NBA News Blog – Page 1330 – NBA Blog

Brandon Roy shut down, will miss at least three games

March 12, 2010: Portland guard Brandon Roy in action during the NBA basketball game between the Sacramento Kings and the Portland Trail blazers at the Arco Arena in Sacramento CA. Portland defeated the Kings 110-94. Damon Tarver/CSM.

Joe Freeman of The Oregonian reports:

The Trail Blazers have decided to shut Brandon Roy down for at least three games — again — as the All-Star guard continues to endure pain in his balky left knee.

Roy, who has failed to reach double figures in scoring in four of the last five games, has rarely resembled the All-Star player that Blazers fans have grown accustomed to and he looked like a shell of his former self during the Blazers’ 103-98 loss to the Dallas Mavericks Wednesday night.

As much as at any time this season, Roy lacked explosiveness and athleticism and finished with just four points. In a down-to-the-wire fourth quarter, Roy played just 4:42. So when the Blazers returned to Portland, Roy met with coach Nate McMillan, the Blazers’ training staff and general manager Rich Cho, and the group decided sitting out the Blazers’ upcoming three-game home stand was the best course of action for Roy.

InsideHoops.com editor says: This is really a damn shame, seeing what’s happening with Roy and his health. It’s rare when you hear that nothing can be done medically about a situation like this. I wonder if long-term rest if the answer.

Yao Ming has stress fracture in left ankle

Houston Rockets center Yao Ming (11) holds on to the ball against the Los Angeles Lakers in the first half of their NBA basketball game in Los Angeles on October 26, 2010. The Lakers won 112 to 110. UPI/Lori Shepler Photo via Newscom

An MRI performed today on Rockets center Yao Ming revealed a stress fracture of the Medial Malleolus in his left ankle. The fracture, which is related to his previous injury of the Tarsal Navicular bone, presented itself during the course of his current rehabilitation program. There is no timetable for his return at this time.

The team will have no additional comment at this time. Information regarding his treatment program will be made available at a later date.

Yao has played just five games this season, and is averaging 10.2 points and 5.4 rebounds in 18.2 minutes per game.

The Rockets have a 10-15 record, which currently places them 11th out of 15 Western conference teams.

Joakim Noah needs right thumb surgery

Chicago Bulls Joakim Noah (13) plays against the Washington Wizards during the second quarter quarter at the Verizon Center in Washington on April 2, 2010. UPI/Alexis C. Glenn Photo via Newscom

Chicago Bulls center Joakim Noah will have surgery to repair a torn ulna collateral ligament in his right thumb. The surgery will be performed tomorrow morning by Dr. Mark Cohen and Dr. John Fernandez of Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush University Medical Center.

Noah was first injured in the Nov. 27 game at Sacramento, and he has played the last two weeks with ongoing discomfort and slight functional impairment. Additionally, Noah has had significant sprains of his right index and middle fingers, which will not require surgery.

“Joakim’s injury presentation was unusual in that he was able to function at a high level with the injury. More often, athletes are unable to play at all due to pain and instability of the thumb,” said Chicago Bulls Head Team Physician Brian Cole.

“As the days proceeded from the original injury, it became clear for all that surgery was best for Joakim,” said Chicago Bulls General Manager Gar Forman. “We have always valued Joakim’s toughness and willingness to put the team above himself, but in this case his health took precedence.”

Noah has started every Bulls game this year, and entering tonight’s game at Toronto, he had averaged 14.2 ppg, 11.7 rpg (fifth in the NBA), 2.8 apg, 1.61 bpg (16th), 1.22 spg, 37.2 mpg (18th). He also had shot .511 (28th) from the field and .724 from the free throw line.

Noah also ranked in the top 10 in the NBA in offensive rebounds (third), offensive rebounds per game (fourth), defensive rebounds per game (sixth), total rebounds (sixth), double-doubles (sixth) and defensive rebounds (ninth).

Rockets trade Jermaine Taylor to Kings

The Sacramento Kings today acquired Jermaine Taylor and cash considerations from the Houston Rockets in exchange for a heavily-protected, second-round pick, according to Kings’ President of Basketball Operations Geoff Petrie.

