Month: October 2010

Jazz waive Sundiata Gaines, Othyus Jeffers, Demetris Nichols and Ryan Thompson

Utah Jazz general manager Kevin O’Connor announced today that the team has waived guard Sundiata Gaines, guard/forward Othyus Jeffers, forward Demetris Nichols and guard Ryan Thompson.  The Jazz roster now stands at 13.

Gaines (6-1, 200, Georgia) appeared in four preseason contests with the Jazz (all as a reserve), averaging 5.0 points, and 2.3 assists in 11.0 minutes a game.  He saw action in 32 games with Utah last season after being called up from the NBA D-League’s Idaho Stampede on January 5, 2010.  Gaines averaged 3.3 points, 0.9 rebounds and 1.2 assists in 6.5 minutes for the Jazz in 2009-10.

Jeffers (6-5, 210, Robert Morris (IL)) played in five preseason games (one start) for the Jazz, averaging 6.4 points and 2.4 rebounds in 8.6 minutes.  He also appeared in 14 games with Utah last season following his call-up from the D-League’s Iowa Energy on March 4, 2010.  Jeffers averaged 2.6 points and 1.4 rebounds in 5.1 minutes for the Jazz in 2009-10.

Nichols (6-8, 215, Syracuse) appeared in four preseason contests (one start) with the Jazz, averaging 5.0 points and 1.5 rebounds in 10.8 minutes.  He previously played in 18 games over two seasons (2007-09) with Cleveland, Chicago and New York and spent the 2009-10 season with BCM Gravelines of the French League.

Thompson (6-6, 218, Rider) appeared in five preseason games (one start) with the Jazz, averaging 2.6 points and 0.8 rebounds in nine minutes a game.  He went undrafted in the 2010 NBA Draft following four seasons at Rider.

Bulls waive John Lucas III, Kyle Weaver and Roger Powell

The Chicago Bulls announced today that the team has requested waivers on guards John Lucas III, Kyle Weaver, and forward Roger Powell.

Lucas III (5-11, 165) saw action in five preseason games with the Bulls and averaged 2.2 ppg and 0.8 apg in 6.4 mpg.

Weaver (6-6, 201) played in three preseason contests and posted averages of 2.3 ppg, 2.3 apg, 1.7 rpg and 8.7 mpg.

Powell (6-6, 225) appeared in one preseason game and recorded two points and one board in two minutes of play.

Chicago’s roster now stands at 13.

Mavericks waive Dee Brown and Adam Haluska

The Dallas Mavericks announced today that they have waived guards Dee Brown and Adam Haluska.  Brown and Haluska signed with the Mavericks as free agents on September 27.

Brown (6-0, 185) appeared in six preseason games for Dallas and averaged 2.2 points and 2.0 assists in 10.3 minutes per game.

Haluska (6-5, 210) saw action in three preseason games and averaged 1.7 points and 0.7 assists in 6.0 minutes per game.

The Mavericks current roster stands at 15 players.

Lakers waive Trey Johnson and Andrew Naymick

The Los Angeles Lakers have requested waivers on guard Trey Johnson and center Andrew Naymick, it was announced today.

Johnson, a 6-6 guard out of Jackson State, has split time over the past three seasons with the NBA Development League’s Bakersfield Jam and international teams in France, Italy and Serbia.  A 2008-09 D-League All-Star and All-D-League Second Team member, in February of 2009, Johnson signed a 10-day NBA contract with Cleveland, appearing in four games for the Cavaliers (1.0 points, 0.3 rebounds, 3.5 minutes).  Beginning last season with BCM Gravelines Dunkerque Grand Littoral in the French League, Johnson later re-signed with Bakersfield in March, averaging 21.3 points, 3.4 rebounds and 7.1 assists in 13 games with the Jam. Johnson, who appeared in five preseason games with the Lakers, averaged 2.8 points and 1.2 assists in 8.8 minutes.

Naymick, a 6-10 center out of Michigan State, has played professionally the last two seasons in Europe as a member of SKK Kotwica Kolobrzeg in Poland and Caceres 2016 C.B. in Spain.  In 38 games last season with Caceres 2016 C.B., Naymick averaged 8.8 points, 6.4 rebounds and 1.89 blocks in 25.7 minutes. In two preseason games with the Lakers, Naymick pulled down two rebounds in 16 minutes of play.

Grizzlies waive Josh Davis and Damien Wilkins

The Memphis Grizzlies waived Josh Davis and Damien Wilkins, Grizzlies General Manager and Vice President of Basketball Operations Chris Wallace announced today.

Davis, a 6-8, 235-pound forward, averaged 3.4 points and 2.8 rebounds in 9.0 minutes in five preseason games after originally signing with the team as a free agent on Sept. 29.  The 30-year-old holds career averages of 2.5 points, 1.7 rebounds and 0.3 assists in 52 games (six starts) over three NBA seasons (2003-06) with the Atlanta Hawks, Philadelphia 76ers, Milwaukee Bucks, Houston Rockets and Phoenix Suns.

