Suns Waive Keon Johnson
OCTOBER 23: As expected, Phoenix has officially waived Johnson, head coach Frank Vogel confirmed today (Twitter link via Duane Rankin of The Arizona Republic).
“Hope to be able to coach him again someday,” Vogel said of Johnson.
OCTOBER 22: The Suns plan to waive third-year shooting guard Keon Johnson as they deal with roster crunch, reports Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.
Cutting the 21-year-old will allow the team trim its standard roster to the required league maximum of 15 players on standard contracts, Woj adds. Johnson was acquired in the club’s three-team deal with the Trail Blazers and Bucks that landed Jusuf Nurkic and Grayson Allen in Phoenix.
As Bobby Marks of ESPN tweets, Johnson had two years remaining on his deal, though his contract for the 2024/25 season was a team option. Should he clear waivers without being claimed by a rival team, Phoenix will be on the hook to the tune of a $2.8MM cap hit.
Johnson would be eligible for a two-way contract with a new team, but not with the Suns, since his contract was guaranteed for more than $75K (the maximum two-way protection amount).
The 6’5″ swingman out of Tennessee was selected with the No. 21 pick in the 2021 draft, and his rights were acquired by the Clippers in a draft-night trade agreement. Across 77 career NBA games logged between L.A. and Portland, Johnson boasts career per-game averages of 5.9 points, 1.8 assists, 1.6 rebounds, and 0.6 steals, with a shooting line of .362/.343/.659.
Bucks Notes: Middleton, Payne, Beauchamp, Stotts
Bucks forward Khris Middleton, who recently signed a lucrative new three-year contract to remain in Milwaukee, suited up for his lone game of the preseason against the Grizzlies on Friday. Eric Nehm of The Athletic takes a look at the three-time All-Star’s performance.
The 6’7″ vet played scored five points on 2-of-6 shooting across 12 minutes of play, though he did dish out five dimes.
“Felt like I was myself out there,” Middleton said. “Now I just gotta get used to different spots on the floor, the rhythm of the offense (and) the defensive side, too, moving my feet a little bit better. All in all, I thought it was a great night.”
There’s more out of Milwaukee:
- New Bucks reserve point guard Cameron Payne exited Milwaukee’s preseason finale with a right thigh contusion, the club’s PR team has announced (Twitter link). Payne’s status for the team’s regular season opener is unclear.
- Second-year Bucks forward MarJon Beauchamp is getting a rave review from one very important voice, writes Lori Nickel of The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Two-time MVP power forward Giannis Antetokounmpo believes that the Yakima Valley College alum flashed plenty of two-way potential with the team. “Giannis just told me, you have to have that aggressive mentality every time,” Beauchamp said. “Especially on a good team like this … my confidence, it’s up and down. But I heard from the big dog now. I got to stay aggressive. I got to keep working.”
- Former assistant coach Terry Stotts abruptly departed the Bucks bench just days ahead of the club’s season opener. Steve Bulpett of Heavy.com writes that Stotts, who served as the head coach for the Trail Blazers from 2012-21, was expected to be a major contributor to Milwaukee under first-time head coach Adrian Griffin. “It’s not like Boston dropping [Ime] Udoka last year and putting in [Joe] Mazzulla, but Stotts was supposed to have a big role with [the Bucks’] offense,” a source told Bulpett. “It seemed like he was having trouble adjusting to being an assistant again. He was out for two years, he doesn’t need the money. … Maybe it was just a thing where he just wasn’t feeling it.”
Pelicans Claim Matt Ryan Off Waivers
6:37pm: The acquisition of Ryan is now official, per a Pelicans tweet.
4:21pm: Swingman Matt Ryan has been claimed off waivers by the Pelicans, sources tell Shams Charania of The Athletic (Twitter link).
Ryan, who went undrafted out of Chattanooga in 2020, split his 2022/23 season between the Lakers and Timberwolves. The 26-year-old managed to secure a standard roster spot to start the year with the Lakers, but was cut after appearing in just 12 contests with the club.
Ryan quickly agreed to a two-way deal with Minnesota, but played sparingly for the Timberwolves as well. At the NBA level last year, he averaged 3.6 PPG on . 370/.381/.833 shooting splits, 0.8 RPG and 0.5 APG in 34 total games.
Minnesota issued a two-way qualifying offer to Ryan in June, making him a restricted free agent, and he eventually signed that QO. However, he didn’t claim a regular season roster spot and was waived by the Wolves on Friday.
