NBA News Blog – Page 897 – NBA Blog

Dallas Mavericks sign guard Mike James to 10-day contract

The Dallas Mavericks announced today that they have signed free agent guard Mike James to a 10-day contract.

James (6-2, 188) is a 10-year veteran and has played in 539 games (263 starts) with Miami, Boston, Detroit, Milwaukee, Houston, Toronto, Minnesota, New Orleans, Washington and Chicago. He holds career averages of 10.4 points, 3.6 assists, 2.3 rebounds and 24.9 minutes per game.

James spent his most successful season as a professional with the Toronto Raptors where, in 2005-06, he averaged 20.3 points and 5.8 assists while starting 79 games. In 2011-12, James played in 11 games for the Chicago Bulls. He averaged 4.8 points, 2.6 assists and 10.9 minutes while helping to carry the load at point guard for an injured Derrick Rose.

Most recently, James played in two games with the Texas Legends of the NBA D-League. He averaged 18.5 points, 4.0 assists and 2.5 steals in 34.0 minutes per contest.

The Copiague, N.Y., native played collegiately at Duquesne where he was All-Atlantic 10 as a senior before going undrafted in the 1998 NBA Draft.

The Mavericks roster now stands at 15.

Idea of NBA arena in Virginia Beach may not materialize

After years of talks, hundreds of thousands of dollars spent on consulting reports, and most recently an NBA team looking to re-locate, time seems to be running out on plans to build a new arena in Virginia Beach with the Sacramento Kings as the building’s main tenant.

Today, Virginia Beach Mayor Will Sessoms and Peter Lukko, the president of Comcast Spectacor, will release a joint statement regarding their ongoing negotiations to get the arena deal done.

Unfortunately, those negotiations are at a stand-still.

— Reported by Bruce Rader of WAVY TV 10

NYC Mayor Bloomberg says he pushed Stephen Jackson

Just call him the Knicks’ sixth man.

Mayor Bloomberg put a full-court press on Spurs forward Stephen Jackson before the player left a Knicks game Thursday with a sprained ankle.

The Knicks ended up winning easily, 100-83.

Fans reported Jackson tripped on a waitress, who was crouched on the sidelines with her back to the Madison Square Garden court while serving a drink to the mayor.

“He didn’t fall on her,” Bloomberg revealed yesterday during a press conference in The Bronx dealing with schools. “He came close and I just pushed him a little bit.”

The mayor acknowledged it would be “great for New York” if the Knicks and the Nets made it into the playoffs, but he insisted that fouling Jackson was an instinctive, defensive move and not part of a secret strategy.

— Reported by David Seifman of the New York Post

Grizzlies, Suns discussing a Rudy Gay trade

The Memphis Grizzlies and Phoenix Suns are engaged in trade talks centered on forward Rudy Gay, league sources told Yahoo! Sports.

The Grizzlies have been shopping Gay to multiple teams, and found an interested trade partner with the Suns, sources said.

There’s no framework of a possible deal in place, but the Grizzlies have expressed a strong desire that any package involving Gay include Suns forward Jared Dudley and future first-round draft picks, sources said.

In an effort to avoid paying luxury tax in the short term, as well as get off the $17.8 million and $19.3 million owed Gay in the 2013-14 and 2014-15 seasons, new Memphis management has aggressively shopped Gay.

— Reported by Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports

Bucks and coach Scott Skiles part ways

The Milwaukee Bucks and Scott Skiles have mutually agreed to part ways after his four-plus seasons as head coach, General Manager John Hammond announced today. Assistant Jim Boylan will assume head coaching duties for the remainder of the season.

“Scott and I met yesterday after practice and after some honest discussion, we both came to the conclusion that it was best to part ways,” Hammond said. “It is never an easy decision to make, but in the end a decision we felt was best for both parties. I want to thank Scott for his hard work, dedication and the imprint he leaves on our team and our entire organization. We all wish him and his family well.”

In four-plus seasons as head coach of the Bucks, Skiles compiled a 162-182 regular season record (.471), including a 46-36 mark in the 2009-10 campaign when the Bucks took Atlanta to seven games in the First Round of the NBA Playoffs. He was named the 11th head coach in Bucks franchise history on April 21, 2008, replacing Larry Krystkowiak.

“John and I met and mutually agreed that a coaching change would be in the best interest of both parties,” Skiles said.

“The Senator, the people of Wisconsin, and especially those in the Bucks organization have been very kind to me, my wife, and family. I am truly grateful for our time here. We are leaving with many fond memories.

“I believe this team can and will have success in the next 50 games and postseason. I want to thank the players for all of their hard work. I wish them all the best.”

Skiles amassed an overall record of 443-433 (.506) as an NBA head coach, which also includes stints with the Chicago Bulls and the Phoenix Suns. In his 12-plus seasons with the Suns, Bulls and Bucks, Skiles coached in six NBA postseasons (42 games, 18-24 record). He was originally hired as an assistant coach to Danny Ainge in Phoenix, a post he held for two-plus seasons. Prior to that he served as the head coach of PAOK in Greece.

Boylan, 57, has been the lead assistant coach for the Bucks the past four seasons, joining the team after finishing the final 56 games (24-32, .429) of the 2007-08 season as the interim head coach of the Chicago Bulls. His NBA coaching career began in 1992 with Cleveland and has also served as an assistant with Vancouver (1997-2000), Phoenix (2000-02), Atlanta (2003-04) and Chicago (2004-08).

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Carmelo Anthony tried to get at Kevin Garnett after Knicks-Celtics game

The Boston Celtics had the last word on the court after some tough talk between Kevin Garnett and Knicks star Carmelo Anthony, but Anthony reportedly twice tried to continue the conversation after the game — going as far as waiting by the Celtics’ team bus.

