Month: December 2007

Jazz recall Kyrylo Fesenko from D-League

Utah Jazz general manager Kevin O’Connor announced today that the team has recalled center Kyrylo Fesenko from the Utah Flash of the NBA Development League (D-League).

Fesenko, a 7-1, 288-pound center had been re-assigned to the Flash on December 6 following an earlier Flash stint from November 10-30.

Overall, Fesenko has appeared in six games (all starts) for the Flash, averaging 16.3 points, 7.2 rebounds and 2.67 blocks while shooting .625 from the floor.  Fesenko appeared in two games for the Flash during his most recent stint, averaging 21.5 points, 7.5 rebounds and 3.50 blocks while hitting 18-28 shots (.643).

The 20-year-old native of the Ukraine has appeared in one game for the Jazz, scoring six points and grabbing seven rebounds in 17 minutes in a 120-96 Jazz win over the Los Angeles Lakers the night he was first recalled.

Originally selected by Philadelphia with in the second round (38th overall selection) of the 2007 NBA Draft, the Jazz acquired Fesenko’s rights in a draft night deal that sent the draft rights to Herbert Hill (55th overall pick) and trade considerations to the 76ers.

Fesenko will join the Jazz for their game at Portland on Friday.

Al Horford suspended 1 game for flagrant foul on T.J. Ford

Atlanta Hawks forward Al Horford has been suspended one game without pay for committing a Flagrant Foul Penalty Two by striking Toronto’s T.J. Ford on the head, it was announced today by Stu Jackson, NBA Executive Vice President Basketball Operations.

The incident occurred with 1:32 remaining in the fourth quarter of the Hawks 100-88 loss to the Raptors on Tuesday night at Philips Arena. Horford will serve his suspension Friday against the Detroit Pistons.

InsideHoops.com: We agree with this. Even if the dangerous foul wasn’t intentional, a simple one-game suspension sends a message that all players need to be careful and simply cannot commit this type of foul.

Discuss this with other fans on the InsideHoops basketball message board.

Theo Ratliff to have exploratory right knee surgery

The Minnesota Timberwolves announced today that center Theo Ratliff will undergo exploratory arthroscopic surgery on his right knee on Tuesday, Dec. 18. Dr. James R. Andrews of the Alabama Sports Medicine & Orthopaedic Center in Birmingham, Ala., will perform the operation. Due to the exploratory nature of the procedure, a timetable for his return will be established following the operation.

Ratliff, acquired via trade from the Boston Celtics on July 31, 2007, has appeared in six games for the Wolves this season, averaging 8.2 points, 4.5 rebounds and 2.8 blocks in 26.8 minutes per game. The 12-year NBA veteran has missed the last 13 games due to soreness in his right knee.

Spurs recall Darius Washington from D-League

The San Antonio Spurs announced today that they have recalled Darius Washington from the Austin Toros of the NBA Development League.

Washington was signed by the Spurs on October 1. He appeared in 15 games with the Silver and Black, averaging 2.8 points and 1.1 rebounds while shooting .485 from the field, prior to his assignment to the Toros on November 29.

Washington started all four games he appeared in with the Toros, averaging a D-League best 28.2 points, 8.5 rebounds (10th), 6.2 assists (tied for fifth) and 2.0 steals (tied for eighth) in 38.5 minutes of action.  The 6-2 guard recorded his first professional triple-double when he finished with 26 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists vs. Tulsa on December 8.

Washington will join the Spurs tonight for their game at the Los Angeles Lakers.

Cedric Simmons now a dad

The Cleveland Cavaliers are happy to announce that Cedric Simmons and Sabrina Acevedo welcomed their first child, a son, on December 12 at 12:07 am at the Hillcrest Hospital in Mayfield Heights, OH.  All are doing well.

Simmons this season is averaging 0.5 points and 2.8 rebounds in 10.8 minutes in the four games he’s played.

Phil Jackson signs contract extension

Los Angeles Lakers Head Coach Phil Jackson has signed a contract extension for an additional season as well as an option for a second year, which would ensure Jackson remaining with the team through the 2009-10 season, it was announced today by Lakers General Manager Mitch Kupchak.

