NBA News Blog – Page 1278 – NBA Blog

Is 2011 NBA Summer League canceled?

Could it be? Is an NBA lockout so likely that the league is not even going to schedule the Vegas Summer League this July?

Mitch Lawrence of the New York Daily News reports:

In two more signs that the NBA is gearing up for a lockout starting July 1, the league has scrubbed its annual Las Vegas summer league and has also scuttled its annual summer internship program, according to league sources.

The Las Vegas summer league normally starts around July 9, with upwards of 20 teams, including the Knicks, sending little-used veteran players and rookies to compete over a 10-day period.

I hope this isn’t the case. Hitting Vegas for basketball and fun (not necessarily in that order) has been a yearly highlight, especially as other summer leagues shut down. It would be a shame not to get an early look at the 2011-12 rookies.

Read fan reaction and share your own opinion in this forum topic.

Chris Webber wants to help keep Kings in Sacramento

Ailene Voisin of the Sacramento Bee reports (via blog):

A short while ago on TNT’s post-game show, analyst Chris Webber and cohorts Ernie Johnson, Kenny Smith and Charles Barkley devoted an interesting (and potentially significant) segment to the Kings’ possible relocation to Anaheim. I transcribed the tape and will include most of the conversation below, the significance of which includes this: Webber saying he is engaged in talks with individuals intent on keeping the Kings in Sacramento; Barkley (jokingly?) saying he will invest “$10-15 million” to assist; Smth, also a former King, saying that, on the Kings worst nights, the fans were as lusty as they were during the years they contended.

Though Webber refused to be specific on-air about the extent of his commitment, after making a few late-night phone calls, I reached original Sacramento Kings executive vice-president Greg Van Dusen, who offered a few specifics. According to Van Dusen, Webber is willing to facilitate a deal – headed by Roger Stewart of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, to “restructure” the city’s $77 million loan to the club. Van Dusen, who is working with Arco I and II architect Rann Haight.

Jazz forward C.J. Miles has minor knee injury

Utah Jazz guard/forward C.J. Miles was seen this afternoon by Jazz team orthopedist Dr. Lyle Mason, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) tests conducted on Miles’ left knee revealed that he has a small, partial tear in his popliteus muscle, which attaches to the fibula head.

Miles injured the knee at the 5:10 mark of the fourth quarter of last night’s 90-78 win at New Orleans and was able to finish the game.

Miles is doubtful for tomorrow night’s regular season finale vs. Denver.

Bucks center Andrew Bogut has right elbow surgery

Milwaukee Bucks General Manager John Hammond announced today that center Andrew Bogut (7-0, 260) had successful arthroscopic surgery today to remove loose particles and scar tissue in his right elbow. The surgery was performed by Dr. James Andrews at the Andrews Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Center in Gulf Breeze, FL.

In 65 games this season (all starts) Bogut averaged 12.8 points, a career-high 11.1 rebounds and a league-leading and career-best 2.6 blocks per game. His 168 blocks this season are the seventh-highest single-season total in team history, just behind his sixth-place total of 175 set last year. In 396 career games (388 starts), Bogut has averaged 12.7 points, 9.4 rebounds and 1.6 blocks. He is among the franchise leaders in points (5,043, 18th), rebounds (3,710, fifth) and blocks (618, third).

FBI investigating University of San Diego basketball point-shaving scandal

The AP reports:

The NCAA plans to conduct its own investigation into an alleged gambling ring at the University of San Diego but will wait until the FBI completes its work.

On Tuesday, NCAA vice president of enforcement Julie Roe Lach called the allegations sad, acknowledging the serious nature of the charges that were unsealed one day earlier in San Diego.

The accused include Brandon Johnson, the school’s career scoring leader who is now playing in the NBA’s Developmental League, former assistant coach Thaddeus Brown and ex-player Brandon Dowdy.

Federal authorities have charged them with running a sports betting business to affect the outcome of games.

“The FBI is leading the investigation and we will stand by and let them do their work because they have more tools in their tool boxes to get at what’s going on than we do,” Lach told The Associated Press. “After they conclude their investigation, we will begin ours.”

Lach said FBI officials contacted college sports’ largest governing body before the indictments were made public Monday. She declined to say when the NCAA learned of the case.

Point-shaving scandals have occurred before in college sports, but they are rare.

David West has surgery on left knee

New Orleans Hornets forward David West underwent successful surgery on his left knee Tuesday morning for a torn ACL. West will miss the remainder of this season and the playoffs . West underwent the surgery in New York City by Dr. David Altchek.