The pair of stars had engaged in a tussle that resulted in a double technical foul in the intense fourth quarter of the Celtics’ 102-96 victory at Madison Square Garden on Monday night. Afterwards, MSG Network reported Anthony screamed as he headed toward the Celtics’ locker room after the game.

Anthony’s persistence in trying to meet up with Garnett after the game is likely to gain the NBA’s attention and could draw a suspension and fine…

Boston coach Doc Rivers declined to elaborate on the post-game incident by the Celtics’ locker room, but when asked about Anthony coming over there, the coach indicated there was something to talk about.

“I’m gonna stay out of that,” Rivers said. “If it was the playoffs, I’d tell on him, but since it’s not, I’ll just keep it quiet.”

He added that it’s fine for things to get heated during the game, but that they shouldn’t carry over.

But a video later posted by Comcast SportsNet New England later showed Anthony, dressed in street clothes, waiting by the Celtics’ team bus. The video shows several security members standing by him along with Knicks coach Mike Woodson. One of the security members gently put his hand on Anthony and the Knicks forward nudged it away.

The video cuts off as Woodson appears to be talking to Anthony, but the New York Daily News cited a source on the scene as saying Woodson ordered the player to leave peacefully.

— Reported by Dave Buscema of the Sports Xchange

Video of Melo waiting for Kevin Garnett near bus after the game

Rockets sign Patrick Beverley, waive Scott Machado

Houston Rockets General Manager Daryl Morey announced today that the team has signed guard Patrick Beverley to a multi-year deal. Beverley will be assigned to Houston’s single-affiliation NBA D-League partner the Rio Grande Valley Vipers. To make room on the roster, the Rockets have waived guard Scott Machado.

Beverley (6-1, 185, Arkansas) comes to the Rockets from Spartak St. Petersburg in Russia, where he earned Eurocup MVP for the 2011-12 season and 2012 All-Eurocup First-Team honors. He originally played two seasons at Arkansas before leaving school to sign a professional contract with BC Dnipro of the Ukrainian UBL for the 2008-09 season. Beverley was then drafted by the L.A. Lakers in the second round (42nd overall) of the 2009 NBA Draft and later traded to the Miami Heat. He decided to stay in Europe and signed with Olympiakos in Greece on Aug. 26, 2009. He again joined the Heat for the 2010 NBA Summer League and was signed by Miami on Aug. 2, 2010. Beverley was waived by the Heat at the end of training camp on Oct. 25, 2010.

As a collegian, Beverley was named SEC Freshman of the Year and earned Second-Team All-SEC honors in 2006-07. A 2008 Wooden Award and Naismith Trophy candidate, he started 33 of 35 games as a sophomore, ranking first on Razorbacks in rebounding (6.6 rpg), steals (1.3 spg) and 3-point percentage (.378). Beverley was also second on the team in points (12.1 ppg) and third in assists (2.4 apg) in 2007-08.

Machado (6-1, 205, Iona) averaged 1.3 points and 1.0 assists in six games with the Rockets this season. He also averaged 12.0 points, 7.1 assists and 3.3 rebounds in 11 games (nine starts) with Houston’s single-affiliation NBA D-League partner the Rio Grande Valley Vipers.

Lakers waive guard Darius Johnson-Odom

The Los Angeles Lakers have waived guard Darius Johnson-Odom, it was announced today.

Johnson-Odom, the 55 th overall pick in the 2012 NBA Draft, was acquired by the Lakers from Dallas on draft night. The 6-2 guard out of Marquette averaged 15.7 points, 3.1 rebounds and 2.5 assists in 105 collegiate games. As a senior, the Raleigh, North Carolina native led his team in scoring (18.3 ppg) and earned First Team All-Big East honors in addition to being named an Honorable Mention All-American by the Associated Press.

Johnson-Odom appeared in four games for the Lakers this season, where he totaled four rebounds and one assist in six minutes.

Indiana Pacers sign head coach Frank Vogel to contract extension

The Indiana Pacers announced Monday they have signed head coach Frank Vogel to a contract extension.

Vogel is in his third year as Pacers coach after taking over on Jan. 30, 2011. Going into Tuesday night’s home game with Miami, Vogel has coached exactly 100 games, compiling a 62-38 record. Last season, the Pacers had a 42-24 record, fifth best in the NBA and reached the Eastern Conference Semifinals before losing to eventual NBA champion Miami.

“This is a good deal for Frank and the franchise,” said Pacers President of Basketball Operations Donnie Walsh. “Frank has done a great job turning our team around since he became coach and deserves the chance to continue the work he and his staff have started.”

Said Vogel, “I’m honored that Donnie, Kevin (General Manager Pritchard) and Mr. Simon (owner Herb Simon) have such belief and faith in me to be their coach in the foreseeable future. We’ve established a great connection with our community the last two years, both on and off the court and I look forward to continuing that.”

Wizards waive guard Shelvin Mack

Washington Wizards President Ernie Grunfeld announced today that the team has waived guard Shelvin Mack.

Mack, who signed as a free agent with Washington on December 25, 2012, appeared in seven games, including two starts, and averaged 5.3 points, 2.3 rebounds and 3.3 assists in 20.1 minutes per contest.

Mack was originally selected by Washington with the 34 th overall pick in the 2011 NBA Draft and appeared in training camp with the Wizards this season before being waived on October 28. He spent the first 11 games of the 2012-13 season with the Maine Red Claws of the NBA D-League prior to re-signing with the Wizards on December 25.

The team’s roster now stands at 14 players.