Category: NBA News Blog

NBA news blog

Timberwolves assign Shabazz Muhammad to D-League

Timberwolves assign Shabazz Muhammad to D-League

The Minnesota Timberwolves today announced the club has assigned rookie guard/forward Shabazz Muhammad to the Iowa Energy of the NBA Development League. Muhammad has appeared in 11 games with the Wolves this season, averaging 1.1 points and 0.7 rebounds per game.

Muhammad, originally selected with the 14th overall pick, was acquired by the Wolves in a draft-day trade with the Utah Jazz. He averaged 17.9 points and 5.2 rebounds per game last season at UCLA, leading the Bruins to the Pac-12 regular season championship.

Iowa, the D-League affiliate for Minnesota as well as Chicago, Denver, New Orleans and Washington, is 10-5 this season, third place in the Central Division. Led by Othyus Jeffers’ 23.5 points and 8.7 rebounds per game, the Energy has a pair of games in the NBA D-League Showcase in Reno, Nev. on Tuesday, Jan. 7 and Thursday, Jan. 9 before traveling to Fort Wayne, Ind. on Saturday, Jan. 11.

Clippers waive guard Maalik Wayns

The Los Angeles Clippers announced today that they have waived guard Maalik Wayns.

Wayns, 22, did not appear in a game for the Clippers in 2013-14 after missing the first 33 games of the season due to a torn left meniscus.

The former Villanova stand-out appeared in six games with the Clippers last season and averaged 3.3 points and 1.2 assists. Overall, Wayns has played in 27 career NBA games with the Clippers and Philadelphia 76ers.

Orlando Magic waive Solomon Jones

Orlando Magic waive Solomon Jones

The Orlando Magic have waived forward-center Solomon Jones, General Manager Rob Hennigan announced tonight. Orlando’s roster now stands at 13 players.

Jones has appeared in 11 games this season with Orlando, averaging 1.3 ppg. and 1.5 rpg. in 7.7 minpg. He was signed by the Magic as a free agent prior to training camp on Sep. 27.

Originally selected in the second round (33rd overall) of the 2006 NBA Draft by Atlanta, Jones has played in 281 regular season games with Atlanta, Indiana, New Orleans, the L.A. Clippers, New York and Orlando, averaging 3.0 ppg. and 2.3 rpg. in 11.0 minpg.

Brook Lopez health update: Lopez had foot surgery today, out for rest of season

Brook Lopez health update

Brooklyn Nets center Brook Lopez underwent successful surgery this morning, January 4, to repair the fractured fifth metatarsal of his right foot, Nets’ General Manager Billy King announced. The procedure was performed by Dr. James Nunley, Duke University Medical Center’s Department Chair of Orthopaedic Surgery, Nets’ foot and ankle specialist Dr. Martin O’Malley and team medical director Dr. Riley Williams III. In addition to the fracture repair, a second procedure, a first metatarsal osteotomy, was performed to unload and protect the injured area.

“With this procedure, we both fixed the broken bone (fifth metatarsal) in Brook’s right foot and repositioned another bone, so that his sole of his foot will bear weight more evenly than before,” said Dr. Williams. “The repositioning portion of the surgery lessens the stress on the fractured bone, and decreases the likelihood of re-injury in the future.”

Lopez, who was injured during the December 20th game at Philadelphia, is out for the remainder of the season, but is expected to make a full recovery (or so the Nets hope) and will be back on the court for offseason workouts.

At the time of his injury, Lopez was averaging a team-high 20.7 points along with 6.0 rebounds and 1.76 blocks through 17 games played this season.

Trail Blazers hit 21 three-pointers vs Bobcats

Here’s the Oregonian reporting on the latest fun show put on by the Portland Trail Blazers, who continue to play like one of the best teams in the league:

Trail Blazers hit 21 three-pointers, destroy Bobcats

The Trail Blazers defeated the Charlotte Bobcats 134-104 Thursday night at the Moda Center, improving to 26-7 on the season and moving into the top spot in the Western Conference.

The Blazers, who are rewriting the franchise three-point record book this season, had another blistering night from behind the arc and threatened to establish an NBA record for long-range shooting in the convincing victory over the Bobcats.

