December 2009 – Page 4 – NBA Blog

Rockets sign Mike Harris

Houston Rockets General Manager Daryl Morey announced today that the Rockets have signed forward Mike Harris as a Call-Up from Houston’s single-affiliation NBA D-League partner the Rio Grande Valley Vipers. Harris rejoins the Rockets following a stint with the team during the 2007-08 season.

“Mike Harris has been the best player in the D-League and instrumental in the Vipers 7-3 start,” said Morey. “He will be a quality addition to our team. We are excited to add him.”

Harris (6-6, 235, Rice) returns to Houston from the Rio Grande Valley, where he was averaging a team-leading 25.3 points, 7.1 rebounds and 1.8 assists in 10 games (10 starts) with the Vipers. At the time of his Call-Up, Harris stood second in the D-League among qualified leaders in points per game. He scored in double figures in all 10 games with Rio Grande Valley, while recording two double-doubles. Harris recorded a season-high 35 points and a season-best 12 rebounds at Tulsa (12/19/09). Harris actually began the 2009-10 season as a training camp invitee with Oklahoma City, but was waived by the Thunder on Oct. 23.

A former standout at Rice University, Harris spent his rookie NBA season with the Rockets, averaging 3.6 points and 3.2 rebounds in 17 games in 2007-08. Harris originally signed with Houston as a rookie free agent on July 13, 2007, but was waived by the Rockets on Oct. 22. He later signed a 10-day contract with Houston on Mar. 8, 2008, before inking a second 10-day contract on Mar. 18. Harris was signed for the remainder of the 2007-08 season by the Rockets on Mar. 29, 2008. During the 2008 NBA Playoffs, he averaged 1.0 points and 0.7 rebounds in three postseason games with Houston. Harris also averaged 12.6 points and 7.0 rebounds in five games with the Rockets in the 2007 NBA Summer League.

Harris, who also played in the preseason with the Milwaukee Bucks prior to the 2006-07 campaign, was selected third overall in the 2006 D-League Draft by the Colorado 14ers. In 48 games (16 starts) with Colorado, he averaged 11.8 points, 6.8 rebounds and 1.54 blocks per contest in 2006-07. In addition, Harris has played internationally in the Ukraine with BC Kyiv (2005-06) and with DongGuan of the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA).

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Paul Pierce out 2 weeks

The Boston Celtics announced today that forward Paul Pierce underwent arthroscopic irrigation on his right knee to clean a knee infection at New England Baptist Hospital this morning. Celtics Team Physician Dr. Brian McKeon performed the procedure. Pierce is expected to miss the next two weeks.

Pierce, a 6’7” forward, has played in every game this season for the Celtics and is averaging a team-high 18.2 points. He is currently shooting a career-high 47.3% from three-point land and is ranked fifth in the NBA. The Kansas product netted a season-high 33 points against the Knicks on November 22.

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Blake Griffin health update: Out 3 more weeks

Los Angeles Clippers rookie forward Blake Griffin underwent a CT Scan and MRI of the stress fracture of his left patella yesterday.

In addition to his continued strength and conditioning work, Griffin has been cleared to begin running on an AlterG Anti-Gravity treadmill beginning today and is expected to begin running on a normal full-body weight treadmill next week.

Based on expected progression, Griffin is expected to be cleared for a return to basketball related activity in approximately three weeks.

Griffin, the first overall selection in the 2009 NBA Draft, suffered a non-displaced stress fracture of his left patella during the Clippers’ last preseason game vs. the New Orleans Hornets on Friday, October 23rd.

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Joel Przybilla injures right leg

Joe Freeman of the Oregonian reports (via blog):

Just when you think it can’t get any worse for this injury-depleted Trail Blazers team, it suffers yet another significant setback Tuesday night in Dallas.

In the first quarter of their game against the Dallas Mavericks, Joel Przybilla landed awkwardly and violently on his right leg beneath the basket and had to be helped away from the American Airlines Center court by two teammates.

Shortly after halftime, the team announced that Pryzbilla had suffered a ruptured right patella tendon and patella dislocation. He is out indefinitely.

Rockets, Grizzlies pass on Von Wafer

MyFoxHouston reports:

NBA sources told FOX 26 Sports the Houston Rockets plans to re-sign free agent guard Von Wafer fell through when Wafer did not pass his physical Tuesday night.

Sources told FOX 26 the Rockets may re-visit Wafer’s situation soon.

With Wafer no longer an option the Rockets signed forward Michael Harris from the team’s NBA Development league affiliate, the Rio Grande Vipers.

Harris was at the Rockets game with the Clippers Tuesday night just to watch the game and then he got the surprise of his life.

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Jazz trade Eric Maynor and Matt Harpring to Thunder

Utah Jazz general manager Kevin O’Connor announced today that the team has acquired the draft rights to Peter Fehse from the Oklahoma City Thunder in exchange for the contract of Matt Harpring and guard Eric Maynor. The Jazz roster now stands at 12 players.

“Trading Eric was a difficult decision,” said general manager Kevin O’Connor. “But, along with Matt’s contract, it greatly helps reduce our luxury tax responsibility. Fortunately with Deron and a proven backup in Ronnie Price we feel that we have depth at that position.”

Harpring will not report to Oklahoma City.

“We are pleased to add Eric Maynor to our organization,” said Oklahoma City Thunder Executive Vice President and General Manager Sam Presti. “Eric possesses a work ethic and team first mentality that we feel will help us in our continued growth.”

“This was a difficult decision as we appreciate Shaun and Mike’s contributions to this basketball team on and off the floor,” added Presti. “We wish them nothing but continued success.”

