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Celtics sign guard Denzel Valentine to one-year deal

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The Boston Celtics have signed Denzel Valentine to a one-year deal. This is a non-guaranteed contract. The fifth-year player was selected 14th overall by the Chicago Bulls in the 2016 NBA Draft. The 6’4″ guard played with the Bulls from 2016–21.

In the 2017-18 season, while with Chicago, Valentine averaged career-highs 10.2 points, 5.1 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game. Out of 77 games played that season, the guard started in 37 contests.

Furthermore, on March, 17, 2018, in the Bulls’ 114-109 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers, Valentine scored a career-high 34 points in 39 minutes of action. The guard shot 13-for-20 (65%) from the field and 8-for-11 (72.7%) from downtown. Can he play this well on the Celtics? Only time will tell.

After playing for the Bulls, on September 22, 2021, the guard signed a multi-year contract with the Cavaliers. However, Valentine only played 22 games with the Cavs last season.

On January 3, 2022, the Cavs traded him to the New York Knicks. Two days later, the Knicks waived him. Then, he signed a 10-day contract with the Utah Jazz. He went on to play just two games with the Jazz.

Denzel Valentine can help the Celtics next season

Moreover, in 12 games played with the Maine Celtics — the team’s NBA G League affiliate — last season, the guard averaged 14.6 points, 10.3 rebounds, 7 assists and 1.1 steals per game.

As a teenager, the Lansing, Michigan, native attended J.W. Sexton High School. In his senior season, the Red Hawks finished 27-1, and Valentine averaged 14 points, 11 rebounds and 9 assists per game.

Through 144 games played in the NCAA with Michigan State, Valentine averaged 11.4 points, 5.9 rebounds and 4.4 assists per game. Also, he averaged 44.2% shooting from the field and 40.8% from 3-point range.

During his junior season, he was selected to the third-team All-Big Ten in 2015. It will be interesting to see how Celtics coach Ime Udoka utilizes Valentine.

In his senior 2015-16 season, the guard also recorded career-high numbers across the board. In 31 games played, Valentine averaged 19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, 7.8 assists and 1 steal per game. Not to mention, he finished 46.2% shooting from the floor and 44.4% from beyond the arc.

As a senior, the guard won several awards in 2016: AP Player of the Year, NABC Player of the Year, Senior CLASS Award, Julius Irving Award, Lute Olson Award, Big Ten Player of the Year and Big Ten Tournament MOP.

To add to the aforementioned accomplishments, Valentine was selected to the first-team All-Big Ten and consensus first-team All-American in 2016.

The fifth-year player turns 29 this November. If the guard survives training camp, he’ll help add depth to the Celtics’ backcourt. He first has to make the roster. The NBA G League might be a better fit. Other news stories related to Denzel Valentine are on the main page.





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Rui Hachimura Records 103.6% Effective FG, 6th Highest All Time

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Los Angeles Lakers forward Rui Hachimura posted an effective field goal percentage of 103.6%, the sixth highest in NBA history in a 30-point, 10-rebound game, in Wednesday night’s 136-124 win over the Memphis Grizzlies.

Hachimura, 26, ended his outing with 32 points, 10 rebounds, one assist, and two blocks in 35 minutes of action. He shot 11-of-14 (78.6%) from the floor, 7-of-8 (87.5%) from 3-point range, and 3-of-4 (75%) at the foul line.

The Lakers were coming off a thrilling 128-124 double-overtime victory in Milwaukee without LeBron James on Tuesday night. It was Los Angeles’ fifth straight win to pull within 2 1/2 games of the No. 6-seeded Dallas Mavericks.

James registered his fourth triple-double of the season with 23 points, 14 rebounds, and 12 assists against Memphis. The four-time MVP has been impressed by Hachimura’s performances in the second half of the season.

Rui Hachimura is averaging career highs in effective field goal percentage, true shooting percentage

“Very comfortable,” James said of Hachimura’s play since Hachimura became the starting small forward on Feb. 3. “He knows where his shots are coming from. He knows he’s going to be on the floor. And he knows he’s going to get minutes.

“Gives us another big body, another athletic wing out there. When we downsize, a night like tonight, we had to play small at times, me and him, we can switch some things and still be able to clean glass. So he’s been very key for our success since he got here.”

Through 59 games (30 starts) this season, Hachimura is averaging 13.1 points, 4.1 rebounds, 1.1 assists, and 26.2 minutes per game while shooting a career-best 53.3% from the field and 42.3% from deep.

His effective field goal percentage (60.5%), true shooting percentage (62.4%), and win shares (3.2) are all career highs. The forward’s 3-point shooting percentage ranks 13th in the NBA this season as well.

In the Los Angeles Lakers’ 138-122 win over the Utah Jazz on Feb. 14, he notched a career-high 36 points on 13-of-19 (68.4%) shooting from the floor, 6-of-8 (75%) outside the arc, and 4-of-5 (80%) at the free throw line.

His seven 3-pointers at Memphis were a career high.





