March 2021 Basketball Wiretap

Amir Johnson To Play For G League Ignite Again

Oct 29, 2021 9:05 AM

Amir Johnson will again suit up for the G League Ignite this season. Johnson played with the Ignite during their inaugural season during 2020-21.

The 14-year NBA veteran is prized by the Ignite coaches and front office because of his leadership with young players. When he was drafted in the 2005, Johnson made the jump straight from high school to the NBA. Johnson can provide unique experience for players making a similar jump to the G League.

Johnson is joined on the Ignite by veterans Dakarai Allen, Jessie Govan, Amauri Hardy, Pooh Jeter and Malik Pope.

This season, the Ignite will feature top prospects Jaden Hardy, Dyson Daniels, Michael Foster, and MarJon Beauchamp. Hardy is projected as a top-five pick, and Daniels is a potential lottery pick.

Ryan Stiles/Locked on Thunder

Tags: Amir Johnson, NBA G League Ignite, NBA, NBA Official Signing, D-League, D-League Teams, D-League Official Signing

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Several Notable Players Selected In G League Draft

Oct 23, 2021 8:31 PM

The 2021 G League Draft was held on Saturday, October 23. Several notable players were selected, as G League teams began the process of filling out their rosters.

The first overall pick was Shamorie Ponds by the Delaware Blue Coats. Ponds played in four NBA games for the Toronto Raptors on a Two-Way contract during the 2019-20 season.

Other recognizable players selected include:

  • Brandon Knight - Sioux Falls Skyforce
  • Zaire Wade - Salt Lake City Stars
  • Lance Stephenson - Grand Rapids Gold
  • LiAngelo Ball - Greensboro Swarm
  • Joe Young - draft rights acquired by Birmingham Squadron

G League teams build their roster through a combination of drafted players, free agents assigned by the G League, Affiliate Players (players who attended training camp with the NBA affiliate) and tryout players.

RealGM Staff Report

Tags: Shamorie Ponds, Brandon Knight, Zaire Wade, Lance Stephenson, LiAngelo Ball, Joe Young, NBA, NBA Misc Official Transaction, D-League, D-League Transaction, D-League Official Signing

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Ish Wainright Agrees To Two-Way Deal With Suns

Oct 22, 2021 2:12 PM

Ish Wainright has signed a Two-Way contract with the Phoenix Suns.

Wainright was waived by the Toronto Raptors before the start of the season.

Wainright has played overseas since graduating from Baylor in 2017.

Adrian Wojnarowski/ESPN

Tags: Ish Wainright, Phoenix Suns, Northern Arizona Suns, NBA, NBA Signing Rumor, NBA Misc Rumor, D-League, D-League Teams

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Prosper Karangwa Named GM Of Delaware Blue Coats

Oct 22, 2021 11:56 AM

The Delaware Blue Coats announced that Prosper Karangwa has been named the team’s general manager. Karangwa retains the role of Vice President, Player Personnel for the Philadelphia 76ers while expanding his duties to lead Blue Coats basketball operations.

“Prosper is a well-respected executive with a special eye for talent, which he’s displayed over the last decade working in the NBA,” Philadelphia 76ers President of Basketball Operations Daryl Morey said. “We’re very excited to have Prosper leading our development efforts with the Blue Coats and know he’s eager to grow the program to new heights.”

Prior to joining the 76ers front office in October 2020, Karangwa most recently served as Director of Scouting with the Orlando Magic, where he worked since 2012. Karangwa played a key role in Orlando’s draft preparation, in addition to talent evaluation, information-gathering and process improvement.

“The Blue Coats are a major part of the organizational development system, and I’m honored to take on this role in the program,” Karangwa said. “We are fortunate to have the leadership of both Jameer Nelson and Coby Karl in Delaware and I’m looking forward to working closely with them to grow our players and play exciting basketball at Chase Fieldhouse.”

RealGM Staff Report

Tags: Philadelphia Sixers, Delaware Blue Coats, NBA, D-League, D-League Teams

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Lance Stephenson To Play In G League

Oct 21, 2021 8:49 AM

Veteran wing Lance Stephenson will continue his NBA comeback attempt by playing in the G League this season. Stephenson last played in the NBA during the 2018-19 season with the Los Angeles Lakers. He then spent the 2019-20 season playing in China.

In his one season with Liaoning in the CBA, Stephenson averaged 26.7 points, 7.5 rebounds and 3.8 assists per game.

Stephenson has had workouts with several teams, as he attempts to get back to the NBA.  The results of those workouts have been encouraging, as Stephenson is reportedly in good physical shape. Despite a nine-year NBA career, Stephenson is still only 31 years old.

In 508 career games, Stephenson has averaged 8.6 points, 4.2 rebounds and 2.9 assists.

