Brandon Jennings Signs 10-Day Deal With Bucks
MARCH 11, 12:04pm: The signing is official, according to a tweet from the Bucks.
MARCH 10, 2:37pm: Brandon Jennings will sign a 10-day contract with his original team, the Bucks, tweets Marc J. Spears of The Undefeated. The Bucks do not have an open roster spot, which means the team will need to waive a player to make room for Jennings.
Jennings, 28, signed a G League deal on Feb. 13 and was promptly signed by the Bucks’ affiliate, Wisconsin Herd. In five games with the Herd, Jennings showed flashes of his past success, averaging 20.4 PPG, 8.0 APG, and 4.8 RPG in 37.4 minutes per contest.
“Blessed and grateful for a second chance coming from a franchise where it all started,” Jennings said to The Undefeated (Twitter link).
The Compton, California, native spent his first four NBA seasons with the Bucks, averaging 17.0 PPG and 5.7 APG in 291 games. Jennings was shipped to the Pistons in 2013, where he played well in parts of two seasons; a ruptured left Achilles tendon in Jan. 2015 altered his career.
Jennings has not averaged double-digits in scoring since the injury and has suited up for four teams the past two seasons. His last NBA stint came with the Wizards last season, averaging a career-worst 3.5 PPG in 23 games.
The former 10th overall pick started the 2017/18 season with the Shanxi Brave Dragons of the Chinese Basketball Association but was waived in early December.
Atlantic Notes: Hornacek, Raptors, Bolden, Hayes
Knicks coach Jeff Hornacek admires the continuity the Raptors have maintained in rising to the top spot in the East, writes Al Iannazzone of Newsday. Toronto’s All-Star backcourt of DeMar DeRozan and Kyle Lowry has been together for five seasons, along with center Jonas Valanciunas, and Dwane Casey has been the coach the whole time.
“Since we’re playing Toronto, you could use them as a great example,” Hornacek said. “They were a pretty decent team, but you look back three years ago, they were talking about blowing that team up. They’ve stayed with it. They’ve stayed with those guys. Now, three years later, they look like one of the best teams in the league because now they have a lot of familiarity with each other.”
Over that same five-year stretch, New York had four coaches and 130 starting lineups, with 13 of those this season. Only six current Knicks were with the team last year, and just three of them are currently active.
There’s more from the Atlantic Division:
- The way he has handled all that chaos over the past two seasons should earn Hornacek another year as Knicks coach, argues Stefan Bondy of The New York Daily News. Hornacek has one year left on his contract, and with Kristaps Porzingis likely sidelined until at least December, Bondy thinks it may be wise to let Hornacek deal with another losing season rather than bring a new coach into that environment.
- Jonah Bolden‘s Israeli team wants to hold onto him for another season, according to Emiliano Carchia of Sportando. A second-round pick by the Sixers last summer, Bolden has a $650K opt-out clause in his contract, but Maccabi Tel Aviv has contacted Philadelphia officials about leaving him overseas for one more year.
- Raptors forward Nigel Hayes has spent the past year improving his outside shot to help his chances at sticking on an NBA roster, writes Doug Smith of The Toronto Star. Questions about his shooting contributed to Hayes going undrafted out of Wisconsin, but he has hit 45% from long distance in the G League. He hopes to capitalize on his latest chance, a 10-day contract with Toronto. “When I’m out there on the court, when I’m given opportunity, I’m not only playing for them,” he said of the Raptors. “There’s 29 other [NBA] teams that are watching and seeing my improvements and what I can do, or how I can be an asset to their team.”
L.A. Notes: LeBron, Lakers, Gallinari, Thornwell
- With the playoffs slipping out of reach, the Lakers will spend the rest of this season deciding which free agents they want to keep, states Eric Pincus of Bleacher Report. With only five players under contract for 2018/19, Brook Lopez, Isaiah Thomas and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope will be among those auditioning for jobs, as will Channing Frye if he returns after an appendectomy.
- Clippers forward Danilo Gallinari will have his right hand examined next week to determine if he needs surgery, tweets Tomer Azarly of Clutch Points. Gallinari added that swelling and discoloration in the hand have subsided since he suffered a non-displaced fracture late last month. Gallinari is averaging 15.9 points per night, but has been limited to 19 games by a variety of injuries.
