NBA News Blog – Page 747 – NBA Blog

NBA to release last-two-minute reports

NBA to release last-two-minute reports

The National Basketball Association today announced a new transparency initiative relating to its officiating program. Beginning March 2 and continuing throughout the 2015 playoffs, the league will provide play-by-play reports regarding all calls and material non-calls that occur in the last two minutes of close games and during entire overtime periods. This new initiative creates a more specific protocol for commenting on the most scrutinized calls in NBA games.

“Our fans are passionate and have an intense interest in understanding how the rules are applied,” said Mike Bantom, Executive Vice President of Referee Operations. “NBA referees have the most difficult officiating job in sports, with so many split-second decisions in real time. We trust this consistent disclosure will give fans a greater appreciation of the difficulty of the job and a deeper sense of the correct interpretations of the rules of our game.”

The league will release assessments of officiated events in the last two minutes of games decided in regulation that were within five points at the two-minute mark. Also, the reports will include plays from the last two minutes and overtime of OT games. Each play will be reviewed by a senior referee manager or basketball operations manager who will provide the assessments.

Derrick Rose injury update: Out 4-6 weeks after knee surgery

Derrick Rose injury update: Out 4-6 weeks after knee surgery

The Chicago Bulls announced today that guard Derrick Rose underwent a successful meniscectomy earlier this morning to repair a medial meniscus tear in his right knee. The procedure was performed by Bulls head team physician Dr. Brian Cole at Rush Surgicenter.

“This morning’s procedure went great,” said Chicago Bulls General Manager Gar Forman. “Derrick is expected to make a full recovery and he is anticipated to return to play in four to six weeks.”

Taking history into account, 4-6 weeks sounds pretty optimistic. We’ve been through this before, sadly, but logic suggests D-Rose and the Bulls should take it slow, and ease him back into the mix.

Earl Lloyd, the first black player to play in the NBA, has died

Earl Lloyd, the first black player to play in the NBA, has died

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver released the following statement regarding the passing of Earl Lloyd:

“The NBA family has lost one of its patriarchs. Earl Lloyd, the first African-American to play in an NBA game, was as inspirational as he was understated. He was known as a modest gentleman who played the game with skill, class, and pride. His legacy survives in the league he helped integrate, and the entire NBA family will strive to always honor his memory. Our deepest condolences to the Lloyd family.”

According to Sekou Smith of the NBA.com blog, “Floyd suited up with the Washington Capitols on October 31, 1950. Charles Cooper and Nat Clifton would join him in the 1950-51 season, an arduous journey during those tumultuous times, but one that Lloyd, a former West Virginia State star, survived all of the drama and won a championship in 1955 with the Syracuse Nationals. Lloyd finished his 10-year playing career with the Detroit Pistons and when he retired he was 43rd on the NBA career scoring list with 4,682 points.”

According to the Detroit Free Press, “The 6-foot-5 forward averaged 8.4 points and 6.4 rebounds in 560 regular-season games in nine seasons with Washington, Syracuse and the Detroit Pistons. He missed the 1951-52 season while serving in the U.S. Army. Lloyd played for the Pistons in 1958-60, averaging 8.6 points, 5.9 rebounds and 1.3 assists. He also was 22-55 as Detroit’s coach in 1971-72 and the first nine games of the 1972-73 season.”

According to the Washington Post, “a native of Alexandria, Lloyd was one of three black players drafted by the league in 1950; the others were Chuck Cooper and Nat “Sweetwater” Clifton. Lloyd was a ninth-round pick by the Washington Capitols, and in a 2007 interview with The Washington Post, he recalled being surprised to learn of his selection by that team, as he thought of the D.C. area as a “cradle of segregation.” Lloyd came to break the NBA’s color barrier by a quirk of the schedule, as the Capitols began their season before the teams for which Cooper and Clifton played. On Oct. 31, 1950, the 6-foot-6 forward entered a game against the Rochester Royals, paving the way for thousands of black basketball players to come.”

Miami Heat sign Michael Beasley to 10-day contract

Miami Heat sign Michael Beasley to 10-day contract

The Miami HEAT announced today that they have signed forward Michael Beasley to a 10-day contract.

Beasley most recently played in the Chinese Basketball Association, signing a one-year deal with the Shanghai Sharks on Oct. 9, 2014. He averaged 27.1 points, 10.4 rebounds, 5.2 assists and 1.92 steals in 37 games while shooting 51.3 percent from the floor. His time with the Sharks was highlighted by capturing MVP honors at the 2015 CBA All-Star Game where he came off the bench to score a CBA All-Star Game record 59 points.

