NBA News Blog – Page 650 – NBA Blog

Pistons sign Justin Harper to second 10-day contract

The Detroit Pistons signed forward Justin Harper to a second 10-day contract.

Harper in three games with Detroit this season is averaging 3.3 points and 0.3 rebounds in 7.5 minutes per outing.

Harper, 6-10, 225, averaged 14.8 points, 5.0 rebounds and 1.7 assists in 34 games with the Los Angeles D-Fenders (D-League) this season. He shot an impressive 48.5% from the field, 40.3% from beyond the arc and 88.5% from the free-throw line.

A second-round pick (32nd overall) by the Cleveland Cavaliers in the 2011 NBA Draft, Harper saw action in 14 NBA games with the Orlando Magic during the 2011-12 season.

Thunder sign Nazr Mohammed

The Oklahoma City Thunder signed free agent center Nazr Mohammed to a contract today, team Executive Vice President and General Manager Sam Presti announced.

Mohammed (6-10, 250), who is best used in very limited minutes off the bench, previously spent two seasons with the Thunder (2010-12), appearing in 87 games (eight starts) averaging 3.9 points and 3.3 rebounds in 12.9 minutes per game.

A 17-year NBA veteran, Mohammed owns career averages of 5.8 points, 4.7 rebounds and 15.9 minutes in 1000 games (354 starts) with Philadelphia, Atlanta, New York, San Antonio, Detroit, Charlotte, Oklahoma City and Chicago.

Pacers waive Chase Budinger

The Indiana Pacers announced they have requested waivers on 6-7 forward Chase Budinger.

Acquired from Minnesota in a trade last July, Budinger played in 49 games (starting two), averaging 4.4 points and 2.5 rebounds per game.

The Pacers are 32-30 this season, and being led by Paul George (23.4 ppg, 7.1 rpg, 4.2 apg), Monta Ellis (14.3 ppg, 4.7 apg), George Hill, C.J. Miles, and Myles Turner.

Sixers sign Christian Wood to 10-day contract

The Philadelphia 76ers called up forward Christian Wood from the Delaware 87ers and signed him to a 10-day contract.

Wood has appeared in 26 games with the Sevens this season, averaging a team-high nine rebounds, as well as 16 points on 52% shooting in 27 minutes per game.

Wood, who went undrafted in the 2015 NBA Draft, signed with the 76ers last September 14. He appeared in 14 career NBA games with the Sixers, averaging four points and two rebounds per game. Wood registered career-highs of 15 points and eight rebounds on November 13 at Oklahoma City.

Jerami Grant fined for throwing water bottle into stands

Philadelphia 76ers forward Jerami Grant has been fined $10,000 for throwing a water bottle into the spectator stands, it was announced today by Kiki VanDeWeghe, Executive Vice President, Basketball Operations.

The incident occurred with 8:44 remaining in the fourth quarter of the Sixers’ 116-108 loss to the Washington Wizards on Feb. 29 at Verizon Center.

In 26.1 minutes per game, Grant is averaging 9.2 points, 4.7 rebounds and 1.7 assists.

The Sixers are a league-worst 8-53 this season. Their rebuilding process continues.

Alexis Ajinca has a fractured sternum

$Alexis Ajinca has a fractured sternum$

New Orleans Pelicans center Alexis Ajinca missed tonight’s game against the San Antonio Spurs after being diagnosed with a fractured sternum. An MRI this afternoon revealed the injury, which occurred during the fourth quarter of last night’s game at Houston.

A timetable for his return will be announced following further evaluation.

Ajinca, 7-2, 248, has appeared in 47 contests (nine starts) this season for New Orleans, holding averages of 4.4 points and 4.0 rebounds.

Nuggets sign Axel Toupane to 10-day contract

The Denver Nuggets have signed forward Axel Toupane to a 10-day contract, General Manager and Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations Tim Connelly announced today.

Toupane (tu-PON), 6-7, 210, has appeared in 32 games (14 starts) for the Toronto 905 of the NBA D-League this season, averaging 14.6 points, 5.6 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 1.00 steals in 29.7 minutes per game. He is the 25th GATORADE Call-Up of the season so far.

The 23-year-old native of France has played professionally for Strasbourg of the French Pro National Basketball League A since 2011. He went undrafted in the 2014 NBA Draft.

Toupane will wear uniform #6 and the Nuggets roster now stands at 15 players.

Grizzlies re-sign Ryan Hollins

The Memphis Grizzlies today announced the team has re-signed center Ryan Hollins.

Hollins (7-0, 240) has averaged 2.8 points and 2.3 rebounds in 10.8 minutes in 19 games (three starts) with the Grizzlies and Washington Wizards this season. A member of the Grizzlies’ training camp roster, Hollins made five regular season appearances (three starts) for the Wizards and before being rejoining Memphis on Dec. 29 (waived on Jan. 7) and subsequently re-signing again to consecutive 10-day contracts on Jan. 21 and Feb. 1.

The 31-year-old has averaged 3.7 points and 2.2 rebounds in 500 career games (67 starts) over 10 NBA seasons with the Charlotte Bobcats, Dallas Mavericks, Minnesota Timberwolves, Cleveland Cavaliers, Boston Celtics, Los Angeles Clippers, Sacramento Kings, Washington Wizards and Memphis Grizzlies. A native of Pasadena, Calif., Hollins was selected by Charlotte in the second round (50th overall) of the 2006 NBA Draft following his senior season at the University of California, Los Angeles.

Timberwolves sign Greg Smith to 10-day contract

The Minnesota Timberwolves have signed forward/center Greg Smith to a 10-day contract. With the signing, Minnesota’s roster now stands at 14 players.

Smith, 25, has appeared in 16 games with the Raptors 905 in the NBA D-League this season, averaging 12.4 points, on 51.0% shooting, and 8.3 rebounds in 27.9 minutes per game. In 47 career games in the D-League, he has averaged 14.8 points on 60.6% shooting and 8.1 rebounds.

A four-year NBA veteran, Smith spent three seasons with the Houston Rockets (2011-14) before joining the Dallas Mavericks in 2014-15. He holds career averages of 4.2 points and 3.4 rebounds in 12.5 minutes over 131 career games (12 starts).

Smith will wear No. 4.

Grizzlies waive James Ennis

The Memphis Grizzlies have waived forward James Ennis.

Ennis (6-7, 210) has come off the bench in all 13 appearances with the Grizzlies and Miami Heat this season to average 1.2 points in 3.6 minutes. Memphis acquired Ennis with Mario Chalmers from Miami on Nov. 10 for Beno Udrih and Jarnell Stokes.

The 25-year-old California, Long Beach product has averaged 4.4 points and 2.4 rebounds in 75 games (three starts) over two seasons with the Heat and Grizzlies.