The Dallas Morning News (Tim MacMahon) reports: Antoine Wright seems to have shored up the starting spot at shooting guard, allowing Jerry Stackhouse and Jason Terry to provide firepower off the pine. Erick Dampier and DeSagana Diop provide a solid defensive 1-2 punch in the middle. So I reckon that leaves backup point guard as the biggest concern in the rotation. Sorry, but it’s tough to get too worked up about who will run the point for the 12-15 minutes per game that Jason Kidd is resting.
Category: NBA News Blog
NBA news blog
Spurs waive Malik Hairston
The San Antonio Spurs announced today that they have waived guard/forward Malik Hairston.
Hairston averaged 5.3 points and 4.5 rebounds in six preseason games for San Antonio.
The Spurs roster stands at 15.
Heat waive David Padgett and Jason Richards
The Miami HEAT announced today that they have requested waivers on center David Padgett and guard Jason Richards. Both were initially signed as free agents by the HEAT on July 2, 2008.
Padgett appeared in three games in the preseason and averaged 3.7 points and 2.0 rebounds in 10.0 minutes per game.
Richards tore his left ACL and had it surgically repaired on September 2. He did not appear in any preseason games for the HEAT.
Don Nelson to sign contract extension
The Contra Costa Times (Marcus Thompson II) reports: Warriors coach Don Nelson confirmed after Saturday’s practice that he has agreed to a contract extension. A team source said the agreement was for two years and $12 million, some of which is deferred money. The new agreement, which Nelson said he has yet to sign, locks him up for three seasons, making him all but a lock to become the winningest coach in NBA history while with the Warriors. Nelson is 52 wins shy of current career wins leader Lenny Wilkens (2,612). “It wasn’t my idea,” said the 68-year-old Nelson, while toking on a cigar. “It was fine with me to weigh it year-to-year. But they came to me and wanted me to commit to three years and, uh, I’m pretty excited about it. It’s quite an honor really to be wanted. At my age, you’re lucky if anybody wants you. Hopefully, your wife.”
InsideHoops.com editor says: This is good news for the media. Because Nelson gives some of the best, most honest, no-holds-barred interviews of any coach in the history of basketball. It’s also good news for Warriors fans, because Don’s teams tend to always overachieve. It’s also good news for fans who like watching fun, fast-paced basketball. Other than all that, this is awful.
Blazers exercise four contract options
The Portland Trail Blazers exercised fourth-year options on the contracts of forward/center LaMarcus Aldridge, guard Sergio Rodriguez and guard Brandon Roy, while exercising their third-year option on center Greg Oden.
The moves, announced today by General Manager Kevin Pritchard, keep all four players under contract through the 2009-10 season.
The Trail Blazers acquired Aldridge, Rodriguez and Roy in 2006 draft day trades.
Portland selected Oden with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2007 NBA Draft.
Larry Hughes out 2-4 weeks
The Chicago Sun-Times (Brian Hanley) reports: Bulls guard Larry Hughes is expected to miss up two to four weeks with a dislocated right shoulder. Hughes, who initially was expected to be out from six to eight weeks, underwent a second MRI Friday, in which dye was injected into the injured joint, to give a more detailed picture of the damage.
Rockets waive DJ Strawberry
Houston Rockets General Manager Daryl Morey announced today that the team has waived guard D.J. Strawberry.
Strawberry (6-5, 201, Maryland) averaged 8.2 points and 1.0 steals in five preseason games this year. Strawberry was acquired by the Rockets from the Phoenix Suns on August 25, 2008 after a rookie campaign with the Suns in which he averaged 2.2 points on .315 (29-92) shooting in 33 games.
The Rockets roster now stands at 14 players.
Bucks waive Matt Freije
The Milwaukee Bucks have requested waivers on forward Matt Freije, General Manager John Hammond announced today.
Freije, 27, signed a free agent contract with Milwaukee on October 1. He appeared in five preseason games, averaging 7.0 points and 2.8 rebounds in 12.0 minutes.
The Bucks roster currently stands at 15 entering tonight’s game against the Chicago Bulls (7:30 p.m., WTMJ 620 AM).
Bulls exercise 3 player options
The Chicago Bulls announced today the team has picked up the options for the 2009-10 season for forward Tyrus Thomas, guard Thabo Sefolosha and forward/center Joakim Noah. The announcement means that all three players will be under contract for the Bulls for the 2009-10 season.
In two seasons with Chicago, Thomas (6-9, 215) has appeared in 146 games (31 starts) and averaged 6.0 ppg, 4.2 rpg and 1.01 bpg in 15.7 mpg; he has shot .443 from the field and .673 from the line. Selected to the 2006-07 T-Mobile NBA All-Rookie Second Team, Thomas was drafted in the first round (fourth overall) by Portland in NBA Draft 2006 and was traded to the Bulls, along with Viktor Khryapa, for the draft rights to LaMarcus Aldridge.
Sefolosha (6-7, 215) has played in 140 games (26 starts) the last two years for the Bulls and posted averages of 5.1 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 1.4 apg in 16.5 mpg and shot .427 from the field, .338 from behind the arc and .658 from the line. Sefolosha was selected in the first round (13th overall) by Philadelphia in NBA Draft 2006 and was traded to the Bulls in a draft-day deal for the draft rights to Rodney Carney and cash considerations.
Noah (6-11, 232) enters his second season with the Bulls, after appearing in 74 games (31 starts) his rookie year. In 2007-08, he compiled averages of 6.6 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 1.1 apg, 0.92 spg and 0.86 bpg in 20.7 mpg; he shot .482 from the field and .691 from the line. The Bulls selected Noah in the first round (ninth overall) in NBA Draft 2007.
Spurs waive three players
The San Antonio Spurs announced Thursday that they have waived guard/forward Devin Green, guard Salim Stoudamire and center Darryl Watkins.
Green appeared in four games during the preseason, averaging 7.0 points, 2.8 assists, 1.8 rebounds and 1.25 steals in 21.8 minutes per game.
Stoudamire played in two preseason games, averaging 5.5 points, 2.5 assists and 1.5 rebounds in 19.0 minutes of action.
Green saw action in five preseason games, averaging 3.2 points and 3.2 rebounds in 15.0 minutes of action.
The Spurs roster now stands at 16.