Category: NBA News Blog

NBA news blog

Cavaliers sign Alonzo Gee

Cavaliers sign Alonzo Gee

The Cleveland Cavaliers have signed guard/forward Alonzo Gee to a contract, Cavaliers General Manager Chris Grant announced today.  Per league and team policy, terms of the contract were not announced.

Gee, 23, has played with the San Antonio Spurs (five games) and Washington Wizards (11 games) this season, averaging 2.1 points on .433 shooting and 1.6 rebounds in 9.3 minutes per game in a total of 16 games (five starts). He will wear No. 33 for the Cavs.

The 6-foot-6, 219-pound guard/forward was named the 2010 D-League Rookie of the Year and to the NBA D-League Second Team after averaging 21.0 points, 6.6 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 1.5 steals in 38.2 minutes while shooting .509 (269-528) from the field and .393 (24-61) from three-point range during the 2009-10 regular season with the Austin Toros. The former University of Alabama star was called up to the Washington Wizards on consecutive 10-day contracts on March 7 and March 18, 2010 and appeared in 11 games (two starts), averaging 7.4 points on .475 shooting, including .778 from three-point range, and 3.0 rebounds in 16.5 minutes per game.

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Lakers assign Devin Ebanks to D-League

INDIANAPOLIS - APRIL 03: Devin Ebanks #3 of the West Virginia Mountaineers reacts in the first half against the Duke Blue Devils during the National Semifinal game of the 2010 NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Championship at Lucas Oil Stadium on April 3, 2010 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

The Los Angeles Lakers have assigned forward Devin Ebanks to the Bakersfield Jam of the NBA Development League, it was announced today by General Manager Mitch Kupchak.

Ebanks, who was selected by the Lakers with the 43rd pick in the 2010 NBA Draft, has appeared in 12 games for the Lakers this season, averaging 2.9 points and 1.5 rebounds in 6.4 minutes.

The 6’9” rookie will be available to play for the Jam tomorrow night in their game vs. the New Mexico Thunderbirds.

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Cavaliers assign Samardo Samuels to D-League

The Cleveland Cavaliers have assigned forward Samardo Samuels to the Erie BayHawks of the NBA Development League, Cavaliers General Manager Chris Grant announced today.

Samuels has played in four games for the Cavaliers this season and has averages of 3.3 points on .571 shooting and 1.0 rebound in 4.5 minutes per game.

The 6-foot-9 rookie from Louisville will be available to play for the BayHawks in their game versus the Dakota Wizards tonight at 7 p.m. at the Tullio Arena in Erie. The BayHawks are the D-League affiliate of the Cavaliers and the Toronto Raptors.

Cavaliers waive Jawad Williams

Cavaliers waive Jawad Williams

The Cleveland Cavaliers have waived forward Jawad Williams, Cavaliers General Manager Chris Grant announced today.

Williams averaged 4.0 points on.325 shooting and 1.8 rebounds in 15.0 minutes per game in 26 games (one start) this season. In three seasons (all with the Cavaliers), he had career averages of 3.8 points on .369 shooting and 1.5 rebounds in 90 games (seven starts).

“We would like to wish Jawad and his family the best in the future and thank him for his contributions, not only on the court but in the community,” said Cavaliers General Manager Chris Grant.

The Cavaliers roster now stands at 14.

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Hawks assign Pape Sy to D-League

The Atlanta Hawks today assigned rookie guard/forward Pape Sy (POP SEE) to the Utah Flash of the NBA Development League, according to Executive Vice President/General Manager Rick Sund.

Sy was the Hawks’ second round pick (53rd overall selection) in the 2010 NBA Draft. He missed the first 18 games of the season due to a low back injury, and has been on the inactive list in the remainder of the games this year. Sy appeared in two games for Atlanta’s summer league squad in Las Vegas, averaging 4.5 ppg, 1.0 rpg and 1.0 apg.

He signed with the Hawks on September 15, 2010.

Raptors re-sign Ronald Dupree

Raptors re-sign Ronald Dupree

The Toronto Raptors announced Sunday they have re-signed forward Ronald Dupree. Per team policy, financial details were  not disclosed.

Dupree, 6-foot-7, 210 pounds participated in Toronto’s 2010 training camp before he was released October 19. He appeared in five preseason games, totaling 20 points and eight rebounds in 55 minutes.

Dupree was also a member of the Raptors’ entry in the 2010 Las Vegas Summer League. In five outings, Dupree averaged 10.0 points and 4.0 rebounds helping the club to a 5-0 mark. He had a team-high 24 points and added eight rebounds in a victory over New Orleans.

