Month: January 2015

Celtics trade Brandan Wright to Suns

Celtics trade Brandan Wright to Suns

Celtics trade Brandan Wright to Suns

The Phoenix Suns have acquired forward Brandan Wright from the Boston Celtics in exchange for a protected 2015 first round draft pick via Minnesota.

The Suns have also waived forward Tony Mitchell. Mitchell was acquired by Phoenix in a trade with the Detroit Pistons on December 24 last month.

Phoenix dealt to Boston its right to Minnesota’s protected 2015 first round pick. The pick is top-12 protected in 2015 and 2016, and if the first round pick has not been conveyed by 2016, Minnesota will instead convey its second round picks in 2016 and 2017.

“I have known Brandan since he entered the NBA in 2007,” said President of Basketball Operations Lon Babby. “He is a person of the highest character who will fit perfectly into our burgeoning Suns culture. We look forward to welcoming him to Phoenix.”

“We are excited to add Brandan to our roster,” said General Manager Ryan McDonough. “His length, athleticism and finishing ability make him a great fit for our style of play. He is one of the most efficient scorers in the league and his shot blocking ability will help anchor our defense.”

The 6-10, 210-pound Wright is averaging 7.5 points on 72.4 percent shooting, 3.6 rebounds and 1.3 blocks in 35 games with the Celtics and Dallas Mavericks in this his seventh NBA season. In 58 games with Dallas last season, Wright averaged career-highs of 9.1 points, 67.7 percent shooting (224-of-331), 4.2 rebounds and 18.6 minutes. Wright’s 67.7 percent mark from the field in 2013-14 was the highest mark in the NBA among players with at least 100 field goal attempts for the season.

The eighth overall pick of the 2007 NBA Draft out of the University of North Carolina, Wright holds career averages of 7.1 points on 60.9 percent shooting, 3.6 rebounds, 1.0 blocks and 15.8 minutes in 320 games with Golden State, New Jersey, Dallas and Boston. Wright played in eight games with the Celtics after being acquired in a trade with Dallas on December 18 last month.

With Wright (3.82 blocks per 48 minutes in 2014-15) and center Alex Len (3.77 blocks per 48 minutes), the Suns now have two of the league’s top five in blocks per 48 minutes this season among players who qualify for the blocks per game leaderboard.

The Suns’ roster remains at 15 players.

Pelicans assign Russ Smith to D-League again

The New Orleans Pelicans announced today that the team has assigned rookie point guard Russ Smith to the Fort Wayne Mad Ants of the NBA Development League. This will be Smith’s third assignment of the season.

In his most recent assignment, Smith, 6-0, 185, appeared in four games for Fort Wayne, averaging 17.5 points, and 7.8 assists. Overall, Smith has appeared in six games with Fort Wayne, averaging 16.5 points, 6.2 assists and 1.8 steals.

Smith has appeared in six games for New Orleans, averaging 0.8 points, 0.5 rebounds and 0.3 assists per game. Smith appeared in six preseason contests for the Pelicans, averaging 5.0 points, 1.2 assists and 0.8 rebounds.

Drafted out of the University of Louisville by Philadelphia with the 47th overall pick of the 2014 NBA Draft, Smith was acquired by New Orleans in a draft night trade.

Deron Williams out with rib fracture

deron williams

Brooklyn Nets guard Deron Williams has been diagnosed with a fracture of the cartilage portion of the left 12th rib following an MRI today, General Manager Billy King announced.

Statement from Nets Medical Director Dr. Riley Williams III

“Deron reported some soreness above this area over the weekend and as a result underwent imaging studies on Monday, which were negative. Yesterday during the game he reported a new onset of symptoms below the prior area of soreness. New imaging studies done today demonstrated the fracture. There is no timetable for his return. He will be re-assessed in one week.”

Williams has appeared in 32 games (25 starts) this season, averaging 13.9 points, 6.3 assists and 3.0 rebounds in 31.3 minutes per game. He ranks 14th in the NBA in assists per game.

According to New York Newsday, “Williams’ diagnosis caps a rollercoaster last few days. After Sunday’s game, he said his left side locked up and he was told he had something akin to a severe cramp and that electrolytes would help. He was listed as probable leading into Monday’s loss to the Mavericks, but word came down before tipoff that he was instead out.”

ESPN NBA schedule changes

ESPN NBA schedule changes:

Date

Time (ET)

New Selection

Previous Selection

Wed, Jan. 14

8 p.m.

Washington Wizards at Chicago Bulls

Atlanta Hawks at Boston Celtics

Wed, Jan. 28

8 p.m.

Brooklyn Nets at Atlanta Hawks

Oklahoma City Thunder at New York Knicks

Fri, Feb. 6

7 p.m.

Los Angeles Clippers at Toronto Raptors

New York Knicks at Brooklyn Nets

Fri, Mar. 6

8 p.m.

Phoenix Suns at Brooklyn Nets

Miami Heat at Washington Wizards

Wed, Mar. 18

8 p.m.

