Chris Paul is buying Avril Lavigne’s mansion

Chris Paul

Los Angeles Clippers star Chris Paul is planning to stay in town a while … ’cause he’s about to drop $8.5 MILLION on a sick Bel Air mansion that he’s buying from Avril Lavigne … TMZ has learned.

Sources tell us … Paul fell in love with the 12,184 square foot place, which Avril originally listed for $9.5 mil and decided he had to make a move.

The mansion — located in a hoity-toity private community called Bel Air Crest — includes 8 bedrooms and 10.5 bathrooms, a wine cellar, 10-car garage, gym, sauna and a covered outdoor living room.

— Reported by TMZ

Detroit Pistons sign guard Walker Russell Jr

The Detroit Pistons announced today that the team has signed guard Walker Russell Jr. from the NBA D-League’s Fort Wayne Mad Ants.  Per team policy, terms of the contract were not disclosed.

Prior to his signing, Russell Jr. led the D-League with 9.9 assists per game and averaged 16.0 points in 16 games for the Mad Ants this season.  He recorded seven points/assists double-doubles and dished out a season-high 19 assists to go with 19 points at the Bakersfield Jam (1/9/12).  Russell Jr. has recorded 12-plus assists five times and scored 20-plus points four times this season.

Russell Jr. was a member of the Pistons 2011-12 training camp roster before being waived just before the start of the season.  He was also a member of the Pistons’ team at the 2007 NBA Summer League in Las Vegas and was invited to the New York Knicks’ 2007-08 training camp.  A local product from Rochester, MI, he’s the son of former Piston Walker D. Russell.  In 17 games last season, he averaged 17.7 points, 3.2 rebounds and 7.9 assists in 37 games with the Mad Ants.

Bucks suspend Stephen Jackson for unexcused absence

Stephen Jackson

Guard Stephen Jackson has been suspended for an “unexcused absence” and will not play when the Bucks meet the New York Knicks on Friday night at Madison Square Garden, according to coach Scott Skiles.

A source said Jackson missed the bus to the team’s morning shootaround.

Skiles said Shaun Livingston will start at the shooting guard position in Jackson’s place.

The Bucks will have nearly a full complement of players – minus Jackson – with the return of guard Mike Dunleavy Jr. and forward Luc Richard Mbah a Moute. Dunleavy has missed the last 10 games with a groin injury, while Mbah a Moute has been sidelined for 11 of the team’s 13 games due to right patella tendinitis.

“He (Dunleavy) went the last couple days and got through it fine,” Skiles said after the shootaround at the remodeled Garden. “Luc as well went the last two days, and he’s OK today. Both guys will play.”

— Reported by Charles F. Gardner of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Blog

Bobcats will use Bismack Biyombo as a center

Bismack Biyombo

Rookie Bismack Biyombo is beginning to make quite an impression with the Charlotte Bobcats.

Enough so that he’s moving up the depth chart.

Bobcats coach Paul Silas said starting Saturday night against Chicago, Biyombo will move to center where he’ll backup starter Byron Mullens for the remainder of the season. That’s a good move for Biyombo, who had been buried on the depth chart beneath a glut of power forwards including Tyrus Thomas, D.J. White and, at times, Boris Diaw.

The decision comes after Biyombo’s most impressive game as a professional Tuesday night at Orlando.

Biyombo registered his first double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds in the loss to the Magic, and played well on defense. Even though Magic center Dwight Howard scored 25 points, Silas likes the job Biyombo did on Orlando’s dominant big man. Biyombo had four blocks and nine defensive rebounds and seemed to frustrate Howard late in the game.

— Reported by Steve Reed of the Associated Press