January 2010 – Page 3 – NBA Blog

Mario Chalmers wants his starting spot back

Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald reports:

Though Rafer Alston figures to remain the Heat’s starting point guard this season barring an injury or something unforeseen, Mario Chalmers continues to express his desire to regain that spot.

“Time to get back on my [game]. Tired of sittin’ on the bench,” Chalmers said Sunday on Twitter. “Gotta get back to the way I was.”

Before Monday’s game, Chalmers did not back away from those comments. “I’m ready to get back that spot,” he said. “The team needs me back there. I want my spot back. I think there’s a great chance I can get it back.”

Though Chalmers said he accepts whatever role he is given, starting is “more meaningful,” he said, “because I started every game last season. It’s my fault that I lost it” — initially, to Carlos Arroyo before Alston was signed.

Hornets trade Bobby Brown to Clippers

The Los Angeles Clippers today acquired guard Bobby Brown from the New Orleans Hornets in exchange for a 2014 conditional second round draft pick and cash considerations. In a related move, the Clippers released guard JamesOn Curry from his 10-day contract.

“With today’s move, we put ourselves in a position that is under the luxury tax threshold while preserving the ability to maximize our results on the court and keeping our core intact,” said Hornets head coach Jeff Bower.

Brown, 25, has appeared in 25 games for the Hornets this season and is averaging 6.6 points and 2.1 assists in 14.9 minutes per game. A Los Angeles native who starred at Westchester High School and Cal-State Fullerton, Brown played for the Sacramento Kings and Minnesota Timberwolves in 2008-09 and has appeared in a total of 90 NBA games, making two starts with career averages of 5.6 points, 1.8 assists and 0.8 rebounds in 14.0 minutes.

Not drafted after finishing his college career as Cal-State Fullerton’s all-time leading scorer, Brown appeared for Alba Berlin of Germany in 2007-08 before signing as a free agent with Sacramento. One of the greatest players in Cal-State Fullerton history, Brown was named to the Big West All-Conference Team two times in his career.

Curry was signed by the Clippers to a 10-day contract on Jan. 22, 2010 and appeared in one game for Los Angeles.

Hornets trade Devin Brown to Bulls for Aaron Gray

The New Orleans Hornets announced today that they have acquired center Aaron Gray from the Chicago Bulls in exchange for guard Devin Brown.

“Aaron will help bolster our frontcourt and add depth to our team,” Head Coach and General Manager Jeff Bower said. “We continue to be pleased with the play of Marcus Thornton and feel he, along with our other backcourt players, can step up.”

“We’re excited to add Devin Brown to our team,” said Chicago Bulls General Manager Gar Forman. “His toughness, defensive versatility, and shooting will be excellent additions to our perimeter rotation.”

Gray, in his third year after being drafted 49th overall out of Pitt in the 2007 NBA Draft, is averaging 2.3 points and 2.0 rebounds in eight games with the Bulls this season. The 7-foot, 270-pound center has career averages of 3.8 points and 3.2 rebounds per game, having played in 125 games (19 starts).

The Hornets signed Brown as a free agent on August 22, 2008. Brown holds career averages of 7.3 points, 2.8 rebounds and 1.5 assists in his 8-year career. In 160 games as a Hornet (91 starts), Brown averaged 8.6 points, 2.9 rebounds and 1.6 assists, playing for the club in the 2006-07 season and since signing back with New Orleans on August 22, 2008. This season, Brown has averaged 9.7 points, 2.8 rebounds and 1.5 assists in 39 games (37 starts).

Lakers visit White House, meet Obama

The Los Angeles Daily News reports:

The Los Angeles Lakers will be honored at the White House today for winning last season’s NBA championship.

The team, coach Phil Jackson and Hall-of-Famer Magic Johnson, will be joined by President Barack Obama for the ceremony in the Palm Room, according to White House officials and team spokesman John Black.

The team’s White House visit is expected to last about an hour. It will come one day before the Lakers face the Washington Wizards in the fourth game of an eight-game, 12-day road trip.

