Tag: Reggie Bullock

Rockets rookie Cam Whitmore to miss weeks with LCL sprain in right knee

Promising rookie Cam Whitmore sprained the LCL in his right knee, according to the Rockets, and could miss about three weeks of action.

Despite Houston’s impressive 4-1 record in March, the relatively serious injuries suffered by Alperen Sengun (severe right ankle sprain) and Tari Eason (left tibia surgery) have dominated headlines.

Add one more name to a growing list of injured Rockets.

Rookie wing Cam Whitmore missed Tuesday’s game in San Antonio with a sprain to the lateral collateral ligament (LCL) in his right knee. The team expects Whitmore to miss about three weeks of action, though head coach Ime Udoka said Tuesday it could be a shorter timetable, depending on how Whitmore’s knee responds.

Veteran wing Reggie Bullock Jr., who has played sparingly this season, could be next in line to fill some of Whitmore’s minutes. Another candidate for that role could be Nate Williams.

Drafted at No. 20 in the NBA’s 2023 first round, Whitmore has provided sorely needed scoring punch off Houston’s bench.

An athletic and powerful force at 6-foot-7 and 230 pounds, Whitmore is averaging 14.9 points (45.4% FG, 34.3% on 3-pointers) and 4.6 rebounds in just 20.1 minutes over his last 19 games played.

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Reaction: Celtics edge short-handed Rockets as Alperen Sengun posts third career triple-double

Alperen Sengun (24/12/10) had his third career triple-double, but the weary and short-handed Rockets couldn’t complete Sunday’s comeback bid against Boston.

HOUSTON — On the second night of a difficult back-to-back at Toyota Center, the severely short-handed Rockets (20-22) couldn’t quite keep pace with the loaded Boston Celtics (33-10) in a 116-107 loss (box score). But the home team didn’t go down without a fight.

Despite trailing by double digits most of the way, Houston kept pushing and came within a possession on multiple trips in the fourth quarter. However, the Rockets couldn’t get a final breakthrough.

Big man Kristaps Porzingis led Boston with 32 points and 5 blocks, and he made 6-of-11 from 3-point range (54.5%). He was countered by Houston’s Alperen Sengun, who had 24 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists in the third triple-double of his NBA career. Sengun made 10-of-18 shots (55.6%) and all four of his free throws.

Houston was without Tari Eason (left lower leg injury management), Jabari Smith Jr. (left ankle sprain), Fred VanVleet (lower back tightness), Jeff Green (left calf soreness) and Reggie Bullock (lower back pain). Back-to-back considerations played a role in some of those decisions, according to head coach Ime Udoka.

Given those absences, Houston had its pair of highly drafted rookies — Amen Thompson and Cam Whitmore — make their first NBA starts. Thompson played well with 15 points, 14 rebounds and 5 assists, making 5-of-10 shots (50%) and 5-of-6 free throws (83.3%).

For Whitmore, it was a struggle with 5 points and 4 rebounds on 2-of-7 shooting (28.6%). He went 0-of-2 on free throws when the Rockets were down only three points in the closing minutes.

Dillon Brooks led Houston with 25 points and 4 steals, making 5-of-15 from 3-point range (33.3%), and his defense helped limit Celtics star Jayson Tatum to just 18 points on 4-of-17 shooting (23.5%).

Jalen Green and Aaron Holiday each had 5 assists and 4 rebounds while scoring 16 and 12 points, respectively. Both were stepping into larger-than-usual roles in the absence of VanVleet.

Here’s our look at Sunday’s highlights and postgame interviews from Toyota Center, along with reaction by media members and fans. Now 1-1 on a three-game homestand, Houston wraps it up on Wednesday versus Portland (12-29), with tipoff set for 7 p.m. Central.

Report: As NBA trade season nears, Rockets aren’t interested in deal for Chicago’s Zach LaVine

Shooting guard has been a position of inconsistency for the Rockets, but Chicago’s Zach LaVine won’t be a trade target, per HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto.

