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Danny Granger returns to practice for Pacers

The Indiana Pacers have been great this season, and getting Danny Granger back, even if he’s not the player he used to be, would make them even deeper. Here’s the Indianapolis Star:

The unexpected continues on the Indiana Pacers’ eventful trip to Texas: Danny Granger practiced.

“I feel good,” Granger said following the Friday session, his first live participation in weeks. “I was running, sprinting, playing live for about an hour, so I felt really good.”

Since Oct. 28, when the team announced that Granger would miss approximately three weeks with a strained left calf, the sight of the veteran forward had been limited to post-practice shooting drills and sideline cheering. The team’s timeline has long since expired and Granger has missed all 19 games this season.

Though he practiced, Pacers coach Frank Vogel announced that Granger would not play Saturday against the San Antonio Spurs. Vogel said there is no new timeline for Granger’s return to the lineup.

Kobe Bryant returns for Lakers this Sunday

Kobe Bryant will make his return for the Lakers this Sunday in Los Angeles, where they will face the Toronto Raptors.

The Lakers are off to a better-than-expected start this season, putting up a 9-9 record. They’ve shown good team chemistry and have been fun to watch.

It’ll be interesting to see how good Kobe Bryant still is. Coming back from serious injury, it’s safe to assume he’ll have lost some athletic ability. He should look rusty, right? Maybe play limited minutes? That’s the smart assumption. But, this is Kobe we’re talking about. In which case, until there’s evidence to the contrary, the sky is still the limit.

Kyle Korver shooting for an NBA 3-point record tonight

Here’s the Atlanta Journal-Constitution blog on Kyle Korver looking to get his name in the record books:

Much of the talk around Hawks practice this morning revolved around Kyle Korver’s shot at owning the NBA record for consecutive games with a 3-pointer. With a long-range shot against the Cavaliers tonight Korver will own the streak outright at 90. He is currently tied with Dana Barros at 89.

One new item that came out today came from Al Horford. The Hawks center he has heard players from other teams tell Korver that he wouldn’t get a 3-point shot off against them.

“I’ve heard it,” Horford said. “‘You’re not going to get a 3-point shot off tonight.’ I’ve definitely heard it. It gives credit to what he’s been able to do. That is an impressive streak.”

The Hawks are planning an in-game moment of recognition should Korver set the record tonight.

Sacramento Kings assign center Hamady Ndiaye to D-League

The Sacramento Kings assigned center Hamady Ndiaye (Ah-meh-dee enj-eye) to the team’s NBA Development League affiliate, the Reno Bighorns, it was announced today by General Manager Pete D’Alessandro.

Originally from Senegal, the 7-foot center is averaging 0.2 points (1-6 FG, 0-1 FT), 1.4 rebounds and 5.8 minutes per game in nine appearances this season for the Kings. This will be the fourth D-League team Ndiaye will see action with, having played for the Dakota Wizards (2010-11), Maine Red Claws (2011-12) and Iowa Energy (2011-12).

Ndiaye becomes the second Kings player to be assigned to Reno this season after Ray McCallum played three games with the Bighorns during his stint from November 21-27. He will be available to play for the Bighorns tonight when Reno faces the Santa Cruz Warriors at the Reno Events Center at 7:00 p.m.

Caron Butler would like to eventually become a Milwaukee Bucks team owner

Here’s the Milwaukee BizTalk blog (of the Milwaukee Business Journal) on one of Caron Butler’s future aspirations:

Milwaukee Bucks forward and Racine native Caron Butler has ambitious plans to expand his business enterprises and one business he would like to buy is the Bucks.

Butler is serious about his interest in becoming a major investor in his hometown team. His timing could be perfect because just as his NBA career winds down in two to three years, Bucks owner Herb Kohl likely will be ready to sell.

Kohl, the former U.S. senator who has owned the Bucks since 1985, has said repeatedly that he will sell the team only to a buyer who will keep the Bucks in Milwaukee. Butler, 33, grew up a Bucks fan, moved his family to Racine County after the team acquired him in August and would like to see the Bucks succeed in Milwaukee.

