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The Oklahoma City Thunder announced that rookie forward Mitch McGary underwent an evaluation today that confirmed he suffered a fracture in his left second metatarsal (foot) during last night’s preseason game at Denver. He is expected to miss approximately six weeks.
McGary, the 21st overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft, finished the game with 14 points on 7-of-14 shooting from the floor, to go along with four rebounds, two assists and two steals in 36 minutes of action.
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The Indiana Pacers announced Thursday they have picked up the 2015-16 option on forward Solomon Hill’s contract.
Hill, entering his second season with the Pacers, averaged 1.7 points and 1.5 rebounds per game last season. He’s a 6-7, 225-pound small forward, born in Los Angeles, attended Arizona, and was drafted 23rd overall by the Pacers.
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The Memphis Grizzlies have added Elliot Perry to its Basketball Operations department as Director of Player Support, the team announced today.
Now entering his 10th season with the organization, Perry’s responsibilities in this role will include working with Grizzlies players on facets of life outside of basketball and preparing them, personally and professionally, for long-term success on and off the court. Among other duties, Perry also will act as an advisor with respect to efforts in the community and Grizzlies Foundation.
“Elliot has deep ties to this franchise and a lifelong bond with city of Memphis. In addition, he is a wonderful example of someone who has achieved sustained success both personally and professionally,” Grizzlies General Manager Chris Wallace said. “We are excited for him to take on this role in mentoring our players in both their current careers and their post-basketball endeavors. We hope as an organization to continue building a long-term connection between the city and our players well beyond their playing days.”
A member of the Grizzlies ownership group since 2005, Perry will also step into a new role as Chairman of the Board for the Memphis Grizzlies Foundation after previously holding the title of Vice Chairman. In addition, he will continue in a limited capacity as an analyst for the team’s radio broadcast, a position he has held for the last seven seasons.
A Memphis native, Perry played for seven different teams over a 10-year NBA career (1991-92, 1994-2002), including a two-game stint with the Grizzlies in his final season in the league. Nicknamed “Socks” after his trademark knee-highs, he finished as runner-up for the 1995 NBA Most Improved Player Award after averaging 9.7 points, 4.8 assists and 1.9 steals per game for the Phoenix Suns.
The Treadwell High School graduate started every game of his four-year collegiate career (1987-91) with the Memphis State Tigers, leading the program to two NCAA Tournament appearances and a second-round berth in 1987. After graduating with a degree in marketing, Perry was drafted in the second round (37th overall) of the 1991 NBA Draft by the Los Angeles Clippers.
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New York Knicks President Phil Jackson announced today that the team has signed center Didier Mbenga.
Mbenga, 7-0, 240-pounds, holds career averages of 1.8 points and 1.5 rebounds over 6.7 minutes in 234 games (four starts) over seven seasons with Dallas, Golden State, L.A. Lakers and New Orleans. The Democratic Republic of Congo-native, who won two NBA titles with the Lakers (2009 & 2010) and last played in the NBA for New Orleans in 2010-11. He spent the last two seasons playing overseas in China (2012) and the Philippines (2013) after beginning his professional career in Belgium (2001-04).
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The Indiana Pacers announced Wednesday that Head Coach Frank Vogel has signed a multi-year contract extension.
The 41-year-old Vogel is entering his fourth full season as coach after taking over on an interim basis in January, 2011. The Pacers finished that season 20-18 and reached the NBA Playoffs for the first time in four seasons. In July, 2011, the interim tag was removed and in the three seasons since, the Pacers have reached the Eastern Conference Finals twice and Eastern Conference Semifinals once with a record of 147-82 (.641 winning percentage). Last season, the Pacers earned the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference. Vogel and his coaching staff also earned Eastern Conference All-Star coaching honors. He has been named Eastern Conference Coach of the Month twice.
“We’re very happy to extend Frank’s contract,” said Pacers President of Basketball Operations Larry Bird. “I believe he has done a great job and I look forward to continuing our relationship and working together to achieve all of our goals.”
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Today, the Milwaukee Bucks announced the hiring of Peter Feigin as the team’s new president. Feigin brings decades of sports, corporate management and marketing experience to the Bucks organization. As president, Feigin will spearhead the growth of the Bucks’ business operations and lead the organization’s talented executive team.
Since purchasing the team in May, new owners Wes Edens and Marc Lasry have worked to put together a personnel team they hope will do great things for the team.
Feigin comes to the Bucks with a depth of experience in both in the NBA and the corporate world. As the chief marketing and revenue officer of Deluxe Entertainment Services Group, he managed global business units and handled branding across the international entertainment company. Prior to working at Deluxe, Feigin was president and COO of Marquis Jet Partners and helped lead its acquisition by NetJets. From 1998 to 2004, he worked for the New York Knicks and rose to become vice president of marketing – increasing profits, season subscriptions and suite revenue during his tenure. Additionally, Feigin has served as a senior advisor to the Milwaukee Bucks since the ownership change, helping reorganize and refocus its business operations. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Franklin and Marshall College and completed the University of Chicago Booth School of Business’ Financial Executive Program.
“I’ve known Peter for many years and can’t think of a more capable person to drive growth for the Bucks organization,” said Marc Lasry. “Peter’s been an invaluable advisor and will be a terrific leader for a talented group of people working to build a world-class franchise. He brings a tremendous amount of NBA expertise and management experience to Milwaukee.”
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Los Angeles Lakers guard Nick Young will have to unleash his swagger in entirely off-court situations for the time being.
Young, who injured his right thumb in practice last Thursday, underwent successful surgery this morning to repair a torn radial collateral ligament in the thumb. The surgery was performed by Dr. Steven Shin of the Kerlan-Jobe Orthopaedic Clinic.
Young is expected to miss approximately eight weeks.
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The Golden State Warriors have signed free agent guard/forward Jason Kapono to a contract, the team announced today. This may just be a training camp contract.
Kapono, 33, owns career NBA averages of 6.7 points, 1.7 rebounds and 17.8 minutes in 509 games (87 starts) with the Cleveland Cavaliers, Charlotte Bobcats, Miami Heat, Toronto Raptors, Philadelphia 76ers and Los Angeles Lakers. He last played professionally in Greece in 2012-13, appearing in 17 games for Panathinaikos and posting averages of 7.6 points, 1.6 assists and 1.3 rebounds in 17.0 minutes while hitting 45.0 percent of his three-point attempts.
The nine-year NBA veteran ranks fifth all-time on the league’s three-point percentage list, hitting at a career 43.4 percent clip, and ranks second in the category among active players behind only Warriors guard Stephen Curry (.440). Kapono led the league in three-point percentage with the Heat in 2006-07 (.514), and again the following season as a member of the Raptors in 2007-08 (.483), becoming the only player in NBA history to lead the league in the category in back-to-back seasons.
Originally selected by the Cavaliers in the second round (31st overall) of the 2003 NBA Draft, Kapono won an NBA championship as a member of the Heat in 2005-06. The Long Beach, CA, native and UCLA alum last appeared in the NBA with the Lakers during the 2011-12 season.
Kapono will wear uniform #22.
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The Washington Wizards announced today that the team has waived guards Vander Blue and David Stockton.
The Wizards’ roster now stands at 18.
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Lakers guard Nick Young, who injured his right thumb yesterday in practice, underwent an MRI exam today. Results of the MRI showed that Young has a complete tear of the radial collateral ligament.
Dr. Steven Shin of the Kerlan-Jobe Orthopaedic Clinic will perform surgery on Young’s thumb on Monday, and an estimate for Young’s return will be given at that time.