NBA News Blog – Page 1157 – NBA Blog

LaMarcus Aldridge undergoes successful heart-related procedure

Portland Trail Blazers forward/center LaMarcus Aldridge underwent a successful procedure today to evaluate the status of the electrical system in his heart, it was announced today by the team.

He will be sidelined for 5-7 days before he can return to practice.

Aldridge, who was diagnosed with Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome in 2007, underwent a similar procedure to correct the problem at the time of diagnosis.

Aldridge, 26, holds career averages of 17.3 points (49.2% FG, 77.1% FT), 7.5 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 1.02 blocks and 34.8 minutes in 379 games (338 starts).

Notching his best season to date in 2010-11, Aldridge was named to the All-NBA Third Team after averaging a team-high 21.8 points (50.0% FG, 79.1% FT) to go with 8.8 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 1.01 steals, 1.16 blocks and 39.6 minutes in 81 games (all starts). One of three NBA players to rank in the top 15 in points (14th) and rebounds (14th) last season, Aldridge ranks sixth in offensive rebounds in team history (1,068).

Thunder re-sign guard Daequan Cook

The Oklahoma City Thunder have re-signed guard Daequan Cook, it was announced today by Executive Vice President and General Manager Sam Presti. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Cook ranked 11th in the NBA in three-point field goal shooting during the 2010-11 campaign, as he connected on 42.2% of his three-point attempts (65-of-154). The Ohio State product appeared in 43 games for Oklahoma City and registered averages of 5.6 points and 1.7 rebounds in 13.9 minutes per contest.

“We are excited that we were able to reach an agreement that will keep Daequan a part of our core group moving forward,” said Executive Vice President and General Manager Sam Presti. “Daequan’s commitment to his own development and willingness to accept a role within our team, makes him a valuable member of our organization. At twenty-four years old, we believe Daequan’s best basketball is ahead of him. His desire to remain a part of the Thunder organization and the Oklahoma City community is what ultimately allowed us to reach this agreement.”

During the 2010-11 season Cook matched a career-high with six three-point field goals in 19 minutes during the Thunder’s win over the Washington Wizards (Mar. 14). He scored in double-figures seven times during the season and finished the year shooting 45.2% from three-point range (56-of-124) in the final 35 games of the season.

In four NBA seasons, Cook has appeared in 222 career games (26 starts) and posted averages of 7.5 points and 2.3 rebounds while shooting 36.9% from three-point range (337-of-913).

Hawks sign forward Vladimir Radmanovic

The Atlanta Hawks today signed forward Vladimir Radmanovic, according to Executive Vice President/General Manager Rick Sund. Per team policy, terms were not disclosed.

Radmanovic spent last season with the Golden State Warriors, averaging 5.1 ppg, 2.9 rpg and 1.1 apg in 15.8 mpg (.431 FG%, .405 3FG%, .882 FT%), appearing in 74 games (six starts), and ranking 23rd in the league in three-point percentage.

The 10-year veteran brings career numbers of 8.5 ppg, 3.9 rpg and 1.4 apg in 23.0 mpg to Atlanta (.417 FG%, .381 3FG%, .759 FT%). He’s also seen action in 44 playoff games (25 starts), posting 7.6 ppg, 3.7 rpg and 1.2 apg in 21.9 mpg (.440 FG%, .392 3FG%, .735 FT%). Selected by Seattle 12th overall in the 2001 NBA Draft, Radmanovic has also played for the LA Clippers, LA Lakers and Charlotte.

Heat re-sign Juwan Howard

The Miami Heat announced today that they have re-signed free agent forward Juwan Howard. Per club policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Howard has appeared in 1,173 regular season games (898 starts) with seven teams over 17 seasons. During his career, he has averaged 13.7 points, 6.3 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 31.0 minutes while shooting 47 percent from the field and 76.4 percent from the foul line. He appeared in 57 games last season with the Heat averaging 2.4 points, 2.1 rebounds and 10.4 minutes while shooting 44 percent from the field and a career-best 82.9 percent from the foul line.

The former NBA All-Star has appeared in 40 postseason games (13 starts) and averaged 6.6 points, 4.0 rebounds and 20.9 minutes while shooting 39.8 percent from the field and 75.8 percent from the foul line. He appeared in 11 postseason contests last season with the Heat totaling 17 points, 10 rebounds and one assist in 60 minutes of action while shooting 4-of-9 from the field and 9-of-13 from the foul line as Miami made their way to the 2011 NBA Finals.

