Nets Notes: Johnson, Simmons, Claxton, Walker, DSJ
Cameron Johnson was a full participant at Saturday’s practice and the Nets expect him to be ready for Wednesday’s season opener, according to Bridget Reilly of The New York Post. Johnson has been dealing with a strained hamstring since the start of training camp and didn’t play during the preseason.
“I think his progression to get to this point has been pretty methodical and our approach (was) getting him to feel comfortable when he’s back on the floor,” coach Jacque Vaughn said. “So he’s done the work behind the scenes, to be in a position to practice today and hopefully he continues to. … We got three more days to get some more comfort and being on the floor and being out there with a different group.”
Vaughn added that he’ll be “smart” with Johnson early in the season and will only use him in short stretches. Saturday marked the first full practice for Johnson, who called the injury a “random” event. He said he was able to play without experiencing any more problems with the hamstring.
“It felt good getting up and down,” he said. “I’ve been watching, observing, seeing what we’re trying to put in, how we’re trying to execute things offensively and defensively. And so being able to get in there and put that observation to practice was fun today.”
There’s more from Brooklyn:
- Teammates continue to rave about Ben Simmons, who seems fully healthy and more aggressive in practice, Reilly writes in another Post story. Vaughn said he isn’t concerned about playing Simmons and Nic Claxton at the same time, even though it means having two non-shooters on the court.“I’ve told this group we have to stop and we can’t look at it as a negative … if we have an open mind. In today’s game, with the five out, we can play five out still with those guys,” Vaughn said. “You saw the other night we had Nic Claxton in the corner. He’s more comfortable playing in the corner than he was a year ago. That’s a weapon for us. We get (Simmons) to play in the pocket. Those two can play together.”
- Lonnie Walker‘s injured wrist is feeling better as opening night approaches, Reilly states in the same piece. The free agent addition is hoping to find ways to contribute in a reserve role. “As far as I know it’s on the more so end of just bringing energy onto that second unit whether it’s running, defensive aggressiveness, rebounding, transition,” he said. “Just doing what I know I can do. Just play by my strengths.”
- Dennis Smith Jr. still wasn’t able to practice Saturday after hurting his ankle last week, Reilly adds, but Vaughn isn’t counting him out for Wednesday night.
Knicks Convert Dylan Windler To Standard Contract
The Knicks have converted Dylan Windler from a two-way deal to a standard contract, according to NBA.com’s transaction log. The contract covers one season and is non-guaranteed, tweets Fred Katz of The Athletic. It’ll be worth the minimum salary.
The Cavaliers selected Windler with the 26th pick in the 2019 draft, but he missed his first season with a leg injury and was never able to carve out a consistent role, averaging 3.3 points, 2.3 rebounds and 0.8 assists in 84 games. He dealt with injuries through much of that time and appeared in just three games last season.
Cleveland opted not to give Windler a qualifying offer this summer, making him an unrestricted free agent. The 27-year-old small forward signed with New York in July after spending his first four NBA seasons with the Cavaliers.
Windler will get a chance to revive his career in New York after earning a roster spot. He appeared in just one preseason game, going scoreless in about six minutes of action.
The Knicks now have 15 players on standard contracts, including DaQuan Jeffries and Ryan Arcidiacono, whose deals are also non-guaranteed. The team also has a two-way opening after converting Charlie Brown and Jacob Toppin to two-way contracts earlier today.
Knicks Notes: Barrett, Quickley, Robinson, Randle
RJ Barrett expects to benefit from the experience of representing Canada in this summer’s World Cup, writes Steve Popper of Newsday. Barrett was one of the top scorers for the Canadian team as he helped lead his nation to a third-place finish and its first-ever medal in the event.
Instead of easing into the preseason after an active summer, Barrett hasn’t slowed down, Popper adds. He played in three of New York’s four games and led the team in both scoring and minutes per night.
“I feel great, even in the preseason games,” Barrett said. “We’re getting back to learning how to play together and stuff. But with just conditioning-wise and everything, I feel really good. So I’m excited.”
There’s more from New York:
- Jalen Brunson is impressed with the way Immanuel Quickley has been able to separate basketball from business, writes Peter Botte of The New York Post. Monday is the last day that Quickley can sign a rookie scale extension, but Brunson said it’s not distracting him from his work on the court. “That speaks to Quick’s character,” Brunson said. “… Quick has been coming in every day to do his job. He’s had a great attitude, and I was in a similar position when I was in Dallas. He’s mentally ready to go. And that’s all you can ask of him. He’s been a true professional. I just know he’ll stay that way.”
