Month: December 2019

Wizards sign Anzejs Pasecniks to two-way contract

The Washington Wizards signed center Anzejs Pasecniks to a two-way contract today.

And in a related move, the team waived guard Chris Chiozza.

Pasecniks, a 7-1 center from Latvia, has played in 12 games (two starts) with the Capital City Go-Go this season, averaging 10.5 points and 5.0 rebounds per game, while shooting .604 from the field. Pasecniks had scored at least 10 points in each of the Go-Go’s last four games, most recently posting 16 points and four rebounds in a win over the Lakeland Magic on December 13.

Pasecniks was a member of the Wizards’ 2019 Summer League team, where he appeared in four games (two starts) and averaged 4.0 points and 5.3 rebounds per game. He also appeared in one preseason game with the Wizards this season, scoring four points and grabbing three rebounds in a win over the 76ers. He was originally selected with the 25th overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft by the Orlando Magic before being traded to the Philadelphia 76ers on draft night.

Chris Chiozza played in 10 games with the Wizards this season, averaging 2.7 points and 2.8 assists per game. The second-year pro also started in seven games for the Go-Go this season, where he averaged 12.1 points, 4.1 rebounds and 7.3 assists per game.

Myles Turner adjusting to changing role with Pacers

The Pacers have been a success story this season, which is impressive considering they are still awaiting the return to action of shooting guard Victor Oladipo. A key development this year has been a change in the squad’s frontcourt, and one that definitely affects Myles Turner. Here’s the Indianapolis Star reporting:

Being defended by smaller players because he’s now sharing the starting lineup with Domantas Sabonis, he’s not just posting and having his number called. It’s how he’s posting up.

No longer do most of his looks in the offense come via the pick-and-roll (or pop). That’s for Sabonis, who is being defended by the slower players at his position on offense at the 5. Turner, listed as the center, is being defended by 4s and offensively faces up better. His defenders are now mostly quicker, smaller and more laterally capable.

When Malcolm Brogdon or T.J. McConnell call for a ball screen, they want slow-footed Alex Len (Hawks) who’d be defending Sabonis or Daniel Theis (Celtics) or Nik Vucevic (Magic). They wouldn’t call for Turner, who’d be defended by John Collins (when he returns from suspension for the Hawks) in that scenario, or Jaylen Brown (Celtics) or Aaron Gordon and Jonathan Isaac (Magic).

The Pacers haven’t gotten much attention this season but they’ve played as well as many of the East’s best squads. Especially on the defensive side of the floor – and Turner is a big part of that.

Marcus Smart dealing with eye infection

Boston Celtics guard Marcus Smart, one of the team’s most important players, is dealing with a lingering eye infection. Here’s the Boston Herald reporting:

The infection in the Celtics guard’s left eye that has kept him out of the team’s last three games has now spread to his right eye, coach Brad Stevens said after practice on Monday.

Smart wasn’t at the Celtics practice facility as the team returned Monday and it’s uncertain when he will be back. Either way, his status seems to be in jeopardy as the Celtics return to action on Wednesday night at Dallas.

“You’re worried about it but I was told this particular type of infection could be 7-10 days,” Stevens said Monday. “We’re at seven now.”

The Celtics are 17-7 this season. Smart has started 15 of 20 games played and is averaging 11.8 points and 4.6 assists per game, and is one of the team’s key defensive players.

LeBron James discusses load management

“Load management” is getting more attention than it deserves. Only a handful of NBA players sit out sometimes, usually during one game in a back-to-back, and occasionally in other situations.

How does LeBron James feel about it? Here’s the LA Times reporting:

“If I’m healthy, I play,” James said after the Lakers’ 101-96 victory over the Atlanta Hawks. “I mean, that should be the approach. I mean, unless we’re getting to like late in the season and we’ve clinched and we can’t get any better or any worse, it could benefit from that, but why wouldn’t I play if I’m healthy? It doesn’t make any sense to me, personally.

“I mean, I don’t know how many games I got left in my career. I don’t know how many kids that may show up to a game and they’re there to come see me play and if I sit out, then what? That’s my obligation.”

The Lakers are 24-3 so far this season. That’s 27 games. LeBron has played in all 27.

 

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Heat reportedly ready to move on from Dion Waiters

The Heat have suspended shooting guard Dion Waiters three times this season. They haven’t actually used his services as a basketball player. And the two sides may just call it a wrap and see about moving on.

Here’s the Miami Herald:

The Heat is actively exploring avenues to extricate itself of guard Dion Waiters, but Waiters – at this point – opposes giving up any of the money he’s owed to achieve that, according to a source briefed on the situation…

The Heat is open to a buyout of the final year-and-a-half of his contract, but Waiters at this point has been disinclined to accept anything less than $12.1 million he’s owed this year and the $12.7 million he’s due to make next season.

That $12.1 million salary for this season has been reduced by $1.4 million because of the three suspensions, which cover 17 games.

The Heat have been terrific this season. The addition of Jimmy Butler has been a complete success. It’s a shame to waste big salary money on a player that isn’t being utilized, but when a team has a winning situation, they need to protect it.

Bucks guard Eric Bledsoe out a few weeks with leg injury

Milwaukee Bucks guard Eric Bledsoe sustained a right leg injury during Friday night’s 127-114 road win against the Grizzlies in Memphis.

