The Golden State Warriors have signed forward/center Chris Hunter to a contract, the team announced today.  Hunter, who is being called up from the NBA Development League’s Fort Wayne Mad Ants, will be in uniform for tonight’s game against the Portland Trail Blazers at Oracle Arena.

Hunter, 25, was a D-League All-Star last season with Fort Wayne, where he averaged 19.3 points, 9.4 rebounds, 1.19 blocks and 32.7 minutes per contest in 47 games.  The 6-11, 240-pound Hunter ranked fourth in the D-League in rebounding and ninth in scoring, while shooting 55.1% (353-641 FG) from the field and 81.1% (197-243 FT) from the line.  With his signing, Hunter becomes the first player to receive a Gatorade Call-Up from the D-League this season.

An All-NBA Development League Second Team selection last season, Hunter was signed by the New York Knicks on April 14, 2009, for their final regular season game, but did not play.  He also appeared in two games with the Knicks during the 2009-10 preseason.  Hunter played four seasons at the University of Michigan (2002-03 thru 2005-06) before beginning his professional career overseas in Poland and Belgium.

Golden State’s roster now stands at 16 players.  The Warriors are able to add Hunter to the roster under the NBA’s hardship rules, which allows a team that has 15 players on its Active and Inactive Lists and is unable to meet the minimum number of players requirement (8), the ability to sign an additional player.

Hunter will wear uniform #31.

Discuss your Warriors opinions on the InsideHoops Golden State Warriors forum.

The WNBA is in active discussions with potential investors to relocate the Sacramento Monarchs to the Bay Area in time for the start of the 2010 WNBA season, league President Donna Orender announced today.  Going forward, Maloof Sports & Entertainment will no longer operate the Monarchs.

“The Bay Area has been a desirable market for the WNBA and the availability of the Monarchs provides an opportunity to move a well-known franchise and broaden its fan base within Northern California,” said Orender. “Maloof Sports & Entertainment, owner of the Monarchs, has deemed it essential to focus all of its resources on the Sacramento Kings at this time. We understand this decision was a difficult one for them and appreciate the vision, leadership, and support of the Maloof family over the past 10 years.

“The Maloofs have shown a passion for women’s basketball and seen the WNBA as great entertainment that has a positive impact on the way society views women and sports. They take great pride in the Monarchs’ players, both for their contributions on the court and in the Sacramento community.”

One of the league’s original eight teams in 1997, the Monarchs won the WNBA championship in 2005 and the Western Conference crown in 2006. Featuring former Stanford player and WNBA All-Star Nicole Powell, Olympic gold-medalist and WNBA All-Star Kara Lawson, and Piedmont, Calif. standout Courtney Paris, the team also holds the second pick in the 2010 WNBA Draft.

“We enjoyed our time with the WNBA and the Monarchs,” said co-owner Joe Maloof.  “We are extremely proud of an amazing run that included six straight playoff appearances and the 2005 WNBA Championship.  All of our resources are now dedicated to bringing the Sacramento Kings back to championship caliber form.”

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Marcus Thompson of the Bay Area News Group reports:

After Tuesday’s 114-108 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers, Warriors guard Monta Ellis was faced with the same, obvious question. With Stephen Jackson traded to the Charlotte Bobcats, does he see an opening for him to increase his role?

“I told you all,” Ellis said after totaling 23 points and eight assists, “I’m not putting any more on my back.”

The Warriors are hoping just the opposite. According to team sources, Warriors officials are watching closely to see if Ellis assumes the role as face of the franchise, being the team’s highest-paid, and perhaps best, player. How he responds could determine whether he is around for the long term.

Reports surfaced Tuesday about the Warriors actively shopping Ellis on the trade market, and Ellis’ agent, Jeff Fried, is set to meet with general manager Larry Riley this week, possibly to talk about a trade.

