February 2011 – Page 15 – NBA Blog

NBA fines Knicks $200,000 and scout Rodney Heard $20,000 for prohibited workouts

The NBA announced today that New York Knicks scout Rodney Heard has been fined $20,000 for violating league rules restricting contact between NBA teams and players eligible for the NBA Draft. The Knicks’ organization has also been also fined $200,000 for Heard’s actions.

Heard violated NBA rules on two occasions, once in May 2007 and again in May 2010.

Jonathan Abrams of the New York Times reports:

The punishments stem from workouts conducted by Heard in Atlanta in May 2007 and May 2010.Heard, who has been with the club since 2006, is the Knicks’ East Coast scouting director. The punishment is generally in line with previous cases that involved violations of draft workout rules, although some team executives had expected the Knicks to be forced to forfeit future draft picks as part of any punishment.

The Knicks were perhaps lucky to only get fined and not suffer any additional penalties.

Linas Kleiza out 9-12 months after knee surgery

The Toronto Raptors announced Thursday forward Linas Kleiza (LYNN-as CLAY-za) underwent arthroscopic surgery yesterday to address both a meniscal tear and chondral defect of his right knee. The surgery was performed by Dr. J. Richard Steadman in Vail, Colorado.

Due to the nature of the microfracture procedure performed, the recovery time is expected to be nine to 12 months.

Kleiza appeared in 39 games with 23 starts, averaging 11.2 points, 4.5 rebounds and 26.5 minutes. He had six games of 20 or more points, including a season-best 26 December 10 versus Denver and December 19 versus the Los Angeles Lakers.

The Raptors play host to the Minnesota Timberwolves at Air Canada Centre on Friday at 7 p.m. (TSN/Sportsnet Radio The FAN 590).

Thunder assign Byron Mullens to D-League

Oklahoma City Thunder Executive Vice President and General Manager Sam Presti announced today that the team has assigned center Byron Mullens to the Tulsa 66ers of the NBA Development League.

In his first stint in Tulsa, Mullens appeared in one game, recording 19 points, four rebounds, three assists, two steals and a block in 33 minutes.

This season, the center is averaging 1.3 points, 1.6 rebounds and 4.7 minutes in 12 games for Oklahoma City.

Mullens will be in uniform tomorrow night when the 66ers take on the Utah Flash at the Tulsa Convention Center.

Clippers assign Willie Warren to D-League

The Los Angeles Clippers today announced that they have assigned rookie guard Willie Warren to the Bakersfield Jam of the NBA Development League.

Warren, 21, has appeared in 14 games with the Clippers this season and is averaging 2.2 points and 1.4 assists in 7.8 minutes per game.

The former Oklahoma University standout was selected by the Clippers in the second round (54th overall pick) of the 2010 NBA Draft.

Jason Williams expected to join Grizzlies

Ronald Tillery of the Memphis Commercial Appeal reports:

Free-agent point guard Jason Williams has agreed in principle to sign with the Grizzlies, according to sources with knowledge of the situation.

Barring an unforeseen development, the 35-year-old will join the team by Monday.

Williams informed Griz management of his decision Wednesday night while the team played on the road against the Minnesota Timberwolves.

The Orlando Magic waived Williams on Jan. 26. Williams and the Magic agreed to part ways over a lack of playing time. He became a fourth-string player after Orlando acquired Gilbert Arenas in a trade with Washington.

Kevin Durant unleashes 43 points on Hornets

Behind a ridiculous 43 points from Kevin Durant, the Oklahoma City Thunder, playing at home, beat the New Orleans Hornets 104-93.

Durant was sensational. He shot 14-of-19, including 5-of-7 three-pointers, and hit 10-of-11 free throws to get his points. He also had 10 rebounds and five assists.

The AP reports:

The league’s scoring leader hit two free throws, a jumper and a 3-pointer from the right wing, and then a driving foul-line jumper that made it 98-84 with 5:44 to play.

“Durant hit some shots that there’s no defense for,” Hornets coach Monty Williams said. “Some of that stuff is the same thing Chris does, the same thing David does, and you can’t overcome that.

