And-Ones: J. Jack, W. Baldwin, Japan, CBA
Veteran point guard Jarrett Jack, who signed a G League contract last week, has been claimed off waivers by the Sioux Falls Skyforce, the Heat‘s NBAGL affiliate, the team announced today in a press release. The Skyforce aren’t scheduled to play until Saturday, but Jack will be available for that game, according to the club.
Jack, 35, appeared in 62 games for the Knicks last season, starting 56 of them, but has yet to find an NBA home for this season. If he looks good for Sioux Falls down the stretch, it could earn him a look from a playoff club. There aren’t a ton of contenders in need of a point guard at the moment, but Jack could be a fit for a team like the Magic if they’re in position to make the postseason and want a steady veteran as an option off the bench.
Here are a few more odds and ends from around the basketball world:
- Former first-round pick Wade Baldwin played sparingly this season for the Trail Blazers, then was involved in a flurry of moves at last month’s trade deadline, briefly joining the Cavaliers, Rockets, and Pacers. Now, he’s playing for Toronto’s G League affiliate, the Raptors 905, and tells Blake Murphy of The Athletic that he’s hoping to prove he deserves another NBA shot. “I think in this league you have to show consistency, show what you can do at all times, so it’s another platform for me to show what I can do in order to get back where I belong,” Baldwin said. “I believe I’m an NBA player, rotation guy, talent, all that. It’s opportunity.”
- The NBA announced this week that the Raptors and Rockets will play a pair of preseason games in Japan this fall. The contests, which are scheduled to take place on October 8 and 10 at Saitama Super Arena in Saitama City, will represent the first time the NBA has returned to the country in 16 years — the league held 12 regular season games in Japan between 1990 and 2003.
- The NBA has tweaked the Collective Bargaining Agreement in recent years to make it easier to allow first-round picks to participate in Summer League action a couple weeks later, but Danny Leroux of The Athletic believes there’s one more flaw that needs to be addressed. As Leroux explains, a first-round pick can’t be used for salary-matching purposes in a trade until the player signs his contract, and a player can’t be dealt for one month after signing his contract. So a prospect included in a trade for, say, Anthony Davis this offseason may not get the chance to play Summer League ball.
Mario Chalmers Will Play In Italy
Veteran guard Mario Chalmers will sign with Italian club Virtus Segafredo Bologna for the rest of the season, according to Emiliano Carchia of Sportando. Chalmers has already agreed to terms, Carchia adds, and the move will become official once he passes his physical.
The 32-year-old played 66 games for the Grizzlies last year after recovering from a torn Achilles that forced him to miss the 2016/17 season. Chalmers appeared in 646 total NBA games and is best known for his role on the Heat teams that went to four straight Finals when LeBron James was there.
Chalmers had been hoping to remain in the NBA this season and reportedly had interest from the Nets, Mavericks and Pelicans prior to training camp. He may be counting on a strong showing in Italy to boost his NBA chances.
And-Ones: White, Adams, Hawes, Withey
Former first-round pick Royce White still plans to play in Ice Cube’s BIG3 basketball league this summer despite making a jump to mixed martial arts, the 27-year-old told Hoops Rumors.
White, who last played in the NBA with Sacramento in 2014, entered his name to the BIG3 player pool in early February. White first made his intentions of starting a career in MMA known during an interview with ESPN’s Greg Rosenstein.
“I’m one of the best athletes in the world,” White told ESPN. “Among the NBA community, part of my appeal as a draft prospect was my unique size, athleticism, vision and that I probably have one of the 10 biggest set of hands in the NBA. I think all of those things will translate beautifully to the UFC.”
White released a book this week titled “MMA x NBA: A Critique of Modern Sport in America”. He was drafted 16th by the Rockets in 2012 after a standout season at Iowa State, later moving on to hold stints with the Kings and teams overseas before temporarily stepping away from the court last August.
White, a 6-foot-8, 260-pound forward, joins Shannon Brown, Kendrick Perkins, Lamar Odom and other former NBA players who are set to play in the BIG3 this summer.