On the one hand, I get what Monta is saying. He’s doing all he can, so he can’t step up and do more, because he’s already doing it. On the other hand, the team needs emotional leaders as well as floor leaders more than ever, and he certainly can have the ball more, create for others more, and raise his star-level even higher. But, he’s apparently not interested in that. Which isn’t really too impressive.

Raja Bell is a new member of the Golden State Warriors, acquired in the trade that sent Stephen Jackson to the Charlotte Bobcats.

The rugged, defensive-minded shooting guard has been playing hurt and has decided to take care of his bad wrist.

Rusty Simmons of the San Francisco Chronicle reports (via blog):

Newly-acquired Raja Bell told The Chronicle on Tuesday that he will have wrist surgery, a decision that adds to the Warriors’ injury woes and could cost the guard the rest of the season.

Bell, who was picked up from Charlotte in the Stephen Jackson trade Monday, will go back east for surgery to repair a partially torn ligament in his left wrist. He’ll miss four or five weeks if the wrist is in decent shape and probably the rest of the season if screws are needed for the repair.

“I’m going into it, assuming it will be a big surgery,” Bell said. “If I wake up and it’s not, it’s icing on the cake. I’m prepared for the worst-case scenario, and I’ll go from there.

He’s probably thinking that it makes no sense to play hurt for a team that is sure to lose and not make the playoffs, and might as well lengthen his career by having the surgery done now.

Read fan reaction and discuss your own opinion in this forum topic.

Charlotte Bobcats General Manager Rod Higgins announced today that the team has acquired guards Stephen Jackson and Acie Law from the Golden State Warriors in exchange for guard Raja Bell and forward Vladimir Radmanovic.

According to the AP/NBA.com, “Charlotte takes on Jackson’s contract, which has three years and $27.7 million left after this season. Golden State inherits Radmanovic’s deal, worth about $13.5 million over this season and next. Bell and Law are in the final year of their contracts.”

“We are excited to add a player of Stephen’s caliber to our franchise,” Higgins said.  “He is coming off arguably the best season of his career and we believe he will help our team on both ends of the floor with his scoring and defensive abilities.  He also brings experience going deep into the playoffs, including winning an NBA Championship with San Antonio.  In addition, Acie Law is a talented, young player who provides us with added depth at point guard.”

The 6-8 Jackson is in his tenth NBA season, with career averages of 15.5 points, 3.8 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1.3 steals in 608 games played for New Jersey, San Antonio, Atlanta, Indiana and Golden State.  He averaged career highs of 20.7 points, 6.5 assists and 5.1 rebounds last season.  In 179 games played for the Warriors since joining the team during the 2006-07 season, Jackson has averaged 19.4 points, 5.0 assists, 4.4 rebounds and 1.4 steals in 37.9 minutes.

In nine games played so far this season, Jackson is averaging 16.6 points, 4.7 assists, 3.9 rebounds and 1.56 steals, ranking 30th in the NBA in assists and 24th in steals.

Law, who was the 11th overall pick in the 2007 NBA Draft by Atlanta, is in his third NBA season, with career averages of 3.7 points, 1.8 assists and 1.0 rebound in 116 games played for Atlanta and Golden State.  In five games played this season for Golden State after being acquired from Atlanta on June 25, Law is averaging 6.2 points, 1.4 assists, 1.2 steals and 0.4 rebounds in 13.2 minutes played.

Bell and Radmanovic were each acquired by the Bobcats in trades last season, with Bell joining the Bobcats on December 10, 2008, as part of a five-player trade with Phoenix and Radmanovic coming to Charlotte on February 7, 2009, from the Los Angeles Lakers in exchange for Shannon Brown and Adam Morrison.

A nine-year NBA veteran, Bell played in 50 total games for the Bobcats, averaging 12.9 points, 4.0 rebounds and 2.5 assists in 35.2 minutes.  In five games played this season, Bell is averaging 12.0 points, 4.2 rebounds and 2.0 assists.

