Month: January 2011

Suns sign Zabian Dowdell to 10-day contract

The Suns have signed guard Zabian Dowdell (ZAY-bee-in dow-DELL) to a 10-day contract, the team has announced.

The 6-3, 191-pound Dowdell spent training camp with the Suns in 2010 before being waived on Oct. 19.  Dowdell then signed with the Tulsa 66ers of the NBA D-League, where he has appeared in 18 games (18 starts) this season, establishing averages of 14.5 points, 4.6 assists and 2.1 rebounds in 29.3 minutes.  Dowdell, who also spent 10 games with the 66ers in 2009-10, has seen both his scoring and assist averages increase in 2010-11.

Dowdell, a four-year performer at Virginia Tech (2003-07), was a member of the Suns’ 2009 and 2010 Las Vegas Summer League entries.  As a Hokie, he was a 2006-07 All-ACC First Team honoree and a two-time All-ACC Defensive Team selection.

The Suns’ roster now stands at 14.

Kings recall Hassan Whiteside from D-League

The Sacramento Kings today recalled center Hassan Whiteside from the Reno Bighorns of the D-League, it was announced by Kings’ President of Basketball Operations Geoff Petrie.

Whiteside averaged 4.4 points (.509 FG%, .412 FT%), 2.7 rebounds, 0.1 assists, 2.14 blocks, and 10.5 minutes per game in 14 games, including three starts with the Bighorns. He was assigned to Reno on November 29, 2010.

Selected by Sacramento in the second round (33rd overall) of the 2010 NBA Draft out of Marshall University, Whiteside appeared in one NBA game, playing two minutes in the season opener at Minnesota on October 27, 2010.

Warriors assign Jeremy Lin to D-League

The Golden State Warriors have assigned guard Jeremy Lin to the Reno Bighorns of the NBA Development League, the team announced today.

Lin, 22, has appeared in 17 games for the Warriors this season, averaging 1.9 points and 1.12 steals in 8.5 minutes per contest.

This will mark his second stint with the Bighorns this season.

Lin appeared in four games with Reno earlier this season, averaging 18.0 points and 2.8 assists.

He was recalled by the Warriors on January 3, but has been on the team’s inactive list since his return (last three games).

Matt Barnes will have right knee surgery

Lakers forward Matt Barnes will undergo surgery on his right knee on Tuesday to repair a torn lateral meniscus, it was announced today.

The surgery will be performed by Lakers team physician Dr. Steve Lombardo, at the Kerlan-Jobe Orthopaedic Clinic in Los Angeles. A timeline for his return will be established at the conclusion of the surgery.

Barnes sustained the injury on January 7 in a game against the New Orleans Hornets.

In 37 games this season, Barnes has averaged 7.4 points, 4.8 rebounds and 1.7 assists in 20.8 minutes.   

Hawks sign Damien Wilkins to 10-day contract

The Atlanta Hawks today signed guard/forward Damien Wilkins to a 10-day contract, according to Executive Vice President/General Manager Rick Sund.

Wilkins has appeared in 13 games off the bench for Atlanta this season, averaging 2.5 ppg, 1.8 rpg, 0.7 spg and 0.6 apg (.464 FG%, .636 FT%) in 13.1 mpg. The University of Georgia product was originally signed by the Hawks on December 3, 2010, and waived on January 5, 2011.

Report says Maloofs are struggling to keep Palms Casino resort

Dale Kasler and Tony Bizjak of the Sacramento Bee report:

In a possible sign of fresh financial turmoil for the owners of the Kings, the Maloof family is reportedly struggling to hold onto the other key piece of its business empire: the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas.

Two private investment firms that hold most of the Palms’ debt are negotiating to acquire a controlling interest in the trendy casino, according to a report by Bloomberg news service.

The firms got into position to take control after the Palms violated the terms of its loans, Bloomberg reported.

George Maloof, who runs the Palms, and his brother Joe, who oversees the Kings, declined to comment on the report.