The Pelicans will take on Ryan’s one-year, two-way contract, and won’t have to make a corresponding roster move, since they had an open two-way slot. Ryan joins Dereon Seabron and Kaiser Gates as New Orleans’ two-way players.
Pacific Notes: Hachimura, Lyles, Kuminga, Moody, Little
After having announced that Taurean Prince would serve as the Lakers’ fifth starter, head coach Darvin Ham told reporters that he feels power forward Rui Hachimura will give the team more on the offensive end as a reserve, per Jovan Buha of The Athletic (Twitter link).
Hachimura primarily came off the bench upon being flipped to the club in January. His offensive output was somewhat erratic during the regular season, but he put on a superlative shooting performance in the playoffs. The 6’8″ big man out of Gonzaga averaged 12.2 PPG on .557/.487/.882 shooting splits across 16 playoff games. He subsequently inked a lucrative new three-year, $51MM deal to remain in Los Angeles earlier this summer.
There’s more out of the Pacific Division:
- Imaging on the injured left calf of Kings big man Trey Lyles indicated a mild strain, per James Ham of ESPN 1320 Sacramento (Twitter link). Ham adds that the team is hopeful Lyles will be back soon, though he will be sidelined for at least a few days.
- After having survived the Warriors’ purging of some key young players, third-year lottery picks Jonathan Kuminga and Moses Moody are looking to have big seasons, writes Monte Poole of NBC Sports Bay Area. Both have performed well in the preseason for Golden State. “I’ve got to cut the turnovers down a little bit,” Kuminga said. “I’m working on it and watching film. We’re supposed to watch film with the coaches about the turnovers.”
- Thanks especially to his defensive fluidity, newly acquired Suns swingman Nassir Little has already impressed during his first preseason in Phoenix, writes Duane Rankin of The Arizona Republic. “You can put him on the team’s best player at multiple positions,” head coach Frank Vogel said. Vogel is hopeful Little can also contribute as a shooter. The 6’5″ forward connected on a career-high 36.7% on 2.9 looks per game from long range in 2022/23.
Pacific Notes: Lue, Nurkic, Goodwin, Lakers
Clippers head coach Tyronn Lue said this week that he is nearing a decision on L.A.’s starting five, according to Andrew Greif of The Los Angeles Times (Twitter link). Lue also shed some light regarding how many players on his fairly deep roster he intends to give rotation minutes.
“[We’ll play] 10 at the most to start, but probably get down to nine as quick as we can, but 10 to start at first,” Lue said. “Don’t hold me to that.”
The statuses of star swingmen Paul George and Kawhi Leonard, plus starting center Ivica Zubac, seem secure. How Lue fills out the other two spots around them remains to be seen.
There’s more out of the Pacific Division:
- Newly added Suns starting center Jusuf Nurkic will bring savvy passing and solid defense to the floor this year, opines Gerald Bourguet of PHNX Sports. Bourguet adds that the team’s ownership and management were aligned in thinking that the veteran big man could be a better fit than the player he will replace, former No. 1 pick Deandre Ayton. Bourgeut writes in a separate piece that Nurkic should thrive when it comes to protecting the rim, but history suggests he could struggle to cover opponents further away from the basket.
- Nurkic thoroughly outplayed Ayton during the Suns’ 122-111 victory over the Trail Blazers Thursday, Bourgeut writes in an additional column. New Phoenix combo guard Jordan Goodwin enjoyed an efficient scoring night off the bench against Portland, but also made a big impression on the other side of the ball, per Bourgeut.
- The Lakers are showing signs of having improved their offense in the 2023 preseason, according to Khobi Price of The Orange County Register. Price writes that Los Angeles has scored the equivalent of 141.6 points per game across the five quarters in which it has used its anticipated regular season rotation. The team is employing a broader array of sets, and is taking advantage of its improved shooting profile heading into 2023/24, thanks to the additions of sharpshooting free agents Gabe Vincent and Taurean Prince. “Having the type of team that we have – everyone can dribble, pass and shoot – just that unselfishness, moving the ball, that all it comes down to,” head coach Darvin Ham said. “As long as that camaraderie, continuity and communication on the offensive side of the ball continues to grow and build, there’s no doubt in my mind the sky’s the limit.”
MRI Reveals Bone Bruise For Pelicans’ Naji Marshall
An MRI has indicated that Pelicans wing Naji Marshall suffered a bone bruise and a hyperextended right knee in a preseason fame, per a press release from the team.
