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Pistons trade Alex Acker to Clippers, who waive Cheikh Samb

The Los Angeles Clippers today acquired guard Alex Acker and the Detroit Pistons’ second round selection in the 2011 NBA Draft from the Pistons in exchange for a conditional second round selection in the 2013 NBA Draft. In a related move, the Clippers also waived center Cheikh Samb.

A Compton native, Acker has appeared in seven games this season for the Pistons, averaging 1.3 points and 0.1 assists in 2.9 minutes per game. A former star at Pepperdine University, Acker was originally drafted by the Pistons in the second round of the 2005 NBA Draft (60th overall) and played in five games and averaged 1.8 points during his rookie season.

Acker, 26, moved to Europe in 2006-07 and averaged 14.6 points, 5.6 rebounds and 2.4 assists with the Greek team Olympiacos in Euroleague play. Acker appeared in 30 games with Spain’s FC Barcelona in 2007-08, averaging 6.8 points, 1.7 rebounds and 1.0 assists.

A former standout at Eisenhower High School in Rialto, Acker finished his collegiate career at Pepperdine as the 20th all-time leading scorer in school history and was named to the 2004-05 All-West Coast Conference team as a junior and named the WCC Freshman of the Year in 2002-03.

In a related move, the Clippers waived center Cheikh Samb. Samb was acquired by the Clippers on Jan. 5 in a trade with Denver and proceeded to play in 10 games with Los Angeles, averaging 1.1 points and 1.3 rebounds in 5.4 minutes.

Phoenix Suns fire coach Terry Porter

The Phoenix Suns today announced that the team has relieved Terry Porter of his head coaching duties.  Alvin Gentry, a Suns assistant coach since 2004, will assume the role of interim head coach.

“I hired Terry because I believed he would be able to provide the balance our team needed in order to perform at a very high level.  Unfortunately the transition from last season to this one proved to be very difficult, and we have not played to our potential.  It’s imperative that we move forward and do what’s best for our team.  Alvin has been an integral part of our successes the previous four years and knows our talent as well as anyone,” said Suns President of Basketball Operations and General Manager Steve Kerr.

A 29-year coaching veteran, Gentry originally joined the Suns staff as an assistant on June 1, 2004, and has served in that position the last four-plus seasons as Phoenix posted the winningest four-year stretch in franchise history.  Gentry takes the reins as head coach of his fourth NBA team after stints with the Los Angeles Clippers (2000-03), Detroit Pistons (1997-2000) and Miami Heat (1995) in which he compiled a 177-226 (.439) career record.  Gentry’s 1998-99 Pistons earned a playoff berth.  In 2001-02, his second season with the Clippers, he guided Los Angeles to an improbable 39-43 (.476) record, the team’s highest win total in nearly 10 seasons, a season after leading the club to a 16-win improvement in 2000-01, his rookie campaign with the club.

In 20 seasons in the NBA, Gentry has worked alongside or under some of the game’s most respected coaches, including Larry Brown, Kevin Loughery and Doug Collins.  The 53-year-old Gentry received his first assistant coaching job in the NBA under Brown with the San Antonio Spurs in 1988-89 after serving under Brown with the 1988 NCAA Champion Kansas Jayhawks men’s basketball team.

Porter was named the 13th head coach in Suns franchise history on June 9, 2008.  In 51 games this season, Phoenix compiled a 28-23 (.549) record and currently sits in ninth place in the Western Conference.

Bobcats minority owners convicted of fraud

The Charlotte Observer (Rick Bonnell) reports: A part-owner of the Charlotte Bobcats has been convicted of felony fraud in South Florida and sentenced to nine years in prison. Brothers Jorge and Carlos de Cespedes were given the maximum sentence, after an investigation of their pharmaceuticals company bilking Kendall Regional Medical Center. According to the Miami Herald, the hospital lost $5 million over 14 years because of this scheme… A source with knowledge of the Bobcats’ structure said the de Cespedes brothers originally paid $10 million to $12 million to purchase roughly 3 percent of the team. That percentage likely dissipated over time unless they participated in cash calls to cover revenue deficits.

