Warriors waive Nemanja Nedovic

Warriors waive Nemanja Nedovic

Warriors waive Nemanja Nedovic

The Golden State Warriors have waived guard Nemanja Nedovic, the team announced today.

As a rookie in 2013-14, Nedovic appeared in 24 games and posted averages of 1.1 points, 0.5 assists and 0.6 rebounds in 5.9 minutes per contest. The 23-year old guard spent 15 games with the Warriors’ D-League affiliate in Santa Cruz, tallying 14.9 points, 4.2 assists and 2.5 rebounds in 28.5 minutes. He did not appear in a game for Golden State this season.

Originally selected by the Phoenix Suns with the 30th overall pick of the 2013 NBA Draft, Golden State acquired the rights to Nedovic in a draft-day deal on June 27, 2013.

Sixers sign Drew Gordon, waive Malcolm Thomas

Sixers sign Drew Gordon, waive Malcolm Thomas

The Philadelphia 76ers have signed free agent center Drew Gordon from the Delaware 87ers, its NBA Development League affiliate. He is the fourth D-League to NBA “Call-Up” of the 2014-15 NBA Development League season.

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

Gordon appeared in six preseason games for Philadelphia, averaging 7.8 points and 4.2 rebounds in 15.9 minutes per game while shooting 64.5% from the floor. He also played for the Sixers entry in the 2014 NBA Summer League in Las Vegas.

Since being eligible for the 2012 NBA Draft, Gordon has played overseas. He spent his final two collegiate seasons at New Mexico after transferring from UCLA. Gordon averaged a double-double in both of his seasons with the Lobos, earning Mountain West All-Conference First Team honors as a senior and Second Team distinction as a junior.

Gordon’s younger brother, Aaron, was the fourth overall pick by Orlando in the 2014 NBA Draft.

Celtics assign Dwight Powell to D-League

Celtics assign Dwight Powell to D-League

The Boston Celtics announced today that they have assigned forward Dwight Powell to the Maine Red Claws.

Powell, a 6’11 forward, appeared in six contests for the Celtics during the preseason and averaged 1.7 points and 1.2 rebounds in 9.0 minutes per game over that span.

The Celtics, who are rebuilding their team and not expected to compete for a spot in the playoffs, are off to a solid start, compiling a 3-3 record in the season, which began less than two weeks ago.

Matthew Dellavedova injured, out 4-6 weeks

Cavs guard Matthew Dellavedova injured, out 4-6 weeks

Matthew Dellavedova injured, out 4-6 weeks

Cavaliers guard Matthew Dellavedova experienced a left knee injury during the 4th quarter of the Cavaliers game in Portland vs. the Trailblazers on Tuesday, November 4th.

He did not play in the remaining two games of the Cavaliers road trip this past week in Utah and Denver.

After returning to Cleveland, Dellavedova received additional evaluation by Cavaliers Head Team Physician Dr. Richard Parker at Cleveland Clinic Sports Health. The results confirmed a left knee MCL sprain. He is undergoing a period of treatment and rehabilitation and is currently projected to be out of action for four to six weeks.

His status will be updated as appropriate.

Grizzlies waive Kalin Lucas

Grizzlies waive Kalin Lucas, who was receiving no playing time

Grizzlies waive Kalin Lucas

The Memphis Grizzlies waived guard Kalin Lucas, the team announced today.

Lucas (6-1, 186) originally was signed on Sept. 25 and averaged 3.1 points and 1.0 assists on .429 shooting in 7.9 minutes in eight preseason games for Memphis before he was waived on Oct. 25. The 25-year-old was re-signed on Nov. 4 and did not appear in any regular season games.

Last season, the Michigan State product posted 15.1 points, 2.9 rebounds and 5.0 assists in 29.0 minutes in 29 games (20 starts) for the NBA Development League’s Iowa Energy, now exclusively affiliated with the Grizzlies.

Grizzlies assign Jordan Adams and Jarnell Stokes to D-League

The Memphis Grizzlies today announced that rookie guard Jordan Adams and rookie forward/center Jarnell Stokes has been assigned to the NBA Development League’s Iowa Energy, the Grizzlies’ exclusive D-League affiliate. Both will be available to play in the Energy’s preseason contest tonight in Memphis against the Sioux Falls Skyforce, which tips off at 5 p.m. CT at FedExForum.

Adams (6-5, 209) was selected by Memphis in the first round (22nd overall) of the 2014 NBA Draft after two seasons at UCLA (2012-14), where he averaged 16.4 points, 4.6 rebounds, 2.1 assists and a school-record 2.43 steals on .467 shooting in 30.2 minutes in 69 career games. Adams made his NBA debut on Nov. 3 vs. New Orleans.

The 19-year-old earned First Team All-Pac 12 honors as a sophomore with the Bruins last season, leading the team with 17.4 points and a conference-high 2.64 steals while shooting .485 from the field in 30.1 minutes in 36 games. The Atlanta native totaled a single-season school-record 95 steals, ranking second in the NCAA, and his 626 points marked the second-highest single-season total at UCLA in the last 19 seasons behind Kevin Love (681 in 2007-08).

Stokes (6-9, 263) was selected by the Utah Jazz in the second round (35th overall) of the 2014 NBA Draft and traded to Memphis on draft night for a 2016 second round draft pick. The Memphis native has not yet made his NBA regular season debut.

