March 2011 – Page 16 – NBA Blog

Raymond Felton describes his game

Chris Dempsey of the Denver Post reports:

Ask Felton what his greatest attribute as a basketball player is and he’ll hit you with one word: leader.

“When you talk about my game, you might say I’m fast off the dribble, I can get in the paint, I pass the ball, whatever. Tenacious defender,”

Felton said Tuesday. “One thing people always say about me is I’m a leader, and that’s what I’ve always been. So, I keep that role everywhere I go.”

And that’s good for the Nuggets. When the 6-foot-1 Felton arrived in Denver a week ago as part of the blockbuster Carmelo Anthony trade with New York, Felton, 26, said Nuggets coach George Karl told him his first task was to lead.

Felton’s leadership showed up big Monday night in a victory over Atlanta, when he took over in the fourth quarter of what was a close game. In the final period, he scored 11 points, grabbed three rebounds and had three assists as the Nuggets pulled away late.

Grizzlies beat Spurs 109-93

The AP reports:

Darrell Arthur and Zach Randolph scored 21 points each and the Memphis Grizzlies took advantage of poor ball handling by San Antonio to defeat the Spurs 109-93 on Tuesday night.

Tony Allen added 20 points, missing only one of his nine shots, and Mike Conley had 18 points and nine assists as Memphis won its season-best fifth straight home game.

Gary Neal was the only Spur to finish in double figures with 14 points. Starters Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili and DeJuan Blair had nine points apiece, as they sat out the fourth quarter.

The Spurs (49-11) were playing their first game without starting point guard Tony Parker, who is expected to miss two to four weeks after suffering a strained left calf when the Spurs beat Memphis 95-88 on Saturday night.

San Antonio committed 22 turnovers in the game, one short of its season high.

Timberwolves, Eddy Curry reach buyout agreement

The Minnesota Timberwolves today announced that the team and recently-acquired center Eddy Curry have agreed to terms on a contractual buyout. Subsequently, the team has placed Curry on waivers. Per team policy, terms of the buyout agreement were not disclosed.

The Timberwolves acquired Curry from New York on Feb. 22 along with Anthony Randolph, cash considerations and a future second-round draft pick from Denver as part of a three-team trade that sent Corey Brewer to the Knicks and Kosta Koufos to the Nuggets. Curry did not appear in a game for the Wolves following the trade.

Knicks re-sign Jared Jeffries

New York Knickerbockers President of Basketball Operations Donnie Walsh announced today that forward Jared Jeffries has been re-signed as a free agent.

Jeffries, 6-11, 240-pounds, returns to New York with career averages of 5.2 points on .431 shooting, 4.3 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 0.50 blocks over 22.8 minutes in 528 games (322 starts). He played in 18 games for Houston this season, averaging 1.5 points and 1.9 rebounds over 7.7 minutes.

The Bloomington, IN native originally signed with New York as a free agent on Aug. 8, 2006, appearing in 236 games (135 starts) with the Knicks, averaging 4.5 points on .434 shooting, 4.0 rebounds and 1.3 assists over 22.9 minutes, before being traded to Houston on Feb. 18, 2010.

Wizards waive Al Thornton

Washington Wizards President Ernie Grunfeld announced today that the team has waived forward Al Thornton after coming to an agreement on a contract buyout.

“The additions of Rashard Lewis and Mo Evans combined with Josh Howard’s return from injury gave us a logjam at the small forward spot,” said Grunfeld. “Coming to terms on a contract buyout with Al was mutually beneficial, as it allows us to clear space in the rotation and allows him the chance to pursue an opportunity with another team.”

Thornton was originally acquired from the L.A. Clippers in a three-team, six-player deal on February 17, 2010. He appeared 49 games for the Wizards this season, averaging 8.0 points and 3.2 rebounds.

Heat waive Carlos Arroyo

The Miami Heat announced today that they have requested waivers on guard Carlos Arroyo.

“This was a very difficult decision to make because Carlos has done a great job for this team and this organization,” said Heat President Pat Riley. “He is truly a first class individual and professional. We wish him nothing but the best.”

Arroyo, a 6’2”, 200-pound guard, appeared in 121 games (77 starts) over two seasons with the Heat averaging 5.9 points, 2.7 assists, 1.7 rebounds and 21.3 minutes while shooting 46.8 percent from the field, 39.3 percent from three-point range and 83.2 percent from the foul line. Arroyo originally signed with Miami as a free agent on October 12, 2009.

InsideHoops.com editor says: It’s kind of wild that Arroyo went from starting 42 out of the 49 games he played for the Heat to being waived. The team is expected to sign point guard Mike Bibby with the available roster spot.

Trail Blazers sign Jarron Collins to 10-day contract

The Portland Trail Blazers have signed center Jarron Collins to a 10-day contract, it was announced today by General Manager Rich Cho.

Collins, 32, holds career averages of 3.9 points, 2.9 rebounds, 0.8 assists and 15.9 minutes in 537 games (216 starts) with Utah, Phoenix and the L.A. Clippers. He appeared in 23 games this season for the Clippers, posting averages of 0.7 points, 0.7 rebounds and 6.8 minutes.

A 10-year NBA veteran who played collegiately at Stanford, Collins (6-11, 249) spent the 2009 preseason with the Trail Blazers, averaging 3.5 points, 2.0 rebounds and 14.0 minutes in four games.

The Trail Blazers roster stands at 14 players with today’s signing.

He will wear jersey No. 31.

Knicks waive Corey Brewer

New York Knicks President of Basketball Operations Donnie Walsh announced today that swingman Corey Brewer has been waived.

Brewer, 6-9, 188-pounds, was originally acquired from Minnesota on Feb. 22 as part of a 13-player, three-team trade. He has career averages of 9.1 points and 3.3 rebounds in 232 games (147 starts) in four NBA seasons with Minnesota. He did not appear in a game for New York.

The Knicks are expected to use the available roster spot to sign forward Jared Jeffries.

Antawn Jamison has finger surgery

Cavaliers forward Antawn Jamison had successful surgery this morning to repair his fractured left little finger at the Marymount Surgery Center, which is located in the Cleveland Clinic Sports Health Center, the team announced from Cleveland Clinic Courts.

The surgery was performed by Dr. Thomas Graham with Cavaliers Head Team Physician Dr. Richard Parker assisting.

Jamison will now undergo a period of rest, treatment and rehabilitation for the next 5-7 weeks. His status will be updated as appropriate.

Report: Troy Murphy to join Celtics

Marc Stein of ESPN reports:

Highly coveted free agent Troy Murphy is signing with the Boston Celtics.

Murphy told ESPN.com via e-mail that he will join the Celtics after spending much of the past 48 hours agonizing between Boston and the Miami Heat. Murphy reached terms of a buyout with the Golden State Warriors on Sunday.

Murphy also received recruiting pitches this week from Portland, New York and Orlando, sources said, but the 6-foot-10 forward was always determined to sign with a top contender in anticipation of making the first deep playoff run of his career. Murphy has played in more games (639) than any other active player without appearing in the playoffs.