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NBA Blog: The NBA basketball news blog section of Inside Hoops
Here’s ESPN New York reporting on Metta World Peace trying to find peace with his knees:
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Metta World Peace sat out of Saturday’s game against Memphis with a left knee issue that may keep him out for an extended period.
The veteran forward said before Saturday’s game he’s unsure if he can play Monday against Orlando.
“I just have to take some time. We’ll see how long,” he said.
Any issue surrounding World Peace’s left knee is a bit of a concern for the Knicks.
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The Brooklyn Nets have assigned forward Tornike Shengelia and guard Tyshawn Taylor to the Springfield Armor of the NBA Development League, it was announced today by General Manager Billy King.
In 11 games this season, Shengelia is averaging 1.9 points and 1.2 rebounds in 10.4 minutes per game. In 17 games (three starts) this season, Taylor is averaging 4.9 points and 2.1 assists in 14.6 minutes per game.
In 10 games (all starts) with the Armor during the 2012-13 D-League season, Shengelia averaged 24.3 points, 8.2 rebounds and 4.0 assists in 36.6 minutes per game. In eight games (all starts) with the Armor last season, Taylor averaged 24.6 points, 4.1 rebounds and 7.5 assists in 37.5 minutes per game.
Both players were previously assigned to Springfield during the Armor’s training camp and will join the team in advance of their game on Saturday at 7:00 pm against the Sioux Falls Skyforce at the MassMutual Center in Springfield.
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The Utah Jazz announced today that the team has recalled guard Ian Clark and center Rudy Gobert from its NBA Development League (D-League) affiliate, the Bakersfield Jam. Both are expected to be available for the Jazz’s game Saturday at Charlotte Bobcats (5 p.m. MT, TV: ROOT Sports, Radio: 1280/97.5 The Zone).
In three games (all starts) with the Jam, Clark averaged 12.3 points, 3.0 rebounds and 4.3 assists in 35.1 minutes. Gobert also appeared in three games (all starts) and averaged 14.0 points, 13.0 rebounds and 4.3 blocks while shooting .750 (15-20) from the field in 30.8 minutes. They both began their assignment with the Jam on December 14.
A 6-3, 173-pound guard out of Belmont University in Nashville, Tenn., Clark was named 2013 NBA Summer League Championship Game Most Valuable Player and was signed by the Jazz as an undrafted rookie free agent on July 29. The 22-year-old has appeared in eight games as a reserve for the Jazz, averaging 2.8 points in 8.8 minutes.
Gobert, a 7-1, 245-pound center, was a 2013 first-round draft pick (27th overall) whose rights the Jazz acquired in a draft-night trade with Denver that sent the Nuggets the rights to the 46th overall pick and cash considerations. The 21-year-old native of Saint Quentin, France, has made 17 appearances for the Jazz in a reserve role, averaging 2.2 points, 4.6 rebounds and 0.82 blocks in 10.7 minutes.
Clark and Gobert became the seventh and eighth different players in Jazz history to be assigned to the D-League. Other players on the current Jazz roster with D-League experience include Jeremy Evans, Diante Garrett, Mike Harris and John Lucas III.
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The Golden State Warriors have recalled guard Nemanja Nedovic from the Santa Cruz Warriors of the NBA Development League, the team announced today. He will be in uniform for tonight’s game versus the Los Angeles Lakers at Oracle Arena.
Last night, the rookie guard tallied 29 points (9-17 FG, 4-10 3FG, 7-7 FT), six assists, three rebounds and two steals in 42 minutes for Santa Cruz in a 108-123 loss at Bakersfield.
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The Brooklyn Nets season, already a huge disappointment considering off-season expectations inflated by a revamped roster, just suffered a serious blow.
Nets center Brook Lopez has been diagnosed with a fractured fifth metatarsal of the right foot, Nets General Manager Billy King announced today. The injury occurred during last night’s game against Philadelphia. The Nets will issue a further update next week after consultation with their team physicians.
Lopez previously fractured the same bone during the 2011-12 season and underwent surgery following the 2012-13 season to replace a bent screw in the foot.
It’s quite possible this means Lopez will miss the remainder of the season. That’s just speculation, though. InsideHoops.com will post an official update on how long Lopez will be out when it exists.
Lopez has played in 17 games this season, averaging a team-high 20.7 points along with 6.0 rebounds and 1.76 blocks per game.
