Category: NBA Teams

NBA teams blog

Grizzlies claim Beno Udrih off waivers

grizzlies sign beno udrih

The Memphis Grizzlies claimed guard Beno Udrih (BEYN-oh OO-dreeh) off waivers, the team announced today.

Udrih (6-3, 205) joins Memphis with career averages of 8.9 points, 2.2 rebounds and 3.6 assists on .461 shooting in 23.3 minutes in 659 games (255 starts) over 10 seasons with the San Antonio Spurs (2004-07), Sacramento Kings (2007-11), Milwaukee Bucks (2011-13), Orlando Magic (2012-13) and New York Knicks (2013-14).

The 31-year-old averaged 5.6 points, 1.8 rebounds and 3.5 assists on .425 shooting in 19.0 minutes in 31 games (12 starts) with New York this season before being waived on Feb. 24.

A two-time NBA champion with San Antonio (2005, 2007), Udrih owns career postseason averages of 2.9 points and 0.9 assists in 8.6 minutes in 36 playoff appearances.

The Celje, Slovenia native was drafted by San Antonio in the first round (28th overall) of the 2004 NBA Draft. Prior to his NBA career, he played internationally in Slovenia (1998-2002), Israel (2002-03), Italy (2003-04) and Russia (2003-04).

The Grizzlies’ roster now stands at 15 players.

Knicks sign Shannon Brown, Earl Clark to 10-day contracts

shannon brown

New York Knicks President and General Manager Steve Mills announced today that the team has signed guard Shannon Brown and forward Earl Clark to 10-day contracts.

Brown, 6-4, 210-pounds, holds career averages of 8.0 points and 1.9 rebounds over 18.5 minutes in 384 games (58 starts) over eight seasons with Cleveland, Chicago, L.A. Lakers, Charlotte, Phoenix and San Antonio. He appeared in 10 games (one start) for San Antonio this season, averaging 2.3 points and 1.3 rebounds over 10.3 minutes. The two-time NBA Champion (2009, 2010) with the Lakers was originally selected following junior season at Michigan State University by Cleveland in the first round (25th overall) of the 2006 NBA Draft.

Clark, 6-10, 234-pounds, holds career averages of 4.5 points and 3.1 rebounds over 14.3 minutes in 242 games (54 starts) over five seasons with Phoenix, Orlando, L.A. Lakers and Cleveland. He averaged 5.2 points and 2.8 rebounds over 15.5 minutes in 45 games (17 starts) with Cleveland this season before he was acquired by Philadelphia on Feb. 20. He was originally selected following his junior season at the University of Louisville by Phoenix in the first round (14th overall) of the 2009 NBA Draft.

Clippers, Spurs reportedly want Danny Granger

Here’s ESPN.com reporting on teams potentially interested in landing the services of Danny Granger:

Clippers, Spurs reportedly want Danny Granger

The Los Angeles Clippers and San Antonio Spurs are locked in a battle to secure the services of [former] All-Star Danny Granger after the Philadelphia 76ers and Granger completed a contract buyout Wednesday, according to sources close to the process.

Granger is scheduled to clear waivers at 5 p.m. ET Friday. He and the Sixers parted ways less than a week after the 30-year-old swingman was acquired from the Indiana Pacers just before the trade deadline for Evan Turner and Lavoy Allen.

ESPN.com reported Tuesday night that the Spurs and Granger share a mutual interest, but sources said Wednesday that the Clippers — having lost starting shooting guard J.J. Redick for long stretches this season because of a variety of injuries — hold the advantage of having more playing time to offer. Granger also has an offseason home in Los Angeles.

Derrick Rose health update: he is now able to run again

derrick rose health update

Injured Chicago Bulls star Derrick Rose has started running, although coach Tom Thibodeau says he’s nowhere near ready to practice.

The former MVP point guard tore the meniscus in his right knee at Portland in November and was ruled out for the remainder of the season by the Bulls. He sat out last year while recovering from surgery to repair a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee.

— Associated Press

Tony Parker should return soon for Spurs

Here’s the San Antonio Express-News with some good news for the Spurs:

Tony Parker should return fairly soon for Spurs

Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said All-Star point guard Tony Parker is expected to be back by Sunday’s game against Dallas after skipping the past five games resting his ailing body.

The Spurs play Charlotte at home on Friday before hosting the rival Mavericks. Parker’s return will give the Spurs a full roster for the first time since their home loss to New York on Jan. 2, in which time they’re 15-9.

