NBA News Blog – Page 806 – NBA Blog

Cavaliers sign Arinze Onuaku to 10-day contract

The Cleveland Cavaliers have signed forward/center Arinze Onuaku from the Canton Charge, the Cavaliers exclusively owned and operated NBA Development League team, to a 10-day contract, Cavaliers Acting General Manager David Griffin announced today. The signing of Onuaku marks the 20th Call-Up of the NBA’s 2013-14 season.

Onuaku has appeared in 26 games (eight starts) for the Charge this season, averaging 14.4 points on .622 shooting, 9.7 rebounds and 1.0 block in 24.2 minutes per game. He currently ranks second in the D-League in field goal percentage and fifth in rebounds and was selected as a 2014 D-League All-Star. The 6-9, 275-pound forward/center has 11 double-doubles on the NBADL season. He appeared in three games for the New Orleans Pelicans this season, averaging 1.0 points, 2.3 rebounds and 1.0 assist in 8.3 minutes per game.

Warriors sign Hilton Armstrong to 10-day contract

The Golden State Warriors have signed free agent center Hilton Armstrong to a 10-day contract as a Call-Up from the Warriors’ NBA Development League affiliate in Santa Cruz, the team announced today.

Armstrong, 29, has appeared in 23 games (all starts) with the Santa Cruz Warriors this season, averaging 12.9 points, 7.6 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.83 blocks (seventh-best in the D-League) in 28.6 minutes while hitting 55.6 percent from the field (ninth). Earlier this season, the 6-11 center received a Call-Up to the Warriors and appeared in seven games between December 11 – December 29, averaging 0.9 points and 2.3 rebounds in 4.0 minutes per contest.

Originally selected by the New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets with the 12th overall pick of the 2006 NBA Draft, Armstrong has played in six NBA seasons with the Hornets (2006-09), Sacramento Kings (2010), Houston Rockets (2010), Washington Wizards (2010-11), Atlanta Hawks (2011) and Warriors, owning career averages of 3.0 points and 2.6 rebounds in 11.7 minutes over 284 games (39 starts). He has also played professionally with ASVEL Lyon-Villeurbanne in France, Panathinaikos in Greece and Changsha Bank Guangdong in China.

A product of the University of Connecticut, Armstrong helped the Huskies win the NCAA Championship as a sophomore in 2004.

He will wear uniform #57.

LeBron James suffers broken nose

Yes, LeBron James can suffer injuries. Like a regular human being. He’s mortal — at least somewhat.

The Miami Heat announced today that after being re-evaluated in Miami, it has been determined that James has suffered a broken nose.

The injury occurred last night at Oklahoma City after James drove to the basket with 5:56 remaining in the fourth quarter. He will be a game-time decision for the Heat’s next contest this Sunday, February 23 against the Chicago Bulls.

Hawks sign Cartier Martin for rest of season

The Atlanta Hawks have signed forward Cartier Martin for the remainder of the season, it was announced today by President of Basketball Operations/General Manager Danny Ferry.

Martin has appeared in 31 games (four starts) with the Hawks this season, averaging 6.7 points and 2.0 rebounds in 17.1 minutes (.429 FG%, .424 3FG%, .794 FT%). He has also played in six contests this year with the Chicago Bulls, and averaged 2.5 points in 7.9 minutes (.625 FG%, .600 3FG%).

On the season, Martin has played in 37 games (four starting assignments), putting up 6.0 points and 1.8 rebounds in 15.6 minutes (.438 FG%, .433 3FG%- sixth in the NBA, .763 FT%).

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.