Doc Rivers has minor throat procedure

The Boston Herald reports:

Doc Rivers missed today’s practice after having a procedure Sunday to relieve pressure on his vocal cords.

The outpatient procedure was performed at Mass. General, and Rivers is reportedly able to speak normally.

The Boston Globe blog reports:

“Right now the doctor doesn’t want him using his voice,” Frank said of Rivers. “Everything looks good and he’s looking forward to getting back. They just want him to rest his voice box. Obviously, he’ll be using it quite a bunch, so he’ll have plenty of time.”

Hornets waive Mustafa Shakur and Darryl Watkins

The New Orleans Hornets announced today that they have waived guard Mustafa Shakur and center Darryl Watkins.

Shakur (6-4, 195) played in two preseason games for the Hornets, averaging 3.5 points, 1.5 rebounds and 1.5 assists in 13.0 minutes of play.

Watkins (6-11, 258) appeared in three preseason games for New Orleans, averaging 2.0 points and 3.0 rebounds in 9.0 minutes of action.

The Hornets roster now stands at 16 players.

Spurs trade Curtis Jerrells to Hornets

The San Antonio Spurs announced today that they have traded Curtis Jerrells to the New Orleans Hornets in exchange for a conditional second round draft pick.

Jerrells (6-1, 195), was undrafted in the 2009 NBA Draft out of Baylor University. In five preseason games this season for the Spurs, Jerrells has averaged 6.4 points, 1.4 rebounds and 2.2 assists in 15.8 minutes.

The Austin native appeared in five preseason games with the Spurs during the 2009-10 season, averaging 3.6 points and 1.8 assists in 14.8 minutes before being released.  He appeared in 50 games (all starts) for the Austin Toros of the NBA D-League last season, averaging 20.7 points, 4.5 rebounds, 5.7 assists and 1.9 steals in 40.2 minutes. He was named to the All-NBA D-League Third Team and was selected as the D-League Performer of the Week twice. In six playoff games for Austin, Jerrells averaged 27.0 points, 4.2 rebounds and 6.2 assists. He was signed by the Spurs on March 24, but did not see any action during the regular season or the playoffs.

Jerrells played four seasons at Baylor, becoming the first player in school history to lead the team in scoring, assists and minutes played in each of his four seasons. He appeared in 119 career games (all starts), averaging 15.3 points, 4.1 rebounds and 4.1 assists for the Bears. He was named to All-Big 12 teams in each of his four seasons and is the only player in Baylor history to have more than 1,000 points, 400 assists and 400 steals.

Louis Amundson out with fractured finger

The San Francisco Chronicle reports:

Lou Amundson dislocated the middle knuckle on his right index finger Saturday and has a fracture at its base that will require surgery, the Warriors announced Sunday.

The team will release details for rehabilitation after the surgery has been scheduled and performed. Online medical journals suggest recovery will take between one and four months.

“It’s tough, because he was starting to come around and finally had a chance to play,” coach Keith Smart said. “He brought energy and toughness to the floor, and now we have to wait for him to come back around again.”

Jazz 5-0 in preseason for first time ever

The AP reports:

C.J. Miles scored 20 points and the Utah Jazz wore down the Clippers in the fourth quarter in a 103-91 victory Saturday night at Staples Center.

The Jazz are 5-0 in the preseason for the first time in the franchise’s 35-year history. The team’s best overall exhibition mark was 7-1 in October 1994 and October 2003. Al Jefferson, acquired in an offseason trade with Minnesota, had 17 points after scoring 24 points Thursday night in a 108-97 victory over Phoenix.

The Jazz shot 54 percent and outscored the Clippers 46-32 in the paint despite the absence of center Mehmet Okur, still working his way back from surgery in April to repair a ruptured Achilles’ tendon. All-Star guard Deron Williams also missed the game because of a strained right calf. Kyrylo Fesenko sat out because of a sprained right wrist, Francisco Elson was unavailable due to a hamstring problem.

Avery Bradley healing slowly

Chris Forsberg of ESPN reports:

Doc Rivers said after the game that Avery Bradley’s surgically repaired left ankle is still not responding well to rehab and the team is pondering whether to shut him down indefinitely to allow a greater recovery.

For Bradley, it’s the latest setback in a frustrating four-month span as he recovers from arthroscopic surgery that was performed on July 2, the same day he inked his rookie deal with the Celtics.

“I’m more upset for him because this is not the way you want to break into the NBA,” said Rivers.

Dwyane Wade now likely out until Heat season opener

Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel reports:

The Miami Heat will not be whole until the Oct. 26 season opener at TD Garden against the Boston Celtics.

And for the next few days, the team won’t even be intact in South Florida.

Coach Erik Spoelstra said Friday he no longer is hopeful of getting sidelined guard Dwyane Wade into one of the team’s final three exhibitions.

“That’ll be tough. We don’t want to rush it,” Spoelstra said. “If it was the regular season, possibly. We still have a lot of time. I know everybody’s saying it has to happen right now. But the most important thing is our health. We’ll be patient.”

Hamed Haddadi arrives in Memphis after being detained in Iran

Ronald Tillery of the Memphis Commercial Appeal reports:

Grizzlies center Hamed Haddadi has finally arrived at his second home.

The 7-footer, who was detained in his native country of Iran because of a legal issue, arrived in Memphis earlier today after missing the first three weeks of training camp.

Haddadi immediately underwent a team physical and will rejoin his teammates Saturday during shoot-around before the Griz host the Milwaukee Bucks during preseason action in FedExForum.

Bobcats waive Javaris Crittenton

Charlotte Bobcats General Manager Rod Higgins announced today that the team has waived guard Javaris Crittenton. In four preseason appearances, he averaged 3.3 points, 1.8 assists, 1.5 rebounds and 1.3 steals in 13:27 minutes.

Crittenton has played in 113 career NBA games for the Lakers, Grizzlies and Wizards, averaging 5.3 points, 2.4 rebounds and 1.8 assists in 16.4 minutes.  The two-year veteran was initially selected by the Lakers with the 19th overall pick in the 2007 NBA Draft.

The Bobcats roster now stands at 17.