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Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle reports:
The Rockets told second-year guard Jermaine Taylor on Sunday they would not release him because they no longer planned to sign center Erick Dampier, Taylor’s agent Michael Whitaker said before Sunday’s game.
“I was actually told that I’m here to stay,” Taylor said. “They told me I was here… “I’m happy to still be here and still have a job, but then again, I kind of wonder what would have happened if I went somewhere else.”
John Rohde of the Oklahoman reports:
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Thunder power forward Nick Collison, who has yet to practice or play this season, had an MRI taken early last week and said the result were good.
Collison said he has intensified his work during rehabilitation. Though he still has no exact timetable on his return, Collison said he is encouraged with the test results. “Still going forward,” Collison said. “It’s good to be moving forward rather than moving backward.”
Backup center Byron Mullens, who has been inactive all season, is battling the flu. He did not make the West Coast trip last week and was not at Saturday’s practice.
Stephen Jackson of the Charlotte Bobcats has been fined $50,000 for verbal abuse of game officials, it was announced today by Stu Jackson, NBA Executive Vice President, Basketball Operations.
The incident occurred following the Bobcats’ 97-90 loss to the Detroit Pistons last night at the Palace of Auburn Hills.
The Portland Trail Blazers have signed forward/center Sean Marks, it was announced today by General Manager Rich Cho. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Marks (6-10, 250) holds career NBA averages of 3.0 points, 2.3 rebounds and 0.2 assists over 10 seasons with Toronto, Miami, San Antonio, Phoenix and New Orleans. He appeared in 14 games for the Hornets in 2009-10, averaging 0.7 points and 1.6 rebounds.
The first New Zealand native to play in the NBA, Marks, 35, played collegiately at California.
He will wear jersey No. 4.
InsideHoops.com editor says: Considering who is available out there, Marks is a good addition. He’s a versatile big guy who can fit in pretty easily.
The AP reports:
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Sacramento Kings forward Antoine Wright was arrested Thursday night for driving under the influence, the team said Friday.
The Kings, who have a home game Saturday against Memphis, issued a statement of apology from Wright. Wright’s attorney, Bill Portanova, said in the team statement that his client is cooperating fully with police in nearby Rocklin.
“I’m sorry for having gotten myself into this situation,” Wright said through the team. “I sincerely apologize to my teammates and coaches, the Sacramento Kings organization, the Sacramento community and fans and my family.”
WTVD (ABC) reports:
Warrants have been obtained charging 25-year-old Gavin Troy Grant with first degree burglary, assault with a deadly weapon, attempted robbery with a dangerous weapon, and conspiracy to commit armed robbery.
The attempted robbery happened on September 24 around 10 p.m at an apartment on Crossroads Arbor Way.
Police say two suspects forced their way into the apartment and assaulted two people who were inside.
The victims fought off the suspects, who fled before being about the complete the robbery.
One of the victims in the case is former NC State baseball player Domonique Rodgers.
Rodgers was arrested four hours after the incident for running a marijuana operation at his house.
The San Antonio Spurs today announced that they have signed point guard Chris Quinn. Per team policy, terms of the deal are not disclosed. At the same time, the Spurs announced that Bobby Simmons has been placed on waivers.
Quinn (#11, 6’2”, 175, 9/27/83) has appeared in 193 regular season games in his four-year NBA career, averaging 5.2 points, 2.1 assists and 1.2 rebounds in 15.2 minutes per game, while shooting .390 (150-385) from three-point range. He enjoyed his best campaign during the 2007-08 season, averaging 7.8 points, 3.0 assists and 2.0 rebounds per game in 22.3 minutes of play, including 25 starts for the Heat.
Originally signed as a free agent out of Notre Dame by Miami in 2006, Quinn was traded by the Heat to the Nets on January 5, 2010. He appeared in two preseason games with the Philadelphia 76ers during the 2010 preseason.
Simmons originally signed with the Spurs as a free agent on September 25, 2010. He had appeared in two games in the regular season.
Sports Network reports:
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Washington Wizards guard Gilbert Arenas is set to make his season debut Friday against the New York Knicks, according to the team’s Twitter feed.
The post said, “A quick update from New York. Gilbert Arenas will play tonight!” Arenas practiced Friday morning and was earlier considered a game- time decision.
Arenas has missed the Wizards’ first three games of the regular season with a strained tendon in his right ankle and strained right groin.
Brian Schmitz of the Orlando Sentinel reports:
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Coach Stan Van Gundy and General Manager Otis Smith met Thursday before the Magic’s practice. The topic, in a nutshell:
Dealing with changes that are good for the team … but not so good for players involved.
Their meeting came in the wake of small forward Mickael Pietrus’ shouting match with Van Gundy near the bench on Wednesday night.
Frustrated with his dwindling role, Pietrus was pulled out of the game by Van Gundy after just three minutes into the final period during the Magic’s blow-out victory against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Amway Center.
Teammates, including co-captain Dwight Howard, tried to calm Pietrus. One player said that MP wanted to be traded if he’s not playing regularly, although MP told me he didn’t want to leave a contender.
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Portland Trail Blazers center Fabricio Oberto has announced today that he has retired from the game of basketball due to recurrent palpitations related to a prior cardiac condition.
Oberto experienced lightheadedness and dizziness during the first half of Portland’s game at Milwaukee on Nov. 2.
“I made this decision to put my health and my family in front of basketball,” said Oberto. “It was a tough decision to make after playing for so many years, but it was the right one.”
In his sixth season in the NBA, Oberto appeared in each of Portland’s first five games, averaging 1.4 points and 1.4 rebounds in 9.0 minutes.
“We want to thank Fabricio for his professionalism and hard work during his short time here,” said Trail Blazers General Manager Rich Cho. “It’s unfortunate to lose him, but we respect his decision to do what’s best for his health and his family.”
A native of Las Varillas, Argentina, Oberto played four seasons for the San Antonio Spurs (2005-09), winning an NBA Championship as the starting center in 2007, before spending last season with the Washington Wizards.
Oberto, 35, ends his career with NBA averages of 3.2 points, 3.5 rebounds, 0.9 assists and 14.5 minutes in 336 games (128 starts).
A veteran of international play, Oberto was a member of the Argentine National Team that won the gold medal at the 2004 Athens Olympics, took home the bronze medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and won the silver medal at the 2002 FIBA World Championships.
The Trail Blazers roster currently stands at 14 players.