Radmanovic played in 40 total games for the Bobcats, averaging 7.7 points, 3.4 rebounds and 1.3 assists in 20.2 minutes.  In eight games played this season, the eight-year veteran is 4.9 points, 3.6 rebounds and 0.9 assists.

Read NBA fan reaction and discuss your own opinion in this forum topic.

Brandon Jennings has made Milwaukee Bucks history.

Saturday night, led by their rookie point guard, the Milwaukee Bucks beat the Golden State Warriors, 129-125. Jennings shot 21-of-34 (7-of-8 three-pointers, 6-of-8 free throws) to finish with 55 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists (though, four turnovers).

All of Jennings’ points came in the final three quarters. He was scoreless in the first.

The 55 points sets the Bucks team record for most points in a game by a rookie. The previous record was held by Lew Alcindor (Kareem Abdul-Jabbar).

Both teams shot extremely well in this game. Milwaukee hit 52.7 percent of their shots, while Golden State connected on 56.1 percent. The Bucks hit 14-of-24 three-pointers; the Warriors 8-of-20.

Jennings’ counterparts on the Warriors, Monta Ellis and Stephen Curry, had great shooting nights themselves. Ellis made 11-of-19 shots for 26 points, while Curry came off the bench of to hit 6-of-9 for 14.

Still, the night belonged to Jennings, who played like a star.

BRANDON JENNINGS 55-POINT GAME NOTES

Brandon Jennings scored a career-high 55 points, surpassing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s (Lew Alcindor) rookie record of 51 points, which was set on Feb. 21, 1970.  Jennings is only the second Bucks’ rookie, and the third Bucks player (joining Abdul-Jabbar and Michael Redd) to score 50 points in a game. Jennings’ 55-point game marks the 13th 50-point game in Bucks history.

Brandon Jennings’ 55 points are the most by an NBA rookie since Earl Monroe had 56 on February 13, 1968. They’re also the second-most by a player under 21. The most was 56 scored by LeBron James on March 20, 2005.

Brandon Jennings scored 29 points in the third quarter on 12-of-13 from the field, including 4-of-5 from three-point range. The 29 points were the most points for an opposing player against Golden State in a quarter. On Dec. 3, 2003, Voshon Lenard of the Denver Nuggets scored 26 against the Warriors.

Jennings was just two points shy of tying the Bucks’ record for most points scored in a game by a single player. Michael Redd holds the record with 57 against Utah on Nov. 11, 2006. He scored zero points in the first quarter, 10 in the second, 29 in the third and 16 in the fourth quarter.

The last rookie who scored 30 points back-to-back for the Bucks was Glenn Robinson in 1995. On Feb. 8, he scored 37 against Minnesota and on Feb. 14, he scored 30 against Miami.

The Bucks have won four in a row to improve to 5-2. They’ve also  won three of the last four home games against Golden State. Their home record against the Warriors has improved to 44-16 all-time.

Read fan reaction and discuss your own opinion in this forum topic.

Warriors guard/forward Kelenna Azubuike suffered a left patellar tendon injury at the 9:03 mark of the first quarter of tonight’s game at Milwaukee.  Azubuike left the game and did not return.

An image of his left knee taken at the Bradley Center revealed the patellar tendon injury.

Azubuike will not play in either of the team’s remaining games on this road trip (Tuesday at Cleveland and Wednesday at Boston). He will return to the Bay Area tomorrow to consult with team orthopedic physician Dr. Frank Chen for diagnosis and treatment.

Read fan reaction and discuss your opinion in this forum topic.

Rusty Simmons of the San Francisco Chronicle reports (via blog):

Warriors coach Don Nelson stormed out and a red-faced, frustrated Monta Ellis couldn’t be consoled by teammates. So ended Thursday’s practice in New York City.

As the players cooled down from a practice at the Reebok Sports Club and prepared for the bus ride to the London hotel, Ellis called Nelson over to the bench.