Between Jock Landale, Victor Oladipo, Jeff Green, and Jae’Sean Tate, Houston Rockets general manager Rafael Stone will have tradable salary to make the math work on potential deals in the weeks leading up to the February 2024 trade deadline for this season.

The Rockets (8-8) are off to a better-than-expected start to the 2023-24 campaign, and that’s despite inconsistency at shooting guard from Jalen Green and the unexpected loss of Kevin Porter Jr. just prior to the season (owing to his off-court arrest).

So, if Houston seeks an upgrade to bolster a playoff push, it would stand to reason that shooting guard could be a position of interest. But one player who won’t be a target, according to HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto, is seemingly disgruntled Chicago Bulls star Zach LaVine.

From Scotto’s trade season preview, which includes information sourced from 15 NBA executives and league sources:

Looking ahead to the trade deadline, Houston will look to continue upgrading its roster with the tradeable contracts of Victor Oladipo, Jock Landale, Jeff Green, and future draft pick(s) compensation, league sources told HoopsHype.

Oladipo is on an expiring $9.45 million deal, Landale is owed $8 million this season and includes no guaranteed money next season, and Green is owed $9.6 million this season and has a team option and a non-guaranteed clause in his contract for next season, per our Rockets salaries page.

While Zach LaVine is one of the top names on the market, the Rockets are not in on his sweepstakes, HoopsHype has learned.

It’s also worth noting that over the past few seasons Jae’Sean Tate has also drawn exploratory trade interest from several playoff-caliber teams, league sources told HoopsHype.

Lastly, before signing with Houston, Reggie Bullock had interest from several teams, including the Bucks, Heat, Celtics, Clippers, and Pelicans. Given his proven 3-and-D capability and current role in Houston, he’s also a name to watch.

LaVine is under contract for more than $40 million annually through the 2026-27 season (player option), though his per-game production — while good — isn’t at nearly at a superstar level. Thus, the Rockets could be aiting for a better return on investment, both financially and in terms of the asset cost that a deal would require.

For the right player, Houston does own a considerable amount of future draft capital, which could be used to incentivize a deal.

December 15, which is two weeks away, is the unofficial start to the NBA’s trade season — since that’s the date in which most players who signed contracts in the recently completed offseason become trade eligible. That opens up considerably more options and targets around the league, and Stone and the Rockets should have incentive to be aggressive as their rebuild enters its second phase.

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Nine former UNC Basketball players on 2023-2024 NBA rosters

The NBA is well-represented by former Tar Heels, with nine suiting up across seven teams. The newest professional Tar Heel is Leaky Black.

NBA fans, sing your praises – the regular season is finally upon us.

Opening night kicked off on Tuesday, Oct. 24, with Lakers-Nuggets and Suns-Warriors giving fans an appetizer. There will be a full slate of games tonight, highlighted by Celtics-Knicks and Mavericks-Spurs, plus more to come throughout the weekend.

Tar Heel fans are highly anticipating the UNC season opener on Monday, Nov. 6 against Radford, but there’s good reason for them to also be excited about the NBA.

Nine former Tar Heels – Leaky Black, Cole Anthony, Day’Ron Sharpe, Harrison Barnes, Danny Green, Nassir Little, Coby White, Cam Johnson and Reggie Bullock – are on NBA rosters.

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A couple of them are starting, a few are valuable role players while one is a rookie.

Let’s take a deeper look at each former Tar Heel and how long they’ve been in the NBA for. Will any of them walk away with another championship?

Day 3 Rockets practice updates: Reggie Bullock debuts in training camp

Reggie Bullock made his #Rockets debut and Alperen Sengun impressed in Thursday’s training-camp scrimmage. “I heard great things about the direction the organization is going,” Bullock says.

Houston’s training camp to prepare for the 2023-24 NBA season continued Thursday at McNeese State University’s Legacy Center in Lake Charles, Louisiana. This marked the first practice for the Rockets with newly signed wing Reggie Bullock as an active participant.

