January 2010 – Page 10 – NBA Blog

Grizzlies sign Lester Hudson

The Memphis Grizzlies claimed Memphis native Lester Hudson off waivers, Grizzlies General Manager and Vice President of Basketball Operations Chris Wallace announced Friday (January 8). Hudson was available after being waived by the Boston Celtics on Jan. 6.

“We are excited to acquire Lester Hudson off waivers,” Wallace said. “Lester is a player we thought of highly in the pre-draft process. He earned favorable reviews for his performance during his brief time with the Celtics. He is an athletic, tough combo guard who was one of the most prolific scorers in college basketball over his two years at the University of Tennessee at Martin. It is a wonderful day for the Grizzlies to be able to bring this Memphian back home to continue his NBA career.”

The 6-3, 190-pound rookie guard averaged 1.4 points and 0.5 assists in 4.4 minutes in 16 appearances this season with the Celtics, who selected him in the second round (58th overall) of the 2009 NBA Draft. Boston also assigned Hudson to two different stints with their NBA Development League affiliate, the Maine Red Claws, where the 25-year-old posted 14.6 points, 4.8 rebounds and 4.2 assists in 28.0 minutes in five games.

One of the most explosive scorers in the NCAA in recent years, Hudson ranked second in the nation in scoring in 2008-09 behind current Golden State Warriors rookie Stephen Curry, averaging 27.5 points as well as 7.9 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 2.34 steals in his senior season with the University of Tennessee-Martin Skyhawks. In his junior year, Hudson became the first men’s player in Division I history to record a quadruple-double with 25 points, 12 rebounds, 10 assists and 10 steals on Nov. 13, 2007 vs. Central Baptist College.

The native Memphian transferred to UT-Martin after playing his first two seasons at Southwest Tennessee Community College in Memphis.

The Grizzlies’ roster now stands at 14 players.

Eduardo Najera traded back to Mavericks

Nets will trade Eduardo Najera to Mavericks for Kris Humphries and Shawne Williams

Several media outlets Friday night reported that the New Jersey Nets and Dallas Mavericks are close to agreeing on a trade that will send forward Eduardo Najera back to Dallas, and forward/center Kris Humphiries and forward Shawne Williams to New Jersey.

Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo and Marc Stein of ESPN are reporting that the deal, if it happens, will likely becoming official Monday.

Wojnarowski also reports something that InsideHoops.com has heard was in consideration for a long time now: The Nets are expected to waive forward Sean Williams.

Najera started his NBA career with the Mavericks in 2000-01, playing in Dallas for four years before bouncing around until he landed with the Nets in 2008. But he was injured last season and very ineffective in the 13 games he’s played this season.

Humphries averages 5.2 points and 3.8 rebounds in 12.6 minutes per game.

Williams is an outcast from Dallas. The team separated itself from the player and has not used him at all this season.

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.

Andre Miller and Nate McMillan get in 30-minute shouting match

Jason Quick of The Oregonian reports (via blog):

Trail Blazers practice on Thursday was halted nearly 60 minutes into the workout when veteran point guard Andre Miller and coach Nate McMillan engaged in a shouting match that lasted for nearly 30 minutes.

Miller shouted throughout the exchange, and McMillan mostly listened, but at times broke in with shouting of his own.

One of the topics discussed was an incident late in Tuesday’s game with Memphis, when Miller told Jerryd Bayless to make his second free throw with 4.3 seconds left and the Blazers trailing by two. The coaching staff and team captain Brandon Roy told Bayless to miss the free throw so the Blazers could attempt to rebound and make a tying basket.

Heat sign Rafer Alston

The Miami Heat announced today that they have signed free agent guard Rafer Alston. Per club policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

“We are thrilled to have Skip back in a Heat uniform, as he brings another set of skills and experience to the point guard position,” said Heat President Pat Riley. “From his time in Miami, we know both his game and him as a person, and we had a great experience with him in the past. We are very happy to have Skip back in the Heat family.”

Alston, who was placed on waivers by the New Jersey Nets on January 5, has appeared in 27 games (13 starts) this season for the Nets. He has averaged 9.7 points, 3.9 assists, 2.8 rebounds and 1.00 steals in 28.4 minutes per game.

Currently playing in his 11th NBA season, Alston was originally drafted by the Milwaukee Bucks with the 39th selection in the 1998 NBA Draft. He has played for six different NBA teams in his career, averaging 10.3 points, 4.8 assists, 2.8 rebounds and 1.22 steals in 646 games (427 starts). As a member of the Orlando Magic last season, he was the team’s starting point guard during their playoff run, averaging 12.2 points, 4.1 assists, 2.4 rebounds and 1.43 steals while leading them to the NBA Finals.

He spent the 2003-04 season with the Heat, after signing as a free agent on September 4, 2003. Alston appeared in all 82 games (28 starts) for the Heat in 2003-04, averaging 10.2 points, 4.5 assists, 2.8 rebounds and 1.39 steals in 31.5 minutes per game. He helped guide the Heat to their first playoff appearance after a two-year absence and still holds the franchise record for most consecutive games with a three-point field goal made with 48.

Prior to joining the NBA, he earned the nickname “Skip to my Lou” playing in the Rucker Park tournament on the And-1 Mix Tape Tour.

The Heat roster now stands at 14. Alston will once again wear number 11.