February 2014 – Page 19 – NBA Blog

Terrence Williams wins D-League Player of Month

Los Angeles D-Fenders guard/forward Terrence Williams was today named NBA Development League Player of the Month for games played in January. The award is the first of Williams’ career.

Williams (6-6, 220, Louisville) averaged 21.5 points on 42 percent shooting from the floor to go with 6.1 assists and 4.8 rebounds in January, appearing in 12 of the team’s 13 games. For the month, the D-Fenders were an NBA D-League best 10-3.

Williams scored in double figures 10 times in January and set a D-Fenders record with a 50-point outing against the Idaho Stampede on Jan. 31.

For the season, Williams is averaging 21.8 points, good for seventh in the NBA D-League, along with 5.9 assists, 5.1 rebounds and 36.9 minutes in 13 games, 12 starts. His 50-point outing was the second-highest single-game point total this season.

Additional players considered for the award included Austin’s Josh Howard, Delaware’s Tiny Gallon, Idaho’s Pierre Jackson, Maine’s Frank Gaines, Rio Grande Valley’s Troy Daniels, Santa Cruz’s Cameron Jones, Sioux Falls’ Justin Hamilton and DeAndre Liggins, Springfield’s Darius Johnson-Odom, Texas’ PJ Hairston and Tulsa’s Reggie Williams.

Kevin Murphy named D-League Performer of Week

Kevin Murphy of the Idaho Stampede was today named NBA Development League Performer of the Week for games played Monday, Jan. 27 – Sunday, Feb. 2.

Murphy a 6-5, 185-pound guard from Tennessee Technological University led Idaho to a 2-1 record and averaged 36.0 points on .616 (45-for-73) shooting, to go along with 7.3 rebounds, 2.0 steals and 1.7 assists. Murphy connected on 8-of-18 attempts from behind the three-point line.

On Jan. 21, he set the Idaho franchise record with an NBA D-League season-high 51 points to go along with eight rebounds, four steals, three assists and one block in a 127-123 victory over the Los Angeles D-Fenders. The honor is the first for Murphy, who is averaging 23.5 points and 6.0 rebounds this season.

Other top performers considered include Austin’s Josh Howard, Los Angeles’ Terrence Williams, Maine’s (Boston Celtics assignee) Vitor Faverani, Rio Grande Valley’s Akeem Ellis, Sioux Falls’ Sioux Falls Skyforce, Springfield’s Darius Johnson-Odom and Texas Legends’ Devin Ebanks.

Clippers sign Sasha Vujacic to 10-day contract

The Los Angeles Clippers announced today that they have signed guard Sasha Vujacic to a 10-day contract.

Vujacic, a seven-year NBA veteran, has appeared in 476 career games (29 starts) with the Los Angeles Lakers and New Jersey Nets. A native of Slovenia, the 29-year old holds career averages of 5.6 points, 1.9 rebounds and 1.3 assists. He has also appeared in 65 playoff games, capturing two NBA Championships with the Lakers in 2009 and 2010.

The 27th pick in the 2004 NBA Draft by the Lakers, Vujacic has been playing professionally since the age of 16. Most recently, he played for Anadolu Efes in Turkey for two seasons (2011-13), averaging 9.9 points, 3.1 rebounds and 1.3 assists in 40 games (23 starts).

Vujacic will wear uniform number 18 for the Clippers.

Grizzlies sign Darius Morris to 10-day contract

The Memphis Grizzlies signed guard Darius Morris to a 10-day contract, the team announced today.

Morris (6-4, 190) has averaged 4.2 points and 1.6 assists on .413 shooting in 11.2 minutes in 22 games with the Philadelphia 76ers and Los Angeles Clippers this season. The 23-year-old posted 6.9 points and 2.6 assists in 16.1 minutes in 12 games for Philadelphia before he was waived on Nov. 20. He then signed the first of two 10-day contracts with Los Angeles on Jan. 6 and made 10 appearances during his stint with the Clippers.

The three-year veteran holds career averages of 3.7 points, 1.0 rebounds and 1.5 assists in 12.3 minutes in 89 games (17 starts) with the Los Angeles Lakers, Philadelphia 76ers and Los Angeles Clippers. He owns postseason averages of 6.5 points and 1.9 assists in 14.1 minutes in eight games (two starts) with the Lakers and averaged 10.5 points and 3.0 assists in 26.3 minutes in four games during the 2013 Playoffs.

Morris also owns NBA Development League averages of 17.0 points, 4.3 rebounds and 5.0 assists in 32.7 minutes in three games (two starts) for the Los Angeles D-Fenders.