“It felt like a family decision,” Bullock told Vanessa Richardson of Space City Home Network (SCHN). “It was comfortable, for me. I heard great things about the direction the organization is going, the great young core that they have, and now adding vets around to do the little details and help them grow as an organization.”

As for scrimmage activity, the clear standout was big man Alperen Sengun, according to Jackson Gatlin of Locked on Rockets. Gatlin was one of a small handful of reporters on site in Lake Charles.

“Alperen Sengun was just dominating this Rockets scrimmage,” Gatlin wrote on X (formerly known as Twitter). “At one point Jeff Green fouled him (and 1), and all he could do was smile and shake his head.”

Scroll on for a compilation of video highlights and interview quotes from all of Thursday’s training camp activity.

Reaction: Rockets fill key bench role by signing veteran Reggie Bullock

Veteran “3&D” wing Reggie Bullock is reportedly joining the Rockets after reaching a contract buyout with San Antonio. He shot 38.0% on 3-pointers last season.

Three weeks after losing Kevin Porter Jr. (arrested for assault), the Rockets filled what likely would have been his intended on-court role by signing veteran NBA wing Reggie Bullock. Houston had an open roster spot entering training camp after waiving Joshua Obiesie.

Financial terms of the deal, which was first reported by The Athletic’s Shams Charania, weren’t immediately clear. Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle reports that it is a one-year contract.

Now 32 years old, Bullock first entered the league in 2013 as a first-round draft pick of the Clippers. A 6-foot-7 guard/forward capable of providing strong defense at multiple positions, Bullock played his last two years in Dallas, where he shot 38.0% on 3-pointers last season.

In July, Bullock was traded for financial reasons to San Antonio as part of a three-team deal sending Boston’s Grant Williams to the Mavericks. But facing a roster crunch and with no immediate expectations of winning, the rebuilding Spurs chose to buy out the final year of his contract while letting him hit the open market.

As it turns out, Bullock chose a team in Houston that — while not trying to contend for a title — is aiming to be much more competitive under the guidance of first-year head coach Ime Udoka. If everyone is healthy, Bullock likely slides in as a backup wing behind starting shooting guard Jalen Green and small forward Dillon Brooks.

Here’s a look at immediate reaction to the deal, along with Bullock’s highlights from last season with the Mavericks. In 30.3 minutes per game with Dallas, Bullock averaged 7.2 points (38.0% on 3-pointers) and 3.6 rebounds last season.

Report: Spurs, Reggie Bullock agree to contract buyout

The San Antonio Spurs have agreed to a contract buyout with Reggie Bullock.

According to Shams Charania of The Athletic, the San Antonio Spurs and veteran wing Reggie Bullock have agreed to a contract buyout. The Spurs acquired Bullock in the three-team deal that saw the Dallas Mavericks land Grant Williams, who came from the Boston Celtics. Bullock had one year left on his contract worth roughly $11 million.

As noted by Charania, Bullock will now have the option of joining a plethora of contenders who will all be vying for his services. At 32 years old, Bullock is entering the final stages of his career but has been a reliable 3-and-D presence throughout the course of his time in the league.

This past season, Bullock appeared in 78 games for the Mavericks, starting 55 of them. He averaged 78.2 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 1.4 assists per game while shooting 40.9% from the field and 38.0% from behind the three-point line.

Some teams that come to mind as potential suitors for Bullock include the Milwaukee Bucks, Phoenix Suns, and Miami Heat, all of whom could use added depth.

The Bucks just traded away Jrue Holiday and Grayson Allen in the deal to land Damian Lillard, so Bullock’s perimeter defense could give them a huge boost. The Suns have been searching for depth options all summer, and the Miami Heat could use Bullock to help replace Max Strus’ minutes.

Bullock would have been a solid wing in San Antonio, but with veterans like Cedi Osman and Doug McDermott still on the roster, his presence wasn’t needed.

San Antonio will head into next year with a heavy focus on developing their young core around Victor Wembanyama.