JD Shaw/Hoops Rumors

Tags: Lance Stephenson, NBA, NBA Misc Rumor, D-League, D-League Signing Rumor, D-League Misc Rumor

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Rockets Claim Garrison Mathews Off Waivers, Convert Contract To Two-Way

Oct 18, 2021 8:41 PM

The Houston Rockets have claimed Garrison Mathews off waivers from the Boston Celtics and converted his contract to a two-way deal.

Mathews (6-5, 215) was eligible for the 2019 NBA Draft after earning Atlantic Sun Conference Player of the Year honors as a senior at Lipscomb. He appeared in a total of 82 games with 24 starts for Washington over the past two seasons while averaging 5.5 points in 16.2 minutes per game. Mathews also hit 95 3-pointers on 38.9% shooting during that span after averaging 3.0 3-pointers made on 39.3% shooting over his final two collegiate seasons.

In a related move, the Rockets have waived forward Anthony Lamb.

RealGM Staff Report

Tags: Garrison Mathews, Houston Rockets, NBA, NBA Signing Rumor, NBA Misc Rumor, D-League

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Jay Huff, Lakers Sign Two-Way Contract

Oct 18, 2021 2:22 PM

The Los Angeles Lakers have signed Jay Huff to a Two-Way contract.

Huff appeared in 25 games (all starts) for Virginia last season, averaging 13.0 points (.585 FG%, .387 3P%), 7.1 rebounds, 1.0 assist and 2.6 blocks in 27.0 minutes per game. The 2020-21 ACC All-Defensive First Team selection led the conference in field goal percentage (.585) and scored in double figures 18 times last season. In four seasons at Virginia, Huff averaged 7.6 points, 4.5 rebounds and 1.6 blocks in 101 career games and helped his team win the 2019 NCAA Championship.

RealGM Staff Report

Tags: James Huff, Los Angeles Lakers, South Bay Lakers, NBA, NBA Signing Rumor, NBA Misc Rumor, D-League, D-League Teams

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Jazz Convert Malik Fitts To Two-Way Contract

Oct 16, 2021 10:16 PM

The Utah Jazz have converted the contract of forward Malik Fitts to a two-way contract. 

Fitts (6-8, 230, St. Mary’s) played in four preseason games with the Jazz, averaging 3.8 points on 45.5 percent from the field and 83.3 percent from three, along with 2.0 rebounds and 2.0 assists in 11.8 minutes per contest.

The Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., native played in three NBA games with the Los Angeles Clippers during the 2020-21 season and also appeared in 14 games (six starts) with the Agua Caliente Clippers of the NBA G League, averaging 11.1 points, 4.0 boards and 1.4 assists.

RealGM Staff Report

Tags: Malik Fitts, Utah Jazz, Salt Lake City Stars, NBA, NBA Signing Rumor, NBA Misc Rumor, D-League, NBA Waiver, D-League Teams

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Bulls Convert Tyler Cook To Two-Way Contract

Oct 16, 2021 10:00 PM

The Chicago Bulls have converted the contract of Tyler Cook to a Two-Way deal.

Cook finished last season with the Detroit Pistons and was waived before the start of the offseason. 

Cook averaged 4.9 points and 3.0 rebounds across 32 games with the Pistons and Brooklyn Nets.

Adrian Wojnarowski/ESPN

Tags: Tyler Cook, Chicago Bulls, Windy City Bulls, NBA, NBA Signing Rumor, NBA Misc Rumor, D-League, D-League Teams

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Nets Convert David Duke Jr. To Two-Way Deal

Oct 16, 2021 9:52 PM

The Brooklyn Nets have exercised the Two-Way player conversion option on guard David Duke Jr.

Duke originally signed with Brooklyn on Aug. 8 after playing for the Nets during NBA Summer League in Las Vegas. Duke appeared in three preseason games for Brooklyn, registering averages of 4.3 points, 4.0 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 1.0 steals in 16.6 minutes per contest.

Duke went undrafted in the 2021 NBA Draft after a three-year collegiate career (2018-21) at Providence College. Starting all 91 career games, the 22-year-old averaged 11.5 points on 39.4 percent shooting from the field and 37.7 percent shooting from distance, 4.2 rebounds and 3.2 assists in 30.8 minutes per game.

RealGM Staff Report

Tags: David Duke, Brooklyn Nets, Long Island Nets, NBA, NBA Signing Rumor, NBA Misc Rumor, D-League, D-League Teams

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Hornets To Retain LiAngelo Ball's G League Rights After Signing Non-Guaranteed Deal

Shams Charania/The Athletic

Sekou Doumbouya Signs Two-Way Deal With Lakers

Shams Charania/The Athletic

LiAngelo Ball Signs G League Contract, Will Enter Oct. 23rd Draft

Shams Charania/The Athletic

Kosta Koufos Agrees To Sign With G League Ignite

Marc Stein/Substack

Tyler Hall Signs Non-Guaranteed Contract With Knicks

Michael Scotto/The Athletic