Inside Hoops – Page 767 – NBA Blog

Celtics sign Coty Clarke to second 10-day contract

The Boston Celtics have signed Coty Clarke to a second 10-day contract.

The 6’7” forward has appeared in two games for the Celtics since signing his initial 10-day contract on March 7. Clarke has totaled three points and one rebound in three minutes of game action, but the team seems to like him enough to at least keep him on the squad for another 10 days.

When Clarke was recalled from the Maine Red Claws of the NBA Development League he was averaging 16.1 points, 7.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.2 steals in 26.0 minutes per game. Clarke has also appeared in one game for the Red Claws on assignment from the Celtics where he recorded 18 points, five rebounds, two assists and one steal in just under 20 minutes against Erie on March 10.

With a 39-29 record this season, the Celtics are tied with the Heat and Hornets for the 4th best winning percentage in the Eastern conference.

Pistons sign Lorenzo Brown to 10-day contract

The Detroit Pistons have signed guard Lorenzo Brown to a 10-day contract.

A 6-5, 189-pound guard, Brown’s NBA average is 3.3 points, 2.3 assists, 1.7 rebounds and 13.2 minutes in 63 career games played with the Philadelphia 76ers, Minnesota Timberwolves and Phoenix Suns. He was signed to two 10-day contracts with the Phoenix Suns this season, with whom he averaged 2.5 points, 1.4 assists, 0.9 rebounds and 7.6 minutes in eight games.

A second-round selection (52nd overall) by the Minnesota Timberwolves in the 2013 NBA Draft, Brown most recently played for the Detroit Pistons NBA Developmental League affiliate, the Grand Rapids Drive.

No NBA playoffs for Carmelo Anthony again

The New York Knicks’ next loss, which could come as early as Saturday in Washington, D.C. against the Wizards, will clinch a third straight losing season, and sooner than later Phil Jackson’s team will be eliminated again from NBA playoff contention.

This is rare and uncomfortable territory for forward Carmelo Anthony, who never missed the NBA playoffs in his first 10 years in the league yet is now going on three years and counting without postseason basketball.

Maybe the reality that his career with the Knicks is stuck in neutral hit Anthony as he sat at the end of the bench during the final moments of Wednesday’s embarrassing loss to Steph Curry and the Warriors. It certainly seemed to be weighing on his mind in the locker room afterwards.

— NY Daily News

Spurs keep winning at home, beat Blazers

The Portland Trail Blazers on Thursday became the latest victim of San Antonio’s AT&T Center.

With a little shooting from forward LaMarcus Aldridge, a lot of passing from guard Tony Parker and a host of contributions up and down the roster, the Spurs beat the Blazers 118-110, sweeping the three-game season series.

San Antonio (58-10) won its 43rd consecutive game at AT&T Center, improving to a perfect 34-0 at home this season.

Aldridge finished with 22 points and six rebounds, Parker recorded 18 points and 16 assists and Kawhi Leonard added 22 points and three blocks for the balanced Spurs, who received scoring from 10 players.

— Oregonian

Jeremy Evans undergoes season-ending shoulder surgery

Dallas Mavericks forward Jeremy Evans had arthroscopic surgery to repair a torn labrum in his right shoulder. The surgery was performed by team physician Dr. Daniel Worrel at The Carrell Clinic in Dallas.

Evans will miss the remainder of the 2015-16 season.

Signed by the Mavericks as a free agent on July 31, 2015, Evans averaged 2.4 points, 1.8 rebounds and 8.4 minutes in 30 games (two starts) in his first season in Dallas.

Nets sign Henry Sims to 10-day contract

The Brooklyn Nets have signed center Henry Sims to a 10-day contract. The team’s roster is now 15 players.

The 6’10”, 248-pound Sims has played in 121 games (57 starts) in parts of three seasons with New Orleans, Cleveland and Philadelphia, recording averages of 7.8 points, 4.9 rebounds and 1.1 assists in 18.8 minutes per game.

Sims spent the 2014-15 season with the 76ers, averaging 8.0 points, 4.9 rebounds and 1.1 assists in 19.2 minutes per game in 73 games (32 starts).

The Baltimore native went undrafted in the 2012 NBA draft after a four-year collegiate career at Georgetown.

