Charlotte Hornets Blog – Page 34 – NBA Blog

Bobcats trade Ramon Sessions, Jeff Adrien to Bucks for Gary Neal, Luke Ridnour

Charlotte Bobcats President of Basketball Operations Rod Higgins announced today that the team has acquired guards Gary Neal and Luke Ridnour from the Milwaukee Bucks in exchange for guard Ramon Sessions and forward Jeff Adrien. Neal will wear No. 12 for the Bobcats, while Ridnour will wear No. 13.

“We are excited to add a pair of quality players to our backcourt,” Higgins said. “Gary is an exceptional shooter and Luke is a veteran point guard who can help us off the bench. They both have significant postseason experience so they know how to get where we’re trying to go. We look forward to adding them to our rotation. We also want to thank Ramon and Jeff for their contributions and professionalism and wish them the best of luck.”

The 6-4 Neal is in his fourth NBA season and holds career averages of 9.8 points, 2.2 rebounds and 1.7 assists in 234 games played for the Spurs and Bucks, with career shooting percentages of .427 from the field (851-1992), .393 from beyond the three-point line (341-868) and .821 from the free-throw line (243-296). His three-point percentage currently ranks 20th among active players and 50th all-time. Neal, who was not selected in the 2007 NBA Draft and spent three seasons playing overseas in Italy, Spain and Turkey before signing with the Spurs in 2010, was named to the All-Rookie First Team in 2010-11, becoming just the second undrafted player ever to earn All-Rookie First Team honors.

In 30 games played for the Bucks this season, Neal averaged 10.0 points, 1.7 rebounds and 1.5 assists in 20.2 minutes. He shot .390 from the field (108-277), .360 from beyond the three-point line (40-111) and .833 from the free-throw line (45-54).

The 6-2 Ridnour is in his 11th NBA season after being selected with the 14th overall pick in the 2003 NBA Draft by the Seattle SuperSonics. He has played in 758 career games for the SuperSonics, Bucks and Timberwolves, with career averages of 9.8 points, 4.7 assists, 2.3 rebounds and 1.0 steal. Ridnour has career shooting percentages of .432 from the field (2816-6519), .351 from beyond the three-point line (552-1571) and .864 from the free-throw line (1268-1468). He has finished in the NBA’s top 10 in free throw percentage in four of his 10 seasons, and his career percentage of .864 currently ranks eighth among active players and 27th all-time.

Ridnour played in 36 games for the Bucks this season, starting 12, and averaged 5.7 points, 3.4 assists and 1.7 rebounds in 21.2 minutes, while shooting .384 from the field (84-219) and .368 from beyond the three-point line (25-68).

A six-year NBA veteran from the University of Nevada, Sessions, 27, returns for his second stint with Milwaukee. Originally selected by the Bucks with the 56th overall pick in the 2007 NBA Draft, Sessions played his first two seasons in Milwaukee and averaged 11.6 points, 3.4 rebounds and 6.0 assists in 96 games. Sessions tallied 10+ assists on 16 occasions in a Bucks uniform, including 12 point/assist double-doubles. On April 14, 2008, Sessions handed out a Bucks franchise-record 24 assists vs. Chicago. He also tallied a career-best 44 points in a Bucks uniform on Feb. 7, 2009, vs. Detroit. Sessions owns career averages of 11.5 points, 3.0 rebounds and 4.7 assists in 439 career games with Milwaukee, Minnesota, Cleveland, the L.A. Lakers and Charlotte.

Adrien, 28, is averaging 2.3 points and 3.5 rebounds in his fourth NBA season. After going undrafted out of the University of Connecticut in 2009, Adrien signed as a free agent with Golden State and appeared in 23 games as a rookie for the Warriors during the 2010-11 season. He played his second NBA season with Houston before signing with Charlotte prior to the 2012-13 campaign. In his four NBA seasons, Adrien owns career averages of 3.2 points and 3.4 rebounds in 108 games.

Bobcats, Lakers discuss deal for Pau Gasol

Here’s the Charlotte Observer blog with a report on the Bobcats being interested in veteran Lakers power forward Pau Gasol. Doesn’t sound like anything will happen, but here’s the discussion:

The Charlotte Bobcats have been in contact with the Los Angeles Lakers concerning veteran big man Pau Gasol, but a source familiar with the discussion downplayed the likelihood Gasol would end up a Bobcat by Thursday’s NBA trade deadline.

Gasol makes over $19 million in this, the final season of his current contract. Superstar Kobe Bryant is hurt and the Lakers have fallen out of the Western Conference playoff race, so getting something for Gasol – like a first-round pick – is something the Lakers have explored.

While adding Gasol could give the Bobcats the short-term boost to make the playoffs, giving up a first-round pick would make Gasol more of a long-term investment. That’s where the Bobcats would have pause.

Kemba Walker out 10-14 days with ankle sprain

Charlotte Bobcats guard Kemba Walker is expected to miss 10-14 days after an MRI today confirmed a second degree sprain in his left ankle. Walker suffered the injury in the third quarter of last night’s game against Miami. X-rays taken at Time Warner Cable Arena following the injury were negative.

Walker has played in all 42 games for the Bobcats this season, averaging team highs of 18.7 points, 5.0 assists, 1.4 steals and 35.7 minutes, along with 4.2 rebounds. He has scored in double figures 37 times, including 18 games with 20 points or more and four games with 30 points or more. He entered today’s games ranked 22nd in the NBA in minutes played, tied for 26th in assists, ranked 27th in scoring and ranked 27th in steals.

