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LaMarcus Aldridge back for Spurs

The San Antonio Spurs today announced that forward LaMarcus Aldridge has been cleared to resume all basketball-related activities. After Aldridge had an occurrence of a minor heart arrhythmia in Oklahoma City on March 9, the Spurs medical staff led a process that included multiple tests and examinations as well as consultation with numerous experts in the field.

“We are thankful that LaMarcus will be able to rejoin the team,” said Spurs General Manager RC Buford. “All of us have been impressed with the professionalism and grace he has shown in dealing with this difficult situation.”

Aldridge is available to play in tonight’s Spurs-Blazers game with no restrictions.

Kevin Love and Kyle Korver should return soon for Cavs

Kevin Love and Kyle Korver should return to action for the Cavaliers sometime in the very near future. Here’s the Akron Beacon Journal reporting the latest:

kevin love return date soon

The time that Cavaliers coach Tyronn Lue has long awaited, and with it the decisions that he’s been agonizing over, are nearly upon him.

Barring something unforeseen, the Cavs’ roster will soon be whole.

Kevin Love and Kyle Korver both participated in Wednesday’s 20-minute practice at Cleveland Clinic Courts and Love put himself through a sweat-drenching 30-minute workout with the coaching staff afterward.
Neither Love nor Korver have been cleared to play, but both seem likely to return soon.

Love has been sidelined since undergoing arthroscopic surgery on his left knee on Feb. 14. Korver missed his fourth consecutive game Tuesday with an inflamed tendon in his left foot.

Goran Dragic set to return for Heat

Good news for the Heat as guard Goran Dragic is returning quickly after taking a hard elbow to the face. Here’s the South Florida Sun Sentinel reporting:

Goran Dragic set to return for Heat

The veteran point guard is back in the mix for the Miami Heat after missing Sunday’s loss to the Indiana Pacers with a right orbital contusion.

“I mean, it’s a little bit blurry, but that’s normal,” Dragic said Wednesday, in advance of facing the New Orleans Pelicans at AmericanAirlines Arena. “Doc said it’s going to take time to clear the fluids, the swelling, but it’s much better.”

Dragic was injured on an inadvertent elbow from Toronto Raptors guard Cory Joseph in a Saturday victory, before sitting out the loss to the Pacers at Bankers Life Fieldhouse.

Playoffs very unlikely for Knicks

We’ve reached the time of the NBA year where teams must finally be fully realistic about whether they’re a playoff team or a lottery squad. As for the Knicks, here’s NY Newsday reporting:

Playoffs very unlikely for Knicks

Jeff Hornacek is no longer saying the Knicks can make a playoff run. The Knicks coach conceded the race is just about over and it’s time to start building for next season.

But Tuesday night the Knicks looked like they were playing for something, especially in the second half. They erased a 10-point third-quarter deficit, held Indiana to 29-second points and earn an 87-81 win over the Pacers at Madison Square Garden.

Carmelo Anthony scored 15 of his 22 points in the fourth quarter and grabbed 13 rebounds to lead the Knicks (27-41). Derrick Rose added 16 and Willy Hernangomez had 13 and 16 rebounds.

Kristaps Porzingis left the game in the fourth quarter with a bruised left leg and didn’t return.

The Knicks remain in 12th place in the East, six games out of the final spot with 14 to play. They’re not mathematically eliminated, but they’ve been showing signs of being mentally done for a long time.

Cavs waive Andrew Bogut and sign Larry Sanders

Center Larry Sanders was out of basketball, but thanks to the Cavs, he’s back.

The Cleveland Cavaliers signed Sanders today. And in a related move, the team waived center Andrew Bogut.

Sanders (6-11, 230), who had spent his entire five-year NBA career with the Milwaukee Bucks, last saw action during the 2014-15 season when he averaged 7.3 points, 6.1 rebounds and 1.44 blocks in 21.7 minutes over 27 games (26 starts).

