NBA News Blog – Page 1092 – NBA Blog

Celtics center Jermaine O’Neal out for season

The Boston Celtics announced today that center Jermaine O’Neal will undergo surgery on his left wrist and will miss the remainder of the 2011-12 season.

O’Neal has a chronic degenerative wrist condition that was exacerbated after a fall during the Celtics’ game against the Dallas Mavericks on February 20th. The wrist has not responded to immobilization and physical therapy, and the decision was made to proceed with surgery.

“Jermaine worked hard to get himself in condition to play this season despite his ongoing wrist issues,” said Celtics President of Basketball Operations Danny Ainge. “He played through pain the entire year and gave us all he could, but unfortunately after the fall against Dallas there simply wasn’t anything else he could do. We appreciate his contributions to our team over the last two years.”

Kings waive forward J.J. Hickson

The Sacramento Kings today waived forward J.J. Hickson, according to Kings’ President of Basketball Operations Geoff Petrie. It was reportedly a contract buyout. As details emerge they’ll be posted here later tonight.

Hickson, a 6-9, 242-pound forward, averaged 4.7 points (.370 FG%, 0-1 3pt, .638 FT%), 5.1 rebounds, 0.6 assists, and 18.4 minutes per game in 35 contests of which he started nine for the Kings.

The Kings’ roster now stands at 13 players.

Hornets recall Xavier Henry from D-League

The New Orleans Hornets announced today that the team has recalled guard Xavier Henry from the Iowa Energy of the NBA Development League.

Henry (6-6, 220), appeared in last night’s 114-101 Energy loss to the Sioux Falls Skyforce. In 20 minutes of action last night in Des Moines, Henry collected 13 points and two steals. Prior to his D-League assignment yesterday, Henry appeared in 25 games for New Orleans this season, averaging 5.0 points and 1.9 rebounds.

Chris Bosh talks to himself during games

Chris Bosh was talking Sunday night and nobody was answering. That’s the way his teammates like it.

You see, the Miami forward speaks to himself during games. And one of the apparent problems during his recent slump was he hadn’t been chattering enough.

“Somebody said I wasn’t talking to myself when we played in Chicago,” Bosh said, referring to Wednesday’s loss and his disastrous 3-of-15 shooting.

So it was Chatty Chris on display in Sunday’s 91-81 win over Orlando at AmericanAirlines Arena. He listened to what he was saying, scoring 23 points on 9-of-13 shooting.

“I have conversations all day in a non-crazy way,” Bosh said.

As it turns out, this talking to oneself isn’t confined to Bosh. Dwyane Wade also admits doing it, and he also heeded his words Sunday, scoring a game-high 31 points. He had 18 in the second half, including 14 in the fourth quarter, after Bosh had ruled the first half with 18.

— Reported by Chris Tomasson of Fox Sports Florida

Hawks guard Jannero Pargo to miss a month

Atlanta Hawks guard Jannero Pargo, who missed Sunday’s game at Cleveland with what was first believed to be the stomach flu, had successful surgery this evening on his appendix at the Cleveland Clinic. He is scheduled to return to Atlanta in a couple of days, however, he will be out of action for a month.

The Hawks host Boston Monday at Philips Arena at 7:30 p.m.

Denver Nuggets sign Wilson Chandler

Restricted free agent forward Wilson Chandler did his time overseas, and now he’s back in Denver.

The Nuggets today reached a multiyear contract agreement with Chandler, Nuggets executive vice president of basketball operations Masai Ujiri announced.

Per the Denver Post, the deal “is for the rest of this season and four additional seasons for a total of $37 million, according to his agent.”

“It is great to have Wilson back on our roster,” Ujiri said. “It was a very unique situation signing a talented free agent in the middle of the season, and we worked extremely hard to find an agreement that was best for everyone. Wilson will be an excellent addition for the rest of this season and for years to come.”

