Charlotte Hornets Blog – Page 23 – NBA Blog

Hornets, Grizzlies, Heat trade moves Courtney Lee to Charlotte

Charlotte Hornets General Manager Rich Cho announced today that the team has acquired guard Courtney Lee and cash considerations from the Memphis Grizzlies in a three-team trade. As a part of the trade, Charlotte will send forward P.J. Hairston and two second-round draft picks (Charlotte’s 2018 second-round pick and Brooklyn’s 2019 second-round pick) to Memphis and guard Brian Roberts to the Miami Heat. As part of the trade, Memphis will also receive forward/center Chris Andersen and two second-round draft picks from Miami.

“We are excited to be adding a quality veteran wing player to our roster in Courtney Lee,” Cho said. “Courtney has proven to be a team defender, a consistent outside shooter and a solid scorer in our league for the past eight years. Particularly in terms of experience, he adds depth to our roster in a position of need for us and we expect him to fit in to our system and contribute right away.”

The 22nd overall pick in the 2008 NBA Draft, Lee is in his eighth NBA season. He has played in 572 career games (332 starts) for the Magic, Nets, Rockets, Celtics and Grizzlies. A Western Kentucky product, Lee has career averages of 9.7 points, 2.6 rebounds and 1.5 assists in 27.2 minutes, while shooting .450 from the field (2106-4677), .383 from beyond the three-point line (587-1531) and .845 from the free-throw line (725-858).

Lee played in 51 games for Memphis this season, starting 37, with averages of 10.0 points, 2.3 rebounds and 1.8 assists in 29.2 minutes. He shot .458 from the field (192-419), .370 from beyond the three-point line (51-138) and .826 from the free-throw line (76-92). Lee scored in double figures in 25 of 51 games and has hit multiple three-point field goals in 14 games this year.

“Chris Andersen was absolutely essential in our 2013 NBA Championship run,” said HEAT President Pat Riley. “We want to thank him for his contributions and we wish him nothing but the best, he will always be considered part of the HEAT family. Brian Roberts has been on our radar and we felt it was important to solidify our point guard position due to the injury of Tyler Johnson. We feel like we did that with the addition of Roberts and we would like to welcome Brian to Miami.”

Andersen (6-10, 245) holds career averages of 5.5 points (.533 FG/.653 FT), 5.1 rebounds and 1.47 blocks in 17.8 minutes in 663 games (31 starts) over 14 seasons with the Denver Nuggets, New Orleans Hornets (now Pelicans) and Miami Heat. The 37-year-old owns postseason averages of 5.4 points (.644 FG/.692 FT), 4.8 rebounds and 1.26 blocks in 17.0 minutes in 69 games for Denver and Miami.

A native of Long Beach, Calif., Andersen won an NBA Championship with Miami in 2013 and was instrumental in the Heat’s championship run, averaging 6.4 points, 3.8 rebounds and 1.10 blocks in 15.2 minutes in 20 games and setting an NBA postseason record by shooting .807 (46-of-57 FG) from the field.

Hairston (6-6, 230) owns career averages of 5.8 points (.341 FG/.833 FT) and 2.4 rebounds in 17.5 minutes in 93 games (45 starts) in two seasons with Charlotte. The 23-year-old has averaged 6.0 points (.359 FG/.810 FT) and 2.7 rebounds in 19.5 minutes in 48 games (45 starts) for the Hornets this season.

After leading the University of North Carolina in scoring as a sophomore, Hairston joined the NBA Development League and became the first D-League player ever to be selected in the first round of the NBA Draft when Charlotte drafted him 26th overall in 2014. He averaged 21.8 points (.453 FG/.358 3P/.870 FT), 3.5 rebounds and 1.50 steals in 32.3 minutes in 26 games (15 starts) for the Texas Legends and was named to the 2013-14 D-League All-Rookie Second Team.

Roberts is in his fourth NBA season and his second with Charlotte. Roberts signed with the Hornets as a free agent on July 23, 2014, and saw action in 102 games with averages 6.1 points and 2.0 assists in 16.3 minutes per game. He holds career averages of 7.4 points, 2.6 assists and 1.5 rebounds per game in 18.5 minutes per game over the course of 252 contests (57 starts).

