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The AP reports: Golden State Warriors forward Brandan Wright injured his shooting shoulder during practice Friday and could miss extended time. The team says Wright will undergo an MRI exam Monday to further determine the severity of the injury.
InsideHoops.com editor says: Wright played just 38 games as a rookie in 2007-08. And 39 games last season, though in 17.6 minutes he put up a respectable 8.3 points and 4.0 rebounds. His injury issues are almost getting scary, though.
Stephen Jackson of the Golden State Warriors has been fined $25,000 for public statements detrimental to the NBA. The statements were made on August 28 and concerned Jackson’s desire to be traded to a team other than the Warriors.
Players are not permitted to make trade requests publicly. Ron Artest, then of the Indiana Pacers, was fined during the 2005-06 season for requesting a trade through the media.
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The Golden State Warriors have re-signed restricted free agent guard C.J. Watson to a contract, the team announced today. Per team policy, terms of the agreement were not announced. Multiple reports had suggested it would be a one-year deal. More on that tomorow.
Watson, 25, appeared in 77 games (18 starts) last season, averaging 9.5 points, 2.5 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.25 steals in 24.5 minutes per contest, while shooting 45.7% from the floor, 40.0% from three-point range and 87.0% from the free throw line. During his 18 starting assignments, his averages jumped to 14.6 points, 4.1 rebounds, 4.1 assists and 1.44 steals in 36.2 minutes per game. Among NBA leaders in 2008-09, he ranked 16th in free-throw percentage and 22nd in steals. The University of Tennessee product recorded a career-high 38 points (10-16 FG, 2-4 3FG, 16-16 FT) on April 11 in Golden State’s 118-108 victory at Utah.
“We are happy that C.J. will be returning to our team next season,” said Warriors’ General Manager Larry Riley. “He has taken full advantage of his opportunities since being called-up from the D-League two seasons ago and has worked hard to make himself into a quality NBA player. We look forward to him having another successful season and having a positive impact on our team.”
A two-year NBA veteran who was originally called-up from the NBA Development League by the Warriors on January 8, 2008, Watson has appeared in 109 games with Golden State over the last two seasons, averaging 7.8 points, 2.2 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 1.02 steals per contest.
Angela Hill of the Oakland Tribune reports: Dr. Derric DesMarteau, longtime team dentist for the Golden State Warriors, the Oakland Raiders and other sports organizations as well as a highly regarded private dentist with a thriving practice in Piedmont, died Aug. 20 from complications from cancer. He was 58. “He had such a love of dentistry, such an unbelievable passion for it,” said Rhonda Nelson, who worked with DesMarteau for 17 years as his office manager. “He could work magic with people. Patients came to him when other dentists said they’d given up on them, so he would often get unusual cases and restore their whole mouths.”
The Golden State Warriors have signed free agent center Mikki Moore to a contract, the team announced today. The San Francisco Chronicle reports that it’s a one-year, $1.3 million contract.
Moore, 33, is an 11-year NBA veteran who owns career averages of 5.8 points, 3.9 rebounds and 18.2 minutes per contest in 534 regular-season games combined with Detroit, Boston, Atlanta, New Jersey, Utah, the Los Angeles Clippers, Seattle and Sacramento. For his career, he has shot 55.0% from the field and 74.3% from the free throw line. Additionally, he has appeared in 25 playoff games, averaging 6.7 points and 3.8 rebounds in 20.3 minutes per contest.
“We’re happy to add a veteran with Mikki’s experience to our squad,” said General Manager Larry Riley. “He’ll provide additional depth at the center position for our team and we think that is important, especially when you consider the number of injuries that we had last season. He’s played a significant role on a couple of teams in recent years and that experience will prove beneficial for us when he is called upon during the course of the season.”
Last season, the seven-foot center appeared in 70 regular season games with Sacramento (46 games, 20 starts) and Boston (24 games), averaging a combined 3.9 points and 3.7 rebounds in 17.2 minutes per game. He also appeared in 10 postseason games with the Celtics, averaging 1.5 points and 1.5 rebounds in 6.6 minutes.
In the two years prior to last season, Moore posted arguably the two best campaigns of his NBA career. In 2007-08, he appeared in all 82 games for Sacramento, making 79 starts, and averaging 8.5 points and a career-high 6.0 rebounds in a career-high 29.1 minutes per game. The previous season (2006-07) with New Jersey, Moore appeared in 79 games (55 starts), averaging a career-high 9.8 points and 5.1 rebounds in 26.4 minutes, while shooting a career-high 60.9% from the field.
