NBA News Blog – Page 890 – NBA Blog

Grizzlies trade Marreese Speights, Wayne Ellington, Josh Selby to Cavaliers

The Memphis Grizzlies acquired forward Jon Leuer (LOO-er) and a trade exception from the Cleveland Cavaliers in exchange for forward/center Marreese Speights, guards Wayne Ellington and Josh Selby and a protected future first round draft pick, Grizzlies General Manager and Vice President of Basketball Operations Chris Wallace announced today.

“Marreese will strengthen our front court, while Wayne and Josh will add depth to our back court. At the same time, we are adding a valuable asset with another future first round pick, while also maintaining our future flexibility,” said Cavaliers General Manager Chris Grant. “We wish Jon and Jeremy the best as they move on with their careers and thank them for their time with us here in Cleveland.”

The Cavs will receive Memphis’s first round draft pick in the first available year (which is two years after Memphis has satisfied its current pick obligation to Minnesota). Starting in 2015 the pick could be conveyed to the Cavaliers. The pick is protected one-five and 15-30 in 2015 and 2016 (meaning the Cavaliers would acquire a 6-14 pick) and the pick is protected one-five in 2017 and 2018. If the pick has not been conveyed by 2018, it becomes unprotected in 2019.

Currently in his second professional season, Leuer (6-10, 228) recorded 19.5 points, 12.3 rebounds and 1.8 assists on .512 shooting (.467 3FG) in 36.5 minutes in eight games (seven starts) for Cleveland’s exclusively-owned NBA Development League team, the Canton Charge. The 23-year-old also has made nine appearances for the Cavaliers this season, averaging 2.4 points in 10.1 minutes.

Leuer holds NBA career averages of 4.4 points and 2.4 rebounds on .489 shooting in 11.7 minutes in 55 games (12 starts) with the Cavaliers and Milwaukee Bucks. The Long Lake, Minn. native was drafted by Milwaukee in the second round (40th overall) of the 2011 NBA Draft after a four-year career at the University of Wisconsin.

Speights (6-10, 255) averaged 6.6 points and 4.7 rebounds on .429 shooting in 14.5 minutes in 40 games (two starts) in his second season in Memphis. Drafted by the Philadelphia 76ers in the first round (16th overall) of the 2008 NBA Draft, the 25-year-old owns career averages of 7.4 points, 4.3 rebounds and 0.5 assists on .474 shooting in 16.2 minutes in 305 games (60 starts) over five seasons with the Grizzlies and 76ers.

Ellington (6-4, 200) posted 5.5 points, 1.3 rebounds and 1.1 assists on .407 shooting in 16.9 minutes in 40 games (four starts) in his first season with the Grizzlies. Drafted by the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first round (28th overall) of the 2009 NBA Draft, the 25-year-old holds career averages of 6.3 points, 1.5 rebounds and 1.8 assists on .411 shooting in 18.4 minutes in 229 games (17 starts) over four seasons with the Grizzlies and Timberwolves.

Selby (6-2, 183) made 10 appearances with the Grizzlies this season, averaging 2.0 points in 5.9 minutes. Drafted by Memphis in the second round (49th overall) of the 2011 NBA Draft, the 21-year-old owns career averages of 2.2 points and 0.9 assists on .330 shooting in 7.8 minutes in 38 games over two seasons with the Grizzlies.

Dan Majerle will not return as Phoenix Suns assistant coach

Suns Ring of Honor member Dan Majerle will not resume his role as assistant coach for the second half of the season.

Majerle was in his fifth season as a Suns assistant coach but had stopped working with the team Sunday when Lindsey Hunter was selected as the interim head coach in place of Alvin Gentry. Hunter was selected Sunday over lead assistant coach Elston Turner, assistant coach Igor Kokoskov and Majerle, who had been the suggestion of many Suns players to General Manager Lance Blanks during interviews Friday and Saturday.

When Blanks called Majerle to inform him of the decision Sunday morning before practice, Majerle left US Airways Center and did not participate in Sunday’s and Monday’s practices. Majerle had been willing to return to the staff if Turner was selected.

Majerle will receive his full salary for the season.

— Reported by Paul Coro of the Arizona Republic

Thunder re-assign Jeremy Lamb and Daniel Orton to D-League for billionth time

The Oklahoma City Thunder has assigned guard Jeremy Lamb and center Daniel Orton to the Tulsa 66ers of the NBA Development League, it was announced today by Executive Vice President and General Manager Sam Presti.

Lamb has appeared in 16 games this season with the Thunder averaging 1.7 points in 4.0 minutes per game.

Orton has seen action in one game for the Thunder, scoring two points in two minutes versus Cleveland on Nov. 11th.

Both players are expected to be in uniform tomorrow when the 66ers take on the Energy at the Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines, IA.

Cavs re-assign forward Kevin Jones to D-League

The Cleveland Cavaliers have assigned forward Kevin Jones to the Canton Charge, the Cavaliers exclusively owned and operated NBA Development League team, Cavaliers General Manager Chris Grant announced today.

Jones has played in 15 games for the Cavs this season and is averaging 1.9 points and 1.5 re bounds in 9.0 minutes per game. He has appeared in five games for the Charge this season, averaging 23.6 points, 12.6 rebounds and 1.4 steals in 41.0 minutes. He has four double-doubles on the season for the Charge.

Maloofs agree to sell Kings to Seattle group

The only thing stopping the Sacramento Kings from a sale and move to Seattle is approval by NBA owners.

