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The Minnesota Timberwolves signed guard Lance Stephenson to a second 10-day contract today.
Stephenson, who was originally signed to a 10-day contract by the Wolves on February 8th, has appeared in four games for Minnesota this season averaging 4.3 points, 1.8 rebounds and 0.8 assists per game.
Stephenson’s NBA career has taken a nosedive in recent seasons. He’s trying to get himself back on the map. Using this 10-day deal to earn a rest-of-season contract would be a good start.
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Trail Blazers center Festus Ezeli, who hasn’t played at all this season, underwent surgery on his left knee, team president of basketball operations Neil Olshey announced today.
The surgery was performed by Dr. Robert LaPrade at the Steadman Clinic in Vail, Colorado.
Ezeli will miss the remainder of the 2016-17 season.
Ezeli spent the first three seasons of his NBA career as a member of the Warriors. The Blazers, who at 27-35 have the 9th best record in the Western conference through Tuesday’s games, were counting on him as a defensive, rebound-grabbing presence. They’ll have to wait until next season to see what he can do.
Cavs shooting guard J.R. Smith has been medically cleared to return to action. So if he doesn’t play in the squad’s very next game, he should still likely be active soon. Here’s the News Herald reporting:
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J.R. Smith’s right thumb is fine. His head, though, might be a different story.
The Cavaliers sharp-shooting guard returned to full practice on March 8 for the first time since he was injured on Dec. 20 in Milwaukee swiping at the ball. He underwent complex surgery three days later to repair the fracture.
Smith has missed 41 of the Cavaliers’ 62 games. He is listed as questionable for their game with the Pistons in Detroit on March 9. After practice at the Cleveland Clinic Courts in Independence he said he isn’t sure if he is mentally ready to play right now.
“It’s more or less my confidence going into playing,” Smith said. “It’s a weird situation. Physically, I’m fine. Mentally, going in there swiping at the ball, trying to dive for loose balls — that plays a factor.
Here’s the Orange County Register reporting on the Lakers, who have one of the league’s worst records but also boast an intriguing cast of young talent:
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The outcome seemed as inevitable as Dirk Nowitzki sinking a fadeaway jumper.
The Lakers suffered a 122-111 loss to the Dallas Mavericks on Tuesday at American Airlines Center, marking their eighth consecutive loss overall and the fourth consecutive year they were swept by the Mavericks in the regular-season series.
Afterward, Lakers coach Luke Walton echoed a criticism former Lakers coach Byron Scott often had last season when he called the team “soft.”
“Teams feel like when they play us right now, we’re kind of a soft team that they can come in to get their offensive numbers against,” Walton said. “That’s got to be up to us to change that.”
Walton expressed optimism the Lakers (19-45) will eventually do that.
Here’s the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reporting on Mavericks legend Dirk Nowitzki, who has now scored over 30,000 points in the NBA:
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Dirk Nowitzki didn’t waste any time giving the people what they wanted. Poised to etch his name in the history books alongside some NBA legends, Nowitzki poured in 25 points Tuesday night to lead the Dallas Mavericks to a 122-111 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers before an energetic American Airlines Center sellout crowd of 20,484.
Along the way, Nowitzki became only the sixth player in NBA history to score at least 30,000 points for his career. And it was the way Nowitzki reached his milestone that had the crowd in an electrifying mood.
Anxious to reach his appointed destination with history in a hurry, Nowitzki came out firing. Needing just 20 points to reach the 30,000 barrier, the 19-year veteran popped in 18 points in during a red-hot first quarter in which he made his first six shots, including 2-of-2 from 3-point territory.
Those were the most points in a quarter by a Mavs player this season.
Here’s the St. Paul Pioneer Press reporting that the Timberwolves frontcourt is about to get a bit deeper:
Adreian Payne was back participating in practice Tuesday after he was medically cleared to play.
Payne has been out since early February with a low platelet count. He is officially questionable for the Wolves’ home game against the Clippers on Wednesday. Thibodeau said Payne has a long way to go conditioning-wise but added it was good to have him back on the floor.