The 6’7″ small forward injured his knee during the second quarter of the club’s 110-105 loss to the Hawks Saturday night. He was carted off in a wheelchair. After the game, head coach Willie Green told reporters that a hyperextension was the initial diagnosis, though he noted imaging was forthcoming.
The bone bruise is a bit more serious, and Marshall is set to be re-evaluated in two weeks, meaning he will miss at least the first couple contests of the Pelicans’ 2023/24 season.
Marshall enjoyed his highest-scoring season yet last year with the Pelicans, averaging 9.1 PPG, along with 3.6 RPG, 2.5 APG and 0.7 SPG. He will be missed, especially at a time when New Orleans is hurting for healthy bodies heading into the year.
New Orleans, which was relatively snake-bitten after a promising start last season with injuries to star forwards Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram, has been without point guard Jose Alvarado and forward Larry Nance Jr. for its entire preseason due to ankle ailments. Last month, small forward Trey Murphy underwent surgery to repair a torn meniscus, so he’ll be sidelined well into the season.
Derrick Favors Talks G League, Thunder, Career What-Ifs
Twelve-year NBA pro Derrick Favors, still just 32, is attempting a return to the league where he’s earned $131MM. The 6’9″ big man reportedly intends to sign a G League deal, though it remains unclear where specifically he’ll end up. Favors detailed his decision to join an NBAGL club during a revealing conversation with Michael Scotto of HoopsHype.
“Right now, I think that’s probably the best option for me,” Favors said. “I think overseas options will be there. That’s not going anywhere. Right now, my main focus is to get back into the league, and I think this might be the best possibility by taking this route. I did get some interest (overseas). I didn’t take a good, hard look at it.”
Across 790 career regular season contests, the No. 3 pick in the 2011 draft out of Georgia Tech holds averages of 10.6 PPG, 7.1 RPG, 1.2 BPG and 1.1 APG. He most recently suited up for the Thunder in 2021/22.
Their chat is well worth reading in full, but here are some highlights.
On his most recent NBA team, the Thunder:
“When I got to OKC, they were super young at the time, so I didn’t fit their timeline as much, but I knew they were talented and would be good when they figured it out. They’re one of the rising teams in the NBA.”
On what he might do differently in his career:
“Maybe not stress as much about certain things you can’t control. What I mean by that is being affected by trade rumors or being affected by minutes. You may not be playing as many minutes as somebody else.”
On speculating about a long-term life with the Nets, who trade him to the Jazz midway through his rookie season:
“It was kind of a tough situation because in New Jersey, I was starting at the time and starting to build my name up and my confidence. Then when I got traded, I had to come off the bench, and I played behind those two guys who were damn near All-Stars (Al Jefferson and Paul Millsap). They were playing for 30-35 minutes.
“It was tough, but I always looked at it as a blessing because I got to be around good people as teammates and a great organization. The fans in Utah were unbelievable. I spent 10 years out there. I have a love for them, and I know they love me too. That was like a second home for me. I don’t know how it would’ve ended up in New Jersey if I stayed. I think being traded to Utah helped my career out a lot.”
Jarkel Joiner, Keaton Wallace Waived By Hawks
Training camp invitees Jarkel Joiner and Keaton Wallace have been waived by the Hawks, Atlanta announced in a press release.
Lauren L. Williams of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution tweets that the two guards seem likely to next suit up with Atlanta’s NBA G League affiliate, the College Park Skyhawks.
Wallace spent most of his 2022/23 season with the Clippers’ G league affiliate, the Ontario Clippers. Across 49 NBAGL contests, he averaged 13.9 points, 4.5 assists, 3.6 rebounds, and 1.7 steals with a shooting line of .463/.382/.745.
Joiner went undrafted out of North Carolina State this summer. During his final NCAA season in 2022/23, the 6’1″ guard averaged 17.0 PPG, 4.8 RPG, 3.6 APG and 1.3 SPG en route to a second-team All-ACC selection.
As Exhibit 10 signings, Joiner and Wallace will be eligible for bonuses worth up to $75K, should they remain with the Skyhawks for at least 60 days.
The Hawks’ preseason roster has now been trimmed to 18 players, with all 15 standard roster spots and all three two-way spots currently occupied.
Alex Caruso Discusses Starting Role, DPOY Dreams, Play-In Finish, More
Bulls guard Alex Caruso offered some clarity about which position he prefers to play in an extensive conversation with K.C. Johnson of NBC Sports Chicago.
