January 8, 2010 – NBA Blog – NBA Basketball Blog

Antawn Jamison addresses Wizards fans before Friday game

Friday night in Washington, D.C. the Wizards are hosting the Orlando Magic.

Before tipoff, Wizards forward Antawn Jamison took the microphone and addressed fans in the arena in response to recent issues with Gilbert Arenas bringing guns to the locker room, a reported possible bad response by Javaris Crittenton, and then days later, several teammates making light of the situation by laughing with Gilbert as he used his fingers to jokingly pretend to be armed and dangerous.

InsideHoops.com heard Jamison and transcribed what he said. Here’s Antawn:

How you guys doing?

On behalf of my teammates, this organization and this coaching staff, we know it’s been a trying week. One thing my teammates and I take very seriously is being a positive role model. It’s something we don’t take lightly.

There’s been a picture that’s been shown of us taking this event very lightly. This is a serious situation. It’s something that we take to heart. We never meant to make light of the situation. We’re going to do everything in our power, as long as I’m your captain, as long as these guys right here are my teammates, to make this one of the most respectable organizations in the league.

[Wizards fans cheer]

In order for that to happen, we need you guys to continue to support us. This thing right here is very embarrassing for my teammates and the coaching staff, but we’re going to do everything positive to make this one of the toughest places to play in. To make this an exciting place. But most importantly, a place where you can bring your kids, your families, your buddy, to come and have a good time.

Enjoy the game tonight. Thanks a lot!

I think he did a fine job.

Trail Blazers sign Shavlik Randolph to 10-day contract

The Portland Trail Blazers have signed forward Shavlik Randolph to a 10-day contract, it was announced today by General Manager Kevin Pritchard.

Randolph, 26, has appeared in two games for the Trail Blazers this season, totaling four points, a rebound and an assist in five minutes before being waived Jan. 6. He was originally signed on Dec. 30.

Portland’s roster now stands at 16 players.

(Due to injuries, the Blazers have an exception from the league that allows them to have more than 15 players.)

Thunder recall DJ White

Oklahoma City Thunder Executive Vice President and General Manager Sam Presti announced today that the team has recalled forward DJ White from the Tulsa 66ers of the NBA Development League.

White appeared in six games (six starts) for the 66ers since he was originally assigned to Tulsa on December 26. The 6-9 forward averaged 18.3 points, 11.2 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per contest while with Tulsa. He tallied four double-doubles and scored 20 or more points twice.

Terrence Williams not getting minutes

The New Jersey Nets are winning about as often as I stretch my arms to the sky and, like Superman, fly up into the clouds. Which really isn’t too often.

You’d think that on a young team that barely snatches a victory, the team’s top rookie would have a shot at major minutes, at least as a prime backup.

But lately, Terrence Williams mostly sits on the bench, chillin.

Fred Kerber of the New York Post reports:

In his first 25 games, Williams averaged 24.4 minutes. He dropped to 10.3 minutes in his last eight games (attempting just 19 shots in 82 minutes). True, two other young guys, Courtney Lee and Chris Douglas-Roberts, eat up much of the minutes at two and three. And the return of Yi Jianlian has eliminated many of the small lineups that brought Williams time.

And Williams really hasn’t overwhelmed with his play when given the chance. But on the Nets, who has?

“He’s a rookie. And as a rookie he’s got to learn. We’ve got a lot of young players and it’s about finding minutes for everybody,” said interim coach Kiki Vandeweghe, who will tweak his rotation tonight by using earlier substitutions. “Right now, it’s his time to learn.”

It’s probably just temporary. And could change any day or week. But for now, T-Will does plenty of watching.

Darko Milicic could be headed to buyout from Knicks

Darko Milicic could be headed to a buyout from Knicks

Remember Darko Milicic? He’s tall and wears basketball sneakers. Also, he’s originally from overseas, somewhere.

Technically, he’s on the New York Knicks, though they don’t actually use him. He gets paid to hang out and maybe drink water or something.

Multiple media outlets over the last few weeks have reported that Milicic’s next move, once he’s not signed to an NBA team anymore, will probably be to head back to Europe. Quotes from Milicic himself confirmed this. But perhaps it’ll happen sooner than expected.

Frank Isola of the New York Daily News reports:

The Knicks and Darko Milicic could be headed toward a buyout.

Milicic, who has already stated that he plans to continue his career in Europe next season, was conspicuously missing from Thursday night’s game against the Bobcats. The 7-footer has become such an afterthought that the Knicks did not even bother to reveal that he did not show up for work.

Milicic’s agent, Marc Cornstein, confirmed that his client was missing due to “personal reasons” and said that Milicic would rejoin the team today.

This season, Milicic is averaging 2.0 points in 8.9 minutes per game, in a total of eight games. His NBA career average is 5.4 points and 4.0 rebounds in 17.0 minutes.

Nets ban gambling on flights

Howard Beck and Jonathan Abrams of the New York Times report:

There are indications that the N.B.A. is now considering new gambling restrictions for players. One team has already acted. On Wednesday, the Nets informed players that gambling was no longer permitted on team flights.

“We did,” Rod Thorn, the Nets’ president, said Thursday in a telephone interview in which he confirmed that the team had instituted a ban. “I think after this incident with the Wizards that we just decided that we would not have any on our planes. We’ve never had a problem with it. But obviously, you can see what can happen.”

Thorn, who was formerly the chief of discipline for the N.B.A., said he was not aware of any other teams instituting a prohibition on gambling. He declined to speculate on whether Commissioner David Stern would act. However, a number of team executives, agents and others with ties to the league said they believed the matter was under serious consideration…

Playing cards, dominoes and dice to pass the time on team flights is an entrenched part of N.B.A. culture. Players sometimes bet with $100 bills, and the stakes can quickly reach into the thousands, which can lead to bruised egos and hard feelings.