An MRI and subsequent examination revealed that Bledsoe’s injury is a right fibula avulsion fracture.

Bledsoe is expected to be sidelined for approximately two weeks.

According to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, “Bledsoe was hurt in the third quarter of the Bucks’ 127-114 victory over the Grizzlies in Memphis on Friday night. He tried to sneak behind Grizzlies center Jonas Valunciunas for a steal, but ran into teammate Wesley Matthews. Both players hit the floor, but Bledsoe went back to the locker room and didn’t return.”

In 26 games (all starts) for the Bucks this season, Bledsoe is averaging 15.0 points, 4.9 rebounds and a team-high 5.7 assists in 26.6 minutes per game.

De`Aaron Fox returning soon for Kings

There is good news on the horizon for the Kings. Here’s the Sacramento Bee reporting:

Kings point guard De’Aaron Fox has been sidelined for five weeks with a severely sprained ankle, but he thinks he will be back in the lineup soon — very soon.

Fox said he expects to return sometime next week, perhaps as early as Tuesday when the Kings visit the Charlotte Hornets. He believes he will be back before the team returns from a four-game road trip to play the Houston Rockets on Dec. 23 and called the Dec. 26 game against the Minnesota Timberwolves a “worst-case scenario.”

More from the Bee:

Fox averaged 18.2 points, 7.0 assists and 3.4 rebounds in nine games before he got hurt. He said he has been ramping up workouts in recent days, going hard in 3-on-3 and 5-on-5 drills at the team’s practice facility.

Fox is one of the league’s most exciting young guards. This will be a boost for the Kings, but also for fans of anyone who enjoys fun basketball.

 

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Atlanta Hawks waive guard Tyrone Wallace

The Atlanta Hawks today waived guard Tyrone Wallace.

Claimed off waivers by the Hawks on October 23, Wallace appeared in 14 games, averaging 2.9 points and 1.6 rebounds in 11.5 minutes per outing.

The Hawks are just 6-20 this season. They’re getting big play from point guard Trae Young, and 16.4 points per game on good shooting from forward Jabari Parker, but big-man John Collins has only played five games due to a long suspension, small forward De’Andre Hunter is scoring 12.8 PPG but on just 40.6% shooting, and no one else on the team is scoring in double digits.

But as much as a problem offense is so far this season for the Hawks, their team defense is even worse, and through yesterday’s games is ranked 28th in the league.

The good news is, Collins will be back. And it’ll be worth seeing how they play a week or so later as they work him back into the mix.

 

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We’ve officially opened our fourth @statefarm Good Neighbor Club at Bessie Branham Park

Hornets rookie PJ Washington injured, out with broken finger

Charlotte Hornets rookie forward PJ Washington has suffered a fractured fifth finger on his right hand. The injury occurred during the fourth quarter of last night’s 83-73 win over the Chicago Bulls.

Washington will officially miss tomorrow’s game against the Indiana Pacers, and according to a report from ESPN.com today “is expected to be sidelined through Christmas… the Hornets play five games in that stretch.”

Washington was selected 12th overall in the 2019 NBA Draft by the Charlotte Hornets. In his first season with the Hornets, the rookie forward has averaged 12.3 points, 5.3 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 0.9 blocks in 29.4 minutes per game over the course of 28 appearances (all starts). The Kentucky product ranks fifth among all rookies in points (343), seventh in three-pointers made (39), first in rebounds (147) and first in blocks (26) this season.

According to the Charlotte Observer, “after a relatively healthy first six weeks of the season, the Hornets have seen injuries pile up lately. Marvin Williams and Nic Batum, the two most experienced players on the second unit, both missed the past two games. Williams is out again Sunday with a sore right knee. Batum is listed as questionable with a sore left hand; he suffered a broken middle finger on that hand in the season opener against the Bulls.”

 

 

 

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Carl Scheer, the first Hornets president and GM, passes away

The Charlotte Hornets today released the following statement on the passing of Carl Scheer.

“The Hornets organization mourns the loss of Carl Scheer. As our first president and general manager, he built the franchise from the ground up and laid the foundation for our city’s love affair with the Hornets. Carl was a true pioneer whose innovative ideas such as the slam dunk contest changed the NBA. His contributions to professional basketball in the state of North Carolina are unmatched, having led not only the Hornets but also the ABA’s Carolina Cougars, and his knowledge and love of the game will be missed.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife Marsha, son Bob, daughter Lauren, and his entire family.”

From the Charlotte Observer:

Carl Scheer, the first general manager in Charlotte Hornets history and the inventor of the slam-dunk contest, died Friday in Charlotte. He was 82.

Bob Scheer said his father passed away one day short of what would have been his 83rd birthday.

Scheer was one of the primary authors of the Hornets’ inaugural season in 1988-89, a spectacular success still remembered nostalgically among the team’s longtime fans.

During a sports-centric career that spanned 50 years, Scheer also served as director of two minor-league hockey teams in the Carolinas — the Charlotte Checkers and the Greenville (S.C.) Growl. He also worked as GM of the ABA’s Carolina Cougars and shepherded the construction of a 14,000-seat multi-purpose arena in downtown Greenville, S.C.