Category: NBA News Blog

NBA news blog

Lakers waive forward Derrick Caracter

Derrick Caracter

The Los Angeles Lakers have waived forward Derrick Caracter, it was announced today.

Caracter, who was assigned to the Los Angeles D-Fenders of the NBA Development League on January 25, has played 4 games (1 start) with the D-Fenders this season, averaging 15.5 points, 7.5 rebounds and 1.0 blocks in 23.5 minutes.

Selected by the Lakers in the second round (58th overall) of the 2010 NBA Draft, Caracter appeared in 41 games last season, averaging 2.0 points and 1.0 rebounds in 5.2 minutes.  Caracter was assigned to the Bakersfield Jam twice last season, averaging 8.7 points, 6.0 rebounds and 20.0 minutes in three regular season games.  In two playoff games with the Jam, he averaged 7.0 points, 10.0 rebounds and 1.50 blocks in 21.5 minutes.

The 6-9 forward played two seasons at Louisville before transferring to the University of Texas at El Paso, where he averaged 14.1 points and 8.1 rebounds in 27 games as a junior with the Miners. Ranked as the best player in the country by some recruiting services heading into his senior year of high school, Caracter averaged 8.2 points and 4.3 rebounds in 53 games (14 starts) over two seasons at Louisville. For his college career, Caracter averaged 10.2 points (.560 FG%) and 5.6 rebounds in 80 games (36 starts).

Grizzlies waive forward Josh Davis

The Memphis Grizzlies waived forward Josh Davis, Grizzlies General Manager and Vice President of Basketball Operations Chris Wallace announced today.

Davis (6-8, 235) averaged 1.9 points and 1.8 rebounds on .370 shooting in 8.7 minutes in 15 games for Memphis this season.  The 31-year-old holds NBA career averages of 2.3 points and 1.7 rebounds on .373 shooting in 7.4 minutes in 67 games over four seasons with the Atlanta Hawks, Philadelphia 76ers, Milwaukee Bucks, Houston Rockets, Phoenix Suns and Memphis Grizzlies.

A native of Salem, Ore., Davis was originally signed by Memphis as a free agent on Dec. 10, 2011.

The Grizzlies’ roster now stands at 14 players.

Heat waive center Mickell Gladness

The Miami HEAT announced today that they have request waivers on center Mickell Gladness.

Gladness appeared in six games with the HEAT this season totaling two points, eight rebounds, a steal and a block in 21 minutes of action. He was signed in is second stint with the HEAT as a free agent on December 10, 2011. He was previously signed by Miami on September 27, 2010 before being waived on October 11, 2010.

76ers assign Craig Brackins to D-League

The Philadelphia 76ers announced today that they have assigned second-year forward Craig Brackins to their NBA Development League affiliate, the Maine Red Claws.  Brackins has appeared in eight games for the Sixers this season.

Brackins (6-10, 230) was assigned to the D-League three times last season with the Sixers old affiliate, the Springfield Armor.  In 18 games for the Armor, he averaged 20.1 points, 8.6 rebounds and 1.9 assists in 37.6 minutes per game while shooting 44.0% from the floor, 24.7% from 3-point range and 72.7% from the line.  He was tied for the eighth highest scoring average of any D-League player last season.

Chauncey Billups suffers Achilles injury

Chauncey Billups

The good news for the Clippers was that they beat the Orlando Magic, 107-102, in overtime Monday night at Amway Center in Orlando, Fla.

The bad news came when Chauncey Billups injured his left Achilles tendon with 5 minutes 48 seconds left in a game.

He was helped off the court and into the Clippers’ locker room and never returned.

The Clippers said Billups, 35, will be evaluated Tuesday when the team arrives in Cleveland.

Billups had 11 of his 18 points in the fourth quarter. He had made three three-pointers in the fourth, his last giving the Clippers an 82-74 lead.

— Reported by Broderick Turner of the Los Angeles Times (Blog)

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Kobe passes Shaq for 5th on NBA career scoring list

Kobe Bryant
Kobe Bryant
Scoring assassin

Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant has passed former teammate Shaquille O’Neal and moved into fifth place on the NBA’s career scoring list.

Bryant needed 24 points to pass O’Neal entering Monday night’s game against the Philadelphia 76ers. O’Neal retired with 28,596 points. Bryant nailed a long jumper late in the first half to give him 24 points.

— Reported by the Associated Press

Thunder recall Ryan Reid from D-League

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

In his most recent stint with the 66ers, Reid averaged 11.3 points, 7.3 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 1.1 blocks and 30.6 minutes in eight games (all starts).  Overall this season, the forward is averaging 11.5 points, 8.1 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 32.4 minutes in 16 games (all starts).

Reid was originally signed by the Thunder on December 13, 2011 but has yet to appear in a regular season game.

He will join the Thunder for tonight’s game against the Trail Blazers at the Rose Garden in Portland.

Elbow issue caused latest Baron Davis setback

Baron Davis
Baron Davis
Beard is healthy, Baron is not

Jeremy Lin was the starting point guard for the Knicks on Monday against Utah, while the player expected to inherit the position had a recent medical setback.

Baron Davis revealed that he stopped his workouts because of an infection in his right elbow. Davis, who hasn’t played this season because of herniated disk in his back, hasn’t practiced since that happened on Jan. 26 in Miami and it’s unknown when he will return.

— Reported by the Associated Press