“Nobody has been more successful from the sideline in the history of this game than Phil and his record obviously speaks for itself,” said Kupchak. “We’re excited to have a coach of his experience, stature and ability leading this team for the foreseeable future.”

“In the opinion of most people in basketball, and certainly in our opinion, Phil is the greatest coach in the history of the NBA, and we’re very pleased that he’s decided to stay with the Lakers for an extended period of time,” said Lakers owner Dr. Jerry Buss. “Simply put, he’s the best coach in the business and he will be a valuable part of the development of our team as we continue to improve.”

Jackson, currently in his 8th season as head coach of the Lakers, led his team to three consecutive NBA Championships in his first three seasons with Los Angeles (2000-02). Overall, Jackson has guided his teams to nine NBA Championships, tying him for first with the late Red Auerbach. The fastest coach to 900 career victories, Jackson’s total of 931 wins ranks 9th all-time. Jackson’s .699 winning percentage ranks best in league history.

Additionally, Jackson ranks first all time in NBA postseason history with a .699 winning percentage (179-77) while his 179 wins are the highest postseason victory total for any head coach.

“I enjoy working with the players and staff of this team, as well as the management and ownership,” said Jackson. “I’m looking forward to continuing my work with the Lakers and to continuing to live in the great city of Los Angeles.”

On September 7, Jackson was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, earning induction in his first year of consideration for election.

Currently in his 17th season as an NBA head coach, Jackson served as head coach of the Chicago Bulls for nine seasons, leading Chicago to championships in 1991, 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997 and 1998 while compiling a regular-season record of 545-193.

T.J. Ford update: He seems OK

The Toronto Raptors announced Wednesday that guard T.J. Ford was released this morning from Piedmont Hospital in Atlanta, Georgia and has returned to Toronto. The results of images taken and interpreted at the hospital (X rays, CT scan and MRI) were negative. He will be reassessed by Raptors medical personnel.

Ford left last night’s game against the Atlanta Hawks at Philips Arena at the 1:32 mark of the fourth quarter after a collision with Hawks centre Al Horford. Ford was alert and had movement in his extremities when he was transported from the arena to the hospital for further evaluation.

No time frame has been established for a return to basketball activity. Ford is currently second on the Raptors in scoring (14.1) and assists (6.8) per game.

Heat waive Penny Hardaway, sign Luke Jackson

The  Miami  Heat announced today that they have requested waivers on guard Penny Hardaway  and signed free agent forward/guard Luke Jackson. Per team policy, terms of the  deal were not disclosed.
 
 Jackson, a 6’7”, 215-pound guard, has appeared in 59  games (two starts) in his three-year NBA career and averaged 2.9 points, 1.0  rebounds, 0.7 assists and 8.4 minutes while shooting 37.4 percent (58-of-155)  from the field, 35.6 percent (21-of-59) from three-point range and 75 percent  (36-of-48) from the free throw line.
 
 This season, the former 10th overall pick in  the 2004 NBA Draft, appeared in one game for the Idaho Stampede of the NBA  Development League and posted 30 points, nine assists, four rebounds, a steal  and a block in 31 minutes of action while shooting 7-of-14 from the field,  5-of-6 from three-point range and a perfect 11-of-11 from the free throw line.  Prior to that, after a stint with the Los Angeles Clippers and finishing the  season with the Toronto Raptors last season, Jackson appeared in 23 games (16  starts) for the Stampede and averaged 14.6 points, 4.5 rebounds, 3.9 assists and  1.3 steals in 29.7 minutes while shooting 48 percent (121-of-252) from the  field, 48.6 percent (34-of-70) from three-point range and 78.9 percent  (60-of-76) from the free throw line.
 
 Jackson, the former Oregon Duck, finished his four-year  colligate career as one of only two players in Pac-10 history to accumulate more  than 1,900 points, 700 rebounds and 400 assists while becoming the only player  in Oregon history to rank in the Top 10 in nine categories: free throws made  (first), scoring (second), steals (third), free throw percentage (third),  assists (fourth), field goals made (fourth), three-point field goals made  (sixth), three-point percentage (seventh) and rebounding (seventh).
 
 Penny Hardaway  appeared in 16 games (eight starts) for  Miami and averaged  3.8 points, 2.2 rebounds, 2.2