Category: NBA News Blog

NBA news blog

T.J. Ford update: He seems OK

The Toronto Raptors announced Wednesday that guard T.J. Ford was released this morning from Piedmont Hospital in Atlanta, Georgia and has returned to Toronto. The results of images taken and interpreted at the hospital (X rays, CT scan and MRI) were negative. He will be reassessed by Raptors medical personnel.

Ford left last night’s game against the Atlanta Hawks at Philips Arena at the 1:32 mark of the fourth quarter after a collision with Hawks centre Al Horford. Ford was alert and had movement in his extremities when he was transported from the arena to the hospital for further evaluation.

No time frame has been established for a return to basketball activity. Ford is currently second on the Raptors in scoring (14.1) and assists (6.8) per game.

Heat waive Penny Hardaway, sign Luke Jackson

The  Miami  Heat announced today that they have requested waivers on guard Penny Hardaway  and signed free agent forward/guard Luke Jackson. Per team policy, terms of the  deal were not disclosed.
 
 Jackson, a 6’7”, 215-pound guard, has appeared in 59  games (two starts) in his three-year NBA career and averaged 2.9 points, 1.0  rebounds, 0.7 assists and 8.4 minutes while shooting 37.4 percent (58-of-155)  from the field, 35.6 percent (21-of-59) from three-point range and 75 percent  (36-of-48) from the free throw line.
 
 This season, the former 10th overall pick in  the 2004 NBA Draft, appeared in one game for the Idaho Stampede of the NBA  Development League and posted 30 points, nine assists, four rebounds, a steal  and a block in 31 minutes of action while shooting 7-of-14 from the field,  5-of-6 from three-point range and a perfect 11-of-11 from the free throw line.  Prior to that, after a stint with the Los Angeles Clippers and finishing the  season with the Toronto Raptors last season, Jackson appeared in 23 games (16  starts) for the Stampede and averaged 14.6 points, 4.5 rebounds, 3.9 assists and  1.3 steals in 29.7 minutes while shooting 48 percent (121-of-252) from the  field, 48.6 percent (34-of-70) from three-point range and 78.9 percent  (60-of-76) from the free throw line.
 
 Jackson, the former Oregon Duck, finished his four-year  colligate career as one of only two players in Pac-10 history to accumulate more  than 1,900 points, 700 rebounds and 400 assists while becoming the only player  in Oregon history to rank in the Top 10 in nine categories: free throws made  (first), scoring (second), steals (third), free throw percentage (third),  assists (fourth), field goals made (fourth), three-point field goals made  (sixth), three-point percentage (seventh) and rebounding (seventh).
 
 Penny Hardaway  appeared in 16 games (eight starts) for  Miami and averaged  3.8 points, 2.2 rebounds, 2.2

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.