Month: April 2009

Bulls sign DeMarcus Nelson

The Chicago Bulls today signed rookie guard DeMarcus Nelson for the remainder of the 2008-09 season.

Nelson joins the Bulls after playing 20 games in the NBA D-League this season, most recently with the Austin Toros.  He has split the season with the Toros and the Bakersfield Jam.  On the year, he has averaged 19.9 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 4.1 apg and 1.65 spg in 37.5 mpg.  He has made .540 from the field, .420 on three-point field goals and .723 from the line.  The 23-year-old Nelson is the 23rd Call-Up of the NBA D-League this season.

Undrafted out of Duke, the 6-4, 200-pound guard originally signed a free-agent contract with the Golden State Warriors on Sept. 9, 2008.  He appeared in 13 games (five starts) with the Warriors, and averaged 4.1 ppg, 1.8 rpg and 1.0 apg in 13.2 mpg.

Following a four-year career with the Blue Devils, he left Duke as one of six players in school history to record over 1,300 points, 600 rebounds, 200 assists and 125 steals.  In 124 collegiate contests, he averaged 10.8 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 1.8 apg and 1.17 spg in 26.2 mpg.  He also shot .466 from the field, .373 from behind the arc and .586 from the free throw line.  He earned ACC Defensive Player of the Year honors his senior season.

With Nelson’s signing, Chicago’s roster now stands at 15.

Martell Webster out until next season

Portland Trail Blazers guard/forward Martell Webster will miss the remainder of the 2008-09 regular season and the 2009 NBA Playoffs, it was announced today by General Manager Kevin Pritchard.

Webster underwent surgery on Oct. 9 to repair a stress fracture in his left foot.  After being sidelined nearly two months, Webster returned to the court on Dec. 7 for Portland’s game at Toronto, but re-aggravated the injury.

“This was not an easy decision to make knowing just how hard Martell has worked to get back on the court this season,” said Pritchard.  “The X-rays show significant progress, but the bone has not completely healed.  We feel strongly that an extended period of rest will ensure a full recovery and allow Martell to be ready for fall training camp.”

A fourth-year Trail Blazer, Webster initially suffered the injury in an Oct. 7 preseason game vs. Sacramento.

“Throughout the course of the rehab I worked my tail off to get back out there and to come up short is disappointing,” said Webster.  “Now I just have to refocus my energy on getting better, getting stronger, and being ready for the start of next season.”

There are no changes planned to Webster’s physical activity level.  He will continue to rehabilitate on the stationary bike and elliptical trainer.

Webster, 22, has career averages of 8.1 points, 3.0 rebounds and 0.8 assists while averaging 37.2% (279-for-750) from 3-point range in 219 games (115 starts) with the Trail Blazers.

Right leg pain will keep Phil Jackson home

Los Angeles Lakers head coach Phil Jackson will remain in Los Angeles instead of accompanying the team on its road trip to Portland, due to pain and swelling in his lower right leg caused by plantar fasciitis, it was announced today.

The Lakers will fly to Portland following tonight’s game against the Denver Nuggets, and will play the Trail Blazers in Portland tomorrow night.  The team will be coached by assistant coach Kurt Rambis in Jackson’s absence.

Jackson missed the Lakers’ first preseason game back on October 7 in Anaheim versus the Utah Jazz.  He will rejoin the team for Saturday’s practice and is not expected to miss any additional games.

Knicks sign Mouhamed Sene

The New York Knickerbockers President of Basketball Operations Donnie Walsh announced today that free agent center Mouhamed Sene has been signed to a contract. As per club policy, terms of the deal will not be disclosed. Sene, a member of the Albuquerque Thunderbirds, became the 21st Call-Up of the 2008-09 NBA Development League season.

Sene, 6-11, 230-pounds, averaged 3.4 points and 1.8 rebounds in five games this season with Oklahoma City before being released by the Thunder on Feb. 19. Sene then signed with Albuquerque and averaged 10.0 points, 10.2 rebounds and 3.4 blocks in nine games. A native of Senegal, Sene was selected in the first round in the 2006 NBA Draft by the Seattle SuperSonics with the 10th overall pick. Sene has career averages of 2.2 points and 1.5 rebounds in 46 NBA games over three seasons with Seattle/Oklahoma City.

The Knicks roster stands at 15 players.

Read fan reaction and discuss your own opinion in this forum topic.

