NBA News Blog – Page 804 – NBA Blog

Three-team trade sends Andre Miller to Wizards, Jan Vesely to Nuggets, Eric Maynor to Sixers

Washington Wizards President Ernie Grunfeld announced today that the team has acquired guard Andre Miller from Denver in exchange for forward Jan Vesely. As part of the three-team deal, the Wizards also sent guard Eric Maynor and a 2015 second round pick to Philadelphia and received a protected 2014 second round pick from the 76ers. The 76ers will also receive a future second round pick from Denver.

“Andre is a proven veteran who brings 14 years of experience as a point guard, leader and distributor to solidify our second unit,” said Grunfeld. “He will be a valuable addition as we make our push over these last 28 games of the season to put ourselves in the best possible position.”

Miller (6-2, 200) holds career averages of 13.6 points, 7.0 assists, 3.9 rebounds and 1.3 steals in 1,156 career games (935 starts) in 14-and-a-half NBA seasons with five teams. He has shot .459 from the field and .808 from the line. The eighth overall pick in the 1999 NBA Draft has averaged 5.9 points and 3.3 assists in 30 games with Denver this season. A product of the University of Utah, Miller enjoyed his best season during the 2001-02 campaign when he averaged 16.5 points and a career-best and NBA-leading 10.9 assists in 81 games. He ranks second among active players and ninth in NBA history in career assists with 8,056 and is one of only eight players in NBA history to record at least 15,000 points and 7,500 assists. In 52 playoff games with Denver, Philadelphia and Portland, he holds averages of 15.5 points, 5.0 assists, 4.3 rebounds and 1.05 steals.

Vesely was selected with the sixth overall pick in the 2011 NBA Draft by Washington. In 141 career games with the Wizards, he averaged 3.5 points and 3.4 rebounds. In 33 games this season, Vesely posted 3.2 points and 3.4 rebounds in 14 minutes.

Maynor signed with Washington as a free agent on July 10, 2013. In 23 games with the Wizards this season, he averaged 2.3 points and 1.7 assists in nine minutes.

“We appreciate the contributions and professionalism of both Jan and Eric during their time with the Wizards and we wish them both well,” said Grunfeld.

The 2015 second round pick that Washington sent to Philadelphia was acquired from the Clippers in 2012. In the three-team deal, the Wizards sent JaVale McGee and Ronny Turiaf to the Denver Nuggets and Nick Young to the Los Angeles Clippers. In return, the Wizards received Nene from Denver and Brian Cook and a second-round pick from the Clippers. The Clippers acquired the pick from New Orleans as part of their trade for Chris Paul trade the previous December.

Russell Westbrook health update: He is back

The following statement was issued today by Oklahoma City Thunder Executive Vice President and General Manager Sam Presti regarding Russell Westbrook’s availability to play in tonight’s game versus the Miami Heat:

“We are all very excited to have Russell back. He has worked extremely hard throughout his rehabilitation, and his addition will allow us to build on the progress we have made in his absence. As Russell integrates back into the team we are going to manage the transition by building his minutes over time and will evaluate his availability in back-to-back situations. These steps are an effort to control the areas of his return to play where feasible, given the reduced practice and conditioning time during the regular season. Our goal is to create the best foundation for Russell and the team as we head into the postseason.”

JaVale McGee has leg surgery, will not return this season for Nuggets

Denver Nuggets center JaVale McGee underwent surgery this morning to repair a stress fracture in his left tibia, Nuggets General Manager/Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations Tim Connelly announced today.

The procedure was performed in West Palm Beach, Fla., by orthopedic surgeon Dr. Dror Paley.

“While it’s disappointing that we won’t have JaVale back on the court this season, we’re happy that he can move forward in his recovery,” Connelly said.

McGee averaged 7.0 points and 3.4 rebounds in five games this season. In six seasons with the Nuggets and Washington Wizards, he has averaged 8.7 points, 5.7 rebounds and 1.9 blocked shots.

