NBA News Blog – Page 1128 – NBA Blog

Dwight Howard not adding Clippers to list of preferred destinations

Dwight Howard dismissed a report that he has placed the Los Angeles Clippers onto his list of preferred destinations.

After the Orlando Magic defeated the Charlotte Bobcats 96-89 Tuesday night, Howard was asked whether he now has interest in joining the Clippers. Howard said no.

The website SheridanHoops, citing an unnamed source, has reported that Howard has expanded his list of preferred destinations to include the Clippers.

Magic General Manager Otis Smith said Howard’s camp has not informed him that the superstar center has expanded his list of preferred destinations beyond the Dallas Mavericks, the Los Angeles Lakers and the New Jersey Nets.

Smith also said the Magic also have not granted permission to Howard’s agent to speak with any teams in addition to the Mavericks, Lakers and Nets.

— Reported by Josh Robbins of the Orlando Sentinel

Knicks assign Jerome Jordan and Jeremy Lin to D-League

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

Jordan, 7-0, 240-pounds, has recorded eight points and eight rebounds over 29 minutes in six games this season for the Knicks.

Lin, 6-3, 200-pounds, scored nine points and recorded two assists and two rebounds over 16 minutes in five games. He played 20 games (10 starts) for Reno of the D-League last season, averaging 18.0 points, 5.8 rebounds and 4.3 assists over 31.7 minutes.

Al Horford has surgery, still out 3-4 months

Al Horford had successful surgery today to repair his torn left pectoral muscle, according to Atlanta Hawks Executive Vice President/General Manager Rick Sund.

Dr. Xavier Duralde of Peachtree Orthopaedic Clinic performed the surgery, assisted by Hawks team physicians Dr. Michael Bernot and Dr. Ashok Reddy.

Horford suffered the injury midway through the first quarter at Indiana on January 11. He is expected to miss three-to-four months of action.

Cavs owner buys Cleveland Gladiators arena football team

Dan Gilbert’s Cavaliers group has purchased ownership stake in the Arena Football League’s Cleveland Gladiators. An official announcement will be made at a news conference Tuesday that is scheduled to include Cavaliers President Len Komoroski, Gladiators special adviser Bernie Kosar and the Gladiators’ most recent owner, Jim Ferraro.

Pending league approval, the Cavaliers almost certainly will become majority owner of the Gladiators, and possibly sole owner. The presence of Ferraro on Tuesday indicates he might retain a small percentage.

Two weeks ago, the Cavaliers group confirmed interest in acquiring the AFL franchise. Last Monday, Ferraro said that he was in “serious” negotiations to sell to Gilbert. Ferraro said that, if an agreement were to be reached, it likely would happen by early this week.

The Gladiators will begin training camp in February; the first practice is Feb. 20. They open the season March 12 at Georgia and at home March 26 against Kansas City.

— Reported by Dennis Manoloff of the Cleveland Plain Dealer

Dwyane Wade remains out for Heat

Heat guard Dwyane Wade will not play Tuesday against San Antonio because of a sprained right ankle.

Wade has been dealing with at least three lower-leg injuries in recent weeks, and sprained the ankle late in Miami’s loss on Friday at Denver. He also has been battling a sore left foot and a strained calf muscle.

Tuesday’s game will be the fourth Wade has missed this season. Miami won all three of the previous contests without the 2006 NBA finals MVP, who turned 30 on Tuesday.

— Reported by the Associated Press

Detroit Pistons plane makes emergency landing in Houston

The Pistons team plane landed safely at Hobby International this afternoon after a hydraulic issue forced emergency personnel to greet the aircraft, according to team spokesman Kevin Grigg, who was not traveling with the team.

TV station KHOU 11 reported that personnel was alerted because an alarm was sounded, signaling the hydraulic issue.

But Grigg said it was a precaution and everyone was safely at the team hotel. Passengers weren’t even aware there was a problem until they were greeted by emergency vehicles.

A Houston Airport System spokesman says the crew of MD-80 displaying the Pistons team logo reported problems with the hydraulics operating the aircraft’s left-side landing gear and declared an emergency.

— Reported by Vince Ellis of the Detroit Free Press

Thunder assign Ryan Reid to D-League

The Oklahoma City Thunder today assigned forward Ryan Reid to the Tulsa 66ers, the Thunder’s NBA D-League affiliate. The assignment marks the 22nd time and NBA player has been assigned to an NBA D-League affiliate during the 2011-12 season. It is the first assignment for Reid this season.

Reid (6-8, 235) has appeared in two games with the Thunder since earning a GATORADE Call-Up from the 66ers on Dec. 13, 2011, scoring three points in five minutes of action.

In eight games, all starts, with the 66ers before joining the Thunder, Jones averaged 11.8 points and 8.9 rebounds in 34.3 minutes.

A rookie from Florida State, Reid is expected to be available tonight when the 66ers host the Canton Charge in Tulsa.

Clippers sign guard Courtney Fortson

The Los Angeles Clippers today signed point guard Courtney Fortson. Per club policy, terms of the deal were not announced. Fortson has appeared in 17 games with the Los Angeles D-Fenders of the NBA Development League this season and is the 15th GATORADE Call-Up of the 2011-12 season.

Fortson, 23, was with the Clippers throughout training camp earlier this season and appeared in one preseason game for Los Angeles on Dec. 19.

The 5-foot-11 inch Fortson is averaging 15.9 points, 5.2 assists, 4.4 rebounds and 2.2 steals while shooting 49.4 percent from the field in 17 games with the D-Fenders this season.

After a two-year career at the University of Arkansas that saw him earn All-SEC Second Team honors in 2010 and average 17.9 points, 5.7 rebounds and 5.2 assists as a sophomore, Fortson played in six games with the Reno Big Horns of the NBA Development League and in Romania in 2010-11.

Fortson will be available for the Clippers today against the New Jersey Nets.

Yao Ming becomes political adviser in Shanghai

Retired NBA star Yao Ming has added another line to his post-basketball resume — politician — becoming a member of an advisory body to Shanghai’s legislature.

Since the 31-year-old Yao announced last July that injuries had ended his career with the Houston Rockets, he has become a university student and set up a wine business to go with owning a professional basketball team in China.

Photos in official media on Monday showed Yao at the weekend closing ceremony for the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference Shanghai Committee.

— Reported by the Associated Press

Chris Paul day-to-day with strained left hamstring

Los Angeles Clippers point guard Chris Paul, who suffered a strained left hamstring during the fourth quarter of last night’s Clippers victory over the Los Angeles Lakers, underwent an MRI today which was labeled negative for any significant findings.

Paul, who has averaged 18.0 points, 8.4 assists, 3.0 rebounds, 2.78 steals and 37.3 minutes in nine games played this season, will be listed as day to day and is questionable for tomorrow’s game vs. New Jersey.