Category: NBA News Blog

NBA news blog

Grizzlies sign Darius Morris to 10-day contract

The Memphis Grizzlies signed guard Darius Morris to a 10-day contract, the team announced today.

Morris (6-4, 190) has averaged 4.2 points and 1.6 assists on .413 shooting in 11.2 minutes in 22 games with the Philadelphia 76ers and Los Angeles Clippers this season. The 23-year-old posted 6.9 points and 2.6 assists in 16.1 minutes in 12 games for Philadelphia before he was waived on Nov. 20. He then signed the first of two 10-day contracts with Los Angeles on Jan. 6 and made 10 appearances during his stint with the Clippers.

The three-year veteran holds career averages of 3.7 points, 1.0 rebounds and 1.5 assists in 12.3 minutes in 89 games (17 starts) with the Los Angeles Lakers, Philadelphia 76ers and Los Angeles Clippers. He owns postseason averages of 6.5 points and 1.9 assists in 14.1 minutes in eight games (two starts) with the Lakers and averaged 10.5 points and 3.0 assists in 26.3 minutes in four games during the 2013 Playoffs.

Morris also owns NBA Development League averages of 17.0 points, 4.3 rebounds and 5.0 assists in 32.7 minutes in three games (two starts) for the Los Angeles D-Fenders.

A native of Los Angeles, Morris was drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers in the second round (41st overall) of the 2011 NBA Draft. He earned All-Big Ten honors as a sophomore at the University of Michigan and averaged 15.0 points, 4.0 rebounds and 6.7 assists in two seasons with the Wolverines. He set the single-season school assist record (236) as a sophomore, which was broken by current Utah Jazz rookie guard Trey Burke last season.

Hawks sign Cartier Martin to 10-day contract

Hawks sign Cartier Martin to 10-day contract

The Atlanta Hawks signed forward Cartier Martin to a 10-day contract, it was announced today by President of Basketball Operations/General Manager Danny Ferry. Martin will be active for tonight’s game against Minnesota at Philips Arena.

Martin, a 6-foot-7, 220-pound forward, appeared in 25 games (two starts) with the Hawks earlier this season, averaging 6.6 points and 2.0 rebounds in 17.5 minutes (.405 3FG%, .821 FT%). After being waived on January 7, 2014, Martin signed two 10-day contracts with the Chicago Bulls, where he played in six contests and averaged 2.5 points in 7.9 minutes (.625 FG%, .600 3FG%).

On the season, Martin has played in 31 total games (two starting assignments), putting up 5.8 points and 1.8 rebounds in 15.6 minutes (.416 3FG% – tied for 16th in the NBA, .781 FT%).

He will again wear uniform no. 20.

2014 NBA All-Star game reserves

Dirk Nowitzki

The Dallas Mavericks’ Dirk Nowitzki and the Miami Heat’s Chris Bosh headline the list of 14 players that have been selected by the coaches as reserves for the 2014 NBA All-Star Game, the NBA announced today. Nowitzki earns his 12th selection, which ties him for sixth all-time with nine players, while Bosh secures his ninth trip to the All-Star Game in 11 NBA seasons.

The 63rd NBA All-Star Game will be exclusively televised on TNT from New Orleans Arena on Sunday, Feb. 16, 2014. The All-Star Game, also broadcast live on ESPN Radio, will collectively reach fans in 215 countries and territories in more than 40 languages.

Three first-time All-Stars join Bosh as reserves in the East: DeMar DeRozan (Toronto Raptors), Paul Millsap (Atlanta Hawks) and John Wall (Washington Wizards). The Brooklyn Nets’ Joe Johnson earns his seventh selection, while the Indiana Pacers’ Roy Hibbert and the Chicago Bulls’ Joakim Noah are All-Stars for the second time in their careers.

Joining Nowitzki as reserves in the West are LaMarcus Aldridge (Portland Trail Blazers), James Harden (Houston Rockets), Dwight Howard (Rockets), Damian Lillard (Trail Blazers), Tony Parker (San Antonio Spurs) and Chris Paul (L.A. Clippers). It’s the eighth selection for Howard, in his first season with the Rockets, while teammate Harden earns his second straight trip to the All-Star Game. Paul garners his seventh All-Star nod, while Parker is an All-Star for the sixth time in his career. Aldridge captures his third All-Star berth, while teammate Lillard is the lone first-time All-Star among West reserves.

Selected to start in the East – through NBA All-Star Balloting 2014 presented by Sprint – were Kyrie Irving (Cleveland Cavaliers), Dwyane Wade (Heat), LeBron James (Heat), Carmelo Anthony (New York Knicks) and Paul George (Pacers). Voted to start in the West were Stephen Curry (Golden State Warriors), Kobe Bryant (L.A. Lakers), Kevin Durant (Oklahoma City Thunder), Blake Griffin (Clippers) and Kevin Love (Minnesota Timberwolves).

The NBA Commissioner will select the replacement for any player unable to participate in the All-Star Game. If the injured player is a starter, the head coach of that team will determine who replaces him in the starting lineup.