Sitting between Stephen Jackson and Acie Law, Ellis asked, “Coach, why do I get blamed for everything?”

Then, the coach and player had this heated dialogue:

Nelson: “What have I ever blamed you for?”

Ellis: “For everything. Everything. People not knowing their plays. I didn’t do this. I didn’t do that.”

The two best Warriors players are Stephen Jackson and Monta Ellis, and both are very unhappy with coach Don Nelson. Jackson wants off the team, for sure. Ellis hasn’t demanded a trade but would probably most likely be happier elsewhere. I wonder if firing Nelson would solve these problems or if issues would linger. Probably the latter.

Friday night the Golden State Warriors, playing at home, lost to the Los Angeles Clippers, who enjoyed very good games from Baron Davis and Chris Kaman.

As you surely recall, Davis used to be a Warrior and helped inject some nice life into the team while he was there.

Baron’s buddy Stephen Jackson, currently an unhappy Warrior who has requested to be traded, does not support any boos from Golden State fans in Baron’s direction.

The AP reports:

Jackson took exception to the fans’ reception of Davis, who was making his second appearance in Oakland since leaving the Warriors. Davis was booed every time he touched the ball.

“Baron is a great player,” Jackson said. “What upsets me is they boo him but they have short memories. They forgot the reason they’re still coming here is because of what he did when he was here. The organization was in the trash can before we had that year.”

The way I see it, the Warriors currently have so many issues, the last thing any members of the team need to worry about is how fans react to former players or anyone wearing the wrong jersey.

The Toronto Raptors announced Thursday they have exercised the fourth year team option on the Rookie Scale Contract of guard Marco Belinelli. Belinelli is now guaranteed through the 2010-11season. In accordance with the league’s collective bargaining agreement, the Raptors had until October 31 to exercise their option on Belinelli. Per team policy, financial terms of the deal was not disclosed.

Belinelli had 10 points in 19 minutes in Wednesday’s season-opening win versus Cleveland.

The 18th overall pick in the 2007 NBA Draft, Belinelli averaged 8.9 points, 2.1 assists, 1.7 rebounds and 21.0 minutes in 42 games last season with Golden State. He registered four 20-point games during the 2008-09 campaign, including a career-high 27 points December 12, 2008 at Atlanta.

Through 76 career games Belinelli owns a .397 mark from three-point range (69-for-174).  As a rookie he appeared in 33 games, averaging 2.9 points in 7.3 minutes.

Prior to joining the Warriors, the 23 year-old, 6-foot-5 guard from Bologna, Italy, played professionally in Italy for five seasons. In 33 games during the 2006-07 season with Fortitudo Bologna in Serie A, Belinelli averaged 16.4 points, while shooting .544 (99-for-182) from the field. In 13 Euroleague contests, he averaged 12.9 points on .438 (32-for-73) from the field.

The Golden State Warriors have all sorts of issues. A minor one, for now, is that rookie guard Stephen Curry isn’t quite a shooting star just yet.

Marcus Thompson II of the Bay Area News Group reports:

The rookie No. 1 draft pick entered the game shooting 34.8 percent, including 4-for-21 from 3-point range.

Nelson said Curry is not even making shots in practice.

“I just thought it was a fluke for the first few weeks,” Nelson said.

“He was always a volume shooter,” Nelson said. “We’re having him think more as a point guard. That may be a factor, but I don’t think so. He feels free to take shots, and we encourage him to do it. I don’t really know any reason.

“He was a great shooter in college. … All I’ve been doing is just encouraging him. Keep shooting.”

Nelson has told the Warriors’ strength and conditioning personnel about cutting back Curry’s weightlifting to see if that’s the problem.

Curry said he lifts three days a week “heavy” for an hour straight. At most at Davidson, he said, he lifted “light” twice a week. But he said he doesn’t think weights are the issue.

I see this as no big deal at all. He’s shooting 35 percent now, on a team that’s making all sorts of adjustments. He’ll probably start shooting 40 percent soon, and perhaps higher in the near future. No problem just yet.