“The power forward one is not my favorite,” Caruso, who started at both the point guard and power forward positions at various points last year, told Johnson. “It took a toll on me the second half. It was rough. That’s one of the added benefits I think I bring to a team. I feel I’m pretty unselfish.”
Caruso addressed the possibility that he may not start games with the club this year.
“I’ve talked to (head coach) Billy (Donovan) and some of the assistants about being more selfish at times,” Caruso said. “It’s almost putting a burden on the team when I’m not selfish at times, when I pass up shots or pass up opportunities to be aggressive or to speak up. So this starting stuff is what it is. I’d rather play late in the game than early in the game. When it counts, I want to be on the court.”
Caruso, who made an All-Defensive First Team for the first time in his career last season, did not start in Chicago’s first preseason game on Sunday, a 105-102 loss to a Bucks team missing stars Giannis Antetokounmpo, Damian Lillard and Khris Middleton.
Their entire chat is well worth reading in full. Here are some highlights:
Caruso on his next goals for end-of-season hardware:
“The way [Defensive Player of the Year] is kind of voted on and based off of now is the interior has the upper hand on that just because of blocks and rebounds. I probably don’t have enough of those to be under consideration. But you never know. I might have an incredible year.”
On how the Bulls’ two big new signings, Jevon Carter and Torrey Craig, can positively impact the team:
“We’ve already seen it. There was one play in practice today where me and Ayo (Dosunmu) got a stop and then Torrey got a block and Jevon got a strip and we got another stop. If we have me and Ayo and Drum (Andre Drummond) on that second unit and we add those two pieces, it’s going to be hard to get a good shot off against that second unit if we’re locked in. Once we do, we have multiple ball-handlers and can break out and run a little bit. I’m excited. They fit really well for the mentality that me and Ayo and Drum have played with the last couple years.”
On how he felt watching the Heat advance to the NBA Finals after narrowly beating Chicago during their play-in game:
“The playoffs are so matchup-based and Jimmy (Butler) was going crazy in that first round against the Bucks. That propelled them. Who knows what would’ve happened if we had won that game? I thought we played so well. It was almost the opposite of Toronto where I thought Toronto played better than us for two-and-a-half, three quarters and then we kind of won the game late. I thought we played better than Miami for the majority of that game and it was a better matchup for us. We had won the season series. And then they just made more plays and more shots down the stretch.
“Basketball is a make-or-miss league. But I don’t think back to that game as much as I do to four or five games during the season that we should’ve won. We should beat the teams that are under .500, definitely at home. And then you’re not even in the play-in game. And that didn’t sit well with me as I tried to sleep at night.”
Bucks Notes: Giannis, Lillard, Lopez, Middleton
Bucks superstar forward Giannis Antetokounmpo is already impressed with his new All-NBA teammate, point guard Damian Lillard, as Eric Nehm of The Athletic details.
“I feel like this is the first time in my career that I really don’t — I don’t want to say I don’t care because I care a lot — I don’t mind with my usage being [25%],” said Antetokounmpo, who had a career-high 38.8% usage rate last season. “I want him to be the primary point guard. He’s the point guard of this team.
“… So you got to give guys like him freedom, because he’s an artist, man,” Antetokounmpo continued. “He’s got to create art. And hopefully, when you’re next to him, you can also create your own art and then you create the art together.”
Neither Lillard nor Antetokounmpo is playing in Milwaukee’s ongoing preseason opener against the Bulls.
There’s more out of Milwaukee:
- With All-Defensive guard Jrue Holiday now on the rival Celtics and longtime head coach Mike Budenholzer no longer with the club, Bucks center Brook Lopez is set to pilot the team on that side of the ball, writes Nehm in a separate piece. Lopez, who finished second in Defensive Player of the Year voting, is adjusting to new first-time head coach Adrian Griffin. “I think the biggest thing is just pressuring the ball,” Griffin said. “We want to pressure the ball, one through five, and that’s a little different for Brook, who has kind of been the quarterback in the paint, but that’s going to be situational where we’re going to ask him to pressure the ball, but there are times where he’s going to be back.”
- Everyone on the Bucks, including Khris Middleton, suited up for a 5-on-5 practice Saturday, Griffin informed gathered journalists, per Nehm (Twitter link). That said, Middleton joined Antetokounmpo and Lillard on the Bucks’ bench Saturday, and did not partake in the team’s preseason opener.
- In case you missed it, you can vote on whether or not the Bucks will best their projected 54.5-win over/under for the 2023/24 season.