The 14 reserves were chosen by the 30 NBA head coaches, who were asked to vote for seven players in their respective conferences – two guards, three frontcourt players and two players regardless of position. They were not permitted to vote for players from their own team.

The East and West All-Star coaches and coaching staffs were determined by the best record in the conference through games played Sunday, Feb. 2. Indiana’s Frank Vogel and his staff will coach the East, with Oklahoma City’s Scott Brooks and staff leading the West. The Heat’s Erik Spoelstra and the Spurs’ Gregg Popovich coached the East and West squads, respectively, last season and were ineligible for the honor this year.

Timberwolves center Nikola Pekovic out at least 7-10 days

Nikola Pekovic out at least 7-10 days

The Minnesota Timberwolves today announced that center Nikola Pekovic underwent an MRI (Magnetic Resonance Image) this morning at TRIA Orthopedics in Bloomington, Minn. that revealed bursitis in his right ankle. Pekovic will be withheld from basketball activities for 7-10 days and will be reevaluated at that time. He will be sidelined indefinitely.

Pekovic left last night’s game at Chicago at the 6:00 mark of the first quarter and did not return.

The 6-11 center has appeared in all 44 games this year for the Wolves, averaging career highs in points (18.0 ppg), rebounds (9.1 rpg) and minutes (32.5 mpg).

Celtics sign Chris Johnson to second 10-day contract

The Boston Celtics announced today that they have signed guard/forward Chris Johnson to a second 10-day contract.

Johnson, a 6’6” guard/forward, has appeared in four games for the Celtics and has averaged 10.0 points, 3.3 rebounds, 1.5 steals and 1.0 assist in 26.6 minutes per game. He posted a career-high 12 points against Brooklyn on January 26 and recorded a career-high four steals against Washington on January 22. Johnson originally signed a 10-day contract with the Celtics on January 17 after he had appeared in 20 games for the Rio Grande Valley Vipers of the NBA Development League where he had averaged 19.4 points, 6.8 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 1.6 steals and 1.0 block in 37.2 minutes per game.

The Celtics are 15-31 this season, which is the fourth worst record in the league.

Utah Jazz claim Malcolm Thomas off waivers

The Utah Jazz announced today that the team has claimed third-year forward Malcolm Thomas off waivers.

The 25-year-old Thomas (6-9, 225, San Diego State) was waived by San Antonio on January 23 after appearing in one game this season, scoring two points, grabbing nine rebounds with two blocks in 15 minutes vs. Milwaukee on January 19. He also appeared in 10 games while on assignment with the Spurs’ NBA Development League affiliate, the Austin Toros, where he averaged 15.2 points, 9.4 rebounds and 2.40 blocks. Thomas was signed by the Spurs on Dec. 3 as a D-League call-up from the Los Angeles D-Fenders, for whom he appeared in two games and was averaging a league-best 33.5 points and 15.5 rebounds.

The former San Diego State Aztec has appeared in a total of 16 career NBA games over three seasons with San Antonio, Golden State and Chicago, averaging 1.1 points and 1.8 rebounds in 5.4 minutes. He previously saw action in three games for the Spurs during the 2011-12 season, and spent time with both the Warriors (five games) and Bulls (seven games) in 2012-13. Thomas also appeared briefly in three games for the Bulls in the 2013 NBA Playoffs.

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

Spurs sign Othyus Jeffers to 10-day contract

Spurs sign Othyus Jeffers to 10-day contract

The San Antonio Spurs today announced that they have signed guard/forward Othyus Jeffers to a 10-day contract.

Jeffers, 6-5/200, most recently played for the Iowa Energy of the NBA Development League. Through 22 games this season, Jeffers was averaging 22.8 points, 11.4 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 2.50 steals in 38.3 minutes per game while shooting .501 (176-351) from the field. Prior to his call-up, Jeffers ranked sixth in the D-League in scoring, third in rebounding and second in steals per game.

The Robert Morris University product previously saw action in one game for the Spurs during the 2010-11 season. He has also suited up for the Utah Jazz (2009-10) and the Washington Wizards (2010-11) during his NBA career. In 31 career NBA games, the Illinois native has averaged 4.2 points and 2.8 rebounds in 12.7 minutes.

In between NBA stints, Jeffers has played in 162 D-League games, all with the Energy, averaging 19.1 points, 8.3 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.97 steals in 35.8 minutes.

Jeffers will wear jersey No. 7 and will be available tonight when the Spurs begin their three-game road trip in Atlanta.

76ers sign Dewayne Dedmon to second 10-day contract

The Philadelphia 76ers today announced that they have signed center Dewayne Dedmon to a second 10-day contract. Dedmon signed his first 10-day contract with the Sixers on January 14, 2014. At the time, he was the 12th “Call-Up” of the 2013-14 NBA Development League season.

Dedmon (7-0, 255) has appeared in five games for the Sixers and is averaging four points, six rebounds and a block in 15 minutes per game while shooting 50% from the floor.