The Golden State Warriors have lots of talented small and medium-sized players, and not a lot of good big dudes. Which is why they tend to play small-ball. But coach Don Nelson tends to take that concept to a whole other level.

Rusty Simmons of the San Francisco Chronicle reports:

The Warriors were already planning on playing small for stretches, but no one saw this coming. Nelson said this week that 6-foot-3, 202-pound Acie Law would get the majority of his minutes at small forward.

“He’s a natural there. He’s just small,” Nelson said. “But I think that’s about the only spot I have unless there’s an injury or something.”

Law is one of five point guards under contract with the Warriors.

A 6-foot-3, 202-pound player at small forward? I am 6-3 and around 205 pounds, which means in Don Nelson’s system I might be a slightly undersized power forward and play alongside “center” Corey Maggette.

The Golden State Warriors announced today that the team has exercised the fourth-year contract option on forward Brandan Wright and the third-year contract option on forward Anthony Randolph, which are both for the 2010-11 NBA season.

Wright, 22, underwent successful surgery to repair a torn labrum in his left shoulder on October 9 and will have his shoulder immobilized for up to six (6) weeks, at which point he will be re-evaluated prior to the next phase of rehabilitation.  A 6-10 forward, Wright appeared in 39 games last season, averaging 8.3 points and 4.0 rebounds in 17.6 minutes per contest.  Overall in two NBA seasons, the University of North Carolina product has appeared in 77 games, averaging 6.2 points, 3.3 rebounds and 13.8 minutes per contest.

Randolph, 20, appeared in 63 games last season, averaging 7.9 points, 5.8 rebounds and 1.17 blocks in 17.9 minutes during a rookie campaign in which he was the youngest player in the NBA.  The 6-11 forward started 22 games last season, averaging 10.6 points, 8.5 rebounds and 25.7 minutes in those assignments.

Under the terms of the NBA’s current collective bargaining agreement, the first two years of a first round draft pick’s contract are guaranteed, while the third and fourth year of the contract are the team’s option.  Wright was selected with the eighth overall selection in the 2007 NBA Draft by the Charlotte Bobcats and later acquired by Golden State, while Randolph was selected by the Warriors with the 14th pick in the 2008 NBA Draft.

The Golden State Warriors have suspended guard/forward Stephen Jackson for two games due to conduct detrimental to the team during last night’s game against the Los Angeles Lakers, the team announced today.  Jackson will serve the suspension for the team’s next two games – tonight against the Phoenix Suns at Indian Wells and Monday, October 12, against the Los Angeles Clippers at Staples Center.

The AP reports: The team said the suspension is for Jackson’s behavior Friday night against the Lakers. He picked up five fouls plus a technical foul in less than 10 minutes of action. He went to the locker room from the bench and never returned.

The AP continues: Jackson has been unhappy with Golden State’s decline since reaching the second round of the 2007 playoffs. He was fined $25,000 by the NBA last month for publicly requesting a trade.

Marcus Thompson of the Contra Costa Times reports (via blog): Nellie pulled Jackson from the game after he picked up his fifth foul Friday in the first quarter. Jackson was clearly upset/frustrated/emotional. He was in a mano-y-mano with Kobe and he wasn’t happy with the way the refs were calling it. Jackson’s tirade continued on the bench. Eventually, Nelson sent Jackson to the locker room to “cool off” one team source told me. Jack never came out for the second half. Not sure if that was Nellie’s decision or Jackson’s decision. I also heard he got into with an assistant coach. That rumor was disputed. I don’t know what happened once he left the bench, as Nelson isn’t talking and Jackson isn’t available. But it must’ve been serious because it forced Nelson into a first.

Read fan reaction and discuss your own opinion in this forum topic.