Howard originally signed with the Heat as a free agent on July 20, 2010.

Celtics sign Chris Wilcox, Marquis Daniels and Greg Stiemsma

The Boston Celtics today announced that they have signed free agent forward/center Chris Wilcox, guard/forward Marquis Daniels, and free agent center Greg Stiemsma. Per team policy, terms of the deals were not disclosed.

Wilcox, a 6’10”, 235lbs forward/center, appeared in 57 games for the Detroit Pistons last season averaging 7.4 points and 4.8 rebounds in 17.5 minutes per game. Wilcox also shot a team-high 58.1 percent from the field in those 57 games. In his 29 starts last season, the native of Whiteville, North Carolina averaged 8.1 points and 5.1 rebounds per game. Wilcox recorded a season-high 27 points and a season-high 13 rebounds against Milwaukee on April 8. The eighth overall pick in the 2002 NBA Draft recorded career-highs in points and rebounds during the 2006-07 season while with the Seattle Supersonics with 13.5 points and 8.5 rebounds per game.

Daniels, a 6’6″ guard/forward, appeared in 49 games for the Celtics averaging 5.5 points, 2.3 rebounds and 1.3 assists in 19.1 minutes per game. Daniels recorded a season-high 19 points and seven rebounds against Houston on January 10. In his three seasons with the Celtics (2008-09, 2009-10, 2010-11), Daniels has averaged 5.6 points, 2.1 rebounds and shot 49.5 percent from the floor. During his eight year career Daniels has posted career averages of 8.6 points, 3.0 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.0 steal in 22.5 minutes per game.

Stiemsma, a 6’11 center, last played for the Sioux Fall Sky Force of the NBA Development League. He appeared in four games for the Sky Force averaging 9.0 points, 10.8 rebounds and 4.5 blocks per game. He was named the 2010 NBA Development League Defensive Player of the Year after he averaged 9.1 points, 7.3 rebounds and a league-leading 3.7 blocks per game for Sioux Falls.

Heat re-sign forward James Jones

The Miami Heat announced today that they have re-signed free agent forward James Jones. Per club policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Jones has appeared in 447 regular season career games (73 starts) over eight seasons. During his NBA career, with four different teams, he has averaged 6.3 points, 2.3 rebounds and 18.9 minutes while shooting 40.2 percent from the field, 40.2 percent from three-point range and 85.7 percent from the foul line. He has scored in double-figures on 114 occasions and has shot at least 82 percent from the foul line every season of his career.

During the last three seasons with the Heat, Jones appeared in 157 regular season games (15 starts) averaging 5.0 points, 1.5 rebounds and 17.1 minutes while shooting 39.7 percent from the field, 40.8 percent from three-point range and 83.2 percent from the foul line. The 2010 NBA All-Star Three-Point Shootout Champion ranks among Miami’s all-time leaders, placing fourth in three-point field goal percentage, 15th in three-point field goals made (193) and 19th three-point field goal attempts (473).

Jones originally signed with the Heat as a free agent on July 9, 2008 before being waived by the club on June 29, 2010. He was then re-signed on July 19, 2010 before becoming a free agent for the 2011-12 season.

Bucks trade Keyon Dooling to Celtics

The Milwaukee Bucks have traded guard Keyon Dooling (6-3, 196) and a protected 2012 second round draft pick to the Boston Celtics for the rights to forward/center Albert Miralles (6-10, 230), General Manager John Hammond announced today.

Dooling, a 6’3” guard, has amassed career averages of 7.2 points and 2.3 assists in 675 games over 11 seasons with the Clippers, Heat, Magic, Nets and Bucks. Dooling appeared in a career-high 80 games last season for Milwaukee and recorded a career-high 11 assists to go along with 12 points against Cleveland on January 21. He also recorded 13 points and 10 rebounds at Chicago on January 24. Dooling led the Bucks in assists in 20 games last season as well as leading the team in steals on 14 occasions. Over the last three seasons Dooling has shot 38.1 percent from three-point territory. The former Missouri Tiger posted his highest scoring season during the 2008-09 campaign while with the Nets averaging 9.7 points and a career-high 3.5 assists per game.

