Inside Hoops – Page 926 – NBA Blog

Jazz sign forward Chris Johnson to multi-year deal

The Utah Jazz announced today that the team has signed forward Chris Johnson to a multi-year contract.

Johnson re-joins the team following a 10-day contract with the Jazz from Jan. 28 through Feb. 6, during which time he appeared in two games and averaged 7.0 points, 1.5 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.5 steals in 19.0 minutes per game.

The 24-year-old Johnson (6-6, 201, Dayton) most recently spent a pair of 10-day contracts with the Milwaukee Bucks (March 6-26), seeing action in eight contests and averaging 3.9 points and 1.4 rebounds in 16.0 minutes. He began the 2014-15 with the Philadelphia 76ers, where he averaged 6.0 points, 2.9 rebounds and 1.0 steals in 20.8 minutes in nine games (two starts) before being waived on Nov. 15. For the season, Johnson has played in a total of 19 games (two starts) and averages 5.2 points, 2.1 rebounds, 0.6 assists and 0.9 steals in 18.6 minutes per game.

For his NBA career, Johnson has spent portions of three seasons with the Jazz, Bucks and 76ers (2014-15), Boston Celtics (2013-14) and Memphis Grizzlies (2012-13), appearing in 67 NBA games (two starts) and owns averages of 5.6 points and 2.2 rebounds in 18.6 minutes per game.

Prior to being called up by the Jazz and becoming the 15th D-League Call-Up in team history (fourth this season), Johnson had also appeared in 14 games for the Rio Grande Valley Vipers of the NBA Development League in 2014-15 and was selected as a 2014 NBA D-League All-Star and named to the 2015 NBA D-League Showcase Second Team. Following his 10-day with the Jazz, Johnson returned to the Vipers for two additional games, and appeared in a total of 16 D-League games (all starts) this season, averaging 20.6 points, 5.9 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.6 steals in 34.6 minutes per contest. He scored in double figures on 15 occasions and recorded 20-plus points in 10 games, including one 30-point contest. Johnson has appeared in 75 games (58 starts) for Rio Grande Valley over three seasons and owns averages of 15.1 points, 5.2 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.6 steals in 31.3 minutes.

A native of Columbus, Ohio, Johnson played four seasons at Dayton (2008-12). He earned Atlantic 10 All-Championship Team honors following his junior season and was the 2010 Atlantic 10 Most Improved Player recipient. He was not selected in the 2012 NBA Draft.

Jazz waive Ian Clark

The Utah Jazz announced today that the team has waived guard Ian Clark. Following the move, the Jazz roster now stands at 14 players.

Clark (6-3, 180, Belmont) appeared in 23 games as a reserve this season for the Jazz, averaging 1.9 points in 7.0 minutes per game. He also appeared in seven games (six starts) while on assignment with the Jazz’s exclusively owned and operated NBA Development League team, the Idaho Stampede, where he averaged 14.0 points, 2.3 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.1 steals in 32.0 minutes per contest. The second-year guard appeared in a total of 46 games over two seasons with the Jazz, owning a career scoring average of 2.4 points in 7.2 minutes per game after originally joining Utah as an undrafted rookie free agent on July 29, 2013.

Sixers putting up some wins lately

Sixers putting up some wins lately

The Philadelphia 76ers are 18-54 in this season of rebuild, but have played decent basketball lately and put up some wins. But challenging opponents are ahead. Here’s the Philadelphia Inquirer reporting:

The 76ers know the real tests are coming.

They’ve won five of their last 10 games, but one of those wins came against an Atlanta Hawks squad that rested three starters. The other four victories were vs. opponents that had a combined winning percentage of .328 heading into Thursday’s games.

The Sixers (18-54) have made dramatic improvements since opening the season with 17 consecutive losses. But the upcoming games against the Los Angeles Clippers and Cleveland Cavaliers will be a true barometer of how far they’ve come.

The Clippers (47-25), who have won five straight and come to the Wells Fargo Center on Friday night, might be the Sixers’ easier matchup. On Sunday, they’ll face a Cavaliers squad (47-26) than has won 10 of its last 12 games.

Nuggets: Darrell Arthur dealing with lingering injury

Darrell Arthur dealing with lingering injury

Here’s the Denver Post reporting on the 27-45 Nuggets and forward Darrell Arthur, who is averaging 6.6 points in 17.0 minutes per game as a reserve:

Darrell Arthur feels today — and everyday — as if it was Feb. 25.

The problem: He feels it in his strained right calf, which has given him problems ever since he sustained an injury that day against Phoenix. And it is making the end of his season with the Nuggets a daily struggle, not only to play but make it through a game. And then be able to bounce back for the following game.

“I’ve been sore for about a month,” Arthur said. “The only thing that’s going to help is time. Time and treatment.”

It is an all-too familiar feeling for Arthur, who endured constant nagging injuries and pain late last season due to a left hip strain and then a knee sprain.

Jazz sign Jack Cooley to multi-year contract

Utah Jazz sign Jack Cooley to multi-year contract

The Utah Jazz announced today that team has signed forward Jack Cooley to a multi-year contract.

Cooley signed his most recent 10-day contract with the Jazz on March 16 and has appeared in six Jazz games, averaging 1.7 points in 4.3 minutes per contest.