Here are a few more odds and ends from around the basketball world:
- Free agent Jordan Adams has been acquired by the Rio Grande Valley Vipers, G League affiliate of the Rockets, agent Shasta Scott told Hoops Rumors. Adams appeared in 32 games with the Grizzlies from 2014-16, averaging 3.2 points per game in limited time. He was drafted with the No. 22 pick by Memphis in 2014.
- Former NBA player Spencer Hawes has signed a contract in the NBA G League and is available to be claimed off waivers, Adam Johnson of 2 Ways & 10 Days tweets. Hawes, a 10-year NBA veteran, has made stops with the Kings, Sixers, Cavaliers, Clippers, Hornets and Bucks during his professional career.
- Jeff Withey has agreed to a deal with Greek team Lavrio B.C. for the rest of the season, the team announced (hat tip to Sportando). Withey started the season in Turkey with Tofas Bursa, but left the team following their elimination in the EuroCup. He last played in the NBA with the Mavericks during the 2017-18 season.
Andrew Harrison Set To Play In Russia
After being waived by the Pelicans last month, veteran guard Andrew Harrison has reportedly lined up a new deal overseas, writes Emiliano Carchia of Sportando. According to Carchia, Harrison has signed a contract with Khimki in Russia and will finish the 2018/19 season with the EuroLeague club.
While Khimki has yet to officially announce the signing of Harrison, the team did confirm today (via Twitter) that it has parted ways with American guard Dee Bost, so it makes sense that Harrison would fill that roster spot.
The 44th overall pick in the 2015 draft, Harrison spent his rookie season in the G League before joining the Grizzlies in 2016. After spending two years in Memphis, the 24-year-old was waived early in the 2018/19 campaign. He signed two-way contracts with the Cavaliers and Pelicans but was waived by both clubs.
In 145 total NBA contests (20.6 MPG), the former Kentucky Wildcat has recorded 7.0 PPG, 2.8 APG, and 2.0 RPG with a shooting line of .373/.294/.779. If his stint in Russia goes well, Harrison would likely look to parlay that success into an NBA return next season.
And-Ones: Cuban, Draft, Maledon, 2K League
Mavericks owner Mark Cuban doesn’t mind lowering the minimum draft age from 19 to 18, but points out that it creates another set of issues, as he explained to Brad Townsend of the Dallas Morning News.
Cuban notes that most players out of high school don’t have general life skills, such as writing a check or signing a lease. He also sees the influence of AAU coaches and teams becoming even more pervasive if the age minimum drops.
“The really bad unintended consequence is you’re going to see AAU programs and parents push harder to get kids featured, maybe at the expense of their education, maybe at the expense of really learning how to play basketball because they’ve got coaches that are telling him, ‘Yeah, he’s got a chance to be a ‘none-and-done,'” Cuban said.
We have more from around the basketball world:
- League executives are already dreading the extra time, money, and analysis it will take to scout high school prospects, Kevin O’Connor of The Ringer writes in a lengthy piece on the pros and cons of reducing the draft age minimum to 18. Eliminating the one-and-done prospects could make it tougher for lottery teams to land a marquee player, since there will likely be more steals and more busts in the draft. A system that would allow players to be selected in the draft without losing college eligibility could help the process, O’Connor adds.
- French point guard Theo Maledon, a Tony Parker protege, could be the top international prospect in the 2020 draft. ESPN’s Mike Schmitz takes a closer look at next year’s international group and notes that the 17-year-old Maledon is now the starting point guard for ASVEL, the club Parker oversees as president. ASVEL is the first-place team among 18 in France’s top league. Maledon could become the second-ever 18-year-old EuroLeague starter, following in the footsteps of Luka Doncic, when ASVEL moves up to the prestigious league next season, Schmitz adds.
- The NBA 2K League will begin its 18-week season on April 2 and conclude with the Finals on August 3, according to a league press release. All regular-season games will take place at the NBA 2K League Studio in Long Island City, New York, and will be live-streamed on Twitch.
