Category: NBA News Blog

NBA news blog

Celtics forward Jeff Green will miss entire 2011-12 season

Jeff Green

The Boston Celtics announced today that forward Jeff Green will undergo surgery on Monday January 9, 2012 at the Cleveland Clinic and will miss the 2011-12 season.

A team of leading cardiac specialists who consulted with Green and the Celtics indicated that surgery should completely repair Green’s condition and that he can expect to resume his NBA career next season.

During his team physical Friday, December 9th, an aortic aneurysm was detected. As a precautionary measure, Green underwent extensive additional testing, after which doctors recommended surgery.

“While we are saddened that Jeff will not be able to play this season, the most important thing is his health, and we were fortunate to have access to an amazing team of specialists to evaluate Jeff’s case,” said Celtics President of Basketball Operations Danny Ainge. “The entire Celtics family supports Jeff during this difficult time in his career.”

At Jeff’s request, neither Jeff nor the Celtics will have any additional comment at this time.

Washington Wizards re-sign Maurice Evans

Maurice Evans

The Washington Wizards announced today that they have re-signed guard/forward Maurice Evans.

“Mo was a very good midseason addition to the team last season and we are excited to have him back with us,” said Wizards President Ernie Grunfeld.  “In addition to the versatility and athleticism he brings to the lineup, he gives us another solid veteran presence along with Rashard Lewis, Roger Mason and Ronny Turiaf that balances nicely with our core of young players.”

Evans averaged 9.7 points and 2.8 rebounds in 26 games for the Wizards last season.  He was originally acquired along with Jordan Crawford, Mike Bibby and a first round pick from Atlanta in exchange for Kirk Hinrich and Hilton Armstrong on Feb. 23, 2011.  Evans holds career averages of 6.7 points and 2.5 rebounds in eight seasons with Minnesota, Sacramento, Detroit, L.A. Lakers, Orlando, Atlanta and Washington.

Golden State Warriors pick three team captains

Monta Ellis

Monta Ellis, Stephen Curry and David Lee were named Warriors’ tri-captains on Friday. Warriors coach Mark Jackson said the team voted on captains at practice on Thursday, and that threesome got the nod.

“I expect those guys to be an extension of me on the floor and it starts with point guard (Curry),” Jackson said. “As a player I took tremendous pride in being a captain, especially if the players voted. Because a coach can be biased, a coach can take his best players. The players are saying, ‘We believe in you.’”

— Reported by Matt Steinmetz of CSN Bay Area

Chicago Bulls waive guard Keith Bogans

Keith Bogans

The Chicago Bulls announced today that the team has waived guard Keith Bogans.

Bogans (6-5, 215) started all 82 games for Chicago last season and posted averages of 4.4 ppg, 1.8 rpg, 1.2 apg in 17.8 mpg.  He also shot .404 from the field, .380 from downtown and .656 from the line.

With the addition of shooting guard Rip Hamilton, the Bulls obviously felt that Bogans’ services were no longer required.

Warriors sign guard Ish Smith off waivers

The Golden State Warriors have been awarded guard Ish Smith off of waivers, the team announced today.

Smith, 23, spent last season with the Houston Rockets and Memphis Grizzlies, appearing in 43 games (three starts) and averaging 2.3 points, 1.1 rebounds and 1.8 assists in 10.3 minutes per contest. In three starting assignments, the 6’0” guard averaged 6.3 points, 3.3 assists, 3.3 rebounds and 2.00 steals in 27.0 minutes.

Originally signed by Houston after a four-year career at Wake Forest, Smith was traded to Memphis along with Shane Battier in exchange for DeMarre Carroll, Hasheem Thabeet and a first-round draft pick on February 24, 2011. The Charlotte, NC, native appeared in five playoff games for Memphis.

Prior to being traded, Smith appeared in eight games (five starts) for Houston’s D-League affiliate, posting averages of 12.5 points, 7.9 assists, 4.3 rebounds, 1.50 steals and 1.25 blocks in 32.9 minutes for the Rio Grande Valley Vipers.

Bobcats forward Eduardo Najera out 6-8 weeks

Eduardo Najera

Charlotte Bobcats forward Eduardo Najera underwent successful surgery this morning to repair a cartilage tear in his left knee that was discovered during an MRI earlier this week. The surgery was performed by Bobcats team physician Dr. Glenn Perry at Midtown Medical Plaza in Charlotte.

