NBA News Blog – Page 560 – NBA Blog

Darius Morris named D-League Player of Month

Rio Grande Valley Vipers guard Darius Morris today was named the NBA Development League Player of the Month for games played in February.

Morris (6-4, Michigan) led Rio Grande Valley to a 6-2 record behind averages of 21.9 points, 7.5 assists, 5.1 rebounds and 1.8 steals. He shot 46.6 percent from the field and scored over 25 points in four games in February. On Feb. 10, he recorded a triple-double with 19 points, 13 assists and 10 rebounds in a 116-112 victory over the Sioux Falls Skyforce. On Feb. 14, he hit a season-high six three pointers on his way to 26 points and added 14 assists and six rebounds in a 141-133 win over the Texas Legends.

Morris is averaging 20.3 points, 6.5 assists, 4.5 rebounds and 1.3 steals this season. He was selected by the Los Angeles Lakers with the 41st overall pick in NBA Draft 2011 presented by State Farm. He last appeared in the NBA with the Brooklyn Nets during the 2014-15 season.

Other players who received consideration for the monthly award were Delaware’s James Webb III, Grand Rapids’ Kevin Murphy, Los Angeles’ David Nwaba (called up by the Los Angeles Lakers on Feb. 28), Northern Arizona’s Elijah Millsap, Raptors 905’s Brady Heslip and Texas’ Jameel Warney.

Mike Dunleavy out with ankle injury

Atlanta Hawks guard/forward Mike Dunleavy has been diagnosed with right ankle synovitis.

An MRI taken at the Emory Orthopaedics and Spine Center on Feb. 28th revealed the injury and a second opinion by Dr. Richard Ferkel of the Southern California Orthopedic Institute also confirmed the diagnosis.

Dunleavy will now undergo a period of rest, treatment and rehabilitation and his status will be updated as appropriate.

Jarrett Jack injured, out 4-6 weeks

New Orleans Pelicans guard Jarrett Jack is expected to miss 4-6 weeks after suffering a right lateral meniscus tear.

Jack, 6-3, 200, was signed to a 10-day contract by New Orleans on February 24, and has appeared in two games, averaging 3.0 points and 2.5 assists in 16.5 minutes per game.

An 11-year NBA veteran, Jack has appeared in 805 career regular season games with Portland, Indiana, Toronto, New Orleans, Golden State, Cleveland and Brooklyn, averaging 11.0 points, 4.5 assists and 2.9 rebounds in 28.1 minutes per game.

Sixers sign Justin Harper to 10-day contract

The Philadelphia 76ers have signed forward Justin Harper to a 10-day contract.

Harper, a two-time NBA D-League All-Star, most recently saw action with the Los Angeles D-Fenders, where he appeared in 37 games (all starts) and posted averages of 16 points and seven rebounds in 29 minutes per game, while shooting 40 percent from three-point range.

A season ago, Harper played in 42 games (26 starts) with L.A. and averaged 15 points and six rebounds per game as he shot 39 percent from beyond the arc. On February 24, 2016, he signed the first of two 10-day contracts with the Detroit Pistons.

A veteran of two NBA seasons and three D-League campaigns, Harper has also played internationally in Italy, Israel and France.

Harper was originally selected with the 32nd overall pick of the 2011 NBA Draft by the Cleveland Cavaliers before being traded to the Orlando Magic on draft night. He played in 14 games as rookie, averaging six minutes per contest.

Harper started all 37 games during his senior season at Richmond, averaging 18 points and seven rebounds, as he was named 2011 First Team All-Atlantic 10. That year, he helped lead the Spiders to 29-8 record and an Atlantic 10 title. Richmond, as a No. 12-seed, reached the Sweet 16 for the second time in school history.

Harper will wear number 30 for the Sixers.

Cavs sign Andrew Bogut

The Cleveland Cavaliers have signed center Andrew Bogut, Cavaliers General Manager David Griffin announced today from Cleveland Clinic Courts.

Bogut (7-0, 260), was waived by Philadelphia on Monday after being traded to the 76ers by Dallas on February 23.

He’s a fantastic addition to the Cavs frontcourt. Bogut is an excellent defender and crafty veteran. He doesn’t score much, but is a welcome addition to a team that has the best record in the Eastern conference and third best record in the NBA through Wednesday’s games.

Playing in his 12th NBA season, Bogut owns career averages of 10.0 points on .534 shooting from the field, 8.9 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.6 blocks in 29.1 minutes over 670 games (651 starts) for Milwaukee, Golden State and Dallas. He is one of nine active players with at least 1,000 career blocks (1,070). A 2015 NBA champion, Bogut has also appeared in 58 playoff games (57 starts) and holds postseason averages of 5.5 points, 7.6 rebounds and 1.5 blocks in 22.5 minutes. He averaged 3.0 points and 8.3 rebounds in 22.4 minutes through 26 games (21 starts) with the Mavericks this season and pulled down double digits in rebounds on 10 occasions.

The 7-0 center was originally selected by the Bucks with the first overall pick in the 2005 NBA Draft and was an All-Rookie First Team selection in 2006. He was named to the All-NBA Third Team in 2010 and All-Defensive Second Team in 2015. Bogut has represented the Australian national team at three Olympic Games (2004, 2008 and 2016).