Jordan Crawford Set To Play In China
Jordan Crawford‘s 2018/19 international tour will continue in China, according to Emiliano Carchia of Sportando, who hears from a source that the veteran NBA guard has agreed to a deal with the Sichaun Blue Whales of the Chinese Basketball Association.
It has been an eventful season so far for Crawford, who had apparent deals with teams in Germany and China fall through in November and January, respectively. Crawford subsequently reached a contract agreement with Ironi Nahariya in Israel and spent a month with the team, averaging 17.8 PPG, 3.8 RPG, and 3.8 APG in five games before becoming a free agent again.
A first-round draft pick in 2010, Crawford has appeared in 281 career regular season NBA games, averaging 12.2 PPG on .411/.317/.826 shooting. His most recent NBA stint came when he finished the 2017/18 campaign with the Pelicans, playing in five regular season games and a couple more playoff contests for the club.
The CBA season ends before the NBA season does, and Sichaun doesn’t project to be a playoff team, so Crawford could find himself on the lookout for a new home again before too long. While he may try to catch on with an NBA team down the stretch like he did last season in New Orleans, that seems like a longer shot this time around.
MarShon Brooks To Play In China
FEBRUARY 21: Brooks has officially signed with Guangdong, Carchia relays. The team has also finalized its deal with Beasley and has kept Weems under contract, Carchia notes.
FEBRUARY 19: After being released by the Bulls last month, veteran guard MarShon Brooks appears to have lined up his next destination. A source tells Emiliano Carchia of Sportando that Brooks has agreed to a deal with China’s Guangdong Southern Tigers.
Brooks, 30, had an unusual NBA season, having found himself involved of a three-way trade rumor involving the Grizzlies, Wizards, and Suns in December. The three clubs nearly agreed to a deal, but it fell apart when the Suns realized the Grizzlies intended to send them MarShon rather than Dillon Brooks.
Memphis subsequently traded MarShon to the Bulls in a January deal for Justin Holiday, and Chicago waived him a few days later. In 29 games for the Grizzlies this season, Brooks averaged 6.6 PPG on .450/.278/.697 shooting in 13.3 minutes per contest.
Brooks is now poised to join a team that is battling for first place in the Chinese Basketball Association as the postseason approaches. Guangdong was in the news once today already, as the club was said to be finalizing a deal with Michael Beasley as well.
Teams in the CBA are only permitted to carry two international players, and Guangdong also has Sonny Weems under contract. However, Carchia suggests in a follow-up tweet that the club could technically carry three international players if one is inactive. It’s not clear yet what the team’s plan is, assuming both Brooks and Beasley officially sign.
Michael Beasley To Play In China
FEBRUARY 21: Beasley has officially signed with Guangdong, per Emiliano Carchia of Sportando.
FEBRUARY 19: Veteran NBA forward Michael Beasley is set to continue his career overseas, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, who reports (via Twitter) that Beasley is finalizing a deal with China’s Guangdong Southern Tigers. Wojnarowski suggests the deal, which figures to span about two months, will be worth “significant cash.”
Beasley, 30, spent most of the 2018/19 season with the Lakers after signing a one-year contract with the club last summer. However, his role in Los Angeles was limited. He appeared in just 26 games, averaging 7.0 PPG and 2.3 RPG in 10.7 minutes per contest.
The Lakers sent Beasley to the Clippers along with Ivica Zubac in exchange for Mike Muscala in a deadline deal earlier this month. The Clippers subsequently released Beasley, making him an unrestricted free agent.
A previous report from Emiliano Carchia of Sportando has suggested that veteran guard MarShon Brooks was set to replace guard Malcolm Delaney on Guangdong’s roster in China. That deal had yet to be officially finalized, so it’s possible Beasley is filling the spot that Brooks had initially been in line for, but we’ll wait for further confirmation to be sure.
This will be Beasley’s third stint in the Chinese Basketball Association, as he previously spent time with the Shanghai Sharks and the Shandong Golden Stars. While Guangdong is vying for first place in the CBA standings and could make a deep playoff run, Beasley’s season in China still may end before the NBA season does, which would leave the door open for him to return to an NBA team for the postseason.
