Category: NBA News Blog

NBA news blog

Obama played basketball on election day

The AP reports: Barack Obama unwound with a couple hours of basketball Tuesday as he awaited Election Day results that he hoped would give him not only the White House, but by a margin that would help to unite red and blue America… Later, Obama spent two hours at the Attack Athletic Center on the city’s west side to play basketball with friends and staff. He made the game a voting-day ritual early in the primary campaign after he won in Iowa and South Carolina on days when he’d played basketball. He’d lost in New Hampshire and Nevada, on days when he didn’t play. As Obama played basketball, a crowd of about 75 people gathered in a park across the street in hopes of catching a glimpse when he emerged.

Thunder sign Steven Hill

Oklahoma City Thunder General Manager Sam Presti announced today that the team has signed center Steven Hill.

Hill (7-0, 245) saw action in three preseason games with the Portland Trailblazers, recording averages of 1.0 points, 0.7 rebounds, 0.67 blocks and 9.0 minutes.

The Missouri native played four seasons at the University of Arkansas where he averaged 4.2 points, 2.9 rebounds and 2.11 blocks as a senior. Hill was named Southeastern Conference Defensive Player of the Year as a junior.

The Thunder roster now stands at 15.

Thunder waive John Lucas

Oklahoma City Thunder General Manager Sam Presti announced today that the team has waived point guard John Lucas III.

Lucas averaged 5.0 points and 2.7 assists in three preseason contests. He was inactive for all three of the Thunder regular season games.

The Thunder roster now stands at 14.

Iverson to be traded for Billups

The Denver Nuggets don’t appear to be championship-bound with a core of Carmelo Anthony and Allen Iverson. The team is good, but may never be great. With Melo the younger player, the Nuggets are giving up on the combo and sending Iverson to Detroit. In return, the Pistons will send point guard Chauncey Billups and power forward/center Antonio McDyess to Denver.

InsideHoops.com first got wind this deal, which has been reported as a rumor in the past, would actually happen from Marc Spears’ Boston Globe blog.

Looking at the trade for the Pistons: Detroit gets a big-time scorer in Iverson who is a natural shooting guard but can pretend to be a point guard. Chances are, Iverson will start at PG, with Richard Hamilton staying at shooting guard, and young talented point guard Rodney Stuckey continuing to come off the bench. Hamilton is too undersized to play small forward for more than a few minutes. Billups is a better floor general than Iverson, but Iverson’s the quicker player and better scorer. As for Antonio McDyess, he was coming off the bench but still important for Detroit. Amir Johnson and Jason Maxiell will have to step up more with Dice gone. And Kwame Brown becomes more important.

Detroit also gets tons of extra salary cap space in the deal.

Looking at the trade for the Nuggets: Gone is Iverson and in comes Billups, who is better than Iverson at running an total team offense. Billups is also a stronger, more physical defender. Billups doesn’t draw defensive attention like Iverson does, but he can do a better job setting up JR Smith, Carmelo Anthony (who can also create his own offense anytime he wants), Kenyon Martin and Nene.

Also, Billups is a Denver guy.

Warriors sign Rob Kurz

The Golden State Warriors have signed free agent forward Rob Kurz, Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations Chris Mullin announced today.

Kurz appeared in four of Golden State’s six preseason games, averaging 4.5 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 1.8 assists in 14 minutes per game. He was originally signed as a free agent training camp invitee on September 9 and subsequently waived on October 27.

To make room for Kurz on the 15-man roster, the Warriors have transferred guard Monta Ellis to the suspended list.  Kurz will wear uniform #31.