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The Boston Celtics announced today that they have waived forward Tony Gaffney from their training camp roster.
The training camp roster now stands at 17.
Gaffney probably has to improve his outside shooting ability if he wants to stick on an NBA roster.
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The Chicago Bulls announced today that the team has agreed to terms with center Joakim Noah on a multi-year extension. Per team policy, terms of the contract will not be disclosed.
“Joakim is such an integral member of our team and we are very pleased to have reached an agreement with him,” said Chicago Bulls General Manager Gar Forman. “His presence, both on and off of the court, is immeasurable and we look forward to him to continue to improve and develop his game.”
In his three seasons with the Bulls, Noah (6-11, 232) has played in 218 games (140 starts), and averaged 7.9 ppg, 7.9 rpg, 1.5 apg, 1.26 bpg, 24.8 mpg and shot .513 from the field and .706 from the line. Last season, he established career highs in scoring (10.7 ppg), rebounds (11.0 rpg), assists (2.1 apg), blocks (1.56 bpg) and minutes played (30.1 mpg). He also posted a career-best 28 double-doubles, and he was one of nine players in the NBA who averaged a double-double in 2009-10.
Noah has also played in 12 playoff games with the Bulls and owns postseason averages of 12.1 ppg, 13.1 rpg, 2.4 apg, 1.83 bpg, 1.25 spg, 38.3 mpg, .513 from the floor and .841 from the free throw line.
The Bulls drafted Noah in the first round (ninth overall) of the 2007 NBA Draft, following a highly successful collegiate career at the University of Florida.
The Press Enterprise reports:
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Lakers coach Phil Jackson received surprising news Sunday, finding out that star center Andrew Bynum might not be ready to play until December.
Bynum said a week ago he would be back in late November, yet now said the timetable might be pushed into December, the Los Angeles Times’ Mike Bresnahan reported.
“Yeah, it’s a possibility,” Bynum told the Times. “I’ve got a little bit of pain still. It just depends on when I’m cleared.”
Bynum, who had knee surgery in July, said he would see his doctor in three weeks. Jackson seemed surprised at Bynum’s timeline.
“He’s been saying that,” Jackson told the Times. “I don’t know why he’s talking about December. He can get weight-bearing activities started at the end of this month. Can you play in two weeks (after that)? Can you play in three weeks? Four weeks puts you at the end of November. So let’s just let it happen and not talk about what the timing is.”
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The AP reports:
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Center Joakim Noah and the Chicago Bulls agreed Sunday on a five-year contract extension, a person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press.
The person spoke on the condition of anonymity because the deal has not been finalized.
The news about Noah comes on a day when the Bulls learned that Carlos Boozer, their top acquisition this summer, broke a bone in his right hand in a fall at home and could be out about two months.
The Chicago Tribune reported the deal is worth about $11 million annually with incentives that could take it higher.
Read fan reaction and discuss your own opinion in this forum topic.
Michael Cunningham of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports:
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After three seasons of increasingly productive play from center Al Horford, the Hawks have decided they want him for the long term.
The feeling is mutual for Horford, who said team officials and his agent, Arn Tellem, have started negotiations on a contract extension.
The Hawks have until Nov. 1 to make a deal with Horford on an extension that begins in 2011-12 and can be lengthened for up to five years and about $82 million under the NBA’s current labor agreement. Horford will make $5.4 million in 2010-11, the final year of his rookie-scale contract…
If the sides don’t reach an agreement by the deadline, Horford would become a restricted free agent next summer if the Hawks extend a one-year, $7.1 million qualifying offer by June 30. The Hawks consequently would retain the right to match any offer sheets signed by Horford.
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Chicago Bulls forward Carlos Boozer sustained a fracture of his right hand (5th metacarpal) on October 2, 2010. He was evaluated by team physician Dr. Brian Cole and hand specialist Dr. Marc Cohen of Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush. The fracture will require surgery and Carlos will likely be out 8 weeks.
ESPN reports: Boozer suffered the injury on Saturday during the Bulls’ day off. According to team sources, Boozer tripped over a bag in his house and fell. The team says Boozer broke the fifth metacarpal bone in his hand. He was evaluated by team physician Dr. Brian Cole and hand specialist Dr. Marc Cohen of Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush.
Earlier, the AP reported:
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Chicago Bulls forward Carlos Boozer, one of Chicago’s top offseason acquisitions, broke his right hand Saturday and could be out for two months.
Boozer fractured the fifth metacarpal bone in his hand and will need surgery, the team said Sunday. He was evaluated by team physician Dr. Brian Cole and hand specialist Dr. Marc Cohen of Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush.