Will Michael Carter-Williams make the East All-Star team?

Here’s the Philadelphia Daily News on talented 76ers rookie guard Michael Carter-Williams, who so far has been playing like a clear Rookie of the Year:

What if Carter-Williams keeps playing the way he has been for the foreseeable future? Will that land him a berth on the Eastern Conference All-Star team?

It very well could, and he would be the second point guard in 2 years representing the Sixers. MCW is becoming part of the big talk around the league. He opened eyes nationally with his debut against the Miami Heat – 22 points, 12 assists, nine steals and seven rebounds – and hasn’t slowed down since. The 11th overall pick posted the first triple-double of his career against the Orlando Magic and second overall pick Victor Oladipo. He is currently leading the league in steals at 3.13 per game and already has garnered trust from his teammates as a leader of the young team.

He has shown an unbelievable nose for the ball, a tremendous ability to get to the basket and challenge bigger and stronger players, and an unquenchable thirst for knowledge. Many are wondering if trading Jrue Holiday in the offseason after his first All-Star appearance was the right move. MCW’s play early in the season is certainly making it seem that way.

Cavs assign Henry Sims and Carrick Felix to D-League

The Cleveland Cavaliers have assigned center Henry Sims and guard/forward Carrick Felix to the Canton Charge, the Cavaliers exclusively owned and operated NBA Development League team, Cavaliers General Manager Chris Grant announced today from Cleveland Clinic Courts.

Sims has appeared in six games for the Cavs this season, averaging 1.7 points and 2.8 rebounds in 5.8 minutes per game and Felix has appeared in three games, averaging 1.3 points in 5.0 minutes per game.

Both players will be available for Saturday night’s game in Erie, PA at the Erie Insurance Arena as the Charge take on the Erie BayHawks at 7:00 p.m.

Warriors waive center Dewayne Dedmon

The Golden State Warriors have waived center Dewayne Dedmon, the team announced today.

Dedmon, 24, was originally signed as a D-League Call-Up from the Santa Cruz Warriors on November 18. The 7’0” center appeared in four games with Golden State, logging a total of six minutes.

During his time with Golden State, Dedmon also appeared in one game with Santa Cruz while on assignment to the D-League club, registering 23 points and a game-high 14 rebounds in a 117-103 victory over the Austin Toros on November 24.

Spurs vs Timberwolves game in Mexico City postponed due to smoke in arena

The National Basketball Association game scheduled for tonight between the San Antonio Spurs and the Minnesota Timberwolves has been postponed due to a generator malfunction which produced smoke inside Mexico City Arena.

The date for the rescheduled game, which will be played at Target Center in Minneapolis, will be announced at a later time.

Here’s a video clip of the smoke problem that prevented the game from happening:

Jeff Van Gundy says coaching is not the problem with Knicks

The New York Knicks are off to a 3-13 start, which is the second worst record in the entire NBA right now, ahead of the 3-15 Milwaukee Bucks. Guard J.R. Smith missed time early in the season, and center Tyson Chandler remains out with an injury and only played in four games. Still, even with injuries, the struggle has been serious. Here’s the New York Post with more:

Former Knicks coach Jeff Van Gundy, now the lead NBA analyst for ABC/ESPN, said he believes the Knicks’ troubles have nothing to do with embattled Mike Woodson but with the roster and the person who built it.

The Post reported in Tuesday’s editions owner James Dolan would consider Van Gundy as a future candidate if he had a vacancy. Van Gundy was until recently persona non-grata with Dolan because he quit on him early in the 2001-02 season.

“This isn’t a coaching issue,’’ Van Gundy said on an ESPN Radio show Wednesday. “This is a roster issue. The absolute most important position on any professional team is the people in charge of picking the players. They have to be talented enough and fit together and have an intangible. It’s a hard job but an important job. The last thing the Knicks have is a coaching issue.”

General manager Glen Grunwald built the roster and was fired four days before training camp.