Bogut will wear jersey number 6 with the Cavs.

Warriors sign Matt Barnes

The Golden State Warriors have signed forward Matt Barnes. An excellent addition for the team with the best record in the NBA.

Barnes, 36, appeared in 54 games (13 starts) with the Sacramento Kings this season, tallying 7.6 points, 5.5 rebounds and 2.8 assists in 25.3 minutes per game. Barnes owns career averages of 8.2 points, 4.6 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 23.7 minutes in 909 career games (354 starts) over 14 NBA seasons with the Los Angeles Clippers, Sacramento Kings, New York Knicks, Philadelphia 76ers, Golden State Warriors, Phoenix Suns, Orlando Magic, Los Angeles Lakers and Memphis Grizzlies.

The 6’7” forward will make his second stint with the Warriors after spending the 2006-07 and 2007-08 campaigns with Golden State, where he helped the Warriors upset the top-seeded Dallas Mavericks in the 2007 playoffs and posted averages of 11.1 points and 5.7 rebounds while hitting 42.2 percent (19-of-45) from three-point range in 11 games (three starts) that postseason. Barnes has appeared in the playoffs in each of the last seven seasons and owns career marks of 7.6 points, 4.6 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.00 steals in 25.1 minutes over 83 postseason games (48 starts).

Barnes will wear uniform #22.

The Warriors roster now stands at 15 players.

Warriors sign then quickly waive Jose Calderon

The Golden State Warriors have waived guard José Calderón, the team announced today. Calderón was signed by the Warriors earlier today.

Calderón, 35, appeared in 24 games (11 starts) with the Los Angeles Lakers this season, tallying 3.3 points, 2.1 assists and 1.7 rebounds in 12.2 minutes per game. In 12 NBA seasons with the Toronto Raptors, Detroit Pistons, Dallas Mavericks, New York Knicks and Los Angeles Lakers, Calderón owns career averages of 9.7 points, 6.3 assists and 2.6 rebounds in 28.3 minutes over 772 games (557 starts) while shooting 47.3 percent from the field, 41.1 percent from three-point range and 87.5 percent from the free throw line.

A native of Villanueva de la Serena, Spain, Calderón played professionally in his home country for six seasons prior to his NBA career and has represented Spain in four Olympic Games (2004, 2008, 2012, 2016), capturing silver medals in 2008 and 2012 and a bronze medal in 2016.

The Warriors roster now stands at 14 players.

Wizards sign Brandon Jennings

Washington Wizards President Ernie Grunfeld announced today that the team has signed guard Brandon Jennings.

In addition, the team waived forward Danuel House.

“Brandon gives us playmaking ability and experience at the guard position while adding another scoring option as well,” said Grunfeld. “His presence, along with the recent acquisition of Bojan Bogdanovic and the continued progression of Ian Mahinmi, will help our team as we continue our push towards the playoffs.”

Jennings (6-1, 170) has played seven-plus seasons with Milwaukee, Detroit, Orlando and New York. In 518 career regular season games, he has averaged 14.8 points, 5.8 assists, 3.1 rebounds and 1.3 steals in 31.4 minutes per game. In 58 games (11 starts) for the New York Knicks this season, Jennings averaged 8.6 points, 4.9 assists and 2.6 rebounds in 25 minutes per game.

He has shot .349 from three-point range for his career, has ranked in the top 20 in the NBA in assists per game four times (including sixth in 2013-14 and averaged 16.7 points and 3.7 assists in 11 playoff games (11 starts) for the Bucks in 2010 and 2013 (including 18.7 points in seven games in 2010).

The former 2009 10th overall draft pick enjoyed his best season in 2011-12 for the Milwaukee Bucks when he averaged a career-high 19.1 points, 5.5 assists, 3.4 rebounds and 1.6 steals, while shooting a career-high .418 from the field. He was named to the 2009-10 NBA All-Rookie Team after averaging 15.5 points and 5.7 assists while playing all 82 games and played in Italy for Virtus Romas in 2008-09 after completing his high school career and before being drafted by Milwaukee.

House, who was signed as a free agent during the offseason, appeared in one game for the Wizards this season. He missed 39 games with a fractured right wrist and 10 games on assignment to the D-League.

Joel Embiid has season-ending injury, again

The Sixers were very careful with super-talented center Joel Embiid this season, playing him limited minutes, giving him plenty of rest during busy parts of the schedule, and trying to keep the big guy healthy.

But it didn’t work.

The team announced today that Embiid will miss the rest of the season. “The Process” is delayed once again.

The team recently announced that their other talented rookie, Ben Simmons, who hasn’t played this season, won’t be active until 2017-18.

Once again, the Sixers are about the future, not the present.

More on this: Joel Embiid injury update: out for season

Cavaliers waive Jordan McRae

The Cleveland Cavaliers have waived guard Jordan McRae, Cavaliers General Manager David Griffin announced today.

McRae has played in 37 games (four starts) averaging 4.4 points in 10.4 minutes for the Cavs this season. He appeared in 15 regular season games and two postseason games for the Cavs last season.

The Cavaliers roster now stands at 14.