Bucks trade Tyronn Lue to Magic for Keith Bogans

The Orlando Magic have acquired guard Tyronn Lue from the Milwaukee Bucks in exchange for guard-forward Keith Bogans and cash considerations, General Manager Otis Smith announced today.

“Tyronn is a veteran point guard who fits in well with our style of play,” said Smith.  “He shoots well from three-point range and adds needed depth at that position.  We thank Keith for everything he gave to us and wish him all the best.”

Lue (6’0”, 175, 5/3/77) has played in 30 games this season for Milwaukee, averaging 4.7 ppg., 1.5 apg. and 1.2 rpg. in 13.1 minpg.  He is shooting .467 (21-of-45) from three-point range and has scored in double figures three times, including a season-high 14 points on Nov. 24 @ Orlando.  Lue led (or tied) the Bucks in assists three times.

Lue returns for a second stint with Orlando.  He played in 76 games (69 starts) for the Magic in 2003-04, averaging 10.5 ppg., 4.2 apg. and 2.5 rpg. in 30.7 minpg.  Lue was a member of the Los Angeles Lakers when they won back-to-back NBA Championships in 1999-2000 and 2000-01.

Lue was originally selected in the first round (23rd overall) of the 1998 NBA Draft by Denver.  He has appeared in 540 career NBA regular season games with eight different teams (the L.A. Lakers, Washington, Orlando, Houston, Atlanta, Sacramento, Dallas and Milwaukee), averaging 8.6 ppg., 3.2 apg. and 1.7 rpg. in 23.0 minpg.  Lue has also shot .392 (454-of-1,158) from beyond the three-point arc during his career.

Bogans, 28, has appeared in 35 games this season for the Orlando Magic and averaged 5.4 points and 3.1 rebounds in 22.3 minutes per game.  Last season, Bogans played in all 82 games for the Magic and tallied 8.7 points, 3.2 rebounds and 1.3 assists in 26.8 minutes.  He shot a career-high 41.1 percent from the field, including 36.2 percent from the three-point arc, connecting on a career-high 148-of-409 attempts.  Bogans appeared in all 10 of Orlando’s post-season contests in 2008 and averaged 7.3 points, 4.2 rebounds and 1.1 assists in 29.3 minutes.

Originally drafted by Milwaukee in the second round of the 2003 NBA Draft (43rd overall), Bogans was traded to Orlando on draft night for cash considerations.  His resume spans five-plus NBA seasons and includes time spent with Orlando, Charlotte and Houston.  In 395 career games, he has averaged 7.7 points, 3.2 rebounds and 1.4 assists per game.

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Celtics assign JR Giddens to D-League

Boston Celtics guard J.R. Giddens was re-assigned to the Utah Flash, the Celtics’ NBA Development League affiliate, it was announced today.  The assignment is the 20th this season, and Giddens’ second.  Giddens, who was originally assigned to the Flash on Nov. 15, 2008 and was recalled to Boston on Jan. 8, has yet to appear in a regular season game for Boston this season.

In 13 games, all starts, for the Flash Giddens averaged 17.3 points and 6.5 rebounds while shooting 54 percent (86-of-158) from the field.  Giddens’ best game for the Flash came on Dec. 1 when he scored 34 points against the Bakersfield Jam at the McKay Events Center in Orem, Utah.

Giddens, a 6-5 guard, was selected in the first round, 30th overall, by the Celtics in the 2008 NBA draft from the University of New Mexico.  During his two-year career as a Lobo, Giddens averaged 16.1 points and 7.7 rebounds.  As a senior, Giddens started all 33 of New Mexico’s games, and averaged career highs of 16.3 points, 8.7 rebounds and 2.1 assists.  Giddens shared Mountain West Conference Co-Player of the Year and earned First Team All-Conference honors during his senior year.

Giddens, the season’s fourth player to be assigned to an NBA D-League affiliate, is expected to join the Flash in Orem, Utah today and will be available for tomorrow night’s Flash game against the Los Angeles D-Fenders.

