NBA Teams – Page 1137 – NBA Blog

Nets waiting for Deron Williams to get healthy

Injured Nets guard Deron Williams won’t play in Wednesday’s preseason game at Boston, and neither will ex-Celtics Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett. Brooklyn hasn’t had all its pieces together this preseason, but according to Pierce, health is more important than quick cohesion, the second half more important than the opener…

“Truthfully, if Deron is there at the beginning or not, the most important time is after All-Star break, anyway, to start peaking,’’ Pierce said. “We’re not going to reach our potential in the first week, second week of the season. I don’t think any team is. The only team that is [are] teams that’s already there, like the Heat. It’s important for us to just get healthy right now, and peak at the right time.’’

Reported by Brian Lewis of the New York Post

Wolves expected to exercise 2014-15 option on Derrick Williams

Derrick Williams’ $6.3 million option for 2014-15 will be exercised, Wolves owner Glen Taylor confirmed to 1500ESPN.com contributor Darren Wolfson.

Williams’ future with the Minnesota Timberwolves has been a lingering storyline throughout the preseason. For now, at least one question surrounding Williams has been answered.

The former 2011 No. 2 overall draft pick is on tap to make just more than $5 million this season. His seven-figure raise next year will put the Wolves very close to the league’s luxury tax.

Reported by Nate Sandell and Darren Wolfson of 1500ESPN.com

Nate Robinson fined for pushing, striking Steven Adams

Denver Nuggets guard Nate Robinson has been fined $10,000 for pushing Oklahoma City Thunder center Steven Adams from behind and striking him in the chest, it was announced today by Rod Thorn, President, Basketball Operations.

The incident occurred with 10:59 remaining in the fourth quarter of the Nuggets’ 109-81 loss to the Thunder on Tuesday, Oct. 15, at Chesapeake Energy Arena.

Hasheem Thabeet suspended for headbutt against Greg Stiemsma

Oklahoma City Thunder center Hasheem Thabeet has been suspended one game without pay for head butting New Orleans Pelicans center Greg Stiemsma, it was announced today by Rod Thorn, President, Basketball Operations.

The incident occurred with 26 seconds remaining in the second quarter of Oklahoma City’s 105-102 loss to the Pelicans on Thursday, Oct. 17, at BOK Center in Tulsa, Okla.

Thabeet will be suspended for the Thunder’s first 2013-14 regular season game in which he is eligible and physically able to play.

To view the play, click on this link.

Atlanta Hawks waive James Johnson

The Atlanta Hawks have waived James Johnson, it was announced today by President of Basketball Operations/General Manager Danny Ferry.

Johnson appeared in four preseason games for the Hawks.

The training camp roster stands at 17.

It feels to us like it’s too early for Johnson to fall out of the NBA. We expect another NBA team to give him a shot soon.

Clippers waive forward Brandon Davies

The Los Angeles Clippers announced today that they have waived forward Brandon Davies. The Clippers roster now stands at 15 players.

Davies appeared in five preseason games for the Clippers, averaging 3.4 points and 2.8 rebounds in 11.2 minutes of action.

Davies, 22, was a member of the Clippers 2013 Summer League team in Las Vegas, averaging 5.8 points and 4.0 rebounds in 15.8 minutes of play over five games. He was undrafted out of BYU in the 2013 NBA Draft.

Miami Heat waive Jarvis Varnado, Larry Drew II and Charlie Westbrook

The Miami HEAT announced today that they have waived forward Jarvis Varnado and guards Larry Drew II and Charlie Westbrook.

Varnado appeared in six games with the HEAT this preseason and averaged 2.0 points, 2.3 rebounds and 9.9 minutes. Additionally, he appeared in 13 regular season games with the HEAT last season totaling eight points, nine rebounds, three assists, two blocks and a steal in 58 minutes.

Drew appeared in one game with the HEAT this preseason totaling 5:52 minutes of action.

Westbrook appeared in four games with the HEAT this preseason and averaged 2.5 points and 5.7 minutes.

The HEAT’s roster now stands at 17.

Gerald Wallace brings hustle to Celtics

The Boston Celtics are probably in for a rough year. But one thing they do know is that Gerald Wallace is going to outwork a lot of the opposition:

Asked Saturday about the reasons for Boston’s inability to put together 48 consistent minutes this preseason, Gerald Wallace suggested some of his young teammates might not be familiar with the necessary level of intensity needed on the floor, dubbing the team’s effort “lackadaisical” at times this preseason.

Lackadaisical is one adjective that will rarely be associated with Wallace. Slotted in a starting role on Sunday in Montreal, Wallace injected the first unit with a jolt of energy. He finished with a team-high 16 points on 6-of-12 shooting to go along with 3 assists, 2 steals and 2 rebounds while working up a regular-season sweat over 26 minutes.

Wallace couldn’t save the Celtics from absorbing a 104-89 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves at the Bell Centre, their sixth defeat in seven tries this preseason, but he gave another glimpse of the relentless energy and effort that he’ll bring to the team during the 2013-14 season.

Reported by Chris Forsberg of ESPN Boston

Rebuilding or not, the Celtics are still worth watching.

Andrea Bargnani misses practice due to back stiffness

Lots of players suffer bumps, bruises, soreness and other not-fun things during NBA preaseason:

There was a point during the Knicks’ open scrimmage on Sunday at Columbia, in which Carmelo Anthony was teamed with Ike Diogu, Cole Aldrich, Tim Hardaway Jr. and Chris Smith.

What made that quintet significant was how many regulars were unavailable due to injuries, with newcomer Andrea Bargnani the latest to be added to the list when he was forced out of practice due to back stiffness.

Bargnani, who was slowed by injuries during his final two seasons with the Raptors, is questionable for Monday’s preseason game in Toronto — their second visit to his previous NBA home in a week.

Reported by Peter Botte of the New York Daily News

Doesn’t sound like a big deal, but worth keeping an eye on this next week.

Timberwolves: Rick Adelman still searching for answer at small forward

One of the biggest things a coach has to do before the start of the season is figure out his rotation:

It’s the start of the Wolves’ final three preseason games in the next five days and a Sunday night during which Rick Adelman will continue to search for answers at small forward.

Right now, he sounds like a confused man.

He started Derrick Williams at that spot tonight and said he might start somebody else there Wednesday in Philadelphia and perhaps somebody else again on Thursday in Detroit.

That list of somebodies includes Othyus Jeffers, Robbie Hummel and Shabazz Muhammad.

Reported by Jerry Zgoda of the Minneapolis Star Tribune

The good news is, the rest of the starting Wolves lineup appears pretty solid.