A 6-5 guard out of Central Florida, Taylor saw the court eight times this season for the Rockets, averaging 4.9 ppg (.500 FG% .400 3pt, .833 FT%) and 1.1 rpg. Originally selected with the 32nd overall pick of the 2009 NBA Draft by the Washington Wizards and later traded to Houston, Taylor appeared in 31 games (four starts) for the Rockets in 2009-10 and averaged 4.1 ppg and 1.5 rpg. He also made eight appearances for the Rio Grande Vipers of the NBA D-League, posting 19.8 ppg and 4.8 rpg.

Taylor was most recently named to the 2010 NBA Summer League All-Tournament Team after leading Houston in scoring, averaging 18.4 ppg (.471 FG%), 4.8 rpg and 2.0 apg in five games.

Nets trade Terrence Williams to Rockets; Nets get Sasha Vujacic, Lakers get Joe Smith

April 07, 2010 Milwaukee, WI. Bradley Center..New Jersey Nets Terrence Williams brings the ball up the court, Williams had 6 points coming off the Nets bench..Milwaukee Bucks won over the New Jersey Nets 108-89. Mike McGinnis/CSM.

The Los Angeles Lakers have acquired forward Joe Smith from the New Jersey Nets in a three-team trade, it was announced today by General Manager Mitch Kupchak. New Jersey will also send the Lakers Golden State’s second round draft choice in 2011 and Chicago’s second round draft choice in 2012. The Lakers will also receive the draft rights to Sergei Lishouk from Houston, as well as a trade exception. In return, New Jersey will receive guard Sasha Vujacic and a protected 2011 first round draft pick from the Lakers. New Jersey will receive a protected 2012 first round draft pick from Houston, while the Rockets will receive guard Terrence Williams from New Jersey.

Smith, currently in his 16th NBA season, was selected first overall by the Golden State Warriors in the 1995 NBA Draft, after averaging 20.1 points, 10.7 rebounds and 2.9 blocks in two seasons with the University of Maryland.

After garnering multiple National Collegiate Player of the Year awards, being named First Team All-America by the AP, and being selected ACC Player of the Year after his sophomore season with Maryland, Smith finished third in Rookie of the Year voting and was named All-Rookie First Team after averaging 15.3 points and 8.7 rebounds in his first NBA season with Golden State.

In 1,018 career games (619 starts), Smith is averaging 11.0 points and 6.4 rebounds in 26.5 minutes. Signed by New Jersey as a free agent prior to the 2010-11 season, Smith has played in four games this season (three starts), averaging 0.5 points and 0.8 rebounds in 6.3 minutes.

Lishouk, a 6-11 forward from Ukraine, was drafted by the Memphis Grizzlies in the second round of the 2004 NBA Draft, was traded to Houston in 2008 and currently plays for Valencia in Spain (ACB).

Vujacic, currently in his seventh season, was originally selected by the Lakers in the first round (27th overall) of the 2004 NBA draft after playing three seasons for Snaidero Udine of Italy’s top professional league. In 420 career games (12 starts), Vujacic is averaging 4.8 points, 1.7 rebounds and 1.2 assists in 14.3 minutes.

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

Andrew Bynum makes season debut

Los Angeles Lakers' Andrew Bynum poses for photos during the basketball team's media day at Toyota Sports Center in El Segundo, California on Sept. 25, 2010. The Lakers will try to three-peat this season after winning back-to-back NBA championship titles. UPI/Jim Ruymen Photo via Newscom

Los Angeles Lakers center Andrew Bynum played his first game of the 2010-11 regular season Tuesday night in a 103-89 road win in Washington against the Wizards. Coming off the bench, Bynum played over 17 minutes, shooting just 1-of-5 for seven points, four rebounds, an assist and two blocks.

“I thought his first few minutes were good and then he tired after that…noticeable difference,” said Lakers coach Phil Jackson after the game. ” He gave us something that we needed at the time. We had both Lamar and Pau with two fouls.”

Jackson does not plan on forcing Bynum into unnecessary action. “I’ll try to work him out somewhat similar to what we did tonight, short minutes, relief minutes and see how he goes in the game. I was ready to put him back in if we needed to tonight but that was a game in which we didn’t have to push it down the end.”

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2011 Knicks Legends Night is February 23

Marc Berman of the New York Post reports:

The Knicks will hold their annual Legends Night Feb. 23 vs. Milwaukee and unveil the player of the past decade, with fans eligible to vote. Two years ago, Legends Night featured winners of the past five decades but left open the 2000’s — an atrocious period in Knick history.

