Portland lands a WNBA expansion team

The Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) announced today that it has awarded Portland, Oregon, the league’s 15th franchise. The Portland team, set to begin play in the 2026 season, will be owned and operated by RAJ Sports, led by Lisa Bhathal Merage and Alex Bhathal. Portland is the third expansion franchise awarded by the WNBA during this round of expansion, following the Golden State Valkyries and a Toronto franchise, bringing the league from 12 to 15 teams.

“As the WNBA builds on a season of unprecedented growth, bringing a team back to Portland is another important step forward,” said WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert. “Portland has been an epicenter of the women’s sports movement and is home to a passionate community of basketball fans. Pairing this energy with the Bhathal family’s vision of leading top-flight professional sports teams will ensure that we deliver a premier WNBA team to the greater Portland area.”

Spurs front office news

The San Antonio Spurs recently announced additions and promotions within the team’s basketball operations staff.

The Spurs have added Mike Noyes as assistant coach/director of player development. In addition, San Antonio has promoted Josh Larson to Austin Spurs general manager and Gorgui Dieng to assistant general manager of the Austin Spurs.

Noyes joins the Spurs coaching staff after spending the past six seasons with the Memphis Grizzlies, most recently as a player development coach. He got his start with the Grizzlies as a data scientist in 2018 before transitioning to video coordinator. A native a Granby, Connecticut, Noyes attended the University of Connecticut where he started as a practice player for the Huskies basketball team before becoming a walk-on his junior season and was awarded a scholarship his senior year. He earned his degree in math/actuarial science from UConn in 2017.

Larson’s promotion to Austin Spurs general manager comes after spending the past two seasons as the team’s basketball operations manager. In that role he assisted in Austin Spurs roster building and day-to-day basketball operations, as well as player evaluation for the G League. Larson got his start with the Spurs in 2019 as a basketball operations quality assurance assistant. A graduate of the University of Illinois, Larson served as student manager for the Fighting Illini basketball team from 2015-19.

Dieng becomes Austin Spurs assistant general manager in his second season in the front office with the organization. Last year, Dieng served as a basketball operations representative after announcing his retirement from the NBA. A native a Kébémer, Senegal, Dieng spent part of two seasons with the Spurs, averaging 4.4 points, 3.2 rebounds and 1.5 assists in 47 games. The 10-year veteran also played for the Minnesota Timberwolves, Memphis Grizzlies and Atlanta Hawks, appearing in 628 games over his career and averaging 7.3 points, 5.6 rebounds and 1.3 assists in 20.1 minutes. In 2015 he set up the Gorgui Dieng Foundation, which provides aid including medical equipment and supplies to improve healthcare in his native Senegal. In 2019 he received the Offseason NBA Cares Community Assist Award.

Lakers sign Christian Koloko, waive Blake Hinson

The Los Angeles Lakers recently signed center Christian Koloko to a two-way contract.

And in a related move, the team waived two-way forward Blake Hinson.

Koloko (7’0”, 230) last suited up for the Toronto Raptors during the 2022-23 season, appearing in 58 games (19 starts) and averaging 3.1 points, 2.9 rebounds and 1.0 blocks in 13.8 minutes. Selected No. 33 overall in the second round of the 2022 NBA Draft by the Raptors, the 24-year-old was waived by the team Jan. 17, 2024.

Born in Cameroon, Koloko moved to the United States prior to his junior year of high school in 2017. He attended the University of Arizona for three seasons (2019-22). After averaging 12.6 points, 7.3 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 2.8 blocks in 25.4 minutes in his final season with the Wildcats, Koloko was named Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year, the league’s most improved player and first-team all-conference.

Hinson was signed by the Lakers July 5.

Kings sign Boogie Ellis

The Sacramento Kings recently signed guard Boogie Ellis.

Ellis appeared in five games for Sacramento at NBA 2K25 Summer League in Las Vegas, averaging 11.2 points on 51.3% shooting from the field, including 54.5% from 3-point range. He also added 1.2 steals and averaged 17.3 minutes per game for the Kings.

A native of San Diego, Calif., Ellis spent the last three seasons at the University of Southern California where he posted averages of 15.4 points (42.7 FG%, 39.5 3pt%), 3.5 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.2 steals per game in 95 career games. In his final season with the Trojans, Ellis averaged 16.5 points, 3.5 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.4 steals per game, starting all 29 games, on his way to receiving All-Pac-12 Second Team honors.

Spurs waive Jamaree Bouyea

The San Antonio Spurs yesterday waived Two-Way guard Jamaree Bouyea.

Bouyea appeared in five games for the Spurs in the NBA 2K25 Summer League in Las Vegas, averaging 11.8 points, 3.6 assists, 2.0 rebounds and 3.00 steals in 24.3 minutes.

In three games for the Silver and Black last season, Bouyea averaged 3.7 points and 3.0 rebounds in 12.7 minutes. In 12 games with the Austin Spurs, he averaged 15.1 points, 6.2 rebounds, 6.25 assists and 2.33 steals in 36.2 minutes.