When the Jazz signed him from the NBA Development League’s Idaho Stampede, Cooley (6-9, 246, Notre Dame) was averaging 16.8 points, 12.5 rebounds, 1.1 assists and 1.3 blocks in 30.8 minutes per contest in 20 games. On March 13, Cooley set a new D-League single-game record by grabbing 29 rebounds vs. Los Angeles D-Fenders, adding 27 points while going 11-of-14 from the floor (78.6 percent). Over his final three games, Cooley averaged 22.7 points on 65.9 percent shooting (27-of-41) and 22.7 rebounds per game with the Stampede. He recorded 13 double-doubles, including four straight since returning to the D-League. He scored in double figures on 17 occasions and recorded 20-plus points in six games.

Cooley also attended 2014 training camp with the Jazz, averaging 3.5 points and 3.0 rebounds in 5.8 minutes in two preseason games before being waived on Oct. 22.

A native of Glenview, Ill., Cooley played four seasons at Notre Dame (2009-13).

Derrick Rose expects to return sometime this season

Derrick Rose expects to return sometime this season

We’ve been through this before. Nevertheless, we must remain positive-minded. Or not. Whatever you want. Here’s the Chicago Tribune reporting the latest on injured Bulls point guard D-Rose:

Bulls guard Derrick Rose said he expects to be cleared for contact either this week or next and remains confident he’ll return from arthroscopic right knee surgery this season.

“Oh yeah, I’m not worried about that,” Rose said. “I’m feeling good. I’m trying to do all the right things. Put all the positives in the bag and just try to go with it. It’s something that I’ve been doing for a long time. Rehab is definitely a grind. But I’m getting used to it.”

Rose had a small piece of his right meniscus removed on Feb. 27. The Bulls estimated his return to action at four to six weeks. Friday marks four weeks since the surgery.

Warriors win 2014-15 Pacific Division title

Warriors win 2014-15 Pacific Division title

The Golden State Warriors have clinched the 2014-15 Pacific Division title, improving to 58-13 on the season following Tuesday’s 122-108 road victory over the Portland Trail Blazers. This marks the organization’s first Pacific Division title since the San Francisco Warriors won back-to-back Pacific crowns in 1974-75 and 1975-76.

This is the organization’s fifth division championship since the team moved to the West Coast in 1962, with the Warriors claiming Western Division titles in 1963-64 and 1966-67. Overall, the team has now won eight division championships in franchise history, including Eastern Division titles by the Philadelphia Warriors in 1947-48, 1950-51 and 1955-56.

The Warriors are slated to make their third consecutive postseason appearance as the team finished second in the Pacific Division in each of the past two seasons, with records of 47-35 in 2012-13 and 51-31 in 2013-14. Golden State’s 58 wins thus far, with 11 games remaining in the 2014-15 regular season, are the second most in team history and just one shy of the franchise-record 59 wins by the 1975-76 squad.

Hawks sign Austin Daye to second 10-day contract

Hawks sign Austin Daye to second 10-day contract

The Atlanta Hawks (53-17, having amazing season, but struggling a bit recently) have signed forward Austin Daye to a second 10-day contract, it was announced today by Head Coach Mike Budenholzer.

Daye has appeared in two games with the Hawks. He also played in 26 contests (four starts) earlier this season with the San Antonio Spurs, averaging 4.0 points and 2.3 rebounds in 10.3 minutes.

In 10 games this season with the Erie BayHawks of the NBA Development League, Daye averaged 16.0 points, 7.0 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.1 blocks in 28.5 minutes.

Bucks struggling since trading Brandon Knight

Bucks struggling since trading Brandon Knight

Here’s the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reporting on the struggling Bucks:

Since Brandon Knight left the Bucks in a trade deadline deal, Milwaukee has struggled to a 4-13 record.

Knight has not played recently for his new team, the Phoenix Suns, due to a sprained left ankle. The Suns are 4-6 in the games he has played and 9-8 since making the trade for Knight and two other deals on Feb. 19.

Knight told azcentral.com about the Bucks: “Their struggles aren’t my struggles any more. I moreso feel bad for the guys that I was there with. I feel a little bit bad for them because they know the hard work we put in. I know they feel it kind of went down the drain a bit.

“I wish those guys the best. Hopefully they can get back on track. I’m about the Suns right now.”

Pelicans re-sign Toney Douglas

Pelicans re-sign Toney Douglas

The New Orleans Pelicans announced today that the team has re-signed unrestricted free agent guard Toney Douglas.

Douglas, 6-2, 185, appeared in three games for New Orleans, averaging 9.0 points, 4.0 assists, 2.3 rebounds and 1.3 steals in 22.0 minutes per game while signed to two 10-day contracts with the team. Prior to joining the Pelicans, Douglas played for the Jiangsu Dragons of the Chinese Basketball Association, appearing in 35 games while averaging 19.1 points, 4.8 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 2.1 steals. Drafted 29th overall out of Florida State in 2009 by the Los Angeles Lakers, Douglas has appeared in 300 career NBA games with New York, Houston, Sacramento, Golden State, Miami and New Orleans, averaging 7.8 points, 2.2 rebounds and 2.2 assists.

Douglas will wear #16 and be available for Wednesday night’s home game against Houston.

New Orleans’ roster stands at 14.