The Toronto Sun (Steve Buffery) reports: Jose Calderon has been saying it for months, and now T.J. Ford has emphatically jumped on the bandwagon. The two point guards want to stay together for as long as possible — even though they would have a lot more to gain from a personal standpoint if they split up. “Do I think it can continue to work? Yes I do,” said Ford this week, when asked about sharing duties with Calderon. “I think we both continue to make each other better. We set high expectations for one another (and) I think we do a good job supporting one another and I think our relationship is great.” Calderon is a restricted free agent at season’s end and GM Bryan Colangelo has made it known he will match all offers. But the question remains: Will Calderon be content to come off the bench once Ford is healthy? Or, for that matter, will Ford be happy coming off the bench?
Month: February 2008
Grizzlies waive Marcus Vinicius
The Memphis Grizzlies waived forward Marcus Vinicius (Va-NEE-Shus), club General Manager and Vice President of Basketball Operations Chris Wallace announced today.
The 6-8, 225-pound forward was acquired in a three-team trade on February 21. Memphis received Vinicius from the New Orleans Hornets along with the draft rights to Malick Badiane (Muh-LEEK Bah-Dee-En) and cash considerations from the Houston Rockets. In return, the Grizzlies sent the draft rights to Sergei Lishouk (Sir-GAY Leesh-CHUK) to the Rockets.
The 43rd overall pick in the 2006 NBA Draft averaged 2.2 points in 5.3 minutes in 13 games for New Orleans this season. Vinicius owns career averages of 1.9 points in 6.6 minutes in 26 games over two seasons with the Hornets.
Gerald Wallace concussion, amnesia
Charlotte Bobcats forward Gerald Wallace suffered a Grade 3 concussion tonight versus the Sacramento Kings and is experiencing a slight case of amnesia. Further tests at Presbyterian Hospital revealed no fractures and no bleeding.
The injury occurred with 9:54 left in the third quarter after an inadvertent elbow by Kings forward Mikki Moore. Wallace was immediately taken to the hospital for evaluation where he received a CAT-Scan and other test. He has been released and is now home resting. He will not accompany the team at Washington tomorrow. No timetable has been set for his return.
Bobcats Sports & Entertainment owns and operates the Charlotte Bobcats (NBA) and operates the widely-acclaimed Charlotte Bobcats Arena, which opened in the fall of 2005.
Robert Swift has torn right knee meniscus
So far, Seattle SuperSonics center Robert Swift is good at two things: getting tattoos and suffering injuries. Here’s the latest:
Team general manager Sam Presti announced today that third-year center Robert Swift suffered a torn meniscus in his right knee during last night’s game at Portland. The extent of the injury was revealed in an MRI performed today. He will be re-evaluated by Dr. Steve Lombardo in Los Angeles.
“Robert is an important part of the Sonics, and we will continue to support him throughout this rehabilitation process,” Presti said.
Swift has appeared in eight games this season after a long rehabilitation during the off-season. The 7-1 center suffered a season-ending torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee during a pre-season game last year on Oct. 25, 2006. Last night’s injury and last season’s ligament tear are not related.
Suns sign Linton Johnson to 10-day deal
The Phoenix Suns today signed forward Linton Johnson to a 10-day contract, the team announced.
The 6-8, 205-pound Johnson joins his fifth NBA team after spending parts of the last four seasons with the Chicago Bulls, San Antonio Spurs, New Jersey Nets and New Orleans Hornets. In 133 career games (27 starts), Johnson owns averages of 4.2 points and 3.5 rebounds in 15.0 minutes. The four-year NBA veteran enjoyed his best career season in 2005-06 with the Hornets, posting averages of 5.3 points, 4.3 rebounds, 18.1 minutes in 27 games. Johnson signed his first NBA contract with the Bulls on Sept. 29, 2003.
A four-year athlete at Tulane University, Johnson averaged 6.7 points and 4.9 rebounds in 107 career games. An undrafted free agent out of college, Johnson averaged 9.0 points and 6.5 boards as a senior during the 2001-02 season.
The Suns roster now stands at 13.
Antoine Walker open to buyout
The St. Paul Pioneer Press reports: Wolves veteran Antoine Walker said today he’s open to a “workable buyout” of his contract, though he believes the odds of such a deal happening are slim.Walker said the next step in a season that’s turning more frustrating because of his limited role is to explore the possibility of a buyout. Any possible buyout would have to be completed before March 1 so Walker could be eligible to make a playoff roster with another team, said Walker’s agent, Mark Bartelstein. “It’s something we’ve thought about and are giving consideration to,” Bartelstein said. “If there’s something out there that would ultimately make sense, we’re open to it. I don’t know where it’s going to wind up yet.”Bartelstein declined to comment when asked if he has contacted the Wolves’ front office or owner Glen Taylor about a buyout.
Andris Biedrins has appendectomy
Golden State Warriors forward/center Andris Biedrins underwent a successful appendectomy last night, the team announced today. The procedure was performed by Dr. Bruce Moorstein at Alta Bates Summit Medical Center in Oakland.
Biedrins will be sidelined indefinitely and no timetable has been established for his return.
Biedrins, 21, has appeared in all 54 games this season (41 starts), averaging 10.3 points, a team-leading 9.7 rebounds, 1.1 assists and a team-leading 1.19 blocks in 27.5 minutes per contest. The fourth-year professional is currently leading the NBA in field goal percentage, having shot 62.2% (240-386 FG) from the field for the season.
In his last game, Wednesday vs. Boston, Biedrins recorded his 18th double-double of the season with 21 points and 13 rebounds in 40 minutes. He has played in each of the Warriors last 153 games (including playoffs), having last missed a game on April 8, 2006 due to a sprained left ankle.
Nets waive Jamaal Magloire
The New Jersey Nets have requested waivers on center Jamaal Magloire, Nets President Rod Thorn announced today.
Magloire, who signed with the Nets on July 17, 2007, played in 24 games this season, averaging 1.8 points and 3.4 rebounds. The eight-year pro holds career averages of 8.7 points and 7.3 rebounds in 530 NBA games.
Pistons waive Flip Murray
Detroit Pistons President of Basketball Operations Joe Dumars announced today that the club has requested waivers on guard Ronald “Flip” Murray.
Murray, who signed as a free agent with Detroit on 7/18/06, averaged 7.5 points, 1.9 rebounds and 3.4 assists in 19 games this season (three starts). In his first season with Detroit a year ago, he averaged 6.7 points, 1.6 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 21.4 minutes in 69 games (18 starts). The five-year pro has played in 309 NBA games with Milwaukee, Seattle, Cleveland and Detroit. As a collegiate player at Shaw University, Murray was named NCAA Division II National Player of the Year, Division II First Team All-America and CIAA Player of the Year during his senior season where he averaged 23.5 points per game and led the school to a 28-5 record.
Cavaliers sign Kaniel Dickens, Billy Thomas
The Cleveland Cavaliers have signed forward Kaniel Dickens and guard Billy Thomas from the Colorado 14ers of the NBA Development League, Cavaliers General Manager Danny Ferry announced today. The signings of Dickens and Thomas mark the 13th and 14th D-league-to-NBA call-ups of the 2007-08 D-League Season.
In 29 games (28 starts), Dickens has averaged 20.4 points on .472 shooting, 5.2 rebounds and 1.1 assists in 31.3 minutes per game. Thomas is averaging 15.7 points, 3.4 rebounds and 3.7 assists in 27 games (all starts).