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Thunder assign forward Reggie Williams to D-League

The Oklahoma City Thunder has assigned forward Reggie Williams to the Tulsa 66ers of the NBA Development League, it was announced today by Executive Vice President and General Manager Sam Presti.

Williams, who was originally signed by the Thunder on March 6, has appeared in one game for Oklahoma City scoring five points in five minutes during its 131-102 victory over the LA Lakers on March 13.

In 21 games (17 starts) with Tulsa this season, Williams is averaging 20.7 points, 5.7 rebounds and 5.0 assists in 37.6 minutes per game.

The forward is expected to be in uniform tonight when the Tulsa 66ers visit the Texas Legends in Frisco, TX.

Phil Jackson reportedly will earn around $12 million per year with Knicks

Here’s the New York Post reporting on the Knicks and Phil Jackson:

Phil Jackson

The Knicks have announced a Tuesday morning press conference at the Garden during which they will announce the hiring of Phil Jackson as team president, bringing his Hall of Fame career full circle as he looks to win his third championship ring as a Knick.

Jackson’s Chicago-based agent, Todd Musburger, and Knicks officials, including James Dolan lieutenant Barry Watkins, were in Los Angeles with the former Lakers coach to sign the contracts Friday, according to a source. A source confirmed an ESPN.com report Jackson will be paid approximately $12 million per year. The report also said the deal’s length is five years, which would make it worth about $60 million.

“But he’s not doing it for the money,’’ one Jackson confidant said.

During Jackson’s coaching negotiations with the Lakers last season that fell apart, he asked for $12 million a year. He made $12 million in his second-to-last season coaching the Lakers in 2009-10, but took a “pay cut’’ to $10 million in 2010-11, his final season.

Knicks coach Mike Woodson in an interesting situation

Here’s the New York Daily News reporting on the latest with the Knicks, Phil Jackson and head coach Mike Woodson:

Knicks coach Mike Woodson in an interesting situation

Mike Woodson continues to be asked about a Knicks future that isn’t likely to include him.

Phil Jackson is slated to be introduced Tuesday as the team’s new president of basketball operations, and he is expected to bring in a head coach of his choosing for next season regardless of how Woodson and the Knicks – who began play Saturday 3 1/2 games out of a playoff spot in the East — finish the season.

“When someone new comes in, he has his own thought process and philosophy in terms of how he feels and how the shape of the team should be,” Woodson said before Saturday’s game against the Bucks at the Garden. “Until he gets here, you just have no idea what he’s thinking and which direction he wants to go.”

The Knicks’ coach said earlier in the week that he hopes for a one-on-one meeting with Jackson to discuss his future. Woodson continues to be outwardly complimentary of the Hall of Famer, who won 11 NBA titles as coach of the Bulls and Lakers and two as a player with the Knicks in the 1970s.

“Anytime you can get a great basketball mind that comes into your organization, I mean, it can’t do nothing but help,” Woodson said.

Mavs recall Shane Larkin, re-assign Gal Mekel to D-League

The Dallas Mavericks announced today that they have recalled rookie guard Shane Larkin from the Texas Legends of the NBA Development League.

Larkin (5-11, 176) had 22 points and 11 assists in the win against the Maine Red Claws last night. In four games with the Legends this season, he has averaged 15.3 points, 8.3 assists, and 4.8 rebounds in 35.8 minutes. He has played in 42 games for the Mavericks and is averaging 2.9 points and 1.6 assists in 11.1 minutes per contest.

In related moves, the Mavericks reassigned Gal Mekel to the Legends. He will be available for tonight’s game against the Tulsa 66ers. Mekel has played in three Legends games and has averages of 9.3 points, 3.0 rebounds, 6.3 assists and 1.3 steals in 27.7 minutes.

Spurs assign Austin Daye to D-League

Spurs assign Austin Daye to D-League

The San Antonio Spurs today announced that they have assigned forward Austin Daye to the Austin Toros of the NBA Development League.