Mavericks re-sign Markieff Morris

The Dallas Mavericks recently re-signed forward Markieff Morris.

Appearing in 26 games last season for the Mavericks, Morris (6-9, 245) averaged 2.5 points, 1.5 rebounds and 8.3 minutes and broke double-digit scoring once in 2023-24 by scoring 10 points (4-9 FG, 2-5 3FG) alongside five rebounds and four assists in Portland (12/16/23).

Throughout 776 career NBA games, 379 of which were starts, with Dallas (2023-24), Brooklyn (2022-23), Miami (2021-22), the Los Angeles Lakers (2019-21), Detroit (2019-2020), Oklahoma City (2019), Washington (2016-2019) and Phoenix (2011-16), Morris averaged 10.3 points, 4.9 rebounds,1.5 assists, and 23.6 minutes. After being acquired by the Lakers in 2019-20, Morris helped Los Angeles to an NBA championship, appearing in each of the 21 playoff games that season.

As the 13th overall pick in the 2011 NBA Draft, the 13-year veteran was selected by the Phoenix Suns following three seasons (2008-11) at the University of Kansas.

Magic sign Jarrett Culver, Myron Gardner, Jalen Slawson and Tre Scott

The Orlando Magic recently signed four free agents – guard/forward Jarrett Culver, guard Myron Gardner, forward Jalen Slawson and forward Tre Scott, President of Basketball Operations Jeff Weltman announced.

Culver (6’6”, 195, 2/20/99) played in 29 games (22 starts) last season with Rio Grande Valley of the NBA G League, averaging 20.9 ppg., 6.9 rpg., 3.6 apg. and 1.93 stlpg. in 32.4 minpg., while shooting .380 (65-171) from three-point range.

Originally selected in the first round (sixth overall) of the 2019 NBA Draft by Phoenix, Culver has appeared in 144 career NBA regular season games (43 starts) with Minnesota, Memphis and Atlanta, averaging 6.5 ppg., 2.8 rpg. and 1.2 apg. in 17.3 minpg. He has also played in 52 career NBA G League regular season games (36 starts) with College Park and Rio Grande Valley, averaging 19.2 ppg., 7.2 rpg., 3.2 apg. and 1.60 stlpg. in 32.2 minpg.

Culver played in 75 games (58 starts) during two seasons (2017-19) at Texas Tech, averaging 14.9 ppg., 5.6 rpg., 2.7 apg. and 1.31 stlpg. in 29.5 minpg. In 2018-19, he received numerous accolades, including Second Team All-America by The Associated Press and was named the Big 12 Player of the Year. Culver led the Red Raiders to their first-ever NCAA Final Four appearance and to the 2019 NCAA Championship Game.

Gardner (6’6”, 220, 5/21/01) played in 31 games last season with Osceola of the NBA G League, averaging 4.8 ppg. and 4.3 rpg. in 15.1 minpg..

Undrafted by an NBA franchise, Gardner appeared in 46 career games (43 starts) during two seasons at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock (2021-23), averaging 12.1 ppg., 8.1 rpg., 3.2 apg. and 1.17 stlpg. in 30.7 minpg. He was named to the All-Ohio Valley Conference (OVC) Second Team in 2022-23. Gardner also played one season (2020-21) at South Plains College and one season (2019-20) at Georgetown University.

Slawson (6’7”, 215, 10/22/99) played in 12 games last season with Sacramento, averaging 0.7 ppg. in 3.1 minpg. He also played and started in 30 games with Stockton of the NBA G League, averaging 13.6 ppg., 8.1 rpg., 3.9 apg., 1.43 blkpg. and 1.17 stlpg. in 34.4 minpg.

Originally selected in the second round (54th overall) of the 2023 NBA Draft by Sacramento, Slawson played in 153 career games during five seasons (2018-23) at Furman University, averaging 9.9 ppg., 5.5 rpg., 2.4 apg., 1.25 stlpg. and 1.18 blkpg. in 24.0 minpg., while shooting .518 (535-1,033) from the floor. He was named the 2022-23 Southern Conference Player of the Year, leading the Paladins to the conference regular season title and their first NCAA Tournament win since 1974.

Scott (6’8”, 225, 11/25/96) played in a combined 26 games (four starts) last season with both Greensboro and Osceola of the NBA G League, averaging 6.3 ppg. and 3.0 rpg. in 18.2 minpg. He appeared in nine games with Osceola, averaging 6.2 ppg. in 13.3 minpg.

Undrafted by an NBA franchise, Scott has appeared in two career NBA regular season games with Cleveland, averaging 3.0 ppg. and 1.0 rpg. in 5.5 minpg. He has also played in 80 career NBA G League regular season games (46 starts) with Salt Lake City, Agua Caliente, Cleveland, Greensboro and Osceola, averaging 10.0 ppg., 5.4 rpg. and 1.6 apg. in 27.6 minpg. Scott has also played professionally in Puerto Rico (2020), France (2022-23) and Canada (2023).

