January 2014 – Page 12 – NBA Blog

Utah Jazz waive forward Mike Harris

The Utah Jazz announced today that the team has waived forward Mike Harris. Following the move, Utah’s roster now stands at 14 players.

Harris (6-6, 242, Rice) appeared in 20 games this season for Utah, averaging 4.2 points and 1.7 rebounds in 11.3 minutes per game. Harris was signed as a free agent on September 26.

At 11-25 through Monday’s games, the Jazz have the third worst record in the NBA. They are in a state of rebuild, with a current core of Gordon Hayward, Derrick Favors, Trey Burke, Alec Burks, Enes Kanter, Richard Jefferson and Marvin Williams. The team simply needs an upgraded roster, and that will take time. But as for now, Mike Harris moves on.

Deron Williams out with a sprained ankle

The most consistent thing about the 13-21 Brooklyn Nets this season has been injuries. They are without star center Brook Lopez for the rest of the season, but otherwise maintain hope that the rest of their roster will someday all play together at full health. But that dream will have to wait just a bit longer.

Following an MRI on Monday, January 6, Nets point guard Deron Williams was diagnosed with a sprained left ankle.

Williams was treated with a cortisone shot in the ankle joint, as well as platelet rich plasma (PRP) injections into the lateral ligaments of the ankle.

In addition, Williams received a PRP injection into his right ankle and a cortisone injection into his right ankle joint to relieve inflammation.

Williams, who will miss Wednesday’s game versus Golden State, is currently in a walking boot and will be re-evaluated at the end of the week.

Three-team trade sends Jerryd Bayless to Celtics, Courtney Lee to Grizzlies

The Boston Celtics announced today that they have completed a three team trade with the Memphis Grizzlies and Oklahoma City Thunder in which they acquired guard Jerryd Bayless from Memphis and forward Ryan Gomes from Oklahoma City. The Celtics sent guard Courtney Lee and a 2016 second round draft pick to the Memphis Grizzlies. In a related transaction, the Celtics have waived forward Ryan Gomes. Memphis also traded a conditional 2017 second round draft pick to Oklahoma City.

Bayless, a 6’3” guard, has appeared in 30 games for the Grizzlies this season averaging 8.0 points, 2.0 assists and 1.9 rebounds in 20.8 minutes per game. The 11th overall pick in the 2008 Draft by the Indiana Pacers has a season-high of 22 points against the Celtics on November 27 when he was 6-of-10 from the field and 9-of-11 from the free throw line. Bayless has posted career averages of 8.2 points, 2.8 assists and 1.9 rebounds in 19.3 minutes per game split between Portland, New Orleans, Toronto and Memphis. An early entry candidate into the 2008 Draft from the University of Arizona, Bayless averaged 19.7 points and 4.0 assists while earning All-Pac 10 Second Team and All-Freshman honors. He was the first freshman in Arizona history to lead the team in scoring as well as being the first freshman to win team MVP since Sean Elliot in the 1985-86 season.

Gomes, a 6’7” forward, has appeared in five games for the Thunder this season totaling six points and four rebounds in 34 minutes played. Playing in his eighth NBA season, Gomes was originally drafted by the Celtics with the 50th pick in the second round of the 2005 NBA Draft. The former Providence College Friar has posted career averages of 10.1 points, 4.6 rebounds and 1.5 assists in 487 games split between Boston, Minnesota, the Los Angeles Clippers and Oklahoma City.

Three-team trade sends Jerryd Bayless to Celtics, Courtney Lee to Grizzlies

Lee (6-5, 200) joins the Grizzlies with career averages of 9.4 points, 2.6 rebounds and 1.5 assists on .446 shooting (.387 3FG shooting) in 25.9 minutes in 395 games (174 starts) with the Orlando Magic, New Jersey Nets, Houston Rockets and Boston Celtics. The 28-year-old has averaged 7.4 points, 1.6 rebounds and 1.1 assists in 16.8 minutes in 30 games (zero starts) with Boston this season, recording career-high shooting percentages both from three-point range (.442) and overall (.492). The Indianapolis, Ind. native scored a career-high 30 points on March 8, 2010 at Memphis as a member of the New Jersey Nets.

The six-year veteran was drafted by Orlando in the first round (22nd overall) of the 2008 NBA Draft following a successful four-year collegiate career at Western Kentucky University. Lee was named 2007-08 Sun Belt Player of the Year and earned First Team All-Sun Belt honors for three consecutive seasons (2005-08), starting in every game he played with the Hilltoppers.

Pelicans foward Ryan Anderson diagnosed with herniated disc

The New Orleans Pelicans announced today that Ryan Anderson has been diagnosed with a herniated disc.

Anderson suffered the injury following a collision with Celtics forward Gerald Wallace during the fourth quarter of the January 3 game at Boston. The 6’10” forward is out indefinitely.

In 22 games this season, Anderson is averaging 19.8 points, 6.5 rebounds and 3.6 assists in 36.1 minutes per game. The sixth-year veteran holds career averages of 12.3 points, 5.6 rebounds and 0.9 assists in 356 games.

Los Angeles Lakers waive Shawne Williams

The Los Angeles Lakers have waived forward Shawne Williams, it was announced today.

Williams, originally selected by the Indiana Pacers in the first round (17th overall) of the 2006 NBA Draft, signed with the Lakers on September 3, 2013. In 32 games (11 starts) this season, the 6’9” forward out of Memphis University averaged 5.2 points, 4.5 rebounds and 0.9 assists in 20.2 minutes.

