NBA News Blog – Page 573 – NBA Blog

Jeremy Lin injury update: out another 3-5 weeks

New Brooklyn Nets point guard Jeremy Lin has spent far more time this season watching basketball than actually playing it.

Nets General Manager Sean Marks released the following statement today:

“During the course of his rehab, Jeremy re-aggravated his strained left hamstring and will be out approximately three to five weeks as he continues to work towards a full recovery. We understand and appreciate Jeremy’s competitive desire to get back on the court with his teammates, however, we are going to be cautious with his rehab in order to ensure that he is at full strength once he returns.”

The Nets are 9-34 this season, which is the worst record in the NBA. Lin has played in just 12 of the team’s 43 games, averaging 13.9 points, 5.8 assists and 1.3 steals per outing.

Spurs sign Joel Anthony to 10-day contract

The San Antonio Spurs have signed forward/center Joel Anthony to a 10-day contract.

It’s tough to predict if the Spurs will keep Anthony beyond the 10-day deal. He’s right on the edge between sticking around in the NBA and falling out of it.

Anthony (6-9, 245), was in training camp with the Spurs earlier this season where he appeared in six preseason games, averaging 4.2 points and 3.3 rebounds in 13.9 minutes before being waived on Oct. 22.

A nine-year NBA veteran, Anthony most recently played with the Detroit Pistons during the 2015-16 season. The UNLV product has also played for the Boston Celtics and the Miami Heat, where he spent his first six-plus seasons and won back-to-back NBA championships in 2012 and 2013. Anthony has appeared in 471 career games, averaging 2.2 points, 2.8 rebounds and 1.11 blocks in 14.7 minutes.

Anthony will wear No. 30 for the Silver and Black.

Orlando Magic sign Anthony Brown to 10-day contract

The Orlando Magic have signed guard-forward Anthony Brown to a 10-day contract, General Manager Rob Hennigan announced today. Brown becomes the 12th GATORADE Call-Up from the NBA Development League this season. He will wear #21 with the Magic.

Brown (6’7”, 211, 10/10/92) has played and started in 16 games this season with the Erie BayHawks of the NBA Development League, averaging 21.6 ppg., 5.1 rpg., 3.4 apg. and 1.00 stlpg. in 39.2 minpg., while shooting .472 (42-89) from three-point range. He also appeared in nine games this season with New Orleans, averaging 3.8 ppg. and 2.9 rpg. in 15.8 minpg. Brown was signed by the Pelicans on Nov. 21, then waived on Dec. 9.

Originally selected in the second round (34th overall) of the 2015 NBA Draft by the Los Angeles Lakers, Brown has appeared in 38 career NBA games with the Lakers and New Orleans, averaging 3.9 ppg. and 2.5 rpg. in 19.5 minpg. He has also played in 23 career D-League games with Los Angeles and Erie, averaging 19.4 ppg., 4.7 rpg. and 2.9 apg. in 37.5 minpg., while shooting .419 (57-136) from three-point range.

Brown played collegiately at Stanford University from 2010-15 (medical redshirt in 2012-13). He appeared in 144 career games (106 starts) with the Cardinal, averaging 10.8 ppg., 4.8 rpg. and 1.6 apg. in 29.2 minpg., while shooting .403 (218-541) from three-point range. He was named the Pac-12 Comeback Player of the Year in 2013-14, helping Stanford reach the Sweet Sixteen during the NCAA Tournament.

The Orlando Magic and the Erie BayHawks are in the final year of a three-year single affiliation partnership. Orlando became the 16th NBA team to have a one-to-one affiliation with an NBA D-League team. The partnership, also referred to as a “hybrid affiliation,” allows an NBA team to control the NBA D-League team’s basketball operations, while the existing local ownership maintains primary responsibility for the team’s off-the-court business operations and community initiatives.

NBA fines Wizards, Sidney Lowe over Knicks game

Washington Wizards assistant coach Sidney Lowe has been fined $5,000, and the Wizards’ organization has been fined $15,000, for Lowe’s standing on the playing court and potentially impacting game action during Washington’s 113-110 win over New York on Jan. 19 at Madison Square Garden, it was announced today by Kiki VanDeWeghe, Executive Vice President, Basketball Operations.

Sixers sign Chasson Randle to second 10-day contract

The Philadelphia 76ers signed guard Chasson Randle to a second 10-day contract today.

Randle has appeared in two games since being signed by the Sixers on January 9. He posted 10 points in 16 minutes in Monday’s win over the Bucks in Milwaukee.

