March 2014 – Page 26 – NBA Blog

Mavericks assign Gal Mekel to D-League

The Dallas Mavericks announced today that they have assigned rookie guard Gal Mekel to the Texas Legends of the NBA Development League.

Mekel (6-3, 202) is averaging 2.4 points, 2.1 assists and 9.6 minutes in 30 games (one start) this season.

He has missed the last 21 games of the season after undergoing arthroscopic surgery to address a torn lateral meniscus in his right knee.

Mekel (6-3, 191) spent two seasons at Wichita State University (2006-07, 2007-08) before leaving school early and beginning his professional career in Europe. In his first season overseas, he was named the 2009 All-Israeli League Newcomer of the Year.

Last season, the point guard led Maccabi Haifa to an Israeli League Championship en route to claiming his second Most Valuable Player award. Mekel averaged 13.3 points, 5.4 assists, 2.6 rebounds, 1.4 steals and 32.3 minutes in 30 games while shooting .525 from the field and .779 from the free throw line.

The Petah Tikva, Israel native is just the second Israeli-born player to sign with an NBA team. He follows in the footsteps of veteran forward Omri Casspi.

Steve Nash plans to keep playing for Lakers next season

Here’s the Los Angeles Times reporting on old veteran point guard Steve Nash, who apparently wants to keep earning money playing for the Lakers:

There was a gust of certainty Monday, a rarity in one of the most uneasy seasons in Lakers history.

Steve Nash clearly wants to return next season.

“I want to come back for sure,” he said Monday.

It’s a longshot he’ll even be back this season from recurring back soreness, but he’s already looking to the future, where he’s scheduled to earn $9.7 million in 2014-15 as the final part of a three-year, $28-million contract.

The Lakers have until Sept. 1 to determine whether they want to waive Nash via the “stretch provision,” in which his salary is spread out over the next three years. Or they can bring him back for one more season and try to play him while paying him.

Cavaliers sign Arinze Onuaku to second 10-day contract

The Cleveland Cavaliers have signed forward/center Arinze Onuaku from the Canton Charge, the Cavaliers exclusively owned and operated NBA Development League team, to a second 10-day contract, Cavaliers acting General Manager David Griffin announced today from Cleveland Clinic Courts.

Onuaku has appeared in 27 games for the Charge this season with averages of 14.4 points, 9.7 rebounds and 1.0 block in 24.2 minutes per game. He will be available for tonight’s Cavs game against the San Antonio Spurs at Quicken Loans Arena.

Bucks sign forward Tony Mitchell to 10-day contract

The Milwaukee Bucks have signed free-agent forward Tony Mitchell (6-6, 216) to a 10-day contract, General Manager John Hammond announced today. Mitchell is the 28th “Call-Up” of the 2013-14 season from the NBA D-League.

Mitchell has spent the better part of the last two seasons with the Fort Wayne Mad Ants, Milwaukee’s affiliate in the D-League. After going undrafted out of the University of Alabama in 2012, Mitchell signed with Fort Wayne and appeared in 48 games during the 2012-13 D-League season, averaging 21.9 points, 6.4 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game. Mitchell was named the D-League Rookie of the Year and earned All-NBA D-League First Team honors following the season.

After appearing in 11 games for the Jilin Northeast Tigers in China last fall, Mitchell returned to the Mad Ants in January and has averaged 19.4 points, 5.4 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 1.2 steals and 1.2 blocks in 27 appearances (7 starts) this season. Mitchell is a two-time NBA D-League Slam Dunk Contest champion after successfully defending his 2013 crown at NBA All-Star Weekend in New Orleans last month.

Mitchell will wear #18 for the Bucks.

Gerald Wallace out for season after surgery

The Boston Celtics announced today that forward Gerald Wallace underwent successful arthroscopic surgeries on his left knee and his left ankle this morning at New England Baptist Hospital. The surgeries were performed by Celtics team physician Dr. Brian McKeon and was assisted by Dr. Mark Slovenkai. Wallace will be out for the remainder of the season.

Wallace, a 6’7” forward appeared in 58 games for the Celtics this season and averaged 5.1 points, 3.7 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.3 steals in 24.4 minutes per game. Wallace made 16 starts for the Celtics this season where he averaged 7.3 points, 4.3 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 2.2 steals in 33.3 minutes per game. He recorded a season-high of 17 points against Charlotte on November 25.