But the family acknowledges that the Palms has struggled in the past two years. George Maloof said last fall that the Palms was restructuring its debt.

“We’re getting through it,” he said.

Blazers guard Elliot Williams out for season after surgery

Portland Trail Blazers guard Elliot Williams underwent successful surgery today to repair left patella instability.

Dr. Neal ElAttrache performed the surgery at the Kerlan-Jobe Orthopaedic Clinic in Los Angeles with assistance from Portland team physician Dr. Don Roberts.

The first-year player will miss the remainder of the 2010-11 season after previously undergoing a similar procedure on his right patella on Nov. 12, 2010.

Portland selected Williams with the 22nd overall pick in the first round of the 2010 NBA Draft. He has not appeared in a game for the Trail Blazers this season.

Williams, 21, posted averages of 17.9 points (45.9% FG, 36.6% 3-PT, 75.8% FT), 4.0 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 1.32 steals in 34 games (all starts) as a sophomore at Memphis in 2009-10, earning All-Conference USA First Team and Conference USA Newcomer of the Year honors.

The 6-5, 183-pound guard played his freshman year at Duke in 2008-09, where he averaged 4.2 points, 2.3 rebounds and 0.7 assists in 34 games before transferring to Memphis.

Leon Powe out six weeks after knee surgery

Leon Powe out six weeks after knee surgery

Cavaliers forward/center Leon Powe was examined at Cleveland Clinic Sports Health by Cavaliers Head Team Physician Dr. Richard Parker, where an MRI revealed a torn meniscus in his right knee.

Powe underwent successful surgery to repair the torn meniscus today (1/7/11). The surgery was performed by Dr. Parker.

Powe will now undergo a period of rest, treatment and rehabilitation and his return to play is currently estimated to be approximately six weeks.

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Raptors assign Solomon Alabi to D-League

The Toronto Raptors announced Thursday they have reassigned rookie centre Solomon Alabi to the Erie BayHawks of the NBA Development League. Alabi will continue to be included on the Raptors’ roster and will be placed on the team’s inactive list.

Alabi was with the BayHawks from November 15 – December 9. He appeared in seven games with Erie, averaging 8.6 points, 6.7 rebounds, 3.0 blocks and 22.7 minutes. He had 12 points and 11 rebounds in the Bayhawks’ 102-82 victory over the Utah Flash.

Alabi has appeared in five games with the Raptors, totaling five rebounds in 15 minutes.

A native of Nigeria, Alabi, was named All-ACC Defensive Team in his two full seasons at FSU. He started all 67 games, leading the Seminoles to the NCAA Tournament twice and the ACC Tournament Championship Game as a redshirt freshman. He averaged a school record 2.1 blocked shots per game for his career. He also shot .534 per cent from the field in his two-plus seasons with the Seminoles.

The club acquired the draft rights to Alabi from the Dallas Mavericks on June 24. He was the 50th overall selection in the 2010 NBA Draft.

Alabi is the fifth Raptor to be assigned to the D-League. Ed Davis was also assigned to Erie in December. Nathan Jawai was designated on two occasions in the 2008-09 season to the Idaho Stampede. P.J. Tucker was assigned twice to the Colorado 14ers during the 2006-07 season and Pape Sow was assigned to the Arkansas Rimrockers in the 2005-06 campaign.

Erie, which is led by head coach Jay Larranaga, has been appointed as Toronto’s D-League affiliate for the 2010-11 season.

Clippers sign Jarron Collins to 10-day contract

The Los Angeles Clippers today signed center Jarron Collins to a 10-day contract. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not announced.

A nine-year NBA veteran, Collins has appeared in 19 games this season with the Clippers this season and averaged 0.8 points and 0.7 rebounds in 7.5 minutes per game.

The Clippers originally signed Collins on Sept. 27 before waiving him on Jan. 3.

The Clippers roster now stands at 15 players.