By R.L. Bynum
NBA training camp opens Tuesday with some Tar Heels in new places, some in new situations and two others looking for their next contract.
Two prolific perimeter shooters signed with new teams in the offseason as free agents: Wayne Ellington, who left Detroit after one season for the Los Angeles Lakers, and Reggie Bullock, who left the New York Knicks after two seasons to join the Dallas Mavericks.
It’s a big move for Ellington, who starts his 14th NBA season. Battling nagging injuries last season, he was limited to 46 games, started 31 and averaged 9.6 points per game for the Pistons. He shot 42.2% from 3-point range last season and had a stretch of eight consecutive games with at least three 3-pointers.
Ellington is the favorite to be the starting shooting guard spot ahead of Malik Monk.
Bullock, who shot 41% from 3-point range in helping the Knicks make the playoffs, brings his high-level defensive ability to Dallas after playing 65 games last season and averaging 10.9 points per game.
“I like to challenge and guard the other team’s best player,” said Bullock, who will play his ninth NBA season. “I take great pride in that. I’ll do whatever the coach needs me to do: start or come off the bench, whatever it is.”
He’ll compete for time at shooting guard with Tim Hardaway Jr. and at small forward with Dorian Finney-Smith.
Center Tony Bradley joined his fourth team in less than a year when he signed a one-year deal with the Chicago Bulls in August. The Utah Jazz dealt him to the Philadelphia 76ers in November, then he was traded to the Oklahoma City Thunder in March.
In his fifth NBA season, Bradley, who averaged 7.1 points and 5.7 rebounds last season, will likely backup Nikola Vučević.
Two guards returning to the same team but facing different roster dynamics are the Orlando Magic’s Cole Anthony and the Chicago Bulls’ Coby White.
Anthony, who missed 25 games with a strained right shoulder as a rookie last season, got his chance to start at point guard when Markelle Fultz suffered a season-ending torn ACL. Fultz is back, though, and the likely starter, while rookie Jalen Suggs from Gonzaga is the likely starter at shooting guard.
Anthony averaged 12.9 points and 4.7 rebounds last season, but says he’s worked hard in the offseason and is a different player now.
“I think I’m a way better player than last year and I just have been grinding this whole entire summer, every single day,” Anthony said. “I took minimal days off. I’m just studying film nonstop and working on my jump shot, just working on literally every single aspect of my game wherever I could work on it. So, I think you’ll see me making a very big jump this year.”
He welcomes the addition of Suggs.
“It wouldn’t be the first time in this league you’ve seen two lead guards kind of share the ball,” Anthony said, noting the Toronto situation with Fred VanVleet and Kyle Lowry. “The best teams kind of have those two lead guards. I’m super excited to get to play with Jalen. I think we have a really good connection.”
White, who signed a contract extension last week, will compete for time at point guard with Lonzo Ball, acquired in August from the New Orleans Pelicans. White, who isn’t expected to be available until November, also should get his share of playing time at shooting guard.
The roles didn’t change in the offseason for a pair of forwards who will again start: the Sacramento Kings’ Harrison Barnes and the Philadelphia 76ers’ Danny Green. Barnes averaged 16.1 points and 6.6 rebounds a game last season while Green put up 9.5 points and 3.8 rebounds a game.
After elevating his game for the Phoenix Suns last season, Cameron Johnson will again compete for time at small forward with likely starter Mikal Bridges and power forward with Jae Crowder. Johnson averaged 9.6 points and made 34.9% of his 3-point attempts last season.
Playing time might be tougher to come by for Nassir Little on the Portland Trail Blazers but his use may change under first-year coach Chauncey Billups. He’ll battle for time at power forward with likely starter Robert Covington and Derrick Jones Jr. and at small forward with Norman Powell and Tony Snell. Little, beginning his third NBA season, averaged 4.6 points in 48 games last season.
Rookie first-round pick Day’Ron Sharpe starts his NBA career on a Brooklyn Nets roster full of talent. LaMarcus Aldridge figures to start at center and Sharpe will also compete for time with Paul Millsap, Blake Griffin and Nicolas Claxton.
Sharpe says Aldridge and Millsap will help him get better.
“I could learn a lot from them,” Sharpe said. “When my name is called, I’ll be ready to play.”
Griffin called Sharpe’s raw potential and hunger to be elite “scary.”
After playing sparingly last season for the New York Knicks, Theo Pinson is in training camp with the Boston Celtics. He’ll likely compete with Juwan Morgan and Luke Kornet for Boston’s available two-way roster spot.
Justin Jackson signed a two-way contract with the Milwaukee Bucks in April and was along for the ride as they won the NBA title. The team didn’t re-sign him and he hasn’t yet signed with another team.
Ed Davis, who played last season for the Minnesota Timberwolves, hasn’t signed with another team and his NBA career is over unless another team seeks a veteran big man.
