Category: NBA News Blog

NBA news blog

Grizzlies assign Hamed Haddadi to D-League

The Memphis Grizzlies assigned center Hamed Haddadi (pronounced ha-MED ha-DAHD-dee) to the Dakota Wizards, their NBA Development League affiliate, General Manager and Vice President of Basketball Operations Chris Wallace announced today.

“The Dakota Wizards are a tremendous organization which the Grizzlies are fortunate to have as our affiliate,” Wallace said. “We are eager to watch Hamed’s development under coach Duane Ticknor’s tutelage. This assignment will be a positive experience for Hamed.”

Signed as a rookie free agent on Aug. 28, Haddadi averaged 1.7 points and 3.3 rebounds in 9.7 minutes in six preseason games.  The 7-2, 280-pound center has yet to make his NBA regular season debut.

A native of Ahvaz, Iran, Haddadi represented his country last summer in the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China, where he averaged a double-double (16.6 points, 11.2 rebounds, 2.6 blocks) in Olympic competition, playing five games for the Iranian National Team.

The 23-year-old also posted 14.0 points, 11.5 rebounds and 2.5 blocks in 25.5 minutes in two contests for the Iranian National Team at the 2008 Rocky Mountain Revue in Salt Lake City last summer.

Slated to become the first Iranian to ever play in the NBA, Haddadi is the Grizzlies’ first assignment to the D-League since the club assigned Alexander Johnson to the Arkansas RimRockers on March 1, 2007.  The 23-year-old is the seventh NBA player (sixth rookie) to be assigned to the Development League in 2008-09.

Haddadi, who will wear jersey No. 50, is expected to make his D-League debut in the Wizards’ regular season opener vs. Iowa Energy on Saturday, Nov. 29 at the Bismarck Civic Center in Bismarck, North Dakota.

Dorell Wright out 3 weeks after knee surgery

The Miami HEAT announced today that Dorell Wright underwent successful surgery this morning to clean loose bodies his left knee. The 45-minute follow-up surgery was performed by team physician Dr. Harlan Selesnick at Doctors Hospital in Coral Gables. Wright originally had surgery to repair a meniscal tear in his left knee on Mar. 3, 2008. He injured the knee with 9:40 remaining in the second quarter of a game at Sacramento on Mar. 2, 2008. Wright is expected to resume court activity in three weeks.

Wright has appeared in one game this season, totaling two points in 5:53 of action against Sacramento on Oct. 31. Currently in his fifth NBA season, Wright has appeared in 134 games (55 starts) for the HEAT and has averaged 6.0 points, 3.9 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 19.1 minutes per game.

Players in Clippers-Knicks trade not active yet

Zach Randolph and Mardy Collins will not be in uniform for Monday night’s game between the Clippers and New Orleans Hornets.

None of the four players in Friday’s trade between the Clippers and New York Knicks are eligible to play for their new teams until the results of all physicals are known.

There’s no word that anything is wrong.

Bobcats sign Dwayne Jones

Charlotte Bobcats General Manager Rod Higgins announced today that the team has signed forward Dwayne Jones. The Bobcats roster now stands at 14 players. Jones will wear jersey #27.

“This will help the Bobcats frontcourt depth, but Jones is a bench-level player who can generally just provide backup support,” says InsideHoops.com editor Jeff Lenchiner. “The Bobcats really need a legit center to play alongside power forward Emeka Okafor.”

Jones (6-10, 251 pounds) was signed by the Orlando Magic to attend training camp but was released prior to the start of the 2008-09 regular season. He immediately signed with Efes Pilsen Istanbul of the Turkish League and appeared in their first two games.

Over his three-year NBA career, Jones has appeared in 74 games with averages of 1.3 points and 2.4 rebounds in 8.4 minutes with Cleveland and Boston. Jones was an early entry candidate for the 2005 NBA Draft after three seasons at St. Joseph’s University. He was signed by the Minnesota Timberwolves on August 26, 2005 as an undrafted rookie free agent. Jones was later assigned by the team to the NBA Development League (Florida Flame).

After 26 games in the D-League, where he averaged 8.9 points, 11.7 rebounds and 2.0 blocks, Jones was traded to Boston along with Timberwolves teammates Michael Olowokandi, Wally Szczerbiak and a future first-round pick on Jan. 27, 2006. He appeared in 14 games for the Celtics, posting a career-high 13 rebounds on April 17, 2006 against Cleveland.

Jones was traded the following season to the Cavaliers on Oct. 13, 2006 in exchange for Luke Jackson and appeared in just four regular-season games during the 2006-07 season. He had another stint in the D-League (Albuquerque) as assigned by the Cavaliers and appeared in two games with averages of 11.5 points and 11.5 rebounds, 6.0 blocks and 2.0 steals.

In his first full season as an NBA player in 2007-08, Jones appeared in 56 games with averages of 1.4 points and 2.5 rebounds in 8.1 minutes. He set career-high totals in nearly every statistical category including scoring (78), rebounds (140), blocked shots (25) and minutes played (473). He scored a career-high nine points against New Jersey on Dec. 4 and recorded games of 10-or-more rebounds five times.

As a collegian, Jones was named Atlantic 10 Defensive Player of the Year and two-time All-Defensive Team member two consecutive seasons. He also ranked fifth in the nation in rebounding (11.6) and blocks (3.0) and led the conference in both categories. He was also part of the 2004 Hawks team that went undefeated during the regular season, earning a top seed in the NCAA Tournament.

Players of Week: Wade, Nowitzki

The Miami Heat’s Dwyane Wade and the Dallas Mavericks’ Dirk Nowitzki today were named the Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Week, respectively, for games played Monday, Nov.17, through Sunday, Nov. 23.

