NBA Teams – Page 1095 – NBA Blog

Rumor: New York Knicks exploring possible deals for J.R. Smith

Here’s ESPN.com with an update on Knicks guard J.R. Smith:

Knicks may look to trade J.R. Smith later this month

While they acknowledge that a trade may be difficult to pull off, the New York Knicks in recent days began exploring the potential market for guard J.R. Smith, ESPN.com has learned.

Sources close to the situation said Wednesday that the organization has become increasingly frustrated with Smith’s on- and off-the-court transgressions and may feel that a fresh start would be best for all parties.

Smith was fined $50,000 by the NBA on Wednesday for “recurring instances of unsportsmanlike conduct” following his shoelace stunts in the Knicks’ past two games.

Wednesday’s fine didn’t necessarily push the Knicks over the top, but one source with knowledge of the team’s thinking said the organization has become “fed up” with Smith’s erratic behavior.

Phoenix Suns sign Leandro Barbosa to 10-day contract

The Suns have signed guard Leandro Barbosa (lee-AN-dro BAR-bow-sa) to a 10-day contract, the team has announced.

The 6-3, 194-pound Barbosa is a 10-year NBA veteran who played the first seven seasons of his NBA career with the Suns, averaging 12.6 points, 2.6 assists and 2.4 rebounds in 466 games with Phoenix from 2003-10. Barbosa won the 2006-07 NBA Sixth Man of the Year Award with the Suns after posting career-highs of 18.1 points and 4.0 assists per game. The Suns advanced to the playoffs in five of Barbosa’s first seven seasons with the club as he ranks seventh in team history with 64 career playoff games, in which he averaged 10.2 points.

The 31-year-old guard has played for three NBA teams since being traded by Phoenix to Toronto in the summer of 2010, spending time with the Raptors (2010-12), Indiana Pacers (2011-12) and Boston Celtics (2012-13). Last season, Barbosa appeared in 41 games with the Celtics before suffering a torn ACL in his left knee on Feb. 11. He was traded to Washington on Feb. 21, but did not appear in a game with the Wizards as he recovered from injury.

A native of Sao Paulo, Brazil, this season Barbosa averaged 15.9 points and 3.1 assists in eight games for Sao Paulo-based Pinheiros/Sky of the Brazilian League.

The Suns continue a season-long five-game road trip tonight as they prepare to face the Minnesota Timberwolves with tip-off scheduled for 7:30 p.m. (Phoenix time). The game will be televised on FOX Sports Arizona and ESPN, and carried on Arizona Sports 620 (KTAR-AM).

Clippers sign guard Maalik Wayns to 10-day contract

The Los Angeles Clippers announced today that they have signed guard Maalik Wayns to a 10-day contract.

Wayns, 22, was previously on the Clippers roster this season and was waived by the team on Jan. 6. Wayns did not appear in a game this season, missing the first 33 games of the season due to a torn left meniscus.

The former Villanova stand-out appeared in six games with the Clippers last season and averaged 3.3 points and 1.2 assists. Overall, Wayns has played in 27 career NBA games with the Clippers and Philadelphia 76ers.

J.R. Smith fined $50,000 by NBA for trying to untie the shoelaces of opposing players

New York Knicks guard J.R. Smith has been fined $50,000 for recurring instances of unsportsmanlike conduct, it was announced today by Rod Thorn, President, Basketball Operations.

During the Knicks’ 92-80 win over the Dallas Mavericks on Jan. 5, at American Airlines Center, Smith untied the shoelace of Mavericks’ forward Shawn Marion during a free throw attempt. After Smith was warned by the league office to refrain from further conduct of this nature, he attempted to repeat the action last night during New York’s 89-85 win over the Detroit Pistons at Madison Square Garden.

Metta World Peace has procedure on knees

Here’s the New York Post with an update on New York Knicks forward Metta World Peace:

Metta World Peace said he’s already feeling the good effects from the platelet-rich plasma (PRP) blood-spinning procedure he underwent on his knees Monday.

World Peace, who has played just two games since Dec. 21 because of an arthritic left knee, said he plans to return to the Knicks lineup in two weeks.

Each injection took 30 seconds, and World Peace said he decided to have both knees done.

“It felt pretty good,’’ he said before the Knicks’ 89-85 win over the Pistons Tuesday night at the Garden. “It was weird. It was weird. I was like ‘Wow.’ When I was walking home I said, ‘Wow, it’s kind of cool.’ But I don’t want to test it yet.”

Memphis Grizzlies recall Jamaal Franklin from D-League

The Memphis Grizzlies have recalled guard Jamaal Franklin from their NBA Development League affiliate, the Fort Wayne Mad Ants, the team announced today.

Franklin (6-5, 191) was assigned to Fort Wayne on Jan. 5 and recorded 15 points, four rebounds, two assists and four steals in 23 minutes in his D-League debut on Jan. 6 against the Santa Cruz Warriors. The game was played in Reno, Nev. as part of the 2014 NBA D-League Showcase.

Drafted by Memphis in the second round (41st overall) of the 2013 NBA Draft, the 22-year-old has averaged 1.9 points and 1.4 rebounds in 9.2 minutes in 14 appearances as a rookie for the Grizzlies.

