Category: NBA News Blog

NBA news blog

Heat will trade Livingston

UPDATE: They aren’t releasing him. They have traded him to the Grizzlies.

The NBA career of tall, lanky point guard Shaun Livingston began in 2004 with the Los Angeles Clippers. But despite showing flashes of potential over his three seasons in L.A., the 6’7″ 185-pound Illinois native appeared to be backup material rather than worthy of starting.

Still, his future was bright, especially considering he came straight to the league from high school. The kid was only born in 1985.

Then came his nasty injury. You saw it. Proably the worst thing to look at I’ve seen in the NBA.

Now in 2008-09 he’s been riding the bench with the Heat. Playing just four games, and just 10.3 minutes per outing, Livingston has scored 2.3 ppg, not done much else, and not looked too hot in practice.

And now, the Heat are ready to say goodbye. The South Florida Sun-Sentinel (Ira Winderman) reports:

The Shaun Livingston comeback is over. At least for now. At least with the Miami Heat. Livingston was informed of his release after Monday night’s 91-84 loss to the San Antonio Spurs at AmericanAirlines Arena, with the team expected to make a formal announcement later this morning… The contract Livingston signed with the Heat guaranteed only $370,000 for this season, a figure that keeps the team below the punitive dollar-for-dollar luxury tax on excessive payrolls.

Read fan reaction and discuss your own opinion in this forum thread.

DJ White jaw surgery, out 12-16 weeks

Oklahoma City Thunder forward DJ White underwent successful surgery on his jaw, it was announced by the team.

Team physicians performed the second and final procedure on Sunday, January 4 at Integris Baptist Hospital.  White underwent initial surgery on October 13 to remove a benign growth from his jaw.

Team officials expect White to miss the next 12-16 weeks following the surgery.

White, who was acquired by the Thunder as a part of a draft day trade, has yet to appear in a game this season.

Luke Walton out 2+ weeks

Lakers forward Luke Walton was examined today by Dr. Ken Jung, a foot specialist with the Kerlan-Jobe Orthopaedic Group. Dr. Jung confirmed that Walton is suffering from sesamoiditis (right foot).

Walton will wear a protective boot on his foot for a week and will also begin non-weight bearing rehabilitation exercises in a pool starting today. He is expected to be out a minimum of two weeks.

Clippers waive Paul Davis and Fred Jones

The Los Angeles Clippers today waived forward Paul Davis and guard Fred Jones it was announced by General Manager and Head Coach Mike Dunleavy.

Drafted by the Clippers in the second round of the 2006 NBA Draft (34th overall) out of Michigan State, Davis appeared in 80 games for the Clippers from 2006-2008, making two starts and averaging 2.2 points and 2.0 rebounds in his career. This season, Davis played in 27 games, averaging 4.0 points and 2.5 rebounds in 11.5 minutes per game.

Jones appeared in five games with the Clippers this season after signing with Los Angeles as a free agent on Dec. 28. Jones averaged 6.6 points, 1.6 rebounds and 1.4 assists in 19.6 minutes with the Clippers.

Nuggets trade Cheikh Samb to Clippers

The Los Angeles Clippers today acquired center Cheikh Samb and cash considerations from the Denver Nuggets in exchange for a future conditional second draft pick.

A 7-foot-1-inch center from Senegal, Samb has played in six games with the Nuggets this season, averaging 0.7 points, 1.5 rebounds and 0.2 assists in 4.0 minutes. Samb came to Denver on Nov. 3 along with Chauncey Billups and Antonio McDyess in exchange for Allen Iverson. Samb was assigned to the Colorado 14ers of the NBA Development League on Dec. 10 and has averaged 12.4 points, 7.1 rebounds and 3.8 blocks in 10 games with the 14ers.

Originally drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers with the 51st overall selection in the 2006 NBA Draft, Samb, was traded to Detroit and started his career with the Pistons, appearing in four games and averaging 1.8 points and 1.8 rebounds in 7.8 minutes per game in 2007-08 while also playing in 19 games for the Fort Wayne Mad Ants of the NBA Development League.

Samb, 24, also played professionally in Spain before coming to the NBA, appearing for WTC Cornella and Winterthur F.C. Barcelona.

