Month: October 2008

Blazers waive Luke Jackson and Steven Hill

The Portland Trail Blazers waived forward Luke Jackson and rookie center Steven Hill, General Manager Kevin Pritchard announced today. Portland’s roster stands at 15 players entering Opening Night at the L.A. Lakers on Tuesday.

“We want to thank Luke and Steven for their contributions during training camp and preseason and wish them all the best for the future,” said Pritchard. “They’ve conducted themselves as real pros on and off the court and we believe both of them have a bright future in basketball.”

A former All-American at the University of Oregon, Jackson (6-7, 215) played in three preseason games, averaging 5.0 points, 3.3 rebounds and 1.3 assists in 19.3 minutes. The four-year NBA veteran was 5-for-15 (33.3%) from the field and 1-for-4 (25.0%) from 3-point range.

Hill (7-0, 245) saw action in three preseason games, recording averages of 1.0 points, 0.7 rebounds, 0.67 blocks and 9.0 minutes. The rookie from Arkansas was a member of the team’s 2008 NBA Summer League squad and signed on August 27, along with Jackson and Jamaal Tatum.

NBA instant replays increase

The NBA Board of Governors voted to allow the expanded use of NBA instant replay by game officials, beginning with the 2008-09 season, the league announced today.

It’ll mainly apply to two specific situations. See the NBA instant replay changes here.

I support the use of additional instant replays provided they’re as quick as possible, and necessary in order to make sure the right call was made. The only negative is if exciting, fast-paced action gets stopped so refs can discuss and re-watch what just happened.

Nuggets waive five players

The Denver Nuggets have waived G Mateen Cleaves, F Nick Fazekas, F James Mays, G Smush Parker and F Ruben Patterson, team Vice President of Basketball Operations Mark Warkentien announced today.

Cleaves, 6-2, 188, averaged 3.4 ppg, 2.0 rpg and 2.0 apg in five preseason games (one start). Fazekas, 6-11, 253, appeared in four preseason games posting averages of 2.0 ppg and 2.5 rpg. Mays, 6-9, 230, tallied averages of 4.5 ppg and 3.5 rpg in two preseason games. Parker, 6-4, 190, averaged 5.3 ppg, 3.3 apg and 1.3 rpg in four preseason contests. Patterson, 6-5, 223, appeared in six preseason games posting averages of 7.3 ppg, 1.8 rpg and 1.2 apg.

The Nuggets roster now stands at 14 players.

Mavericks waive Keith McLeod

The Dallas Mavericks announced today that they have requested waivers on guard Keith McLeod.

McLeod (6-2, 190) signed as a free agent on July 11, 2008 after playing internationally with Montepaschi Siena in 2007-08.  He averaged 4.5 points, 0.3 rebounds and 0.3 assists in 14.4 minutes in four Euroleague games.  He was sidelined the entire preseason due to a right hamstring strain.

The four-year NBA veteran has played with five different teams (Minnesota, Utah, Indiana, Golden State and Dallas) and has career averages of 5.5 points, 2.7 assists and 1.3 rebounds in 200 games.

The Mavericks roster now stands at 14 players.

Sixers waive Jared Reiner

Philadelphia 76ers President and General Manager Ed Stefanski announced today that the team has waived Jared Reiner.  He appeared in one preseason game for the Sixers, scoring 6 points in five minutes of play.  The roster, entering opening night against the Toronto Raptors on Wednesday, Oct. 29 at Wachovia Center, now stands at 14.

Reiner (6-11, 245) attended the University of Iowa and was not selected in the 2004 NBA Draft but signed as a rookie free-agent with the Chicago Bulls for the 2004-05 season.  In two seasons with the Bulls and Milwaukee Bucks, Reiner has played a total of 46 games with four starts, averaging 1.2 points and 2.4 rebounds in 8.2 minutes per game.  This past summer, Reiner participated in the Sixers entry in the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas, averaging 1.4 points and 2.2 rebounds.  Last season, Reiner played abroad in both Spain and Germany.

Bobcats waive Justin Williams

The Charlotte Bobcats today requested waivers on forward Justin Williams. The Bobcats roster now stands at 15 players.

Williams appeared in three preseason games with averages of 0.7 points, 1.3 rebounds and 0.7 blocked shots in 4.0 minutes.

The Charlotte Bobcats play their final preseason game tonight against the L.A. Lakers in Anaheim, California. Tipoff is scheduled for 10:00 p.m. ET and can be seen nationally on TNT.

Spurs waive three players

The San Antonio Spurs announced today that they have waived guard/forward Devin Green, guard Salim Stoudamire and center Darryl Watkins.

Green appeared in four games during the preseason, averaging 7.0 points, 2.8 assists, 1.8 rebounds and 1.25 steals in 21.8 minutes per game.

Stoudamire played in two preseason games, averaging 5.5 points, 2.5 assists and 1.5 rebounds in 19.0 minutes of action. Green saw action in five preseason games, averaging 3.2 points and 3.2 rebounds in 15.0 minutes of action. The Spurs roster now stands at 16.

Shaq and G-Hill want to buy Magic

The Sacramento Bee (Scott Howard-Cooper) reports: Shaquille O’Neal and Grant Hill want to buy the Orlando Magic. Not right now. Shaq has two seasons on his deal, won’t walk away from $20 million per, may play beyond that contrary to previous reports that 2009-10 is definitely his last, and Hill is in a contract year and interested in returning. He may not be done for a while either. But the Suns teammates are serious about this. At some point, probably soon after they retire, O’Neal and Hill, former Magic players who still make their permanent homes in a mega-money Orlando enclave, will talk with executives to see if the team is available. How serious? They have already talked about it together, a lot. They have already made their feelings known to CEO and president Bob Vander Weide, the son-in-law of owner Rich DeVos. They have, both report independently, already lined up additional investors.