Utah Jazz waive forward Mike Harris

The Utah Jazz announced today that the team has waived forward Mike Harris. Following the move, Utah’s roster now stands at 14 players.

Harris (6-6, 242, Rice) appeared in 20 games this season for Utah, averaging 4.2 points and 1.7 rebounds in 11.3 minutes per game. Harris was signed as a free agent on September 26.

At 11-25 through Monday’s games, the Jazz have the third worst record in the NBA. They are in a state of rebuild, with a current core of Gordon Hayward, Derrick Favors, Trey Burke, Alec Burks, Enes Kanter, Richard Jefferson and Marvin Williams. The team simply needs an upgraded roster, and that will take time. But as for now, Mike Harris moves on.

Deron Williams out with a sprained ankle

The most consistent thing about the 13-21 Brooklyn Nets this season has been injuries. They are without star center Brook Lopez for the rest of the season, but otherwise maintain hope that the rest of their roster will someday all play together at full health. But that dream will have to wait just a bit longer.

Following an MRI on Monday, January 6, Nets point guard Deron Williams was diagnosed with a sprained left ankle.

Williams was treated with a cortisone shot in the ankle joint, as well as platelet rich plasma (PRP) injections into the lateral ligaments of the ankle.

In addition, Williams received a PRP injection into his right ankle and a cortisone injection into his right ankle joint to relieve inflammation.

Williams, who will miss Wednesday’s game versus Golden State, is currently in a walking boot and will be re-evaluated at the end of the week.

Three-team trade sends Jerryd Bayless to Celtics, Courtney Lee to Grizzlies

The Boston Celtics announced today that they have completed a three team trade with the Memphis Grizzlies and Oklahoma City Thunder in which they acquired guard Jerryd Bayless from Memphis and forward Ryan Gomes from Oklahoma City. The Celtics sent guard Courtney Lee and a 2016 second round draft pick to the Memphis Grizzlies. In a related transaction, the Celtics have waived forward Ryan Gomes. Memphis also traded a conditional 2017 second round draft pick to Oklahoma City.

Bayless, a 6’3” guard, has appeared in 30 games for the Grizzlies this season averaging 8.0 points, 2.0 assists and 1.9 rebounds in 20.8 minutes per game. The 11th overall pick in the 2008 Draft by the Indiana Pacers has a season-high of 22 points against the Celtics on November 27 when he was 6-of-10 from the field and 9-of-11 from the free throw line. Bayless has posted career averages of 8.2 points, 2.8 assists and 1.9 rebounds in 19.3 minutes per game split between Portland, New Orleans, Toronto and Memphis. An early entry candidate into the 2008 Draft from the University of Arizona, Bayless averaged 19.7 points and 4.0 assists while earning All-Pac 10 Second Team and All-Freshman honors. He was the first freshman in Arizona history to lead the team in scoring as well as being the first freshman to win team MVP since Sean Elliot in the 1985-86 season.

Gomes, a 6’7” forward, has appeared in five games for the Thunder this season totaling six points and four rebounds in 34 minutes played. Playing in his eighth NBA season, Gomes was originally drafted by the Celtics with the 50th pick in the second round of the 2005 NBA Draft. The former Providence College Friar has posted career averages of 10.1 points, 4.6 rebounds and 1.5 assists in 487 games split between Boston, Minnesota, the Los Angeles Clippers and Oklahoma City.

Three-team trade sends Jerryd Bayless to Celtics, Courtney Lee to Grizzlies

Lee (6-5, 200) joins the Grizzlies with career averages of 9.4 points, 2.6 rebounds and 1.5 assists on .446 shooting (.387 3FG shooting) in 25.9 minutes in 395 games (174 starts) with the Orlando Magic, New Jersey Nets, Houston Rockets and Boston Celtics. The 28-year-old has averaged 7.4 points, 1.6 rebounds and 1.1 assists in 16.8 minutes in 30 games (zero starts) with Boston this season, recording career-high shooting percentages both from three-point range (.442) and overall (.492). The Indianapolis, Ind. native scored a career-high 30 points on March 8, 2010 at Memphis as a member of the New Jersey Nets.

The six-year veteran was drafted by Orlando in the first round (22nd overall) of the 2008 NBA Draft following a successful four-year collegiate career at Western Kentucky University. Lee was named 2007-08 Sun Belt Player of the Year and earned First Team All-Sun Belt honors for three consecutive seasons (2005-08), starting in every game he played with the Hilltoppers.

Pelicans foward Ryan Anderson diagnosed with herniated disc

The New Orleans Pelicans announced today that Ryan Anderson has been diagnosed with a herniated disc.

Anderson suffered the injury following a collision with Celtics forward Gerald Wallace during the fourth quarter of the January 3 game at Boston. The 6’10” forward is out indefinitely.

In 22 games this season, Anderson is averaging 19.8 points, 6.5 rebounds and 3.6 assists in 36.1 minutes per game. The sixth-year veteran holds career averages of 12.3 points, 5.6 rebounds and 0.9 assists in 356 games.