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Boston Celtics general manager Danny Ainge is recovering at Massachusetts General Hospital after having a minor heart attack. He is recovering nicely. Mr. Ainge is expected to remain in the hospital for a few days.
The Celtics are the NBA’s current defending champions, and the NBA playoffs are set to begin Saturday.
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I was just with high school superstar guard John Wall and he said he does not plan on trying to enter the 2009 NBA Draft.
Wall is a fifth year senior.
Wall also said he has now added Florida to the list of colleges he is considering attending.
For more, see our high school basketball page.
– Jeff Lenchiner, editor of InsideHoops.com
The Philadelphia Inquirer reports: The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board is investigating whether a $15,000 political contribution from Comcast-Spectacor chairman Ed Snider, who is a partner in the Foxwoods Casino planned for Center City, violated the state ban on campaign giving by gambling interests. Snider gave $15,000 on Jan. 15 to Comcast Corp. PAC-USA, a political committee registered with the Pennsylvania Department of State. The 2004 gaming act prohibits any casino principals from contributing “to any political party committee or other political committee in this commonwealth.” In an interview yesterday, Paul Mauro, deputy director of the Gaming Control Board’s Bureau of Investigations and Enforcement, said only: “There is an ongoing investigation, and we don’t comment on ongoing investigations.”
Memphis Grizzlies Majority Owner and Chief Executive Officer Michael Heisley issued the following statement today on the health of President of Hoops LP Gene Bartow.
“We have recently learned that Gene Bartow has become ill with stomach cancer and has begun treatments immediately in Birmingham, Alabama.
Coach Bartow has been a beloved figure in the collegiate ranks and a staple in the Memphis community from his head coaching days at Memphis State University to his eight years of dedication to the Grizzlies.
Our thoughts and prayers are with Gene and we look forward to his speedy recovery. We spoke to him today and he is doing well, and is very optimistic. Currently we have little information, but we will provide further updates when it becomes available with the blessing of Gene and his family.”
Oklahoma City Thunder Executive Vice President and General Manager Sam Presti announced today that the team will retain interim coach Scott Brooks as head coach.
“We are excited to have a Head Coach in Scott Brooks who believes in our philosophies and consistently leads with those values,” said Presti. “He has a passion to help our players develop, continue to foster accountability and selfless play, and has the ability to communicate with every player on our roster.”
Brooks was named interim head coach of the Thunder on November, 22, 2008. The Lathrop, California native guided to the Thunder to a 21-47 (.309) record in his first stint as a head coach.
Brooks spent six years as an NBA assistant coach with the Thunder (2007-2008), Denver Nuggets (2003-2006) and Sacramento Kings (2006-2007) following an 11-year NBA career. Brooks saw action with seven teams during his career. He also served as an assistant/head coach with the Los Angeles Stars of the ABA, guiding the club to a 23-14 record.
Brooks graduated from UC-Irvine, playing two seasons for the Anteaters, where he led the team with 23.8 points per game as a senior.
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The San Antonio Spurs announced today that they have assigned guard/forward Marcus Williams to the Austin Toros, the NBA Development League team owned and operated by the Spurs.
The 6-7, 207-lb Williams appeared in two games with San Antonio where he averaged 2.0 points in 1.5 minutes. He was signed by the Spurs on 4/8.
An All-League First Team Selection with the Toros this season, Williams averaged 23.0 points, 7.0 rebounds and 5.3 assists in 45 games. He was named the D-League Performer of the Week for the week of 3/30 after averaging a triple-double with 27.5 points, 10.5 rebounds and 11.5 assists in three games.
Ray Allen of the Boston Celtics has been suspended one game without pay for elbowing Cleveland Cavaliers forward Anderson Varejao in the groin, it was announced today by Stu Jackson, NBA Executive Vice President, Basketball Operations.
The incident occurred with 5:05 remaining in the third quarter of the Celtics 107-76 loss to the Cavaliers at Quicken Loans Arena on Sunday, April 12.
Allen will serve his suspension tonight when the Celtics visit the Philadelphia 76ers at the Wachovia Center in Philadelphia, PA.
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The New York Knickerbockers President of Basketball Operations Donnie Walsh announced today that free agent forward/center Chris Hunter has been signed to a contract. As per club policy, terms of the deal will not be disclosed. Hunter, a member of the Fort Wayne Mad Ants, became the 24th Call-Up of the 2008-09 NBA Development League season.
Hunter, 6-11, 240-pounds, averaged 19.3 points, 9.4 rebounds and 1.2 blocks in 47 games with Fort Wayne this season. The Gary, IN-native registered 21 point-rebound double-doubles in 2008-09 with Fort Wayne and ranked among the league leaders in points and rebounds per game. Following a four-year career at the University of Michigan, Hunter played professionally overseas in Poland and Belgium before signing with Fort Wayne prior to this season.
The Knicks roster stands at 15 players.
The Toronto Raptors announced Monday they have signed guard Quincy Douby for the remainder of this season and the 2009-10 season. Per team policy, financial details were not disclosed. The Raptors signed the free agent to consecutive 10-day contracts March 24 and April 2.
Douby has appeared in six games for Toronto, averaging 5.2 points and 1.7 assists in 10.7 minutes. He has averaged 8.0 points, 2.0 assists and 14.0 minutes in the past three games, shooting .667 (10-15) from the field and three-point range (4-6) during that span.
Douby, 6-foot-3, 175 pounds, averaged 18.0 points, 3.6 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 28.6 minutes in five games with the D-League’s Erie BayHawks this season. He scored in double figures in all five games, with a high of 23 points at Albuquerque.
Douby, 24, was the 19th selection as an early entry candidate by the Sacramento Kings in the 2006 NBA Draft. He averaged 4.1 points, 1.0 rebounds and 10.7 minutes in 116 career games with the Kings. He posted a career-high 32 points at the Los Angeles Lakers on April 15, 2008. He was released by Sacramento on January 21.
Douby averaged 17.8 points, 2.9 rebounds and 2.8 assists in 95 career games at Rutgers University. He finished his career ranked sixth in school history in scoring (1,690) and holds the school record for points scored in a single season (839 in 2005-06). He averaged 25.4 points as a junior, leading the Big East in scoring and finishing sixth nationally. He earned first-team All-Big East honours in his junior season.
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The Orlando Sentinel (Brian Schmitz) reports (via blog): But there was good news: Hedo Turkoglu, said Van Gundy, has no swelling in his ankle and could have played against the Milwaukee Bucks tonight if the game meant something. He should be ready for the first round of the playoffs this week, which open in Orlando. Turkoglu sprained his left ankle late in Saturday night’s loss to the New Jersey Nets. “He was had very little swelling and no discoloration,” Van Gundy said. “To be quite honest, if this were a game we had to have, I think he could actually go tonight. He and Rashard could both go.”