The New Orleans Pelicans announced today that the team has signed center Alexis Ajinca. Per club policy, terms of the contract were not released.
Ajinca, who was originally drafted by the Charlotte Bobcats in the first round (20th overall) of the 2008 NBA Draft, joins the Pelicans after playing the previous two seasons for Strasbourg (France) in the Euroleague.
Entering his fourth season in the NBA, Ajinca (7-2, 248) has appeared in 71 games (six starts) and holds career averages of 3.1 points, 1.6 rebounds, 0.2 assists and 0.4 blocks in 7.8 minutes per game over the course of three seasons with the Charlotte Bobcats (2008-10), Dallas Mavericks (2010-11) and Toronto Raptors (2010-11).
Ajinca will wear No. 12 and will be available for tomorrow night’s contest at Portland.
The Pelicans roster now stands at 15.
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The Memphis Grizzlies announced today that Grizzlies guard/forward Quincy Pondexter underwent surgery to repair a tarsal navicular stress fracture in his right foot. The surgery was performed today by team physicians Dr. Fred Azar and Dr. Drew Murphy at the Campbell Clinic.
Pondexter (6-6, 225) is out indefinitely.
Currently in his fourth NBA season, Pondexter averaged 6.3 points, 1.7 rebounds and 1.3 assists in 18.0 minutes in 15 games (two starts) before sustaining the injury in the first half of the December 7 game against Golden State. The 25-year-old scored a career-high 22 points on Nov. 30 vs. Brooklyn.
Drafted by Oklahoma City in the first round (26th overall) in the 2010 NBA Draft, Pondexter holds career averages of 4.5 points, 1.8 rebounds and 0.7 assists in 15.9 minutes in 204 games (17 starts) with Memphis and New Orleans.
Memphis signed the University of Washington product to a multi-year contract extension on Oct. 31.
The Golden State Warriors have assigned guard Nemanja Nedovic to the Santa Cruz Warriors of the NBA Development League, the team announced today. The rookie guard will be in uniform for the team’s game tonight against the Bakersfield Jam in Bakersfield.
Nedovic has appeared in one game this season with Santa Cruz while on previous assignment, registering 31 points in 36 minutes in a victory over the Austin Toros on November 24.
The Philadelphia 76ers are 7-19, and going nowhere fast. Do any players want out? Here’s the Philadelphia Inquirer with the latest on a rumor involving Thaddeus Young:
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76ers forward Thad Young, the subject of trade rumors, said Friday he has not asked the team to deal him.
Speaking after the morning shootaround for Friday night’s Brooklyn game, Young poked fun at an Internet report that said he and his agent, Jim Tanner, submitted a formal trade request to Sixers general manager Sam Hinkie weeks ago.
“I just think it’s all funny how it’s sources that say I asked to be traded,” Young said. “At the end of the day, like I said, I’m here 110 percent each and every game, ready to play and just stay focused and try to win basketball games.”
He said Tanner did talk to Hinkie about various situations, including potential trade talks and trade rumors involving him.
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The 2013-14 Los Angeles Lakers have had a relatively successful season so far, when taking their roster and injuries into account. And today they added to their backcourt, which has been in desperate need of some healthy talent.
The Lakers signed guard Kendall Marshall to a multi-year contract, it was announced by General Manager Mitch Kupchak.
Marshall, a 6’4” point guard out of North Carolina, was originally selected 13th overall by the Phoenix Suns in the 2012 NBA Draft. In 48 career NBA games with the Suns, Marshall, who was traded to Washington in 2013, has averaged 3.0 points, 3.0 assists, and 0.9 rebounds in 14.6 minutes. A McDonald’s All-American in 2010, Marshall earned several honors while playing for the Tar Heels, including the Bob Cousy Award (2012) as the top college point guard, Second Team All-ACC (2012), Third Team All-ACC (2011) and All-ACC Freshman Team (2011). Additionally, the Dumfries, Virginia native set an ACC single-season record as a sophomore with 351 assists (4th most in NCAA history) and finished his career with 581 assists in 73 games (7.96 APG; highest average in UNC history).
Most recently, Marshall played for the Delaware 87ers of the NBA Development League, averaging 19.4 points, 4.7 rebounds and 9.6 assists in seven games. In 16 career NBA D-League games with the 87ers and Bakersfield Jam, Marshall averaged 13.9 points, 3.8 rebounds and 8.4 assists.