Category: NBA News Blog

NBA news blog

Memphis Grizzlies re-sign Darius Miles

The Memphis Grizzlies have signed forward Darius Miles to a second 10-day contract, Grizzlies General Manager and Vice President of Basketball Operations Chris Wallace announced today.

After signing his first 10-day contract on Jan. 10, Miles played in three games and averaged 8.3 points, 3.0 rebounds and 0.67 blocks on 55.6 percent shooting (10-18 FG) in 12.0 minutes. The 6-9, 235-pound forward is averaging 5.0 points, 2.2 rebounds and 0.80 blocks per game in 9.0 minutes in five total games with the Grizzlies this season.

Miles was signed by the Grizzlies as a free agent on Dec. 13 (and later waived on Jan. 7) after missing all of the 2006-07 and 2007-08 seasons following microfracture surgery on his right knee.  The 27-year-old signed a free-agent contract with the Boston Celtics on Aug. 22, 2008 and appeared in six preseason games, averaging 1.8 points and 1.3 rebounds in 10.4 minutes before his release on Oct. 20.

The third overall pick in the 2000 NBA Draft became the first player in league history drafted straight out of high school (East St. Louis High School) to earn All-Rookie honors when he posted 9.4 points and 1.54 blocks for the Los Angeles Clippers in 2000-01.

The Bellville, Ill. native holds career averages of 10.6 points, 5.1 rebounds and 1.15 blocks in 27.5 minutes in 417 career games (190 starts) with Memphis, the Los Angeles Clippers, the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Portland Trail Blazers.

NBA owners now OK with courtside alcohol ads

Sports Business Journal reports: NBA owners have reversed a longtime ban on courtside advertising by spirits brands in an effort to drive revenue during the economic downturn. The league is also crafting policies that could allow teams to offer hard liquor advertising on team Web sites, point-of-sale retail locations or in-arena promotions. Those decisions are expected shortly. The vote to ease the restrictions was taken last week during the NBA’s sales and marketing meetings in Phoenix. It opens new revenue streams for all 30 teams, who have been prohibited from selling courtside/TV visible hard liquor signage since 1991. The decision follows Major League Baseball, the NHL and NASCAR in allowing spirits advertising within camera view. The NFL does not allow any hard liquor signage within camera view in their stadiums.

Clippers re-sign Fred Jones

Prior to today’s game vs. the Minnesota Timberwolves, the Los Angeles Clippers signed guard Fred Jones to a second 10-day contract.

A six-year NBA veteran, Jones has averaged 6.5 points, 1.6 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 22.3 minutes in 10 games with the Clippers this season, making one start after originally signing as a free agent on December 28th.  Jones was waived by Los Angeles on January 5th, and then signed to his first 10-day contract on January 8th.

Jones played 70 games with the Knicks last season, averaging 7.6 points, 2.4 rebounds and 2.4 assists in 25.1 minutes. The Clippers are the fifth NBA team for Jones, who has appeared in 378 total games and is averaging 7.5 points, 2.2 rebounds and 2.1 assists in his NBA career.

A star at the University of Oregon, Jones helped lead the Ducks to the Elite Eight of the 2002 NCAA Tournament and was drafted by the Indiana Pacers with the 14th selection of the 2002 NBA Draft. Jones played four seasons with Indiana, winning the 2004 NBA Slam Dunk Contest as a Pacer before signing with the Raptors prior to the 2006-07 season.

Jones joined Portland midway through the 2006-07 season in a trade, teaming up with current Clipper Zach Randolph and then going to New York along with Randolph in a five-player deal on June 28, 2007.

Jerome James season over

I am at today’s Chicago Bulls at New York Knicks game, and reporters have been told that the season of Jerome James is over. A complete bust in every way, the Knicks pay James millions of dollars per year to sit on the bench, take pre-game photos with fans, drink water and suffer injuries.

Here is New York Newsday: The Knicks revealed today that Jerome James suffered a ruptured right Achilles tendon and is out for the season. Considering the severity of the injury — not to mention the complete disinterest in getting him back — we’ve likely seen the last of Big ‘Rome… Jerome will pick up his $6.6M player option for next season, but the Knicks will likely look to buy that out to free up a roster spot for 2009-10.

Rudy Fernandez in dunk contest

The Oregonian (Jason Quick) reports (via blog): Trail Blazers guard Rudy Fernandez has won a fan vote to compete in the 2009 NBA Dunk Contest at All-Star Weekend in Phoenix on Feb. 14, The Oregonian has learned. For the first time, the NBA this season opened a slot in the contest for a rookie, who would be chosen by a fan vote. Fernandez won the voting over Milwaukee’s Joe Alexander and Oklahoma City’s Russell Westbrook.

