East NBA All-Star head coach announced

At 30-7, the Indiana Pacers have the best record in the NBA. With a very average offense but the best defense in the league on a per-possession basis, the squad is making the most of their talent.

On Tuesday, the NBA announced that Pacers head coach Frank Vogel has earned the role of 2014 East NBA All-Star head coach.

Not-so-bold prediction: Vogel’s East All-Stars will display a lot more offense than his Pacers.

More info: Frank Vogel will be head coach of 2014 East NBA All-Star team

Tyson Chandler getting over bronchitis

Here’s the New York Post reporting on Knicks center Tyson Chandler having to get rid of an annoying illness:

Knicks center Tyson Chandler revealed he had bronchitis and may make his return Tuesday in Charlotte as a tuneup for Thursday’s showdown in Indiana against rival Roy Hibbert.

Chandler missed his fourth straight game Monday when the Knicks topped the Suns 98-96 in overtime for their fifth straight victory, but finally showed up at the Garden to work out on the court. The Knicks public relations staff had called the illness “an upper respiratory infection.’’

Chandler had been mostly bedridden since the Knicks returned from Texas, a trip during which he pulled himself out of the game in Dallas in the first quarter. The Knicks hadn’t lost since, as they carried a four-game winning streak into Monday’s game.

Kevin Durant nursing a sore left wrist

Here’s the Oklahoman with a report on Thunder forward Kevin Durant, who is banged up but should be OK soon — perhaps today:

Kevin Durant sore wrist

After a rough fall in Saturday’s win against Milwaukee, Kevin Durant missed practice the past couple of days, nursing his sore left wrist.

Durant did some light shooting, according to coach Scott Brooks, but his status for Tuesday’s game at Memphis remains up in the air.

“We’ll see tomorrow,” Brooks said Monday.

Melo, D-Cousins receive Player of Week honor

Look. The New York Knicks and Sacramento Kings may not be having the greatest of seasons, this is true. New York is 14-22 this season; Sacramento is 13-22. But both teams have played solid basketball lately. And now the star of each team has received some recognition for their success this week.

Full item: Carmelo Anthony, DeMarcus Cousins named NBA Players of Week

Timberwolves bring Shabazz Muhammad back from D-League

The Minnesota Timberwolves today announced the club has recalled rookie guard/forward Shabazz Muhammad from the Iowa Energy of the NBA Development League.

Muhammad appeared in four games for the Energy, leading Iowa to a 3-1 record while averaging 24.5 points, on 57.1% shooting, and 9.8 rebounds per game. He recorded two double-doubles during the stint, including scoring 26 points and hauling in a game-high 12 rebounds vs. Fort Wayne on Jan. 11.

Muhammad was named to the 2014 NBADLeague.com All-Showcase Team after averaging 23.0 points, on 62.5% shooting, and 9.0 rebounds in two games during the D-League Showcase. He made his D-League debut on Jan. 7, tallying 24 points on 9-of-13 shooting and seven rebounds.

Muhammad, originally selected with the 14th overall pick, was acquired by the Wolves in a draft-day trade with the Utah Jazz. He averaged 17.9 points and 5.2 rebounds per game last season at UCLA, leading the Bruins to the Pac-12 regular season championship.

Kings re-assign guard Ray McCallum to D-League

The Sacramento Kings have assigned rookie guard Ray McCallum to the team’s NBA Development League affiliate, the Reno Bighorns, it was announced today by General Manager Pete D’Alessandro.

McCallum, selected in the second round (36th overall) of the 2013 NBA Draft, is averaging 0.9 points (.333 FG%, 1-4 3pt), 0.5 rebounds, 0.3 assists and 2.8 minutes per game in eight appearances off the bench this season with the Kings.

This is McCallum’s second assignment with the Bighorns. In his first stint, McCallum averaged 22.0 points (.455 FG%, .308 3pt%, .667 FT%), 5.0 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 1.33 steals and 38.0 minutes per game in three contests. McCallum was assigned on November 21 and then recalled on November 27.

Detroit Pistons recall Peyton Siva and Tony Mitchell from D-League

detroit pistons

The Detroit Pistons announced today that the team has recalled rookie guard Peyton Siva and rookie forward Tony Mitchell from the Fort Wayne Mad Ants of the NBA Development League (D-League).

Siva averaged 12.0 points, 2.8 rebounds, 5.8 assists and 2.6 steals in five games (four starts) with Fort Wayne. He recorded 27 points, three rebounds, eight assists and eight steals vs. Iowa (1/3) after having 24 points, five rebounds, three assists and two steals vs. Rio Grande Valley Vipers (12/28). Siva has appeared in 13 games this season with the Pistons averaging 0.3 points, 0.6 rebounds and 0.8 assists in 5.8 minutes per game. The 56th selection in the second round of the 2013 NBA Draft, Siva won an NCAA Championship and was named to the Final Four All-Tournament Team as a senior at Louisville last year.

In six games (five starts) with the Mad Ants, Mitchell averaged 6.8 points, 6.5 rebounds, 1.0 assists and 1.5 blocks in 22.1 minutes per game. Mitchell turned in his best performance of the stint vs. the Iowa Energy (1/3) when he recorded 14 points, nine rebounds, one assist and four blocks. The 37th overall pick in the 2013 NBA Draft from North Texas University, Mitchell has appeared in 10 games this season with the Pistons averaging 1.1 points and 1.1 rebounds in 4.0 minutes per game.

Chicago Bulls say they are retooling, not rebuilding

Here’s the Chicago Sun-Times with some fun word clarification regarding the Bulls and their current roster goals:

“Rebuild’’ seems to be a curse word these days around the United Center. That’s why the Bulls’ front office is quick to correct anyone who uses it in the wake of the Luol Deng trade.

Executive vice president of basketball operations John Paxson did so Tuesday when meeting with the media, and ­general manager Gar Forman took his turn Saturday, ­speaking to the team’s website during a pregame interview.

“It’s always difficult,’’ ­Forman said of the decision to send Deng to the Cleveland Cavaliers. “There’s a human element to any transition you make.

“I’ve heard people say it’s a ­rebuild. It’s not a rebuild. I consider it more of a retooling.’’