Iman Shumpert hurts knee in Knicks win over Pelicans

Here’s the New York Daily News reporting on Iman Shumpert, who got hurt tonight — but hopefully the injury is minor:

The Knicks’ chances to make the post-season were always shaky, but now they might have taken a major hit when Iman Shumpert re-injured his chronically-troubled left knee in the team’s 98-91 victory in the Smoothie King Center.

Early in the third quarter, the Knicks’ starting small forward drove the lane against the Pelicans’ Anthony Davis and suffered what the team called a sprained left knee. The team didn’t announce how long he’s out, but he’s had several surgical procedures on his left knee. He originally injured it when he blew out his ACL during the 2012 playoffs against Miami when he was a rookie.

Shumpert’s injury could alter the Knicks’ trading plans, with the NBA deadline Thursday at 3 p.m. His name has been linked to recent trade tadks with the Clippers, but those likely ended when he went down to the floor after the knee buckled. During the ensuing timeout, he had to be helped off the floor by teammate Jeremy Tyler and went straight to the locker room to be examined by team medical personnel.

Kings trade Marcus Thornton to Nets for Reggie Evans, Jason Terry

The Brooklyn Nets have acquired guard Marcus Thornton from the Sacramento Kings in exchange for forward Reggie Evans and guard Jason Terry, it was announced today by General Manager Billy King.

“Marcus is a proven scorer in this league,” said King. “He is a young talent who will help us in the backcourt.”

A five-year NBA veteran, Thornton comes to Brooklyn with season averages of 8.3 points and 2.7 rebounds in 46 games (26 starts) for the Kings. Selected 43rd overall in the 2009 NBA Draft by the Miami Heat, the LSU product began his career in New Orleans, where he played for one and a half seasons before a 2010-11 midseason trade sent him to Sacramento. Thornton averaged a career-best 18.7 points in 2011-12 playing and starting in 51 games for the Kings. Through 315 career games, including 125 starts, Thornton holds NBA averages of 13.5 points, 3.1 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game. He was named to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team for the 2009-10 season.

Terry, a 15-year NBA veteran, has accrued career averages of 15.4 points (.446 FG%, .379 3pt%, .846 FT%), 2.6 rebounds, 4.4 assists, 1.31 steals and 32.5 minutes per game in 1136 contests with the Atlanta Hawks (1999-2004), Dallas Mavericks (2004-2012), Boston Celtics (2012-13) and Nets (2013-14).

A member of the 2011 NBA Champion Mavericks, Terry was also named the league’s 2009 Sixth Man of the Year after posting one of his best campaigns as a professional, registering 19.6 points (.463 FG%, .366 3pt%, .880 FT%), 2.4 rebounds, 3.4 assists, and 1.32 steals in 74 games for Dallas. Additionally, the 6-2 guard touts 93 playoff games on his resume, including 21 appearances during the Mavs run toward a championship when he tallied 17.5 points (.478 FG%, .442 3pt%, .843 FT%), 1.9 rebounds and 3.2 assists.

Terry won a National Championship at the University of Arizona in 1997 and two seasons later earned First-Team All American and Pac-10 Player of the Year honors before being selected 10th overall in the 1999 NBA Draft.

In Evans, the Kings receive a veteran known for his rebounding, hustle and tenacious style of play. Through 12 NBA seasons, the 6-10 forward is averaging 4.0 points (.465 FG%, .521 FT%) and 7.2 rebounds per game in 738 career contests with the Seattle Supersonics (2002-03 – 2005-06), Denver Nuggets (2005-06 – 2006-07), Philadelphia 76ers (2007-08 – 2008-09), Toronto Raptors (2009-10 – 2010-11), L.A. Clippers (2011-12) and Brooklyn Nets (2012-13 – 2013-14).

Tony Parker will miss some time to regain full health

As is the case for several of the league’s top teams, the San Antonio Spurs care about the regular season, but of greater important is overall health for the full 2013-14 stretch, including the playoffs. Here’s ESPN.com with an update on Tony Parker:

San Antonio Spurs point guard Tony Parker will be out “for the foreseeable future” with “a variety of maladies,” coach Gregg Popovich said Tuesday.