The visit will be the Lakers’ first at the White House since January 2002, their only visit during their three-peat tenure.

Jazz sign Sundiata Gaines for rest of season

Utah Jazz general manager Kevin O’Connor announced today the Jazz has signed rookie guard Sundiata Gaines for the remainder of the season.

Gaines (6-1, 185, Georgia) was originally signed to a 10-day contract by the Jazz on January 5 before being re-signed to a second 10-day contract on Jan. 15. Gaines has appeared in seven games for the Jazz, averaging 2.9 points and 1.1 assists in 7.1 minutes per game. The Jazz is 6-2 since signing Gaines, who hit a game-winning three-pointer as time expired to beat Cleveland, 97-96, on Jan. 14. The former University of Georgia Bulldog also recorded a career-high nine points vs. the Cavaliers. Gaines reached career highs in minutes (21) and assists (five) in his NBA debut vs. Memphis on Jan. 6.

Gaines became the fourth NBA Development League (D-League) Call-Up to the NBA this season, as well as the fourth D-League Call-Up in Jazz history, joining Rusty LaRue (2000-01), Mikki Moore (2003-04) and Louis Amundson (2006-07).

Jazz assign Kosta Koufos to D-League

Utah Jazz general manager Kevin O’Connor announced today that the team has assigned second-year center Kosta Koufos to the Utah Flash of the NBA Development League (D-League). Koufos is expected to be in uniform when the Flash host Maine tonight, January 25, at 7 p.m.

In 21 games this season, the 7-0, 265-pound Koufos has averages of 1.3 points, 1.1 rebounds and 0.2 assists in 3.6 minutes. Koufos has been inactive six times this season and DNP-CD 13 times. Koufos last appeared in a game on January 23 against New Jersey, grabbing three rebounds in a 116-83 home win. The center has notched a season-high six points twice this season and also picked up a season-high three rebounds vs. the L.A. Clippers on October 30.

In 48 games (seven starts) last season Koufos averaged 4.7 points, 2.9 rebounds and 0.4 assists. In 10 games (all starts) with the Flash in 2008-09, Koufos averaged 16.7 points, 8.4 rebounds, 2.6 blocks and 2.0 assists in 10 games.

Selected by the Jazz out of Ohio State in the first round (23rd overall selection) of the 2008 NBA Draft, Koufos averaged 14.4 points, 6.7 rebounds and 0.5 assists in his only season with the Buckeyes. The Canton, Ohio native was also named the postseason NIT MVP after leading Ohio State to the 2008 title. Koufos, who holds dual American and Greek citizenship helped lead Greece to a silver medal in the 2007 UMCOR U18 European Championships after averaging 26.5 points, 13 rebounds and 3.5 blocked shots.

Christine Godleski named WNBA Chief Operating Officer

The Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) announced today that Christine Godleski has been named Chief Operating Officer. In this role, Godleski will manage the day-to-day operations of the WNBA, where she will oversee the execution of league events and strategic planning initiatives. She will also support league and team revenue-generating opportunities.

Godleski joins the WNBA after spending 12 years with ESPN and The Walt Disney Company, where she worked in various roles for ESPN Outdoors, ESPN The Magazine and Disney Consumer Products. Most recently Godleski served as VP/General Manager of ESPN Outdoors, leading a team of 150 staffers to develop and operate all aspects of the division.

“We are very pleased to add Christine to our WNBA executive leadership team,” said WNBA President Donna Orender. “Her experience in finance and strategic planning will help us capitalize on opportunities while continuing to improve the efficiency of our business operations.”

Godleski boasts nearly 25 years of experience in finance, budgeting, and operations. Her professional career spans a wide array of corporate assignments, including CG Consulting, Viacom, and Deloitte and Touche. A graduate of Penn State University, Godleski has volunteered time teaching elementary school students in Tanzania, in addition to fundraising for World Team Sports, The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, and the Multiple Sclerosis Society. Godleski has also served as Chairperson for the International Council of Orphans International and summitted Africa’s Mt. Kilimanjaro.

