Category: NBA News Blog

NBA news blog

Nuggets suspend Carmelo Anthony

The Denver Nuggets have suspended F Carmelo Anthony for one game following an in-game transgression Sunday against Indiana.

“There is a code of conduct that we take very seriously, especially from a leader and co-captain,” said Nuggets Vice President of Player Personnel Rex Chapman.  “Carmelo knows this and regrets what happened.  He is a very competitive person and made a poor decision in the heat of the moment.  We look forward to having him back on Thursday and will have no further comment at this time.”

Anthony will not play Tuesday night, when the Nuggets visit the Detroit Pistons.  He will return to the lineup for Thursday’s game vs. Portland.

The Denver Post reports: Multiple sources said coach George Karl tried to take Anthony out of the game in the third quarter, but Anthony refused to come out, disrespecting the coach.

DeShawn Stevenson done for season

The Washington Post (Ivan Carter) report (via blog): Spoke with DeShawn Stevenson before the game and he said that he’s undergoing surgery later this week to repair a herniated disk in his lower back. That means his season is officially over. He said it would be roughly two months before he can resume hoops activity.

InsideHoops.com note: Stevenson this season was averaging just 6.6 points and 3.1 assists per game on awful 31.2% shooting. He only played in 32 games and hasn’t seen action since January 31 when he scored two points in a Wizards win over the Clippers.

SF Marcus Williams is D-League player of week

Marcus Williams of the Austin Toros has been named NBA D-League Performer of the Week for games played during the week of Feb. 23, 2009.  Williams, who earned the honor once during the 2007-08 season, joins Malik Hairston as Toros players to earn the honor this season.

Williams led Austin to a 3-0 record this week, averaging 26.0 points, 4.7 rebounds and 5.3 assists.  He scored 30 points and grabbed seven rebounds in Saturday’s win over Tulsa, which was Austin’s seventh win in its last eight games.

A 6-7 forward from Arizona, Williams is in his second season with the Toros.  Last season, he earned Third Team All-NBA D-League honors and received GATORADE Call-Ups from the San Antonio Spurs and Los Angeles Clippers.  He ranks fifth in the NBA D-League with 22.2 points per game and has led Austin to a league-best 25-9 record.

Other top performers last week included Tulsa’s Keith Clark, who averaged 23.5 points and 12.0 rebounds in two games for the 66ers; Fort Wayne’s Ron Howard, who averaged 26.3 points and 8.7 rebounds in three games for the Mad Ants; Albuquerque’s Jasper Johnson, who averaged 28.3 points and 10.8 rebounds in four games for the Thunderbirds; Iowa’s Demetris Nichols, who averaged 26.0 points in two games for the Energy; Sioux Falls’ Frank Williams, who averaged 32.0 points while making 15 three-pointers in two wins for the Skyforce; and Rio Grande Valley’s Jawad Williams, who averaged 26.3 points and 6.7 rebounds in three games for the Vipers.

Knicks sign Cheikh Samb to 10-day contract

The New York Knickerbockers President of Basketball Operations Donnie Walsh announced today that free agent center Cheikh Samb has been signed to a 10-day contract.

Samb, 7-1, 245-pounds was selected in the second round (51st overall) of the 2006 NBA Draft by the Los Angeles Lakers, before being traded to the Detroit Pistons on draft night. A native of Senegal, Samb has career averages of 1.1 points, 1.5 rebounds and 5.4 minutes in 20 career games over two seasons with Detroit, Denver and the Los Angeles Clippers. On Nov. 3, he was traded from Detroit to Denver, and on Jan. 5 from Denver to the L.A. Clippers. In 16 games this season with the Nuggets and Clippers, Samb averaged 0.9 points, 1.4 rebounds and 0.63 blocks over 4.7 minutes. He was waived by the Clippers on Feb. 16.

The Knicks roster now stands at 13 players.

InsideHoops.com editor says: He’s probably in for those 10 days and then out again.

Brian Scalabrine suffers third concussion in month

The Boston Globe (Frank Dell’Apa) reports: Celtics forward Brian Scalabrine is out indefinitely after being diagnosed with a third concussion in less than a month. Scalabrine sustained concussions while defending against Dallas’s Dirk Nowitzki Jan. 25 and during a practice session two days later, remaining out until a Feb. 19 visit to Utah. Scalabrine received a blow to the neck during a win over the Nuggets last week and was held out of action, the injury later determined to be a concussion. Scalabrine said he also had concussions while performing for Highline Community College in Washington and against Atlanta last year.

JJ Redick ejected for first time

The Orlando Sentinel (Kyle Hightower) reports: Magic SG  J.J. Redick was ejected for the first time after being hit with back-to-back technicals with 3:40 left in the second quarter. Redick and Sixers F Reggie Evans had been hit with double techs as they jawed running up the court. Redick continued to plead his case and was tossed.

Kings waive Drew Gooden

The Sacramento Kings today requested waivers on forward-center Drew Gooden, according to Kings’ President of Basketball Operations Geoff Petrie.

Gooden was acquired on February 18, 2009 from the Chicago Bulls as part of a three-team, seven-player trade. He recorded 12 points (5-9 FG, 2-2 FT), 13 rebounds, and two assists in 26 minutes versus Charlotte on February 25th in his lone appearance for Sacramento.

The Kings roster now stands at 14.

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Thunder waive Joe Smith

Oklahoma City Thunder Executive Vice President and General Manager Sam Presti announced today that the team has waived forward Joe Smith.

Smith was acquired by the Thunder on August 13, 2008 along with guard Desmond Mason in a three-team trade that sent guards Luke Ridnour and Adrian Griffin to the Milwaukee Bucks.

Smith appeared in 36 games for the Thunder this season averaging 6.6 points and 4.5 rebounds in 19.2 minutes per contest.

The Thunder roster now stands at 14 players.

Smith may now choose to sign with a playoff contender in need of help at the power forward and center spots. The Cavaliers have been reported by multiple media outlets as a possibility, especially with Ben Wallace out for an extended period with a major injury.

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Luol Deng’s leg not broken

Bulls.com (Sam Smith) reports: The Bulls got some good news Sunday when the x-rays for Luol Deng and Tim Thomas were negative. Both will be listed as day to day and uncertain about playing Tuesday in Charlotte. Deng and coach Vinny Del Negro had speculated after Saturday’s win over Houston that Deng could have a season ending stress fracture. Though that also raises the question of who will play and when. One of the big questions coming into Saturday’s game was the status of the starting lineup after the poor effort and big loss in Washington Friday, then the third loss in four games.