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Reggie Bullock and Theo Pinson discuss just how tough the ‘Carolina Mile’ is

Former North Carolina Tar Heels Reggie Bullock and Theo Pinson discuss the Carolina Mile on Tidal League’s Run Your Race podcast.

Former North Carolina standouts [autotag]Reggie Bullock[/autotag] and [autotag]Theo Pinson[/autotag] had fun discussing the legendary Carolina Mile on a snippet of Pinson’s Run Your Race podcast.

The Carolina Mile is a great Tar Heel tradition that takes the run from inside to outside for the men’s basketball program. The team runs a mile to signal an end to the off-season and introduction to practice.

What makes the Carolina Mile so unique is its lengthy history and the folk tales that come from it. Former Tar Heel Mitch Kupchak told the athletic about his 5:19 finish, just making it inside Dean Smith’s 5:20 mark request.

In a recent snippet of the Run Your Race podcast presented by Tidal League, Pinson and Bullock joked about their Carolina Mile experiences.

This UNC tradition has made its rounds through decades, so it is always nice to hear players open up about it. The tradition is to test the players’ will, challenging while pushing the players to new heights.

Follow us @TarHeelsWire on Twitter and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of North Carolina Tar Heels news, notes and opinions.

Mock trade sees Spurs ditch veteran for 24-year-old big man

Heading into the offseason, the San Antonio Spurs had a ton of cap space, and there was some speculation that they could look to spend this summer. Instead, they stayed relatively quiet, allowing their selection of Victor Wembanyama to take center …

Heading into the offseason, the San Antonio Spurs had a ton of cap space, and there was some speculation that they could look to spend this summer. Instead, they stayed relatively quiet, allowing their selection of Victor Wembanyama to take center stage. They did make other moves around the fringes, though.

San Antonio re-signed Tre Jones, Julian Champagnie, and Sandro Mamukelashvili while also making trades for Reggie Bullock, Cedi Osman, Lamar Stevens (who they have since waived), and Cameron Payne. But the Spurs could still consider more moves if they are willing to shake things up. There’s still room to add.

Grant Hughes of Bleacher Report suggested a trade that would see the Spurs get younger and add more picks.

How Cameron Payne, Reggie Bullock can help Spurs after trades

The San Antonio Spurs recently added veterans Reggie Bullock and Cameron Payne via two separate trades, and both will be able to help.

The San Antonio Spurs had a relatively relaxed offseason. That’s not to say they didn’t make moves – they did – the Spurs just didn’t make as many additions as some expected them to, as they had a bunch of cap space heading into free agency, but only made internal re-additions.

However, they drafted Victor Wembanyama and Sidy Cissoko, solidifying a solid rookie class, and they helped facilitate a deal between the Dallas Mavericks and Boston Celtics. The Spurs added veteran wing Reggie Bullock in that deal. And most recently, they acquired veteran point guard Cameron Payne in a deal with the Phoenix Suns.

Heading into next season, Payne and Bullock will be 29 and 32 years old, respectively. And while the Spurs are just entering a rebuild, both could bring serious value to San Antonio.

Payne appeared in 48 games for the Suns this past season, averaging 10.3 points, 2.2 rebounds, and 4.5 assists while shooting 41.5% from the field and 36.8% from behind the three-point line.

Meanwhile, Bullock appeared in 78 games for the Mavericks this past year, putting up 7.2 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 1.4 assists per game while shooting 40.9% from the floor and 38.0% shooting from distance.

For a young Spurs team, the value of veterans will be huge, as they will be able to help mentor guys like Wembanyama, Devin Vassell, and Keldon Johnson.

San Antonio has missed the playoffs for four straight seasons – the longest drought in franchise history. And with Wembanyama now in place, they should set their sights on getting back to the postseason.

Having veterans like Bullock and Payne on the team will provide them with a calming presence off the bench. Plus, both guys are more than capable of playing rotational minutes for the Spurs as they look to grow and compete.

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