Category: NBA News Blog

NBA news blog

Players of Week: LeBron, Billups

Denver Nuggets G Chauncey Billups was named Western Conference Player of the Week for games played from Monday, Nov. 10 through Sunday, Nov. 16, the NBA announced today.

For the week, he averaged 21.5 ppg, 5.8 apg, 2.3 rpg and 1.25 spg in four games last week as the Nuggets went 3-1, leading Denver to wins at Charlotte, at Boston and vs. Minnesota.

Billups has led Denver to an overall record of 5-1 since being acquired from Detroit on Nov. 3.  He has posted averages of 19.5 ppg, 6.0 apg, 3.2 rpg and 1.83 spg in his six contests with the Nuggets.

Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James was named today as the NBA’s Eastern Conference Player of the Week for the second straight week for games played Monday, November 10th through Sunday, November 16th.

In three games during the week, James averaged an NBA-high 33.7 points on .600 shooting, 8.0 assists and 6.0 rebounds in 41.0 minutes per game. James has now won the award 15 times in his career: for the second time this season, three times during 2007-08, twice in 2006-07, five times in 2005-06 and on three occasions during the 2004-05 campaign.

Bulls waive Demetris Nichols

The Chicago Bulls announced today that the team has waived forward Demetris Nichols.

Nichols (6-8, 216), appeared in two games this season with Chicago and averaged 1.0 ppg in 2.5 mpg.  Nichols was claimed on waivers by the Bulls on Dec. 7, 2007 and was re-signed by Chicago on July 24, 2008.  He was originally selected by the Portland Trail Blazers in the second round (53rd selection) of NBA Draft 2007.

Chicago’s roster now stands at 14.

Mark Cuban charged with insider trading

The Securities and Exchange Commission today charged Dallas entrepreneur Mark Cuban with insider trading for selling 600,000 shares of the stock of an Internet search engine company on the basis of material, non-public information concerning an impending stock offering.

The Commission’s complaint, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas, alleges that in June 2004, Mamma.com Inc. invited Cuban to participate in the stock offering after he agreed to keep the information confidential. The complaint further alleges that Cuban knew that the offering would be conducted at a discount to the prevailing market price and that it would be dilutive to existing shareholders.

Within hours of receiving this information, according to the complaint, Cuban called his broker and instructed him to sell Cuban’s entire position in the company. When the offering was publicly announced, Mamma.com’s stock price opened at $11.89, down $1.215 or 9.3 percent from the prior day’s closing price of $13.105. According to the complaint, Cuban avoided losses in excess of $750,000 by selling his stock prior to the public announcement of the offering.

“Insider trading cases are a high priority for the Commission. This case demonstrates yet again that the Commission will aggressively pursue illegal insider trading whenever it occurs,” said Linda Chatman Thomsen, Director of the SEC’s Division of Enforcement.

Scott W. Friestad, Deputy Director of the SEC’s Division of Enforcement, said, “As we allege in the complaint, Mamma.com entrusted Mr. Cuban with nonpublic information after he promised to keep the information confidential. Less than four hours later, Mr. Cuban betrayed that trust by placing an order to sell all of his shares. It is fundamentally unfair for someone to use access to nonpublic information to improperly gain an edge on the market.”

The complaint alleges that Cuban violated Section 17(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 10(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Rule 10b-5 thereunder. The Commission’s complaint seeks to permanently enjoin Cuban from future violations of the federal securities laws, disgorgement (with prejudgment interest), and a financial penalty.

Rookie Anthony Morrow scores 37 points

On Saturday, the Golden State Warriors beat the Clippers in Los Angeles 121-103. Warriors rookie Anthony Morrow started at guard alongside Kelenna Azubuike and went bonkers, scoring 37 points and grabbing 11 rebounds. Here’s the Contra Costa Times (Marcus Thompson II):

One day later, the buzz was still flying around Warriors rookie guard Anthony Morrow. A television interview on the Sunday evening local news. Sports magazines working on feature stories about him. Fans still talking about his first NBA career start: a 37-point, 11-rebound performance in Saturday’s win over the Los Angeles Clippers. Still, despite the Warriors having the day off, he found himself in the gym Sunday, getting up shots and working on his game. “Nothing like this will change me,” Morrow said in the midst of the postgame hysteria he caused Saturday. “The grind never stops.” His record performance — most points by an undrafted player in his rookie season and most points by a rookie this season — may have changed the Warriors for the better. It certainly gave the team a much-needed shot of energy and hope, which came in a timely fashion after Thursday’s heartbreaking loss to Detroit. It gave the Warriors another commodity to add to their portfolio of young talent to build on or barter.

The San Francisco Chronicle (Janny Hu) reports:

“It was a fun game, man,” said a humble Morrow, who added 11 rebounds in his 42 minutes on the court. “I just wake up every day like, ‘I’m in the NBA.’ I thank God for it. “I played against Allen Iverson last game. I played against Baron Davis. I grew up in Charlotte watching him play all the time (when I was) in high school. It was just a great game.” So great that Morrow didn’t just play against his idol in Saturday’s matinee. He torched Davis. And Cuttino Mobley. And just about everyone else the Clippers put on him once they finally decided to guard him. Warriors coach Don Nelson gave Morrow the surprise start so he could match up Stephen Jackson against Davis at point guard, and it wasn’t long before the move paid off.

In the game, Morrow shot 15-of-20, including 4-of-5 three-pointers, plus 3-of-3 free throws, finishing with 37 points, 11 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 turnovers and 2 fouls in just under 42 minutes.

