NBA Teams – Page 1066 – NBA Blog

Heat sign DeAndre Liggins to second 10-day contract

The Miami Heat announced today that they have signed guard DeAndre Liggins to a second 10-day contract. Per club policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Liggins, who was signed to a 10-day contract by the HEAT on February 25, appeared in one game with Miami totaling two points and one rebound in 1:24 minutes while shooting 1-of-1 from the field in a, 124-107, win against Charlotte on March 3.

Liggins, a 2014 NBA Development League All-Star, appeared in 35 games (34 starts) with the HEAT’s NBA D-League affiliate, the Sioux Falls Skyforce, earlier this season and averaged 14.5 points, 7.5 rebounds, 4.8 assists, 2.54 steals and 40.3 minutes while shooting 39.8 percent from the field.

Kings forward Carl Landry out for season with knee injury

Sacramento Kings forward Carl Landry will miss the remainder of the season after a recent MRI taken at Kaiser Permanente revealed a medial meniscus tear in his right knee. Surgery will be scheduled in the near future.

A six-year NBA veteran in his second stint with the Kings, Landry averaged 4.2 points (.517 FG%, .824 FT%), 3.2 rebounds and 12.9 minutes per game in 18 games (started 1) this season.

OJ Mayo suspended for striking Greg Stiemsma

Milwaukee Bucks guard O.J. Mayo has been suspended one game without pay for forcibly striking New Orleans Pelicans center Greg Stiemsma in the throat, it was announced today by Rod Thorn, President, Basketball Operations.

The incident, for which Mayo was assessed a Flagrant Foul 2 and ejected occurred with 1:52 remaining in the first quarter of Milwaukee’s 112-104 loss to the Pelicans on Friday, March 7, at Smoothie King Center.

Mayo will serve his suspension tonight when the Bucks host the Washington Wizards at BMO Harris Bradley Center.

To view the play, click on this link.

Kings sign Orlando Johnson to second 10-day contract

The Sacramento Kings today signed guard Orlando Johnson to a second 10-day contract, according to Kings General Manager Pete D’Alessandro.

After signing a 10-day contract with the Kings on February 26, Johnson is averaging 1.8 points (3-16 FG, 1-5 3pt, 2-4 FT), 0.8 rebounds, 0.6 assists and 9.0 minutes per game in five games off the bench. This season, he is averaging 2.3 points (.321 FG%, .196 3pt%, .731 FT%), 1.3 rebounds, 0.4 assists and 9.0 minutes per game in 43 contests as a reserve with Indiana and Sacramento. Johnson averaged 2.4 points (.344 FG%, .195 3pt%, .773 FT%), 1.3 rebounds, 0.4 assists and 9.0 minutes per game with the Pacers before being waived on February 20, 2014.

Originally drafted by the Kings in the second round (36th overall) of the 2012 NBA Draft, Johnson’s draft rights were traded to the Pacers for cash considerations on draft night, June 28, 2012.

Knicks reach out to Phil Jackson

Here’s the New York Post reporting on the Knicks, who apparently want Phil Jackson involved with their squad in some capacity:

Phil Jackson has turned down the Knicks’ offer to coach the team, but he could soon return to the organization as a front-office executive.

The Knicks reached out to Jackson to discuss his future plans, according to multiple sources. Though they would prefer to have him coach the team and offered him the job, according to one source, the discussions evolved into Jackson joining the Knicks in some form of a hybrid front-office role.

The Post has learned Jackson needs another knee replacement — his second — which has ruled out a return to the bench for the former Bulls and Lakers coach.

A source close to Jackson said he undoubtedly will be a general manager or team consultant next season, but his coaching days are over. His talks with the Knicks are still ongoing but could be resolved next week.

Joakim Noah declines to discuss alleged recruitment of Melo

Here’s ESPN Chicago reporting on the topic of Joakim Noah allegedly telling Carmelo Anthony to come join the Bulls after his time with the Knicks wraps up:

Joakim Noah does not want to address the “gossip” surrounding a conversation he reportedly had All-Star Weekend with New York Knicks star Carmelo Anthony.

“You want me to address that?” Noah said at Friday’s shootaround in response to a question about an ESPN.com report Thursday that said he told Anthony he could win a championship if he signed with the Bulls as a free agent after the season. “I don’t feel like addressing it. I really have nothing to say about it.”

Noah was asked if the reported recruiting pitch for Anthony had, in fact, happened, and he didn’t deny the conversation took place.

“Doesn’t matter,” Noah said. “What does that have to do with our team right now? It doesn’t matter.”

Expectations sink lower for the 76ers

Here’s the Philadelphia Inquirer reporting on the 76ers, whose main recent accomplishment has been to get even worse. Which didn’t even seem possible. Yet the Sixers have done it:

Not only have the Sixers been unable to win as of late, they have been unable to even keep it close.

The team, which is currently on a 15-game losing streak, has lost those 15 straight games by an average of almost twenty points per (19.8)!

They haven’t won a game since the end of January, and even that took a last second shot by Evan Turner, who has since been traded.

Not only are the Sixers getting beat, they’re getting blown out. It has become difficult to watch even for the most diehard fans of the franchise, and there’s no real reprieve in sight this season.

Heat point guards need to step up

Here’s the South Florida Sun Sentinel on the Miami Heat, who have dropped their last two games, both to good teams — the Spurs and Rockets. No huge deal, but here’s one thing that stood out:

Another glaring blemish during the losing streak has been the play of point guards Mario Chalmers and Norris Cole.

They were badly outplayed by Spurs guard Tony Parker and the Rockets’ Patrick Beverley the past two games.

“It’s been off the last two games,” Chalmers said. “We’ve got to do better.”

Cole and Chalmers have combined to score 13 points on 5 of 23 shooting while committing seven turnovers. The opposing point guards averaged 18 points.

“We’ve got to get back on track, find a way to get back on track,” Chalmers said. “It starts with me. I’m the starting point guard. I just got to turn it up. It’s just been one of those trips. We’ve got to get out to a better start. That starts with me. I’ve got to make sure we got off to a better start.”

Video: Gerald Green 41-point game vs Thunder

Here’s Gerald Green of the Phoenix Suns scoring 41 points in a win vs the Oklahoma City Thunder:

Celtics center Vitor Faverani out for season after knee surgery

The Boston Celtics announced today that center Vitor Faverani had successful left knee arthroscopy to repair a torn lateral meniscus at the New England Baptist Hospital. The procedure was performed by Celtics team physician Dr. Brian McKeon and was assisted by Jason Rand, PAC. Faverani will not return this season.

According to ESPN Boston, “Celtics coach Brad Stevens said what was planned as a simple scope soon turned into a pretty major repair. “When they went in and scoped his knee, they found a meniscus tear,” said Stevens. “The way it was explained to me, it was near the root. That was the source of his major discomfort the past couple weeks. And so, it’s going to be a pretty significant rehab and so that was obviously not good news.”

Faverani, a 6’11” center, has appeared in 37 games during his rookie season for the Celtics where he averaged 4.4 points, 3.5 rebounds and 0.73 blocks in 13.2 minutes per game. He recorded a season-high of 13 point against Toronto on October 30 and recorded season-highs of 18 rebounds and six blocks against Milwaukee on November 1. Faverani also appeared in four games for the Maine Red Claws of the NBA Development League on assignment this season where he averaged 12.8 points, 9.0 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.0 block in 25.0 minutes per game.