NBA News Blog – Page 894 – NBA Blog

Luke Harangody named D-League Performer of Week

Luke Harangody of the Fort Wayne Mad Ants was today named NBA Development League Performer of the Week for games Played Jan. 7-13.

A 6-8, 240-pound forward out of Notre Dame, Harangody led the Mad Ants to a 3-0 week, including two wins at the 2013 NBA D-League Showcase in Reno, Nev. He averaged 21.3 points on 43 percent shooting to go with 16.3 rebounds and 3.0 assists. He scored a season-high 27 points in a 116-97 win over the Rio Grande Valley Vipers on Jan. 9 and posted a season-high 21 rebounds in a 112-84 road win over the Erie BayHawks on Jan. 12.

Other top performers considered include Austin’s Cory Joseph, on assignment from the San Antonio Spurs; Bakersfield’s Damion James; Canton’s Micheal Eric; Erie’s D.J. Kennedy; Idaho’s Nolan Smith, on assignment from the Portland Trail Blazers; Iowa’s Morris Almond; Los Angeles’ Courtney Fortson; Maine’s Shelvin Mack; Rio Grande Valley’s Andrew Goudelock; Reno’s Jerome Jordan; Santa Cruz’s Taylor Griffin; Springfield’s James Mays; Sioux Falls’ Demetris Nichols; Texas’ Chris Roberts and Tulsa’s Jeremy Lamb on assignment from the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Thunder recall Perry Jones and Daniel Orton from D-League

The Oklahoma City Thunder has recalled forward Perry Jones and center Daniel Orton from the Tulsa 66ers of the NBA Development League, it was announced today by Executive Vice President and General Manager Sam Presti.

Including his 13 point and 18 rebound effort this past Friday against the Santa Cruz Warriors, Jones has appeared in 11 games (all starts) with the 66ers this season and recorded averages of 14.1 points, 7.0 rebounds and 1.7 assists in 33.0 minutes.

Orton has seen action in 16 games with the 66ers this season (all starts) and posted averages of 11.2 points, 7.2 rebounds and 1.81 blocks in 29.1 minutes.

Both players are expected to join the Thunder in Portland today prior to this evening’s contest against the Trail Blazers.

Brooklyn Nets sign Damion James to 10-day contract

The Brooklyn Nets have signed forward Damion James to a 10-day contract, it was announced today by General Manager Billy King.

James (6-7/225) is Brooklyn’s first NBA D-League Call-Up of the season, joining the Nets from the Bakersfield Jam. In 17 games for Bakersfield this season, James averaged 15.5 points and 7.3 rebounds in 28.9 minutes per game.

The Nets originally acquired James in a 2010 draft-night trade, after the University of Texas product was selected in the first round (24th overall) by the Atlanta Hawks. James played in 25 games for the Nets in 2010-11 and seven in 2011-12, missing a total of 107 games over two seasons due to right foot injuries. Appearing in 32 games with the Nets over two seasons, James holds NBA career averages of 4.5 points and 3.7 rebounds in 17.9 minutes per game.

Iman Shumpert returning soon for Knicks

New York Knicks guard Iman Shumpert could make his season debut on Thursday against the Detroit Pistons in London.

“He’s been cleared,” coach Mike Woodson said after Saturday’s practice at the team’s training facility. “He’ll practice on Monday and if we get the two practices in — for sure one in London and there’s no setback — he’ll be cleared probably to play in the Detroit game.”

Shumpert is returning from a left ACL and meniscus tear suffered last April in the playoffs. Initially, the Knicks were looking to have the sophomore practice with the Knicks’ D-League team, the Erie BayHawks, but Woodson said the schedule won’t permit that. Instead, Shumpert will practice with the Knicks and “have to learn on the fly,” as the coach said.

— Reported by Jared Zwerling of ESPN New York

Grant Hill set to make regular-season debut for Clippers

Grant Hill is set to make his regular-season debut for the Los Angeles Clippers.

The seven-time All-Star is expected to play limited minutes on Saturday against the Orlando Magic, his former team. Hill has missed 36 games with a bone bruise in his right knee. He hasn’t played since Oct. 13 when he had eight points and three rebounds in an exhibition game against Miami in Shanghai.

He’s been practicing for a week and coach Vinny Del Negro said Hill hasn’t had any setbacks.

— Reported by the Associated Press

Timberwolves guard Malcolm Lee needs two surgeries, out for season

The Minnesota Timberwolves today announced that guard Malcolm Lee will undergo two surgeries next week. On Monday, January 14, Lee will undergo a right knee cartilage repair. The surgery will be performed by Dr. Jonathan Glashow at Midtown Surgical Center in New York. On Wednesday, January 16, Lee will undergo surgery on his right hip. The surgery will be performed by Dr. Bryan Kelly at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York.

Lee is expected to miss the remainder of the 2012-13 NBA season.

Lee, 6-5, played in 19 games for the Wolves this season, averaging 4.9 points, 2.4 rebounds and 1.3 assists in 18.1 minutes per game. The Wolves originally acquired Lee from the Chicago Bulls on June 23, 2011.

Bucks assign Doron Lamb to D-League

The Milwaukee Bucks have assigned rookie guard Doron Lamb to the Fort Wayne Mad Ants (Indiana) of the NBA Development League (D-League), General Manager John Hammond announced today. Lamb will report to Fort Wayne on Sunday and practice with the Mad Ants in preparation for their road trip to Los Angeles (Jan. 16) and Bakersfield (Jan. 18). Fort Wayne is coached by Duane Ticknor and is also the D-League affiliate of Detroit, Indiana and Charlotte.

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.

Lakers forward Jordan Hill out for season with hip injury

Lakers forward Jordan Hill was examined by team doctor Steve Lombardo and hip specialist Dr. Jason Snibbe, and underwent an arthrogram test today on his injured left hip.

Results of the test showed he has loose fragments in addition to a possible labral tear. Hill has been advised that surgery will be needed to repair the injury, and he will be out for the remainder of the season.

Hill is expected to get a second opinion before he schedules surgery.

Celtics give Fab Melo another trip to the D-League

The Boston Celtics today re-assigned rookie center Fab Melo to the Maine Red Claws, the Celtics’ NBA Development League affiliate. The assignment is the record 102nd of the 2012-13 NBA and NBA D-League seasons, and is the third for Melo this year. He is one of a record 49 NBA players who’ve been assigned to the NBA D-League this season.

Melo (7-0, 215, Syracuse) returns to the Red Claws where he previously appeared in 12 games, averaging 10.9 points, 6.9 rebounds and 3.8 blocks in 26.8 minutes per game. He was originally selected in the first round (22nd overall) by Boston in the 2012 NBA Draft.

Melo is expected to join the Red Claws today and be available tonight when the team visits the Springfield Armor.

Thunder recall Jeremy Lamb from D-League yet again

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

Including his 33-point (11-of-19 FGs) performance yesterday afternoon against the Fort Wayne Mad Ants, Lamb has appeared in 11 games (all starts) with the 66ers this season and recorded averages of 21.5 points, 5.4 rebounds and 3.2 assists in 36.0 minutes.

Lamb is expected to join the Thunder in Los Angeles today prior to this evening’s contest against the Lakers.