Spurs waive Desmon Farmer and sign Blake Ahearn

he San Antonio Spurs today announced they have signed guard Blake Ahearn. Per club policy terms of the contract were not released. At the same time the team announced that guard Desmon Farmer has been waived.

Ahearn is the first player called up from the NBA Development League in the 2008-09 season. He was in Minnesota’s 2008 training camp where he averaged 7.8 points and 1.2 assists in five games. After being waived by the Timberwolves he joined the Dakota Wizards. Ahearn was in camp with the Wizards prior to signing with the Spurs.

During the 2007-08 season the 6-2, 190-pound, Ahearn appeared in 41 games for the Wizards. He averaged 19.0 points, 3.5 assists and 2.5 rebounds in 29.5 minutes per game. He shot .486 (239-492) from the field, .439 (108-246) from three-point land and .960 (192-200) from the line. Ahearn was named the 2008 D-League Rookie of the Year and earned a spot on the All D-League Second Team.

Ahearn was signed by the Miami Heat on 3/21/08. He spent the remainder of the 2007-08 season with Miami. In 12 games with the Heat he averaged 5.8 points, 1.6 assists and 1.6 rebounds.

Ahearn played his collegiate ball at Missouri State.  In four seasons with the Bears, he averaged 13.8 points, 1.8 assists and 1.7 rebounds in 128 games.  Ahearn earned First Team All-Missouri Valley Conference honors his junior and senior seasons. For his career Ahearn shot .423 (483-1,142) from the field, .408 (276-676) from three-point range and .946 (435-460) from the foul line.  He finished collegiate career as the all-time leading free throw shooter in NCAA Division I history.  Ahearn led the nation in free throw shooting his freshman, sophomore, and junior years.

Farmer was signed by the Spurs as a free agent on 9/17/08.  He appeared in three games for the Silver and Black, averaging 4.3 points and 2.0 rebounds in 18.0 minutes.

Celtics assign JR Giddens to D-League

Boston Celtics guard J.R. Giddens was assigned to the Utah Flash, the Celtics’ NBA Development League affiliate, it was announced today.  In six preseason games with the Celtics, Giddens averaged 2.0 points, 1.5 rebounds and 7.5 minutes.

Giddens, 6-5, 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 in time for training camp this weekend.

Steven Hunter out at least 12 weeks

Nuggets C Steven Hunter underwent successful arthroscopic surgery today at the Steadman-Hawkins Clinic in Vail, Colo. Hunter will be sidelined a minimum of 12 weeks.

Both Denver-area newspapers recently reported that Hunter may be considering retirement if it appears his knee will continue to be a major problem.

I’d assume Hunter will rehab and focus on regaining his health first, and then examine his status and future.

He hasn’t played this season. For his career he averages 4.7 points, 3.2 rebounds and 1.0 blocks in 15.4 minutes per game, with 56.4% shooting.

Warriors assign DeMarcus Nelson to D-League

The Golden State Warriors have assigned guard DeMarcus Nelson to the Bakersfield Jam of the NBA Development League, the team announced today.

Nelson, 23, has appeared in eight games this season (five starts), averaging 5.4 points, 1.8 rebounds and 1.3 assists in 14.6 minutes per contest.  The 6-4 guard became the first undrafted rookie to appear in the starting lineup on Opening Night for the Warriors since the team moved to the West Coast in 1962.

Nelson now joins Warriors teammate Richard Hendrix on the Jam roster.  This marks the first time that Golden State has had two players on assignment in the NBA Developmental League at the same time.

Nash, Barnes, Alston suspended for fight

The AP reports: The NBA has suspended Steve Nash and Matt Barnes of Phoenix and Rafer Alston of Houston for their roles in a fight. Alston and Barnes were suspended for two games without pay and Nash for one. The league also fined Shaquille O’Neal $35,000 and Tracy McGrady $25,000 on Friday for their actions during the Rockets’ 94-82 win in Phoenix on Wednesday.

The Arizona Republic (Paul Coro) reports: The scuffle broke out in the final seconds of Wednesday’s third quarter, just as Houston opened its biggest lead of 19 on a McGrady 3-pointer. On the shot, Alston set a high screen on Barnes, who lowered his shoulder hard into Alston. After the shot went in, Alston ran up on Barnes, prompting Nash to race from several feet away toward Alston and Barnes. Once he got close, McGrady shoved him to the ground and more players came to the scene with O’Neal shoving McGrady to the ground and pushing Alston and Yao Ming.

The Arizona Republic (Paul Coro) reports: “It’s just overblown,” Barnes said. “They went above and beyond the call of duty here. They didn’t call a foul in my situation. We got in a little pushing match and I get suspended for two games? Rafer gets two games and Rafer threw two punches at Steve. Basically, what they’re saying is you might as well throw two punches because you got the same suspension as someone who threw two punches. Steve comes and tries to break it up and gets thrown to the ground and he gets suspended and T-Mac (McGrady) doesn’t get anything. Ridiculous.”

Fans are reacting to the suspensions here in this topic.

Warriors assign Richard Hendrix to D-League

The Golden State Warriors have assigned forward Richard Hendrix to the Bakersfield Jam of the NBA Development League, the team announced today.

Hendrix, 21, has been on the inactive list for each of Golden State’s first nine games during the 2008-09 regular season.  The 6-9 forward was selected by the Warriors with the 49th selection in the 2008 NBA Draft.