Inside Hoops – Page 949 – NBA Blog

Grizzlies sign JaMychal Green to second 10-day contract

The Memphis Grizzlies signed free agent forward JaMychal Green to a second 10-day contract, Grizzlies General Manager Chris Wallace announced today.

Green (6-9, 220) initially was signed by Memphis to a 10-day contract as a Call-Up from the Austin Spurs of the NBA Development League on Feb. 2. He has averaged 4.0 points and 2.5 rebounds in 6.5 minutes in two appearances for Memphis, scoring eight points on 3-of-3 shooting in his Grizzlies debut on Feb. 6 at Minnesota. Green has averaged 2.7 points and 1.8 rebounds in 6.3 minutes in six games for Memphis and San Antonio in his rookie NBA season.

The 24-year-old averaged 23.0 points on .577 shooting, 10.9 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.55 blocks in 31.8 minutes in 20 games (all starts) this season with Austin. Green, who was named NBA D-League Player of the Month for games in December, ranked sixth in the D-League in scoring and rebounding per game and tied for seventh in double-doubles (15) before his Call-Up to the Grizzlies (among players with at least 10 games played).

Undrafted in the 2012 NBA Draft, the Montgomery, Ala. native averaged 13.5 points, 7.4 rebounds and 1.72 blocks in 123 games over four seasons at the University of Alabama. He played 25 games for Chorale Roanne of the LNB Pro A League in France during the 2013-14 season.

Byron Scott may change Lakers lineup

Here’s the Los Angeles Daily News blog reporting on the 13-40 Lakers:

The Lakers appear likely to make lineup changes, regardless of whether they make a move leading into Thursdays’ trade deadline that ends at 12 p.m. PST.

With Byron Scott insistent he would evaluate his starting lineup every 15 to 20 games this season, the Lakers coach strongly suggested another shuffle will take place.

“I’ll probably make another lineup change just to get some other guys some time to just go out there and show what they can do as well,” Scott said. “So I do expect probably one more, at least, lineup change.”

Danny Ainge discusses playing with Jerome Kersey

Here’s the Oregonian with quotes on Jerome Kersey, the former Trail Blazers who has unfortunately passed away:

Danny Ainge will remember many things about Jerome Kersey, but one thing will always stand above all: His smile.

“He always played happy and hard,” Ainge said Thursday morning. “And that made him a great joy to be around on a day-in-day-out basis.”

Kersey died unexpectedly on Wednesday in Tualatin. He was 52.

Kersey played his first 11 seasons with the Blazers, including two with Ainge – the record 63-win season in 1990-1991 and the NBA Finals season of 1991-1992.

Spurs visit the Clippers tonight

Here’s the San Antonio Express-News blog reporting on the Spurs, who head to Los Angeles to visit the Clippers tonight:

The Spurs view their annual rodeo trip as an opportunity to bond and gear themselves up for the stretch run. They need that now more than ever as they enter the second half of the season still stuck in seventh place in the bloodbath that is the Western Conference despite winning 13 of their last 17 before the All-Star break.

If they’re going to climb up the standings, winning games against the six teams above them is critical. Especially when said teams are missing a key player, as the Clippers are without injured All-Star Blake Griffin. His absence didn’t prevent the Clippers from spanking Dallas and Houston by a combined 32 points in their most recent outings. But it leaves them perilously thin with Glen Davis as their primary backup big.

Rodney Hood should return Friday for Jazz

Rodney Hood should return Friday for Jazz

Here’s the Salt Lake Tribune with good news on the Jazz health front:

It’s been more than a month since Rodney Hood has played a game of a basketball, but the Jazz rookie is optimistic that streak is about to end.

“Yeah. I expect to play,” the 6-foot-8 swingman told reporters Wednesday, when asked about his availability for Friday night’s game against the Portland Trail Blazers. “I’ll be on restricted minutes. We’ll see how practice goes tomorrow … and go from there.”

Hood was only a partial participant in Utah’s first practice back from the all-star break. Joe Ingles, who has missed three straight games with back spasms, was a full participant Wednesday.