Michael Kidd-Gilchrist will have season-ending shoulder surgery

The Charlotte Hornets announced today that forward Michael Kidd-Gilchrist will undergo surgery to repair a torn labrum in his right shoulder. The surgery will be performed tomorrow by Dr. Gerald Williams at Methodist Hospital in Philadelphia. Kidd-Gilchrist will miss the remainder of the 2015-16 NBA season. He sustained the injury with 8:39 remaining in the third quarter of Charlotte’s 117-95 win against the Indiana Pacers on Feb. 10.

Kidd-Gilchrist is averaging 12.7 points, 6.4 rebounds and 1.3 assists in 29.3 minutes per game in seven contests (all starts) for the Hornets this season. The fourth-year forward from Kentucky has averaged 9.1 points, 6.1 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game in 202 games (198 starts) with Charlotte.

Latest Michael Kidd-Gilchrist injury: torn labrum in right shoulder

Charlotte Hornets forward Michael Kidd-Gilchrist has suffered another major injury.

The team announced today that Kidd-Gilchrist underwent a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) which revealed a torn labrum in his right shoulder. He sustained the injury with 8:39 remaining in the third quarter of Charlotte’s 117-95 win against the Indiana Pacers on Feb. 10. Kidd-Gilchrist will be re-evaluated after the All-Star break and further updates on his status will be provided when available.

These days, his talent as an excellent defensive player is being overshadowed by his injury woes.

Michael Kidd-Gilchrist suffers dislocated shoulder

Here’s the Charlotte Observer reporting on the latest injury to Michael Kidd-Gilchrist:

Charlotte Hornets small forward Michael Kidd-Gilchrist suffered a dislocated right shoulder during the second half of Wednesday’s 117-95 road victory over the Indiana Pacers.

Kidd-Gilchrist was taken to an Indianapolis hospital where doctors would pop the shoulder back into the joint. This is the same shoulder that Kidd-Gilchrist injured in the preseason, requiring surgery to repair a torn labrum.

The Hornets said postgame that Kidd-Gilchrist will have an MRI in Charlotte Thursday to determine the seriousness of this injury.

Kidd-Gilchrist had an excellent recovery from that previous shoulder injury, returning to the active roster about two months earlier than originally projected.

Michael Kidd-Gilchrist set to return

The Charlotte Hornets announced today that forward Michael Kidd-Gilchrist has been cleared for game action and is expected to be in uniform for tonight’s contest against the Portland Trail Blazers at the Moda Center. Kidd-Gilchrist underwent surgery to repair a torn labrum in his right shoulder on Oct. 6 after suffering the injury in the team’s first preseason game at Orlando on Oct. 3.

In 55 games last season, Kidd-Gilchrist averaged a career-high 10.9 points, a career-best 7.6 rebounds and 1.4 assists in 28.9 minutes per game. Kidd-Gilchrist was selected by Charlotte in the first round (second overall pick) of the 2012 NBA Draft and owns career averages of 9.0 points, 6.1 rebounds and 1.3 assists in 26.2 minutes in three seasons with the team.

Cody Zeller out with shoulder injury

The Charlotte Hornets announced today that forward/center Cody Zeller underwent a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) which revealed a sprained ligament in his right shoulder. Zeller is listed as out and will be reevaluated in one week.

The third-year Indiana product is averaging a career-high 9.0 points (.496), 5.9 rebounds and 0.9 steals in 24.8 minutes per game in 40 contests (27 starts). In three years, all with Charlotte, Zeller has averaged 7.2 points, 5.2 rebounds and 1.2 assists per game in 184 games (75 starts).

Al Jefferson out six weeks after knee surgery

Charlotte Hornets center Al Jefferson underwent successful arthroscopic surgery today to address a tear in the lateral meniscus of his right knee. The procedure was completed by Hornets Team Physician Dr. Marcus Cook at Novant Orthopedic Hospital in Charlotte. Jefferson’s recovery and rehabilitation is expected to take approximately six weeks.