The Blazers made 21 three-pointers — tying a franchise record they set earlier this season — as seven different players made at least one three. The starting lineup was particularly hot, making 14 of 16, but no one was cold as the Blazers shot 64 percent (21-33). Wesley Matthews went 5 for 6, Mo Williams went 3 for 5 and Damian Lillard went 6 for 6, becoming the second player in franchise history to make at least six threes without a miss. Terry Porter also accomplished the feat in 1992.

The 21 threes equaled the franchise record set Dec. 14 during a win at Philadelphia and the Blazers became the first team in NBA history to make 20 or more threes twice in the same season.

Denver Nuggets suspend Andre Miller two games

Denver Nuggets suspend Andre Miller two games

The Denver Nuggets, who have lost eight straight games and been in a free-fall lately, have suspended point guard Andre Miller for two games for conduct detrimental to the team, general manager/executive vice president of basketball operations Tim Connelly announced today.

Miller will miss Denver’s home game against the Memphis Grizzlies on Friday and will not travel with the team for Sunday’s game against the Los Angeles Lakers at Staples Center.

Dwane Casey and Jeff Hornacek named NBA Coaches of Month for December, 2013

The Toronto Raptors’ Dwane Casey and the Phoenix Suns’ Jeff Hornacek today were named the NBA Eastern and Western Conference Coaches of the Month, respectively, for games played in December.

Casey led the Raptors to an 8-6 (.571) record, including road wins over the Dallas Mavericks and Oklahoma City Thunder. The six road wins Toronto posted tied for best in the conference in December (Maurice Cheeks led the Detroit Pistons to six road wins). The Raptors had five players account for double-digit scoring averages on the month, and closed December winning seven of their final nine games.

Hornacek guided the Suns to a 10-3 (.769) record, including wins over the Mavericks, Golden State Warriors, Houston Rockets and Los Angeles Clippers. Phoenix recorded a five-game winning streak between Dec. 4-15, the longest winning streak the Suns have had since January, 2011. The Suns, who rank eighth in the NBA in scoring at 103.7 ppg, eclipsed the 100-point plateau in 10 of their final 11 December contests.

Other nominees for Coach of the Month were Atlanta’s Mike Budenholzer, Golden State’s Mark Jackson, Indiana’s Frank Vogel, Los Angeles Clippers’ Doc Rivers, Miami’s Erik Spoelstra, Oklahoma City’s Scott Brooks, Portland’s Terry Stotts and San Antonio’s Gregg Popovich.

New Orleans Pelicans waive Lou Amundson

New Orleans Pelicans waive Lou Amundson

The New Orleans Pelicans announced today that the team has waived forward Lou Amundson.

Amundson appeared in 18 games for the Pelicans this season and averaged 2.1 points, 3.1 rebounds and 0.6 blocks in 10.2 minutes per game. The 6’9” forward has appeared in 345 games over the course of eight years in the NBA and holds career averages of 3.8 points, 3.5 rebounds and 0.7 blocks in 12.7 minutes per game.

The Pelicans roster now stands at 14 players.

New York Knicks waive Chris Smith and bring Jeremy Tyler back

Jeremy Tyler

The New York Knicks are struggling badly this season, and with a 9-21 record are tied for the third worst winning percentage in the league. Any help they can get, even at the end of the bench, is needed.

Today, Knicks President and General Manager Steve Mills announced that the team has signed forward Jeremy Tyler of the Erie BayHawks, the 10th Gatorade Call-Up from the NBA Development League this season, and waived guard Chris Smith.

Tyler, 6-10, 250-pounds, has averaged 18.0 points, on 47.8-percent shooting, and 10.2 rebounds over 31.0 minutes in six games (all starts) with the BayHawks. He originally signed with New York on Aug. 6, after playing for the Knicks’ entry in NBA Summer League in Las Vegas, NV, and was waived on Oct. 25 while recovering from a broken right fifth metatarsal.

The San Diego, CA-native, was originally selected by the Charlotte Bobcats in the second round (39th overall) of 2011 NBA Draft before having his rights traded to the Warriors. He holds career averages of 3.6 point and 2.5 rebounds over 10.1 minutes in 63 games (23 starts) over two seasons with Golden State and Atlanta. He played professionally in Israel (Maccabi Haifa) and Japan (Tokyo Apache) for two seasons after leaving San Diego HS following his junior season.

Smith, 6-0, 200-pounds, signed with New York on Sep. 10, and appeared in two games, playing two minutes. He was assigned to Erie on Nov. 18, where he played six games before being recalled on Dec. 17.