The 6’9 1/2”, 235-pound forward begins his third stint with the HEAT. He was originally drafted by Miami with the second pick of the 2008 NBA Draft and played two seasons with the HEAT before being traded to Minnesota on July 12, 2010. He re-joined the HEAT last season, signing as a free agent on Sept. 11, 2013. Beasley appeared in 55 games (two starts) with the HEAT last season and averaged 7.9 points, 3.1 rebounds and 15.1 minutes while shooting 49.9 percent from the floor, 38.9 percent from three-point range and 77.2 percent from the line. In his three seasons as a member of the HEAT he has appeared in 214 games (99 starts) and averaged 12.7 points, 5.2 rebounds, 1.1 assists and 24.1 minutes while shooting 46.6 percent from the floor, 34.6 percent from three-point range and 78.34 percent from the foul line.

In addition to his time with the HEAT, Beasley has also played with the Minnesota Timberwolves and Phoenix Suns during his six-year NBA career. He has appeared in 409 NBA regular season games (199 starts) and has averaged 13.2 points, 4.9 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 24.9 minutes while shooting 45 percent from the floor, 34.8 percent from three-point range and 75.8 percent from the foul line. In 12 postseason games (five starts), all with Miami, he has averaged 11.4 points, 6.7 rebounds and 26.1 minutes while shooting 40.9 percent from the field, 33.3 percent from three-point range and 76.9 percent from the foul line.

Beasley will wear number 30.

Pistons sign John Lucas III for remainder of season

Pistons sign John Lucas III for remainder of season

Detroit Pistons General Manager Jeff Bower announced today that the club has signed guard John Lucas III for the remainder of the season following two consecutive 10-day contracts.

The 5-foot-11, 166-pound guard has averaged 5.0 points, 3.3 assists and 12.2 minutes in eight games with Detroit. He scored a season-high 10 points at Indiana (2/4) and has dished out a season-high six assists twice.

Originally signed on February 2, he was signed to a second 10-day contract on February 12. Lucas joined the Pistons following a stint with the Fujian Sturgeons of the Chinese Basketball Association where he averaged 26.6 points, 7.1 assists, 4.7 rebounds, 1.3 steals and 43.5 minutes in 26 games.

The Washington, DC native has spent parts of six seasons in the NBA with the Houston Rockets, Chicago Bulls, Toronto Raptors and Utah Jazz. He holds career averages of 4.8 points, 1.4 assists, 1.0 rebounds and 12.2 minutes in 216 games (eight starts) and is a career 34.7-percent shooter from three-point range.

Lucas has also spent time in the NBA’s Developmental League and played internationally in Italy, Spain and China. He played collegiately at Oklahoma State University.

Ronnie Price out 6-8 weeks after elbow surgery

Ronnie Price out 6-8 weeks after elbow surgery

Lakers guard Ronnie Price underwent successful surgery this morning to remove bone spurs and bone chips from his right elbow. The surgery was performed by Dr. Neal ElAttrache of the Kerlan-Jobe Orthopaedic Clinic. Price is expected to be out approximately six to eight weeks.

Price, who signed with the Lakers as a free agent on September 24, has appeared in 43 games (20 starts) this season, averaging 5.1 points, 1.6 rebounds, 3.8 assists, and 1.56 steals in 22.8 minutes per game.

Sixers add Thomas Robinson, release Tim Frazier

Sixers add Thomas Robinson, release Tim Frazier

The Brooklyn Nets had reportedly planned to sign forward Thomas Robinson once he cleared waivers. But the Philadelphia 76ers decided not to let that happen.

The Sixers announced today the team has claimed forward Thomas Robinson off of waivers.

Robinson has appeared in 172 career games in three NBA seasons and has posted averages of five points and four rebounds in 14 minutes per game. He was selected fifth overall in the 2012 NBA Draft after a junior season in which he was named Big 12 Player of the Year and a consensus First Team All-American.

In a related move, the team has released Tim Frazier from his second 10-day contract.

According to the Philadelphia Inquirer, “the Sixers picked Robinson up as a way to get an up-close look at him to see if he fits in their long-term plans The 6-foot-9, 240-pounder out of Kansas was the fifth overall pick by the Sacramento Kings in the 2012 NBA draft. Robinson was traded to the Houston Rockets on Feb. 20, 2013 and then to the Blazers on July 10, 2013. He averaged 4.6 points and 4.4 rebounds in 172 games played.”

Clippers sign Jordan Hamilton to 10-day contract

Los Angeles Clippers sign Jordan Hamilton to 10-day contract

The Los Angeles Clippers announced today they have signed free agent forward Jordan Hamilton to a 10-day contract.