Golden State Warriors forward Brandan Wright underwent successful surgery today to repair a torn labrum in his left shoulder, the team announced.  Following the surgery, which was performed by Dr. James Andrews at the Andrews Institute in Gulf Breeze, Florida, Wright’s shoulder will be immobilized for up to six (6) weeks, at which point he will be re-evaluated prior to the next phase of rehabilitation.

Wright, 22, suffered the injury during practice on the evening of Friday, October 2.  A 6-9 forward, Wright appeared in 39 games last season, averaging 8.3 points and 4.0 rebounds in 17.6 minutes per contest.  He missed 41 games due to injury or illness in 2008-09, including 37 games due to injury or pain in his left shoulder.  Overall in two NBA seasons, the University of North Carolina product has appeared in 77 games, averaging 6.2 points, 3.3 rebounds and 13.8 minutes per contest.

Good NBA seats are expensive. Fans shelling out big money to sit near the court should expect a good view of the action.

But what about when players get off the bench and remain standing for a while? On the one hand, it’s nice to see guys cheer their teammates. On the other, these giants prevent fans from seeing what they paid to see.

The Cavs are one team with players who remained standing a lot, and now the league office has reportedly taken action.

Brian Windhorst of the Cleveland Plain Dealer reports:

The NBA has issued a memo to its teams directing players on the bench to remain seated during games. Game officials will be keeping a closer eye and will issue faster warnings and possible technical fouls if not followed. Players are permitted to cheer, but standing during regular-game action and blocking the fans’ views apparently isn’t going to be allowed.

That goes for Tuesday night’s first preseason game at The Q, where the Cavs will host the Charlotte Bobcats in the first of eight practice games before the season opener.

The Cavs weren’t exactly thrilled that their custom has been legislated.

“It is hard to take that out of the game,” LeBron James said. “Part of the game is emotions, your teammates are all you have. That was part of the reason we played great basketball, because we cheered each other.”

I support the league protecting the paying fan’s view.

The AP reports: Anthony Morrow scored 15 of his 21 points in the first half and the Golden State Warriors beat the Los Angeles Clippers 108-101 on Sunday night in the preseason opener for both teams. Kelenna Azubuike added 19 points and 10 rebounds and Corey Maggette had 18 for the Warriors. Stephen Jackson scored 11 and Anthony Rudolph added 10. DeAndre Jordan recorded a double-double with 22 points and 10 rebounds for the Clippers. He made all eight of his shots. Eric Gordon added 19 points and Chris Kaman had 13.

Golden State Warriors forward Brandan Wright underwent an MRI today, which did confirm damage to the capsule of his left shoulder, the team announced.  Surgery is required, but no timetable has been set.  A timetable for his rehabilitation and recovery will be established following the surgery.

Wright, who turns 22-years-old tomorrow (October 5), suffered the injury during practice on the evening of Friday, October 2.  A 6-9 forward, Wright appeared in 39 games last season, averaging 8.3 points and 4.0 rebounds in 17.6 minutes per contest.  He missed 41 games due to injury or illness in 2008-09, including 37 games due to injury or pain in his left shoulder.  Overall in two NBA seasons, the University of North Carolina product has appeared in 77 games, averaging 6.2 points, 3.3 rebounds and 13.8 minutes per contest.

The AP reports: Golden State Warriors forward Brandan Wright injured his shooting shoulder during practice Friday and could miss extended time. The team says Wright will undergo an MRI exam Monday to further determine the severity of the injury.

InsideHoops.com editor says: Wright played just 38 games as a rookie in 2007-08. And 39 games last season, though in 17.6 minutes he put up a respectable 8.3 points and 4.0 rebounds. His injury issues are almost getting scary, though.

Stephen Jackson of the Golden State Warriors has been fined $25,000 for public statements detrimental to the NBA.  The statements were made on August 28 and concerned Jackson’s desire to be traded to a team other than the Warriors.

Players are not permitted to make trade requests publicly.  Ron Artest, then of the Indiana Pacers, was fined during the 2005-06 season for requesting a trade through the media.