Category: NBA News Blog

NBA news blog

Damion James suffers broken right foot

KANSAS CITY, MO - MARCH 11: Damion James #5 of the Texas Longhorns looks on while taking on the Baylor Bears during the quarterfinals of the 2010 Phillips 66 Big 12 Men's Basketball Tournament at the Sprint Center on March 11, 2010 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

New Jersey Nets forward Damion James has suffered a broken right foot. It is not yet known how much time he’s expected to miss. More details on the injury will be added to this page later today.

The 6-7, 220-pound rookie, who attended Texas, has played limited minutes in his first professional season, averaging 3.1 points and 2.9 rebounds in 12.9 minutes per game.

The 6-17 Nets currently have the worst record in the Eastern conference. They have a higher winning percentage than the Minnesota Timberwolves, Sacramento Kings and Los Angeles Clippers, who are all in the West.

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Sixers recall Craig Brackins from D-League

The Philadelphia 76ers announced today that they have recalled rookie forward Craig Brackins from their NBA Development League affiliate, the Springfield Armor.  Brackins was assigned to the Armor on November 30.

In five games for Springfield, Brackins averaged 17.2 points, 8.6 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 1.80 blocks in 37.4 minutes per game.  He has appeared in one game for the Sixers this season, scoring 6 points in 10 minutes of play at Toronto on November 24.

Brackins (6-10, 230) was the 21st overall pick in the 2010 NBA Draft by Oklahoma City.  His rights were traded to New Orleans along with the rights to Quincy Pondexter in exchange for Morris Peterson and the rights to Cole Aldrich.  The Sixers acquired Brackins and Darius Songaila from the Hornets in exchange for Willie Green and Jason Smith on September 23.

Ron Artest still does not understand the triangle offense

Los Angeles Lakers NBA player Ron Artest wore his championship winning team s colors, purple and gold, as he made his way through a sea of fans outside Voyeur Nightclub in West Hollywood, California on June 24, 2010.Ron Ron sported a large necklace that reads True Warier. Fame Pictures, Inc

Elliot Teaford of the Los Angeles Daily News reports:

Ron Artest acknowledged during an interview with ESPN what almost every Lakers watcher has assumed since he signed with the team as a free agent during the summer of 2009. He admitted he doesn’t know the Lakers’ offense.

“See, I can’t really understand the triangle,” he said in a story posted Saturday on ESPN.com. “There’s 1,000 plays in the triangle. It’s such a challenge. I get so frustrated about it. So I just stay in my one spot in the corner.

“If I leave my spot, I get yelled at. (Lakers coach) Phil (Jackson’s) gonna say, `What are you doing over there!’ So I just don’t move.”

Artest made his comments Dec. 3 during a day-long visit with Rick Reilly.

The Lakers called off Saturday’s scheduled practice, so Artest was not available for comment. He was the first player to leave the locker room after the Lakers’ loss to the Chicago Bulls on Friday, the first game on their six-game trip.

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Rumor: Danilo Gallinari is dating Michelle Trachtenberg

NEW YORK, NY - DECEMBER 07: Michelle Trachtenberg attends the New York premiere of Blue Valentine hosted by Quintessentially at The Museum of Modern Art on December 7, 2010 in New York City. (Photo by Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images for The Weinstein Company)

Page Six, from the New York Post, reports:

The Knicks’ “Italian Stallion,” Danilo Gallinari, has a new love interest — “Gossip Girl” star Michelle Trachtenberg. The NBA heartthrob and the beauty have been spending time together in some of the city’s hottest clubs over the last few weeks. Sources tell us of the 22-year-old, 6-foot-10 “Gallo” and Trachtenberg: “They are seeing each other, but it is very early days. Michelle seems pretty excited about Danilo and was overheard talking about him at the Knicks game recently, saying she really likes him.”

InsideHoops.com editor says: The other female stars of Gossip Girl want me. They just don’t know it yet. But they will. Oh yes.

Chris Kaman out at least three weeks

Los Angeles Clippers center Chris Kaman will miss a minimum of three weeks due to an aggravated bone bruise and deltoid ligament sprain of his left ankle.

Kaman was examined by team physician Dr. Steven Shimoyama after undergoing an MRI on Dec. 6. He was then was re-evaluated on Dec. 9 by Dr. Richard D. Ferkel.