Bobcats sign Justin Hamilton to 10-day contract

Charlotte Bobcats President of Basketball Operations Rod Higgins announced today that the team has signed center Justin Hamilton to a 10-day contract. Hamilton joins the Bobcats from the Sioux Falls Skyforce of the NBA D-League, becoming the 29th Gatorade Call-Up this season. He will wear No. 41. The Bobcats roster now stands at 15 players.

In 37 games played for the Skyforce this season, the 7-0 Hamilton is averaging 19.3 points, 9.2 rebounds, 2.0 blocks and 1.5 assists in 35.8 minutes, while shooting .491 from the field (269-548), .385 from beyond the three-point line (30-78) and .812 from the free-throw line (147-181). He has scored in double figures 34 times, including 21 games of 20 points or more and three contests with 30 points or more, and recorded 16 games with double-figure rebounds, tallying 16 double-doubles.

Hamilton leads in the D-League in offensive rebounding, while ranking fifth in blocks, sixth in rebounding and 16th in scoring. He played for the Futures team in the 2014 D-League All-Star Game, scoring 20 points on 8-12 shooting, including 2-4 from beyond the three-point line, and 2-2 free-throw shooting.

Hamilton was selected by the Philadelphia 76ers with the 45th overall pick in the 2012 NBA Draft before having his rights traded to the Miami Heat. He spent the 2012-13 season playing internationally, first for KK Cibona in Croatia and later for VEF Riga in Latvia.

Basketball journey continues for Diante Garrett

Here’s the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel on a player you probably don’t know a lot about:

Diante Garrett will finally get to play in a “homecoming” game.

Last season the former Milwaukee Vincent star was in the BMO Harris Bradley Center as a member of the Phoenix Suns but did not play against the Bucks.

He returns Monday night as a member of the Utah Jazz and this time as a solid member of the team’s rotation, playing a backup point guard role to rookie Trey Burke.

And his father, Dick, and plenty of friends and family will be cheering him on as the Jazz plays the third game in a six-game, nine-day road trip. Dick normally works the Bucks home games as an usher but is getting the night off to watch his son play.

Nets likely keeping Jason Collins

Here’s the New York Daily News reporting on center Jason Collins, who will apparently stick with the Nets for at least another 10 days:

Jason Collins will have at least another 10 days to continue his trailblazing tour.

Sources confirmed the Nets plan to re-sign Collins, the first openly gay player in the NBA, to a 10-day contract after his current one expires Tuesday.

After that 10-day deal, which would start Wednesday, Brooklyn will have to decide whether to cut him or sign him for the remainder of the season. Collins, meanwhile, said he was oblivious to any agreement.

76ers retire jersey of Allen Iverson

Allen Iverson cupped his hand to his left ear and asked to hear his favorite tune one more time.

With that command, 20,000 roaring Philadelphia 76ers fans gave AI the standing ovation he earned by stamping himself as one of the franchise’s all-time greats.

Iverson, emotional as he thanked former teammates and friends, had his No. 3 retired at halftime of Saturday’s game against Washington.

High above the Wells Fargo Center court, Iverson’s banner slipped between Maurice Cheeks’ No. 10 and Charles Barkley’s No. 34.

“They all wanted me to talk about how much y’all loved me,” Iverson said, “but trust me, the feeling was mutual.”

— ESPN.com News Services

Knicks lose sixth game in a row

Here’s New York Newsday on the Knicks, who are stumbling badly these days:

At first it looked like an omen, the way the Bulls were roaring through the Knicks in the opening minutes. Then it turned into a problem, and then a bigger problem.

Before the Knicks caught their breath or broke a sweat, the score was 16-1, and the whole thing became another bad, bad loss.

“At this point, there really are no answers to it,” Carmelo Anthony said Sunday after the Knicks failed to get out of that instant ditch and lost to the Bulls, 109-90, at United Center. “As a team, we’ve got to have some sense of pride just to go out there and compete. It seems like we’re not even competing right now.”

Just like that first stretch of 4 minutes, 11 seconds, the recent past has become very ominous for the Knicks. They have lost six in a row and 12 of 14. Worse yet, the past three have been nationally televised blowouts.