Houston Rockets Blog – Page 56 – NBA Blog

Rockets sign Courtney Fortson to 10-day contract

Houston Rockets General Manager Daryl Morey announced today that the team has signed guard Courtney Fortson of the D-League L.A. Defenders to a 10-day contract. This marks Fortson’s second NBA Call-Up of the season. He also played four games with the L.A. Clippers this season, averaging 4.3 points, 2.0 rebounds and 1.3 assists in 11.2 minutes per game.

Fortson (5-11, 185, Arkansas) owns career averages of 14.3 points, 5.0 assists and 3.7 rebounds in 35 D-League games (15 starts) with the Reno Bighorns (2010-11) and L.A. Defenders (2011-12). In 29 games (14 starts) this season with the Defenders, Fortson holds averages of 17.0 points, 5.9 assists, 4.3 boards and 2.14 steals. Fortson currently ranks tied for 14th in the league in scoring, sixth in assists and second in steals.

Called up by the Clippers on Jan. 16, 2012, Fortson scored a career-high 13 points (5-10 FG) at Utah (1/17/12). He was waived by the Clippers on Jan. 27. In addition to the NBA, Fortson played internationally with Romanian First Division team Steaua Turabo. In college, Fortson averaged 17.9 points, 5.7 assists and 5.2 rebounds as a sophomore at Arkansas. He was also named to the All-SEC Freshman Team.

Houston Rockets waive Terrence Williams

The Houston Rockets have decided they no longer require the services of one of their bench reserves.

Rockets General Manager Daryl Morey announced today that the team has waived guard/forward Terrence Williams.

Williams (6-6, 220, Louisville) averaged 4.5 points, 2.3 rebounds and 0.8 assists in 12 games with the Rockets this season.

The Rockets are currently 24-20 and are 7th in the Western conference. They are led by Kevin Martin (17.1 ppg), Kyle Lowry (15.9 ppg, 7.2 apg) and Luis Scola (15.6 ppg, 6.4 rpg).

Blazers trade Marcus Camby to Rockets for Thabeet, Flynn

The Portland Trail Blazers have acquired guard Jonny Flynn, center Hasheem Thabeet and a second round pick from Houston in exchange for center Marcus Camby, it was announced today.

The second round pick is Minnesota’s selection, acquired by the Rockets in a trade last season.

“We’re looking forward to what Jonny and Thabeet can bring to our team at two positions we can use help at and we’ve added an additional asset with the second-round draft pick,” said Blazers Acting General Manager Chad Buchanan . “We appreciate Marcus’s contributions over the past three seasons and we wish him the best for the future.”

Flynn, 23, has career averages of 9.7 points, 1.9 rebounds and 3.9 assists in three seasons with Minnesota and Houston. The sixth overall selection out of Syracuse in the 2009 NBA Draft, Flynn was named to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team in 2010.

In 120 games over three seasons with Memphis and Houston, Thabeet, 25, has career averages of 2.2 points, 2.7 rebounds and 10.7 minutes. A native of Tanzania, Thabeet was selected by Memphis with the second overall pick in the 2009 NBA Draft. At 7-3, he is the tallest player in theNBA.

Camby, 37, is averaging 3.8 points, 8.8 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.40 blocks in 40 games with the Trail Blazers this season. Acquired by the Trail Blazers in a 2010 trade deadline move, Camby holds career averages of 9.8 points, 10.0 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 2.46 blocked shots in 16 seasons with Toronto, New York, Denver, the L.A. Clippers and Portland.

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Lakers trade Derek Fisher to Rockets

The Los Angeles Lakers have acquired Jordan Hill from the Houston Rockets in exchange for Derek Fisher, it was announced today by General Manager Mitch Kupchak. In addition, Houston will receive the Dallas Mavericks’ protected first round selection in the 2012 NBA Draft that was acquired by the Lakers earlier this season in exchange for Lamar Odom.

A 6-10 forward/center in his third year out of the University Arizona, Hill was originally selected by the New York Knicks with the eighth overall pick in the 2009 NBA Draft. Acquired by Houston as part of a three-team, nine-player trade midway through his rookie campaign, Hill has appeared in 151 career NBA games (18 starts) with the Knicks and Rockets, averaging 5.4 points and 4.2 rebounds in 14.7 minutes.

Following a junior season at Arizona in which he averaged 18.3 points and 11.0 rebounds and was named Third Team All-America by the Sporting News, Hill declared for the NBA Draft, leaving the Wildcats ranked among the school’s career leaders in points (27th/1,208), rebounds (10th/763), blocks (6th/140) and field goal percentage (.578).