InsideHoops.com editor says: I’m surprised. Of the three candidates, he was the one I thought should get the fewest votes.

Utah Jazz sign Jerry Sloan to extension

The Utah Jazz announced today the decision by Jerry Sloan to return as head coach for the 2009-10 season, which will mark his 22nd season at the helm of the Jazz.

“We have been blessed as an organization that Jerry Sloan has been with us as long as he has.  Jerry is the standard for hard work and consistency,” said Greg Miller, CEO of the Larry H. Miller Group of Companies.  “Jerry has brought a level of credibility to the Utah Jazz that nobody else could.  I am excited that we’ll have Jerry with us through 2010.”

Sloan has been Utah’s head coach since assuming the reigns from former head coach Frank Layden on December 9, 1988.  The fourth-winningest coach in NBA history (1113-734), Sloan is the longest tenured active coach with one team in major professional sports, and is also the longest tenured head coach in NBA history.  Earlier this season Sloan (1019-613 with Jazz) became the first NBA head coach to win 1,000 games with one team, and currently ranks 224 victories ahead of Red Auerbach (second in all-time wins with one team) and 360 wins ahead of San Antonio’s Gregg Popovich (third all-time), the only other active coach in the top five.

“I look forward to watching our team continue to grow and mature,” said Sloan.  “I am grateful for all the opportunities Larry and Gail Miller have provided to me.”

Since Sloan’s hiring there have been a total of 225 coaching changes (counting interim coaches) in the NBA.   Every team in the league has made at least two changes except for Utah.  In addition five current NBA teams did not exist when Sloan took the helm in Utah, and two others were just over a month into their inaugural seasons.  Sloan has coached 123 different Jazz players in regular season games during his time.

“We appreciate Jerry’s continued commitment to our organization,” said Utah Jazz President Randy Rigby.  “His coaching style, approach to the game and values portray everything we could ever look for in a coach.”

Over his first 20 seasons, Sloan has produced two conference championships, seven division titles, 16 consecutive winning seasons, 12 seasons with 50-plus wins and 18 playoff appearances.  He is seeking his third straight Northwest Division title in 2008-09.

Myles Brand has cancer

The AP reports: NCAA president Myles Brand is being treated for pancreatic cancer, and he says the long-term prognosis is “not good.” Brand issued a statement on Saturday, the last day of the NCAA Convention. Brand was not able to attend the convention because of his condition.

USA Today reports: Brand, 66, who has led the Indianapolis-based governing body since January 2003, informed its top-level Executive Committee of the details of his illness on the final day of the associatioin’s annual convention outside Washington, D.C. He didn’t attend the four-day gathering.

NBA fines Mark Cuban 25k

The Denver Post (Benjamin Hochman) reports: The Cuban Missed Elbow Crisis has finally come to an end. The NBA decided to fine Mavericks owner Mark Cuban $25,000 for “improper interaction” with Nuggets players at halftime of Tuesday’s game at the Pepsi Center. Cuban walked onto the court and yelled at Nuggets guard J.R. Smith, who earlier threw an elbow that missed the face of Dallas forward Antoine Wright. Smith was not penalized for his actions.

The AP reports: Cuban was angered Tuesday in a 99-97 Denver victory over Dallas and stepped onto the court as the second quarter ended to complain about an elbow thrown by Smith that did not result in a foul, interaction that brought the fine. Cuban also had to be escorted off the court afte the game when he complained about a foul call that set up Chauncey Billups’ game-winning free throws in the final seconds.

Delonte West out 5-6 weeks

Cavaliers guard Delonte West was injured in last night’s game in Chicago vs. the Bulls. He was re-evaluated at Cleveland Clinic Sports Health today by Dr. Peter Evans in Cleveland. X-rays and an MRI confirmed a non-displaced fracture of his right wrist. He is projected to be Out the next five to six weeks. His status will be updated as appropriate.

Cavaliers center Zydrunas Ilgauskas was re-evaluated yesterday at Cleveland Clinic Sports Health and today in Baltimore at The Institute for Foot and Ankle Reconstruction at Mercy Medical Center by Dr. Mark Myerson, and in consultation with Cavaliers Head Team Physician Dr. Richard Parker. Both evaluations showed that his left ankle was progressing as expected. He is cleared to progress in his rehabilitation work and return to court activity next week in continued preparation for a return to the active roster after that. His status will be updated as appropriate.