NBA Notes: Warriors, Knicks, Jalen Brunson, Wizards

Warriors

JaMychal Green will sign with the Warriors after clearing waivers, as relayed by Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN. Green was acquired by the Thunder in a trade with the Nuggets, and he should help replace the loss of Otto Porter Jr. with the Warriors, wrote Joe Viray of SB Nation.

Green also drew high praise from former Nuggets teammate and reigning back-to-back NBA MVP Nikola Jokic.

“JaMychal’s a guy that I’d like to play with him for the rest of my life,” Jokic said last season. “He’s amazing. His effort, his energy, his toughness.”

• All-Star forward Andrew Wiggins said he regrets receiving the COVID-19 vaccine, implying it felt as if it was forced on him. “I still wish I didn’t get [vaccinated], to be honest with you,” Wiggins said, via Aryanna Prasad of FanSided. “But you’ve gotta do what you’ve gotta do.”
• It remains to be seen if the Warriors will bring back Andre Iguodala, 38, an unrestricted free agent. He still appears undecided on whether he will play, or retire, as he indicated via Monte Poole of NBC Sports Bay Area.

Knicks

Newcomer Jalen Brunson said the Knicks feel like family after tagging along with father Rick Brunson during Rick’s New York playing days.

“Yeah, I’m excited. I’m very excited. It’s like a whirlwind of emotions for me. Just a lot. This building is very special, and hopefully we create some new memories here,” Jalen Brunson said, via Brian Lewis of the New York Post.

“It brings everything full circle. I remember seeing the guys in the locker room when I was a kid. It’s crazy sitting here right now. I don’t want to say it’s emotional, but it just brings back a lot of memories, and it makes me feel like I’m supposed to be here and I’m just very excited to get things going.”

“… It’s family. It’s a comfort level to this, and something I just couldn’t turn a blind eye to. I knew that these guys have my best interests at heart. They’ve known me since … I think Leon probably saw me before my dad did,” joked Brunson, speaking a fan event closed to the media. “It’s just it’s just one big family for me, and I’m just super excited.”

Brunson, 25, is 6-foot-1 and just finished his fourth year with the Mavericks, averaging career highs of 16.3 points, 4.8 assists and 3.9 rebounds. He reportedly agreed to a four-year, $110 million deal with the Knicks.

Wizards

Will Barton is ready to make a difference as a newcomer with the Wizards, after spending the previous eight seasons with the Nuggets.

“Just knowing that the open man is the best man. Get us some easier shots, get us some threes and just make the ball pop,” he said of his role, via Chase Hughes of NBC Sports Washington. “I feel like when the ball is popping and moving, you have more fun playing that style of basketball. Hopefully I can help bring that.”

Barton came over in the trade with Monte Morris, a deal that sent Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Ish Smith back to the Nuggets. Interestingly Barton is already quite familiar with Wizards coach Wes Unseld Jr., as Unseld was previously an assistant in Denver.

“I’ve been around him for so long, he’s coached me for so long, that I already know that’s his identity,” Barton said, via Hughes.

• In case you missed it, the Wizards have officially signed veteran forward Taj Gibson, waived by the Knicks earlier this month. You can check out that full post here.