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Trevor Ariza suspended

Trevor Ariza of the Houston Rockets has been suspended without pay for one game for swinging his elbow at the head of the Toronto Raptors’ DeMar DeRozan, it was announced today by Stu Jackson, NBA Executive Vice President, Basketball Operations.

The incident occurred with 3:47 remaining in the third period of the Raptors’ 101-88 victory over the Rockets at Air Canada Centre on Sunday, Dec. 13.

Ariza will serve his suspension tomorrow when the Rockets host the Detroit Pistons at the Toyota Center in Houston.

For more info on what actually happened, see here.

Trevor Ariza ejected after swinging at DeMar DeRozan

Early Sunday afternoon in Toronto as the Raptors were winning big over the Houston Rockets, a frustrated visiting player lost his cool.

Late in the third quarter on the left side of the court, Rockets small forward Trevor Ariza had the ball but was stripped of it by DeMar DeRozan.

As DeRozan start dribbling up the floor, a frustrated Ariza took what appeared to be a full swing at him. The swipe missed but was spotted by referees, and play was stopped.

Raptors guard Jarrett Jack rushed over to confront Ariza, but the situation did not escalate.

At the time of the incident the Raptors were leading 68-49 with 3:47 left in the third quarter. Ariza, who is generally having a terrific season, was having a nightmare of a game with one point (0-of-9 shooting), two rebounds, one assist and four turnovers.

InsideHoops.com predicts Ariza may be suspended by the NBA, perhaps for one game.

Read fan reaction and discuss your own opinion in this forum topic.

Raptors add Pops Mensah-Bonsu

The Toronto Raptors announced Tuesday they have been awarded forward Pops Mensah-Bonsu on a waiver claim. The 6-foot-10, 235-pound Mensah-Bonsu, who signed with Houston this past offseason, was waived by the Rockets on Friday. He appeared in four games with Houston, averaging 1.3 points and 3.3 minutes.

Prior to signing with the Rockets, Mensah-Bonsu, 26, averaged 5.1 points, 5.4 rebounds and 13.8 minutes in 19 games with the Raptors. He was signed as a free agent by Toronto on March 6, 2009.

Mensah-Bonsu saw action in three contests with the San Antonio Spurs in 2008-09, averaging 5.0 points and 3.3 rebounds in 6.7 minutes. He appeared in 12 games with the Dallas Mavericks in the 2006-07 season where he totaled 29 points and 22 rebounds in 72 minutes. He also spent part of that season in the D-League with Fort Worth, averaging 15.8 points, 10.4 rebounds and 30.7 minutes in 26 games. He earned 2007 D-League All-Star Game MVP honours with 30 points and seven rebounds.

The native of London, England spent two seasons overseas, playing with Benetton Treviso in 2007-08 and DKV Joventut in 2008-09. He averaged 9.2 points and 8.3 rebounds in 31 regular season games with Benetton. He saw action in just two games with Jovenut before returning to North America to play in the D-League.

A four-year athlete at George Washington University in Washington, D.C., Mensah-Bonsu averaged 12.6 points and 6.7 rebounds in his senior season leading the Colonials to a 26-1 regular season mark and a Top 10 ranking.

Dikembe Mutombo named NBA global ambassador

NBA Commissioner David Stern announced today that Dikembe Mutombo will join the NBA in the newly created position of global ambassador. Mutombo will report to Executive Vice President, Social Responsibility & Player Programs, Kathy Behrens.

After retiring from a playing career that spanned 18 seasons, Mutombo will now work to grow and celebrate the game through numerous international NBA events including Basketball without Borders. In addition, he will work closely on NBA Cares outreach efforts with Hall of Famer Bob Lanier who serves as Special Assistant to the Commissioner.

