The AP reports: Atlanta forward Shelden Williams was carjacked at gunpoint Saturday before the Hawks’ game against Charlotte. Douglasville City Police said two suspects were arrested late Saturday afternoon at Arbor Place Mall in Douglas County, near Atlanta. The suspects were in Williams’ car and were attempting a robbery, according to an officer who answered the phone at the Douglasville Police Department. The officer, who declined to give her name, said one suspect was taken to a hospital after suffering dog bites from the police canine unit during the arrest.
Month: December 2007
Kenyon Martin suspended 1 game
Denver Nuggets forward Kenyon Martin has been suspended for one game without pay and assessed a Flagrant Foul, Penalty Two for flagrantly fouling Melvin Ely of the New Orleans Hornets by striking him in the head with an elbow, it was announced today by Stu Jackson, NBA Executive Vice President, Basketball Operations.
The incident occurred with 9:40 remaining in the second period of Denver’s 105-99 win over the New Orleans Hornets on Wednesday, Dec. 12 at the Pepsi Center. Martin will serve the suspension tonight when the Nuggets play the San Antonio Spurs at the AT&T Center.
The following is a statement from Martin: ”I’m disappointed that I won’t be out there with my teammates tonight against the Spurs. What happened with Melvin in Wednesday’s game was inadvertent. I apologized to him on the court and again after the game. He told me he knew it was an accident.”
Antonio Daniels out 2-4 weeks
Washington Wizards President Ernie Grunfeld announced today that guard Antonio Daniels sustained a MCL sprain in his right knee in the second quarter of Washington’s 104-91 victory at Miami on Thursday, December 13th, and will miss 2-4 weeks.
“This is very disappointing as Antonio was doing an outstanding job as our starting point guard,” said Grunfeld. “We are confident Antonio will return to action within the next few weeks. Roger Mason Jr. and Nick Young have been very productive for us off the bench, and we feel they will make the most of this opportunity.”
In his 11th season in the NBA, Daniels has averaged 8.2 points, 5.1 assists and 1.1 steals per game in 22 contests. Daniels started Washington’s last 14 games in place of injured All-Star guard Gilbert Arenas, and has guided the Wizards to a 9-5 record over that stretch. Daniels has averaged 11.0 points, 6.6 assists, 4.4 rebounds and 1.4 steals per game as a starter this season.
Pistons trade Nazr Mohammed to Bobcats Primoz Brezec and Walter Herrmann
The Charlotte Bobcats today acquired Nazr Mohammed from Detroit in exchange for Primoz Brezec and Walter Herrmann. In addition, the Bobcats have rescinded their D-League assignment for Jermareo Davidson. In a related move, the Pistons requested waivers on forward Ronald Dupree.
For more info hit the insidehoops.com front page.
Pau Gasol out with jammed right big toe
The Memphis Grizzlies announced today that forward/center Pau Gasol will be out indefinitely due to a jammed right big toe.
Gasol, who originally suffered the injury in yesterday’s practice, was placed on the team’s inactive list prior to tonight’s contest vs. the Los Angeles Clippers. In his place, the club activated forward Andre Brown.
The 7-0, 260-pound forward/center leads the club in rebounds (7.7, T-31st in NBA) and double-doubles (seven, T-27th), and is second in scoring (17.3, 44th) in 21 games played this season. The seven-year NBA veteran has scored in double figures in 79 consecutive games, which is the third-longest active streak in the NBA behind only Denver’s Carmelo Anthony (152) and Boston’s Ray Allen (118).
Rockets recall Aaron Brooks from D-League
Houston Rockets General Manager Daryl Morey announced today that guard Aaron Brooks has been recalled from Houston’s D-League affiliate, Rio Grande Valley. Assigned on Dec. 6, Brooks averaged 23.0 points, 5.5 rebounds and 5.0 assists in two games with the Vipers. Brooks is expected to join the Rockets for tomorrow night’s game vs. Dallas (12/15/07).
Brooks (6-0, 161, Oregon), who was selected by Houston with the 26th overall pick in the 2007 NBA Draft, has averaged 2.5 points in his two appearances with the Rockets this season. He played in his first NBA game vs. Phoenix (11/17/07), notching five points (2-2 FG, 1-1 3FG).
