Cavaliers center Zydrunas Ilgauskas was examined today at The Cleveland Clinic by head team physician Dr. Richard Parker. He was diagnosed with a strained back and is listed as Out for tomorrow’s game versus the Chicago Bulls at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland. He will be re-examined tomorrow and his status will be updated after that.
Author: Inside Hoops
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Clippers sign Andre Barrett to 10-day contract
The Los Angeles Clippers today signed free agent guard Andre Barrett to a 10-day contract. Barrett comes to the Clippers from the NBA Development League’s Austin Toros, becoming the league’s 16th Gatorade Call-up and the 13th D-League player to be called to an NBA roster this season.
Barrett played 30 games this season for the Bakersfield Jam of the Development League, averaging 18.9 points, 8.8 assists, 3.4 rebounds in 38.2 minutes before being traded to Austin on Feb. 25.
A former stand-out at Seton Hall University, the Clippers will be Barrett’s sixth NBA team. He has averaged 3.4 points, 2.0 assist and 1.1 rebounds in 63 career NBA games over the course of three seasons.
Barrett started his NBA career with Houston in 2004-05, appearing in 27 games for the Rockets and averaging 2.1 points before finishing the season with Orlando.
Barrett played in two games for Phoenix in 2005-06 and then made 17 appearances for the Toronto Raptors that season, averaging a career-best 4.6 points in 15.4 minutes.
The Bronx, New York product played in six games for Chicago last season, averaging 1.3 points.
Yao Ming having season-ending surgery Monday
Rockets All-Star center Yao Ming will undergo season-ending surgery on Monday, March 3rd in order to repair a stress fracture in the tarsal navicular bone in his left foot. The surgery will be performed at Memorial Hermann-Texas Medical Center by Rockets Team Physician Tom Clanton, who is regarded as one of the nation’s top orthopedic foot and ankle surgeons.
Injuries have really messed Yao and the Rockets up for years now. It’s tough to say how Yao can ever stop getting hurt, considering how huge he is. Hopefully he can somehow stay healthy eventually.
Wally Szczerbiak has new son, Maximus Jack
The Cavaliers are pleased to announce that Wally and Shannon Szczerbiak welcomed their son into the world today in New York, as Shannon gave birth to Maximus Jack (8lbs, 20in). Wally, Shannon, and their entire family are all doing fine.
That’s right. His name is Maximus. Bow down to lil Max. Aww.
Wizards-Hornets team connections
Wizards forward Antawn Jamison was born in Shreveport, LA.
Washington’s Antonio Daniels and New Orleans’ Bonzi Wells were teammates in Portland in 2002-03.
Washington’s Caron Butler and New Orleans’ Rasual Butler were teammates in Miami from 2002-04.
Butler and Hornets’ guard Mike James were teammates in Miami in 2002-03.
Washington’s Darius Songaila and New Orleans’ Peja Stojakovic were teammates in Sacramento from 2003-05.
Songaila and Tyson Chandler were teammates in Chicago in 2005-06.
Wizards Head Coach Eddie Jordan and Hornets Head Coach Byron Scott coached together on the New Jersey Nets teams that went to back-to-back NBA Finals in 2002 and 2003.
Hornets Assistant Coach Darrell Walker played for Washington from 1987-1991; was Washington’s Head Coach for a 38-game stint in 1999-00; and served in the team’s scouting department from 2000-04.
Pacers sign Flip Murray
The Indiana Pacers announced Saturday they have signed free agent guard Ronald “Flip” Murray to a contract for the remainder of the season. Per club policy, no terms of the contract were released.
Murray, 6-4, 200-pound guard, played with the Detroit Pistons this season before being waived Feb. 22. He played in 19 games with Detroit, averaging 7.5 points, 3.4 assists and 1.9 rebounds. In five seasons prior, Murray played with Milwaukee, Seattle, Cleveland and the Pistons.
“This late in the season, we’re fortunate to be able to pick up someone who can contribute to our run for a playoff spot,” said Pacers Coach Jim O’Brien. “He’s a welcome addition to the Indiana Pacers.”
Murray will wear number 22. He practiced with the Pacers Saturday and will be available when the Pacers host Milwaukee, Sunday, March 2.
Sonics sign Mike Wilks to 10-day contract
Sonics General Manager Sam Presti announced today that the team has signed Mike Wilks to a 10-day contract.
The 5-10 guard appeared in eight games with the Denver Nuggets and four games with the Washington Wizards earlier this season.
Last season, Wilks appeared in 47 games with Seattle and averaged 3.6 points and 1.7 assists per game. In 2005-06, he averaged 4.4 ppg and 1.4 apg in 10 games with the Sonics.
Kings waive Tyronn Lue
The Sacramento Kings today requested waivers on guard Tyronn Lue, according to Kings’ President of Basketball Operations Geoff Petrie.
Since coming over in the February 16th trade with guard Anthony Johnson, centers Sheldon Williams and Lorenzen Wright, and a 2008 second-round draft choice from Atlanta, Lue has not played for the Kings, missing six games with a left calf strain. Lue averaged 6.8 ppg (.439 FG%, .435 3pt%, .857 FT%), 1.2 rpg, 1.8 apg, and 17.1 mpg in 33 games (started 3) for the Hawks this season.
The Kings’ updated roster now stands at 14 players.
Bobcats waive Jeff McInnis
Charlotte Bobcats General Manager Rod Higgins announced today that the team has waived guard Jeff McInnis. Per team policy, terms of the agreement were not disclosed.
McInnis played in 92 games for the Bobcats over parts of the 2006-07 and 2007-08 seasons, averaging 4.4 points and 3.1 assists. The Charlotte native was acquired from New Jersey on January 3, 2007, in exchange for Bernard Robinson.
This season, McInnis averaged 4.5 points and 4.1 assists in 54 games, including 26 starts.
The Bobcats return to action tonight when they visit the Boston Celtics in a 7:30pm ET game that can be seen on WMYT-MyTV12 and heard on WOLS Oldies 106.1.
Raptors hire John Lucas
The Toronto Raptors announced Friday they have hired John Lucas as a basketball development consultant for the remainder of the 2007-08 season. He will assist the coaching staff with the development of the players’ on-court skills.
Lucas, 54, was the first overall pick in the 1976 NBA Draft by the Houston Rockets. He played with six teams during his 14-year NBA career from 1976-90. He has also served as a head coach with San Antonio, Philadelphia and Cleveland, as well as an assistant coach with Denver.