David Nwaba Rumors | Hoops Rumors

Lakers Sign David Nwaba To Two-Year Deal

March 21st, 2017 at 5:04pm CST by Luke Adams

5:04pm: The Lakers have officially re-signed Nwaba, the team announced today in a press release.

“We have been impressed by David’s focus and determination, especially on defense,” GM Rob Pelinka said in a statement. “He has a mentality about him that is infectious, and he works hard every day to improve himself. He has brought energy to both our Lakers and D-Fenders games, and has certainly earned his spot on the roster.”

4:19pm: David Nwaba‘s second 10-day contract with the Lakers expired overnight, but the rookie guard won’t have to look for a new NBA home. According to Shams Charania of The Vertical, the Lakers and Nwaba are finalizing a new two-year contract, which will include a team option for 2017/18.

Nwaba, who had been a key contributor for the Lakers’ NBADL affiliate, the Los Angeles D-Fenders, got a call-up to the NBA after the trade deadline. In 10 games with the Lakers so far, the 24-year-old has averaged 3.6 PPG and 2.0 RPG, shooting 48.1% from the floor and contributing solid defense and energy off the bench.

Before he was initially signed by the Lakers, Nwaba was averaging 13.9 PPG and 7.0 RPG in the D-League, and had earned rave reviews for his defense. D-Fenders head coach Coby Karl called the 6’4″ guard “probably the best defender in our league” back in December.

Once Nwaba officially signs his new contract with the Lakers, the team will have 15 players on guaranteed contracts for 2016/17, leaving no open roster spots.

Lakers Sign David Nwaba To Second 10-Day Deal

March 11th, 2017 at 11:39am CST by Austin Kent

The Lakers have signed guard David Nwaba to a second 10-day contract, the team announced via press release on its official website. The move was announced by recently (formally) appointed general manager Rob Pelinka.

In five games with the Lakers over the course of his first 10-day deal, Nwaba averaged 2.6 points in 11.2 minutes per game while showcasing good energy and defense.

In addition to his time with the Lakers this season, the 24-year-old has also played in 39 contests, starting 30 of them, for the club’s D-League affiliate. In 29.0 minutes per game with the D-Fenders, Nwaba has averaged 14.1 points and 6.9 rebounds per game.

Pacific Notes: Durant, Nwaba, Ingram, Kings

March 9th, 2017 at 8:51am CST by Luke Adams

Although the Warriors have a “high level” of optimism that Kevin Durant will be able to get back on the court before the end of the regular season, Durant said that he isn’t even thinking about or targeting a specific return date yet.

“I know that’s what everybody wants to know, and is wondering,” said the Warriors forward, per Sam Amick of USA Today. “But whenever my body tells me I’ll be ready to play then I’ll be ready to play. I’m not really thinking in that frame of mind.”

Here’s more from around the Pacific division:

The Lakers haven’t made a final decision yet, but with David Nwaba‘s 10-day contract set to expire tonight, head coach Luke Walton says he has been impressed by the young swingman, who has done everything he can to earn a second deal (Twitter link via Tania Ganguli of The Los Angeles Times). If the club doesn’t re-sign Nwaba, it will have an opening on its 15-man roster.
The Lakers‘ DeMarcus Cousins talks with Sacramento last month reportedly fell apart when L.A. refused to include Brandon Ingram. With that in mind, Chad Ford and Kevin Pelton of ESPN.com (Insider link) examine whether Ingram, whose production this season has been modest, is a future Lakers star or a potential trade candidate. As Pelton observes, there are plenty of examples of teams that waited too long to trade former lottery picks, so if the Lakers aren’t entirely sold on Ingram’s star potential, it could make sense to consider trading him this summer.
The new-look Kings are still a work in progress, particularly on offense, writes Jason Jones of The Sacramento Bee. As Jones outlines, the offense was centered around DeMarcus Cousins and Rudy Gay in the first half, but with neither player on the floor for the Kings anymore, the retooled squad sometimes looks like “five guys on the court just trying not to step on each other’s toes.”

Pacific Notes: Williams, Nwaba, Watson, Evans

March 1st, 2017 at 10:56pm CST by Arthur Hill

The Lakers need to find a new crunch-time scorer after last week’s trade that sent Lou Williams to the Rockets, writes Mark Medina of The Orange County Register. Williams inherited the job after Kobe Bryant retired, but there’s no clear favorite to take his place. D’Angelo Russell has been productive since Williams left, averaging 23.3 points in the past three games, and he made two 3-pointers in the final minute of Tuesday’s loss to Charlotte. “They still have a problem with scoring down the stretch. As a team, they’ll have to figure out who is their go-to guy,” Williams said. “A few of them have it. But it’s a matter of collectively who they’re going to put the ball in whoever’s hands and live with that guy.”

There’s more tonight from the Pacific Division:

David Nwaba made a positive impression in his first game as a Laker, relays Joey Ramirez of NBA.com. Last fall, Nwaba landed a spot with the Lakers’ D-League affiliate at a tryout, and he signed a 10-day contract on Tuesday. Nwaba, who comes to the NBA with a strong defensive reputation, saw five minutes of playing time late in Tuesday’s game. “It was a good experience,” he said. “I took the challenge. I wasn’t afraid of the challenge. I’m just trying to showcase my skills on the defensive end. I think I did an OK job about it.”
Suns coach Earl Watson believes his team is in need of a tough guy to watch out for its scorers, according to ESPN.com. Watson was angry after Tuesday’s loss in Memphis, particularly about an elbow from Vince Carter that knocked down Devin Booker. Carter was ejected, but Watson said the incident changed the momentum of the game and highlighted the Suns’ need for an enforcer. “We have to find someone in free agency or the first chance we get who can protect our top offensive players,” he said.
Kings guard Tyreke Evans is excited to be back in Sacramento, where he won Rookie of the Year honors seven years ago, writes Shahbaz Khan of NBA.com. Evans, who was part of the deal that sent DeMarcus Cousins to the Pelicans, says he has become a different type of player. “I’m more mature now,” he said. “Now, it’s about me knowing how to make the right play and I think that I’ve gotten better at that.”

Lakers Sign David Nwaba To 10-Day Deal

February 28th, 2017 at 12:26pm CST by ChrisCrouse

FEBRUARY 28: The Lakers have officially signed Nwaba to a 10-day contract, the team announced today in a press release. The team now has a full 15-man roster.

FEBRUARY 27: The Lakers will sign David Nwaba to a 10-day contract, according to Shams Charania of The Vertical. Nwaba is a 6’4″ swingman who’s been playing for Los Angeles’ D-League affiliate. The franchise entered the day with an open roster spot, as the team’s depth chart at Roster Resource indicates, so no corresponding move will be necessary.

In 38 games with the D-Fenders this season, Nwaba is averaging 13.9 points, 7.0 rebounds and 1.1 assists per contest. He’s shooting 64.3% from the field, but just 26.7% from behind the arc. Nwaba’s calling card is his defense. He’s added 1.2 blocks and 1.4 steals per game this season, but his D-League coach believes the stats don’t tell the whole story.

“David Nwaba is probably the best defender in our league,” coach Coby Karl said earlier in the season (via Harrison Faigen of SB Nation). “Defensively he really puts up a stand against guys. He’s just showing that he belongs.”