February 2014 – Page 2 – NBA Blog

Jason Collins meets with parents of Matthew Shepard

Jason Collins had plenty of gifts for Matthew Shepard’s parents: a basket, a blowout, an autographed No. 98 jersey that he wears in honor of their son.

They also shared some laughs.

Collins played the final eight minutes of the Brooklyn Nets’ 112-89 romp over the Denver Nuggets on Thursday night, and although his three points and four fouls weren’t much to look at in the boxscore, rarely has the 35-year-old center been this proud of a performance.

“I got them a bucket,” the center said.

After his cameo in Brooklyn’s recovery from a 44-point loss against the Trail Blazers 24 hours earlier, Collins, the first openly gay athlete in America’s four major sports, met with the parents of the slain Wyoming college student who was tortured and murdered in 1998 because he was gay.

— Associated Press

Celtics sign Chris Babb to 10-day contract

The Boston Celtics announced today that they have signed guard Chris Babb to a 10-day contract.

Babb, a 6’5” guard was playing for the Celtics’ NBA Development League affiliate, Maine Red Claws where he averaged 12.0 points, 6.2 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 1.18 steals and 37.5 minutes in 33 games. He is the 26th Gatorade Call-Up this season from the NBA Development League and the third time the Celtics have signed someone from the D-League this season joining Chris Johnson and Vander Blue. Babb was on the Celtics roster during the 2013 preseason where he appeared in five games for the Celtics and averaged 3.2 points in 6.0 minutes per game while shooting 44.4 percent from three-point territory.

Gustavo Ayon out for season after shoulder surgery

Hawks forward/center Gustavo Ayon had surgery today to repair a right shoulder injury. The surgery was performed at Piedmont Hospital in Atlanta by Dr. Xavier Duralde and accompanied by Hawks Team Physician Dr. Michael Bernot from the Peachtree Orthopaedic Clinic.

Ayon will now undergo a period of rest, treatment and rehabilitation. He will be out through the remainder of the season.

At the time of his injury, Ayon had averages of 4.3 points on .510 shooting, 4.8 rebounds, 1.1 assists and 1.0 blocks in 16.5 minutes per game in 26 games (14 starts).

Milwaukee Bucks waive Caron Butler

The Milwaukee Bucks have requested waivers on forward Caron Butler (6-7, 228), General Manager John Hammond announced today. The two sides agreed on a contract buyout.

“When you talk about being a professional and handling yourself with class, that’s what Caron has done here in Milwaukee,” Hammond said. “We thank him for his many positive contributions both on and off the court and wish him and his family well.”

Butler, 33, appeared in 34 games (13 starts) for the Bucks this season, averaging 11.0 points, 4.6 rebounds and 1.6 assists per contest. The native of Racine, Wis., scored in double figures in 18 games, including a season-high 38 points on Nov. 22 at Philadelphia. He also tallied a game-high 30 points in a win over Detroit on Jan. 22, giving him multiple 30-point games in a season for the first time since 2008-09. He notched two point/rebound double-doubles this season, giving him multiple double-doubles for the first time since the 2009-10 campaign.

“It’s been a dream come true to wear the Milwaukee uniform which so many of my idols growing up wore,” Butler said. “I’d like to thank Sen. Herb Kohl, John Hammond and Larry Drew for the opportunity to live out my dream of playing for the Bucks. The entire organization has treated me and my family in a first-class manner that we will never forget. I would be remiss if I didn’t also thank the great fans of Milwaukee, Racine and the entire state of Wisconsin for always standing with us during a challenging season. Thank you all from the bottom of my heart.”

Butler was acquired by the Bucks from Phoenix on Aug. 29. Now in his 12th NBA season, he has played in 764 regular season games for Miami, the Los Angeles Lakers, Washington, Dallas, the Los Angeles Clippers and Milwaukee, and holds career averages of 15.3 points, 5.4 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game.

Clippers reportedly hope to land Danny Granger

Here’s ESPN.com reporting on the Los Angeles Clippers, who hope to land the services of Danny Granger, a player that in 2011-12 scored 18.7 ppg but in 2012-13 played just five games, and in 2013-14 so far has averaged just 8.3 ppg on 36% shooting in 22.5 minutes per outing:

The Los Angeles Clippers met with the representatives of swingman Danny Granger during Wednesday night’s game against the Houston Rockets and have nudged ahead of the San Antonio Spurs in the race for Granger’s services, according to sources close to the process.

