Day: October 16, 2013

Lakers waive Darius Johnson-Odom

The Los Angeles Lakers have waived guard Darius Johnson-Odom, it was announced today.

Johnson-Odom, the 55th overall pick in the 2012 NBA Draft, was originally acquired by the Lakers from the Dallas Mavericks on draft night. The 6-2 guard out of Marquette appeared in four games for the Lakers last season, where he totaled four rebounds and one assist in six minutes. Johnson-Odom also played in 13 games for the Los Angeles D-Fenders where he averaged 21.0 points, 5.2 rebounds and 5.2 assists in 39.8 minutes. After being waived by the Lakers in January, the Raleigh, North Carolina native spent the remainder of the 2012-13 season playing in Russia for BC Spartak Saint Petersburg. Johnson-Odom then proceeded to participate in the 2013 NBA Summer League games in Orlando and Las Vegas as a member of the Boston Celtics and Denver Nuggets.

Signed by the Lakers in September, Johnson-Odom played in three games this preseason, averaging 3.7 points, 0.7 rebounds and 1.3 assists in 8.2 minutes.

The Lakers training camp roster now stands at 16 players.

Mark Cuban dunks on SEC, wins case

Mark Cuban, the flamboyant billionaire owner of the Dallas Mavericks basketball team, did not engage in insider trading when he sold his stock in an Internet company in 2004, a Texas jury decided on Wednesday.

Cuban, 55, estimated by Forbes magazine to have a net worth of $2.5 billion, was accused by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission of trading on non-public information when he sold his 600,000 shares in Internet search company Mamma.com – worth $7.9 million – and avoided a $750,000 loss.

Cuban nodded and smiled, and he blasted SEC lawyer Jan Folena in remarks after the verdict, saying she had tried to bully him and “lied” to the court.

— Reported by Reuters

Charlotte Bobcats will host free open practice on October 23

Charlotte Bobcats will host free open practice

The Charlotte Bobcats will host an open practice on October 23 from 6:00-8:00 p.m. at Time Warner Cable Arena. This free event is open to the public and fans in attendance will have the opportunity to receive autographs from players, coaches and the Lady Cats at the conclusion of the event. Official team merchandise will be available, concession stands will be open and various entertainment elements will be on display in the main concourse. During the event, one lucky fan will win an exclusive behind the scenes game day opportunity hosted by Bobcats Head Coach Steve Clifford.

“As we prepare for the upcoming season, this is a great opportunity to showcase our basketball team to the fans,” Bobcats Sports & Entertainment President & COO Fred Whitfield said. “The support for our organization has been tremendous, and we are looking forward to that continued loyalty throughout this year as we make Time Warner Cable Arena one of the best home court atmospheres in the NBA.”

Blazers guard CJ McCollum health update: Out six weeks

Portland guard CJ McCollum successfully underwent a non-operative ultrasound procedure today to repair the fifth metatarsal fracture in his left foot. The procedure, which is designed to promote bone growth, was performed at the OrthoCarolina Foot and Ankle Institute in Charlotte, North Carolina by Dr. Robert Anderson.

McCollum will remain sidelined indefinitely and will be reevaluated in six weeks.

Denver Nuggets Waive Reginald Becton-Buckner And Kyle Fogg

Denver Nuggets Waive Reginald Becton And Kyle Fogg

The Denver Nuggets have waived forward Reginald Becton-Buckner and guard Kyle Fogg, general manager/executive vice president of basketball operations Tim Connelly announced today.

Fogg appeared in one preseason game for the Nuggets, scoring one point in two minutes against the San Antonio Spurs. Becton did not play in any of Denver’s first four preseason games.

The Nuggets now have 16 players on their training camp roster.

As NBA preseason continues, many more players around the league who were signed to non-guaranteed “training camp contracts” will be let go by their teams.

A look at what Vince Carter brings the Mavs

vince carter

Carter will provide instant offense and vastly underrated defense in his second consecutive season as the Mavs’ sixth man.

Coach Rick Carlisle wants to keep Carter’s minutes in the mid-20s per game again, putting a priority on keeping the 16-year veteran fresh throughout the season. Carter, who remains an outstanding one-on-one and pick-and-roll creator, will be the offensive focal point for the second unit. He can also be a floor-spacing complement with a five that features mostly starters, having knocked down 40.6 percent of his 3-pointers last season.

Reported by Tim MacMahon of ESPN Dallas

MarShon Brooks was frustrated on the Nets

MarShon Brooks was frustrated on the Nets

Nets fans can remember: MarShon Brooks was once part of the future.

He was an All-Rookie selection and one of a few reasons to feel good about a terrible team in New Jersey, a smooth scorer who was talking about winning Sixth Man of the Year. Then it all fell apart in Year 2, and the divorce was finalized on draft day when he was dealt to Boston.

According to multiple sources, Brooks had communicated to the Nets that he wanted to be dealt. Brooks didn’t go that far while opening up in an interview with the Daily News on Tuesday, but he outlined some of his frustrations under Avery Johnson and PJ Carlesimo.

“I wasn’t really sure with (Jason Kidd becoming coach). I didn’t know what to expect. Last year obviously we knew what was going on, it was so rocky, I didn’t know if I was playing. There just wasn’t any structure to any of my minutes,” Brooks said. “So it was kind of hard for me to perform under those circumstances and obviously I didn’t want to be in that situation next year.”

Reported by Stefan Bondy of the New York Daily News

Dion Waiters appreciates tough love from coach Mike Brown

Dion Waiters

Dion Waiters appreciates tough love.

The Cavaliers shooting guard admits he loves the way Mike Brown is coaching him.

“He takes me out, talks to me and then puts me back in,” Waiters said after the Cavs’ 92-74 loss to the Bobcats on Tuesday before a sold-out crowd of 4,047 at the Canton Memorial Civic Center.

Brown yanked Waiters out of the game at least three times to correct mistakes.

“He can be a high-level defender,” Brown said.

However, he wasn’t doing things at a high level in the first half when Bobcats shooting guard Gerald Henderson was scoring on him at will.

Brown called time out and brought the second-year shooting guard to the sideline.

“You’re better than this,” he told Waiters.

Reported by Bob Finnan of the Morning Journal and News Herald

Sixers sign Daniel Orton, waive Tim Ohlbrecht

daniel orton

The Philadelphia 76ers today announced they have signed free agent center Daniel Orton. The Sixers preseason roster stands at 20 players.

Orton (6-10, 255) was originally an early entry candidate for the 2010 NBA Draft following his freshman season at Kentucky and was selected with the 29th overall pick by Orlando. The 23-year-old spent last season with Oklahoma City and also played for the Thunder’s NBA Development League affiliate, the Tulsa 66ers, averaging 12 and a half points, eight rebounds, two assists, a steal and over two blocks per game while shooting 53% from the floor.

In a related move, the Sixers have waived center Tim Ohlbrecht.

The 76ers are very likely going to struggle in dramatic fashion this season. They have a very young, inexperienced roster mostly filled with bench players. They’ll need luck in discovering some hidden gems.