The AP reports: The Phoenix Mercury have suspended guard Diana Taurasi for two games without pay after she was cited on drunk-driving related charges. In a release Thursday, the team said Taurasi was suspended ”for conduct detrimental to the team.” Taurasi will miss Saturday’s game against Detroit and next Wednesday’s game against Minnesota… Taurasi faces three drunk-driving related charges, including extreme DUI, for a July 2 incident in which she also was cited for speeding. The 27-year-old guard was cited hours after she scored 22 points in the Mercury’s 93-81 victory over the Seattle Storm.
Category: NBA News Blog
NBA news blog
San Antonio Spurs sign 2009 second round draft pick DeJuan Blair
The San Antonio Spurs announced today that they signed DeJuan Blair. The Spurs drafted Blair in the second round of the 2009 NBA Draft with the 37th overall pick. Per team policy, terms of the deals were not disclosed.
Blair, a 6-7, 265 lb. forward, spent the past two seasons at the University of Pittsburgh. Last season he was named a First Team All-American by the Associated Press, the Co-Big East Player of the Year and earned First Team All-Conference honors. He was a finalist for the Wooden and Naismith Player of the Year awards. Blair led the nation in offensive rebounding (5.6 rpg), ranked fourth in total rebounding (12.3 rpg) and 19th in field goal percentage (.593). For the season he averaged 15.7 points and 1.54 steals in 35 games. Blair recorded 21 double-doubles, including two 20-point 20-rebound games (one of only two players in Pitt history – along with Billy Knight – to register two 20-point/20-rebound performances in a career). In the NCAA Tournament he averaged 16.8 points and 13.8 rebounds in four games being named to the East Regional All-Tournament Team.
As a freshman Blair was named the Big East Co-Rookie of the Year and was an All-Big East Honorable Mention. He averaged 11.6 points, 9.1 rebounds and 1.68 steals in 37 games. He scored in double figures 25 times and posted 14 double-doubles. He became the first freshman in school history to surpass 400 points and 300 rebounds.
For his career Blair appeared in 72 games for the Panthers, averaging 13.6 points, 10.7 rebounds and 1.61 steals while shooting .568 (394-694) from the field.
Yao Ming buys Shanghai Sharks
Reuters reports: Houston Rockets center Yao Ming has purchased his financially troubled former club the Shanghai Sharks, Chinese media reported on Thursday. The seven-time NBA All Star’s investment company signed a framework agreement with the club’s three co-owners who agreed to sell Yao all their shares in the club, Xinhua news agency said… The Sharks shared in the worst deficit in 14 years of the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) last year and were in danger of failing to start the new season in November because of their dire finances.
Heat may offer Lamar Odom a deal
The Los Angeles Daily News (Elliot Teaford) reports (via blog): It seems likely that Lamar Odom could sign a five-season deal with the Miami Heat at the mid-level exception ($5.8 million for next season and $34 million or so for the length of the contract) by the end of the week. The Dallas Mavericks also are interested in giving Odom the same deal, but he seems less likely to land in Dallas. Reports out of Miami indicate the Heat are trying to sign Odom and trade for Carlos Boozer of the Utah Jazz in an attempt to satisfy Dwyane Wade’s demands for a beefed up roster next season.
Richard Jefferson breaks off wedding
NBA small forward Richard Jefferson, formerly of the New Jersey Nets and Milwaukee Bucks, recently traded to the San Antonio Spurs, is now a single man. The New York Post reports:
Former Net star Richard Jefferson admitted yesterday that he told his beautiful bride-to-be that their wedding was off in an e-mail — stunning her just days before their planned posh nuptials.
Kesha Ni’Cole Nichols got the heart-wrenching message after a tense Fourth of July weekend, Jefferson told The Post.
“There was a lot of stress and tension in the relationship. We’ve been through a lot — but we just couldn’t continue,” said Jefferson, sounding upset during a telephone interview.
But at least Nichols got a nice parting gift — Jefferson, who was traded from the Milwaukee Bucks to the San Antonio Spurs last month, said he’s giving her a “six-figure” settlement so she can start a new life.
