NBA News Blog – Page 1472 – NBA Blog

Warriors sign Cartier Martin to 10-day contract

The Golden State Warriors have signed guard/forward Cartier Martin to a 10-day contract, the team announced today.

Martin, 25, is a call-up from the NBA Development League’s Iowa Energy, where he has appeared in 12 games this season, averaging 14.4 points, 4.3 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1.17 steals in 27.1 minutes per contest. A 6-7, 220-pound swingman who went undrafted out of Kansas State in 2007, Martin began last season with the Energy before being called-up by the Charlotte Bobcats, for whom he played 33 games and averaged 2.6 points and 1.0 rebound in 8.1 minutes per contest.

This past summer, Martin was a member of the Warriors Summer League Team in Las Vegas, where he averaged 19.7 points, 4.3 rebounds, 1.33 steals and 1.00 block in 29.3 minutes over three games. With his signing, Martin becomes the fifth player to receive a Gatorade Call-Up from the D-League this season.

Golden State’s roster now stands at 16 players. The Warriors are able to add Martin to the roster under the NBA’s hardship rules, which allow a team the ability to sign an additional player if that team already has 15 players on its Active and Inactive Lists and has four-or-more players unable to perform playing services due to injury or illness for an extended period of time.

Martin will wear uniform #20.

Tyreke Evans hits game-winner to beat Nuggets

Saturday in Sacramento, the Kings beat the Denver Nuggets 102-100. It was a great game, and the win came in dramatic fashion.

Sam Amick of the Sacramento Bee reports:

With the score tied 100-100 after Nuggets point guard Chauncey Billups buried a three-pointer over Evans with 11 seconds left, Kings coach Paul Westphal called for the isolation play that sparked much debate among fans and media in recent weeks…

With seven seconds left, Evans took an inbound pass behind halfcourt and slowly dribbled toward Kenyon Martin. Evans drove left, then pump-faked Martin and Nene in the lane, and spun 360 degrees before burying a 10-footer.

“Coach told me before the other games that if he had a chance to call one-four flat and put the ball in my hands, he would do it again,” said Evans, who had 27 points on 10-of-15 shooting. “I’m just glad he didn’t give up on me and he gave me that opportunity.”

The Kings not only broke a five-game losing streak, they finished in a fashion that lifted their broken spirits.

Spencer Hawes had a big game off the bench for the Kings, shooting 8-of-10 for 10 points and five rebounds.

Ben Gordon scores 10 millionth point in NBA regular season history

It’s been over 63 years since New York’s Ossie Schectman scored the first basket in NBA history on Nov. 1, 1946, at Maple Leaf Gardens, and tonight Ben Gordon of the Detroit Pistons scored the 10 millionth point in NBA regular season history.

It was Gordon’s successful jumpshot at The Palace of Auburn Hills with 3:51 remaining in the second quarter of the Pistons-76ers game that represented the 10,000,000th point in NBA history.

Following is a look at the NBA’s million-point milestones:

Point — Date — Game/Play

* 1,000,000 12/22/1962 Occurred in Detroit-Chicago, New York-Boston or Syracuse-San Francisco game.

* 2,000,000 1/9/1972 Occurred in Baltimore-Phoenix or Detroit-Buffalo game.

* 3,000,000 2/17/1978 Occurred in Indiana-Washington, Buffalo-Kansas City, Detroit-New York, New Jersey-Cleveland, or Philadelphia-San Antonio game.

* 4,000,000 2/18/1983 Scored by Philadelphia’s Moses Malone on a tip-in of own miss at 11:59 of the first quarter against Houston.

* 5,000,000 1/25/1988 Scored by Utah’s Rickey Green on 24-foot three- pointer as buzzer sounded ending third quarter against Cleveland.

* 6,000,000 3/23/1992 Scored by Atlanta’s Stacey Augmon on driving layup at 7:41 of second quarter against Golden State.

* 7,000,000 12/1/1996 Scored by Seattle’s Hersey Hawkins on a running 12-foot jumper at 4:42 of the fourth quarter against Utah.

* 8,000,000 4/15/2001 Scored by New Jersey’s Eddie Gill on a layup with 10:37 remaining in the fourth quarter against Boston.

* 9,000,000 12/28/2005 Scored by Portland’s Juan Dixon on a layup with 7:17 remaining in the second quarter against Philadelphia.

* 10,000,000 1/9/2010 Scored by Detroit’s Ben Gordon on a jumpshot with 3:51 remaining in the second quarter against Philadelphia.

Wizards ban gambling on flights

The AP reports:

Four players have been fined $10,000 (U.S.) apiece for making fun of a serious situation. Coach Flip Saunders has banned gambling on the team plane and has told his story to law enforcement officials. Some of his players are doing the same.

The team is doing its best to remove all traces of Gilbert Arenas from the Verizon Center, the place where he infamously brought some guns to work.

It’s no fun being a member of the Washington Wizards.

“It was foolish, stupid, immature,” said guard Randy Foye, one of the four players fined Friday night, “but I’ve got to be a man and accept my penalty and I apologize to the fans and the organization for behaving in that manner.”

Grizzlies sign Lester Hudson

The Memphis Grizzlies claimed Memphis native Lester Hudson off waivers, Grizzlies General Manager and Vice President of Basketball Operations Chris Wallace announced Friday (January 8). Hudson was available after being waived by the Boston Celtics on Jan. 6.

“We are excited to acquire Lester Hudson off waivers,” Wallace said. “Lester is a player we thought of highly in the pre-draft process. He earned favorable reviews for his performance during his brief time with the Celtics. He is an athletic, tough combo guard who was one of the most prolific scorers in college basketball over his two years at the University of Tennessee at Martin. It is a wonderful day for the Grizzlies to be able to bring this Memphian back home to continue his NBA career.”