He is considered a shooter, but was hitting just 37.7% of his shots, and just 32.7% from three-point range.

The Lakers roster now stands at 14 players. The team has a 14-20 record this season and are in a state of limbo, waiting for Kobe Bryant to return, yet are clearly not a championship contender even with a healthy roster. Major changes are needed, but is unclear if those changes will occur anytime soon.

Los Angeles Clippers waive Stephen Jackson

The Los Angeles Clippers announced today that they have waived forward Stephen Jackson, whose basketball career, which took him all around the globe as well as across the NBA, may not have much life left to it.

Jackson was originally signed on Dec. 10 by the Clippers and appeared in nine games with the team. The forward posted averages of 1.7 points and 1.1 rebounds in 11.9 minutes.

A veteran of 13 NBA seasons with eight teams, Jackson has appeared in 858 career games (676 starts) and has career averages of 15.1 points, 3.9 rebounds, 3.1 assists, and 1.3 steals in 31.9 minutes per game.

The Clippers roster now stands at 14 players.

Chicago Bulls waive Andrew Bynum

Despite the center’s ability to display dramatic hairstyles and to sometimes play very solid basketball, the Chicago Bulls announced today that the team has waived Andrew Bynum.

Earlier today, Bynum’s contract was conveyed to the Bulls, along with multiple draft picks from the Cleveland Cavaliers in exchange for the contract of Luol Deng.

Chicago’s roster now stands at 12.

This was an expected move, as the point of Chicago’s trade for Bynum and draft picks was to remove the contract of Deng and to waive Bynum for the purpose of salary cap space, along with draft picks to build for the future.

This does not necessarily mean that the Bulls are fully rebuilding. But they were unable to come to a contract extension agreement with Deng, and so rather than just lose him in free agency the team aft least wanted some draft picks.

Philadelphia 76ers waive center Daniel Orton

The Philadelphia 76ers today announced that they have waived center Daniel Orton.

Orton (6-10, 255) signed as a free agent with Philadelphia on October 16, 2013 and appeared in 22 games with four starts.

The Sixers are 12-22 this season, and their 2013-14 bright spot has been the fine play of rookie point guard Michael Carter-Williams. Also, Thaddeus Young has been on a tear lately and was named Eastern conference Player of the Week.

Atlanta Hawks waive forward Cartier Martin

The Atlanta Hawks have requested waivers on forward Cartier Martin, it was announced today by President of Basketball Operations/General Manager Danny Ferry.

Martin was signed by the Hawks on Oct. 15 and appeared in 25 games (two starts), averaging 6.6 points and 2.0 rebounds in 17.5 minutes.

Atlanta’s roster now stands at 14.

Bulls trade Luol Deng to Cavs for Andrew Bynum and draft picks

The Cleveland Cavaliers have acquired All-Star forward Luol Deng from the Chicago Bulls in exchange for center Andrew Bynum, three future draft picks and the right to swap 2015 first round picks with the Cavs (1-14 protected), Cavaliers General Manager Chris Grant announced tonight from Cleveland Clinic Courts.

“We are very excited for Luol to join the Cavaliers organization, ” said Grant. “We have worked to acquire and maintain flexibility in order to capitalize on opportunities such as this. Luol reflects all that we are striving for in building our team. He’s a tremendous defensive player that can impact the game on both ends of the court with a team first mentality and is a high character leader.”

In exchange for Deng, the Cavs send Chicago Bynum, Cleveland’s right to the Sacramento King’s first round draft pick conveyed in a June 30, 2011 deal, the right for Chicago to swap its own 2015 first round draft pick with the Cavs own 2015 first round draft pick (only in the case that the Cleveland 2015 first round draft pick is between 15 and 30) and the Portland Trail Blazer’s 2015 and 2016 second round draft picks acquired from the Trail Blazers via 2013 draft night trade.

“We have great respect for Luol Deng, as a player and a person. He has been an incredible contributor to our team on the court, and he has also done great things in the community,” said Chicago Bulls General Manager Gar Forman. “On behalf of the entire Bulls organization, I want to thank Luol for his years in Chicago.”

It is extremely likely that the Bulls will waive Bynum. According to ESPN.com, “the deal will save the Bulls more than $15 million in salary and luxury taxes, taking them below the salary-cap threshold.”

Deng has been an NBA All-Star in each of the past two seasons (2012 and 2013) and was named to the NBA All-Defensive Second Team in 2012. He also received the NBA Sportsmanship Award in 2007 and All-Rookie First Team honors in 2005.

This season, Deng appeared in 23 games (all starts) for Chicago, averaging a career-best 19.0 points on .452 shooting, 6.9 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.0 steal in 37.4 minutes per game. The 6-9, 220-pound forward has scored at least 20 points 10 times this season, including a stretch of six straight 20-point games from Nov. 24 to Dec. 5.

Deng was originally drafted by Phoenix in the 2004 NBA Draft as the No. 7 overall selection. He has spent his entire nine-year career with the Bulls and owns career averages of 16.1 points on .460 shooting, 6.4 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.0 steal in 35.9 minutes over 637 games (591 starts). He has also played in 48 playoff games (42 starts) with averages of 16.7 points on .452 shooting, 7.0 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 1.1 steals in 40.3 minutes per game.

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