Cavaliers sign Jawad Williams

The Cleveland Cavaliers have signed forward Jawad Williams to a contract, Cavaliers General Manager Danny Ferry announced today. Per team and league policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Williams (6-9, 220 pounds) played in nine games this season with the Cavaliers. In 10 total minutes, Williams scored four points and recorded one steal. The Cleveland native and St. Edward H.S. graduate made the Cavaliers’ 2008-09 opening day roster as a training camp invite. He was waived by the Cavaliers on January 7th and signed to consecutive 10-day contracts on Jan. 12 and 23.

Following his stint with the Cavaliers this season, Williams played in 19 games (18 starts) with the Rio Grande Valley Vipers of the NBA Development League. He averaged 25.7 points on .454 shooting, 4.2 rebounds and 2.3 assists in 36.5 minutes per game.

The rookie forward is eligible to be on the Cavaliers’ postseason roster and will wear No. 31. The Cavaliers roster now stands at 15.

Read fan reaction and discuss your own opinion in this forum topic.

Marvin Webster dead at 56

The AP reports: Marvin Webster, a fierce shot-blocking centre who helped lead the Seattle SuperSonics to the 1978 NBA finals, was found dead in a hotel bathtub. He was 56. His body was discovered in his room Monday morning in the downtown Ambassador Hotel, police said yesterday. Foul play is not suspected and the death apparently stemmed from an illness, police spokesman Jason Willingham said. Webster had been living at the hotel and employees grew concerned after not seeing him for several days.

Telfair, Love help Wolves beat Warriors 105-97

The AP reports: If the Minnesota Timberwolves hurt their chances to win the draft lottery by winning a few more games, it won’t disappoint Kevin Love one bit. “You never want to accept losing and we’re not trying to lose to get more lottery chances,” said Love after posting getting 20 points and 12 rebounds while helping Minnesota to a 105-97 win over the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday… Sebastian Telfair came off the bench to score 21 points, including a pair of key 3-pointers down the stretch in the fourth quarter when the Timberwolves went with a three-guard offense… Jamal Crawford scored 31 points and Kelenna Azubuike added 26 to pace Golden State, which had its three-game winning streak snapped. The Warriors have not won four straight since February 2008.

Mavs clinch playoff spot with 130-101 win over Jazz

The AP reports: With their spot in the playoffs secured, now the Dallas Mavericks can work on trying to avoid a first-round series against the Los Angeles Lakers. Dirk Nowitzki scored 31 points, a dozen in a row at one point, and Josh Howard overcame a bloody nose and swollen eye to add 13 points and a career-high seven steals as the Mavericks beat the Utah Jazz 130-101 on Wednesday night to clinch the final playoff spot in the Western Conference… “Knowing the importance of each game and the sense of urgency, we treat every game like it’s a Game 7 playoff game,” said Jason Terry, who added 21 points off the bench… Deron Williams scored 18 points to lead all five Utah starters in double figures, and also had 12 assists. Andrei Kirilenko had 17 points.

Nuggets eighth straight win, beat Thunder 122-112

The AP reports: Ideally, the Denver Nuggets wanted to jump on the Oklahoma City Thunder early and coast to a win before flying out to Los Angeles for their showdown with the Lakers. Instead, they had to fight like crazy before coming up big in the fourth quarter for a 122-112 win Wednesday night thanks to the usual stars—Carmelo Anthony and Chauncey Billups—and an unusually good finish by Linas Kleiza… Anthony scored 31 points against the Thunder, Nene added 23, Billups chipped in 18, including every one in an 11-2 spurt the Nuggets used to finally get control of the game. Kleiza scored 12 of his 17 in the fourth quarter and Chris Andersen blocked seven shots. The Nuggets needed every bit of that effort to stave off the Thunder, who were led by Kevin Durant’s 31 points and Jeff Green’s 24.

Hawks beat Bucks 113-105, close in on No. 4 seed

The AP reports: The Atlanta Hawks’ recent string of losses to playoff contenders was understandable, if not particularly convenient. But with the Hawks scrambling to secure the No. 4 playoff seed in the Eastern Conference, a loss to the Milwaukee Bucks would have been much harder to explain. Joe Johnson stepped in took care of the potential problem. Johnson scored 30 points and hit a pair of big shots in the final minute of the game, stopping a late Milwaukee rally and nailing down a 113-105 victory Wednesday night… Bibby finished with 22 points and Josh Smith added 21 points and 7 rebounds for Atlanta. Bogans had 22 points and Jefferson added 19 for Milwaukee.