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The Atlanta Hawks have waived guard Carldell Johnson, President of Basketball Operations/GM Danny Ferry announced today.
Johnson appeared in one preseason game (Oct. 10 at San Antonio), totaling one assist and one steal in 13 minutes (0-3 FGs).
Atlanta’s training camp roster now stands at 16.
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The Toronto Raptors announced Wednesday they have exercised the fourth year team option on the Rookie Scale Contract of forward Ed Davis. Davis is now guaranteed through the 2013-14 season. In accordance with the league’s collective bargaining agreement, the Raptors had until October 31 to exercise their option on Davis.
Davis, 6-foot-10, 235 pounds, was the 13th overall pick by Toronto in the 2010 NBA Draft out of the University of North Carolina. He has averaged 7.0 points, 6.9 rebounds and 23.9 minutes in 131 games. He is shooting .547 (387-708) from the field.
Davis was the lone Raptor to appear in all 66 games last season. He averaged 6.3 points, a team-leading 6.6 rebounds and 23.2 minutes. In nine starting appearances, Davis upped his averages to 8.3 points, 9.0 rebounds and 33.3 minutes. Davis tied for the team lead pacing the Raptors on the boards 19 times last season. He scored a career-best 24 points (10-15 FG), adding 12 rebounds, in a career-high 43 minutes April 26 versus New Jersey.
Davis averaged 7.7 points, 7.1 rebounds and 24.6 minutes in 65 games in his rookie campaign. He posted averages of 10.5 points, 8.2 rebounds and 32.0 minutes in his 17 starts. Davis led the team in double-doubles with 13, while topping the club on the glass in 18 contests. He ranked first among all NBA rookies in field goal percentage (.576), fourth in rebounds (7.1) and third in blocks (1.03).
The latest Milwaukee Bucks injury will remove rookie forward John Henson from preseason action for the near future.
Henson will be limited to non-impact activity for approximately two weeks after suffering a left knee sprain and bone bruise in last night’s preseason game vs. Chicago. Henson’s non-impact activity will involve rehabilitation work in the swimming pool and on a stationary bike, along with weight room exercises.
Ekpe Udoh (left knee strain) returned to full basketball activity after missing two games with a left knee strain. He is probable for tomorrow night’s game against Memphis in La Crosse, Wis.
Luc Mbah a Moute continues to rehabilitate his right knee after off-season surgery and remains out for tomorrow’s game.
Doron Lamb (left elbow strain) has begun limited basketball activity and remains out for tomorrow’s game.
The injury hits just keep coming for the Minnesota Timberwolves.
The team today announced that star power forward Kevin Love suffered a fracture of his third and fourth metacarpal in his right hand. The injury occurred this morning while working out.
Love is expected to be out approximately 6-8 weeks. He will be examined by Dr. Andy Weiland, a hand specialist at Hospital for Special Surgery in New York, on Thursday for further evaluation.
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The New York Knicks like guard Iman Shumpert and as expected, will keep him around for the near future.
Knicks Executive Vice President, Basketball Operations and General Manager Glen Grunwald announced today that the team has exercised its third-year option on Shumpert.
According to Alan Hahn of MSG Network, the third-year option is worth $1.7 million.
Shumpert, 6-5, 220-pounds, averaged 9.5 points, 3.2 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.71 steals (seventh in NBA) over 28.9 minutes in 59 games (35 starts) last season en route to being named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team. He was selected in first round (17th overall) in 2011 NBA Draft.
Shumpert is currently injured and will miss some of the regular season while he heals.
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A man from Chicago purchased a gallon of barbecue sauce intended for use on McDonald’s McJordan sandwich in 1992 for $9,995.00 on eBay, according to the item’s seller.
“I’ve got quite a bit of McDonald’s memorabilia,” said Mort Bank, a former McDonald’s owner-operator in North Dakota. “This was on my shelf, and my daughter who helps me with eBay said, ‘I wonder what something like this would be worth?’
“I said, ‘I can’t imagine anyone else saved it.’ It only could have been another owner-operator. We decided to see what we could get. … I said I can remember a chicken nugget someone said looked like Jesus that sold on eBay for what, $6,000? You have to use your imagination to to even think it looks like that. This is an actual product.”
— Reported by Roman Modrowski of ESPN Chicago
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Just one day after returning to contact work after missing time with a sore back, New Orleans Hornets forward Jason Smith sustained a left shoulder injury Tuesday during a five-on-five scrimmage drill that required a doctor’s visit for additional evaluation and diagnosis.
Smith fell on his back during the Hornets’ first exhibition game in Mexico City on Oct. 7 and has not played in the last three exhibition games, and sat out all practice contact work until Monday.
Hornets Coach Monty Williams said Tuesday he was unsure about Smith’s availability for Thursday night’s game in Atlanta against the Hawks.
— Reported by Jimmy Smith of the New Orleans Times-Picayune
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Camby, who has a calf strain, didn’t practice Tuesday and Knicks coach Mike Woodson admitted he isn’t sure if he will be back next week and make the Knicks upcoming three-game road trip to Montreal-Albany-Syracuse. The Knicks announced Camby’s injury 10 days ago.
Camby, the Knicks backup center is in his second stint with the team at age 38. His first stint also was marked by injuries.
“I can’t say he’s getting close,’’ Woodson said.
— Reported by Marc Berman of the New York Post (Blog)
WFAA, citing a Dallas police report, gave this account:
Mbenga was trying to leave the restaurant just as a pair of Dallas police officers were walking in.
The 7-foot center put his palm on the chest of one of the cops and said, “You move out of my way.”
The officer stopped and responded, “You don’t touch police, let alone make that statement.”
To which Mbenga — in hindsight, perhaps inadvisedly — responded: “You want to go? I do what I want, so you move out of the way!”
As the officers escorted Mbenga out of the restaurant, he continued to argue with them.
The officers smelled alcohol on his breath and noted his “unsteady balance” and bloodshot eyes. They said he failed three of six field sobriety tests.
The 32-year-old was handcuffed and taken to the Dallas County jail.
— Reported by the Dallas Morning News
The Boston Celtics announced today that they have waived guards Jamar Smith and Dionte Christmas.
Smith, a 6’3 guard, appeared in four preseason games for the Celtics and averaged 2.3 points and 1.0 rebound. Christmas, a 6’5 guard, appeared in four preseason games for the Celtics and averaged 3.3 points and 1.8 rebounds per game.
The Celtics roster now stands at 16.