Tar Heels in NBA training camps
Cole Anthony, Orlando Magic guard
Roster situation — Competing for point guard time with likely starter Markelle Fultz; Michael Carter-Williams will also get time. Rookie Jalen Suggs from Gonzaga is expected to play at shooting guard.
2020–21 statistics — 47 games, 12.9 points, 4.7 rebounds, 4.1 assists, 39.7FG%, 33.8%3P, 83.2FT
Exhibition opener — 7:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 4 at Boston
Season opener — 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 20 at San Antonio
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Harrison Barnes, Sacramento Kings forward
Roster situation — Likely starter at small forward spot ahead of Maurice Harkless, Terence Davis and Louis King
2020–21 statistics — 58 games, 16.1 points, 6.6 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 49.7FG%, 39.1%3P, 83.0FT%
Exhibition opener — 10 p.m. Monday, Oct. 4 at Sacramento
Season opener — 10 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 20 at Portland
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Tony Bradley, Chicago Bulls center
Roster situation — Will likely backup Nikola Vučević at center with Marko Simonović also getting time
2020–21 statistics — (20 with Sixers; 22 with Thunder) 42 games, 7.1 points, 5.7 rebounds, 0.9 of an assist, 66.5 FG%, 0–2 3FG, 69.2FT%
Exhibition opener — 8 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 5 vs. Cleveland
Season opener — 7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 20 at Detroit
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Reggie Bullock, Dallas Mavericks guard/forward
Roster situation — Will compete for time at shooting guard with Tim Hardaway Jr. and at small forward with Dorian Finney-Smith
2020–21 statistics — (with Knicks) 65 games, 10.9 points, 3.4 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 44.2FG%, 41.09%3P, 90.9FT%
Exhibition opener — 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 6 vs. Utah
Season opener — 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 21 at Atlanta, TNT
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Wayne Ellington, Los Angeles Lakers guard
Roster situation — Likely starter at shooting guard, ahead of Malik Monk, Talen Horton-Tucker, Kent Bazemore and Kendrick Nunn
2020–21 statistics — (with Pistons) 46 games, 9.6 points, 1.8 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 44.1FG%, 42.2 3P%, 80.0FT%
Exhibition opener — 3:30 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 3 vs. Brooklyn
Season opener — 10 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 19 vs. Golden State, TNT
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Danny Green, Philadelphia 76ers forward
Roster situation — Starter at small forward, ahead of Matisse Thybulle, Furkan Korkmaz, Georges Niang and Tobias Harris
2020–21 statistics — 69 games, 9.5 points, 3.8 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 41.2FG%, 40.5%3P, 77.4FT%
Exhibition opener — 7 p.m. Monday, Oct. 4 at Toronto
Season opener — 8 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 20 at New Orleans
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Cameron Johnson, Phoenix Suns wing
Roster situation — Will compete for time at small forward with likely starter Mikal Bridges and power forward with Jae Crowder
2020–21 statistics — 60 games, 9.6 points, 3.3 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 42.0FG%, 34.9%3P, 84.7FT%
Exhibition opener — 10 p.m. Monday, Oct. 4 at Sacramento
Season opener — 10 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 20 vs. Denver, ESPN
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Nassir Little, Portland Trail Blazers forward/guard
Roster situation — Will compete for time at power forward with likely starter Robert Covington, Derrick Jones Jr. and at small forward with Norman Powell and Tony Snell
2020–21 statistics — 48 games, 4.6 points, 2.7 rebounds, 43FG%
Exhibition opener — 10 p.m. Monday, Oct. 4 vs. Golden State
Season opener — 10 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 20 vs. Sacramento
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Theo Pinson, Boston Celtics guard/forward
Roster situation — Will likely compete with Juwan Morgan and Luke Kornet for the team’s available two-way roster spot
2020–21 statistics — (with Knicks) 17 games, 2 points, 1–9 FG, 0–8 3FG, 5 rebounds, 1 assist
Exhibition opener — 7:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 4 vs. Orlando
Season opener — 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 20 at New York, ESPN
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Day’Ron Sharpe, Brooklyn Nets center
Roster situation — Will compete for playing time at center with likely starter LaMarcus Aldridge, Paul Millsap, Blake Griffin and Nicolas Claxton
2020–21 statistics — (with UNC) 29 games, 9.5 points, 52.3FG%, 0–2 3FG, 7.5 rebounds, 1.4 assists
Exhibition opener — 3:30 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 2 at Los Angeles Lakers
Season opener — 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 19 at Milwaukee, TNT
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Coby White, Chicago Bulls point guard
Roster situation — Likely won’t be ready for start of season recovering from shoulder surgery; Lonzo Ball will start at point guard; White should see time at both guard spots.
2020–21 statistics — 69 games, 15.1 points, 4.1 rebounds, 4.8 assists, 41.6FG%, 35.9%3P, 90.1 FT%
Exhibition opener — 8 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 5 vs. Cleveland
Season opener — 7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 20 at Detroit
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