Chandler, 6-8, 225, averaged 15.3 points and a career-high 5.7 rebounds in 72 games with Denver and the New York Knicks last season. He joined the Nuggets as part of a three-team 13-player trade that also involved the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Chandler, 24, most recently played for the Zhejiang Guangsha Lions of the Chinese Basketball Association, averaging 26.6 points and 11.6 rebounds in 32 games.

Selected 23rd overall by the Knicks in the 2007 NBA Draft, Chandler has averaged 13.9 points and 5.2 rebounds in 254 career games.

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Nuggets waive center Ronny Turiaf

Ronny Turiaf

Has a really long beard

The Denver Nuggets have waived C Ronny Turiaf, Nuggets executive vice president of basketball operations Masai Ujiri announced today.

InsideHoops.com has heard that the team will probably bring Wilson Chandler back to the squad soon, possibly as early as today.

Turiaf, 6-10, 245, was acquired along with C JaVale McGee and a second-round pick in a three-team trade with the Washington Wizards and Los Angeles Clippers on March 15. He played four games with the Wizards this season, averaging 1.5 ppg, 3.1 rpg and 1.3 apg.

In 362 career games (89 starts) over seven seasons with Washington, New York, Golden State and L.A. Lakers, Turiaf averaged 5.2 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 1.5 apg and 1.36 bpg.

Nets sign Gerald Green for remainder of season

Gerald Green

The comeback

The New Jersey Nets have signed forward Gerald Green for the remainder of the season, Nets General Manager Billy King announced today. Per team policy, terms of the contract were not released.

Green, who signed the first of two consecutive 10-day contracts with the Nets on February 27, has played in 11 games, averaging 11.7 points and 2.9 rebounds in 21.9 minutes per game. The 6-8 forward scored a season-high 26 points on two occasions this season and has reached double figures in scoring in each of the last five games.

Prior to joining the Nets, Green was named MVP of the 2012 D-League All Star Game and played in 22 games for the Los Angeles D-Fenders this season, averaging 19.1 points and 4.6 rebounds in 30.6 minutes per game. The 6-8 forward was selected in the first round of the 2005 NBA Draft (18th overall) by the Boston Celtics, entering the draft out of high school. Green played two seasons for the Celtics, having his best year in 2006-07 with averages of 10.4 points and 2.6 rebounds over 81 games (26 starts), as well as winning the 2007 NBA Slam Dunk Contest. Following his stint in Boston, Green appeared in a total of 30 games with Houston and Minnesota in 2007-08, and 28 games in 2008-09 with the Dallas Mavericks.

Hornets assign Xavier Henry to D-League

The New Orleans Hornets announced today that the team has assigned guard Xavier Henry to the Iowa Energy of the NBA Development League.

Henry (6-6, 220), is in his second NBA season after being selected 12th overall by the Grizzlies in the 2010 NBA Draft out of the University of Kansas. He has appeared in 24 games for New Orleans this season, averaging 5.0 points and 1.9 rebounds. Last year, in 38 games (16 starts) for Memphis, Henry averaged 4.3 points and 1.0 rebound in 13.9 minutes of action. The 21-year-old from Oklahoma City played just one collegiate season at Kansas, becoming the first player in KU history to leave for the NBA after his freshman campaign, posting averages of 13.4 points and 4.4 rebounds in 36 games. Henry was named to the 2010 All Big 12 Rookie Team and was a 2010 All-Big 12 Honorable Mention. Henry joins San Antonio Spurs’ point guard Tony Parker as the only current Belgium-born players in the NBA.

Thunder recall Lazar Hayward from D-League

The Oklahoma City Thunder has recalled forward Lazar Hayward from the Tulsa 66ers of the NBA Development League, it was announced today by Executive Vice President and General Manager Sam Presti.

During his most recent assignment with the 66ers, Hayward appeared in one game and recorded 16 points, six assists and three rebounds 31 minutes. In three games with the 66ers this season, the forward averaged 24.0 points, 5.7 rebounds, 2.7 assists in 34.3 minutes.

Hayward has seen action in 16 games with the Thunder during the 2011-12 season and posted averages of 1.4 points in 5.7 minutes.