NBA News Blog – Page 1116 – NBA Blog

Hornets forward Carl Landry out 3-4 weeks

Carl Landry

Pretty good at basketball

Things keep getting worse for the struggling New Orleans Hornets.

Hornets forward Carl Landry went down in the third quarter of last night’s game following a collision with Detroit’s Jason Maxiell and did not return. Landry suffered a 2nd degree MCL sprain in his left knee and will be out 3-4 weeks.

Hornets center Jason Smith suffered a concussion in the fourth quarter of last night’s game in Detroit and is day-to-day.

Hornets guard Jarrett Jack, who has missed the last two games with a sore left knee, is questionable for tomorrow’s game against Sacramento.

The Hornets have struggled in dramatic fashion this season. They’ve won just four of 24 games and have the second worst record in the entire league, ahead of the 3-21 Charlotte Bobcats.

Eric Gordon, the best player the Hornets acquired in the trade that sent Chris Paul to the Los Angeles Clippers, has been hurt and only played in two games all season.

Gordon aside, the team’s leading scorer in 2011-12 has been guard Jarrett Jack, who averages 15.8 ppg. Everyone else on the team scores 11.5 ppg or less.

Center Chris Kaman rejoins Hornets

Chris Kaman

Will now pretend everything is OK

The New Orleans Hornets have announced today that Chris Kaman will rejoin the team immediately. He will participate in individual workouts with team staff at the club’s practice site, the Alario Center, starting today and will practice with the team beginning on Sunday, February 5, when they return from their current road trip.

“For a number of reasons, including the team’s decision to give more time to younger players, we had thought it best for Chris to work out on his own at the Alario Center as we made efforts to trade him,” said Hornets General Manager Dell Demps.

“However, following discussions with Chris, we have since concluded that being with the team is better for both Chris and the team, particularly our younger players who benefit from his experience and skill level.”

“Chris has been working out daily over the past week at the Alario Center and is in game condition,” Demps added.

The 9th year pro, who holds career averages of 11.7 points, 8.3 rebounds and 1.4 blocks per game, has appeared in 17 games for the Hornets this season (six starts), averaging 9.2 points, 6.6 rebounds and 1.2 blocks while leading the team in scoring once and in rebounding four times with one double-double.

Kaman was acquired in a trade with the Los Angeles Clippers on December 14th, 2011 along with Al-Farouq Aminu, Eric Gordon and the more favorable of the Clippers’ and Minnesota Timberwolves’ 2012 first round picks in exchange for Chris Paul and two 2015 2nd round picks.

Atlanta Hawks center Jason Collins out at least two weeks

Jason Collins

Big guy who can raise his arms

Already without center Al Horford for an extended period, the Atlanta Hawks have suffered another blow to their frontcourt.

Hawks center Jason Collins, who suffered a sprained left elbow during Thursday’s game against Memphis, will miss a minimum of two weeks of action, according to Head Athletic Trainer Wally Blase. Collins will be re-evaluated at that time.

Even with Horford out, Collins hasn’t played much. For the season he’s averaging just 1.0 points and 1.6 rebounds in 10.5 minutes per game.

Still, the Hawks would rather have him around.

At 16-7, the Hawks are currently tied with the Philadelphia 76ers for the 4th best record in the Eastern conference.

Denver Nuggets waive DeMarre Carroll

The Denver Nuggets have waived forward DeMarre Carroll, executive vice president of basketball operations Masai Ujiri announced.

Carroll, 6-8, 212, appeared in four games for the Nuggets this season, averaging 3.0 points in 5.3 minutes.

With 15 wins and eight losses, the Nuggets currently have the second best record in the Western conference. They’re led by the scoring of Danilo Gallinari (17.0 ppg), Ty Lawson (15.6 ppg), Al Harrington (15.3 ppg), Nene (13.8 ppg), Andre Miller (11.3 ppg) and Arron Afflalo (10.9 ppg).

The Nuggets now have 14 players on their active roster.

Sacramento Kings recall center Hassan Whiteside from D-League

Hassan Whiteside

You barely know him

The Sacramento Kings today recalled center Hassan Whiteside from the Reno Bighorns of the NBA Development League, President of Basketball Operations Geoff Petrie announced. Whiteside will rejoin the team in Sacramento prior to Saturday’s contest versus the Golden State Warriors at Power Balance Pavilion.

