Category: NBA News Blog

NBA news blog

Lou Williams set to return for Hawks

The Atlanta Hawks are off to a solid 4-3 start to the new season. And the team should get even better with the return of scoring guard Lou Williams. Here’s the Atlanta Journal-Constitution:

lou williams

Lou Williams has been cleared for full-contact practice and his return to the Hawks lineup could come soon.

A day after Hawks coach Mike Budenholzer acknowledged that Williams has participated in full-contact drills, he said Williams has been medically cleared and is now getting in game shape. The veteran guard is rehabbing from a torn right ACL suffered in January.

“He is basically competing full-go now,” Budenholzer said Wednesday morning before the Hawks took on the Knicks.

Warriors guard Toney Douglas out at least two weeks

toney douglas

Golden State Warriors guard Toney Douglas was examined by team doctors today, who diagnosed him with a stress reaction in his left tibia.

Douglas is expected to miss a minimum of two weeks to rest the injury, after which he will be re-evaluated.

In seven games this season, Douglas is averaging 6.4 points, 1.6 rebounds and 1.6 assists in 16.0 minutes per contest. He is a backup, and comes off the bench.

Utah Jazz waive Jamaal Tinsley

Utah Jazz waive Jamaal Tinsley

The Utah Jazz announced today that the team has waived guard Jamaal Tinsley. Following the move, Utah’s roster now stands at 14 players.

Tinsley (6-3, 188, Iowa State) appeared in eight games this season for Utah, averaging 1.1 points, 1.4 rebounds and 2.9 assists in 13.8 minutes per game.

Tinsley was signed as a free agent on October 26.

This could be one of Tinsley’s final stops in the NBA. We won’t be surprised if another team picks him up, though. But this certainly feels close to the end of the road for the crafty point guard.

Milwaukee Bucks center Larry Sanders out 6 weeks after thumb surgery

Larry Sanders

Already facing a challenging season, the road to success in 2013-14 just got even tougher for the Milwaukee Bucks.

Bucks center Larry Sanders underwent successful surgery on Monday to repair a torn ligament in his right thumb, General Manager John Hammond announced.

The surgery was performed by Dr. Curt Crimmins, a hand specialist, at the Orthopaedic Hospital of Wisconsin. Sanders will be sidelined for approximately six weeks and updates will be provided when available.

Sanders injured his thumb on Nov. 3 while involved in an off-court incident.

NBA sends anti-bullying memo to all 30 teams

Bullying isn’t cool at any level, including the world of pro sports. Here’s an ESPN.com report on the NBA reminding all teams to be sure to prevent any such behavior:

The memo, sources said, references the Miami Dolphins’ ongoing bullying scandal and urges NBA players to report anything if they feel the need while also spelling out specific violations of the league’s policies.

Sources said the memo reiterated a number of prohibited behaviors that would violate league policy.

The lengthy list of violations, sources said, includes: any physical abuse or threats of violence; verbal abuse focused on an individual’s race, nationality, color, gender, age, religion, sexuality, etc.; destruction, defacement or theft of a fellow player’s personal property; engaging in any activity that intimidates or threatens fellow players with ostracism or inflicts extreme mental stress, embarrassment, humiliation or shame; and forcing an individual to engage in any activity or perform any task that violates federal, state or local law or NBA rules and regulations.

Russell Westbrook health update: He is ready to return

Russell Westbrook

The Oklahoma City Thunder are about to get better, and the NBA is about to get even more exciting than it’s already been in this first week of action.

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 against the Phoenix Suns:

“Russell Westbrook has gone through a methodical rehab process jointly created by our medical and performance teams and treating physicians. The process has been instrumental in getting Russell to this point and has included various physical and medical benchmarks. The final benchmark being unrestricted basketball activity. After hitting the necessary marks, all parties, including the team, consulting physicians, Russell’s representatives, and most importantly Russell, jointly determined that returning to play was the correct next step.”

According to the Oklahoman, “Thunder players, coaches and front office executives all said Westbrook looked great in on-court activities in the days leading up to training camp. But the loose stitch in his knee caused swelling that would not subside until Westbrook underwent the second procedure. Thunder general manager Sam Presti, however, said last month that the second surgery, though pushing back Westbrook’s return date, allowed the team an opportunity to see Westbrook’s meniscus and gain confidence that it had properly healed.”

Andray Blatche fined by NBA for making obscene gesture

Andray Blatche

Brooklyn Nets center-forward Andray Blatche has been fined $15,000 for making an obscene gesture during the Nets 101-100 win over the Heat on Friday, Nov. 1, at Barclays Center, it was announced today by Rod Thorn, President, Basketball Operations.

Blatche’s actions occurred with 2:40 remaining in the 4th quarter of the game.

Ronny Turiaf (Timberwolves) suffers right elbow fracture

Ronny Turiaf

The Minnesota Timberwolves today announced that Ronny Turiaf underwent a MRI (Magnetic Resonance Image) this morning at TRIA Orthopedics in Bloomington, Minn. that revealed a radial head fracture of the right elbow. Turiaf will be re-evaluated later this week to determine an approximate time table for a return to the court.

Turiaf suffered the injury at the 10:17 mark of the second quarter during last night’s 100-81 Wolves win over Oklahoma City.

Kings decline to pick up Jimmer Fredette contract option

Jimmer Fredette got a lot of attention before and during his entrance into the world of NBA basketball, but ever since he actually put on a Kings jersey, we haven’t seen a lot of him. There have been flashes here and there, but for now, Jimmer is still proving his worth. As for his Kings situation, here’s the Sacramento Bee:

Jimmer Fredette

The Kings on Thursday declined to pick up the fourth-year option on guard Jimmer Fredette’s contract for the 2014-15 season, which would have paid the 2011 first-round draft pick a little more than $3 million. The deadline to do so was Thursday at 9 p.m.

Therefore, Fredette will be an unrestricted free agent after the season. The Kings could re-sign him at a reduced salary, but the decision likely means this will be Fredette’s final season with the team.

It also means Fredette probably would bring more value in a trade because his expiring deal would create salary cap space for next summer’s free-agent class. The trade deadline is Feb. 20.