February 2016 – Page 2 – NBA Blog

Cavaliers sign Jordan McRae to 10-day contract

The Cleveland Cavaliers have signed guard Jordan McRae to a 10-day contract, Cavaliers General Manager David Griffin announced today. The signing of McRae also marks the 22nd D-League to NBA Call-Up of the NBA’s 2015-16 season.

McRae (6-6, 185) was a 2016 NBA Development League All-Star this year after appearing in 29 games (all starts) for the Delaware 87ers and averaging 23.3 points, 4.6 rebounds, 5.2 assists and 1.7 steals in 35.5 minutes per game. Against the Canton Charge on Jan. 26, he scored a D-League record 61 points on 21-34 (.618) shooting from the field, to go along with 11 rebounds and seven assists in 46 minutes. McRae also had two 10-day stints with the Phoenix Suns this season, appearing in seven games with averages of 5.3 points and 1.4 assists in 11.7 minutes.

Originally selected as the 58th overall pick out of the University of Tennessee by the San Antonio Spurs in the 2014 NBA Draft and traded to the Philadelphia 76ers on draft night, McRae played professionally in Australia in 2014-15 before joining Delaware for the season’s final 13 games. McRae will be available for today’s contest at Washington and will wear jersey number 12.

Heat sign Joe Johnson

The Miami HEAT announced today that they have signed seven-time NBA All-Star Joe Johnson.

Johnson is one of only five players in NBA history to record at least 18,000 points, 4,500 assists, 4,000 rebounds and 1,500 made three-point field goals. With his addition to the HEAT roster, Miami now features 38 total All-Star appearances, the most in the NBA.

Johnson has appeared in 1,119 career games (1,049 starts) and averaged 17.0 points, 4.2 assists and 4.1 rebounds while shooting 44.1 percent from the field, 37.1 percent from three-point range and 80.1 percent from the foul line. Earlier this season, he hit the game-winning three-point shot in a 105-104 win vs. Denver on February 8, and has now hit the game-tying or game-winning shot nine different times in his career (with one second or less remaining), the third-most by any player since he entered the league, fourth on that list is Dwyane Wade with seven. Additionally, Johnson and Wade now become the only active players in the league to each score at least 18,500 career points on the same roster.

Johnson appeared in 57 games (all starts) with the Brooklyn Nets this season averaging 11.8 points, 4.1 assists, 3.9 rebounds and 33.9 minutes while shooting 40.6 percent from the field, 37.1 percent from three-point range and 85.2 percent from the foul line. He led the team in three-point field goals made (85) and finished second in three-point field goal percentage. The 15-year veteran has appeared in the playoffs 10 times over his career, totaling 87 postseason games (81 starts) averaging 17.3 points, 4.4 rebounds and 3.5 assists while shooting 42.6 percent from the field, 34.9 percent from three-point range and 77.3 percent from the foul line.

Vince Carter scores season-high 19 points vs Lakers

Friday in Los Angeles the Grizzlies beat the Lakers, 112-95. Memphis got a nice boost from Vince Carter off the bench: 7-of-10 shooting, including 5-of-7 three-pointers, for 19 points, three rebounds and two assists in around 19.5 minutes. Here’s the Memphis Commercial Appeal reporting:

Griz veteran Vince Carter manufactured a season-high 19 points mostly off of five 3-pointers. The long-range daggers were Carter’s first five field goal attempts over a span of nearly eight minutes.

“I was just locked in and trying to do anything I could for the team,” Carter said. “I don’t know if it makes me feel younger, but it just brings back good memories and shows that I can still do this. The guys are trying to find me, and that makes you feel good.”

The 18-year veteran is known for his dunking ability but gave new meaning to “Vinsanity.” At one point, Carter hit back-to-back shots from beyond the arc in just 28 seconds.

“I had him ready to sub out, and as (P.J. Hairston) was sitting there waiting for a dead ball, Vince made two more, which put him at five (3-pointers),” Joerger said. “But he was getting tired, he did a great job. What he does is he settles us. It was good for him to play with Mike Conley and a little bit of Lance (Stephenson). What I liked about what we did tonight, we can be chuckers at times, but the ball moved and that made for easier looks. Those are the kinds of shots where you might pass up an open guy when you see someone open, and all of a sudden he gets it and we’re moving the basketball. When they grab on to those things and realize this is how we can be successful, it can be good for us.”

Hawks hope to add player by Tuesday

The Atlanta Hawks are 32-27 this season and were getting 5.6 points and 3.3 rebounds in 16.1 minutes per game from center Tiago Splitter, who is done for the season. Those stats might not sound like much, but as a backup he still did fill a need in the rotation. Here’s the Atlanta Journal Constitution with more:

A ‘vacancy’ sign still hangs outside Philips Arena.

Nine days after the Hawks created a roster spot at the NBA trade deadline, they have yet to fill the opening. Team management deemed it necessary to be able to add a player for the stretch run after the season-ending surgery to Tiago Splitter. They made runs at Anderson Varejao and Joe Johnson after they were waived but each chose other teams.

The Hawks are currently concentrating on the buyout market to add a veteran player because an important deadline looms. With the trade deadline passed, March 1 is the last day a players who is waived is eligible for the playoffs. Players can still be signed after Tuesday, however they can’t play in the postseason.

