Month: October 2015

Hornets sign Damien Wilkins

Charlotte Hornets General Manager Rich Cho announced today that the team has signed free agent guard/forward Damien Wilkins.

A nine-year NBA veteran, the University of Georgia product has played in 563 games (149 starts) for the SuperSonics/Thunder, Timberwolves, Hawks, Pistons and 76ers, owning career averages of 6.3 points, 2.4 rebounds and 1.4 assists in 19.3 minutes per game. For his career, Wilkins has shot .427 from the field (1331-3118) and .783 from the free throw line (708-904). Wilkins went undrafted in the 2004 Draft following two seasons at Georgia (2002-04), after transferring from North Carolina State (1999-01).

The Orlando native joins the Hornets most recently from Indios de Mayaguez of the Baloncesto Superior Nacional League in Puerto Rico where he averaged 17.3 points, 4.3 rebounds and 2.8 assists in 31.8 minutes per contest. Wilkins also spent part of the 2014-15 season with the NBA D-League’s Iowa Energy, logging a league-high 1,891 minutes, averaging 20.2 points, 5.7 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 1.4 steals in 37.8 minutes per game, earning 2015 NBA D-League All-Star and 2015 All-NBA D-League Third Team honors.

In addition, the 6-6 Wilkins competed at the 2015 Pan American games in Toronto for the United States representative squad, averaging 13.2 points, 5.0 rebounds and 1.0 assists in 25.2 minutes per game, garnering a bronze medal for the USA National Team.

Wilkins is the nephew of NBA legend Dominique Wilkins and the son of Gerald Wilkins, who enjoyed a 14-year NBA career with the Knicks, Cavaliers, Grizzlies and Magic. Damien Wilkins will wear number 21 as a member of the Hornets.

Lamar Odom prognosis is not good

Here’s TMZ Sports with the latest on former NBA star Lamar Odom, who is fighting for his life in a hospital right now, and is reportedly in very bad condition:

Lamar Odom prognosis is not good

Lamar Odom has not gotten any better, and sources familiar with his treatment say even if he survives he has virtually no chance of ever leading a normal life.

Our sources say doctors continue to put Lamar’s chances of survival at 50/50. We’re told he showed “absolutely no improvement” Thursday from the condition he was in when he was admitted to the hospital Tuesday. As one person put it, “He’s in dire straits.”

Heat starting lineup finally healthy

Here’s the Miami Herald reporting on the Heat, whose starting lineup finally got a chance to actually play basketball together. A very helpful thing in the chemistry-development department.

This is what you would term a tease. It lasted just three minutes and 22 seconds, in the opening quarter of an open scrimmage with a running clock, a scrimmage significant mostly for the cause — breast cancer research and awareness. But this small slice of time, resulting in just four points, still represented the most promising stretch of the Heat’s preseason thus far.

That’s because it was the first time Miami’s projected starters were on the floor together in a competitive setting — Chris Bosh, Dwyane Wade, Luol Deng, Goran Dragic and now, center Hassan Whiteside, who, after rehabbing a calf injury for roughly three weeks, had been cleared after completing the morning practice.

This is the group Pat Riley envisioned since February, when he acquired Dragic, only to see Bosh’s season officially end that same day. Then, after a harrowing summer, in which Miami sweated Bosh’s recovery, Deng’s opt-in decision and Dragic and Wade’s contract negotiations, Whiteside’s injury delayed the process again.

Now Whiteside is back.

The Heat can finally move forward.

Warriors waive Juwan Staten

Warriors waive Juwan Staten

The Golden State Warriors have waived guard Juwan Staten, the team announced yesterday. The Warriors’ training camp roster currently stands at 17 players.

Staten made his preseason debut in tonight’s win over Houston, tallying two points, one rebound, one assist and one steal in 10 minutes. He originally signed with the Warriors on September 25.

Lakers hire Tracy Murray as shooting coach

Lakers hire Tracy Murray as shooting coach

Former Lakers player Tracy Murray has been hired by the team as a shooting coach, it was announced yesterday by General Manager Mitch Kupchak.

In his position, Murray will work with head coach Byron Scott and his staff, focusing on improving the players shooting form and technique.

“I’ve known Tracy a long time, and he was one of the purest shooters I’ve ever seen,” said Scott. “I think he’ll be a benefit to our players, especially our young guys, and I look forward to working with him as a member of our staff.”

Most recently, the Los Angeles native spent eight seasons as a radio color analyst for the UCLA Bruins men’s and women’s basketball teams. During this time, Murray also spent three seasons (2007-09) as a player mentor and assistant coach for the Bakersfield Jam of the NBA Developmental League and one season (2011) as an assistant coach for the WNBA’s Tulsa Shock.

