Month: October 2015

Michael Kidd-Gilchrist suffers dislocated right shoulder

Michael Kidd-Gilchrist suffers dislocated right shoulder

Charlotte Hornets forward Michael Kidd-Gilchrist suffered a dislocated right shoulder in Saturday’s preseason contest at Orlando. The injury occurred with 46 seconds remaining in the second quarter. Kidd-Gilchrist was taken to Florida Hospital South for x-rays and additional evaluation. X-rays taken at the hospital were negative. He will remain in Orlando overnight and is out for Sunday’s game at Miami. Kidd-Gilchrist will be further evaluated by Hornets team physicians in Charlotte on Monday. An update on his status will be provided when available.

Kings exercise 2016-17 contract option on Ben McLemore

Kings exercise 2016-17 contract option on Ben McLemore

The Sacramento Kings announced today they have picked up the 2016-17 option on guard Ben McLemore’s contract, according to Kings Vice President and General Manager Vlade Divac.

Entering his third NBA campaign, the 6-5 guard averaged 12.1 points (.437 FG%, .358 3pt%, .813 FT%), 2.9 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 32.6 minutes per contest in starting all 82 games he played in last season.

Clippers waive Nikoloz Tskitishvili

The L.A. Clippers announced today the team has waived free agent forward/center Nikoloz Tskitishvili.

Tskitishvili did not appear in a preseason game for the Clippers. The former fifth overall pick in the 2002 NBA Draft by the Denver Nuggets, Tskitishvili has appeared in 172 career games (16 starts) for Denver, Golden State, Minnesota and Phoenix averaging 2.9 points and 1.7 rebounds in 11.3 minutes of play. The Tbilisi, Georgian native has played in Spain, Italy, Iran, Lebanon and the United Arab Emirates post-NBA. The 32-year old played for Champville of the Lebanese Basketball League last season.

Jordan Clarkson and D`Angelo Russell developing chemistry

Jordan Clarkson and D`Angelo Russell developing chemistry

Here’s ESPN Los Angeles with an early look at chemistry development between key members of the Lakers’ future:

Part of the reason the two players seem to mesh well is that they believe their skill sets complement each other more than they overlap.

“His mentality is more [to] score,” Russell said. “I’m looking to pass, and he’s in a position to score most of the time.”

Said Clarkson: “We’re two totally different players. He’s an excellent passer and I’m real aggressive and it just kind of comes together.”

The players also come together outside of basketball.

“We hang [out] a lot off the court,” Clarkson said, “so it kind of makes it easy on the court.”

“We just relate to each other,” Russell said. “He’s not one of those real serious vets that you can’t crack a smile around. He’s a young dude, second year, still learning, still growing. Me, the same way. I’m a goofy guy, he’s a goofy guy. So we kind of complement each other.”

On how Kosta Koufos will help the Kings

Here’s the Sacramento Bee providing insight on a key Kings big man:

On how Kosta Koufos will help the Kings

One player whom coach George Karl has raved about during training camp says he can help the Kings’ offense without scoring or making an assist.

Kosta Koufos says a good screen can be just as important as finding an open shooter, which he learned by dedication to his craft.

“Patience, experience and just being efficient – those little things (translate) to big things.” Koufos said after Friday’s practice at UC San Diego. “If you’re rolling to the basket and you’re not getting the ball, you’re still getting other guys open on the wings. Little things like that carry over in the long run.”

Koufos wasn’t Sacramento’s flashiest free-agent signing during the offseason. The 7-foot, 265-pound center enters his eighth season averaging 5.4 points and 4.7 rebounds. But Koufos’ patience in refining his game could prove to be exactly what the Kings need. His presence on offense could allow DeMarcus Cousins more freedom to play away from the basket.

2015-16 preseason begins with Clippers win

Clippers win 2015-16 NBA preseason opener

DeAndre Jordan had 15 points and 12 rebounds to help the Los Angeles Clippers beat the Denver Nuggets 103-96 on Friday night in the first game of the NBA preseason.

Jordan scored 12 points in the first half on 5-for-6 shooting, including three dunks.

The Clippers spoiled Nuggets coach Michael Malone’s debut.

Nuggets: Joffrey Lauvergne scored 16 points on 7-for-10 shooting and had 11 rebounds in a reserve role. Rookie Emmanuel Mudiay missed eight of his first 11 shots and finished with 14 points.

