March 2010 – Page 13 – NBA Blog

GM Mike Dunleavy gone from Clippers

The Los Angeles Clippers and General Manager Mike Dunleavy today have severed ties. Dunleavy previously also served as the team’s head coach from 2003-04 until February 4, 2010, when he resigned as head coach.

The organization has determined that the goal of building a winning team is best served by making this decision at this time. The team has simply not made sufficient progress during Dunleavy’s seven-year tenure. The Clippers want to win now. This transition, in conjunction with a full commitment to dedicate unlimited resources, is designed to accomplish that objective.

Neil Olshey, presently the Clippers’ Assistant General Manager, will assume the duties created by Dunleavy’s departure. He joined the organization as Director of Player Development for the 2003-04 season. He served as an Assistant Coach in 2004-05, and was elevated to the position of Director of Player Personnel from 2005-06 through 2007-08. He assumed the role of Assistant General Manager prior to the start of the 2008-09 season.

Olshey has played an important role in the completion of several significant team transactions, including the deals which brought Marcus Camby, Craig Smith, Rasual Butler, Steve Blake, Travis Outlaw, and Drew Gooden to the Clippers, among others. He also played a integral part in administering all preparation for the Clippers’ last four NBA Drafts, which produced Al Thornton, Eric Gordon, DeAndre Jordan, and last year’s #1 overall pick, Blake Griffin.

Wizards sign Shaun Livingston to second 10-day contract

Wizards President Ernie Grunfeld announced today that the team has signed guard Shaun Livingston to a second 10-day contract. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not announced.

Livingston originally signed with Washington on February 26. In four games for the Wizards, Livingston has averaged 3.0 points and 1.5 assists in 9.3 minutes per game.

So far, there’s no firm reason to believe Livingston will ever make it back into the NBA permanently. It’s an uphill battle for him due to past injuries.

Grizzlies recall Hasheem Thabeet from D-League

The Memphis Grizzlies recalled center Hasheem Thabeet from the Dakota Wizards, the team’s NBA Development League’s affiliate, Grizzlies General Manager and Vice President of Basketball Operations Chris Wallace announced today.

The second overall pick in the 2009 NBA Draft, Thabeet averaged a double-double with 13.8 points and 11.2 rebounds along with 3.17 blocks on 50.0 percent shooting in 31.3 minutes in six games (four starts) with Dakota after being assigned by the Grizzlies on Feb. 25.

The 7-3, 267-pound center, who led the Wizards to a 5-1 record, scored a D-League career-high 19 points on Feb. 28 at Fort Wayne and grabbed a personal-best 18 rebounds on March 5 at Tulsa.

The 23-year-old rookie is averaging 2.5 points, 2.9 rebounds and 1.16 blocks (second among first-year players) in 50 games with the Grizzlies.

Jazz re-assign Kosta Koufos to D-League

Utah Jazz general manager Kevin O’Connor announced today that the team has re-assigned second-year center Kosta Koufos to the Utah Flash of the NBA Development League (D-League). Koufos appeared in one game for the Flash during his first assignment this season, posting 16 points, seven rebounds, two steals, one assist and one block vs. the Maine Red Claws on January 25.

In 25 games for the Jazz this season, the 7-0, 265-pound Koufos has averages of 1.2 points, 1.1 rebounds and 0.2 assists in 3.4 minutes. Koufos has been inactive 12 times this season and DNP-CD 22 times. He last appeared in a game on March 6 vs. the Los Angeles Clippers, playing two scoreless minutes, and prior to that on February 27 against the Houston Rockets, totaling two points and a rebound in three minutes of action. The center has notched a season-high six points twice this season and also picked up a season-high eight rebounds vs. the Clippers on October 30.

Selected by the Jazz out of Ohio State in the first round (23rd overall selection) of the 2008 NBA Draft, Koufos also appeared in 10 games (all starts) while on assignment with the Flash in 2008-09, averaging 16.7 points, 8.4 rebounds, 2.6 blocks and 2.0 assists.

Kevin Garnett drives Andray Blatche crazy

On Sunday, the Boston Celtics edged the Washington Wizards, 86-83. But a bigger story is Boston’s Kevin Garnett (0-of-7, 8 points off free throws) frustrating the heck out of Andray Blatche (10-of-20, 23 points, 9 rebounds):

Michael Lee of the Washington Post reports:

Kevin Garnett drives Andray Blatche crazy

Blatche was noticeably upset and appeared to hold back tears as he explained his encounter with Garnett, which nearly got heated when Garnett approached Blatche and tried to wrestle the ball away from him. Blatche appeared to throw an elbow as Garnett continued to taunt him. Blatche later flung Garnett into a cameraman and sent him to the foul line for two free throws. Garnett smiled as he was helped off the ground. Reserve forward James Singleton said Garnett used his “veteran senses” to needle Blatche and get under his skin.

