Category: NBA News Blog

NBA news blog

Sonics assign Mickael Gelabale to D-League

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

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. Idaho will play host to Bakersfield on Dec. 26 and Anaheim on Dec. 28.

Grizzlies officially waive Damon Stoudamire

The Memphis Grizzlies waived point guard Damon Stoudamire, club Vice President of Basketball Operations and General Manager Chris Wallace announced today.

It was a buyout, details of which will be posted later tonight.

Assuming Stoudamire clears waivers, it’s expected that the Celtics, Suns and Raptors may have interest in signing him, with Boston the clear favorite according to multiple media outlets quoted regularly over the last week on the InsideHoops.com NBA rumors page.

The 5-10, 174-pound playmaker was averaging 7.3 points, 3.9 assists and 2.4 rebounds in 21.5 minutes in 29 games (all starts) this season. Stoudamire had not played in the club’s last 14 games since logging 17 minutes at San Antonio on Dec. 30.

Stoudamire appeared in 118 games (107 starts) in two-plus seasons for the Grizzlies and averaged 8.4 points, 4.6 assists, 2.6 rebounds and 0.7 steals in 25.3 minutes. Memphis originally signed Stoudamire as a free agent on August 5, 2005.

“We appreciate the consummate professionalism and love for the game which Damon exhibited in Memphis,” said Wallace. “The entire organization wishes him the best and hopes that he realizes his wish to join a championship contending team.”

Currently in his 13th NBA season, Stoudamire has averaged 13.8 points, 6.3 assists, 3.5 rebounds and 1.1 steals in 33.9 minutes in 847 career games (789 starts) with the Toronto Raptors (1995-98), Portland Trail Blazers (1997-2005) and Memphis (2005-08). The Portland native has made 1,222 career three-point field goals, which ties him with John Starks for 22nd place on the NBA’s all-time list and eighth among active players.

The 34-year-old was originally selected in the first round (seventh overall) in the 1995 NBA Draft by the Raptors. The University of Arizona product made an immediate impact, averaging 19.0 points and a career-best 9.3 assists, and was named 1995-96 NBA Rookie of the Year.

The Grizzlies’ roster currently stands at 13 players.

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Wolves assign Chris Richard to D-League

The Minnesota Timberwolves have assigned first-year center Chris Richard to the Sioux Falls SkyForce of the NBA Development League. Richard has appeared in 24 games for the Wolves this season, averaging 1.3 points and 1.9 rebounds in 9.2 minutes per game. Richard is the 27th player assigned to the D-League this season.

“Sioux Falls and the D-League will provide Chris with a great opportunity to play and gain valuable experience,” said Timberwolves Vice President of Basketball Operations Kevin McHale. “Chris is a player that we really like and we think has a bright future. With the current schedule in Sioux Falls, he’ll be able to have a few days of practice with the team before playing in several upcoming games.”

Per NBA rules, a player can be assigned to the team’s D-League affiliate a maximum of three times during the season. Sioux Falls, the D-League affiliate for Minnesota and Charlotte, is led by head coach Nate Tibbetts. Charlotte’s Jermareo Davidson is currently on assignment with Sioux Falls. The SkyForce have back-to-back home games against the Fort Wayne Mad Ants this Friday and Saturday before departing on a three-game road trip next week.

Devin Harris out 2-3 weeks

Mavericks guard Devin Harris underwent an MRI today on his left ankle. The results revealed a left ankle bone bruise. There is no additional structural damage. He is anticipated to return to activity in 2-3 weeks.

Harris suffered the injury at the 7:53 mark of the fourth quarter in last night’s game vs. Denver. In 39 games this season, Harris has averaged career-highs 14.4 points, 5.3 assists and 1.44 steals. He is also shooting 48.3% from the field, a career-high 35.7% from 3-point range and 82.1% from the free throw line.

He did not travel with the team to Memphis for tonight’s game.

Spurs recall Ian Mahinmi from D-League

The San Antonio Spurs announced today that they have recalled Ian Mahinmi from the Austin Toros of the NBA Development League (D-League).

In 24 games with the Toros, Mahinmi averaged 18.0 points, 7.7 rebounds and 1.20 blocks in 30.4 minutes. He is leading the D-League in field goal percentage, shooting .644 (154-239) from the field.  He set career-highs with 32 points and 17 rebounds in a 90-79 win at Utah on 12/21.  Mahinmi tied his points-high with 32 points at Tulsa on 1/27.

The 6-11, 230-pound Mahinmi appeared in six games for the Spurs this season, averaging 3.5 points in 3.8 minutes per contest.  He finished with a season-high 12 points and two blocks in 12 minutes of action vs. Milwaukee on Nov. 11. He was assigned to Austin on 11/21.