The 11th-year center from Prentiss, Miss. is averaging 12.5 points (.482), 6.1 rebounds and 1.6 assists in 25.2 minutes per game in 19 contests (17 starts). In three years with Charlotte, Jefferson has averaged 18.6 points, 7.5 rebounds and 1.9 assists in 32.0 minutes per game. In his first season in Charlotte, he was named to the 2013-14 All-NBA Third Team.

Al Jefferson to undergo knee surgery

The Charlotte Hornets announced today that center Al Jefferson will undergo arthroscopic surgery tomorrow to address a tear in the lateral meniscus of his right knee. Earlier today, Jefferson underwent a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) which revealed the injury.

The procedure will be completed by Hornets Team Physician Dr. Marcus Cook at Novant Orthopedic Hospital in Charlotte. Jefferson’s recovery time is expected to be approximately six weeks.

Al Jefferson suspended for violating Anti-Drug Program

The NBA announced today that Al Jefferson of the Charlotte Hornets has been suspended without pay for five games for violating the terms of the NBA/NBPA Anti-Drug Program. Jefferson’s suspension will begin with the next NBA regular season game that he is eligible and physically able to play.

In response to this, the Hornets released this statement:

“We are disappointed in Al’s decisions that led to this suspension. As an organization, we do not condone this behavior. We have addressed this with Al. He is regretful and understands that we expect him to learn from this mistake.”

Statement from Al Jefferson:

“I want to apologize to the Hornets organization, our owner, my teammates and my coaches for the poor decision that I made. I know I have let people down, especially the Hornets fans that have been so supportive of me since I arrived in Charlotte two years ago. I am blessed to be able to play the game that I love for a living and I do not take that for granted. From the bottom of my heart, I am truly sorry, and I am committed to making smarter decisions in the future.”

Hornets sign coach Steve Clifford to contract extension

Charlotte Hornets General Manager Rich Cho announced today that the team has signed Head Coach Steve Clifford to a multiyear contract extension.

“We like what Coach Clifford and his staff have been doing,” said Cho. “He has done a really good job over the last two years. We want some continuity and we are excited to have him locked down to an extension. He is very organized and an extremely hard worker who has a great rapport with the players. We are extremely happy to have him here.”

Clifford was originally named head coach on May 29, 2013, after spending 13 seasons as an assistant coach with the Los Angeles Lakers, Orlando Magic, Houston Rockets and New York Knicks. Clifford led the Hornets to a 10-5 record (.667) in the month of November, marking the first 10-win November in franchise history. In his first year in Charlotte, Clifford guided the team to a playoff berth and a 43-39 record while garnering Eastern Conference Coach of the Month honors for April 2014. Charlotte has witnessed three different home winning streaks of five or more games under his tenure. In each of the last two seasons, Charlotte has finished in the top ten in the NBA in defensive rating (fifth in 2013-14 at 103.8 and ninth in 2014-15 at 103.5).

“As much as anything, I’m excited about the extension because it’s what I wanted to have happen,” said Clifford. “I’m appreciative to Michael Jordan, Curtis Polk and Rich Cho for the opportunity to see this thing through. I feel like we’ve made good strides since I’ve been here. I like our guys and I like the team that we can become. I like the people that I work for and from a personal standpoint I’m really happy.”

A graduate of the University of Maine-Farmington, Clifford has over 30 years of coaching experience on his resume. He spent 15 years coaching at the collegiate level, including four years as head coach at Adelphi University in Garden City, New York. Clifford entered the NBA with the New York Knicks, serving as the team’s advance scout in 2000-01 and as an assistant coach from 2001-03. He then spent four seasons with the Houston Rockets as an assistant coach to Jeff Van Gundy from 2003-07, before serving as an assistant coach to Stan Van Gundy with the Orlando Magic from 2007-12. In five seasons in Orlando, Clifford helped the Magic to a 259-135 record (.657) and five straight playoff appearances, including a trip to the 2009 NBA Finals. Clifford’s final season as an assistant came in 2012-13 with the Los Angeles Lakers, prior to being hired by Charlotte.