Gallinari injures right thumb
Danilo Gallinari, the Clippers’ biggest acquisition over the summer, sustained a minor injury to his right thumb Sunday after throwing a punch at an opponent while playing for Italy in an exhibition against the Netherlands on Sunday, according to a team official who was not authorized to speak publicly on the matter.
The official said Gallinari is expected to be out three to four weeks, but that the Clippers will know more in a couple of days once team physicians talk with the Italian basketball federation’s medical staff.
The Clippers official said the team expects Gallinari, who will miss the upcoming EuroBasket tournament, to be ready for the start of training camp. The Clippers will have their media day Sept. 25 and will leave afterwards for camp Honolulu.
A video showed Gallinari throwing a punch and striking Netherlands power forward Jito Kok in the head. The two players were lined up for a free throw when Kok appeared in the video to strike Gallinari in the head with a forearm while trying to box out the Clippers’ small forward.
The Italian federation had announced on Twitter that Gallinari had fractured a bone in his hand, but that does not appear to be case.
The Clippers acquired Gallinari from the Denver Nuggets in a three-team sign-and-trade deal worth $63 million over three seasons.
The 6-foot-10 Gallinari, 28, averaged 18.2 points, 5.2 rebounds and 2.1 assists last season for the Nuggets. He made 38.8% of his three-pointers. — Broderick Turner
Lakers sign Bryant
The Lakers signed rookie center Thomas Bryant after his promising performance for their Las Vegas summer league team.
The Lakers acquired Bryant on draft night from the Utah Jazz, who chose him with the 42nd overall pick.
The 6-foot-10 Bryant averaged 12.6 points and 6.6 rein bounds last season for the Indiana Hoosiers.
Kings hire Williams
The Sacramento Kings hired Brandon Williams as their assistant general manager.
General manager Vlade Divac said that Williams brings the organization a deep knowledge of player development and basketball operations, along with legal skills.
Williams spent the past four seasons as an executive with the Philadelphia 76ers, most recently serving as vice president of basketball administration and general manager of the NBA G-League's Delaware 87ers.
Williams previously spent nine seasons in the league office as director of NBA player development and associate vice president of basketball operations.
He has a law degree from Rutgers.