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Grizzlies sign Donte Greene and Willie Reed

The Memphis Grizzlies signed free agent forward Donté Greene as well as forward/center Willie Reed of the NBA Development League’s Springfield Armor to multi-year contracts, the team announced today.

Greene (6-11, 226) comes to Memphis with NBA career averages of 6.1 points, 2.4 rebounds and 0.6 assists in 16.8 minutes in 253 games (82 starts) over four seasons (2008-12) with the Sacramento Kings.

The 25-year-old has missed the majority of the 2012-13 regular season while recovering from a fractured ankle suffered during an offseason workout on Aug. 25. He recently played one game in Puerto Rico for Atleticos de San German of the Baloncesto Superior Nacional (BSN).

After leading Syracuse University in scoring (17.7 points) as a freshman, Greene was drafted by the Grizzlies in the first round (28th overall) of the 2008 NBA Draft. Memphis then completed a three-way trade on draft night that sent Greene’s draft rights and a 2009 second round draft pick to Houston in exchange for the draft rights to current Grizzlies forward Darrell Arthur (27th) from Portland. Houston also traded the draft rights to Nicolas Batum (25th) to Portland for the draft rights to Joey Dorsey (33rd) to complete the deal.

Born in Munich, Germany, Greene moved to the United States at the age of three and was named Maryland’s 2007 Gatorade Player of the Year as a senior at Towson Catholic High School in Baltimore, the same high school attended by Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony.

Reed (6-10, 220) joins the Grizzlies after averaging 14.8 points, 7.8 rebounds and 1.77 blocks on .557 shooting in 29.3 minutes in 48 games (30 starts) for Springfield this season. The 22-year-old ranked fifth in the D-League in total blocks (83), posted 12 double-doubles and registered 24 games with multiple rejections in his first season with the Armor.

Reed enjoyed some of his best games this season against the Fort Wayne Mad Ants, scoring a D-League career-high 27 points on Feb. 23 before netting 21 points and collecting a D-League personal-best 20 rebounds against Fort Wayne on March 17.

Undrafted in the 2011 NBA Draft, Reed signed as a free agent with the Sacramento Kings on Sept. 21, 2012 but was waived on Oct. 26, 2012. The Kansas City native played two collegiate seasons (2008-10) at Saint Louis University, where he recorded 10.2 points, 6.3 rebounds and 1.69 blocks in 67 games.

The Grizzlies’ roster now stands at 15.

Tony Mitchell named 2013 D-League Rookie of Year

Fort Wayne Mad Ants rookie Tony Mitchell today was named the 2013 NBA Development League Rookie of the year as voted on by the League’s 16 head coaches. The award recognizes a first-year professional who most significantly contributed to his team’s success during the course of the season.

Mitchell (6-6, 216, Alabama) played in 48 regular season games, 45 as a starter, for the Mad Ants, averaging a team-high 21.9 points to go with 6.4 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 1.4 steals and 35.3 minutes while shooting 42 percent from the floor and 32 percent from behind the three-point line. His 21.9 points per game was good for second in the NBA D-League.

He led the team in scoring 21 times and was the leading rebounder in five contests. A 2013 NBA D-League All-Star, Mitchell was the only player in the NBA D-League to record two 40-plus point games during the regular season when he scored 47 against the Austin Toros on March 22 and 49 against the Sioux Falls Skyforce on April 5.

“Tony is a talented player and he had a standout first season in Fort Wayne,” said Chris Alpert, Vice President of Basketball Operations and Player Personnel for the NBA D-League. “His impressive ability to score, as well as his selection to the 2013 NBA D-League All-Star Game, solidified his position as a top young prospect in our league. I congratulate him on a terrific start to his professional career and look forward to watching him to continue to develop into an NBA-caliber player.”

A two-time NBA D-League Performer of the Week selection and March’s NBA D-League Co-Player of the Month, Mitchell helped the Mad Ants to the team’s first postseason appearance, where he played in two games, averaging 30.0 points, 6.0 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 2.0 steals and 39.5 minutes before the team fell to the Santa Cruz Warriors.

Knicks bring back Quentin Richardson

The playoff-bound New York Knicks have brought a familiar face back onto the squad.

