Charlotte Hornets Blog – Page 72 – NBA Blog

Bobcats sign Cartier Martin for rest of season

Charlotte Bobcats General Manager Rod Higgins announced today that the team has signed forward Cartier Martin for the remainder of the season. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Martin, who signed his first 10-day with the Bobcats on Jan. 29 and a second 10-day on Feb. 8, has appeared in seven games with averages of 5.4 points and 1.7 rebounds in 14.4 minutes. He has also connected on .400 (6-15) of his three-point attempts. His best game since joining the team came on Feb. 6 against Atlanta, when he scored 11 points on 3-7 shooting from the field, including two three-pointers in 19:29 minutes.

Prior to his callup from the D-League, Martin appeared in 21 games for the Iowa Energy and averaged 20.6 points, 5.4 rebounds and 1.4 assists in 37.6 minutes.

Howard scores career-high 45 in Magic win over Bobcats

The AP reports: Dwight Howard had a career-high 45 points, to go with 19 rebounds and eight blocks, leading the Orlando Magic to a 107-102 overtime victory against the Charlotte Bobcats on Tuesday night… The Magic also got 17 points from Rashard Lewis, who joined Howard on the Eastern Conference All-Star team last weekend… The Bobcats, by contrast, were much more balanced early with no one in double-figure scoring, but seven players with four or more points.

NBA to borrow $175 million

The Sports Business Journal (Daniel Kaplan and John Lombardo) reports: The NBA is set to borrow $175 million Feb. 26, marking one of the first league financings since the implosion of the credit markets last fall. The money, which will be available to 15 teams, supplements an existing $1.7 billion leaguewide credit facility that uses the NBA’s media contracts as collateral to secure loans for the clubs. The NBA surveyed its teams, and 15 responded they would like to tap into the new borrowing. While the league said it is pleased to borrow in an extremely illiquid credit market, the deal came at a cost, with interest rates up to 8.27 percent, hammering home the notion that the era of cheap money in sports is over. The 15 teams can use the money for any purpose, but covering operating losses may be high on the list.

InsideHoops.com editor says: Loan me three fiddy. I want some ribs.

Suns suspend Jason Richardson

The Phoenix Suns have suspended guard Jason Richardson for one game without pay for conduct detrimental to the team. The club announced that Richardson will serve the suspension in the Suns’ next game, Tuesday, Feb.17 against the LA Clippers at US Airways Center.

InsideHoops.com editor says: J-Rich needs to learn the difference between driving like a maniac in video games and doing it in real life.

Jason Richardson arrested for speeding

The AP reports: Phoenix Suns guard Jason Richardson was arrested in Scottsdale after police said he was driving 55 mph above the limit with his unrestrained 3-year-old son in the car. A Scottsdale police officer first saw Richardson driving 67 mph in a 40 mph zone Sunday night and followed him, police said Monday. That’s when the officer clocked him at 90 mph in a 35 mph zone and pulled him over… The officer saw Richardson’s son in the back seat of the car and that he was not in a child seat.

Bobcats minority owners convicted of fraud

The Charlotte Observer (Rick Bonnell) reports: A part-owner of the Charlotte Bobcats has been convicted of felony fraud in South Florida and sentenced to nine years in prison. Brothers Jorge and Carlos de Cespedes were given the maximum sentence, after an investigation of their pharmaceuticals company bilking Kendall Regional Medical Center. According to the Miami Herald, the hospital lost $5 million over 14 years because of this scheme… A source with knowledge of the Bobcats’ structure said the de Cespedes brothers originally paid $10 million to $12 million to purchase roughly 3 percent of the team. That percentage likely dissipated over time unless they participated in cash calls to cover revenue deficits.

Bobcats starters pound undermanned Wizards, 101-89

The AP reports: There were numerous contributors that helped overwhelm the banged-up Wizards. Rookie D.J. Augustin scored 24 points and newcomer Vladimir Radmanovic added 21 points. They combined to hit nine of 17 3-pointers in starting roles. Emeka Okafor dominated the inside with 16 points and 13 rebounds and Felton came close to his first career triple-double with 15 points, eight rebounds and nine assists… There was less optimism on the Washington side. Caron Butler scored 26 points and Antawn Jamison had 23 points and nine rebounds, but they got little help and the Wizards were woeful on defense in their 10th loss in 12 games.

Radmanovic helps Bobcats top Clippers 94-73

The AP reports: Vladimir Radmanovic, buried on the bench with the Lakers, scored 13 points and hit three fourth-quarter 3-pointers in his Charlotte debut Monday night, helping turn a close game into a rout in the Bobcats’ 94-73 win over the road-weary Los Angeles Clippers… Emeka Okafor had 19 points and 16 rebounds for the undermanned Bobcats, who were missing starters Gerald Wallace (rib, lung) and Raja Bell (groin)… Zach Randolph had 20 points and 10 rebounds and Eric Gordon scored 17 for the Clippers, who fizzled in the fourth quarter in the finale of a seven-game road trip… Al Thornton shot 3-for-13, Camby 3-for-8 and Davis 1-for-7 in his return to Charlotte, where he began his NBA career with the Hornets.

Adam Morrison to wear no.6

The Press-Enterprise (Jeff Eisenberg) reports: Newly acquired Adam Morrison will switch from No. 35 to No. 6, symbolic of his quest for a fresh start with the Lakers. “Some people have forgotten about his skill as a basketball player, but this is an opportunity to start over,” Jackson said. “It’s the Western Conference, he’s a Western kid. It’s a much more hospitable environment for him.”

Wade’s 22, Chalmers’ double-double lead Heat past Bobcats

The AP reports: Dwyane Wade emerged after the game wearing oversized red boxing gloves and a black robe, barely able to see out of his left eye after getting struck by Juwan Howard… Yes, the Miami Heat star was ailing, but Mario Chalmers and Daequan Cook did enough to put a smile on Wade’s stitched-together face. Fighting off the flu, Wade scored 22 points, Chalmers added 16 with a career-best 13 assists, and Cook’s 16-point effort included two key 3-pointers in the fourth quarter as the Heat beat the Bobcats 96-92 Sunday night… D.J. Augustin scored 27 points for Charlotte, which has lost five straight. Howard added 14 points and one blow that forced Wade into getting six stitches.