“I see myself as defending myself as a player. I’m a man, just like they a man. If a man is talking to me this close to my face,” Blatche said, moving his hand toward his cheek. “I’m going to say something back. He has to respect me just like I respect him. I just, ‘Get up out of my face.’ He was this close in my face – I can feel his lips touching my cheek – I wasn’t bragging saying ‘Ah we winning.’ It was ‘Back up.’ “

Young, Holiday shine for 76ers

The AP reports:

Even the return of All-Star Chris Bosh couldn’t help the Toronto Raptors.

Thaddeus Young scored a career-high 32 points, Jrue Holiday had 21 and the Philadelphia 76ers beat the Raptors 114-101 on Sunday to snap a five-game losing streak.

“Today was just a great day,” Young said. “My teammates were looking for me and they put me in different positions.”

Bosh returned from a seven-game absence to finish with 12 points and 12 rebounds, but the Raptors still lost for the fifth time in six games…

The 76ers went 9 for 12 from 3-point range, including three by Young.

“Thad made his 3’s and I felt that jump-started us,” 76ers coach Eddie Jordan said.

Bob Cooney of the Philadelphia Daily News reports:

Young, whose inconsistency has caused him to be taken out of the starting lineup, was back among the first five yesterday because center Sam Dalembert was late for a morning meeting and did not start. Young responded, pouring in a career-high 32 points, missing just five of his 18 shots. He also grabbed five rebounds and came up with four steals.

Holiday, securely planted as the team’s starting point guard, had a solid all-around game with 21 points, seven rebounds and six assists. Though still only 19, Holiday has grown into a player who is being counted on by teammates to be a stabilizing force in the final meaningless games.

Tracy McGrady worn out

Mitch Lawrence of the New York Daily News reports:

The Knicks hit rock bottom against the Nets, and now Tracy McGrady has hit the wall.

After playing nine straight games over his first 14 days as a Knick, in his most extensive action of the season, McGrady might sit out Monday night’s game against the Hawks in the Garden because he’s battle weary.

Getting blown out at home by the Nets by 20 points will do that to you, but in McGrady’s case it’s more physical than mental.

“It’s finally caught up to me, all these games and minutes,” McGrady said after practice in Greenburgh Sunday. “My body is hurting. For a while it was going, but I’m really tired.”

Kevin Love wanted to be a quarterback

Phil Miller of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports:

Kevin Love flashed back Saturday to his UCLA days. Or maybe even earlier.

“My parents never let me play football,” the Wolves forward said, “and I always wanted to be a quarterback.”

It shows. Love, who built a reputation with the Bruins for length-of-the-floor outlet passes, had not displayed his unusual skill much this season — until Saturday. Love fired five passes of 50 feet or longer from under the Wolves basket and completed three of them for easy scores, a success rate that Brett Favre would appreciate.

“I’ve told the coaches, I’ve told the front office, that we need to engage that a little more,” said Love, who made long connections with Ryan Hollins and Damien Wilkins for breakaway dunks, and Ramon Sessions for a layup. “It loses [the opponent] a rebounder if they want to get back, or if they crash the boards, it’s going to be tough for them to get back.”

Joel Przybilla re-injures himself, needs more surgery after slip in shower

Joel Przybilla re-injures himself after slip in shower

Trail Blazers center Joel Przybilla will undergo surgery on his right patella tendon in the next few days.

Przybilla re-ruptured his right patella tendon Saturday morning after slipping in the shower at his home in Milwaukee, Wis.

He returned to Portland today to undergo an MRI, which revealed the rupture.

Przybilla originally ruptured the tendon in a Dec. 22 game at Dallas. He underwent season-ending surgery on Dec. 24 and was in Milwaukee rehabilitating the injury.

No timetable is available for his return to the court.

Wizards sign Alonzo Gee to 10-day contract

Wizards President Ernie Grunfeld announced today that the team has signed guard/forward Alonzo Gee to a ten-day contract. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not announced.

Gee, 6-6, 220-pounds, has appeared in 35 games, all starts, for the Toros this season, averaging 21.0 points, 6.6 rebounds and 38.2 minutes. He scored in double figures in 34 games, including a career-high 34 points in a 127-94 victory over the Sioux Falls Skyforce on Jan. 6 in Austin, and recorded four double-doubles.

A member of the San Antonio Spurs at the 2009 NBA Summer League in Las Vegas, Gee was selected sixth overall in the 2009 NBA D-League Draft by the Toros. Last month, Gee played in the 2010 NBA D-League All-Star game and participated in the 2010 NBA D-League Slam Dunk Competition in Dallas.

A four-year contributor at Alabama, Gee averaged 15.0 points, 7.2 rebounds and 1.3 assists during his senior season for the Crimson Tide and earned All-SEC Second Team recognition that year.

Gee will be in uniform tonight in Boston (8:00 pm on CSN-HD, ESPN, 106.7 The Fan, and 1370 Sports Radio in Baltimore) and will wear uniform #24.