“It’s very nice,” Karl-Anthony Towns said. “You always worry about his health, and just to see him out here playing with us, working out, everything is a huge bonus. It’s been definitely a journey for him recently, but just glad to see he’s getting healthy and he’s ready to play.”
An update on Cavs injuries:
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Andrew Bogut underwent additional imaging and evaluation at the Cleveland Clinic yesterday related to his fractured left tibia. His tibia has been set and he is undergoing a non-surgical treatment and recovery plan commencing immediately with an extended period of immobilization and healing stimulation. He will not be available to play the remainder of the regular season and playoffs, but is expected to successfully complete his recovery process in advance of training camp for the 2017-18 NBA season.
Kyle Korver is experiencing left foot soreness. He will travel with the team on the current trip to Detroit, Orlando and Houston while receiving treatment. He is listed as Out vs. Detroit and his status will be updated as appropriate following that.
JR Smith (right thumb) has been cleared to resume full practice activity today and is listed as Questionable vs. Detroit.
Head Coach Tyronn Lue is being treated for a sinus/inner ear issue. He did not attend practice today and will not travel with the team to Detroit this afternoon. He is expected to meet the team in Detroit tomorrow and be back on the sideline for the game tomorrow night vs. the Pistons.
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Trail Blazers center Ed Davis underwent successful arthroscopic surgery today to stabilize the labrum in his left shoulder, it was announced by president of basketball operations Neil Olshey.
The procedure was performed by Dr. Neal ElAttrache at the Kerlan-Jobe Orthopedic Clinic in Los Angeles.
Davis will be out for the remainder of the 2016-17 season, but is expected to be ready for the 2017-18 training camp.
The Los Angeles Lakers have hired Rob Pelinka as General Manager.
Pelinka, 47, joins the Lakers after spending the greater part of two decades representing many of the NBA’s top talent. During his tenure as an agent, Pelinka was named by Forbes Magazine as one of the Top 10 Sports Agents in the World. In his role, Pelinka will report to Lakers Governor Jeanie Buss and President of Basketball Operations, Earvin “Magic” Johnson.
“We have worked closely with Rob for many years and have first-hand experience with his knowledge of the league and the business of basketball,” said Buss. “In our recent discussions, it was clear that he also shares our goal of returning the Lakers to being an elite NBA franchise. Together with Earvin and Coach Walton, I believe we are in a great position to bring winning basketball back to the Lakers.”
“Rob’s knowledge of the NBA landscape and the CBA, as well as his relationships with GMs around the league, are invaluable,” said Johnson. “After running a successful sports agency and as someone who truly understands the inner workings of salary caps and player negotiations, he will bring the additional skills and experience needed in the Lakers executive office. Rob is a winner and the Lakers are fortunate to have him.”
The Lake Forest, Illinois native earned his B.B.A. from the Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan with high honors in 1993, before receiving his J.D., Cum Laude, from the University of Michigan Law School in 1996. While at Michigan, Pelinka earned a 1989 National Championship as a member of the Wolverines basketball team and also took part in three NCAA Final Fours (1989, 1992 & 1993).
“I am beyond grateful to join the Lakers front office,” said Pelinka. “The Lakers are a gold standard for sports franchises in the world, so we all share a responsibility to pursue excellence in everything we do. Excellence is what the Lakers stands for, what Jeanie Buss and Earvin Johnson embody, and what Coach Walton demands from our players. That obsession for greatness is what will bring Lakers basketball back to a championship level. With Jeanie and Magic guiding the vision, I am thrilled to help architect the future. I am really excited to get to work.”
Here’s the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reporting on a promising young member of the Bucks:
He does not fit the profile of an NBA rookie of the year candidate.
He was a second-round pick, a five-year player at the University of Virginia. He’s 24 years old, considered ancient for a rookie in this one-and-done era.
But the numbers tell a different story.
Milwaukee Bucks point guard Malcolm Brogdon indeed is a very serious candidate for the league’s rookie of the year honor.
He leads all rookies in win shares (2.9), a statistic that calculates the number of wins a player produces for his team. He is shooting 42.8% from three-point range, leading all rookies and ranking seventh in the league. And he averages 10.0 points and 4.1 assists, modest numbers but good enough to rank third in scoring and first in assists among rookies.