- Rookie Clippers guard Sindarius Thornwell made his first start in nearly three months Friday and responded with a career-high 14 points in a win over the Cavaliers, notes Broderick Turner of The Los Angeles Times. Thornwell’s playing time had slipped as the team tried out two-way guards C.J. Williams and Tyrone Wallace, but he was ready when coach Doc Rivers called on him to match up with James. “I guess it’s just Doc’s way of seeing if I’m ready to play,” Thornwell said. “He just wants to see if I’m focused and locked in. But my starts are always on somebody tough.”
Central Notes: Cavaliers, Osman, Teletovic, Payne
Today will bring the Cavaliers’ first look at Isaiah Thomas since trading him to the Lakers last month, notes Joe Vardon of Cleveland.com. Thomas became a scapegoat for all that went wrong in Cleveland through the first half of this season. He was expected to take the place of Kyrie Irving as one of the centerpieces of the deal with the Celtics, but a lingering hip injury, poor shooting and a questionable effort on defense caused the Cavs to unload him as part of a roster makeover at the deadline.
There weren’t many people in Cleveland who were sad to see Thomas leave, but former teammate Jeff Green still maintains a relationship with him.
“I wanted him to do well,” Green said. “I watched him from his early on days in Sacramento and Phoenix. And what he did in Boston was remarkable for that organization, and I wanted him to succeed. I wanted him to get what he deserves, and also, that max deal and being on a winning team and winning a championship. But, you know, it didn’t happen, it didn’t work out, and I’m still rooting for him to do well. Just not against us.”
There’s more news from the Central Division:
- Cavaliers forward Cedi Osman will be sidelined for about two weeks with a left hip flexor strain, the team announced on its website. An MRI confirmed the damage Saturday after the injury forced him out of Friday’s game with the Clippers.
- The Bucks will have to wait until November to petition the league for salary cap relief involving Mirza Teletovic, writes Matt Velasquez of The Journal Sentinel. Milwaukee can seek to have the $10.5MM Teletovic will make next season removed from its cap because of a medically induced retirement. However, the team must wait a year from the last game he played, which was November 7. Teletovic had arthroscopic surgery on his left knee later that month, which is when doctors discovered blood clots in his lungs.
- Bulls guard Cameron Payne is trying to erase the negative perception that many Chicago fans have after his poor play last season, relays K.C. Johnson of The Chicago Tribune. Payne was a disappointment in 11 games after being acquired from the Thunder, then was sidelined until February 22 of this season following foot surgery. “I think I’ve played well,” Payne said. “Obviously I had a couple bad shooting days. But I feel the second unit has been playing pretty good. But we’re not winning so it really doesn’t matter.”
Mavericks Notes: Hopson, Nowitzki, Mejri, Matthews
As expected, the Mavericks opted not to offer a second 10-day contract to shooting guard Scotty Hopson, according to Eddie Sefko of The Dallas Morning News. Hopson appeared in just one game and played eight minutes during his time in Dallas.
The open roster spot will be used to extend a 10-day deal to Jameel Warney, possibly today. The 6’9″ power forward/center has been playing in the G League, averaging 19.8 points and 9.5 rebounds for the Texas Legends.
There’s more this morning from Dallas:
- Coach Rick Carlisle told reporters Saturday there’s a good chance that Dirk Nowitzki will return for a 21st season, Sefko relays in a separate story. Carlisle said he hasn’t talked to Nowitzki about the topic, but there are reasons to believe he will be back. “At this point, it looks promising that he’ll play another year,” Carlisle said. “But it’s his decision and he’s got to think of everything involved. I’m personally 100 percent supportive of it because you just don’t want to see a guy like this go away. So we’ll see. Time will tell.” Nowitzki, who said in December that he’s leaning toward another season, is averaging 12.4 points in 65 games.
- The Mavericks may face a tricky market for center Salah Mejri this summer, Sefko states in another piece. Mejri has shown he can be a valuable backup, but his effectiveness is limited to about 15 to 20 minutes per game. Some team may be willing to offer the $3.5MM bi-annual exception or even the $4.5MM room exception, which may be more than the Mavs want to pay. They like Dwight Powell more and may land a center in the draft, so Mejri’s return for next season seems iffy.
