Category: NBA News Blog

NBA news blog

Report: Devean George blocks Kidd deal

ESPN (Marc Stein) reports: With the New Jersey Nets poised to complete a blockbuster deal to send Jason Kidd back to Dallas on Wednesday night, Mavericks reserve forward Devean George has unexpectedly exercised his right to block the trade, according to NBA front-office sources. Sources close to the situation told ESPN.com that the teams verbally agreed to the deal earlier Wednesday and were preparing to submit the trade for league approval when George informed the Mavericks that he wouldn’t consent to being included in the deal, which is his right based on a rare provision in his one-year contract.

Glen Davis strains quad muscle

The Boston Celtics are hosting the New York Knicks, and in the mid third quarter Boston forward Glen Davis spun in the air (it appeared to be a full 360) and landed badly, hurting his left knee.

A replay didn’t look particularly bad — no disgusting ‘obvious’ injury or anything — but Davis fell to the ground and stayed there, in obvious pain. He was eventually helped off the court and brought to the locker room. No word on how serious it is.

8:55 p.m. ET update: It’s just a strained quad muscle.

Mavs recall Nick Fazekas from D-League

The Dallas Mavericks recalled forward Nick Fazekas today from the Tulsa 66ers of the NBA D-League.

Fazekas (7-0, 235) was originally assigned to Tulsa on November 20.  He played in 28 games for the 66ers starting 24 times and averaged 19.1 points, 9.9 rebounds and 1.7 assists while shooting 55.3% from the field in 30.6 minutes per game.  He was selected to represent the 66ers at the D-League All-Star Game in New Orleans on February 16.

Fazekas, the 34th pick out of Nevada, played in two games for Dallas this season and averaged 1.0 points in 2.5 minutes per game.

Chris Mihm out 6 weeks after foot surgery

Los Angeles Lakers center Chris Mihm underwent successful surgery today to remove a screw from his right heel, it was announced today.

The 30 minute procedure was performed by Dr. Bert Mandelbaum of the Santa Monica Orthopedic and Sports Medicine Group.  Mihm’s recovery time is expected to be approximately six weeks.

In 19 games this season, including five starts, Mihm has averaged 4.1 points and 3.7 rebounds in 13.3 minutes.  During the 2005-06 season, Mihm played in 59 games (56 starts), averaging a career-best 10.2 points on 50.1 percent shooting from the field, while averaging 6.3 rebounds and 1.24 blocks in a career-high 26.1 minutes.

Currently in his fourth season with the Lakers, Mihm has averaged 9.3 points, 6.2 rebounds and 1.25 blocks in 153 games.

Wolves lose close game to Nets

Despite an off shooting night, the Wolves hung around until the closing minutes last night in New Jersey, ultimate falling to the Nets 92-88 to split the season series. Minnesota connected on just 5-of-19 attempts (.263) in the opening quarter, but played strong defense to stay even with the Nets at 16-16 after one.

Minnesota took it’s first lead of the game (24-23) on an Antoine Walker jumper early in the second quarter, but the Nets pushed back in front and took a 38-35 lead into the intermission. After the lead changed hands six times early in the third quarter, the Wolves shooters again went cold, missing eight of their final 11 shots in the third as the Nets used a 13-5 run to close the quarter and take an 66-56 lead into the final frame.

The Wolves finally found their range in the fourth quarter, connecting on 52 percent (13-for-25) in the period, but they could only cut the lead to four.

Sebastian Telfair led the way for the Wolves, finishing with 24 points, seven assists and only one turnover. Al Jefferson added a double-double with with 18 points and 11 rebounds, but connected on just 5-of-18 shots.

The Nets were led by Vince Carter’s 17 points and 10 assists, while Richard Jefferson added 13 points and 12 rebounds. Jason Kidd just missed his 100th career triple-double, finishing with nine points, 10 rebounds and nine assists.

Sonics recall Mickael Gelabale from D-League

The Seattle SuperSonics announced today that the team has recalled guard Mickael Gelabale from the Idaho Stampede of the NBA Development League.

Originally assigned to Idaho on Jan. 28, Gelabale appeared in six games with the Stampede and averaged 17.8 points, 4.3 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 32.5 minutes per game.

Under the affiliation system with the D-League, NBA teams can assign up to two players who are rookies or in their second season to their D-League affiliate. Players can stay with the D-League team for as long as the team wishes, and be recalled back to the NBA at any time. A player can only be sent to the D-League a maximum of three times during the season.

The Stampede, the D-League affiliate for the Sonics and the Portland Trail Blazers, are coached by Bryan Gates, who worked as an assistant for the Sonics during summer league play in Las Vegas and Salt Lake City this past July.

Latrell Sprewell losing home, yacht

Many of you reading the title above will assume this is just yet another joke about former NBA star Latrell Sprewell, who made many millions of dollars playing in the NBA yet insisted he needed money to feed his family. But he actually does have economic problems. The AP reports:

Former NBA star Latrell Sprewell’s home is up for foreclosure and his yacht sold at auction to help pay off the $1.3 million he owes on the boat, according to court filings. Sprewell, who once turned down a three-year, $21 million contract extension from the Timberwolves, saying, “I’ve got my family to feed,” apparently has fallen on tough times.

RBS Citizens NA, or Citizens Bank, filed a foreclosure suit last week in Milwaukee County for the $405,000 home Sprewell bought in the Milwaukee suburb of River Hills in 1994. In court documents, the bank said Sprewell owed $295,138 in outstanding payments plus interest. Sprewell failed to make his monthly mortgage payments of $2,593 from September 2007 to January 2008, the documents said.

I can tell you that when InsideHoops.com buys mansions and yachts, we pay cash, in full, with no mortgage. That’s just how we roll, son.

James Jones out 3-5 more weeks

Trail Blazers forward James Jones will be out of action an additional 3-5 weeks to rest his sore left knee, Portland general manager Kevin Pritchard announced today.

“James ability to knock down the three-point shot has proven to be one of the keys to our success here in the early going,” said Pritchard. “Originally, we felt holding him out through the All-Star break would be enough, but after consulting with our medical staff we feel an additional few weeks of rest is the best course of action.”

Prior to being sidelined on February 4, Jones averaged 9.1 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 23.2 minutes in 34 games for Portland this season. Jones is currently second in the NBA in three-point shooting percentage at .483.