March 2010 – Page 11 – NBA Blog

Rafer Alston suspended by Heat for rest of season

The Miami Heat announced today that guard Rafer Alston has been placed on the suspended list and has been suspended for the remainder of the season.

He had already been suspended “indefinitely” by the team. But it has now been extended until the season is over.

“While we are aware, through media reports, of the personal issue that Rafer is going through, we still have not heard from him,” said Heat President Pat Riley. “As stated before, our thoughts and prayers go out to him and his family during this time, but we are at the point where we must move forward with the rest of the season during our playoff push. Therefore, we are placing Rafer on the suspended list and suspending him for the reminder of the season. We wish Rafer nothing but the best and thank him for his contributions.”

Alston appeared in 25 games (all starts) for the Heat this season averaging 6.6 points, 2.9 assists, 2.2 rebounds and 26.2 minutes.

Heat suspend Dorell Wright two games

Miami Heat President Pat Riley announced today that Dorell Wright has been suspended for two games for conduct detrimental to the team.

“This is out of character for Dorell, we feel he’s a good person and that he will learn from this mistake,” Riley stated.

Wright’s suspension will start with tonight’s game vs. Chicago and conclude with Sunday’s game vs. Philadelphia.

The South Florida Sun-Sentinel reports:

In the wake of his Thursday arrest in Miami Beach for driving under the influence and driving with a suspended license, Miami Heat forward Dorell Wright has been suspended without pay by the team for two games.

Wright missed Friday’s game against the Chicago Bulls at AmericanAirlines Arena and all will miss Sunday’s home game against the Philadelphia 76ers…

Wright, who played 22 minutes in Wednesday night’s 108-97 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers at AmericanAirlines Arena, was stopped at 3:37 a.m. Thursday in his 2005 Bentley for erratic driving.

Wright, 24, was cited after changing lanes without signaling, with the police report noting he was traveling 52 mph in a 35 mph zone on Alton Road. The report noted the California native nearly struck a taxi after changing lanes and then had difficulty putting his white Bentley in park.

Warriors sign Reggie Williams to second 10-day contract

The Golden State Warriors have signed forward Reggie Williams to a second 10-day contract, the team announced today.

Williams, 23, has appeared in six games with Golden State since being called-up from the NBA Development League’s Sioux Falls Skyforce on March 2, averaging 12.8 points, 3.0 rebounds and 2.5 assists in 23.5 minutes per game, while shooting 52.6% from the field, 40.0% from three-point range and 81.8% from the line.

The Warriors roster remains at 16 players — over the league maximum due to injuries.

DeSagana Diop out due to dizzy spell

Charlotte Bobcats center DeSagana Diop will miss at least the next three games after becoming dizzy and light-headed following a workout yesterday. In addition to tonight’s game against the Clippers, Diop will not travel with the Bobcats on their two-game road trip to Orlando and Indiana.

Diop is undergoing medical evaluation to determine the cause of the spell. Following the completion of the tests, he will meet with team physician Dr. Joe Garcia to determine his status.

The Charlotte Bobcats, who became the NBA’s 30th franchise when they joined the league in 2004-05, return to action tonight when they host the Los Angeles Clippers at 7:00pm ET. The game can be seen on FS Carolinas.

Robert Whaley arrested

Nate Carlisle of the Salt Lake Tribune reports:

Police in Salt Lake County arrested former Utah Jazz center Robert Whaley and found marijuana “between his buttocks,” according to a jail document.

Whaley, 27, had warrants for his arrest for absconding from a probation in Michigan. A police document filed with the Salt Lake County jail says gang detectives stopped a car about 4:30 a.m. Thursday. Whaley was a passenger and was not wearing a seat belt, the document says…

A state of Michigan Web site lists Whaley has having a 2008 conviction for maintaining a drug house. It says he has absconded from parole in that state.

Thunder recall Kyle Weaver from D-League

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

Weaver appeared in five games (five starts) with Tulsa, averaging 12.4 points, 7.2 assists, 5.4 rebounds, 1.4 steals and 1.4 blocks in 42.6 minutes per contest. This season, he has played in three games with Oklahoma City averaging 6.0 points, 1.7 assists, 1.0 rebound and 1.0 block in 10.0 minutes.

Dorell Wright charged with DUI

Michael Wallace of the Miami Herald reports:

The latest episode came early Thursday, when forward Dorell Wright was arrested on South Beach and charged with DUI and driving with a suspended license.

According to the arrest report, Wright, 24, was stopped at 3:37 a.m. in his 2005 Bentley near the intersection of Alton Road and Eighth Street. Officers said they saw Wright driving erratically and, when they approached his car, observed “red and watery eyes, odor of an alcoholic beverage on his breath and slurred speech.”

Wright was also accused of driving 52 miles an hour in a 25 mph zone, and of operating his vehicle without proper proof of insurance available.

Ryan Hollins OK with suspension

Ray Richardson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports:

Ryan Hollins insists he’s not a “dirty player or anything like that,” but he still was given a two-game suspension Wednesday by Stu Jackson, the league’s executive vice president of basketball operations, for striking Dallas guard DeShawn Stevenson during Monday night’s game at Target Center.

“I understand the suspension,” Hollins said after Thursday’s practice. “They said my fist was closed when it happened. That’s a league rule. I have to learn to control myself better and know what the refs are watching. I know it’s a matter of interpretation about what they see.”

Hollins is allowed to practice during his suspension, which cost him $53,252 of his $2.183 million salary this season, but he is prohibited from being in the arena for Wolves games. He was at home for Wednesday’s loss to Denver and will be again tonight for the Wolves’ game against San Antonio at Target Center.

Donnie Walsh likes Avery Johnson as a coach

Marc Berman of the New York Post reports:

Avery Johnson was Knicks team president Donnie Walsh’s second choice to coach Mike D’Antoni. If D’Antoni took the Bulls job, Johnson — and not Mark Jackson — would have become the Knicks head coach in May 2008, bringing his disciplinarian, defensive demeanor.

“From what I was told, yeah [that’s the truth],” Johnson told The Post Wednesday night at San Antonio’s AT&T Center. The Knicks face the Grizzlies tonight (8:00, MSG, ESPN 1050 AM).

Johnson is a coaching free agent, unsure he will coach next season. Johnson might still be on the market if things don’t work out next season for D’Antoni, whose biggest attribute now stands as his recruiting prowess in landing the top-tier free agent class headed by LeBron James.

Brandon Roy scores 41 on Warriors

The AP reports:

Brandon Roy scored 41 points, Andre Miller added 15 points and seven assists and the Portland Trail Blazers overcame a 13-point deficit in the fourth quarter to beat the Golden State Warriors 110-105 on Thursday night.

Rudy Fernandez added 12 points including a pair of pivotal 3-pointers during a late 17-3 run by the Blazers, who snapped a nine-game losing streak at Oracle Arena.

Portland also avoided what would have been a costly defeat as it tries to hold onto the eighth spot in the Western Conference.