“Dikembe’s extraordinary accomplishments on the court and in the community demonstrate why he is one of sports’ outstanding humanitarians,” said Commissioner Stern. “His commitment to using the values of our game to improve the lives of so many is an example of the special role we have in being leaders in social responsibility. We know the impact programs such as NBA Cares and Basketball without Borders have in being catalysts for change on a global scale, and Dikembe’s continued contributions will be invaluable in our global efforts to bring attention to important social issues.”

Mutombo started the Dikembe Mutombo Foundation to improve living conditions in his native Democratic Republic of Congo in 1997. His commitment to improving the health, education and quality of life for the people in his birthplace, the Democratic Republic of the Congo led to the construction and opening of the Biamba Marie Mutombo Hospital and Research Center, a $29 million, 300-bed hospital in Kinshasa named after his late mother.

His efforts as a global ambassador for UNICEF, spokesman for international relief agency CARE to further HIV/AIDS awareness, and prevention and his work with the Polio Eradication Campaign to protect African youth from childhood diseases that have virtually disappeared in developed countries yet still threaten children in the Congo everyday have earned him numerous accolades. Mutombo has been the recipient of the President’s Citizenship Award, J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award, the National Civil Rights Museum Sports Legacy Award, and induction into the World Sports Humanitarian Hall of Fame.

“I am looking forward to working closely with Dikembe as he enters this next phase of his brilliant career. I have seen first hand the impact and inspiration he provides,” said Lanier. “His passion for improving the lives of people in Africa and elsewhere is a great example of how NBA players understand their obligations to the global community.”

Regarded as one of the top post defenders of all time, Mutombo will also play an important role in the mentoring of current players. His on-the-court honors include four NBA Defensive Player of the Year awards through a career that also saw him named to eight All-Star Game appearances, and a place on three All-NBA teams and six All-Defensive teams.

Mutombo holds degrees in linguistics and diplomacy from Georgetown University.

Read fan reaction and discuss your own opinion in this forum topic.

Rockets waive Pops Mensah-Bonsu

Houston Rockets General Manager Daryl Morey announced Friday, November 13 that the team has waived forward Pops Mensah-Bonsu (MEN-sa BON-sue).

“Pops did a great job while he was here with us at the Rockets,” said Morey. “This move is only being done to give us some roster flexibility in case of an injury or a potential call up from the Rio Grande Valley Vipers. With the way Coach Adelman currently has the rotation set up, this will also allow Pops an opportunity to explore options for more playing time.”

Mensah-Bonsu (6-9, 235, George Washington) averaged 1.3 points and 1.0 rebound in four games with the Rockets this season. He originally signed as a free agent with Houston on Sept. 3, 2009. Mensah-Bonsu also played in 34 prior NBA games with Dallas, San Antonio and Toronto.

Rockets assign Joey Doresey to D-League

Houston Rockets General Manager Daryl Morey announced today that the team has assigned forward/center Joey Dorsey to the team’s D-League affiliate the Rio Grande Valley Vipers.

“Joey had a strong offseason and a solid training camp for us, but in continuing to focus on his development, we believe that at this point of the season the Rio Grande Valley Vipers offer him the best option for his basketball progression,” said Rockets Vice President of Player Personnel/General Manager of the Rio Grande Valley Vipers Gersson Rosas. “In determining Joey’s assignment, we were also encouraged by the fact that because of our single-affiliation partnership with the Vipers, we can offer him a valued opportunity to develop on a more active basis in terms of his ability to play. We know that Joey will be in good hands with Head Coach Chris Finch and his staff, as well as having all the resources necessary for him to be productive during his time in the D-League. This is one of the primary reasons for our single-affiliation partnership and we look forward to reaping the benefits of it through these development opportunities.”

Dorsey (6-8, 268, Memphis), who has yet to see game action with the Rockets this season, averaged 9.7 points and 9.0 rebounds in seven games (five starts) with Rio Grande Valley in 2008-09.

Tracy McGrady has target date for return

Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle reports:

A day after he reportedly said he would be playing Nov. 18, Rockets guard Tracy McGrady said he was misunderstood. Rather, he merely hopes to be playing Nov. 18, a week before the Rockets said he could be back at the earliest.