Mikki (pronounced MY-key) will wear uniform #33.
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The Golden State Warriors have hired 13-year NBA veteran Calbert Cheaney as a Special Assistant, the team announced today.
In this role, Cheaney will work closely with the team’s players to assist with their overall personal and professional development, while also assisting the entire basketball operations staff with various functions, including pro player evaluation. He will report to General Manager Larry Riley.
“We’re really fortunate to have an individual the caliber of Calbert Cheaney return to our organization as a member of our basketball operations staff,” said Riley. “Throughout his NBA career, Calbert was regarded as a consummate professional and one of the classiest individuals in the game. We look forward to his contributions and the positive impact he will have on our players and our organization overall.”
Cheaney, 38, rejoins the Warriors after playing the final three seasons of his NBA career with the team (2003-04, 2004-05 & 2005-06), during which time he appeared in 176 games with Golden State. Overall, the Evansville, IN, native played 13 seasons in the NBA, amassing career averages of 9.5 points, 3.2 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 26.7 minutes in 825 regular-season games with Washington, Boston, Denver, Utah and Golden State. Prior to joining the NBA, Cheaney played four seasons at Indiana University, culminating in his being named College Player of the Year and winning both the Wooden and Naismith Awards following his senior season. In 2003, he was inducted into the Indiana University Sports Hall of Fame.
“I’m very grateful for this opportunity to return to the Warriors’ organization, and look forward to contributing on many different levels,” said the 13-year NBA veteran. “My family and I had a great experience during my playing days in the Bay Area and we’re very excited about our return. I’ve always envisioned rejoining the NBA in some capacity following my playing career, and this is the perfect situation. The Warriors are a great organization with tremendous fan support, and an extremely talented young team. I look forward to playing a role in our continued growth, both on and off the court.”
Since retiring from the NBA, Cheaney and his wife, Yvette, have resided in the Washington D.C. area with their two children, Julian and Sydney.
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The Toronto Raptors announced Thursday they have acquired guard Marco Belinelli (Mar-co Belle-EE-NELLI) from the Golden State Warriors in exchange for forward Devean George and cash considerations.
“Marco fills a void at the wing position where his shooting and scoring strengths will be needed. Marco’s versatility and playmaking abilities make him a very valuable piece for us,” said Bryan Colangelo, Raptors President and General Manager.
Belinelli, the 18th overall pick in the 2007 NBA Draft, averaged 8.9 points, 2.1 assists, 1.7 rebounds and 21.0 minutes in 42 games last season with Golden State. He registered four 20-point games during the 2008-09 campaign, including a career-high 27 points December 12, 2008 at Atlanta.
Through 75 career games Belinelli owns a .395 mark from three-point range (68-for-172). As a rookie he appeared in 33 games, averaging 2.9 points in 7.3 minutes.
Prior to joining the Warriors, the 23 year-old, 6-foot-5 guard from Bologna, Italy, played professionally in Italy for five seasons. In 33 games during the 2006-07 season with Fortitudo Bologna in Serie A, Belinelli averaged 16.4 points, while shooting .544 (99-for-182) from the field. In 13 Euroleague contests, he averaged 12.9 points on .438 (32-for-73) from the field.
A member of the Italian National Team, Belinelli averaged 13.5 points per game during the 2006 FIBA World Championship, including 25 points in a losing effort against Team USA in preliminary round play.
“We’re looking forward to adding a veteran with Devean’s experience to our squad,” said Warriors General Manager Larry Riley. “He is obviously a proven winner and has been on several very successful teams during his career, which is something we feel is important when you look at the youth on our roster. He is a versatile player and someone who we feel can contribute both on and off the court.”
George, 31, is a 10-year NBA veteran who has played the last three seasons with the Dallas Mavericks after spending the first seven years of his career with the Los Angeles Lakers. Last season he appeared in 43 games for the Mavs, averaging 3.4 points and 1.8 rebounds in 16.5 minutes. Originally drafted with the 23rd overall selection in the 1999 NBA Draft, George owns career averages of 5.6 points, 3.2 rebounds and 18.7 minutes in 585 regular-season contests. Additionally, the 6-8 guard/forward has appeared in 86 playoff games during his career, which includes four trips to the NBA Finals (2000, 2001, 2002 and 2004) while with the Lakers and winning three-straight NBA Championships from 2000-02.