“What I didn’t like was I thought a couple of our guys put their heads down tonight and let that get to them, and I thought some of our bench guys didn’t compete.”

Durant scored 47 points at Minnesota and then 40 against Washington in back-to-back victories last week that both went past regulation, and he shot 14 for 19 from the field in his latest scoring outburst.

“Amazing,” Jeff Green said. “He’s been scoring the ball with ease, getting any kind of shot he wants. He’s been playing well, and hopefully it continues.”

The Thunder and Hornets are both dark horse teams who could pull off an upset or two in the postseason. They’re worth keeping an eye on. Especially OKC, with a guy like Durant on their side.

Nets coach Avery Johnson ejected vs Sixers

The AP reports:

New Jersey coach Avery Johnson has been ejected from the game against the Philadelphia 76ers.

Johnson was tossed with 7:47 left in the third quarter after being hit with two technical fouls for arguing the lack of a call after Nets guard Devin Harris was stripped by Elton Brand.

Replays showed that Brand’s hand never touched the ball and seemed to paw at Harris’ chest.

Thunder recall Cole Aldrich from D-League

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

During his two assignments this season with the 66ers, Aldrich has appeared in 19 games (19 starts) and averaged 10.2 points, 8.4 rebounds and 2.4 blocked shots in 29.2 minutes. Aldrich has recorded three consecutive double-doubles with Tulsa and the 66ers own a 15-4 mark this season with him in the lineup.

Aldrich has joined the Thunder in Oklahoma City for tonight’s 7:00 PM game against the New Orleans Hornets at the Oklahoma City Arena.

Drew Gooden out 4-6 weeks

Milwaukee Bucks General Manager John Hammond announced the following medical update on forward Drew Gooden:

“After seeking multiple medical opinions on his left foot (plantar fasciitis), Drew Gooden will undergo treatment beginning today in Los Angeles under the direction of foot and ankle specialist Dr. Richard Ferkel. Gooden is expected to be out of action for four-to-six weeks.”

Gooden has missed 21 games this season with left foot plantar fasciitis, including the last six contests. He is averaging 10.8 points and 6.5 rebounds in 23.6 minutes in 25 games (15 starts) on the season.

Carmelo Anthony, Nuggets visit Newark and get rocked by Nets

Monday night in Newark, New Jersey, Carmelo Anthony and the Denver Nuggets visited a team that lately has stepped up to show some pride. Despite 37 from Melo, the Nets were hot from the start and came away with a 115-99 win.

New Jersey led by 10 after the first quarter and 13 at halftime. The Nuggets stepped up in the third, but the Nets controlled the fourth for a satisfying win.

Shooting 53.2 percent from the field, winning the rebounding battle 38-27 and the assists category 30-20, the Nets were led by Brook Lopez, who shot 11-of-18 for 27 points (but just four rebounds). Travis Outlaw was on fire in the first half and finished the game with 21. Anthony Morrow was a perfect 6-of-6 off the bench for 18 points. Reserve Kris Humphries scored 15. And starting point guard Devin Harris only scored nine but dished an amazing 18 assists.

The Nuggets got 37 points (12-of-22) from Carmelo Anthony, but he didn’t receive enough help. Chauncey Billups scored 17 but had more turnovers (7) than assists (5). Nene scored 16 but only grabbed three rebounds. Off the bench, J.R. Smith scored 10.

The real story of this game, though, wasn’t the game. It was Carmelo Anthony seemingly no longer being a possibility for the Nets in trade. His quotes after the game were pretty safe; Melo will not say that he’s leaving the Nuggets. Nor that he’d reject the Nets extension desire should they trade for him. He basically made it clear that his future is wide open and still being decided. Melo did want everyone to know that he does consider Denver one of his homes, and he’s perfectly happy there.

But those in the know still consider the Knicks as the most likely destination for Anthony, likely as a free agent this summer, if not in trade before the February deadline.

The Nets can be proud of their win yesterday. And with Melo out of town, it’ll be easier to focus on the actual players on the team, rather than what the roster may someday look like.