Knicks sign Tony Wroten

The New York Knicks signed guard Tony Wroten today.

According to ESPN.com, “Kurt Rambis said that Wroten, who has played just eight games since last February due to an ACL injury, will not play or practice with the team. “This was more to garner his rights and put him situations where we can look at him this summer,” Rambis said.”

Wroten, 6-6, 205-pounds, holds career averages of 11.1 points, on 41.3-percent shooting, 3.0 assists and 2.5 rebounds over 21.2 minutes in 145 games (34 starts) in four seasons with Memphis and Philadelphia. This season, he averaged 8.4 points, 2.6 rebounds and 2.5 assists over 18.0 minutes in eight games with Philadelphia before being waived on Dec. 24.

The Seattle, WA-native was originally selected by Memphis with the 25th overall pick in the 2012 NBA Draft following his freshman season at the University of Washington.

Pelicans sign Tim Frazier to 10-day contract

The New Orleans Pelicans signed guard Tim Frazier to a 10-day contract today after receiving a hardship exception from the NBA.

Frazier, 6-1, 170, most recently played for the Maine Red Claws of the NBA Development League, where he has appeared in eight games this season, averaging 15.0 points, 9.6 assists, 9.1 rebounds and 1.4 steals per game.

Undrafted out of Penn State, Frazier began his professional career with the Red Claws in 2014-15, appearing in 41 games and averaging 16.1 points, 9.5 assists, 7.1 rebounds and 1.7 steals on his way to being named to the 2015 D-League All-Star Game, D-League All-Rookie First Team, D-League All-Defensive Second Team, All-D-League First Team, D-League Rookie of the Year and the 2015 D-League Most Valuable Player. Frazier earned GATORADE Call-Ups with Philadelphia and Portland, averaging 2.3 points, 2.2 assists and 1.5 rebounds in 46 career NBA games.

New Orleans’ roster stands at 17. Frazier will wear #2 for the Pelicans.

Damon Stoudamire now a college basketball head coach for Pacific

University of the Pacific Director of Athletics Ted Leland has announced the hiring of Damon Stoudamire as Men’s Basketball Head Coach. Stoudamire becomes the 22nd head coach in school history. A press conference will be held at 1:30 pm at the Vereschagin Alumni House to announce the hiring where Dr. Leland and Coach Stoudamire will speak.

Stoudamire honed his skills under legendary coach Lute Olson at Arizona where he played four seasons before beginning a 13-year NBA career. He has spent the last seven years coaching basketball as an assistant with the Memphis Grizzlies, Arizona Wildcats, and most recently the Memphis Tigers.

“I am humbled and honored to be named head men’s basketball coach at University of the Pacific,” said Stoudamire. “I’d like to thank President Eibeck and Dr. Leland for believing in me and giving me this unbelievable opportunity! I’m truly blessed to be able to lead our Tigers into the future!”

Most recently, Stoudamire spent the 2015-16 season as an assistant with the University of Memphis where he was considered one of the top collegiate recruiters in the country. Prior to his last stint at Memphis, Stoudamire spent two seasons on the University of Arizona basketball staff from 2013-15. In his two seasons in Tucson, Stoudamire helped lead the Wildcats to consecutive 30-win seasons (33-5 in 2013-14; 34-4 in 2014-15), two Pac-12 Conference regular-season titles, one Pac-12 Conference Tournament crown and back-to-back NCAA Elite Eight appearances.

Bucks sign Jared Cunningham to 10-day contract

The Milwaukee Bucks today signed guard Jared Cunningham to a 10-day contract, pursuant to the NBA’s hardship exception.

Cunningham, 24, most recently played in the D-League for the Idaho Stampede, where in three games (all starts) he averaged 17.3 points, 4.7 assists and 3.3 rebounds in 32.0 minutes per outing. Cunningham began the season with the Cleveland Cavaliers, where in 40 games (three starts) he averaged 2.6 points in 8.9 minutes per game before being traded to and then waived by Orlando on February 18.

The NBA’s hardship exception is a temporary roster spot that allows teams to exceed the 15-man maximum roster. A hardship can be deemed to exist when a team has four players who are sick or injured and have missed at least three consecutive games, and will continue to be unable to play as determined through an independent physician.