Originally selected by the Spurs in the first round (28th overall selection) of the 2005 NBA Draft, Mahinmi signed with the Silver and Black on Aug. 23, 2007.  He has spent the past four seasons playing in the French A League.  Last season he played for Pau-Orthez, appearing in 33 French League games, averaging 4.3 points and 3.2 rebounds in 12.7 minutes per game.  He also saw action in 18 EuroLeague games, averaging 3.7 points and 2.7 rebounds in 11.3 minutes per contest.

Mahinmi is the first player the Spurs have assigned to the Toros since Spurs Sports & Entertainment purchased the Austin franchise on June 28, 2007.  The Spurs join the L.A. Lakers as the second NBA team to own a D-League team (the Lakers own the L.A. Defenders).  Austin is led by first-year head coach Quin Snyder.

Anderson Varejao sprains left ankle

Cleveland Cavaliers forward Anderson Varejao left today’s game versus the Los Angeles Lakers with 3:12 remaining in the third quarter with a Left Ankle Sprain. X-rays taken at the Staples Center were negative. He will be re-evaluated tomorrow in LA and his status will be updated after that.

With Sasha Pavlovic’s recent injury, the last thing Cleveland needs is Varejao being hurt as well.

Knicks handle Sixers in New York

It wasn’t a pretty game, but Friday night in Madison Square Garden the New York Knicks, thanks to a balanced scoring effort and a good game from Zach Randolph, beat the Philadelphia 76ers 89-81.

For the Knicks, who have played well lately, Jamal Crawford (just 6-of-19) had 18 points and 5 assists. Zach Randolph (8-of-12) had 16 points and 15 rebounds. David Lee (6-of-8) had 14 points, Nate Robinson 13, and Eddy Curry 11.

For the struggling Sixers, Andre Iguodala (10-of-20) had 24 points, 6 rebounds and 3 steals, Willie Green (just 5-of-13) scored 13 points, Samuel Dalembert 12 with just 5 rebounds, and Andre Miller had 10 points with 6 assists.

Both teams struggled from the free throw line and three-point range. The Knicks controlled the glass. And they had 22 assists, while the Sixers only totaled 14.

“I just think, right now, we are playing again with a lot more trust,” said Knicks president and head coach Isiah Thomas. “We have good shot distribution. Everyone feels a part of the game.”

Randolph was especially impressive. “He had a nice offensive game,” said Sixers head coach Maurice Cheeks.

Iguodala recognized Crawford’s scoring ability: “Crawford is good. He can shoot.”

Crawford continues to nail tons of tough, off-balance, outside jumpers, often with time running out on the clock. It’s an impressive skill.

Fred Jones didn’t play for the Knicks. He has flu-like symptons. Also, Stephon Marbury is out for a long time after surgery.

The Knicks are now 10-14 at home. And the Sixers have now lost 7 of their last 8 road games.

New York now heads out West for a five game road trip. They face tough competition and could rack up several losses.

Only the Miami Heat are lower than the Knicks and 76ers in the Eastern conference standings.

Brent Barry out 3-4 weeks

The San Antonio Spurs today announced that a MRI had revealed that Brent Barry suffered a grade II strain of the medial head of his gastrocnemius muscle in his left calf. The injury occurred during the third quarter of the Spurs-Miami Heat game on 1/24. He is expected to miss three-to-four weeks.

Barry had previously torn the plantaris muscle in his left calf on 12/26 against Chicago. He missed nine games due to the injury.

Jazz assign Morris Almond to D-League

Utah Jazz general manager Kevin O’Connor announced today that the team has re-assigned rookie guard Morris Almond to the Utah Flash of the NBA Development League (D-League). Almond joins fellow rookie Kyrylo Fesenko, who is already on assignment with the Flash.

Almond, a 6-6, 225-pound guard out of Rice was selected by the Jazz in the first round (25th overall selection) of the 2007 NBA Draft. He has appeared in six games for the Jazz, totaling three points, one assist and one steal in 25 minutes of action. He appeared in two games for the Jazz during his most recent stint with the team, averaging 1.5 points and 0.5 assists in 7.0 minutes per game.

Almond was previously assigned to the Jazz’s D-League affiliate from December 6 – January 8 and appeared in 10 games (all starts) for the Flash, averaging a league-leading 29.8 points, along with 3.8 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 1.1 steals in 37.6 minutes per game. He was named D-League Player of the Week (Dec. 17-23) after averaging 43.5 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 2.0 steals while shooting 32-of-68 (.471) from the field. During that week, Almond scored a D-League record-tying 51 points in a win over the Austin Toros on December 21.

Almond will join the Flash for its game vs. Sioux Falls tonight.