Knicks Executive Vice President, Basketball Operations and General Manager Glen Grunwald announced today that the team has signed guard/forward Quentin Richardson for the remainder of the season, including the playoffs.

Richardson, 6-6, 220-pounds, holds career averages of 10.3 points, on 39.8-percent shooting from the field and 35.5-percent shooting from three-point range, with 4.7 rebounds and 1.5 assists over 26.5 minutes in 782 games (486 starts) over 12 seasons with the L.A. Clippers, Phoenix, New York, Miami and Orlando. He has appeared in 31 postseason games (21 starts), averaging 8.5 points and 4.3 rebounds over 28.5 minutes.

The Chicago, IL-native, last played in the NBA for Orlando during the 2011-12 season, averaging 4.5 points and 2.6 rebounds over 18 minutes in 48 games (three starts). He returns to New York after spending four seasons with the Knicks (2005-09), averaging 9.7 points and 5.0 rebounds over 28.2 minutes in 241 games (206 starts).

The Knicks, who clinched the No. 2 seed in the Eastern conference, have suffered multiple injuries recently, but expect to have some healthy big bodies back for the playoffs. Q-Rich adds depth at the wing spot.

The team recently waived Kurt Thomas, signed and then waived Solomon Jones, before signing Richardson.

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Kenneth Faried day-to-day with sprained ankle

Denver Nuggets forward Kenneth Faried underwent an MRI today on his left ankle. The exam revealed a sprain of the Anterior Talofibular ligament but no fractures.

Faried, averaging 11.5 points and a team-leading 9.2 rebounds per game, will miss the final two games of the regular season and be listed as day-to-day as the Nuggets prepare for the Western Conference playoffs.

The Nuggets play tonight at Milwaukee and conclude the regular-season Wednesday at home against the Phoenix Suns.

Alex Len is entering 2013 NBA Draft

University of Maryland sophomore center Alex Len is forgoing his final two years of collegiate eligibility to enter the NBA Draft.

“I’m very grateful for the two years I’ve spent at Maryland and for everyone that has supported me during my time here,” said Len. “It’s been an honor to play here and I’ve learned so much. I want to thank Coach Turgeon and the coaching staff for believing in me and helping me grow as a player and a person. I also want to thank my teammates who were always there for me. We shared some great moments together. I’ve grown a lot, both on the court and off the court, over the past two years and I am looking forward to the next chapter of my life.”

“I’m very proud of Alex and am excited for what the future holds for him,” said Turgeon. “To see the progress he’s made on the court, in the classroom and socially has been a truly rewarding experience. Alex has worked incredibly hard since he got here and he has earned this opportunity.”

Len averaged 11.9 points per game and 7.8 rebounds per game while leading the ACC with 78 blocks in 2012-13. The 7-foot-1 native of Antratsit, Ukraine, was named honorable mention All-ACC and was a member of the All-ACC Defensive team last season.

Len dramatically increased his productivity from his freshman to sophomore season, making improvements in nearly every statistical category. His scoring went from 6.0 points per game to 11.9, while his rebounding increased from 5.4 to 7.8 per game. For his career, Len holds averages of 9.7 points per game, 7.0 rebounds per game and 2.1 blocks per game. He played in 60 games with 48 starts, 37 of those coming in 2012-13.

— Via Maryland Sports Info

Brittney Griner the big prize available in 2013 WNBA draft

Brittney Griner, Elena Delle Donne and Skylar Diggins are expected to be the top three selections in this year’s highly touted WNBA draft. After that, it’s anybody’s guess.

Phoenix has the envied No. 1 pick in the draft Monday night and it’s anticipated that the Mercury will select Griner, the 6-foot-8 Baylor standout who averaged 23.8 points — third-best in the country — and 4.14 blocked shots as a senior. The two-time AP women’s college basketball Player of the Year finished her career as the No. 2 scorer in NCAA history with 3,283 points and set records with 748 blocks and 18 dunks.

“She’s no doubt going to be an impact player right away,” Tulsa Coach Gary Kloppenburg said on a national media conference call. “Defensively, great shot-blocking, just clogging the lane even with the new (defensive 3-second) rule she’s mobile enough she’s going to be able to understand the two-point line, getting in, getting out.

