Inside Hoops – Page 942 – NBA Blog

Knicks still hope to get something from Andrea Bargnani

Here’s ESPN New York reporting on the Knicks and Andrea Bargnani, who has played in just six games this season, averaging 7.7 points on 39% shooting in 17.5 minutes per outing:

With Carmelo Anthony’s scoring punch on the shelf for the season, Phil Jackson sees one player on the Knicks roster who might be able to shoulder some of the scoring load.

Jackson thinks Andrea Bargnani can help offset some of the 24.2 points per game lost with Anthony. At the very least, Bargnani should be able to replace Amar’e Stoudemire’s 12 points per game — provided he can remain on the court.

Of course, Bargnani has been a 7-foot walking injury as a Knick.

“Now that we have a gap in scoring, this is a guy that is a natural scorer,” Jackson said last week when asked before the trading deadline what could happen with Bargnani if he isn’t dealt. “I think the coaching staff would like to have him on the court and be competitive with his scoring capabilities.”

Pistons sign John Lucas III for remainder of season

Pistons sign John Lucas III for remainder of season

Detroit Pistons General Manager Jeff Bower announced today that the club has signed guard John Lucas III for the remainder of the season following two consecutive 10-day contracts.

The 5-foot-11, 166-pound guard has averaged 5.0 points, 3.3 assists and 12.2 minutes in eight games with Detroit. He scored a season-high 10 points at Indiana (2/4) and has dished out a season-high six assists twice.

Originally signed on February 2, he was signed to a second 10-day contract on February 12. Lucas joined the Pistons following a stint with the Fujian Sturgeons of the Chinese Basketball Association where he averaged 26.6 points, 7.1 assists, 4.7 rebounds, 1.3 steals and 43.5 minutes in 26 games.

The Washington, DC native has spent parts of six seasons in the NBA with the Houston Rockets, Chicago Bulls, Toronto Raptors and Utah Jazz. He holds career averages of 4.8 points, 1.4 assists, 1.0 rebounds and 12.2 minutes in 216 games (eight starts) and is a career 34.7-percent shooter from three-point range.

Lucas has also spent time in the NBA’s Developmental League and played internationally in Italy, Spain and China. He played collegiately at Oklahoma State University.

Ronnie Price out 6-8 weeks after elbow surgery

Ronnie Price out 6-8 weeks after elbow surgery

Lakers guard Ronnie Price underwent successful surgery this morning to remove bone spurs and bone chips from his right elbow. The surgery was performed by Dr. Neal ElAttrache of the Kerlan-Jobe Orthopaedic Clinic. Price is expected to be out approximately six to eight weeks.

Price, who signed with the Lakers as a free agent on September 24, has appeared in 43 games (20 starts) this season, averaging 5.1 points, 1.6 rebounds, 3.8 assists, and 1.56 steals in 22.8 minutes per game.

New Phoenix Suns alternate home uniform, called PHXRising

Today the Phoenix Suns revealed a new look with a historic twist, one that celebrates an iconic Suns uniform of the past. The new uniform, deemed PHXRising, was revealed this morning.

The PHXRising uniform will serve as the Suns’ second alternate and be worn by the team for the first time tomorrow night (February 26) when it faces the Oklahoma City Thunder at US Airways Center. Tip-off is set for 8:30 p.m.

The PHXRising collection with its gray, black and orange palette symbolizes the ash, smoke and embers of the mythological bird for which Phoenix is named.

Rick Carlisle, Rajon Rondo express some disagreements

Let’s get this right out of the way. Players sometimes disagree with each other. Players and coaches often do the same. Sometimes it’s a lingering problem but quite often it’s nothing to be alarmed about. That said, here’s ESPN Dallas reporting on Mavericks head coach Rick Carlisle and relatively new Mavs point guard Rajon Rondo:

Carlisle predictably wasn’t in much of a mood to chat about Rondo after Tuesday night’s 99-92 win over the Toronto Raptors. Nor was Rondo, at least to the media.

But Carlisle and Rondo had plenty to say to each other during a tense timeout with 8:10 remaining in the third quarter. The stubborn coach and headstrong point guard exchanged a lot of expletives as they shouted at each other in a dispute stemming from Rondo’s desire to have more play-calling responsibilities.

“Well, it’s an emotional game and we had a difference of opinion,” Carlisle said. “There was an exchange, and then, in my mind, it was over.”

Well, it apparently lasted at least the rest of the game. The evidence: Rondo rode the pine for the final 20:10, a span in which reserve guards Devin Harris and J.J. Barea played key roles in the Mavs’ rally from a nine-point deficit.

