Category: NBA News Blog

NBA news blog

Andre Miller not thrilled with role on Nuggets

Andre Miller

Denver Nuggets point guard Andre Miller regularly was a starter in his first 12 NBA seasons. He’s not too happy with that changing.

Miller, who becomes a free agent after the season, said before Wednesday’s game against New Jersey that he would “probably not” return to the Nuggets next season if the role is to back up Ty Lawson. But Miller wouldn’t completely rule that out as a possibility if no better situations were available.

“At this point in my career, I don’t see myself as a backup,” Miller, who entered the NBA in 1999, said in an interview with FOXSports.com. “For 13 years, I wasn’t a backup before. This is a short season (due to the lockout), so I’ll deal with it. But I don’t see myself as a backup at this point in my career. I don’t see that.”

Interestingly, Miller did start his first game of the season against the Nets because Lawson was out with a right foot strain. But Lawson’s injury isn’t expected to sideline him for long, and he could be back starting Friday against Miami.

— Reported by Chris Tomasson of Fox Sports Florida

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

Spurs guard guard T.J. Ford out 4-6 weeks

TJ Ford

The San Antonio Spurs today announced that guard T.J. Ford has been diagnosed with a longitudinal tear of his left hamstring (biceps femoris). He is expected to miss four to six weeks.

Ford was examined earlier today by Spurs team physician David Schmidt. An MRI was performed which confirmed the injury. The injury occurred in the first quarter of Tuesday night’s Spurs-Bucks game in Milwaukee.

Spurs sign Malcolm Thomas, waive Ike Diogu

Any roster move made by the San Antonio Spurs is of interest. Because, they generally don’t make mistakes. So when they give a lesser-known player a shot, it’s always smart to take a heavier glance at that player than usual.

The Spurs today announced that they have signed forward Malcolm Thomas from the Los Angeles D-Fenders of the NBA Development League. Per club policy details of the contract were not released.  In addition, the Spurs placed forward Ike Diogu on waivers.

Thomas, 6-9, 225 lbs., saw action in six games with the D-Fenders, averaging 14.3 points, 8.3 rebounds, 2.67 blocks, 1.50 steals and 1.3 assists in 31.5 minutes while shooting .673 (35-52) from the field. Thomas posted a season-high 19 points to go along with 9 rebounds at Erie on Dec. 29.

Thomas, a teammate of Spurs forward Kawhi Leonard at San Diego State, helped lead the Aztecs to an NCAA Sweet 16 appearance last season, averaging 11.4 points, 8.1 rebounds and 2.02 blocks in 30.4 minutes.

An All-Mountain West Conference Second Team selection in each of his two seasons at San Diego State as well as an All-Defensive Team selection as a senior, Thomas concluded his career with the Aztecs as the second leading shot blocker in school history (127).

Diogu was signed by the Spurs on Jan. 3.  He appeared in two games, totaling 2 points and a rebound in 14 minutes.

Thomas will wear No. 23 for the Spurs and will be available tonight when the Silver and Black host the Houston Rockets at the AT&T Center at 7:30 p.m.

Chicago Bulls sign guard Mike James

Mike James

Sometimes, players you thought had fallen out of the league rise back up from the dead and make a comeback.

The Chicago Bulls today signed free agent guard Mike James. Per team policy, terms of the contract were not disclosed. We assume it’s a very short-term, small contract.

James, (6-2, 190), appeared in three games for the Erie Bayhawks of the NBA D-League, posting averages of 15.3 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 3.3 apg 34.7 mpg, .386 from the field and .727 from the free throw line.  He is the 14th GATORADE Call-up of the 2011-12 NBA D-League season.

An eight-year NBA veteran, his most recent NBA stint was with the Washington Wizards during the 2009-10 campaign.  He appeared in four games and averaged 4.5 ppg and 1.3 apg in 11.5 mpg.