Michael Kidd-Gilchrist injury update: Cast removed from broken hand

The Charlotte Bobcats have been solid this season, putting together a respectable 14-15 record, and doing it with defense. Here’s the Charlotte Observer blog with an update on injured SF Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, who in 18 games played was averaging 9.1 points per game before suffering an injury:

The cast has been removed from Charlotte Bobcats forward Michael Kidd-Gilchrist’s broken left hand, but that doesn’t mean he can start practicing just yet.

Kidd-Gilchrist had a doctor’s appointment Friday, where it was determined he’d healed enough that the cast could be replaced with a splint. Kidd-Gilchrist broke the hand at the base of his left ring finger during the Bobcats’ Dec. 3 loss to the Dallas Mavericks.

Bobcats forward Jeff Taylor out 6-9 months after surgery

Charlotte Bobcats forward Jeff Taylor underwent successful surgery today to repair the rupture in his right Achilles tendon that he suffered in Friday’s game at Detroit. The surgery was performed by foot specialist Dr. Bob Anderson.

Following four weeks of non-weight bearing, Taylor will begin the rehabilitation process. The standard timeline for recovery is 6-9 months.

Charlotte Bobcats waive James Southerland, sign Chris Douglas-Roberts

Charlotte Bobcats President of Basketball Operations Rod Higgins announced today that the team has signed free agent guard/forward Chris Douglas-Roberts and waived forward James Southerland.

Douglas-Roberts, who was playing with the NBA D-League Texas Legends, becomes the fifth D-League Gatorade Call-Up of the 2013-14 season.

A four-year NBA veteran, the 6-7 Douglas-Roberts has played in 161 career games for the Nets, Bucks and Mavericks. He has career averages of 7.5 points, 2.1 rebounds and 1.2 assists in 20.3 minutes, while shooting .442 from the field (458-1036) and .833 from the free-throw line (265-318). Douglas-Roberts was selected by the Nets with the 40th overall pick in the 2008 NBA Draft.

Douglas-Roberts has also played in 17 career NBA D-League games with the Legends, with averages of 21.2 points, 4.9 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 1.5 steals in 36.9 minutes. He is shooting .487 from the field (113-232), .407 from beyond the three-point line (22-54) and .889 from the free-throw line (112-126) in D-League action.

In six games for the Legends this season, Douglas-Roberts has averaged 18.7 points, 4.3 rebounds and 2.8 assists in 34.0 minutes, while shooting .472 from the field (34-72), .438 from beyond the three-point line (7-16) and .860 from the free-throw line (37-43).

Southerland signed with the Bobcats on September 5, 2013, after not being selected in the 2013 NBA Draft. He saw action in one regular-season game, playing three minutes.

Michael Kidd-Gilchrist injured, out 4-6 weeks

Charlotte Bobcats forward Michael Kidd-Gilchrist is expected to be out 4-6 weeks after suffering a non-displaced fracture of the fourth metacarpal in his left hand during the third quarter of last night’s game in Dallas. Kidd-Gilchrist, who was examined on-site last night, had additional x-rays taken this morning in Charlotte that confirmed the original diagnosis.

In 18 games this season, Kidd-Gilchrist is averaging 9.1 points on .500 shooting (62-124) and 5.3 rebounds in 26.7 minutes per game.

Video: Slightly errant pass from Gerald Henderson hits female fan in head

Here is Charlotte Bobcats guard Gerald Henderson throwing a great pass if the intent was for the basketball to hit a female fan in the head. This video is a Vine from Cardboard Gerald and hosted by Vine, not InsideHoops:

Original Hornets colors of purple and teal to return to Charlotte

The Charlotte Bobcats announced today that the team will utilize purple and teal as its primary colors when it changes its name to the Charlotte Hornets prior to the 2014-15 NBA season. The colors, which were used by the original Charlotte Hornets during their tenure in the city from 1988-2002, will be accented by secondary colors black, cool gray and light blue.

“It was important to us to acknowledge the heritage of the Charlotte Hornets when bringing the name back to the market,” said Bobcats Sports & Entertainment Chairman Michael Jordan. “The purple and teal color scheme was instantly recognizable as being associated with the original Hornets and we felt it was only appropriate to utilize the colors once again with this historic brand.”

As part of the survey process prior to the decision to change the name, Harris Interactive surveyed the Charlotte community, as well as current season ticket holders and team sponsors. In each of the three groups, an overwhelming majority of those surveyed were in favor of using the purple and teal of the original Hornets as the colors of the rebranded team.

The revealing of the colors is the first step in the process of transforming the Bobcats into their new identity as the Hornets. Additional phases include the unveiling of the logo, uniforms, court, mascot and dance team.

Al Jefferson finally set to play for Bobcats

Good news for the Charlotte Bobcats, as reported by the Charlotte Observer:

After missing the past five regular-season games – and the better part of a month — with various right-ankle injuries, Charlotte Bobcats center Al Jefferson will start tonight against the Atlanta Hawks at Time Warner Cable Arena.

“Al is going to start tonight. I don’t know how many minutes he’ll play, but he feels good,” Bobcats coach Steve Clifford said at morning shootaround. “He didn’t have any soreness from practice yesterday, and he feels good. We’ll start him and integrate him into our play as best we can.”

Jefferson originally hurt his ankle in the second preseason exhibition against the Miami Heat. He sat out the rest of the preseason, coming back for the regular-season opener in Houston. He came up sore after that game, this time with a bone bruise, which shelved him for another five games.