Kaman will wear a protective boot when not participating in assigned rehabilitation.

The 2010 All-Star has appeared in 10 games this season and is averaging 10.5 points and 7.1 rebounds per game. Kaman originally injured the ankle on Nov. 9 in New Orleans.

Tyreke Evans has plantar fasciitis

Oct 19, 2010; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Sacramento Kings guard Tyreke Evans (13) dribbles the ball during the game against the Los Angeles Clippers at the Staples Center. The Kings defeated the Clippers 96-94. Photo via Newscom

Sacramento Kings’ guard Tyreke Evans underwent a precautionary MRI yesterday in Sacramento which confirmed the diagnosis of mild plantar fasciitis in his left foot. The MRI also revealed that the plantar fascia is intact and there is no stress fracture.

Evans will continue his prescribed treatments of the combination of medication, sleeping in a night splint and walking in a boot when not playing or practicing. He has been cleared to practice and play.

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Thunder assign Byron Mullens to D-League

Oklahoma City center Byron Mullens was assigned to the Tulsa 66ers, the Thunder’s NBA Development League affiliate, it was announced today.  The assignment marks the 18th time in the 2010-11 season an NBA player has been assigned to an NBA D-League affiliate, and it is the second assignment for Mullens, a second-year pro out of Ohio State.

Mullens (7-0, 275) has appeared in 18 games for the Thunder in the last two seasons, including five this year. He was first assigned to the 66ers last season, when he averaged 15.1 points and 7.5 rebounds in 27 games, earning All-NBA D-League Honorable Mention honors.

Oklahoma City acquired Mullens in a Draft-night deal with the Dallas Mavericks, who selected the early-entry candidate in the first round (24th overall) of the 2009 NBA Draft. A former McDonald’s All-American, Mullens averaged 8.8 points and 4.7 rebounds in 20.3 minutes in one season at Ohio State, and was named to the Big Ten All-Freshman Team.

Mullens joins the 66ers for the team’s back-to-back games at Sioux Falls on Friday, Dec. 10, and Saturday, Dec. 11.

Mario Elie arrested on suspicion of DUI

The AP reports

An assistant coach with the Sacramento Kings has been arrested on suspicion of drunken driving.

The California Highway Patrol says 47-year-old Mario Elie was taken into custody at 1:15 a.m. Thursday in downtown Sacramento after an officer pulled him over for a broken taillight.
The officer reported smelling alcohol in the car and said Elie showed signs of being intoxicated.

The CHP says a breath test showed the first-year Kings coach had a blood-alcohol level above the legal limit of 0.08 percent.

Warriors sign Acie Law; Jeff Adrien waived

The Golden State Warriors have signed free agent guard Acie Law, the team announced today.  Terms of the deal were not released.  To make room for Law on the team’s 15-man roster, the Warriors have waived rookie forward Jeff Adrien.

Law, 25, began the season with the Memphis Grizzlies, averaging 1.1 points, 1.0 rebound and 1.3 assists in 8.5 minutes over 11 games before being waived on December 4.  Currently in his fourth NBA season, Law has appeared in 148 regular-season games with Atlanta, Chicago, Charlotte, Golden State and Memphis, owning career averages of 3.5 points, 1.0 rebound and 1.6 assists per contest.  He began the 2009-10 campaign with Golden State, where he averaged 6.2 points and 1.4 assists over five games before being traded to Charlotte on November 16, 2009.

Adrien appeared in 15 games for Golden State, averaging 2.9 points and 3.3 rebounds in 10.8 minutes per contest.

Law will wear uniform #2.

Raptors recall Solomon Alabi from D-League

The Toronto Raptors announced Thursday rookie centre Solomon Alabi has been recalled from the Erie BayHawks of the NBA Development League.

Alabi was assigned to the BayHawks on November 15. He appeared in seven games with Erie, averaging 8.6 points, 6.7 rebounds, 3.0 blocks and 22.7 minutes. He had 12 points and 11 rebounds for his first double-double Tuesday in the Bayhawks’ 102-82 victory over the Utah Flash.

Alabi is expected to rejoin the Raptors for practice Thursday. The Raptors play host to the Denver Nuggets on Friday at Air Canada Centre.

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