A native of Los Angeles, Morris was drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers in the second round (41st overall) of the 2011 NBA Draft. He earned All-Big Ten honors as a sophomore at the University of Michigan and averaged 15.0 points, 4.0 rebounds and 6.7 assists in two seasons with the Wolverines. He set the single-season school assist record (236) as a sophomore, which was broken by current Utah Jazz rookie guard Trey Burke last season.

Hawks guard John Jenkins out for season after back surgery

Atlanta Hawks guard John Jenkins underwent successful lower back surgery this morning. The surgery was performed by Dr. Hal Silcox from the Peachtree Orthopaedic Clinic.

Jenkins will undergo a period of rest and recovery, followed by treatment and rehabilitation, and will miss the remainder of the season.

The second-year guard appeared in 13 contests this season, averaging 3.1 points and 1.7 rebounds in 12.2 minutes.

Pau Gasol trade rumor: Suns may seek deal for Gasol from Lakers

The Phoenix Suns weren’t supposed to be good this season. Or so most people thought. But with a 29-18 record, good offense, decent defense, an excellent young coach and a fun, versatile roster, the Suns have been the surprise of the league this season. And now they can aim higher. Lakers forward Pau Gasol’s best days are behind him, but if used properly he can still make a team like phoenix better. Here’s ESPN.com reporting on a Pau Gasol trade rumor:

The Phoenix Suns have emerged as a potential trade suitor for Los Angeles Lakers center Pau Gasol, according to sources close to the process.

Sources told ESPN.com that the Suns, among the options being weighed as part of their well-chronicled desire to acquire an established player as they make an unexpected playoff push this season, have been exploring the feasibility of trading for the Lakers’ four-time All-Star.

One option for the Suns, by virtue of their $5.6 million in available salary-cap space, is swapping the expiring contract of injured big man Emeka Okafor for Gasol, even though Okafor’s $14.5 million salary this season falls well shy of Gasol’s $19.3 million.

The Lakers engaged in similar trade discussions in late December and early January with Cleveland in a proposed deal that would have sent Gasol to the Cavaliers for the partially guaranteed contract of ex-Lakers center Andrew Bynum, who then would have been waived to help L.A. save roughly $20 million in salary and luxury-tax obligations.

Mavs recall Shane Larkin from D-League

The Dallas Mavericks announced today that they have recalled rookie guard Shane Larkin from the Texas Legends of the NBA Development League.

Larkin (5-11, 176) has played in 32 games for the Mavericks and is averaging 3.6 points and 1.8 assists in 12.5 minutes per contest.

Larkin was originally assigned to the D-League on Jan. 31 and played in one game for the Legends. In that game, he recorded 9 points and 7 assists in 33 minutes against the Rio Grande Valley Vipers.

Thunder again recall Andre Roberson from D-League

The Oklahoma City Thunder has recalled forward Andre Roberson from the Tulsa 66ers of the NBA Development League, it was announced today by Executive Vice President and General Manager Sam Presti.

During his most recent assignment with the 66ers, Roberson recorded two double-doubles while averaging 14.8 points, 10.5 rebounds, 1.75 steals, 1.75 blocks and 31.3 minutes in four games (all starts). Overall, the forward is averaging 15.6 points, 10.0 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 2.45 steals, 1.45 blocks and 35.2 minutes in 11 games (all starts) over four separate assignments with Tulsa.

Celtics again recall Vitor Faverani from D-League

The Boston Celtics announced today that they have recalled center Vitor Faverani from their NBA Development League affiliate, the Maine Red Claws.

Faverani, a 6’11” center, has appeared in three games for the Red Claws this season and has averaged 16.3 points, 12.0 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.33 blocks in 31.3 minutes per game. During his recent assignment Faverani appeared in two games for the Red Claws and recorded 16 points, 12 rebounds and three blocks against Delaware on January 31 and recorded 20 points, 17 rebounds and six assists against Erie on February 1.

Knicks wanted to sign Andrew Bynum

Here’s the New York Post reporting on center Andrew Bynum, who the Knicks reportedly tried to add to their roster. The talented Bynum has struggled with injuries and some head issues. But when healthy and focused, he’s a force in the middle.

The Knicks made a strong late push to sign center Andrew Bynum before he chose the Pacers, his agent told The Post Saturday.

Knicks personnel director Mark Warkentien tried to arrange a meeting with Bynum and the Knicks staff, but it never materialized.

“The Knicks were very aggressive in the end,” his New York-based agent David Lee told The Post. “In the end, they did everything they could.”

The Knicks only had the veteran’s minimum to offer, which pro-rated would have been $550,000.