- Mitchell Robinson was a bright spot in an otherwise forgettable preseason for the Knicks, Botte adds in another story for the Post. New York was uncharacteristically bad on defense, surrendering 125 points per game while dropping its final three contests. However, Robinson provided a steady presence in the middle with four blocks and seven steals in four games. He also averaged 10.5 points and 8.0 rebounds in 22.3 minutes per night while shooting 80% from the field.
- In an interview with MSG Network this week, Julius Randle explained why he played through a left ankle injury in the playoffs that forced him to undergo arthroscopic surgery in June, relays Adam Zagoria of NJ.com. “It is frustrating but if I’m out there I’m not having any type of excuses,” Randle said. “Regardless, at the end of the day, we failed, I failed. And at the end of the day I had to get surgery, but what it allowed me to do, is it allowed me to slow down, to take a step back, to reevaluate, not just myself, the team and everything. It allowed me to sit back and say, ‘All right, now that your pity party is over and you’re upset about losing and not being at your best or whatever it is, now how do you get better?’”
Lakers Notes: LeBron, Prince, Vanderbilt, Vincent, Hayes
Explaining that he’s “self-motivated,” LeBron James said he’s not driven by a need to beat the Nuggets, who ended the Lakers‘ playoff run last spring and will be the opponent when the season tips off Tuesday, writes Dave McMenamin of ESPN.
Although James downplayed the rivalry, he’s clearly aware of some of the disrespect that came his way from Denver. Nuggets coach Michael Malone was introduced as “the Lakers’ daddy” during the team’s championship celebration, and in an appearance on the Pat McAfee Show, Malone mocked James’ talk of retirement after the playoff series ended.
“There will be a time,” James said about a potential response. “When that time is, I don’t know. I don’t know if it’s now or … there will be a time. There will be a time when everybody will get it, for sure.”
Heading into his 21st NBA season, James is optimistic about his health after missing 27 games last year with a right foot injury that bothered him throughout the playoffs. He said he’s fully recovered and ready for the challenges of a new campaign.
“It took a few months, but then when I was able to get back into my workouts, I was able to do some things I wasn’t capable of doing throughout the whole playoffs, probably even before the playoffs,” James said. “My workouts started getting better, my wind started getting better, my quick-twitch started getting better. I didn’t have to think about it as much. It’s great to have that feeling, just have your motor back.”
There’s more on the Lakers:
- Head coach Darvin Ham told reporters today that Taurean Prince will be the team’s fifth starter for the season opener alongside James, Anthony Davis, Austin Reaves and D’Angelo Russell, McMenamin adds. The veteran forward, who signed with L.A. as a free agent this summer, was used as a starter for most of the preseason. Prince will replace Jarred Vanderbilt, who had his sore left heel re-evaluated on Friday. Ham said Vanderbilt is considered day-to-day, but “in all likelihood” will miss Tuesday’s game.
- Gabe Vincent, who has been dealing with back tightness, has been cleared to play in the opener, tweets Jovan Buha of The Athletic.
- Free agent addition Jaxson Hayes made a case for regular playing time with a strong performance in the preseason, per Khobi Price of The Orange County Register. “He was phenomenal,” Davis said. “Catching in the pocket and making the right plays, finishing, protecting the rim, everything that we want out of him and more. Hustling. Things that can (be) better. But for the most part, he was phenomenal.”
Jazz Sign, Waive Isaiah Miller
Free agent shooting guard Isaiah Miller has been signed and waived by the Jazz, the team announced in a press release.
Miller, 25, played last year with Utah’s G League affiliate, the Salt Lake City Stars, after being signed and waived shortly before the start of the season. He averaged 7.8 points, 4.2 rebounds and 2.1 assists in 29 regular season games.
Assuming he received an Exhibit 10 contract, which is a safe bet, Miller can earn a bonus of up to $75K if he spends at least 60 days with Salt Lake City.
Pelicans Waive Five Exhibit 10 Players
The Pelicans have waived five players, according to the NBA.com transactions log.
Guards Izaiah Brockington, Jalen Crutcher and Tevian Jones, forward Malcolm Hill and center Trey Jemison all have Exhibit 10 contracts, so they’ll probably end up with the team’s G League affiliate, the Birmingham Squadron. They can earn bonuses worth up to $75K if they spend at least 60 days with the G League club.
