Category: NBA News Blog

NBA news blog

Charlie Villanueva has first full-contact practice since January

Charlie Villanueva

Charlie Villanueva’s shots went up at practice Friday, and according to the hobbled Pistons forward, they were going in.

“You know it was going in,” an upbeat Villanueva said after practicing with full contact for the first time since being placed on the inactive list in January.

He called it significant progress. Coach Lawrence Frank called it very encouraging. Even so, neither side would call when Villanueva would see game action again.

“I’m just taking it step by step,” Villanueva said. “This is the first time I actually had a full day of practice, so we’ll see how my ankle responds. The way it’s feeling right now, it’s feeling OK, so we’ll see what happens.”

— Reported by Anthony Fenech of the Detroit Free Press

Jason Smith still experiencing concussion symptoms

jason smith

It has been just short of a month since Hornets power forward Jason Smith absorbed two blows to the head at Detroit that left him with a concussion, one that has proven serious enough to keep him off the floor since, with an uncertain timetable to return.

Smith spoke with reporters for the first time Friday since the Feb. 4 loss to the Pistons when he was was injured, on a hard foul by Detroit’s Greg Monroe, who later got Smith in the head again.

Under the NBA’s new concussion policy, Smith has been evaluated by team physician Dr. Matthew McQueen, as well as neurological specialists, and Dr. Jeffrey Kutcher, the newly appointed director of the NBA’s concussion program, also reviews results of current testing against baseline readings obtained from every player during training camp.

Smith said Friday he is still experiencing concussion-related symptoms, which trouble him personally and professionally.

— Reported by Jimmy Smith of the New Orleans Times-Picayune

Danny Ainge predicts Rajon Rondo won’t be traded

Rajon Rondo

Rajon Rondo’s trade status and thorny nature are again the stuff of national speculation, and Danny Ainge isn’t surprised.

“It’s never stopped,” the Celtics [team stats] president said yesterday after the latest wave hit with an ESPN.com report Wednesday. “It’s like if the Patriots [team stats] lose three straight games, and people start talking about trading Tom Brady [stats].”

Ainge was quick to insist Rondo’s most likely team following the March 15 trade deadline is the one that pays him now. He added that he is not currently trying to trade the point guard.

“I anticipate him being here for a long time,” said Ainge, who also derided reports that Rondo, who has butted heads with virtually every coach he’s ever had, now has a worsened relationship with Doc Rivers.

“Rondo and Doc get along fine. That doesn’t mean that there aren’t bumps in the road. But I would go so far as to say they get along now better than they ever have. This is nothing new. There are other issues that concern us so much more.”

— Reported by Mark Murphy of the Boston Herald

Rick Carlisle disappointed with Lamar Odom

lamar odom

Dallas Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle expressed disappointment with Lamar Odom’s ongoing absence from the team and bluntly stated that the forward will face scrutiny upon his return, from owner Mark Cuban to the players in the locker room.

Odom will play Saturday night for the Mavs’ D-League affiliate in nearby Frisco and then is expected to re-join the Mavs for the first time since Feb. 20 when the team travels to Oklahoma City for Monday’s game, Carlisle said.

“When he comes back, we’re going to find out very quickly where things are at,” Carlisle said during his weekly appearance Friday on the ESPN Dallas 103.3 FM’s “Galloway & Co.” “He’s going to have to show us with his actions and attitude that he’s in.”

Odom left the Mavs on Feb. 22 to tend to a family matter and missed his fourth consecutive game Friday night when Dallas played New Orleans. He will also miss Saturday’s game against the Utah Jazz. Odom left the team to attend to his ill father in Los Angeles, sources told ESPNDallas.com.

— Reported by Jeff Caplan of ESPN Dallas

Suns add Lindsey Hunter to staff

The Phoenix Suns have added former NBA player and two-time NBA Champion Lindsey Hunter as a team scout, the club announced today.

In his new role, Hunter will assist Suns’ head scout, Bubba Burrage, with assessing talent in the NBA, D-League and college ranks. Serving in this capacity, Hunter will provide crucial information needed to make many team personnel decisions, including but not limited to free agent signing, D League call-ups, and NBA Draft selections.