Dwyane Wade All-Star fashion

The Cleveland Plain Dealer (Mary Schmitt Boyer) reports on 2009 NBA All-Star weekend: Miami’s Dwyane Wade sported an interesting look as the assistant coach of the rookie team. He wore a yellow V-neck sweater under a blue sport coat, with a bow tie and glasses. Oh, and there was that blue “Wade” band-aid over some stitches he recently took under his left eye. “It was a combination of a lot of different things,” Wade explained of the outfit. “It was a tribute to one of my assistant coaches in Miami — Keith Askins. He wears a bow tie. So I told him during the season, ‘I’m going to show you how to wear it.’ “Also, I just wanted to try something new, being conservative. I brought the glasses because I was a coach so I thought I would look smart.”

Danny Ainge on his later playing days

The Boston Globe (Marc J. Spears) reports: “I was fortunate enough to play in the heyday of the Celtics in the ’80s,” Danny Ainge said. “As things were going downhill, I was fortunate to play with Portland for two years and go to the Finals and also play for Phoenix for three and go to the Finals. Those experiences helped me and taught me there is more than one way to win and different personalities. “I feel fortunate that I had a chance to play with Kevin Johnson, Dan Majerle, Tom Chambers, and Charles Barkley. It was different than in Boston.” Ainge joined the Suns as a free agent before the 1992-93 season, as did Barkley, now a Hall of Famer. Phoenix had the league’s best record (62-20) that season and advanced to the Finals to play Michael Jordan and the Bulls. In Ainge’s sixth and last Finals appearance, the Suns lost the series in six games. The Suns were eliminated by Houston in the second round of the playoffs in 1994 and ’95.

Shaq Jabbawockeez dance at 2009 All-Star game introduction

Shaquille O’Neal was introduced at the 2009 NBA All-Star game along with the dance crew Jabbawockeez. And he made it special.

Coming out in the crew’s trademark white mask, Shaq danced as he was introduced and showed breakdance moves you wish you had. See the video below:

Wade wants to rock MSG like Kobe and LeBron

The New York Daily News (Frank Isola) reports: Over a spectacular 48-hour period two weeks ago, Kobe Bryant and LeBron James had the basketball world buzzing and their peers thinking: If they can do that in New York, why can’t I? “I wish I could have caught (the Knicks) right after that,” Dwayne Wade said. “I wish I could have been the third guy to go up in there because they were giving up so many points at that time. Maybe I could have snuck in and gotten 48, 49 or 50. I don’t know. You always want to play well at the Garden. I wish I had one more game there.” … “It was crazy,” he said. “As a fan of the game, once you saw Kobe score 61 points and you look and see that LeBron is coming to town it’s like, ‘Oh wow, I’ve got to be in front of the TV to watch that.’ To see him to come out and get, before they took the rebound away, a triple-double performance with the 52 points, that was some of the best basketball we’ve seen.”

Ray Allen talks about winning

Here’s what Boston Celtics shooting guard Ray Allen said at 2009 NBA All-Star weekend about his legacy and how important it is to win games that matter:

Ray Allen: (Winning) does take you over the hump.  People talk about great players in the league and you compare greatness with what you did on winning teams.  Did you ever win the big game? I remember for the longest time that discussion, and that discussion still takes place today with Charles Barkley and Patrick Ewing, two guys we feel are two of the best players in the history of the game. That’s the one negative that people always talk about.  Now I’m talking about it.  It does take you to that next level.  Then they start comparing you to other players that have won and are on that level caliber of player.

Danny Granger on how his jumpshot improved

Indiana Pacers swingman Danny Granger is an All-Star, and has made his strides in improving his shooting ability. Here’s what he said Friday at NBA All-Star weekend:

Question: How did you improve on your jump shot? It’s clearly gotten better.

Danny Granger: I had surgery on my shoulder in my junior year and I started altering my jump shots to make them more efficient.  And my rookie year I changed them, just to fine‑tune, and it has been helping me.

Question: So you changed it twice in two years?

Danny Granger: Not dramatically.  I don’t know if anyone else would be able to really tell other than myself, but I actually did change it.

Question: What did you change the second time?

Danny Granger: A lot of times I was shooting the ball with all my fingertips.  Actually, I’m better shooting off my palm I found.  I’m much more accurate with it.