Brooks also averaged 21.4 points (.461, 35-76 FG) and 5.2 assists over five games with Houston in the 2007 NBA Summer League presented by adidas.
He earned NBA Rookie of the Month honors for Summer League and was named to the 2007 NBA Summer League All-Star Team. In addition to his NBA Summer League honors, Brooks was one of the top-10 young NBA players named to a USA Basketball Men’s Select Team that was chosen to help prepare the 2007 USA Senior National Team for its gold-medal run at the FIBA Americas Championship 2007.
Bobcats assign Jermareo Davidson to D-League
The Charlotte Bobcats have assigned rookie forward Jermareo Davidson to their NBA Development League affiliate, the Sioux Falls Skyforce. Davidson is expected to see his first action on Sunday, Dec. 16, against the Dakota Wizards.
The 6-10, 230-pound forward has appeared in 11 games this season with averages of 3.5 points and 1.9 rebounds in 8.1 minutes of action. His draft rights were acquired by the Bobcats along with guard Jason Richardson from the Golden State Warriors in exchange for Brandan Wright, whom the Bobcats selected with eighth pick in the 2007 NBA Draft.
Davidson, the 36th overall selection in the June draft, played four seasons at the University of Alabama and averaged 10.2 points, 7.2 rebounds and 1.7 blocks in 126 collegiate games. He was named All-Southeastern Conference Second Team in 2006-07 by the league’s coaches and Honorable Mention All-SEC by The Associated Press.
As a senior, he ranked second on the team in scoring, averaging 14.0 points, ranked first in total blocks with 70 and ranked second in rebounding (8.2). He also reached double-figure scoring 25 times and posted 11 double-doubles on the season.
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Clippers sign Richie Frahm
The Los Angeles Clippers today signed free agent guard Richie Frahm. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not released.
Frahm was most recently on the Phoenix Suns roster for the 2007 preseason before being waived on October 24. The 6-foot-5, 202 pound three-point specialist has averaged 3.5 points, 1.2 rebounds and 0.6 assists in 130 career games with the Houston Rockets, Minnesota Timberwolves, Portland Trailblazers and Seattle Supersonics.
Frahm played for Italy’s Benetton Treviso in 2006-07 after appearing in a total of 32 games for the Timberwolves and Rockets in 2005-06, averaging 3.4 points.
Frahm was undrafted after a stellar career at Gonzaga that saw him finish his career as Gonzaga’s all-time leader in career three-point field goals and fourth on the all-time school scoring list with 1,621 points. The Battle Ground, Washington native averaged 12.5 points, 3.7 rebounds and 1.9 assists in four seasons at Gonzaga and was a college teammate of Clippers guard Dan Dickau during the 1999-2000 season.
Following college, Frahm played for several teams including the ABA’s Phoenix Eclipse and clubs in the Philippines, Italy and Turkey before signing with Seattle on Sept. 27, 2003 and playing in 54 games. Frahm was selected in the June 22, 2004 expansion draft by the Charlotte Bobcats before signing as a free agent with Portland on July 15, 2004. Following the 2004-05 season, Frahm signed with the Timberwolves as a free agent on Sept. 26, 2005 and was waived after 25 games, allowing him to sign with Houston.
NBA suspends Tyrus Thomas, fines Troy Murphy
Chicago Bulls forward Tyrus Thomas has been suspended one game without pay and Indiana Pacers forward Troy Murphy has been fined $10,000, it was announced today by Stu Jackson, NBA Executive Vice President Basketball Operations.
Thomas was suspended for striking Murphy in the face, while Murphy was fined for his role in escalating the incident by shoving Thomas. The incident occurred with 3:51 remaining in the second period of the Pacers 117-102 win over the Bulls at Conseco Fieldhouse on Dec. 12.
Thomas will serve his suspension tonight when the Bulls host the New York Knicks.
Brendan Haywood stepping up
FoxSports (Charley Rosen) reports: With his newfound freedom and responsibility, Brendan Haywood is finally playing with passion. Indeed, it’s no stretch to claim that Haywood outplayed Shaq — scoring 10 to Shaq’s six, and claiming 10 rebounds where Shaq had only seven. Haywood even managed to get a piece of one of Shaq’s jump hooks. But the one stat that indicates Haywood’s true domination was his corralling five offensive rebounds.