Miralles, 29, was originally selected by Toronto (39th overall) in the 2004 Draft, but was traded to Miami on draft night for the draft rights to Pape Sow. The following off-season, Miralles was dealt to Boston as part of the Antoine Walker trade. A native of Barcelona, Miralles has not played in the NBA, but has played professionally in Spain and Italy, most recently with Angelico Biella (Italy – Serie-A).

An 11-year veteran, Dooling played in 80 games for the Bucks last season and averaged 7.1 points, 3.0 assists and 1.5 rebounds per contest. He has averaged 7.2 points, 2.3 assists and 1.4 rebounds in 675 career NBA games.

Clippers guard Eric Bledsoe out 6-8 weeks

Los Angeles Clippers guard Eric Bledsoe underwent surgery to repair a torn lateral meniscus in his right knee on October 7th. He is expected to be sidelined approximately 6-8 weeks.

The surgery was performed by Dr. Benton Emblom at the Andrews Sports Medicine and Orthopaedic Center in Birmingham, Alabama. Bledsoe has been cleared to take part in hydro-cardio therapy and strength work and he is expected to increase his workload by the beginning of the regular season.

A member of the 2010-11 T-Mobile NBA All-Rookie Second Team, Bledsoe averaged 6.7 points, 3.6 assists, 2.8 rebounds and 22.7 minutes in 81 games played last season.

Heat re-sign guard Mario Chalmers

The Miami Heat announced today that they have re-signed guard Mario Chalmers. Per club policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Chalmers, a 6’2”, 190-pound guard, has appeared in 225 regular season games (132 starts) averaging 7.9 points, 3.7 assists, 2.3 rebounds, 1.45 steals and 26.7 minutes while shooting 40.9 percent from the field, 35 percent from three-point range and 77.8 percent from the foul line. Among Miami’s all-time leaders, he ranks eighth in steals (327), tied for ninth in three-point field goals made (272), 12th in assists (826), 19th in minutes (6,012), tied for 19th in games played (225) and 22nd in three-point field goal percentage (.350).

He has appeared in 33 career postseason games (eight starts), averaging 8.1 points, 2.7 assists, 2.1 rebounds, 1.52 steals and 26.4 minutes while shooting 43 percent from the field, 36 percent from three-point range and 75 percent from the foul line. During the 2011 NBA Finals, Chalmers increased his postseason averages in the six-game series against Dallas in points (11.8), assists (3.5), rebounds (2.7), minutes (29.0) and three-point field goal percentage (.400). He currently ranks among the Heat’s all-time postseason leaders in steals (third), assists (sixth), three-point field goals made (tied-seventh) and games played (10th).

Chalmers shot a career-high 87.1 percent from the foul line last season and set a new Heat record after dishing out 13 assists off the Miami bench at Toronto on April 13, the most from a non-starter in franchise history. He also currently holds the Heat all-time record for steals during a regular season game with nine vs. Philadelphia on November 5, 2008 and tied the franchise mark for steals during a postseason game with five vs. Atlanta on May 1, 2009. Additionally, during his rookie campaign, he became just the fifth player, and the first rookie, in franchise history to start in all 82 games while on his way to earning Second Team NBA All-Rookie honors.

Chalmers was originally drafted by the Minnesota Timberwolves in the second round (34th overall) of the 2008 NBA Draft. His draft rights were acquired by the Heat in exchange for two 2009 second-round draft picks and cash considerations on draft night.

Jazz re-sign Earl Watson, pending physical

Utah Jazz general manager Kevin O’Connor announced today that the team has re-signed free-agent guard Earl Watson, pending the outcome of a successful physical. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not released.

Watson (6-1, 185, UCLA) owns career averages of 7.1 points, 2.3 rebounds and 4.5 assists over 10 NBA seasons with Utah, Memphis, Denver, Seattle/Oklahoma City and Indiana. Watson has also appeared in eight postseason contests, all with Memphis in 2004 and 2005.

Last season the Kansas City, Kan., native appeared in 80 games (13 starts) with Utah, averaging 4.3 points, 2.3 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 0.8 steals in 19.6 minutes.

Watson’s best statistical season came in 2007-08 with Seattle, when he appeared in 78 games (73 starts) for the SuperSonics, averaging 10.7 points, 2.9 rebounds and 6.8 assists in 29.1 minutes.