Scott played in 136 career games (65 starts) during four seasons at the University of Cincinnati (2016-20), averaging 6.5 ppg., 5.7 rpg. and 1.3 apg. in 21.2 minpg. He was named the American Athletic Conference’s (AAC) Defensive Player of the Year and Most Improved Player in 2019-20. Scott also earned All-AAC First Team honors in 2019-20.

Heat waive Bryson Warren and Malik Williams

The Miami Heat recently waived Bryson Warren and Malik Williams.

Warren appeared in 17 regular season games (two starts) with the HEAT’s G League affiliate, the Sioux Falls Skyforce, last season and averaged 7.8 points, 1.9 assists, 1.5 rebounds and 19.6 minutes. He recently appeared in three Summer League games with the HEAT, including two during the California Classic in San Francisco and one while helping Miami capture the championship in the NBA2K25 in Las Vegas.

Williams appeared in 33 regular season games (24 starts) with the Sioux Falls Skyforce last season and averaged 11.1 points, 9.2 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 1.21 blocks and 23.2 minutes while shooting 43.6 percent from the field. He also appeared in seven games (two starts) with the Toronto Raptors from April 3 through April 14 and averaged 2.7 points and 5.4 rebounds in 15.3 minutes of action.

G League: Long Island Nets hire Tevin Baskin, Fortune Solomon and Jorge Gutierrez as assistant coaches

The Long Island Nets, the NBA G League affiliate of the Brooklyn Nets, have named Tevin Baskin, Fortune Solomon and Jorge Gutiérrez as assistant coaches on Head Coach Mfon Udofia’s staff. They join Associate Head Coach Shawn Swords on Long Island’s bench.

Swords returns to Long Island for his second season as associate head coach after joining the organization ahead of the 2022-23 season as an assistant coach. Swords previously spent 15 seasons (2007-2022) as head coach at Laurentian University in Ontario, Canada, where he also played five collegiate seasons (1992-97) and earned a bachelor’s degree in economics. Prior to beginning his coaching career, the Ottawa native played professionally overseas for a decade (1997-2007) in France and Italy and on Team Canada at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, Australia.

Baskin enters his third season with Long Island and his first as an assistant coach. He originally joined the Nets staff ahead of the 2022-23 NBA G League season as an assistant video coordinator/player development and was elevated to head video coordinator/player development the following season. Prior to joining the Nets, the Stamford, Conn., native spent one season (2021-22) at Mississippi State as the director of recruiting and analytics, where he also served as a graduate assistant for two seasons (2018-20). Baskin played two collegiate seasons (2012-14) at Appalachian State and later earned a master’s degree in workforce education leadership from Mississippi State.

Solomon joins Long Island as an assistant coach after spending the 2023-24 season as an assistant coach with the NBA G League’s Raptors 905. Prior to his stint with the 905, he spent two seasons (2021-23) as an assistant coach with the South Bay Lakers and four seasons (2017-21) with the Oklahoma City Thunder as a player development analyst. The Hayward, Calif., native also brings international coaching experience to Long Island, serving as an assistant coach for the South Sudan Men’s National Team since 2021, including the team’s recent performance at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Prior to beginning his professional coaching career, Solomon spent one season (2012-13) at the University of California, Bakersfield as head video coordinator before joining the University of San Francisco basketball program as a graduate assistant during the 2013-14 season, where he also earned a master’s degree in sports management.

Gutiérrez enters his first season with Long Island and his first as an assistant coach. He joins the coaching ranks after an 11-year professional career (2012-23) including three seasons (2013-16) in the NBA with Brooklyn, Milwaukee and Charlotte. Gutiérrez also played four seasons in the NBA G League with the Cleveland Charge (2012-16) and was selected by the Charge with the 26th overall pick in the 2012 NBA G League Draft. Prior to beginning his professional career, Gutiérrez played four collegiate seasons (2008-12) at the University of California, Berkeley, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary studies. The Chihuahua, Mexico native received Pac-12 Player of the Year and Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year honors during his senior season with the Golden Bears.

Additionally, Steven Kaner has been elevated to head video coordinator/player development. He enters his fourth season with Long Island after joining the organization as a team attendant ahead of the 2021-22 season.

Trail Blazers sign Taze Moore to Two-Way contract

The Portland Trail Blazers have signed guard Taze Moore to a Two-Way contract, it was announced today by Trail Blazers General Manager Joe Cronin.

Moore originally signed a 10-day contract with the Portland Trail Blazers on Jan. 20, 2024, then signed for the rest of the season on April 14. He appeared in four games during 2023-24 NBA season for Portland and totaled 18 points (8-19 FG, 1-2 FT), eight rebounds, five assists and two steals. In the season finale for the Trail Blazers on April 14, Moore scored a career-high 12 points, eight rebounds and four assists in 30 minutes at the Sacramento Kings.

The Houston alum appeared in 22 games for the Trail Blazers NBA G League affiliate, Rip City Remix during the 2023-24 season, accruing averages of 15.6 points (49.8% FG, 35.1% 3-PT, 73.3% FT), 5.1 rebounds, 7.2 assists and 1.4 steals in 30.7 minutes per game. Moore was originally acquired by the Rip City Remix on Jan. 11.