Typical ACL injuries require 6 to 8 months of rehabilitation. West is expected to complete his rehabilitation within that time frame, but at this time, it is difficult to predict the precise time of his return to the basketball court. He is expected to have a full recovery.

“After his injury, David understood the importance of getting his knee ready for surgery,” said Hornets/Ochsner orthopedist Dr. Scott Montgomery. “Our training staff did a terrific job of helping David get the swelling down and regain his motion. We’re thankful that David had a successful surgery and know that his hard work will make his rehabilitation process go well.”

Trail Blazers sign Earl Barron for rest of season

The Portland Trail Blazers have signed center Earl Barron for the remainder of the season, it was announced today by General Manager Rich Cho.

Barron, 29, was a member of the 2005-06 NBA Champion Miami Heat his rookie season in the league and has played parts of five seasons with Miami (2005-08), the New York Knicks (2009-10), Phoenix Suns (2010-11) and Milwaukee Bucks (2010-11), posting career averages of 5.2 points, 3.6 rebounds, 0.5 assists and 15.1 minutes in 108 games (27 starts).

A University of Memphis product, Barron (7-0, 250) averaged 3.8 points, 3.3 rebounds, 0.4 assists and 14.1 minutes in 19 games (six starts) with Phoenix and Milwaukee this season.

Barron also played parts of five seasons in the NBA Development League, making the D-League All-Star team in 2009-10 with the Iowa Energy.

The Trail Blazers roster now stands at 15 players. Barron will wear jersey No. 40.

Baylor forward Perry Jones will stay in school for sophomore season

Freshman sensation Perry Jones III announced Monday that he will return to Baylor University for his sophomore season.

Jones III, who earned Freshman All-American honors from both CollegeInsider.com and the United States Basketball Writers Association (USBWA), finished the 2010-11 regular season as the Big 12 freshman leader in scoring (13.9) and field goal percentage (54.9). PJ3 finished second on the Baylor team in both scoring and rebounding (7.2) and third in assists (1.2), starting a Baylor freshman-record 30 games. His 54.9 field goal percentage ranks third in school history among freshmen behind only teammate Quincy Acy (65.5 in 2008-09) and 12-year NBA veteran Brian Skinner (59.8 in 1994-95).

The Duncanville, Texas, product was the first Baylor freshman to earn NABC All-District honors since Lawrence Roberts in 2002. He was a second-team All-Big 12 selection by the league’s coaches, Yahoo! Sports and The Dallas Morning News, while earning honorable mention by the AP.

Baylor finished the 2010-11 season with an 18-13 overall record and a 7-9 mark in Big 12 Conference play.

–Baylor Sports Information

Clippers recall Willie Warren from D-League

The Los Angeles Clippers today announced that they have recalled rookie guard Willie Warren from the Bakersfield Jam of the NBA Development League.

Warren, 21, was originally assigned to Bakersfield on Feb. 2 and was reassigned on March 3. Overall, Warren appeared in 15 games with the Jam, averaging 19.2 points, 5.7 assists and 4.0 rebounds in 27.3 minutes per game.

Warren has appeared in 19 games with the Clippers this season and is averaging 1.9 points and 1.4 assists in 7.0 minutes per game.

The former Oklahoma University standout was selected by the Clippers in the second round (54th overall pick) of the 2010 NBA Draft.

Atlanta Hawks sign Magnum Rolle

The Atlanta Hawks today signed forward Magnum Rolle to a contract, according to Executive Vice President/General Manager Rick Sund. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Rolle spent training camp with the Indiana Pacers, and appeared in five preseason games before being waived on October 25, 2010. Rolle was the 51st overall pick in the 2010 NBA Draft, selected by the Oklahoma City Thunder. He was then acquired by the Pacers in exchange for the draft rights to Ryan Reid.

The Gatorade callup played in 15 games (seven starts) with the Maine Red Claws of the NBA Development League this season, averaging 14.1 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 1.5 spg, 1.3 apg and 1.2 bpg (.508 FG%, .585 FT%) in 25.9 mpg. He was the third overall pick of the D-League Draft by the Claws.

Rolle played his sophomore season at LSU, before transferring to Louisiana Tech. As a senior with the Bulldogs in 2009-10, he led the WAC in blocked shots (2.1 bpg), adding 13.9 ppg and 8.4 rpg in 34 games (33 starts). He finished his career with Louisiana Tech fourth all-time in blocks in just two seasons of action.

Magnum Rolle was born on February 23, 1986 in Freeport, Bahamas, and attended St. George’s High School in Freeport before spending a year at Laurinburg Institute in North Carolina. He will wear uniform number 25.