On the ballot for this past decade is current assistant general manager Allan Houston, Latrell Sprewell, Marcus Camby, David Lee and Kurt Thomas. Houston is a strong favorite to win, but Sprewell could take the fan vote. The Knicks are assembling a panel to vote and the online fan vote counts as one panel member.

Fans can also select a second player of the decade from the 1950’s, 1960’s, 1970’s, 1980’s and 1990’s and they, too will be honored. In 2009, the inaugural class of decade winners were: Carl Braun (1940’s), Richie Guerin (1950’s), Willis Reed (1960’s), Walt Frazier (1970’s), Bernard King (1980’s) and Patrick Ewing (1990’s).

Andrew Bynum making season debut Tuesday

June 15, 2010 - Los Angeles, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES - epa02204142 Los Angeles Lakers' Andrew Bynum (R) goes to the basket as Boston Celtics' Rasheed Wallace defends during the first half of game six of the NBA Finals at Staples Center in Los Angeles, California, USA, 15 June 2010. The Celtics lead the series 3-2.

Kevin Ding of the Orange County Register reports (via blog):

Andrew Bynum is set to make his season debut Tuesday vs. the Wizards after one final successful practice Monday.

Bynum had surgery to his right knee on July 28 to reattach cartilage damaged last postseason and will have missed this season’s first 24 games.

Bynum has been expected to be the starting center again immediately. Phil Jackson wants Bynum to carry over his knee looseness from pregame warmups to game action instead of stiffening up on the bench.

The Los Angles Times reports:

“I’m definitely playing tomorrow,” said the Lakers’ center, who has not see game action since undergoing knee surgery last July.

The Lakers, on a 9-7 skid after winning their first eight games, have been waiting for Bynum to return, though there was no timetable for how many minutes he might play Tuesday against Washington.

“I don’t know how long,” he said Monday after practicing with teammates before they met with President Obama. “The practice felt very good. Obviously I’m not myself yet, but I can definitely go out there and help the team, and I’m going to go do that.”

Rockets recall Patrick Patterson from D-League

Mar. 25, 2010 - Syracuse, Kentucky, USA - Kentucky's Patrick Patterson was all smiles as he left the floor as Kentucky defeated Cornell 62-45 in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA tournament on Thursday March 25, 2010 in Syracuse, NY. Photo by Mark Cornelison | Staff.

Houston Rockets General Manager Daryl Morey announced today that the team has recalled forward Patrick Patterson from Houston’s single-affiliation NBA D-League partner Rio Grande Valley.

Patterson (6-9, 235, Kentucky) averaged a team-leading 18.3 points (.555, 61-110 FG), 10.3 rebounds, 1.1 assists, 1.56 steals and 1.56 blocks in nine games (nine starts) with the Vipers. Patterson currently ranks tied for first in the D-League in double-doubles with five and stands second in the league in rebounds per game. He is actually one of just three players in the D-League averaging a double-double on the season.

Assigned to Rio Grande Valley on Nov. 9, Patterson was on the inactive list for Houston’s first six games. He averaged 4.3 points, 3.8 rebounds and 15.2 minutes in six games for the Rockets during the preseason. Patterson also averaged 9.2 points and 7.2 rebounds in five games (four starts) with Houston during the 2010 NBA Summer League in Las Vegas.

Selected by the Rockets in the first round (14th overall) of the 2010 NBA Draft as an early entry candidate, Patterson finished his three-year career at Kentucky with averages of 16.1 points (.585, 617-1054 FG; .329, 24-73 3FG), 8.2 rebounds and 1.57 blocks in 97 career games (97 starts). He was one of five Wildcats picked in the opening round of the 2010 NBA Draft, which was the first time five players from one school were chosen in the first round of the draft. A 2007 McDonald’s All-American as a high school senior, Patterson became the 10th fastest player to reach the 1,000-point club at UK (58 games). He was a two-time All-SEC First-Team pick as a junior and sophomore, as well as a Second-Team selection as a freshman.

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Francisco Elson will miss game while renewing his visa

Utah Jazz center Francisco Elson will miss tonight’s contest vs. Golden State. Elson has traveled to Canada to renew his visa (standard procedure) and is required to remain in the country for 48 hours as a part of the process.

Elson is expected to rejoin the team for Friday’s game at New Orleans.

In addition, guard Raja Bell (strained right adductor) and center Kyrylo Fesenko (sprained left ankle) will each be gametime decisions tonight.