Whiteside was assigned to the Bighorns on January 1st and averaged 7.8 points (.521 FG%, .343 FT%), 6.5 rebounds, 3.0 blocks and 18.9 minutes per game in 11 contests (started five). He recorded double-figure scoring in four games with his most notable performance coming versus the Sioux Falls Skyforce (1/13), where he tallied 15 points (7-10 FG, 1-2 FT), 10 rebounds, and two blocks in 29 minutes. Whiteside also registered 13 points (5-9 FG, 3-9 FT), nine rebounds, and six blocks in his first appearance with Reno versus Fort Wayne (1/3).

Hornets set to reactivate Chris Kaman

Chris Kaman

Enjoys hunting

The New Orleans Hornets have decided to reactivate 7-foot center Chris Kaman, who had been excused from team activities since last week while the club sought to trade him, according to a person familiar with the decision.

The person spoke to The Associated Press on Friday on condition of anonymity because the decision had not been announced. Kaman likely won’t join the Hornets for Saturday’s game at Detroit but probably will return Monday against Sacramento.

The person said the relationship between Kaman and Hornets coach Monty Williams was fine. But when general manager Dell Demps hoped a trade would develop quickly, Williams wanted to start working younger players into the rotation.

Once a trade didn’t happen as quickly as they thought, it made sense to bring Kaman back, the person said.

— Reported by Brett Martel of the Associated Press

Pistons forward Charlie Villanueva out at least a few weeks

The Detroit Pistons announced today the following injury update regarding forward Charlie Villanueva.

Following repeated imaging studies as well as multiple consultations from foot and ankle orthopedic surgeons, it has been determined that Charlie Villanueva’s right ankle soreness can be attributed to a resolving posterior tibial tenosynovitis with small talotibal spurs.

A few weeks of partial ankle immobilization have been recommended in an attempt to alleviate the soreness and discomfort.

He will be re-evaluated after that period.

Rafer Alston signs with Los Angeles D-Fenders in D-League

The Los Angeles D-Fenders have acquired guard Rafer Alston, it was announced today. The acquisition comes one day after Ishmael Smith signed with the Orlando Magic to become the D-Fenders’ fourth NBA Call-Up of the season and the seventh Call-Up in franchise history.

InsideHoops.com first-reported this news late last night on Twitter.

“We’re excited to add a player with as much experience as Rafer to the D-Fenders’ backcourt and believe he will undoubtedly help us continue towards our ultimate goal of an NBA Development League Championship,” D-Fenders Head Coach Eric Musselman said.

Alston, selected by the Milwaukee Bucks in the second round (39th overall) of the 1998 NBA Draft, has played in a total of 671 career NBA games with Milwaukee, Toronto, Miami, Houston, Orlando and New Jersey, averaging 10.1 points, 2.8 rebounds and 4.8 assists in 28.9 minutes.

Additionally, the 6-2, 175-pound guard has appeared in 51 career NBA playoff games (34 starts) combined with Milwaukee, Miami, Houston and Orlando, averaging 9.9 points, 2.7 rebounds and 3.3 assists in 29.1 minutes. Appearing in all five games during the 2009 NBA Finals with the Magic, Alston averaged 10.6 points, 2.2 rebounds and 3.0 assists in 29.4 minutes.

Alston most recently played in China for Zhejiang Guangsha during the 2010-11 season where he averaged 19.6 points and 3.8 assists in eight games.

Read NBA fan opinion and share your views in this basketball forum topic.

Rockets re-assign Marcus Morris to D-League

Houston Rockets General Manager Daryl Morey announced today that forward Marcus Morris will be re-joining Houston’s single-affiliation NBA D-League partner Rio Grande Valley.

“Marcus’ ankle has healed and he has been cleared to practice and play,” said Rockets General Manager Daryl Morey. “With limited practice time available, we have decided to send Marcus to Rio Grande Valley to give him an opportunity to play and recondition his ankle.”

Morris (6-9, 235, Kansas), who was selected by Houston with the 14th overall pick in the 2011 NBA Draft, has averaged 22.3 points, 9.3 rebounds and 2.3 assists in four starts with Rio Grande Valley this season. He made his debut with the Vipers by posting 33 points (13-24 FG), 16 rebounds, five assists and two steals vs. Dakota (1/6/12).

Kenyon Martin will not return to Nuggets

Kenyon Martin

Won’t re-sign in China, either

Kenyon Martin wasn’t necessarily in the plans for the Nuggets, but now it’s official: A league source said Thursday that the unrestricted free agent will not return to the Nuggets this season.

The power forward played in China but is looking to sign with an NBA team. Yahoo Sports reported that FIBA has cleared Martin to sign with a team now. Originally, he would have had to wait until his Chinese team finished its season later this month or in March, depending on the playoffs. Martin had already left his team in December to return to the States.

— Reported by Benjamin Hochman of the Denver Post