Another serious knee injury for Derrick Rose

Another serious knee injury for Derrick Rose

Derrick Rose suffers another serious knee injury

It’s happened yet again. Another serious injury to Chicago Bulls point guard Derrick Rose.

Rose reported to the team today with right knee pain. An exam and subsequent MRI revealed that he has suffered a medial meniscus tear of the right knee.

Surgery will be scheduled, after which a timeline for his return will be determined.

At this point, Bulls veterans have unfortunately already gathered lots of experience playing without Rose, whose NBA career features a league MVP award but also numerous major injuries.

According to Rick Morrissey of the Chicago Sun-Times, “it’s looking more and more as if Derrick Rose’s body wasn’t built for the NBA, or maybe more to the point, that his knees weren’t built for the torque his explosive style of basketball puts on them. His spirit is most definitely willing, but that flesh of his is weak. The Bulls announced Tuesday night that their star guard would undergo surgery for a torn meniscus in his right knee. It will be his third knee surgery in almost 34 months, and his entire career is now in question. If you’re someone who relies on your knees for a living, you don’t go under the knife that many times and not feel the effects of it long-term.”

Report: Los Angeles mansion owned by Earl Watson robbed

Here’s TMZ reporting some bad news from Los Angeles:

An L.A. mansion owned by former NBA player Earl Watson was robbed Monday night by at least 4 men in ski masks — who handcuffed the occupants and ransacked the place.

While 35-year-old Watson owns the $4 million Encino home, he currently rents it out to a local elderly couple.

Officials say the men — at least one of whom had a gun — broke in through a back door and once inside, they handcuffed the couple and stole various items … including cash.

Name change: Yes, Bill Walker is now Henry Walker

Name change: Yes, Bill Walker is now Henry Walker

Here’s the South Florida Sun Sentinel reporting on the newest member of the Miami Heat:

Miami Heat forward Henry Walker considered it a sign of maturity.

Last year the player formerly known as “Bill” started going by his middle name. If his Heat debut was any indication, Walker has already grown up a bunch.

He scored 11 points, including three 3-pointers in Monday’s victory against the Philadelphia 76ers. The plan is for Walker to remain in the rotation the duration of his 10-day contract.

“It’s just my middle name,” Walker said. “I’m just trying to mature and just trying to grow up, trying to change the perception about me.”

Sixers add Thomas Robinson, release Tim Frazier

Sixers add Thomas Robinson, release Tim Frazier

The Brooklyn Nets had reportedly planned to sign forward Thomas Robinson once he cleared waivers. But the Philadelphia 76ers decided not to let that happen.

The Sixers announced today the team has claimed forward Thomas Robinson off of waivers.

Robinson has appeared in 172 career games in three NBA seasons and has posted averages of five points and four rebounds in 14 minutes per game. He was selected fifth overall in the 2012 NBA Draft after a junior season in which he was named Big 12 Player of the Year and a consensus First Team All-American.

In a related move, the team has released Tim Frazier from his second 10-day contract.

According to the Philadelphia Inquirer, “the Sixers picked Robinson up as a way to get an up-close look at him to see if he fits in their long-term plans The 6-foot-9, 240-pounder out of Kansas was the fifth overall pick by the Sacramento Kings in the 2012 NBA draft. Robinson was traded to the Houston Rockets on Feb. 20, 2013 and then to the Blazers on July 10, 2013. He averaged 4.6 points and 4.4 rebounds in 172 games played.”

Cavs sign Kendrick Perkins

Cavs sign Kendrick Perkins

The Cleveland Cavaliers have signed center Kendrick Perkins, Cavaliers General Manager David Griffin announced today.

Perkins (6-10, 270, Clifton J. Ozen High School (TX)) is a 12-year veteran who holds career averages of 5.6 points on .530 shooting from the field, 6.0 rebounds and 1.2 blocks in 22.6 minutes over 727 games (560 starts) with the Oklahoma City Thunder and Boston Celtics. Originally selected in the first round (27th overall) of the 2003 NBA Draft by Memphis, Perkins has appeared in 51 games (three starts) for the Thunder this season, averaging 4.0 points and 5.5 rebounds in 19.2 minutes.

A member of the 2008 NBA Champion Boston Celtics, Perkins has appeared in the postseason eight times, seeing action in 135 games (129 starts) and averaging 5.4 points, 6.2 rebounds and 1.1 blocks in 24.7 minutes. Perkins will be available for tonight’s game against the Detroit Pistons and will wear jersey number 3 for the Cavaliers.