Category: NBA News Blog

NBA news blog

Garbajosa out after surgery

Ticker reports: Toronto Raptors forward Jorge Garbajosa underwent surgery on his left leg and ankle on Tuesday and is out indefinitely. The procedure was performed by Dr. Mark Myerson, who has instructed Garbajosa to stay off his feet for a minimum of 10 weeks. There is no timetable for his return. The 6-9 Garbajosa suffered the injury at the end of March in a game against the Boston Celtics and required surgery. However, the second-year forward opted not to have the procedure in order to play for Spain in EuroBasket 2007 over the summer.

David Stern won’t punish Thomas, Knicks for role in sexual harassment trial

The Associated Press (Brian Mahoney) reports: NBA commissioner David Stern won’t punish Isiah Thomas or Madison Square Garden for their role in a sexual harassment trial that embarrassed the Knicks and the league. “Instead, we are going to continue to focus our attention on a league-wide program ensuring that all teams have appropriate policies, clearly communicated to their employees, focusing on respect in the workplace including the prohibition of sexual harassment,” Stern said in a statement. On Monday, Thomas and MSG settled the case brought by former team executive Anucha Browne Sanders for $11.5 million. A jury awarded her $11.6 million in punitive damages in October — a trial Stern wanted the Knicks to avoid, a person with knowledge of the situation told The Associated Press.

Kings sign Dahntay Jones, waive Darryl Watkins

The Sacramento Kings today signed guard/forward Dahntay Jones to a contract and requested waivers on center Darryl Watkins, it was announced by Kings’ President of Basketball Operations Geoff Petrie.

Jones, a first round selection (20th overall) by the Boston Celtics in the 2003 NBA Draft, has spent all four of his NBA seasons playing for the Memphis Grizzlies. He has amassed career averages of 5.1 points (.442 FGs, .330 3FGs, .722 FTs), 1.6 rebounds and 0.6 assists per game through 221 outings. His best year, statistically, was last season when he averaged 7.5 points, 2.0 rebounds and 0.9 assists per game for the Grizzlies.

Watkins, who currently is in his rookie season out of Syracuse, has played in nine games this year for the Kings, averaging 1.3 points (.333 FGs, .400 FTs) and 1.3 rebounds per game.

MSG sexual harassment case settled

The Associated Press reports: Madison Square Garden and New York Knicks coach Isiah Thomas have settled the sexual harassment case brought by a former team executive who was awarded $11.6 million in punitive damages. Terms of the settlement were not immediately disclosed. “I am extremely pleased that we have reached a settlement,” Anucha Browne Sanders said in a statement.

Trail Blazers assign Taurean Green to D-League

The Portland Trail Blazers assigned rookie guard Taurean Green to the Idaho Stampede of the NBA Development League, it was announced Monday by Trail Blazers general manager Kevin Pritchard.

“This is a great opportunity for Taurean to get some more playing time and in-game experience at a professional level,” said Pritchard. “We’re grateful to have a partnership with Idaho and the D-League to help us develop our young players.”

Green, 21, is averaging 2.3 points, 1.3 assists and 6.0 minutes in four games with the Trail Blazers this season after being selected by Portland with the 52nd overall pick in the 2007 NBA Draft.

The 6-0, 177-pounder spent three seasons at the University of Florida, where he guided the Gators to back-to-back NCAA National Championships as the team’s starting point guard.

Green becomes the 17th NBA player assigned to the D-League this season, and the fourth in Trail Blazers history.

This is the first season the Trail Blazers are affiliated with the Boise-based Stampede.

Pistons assign Cheikh Samb to D-League

The Detroit Pistons announced today that they will assign rookie center Cheikh Samb to their NBA Development League affiliate, the Fort Wayne Mad Ants, on Monday, December 10.  The Mad Ants are scheduled to play Dakota on Thursday, December 13 at 7:00 p.m.

Samb was acquired by the Pistons on draft day from the Los Angeles Lakers in exchange for Maurice Evans on June 28, 2006. Drafted by the Lakers with the 51st pick in the second round of the 2006 NBA Draft, Samb spent the 2006-07 season playing overseas with WTC Cornella in the Spanish LEB2 League.

The 7-foot-1, 215-pound center made his NBA debut with the Pistons at the L.A. Lakers on November 16, scoring two points with four rebounds and two blocks in 15 minutes.  In two games this season, Samb is averaging 1.5 points, 2.0 rebounds and 1.0 blocks in 10.5 minutes per game.

No timetable has been set for his return.

David Noel out 4-6 weeks

The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel reports: The Milwaukee Bucks announced before Friday’s game that forward David Noel would be out for from four to six weeks with a sprained right wrist. Noel underwent an examination under anesthesia by Dr. Donald Bynum at the  University of North Carolina Orthopedics in Chapel Hill, N.C. The diagnostic arthroscopy confirmed a right wrist sprain.

Bulls waive Thomas Gardner, sign Demetric Nichols

The Chicago Bulls announced today that the team has waived guard Thomas Gardner.  In a subsequent move, the team also announced that it has picked up forward Demetris Nichols on waivers.

Gardner (6-5, 225), an undrafted rookie out of the University of Missouri, appeared in four games with the Bulls this season and averaged 5.3 ppg (9-23 FG) and 1.0 rpg in 11.3 mpg.  He shot .391 from the field and .250 from behind the arc.  Gardner signed with Chicago prior to training camp on Oct. 1.

Nichols (6-8, 215) comes to Chicago after spending time with New York and Cleveland earlier this season.  In three games this year, he has scored two points and grabbed one rebound in 14 minutes.  Originally selected by Portland in the second round (53rd selection) of NBA Draft 2007, Nichols enjoyed a four-year collegiate career at Syracuse where he averaged 10.9 ppg, 4.1 rpg and 1.1 apg.

Nichols will join the team tomorrow when the Bulls host the Boston Celtics.  With his signing, Chicago’s roster now stands at 15.

Brewer bricks but breaks out

Wolves rookie Corey Brewer, although he shot just 3-of-15, turned in his best all-around performance of the season last night in a loss to the Atlanta Hawks. Playing a career-high 44 minutes, the former Florida Gator did not turn the ball over once and grabbed 18 rebounds, handed out five assists and swiped four steals, all career-bests for the seventh overall pick in last summer’s draft. Brewer’s 18 rebounds were the most by a Timberwolves rookie in over a decade and the third-most all-time.