Orlando Magic at Dallas Mavericks

Indiana Pacers at Chicago Bulls

Wed, Mar. 25

7 p.m.

Chicago Bulls at Toronto Raptors

Los Angeles Clippers at New York Knicks

Fri., Apr. 3

8 p.m.

Oklahoma City Thunder at Memphis Grizzlies

Detroit Pistons at Chicago Bulls

Nuggets trade Timofey Mozgov to Cavaliers

Nuggets trade Timofey Mozgov to Cavaliers

The Cleveland Cavaliers have acquired center Timofey Mozgov and a 2015 second round pick from the Denver Nuggets in exchange for two protected 2015 first round picks (via Oklahoma City and Memphis), Cavaliers General Manager David Griffin announced tonight.

According to Sports Illustrated, “if two future firsts seems a tall price to pay for a merely functional starting center, that’s because it is. Yet Cleveland maneuvered itself into position to make the most reasonable course correction it could. The Cavs have neither the trade chips nor the future flexibility to make a run at an upper-tier center, effectively locking them into a more limited range of potential upgrades at the position. Mozgov was one of the better options under the circumstances: tall, able to wall off the rim, effective on the glass, competent offensively, and under contract with a team option for next season at a relative bargain.”

This season, Mozgov has appeared in 35 games (all starts) for the Nuggets, averaging 8.5 points on .504 shooting, a career-best 7.8 rebounds and 1.2 blocks in 25.6 minutes per game. The 7-1 center from Russia also has nine double-doubles on the year.

Mozgov, who is in his fifth NBA season, has played in 247 career games (115 starts) with averages of 6.4 points on .513 shooting, a .738 mark from the foul line, 4.9 rebounds and 0.9 blocks in 17.2 minutes per game with New York and Denver. He also won a bronze medal at the 2012 London Olympics with the Russian National team that was coached by David Blatt.

Cleveland conveyed to Denver its right to Oklahoma City’s protected first round draft pick and its right to Memphis’ protected first round draft pick. The Cavs received Denver’s right to the less favorable of Chicago’s own 2015 second round draft pick and Portland’s own 2015 second round draft pick.

Clippers trade Jared Cunningham to Sixers

The Los Angeles Clippers announced today they have traded guard Jared Cunningham, the draft rights to Cenk Akyol and cash considerations to the Philadelphia 76ers in exchange for the draft rights to Serhiy Lishchuk.

Cunningham, who signed with the Clippers as a free agent on Sept. 29, 2014 appeared in 19 games this season averaging 1.8 points and 0.5 assists in 4.7 minutes. The 24th overall pick in the 2012 NBA Draft by Cleveland, Cunningham has appeared in 40 career NBA games in three seasons. He holds career averages of 1.9 points and 0.5 assists in 4.9 minutes with four NBA teams (Dallas, Atlanta, Sacramento and Los Angeles).

Akyol, 27, was originally drafted by the Hawks with the 59th overall selection in the second round of the 2005 NBA Draft. The 6’6” guard from Turkey is a member of Galatasaray Liv Hospital of the Turkish Basketball League and has averages of 6.8 points, 1.9 rebounds and 1.6 assists in 21.0 minutes per game.

Lishchuk, 32, was originally drafted by the Memphis Grizzlies with the 49th overall selection in the second round of the 2004 NBA Draft. The 6’11” forward from the Ukraine is a member of Valencia Basket Club of the Spanish League and has averages of 6.0 points, 3.1 rebounds and 0.8 steals in 15.6 minutes per game in eight games played this season.

Cavaliers waive A.J. Price

Cavaliers waive A.J. Price

The Cleveland Cavaliers have waived guard A.J. Price, it was announced today by Cavaliers General Manager David Griffin.

Price, who was received by waiver claim (waived by Indiana) on Nov. 30, played in 11 games for the Cavaliers this season, averaging 2.0 points and 1.4 rebounds in 7.9 minutes per game. The 6-2 guard was also part of the 2014 Cavs training camp and preseason roster, appearing in six preseason games with Cleveland in October, averaging 7.2 points and 1.5 assists in 13.3 minutes per game. He was inactive for the Cavs first two regular season games before also being waived on November 1.

Knicks sign Langston Galloway to 10-day contract

The New York Knicks signed guard Langston Galloway of the NBA Development League’s Westchester Knicks, to a 10-day contract today, President Phil Jackson announced. This marks Westchester’s first-ever Call-Up. Galloway, who was named as one of the franchise’s Affiliate Players after attending training camp with New York, is the league’s 14th overall NBA Development League Call-Up this season.

Galloway, 6-2, 200-pounds, averaged 16.5 points, 5.9 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 2.68 steals over 36.8 minutes in 19 games (all starts) for Westchester this season. The Baton Rouge, LA-native, was originally signed by New York on Sep. 9 and waived on Oct. 25, following four seasons at Saint Joseph’s University.