As for Delaney, he told Nikos Varlas of Eurohoops.net that he’s in no hurry to sign with another team after leaving Guangdong. Varlas writes that three EuroLeague clubs have been in touch with Delaney, who is hoping for a return to the NBA. He previously spent a pair of seasons with the Hawks from 2016-18.
And-Ones: B. Johnson, Free Agents, G. Davis
Former first-round pick Brice Johnson will continue his basketball career in Puerto Rico, according to an announcement from the Baloncesto Superior Nacional de Puerto Rico (Twitter link). The league confirmed that Johnson has signed with Indios de Mayaguez.
Johnson, who is still just 24 years old, was the 25th overall pick in the 2016 draft, but failed to develop into a rotation player during stints with the Clippers and Grizzlies. Johnson hasn’t been on an NBA roster since he was released by Memphis last March.
Here are a few more odds and ends from around the basketball world:
- Discussing the NBA’s Basketball Without Borders camps during All-Star weekend, commissioner Adam Silver said he’d like the league to take a more active role when it comes to developing basketball prospects in America and around the world. “If we get to them, boys and girls, at a younger age, we can begin teaching them not just fundamentals but the values of this game, helping them build character around the game, teaching them about their bodies, and teaching them the importance of nutrition and sleep and stretching and physical fitness,” Silver said, per Derek Bodner of The Athletic.
- In an Insider-only piece for ESPN.com, Jonathan Givony and Mike Schmitz shared their impressions of several of the players who established themselves as long-term NBA prospects at this weekend’s Basketball Without Borders Global Camp.
- Bryan Kalbrosky of HoopsHype identifies several of the notable free agents who were on an NBA roster earlier this season, singling out veterans like Carmelo Anthony, Omri Casspi, Greg Monroe, and Marcin Gortat.
- Former NBA big man Glen Davis avoided jail time for marijuana charges by agreeing to pay a $15K fine, according to an Associated Press report. Davis, 33, last played in the NBA with the Clippers during the 2014/15 season.
And-Ones: Iguodala, Gupta, Vesely, Williamson
Warriors swingman Andre Iguodala was elected First Vice President of the National Basketball Players Association, according to an NBPA press release. Iguodala has been on the Executive Committee since February 2013. He replaces LeBron James, whose four-year term has expired.
The Bucks‘ Malcolm Brogdon, the Celtics‘ Jaylen Brown and the Hornets‘ Bismack Biyombo were elected to serve as VPs on the Executive Committee. They replace Carmelo Anthony, Stephen Curry and Iguodala.
Chris Paul remains President of the committee with Anthony Tolliver, Pau Gasol, C.J. McCollum and Garrett Temple also serving on it.
We have more news from around the basketball world:
- Pistons assistant GM Sachin Gupta never knew ESPN’s Trade Machine would become so popular when he created it in 2006, Rod Beard of the Detroit News reports. Gupta called it a “fun project” and took about a month to write the code for the Trade Machine when he worked for the network, Beard adds. “It’s not meant to replace common sense. It’s not meant to replace any GM’s job,” Gupta said. “It’s simply based on the rules and whether it works or not.”
- Former NBA player Jan Vesely has signed an extension with Fenerbahce that keep him under contract until 2022, the Turkish team tweets. The 7-foot power forward was drafted by the Wizards with the sixth overall pick of the 2011 draft but only lasted three NBA seasons.
- Stephen Curry is a fan of Duke’s Zion Williamson, considered the top prospect in this year’s draft, he said in an interview with The Undefeated and relayed by E. Jay Zarett of the Sporting News. “He’s unreal. We were talking about him the other day in our team room,” Curry said, via Justin Tinsley of the Undefeated. “He has a lot of hype around him and he’s unbelievably talented, but you can’t teach his passion and the way that … he plays. He plays hard every possession, and that’s an underrated skill that kids can kind of emulate.”