“It’s a target date,” McGrady said on Tuesday. “I didn’t say I was coming back; I said it was a target date just like we have a date to have the MRI on the 23rd. Everybody is blowing it out of proportion like I’m guaranteed to come back. I want to play, so that’s what we’re targeting. I’ve been working out every day, improving every day, and that’s what it is.

“It’s not a guarantee that I’m coming back. It’s a target date.”

He also said, however, that he would not rush his return and indicated that he does not expect to play until the week of his scheduled MRI, Nov. 23.

I say T-Mac has no reason to rush back until he’s as close to fully healthy as possible. Coach Rick Adelman is doing a terrific job with the current rotation of players and for now, at least, they’re playing like a squad that will qualify for the playoffs.

Of course, things change in a hurry, but McGrady’s main goal should be returning and staying healthy for a long time.

Ron Artest regrets time on Houston Rockets

Mike Bresnahan of the Los Angeles Times reports:

Artest’s return to Houston wasn’t exactly akin to Brett Favre’s return to play in Green Bay, where he spent 16 seasons.

“There’s nothing really to get too excited about,” he said.

In fact, Artest estimated that he lost $20 million in potential salary because he came off the bench for part of last season, in a contract year, until Tracy McGrady’s knee injury allowed him to move into the starting lineup.

Artest said he regretted playing in Houston for one season.

“Yeah, I do,” he said. “I’ve been blessed to get paid to play basketball. One percent tells me I wish I could have been somewhere else. Things didn’t go the way I wanted it to.”

Then, after thinking about it for a split second, he hedged his words: “I was fine with that even though I was in my contract year.”

During his NBA career, Artest has generally been paid on the slightly lower end of what he was probably worth. A defensive superstar who isn’t quite as good offensively as his stats suggest, he’s basically gotten fair paychecks, but still probably could have landed an inflated deal somewhere along the way.

Brent Barry joins NBA TV

NBA TV today announced the addition of two-time NBA Champion and 14-year veteran Brent Barry to its announcer roster for the 2009-10 season. Barry will work as a studio analyst for NBA GameTime, the network’s live studio show filled with highlights, analysis, commentary and live look-ins at games being played across the league. Barry will join on Monday nights, beginning Monday, Nov. 2, alongside host Andre Aldridge and analyst Eric Snow.

Barry is the newest studio analyst on the network’s impressive roster which includes Hall of Famer Kevin McHale, five-time NBA All-Star Chris Webber, 14-year veteran Steve Smith, Snow and Scott. Barry is best known for his three-point shooting in which he currently ranks 10th all-time in career three-point field goals made. Barry spent 14 years in the NBA with six teams including the L.A. Clippers, Miami Heat, Chicago Bulls, Seattle SuperSonics, San Antonio Spurs and Houston Rockets.

NBA TV will take the court for its first week of Tuesday Fan Night with the Lakers @ Thunder match-up, as voted upon by fans on NBA.com. The game will air on Tues., Nov. 3 at 8 p.m. (ET) with host Ernie Johnson and analysts Chris Webber and Kevin McHale on-hand for studio coverage beginning at 7:30 p.m. (ET).

Rockets exercise Aaron Brooks option

Houston Rockets General Manager Daryl Morey announced today that the team has picked up the option on the contract of guard Aaron Brooks.

Brooks (6-0, 161, Oregon), who was selected by Houston in the first round (26th overall) of the 2007 NBA Draft, is averaging 18.5 points and 8.5 assists in two games this season. In 2008-09, Brooks averaged career highs of 11.2 points (.366, 113-309 3FG), 2.0 rebounds and 3.0 assists in 80 games (35 starts). Brooks scored 18 points (6-16 FG, 3-6 3FG) and dished out a career-best 12 assists at Golden State (10/28/09). His previous high was 10 assists last season at Minnesota (3/1/09).