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Wizards considered moving their NBA franchise from Washington to Virginia

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The City of Alexandria, Virginia has huge plans for the future, as they intended to lure the NBA’s Wizards and NHL’s Capitals from Washington to find a new home in their land. However, it seems as if their ambition is too big for the moment, while negotiations came to an end as the two teams “will not move forward.”

The plan was offered by Governor Glenn Youngkin to relocate Ted Leonsis’ teams to Alexandria and create a development district with a new arena for both franchises. However, in a statement posted on their website, they expressed their disappointment as the project was blocked by lawmakers in the state’s General Assembly.

Once the news came out, new reports suggested that D.C. Mayor Muriel E. Bowser is finalizing a contract that will maintain the teams in Washington at their current home for 25 more years. According to the Washington Post, the city will provide $515 million that will be invested in modernising the Capital One Arena through 2050.

About three months ago, Leonsis revealed his teams were considering this potential relocation in Alexandria, which was to be a part of a larger $2.2 billion development project. “As stewards of the City’s economic health and development, City leaders believed the Potomac Yard Entertainment District opportunity was worthy of community discussion and Council consideration.

“We negotiated a framework for this opportunity in good faith and participated in the process in Richmond in a way that preserved our integrity. We trusted this process and are disappointed in what occurred between the Governor and General Assembly,” the city announced in a statement.

Despite the bad news, the city from Virginia was determined to show their citizens how big their dreams really are, and hope to continue planning their development. “We engaged in substantial community engagement over the past months that informed our negotiations and would have made the proposal even better for our community.

“That continued conversation would have also allowed us to consider how a project of this scale could support our plans for growth and our community’s future. … We will continue to pursue economic opportunities that improve our quality of life and economic health,” it reads.

Governor Youngkin expressed his frustration over the demise of a project that would potentially create $12 billion

The proposal made to Washington’s NFL and NBA teams had years in planning, and the past months in negotiation. As the news came about the rejection of the plan, Governor Youngkin couldn’t hide his disappointment over the resolution, as he believed if would’ve potentially created $12 billion in economic investment.

“This should have been our deal and our opportunity,” he said in a statement. “But no, personal and political agendas drove away a deal with no upfront general fund money and no tax increases, that created tens of thousands of new jobs and billions in revenue for Virginia.”

Back in December, both the Governor and Leonsis had revealed at a public event that they were reaching an understanding of a plan that would start by creating a $2 billion development district with a new sports arena in Alexandria, which is only a few miles from where Capital One Arena is today.

The idea was that the offering would ask the General Assembly to set up an authority that would create bonds to finance most of the ambitious project, which was backed partly by both city and state governments. According to the plan, a lot of the investment would’ve been repaid through a mix of tax revenues recaptured by the project itself.





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76ers’ Joel Embiid Likely to Return From Injury Before NBA Playoffs

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Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid is expected to return to the court before the end of the regular season in time for the 2024 NBA Playoffs, according to Sixers coach Nick Nurse.

“I think there’s a very good likelihood that he will return before the play-in, playoff,” Nurse said before Wednesday night’s home game against the Los Angeles Clippers.

Embiid hasn’t played since Jan. 30, when Golden State Warriors forward Jonathan Kuminga fell on his left leg in the fourth quarter of a 119-107 loss in San Francisco.

Referring to a few NBA betting sites, the 76ers hold 14th-ranked odds to win the championship. Sportsbooks are showing better odds for the Cleveland Cavaliers and Miami Heat.

Without the seven-time All-Star since then, the 76ers have gone 10-16, the 10th-best record in the Eastern Conference over that span. Tyrese Maxey has helped the team stay afloat in the standings.

Prior to Embiid’s injury, he was averaging career highs of 35.3 points and 5.7 assists, along with 11.3 rebounds, 1.1 steals, 1.8 blocks, and 34 minutes per game. Plus, he was shooting 53.3% from the field and a career-best 88.3% at the foul line.

Philadelphia 76ers are 26-8 with reigning MVP center Joel Embiid, 13-25 without him this season

Embiid is seven weeks removed from having surgery on the lateral meniscus in his left knee. Nurse added that there’s “no timetable” for his return. However, he also said that Embiid continues to participate in on-court work.

“I haven’t met with him,” Nurse said. “I have talked with him, FaceTimed with him a couple times. He’s on the court, as you guys know, and we still don’t have a timeline for his return.”

“I would imagine he’s getting better each day. It’s just trying to get him strong and confident and in shape and ramped up and all those wonderful words.”

Furthermore, Nurse mentioned to reporters on Wednesday that he would provide an update when Embiid progresses to contact practice or other steps before his long-awaited return to the court.

Embiid underwent surgery to repair the torn meniscus in his left knee on Feb. 6.

The Sixers’ original timeline for Embiid was 6-8 weeks. Eight weeks out from Feb. 6 would be April 2. Philadelphia will host the Oklahoma City Thunder that night at the Wells Fargo Center.

Following that matchup, the team will have a three-game road trip at the Heat (April 4), the Memphis Grizzlies (April 6), and the San Antonio Spurs (April 7) before finishing the season with a three-game homestand.

Last season, the Sixers went 11-5 during the regular season and 2-0 in the playoffs without the reigning MVP. Philadelphia is 26-8 with Embiid this season and 13-25 without him.





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