Fehse (6-11, 205, Germany), was originally selected by the Oklahoma City franchise in the second round (49th overall pick) in the 2002 NBA Draft. The forward/center currently plays for Mitteldeutscher BC Weissenfels in the German League. From 2004-2008 Fehse suited up for the New Yorker Phantoms, also in the German League.

Prior to being drafted, Fehse played for SV Halle’s youth teams, the German Junior National Team and the German Under-20 National Team. Fehse played for Mitteldeutcher BC in 2003-04 and with the Frankfurt Opel Skyliners in 2002-03 but appeared in just one game.

Harpring (6-7, 230, Georgia Tech), who has not practiced or played during the current 2009-10 season, has appeared in 665 games (349 starts) over 11 seasons with Orlando, Cleveland, Philadelphia and Utah, owning career averages of 11.5 points, 5.1 rebounds and 1.4 assists in 26.4 minutes per game. He was originally signed by the Jazz as a free agent on August 15, 2002. Harpring has seen action in 474 games (191 starts) over seven seasons with Utah and has averaged 11.9 points and 4.9 rebounds in 25.8 minutes per game.

Maynor (6-3, 170, Virginia Commonwealth) was selected by the Jazz in the first round (20th overall pick) in the 2009 NBA Draft. The guard has seen action in 26 games this season (two starts) and is currently averaging 5.2 points and 3.1 assists.

InsideHoops.com editor quick take: This is a great deal for the Thunder, who add yet another talented young player to their roster. The deal helps the Jazz save money.

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Marko Jaric signs in Spain

The Hoop reports:

Real Madrid have reached a deal with the Memphis Grizzlies’ Marko Jaric, who will join the club for the remainder of the season pending a physical.

Marko Jaric was born on 12 October 1978 in Belgrade, Serbia and is the son of Yugoslav basketball legend Srecko Jaric. He began his career in 1996 with Greece’s Peristeri and two years later withdrew his name from the NBA draft to move to Italy.

Euroleague.net reports:

Real Madrid gave its fans an early holiday present on Tuesday when it announced the signing of former Euroleague champion Marko Jaric for the remainder of the season, pending medical tests. Jaric will be reunited with head coach Ettore Messina at the end of a decade that they started by winning the 2001 Euroleague title together with Kinder Bologna. Jaric (201, 31) arrives from Memphis of the NBA, where he had not played this season. Last season, he took part in a total of 53 games for Memphis, averaging 2.5 points per night. Jaric started his career in Peristeri of the Greek League in 1996.

Luol Deng playing with broken left thumb

The Chicago Sun-Times reports:

Before the game Monday against the Sacramento Kings, the Bulls revealed that forward Luol Deng has played with a fractured left thumb for about a week.

”He hurt it in practice, I think right before the Lakers game [on Dec. 15],” Bulls coach Vinny Del Negro said. ”It’s been bothering him a little bit, but he’s been able to fight through it.”

The injury is on Deng’s off hand, allowing him to play through it.

”It’s something that will heal on its own,” Del Negro said. ”It’s his left hand, so we just have to be cautious with it.”

Bulls lose to Kings despite 35-point lead

Monday night the Chicago Bulls had a 35-point lead over the visiting Sacramento Kings, but wound up losing the game 102-98.

John Jackson of the Chicago Sun-Times reports:

The Bulls were up 79-44 early in the third quarter and scored only 19 points the rest of the way, including 10 in the fourth quarter.

Just when it seemed the Bulls (10-16) were getting things turned around — and Del Negro was safe for the time being — they managed a new low this season.

Some of the grim numbers:

– Besides scoring only 10 points, the Bulls were 2-for-10 from the field with nine turnovers in the fourth quarter.

– They scored their last field goal with 10:15 left on an 18-footer by Kirk Hinrich for a 92-74 lead.

– During one stretch in the middle of the fourth quarter, the Bulls committed turnovers on six of seven possessions.

– By contrast, the Kings (13-14) scored 33 points in the fourth, including 17 in the final 3:08.

K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune reports:

Vying for their second three-game winning streak this season, the Bulls instead suffered a complete collapse, losing all of a 35-point third-quarter lead in a stunning 102-98 loss to the Kings.

After a torrid start that featured season highs for points in a quarter and a half, the Bulls made just two fourth-quarter field goals and got outscored 33-10. Rarely has a laugher turned so serious so suddenly.

“We’re not good enough to take a minute off, let alone a half,” coach Vinny Del Negro said.

Derrick Rose’s driving attempt to tie with 7.9 seconds left fell woefully short, and Noah failed to exit a scrum with the rebound. Beno Udrih grabbed the loose ball and was fouled, making two free throws for the final margin.

Mike McGraw of the Arlington Heights Daily Herald reports:

The Bulls (10-16) took control of this game right from the start and scored a season-high 67 points in the first half. They opened the third quarter with a 12-1 run to open the fateful 79-44 advantage.

At that point, the Bulls seemed to shut down and start thinking how many points they were going to score instead of doing the same things that built the lead.

The Bulls on Tuesday visit the Knicks in New York.

T.J. Ford coming off bench

Mike Wells of the Indianapolis Star reports:

This was supposed to be the year Indiana Pacers point guard T.J. Ford didn’t need to worry about losing his starting job. Ford was supposed to be the playmaker who could get into the teeth of the defense to either get a layup or pass to an open teammate on the perimeter.

Instead, Ford is back to where he ended last season: on the bench serving as the backup.
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Ford will continue to back up starter Earl Watson for the foreseeable future.

“It’s tough,” Ford said. “The season definitely hasn’t gone the way I thought it would.”

Ford is on pace to average a career low in assists this season.