Randle was most recently with the NBA D-League Westchester Knicks, where he appeared in 19 games and posted averages of 21 points, four rebounds, three assists and one steal in 32 minutes per game, while shooting 40% from three-point range.

Randle played four years at Stanford, posting career averages of 17 points, three rebounds, three assists and one steal in 144 career games (142 starts). He was named to the All-PAC 12 First Team his junior and senior seasons, and capped his collegiate career as Stanford’s all-time leading scorer with 2,375 points.

Kristaps Porzingis and Joakim Noah will have MRIs Thursday

The 18-24 Knicks have lost eight of their last ten games through Tuesday’s action. They’re hoping not to lose Kristaps Porzingis for much longer. The talented young big hasn’t played in the last four games (including Wednesday night’s action). Here’s NY Newsday reporting:

Kristaps Porzingis and Joakim Noah were unable to play Wednesday night, and both are scheduled to undergo MRIs Thursday morning on their respective injuries.

Porzingis has a sore left Achilles that kept him out for a fourth straight game. Noah sat out against the Celtics with a sprained left ankle.

Noah said his ankle swelled up after the plane ride to Boston and he was in so much pain he didn’t even test it out at shootaround or before the game. Porzingis went through shootaround and did a workout before the game.

Hawks sign Gary Neal to 10-day contract

The Atlanta Hawks signed guard Gary Neal to a 10-day contract today, team President of Basketball Operations/Head Coach Mike Budenholzer announced.

Neal has played six seasons in the NBA with San Antonio, Milwaukee, Charlotte, Minnesota and Washington, and has averaged 9.9 points, 2.2 rebounds and 1.6 assists, logging 21.4 minutes in 350 games (31 starts). The native of Baltimore, MD played collegiately at La Salle (2002-04) and Towson (2005-07) and was undrafted in 2007.

Neal, who was most recently with the Texas Legends of the NBA Development League, will wear uniform No. 14.

Hawks trade for draft rights to Cenk Akyol

The Atlanta Hawks have acquired a Traded Player Exception and the draft rights to Cenk Akyol as part of a trade that sent Mo Williams to the Denver Nuggets, President of Basketball Operations/Head Coach Mike Budenholzer announced today.

The Hawks will have one year from today to utilize the Traded Player Exception.

Akyol, 29, was originally drafted by the Hawks with the 59th overall selection in the second round of the 2005 NBA Draft. The 6-6 guard from Turkey currently plays for Acibadi Universitesi Istanbul of the Turkish Basketball League and has appeared in 11 games this season, averaging 6.8 points, 3.0 rebounds and 1.64 assists in 21.4 minutes per game.

Williams, 34, was traded from Cleveland to Atlanta along with Mike Dunleavy and a conditional 2019 first round pick in exchange for Kyle Korver on Jan. 7, 2017. He has appeared in a total of 818 career games (525 starts) over 15 seasons with Milwaukee, Cleveland, Utah, L.A. Clippers, Portland, Minnesota and Charlotte, averaging 13.2 points, 2.8 rebounds and 4.9 assists in 29.2 minutes.

Chris Paul out 6-8 weeks with thumb injury

The L.A. Clippers announced today that guard Chris Paul will undergo surgery on Wednesday, Jan. 18 to repair a torn ligament in his left thumb. Dr. Steve Shin will perform the procedure.

Paul is expected to miss approximately six-to-eight weeks and will continue to undergo treatment and evaluation by the Clippers medical staff.

According to ESPN.com, “Paul was defending Russell Westbrook and sprained the thumb fighting over a screen set by Joffrey Lauvergne at the top of the 3-point line. The Clippers called a timeout shortly after, and Paul immediately walked off the court, kicking the bench as he exited. Paul could be seen on the TNT broadcast shaking his head at Clippers team trainer Jasen Powell as they walked through the players tunnel to the locker room.”

In 36 games this season, the Clippers are 26-9 with Paul in the lineup. The nine-time NBA All-Star is averaging 17.5. points, 9.7 assists and 5.3 rebounds this season and leads the NBA with 2.25 steals per game.

Omri Casspi out with calf injury

An MRI taken last night at Kaiser Permanente in Sacramento revealed that forward Omri Casspi suffered a strain of the right plantaris tendon during practice on Monday.

He is expected to miss up to two weeks of action.

The eight-year NBA veteran is averaging 5.9 points (.453 FG%, .379 3pt%, .571 FT%), 4.1 rebounds and 1.2 assists in 18 minutes per contest this season.

According to the Sacramento Bee, “it has been a trying season for Casspi, whose role has diminished under Dave Joerger. Casspi had appeared in just six of the Kings’ last 15 games and is averaging 5.9 points and 4.1 rebounds.”