Category: General NBA insight

Bucks sign Chris Johnson to 10-day contract

The Milwaukee Bucks have signed forward Chris Johnson to a 10-day contract, General Manager John Hammond announced today. Johnson is the 44th Gatorade Call-Up of the 2014-15 NBA Development League season.

Johnson, 24, most recently played for the Rio Grande Valley Vipers of the NBA D-League where he’s averaged 20.1 points, 5.8 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.5 steals in 17 appearances. He began the season with the Philadelphia 76ers, where he appeared in nine games (two starts) and averaged 6.0 points, 2.9 rebounds and 1.0 steals per contest before being waived on Nov. 15. Johnson also signed a 10-day contract with the Utah Jazz on Jan. 28 and appeared in two games, tallying 14 points, three rebounds, three assists and three steals.

Undrafted out of the University of Dayton in 2012, Johnson was later chosen by Rio Grande Valley with the seventh overall pick of the 2012 NBA D-League Draft and has spent time the Vipers in each of the last three seasons, logging 76 total games with career averages of 15.0 points, 5.2 rebounds 1.5 assists and 1.5 steals. He also received a pair of 10-contracts from the Memphis Grizzlies during the 2012-13 NBA season, and was called up to the Boston Celtics during the 2013-14 season. In all, Johnson has appeared in 59 NBA games with averages of 5.9 points and 2.3 rebounds in 18.9 minutes per contest.

Craig Sager back for NBA on TNT

Craig Sager, he of daring yet highly questionable fashion decisions, is back in action for the NBA on TNT broadcast team. Here’s the Associated Press reporting:

Craig Sager returned to his familiar spot on the NBA sideline Thursday after being treated for leukemia.

The veteran reporter worked Oklahoma City’s game against Chicago for TNT, 11 months after he was diagnosed with leukemia.

“I’m 60 yards shorter off the tee, but I feel good,” Sager told The Associated Press upon his arrival at the United Center.

Best known for his outlandish outfits, Sager wore a red, black and gray plaid jacket and matching Nike shoes that sparkled in the dark for the occasion.

“Bulls colors,” he explained.

Amar’e Stoudemire unable to find Dallas spa that offers wine baths

Here’s ESPN Dallas reporting on a tragic situation that should alarm and shock you all:

After spilling into the courtside seats in pursuit of a loose ball, Amar’e Stoudemire ended up soaked in beer.

It’s the closest he’s come to getting one of his famous red wine baths since leaving New York.

“Unfortunately, I don’t think it has the same effect,” coach Rick Carlisle cracked to a referee, a conversation caught by the Fox Sports Southwest cameras on Saturday night.

Stoudemire looked for a spa in Dallas that offered vinotherapy, but it was a fruitless search. That lack of luxury is a minor inconvenience that ranks pretty far down the list of challenges presented to Stoudemire during his adjustment period since joining the Dallas Mavericks after the All-Star break.

Devyn Marble out 4-6 weeks due to detached retina

Orlando Magic guard Devyn Marble has suffered a detached retina in his left eye, General Manager Rob Hennigan announced today. Marble is expected to miss four to six weeks of action.

Marble (6’6”, 200, 9/21/92) has appeared in 16 games (seven starts) during his rookie season with Orlando, averaging 2.3 ppg., 1.9 rpg. and 1.1 apg. in 13.0 minpg. He also played in six games with the Erie BayHawks of the NBA Development League, averaging 13.0 ppg., 5.2 rpg., 2.2 apg. and 1.17 stlpg. in 30.3 minpg.

Marble was originally selected in the second round (56th overall) by Denver, his draft rights, along with Evan Fournier, were acquired by Orlando in exchange for Arron Afflalo on June 26. He played in 136 career games during four years at the University of Iowa, averaging 12.5 ppg., 3.4 rpg., 2.9 apg. and 1.29 stlpg. in 27.6 minpg. Marble ranks second on the school’s all-time games played list with 136. He also ranks in Hawkeyes’ history in scoring (fifth, 1,694 points), assists (sixth, 397) and steals (seventh, 176).

