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Orlando Magic forward Glen Davis has been fined $35,000 for making an obscene gesture, it was announced today by Stu Jackson, NBA Executive Vice President, Basketball Operations.
The incident occurred with 7:49 remaining in the second quarter of the Magic’s 117-101 win over the Toronto Raptors at Air Canada Centre on March 26.
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Washington Wizards President Ernie Grunfeld announced today that the team has signed guard/forward Cartier Martin to a 10-day contract.
Martin (6-6, 220), has averaged 18.3 points and 4.7 rebounds while shooting .489 from the floor and .556 from three-point range in seven games with the Iowa Energy of the NBA D-League this season. He has appeared with the Wizards in the previous two seasons, averaging 4.3 points over 60 games with the team.
Martin was originally signed to a 10-day contract by the Wizards on March 30, 2010. After finishing the season with the team and averaging 6.4 points over eight games, he returned for the 2010-11 season. Martin averaged 4.0 points over 52 games with the Wizards in 2010-11 before being waived on April 6.
A product of Kansas State, Martin has previously spent time with the Charlotte Bobcats (averaging 2.6 points over 33 games in 2008-09) and Golden State Warriors (averaging 9.0 points over 10 games in 2009-10) in addition to experience overseas in Turkey, Italy and China. He has also played in 59 NBA D-League games since the 2008-09 season (all with Iowa), where he has compiled averages of 18.6 points and 4.9 rebounds per game.
In an attempt to generate more revenue, the NBA is pondering the idea of placing ads on the jerseys of every player from the 30 teams.
This transition could create approximately $31.18 million in revenue in TV exposure alone.
The NBA Board of Governors will meet next month to discuss the possibility of adding advertising on jerseys.
The idea has been met with much support from players and coaches.
Meanwhile, Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban also said it’s an idea whose time has come.
“I’ve been trying to tell [the NBA],” Cuban said. “If someone wants to give us $10 million, I’ll make it happen.”
Cuban believes NBA commissioner David Stern can be convinced that putting ads on jerseys is a viable concept for the league.
— Reported by Dwain Price of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram
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Two-time scoring champ Kevin Durant will make an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live! on Wednesday night. The show tapes at 6:30 p.m. and airs at 11 p.m. on KOCO-5 (ABC).
This will be Durant’s first stop on the major talk-show circuit.
“It’s new for me,” Durant said. “It should be fun. I’m excited.”
Asked if he was nervous about his talk-show debut, Durant smiled and said, “Nah, we’re just talkin’.”
— Reported by John Rohde of the Oklahoman
A group led by Lakers legend Magic Johnson emerged Tuesday night as the new owners of the Dodgers, ending months of uncertainty for the storied but troubled baseball franchise.
Johnson, who guided the Lakers to five NBA championships during the “Showtime” era of the 1980s, is a partner in the group along with longtime baseball executive Stan Kasten and movie executive Peter Guber. The controlling owner would be Mark Walter, chief executive officer of Guggenheim Partners, a Chicago-based financial services company.
Walter and McCourt met privately in New York on Tuesday, coming to an agreement only hours after Major League Baseball owners approved three final bidders.
The winning group paid $2 billion for the team — a record for a sports franchise — according to an announcement issued jointly with previous owner Frank McCourt.
“I am thrilled to be part of the historic Dodger franchise,” Johnson said in the statement, adding the new owners “intend to build on the fantastic foundation laid by Frank McCourt as we drive the Dodgers back to the front page of the sports section.”
— Reported by Bill Shaikin and David Wharton of the Los Angeles Times
The Heat’s two-day break in the schedule couldn’t come at a more important time. The team is searching the dregs of its energy reserves as the regular season nears its final month.
With a record of 8-6 since the All-Star break, the Heat (35-13) is dragging itself through the second half of the season. Blowout losses on Sunday and Monday were highlighted by sloppy play (turnovers), a lack of energy (rebounding) and general exhaustion. After the loss to the Indiana Pacers on Monday, you could hear the fatigue in the players’ voices and see it on the face of Heat coach Erik Spoelstra.
“Obviously, we’re in a rut right now mentally,” Chris Bosh said. “We just have to hang in there and figure something out. We have to be mentally tough and survive this.”
Bosh isn’t in a rut, exactly. It’s more like his game has fallen headfirst into a ditch. The Heat’s max-salary power forward had two rebounds and 14 points against the Pacers. Those numbers were merely the continuation of a trend.
–Reported by Joseph Goodman of the Miami Herald
The Toronto Raptors announced Tuesday guard Jerryd Bayless is expected to be sidelined the remainder of the 2011-12 season with a partially torn left oblique muscle. He underwent tests today at Toronto’s Mount Sinai Hospital.
Bayless left Monday’s game versus Orlando at the 5:25 mark of the second quarter and did not return.
Bayless, in his second season with Toronto, has averaged 11.4 points, 3.8 assists and 22.7 minutes. He started five games from March 11-17, averaging 21.8 points and 7.6 assists, shooting .543 per cent from the field and .571 per cent from three-point range.
Dennis Rodman can’t afford to pay more than $800,000 in back child support … because he’s dead ass broke — this according to new court documents.
Dennis’ ex-wife Michelle Rodman filed new papers this month, claiming The Worm owes $808,935 in unpaid child support for his 9- and 10-year-old children — and an additional $51,441 in unpaid spousal support.
But Dennis’ attorney responded to the filing, insisting there’s no way the Chicago Bulls legend can pay those bills — because “Respondent Dennis Rodman is broke and cannot afford any additional fees.”
— Reported by TMZ
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The 6-foot-10 junior big man had a rough go in Starkville, dealing with multiple suspensions — a fight with a teammate in the stands — and erratic play.
Sidney announced Monday he will forgo his final season in favor of pro ball. He will sign with Travis King at Rogue Sports.
“I appreciate Mississippi State giving me an opportunity to play, but I feel it’s time for me to move on,” Big Sid said in a statement. “I’m grateful to all the administrators, coaching staff and the fans for their support during my time at Mississippi State. I’m entering the draft to follow my dream of playing in the NBA and to help my family.”
— Reported by Jeff Goodman of CBS Sports
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The San Antonio Spurs today announced that they have signed guard Patrick Mills. Per club policy details of the contract were not released.
Mills, a 6-0, 185-pound product out of St. Mary’s (CA), was drafted by the Portland Trail Blazers with the 55th overall pick in the 2009 NBA Draft. In two seasons with the Blazers, Mills appeared in 74 games, averaging 5.1 points and 1.5 assists in 11.1 minutes. He has a career-mark of .358 (47-133) from three-point range.
A native of Australia, Mills has spent the 2011-12 season playing overseas in his home country and China. Most recently, Mills played for the Xinjian Flying Tigers of the Chinese Basketball Association. In 12 games, he averaged 26.5 points, 3.8 rebounds and 3.8 assists. Prior to making the move to China, Mills played in nine games with the Melbourne Tigers, averaging 18.6 points, 5.0 assists and 2.3 rebounds.
Mills is a member of the Australian National Team which qualified for the 2012 Olympics.
Mills will wear No. 8 for the Spurs and is expected to be in uniform tonight when the Silver and Black take on the Suns in Phoenix at 9 p.m.