Lisa Leslie to retire after upcoming WNBA season

The AP reports: Three-time WNBA MVP and four-time Olympic gold medalist Lisa Leslie will call it quits after her upcoming 12th season with the Los Angeles Sparks. The 36-year-old center announced her decision Wednesday, accompanied by her 19-month-old daughter and husband. Leslie, a cornerstone of the league since its start in 1997, guided the Sparks to WNBA championships in 2001 and 2002. “I’m not going to pull a (Michael) Jordan and come back in a year or two,” she said. “For me, I feel good about where I am. … I just know this is a good time. I can still help (the team). I don’t want to be out there when I can’t do it.”

Pistons sellout streak ends at 259 games

With tonight’s attendance of 21,720, the Detroit Pistons sellout streak of 259 consecutive games has come to an end.  The streak, which began on January 19, 2004 versus San Antonio and includes playoff games, is the longest sellout streak in franchise history.  The Pistons tallied 245 consecutive sellouts between the first game played at the Palace of Auburn Hills on November 5, 1988 and December 10, 1993.

“Our great fans should be applauded for filling The Palace of Auburn Hills on 259 consecutive occasions and it has certainly been a special time in Pistons basketball history,” said Tom Wilson, President of Palace Sports and Entertainment.  “We are fortunate to have the best basketball fans in the NBA and we will continue to provide them with the best possible sports entertainment experience.”

Detroit has led the NBA in regular-season attendance five of the last six years, including the 2007-08 campaign in which 905,116 fans enjoyed Pistons basketball for the fourth consecutive season.

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Andrew Bogut out 8+ weeks

Milwaukee Bucks General Manager John Hammond announced today that center Andrew Bogut (7-0, 260) has an incomplete stress fracture in his lower back.  Bogut went through a series of tests and evaluations earlier this week that revealed the injury.

He will be sidelined for a minimum of eight weeks at which time he will be re-evaluated.  In the meantime, he will rehabilitate the injury with strengthening exercises and rest.

In 36 games this season, Bogut is averaging 11.7 points, 10.3 rebounds (11th in NBA), 2.0 assists and 1.0 blocked shot in 31.2 minutes per game.

Bogut, 24, is one of 11 players in the league to average double-figures in both points and rebounds, and one of 13 players in the NBA to average a double-double this season.

Two Wizards charged with reckless driving

The Washington Post reports: Guard Nick Young and center JaVale McGee were charged with reckless driving after being pulled over for speeding on the Dulles Access Road on Jan. 1.  The incident was first reported by WJLA (Channel 7) on Monday. Under Virginia law, a driver can be charged with reckless driving for going more than 20 miles over the speed limit as well as other offenses including driving over 80 mph and racing. The speed limit on the access road is 55 mph.

Kobe Bryant 61 points

Kobe Bryant scored 61 points in Madison Square Garden Tuesday night as the Los Angeles Lakers beat the New York Knicks 126-117.

I was there to witness what was the most fun performance I ever remember seeing in person at an NBA game.

It was magical. And what made it even more awesome was the amount of Laker fans in NY for the game. Chants of MVP erupted repeatedly all throughout the game. And Kobe’s 61 points were created in ways every young basketball player dreams of. He unleashed crazy, absurd  moves, and was tossing jumpers in the faces of any Knicks defender who came near him.

Kobe Bryant’s 61 points in MSG is an instant hoops classic.

Below is a video of every shot Kobe made to score his 61 points. Watch and enjoy:

Read fan reaction to Kobe Bryant’s 61-point game in MSG and discuss your own opinion in this forum topic.

Chris Paul is day-to-day

Chris Paul underwent an MRI this morning, which revealed a mild groin strain. Paul suffered the injury during the late-third quarter of last night’s loss to Portland. He is listed as day-to-day.

This is good news, as yesterday it was feared he might have a more serious injury. There was some speculation he might even miss the All-Star game, though that appears to not be the case.

Jameer Nelson health update

Orlando Magic guard Jameer Nelson underwent an MRI on Tuesday morning, which revealed a torn right labrum.

Nelson dislocated his right shoulder with 9:11 remaining during the third quarter of the Magic’s loss vs. Dallas on February 2.  The course of treatment for the injury will be determined during the next week.  At that point, his playing status will be evaluated.

The information above is from 12:15 p.m. ET on Tuesday, February 3.