Month: December 2007

Garbajosa out after surgery

Ticker reports: Toronto Raptors forward Jorge Garbajosa underwent surgery on his left leg and ankle on Tuesday and is out indefinitely. The procedure was performed by Dr. Mark Myerson, who has instructed Garbajosa to stay off his feet for a minimum of 10 weeks. There is no timetable for his return. The 6-9 Garbajosa suffered the injury at the end of March in a game against the Boston Celtics and required surgery. However, the second-year forward opted not to have the procedure in order to play for Spain in EuroBasket 2007 over the summer.

David Stern won’t punish Thomas, Knicks for role in sexual harassment trial

The Associated Press (Brian Mahoney) reports: NBA commissioner David Stern won’t punish Isiah Thomas or Madison Square Garden for their role in a sexual harassment trial that embarrassed the Knicks and the league. “Instead, we are going to continue to focus our attention on a league-wide program ensuring that all teams have appropriate policies, clearly communicated to their employees, focusing on respect in the workplace including the prohibition of sexual harassment,” Stern said in a statement. On Monday, Thomas and MSG settled the case brought by former team executive Anucha Browne Sanders for $11.5 million. A jury awarded her $11.6 million in punitive damages in October — a trial Stern wanted the Knicks to avoid, a person with knowledge of the situation told The Associated Press.

Kings sign Dahntay Jones, waive Darryl Watkins

The Sacramento Kings today signed guard/forward Dahntay Jones to a contract and requested waivers on center Darryl Watkins, it was announced by Kings’ President of Basketball Operations Geoff Petrie.

Jones, a first round selection (20th overall) by the Boston Celtics in the 2003 NBA Draft, has spent all four of his NBA seasons playing for the Memphis Grizzlies. He has amassed career averages of 5.1 points (.442 FGs, .330 3FGs, .722 FTs), 1.6 rebounds and 0.6 assists per game through 221 outings. His best year, statistically, was last season when he averaged 7.5 points, 2.0 rebounds and 0.9 assists per game for the Grizzlies.

Watkins, who currently is in his rookie season out of Syracuse, has played in nine games this year for the Kings, averaging 1.3 points (.333 FGs, .400 FTs) and 1.3 rebounds per game.

MSG sexual harassment case settled

The Associated Press reports: Madison Square Garden and New York Knicks coach Isiah Thomas have settled the sexual harassment case brought by a former team executive who was awarded $11.6 million in punitive damages. Terms of the settlement were not immediately disclosed. “I am extremely pleased that we have reached a settlement,” Anucha Browne Sanders said in a statement.

Positive Rockets notes

Some positive notes about the Rockets:

Stingy Defense:  The Rockets are still dealing the defense this season, ranking fourth in the NBA in points allowed per game (93.7) through Dec. 9. Houston has been especially stingy at home, limiting its opponents to 91.3 points per game (730 TP) over eight outings at Toyota Center.

Triple Double: Tracy McGrady recorded 17 points, 12 assists and 10 rebounds vs. Memphis (12/5/07) for his third career triple-double (22 points, 11 assists, 11 rebounds on 2/23/02 vs. Philadelphia and 46 points, 13 assists, 10 rebounds on 2/23/03 at New Jersey). The last time a Rockets player had a triple-double was Steve Francis with 13 points, 12 assists and 11 rebounds at Golden State (3/21/03).

Never Looking Back: The Rockets scored the first four points of the game at New Jersey (12/7/07) and did not drop behind the Nets the rest of the night, which marked the third time this season where Houston never trailed in a contest (others: 11/3/07 vs. Portland and 11/24/07 vs. Denver).

Notable player notes

NBA News – Among sophomores, Portland’s LaMarcus Aldridge is tied for first in scoring (18.6 ppg) with Memphis’ Rudy Gay, while the Trail Blazers’ Brandon Roy ranks third (17.8 ppg). Aldridge is first among second-year players in rebounds (7.7 rpg) and double-doubles (six); Roy is second in assists (5.3 apg).

After averaging 0.8 and 0.5 blocks in his rookie and sophomore seasons, respectively, Milwaukee’s Andrew Bogut is swatting 2.3 shots per game this year.

Dallas’ Josh Howard is averaging 17.5 first-half points over the last six games and teammate Dirk Nowitzki has hit 58 of his last 60 free throw attempts.

New York’s David Lee has recorded two point-rebound double-doubles in as many days. Lee has also scored in double digits the last four games.

Atlanta’s Marvin Williams has scored in double figures in 17 of 18 games, including the first 12 of the season — the longest stretch of his career.

Minnesota’s Al Jefferson finished with 32 points and 20 rebounds in Saturday’s win over Phoenix, becoming the second player in franchise history to collect at least 30 points and 20 rebounds in the same contest. Kevin Garnett had eight such efforts while playing for the Timberwolves.

Philadelphia’s Andre Miller has recorded at least 10 assists in each of the past three games after not recording more than nine in the first 17 games of the season. Miller did not record double-digit assists in more than two consecutive games in 2006-07.

Trail Blazers assign Taurean Green to D-League

The Portland Trail Blazers assigned rookie guard Taurean Green to the Idaho Stampede of the NBA Development League, it was announced Monday by Trail Blazers general manager Kevin Pritchard.

“This is a great opportunity for Taurean to get some more playing time and in-game experience at a professional level,” said Pritchard. “We’re grateful to have a partnership with Idaho and the D-League to help us develop our young players.”

Green, 21, is averaging 2.3 points, 1.3 assists and 6.0 minutes in four games with the Trail Blazers this season after being selected by Portland with the 52nd overall pick in the 2007 NBA Draft.

The 6-0, 177-pounder spent three seasons at the University of Florida, where he guided the Gators to back-to-back NCAA National Championships as the team’s starting point guard.

Green becomes the 17th NBA player assigned to the D-League this season, and the fourth in Trail Blazers history.

This is the first season the Trail Blazers are affiliated with the Boise-based Stampede.

Pistons assign Cheikh Samb to D-League

The Detroit Pistons announced today that they will assign rookie center Cheikh Samb to their NBA Development League affiliate, the Fort Wayne Mad Ants, on Monday, December 10.  The Mad Ants are scheduled to play Dakota on Thursday, December 13 at 7:00 p.m.

Samb was acquired by the Pistons on draft day from the Los Angeles Lakers in exchange for Maurice Evans on June 28, 2006. Drafted by the Lakers with the 51st pick in the second round of the 2006 NBA Draft, Samb spent the 2006-07 season playing overseas with WTC Cornella in the Spanish LEB2 League.

The 7-foot-1, 215-pound center made his NBA debut with the Pistons at the L.A. Lakers on November 16, scoring two points with four rebounds and two blocks in 15 minutes.  In two games this season, Samb is averaging 1.5 points, 2.0 rebounds and 1.0 blocks in 10.5 minutes per game.

No timetable has been set for his return.