Of the five, Jemison saw the most playing time during the preseason, appearing in four games and averaging 4.3 points, 6.8 rebounds and 1.5 assists per night. Crutcher and Hill both got into two games, while Brockington and Jones saw limited time in one game.
The moves leave New Orleans with 13 players who have fully guaranteed contracts, plus Jose Alvarado‘s non-guaranteed deal. The Pelicans only have two of their three two-way slots filled.
Cavaliers Waive Seven Players
The Cavaliers have released seven players, including three who were just signed, according to the NBA.com transactions log.
Point guard Sharife Cooper, forward Pete Nance, guard Justin Powell and swingman Zhaire Smith all have Exhibit 10 contracts, so they’re likely headed to the Cleveland Charge, the organization’s G League affiliate. They can earn bonuses of up to $75K if they spend at least 60 days with the team.
Also placed on waivers were shooting guard Rob Edwards, small forward Aleem Ford and guard Devontae Shuler, who hadn’t been listed on the Cavs’ roster prior to today. They were likely all signed and waived with Exhibit 10 deals and will be eligible for the same $75K bonus.
Two of the players have brief NBA experience, as Edwards played two games for the Thunder and Ford appeared in five games with the Magic, both during the 2021/22 season.
The moves leave Cleveland with 12 fully guaranteed salaries and all three of its two-way slots filled. Veteran center Tristan Thompson and shooting guard Sam Merrill remain with the team on non-guaranteed deals.
Wizards Sign, Waive Malik Fitts
Power forward Malik Fitts has been signed and waived by the Wizards, the team announced (Twitter links).
Fitts, 26, received an Exhibit 10 contract, so he’s ticketed for the team’s G League affiliate, the Capital City Go-Go. If he spends at least 60 days with the G League club, he’ll be eligible for a bonus worth up to $75K.
Fitts played last season with the Ontario Clippers in the G League, averaging 9.0 points, 4.3 rebounds and 1.5 assists in 18 regular season games. He was out of the NBA during 2022/23, but he has appeared in 18 combined games with the Clippers, Jazz and Celtics.
Grizzlies Waive Harrison, Arms, Johnson
The Grizzlies have trimmed their roster by waiving guards Shaquille Harrison, Adonis Arms and David Johnson, the team announced (via Twitter).
Harrison signed with Memphis in late August, and there has been speculation that he might be given playing time during Ja Morant‘s 25-game suspension. The Grizzlies can’t move Morant to the suspended list until after five games, so it’s possible that Harrison may be re-signed early in the season.
Harrison has been with five teams during his six years in the NBA. He appeared in five games with Portland last season after joining the team on a 10-day contract in late March.
Arms and Johnson both signed with the Grizzlies on Wednesday and appear headed for the team’s G League affiliate, the Memphis Hustle. If they have Exhibit 10 contracts, they’ll be able to earn a bonus of up to $75K if they spend at least 60 days with the team.
Harrison played in four of Memphis’ preseason games, averaging 0.5 points, 2.8 rebounds and 0.5 assists in 12.1 minutes per night. Neither Arms nor Johnson saw any game action during their brief time with the team.
Memphis’ roster is now set for the regular season with 15 players on standard contracts and three on two-way deals.
Trail Blazers Convert Justin Minaya To Two-Way Deal; Waive Two Others
6:35pm: Minaya has officially been converted to a two-way deal, according to NBA.com’s transactions log, while Conditt and Butler have been waived.
3:57pm: Small forward Justin Minaya has agreed to a two-way contract with the Trail Blazers, agent Jared Mucha tells ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski (Twitter link).
The 24-year-old finished last season with Portland on a hardship 10-day contract and appeared in four games. He re-signed with the Blazers in early October.
Sources tell Sean Highkin of Rose Garden Report that John Butler will be waived to open a two-way slot for Minaya (Twitter link). The 20-year-old center re-signed with Portland in July after spending last season on a two-way deal. He appeared in 19 games, averaging 2.4 PPG and 0.9 RPG in limited minutes.
The team’s other two-way spots belong to Ibou Badji and Skylar Mays.
Highkin also reports that George Conditt, who has an Exhibit 10 contract, will be waived today and is expected to wind up with the Rip City Remix, the organization’s new G League affiliate (Twitter link).
Highkin hears that Moses Brown is likely to make the team, so the battle for the final roster spot appears to be between Duop Reath and Kevin Knox (Twitter link).