Originally drafted out of Virginia Commonwealth as the 15th overall pick by Milwaukee in the 2010 NBA Draft, Sanders went on to play in 233 games (113 starts) for the Bucks. He holds career averages of 6.5 points, 5.8 rebounds and 1.84 blocks in 19.8 minutes per game and currently ranks sixth among active players in blocks per game. His best season came in 2012-13 when he ranked second in the NBA in blocks per game (2.83), while averaging 9.8 points on .506 shooting from the field and 9.5 rebounds in 27.3 minutes during 71 games (55 starts). Sanders also registered a triple-double that season with 10 points, 12 rebounds and a career-high 10 blocks at Minnesota on Nov. 30, 2012.

Bogut (7-0, 260) was signed by the Cavaliers on March 2, 2017 and appeared in one game for Cleveland. In his lone appearance, he experienced a fractured left tibia after 58 seconds of play against Miami on March 6, 2017.

Justin Harper back with the D-Fenders

Justin Harper back with the D-Fenders

The Los Angeles D-Fenders have reacquired forward Justin Harper following the completion of his 10-day contract with the Philadelphia 76ers, it was announced today.

Harper (6-10, 225) appeared in three games after signing with the Sixers on March 3, averaging 4.0 points and 2.0 rebounds in 10.3 minutes per contest. In 37 games (all starts) with the D-Fenders this season, the two-time NBA D-League All-Star has averaged 16.2 points, 7.0 rebounds and 1.4 assists. Additionally, Harper is shooting 49.1 percent from the field this season, including a 40.1 clip from three-point range.

Harper and the D-Fenders will be back on the court against the Iowa Energy at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, March 15, at the Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines, Iowa.

Lakers sign David Nwaba to second 10-day contract

The Los Angeles Lakers have signed guard David Nwaba to a second 10-day contract, General Manager Rob Pelinka announced today.

Nwaba (6-5, 204) averaged 2.6 points, 1.6 rebounds and 11.2 minutes through five games after earning an NBA Call-Up with the Lakers on February 28. He originally joined the club from the team’s NBA Development League affiliate, the Los Angeles D-Fenders, where he played in 39 games (30 starts), averaging 14.1 points, 6.9 rebounds, 1.4 steals and 1.2 blocks in 29.0 minutes per contest.

The Lakers roster stands at 15.

Stephen Curry passes Dell Curry in NBA points

Dell Curry was a fantastic NBA player. His son Stephen Curry is other-level, though. Here’s the Minneapolis Star Tribune with the latest:

Stephen Curry passes father Dell Curry in NBA points

Golden State superstar Stephen Curry surpassed his father in NBA career points scored with a three-pointer in the third quarter of Friday’s game against the Timberwolves at Target Center.

Dell Curry scored 12,670 points a 16-year career with five teams, the longest stint being with Charlotte. Stephen Curry did it in his eighth season, finishing the game with 26 points and 12,682 for his career. According to Elisa Sports Bureau, they are fourth all-time by a father-son duo, behind Joe and Kobe Bryant (38,895), Dolph and Danny Schayes (27,218) and Rick and Brent Barry (26,883).

And then there’s Seth Curry, who has found his way in the NBA with Dallas.

Dion Waiters has become a fan favorite in Miami

The Heat are only 31-34, which is the 9th best record in the Eastern conference, but after a lousy start to the season the team has been on a winning path. They’re moving on up. And a big reason why has been the play of guard Dion Waiters. Here’s the South Florida Sun-Sentinel reporting:

Dion Waiters has become a fan favorite in Miami

Since the team’s second-half revival, Waiters has taken on the role of fan favorite. He appears in Internet memes, is arguably the most popular player on social-media and even had a song written about him.

While Waiters is flattered by the attention, he says it’s mostly because of the team success.

“I just think of what we did as a team,” Waiters said. “What we’re doing from a team standpoint, just how we fought back and into the position that we’re in now.”

The Waiters phenomenon hit an all-time high when a song based on the theme of “Gilligan’s Island” hit the Internet earlier this week. The lyrics are cleverly based on Waiters’ arrival in Miami, while also sprinkling in mentions of teammates.

The track is titled, “Waiters Island.”