— Associated Press

Bucks to use alternate court design this season

Now this is interesting. An alternate home court to go with an alternate jersey. Here’s ESPN.com reporting:

Bucks to use alternate court this season

The Milwaukee Bucks gave their fans the chance to buy something new, as the team announced at its Fan Fest Saturday that it will sell a four-game ticket package where the team not only will wear a new alternate jersey but will play on a completely new alternate basketball court.

“The idea has always been to take the fan experience to the next level,” said the Bucks vice president of marketing Dustin Godsey. “We rebranded with the alternate uniforms, but other teams have done that.”

No NBA team has ever played on a different surface in its home arena within the same season.

Bucks sign John Henson to contract extension

The Milwaukee Bucks have signed forward John Henson to a contract extension, General Manager John Hammond announced today.

According to ESPN.com, it is a four-year extension worth somewhere around $45 million.

“We’re thrilled to get this deal done to keep John in a Bucks uniform for years to come,” Bucks General Manager John Hammond said. “Since we drafted him in 2012, John has made an impact on this team, especially on the defensive end, and he is an integral part of our future. We’re looking forward to continuing to watch his development as we work to become a championship-caliber team.”

Henson, 24, played in 67 games for Milwaukee last season (11 starts), and averaged 7.0 points and 4.7 rebounds. He finished 5th in NBA for blocks per game with 2.01 and is one of seven players in Bucks history to average over 2.0 blocks in a single season. Henson blocked at least one shot in 20 straight games from Dec. 26 to Feb. 22, which was the third-longest streak in the NBA last season and one game shy of the longest such streak of his career (21 from Dec. 13, 2013 to Feb. 22, 2014). On March 20 at Brooklyn, Henson tied his career high with seven blocked shots in only 21 minutes – tying the shortest time for any player to get to seven blocks last season.

“We’re excited for John and for our organization as we continue to build a consistent winner,” Bucks Head Coach Jason Kidd said. “John is a great teammate, plays unselfishly and has worked very hard to develop into a top-tier defender. We look forward to many great years together with him.”

The Bucks selected Henson with the 14th overall pick in the 2012 NBA Draft. He’s posted career averages of 8.1 points, 5.5 rebounds and 1.5 blocks over three seasons, and his field goal percentage of 53.1 ranks third on Milwaukee’s all-time list (min. 1,000 FGA). In one of his best games on April 10, 2013, at Orlando, Henson posted 17 points along with career highs of 25 rebounds and seven blocks, becoming the first player to hit all three of those numbers since Shaquille O’Neal did so during the 2003-04 season.

Henson has been to the playoffs with the Bucks twice with averages of 5.9 points, 5.6 rebounds and 1.0 blocks through 10 games. In the 2015 postseason, he notched his first career playoff double-double on April 23 vs. Chicago with postseason career highs of 15 points and 14 rebounds, and with three blocks he became the first Bucks player since Ervin Johnson on May 28, 2001, to post a double-double with at least three blocks in a playoff game.

The 6-foot-11-inch product out of North Carolina was a two-time ACC Defensive Player of the Year (2011, 2012) and was named First-Team All-ACC as a junior after leading the conference in shot-blocking and rebounding. He was also named a 2009 McDonald’s All American as a senior at Sickles High School (Florida).

Seth Curry now has chance to establish himself

Minutes  may be tough to come by, however

Here’s the Sacramento Bee reporting on new Kings guard Seth Curry, brother of Stephen, who now has his best opportunity so far to solidify himself as a true NBA’er:

Seth Curry now has chance to establish himself

Seth Curry can relax a little, right?

Since going undrafted out of Duke in 2013, the 6-foot-2 guard has played in the NBA Development League and had brief stints in Memphis, Cleveland and Phoenix.

He now has a two-year guaranteed contract for $1.96 million with the Kings, assuring he will be on the opening night roster against the Los Angeles Clippers. But that’s not how Curry, the younger brother of Golden State star Stephen Curry, is approaching the season.

“I wouldn’t say more relaxed,” Curry said after Thursday’s practice at UC San Diego. “I think it just gives me a sense of trying to fit in with the team and find my role instead of just trying to make the team. But I still have the same sense of urgency that I’ve had in the past.”

Curry caught the Kings’ attention with a spectacular showing during summer league in Las Vegas, where he averaged 24.3 points for New Orleans. Curry impressed with his savvy and perimeter shooting, two assets coveted by Kings general manager Vlade Divac while revamping the roster.