In 32 games (7 starts) with the Rockets this season, Hill is averaging 5.0 points on 50.4 percent shooting from the field and 4.8 rebounds in 14.7 minutes.

Fisher, a five-time NBA champion with the Lakers, ranks among franchise leaders in games played (5th/915), steals (7th/968), three-point field goals made (2nd/846) and three-point field goal percentage (2nd/.375). Becoming just the 308th player in NBA history to score 10,000 career points on March 13 at Memphis, Fisher has played in 538 consecutive NBA games including 416 consecutive starts, both tops among all active players.

“I want to express my deepest gratitude to Derek for everything he has meant to this organization over the years,” said Lakers owner Dr. Jerry Buss. “Few who have worn the Lakers uniform have done so with as much class as Derek, both on the court and in the community. From his famous 0.4 shot in San Antonio to his clutch performances in the Finals against Orlando and Boston when it mattered most, Derek will always hold a special place not only in my heart, but in the heart of Lakers fans everywhere.”

Rockets guard Kyle Lowry out 2-4 weeks

The Houston Rockets will be without their star point guard for the near future.

Rockets guard Kyle Lowry has been diagnosed with a bacterial infection. Lowry is scheduled to be released from a New York-area hospital on Tuesday and return to Houston.

He will be out 2-4 weeks while completing a full course of antibiotic treatments.

Lowry this season is averaging 15.9 points, 5.3 rebounds, 7.2 assists and 1.82 steals per game. It’s been the best season of his career so far, in the opinion of InsideHoops.com.

The Rockets are currently 22-20 and are 8th in the Western conference.

Rockets guard Kyle Lowry still hospitalized

Houston guard Kyle Lowry remains in a New York-area hospital with an illness.

A team spokesman said before Sunday’s game against Cleveland there is no timetable for when Lowry will rejoin the team. He was admitted to the hospital with abdominal distress and fever late last week.

— Reported by the Associated Press

Kevin Martin says he’s happy on Rockets

Kevin Martin

Likes to shoot

On Tuesday, Kevin Martin spoke about his happiness with the Rockets.

“I’m still in a great situation,” he said. “I’m still on a good team. I’m still helping the team win.”

On Wednesday, he read an Internet report that it is an open secret he is not happy.

“I think it’s an inappropriate article,” Martin said. “A writer must be starving for attention. He’s not going to bring a distraction around our team. I’m the team’s leading scorer, and we’re in the playoff hunt. I don’t understand how I could not be happy about that. Basically, he’s just making it up.

“Individually and team-wise, we’re doing pretty well.”

— Reported by Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle (Blog)

Rockets assign center Greg Smith to D-League

Houston Rockets General Manager Daryl Morey announced today that the team has assigned center/forward Greg Smith back to Houston’s single-affiliation NBA D-League partner Rio Grande Valley. The assignment marks the 35th time an NBA player has been assigned to his NBA D-League affiliate during the 2011-12 season. It also marks the first official assignment of Smith’s career.

Smith (6-10, 250, Fresno State), who yesterday was selected as a 2012 NBA D-League All-Star, has averaged 16.8 points, 8.3 rebounds, 1.28 blocks and 1.06 steals in 18 games (14 starts) with the Vipers in 2011-12. The current D-League leader in field goal percentage (.677, 130-192 FG), Smith also stands tied for third in the league in double-doubles (eight), eighth in rebounding average (8.3) and 10th in blocks per game (1.28).

In his first stint with the Rockets, Smith averaged 1.5 points and 2.0 rebounds in two preseason games with Houston before being waived on Dec. 22, 2011. In college, Smith averaged 11.7 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks per game as a sophomore last season at Fresno State. He was also the 2009-10 WAC Freshman of the Year, which was voted on by the WAC head coaches.

Houston to host 2013 NBA All-Star weekend

Houston will once again play host to a constellation of the world’s brightest stars as it has been selected as the site of NBA All-Star 2013, the NBA announced today.

The 62nd NBA All-Star Game will be played on Sunday, Feb. 17, at the Toyota Center, which will also host the NBA Rising Stars Challenge and NBA All-Star Saturday Night presented by State Farm. NBA All-Star Jam Session, the hugely successful interactive basketball celebration, will be held at the George R. Brown Convention Center.

“Houston is a spectacular sports city, and for one week it will be the basketball capital of the world,” said NBA Commissioner David Stern. “NBA All-Star is a magnificent celebration of our game, and I want to thank the city and the Rockets for welcoming us once again.”

The 2013 game will mark the third NBA All-Star celebration in Houston. The city also hosted the event in 1989 and in 2006.

InsideHoops.com has no idea why Houston is getting to host the weekend again so soon. There seems to be no explanation for it.