In addition to playing with the Wizards, James has also played for the Miami Heat, Detroit Pistons, Boston Celtics, Houston Rockets, Milwaukee Bucks, Toronto Raptors, Minnesota Timberwolves and the New Orleans Hornets.  In 528 regular season contests in the NBA, he has averaged 10.5 ppg, 3.6 apg and 2.3 rpg in 25.2 mpg.  A .378 career shooter from behind the arc, he also owns career shooting averages of .420 from the field and .803 from the line.

Chicago’s roster now stands at 14.

Gerald Wallace will not seek Blazers contract extension this season

Gerald Wallace

Because of limitations with the NBA’s new collective bargaining agreement, Gerald Wallace will not seek a contract extension with the Trail Blazers this season, his camp has informed the team.

However, after this season, Wallace will be open to an extension, his representatives said, adding that Wallace loves Portland and is open to retiring in a Blazers uniform.

Wallace is under contract for this season and the 2012-2013 season, but he can opt out of the final year of his contract, which would pay him $11.4 million. The Blazers had hoped to avoid that potential scenario and in December had casual conversations with agent Rob Pelinka to extend his contract this season. However, under the new CBA, the Blazers can only extend Wallace for two more seasons, down from the four-season option in the previous CBA.

— Reported by Jason Quick of The Oregonian

Anderson Varejao could attract trade interest

Anderson Varejao

Anderson Varejao is enjoying one of the most productive starts to a season in his career.

You can bet the Cavaliers aren’t the only team taking notice.

Healthy again and attacking the boards and defensive end with his familiar gusto, Varejao could attract significant interest as the March 15 trade deadline approaches. The Cavaliers aren’t believed to be shopping the fan favorite, but contenders looking for an energetic big man will no doubt call the rebuilding franchise with offers.

Varejao and backup point guard Ramon Sessions figure to generate the most attention. Coach Byron Scott asked specifically about the center Tuesday said he wouldn’t be in favor of trading him.

“It would have to be an unbelievable person to get back,” Scott said. “I look at him as one of the guys you look at and say, ‘He’s not going anywhere.’ I just feel he’s that valuable and feel that strongly about him and what he means to this team.”

— Reported by Tom Reed of the Cleveland Plain Dealer

Bucks swingman Mike Dunleavy out 2-4 weeks

Mike Dunleavy

Milwaukee Bucks General Manager John Hammond announced the following medical update on guard/forward Mike Dunleavy (6-9, 230):

After consulting with Bucks team physicians, Mike Dunleavy (groin pain) should be participating in full basketball activity in approximately two-to-four weeks.

Including tonight’s game vs. San Antonio, Dunleavy has missed the last six games due to the condition.

In three games this season, Dunleavy has averaged 10.3 points, 4.3 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 1.0 steal in 30.3 minutes per game.

Blazers recall Luke Babbitt from D-League

Luke Babbitt

The Portland Trail Blazers have recalled forward Luke Babbitt from the NBA Development League’s Idaho Stampede, it was announced today by Acting General Manager Chad Buchanan.

In three games (all starts) with the Stampede, Babbitt averaged 21.0 points, 9.0 rebounds and 3.0 assists. He notched his season-high 35 points, to go with 11 rebounds and six assists, in a 114-104 victory over the Bakersfield Jam on Jan. 7.

Babbitt will be available for tonight’s game against the Los Angeles Clippers.

Bucks center Andrew Bogut returns from overseas family issue

Andrew Bogut

After missing the  past four games while dealing with a family emergency in his native Australia, Milwaukee center Andrew Bogut will make his return tonight against the Spurs.

Bogut addressed his teammates before the Bucks’ morning shootaround at the Bradley Center. Afterward, he declined to specify the nature of his emergency, except to say it involved an illness and the hospitalization of a family member.

“When things like this happen, you realize I don’t care about my job or my sport or my profession at that crucial moment,” Bogut said. “Like most people, you let go of all that, go and address what you need to address and come back.”

— Reported by Jeff McDonald of the San Antonio Express-News Blog