Wilkins, a 6-6, 225-pound guard/forward, averaged 2.0 points and 3.0 rebounds in 8.5 minutes in two preseason games after originally signing with the team as a free agent on Sept. 28.  The 30-year-old holds career averages of 7.2 points, 2.7 rebounds and 1.6 assists in 390 games (126 starts) over six NBA seasons (2004-10) with the Timberwolves and Seattle SuperSonics/Oklahoma City Thunder.

Celtics waive Stephane Lasme, Tiny Gallon and Mario West

The Boston Celtics announced today that they have waived forwards Stephane Lasme, Keith “Tiny” Gallon, and guard Mario West.  The Celtics roster now stands at 15.

Lasme, a 6’8” 215 lbs forward, averaged 4.1 points and 2.6 rebounds in 12.6 minutes per game during the 2010 preseason for the Celtics.  He scored a preseason high of 12 points against Philadelphia on October 6.

West, a 6’5” 210 lbs guard, appeared in all eight preseason games for the Celtics averaging 0.7 points and 0.7 rebounds in 7.3 minutes per game.

Gallon, a 6’9” 290 lbs forward, was signed by the Celtics on October 19 and dressed for the game against New Jersey on October 20.

NBA approves modifications to instant replay rules

The NBA Board of Governors unanimously approved several modifications to the instant replay rules that will go into effect for the upcoming 2010-11 season, the league announced today. Instant replay may now be used:

– During the last two minutes of regulation and the entire duration of any overtime period, to determine whether the ball touched the rim and thus whether the shot clock should be adjusted.

– During the last two minutes of regulation play and the entire duration of any overtime period, to determine which of two players on opposing teams caused the ball to become out-of-bounds. This modification expanded the previous rule to include the entirety of an overtime period instead of just the last two minutes of an overtime period.

– During a replay review of an out-of-bounds call, to determine when the ball is out of bounds for purposes of adjusting the game clock and shot clock.

– At any point during the game, to determine which player should attempt free throws after a foul occurred.

– At any point during a game, to determine whether a foul that was called a clear-path-to-the-basket foul met all the criteria of a clear-path-to-the basket foul.

The NBA first instituted instant replay prior to the 2002-03 season to review last second shots and fouls at the end of each period. Through the league’s instant replay committee, the NBA has carefully reviewed its procedures following each season and made adjustments or additions to replay as deemed necessary.

76ers waive Trent Plaisted and Chris Quinn

The Philadelphia 76ers announced today that the team has waived forward/center Trent Plaisted and guard Chris Quinn.  The Sixers roster now stands at 14 heading into the season opener at Wells Fargo Center against the Miami HEAT on October 27.

Plaisted (6-11, 245) appeared in two games with one start this preseason, averaging 2.0 points and 2.0 rebounds in 11.5 minutes per game.  He has played internationally in both Italy and Croatia since leaving Brigham Young in 2008.

Quinn (6-2, 175) saw action in three games this preseason for a total of 21 minutes.  In four NBA seasons, he has averaged 5.2 points, 2.1 assists and 1.2 rebounds in 15.2 minutes per game.

76ers exercise Jrue Holiday and Marreese Speights options

The Philadelphia 76ers announced today that the team has exercised its third-year option on guard Jrue Holiday and its fourth-year option on forward/center Marreese Speights.  Both players are now under contract through the 2011-12 season.

Holiday (6-4, 180) was the 17th overall pick by Philadelphia in the 2009 NBA Draft and was the youngest player in the league last season.  In 73 games with 51 starts, Holiday averaged 8.0 points, 3.8 assists, 2.6 rebounds and 1.09 steals in 24.2 minutes per game.  Over the final 16 games, he averaged 12.0 points, 6.6 assists, 4.1 rebounds and 1.94 steals.

Speights (6-10, 255) was the 16th overall pick by Philadelphia in the 2008 NBA Draft.  In 141 career games played with the Sixers, he has averaged 8.1 points and 3.9 rebounds in 16.2 minutes per game while shooting 49.0% from the floor.  Speights scored 20-plus points in three of the final six games last season, and seven times overall, after doing so once as a rookie in 2008-09.

Bobcats waive Darius Miles and Matt Rogers

Charlotte Bobcats General Manager Rod Higgins announced today that the team has waived forward Darius Miles and forward/center Matt Rogers. In seven preseason appearances, Miles averaged 3.6 points, 2.6 rebounds and 1.3 blocks in 15.1 minutes per game. Rogers appeared in three games and averaged 0.3 points, 2.7 rebounds and 0.7 blocks in 4.7 minutes per contest.

Miles has played in 446 career NBA games for the Clippers, Cavaliers, Trail Blazers and Grizzlies, averaging 10.1 points, 4.9 rebounds and 1.8 assists in 26.3 minutes. He was selected with the third overall pick in the 2000 NBA Draft by the Los Angeles Clippers and was named to the All-Rookie First Team following the 2000-01 season.

Rogers joined the Bobcats as a free agent after going undrafted in the 2010 NBA Draft. He played four seasons at Southwest Baptist University in Missouri, averaging 15.2 points, 7.8 rebounds and 3.8 blocks. He was named Second Team Division II All-America as a junior in 2008-09 and Third Team as a senior in 2009-10.

The Bobcats roster now stands at 15.