season in Cleveland, Bennett was sent to Minnesota as part of the trade package for Kevin Love. Last season, the Canadian appeared in 19 games for the Raptors, averaging just 4.4 minutes in those contests.

The Nets remain well below the salary floor, and Bennett’s deal will only take up a small portion of the team’s cap room, so the team still has flexibility to spend.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.