“We are very fortunate to have a proven champion like Lindsey on our scouting staff,” said Suns General Manager, Lance Blanks. “With ownership’s support we are continually making investments in our future and having someone of Lindsey’s caliber to help us evaluate players and make informed personnel choices will be invaluable.”

A 6-foot-2 guard, Hunter joins the Suns as a scout after playing 17 NBA seasons with the Detroit Pistons (1993-2000, 2003-08), Milwaukee Bucks (2000-01), Los Angeles Lakers (2001-02), Toronto Raptors (2002-03) and Chicago Bulls (2008-10). During his career, he played in 937 games (438 starts) and averaged 8.5 points, 2.2 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.2 steals. Hunter also appeared in 129 NBA playoff games, averaging 3.5 points, 1.3 rebounds and 1.2 assists en route to two NBA Championships (Los Angeles Lakers in 2002 and Detroit Pistons in 2004).

“I am thrilled to join an organization that has a proven tradition of winning like that of the Phoenix Suns,” said Hunter. “I look forward to using my experiences in the NBA, as well as my knowledge of the game, to assist with bringing in the talent necessary for building a team that can consistently compete for a championship.”

After his playing career concluded in 2010, the Bulls hired Hunter as a player development assistant where he focused on the development of younger players such as league-MVP Derrick Rose.

Originally selected by the Pistons with 10th overall pick in the 1993 NBA draft, Hunter entered the NBA after his playing career at Jackson State. He holds the Division I single-game record for most three-point field goals attempted with 26 against Kansas on Dec. 27, 1992.

Knicks send Jerome Jordan back to D-League

jerome jordan

New York Knickerbockers Senior Vice President, Basketball Operations and Interim General Manager Glen Grunwald announced today that the team has reassigned center Jerome Jordan to the Erie Bayhawks of the NBA Development League.

Jordan, 7-0, 240-pounds, has scored 20 total points and grabbed 15 rebounds over 61 minutes in 13 games with New York this season. He had appeared in two games for Erie earlier this season, averaging 18.0 points on .500 shooting, 7.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 2.00 blocks over 32.5 minutes.

Mavericks assign Lamar Odom to D-League

Lamar Odom

The Dallas Mavericks announced today that they have assigned forward Lamar Odom to the Texas Legends of the NBA Development League.

Odom (6-10, 230) has played in 32 games with the Mavericks and is averaging 7.7 points, 4.5 rebounds and 1.7 assists in 21.4 minutes.  He is shooting .357 (89-249 FGs) from the field, .259 (22-85 3FGs) from 3-point range and .577 (45-78 FTs) from the free throw line. The 12-year pro has missed the last three games due to a family matter.

The Mavericks acquired Odom on Dec. 11, 2011 along with a 2012 second round pick and other second round considerations in 2013 from the Los Angeles Lakers in exchange for a protected first round draft pick.

Odom is scheduled to be in uniform on Saturday, March 3 when Texas battles the Austin Toros on HP Court at Dr Pepper Arena in Frisco at 7 pm.

Cavs assign Manny Harris to second 10-day contract

The Cleveland Cavaliers have signed guard Manny Harris to a second 10-day contract, Cavaliers General Manager Chris Grant announced today.

Prior to being signed by the Cavs, Harris played in 17 games (12 starts) this season with the Canton Charge, the Cavaliers exclusively owned and operated NBA Development League team. Harris averaged 21.4 points on .470 shooting with 7.9 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 1.7 steals in 32.9 minutes per game with Canton.

Thunder assign Lazar Hayward to D-League

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

During the 2011-12 season, Hayward has appeared in 12 games with the Thunder and posted averages of 1.5 points and 0.9 rebounds in 5.9 minutes. Most recently, Hayward has missed the past six games recovering from an orbital floor fracture.

Hayward will be in uniform tonight as the Tulsa 66ers host the Rio Grande Valley Vipers at the Tulsa Convention Center.