- Wesley Matthews is likely to be back for another season in Dallas, Sefko adds in the same story. He has a player option worth more than $18.6MM and doesn’t want to leave before helping turn the Mavericks around.
- The NBA may choose to use the NFL’s punishment of Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott as a model in sanctioning Mavericks owner Mark Cuban, writes Tim Cowlishaw of The Dallas Morning News. The sexual misconduct allegations against the team’s front office and Cuban’s alleged sexual abuse in Oregon could cause commissioner Adam Silver to send a message with a harsh sanction, Cowlishaw adds.
Community Shootaround: NCAA Tournament Prospects
Our focus at Hoops Rumors is always on the NBA, but the rest of the basketball world will be concentrating on the college game for the next few weeks. Casual fans of the NCAA may be getting their first look at some of the top players who have been filling up mock drafts throughout the winter.
It appears that for the third straight season, the No. 1 pick won’t be in the tournament. Scouts say Slovenian star Luka Doncic has an NBA-ready game, and he may be the safest choice in June. However, there will be plenty of lottery picks on display when the tourney kicks off this week.
Here are a few names to consider when filling out your brackets:
- DeAndre Ayton, Arizona — The seven-footer is second behind Doncic in the latest mock draft compiled by Jonathan Givony of ESPN. Ayton brings a major presence on both ends of the court and is averaging 19.9 points, 11.3 rebounds and 1.9 blocks per game. The Wildcats are in the Pac 12 finals tonight and appear to be headed for a top four seed.
- Marvin Bagley III, Duke — Bagley is another imposing inside presence who may be able to succeed at center or power forward in the NBA. He is averaging 21.1 points and 11.5 rebounds per night while shooting better than 60% from the field for a Blue Devils team that will also be among the top seeds.
- Mo Bamba, Texas — This year’s draft is rich in big men, and Bamba may be the most imposing of them all, at least on defense. He averaged 3.7 blocks per game this year to go with 12.9 points and 10.4 rebounds. The Longhorns were a second-round loser in the Big 12 tournament, but appear to be safe for an NCAA bid.
- Jaren Jackson, Michigan State — Another intimidating big man, Jackson blocked 3.2 shots per game while scoring 11.3 points and pulling down 5.8 rebounds. He shoots nearly 40% from 3-point range, a quality that teams are looking for in a modern center.
- Michael Porter Jr., Missouri — Porter was one of the top recruits in the nation last summer and may have had a shot at being the top pick if not for a back injury that wiped out nearly his entire season. He returned for the SEC Tournament and could have an even greater presence once the NCAAs begin.
- The nation’s top two point guards could both have nervous waits tomorrow as the field of 68 is unveiled. Collin Sexton‘s Alabama team may have secured a late bid by beating Auburn on Friday, while Trae Young‘s Oklahoma team is on the bubble after a second-half slump.
We want to get your input. Which players are you most looking forward to watching under the March Madness spotlight? Jump into the comments section below and give us your feedback.
Bucks Waiving Mirza Teletovic
The Bucks will make room on their roster for Brandon Jennings by waiving forward Mirza Teletovic, the team announced on its website.
Teletovic, 32, was limited to 10 games this season by a medical condition diagnosed as pulmonary emboli in both lungs. He had a similar health scare three years ago when he developed multiple blood clots in his lungs.
Teletovic issued a statement last week denying that his career was over, but it’s uncertain if he could get medical clearance to ever play again. He had been participating in supervised workouts at the Bucks’ facility in hopes of returning to the court.
“The health of our players is our primary concern,” GM Jon Horst said in announcing the move. “The Bucks and Mirza Teletovic, in consultation with team doctors and other physicians, have been working together since December to evaluate and manage Mirza’s situation. As a result of the overall evaluation that we’ve gone through, at this time we are both moving on. We appreciate all of Mirza’s contributions to the Bucks organization and our community. We wish him a lifetime of good health with his family.”
Teletovic was in his second year in Milwaukee after signing as a free agent in the summer of 2016. He has one more season left on his contract at $10.5MM, but the Bucks may petition the league to remove that money from their cap, similar to what the Heat did with Chris Bosh.
