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The NBA Cup is established now. It’s growing roots into the culture of the league. It has successfully added some juice to otherwise low-stakes regular-season games. But if it’s going to be a thing, it needs to be a thing. And the atmosphere at T-Mobile rivaled a Mountain West Conference semifinal. “It’s closer to, like, elevated regular season than it is to the playoffs, in my opinion,” Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said. “The time of year has to do with that, the nature of a series versus a one-and-done situation has to do with that. But playing elevated opponents, good opponents with some elevated stakes, elevated distractions is a good experience in December for our team.”
Jonathan Feigen: Rockets announce the signing of 6-4 free agent guard Matt Bradley, a former San Diego State and Rostock Seawolves (Germany) player. Rockets have not made many Vipers moves this preseason, but Bradley was a 39.1% 3-point shooter for two All-Conference seasons in the Mountain West.
Those sources said WBD — even though it has recently landed media rights deals for the French Open, College Football Playoffs, Big East and Mountain West — has made it clear it still has money in its budget to match Amazon’s package or carve out a smaller fourth package with the NBA, something NBA Commissioner Adam Silver remains generally against, according to sources.
Mayor Erin Mendenhall isn’t mincing words: The Utah Jazz belong in Utah’s capital. It’s not just what’s best for Salt Lake City, she said Tuesday night in her annual State of the City address, but also what’s best for the state. “Salt Lake City serves as the center of commerce, transportation, finance, law, sports, entertainment, faith and culture in the Mountain West,” the recently reelected Mendenhall told a crowd at downtown’s Eccles Theater. “If the city suffers, the region suffers.”
Isabel Gonzalez: UNLV senior guard Bryce Hamilton is entering the 2022 NBA Draft. One of the most talented Mountain West players. He led the Rebels with 21.8 ppg this season.
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The Sacramento Kings have signed center Neemias Queta (Nuh-mee-us Kay-tuh) to a two-way contract, according to General Manager Monte McNair. Selected by the Sacramento Kings with the 39th overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, Queta accrued career averages of 13.2 points (.594 FG%) 9.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 2.5 blocks and 28.0 minutes per game in 86 games (84 starts) at Utah State and was named Mountain West Conference (MWC) Defensive Player of the Year for both 2019 and 2021. He was also selected to the MWC All-Defensive First Team in each of the three seasons, and setting single-season records of 97 blocks and blocks per game (3.3) during the 2020-21 season.
Ky Carlin: According to a league source, San Diego State guard Matt Mitchell is on the rise with upcoming workouts with the Sixers, Raptors, and Hawks. Mitchell was the POY in the MWC and was named conference tournament MVP. #Sixers
San Diego State senior Matt Mitchell has hired an agent and officially declared for the 2021 NBA draft, USA TODAY SMG’s Rookie Wire has learned. Mitchell, a lengthy 6-foot-6 senior with a plus wingspan, won the Mountain West Conference Player of the Year behind 15.4 points, 5.6 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game in 2020-21. As a defender, he had the second-best steal percentage in the conference and he earned MWC First-Team All-Defense consideration. Mitchell was then honored as the MWC Tournament MVP and he helped his squad make an appearance in March Madness.
Matt Mitchell enters draft
San Diego State senior Matt Mitchell has hired an agent and officially declared for the 2021 NBA draft, USA TODAY SMG’s Rookie Wire has learned. Mitchell, a lengthy 6-foot-6 senior with a plus wingspan, won the Mountain West Conference Player of the Year behind 15.4 points, 5.6 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game in 2020-21.
As a defender, he had the second-best steal percentage in the conference and he earned MWC First-Team All-Defense consideration. Mitchell was then honored as the MWC Tournament MVP and he helped his squad make an appearance in March Madness. Mitchell, who could have returned to SDSU because the NCAA granted seniors an extra year of eligibility due to COVID-19, will be represented by Keith Kreiter of Edge Sports.
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Jon Rothstein: Utah State's Neemias Queta has declared for the 2021 NBA Draft, per his Twitter page. Significant Mountain West news.
Forward Matt Mitchell will return to San Diego State for his senior season after exploring his chances in the NBA draft. Mitchell didn't hire an agent, so he retained his college eligibility. He was named first-team All-Mountain West last season, when SDSU went 30-2, won the MWC regular-season title and would have been a No. 1 or 2 seed in the NCAA tournament, which was canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Boise State forward Derrick Alston Jr., who was an early entrant for the 2020 NBA Draft, will return to the program for his senior season. Alston averaged 17.3 points and 5.2 rebounds per game, both strong marks. He ranked among the top five in scoring for players in the Mountain West Conference in 2019-20. He was a top-10 finalist for the Julius Erving Small Forward of the Year Award.
Jeff Goodman: Boise State announces that Derrick Alston Jr., will withdraw from the NBA Draft and will return to school. Broncos could be the best team in the Mountain West next season.
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