Warriors add Jermareo Davidson, waive DeMarcus Nelson

The Golden State Warriors have signed forward Jermareo Davidson to a 10-day contact and placed guard DeMarcus Nelson on waivers, the team announced today.

Discuss your opinion on this news with other fans in this forum thread.

Davidson, 24, is being called-up from the NBA Developmental League’s Idaho Stampede, where he averaged 16.1 points and 10.8 rebounds in 15 games.  The 6’10’’ forward ranked first in the D-League in double-doubles (10) and third in rebounding (10.8).    He scored a season-high 25 points on December 10 vs. Dakota and grabbed a season-best 14 rebounds against the Los Angeles Defenders on December 12.

Originally selected by the Warriors in the second round of the 2007 NBA Draft (#36 overall), Davidson had his rights traded to the Charlotte Bobcats on June 28, 2007.  The draft-night trade sent Davidson and Jason Richardson to Charlotte in exchange for the rights to the eighth overall selection in the draft, Brandan Wright.

Davidson appeared in 38 games with Charlotte during his rookie campaign in 2007-08, averaging 3.2 points and 1.6 rebounds.   Prior to being waived on October 27, 2008, he appeared in three preseason games with the Bobcats this season, averaging 2.0 points in 8.7 minutes.

Nelson, 23, appeared in 13 games with Golden State this season, averaging 4.1 points and 1.0 assists in 13.1 minutes.  Following a four-year college career at Duke, he was not selected in the 2008 NBA Draft and was signed by the Warriors as a free agent on September 9, 2008.

Davidson, who will wear jersey #33 with the Warriors, becomes the third player this season and the 75th player overall in the D-League’s eight-year history to receive a call-up to the NBA.  Additionally, Davidson becomes the sixth player called-up from the D-League by Golden State, joining C.J. Watson (2007-08), Kelenna Azubuike (2006-07), Renaldo Major (2006-07), Will Bynum (2005-06) and Rusty LaRue (2003-04).

Tyson Chandler suspended, Joel Przybilla fined

Tyson Chandler of the New Orleans Hornets has been suspended one game without pay for throwing an elbow and striking Portland’s Joel Przybilla in the neck. In addition, Przybilla has been fined $7,500 for his role in the incident and assessed a Flagrant Foul Penalty One for a forearm to the chest of Chandler, it was announced today by Stu Jackson, NBA Executive Vice President, Basketball Operations.

The incident, in which Chandler was also assessed a Flagrant Foul Penalty Two and ejected from the game, occurred with 6:16 remaining in the third period of New Orleans’ 92-77 win over the Trail Blazers last night at the Rose Garden.

Chandler will serve his suspension tonight when the Hornets visit the Denver Nuggets at Pepsi Center.

Suns recall Alando Tucker from D-League

The Phoenix Suns have recalled swingman Alando Tucker from the Iowa Energy of the NBA Development League, it was announced today by Suns President of Basketball Operations and General Manager Steve Kerr.

The 6-6, 205-pound Tucker was originally assigned to Iowa on Dec. 26 and appeared in two games, both wins, for the Energy.  The second-year player was selected by Phoenix with the 29th overall pick in the first round of the 2007 NBA Draft. 

The Suns (18-12) tonight host the L.A. Clippers (8-23) at US Airways Center at 7 p.m. as Phoenix attempts to win its third-straight game and improve to a season-high seven games above .500.

NBA taking no action in Carter-ref incident

The AP reports: The NBA did not take any action against Vince Carter of the New Jersey Nets nor a veteran official who used the word ‘boy’ during a confrontation with the eight-time All-Star during a game Wednesday in Detroit. Referee Derrick Stafford called two quick technicals on Carter after he argued an out-of-bounds call in the second quarter of the Pistons’ 83-75 victory. A furious Carter went after the official following his ejection and seemed to bump Stafford. Carter had to be held back by teammates. “We have spoken to both Vince and Derrick about their exchange during Wednesday’s game, and decided not to take any action with respect to the language that was used or any inadvertent contact that may have occurred,” the league said today in a statement provided in an e-mail from spokesman Tim Frank.