This will mark Daye’s first assignment to the Toros this season. The California native has appeared in two games this season for the Spurs since being acquired on Feb. 20, averaging 3.0 points in 1.5 minutes per contest.

Daye will be available when Austin hosts the Rio Grande Valley Vipers tonight at 7:30 p.m. inside the Cedar Park Center.

Nets sign Jason Collins for remainder of season

Nets sign Jason Collins for remainder of season

The Brooklyn Nets have signed center Jason Collins for the remainder of the season, General Manager Billy King announced today.

Collins, who signed 10-day contracts on February 23 and March 5, has appeared in eight games for the Nets, totaling five points, six rebounds and six steals in 78 minutes.

Currently in his 13th NBA season, Collins has played in 721 NBA games, with averages of 3.6 points and 3.7 rebounds in 20.6 minutes per game.

Nuggets beat Heat 111-107

Kenneth Faried scored 24 points, Darrell Arthur led a big effort from Denver’s bench with 18, and the Nuggets beat the suddenly reeling Miami Heat 111-107 on Friday night, handing the NBA champions their fifth loss in six games.

Evan Fournier scored 14, Ty Lawson had 13 and JJ Hickson added 11 for the Nuggets. Denver’s reserves scored 57 points.

Ray Allen scored 22 points for Miami, which fell three games behind Indiana in the race for the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference. LeBron James scored 21 points, Dwyane Wade added 19, Mario Chalmers had 16 and Chris Andersen scored 14 for the Heat, who turned the ball over 20 times and shot 7 for 24 from 3-point range.

It was only the fifth win for Denver in its last 18 games.

And for the Heat, it was the first time they’ve lost back-to-back home games since March 2011.

— Associated Press

Miami Heat sign Justin Hamilton, release DeAndre Liggins

The Miami Heat announced today that they have signed center Justin Hamilton and released guard DeAndre Liggins from his 10-day contract

Hamilton appeared in 37 games (all starts) with the HEAT’s NBA Development League affiliate, the Sioux Falls Skyforce, earlier this season and averaged 19.3 points, 9.2 rebounds, 2.03 blocks, 1.5 assists and 35.8 minutes while shooting 49.1 percent from the field, 38.5 percent from three-point range and 81.2 percent from the foul line. He recently appeared in one game with Charlotte, recording one steal in 3:44 minutes of action, after signing a 10-day contract with the Bobcats on March 4.

Hamilton, a 2014 NBA D-League All-Star, was originally drafted in the second round (45th overall) by Philadelphia in the 2012 NBA Draft and was acquired by the HEAT in a draft night trade. He appeared in five preseason games with Miami and averaged 2.6 points and 1.0 rebounds in 5.6 minutes. Additionally, Hamilton appeared in three 2012 Summer League games with the HEAT totaling 27 points and 12 rebounds in 56:43 minutes of action while shooting 8-of-17 from the field and a perfect 11-of-11 from the foul line. He then split the 2012-13 season with both VEF Riga (Latvia) of the VTB United League and Cibona (Croatia) of the Adriatic League before joining the Skyforce.

Hamilton will wear number 7.

Liggins, who was signed to two 10-day contracts by the HEAT, appeared in one game with Miami totaling two points and one rebound in 1:24 minutes.

Sixers sign Darius Johnson-Odom, waive Lorenzo Brown

The Philadelphia 76ers, who pretty much need help in every way imaginable these days, announced today that they have signed guard Darius Johnson-Odom to a 10-day contract. He is the 34th “Call-Up” of the 2013-14 NBA Development League season.

In 27 games for the Springfield Armor of the D-League this season, Johnson-Odom averaged 22.0 points, 6.1 assists, 4.4 rebounds and 1.4 steals. He is one of only two players to rank top-eight in both scoring and assists.

A three-year player at Marquette, Johnson-Odom was named First-Team All-BIG East and honorable mention All-America by the Associated Press in his final season with the Golden Eagles and helped the team reach the Sweet 16.

In a related move, the Sixers have waived guard Lorenzo Brown.

The team has a 15-49 record and is on an 18-game losing streak.