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INITIAL JULY 29 NEWS (SEE UPDATE BELOW): The Memphis Commercial Appeal reports: Marcus Williams, who opened some eyes playing for the Grizzlies’ summer league team in Las Vegas earlier this month, could be joining the team in a more official capacity within the next few days. Calvin Andrews, Williams’ agent, said this afternoon that he feels “confident” that Williams will sign a 1-year deal with the Grizzlies. “We’re very close,” Andrews said. “They like some of the things he can do to help the team, to get the ball in the right places.”
AUGUST 6 UPDATE: GRIZZLIES SIGN MARCUS WILLIAMS
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The Memphis Grizzlies added depth to the team’s backcourt by signing free agent point guard and 2009 NBA Summer League standout Marcus Williams, Grizzlies General Manager and Vice President of Basketball Operations Chris Wallace announced today.
“The addition of Marcus Williams not only adds depth to our point guard position, but also gives the team a very skilled passer,” Wallace said. “Marcus excels at getting easy baskets for his teammates. His teammates will enjoy playing with him.”
The three-year NBA veteran averaged 13.4 points, 4.6 rebounds and a league-leading 8.2 assists (shared with Milwaukee’s Brandon Jennings) in helping lead the Grizzlies to a perfect 5-0 record in the 2009 NBA Summer League in Las Vegas last month.
The 6-3, 205-pound guard began and finished his summer league in memorable fashion, recording a Vegas-record 17 assists in the opener on July 12 vs. Oklahoma City and then made the game-winning field goal with 0.4 seconds remaining in the summer finale on July 19 vs. San Antonio.
The 23-year-old playmaker holds career averages of 6.1 points, 1.9 rebounds and 2.9 assists in 15.8 minutes in 141 games (nine starts) with the New Jersey Nets (2006-08) and Golden State Warriors (2008-09). Williams was originally selected by New Jersey with the 22nd overall pick in the first round of the 2006 NBA Draft and was named to the 2006-07 NBA All-Rookie Second Team after recording 6.8 points and 3.3 assists in 79 games in his rookie season.
Last season, Williams averaged 1.3 points and 1.4 assists in 6.0 minutes in nine games for the Warriors before finishing the year in Puerto Rico, recording 16.8 points and a league-best 9.0 assists in 33.5 minutes in 34 games with the Quebradillas Pirates.
The Los Angeles, Calif. native averaged 9.0 points and a school-record 7.3 assists in 26.1 minutes in 70 games (51 starts) over three seasons (2003-06) at the University of Connecticut, where he teamed with current Grizzlies forward Rudy Gay for two seasons (2004-06). While at UConn, Williams posted the first-ever triple-double for a Huskies player in conference play with 18 points, 13 assists and 10 rebounds on Feb. 21, 2006 vs. Notre Dame.
Williams also joined Gay as part of the 2005 USA Men’s U21 World Championship Team, where he led the squad in minutes (20.4) and averaged 4.1 points and 4.1 assists in eight games.
The Grizzlies’ roster now stands at 12 players.
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The Golden State Warriors have waived forward Jermareo Davidson, the team announced today.
Davidson, 24, appeared in 14 games last season for Golden State, averaging 3.0 points and 2.4 rebounds in 7.9 minutes per contest. He originally signed the first of two 10-day contracts with the Warriors on January 5, 2009, and was subsequently signed for the remainder of the season on January 25, 2009. Additionally, Davidson appeared in five games with Golden State’s 2009 Summer League team, averaging 2.0 points and 2.2 rebounds in 10.0 minutes per contest.
Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban and former Mavs coach Don Nelson aren’t best friends forever. The AP reports:
The feud between Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban and former coach Don Nelson stretches back nearly seven years and has some $7 million at stake. But just how ugly and dysfunctional their relationship has been is only now being revealed.
Previously secret testimony and e-mail, now in the public record as part of legal proceedings initiated in the last 10 months, paint the picture of a spat that has turned two of the NBA’s best-known figures into bitter adversaries.
There’s deposition testimony from Cuban in which he acknowledges that he withheld consulting fees from Nelson in 2006 because he believed the former coach had “badmouthed” the team during the NBA Finals and should be made to “beg” for the money.
There’s also testimony from Nelson in which he describes being so disgusted with Cuban that he signed a contract to stay on as coach in 2003 only after friends “got me drunk.”
As great as that sounds, there’s more, again from the AP:
Nelson has also filed a defamation suit against Cuban in California over comments the owner made on a Bay Area radio show in 2007. He claims that Cuban, who was on the show to promote his appearance on “Dancing with the Stars,” defamed him when he said the coach’s demand for money was an attempt “to rip me off.”
This goes deep. The two likely will never be able to hug it out and walk it off.