Kyle Lowry scores 43 points vs Cavs

Friday night in Toronto, the Raptors beat the Cavaliers 99-97. Awesome in the win was Raptors guard Kyle Lowry: 15-of-20 shooting for 43 points, five rebounds, nine assists and four steals, plus the game-winning shot. Here’s the Akron Beacon Journal reporting:

Lowry’s jumper with 3.8 seconds left over an outstretched Matthew Dellavedova gave the Raptors a 99-97 victory over the Cavaliers on Friday night, shaving the Cavs’ lead for the top seed in the conference to just two games and more importantly giving the Raptors the tiebreaker.

The Raptors won the season series 2-1.

The Cavs gave away leads of 12 and 14 points and lost for the second time in their last three games despite LeBron James playing the entire second half.
The Cavs had a chance to win it at the buzzer, but James’ 3-pointer missed everything.

Kevin Love’s initial inbounds pass was batted back toward him by Bismack Biyombo. Love narrowly got out of the way of the ball touching him, which would’ve given possession back to the Raptors. The Cavs were awarded the ball again after a lengthy review and Love quickly inbounded to James, who is shooting under 28 percent from 3-point range this season. James shot an airball from the top of the perimeter, which deftly summed up the Cavs’ evening.

Jameer Nelson falls down Nuggets depth chart

The 23-35 Denver Nuggets are getting 7.9 points and 5.0 assists in 27.1 minutes per game this season from veteran guard Jameer Nelson. His shooting has been a mess: 36.9% FG and 29.9% threes. Here’s the Denver Post with more:

Right now, the point guard hierarchy is as follows: Emmanuel Mudiay, D.J. Augustin, Jameer Nelson. And Mudiay is getting the majority of the minutes.

Two factors have gone into Nuggets coach Michael Malone’s decision to change the depth chart. First, Augustin has come in and quickly played very well since being traded to the Nuggets a week ago. Second, Nelson continues to battle through a sprained left wrist.

And even though he’s been able to suit up, ready to play if needed, he’ll have to wait.

“You know, it’s tough,” Malone said. “D.J. has played well for us. Emmanuel is getting the lion share of the minutes. You cant play three point guards. Jameer and I have talked, and I told him that right now I’m going to play D.J. as the backup.”

Joe Johnson will reportedly join Heat

Small forward Joe Johnson averaged just 11.8 points on 40.6% shooting this season for the Brooklyn Nets, plus 3.9 rebounds and 4.1 assists per outing. His career is winding down. Still, he’d make a terrific addition to just about any team that wants him as a member of the supporting cast. Here’s the Akron Beacon Journal reporting:

Six years later, the Cavaliers have reportedly lost out on another free agent to the Miami Heat. This one, however, doesn’t sting nearly as much.

Joe Johnson will join the Miami Heat after he clears waivers Saturday night, according to multiple reports. The soon-to-be free agent guard was considering the Cavs, but has chosen South Beach instead. Yahoo Sports reported Johnson chose the Heat for the chance to start and play meaningful minutes.

LeBron James, who also spurned Cleveland for Miami in 2010, confirmed earlier Friday the Cavs had interest in Johnson, but stopped short of saying he would reach out to him.

Should NBA three-point shot be deeper?

Here’s ESPN.com reporting the views of Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban on the distance of the NBA three-point shot:

Mark Cuban has a suggestion to reintroduce the midrange shot to the NBA game: Move back the 3-point arc.

“It’s getting too close,” the Dallas Mavericks owner said Friday night of the 3-point arc, which is 23 feet, 9 inches at the crest and 22 feet in the corners, where there is no room to move it back. “Guys are shooting a foot behind it anyways. … That’s something we should look at. It’s worth looking at.

“I don’t think the number of shots would decline, but I think it would reward skill and open up the court some more. So guys would still take [3-point] shots if it’s seven inches back or whatever, but at the same time, it opens up the court for more drives, more midrange game.”

The midrange jumper has become an endangered species of sorts, while NBA players are firing 3-pointers at record rates.

Bryce Dejean-Jones out for season after wrist surgery

New Orleans Pelicans guard Bryce Dejean-Jones underwent successful surgery this morning to repair a right wrist fracture. He will miss the remainder of the 2015-16 season.

Dejean-Jones, 6-6, 203, has appeared in 14 games (11 starts) for the Pelicans, averaging 5.6 points and 3.4 rebounds in 19.9 minutes per game.

Prior to joining New Orleans, Dejean-Jones played for the Idaho Stampede of the NBA Development League, appearing in nine games (seven starts), averaging 19.2 points, 4.7 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 2.0 steals in 31.1 minutes per game.

Undrafted out of Iowa State, Dejean Jones was a member of the Pelicans’ 2015 Las Vegas Summer League team and training camp roster. In six summer league contests, Dejean-Jones averaged 12.8 points on .619 shooting from the field, including .500 from three point range, to go along with 1.8 rebounds, 1.5 steals and 1.2 assists in 21.7 minutes per game. Appearing in all seven preseason contests for New Orleans, Dejean-Jones averaged 8.9 points, 1.6 rebounds and 1.4 assists.

Beno Udrih out three months after foot surgery

Miami Heat guard Beno Udrih underwent surgery to repair a torn plantar plate in his right foot. The one hour, 45-minute procedure was performed by HEAT team physician Dr. Harlan Selesnick and Dr. Thomas San Giovanni at Miami Orthopedics & Sports Medicine Institute at Doctors Hospital. He is expected to miss three months.

Udrih has appeared in 36 games (five starts) with the HEAT this season averaging 4.4 points, 2.5 assists, 1.8 rebounds and 16.3 minutes while shooting 43.4 percent from the field. He was originally acquired by the HEAT, along with Jarnell Stokes, via trade with the Memphis Grizzlies in exchange for Mario Chalmers and James Ennis earlier this season on November 10.