Hamilton, 24, comes to the Clippers from the Reno Bighorns of the NBA Development League. He averaged 18.1 points, 7.6 rebounds and 3.6 assists for Reno in 27 games (22 starts) and is the 40th GATORADE call-up of the 2014-15 season.

Originally drafted by the Dallas Mavericks with the 26th overall pick in the first round of the 2011 NBA Draft, Hamilton was traded to the Denver Nuggets on Draft Day. He has career averages of 5.8 points and 2.8 rebounds in 13.3 minutes over 126 games (15 starts) with Denver and the Houston Rockets.

The Los Angeles native spent two years at the University of Texas, earning second team All-American by the USBWA following his sophomore season. He averaged 14.5 points, 5.7 rebounds and 1.8 assists for his career at Texas over 70 games.

Jazz sign Jack Cooley and Bryce Cotton to 10-day contracts

Jazz sign Jack Cooley and Bryce Cotton to 10-day contracts

The Utah Jazz announced the team has signed forward Jack Cooley (Idaho Stampede, the Jazz’s exclusive NBA Development League affiliate) and guard Bryce Cotton (Austin Spurs) to 10-day contracts. Respectively, Cotton and Cooley become the NBA’s 38th and 39th overall NBA D-League Call-Ups of the 2014-15 season and the 28th and 29th different players to be called up.

Cooley (6-9, 246, Notre Dame) appeared in 16 games (14 starts) for the Stampede this season, averaging 15.5 points, 10.6 rebounds and 1.4 blocks in 29.1 minutes per contest. He recorded nine double-doubles, including recording a season-high 25 points and a season-high 20 rebounds vs. Austin Spurs on Feb. 18. He scored in double figures on 13 occasions and recorded 15-plus points in 10 games.

Cooley attended 2014 training camp with the Jazz, averaging 3.5 points and 3.0 rebounds in 5.8 minutes in two preseason games. He was waived on Oct. 22.

The 23-year-old forward played for Trabzonspor in the Turkish Basketball League during the 2013-14 season, averaging 12.6 points and 6.9 rebounds in 22.9 minutes in 28 games (19 starts).

Cooley played four years at Notre Dame (2009-13), averaging 13.1 points and 10.1 rebounds during his senior season. He also led the team with 41 blocked shots and earned 2013 All-Big East First Team honors. Cooley totaled 32 double-doubles throughout his career with the Fighting Irish, including 19 his senior campaign. He also earned the 2012 Big East Most Improved Player award and was named to the 2012 All-Big East Second Team.

Cotton (6-1, 165, Providence) appeared in 34 games (all starts) for the Spurs this season, averaging 22.4 points (third in the D-League), 4.7 rebounds, 4.6 assists and 1.3 steals in 40.5 minutes (first in the D-League) per contest. He is also shooting 90.0 percent from the free throw line this season, which ranks second in the D-League among active players. Cotton has scored in double figures on 31 occasions and recorded 20-plus points in 20 games. He also registered 40-or-more points twice, including a season-high 43 points, eight rebounds, nine assists and two steals at Reno Bighorns. His 43 points rank tied for third in the D-League in scoring performances. Cotton was named D-League Performer of the Week on Feb. 23 after averaging 30.0 points, 5.7 rebounds, 5.3 assists and 1.3 steals last week.

Cotton attended 2014 training camp with the San Antonio Spurs, averaging 4.0 points and 1.5 assists in four games as a reserve. He was waived by the Spurs on Oct. 23.

A native of Tucson, Ariz., Cotton played four seasons at Providence (2010-14). He earned All-Big East First Team honors twice (2013, 2014) and was named the 2014 Big East Tournament Most Outstanding Player. He finished his career ranked fourth all-time in scoring at Providence and became the fifth player from a major conference to average 20-plus points and five-or-more assists in a season since 2002, when he did so as a senior.

Cooley and Cotton become the 15th and 16th D-League Call-Ups in Jazz history, and the fourth and fifth this season. Cooley also becomes the first call-up from the Stampede since the team became the Jazz’s direct affiliate prior to this season.

Cooley will wear uniform #45 for the Jazz while Cotton will wear #8.

Following the moves, the Jazz roster now stands at 15 players.

Sixers sign Ish Smith, waive Malcolm Thomas

Sixers sign Ish Smith, waive Malcolm Thomas

The Philadelphia 76ers announced today that the team has signed guard Ishmael “Ish” Smith.

Smith has appeared in 221 career NBA games and owns career averages of three points, two assists and over one rebound per game. He was selected by the Delaware 87ers during the team’s expansion draft in August, 2013.

Smith finished at Wake Forest as the first player in school history to record 1,000 points, 500 assists and 400 rebounds in a career.

In a related move, the Sixers have waived forward Malcolm Thomas.