“Offensively, you really have to double-team her and she’s so skilled down there with all her array of shots. Her passing ability has improved so much, she’s going to really tilt that team with that low-post presence.”

— Reported by the Associated Press

Lakers sign guard Andrew Goudelock

No Kobe Bryant, but at least there’s… Goudelock.

The Los Angeles Lakers have signed guard Andrew Goudelock, it was announced Sunday.

In 51 games (all starts) with Sioux Falls and Rio Grande Valley of the NBA Development League this season, Goudelock averaged 21.1 points, 3.9 rebounds, 5.2 assists and 1.16 steals in 36.9 minutes. Named NBA D-League Co-Player of the Month for March, he also earned back-to-back D-League Top Performer of the Week honors for games played 3/11-3/17 and 3/18-3/24.

Originally selected by the Lakers in the second round (46th overall) of the 2011 NBA Draft, Goudelock appeared in 40 games with Los Angeles last season, averaging 4.4 points and 0.5 assists in 10.5 minutes. In six preseason games with the Lakers this season, he averaged 3.8 points and 0.8 assists in 7.7 minutes before being waived on October 27.

The 6-2 guard concluded his career at the College of Charleston ranked 39th on the NCAA Division I all-time scoring list. In four seasons with the Cougars, Goudelock averaged 18.4 points, 3.3 rebounds and 3.0 assists in 32.8 minutes and as a senior, earned AP All America Honorable Mention honors while ranking fourth nationally among NCAA Division I scoring leaders (23.7 ppg).

The Lakers are currently in a battle with the Utah Jazz for the final Western conference playoff spot.

Kobe Bryant vents on Facebook about his injury

Bryant took to Facebook in the wee hours of Saturday morning to vent about the injury, writing the “frustration is unbearable” but the setback will not end his career.

The 34-year-old Bryant posted about his “rage” a few hours after being hurt: “Why the hell did this happen ?!? Makes no damn sense. Now I’m supposed to come back from this and be the same player Or better at 35?!? How in the world am I supposed to do that?? ”

He added: “Maybe this is how my book ends. Maybe Father Time has defeated me…Then again maybe not!”

“One day, the beginning of a new career journey will commence. Today is NOT that day.” …

Bryant’s Facebook post continued: “If you see me in a fight with a bear, prey for the bear”. Ive always loved that quote. Thats “mamba mentality” we don’t quit, we don’t cower, we don’t run. We endure and conquer.

“I know it’s a long post but I’m Facebook Venting LOL. Maybe now I can actually get some sleep and be excited for surgery tomorrow. First step of a new challenge.”

“I have faith in my teammates. They will come thru,” he continued. “Thank you for all your prayers and support. Much Love Always. Mamba Out”

— Reported by the Associated Press

Torn Achilles knocks Kobe out for season

Kobe Bryant had surgery Saturday on his torn Achilles tendon, ending the season for the Los Angeles Lakers star.

Teammates and coaches say Bryant is determined to return quickly from the biggest injury of his career. General manager Mitch Kupchak thinks it’s realistic the 34-year-old guard could be ready for next season’s opener in the fall.

Bryant was hurt late in the Lakers’ 118-116 win over Golden State on Friday night. Lakers trainer Gary Vitti says Bryant’s tendon was completely torn. Bryant stayed in the game to make two free throws.

Kupchak says the Lakers haven’t considered parting ways with Bryant, who will make nearly $30.5 million next year.

— Reported by the Associated Press

Mavericks sign guard Josh Akognon

The Dallas Mavericks announced today that they have signed guard Josh Akognon, presumably just for the remainder of the 2012-13 NBA season.

Akognon (5-11, 185) originally signed a 10-day contract with Dallas on April 3. He made his NBA regular-season debut against Phoenix on April 10 and recorded two points and one assist in 4 minutes.

A native of Petaluma, Calif., Akognon began his collegiate career at Washington State before transferring to Cal State Fullerton. As a junior, he led the Titans to a Big West regular season title, Big West Tournament Championship and an NCAA Tournament appearance for the first time in 30 years. As a senior, Akognon was named Big West Conference Player of the Year after averaging 23.9 points per game. He went undrafted in the 2009 NBA Draft.