NBA News Blog – Page 1352 – NBA Blog

Spurs exercise George Hill option

The San Antonio Spurs today announced that they have picked up the fourth year contract option on guard George Hill. He is now signed through the 2011-12 season.

An early entry candidate, out of IUPUI, in the 2008 NBA Draft, Hill was selected by the Spurs in the first round with the 26th overall pick. Last season Hill enjoyed a breakout year finishing second in Most Improved Player voting. He appeared in 78 games, including 43 starts, averaging 12.4 points, 2.6 rebounds and 2.9 assists in 29.2 minutes while shooting .478 (353-738) from the floor, .399 (75-188) from the three-point line and .772 (183-237) from the free throw line. As a starter Hill averaged 15.8 points, 3.7 assists and 3.2 rebounds in 35.2 minutes. During his rookie season, Hill averaged 5.7 points, 2.1 rebounds and 1.8 assists in 16.5 minutes in 77 games. He shot .403 (150-372) from the field, .329 (24-73) from three-point land and .781 (114-146) from the line.

For his NBA career Hill has appeared in 155 games, averaging 9.0 points, 2.3 rebounds and 2.3 assists in 22.9 minutes. He has seen action in 10 playoff games, averaging 11.2 points and 2.8 rebounds in 30.0 minutes.

Hill is the first player out of IUPUI to be selected in an NBA Draft and to appear in an NBA game. As a junior he was named the Summit League Player of the Year and earned All-American Honorable Mention honors by the Associated Press. He finished fourth in school history in scoring with 1,619 career points.

Pistons waive Vernon Hamilton and Ike Diogu

Detroit Pistons President of Basketball Operations Joe Dumars announced today that the club has requested waivers on guard Vernon Hamilton and forward Ike Diogu.

Hamilton appeared in five games, averaging 0.6 assists and 0.8 rebounds in 3.6 minutes per game.

Diogu appeared in three games, averaging 2.3 points and 1.7 rebounds in 5.3 minutes per game.

Warriors waive Aaron Miles

The Golden State Warriors have waived guard Aaron Miles, the team announced today. Miles appeared in six preseason games, averaging 3.5 points, 1.8 rebounds and 2.2 assists in 14.0 minutes per contest.

The Warriors roster now stands at 15 players.

Nuggets waive Eric Boateng

The Denver Nuggets waived C Eric Boateng on Wednesday, bringing their training-camp roster to 14 players.

Boateng, an undrafted free agent, averaged 1.6 points and 4.2 rebounds in five preseason games. He had two points, 10 rebounds and two assists against the Los Angeles Clippers on Oct. 17.

The Nuggets (4-2) conclude their preseason schedule with back-to-back road games Thursday at Portland and Friday at Phoenix.

Thunder waive Jerome Dyson and Elijah Millsap

The Oklahoma City Thunder waived guard Jerome Dyson and guard Elijah Millsap it was announced today by Executive Vice President and General Manager Sam Presti.

Dyson saw action in two games this preseason for Oklahoma City, averaging 4.5 points and 1.0 rebound in 6.5 minutes.

Millsap appeared in four games for the Thunder, averaging 3.5 points, 1.8 rebounds and 1.0 assist in 12.5 minutes.

Oklahoma City’s roster now stands at 15.

Suns waive Zabian Dowdell and Dwayne Jones

The Phoenix Suns have waived guard Zabian Dowdell and forward/center Dwayne Jones.

Dowdell appeared in five preseason games for the Suns, averaging 5.4 points and 1.6 assists, while Jones saw action in three exhibition contests for Phoenix and averaged 2.0 points and 3.3 rebounds.

The Suns’ roster now stands at 14

Suns F Josh Childress breaks finger

Phoenix Suns forward Josh Childress suffered a fractured distal phalanx (index finger) on his right hand during the Suns’ exhibition win over the Golden State Warriors tonight at US Airways Center.

Childress will do no activity for approximately one week and will be re-evaluated at that time.

Childress suffered the injury after being fouled on a drive to the basket with 7:54 remaining in tonight’s home preseason contest. Childress returned to the game with 5:39 remaining and played the rest of regulation, finishing with three points and five rebounds.

Including tonight’s contest, Childress owns preseason averages of 7.9 points and 4.0 rebounds, and is shooting 57.1 percent from the field (20-of-35) in seven games as a reserve.

Cavaliers waive Danny Green

The Cleveland Cavaliers announced tonight that they have waived guard/forward Danny Green. Green averaged 3.3 points on .375 shooting, 2.0 rebounds and 1.0 steal in 14.0 minutes per game in four games this preseason.

The Cavaliers roster now stands at 15.

Raptors release Ronald Dupree

The Toronto Raptors announced Tuesday they have released forward Ronald Dupree.

A free agent, Dupree was signed September 15. He appeared in five preseason games where he totaled 20 points and eight rebounds in 55 minutes.

The roster now stands at 15.

The Raptors’ final preseason game is Friday versus the New York Knicks at the Bell Centre in Montreal. The Raptors and Knicks will tip-off the regular season at Air Canada Centre on Wednesday, October 27.

Gordon Hayward may earn a regular spot within Jazz rotation

Tim Buckley of the Deseret News reports:

He hardly expects Gordon Hayward to do every night what he did Sunday.

But the day after Utah’s 2010 first-round draft choice scored a team-high 26 in a preseason win over the Los Angeles Lakers, Jazz coach Jerry Sloan hinted Hayward has a shot at cracking Utah’s regular rotation for the 2010-11 NBA season.

“We intend on trying to play him,” Sloan said. “He’s got a lot of basketball savvy. And he’s got a lot to learn, which is fine.

“He’ll work,” Sloan added, “to try to get better every time we play. And we see him do other things each time we play — some good, some bad. But we’re not dissatisfied with him. We think he’s gonna be a very good player.”

InsideHoops.com editor says: One obstacle Hayward faces is constantly being asked for ID by security to prove he’s over age 13 and is allowed to scoot around without being accompanied by a parent or guardian.