“I am thrilled the Rockets and the City of Houston have once again brought NBA All-Star to Toyota Center,” said Houston Rockets owner Leslie Alexander. “The All-Star Game showcases the best basketball players in the world and will allow our great Rockets fans and the entire community the opportunity to once again experience the best that our league has to offer. The 2006 All-Star Game in Houston was a tremendous success and we plan to set the bar even higher in 2013. We take great pride in Toyota Center’s standing as one of the premier venues in the country and are honored to be the first arena in Texas to host the game for a second time.”

“I want to thank the City staff, Houston Rockets Owner Leslie Alexander and the Houston/Harris County Sports Authority for all the work that went into bringing this world premier sporting event back to Houston,” said Houston Mayor Annise D. Parker. “Houston knows how to show visitors a good time and we can’t wait to pamper NBA fans with our southern hospitality and charm. You could spend 365 days in our city and still not experience everything this town has to offer. We are alive with talent, rich in diversity and just downright full of fun. I wish the NBA and all of its fans an unforgettable stay in Houston.”

The 2013 game will mark the 29th year that Turner Sports will provide NBA All-Star coverage, and the 11th consecutive year the All-Star Game will be televised in primetime on TNT. The All-Star Game will be seen by a worldwide television audience in more than 200 countries and territories and in more than 40 languages.

Karl “The Mailman” Malone delivered an MVP performance in 1989, finishing with 28 points and nine rebounds as the West defeated the East, 143-134 at the Astrodome. His Jazz teammate John Stockton made a few deliveries of his own, finishing with 17 assists, including an All-Star Game record nine in a single quarter, to lead the West to victory.

In 2006, LeBron James became the youngest player to capture All-Star MVP honors. James finished with 29 points as the East overcame a 21-point third-quarter deficit to edge the West, 122-120.

NBA All-Star competition will get underway on Friday, Feb. 15, as the league’s top rookies and second-year players square off in the NBA Rising Stars Challenge. The following day’s festivities will feature NBA All-Star Saturday Night presented by State Farm, an all-inclusive skills showcase comprised of Haier Shooting Stars, a competition featuring NBA and WNBA players, and NBA legends; Taco Bell Skills Challenge, a contest of top guards working against the clock to complete a series of passes, free throws, layups and agility drills; the Foot Locker Three-Point Contest, a long-standing staple of the evening; and the ever-entertaining Sprite Slam Dunk contest.

The NBA will continue to celebrate its tradition and commitment to social responsibility during NBA All-Star 2013 with a schedule of NBA Cares events. NBA Cares will partner with schools, government, and local nonprofit organizations in Houston and surrounding areas to highlight the league’s grassroots and community initiatives that reach millions of young people and their parents while providing critical resources to community-based programs.

One of the event’s most popular attractions is NBA All-Star Jam Session, which will be held at the George R. Brown Convention Center. At Jam Session, fans can have the once-in-a-lifetime experience of participating in the NBA All-Star excitement, with the chance to meet and collect free autographs from NBA players and legends. Jam Session is nonstop basketball action, as fans can shoot, slam, dribble and drive all day; compete against their friends in skills challenges; or get basketball tips from NBA players and legends. Young fans can hang out at Kids Zone – with hoops and interactive activities that are the perfect size for kids’ slam dunks, three-pointers and jump shots. For fans who want NBA entertainment, Jam Session features the NBA’s favorite players, mascots, dance teams and celebrities as they hit Center Court in a variety of basketball competitions, including the NBA All-Star Practice and the Sprint NBA All-Star Celebrity Game.

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Kevin Love suspended two games for incident with Luis Scola

Kevin Love

Cleaned sole of shoe in improper fashion

Kevin Love of the Minnesota Timberwolves has been suspended two games without pay for driving his foot into the upper body and face of the Houston Rockets’ Luis Scola as Scola was lying on the floor, it was announced today by Stu Jackson, NBA Executive Vice President Basketball Operations.

The incident, which has been upgraded by the league office to a Flagrant Foul Two on Love, occurred with 8:34 remaining in the third quarter of the Timberwolves’ 100-91 win over the Rockets at Target Center in Minneapolis on Feb. 4.

Love will serve his suspension Tuesday, Feb. 7 when the Timberwolves play the Sacramento Kings at Target Center and Wednesday, Feb. 8 when Minnesota plays the Memphis Grizzlies at FedEx Forum.

Love today released the following statement regarding his two-game suspension: “I want to publicly apologize to Luis Scola and the Houston Rockets,” Love said. “My intention is to never hurt another player on the basketball court. I’ve always had the utmost respect for the game of basketball and all of my opponents. I also apologize to my coaches, teammates and our fans for the consequences of my actions.”