Originally selected by the San Antonio Spurs with the 18th overall pick of the 1992 NBA Draft, Murray played for six teams (Portland, Houston, Toronto, Washington, Denver and Los Angeles) over his 12-year NBA career posting averages of 9.0 points, 2.5 rebounds and 0.8 assists in 659 games. In 1995, Murray earned an NBA championship as a member of the Houston Rockets and on February 10, 1998 he recorded a career- high 50 points while playing for the Washington Wizards. Following the NBA, Murray played overseas with stints in Greece (Panathinaikos, 2004-05 and P.A.O.K., 2005-06) and France (Elan Chalon, 2006-07).

An alumnus of UCLA, Murray played for the Bruins from 1989-92 and was named to the Pac-10 All-Conference First Team during his sophomore and junior seasons. The former McDonald’s All-American averaged 18.3 points, 6.4 rebounds and 1.5 assists in 98 career games and finished his career ranked fifth on UCLA’s All-Time Scoring list (1792).

Luke Babbitt suffers hamstring strain

Luke Babbitt suffers hamstring strain

The New Orleans Pelicans announced yesterday that forward Luke Babbitt suffered a left hamstring strain during Monday’s preseason game in Chicago. A timetable for Babbitt’s return will be determined at a later date.

Babbitt, 6-9, 225, appeared in 63 games (19 starts) for New Orleans during the 2014-15 season, averaging 4.1 points, while shooting .513 from three-point range, and 1.8 rebounds in 13.2 minutes per contest. Babbitt originally signed with the Pelicans as an unrestricted free agent on February 4, 2014, and re-signed with the club on July 20, 2015. In 90 career games with the Pelicans, Babbitt has averaged 4.7 points while shooting .452 from three-point range, and 2.2 rebounds.

Originally drafted by Minnesota with the 16th overall selection in the 2010 NBA Draft out of Nevada, Babbitt has played in 216 career NBA games with Portland and New Orleans, holding averages of 4.2 points and 2.1 rebounds.

Babbitt has appeared in three games this preseason, averaging 10.0 points while shooting .400 from three-point range, 3.3 rebounds and 2.3 assists.

Willie Reed suffers thumb injury

Willie Reed suffers thumb injury

Brooklyn Nets forward/center Willie Reed has been diagnosed with a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his right thumb, an MRI confirmed today. The injury occurred during the first half of last night’s preseason game versus the Boston Celtics. Reed will undergo surgery on Friday, October 16 at the Hospital for Special Surgery in Manhattan. A timetable for his return will be established following the procedure.

Reed, who signed with Brooklyn as a free agent on July 9, 2015, was making his preseason debut when the injury occurred.

Lakers exercise contract option on Julius Randle

Lakers exercise contract option on Julius Randle

The Los Angeles Lakers have exercised their team option for the 2016-17 season on forward Julius Randle, it was announced today by General Manager Mitch Kupchak.

This was a widely-expected move, as the team hopes Randle will emerge as a serious building block for the future.

Randle, the seventh overall selection in the 2014 NBA Draft, only appeared in one game as a rookie, scoring two points in his professional debut on October 28th against Houston before suffering a fractured tibia in his right leg. The second-year player out of Kentucky has started in all five Lakers preseason contests in 2015, averaging 12.8 points, 6.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.20 steals in 24.5 minutes.

The New Orleans Pelicans announced today that the team has signed guard Bo McCalebb.

McCalebb, 6-0, 183, most recently played for Bayern Munich of the BBL in Germany. Undrafted in 2008, McCalebb is a seven-year veteran in Europe, playing in Turkey, Serbia and Italy, in addition to Germany. McCalebb’s professional highlights include five league championships, two All-Euroleague Second Team selections (2010, 2012), two Italian League Finals MVP awards (2011, 2012), the 2010 Serbian League Finals MVP, the 2012 Italian League MVP and the 2012 Alphonso Ford Trophy – awarded to the Euroleague’s scoring champion.

A New Orleans native, McCalebb played his high school basketball at O. Perry Walker before going on to star at the University of New Orleans. While at UNO, McCalebb held career averages of 20.9 points, 4.7 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game. McCalebb earned a handful of individual awards while at UNO, including the Sun Belt Conference Freshman of the Year (2004), Player of the Year (2007) and defensive player of the year (2008) in addition to being named to the All-Sun Belt Conference 3rd Team in 2004 and 1st Team in 2005, 2007 and 2008. His 2,679 points ranks first all-time at UNO and 24th all-time in NCAA Division I history.

New Orleans’ roster stands at 20.