He is expected to be sidelined for approximately 6-8 weeks.

Najera saw action in 31 games for the Bobcats last season, averaging 2.2 points and 1.4 rebounds in 12.0 minutes per game.

San Antonio Spurs re-sign forward Steve Novak

Steve Novak

The San Antonio Spurs today announced that they have re-signed forward Steve Novak. Per club policy details of the contract were not released.

Novak, a 6-10 forward, was signed to two 10-day contracts last season before signing for the remainder of the season on March 4.  In 23 games with the Spurs, he averaged 4.0 points and 1.0 rebound in 8.6 minutes while shooting .525 (31-59) from the field, .548 (23-42) from three-point range and 1.000 (8-8) from the free throw line. Novak posted a season-high 19 points (6-10 FG, 5-8 3FG, 2-2 FT) and 4 rebounds in 18 minutes vs. Charlotte on March 19.  Prior to signing with the Spurs he appeared in two games with the Reno Bighorns in the NBA Development League, averaging 18.5 points and 6.5 rebounds in 29.5 minutes. Novak started the season with the Dallas Mavericks appearing in seven games, averaging 1.6 points in 2.6 minutes.

Novak has appeared in 225 regular season games with Houston, the L.A. Clippers, Dallas and San Antonio in his five-year NBA career, averaging 4.0 points and 1.1 rebounds in 9.7 minutes per game.  For his career he is shooting .443 (320-723) from the field and .417 (214-513) from three-point range.

Trail Blazers agree to sign forward Craig Smith

Craig Smith

The Portland Trail Blazers have agreed to terms with forward Craig Smith. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed. We’ll post contract details here tonight.

Smith, 28, has averaged 8.8 points and 4.2 rebounds in five seasons with Minnesota and the L.A. Clippers.

“Craig is a guy who will bring us some interior scoring and toughness around the hole,” said Trail Blazers Acting General Manager Chad Buchanan. “He is a player who is hungry to experience the playoffs and we hope that Craig can help us get back to the postseason again this year.”

A Los Angeles native, Smith (6-7, 265) spent the past two seasons with the Clippers, posting averages of 5.4 points and 2.4 rebounds in 2010-11.

Originally selected by Minnesota with the 36th overall pick in the 2006 NBA Draft out of Boston College, Smith was a member of the 2006-07 NBA All-Rookie Second Team along with fellow Trail Blazer LaMarcus Aldridge.

Lakers hire Clay Moser as scout

Los Angeles D-Fenders Associate Head Coach Clay Moser has been hired by the Los Angeles Lakers to serve as an Advance Scout on Head Coach Mike Brown’s staff, it was announced today.

“We are extremely happy for Clay to receive such a tremendous opportunity with the Lakers,” D-Fenders Head Coach Eric Musselman said.  “Clay is a great basketball mind and I am confident he will serve the Lakers well.”

Moser brings more than a decade of NBA and NBA Development League experience with him to the Lakers, most recently from the D-Fenders where he helped coach the team to a 7-3 start.  Formerly serving on USA Basketball’s board of directors, Moser has also spent extensive time evaluating NBA-caliber talent as an advance scout for the Cleveland Cavaliers (2009-10), Orlando Magic (2007-08), Sacramento Kings (2006-07) and Golden State Warriors (2002-03).  His other NBA experience includes time as Vice President of Business Development for the New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets (2005-06), as an assistant coach for the San Antonio Spurs 2005 Summer League Team and as a business consultant for the NBA (2005).

In 2010-11, Moser assisted on Musselman’s staff as Associate Head Coach with the Reno Bighorns, helping lead the team to a Western Conference best 34-16 record.   Prior to his time with the Bighorns, Moser was tabbed by the Houston Rockets to be Head Coach of their D-League affiliate in Rio Grande Valley, going 21-29 with the Vipers during the 2008-09 campaign.  In addition to his Reno and Rio Grande Valley D-League experience, Moser has also worked for CBA teams that later would join the D-League; serving as an assistant coach, vice president and general manager with the Sioux Falls Skyforce (1989-94) and as CEO and general manager of the Idaho Stampede (1997-2001).