The 20-year-old played three years at the University of Tennessee (2011-14), averaging 13.0 points, 9.6 rebounds and 1.08 blocks on .530 shooting in 29.7 minutes in 87 games. The 20-year-old left the Volunteers ranked fourth in school history in double-doubles (40), eighth in total rebounds (836) and 14th in blocks (94). He led the Southeastern Conference in offensive rebounding in each of his final two years in Knoxville.

David Lee out with hamstring strain

David Lee out with hamstring strain, for two weeks or more

David Lee out with hamstring strain

Golden State Warriors forward David Lee underwent an MRI yesterday that revealed a reaggravated strained left hamstring, the injury that sidelined him for the first three games of the season. He will be re-evaluated in two weeks.

Lee scored six points in his season debut before suffering the injury at the 8:51 mark of the second quarter in Wednesday’s 121-104 win over the Clippers.

J.R. Smith suspended for striking Glen Rice Jr

J.R. Smith suspended one game for striking Glen Rice Jr in groin

JR Smith suspended

New York Knicks guard J.R. Smith has been suspended one game without pay for striking Washington Wizards guard Glen Rice Jr. in the groin, it was announced today by Rod Thorn, President, Basketball Operations.

The incident occurred with 5:45 remaining in the fourth quarter of Washington’s 98-83 win over New York on Tuesday, Nov. 4, at Madison Square Garden.

Smith will serve his suspension tonight when the Knicks visit the Detroit Pistons at The Palace of Auburn Hills.

To view the play, click on this link.

Sixers announce additions and promotions to basketball operations staff

Sixers announce additions and promotions to basketball operations staff

Sixers announce additions and promotions to basketball operations staff

The Philadelphia 76ers officially announced today several additions and promotions to the basketball operations staff. Sachin Gupta has been named Vice President of Basketball Operations and Ben Falk has been named Vice President of Basketball Strategy. Vince Rozman has been promoted to Director of Basketball Operations & Scouting Innovation. Phil Jabour (Director of Scouting Development) and Danny Mills (International Scout) join recently promoted Rod Baker as new additions to the Sixers scouting department. NBA veteran Sean Rooks joins the Sixers as Player Development Coach and Philadelphia native Eugene Burroughs will serve as the Sixers Shooting Coach.

Gupta began his NBA career with the Houston Rockets in 2006 as General Manager Daryl Morey’s first hire, laying the foundation for the team’s extensive analytics undertaking. In addition to his responsibilities as an analyst, Gupta also assisted in managing the team’s salary cap during his six-year tenure in Houston. Prior to joining the Rockets, Gupta spent two years at ESPN where he developed the widely popular NBA Trade Machine. Gupta joins the Sixers in a full-time capacity after completing his MBA from Stanford, during which he served as a Sixers consultant.

Falk joins the Sixers after spending the previous four seasons as the Basketball Analytics Manager for the Portland Trail Blazers. While with the Blazers, Falk worked closely with both the front office and coaching staff, leading team efforts in integrating statistics and technology into coaching and management processes. Falk originally hails from Potomac, Maryland, and graduated from the University of Maryland.

Rozman begins his ninth season with the Sixers basketball operations department. Rozman served most recently as Scouting Coordinator prior to this promotion.

Jabour joins the Sixers from the Orlando Magic where he served the past two seasons as a Scout. Jabour previously worked five years in the scouting department of the Houston Rockets and served on the support staff of USA Basketball in 2006.

Mills, an Australian Native and a former player at the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS), was most recently the Video Coordinator of the Bakersfield Jam. Mills brings with him experience in international basketball outside of Australia, having served as an assistant coach in Europe with both Sigma Basket Barcellona and UPEA Orlandina Basket in Italy.

As was recently announced, Philadelphia native and Roman Catholic High School alum Rod Baker was a Sixers call-up from his role as Head Coach of the Delaware 87ers last season. The longtime coach from NCAA, CBA, ABA and the NBDL will join the Sixers full-time as a Scout.

Rooks spent last season as an assistant coach with the Sioux Falls Skyforce of the NBA Development League. Prior to that, Rooks served on three other D-League coaching staffs following his 12-year playing career, including stops with the Lakers, Mavericks, Clippers, Timberwolves, Hornets, and Magic.

Burroughs, a Philadelphia native who played high school basketball at Episcopal Academy, joins the Sixers as Shooting Coach from Marist, where he served as an Assistant Coach. Prior to Marist, Burroughs 18-year coaching career included stops at Penn State, the U.S. Naval Academy, Hofstra, and American University.

Cavs sign Will Cherry

After waiving guard A.J. Price yesterday, Cavs sign Will Cherry

Cavs sign Will Cherry

The Cleveland Cavaliers have signed guard Will Cherry, Cavaliers General Manager David Griffin announced today from Cleveland Clinic Courts.

Cherry becomes the fifth Charge player called up by the Cavaliers in team history.

Last season, Cherry appeared in 18 games (12 starts) with the Canton Charge, the Cavaliers exclusively owned and operated NBA Development League team, averaging 11.6 points, 3.7 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 1.4 steals in 30.3 minutes per game. In three postseason games with the Charge, Cherry averaged 13.3 points on .484 shooting with 5.3 rebounds, 8.3 assists and 2.0 steals in 37.0 minutes per game.

The University of Montana alum played in five preseason games with the Toronto Raptors this season, averaging 3.4 points and 1.6 assists in 13.9 minutes.

Cherry also played for the Cavs summer league team in July and averaged 12.8 points on .521 shooting, 4.0 rebounds and 3.0 assists in five games.

The Cavs roster now stands at 15.