Month: March 2009

Chuck Daly has pancreatic cancer

Hall of Fame Coach Chuck Daly has been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, family spokesman Matt Dobek said today.

“Chuck is being treated for the cancer and the family is requesting privacy,” Dobek said.  “When he was coaching, Chuck was always known as the Prince of Pessimism, right now Chuck Daly is the King of Optimism.”

Daly, who coached the Detroit Pistons to NBA Championships in 1989 and 1990, was dubbed by his Pistons’ players as “Daddy Rich,” for his dapper wardrobe.  Daly served as head coach of the Dream Team, the 1992 Gold-Medal winning USA Basketball Olympic Team, which has been acknowledged by many as the greatest basketball team ever assembled. Daly was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1994. The number 2 (for those 2 NBA Championships) was retired in his honor by the Detroit Pistons in 1997.

“Chuck was one of the most accessible sports figures ever, but right now he’s asking for privacy,” Dobek said.  “His family is hopeful that friends, fans and the media will respect those wishes at this time.”

Lakers assign Sun Yue to D-League

The Los Angeles Lakers have assigned guard Sun Yue to the Los Angeles D-Fenders of the NBA Development League, it was announced today by General Manager Mitch Kupchak.

“This is a great opportunity for Sun to gain additional playing time while still being able to continue on the NBA level,” said head coach Phil Jackson.  “Your rookie year is a learning process and the more time you get on the court, the better you will be for it in the long run.  I am impressed with Sun’s basketball talents and am hopeful that he will play for the Lakers for many years to come.”

Originally selected by the Lakers in the second round (40th overall) of the 2007 NBA Draft, Sun signed with the Lakers the following summer (August 25, 2008) shortly after representing China as a member of the Men’s Olympic Basketball Team in the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing.

Making his NBA debut on December 7 versus Milwaukee with four points on 2-of-3 shooting in five minutes, Sun has appeared in 10 games with the Lakers this season, totaling six points, two assists, a steal and a blocked shot in 28 minutes.

Nuggets assign Sonny Weems to D-League

The Denver Nuggets have assigned G/F Sonny Weems to the Colorado 14ers of the NBA Development League, team Vice President of Basketball Operations Mark Warkentien announced today.

Weems, 6-6, 203, has averaged 1.3 ppg in 10 games with the Nuggets this season. In his previous stint with the 14ers from Dec. 10- Jan. 6, Weems averaged 18.0 ppg, 4.8 rpg and 2.3 apg in 10 games.

This assignment marks the 27th player assignment to the NBA Development League this season and the Nuggets’ third to the 14ers in 2008-09.

Weems was acquired by Denver in a draft-night trade with the Chicago Bulls and Portland Trail Blazers in exchange for a 2009 second round draft pick.

Knicks sign Demetris Nichols to 10-day contract

The New York Knickerbockers President of Basketball Operations Donnie Walsh announced today that free agent guard Demetris Nichols has been signed to a 10-day contract. Nichols, a member of the Iowa Energy, became the 14th Call-Up of the 2008-09 NBA Development League season.

Nichols, 6-8, 215-pounds, was selected in the second round (53rd overall) of the 2007 NBA Draft by Portland and was traded to New York on draft night in exchange for a 2008 second-round pick. Nichols averaged 4.8 points in five preseason games with New York before being waived by the club on Oct. 25, 2007. The Boston, MA-native has career averages of 1.1 points, 0.3 rebounds and 3.1 minutes in 16 career games over two NBA seasons with Cleveland and Chicago. The Syracuse product was averaging 20.3 points and 4.7 rebounds per game with Iowa of the NBA D-League this season after being released by Chicago on Nov. 17, 2008.

The Knicks roster now stands at 14 players.

DeShawn Stevenson out 3-4 months after surgery

Washington Wizards President Ernie Grunfeld announced today that guard DeShawn Stevenson had successful surgery to repair a herniated disc.

The procedure was performed this morning by Dr. John Starr at Sibley Memorial Hospital in Washington, DC.  Stevenson is expected to make a full recovery and will begin the rehabilitation process in two weeks.  He will be able to resume basketball activity in three to four months.

Stevenson has missed 29 games this season due to lower back pain.  He averaged 6.6 points and 3.1 assists in 32 games played.