Wade led Miami to a 2-1 week, averaging a league-best 32.3 points and added 9.7 assists, 4.3 rebounds and 3.3 blocks. On Nov. 19, Wade joined Alvan Adams as the only players in NBA history to tally at least 40 points, 10 assists and five blocks in a game, when he tallied 40 points, 11 assists and five blocks against the Raptors. Wade’s 38 points on Nov. 22 marked the 100th 30-point game of his career, while his 14 fourth-quarter points helped the Heat overcome a 15-point deficit to defeat Indiana, 109-100.

Nowitzki averaged 27.0 points, 10.3 rebounds and 2.7 assists as Dallas went 3-0 on the week. Ranked fourth in the league in scoring (24.7 ppg), Nowitzki posted two double-doubles, including a 25-point, 10-rebound game against Memphis to give the Mavericks their first home-win this season, on Nov. 21. Nowitzki leads the Mavericks in scoring, rebounding and minutes, and has recorded 30 or more points five times this season.

Other nominees for the Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Week were Boston’s Rajon Rondo, Cleveland’s LeBron James, Dallas’ Jason Terry, Denver’s Chauncey Billups, New Jersey’s Vince Carter, Philadelphia’s Elton Brand and Phoenix’s Amare Stoudemire.

Keith Bogans out 4-6 weeks

Orlando Magic guard-forward Keith Bogans will miss approximately four-to-six weeks of action due to a fractured left thumb, General Manager Otis Smith announced today. Bogans suffered the injury during the Magic’s game against Houston on Saturday, November 22.

Bogans (6’5”, 215, 5/12/80) has played in all 13 games (one start) this season for Orlando, averaging 6.4 ppg. and 3.5 rpg. in 24.4 minpg.  He is shooting .362 (17-of-47) from three-point range and has scored in double figures three times.

Last season, Bogans appeared in all 82 games for the Magic, averaging 8.7 ppg., 3.2 rpg. and 1.3 apg. in 26.8 minpg., including 35 starts.  He shot .362 (148-of-409) from beyond the three-point arc.  Bogans also played in all 10 playoff outings, averaging 7.3 ppg., 4.2 rpg. and 1.1 apg. in 29.3 minpg.

Wizards fire coach Eddie Jordan

Washington Wizards President Ernie Grunfeld announced today that the team has relieved Head Coach Eddie Jordan of his duties. Ed Tapscott will lead the team as interim head coach beginning immediately.

“This was an extremely difficult decision because I’m personally very fond of Eddie,” said Wizards Chairman Abe Pollin. “He helped bring our franchise back to the playoffs and became engrained in the Washington, D.C., community. I will forever be grateful for his dedication and hard work. However, sometimes circumstances force changes. Our team is not performing to my expectations and I felt it was time to make a change. We wish Eddie and his family all the best.”

Jordan compiled an overall record of 197-224 (.468) during his five-plus-year tenure as head coach of the Wizards (he was originally hired on June 19, 2003). The Wizards have begun the 2008-09 campaign with a 1-10 record.

“Our 1-10 record is not acceptable and, more importantly, the way we have lost those games is not acceptable,” said Grunfeld. “We felt as an organization that it was time to make a change and we’re looking forward to the team moving in a positive direction.”

Tapscott was in his second season with the Wizards as director of player development/programs. In that role, he assisted the coaching staff in game preparation and player development. He has over 25 years of experience in basketball, including front office leadership roles with the New York Knicks and Charlotte Bobcats and a nine-year stint (1982-1990) as head coach of American University. During his time at American, he guided the team to more wins than any other coach in school history.

Assistant Coaches Phil Hubbard, Randy Ayers, Wes Unseld Jr. and Dave Hopla will remain with the team, while Associate Head Coach Mike O’Koren was also relieved of his duties today.

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Pistons will sign Antonio McDyess

The Boston Globe (Marc Spears) reports: As expected, free agent Antonio McDyess has decided to return back to the Detroit Pistons, according to his agent Andy Miller tonight… The Celtics were among 18 teams that were interested in the 2001 NBA All-Star and president Danny Ainge made calls to Miller and McDyess. Indications from the beginning, however, were that McDyess would return to Detroit although he can’t officially sign until Dec. 7.

Jermaine O`Neal day-to-day

The Toronto Raptors announced Saturday that centre Jermaine O’Neal sustained a strained left knee at the 11:37 mark of the fourth quarter during Friday’s game versus New Jersey. O’Neal had medical images taken of the knee Friday night that revealed no structural damage. His status is listed as day-to-day.

O’Neal had averaged 17 points and 13.5 rebounds over a five game stretch coming into Friday’s contest. He has posted averages of 12.9 points and 9.3 rebounds in 12 games this season.

Thunder fire coach PJ Carlesimo

The Oklahoma City Thunder announced today that PJ Carlesimo has been relieved of his duties as the team’s head coach.

“This was a very difficult decision to make,” said Executive Vice President/General Manager Sam Presti. “It is one that I felt was necessary at this time. I am very appreciative of the hard work and effort that PJ gave to this team and we wish him the best in his future endeavors.”

Assistant coach Scott Brooks will take over as interim head coach of the Thunder.

Carlesimo was named head coach on July 5 2007, becoming the 15th head coach in franchise history. During his one-plus season Carlesimo guided the franchise to a 21-74 (.221) record.

Over the span of eight seasons Carlesimo holds a career coaching record of 204-296 (.408).

The team also announced that Paul Westhead was relieved of his duties as assistant coach.