It was unclear how Boozer was injured. The Bulls did not practice Saturday, and a team spokeswoman called the injury “non-basketball related.”
Read fan reaction and discuss your own opinion in this forum topic.
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The Orlando Magic have exercised their fourth-year team option on forward Ryan Anderson, President of Basketball Operations/General Manager Otis Smith announced today. Per team policy, terms of the deal are not disclosed. Anderson is now under contract through the 2011-12 season.
Anderson (#33, 6’10”, 240, 5/6/88) played in 63 games last season for the Magic, averaging 7.7 ppg. and 3.2 rpg. in 14.5 minpg., while shooting .370 (78-211) from three-point range. He started in six outings, averaging 15.0 ppg. and 5.0 rpg. in 25.6 minpg. during that span. Anderson also appeared in nine playoff games, averaging 2.6 ppg. and 3.4 rpg. in 9.9 minpg.
Originally selected in the first round (21st overall) of the 2008 NBA Draft by New Jersey, Anderson was acquired by the Magic from the Nets, along with Vince Carter, in exchange for Rafer Alston, Tony Battie and Courtney Lee on June 25, 2009. He has played in 129 career NBA regular season games with New Jersey and Orlando, averaging 7.6 ppg. and 4.0 rpg. in 17.2 minpg, while shooting .368 (147-400) from three-point range.
The NBA Development League New Mexico Thunderbirds have announced today that former guard, D.J. Strawberry, has signed a contract with the New Orleans Hornets.
In five games with the Thunderbirds during the 2007-08 season, Strawberry averaged 31.6 points, 3.8 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 2.0 steals per game while shooting 52.8% from the field. He was named D-League performer of the week. Last season, Strawberry played for the Reno Bighorns and averaged 13.1 points and 5.6 assists per game.
Strawberry was originally drafted in the second round (59th overall) of the 2007 NBA Draft by the Phoenix Suns out of the University of Maryland. He played in 33 NBA games for the Suns in the 2007-08 season.
“We are thrilled and excited for D.J. as he continues his career with our NBA affiliate team, the New Orleans Hornets. As more and more of our former players get their chance to shine in the NBA, we are proud that the Development League was able to provide a great training ground for these up-and-coming players to improve along the way,” Thunderbirds co-owner Sam Bregman said.
An InsideHoops.com front page poll asking fans to predict the eight Eastern conference teams that will qualify for the 2010-11 NBA playoffs had the following results:
Celtics 2,046 votes
Heat 2,045 votes
Magic 2,011 votes
Bulls 1,985 votes
Hawks 1,886 vote
Bucks 1,658 votes
Bobcats 1,011 votes
Knicks 1,074 votes
Wizards 637 votes
Sixers 481 votes
Pistons 336 votes
Nets 333 votes
Cavaliers 333 votes
Pacers 229 votes
Raptors 173 votes
Fans felt that the six teams — the Magic, Celtics, Heat, Bulls, Hawks and Bucks — are strong locks to make the playoffs.
After those teams, the Bobcats and Knicks came in next, with the 7th and 8th highest votes.
InsideHoops.com editor says: These are some pretty fantastic results. Look at the top eight teams, in order. That’s pretty close to what an East power ranking list should look like.
Missing the playoffs but getting good support were the Wizards, receiving the 9th highest votes.
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The Toronto Raptors announced Thursday they have exercised the third year team option on the Rookie Scale Contract of guard-forward DeMar DeRozan. DeRozan is now guaranteed through the 2011-12 season. In accordance with the league’s collective bargaining agreement, the Raptors had until October 31 to exercise their option on DeRozan. Per team policy, financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.
DeRozan, 6-foot-7, 220 pounds, was the ninth overall pick by Toronto in the 2009 NBA Draft out of the University of Southern California. He averaged 8.6 points and 2.9 rebounds in 77 appearances in the 2009-10 season. DeRozan became the fourth rookie to start on opening night for the Raptors, joining Damon Stoudamire (1995), Vince Carter (1998) and Joey Graham (2005). He finished third in franchise history with 65 starts during a rookie campaign.
DeRozan set career highs in points (24), field goals (9), rebounds (14) and minutes (38) during the season finale April 14 versus New York. He won the inaugural NBA All-Star Dunk-In by defeating Los Angeles Clippers guard Eric Gordon during halftime of the T-Mobile Rookie Challenge & Youth Jam at All-Star Weekend in Dallas.
DeRozan helped lead the Raptors to a 5-0 mark at the 2010 Las Vegas Summer League. He averaged 21.0 points, third in the League, and 4.5 rebounds en route to All-Tournament Team honours.
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