Raptors sign Pops Mensah-Bonsu

The Toronto Raptors announced Friday they have signed centre Pops Mensah-Bonsu to a contract for the remainder of the season. He is the 13th Call-Up of the 2008-09 NBA Development League season and the 131th overall since the league began play in 2001.

Mensah-Bonsu, 6-foot-10, 240 pounds, averaged 26.6 points, 13.0 rebounds and 2.5 blocks in eight games with the D-League’s Austin Toros this season. He recorded six double-doubles, with a high of 39 points at Colorado and three games of 18 rebounds (at Anaheim, Colorado and Rio Grande Valley).

Mensah-Bonsu, 25, was released Wednesday from his 10-day contract with the San Antonio Spurs. He saw action in three contests with the Spurs, averaging 5.0 points and 3.3 rebounds in 6.7 minutes. He appeared in 12 games with the Dallas Mavericks in the 2006-07 season where he totaled 29 points and 22 rebounds in 72 minutes. He also spent part of that season in the D-League with Fort Worth, averaging 15.8 points, 10.4 rebounds and 30.7 minutes in 26 games. He earned 2007 D-League All-Star Game MVP honours with 30 points and seven rebounds.

The native of London, England spent two seasons overseas, playing with Benetton Treviso in 2007-08 and DKV Joventut in 2008-09. He averaged 9.2 points and 8.3 rebounds in 31 regular season games with Benetton. He saw action in just two games with Jovenut before returning to North America to play in the D-League.

A four-year athlete at George Washington University in Washington, D.C., Mensah-Bonsu averaged 12.6 points and 6.7 rebounds in his senior season leading the Colonials to a 26-1 regular season mark and a Top 10 ranking.

Mensah-Bonsu will be available to the team tonight when the Raptors play host to the Miami Heat at Air Canada Centre. Game time is 7 p.m. (TSN/FAN 590)

Amare Stoudemire out until next season

The Arizona Republic (Paul Coro) reports: The out-for-the-season diagnosis for forward Amaré Stoudemire initially left a sliver of hope that the Suns star could return for the playoffs should they qualify. Out means out. And “season” means, “See you next season.” “Not this season, not at all,” said Dr. Pravin Dugel, the Valley eye surgeon who operated on Stoudemire’s detached retina two weeks ago. “The Suns have the same goal – to make sure he can resume his career.

Rockets freeze ticket prices

The Houston Chronicle reports: Rockets season-ticket prices will be frozen or reduced for 98 percent of tickets for the 2009-10 season, CEO Tad Brown said on Thursday, a day before renewal forms will be mailed to current season-ticket holders. Citing the impact of the recession, Brown said that prices for more than 20 percent of tickets currently selling for between $22 and $200, with most in the $40 to $200 range, will be reduced, with some prices cut by roughly 20 percent.

Melo scores 38, Nuggets beat Blazers 106-90

The AP reports: Carmelo Anthony scored 38 points in his return from a one-game suspension for refusing to come out of a game last weekend, and he led the Denver Nuggets past the Portland Trail Blazers 106-90 Thursday night… Brandon Roy scored 22 points for the Trail Blazers, who were trying to ascend to the top of the division this late in the season for the first time since 2001. LaMarcus Aldridge added 19 points despite an upset stomach… The Nuggets had Anthony back in uniform, but were without another starter, Kenyon Martin (lower back), and also backup point guard Anthony Carter (hip), both of whom are day to day.

C.Paul 27p 15a, Hornets beat Mavs 104-88

The AP reports: Tyson Chandler wanted to keep up with Chris Paul on a fast break, but could only stop and watch in amazement when he saw Paul dribble the ball through Jason Terry’s legs at full speed before tossing a pass back to Rasual Butler for a dunk… It was perhaps the best of numerous highlights in the latest dominant performance by Paul, whose 27 points and 15 assists helped the Hornets increase their season-best winning streak to six with a 104-88 victory over the Dallas Mavericks on Thursday night… David West scored 19 and Butler 18 for the Hornets, who haven’t lost since Chandler returned to the lineup last week from a left ankle injury—and rescinded trade… Dirk Nowitzki led Dallas with 27 points and Jason Kidd added 13 and Terry 10, but the Mavericks faded during the last 10 minutes as the game turned into a blowout.