The Clippers are widely regarded as the team best positioned to provide Granger the playing time and the championship contention he craves.

And they’ve stepped up their pursuit of the former All-Star, sources told ESPN.com, at least partly due to growing concern within the organization about the status of guard J.J. Redick, who has missed the past nine games and is out indefinitely with a back injury.

Sacramento Kings, Jimmer Fredette agree to contract buyout

The Sacramento Kings and guard Jimmer Fredette have mutually agreed to a contract buyout, according to Kings General Manager Pete D’Alessandro.

“This was a very tough decision, but we’re confident that the agreement reached today represents the most productive path forward, both for Jimmer and the Kings,” said D’Alessandro. “Echoing a sentiment that everyone who knows him appreciates about Jimmer, he’s a tremendous person and a consummate professional. We thank him for the meaningful contributions he made to the team and in the Sacramento community. On behalf of an entire organization, we wish him nothing but great success in the future.”

Through 41 games, Fredette is averaging 5.9 points (.475 FG%, .493 3pt%, .895 FT%), 1.1 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 11.3 minutes per game in 41 games off the bench. He has accrued career averages of 7.0 points (.416 FG%, .402 3pt%, .855 FT%), 1.1 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 15.0 minutes per game in 171 career contests with Sacramento.

Battle for new Sacramento arena continues

Here’s the Sacramento Bee reporting on the latest developments regarding plans for a new arena that would become home to the Kings:

A leader of one of the political campaigns that attempted to force a public vote on Sacramento’s arena plan said this morning that the group will not appeal a judge’s ruling that struck the measure from the ballot.

Craig Powell of Voters for a Fair Arena Deal said the decision has been made not to appeal Judge Timothy Frawley’s ruling Wednesday that signature petitions handed in by the group and Sacramento Taxpayers Opposed to Pork (STOP) included too many errors for the petitions to be valid.

Powell said the decision was made after Frawley indicated in a hearing on Friday that the petitions had significant flaws.

Fun between Rajon Rondo and the media continues

Here’s WEEI reporting on Boston Celtics point guard Rajon Rondo:

In typical Rajon Rondo fashion, the Celtics point guard addressed the media in Boston for the first time since the Boston Herald report claiming he skipped the team’s trip to Sacramento without permission.

What does he make of the media firestorm unleashed after his alleged decision to remain in Los Angeles to celebrate his 28th birthday with friends and family? “I haven’t really read much about it,” he said. “I heard a lot of comments. Nobody knows the story, so you guys keep making up every story you guys possibly can.”

What, exactly, is the story? “It’s my business,” he followed. “It’s not yours.”

Bulls interested in Caron Butler

Here’s the Chicago Tribune reporting on Caron Butler, who has not had particularly good seasons these last few years, but is still probably worthy of being in a good team’s rotation:

The Bulls continue to cast a wide net in the stronger-than-usual pool of bought-out and waived players and have contacted the representatives for Caron Butler, who completed his buyout from the Bucks.

The Bulls hope to sign a 13th player to a prorated portion of the veteran’s minimum contract for the stretch run. They also are one of five teams in play for Danny Granger, although several reports have him leaning towards the Clippers or Spurs.

Yahoo Sports reported Butler, who averaged 11 points per game this season in 34 games with the Bucks, is strongly considering returning to the Heat.

DeMarcus Cousins suspended and fined

Sacramento Kings center DeMarcus Cousins has been suspended one game without pay and fined $20,000 for his actions in separate incidents, it was announced today by Rod Thorn, President, Basketball Operations.

Cousins has been suspended for punching Houston Rockets guard Patrick Beverley in the stomach with 9:44 remaining in the first quarter of the Kings’ 129-103 loss to the Houston Rockets on Feb. 25, at Sleep Train Arena.

In addition, Cousins has been fined for verbally abusing a game official and failing to leave the court in a timely manner following his ejection with 8:21 remaining in the third quarter of the same game.

Cousins will serve his suspension on Friday, Feb. 28, when the Kings visit the Los Angeles Lakers at Staples Center.

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