The New Orleans Pelicans announced today that the team has waived center Justin Hamilton, who was acquired on February 19 along with guard Norris Cole and forward Shawne Williams as part of a three-team trade with Phoenix.

Hamilton, 7-0, 260, did not appear in a game with New Orleans. Hamilton appeared in 24 games this season with Miami, averaging 2.8 points and 2.0 rebounds per game. Drafted 45th overall in the 2012 NBA Draft out of Louisiana State University by Philadelphia, Hamilton has appeared in 32 career games with both Miami and Charlotte, averaging 2.9 points and 1.7 rebounds. Hamilton has also spent time overseas, playing for KK Cibona (Croatia) and VEF Riga (Latvia). In 2013-14, Hamilton appeared in 39 games for the Sioux Falls Skyforce of the NBA D-League, averaging 19.2 points and 9.3 rebounds on his way to being named an NBA D-League All-Star, All NBA D-League First Team and NBA D-League All-Defensive First Team.

New Orleans’ roster now stands at 13.

Rondo emphasizing defense with Mavs

Here’s ESPN Dallas reporting on the Mavericks (40-22 this season) and Rajon Rondo, who are still adjusting to each other:

Rajon Rondo dutifully answered questions about his offensive aggression Monday night, explaining how and why he attacked off the dribble during his 19-point performance.

But Rondo’s interest level seemed to rise when the discussion turned to Dallas’ defense.

“Our focus is a lot more on the defensive end of the floor,” Rondo said after the Mavs’ 102-93 win over the New Orleans Pelicans. “Offense never wins championships. Scoring 108 or whatever we were scoring means nothing if you’re giving up 105 or 110.

“I’ve been trying to preach defense and get on the same page defensively as a team and just string continuous stops together. Not just trading baskets, getting two or three stops in a row, and that’s what we did tonight to open up a lead in the second half.”

Willie Reed named D-League Performer of Week through March 1

Iowa Energy forward Willie Reed was today named NBA Development League Performer of the Week for games played Monday, Feb. 23 – Sunday, March 1. This is the second Performer of the Week honor of Reed’s career. He previously won in March of 2013 as a member of the Springfield Armor.

The newly acquired Reed (6-10, 220, St. Louis) led Iowa to two wins after being traded from the Grand Rapids Drive in exchange for Diante Garrett on Feb. 26. He averaged 29.0 points on 78.8 percent shooting (26-of-33), to go along 13.5 rebounds, 2.0 blocks, 2.0 assists and 1.0 steals. His debut included a 31-point performance in a 122-112 win over the Sioux Falls Skyforce. It was the second time this season Reed registered at least 30 points in a game. On Feb. 28, he recorded a double-double with 27 points and 20 rebounds in a 96-92 victory over the Erie BayHawks.

Reed has appeared in 33 games –two with Iowa — and tallied 15.5 points, 12.2 rebounds (second in the league) and 2.1 blocks.

Other top performers considered included Bakersfield’s Jerel McNeal, Canton’s Brandon Paul, Oklahoma City’s Talib Zanna, Rio Grande Valley’s Chris Johnson and Sioux Falls’ Scotty Hopson.

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook underwent a successful procedure today to address a fracture to the zygomatic arch of his right cheek, Thunder Executive Vice President and General Manager Sam Presti announced.

The procedure was performed by Dr. John Joseph Rehm and Dr. Jason Hamilton with Thunder medical personnel present at the Osborne Head and Neck Institute in Los Angeles, Calif. Westbrook will miss tomorrow’s game against the Los Angeles Lakers and will be re-evaluated later this week.

In 45 games this season (all starts), Westbrook is averaging 26.5 points, 8.1 assists and 6.8 rebounds in 33.0 minutes per game. Westbrook has recorded three straight triple-doubles and after last night’s performance in Portland, his 31.2 points, 9.1 rebounds and 10.3 assists for the month of February made him the first player since Oscar Robertson to achieve those marks over the course of a month.