Teletovic was a valuable reserve during his first season with the team, averaging 6.4 points in 70 games. He also played for the Nets and Suns in a six-year NBA career.
A report surfaced earlier today that the Bucks plan to sign Jennings to a 10-day deal, but a roster spot had to be opened before that could happen.
NBA G League Assignments/Recalls: 3/10/18
Here are Saturday’s G League moves from around the NBA:
- The Raptors assigned Nigel Hayes and Alfonzo McKinnie to their Raptors 905 affiliate for today’s game against Canton, according to a tweet from the G League team.
- The Knicks sent Isaiah Hicks to their Westchester affiliate for tonight’s game in Milwaukee, the team announced (Twitter link).
- The Pacers assigned Alex Poythress to their Fort Wayne affiliate, according to a post on the team website.
- The Thunder recalled Dakari Johnson from Oklahoma City Blue, the team announced in an email.
Hoops Rumors Originals: 3/3/18 – 3/10/18
Every week, the writing team here at Hoops Rumors creates original content to complement the news feed. Here are our original segments and features from the past seven days:
- We unveiled our updated Free Agent Power Rankings with LeBron James and Kevin Durant still holding the top two spots.
- The Hawks were the latest team to be profiled in our Stock Watch Series.
- Luke Adams identified the five teams with cap room remaining and two others that could get there by renouncing their exceptions.
- In this week’s Community Shootaround Series, we asked:
- What should the Cavaliers do with their open roster spots?
- Which coaches should be replaced after the season?
- Who are the favorites for the Coach of the Year award?
- We run down the status of traded picks in this year’s draft.
- We look ahead at maximum salary projections for next season.
- Luke Adams examined teams with Disabled Player Exceptions, which will expire if they’re not used by Monday.
- Chris Crouse passed along some late-season advice for fantasy basketball.
- This week’s Mailbag addressed questions on Anthony Davis, Kawhi Leonard, the draft lottery and Doc Rivers.
Five Key Stories: 3/3/18 – 3/10/18
In case you missed any of the past week’s top stories from around the Association, we have you covered with our Week in Review. Below are the most noteworthy stories from the last seven days.
The long layoff for point guard Derrick Rose ended Thursday when the Timberwolves signed him for the rest of the season. The move reunites him with Tom Thibodeau, who coached him in Chicago, along with several former Bulls players. Rose spent a month out of the league after being waived by Utah following a trade at the deadline.
The NBA issued a warning to the Bulls about resting healthy players. Chicago stuck center Robin Lopez and guard Justin Holiday on the bench while launching a youth movement, but the league determined that the move violated a new regulation adopted last summer.
Arizona center Deandre Ayton became the first major star to declare for this year’s draft. In the wake of a scandal at the school over accusations involving payments to players, Ayton, Rawle Alkins and Allonzo Trier all decided to enter the draft. Ayton is considered a possible No. 1 pick.
Kawhi Leonard tried to calm rumors of unrest in San Antonio, saying he wants to finish his career in San Antonio and announcing that he hopes to start playing again soon. A quad injury has limited Leonard to nine games this season. He can become a free agent in the summer of 2019.
Celtics forward Gordon Hayward is still holding onto hope that he can play this season. Hayward has spent the last five months rehabbing from a severe ankle injury he suffered on opening night.
Here are 10 more headlines from last week:
- Brandon Jennings returned to the NBA on a 10-day deal with the Bucks.
- Derrick Williams, the second player taken in the 2011 draft, signed a 10-day contract with the Lakers.
- The Magic signed Rodney Purvis for 10 days and waived Rashad Vaughn.
- Georgios Papagiannis, a first-round pick by the Kings two years ago, signed a 10-day deal with the Trail Blazers.
- Nigel Hayes inked a 10-day contract with the Raptors.
- G League guard Xavier Rathan-Mayes got a 10-day deal from the Grizzlies.
- The Bulls are considering a contract extension for forward Bobby Portis this summer.
- The Pelicans were relieved when an MRI on Anthony Davis showed he just has a sprained ankle.
- Hornets guard Michael Carter-Williams was ruled out for the remainder of the season with a posterior labral tear in his left shoulder.
- An ankle sprain will keep Cavaliers center Tristan Thompson out of action for about two weeks.