In speaking with the Post, Jefferson also took a moment to clear something else up:
He insisted a rumor he’s gay had nothing to do with the breakup.
“I’m not gay,” Jefferson said. “That couldn’t be any further from the truth. I have nothing to hide.”
Denver Nuggets sign 2009 first round draft pick Ty Lawson
The Denver Nuggets have signed rookie G Ty Lawson to a contract, Nuggets Vice President of Basketball Operations Mark Warkentien announced today. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not released.
All NBA first round draft picks are guaranteed a contract, assuming they want one right away, so this is standard and an expected signing.
Lawson, the 18th overall selection in the 2009 NBA Draft out of North Carolina, was acquired by the Nuggets from the Minnesota Timberwolves in a draft-night trade on June 25. Named the 2009 Atlantic Coast Conference Player of the Year, Lawson was a key member of the Tar Heels’ 2009 NCAA Championship team.
Lawson, 5-11, 195, made his Nuggets debut last night in the team’s first game of the 2009 NBA Summer League in Las Vegas. He finished with eight points and three assists in 29 minutes of action during Denver’s 78-76 loss to the San Antonio Spurs. The Nuggets continue their summer league schedule tonight, taking on the Washington Wizards at 8:30 PM (Mountain Time).
Chicago Bulls re-sign Lindsey Hunter
 |
The Chicago Bulls today re-signed guard Lindsey Hunter. Per team policy, terms of the contract were not disclosed.
Hunter, a 6-2, 195-pound guard, originally signed with the Bulls on Nov. 13, 2008. The 16-year NBA veteran appeared in 28 games with Chicago and averaged 2.6 ppg and 1.3 apg in 9.5 mpg.
For his career, he has posted averages of 8.6 ppg, 2.7 apg, 2.2 rpg and 1.21 spg in 25.0 mpg. He owns career shooting averages of .388 from the field, .361 from downtown and .746 from the line.
InsideHoops.com editor says: Hunter is about 73 years old and can barely tie his shoes at this point. He first entered the NBA before electricity existed. He’s basically an assistant coach on the floor. Somewhere, right now, his great-grandchild just hit a winning shot in a pickup basketball game.
Anthony Randolph scores 42 in summer league game
 |
The San Jose Mercury News reports on Golden State Warriors forward Anthony Randolph: Randolph has been perhaps the most dominant player in this year’s summer league. He put together his best performance Tuesday as the Warriors defeated the Chicago Bulls 95-83 at UNLV’s Cox Pavilion. Randolph scored 42 points, tying the record for a Las Vegas summer league game. (Marcus Banks and Von Wafer each scored 42 in 2007.) Randolph also had four steals, three blocked shots and no turnovers. In four games, Randolph is averaging 26.7 points on 60.9 percent shooting with 8.5 rebounds. “He’s very unique,” said Warriors assistant coach Keith Smart, who’s coaching Golden State’s summer league team. “That’s why it’s hard for us to tell him, ‘Don’t do this and don’t do that,’ because his window is so big. We never thought he’d be able to post up and make a play, pass it out or shoot it. We never thought he could face a guy up and shoot a jumper.”
No NBA expansion team coming
The Las Vegas Review-Journal (Steve Carp) reports: For now, Las Vegas will have to be content with its lone tie to the NBA, as the host city for the annual Summer League. Commissioner David Stern said the league is not in a position to add members, and relocation is not an option because there is no NBA-quality arena in Las Vegas. “It’s more about the economy than the arena,” Stern said. “The idea of expansion, of building arenas, it’s waiting to see if the economy has bottomed out, what it’s going to do.”
Report: Lakers take Lamar Odom offer off table
Are the Los Angeles Lakers and forward Lamar Odom going to part ways?
Negotiations between the two sides reportedly haven’t been going well, and things may have gone in the opposite direction, if a new report is true.
The Los Angeles Daily News, via blog, reports: Now it looks as if the Lakers offer to the free agent forward has been taken off the table, according to our Elliott Teaford, who is attending the Lakers summer league game in Las Vegas.
Odom may be looking for approximately $10 million per season, while the Lakers may be offering several million less per year.