NBA Notes: Matthew Dellavedova, Knicks, Jalen Brunson, Sixers

NBL

Former NBA guard Matthew Dellavedova has signed a multi-year contract with the Sydney Kings, following a highly anticipated free agency period in Australia, according to Olgun Uluc of ESPN.

The 34-year-old Dellavedova will reunite with Andrew Bogut, his former Australian national team teammate, who recently joined the Kings as an assistant coach.

Dellavedova, most known for his time with the Cavaliers, was recently named MVP of the Australian NBL Finals as a member of the Melbourne United — which lost the Aussie NBL title to the Illawarra Hawks. Because of that, he actually tried to give the Finals MVP to Hawks standout Will “Davo” Hickey.

Hickey thanked Dellavedova for the gesture, but kindly told Dellavedova to keep the MVP trophy.

Dellavedova is one of the most cherished players in Cavs history — known as a hard-working guard who went undrafted out of St. Mary’s and made his living off grit and winning plays. He’ll forever be remembered as the guy who acted as a one-man full-court press on Warriors star Stephen Curry in the 2014-15 NBA Finals. 

A year later, Delly was a member of the Cavs’ 2016 championship-winning team and was a favorite of then-Cavs star LeBron James. 

Knicks

The Knicks’ backcourt is set to become significantly healthier in the final week of the regular season, as star guard Jalen Brunson is expected to return to the lineup tonight against Phoenix after missing 15 games due to a sprained right ankle. Miles McBride, who has been sidelined since March 20 with a groin injury, is also nearing a return.

“We’re going to do everything we can because the goal was that we’re farther along when we’re back to integrating them back — that we give him a better team than where they left it,” Karl-Anthony Towns said following Saturday’s win over Atlanta, via Stefan Bondy of the New York Post.

Cam Payne made his return on Saturday after missing four games with an ankle sprain, while rookie guard Tyler Kolek has been removed from the rotation. Delon Wright, who made his fifth consecutive start at point guard, is also expected to see a reduced role with Brunson and McBride’s return. However, Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau declined to comment on his rotation plans.

“The notion of all that stuff, it’s white noise,” Thibodeau said. “The game tells you what to do. Whose shot is it in transition? The open man. And if there’s two on somebody, whose shot is it? You have the responsibility as a primary scorer to make the right play. The notion that it has to be this way, that way, there has to be a willingness to sacrifice by everybody. The team has to come first.

“What’s best for our team? What gives the team the best chance to win? And that’s all anyone should be thinking about. They shouldn’t be thinking about who’s doing this, who’s doing that. That’s not the way this game works. If you care about winning, that stuff shouldn’t matter.”

76ers

The Sixers’ late-season slide has been difficult to watch, but it has opened up opportunities for several players who might not have otherwise seen significant playing time, writes Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer. The team suffered its 11th consecutive loss on Saturday night, extending its skid to 28 losses in the past 31 games. Much of the downturn has come with a depleted roster, as the Sixers have played without an average of eight rotation players for more than a month.

Among those stepping up are Lonnie Walker, who began the season in Lithuania, Jalen Hood-Schifino, who had appeared in only two games before signing a two-way deal last month, and Colin Castleton, who signed a 10-day contract on Thursday following two previous 10-day stints with Toronto.

“I’m (focused on) continuing off my previous stop, just continuing to do what I do well,” Castleton said. “Even though this is the last 10 days, I’m just doing what I can to maximize the minutes that I am getting and just the opportunity. … So I’m just taking advantage of it and whatever comes with it.”

Jared Butler is also benefiting from the situation, having been promoted from a two-way deal to a standard contract after being acquired from Washington at the trade deadline. After bouncing around the league since 2021, Butler is averaging a career-high 23.8 minutes per night in 24 games with the Sixers.

“It’s been four years, and it’s my first time getting straight-up games where I know I’m going to play,” Butler said. “Like, the fourth year? Somebody telling you just wait four years until you’re going to be able to play, get a real opportunity. It’s a blessing. I’m just glad I’m healthy and I’m able to play. So I think it’s good for my career.”