The Maloof family has agreed to sell the Kings to a Seattle group led by investor Chris Hansen, the league confirmed in a statement Monday morning. The deal is still pending a vote by the NBA Board of Governors.

A person familiar with the decision said that Hansen’s group will buy 65 percent of the franchise for $525 million, move the team to Seattle and restore the SuperSonics name. The Maloofs will have no stake in the team.

The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the deal was waiting approval.

The sale figure is a total valuation of the franchise, which includes relocation fees. Hansen’s group also is hoping to buy out other minority investors.

The Maloofs will get a $30 million non-refundable down payment by Feb. 1, according to the deal, the person said. They will still be allowed to receive other offers until the league approves the sale.

The plan by Hansen’s group is to have the team play at least the next two seasons in KeyArena before moving into a new facility in downtown Seattle. The deadline for teams to apply for a move for next season is March 1.

— Reported by Antonio Gonzalez of the Associated Press

Bucks recall Doron Lamb from D-League

The Milwaukee Bucks have recalled rookie guard Doron Lamb from the Fort Wayne Mad Ants (Indiana) of the NBA Development League (D-League), General Manager John Hammond announced today. Lamb appeared in two games for the Mad Ants during his assignment, averaging 7.5 points, 3.5 rebounds and 3.0 assists in 24.5 minutes per game.

Drafted by the Bucks with the 42nd overall pick in the second round of the 2012 NBA draft, Lamb has appeared in 23 contests for Milwaukee this season and has averaged 3.4 points in 12.2 minutes per game. He has tallied a career-high eight points in four different games, most recently against the Memphis Grizzlies on Dec. 19.

In two seasons at Kentucky, Lamb, 21, finished his career with 1,018 points while helping the Wildcats to a National Championship in 2012. Averaging 13.1 points per game, Lamb also hit 47.5 percent of his shots from behind the arc to become the top three-point shooter in Kentucky school history.

Anderson Varejao has blood clot, will not play again this season

Cavaliers center Anderson Varejao recently developed a blood clot (small right lower lung pulmonary embolism) and was admitted to the Cleveland Clinic last Thursday (January 17th). He is being treated with blood thinners (anticoagulants) and is expected to stay at the Clinic for several days, while undergoing treatment and observation. He will need to remain on blood thinning medication for approximately three months. While Varejao is expected to fully recover, he will miss the remainder of the current Cavaliers season.

Quote from Cavaliers General Manager Chris Grant: “Clearly our players’ health is our top concern and we are disappointed for Anderson, and his family. We know what a competitor he is and how much he wants to be on the court helping his teammates. In the meantime, he has our full support and we look forward to welcoming him back as he recovers.”

Hawks sign Jannero Pargo to 10-day contract

The Atlanta Hawks have signed veteran guard Jannero Pargo to a 10-day contract, Hawks President of Basketball Operations/General Manager Danny Ferry announced today.

In his ninth NBA season, Pargo played in seven games earlier this year with the Washington Wizards, putting in 3.0 points and 2.0 assists in 14.6 minutes per contest (.250 FG%, 1.000 FT%). In 50 games last season with the Hawks, he averaged 5.6 points, 1.9 assists and 1.5 rebounds in 13.4 minutes (.415 FG%, .384 3FG%, .950 FT%).

In 436 career games (18 starts) with the LA Lakers, Chicago, Toronto, New Orleans, Atlanta and Washington, the 6-foot-1 University of Arkansas product is averaging 6.4 points, 2.0 assists and 1.5 rebounds in 15.4 minutes (.389 FG%, .350 3FG%, .867 FT%). He has also seen action in Russia (Dynamo Moscow) and Greece (Olympiacos Piraeus).

Pargo will wear uniform number 7, and will be available for today’s 2 p.m. contest at Philips Arena vs. the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Warriors re-assign Jeremy Tyler to D-League

The Golden State Warriors have re-assigned forward/center Jeremy Tyler to the Santa Cruz Warriors of the NBA Development League, the team announced today. He is slated to join Golden State’s D-League affiliate in time for the team’s home game this evening in Santa Cruz against the Erie BayHawks at Kaiser Permanente Arena (5:00 p.m. tipoff).

Tyler, 21, has appeared in 16 games for Golden State this season, averaging 1.1 points in 3.1 minutes per contest. He has previously been assigned to Santa Cruz four times this season, averaging 15.0 points, 8.3 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 30.5 minutes in four games.

Heat re-sign forward Jarvis Varnado to second 10-day contract

The Miami Heat announced today that they have re-signed forward Jarvis Varnado to a second 10-day contract.

Varnado, who was signed to a 10-day contract by the Heat on January 9, appeared in two games with Miami, both victories, totaling two points and two blocks in 12 minutes of action while shooting 1-of-2 from the field.

Varnado was signed earlier this season by Boston on December 14 and appeared in five games with the Celtics totaling six points, three rebounds, one assist and a steal in 18 minutes while shooting 2-of-4 from the field before being waived on January 6. He previously played in eight games (all starts) earlier this season for the Sioux Falls Skyforce of the NBA Development League and averaged 14.0 points, 8.9 rebounds, 4.38 blocks and 30.4 minutes while shooting 57.5 percent from the field.

Varnado was originally signed by Miami on September 7 and waived on October 26 after appearing in two games (one start) on the HEAT’s 2012 Summer League team tallying four points, seven rebounds, one steal and a block in 30:07 minutes of action.