Carmelo Anthony to undergo season-ending knee surgery

Carmelo Anthony to undergo season-ending knee surgery

To no one’s surprise, the New York Knicks announced Wednesday that Carmelo Anthony will have season-ending left knee surgery.

The procedure, which will be performed by Team Orthopedist Dr. Answorth Allen, includes a left knee patella tendon debridement and repair.

At 10-43, the Knicks have the worst record in the league. Melo played in 40 of those 53 games, averaging 24.2 points, 6.6 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game, shooting 44.4 percent from the field.

The team is focused on summer free agency and the draft, and the future, not present. So there was no need for Anthony to continue playing hurt, even if he was able to do so.

Jerome Kersey dies at age 52

Former Trail Blazer Jerome Kersey dies at age 52

A beloved figure and one of the most prolific Portland Trail Blazers, Jerome Kersey, has passed away at age 52. Cause of death has not been confirmed. A long-time resident of Portland after his 17-year NBA career, Kersey was employed by the Trail Blazers as Director of Alumni Relations as part of the team’s Social Responsibility Department.

“Today we lost an incredible person and one of the most beloved players to ever wear a Trail Blazers uniform,” said Trail Blazers Owner Paul Allen. “My thoughts and condolences are with the Kersey family. He will be missed by all of us. It’s a terrible loss.”

“We’re shocked to lose such a great member of our Trail Blazers family,” said Trail Blazers President and CEO Chris McGowan. “The news is so sudden, and we’re sure more details will be forthcoming. But it is indeed a sad day for our organization, the city of Portland and the NBA. Jerome will be remembered not only for his incredible contributions on the court, but his tremendous impact in our community.”

“Jerome was an incredible influence on our players as a model for life after basketball,” said Trail Blazers President of Basketball Operations Neil Olshey. “He set the bar extremely high with his long-lasting influence in this community.”

Kersey was part of the great early 90s Portland nucleus that led the Trail Blazers to the NBA Finals in 1990 and 1992. He ranks fifth on the team’s all-time scoring list (10,067) and third in rebounds (5,078) after an 11-year tenure in Portland from 1984-95. He continued his career with Golden State, L.A. Lakers, Seattle, San Antonio and Milwaukee, and he won an NBA Championship with the Spurs in 1999.

Jrue Holiday out at least three more weeks with leg injury

Jrue Holiday out at least three more weeks with leg injury

The New Orleans Pelicans announced today that guard Jrue Holiday re-aggravated the stress reaction in his lower right leg on Monday. He will be re-evaluated in three weeks by the team’s medical staff. A timetable for his return will be announced at a later date as more information is available.

Holiday has missed the previous 16 games with the injury. In 37 games this season, Holiday averaged 15.2 points, 3.5 rebounds and 7.1 assists in 33.7 minutes per game. The 6-4 guard holds career averages of 13.7 points, 3.6 rebounds and 6.1 assists in 369 contests.

Pelicans sign Toney Douglas to second 10-day contract

Pelicans sign Toney Douglas to second 10-day contract

The New Orleans Pelicans announced today that the team has signed guard Toney Douglas to a second 10-day contract.

Douglas, 6-2, 185, has 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. 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 had appeared in 297 career NBA games with New York, Houston, Sacramento, Golden State and Miami, averaging 7.8 points, 2.2 rebounds and 2.2 assists.

Report: Goran Dragic seeks trade from Suns

Report: Goran Dragic seeks trade from Suns

Here’s the Arizona Republic reporting on the Suns and guard Goran Dragic, who may be going their separate ways in the next day or two, or this summer:

The Dragon’s fire has turned toward the Suns organization.

Goran Dragic, the closest thing to a face of the franchise for the Suns, wants to be traded by Thursday’s 1 p.m. deadline, according to multiple league sources after the parties met Tuesday.

Dragic has lost trust in the Suns organization because they have brought in two other point guards, Eric Bledsoe and Isaiah Thomas, and reduced his playmaking role since he returned to Phoenix during free agency in 2012 to be Steve Nash’s heir apparent.

The Suns, who traded Dragic in 2011, traded for Bledsoe in 2013 when he was one of the most-sought trade commodities and created a dual-playmaker backcourt. Dragic thrived when Bledsoe missed half of the season and they ultimately found chemistry for a 48-win season.