Parker had been sidelined with stiffness in his lower back but played in Sunday’s All-Star Game, finishing with four points, two rebounds and one assist.

“He doesn’t have a pulled hamstring or anything, but he’s got a lot of little things,” Popovich said.

The Spurs have been mainstays in the playoffs throughout Parker’s career, and he has also played with the French national team in the offseason. Popovich is concerned about the cumulative effect it’s had on Parker.

Bulls sign Jarvis Varnado to 10-day contract

The Chicago Bulls announced today the team has signed free agent forward Jarvis Varnado (Vur-NAR-doe) to a 10-day contract.

Varnado (6-9, 230) is currently in his second year in the NBA. After being drafted by the Miami Heat in the second round (41st pick) of the 2010 NBA Draft, Varnado played overseas for two seasons. During the 2012-13 season, Varnado played for the Miami Heat, Boston Celtics and Sioux Falls Skyforce of the NBA D-League. This season, Varnado has appeared in 22 games (all starts) with the Iowa Energy of the NBA D-League, and has averaged 14.1 ppg, 11.0 rpg, 4.68 bpg and 0.8 apg in 31.1 mpg.

In one season in the NBA, Varnado played in 13 regular season games and averaged 0.6 ppg and 0.7 rpg in 4.5 mpg, and shot .429 from the field and .500 from the free-throw line. In two seasons in the NBA D-League, Varnado has appeared in 45 regular season games (44 starts) and averaged 14.3 ppg, 10.4 rpg, 4.00 bpg, and 0.9 apg in 31.1 mpg, and shot .539 from the floor and .622 from the charity stripe.

Chicago’s roster now stands at 13 players.

Cavaliers reportedly fire their GM

Here’s a report from Yahoo Sports on the Cleveland Cavaliers, who are saying goodbye to their general manager:

Hours after a humiliating loss to the Los Angeles Lakers, Cleveland Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert has fired general manager Chris Grant, league sources told Yahoo Sports.

Gilbert had grown increasingly frustrated with the losing and dysfunction within the Cavaliers and the loss to the Lakers – who finished the game with four eligible players – was the breaking point.

Cleveland is 16-33 and losers of six straight games. They’re 5.5 games out of the eighth playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. Gilbert had delivered a mandate of making the playoffs for the Cavaliers this season.

Pelicans center Jason Smith out for season after knee surgery

The New Orleans Pelicans announced today that center Jason Smith had successful surgery on Wednesday, January 29 to remove a loose piece of articular cartilage in the non-weight bearing area of his right knee. Smith will miss the remainder of the season, but is expected to make a full recovery,

In 31 games this season, Smith averaged 9.7 points, 5.8 rebounds and 0.9 blocks in 26.8 minutes per game. The Colorado State product has appeared in 331 contests in six NBA seasons, averaging 6.0 points, 3.5 rebounds and 0.7 blocks in 16.7 minutes per game.

Clippers sign Sasha Vujacic to 10-day contract

The Los Angeles Clippers announced today that they have signed guard Sasha Vujacic to a 10-day contract.

Vujacic, a seven-year NBA veteran, has appeared in 476 career games (29 starts) with the Los Angeles Lakers and New Jersey Nets. A native of Slovenia, the 29-year old holds career averages of 5.6 points, 1.9 rebounds and 1.3 assists. He has also appeared in 65 playoff games, capturing two NBA Championships with the Lakers in 2009 and 2010.

The 27th pick in the 2004 NBA Draft by the Lakers, Vujacic has been playing professionally since the age of 16. Most recently, he played for Anadolu Efes in Turkey for two seasons (2011-13), averaging 9.9 points, 3.1 rebounds and 1.3 assists in 40 games (23 starts).

Vujacic will wear uniform number 18 for the Clippers.