The 6-3, 190-pound rookie guard averaged 1.4 points and 0.5 assists in 4.4 minutes in 16 appearances this season with the Celtics, who selected him in the second round (58th overall) of the 2009 NBA Draft. Boston also assigned Hudson to two different stints with their NBA Development League affiliate, the Maine Red Claws, where the 25-year-old posted 14.6 points, 4.8 rebounds and 4.2 assists in 28.0 minutes in five games.

One of the most explosive scorers in the NCAA in recent years, Hudson ranked second in the nation in scoring in 2008-09 behind current Golden State Warriors rookie Stephen Curry, averaging 27.5 points as well as 7.9 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 2.34 steals in his senior season with the University of Tennessee-Martin Skyhawks. In his junior year, Hudson became the first men’s player in Division I history to record a quadruple-double with 25 points, 12 rebounds, 10 assists and 10 steals on Nov. 13, 2007 vs. Central Baptist College.

The native Memphian transferred to UT-Martin after playing his first two seasons at Southwest Tennessee Community College in Memphis.

The Grizzlies’ roster now stands at 14 players.

Eduardo Najera traded back to Mavericks

Nets will trade Eduardo Najera to Mavericks for Kris Humphries and Shawne Williams

Several media outlets Friday night reported that the New Jersey Nets and Dallas Mavericks are close to agreeing on a trade that will send forward Eduardo Najera back to Dallas, and forward/center Kris Humphiries and forward Shawne Williams to New Jersey.

Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo and Marc Stein of ESPN are reporting that the deal, if it happens, will likely becoming official Monday.

Wojnarowski also reports something that InsideHoops.com has heard was in consideration for a long time now: The Nets are expected to waive forward Sean Williams.

Najera started his NBA career with the Mavericks in 2000-01, playing in Dallas for four years before bouncing around until he landed with the Nets in 2008. But he was injured last season and very ineffective in the 13 games he’s played this season.

Humphries averages 5.2 points and 3.8 rebounds in 12.6 minutes per game.

Williams is an outcast from Dallas. The team separated itself from the player and has not used him at all this season.

Antawn Jamison addresses Wizards fans before Friday game

Friday night in Washington, D.C. the Wizards are hosting the Orlando Magic.

Before tipoff, Wizards forward Antawn Jamison took the microphone and addressed fans in the arena in response to recent issues with Gilbert Arenas bringing guns to the locker room, a reported possible bad response by Javaris Crittenton, and then days later, several teammates making light of the situation by laughing with Gilbert as he used his fingers to jokingly pretend to be armed and dangerous.

InsideHoops.com heard Jamison and transcribed what he said. Here’s Antawn:

How you guys doing?

On behalf of my teammates, this organization and this coaching staff, we know it’s been a trying week. One thing my teammates and I take very seriously is being a positive role model. It’s something we don’t take lightly.

There’s been a picture that’s been shown of us taking this event very lightly. This is a serious situation. It’s something that we take to heart. We never meant to make light of the situation. We’re going to do everything in our power, as long as I’m your captain, as long as these guys right here are my teammates, to make this one of the most respectable organizations in the league.

[Wizards fans cheer]

In order for that to happen, we need you guys to continue to support us. This thing right here is very embarrassing for my teammates and the coaching staff, but we’re going to do everything positive to make this one of the toughest places to play in. To make this an exciting place. But most importantly, a place where you can bring your kids, your families, your buddy, to come and have a good time.

Enjoy the game tonight. Thanks a lot!

I think he did a fine job.

Trail Blazers sign Shavlik Randolph to 10-day contract

The Portland Trail Blazers have signed forward Shavlik Randolph to a 10-day contract, it was announced today by General Manager Kevin Pritchard.

Randolph, 26, has appeared in two games for the Trail Blazers this season, totaling four points, a rebound and an assist in five minutes before being waived Jan. 6. He was originally signed on Dec. 30.

Portland’s roster now stands at 16 players.

(Due to injuries, the Blazers have an exception from the league that allows them to have more than 15 players.)

Thunder recall DJ White

Oklahoma City Thunder Executive Vice President and General Manager Sam Presti announced today that the team has recalled forward DJ White from the Tulsa 66ers of the NBA Development League.

White appeared in six games (six starts) for the 66ers since he was originally assigned to Tulsa on December 26. The 6-9 forward averaged 18.3 points, 11.2 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per contest while with Tulsa. He tallied four double-doubles and scored 20 or more points twice.

Darko Milicic could be headed to buyout from Knicks

Darko Milicic could be headed to a buyout from Knicks

Remember Darko Milicic? He’s tall and wears basketball sneakers. Also, he’s originally from overseas, somewhere.

Technically, he’s on the New York Knicks, though they don’t actually use him. He gets paid to hang out and maybe drink water or something.

Multiple media outlets over the last few weeks have reported that Milicic’s next move, once he’s not signed to an NBA team anymore, will probably be to head back to Europe. Quotes from Milicic himself confirmed this. But perhaps it’ll happen sooner than expected.

Frank Isola of the New York Daily News reports:

The Knicks and Darko Milicic could be headed toward a buyout.

Milicic, who has already stated that he plans to continue his career in Europe next season, was conspicuously missing from Thursday night’s game against the Bobcats. The 7-footer has become such an afterthought that the Knicks did not even bother to reveal that he did not show up for work.

Milicic’s agent, Marc Cornstein, confirmed that his client was missing due to “personal reasons” and said that Milicic would rejoin the team today.

This season, Milicic is averaging 2.0 points in 8.9 minutes per game, in a total of eight games. His NBA career average is 5.4 points and 4.0 rebounds in 17.0 minutes.