“We’re getting closer to the normal lineup,” Popovich said.

Sixers, Danny Granger agree on buyout

Sixers, Danny Granger agree on buyout

According to Philly.com, “The Danny Granger Era in Philadelphia ended quicker than Andrew Bynum’s. As expected, the 76ers and Granger agreed to a contract buyout on Wednesday. The team announced the deal before the 76ers took the floor against the Orlando Magic at the Wells Fargo Center.”

According to the Philadelphia Inquirer, “The 76ers negotiated a buyout of what’s left of the forward’s expiring contract on Wednesday, six days after he was acquired in a trade with the Indiana Pacers. Sixers general manager Sam Hinkie wouldn’t disclose the buyout amount. Granger, however, was slated to receive around $4 million for the rest of the season. Assuming he clears waivers by 5 p.m. Friday, the 6-foot-9, 228-pounder can sign with a team of his choice. He is reportedly looking at championship contenders: the Miami Heat, Los Angeles Clippers, Houston Rockets, Chicago Bulls, and San Antonio Spurs.”

And, here’s a statement from 76ers President of Basketball Operations and General Manager Sam Hinkie, regarding Danny Granger:

“His accomplishments and accolades to this point of his NBA career more than speak for themselves, so I would like to express that I have a great deal of respect for Danny Granger as a person. The manner with which he carried himself throughout this process was professional, courteous and respectful, and speaks volumes about his character.

“Following the completion of the trade on Thursday night, Danny traveled to Philadelphia and we had an opportunity to meet with him here. These were in addition to the open lines of communication with his agent Aaron Mintz and CAA while we worked through the next steps.

“Given Danny’s future goals and his desire to pursue them, we worked to fulfill his requests and have come to a resolution that we feel is mutually beneficial to both Danny and our organization.

“We wish Danny the best in the next phase of his career.”

Knicks coach supports Raymond Felton

Knicks coach supports Raymond Felton

New York Knicks coach Mike Woodson said on Wednesday that he stood behind point guard Raymond Felton, who was arrested on Tuesday on gun possession charges, and that Felton would remain in the Knicks’ lineup.

“Bottom line is, Ray is part of our team,” Woodson told reporters after Wednesday’s practice, in which Felton participated.

“As his coach I’m going to support him and make sure he’s doing everything the right way from here on out, and try to get him to concentrate on basketball.”

Felton, 29, was charged after his wife’s divorce attorney took a weapon that was allegedly the player’s and was not registered in New York City to a local police station, authorities said.

— Reuters

Pau Gasol especially annoyed after latest Lakers loss

Here’s the Los Angeles Times reporting on the Lakers and Pau Gasol, who like any proud veteran is not a fan of getting blown out, even at the hands of a top team like the Indiana Pacers. But this is mostly about the big picture, not one loss:

The relationship between Pau Gasol and Lakers Coach Mike D’Antoni, an uneasy truce in recent months, took a turn for the worse Tuesday.

It spilled over after the Lakers were pounded by the Indiana Pacers, 118-98, a promising first half tumbling into a predictable, if not inevitable, ending for the Lakers at Bankers Life Fieldhouse…

Eleven of the Lakers’ 15 players are in the final year of their contracts, a big problem on a losing team, no?

“Probably. That’s part of it,” Gasol said. “But that’s why you have to be disciplined and implement discipline. That’s how you kind of make that better or make that not a factor. I don’t think there’s a lot of discipline right now.”

Teammates needed to be unselfish by making sure the ball was passed to an open player, Gasol added.

“Otherwise it’s really deflating and takes a lot of energy away from individuals,” said Gasol, in the last year of a contract paying him $19.3 million this season.

Nick Young out a few games

Here’s ESPN Los Angeles with an update on yet another Laker who is banged up. Unlike other injuries that kept key players out for long stretches, this time it’s minor and short-term:

Nick Young still is experiencing pain in his left knee and will not play on the Los Angeles Lakers’ two-game road trip against the Indiana Pacers and Memphis Grizzlies.

Young, who suffered a non-displaced fracture of the patella and a bone bruise in his left knee Feb. 5 against the Cleveland Cavaliers, played 20 minutes against the Brooklyn Nets on Sunday but did not participate in shootaround Tuesday morning in Indianapolis.

“I’d say I was playing through adrenaline,” Young said of the Nets game, when he scored 10 points on 3-for-4 shooting. “[Monday] I felt more pain once I settled down.”

The Lakers are officially listing Young as day to day because of soreness in his knee.