Nets on pace to be worst team ever

Loren Jorgensen of the Deseret News reports:

The mood was appropriately somber in the visitors’ locker room at EnergySolutions Arena on Saturday night after the Utah Jazz had cruised to their most lopsided victory of the year, 116-83 over the New Jersey Nets.

The Nets, after all, are on pace to become the unquestioned, all-time worst team in NBA history…

The Nets, who entered the game on a 10-game losing streak in which they had lost by an average of nearly 18 points, were even worse against the Jazz, losing by 33.”It’s bad,” said Nets center Brook Lopez, the team’s leading scorer and rebounder. “It’s tough to stay positive.”

New Jersey, which played Saturday night’s game without injured starting point guard Devin Harris, is now 3-40 on the year. They will have to go 7-32 or better the rest of the season in order to surpass the 9-73 mark of the 1972-73 Philadelphia 76ers, the current owners of worst all-time record in NBA history.

Julian Garcia of the New York Daily News reports:

Things have gone so wrong lately, it’s hard for the Nets to even imagine there might be light at the end of the “dark tunnel” coach/GM Kiki Vandeweghe is always referring to.

“Right now, no. I can’t honestly,” Chris Douglas-Roberts said. “We’re just in a very bad situation so it’s hard to see the light right now.”

Harris, who fell on his already achy wrist on Friday night, sat behind the bench wearing jeans, a leather sport coat and a bulky black and blue brace on his wrist.

Leandro Barbosa out one month

Phoenix Suns guard Leandro Barbosa will undergo surgery on his right wrist to remove a cyst, the club announced today.

The surgery is schedule to take place this Tuesday, Jan. 26, and is expected to sideline Barbosa for approximately one month.

Currently in his seventh NBA season, the former Sixth Man of the Year is averaging 10.6 points, 1.6 rebounds and 1.7 assists in 19.7 minutes this season. The 27-year-old Barbosa, who has appeared in 29 games this season (five starts), missed three games from Nov. 3-6 due to inflammation in his right wrist.

The Suns (25-19) return to the court tonight, taking on the Golden State Warriors (13-28) at US Airways Center at 7 p.m. The game can be seen locally on FOX Sports Arizona and heard on Sports 620 KTAR.

Tulsa WNBA team, which moved from Detroit, named Tulsa Shock

After months of anticipation, the new WNBA Tulsa franchise officially unveiled its identity today with the announcement of the new team name, logo and colors. The new franchise will be named the Tulsa Shock and its colors black, red and gold. The logo features a basketball on top of “Tulsa Shock” with a lightning bolt through it. The “Tulsa” lettering has an Art Deco inspiration which was influenced by the city’s rich history in Art Deco architecture.

The Tulsa Shock, formerly the Detroit Shock, moved to Tulsa in October 2009. In November, the team decided on a short list of three potential names which included Fire, Tempo and Shock and then gave the fans an opportunity to vote for their favorite on the team’s Web site – www.wnba.com/shock. The name “Shock” received the highest amount of votes with 38 percent. Tempo finished second with 32 percent and Fire was third with 30 percent.

The Shock’s new president, Steve Swetoha, believes the familiarity WNBA fans have with the Shock name will go a long way in developing brand recognition for the team and lends itself well to promotions and marketing opportunities.

“I think its clear the Shock name resonated with fans because of the championship history it invokes, as well as the feelings of speed and power it brings. Our new name and identity fits perfectly with the style of play Coach Richardson brings to the team,” Swetoha said. “It’s the same name with a whole new meaning.”

“The Tulsa Shock – I love it,” head coach Nolan Richardson said. “Having an identity gets me more excited because I know we’re one step closer to tip-off, and we’ll look good when that day comes.”

Tulsa Shock uniforms are not finalized at this time. The team will unveil the uniforms this spring.

Tulsa WNBA team, which moved from Detroit, named Tulsa Shock