Dupree has played in 154 NBA games with Chicago, Detroit, Minnesota and Seattle, averaging 3.6 points and 2.2 rebounds. He has also seen action in the NBDL with Huntsville, Tulsa and Utah. He has averaged 17.5 points and 6.3 boards in 122 D-League outings.

Toronto’s roster now stands at 15.

Bobcats name Ralph Lewis, Charles Oakley and Stephen Silas assistant coaches

The Charlotte Bobcats today named Ralph Lewis, Charles Oakley and Stephen Silas as assistant coaches on the staff of Interim Head Coach Paul Silas.

“It was important to me to quickly put together a staff that I feel comfortable with and one that mirrors my coaching philosophy and can immediately make an impact on this team in a positive way,” said Silas. “Ralph Lewis brings experience as both a player and a coach, and Stephen has been part of my staffs on a few of my NBA stints.  I’ve always admired Charles Oakley and I feel his overall experience as a competitor and his mental toughness will only enhance our preparations.”

Lewis played professionally for 10 years, including three seasons in the NBA with the Pistons and Hornets.  He served as assistant coach of the Huntsville Flight during the inaugural season of the NBA Development League in 2001-02 before becoming head coach from 2002-05.  During his three seasons as head coach, the Flight compiled a 73-71 record and made consecutive playoff appearances in 2003-04 and 2004-05.  Lewis went on to serve as an assistant coach for the SuperSonics/Thunder from 2005-09.  In addition to his playing and coaching experience, Lewis has worked as an executive in the human resources and healthcare fields.

A 19-year NBA veteran, Oakley comes to the bench as an assistant coach for the first time.  During his NBA career, he averaged 9.7 points and 9.5 rebounds in 1,282 games played for Chicago, New York, Toronto, Washington and Houston.  In addition to being selected for the 1994 Eastern Conference All-Star Team, his playing honors include being named to the All-Rookie First Team in 1985-86, All-Defensive First Team in 1993-94 and All-Defensive Second Team in 1997-98.  Oakley, who led the league in rebounds in both 1986-87 and 1987-88, currently ranks 20th on the NBA’s all-time rebounding list (12,205), while also ranking ninth all-time in offensive rebounds (3,924) and 13th in defensive rebounds (8,281).  In addition, his 1,282 games played is the 14th-best total in NBA history.

In his 10th season as an assistant coach, Stephen Silas joins the Bobcats from the Golden State Warriors, where he has been as an assistant coach since 2006.  Prior to that, he was an assistant coach on his father’s staffs with the Hornets from 2000-03 and the Cavaliers from 2003-05.  Silas has also served as head coach for Summer League entries for the Hornets (2002), Cavaliers (2003) and Warriors (2010).  In addition to his coaching roles, Silas was an advance scout for the Hornets in 1999-2000 and the Wizards in 2005-06.

Wizards suspend Andray Blatche and JaVale McGee

March 12 2010: Washington Wizards' Andray Blatche (7) during the NBA basketball game between the Washington Wizards and Detroit Piston at the Palace in Auburn Hills, Michigan.

Wizards President Ernie Grunfeld announced today that forward Andray Blatche and center JaVale McGee have both been suspended one game for conduct detrimental to the team.

“After further investigation into an incident on Thursday night, we concluded that Andray and JaVale conducted themselves in an unprofessional manner,” said Grunfeld.  “As a result, both players will be suspended for tomorrow’s game at San Antonio.”

The AP reports:

The Washington Post said on its website that Blatche and McGee were involved in an altercation outside an area club early Friday. The newspaper reported that two league sources said the players cursed at each other and exchanged punches. The Post said another source said police were called to break up the fight.

Michael Jordan buys $3.15 million condo in Charlotte

The Charlotte Observer reports:

July 15, 2010 - Stateline, Nevada, USA - MICHAEL JORDAN plays in the 21st annual American Century Championships at the Edgewood Tahoe Golf Course. Offering a total purse of 600,000 dollars, the made-for-tv ACC, owned and broadcast by NBC Sports, is the world's premier celebrity golf tournament. For the fifth year in a row, the Lance Armstrong Foundation and its LIVESTRONG Global Cancer Campaign is the Championship's official charity.

Bobcats owner Michael Jordan is officially a Charlotte homeowner.

Jordan has purchased and combined the two top-floor penthouses at The Trust, a luxury uptown condominium building at 139 South Tryon St. He closed on the $3.15 million property Thursday, according to the McDevitt Agency, which brokered the deal.

His new, 7,000-square-foot residence is about two blocks from Time Warner Cable Arena, where the Bobcats play. The seven-floor Trust building also houses Chima Brazilian Steakhouse.

InsideHoops.com editor says: $3.15 million is pocket change. He probably paid it in $20 bills that he found in his jeans. I’m sure my readers can relate.