Category: NBA Teams

NBA teams blog

Raptors players Alan Anderson, Landry Fields, Kyle Lowry suffer injuries

The Toronto Raptors announced Thursday the following injury updates:

Guard-forward Alan Anderson has a partially torn plantar fascia in his left foot. Anderson is estimated to be out for 3-6 weeks during the rehabilitation process. Anderson sustained the injury with five seconds remaining in the third quarter of the November 10 game versus Philadelphia.

Forward-guard Landry Fields underwent ulnar nerve transposition surgery yesterday to address compression/entrapment in his right elbow. The surgery was performed by Dr. Andrew Weiland at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York City. There is no timetable for a return to basketball activity for Fields. He will be re-assessed in two weeks by Dr. Weiland.

Guard Kyle Lowry has a bruised cuboid bone in his right foot. He will be treated symptomatically with an estimated return time of 1-2 weeks.  Lowry sustained the injury at the 1:29 mark of the second quarter November 6 at Oklahoma City.

Wizards waive Jannero Pargo, sign Shaun Livingston

Washington Wizards President Ernie Grunfeld announced today that the team has signed free agent guard Shaun Livingston.

The Wizards have also waived Jannero Pargo.

“We are obviously familiar with what Shaun brings both on and off the court based on his previous time here and we’re confident that he will be a positive addition to our team,” said Grunfeld.  “His size and playmaking ability will give us more flexibility in the backcourt.”

Livingston (6-7, 175) was originally selected by the Los Angeles Clippers with the fourth overall pick in the 2004 NBA Draft out of Peoria Central High School in Illinois.  He appeared in 26 games (18 starts) with the Wizards in 2009-10, averaging 9.2 points, 4.5 assists and 2.2 rebounds.

In seven seasons with Los Angeles, Miami, Oklahoma City, Washington, Charlotte and Milwaukee, the 27-year old holds career averages of 6.8 points, 3.5 assists and 2.6 rebounds in 22.6 minutes per game while shooting .460 from the field and .778 from the line.  He has appeared in 12 career playoff games (all with Los Angeles during the 2005-06 campaign), averaging 7.5 points, 4.8 assists and 4.7 rebounds in 27.6 minutes.

Last season with Milwaukee, Livingston appeared in 58 games, including 27 starts, and averaged 5.5 points, 2.1 assists and 2.1 rebounds in 18.8 minutes per contest.  He spent the 2012-13 preseason with Houston, appearing in four games and averaging 2.5 points and 3.3 assists in 13.8 minutes.

Pargo, who is now waived, appeared in seven games while averaging 3.0 points and 2.0 rebounds in 14.6 minutes.  The Wizards roster now stands at 15.

Mike D`Antoni takes over the Lakers while on crutches after knee surgery

Although Mike D’Antoni is still on crutches after his recent knee surgery, he’s already at work with the Los Angeles Lakers.

D’Antoni coached his first practice with his new team Thursday, four days after the Lakers hired him to replace Mike Brown.

The former Knicks and Suns coach had knee replacement surgery earlier this month, delaying his arrival to take over the star-studded roster that got off to a 1-4 start to the season. Los Angeles has gone 2-1 since Brown’s firing.

— Reported by Greg Beacham of the Associated Press 

Minnesota Timberwolves discuss possible additions

Timberwolves president of basketball operations David Kahn met with coach Rick Adelman and his staff Wednesday, Nov. 14, regarding the possibility of adding a player to help relieve the team’s mounting injury concerns, but Kahn said no decisions were made.

“It’s not feasible to do anything right now,” Kahn said before the Timberwolves’ game against the Charlotte Bobcats on Wednesday night at Target Center. “It’s harder this time of the season to get a player. Certain players can’t be traded until after December 15 if they signed in the summer.”

Kahn indicated the most likely scenario for the Timberwolves would be to sign a free agent, but the team is at the 15-player roster limit and would have to release someone to make room.

— Reported by Ray Richardson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press

Thunder hire Tony Driscoll as VP of Business Development

The Thunder welcomes a new member of its executive team this week with the hiring of Tony Driscoll as vice president of Business Development.

Driscoll most recently served as vice president of sales and business development for the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA), working out of Charlotte for the California-based organization.

Prior to that, he worked in several roles with the International Speedway Corporation (ISC), which owns and/or operates 13 NASCAR racetracks around the country. Over the course of 10 years with ISC, Driscoll rose to the position of senior director of partnership and integrated media sales, where he successfully developed and executed an expansive strategy to cultivate new partners, renew existing sponsorships and integrate sales for numerous media outlets into the organization’s corporate sales unit.

Driscoll is a graduate of Eastern Michigan University in Ypsilanti, Mich.

“Tony is an outstanding leader, and we are so proud to have him join our team,” said Danny Barth, executive vice president and chief administrative officer for the Thunder. “I’m confident that Tony will help take our Business Development team, which already has an excellent track record, to new levels of success in expanding our sponsorship opportunities and growing relationships with our existing partners.”

Injured Magic cheerleader in stable condition

A cheerleader and stunt team member is in stable condition after falling on her head during a performance at an Orlando Magic game.

In a statement released by the Magic on Wednesday, the family of 31-year-old Jamie Woode says she suffered three vertebrae fractures and a broken rib. But there were no signs of neurological damage and she’s expected to make a full recovery.

Woode lost her footing and fell to the floor during a routine between the first and second quarter of the Magic’s 99-89 loss to the New York Knicks on Tuesday night.

— Reported by the Associated Press

Boston Celtics assign Fab Melo and Kris Joseph to D-League

The Boston Celtics announced today that they have assigned forward Kris Joseph and center Fab Melo to their NBA Development League affiliate, the Maine Red Claws.

Melo, a 7’0 center, appeared in all eight preseason games for the Celtics and averaged 1.3 rebounds in 5.9 minutes per game. Melo was drafted by the Celtics with the 22nd pick in the 2012 NBA Draft out of Syracuse University where he averaged 7.8 points, 5.8 rebounds, 2.9 blocks and shot 56.6% from the field in his sophomore season before entering the draft.

Joseph, a 6’7 forward, made his NBA debut against the Milwaukee Bucks and recorded one rebound and one assist in three minutes of action on November 2. He had averaged 4.6 points and 1.9 rebounds in 10.8 minutes during the eight preseason games earlier this year. Joseph was drafted by the Celtics with the 51st overall pick in the 2012 draft out of Syracuse University. During his senior season for Syracuse he averaged 13.4 points and 4.7 rebounds per game.

Darko Milicic spending quality time on Celtics bench

Darko Milicic

Through seven games in Boston, Milicic’s career with the Celtics consists of one appearance of less than five minutes.

In the past, Milicic would have sulked or complained about his predicament. But today, he seems to better understand that his time to help the Celtics may not come as quickly as he would like it to. And there is a consensus among the C’s and Milicic that sooner or later, an opportunity for him to contribute will manifest itself.

“I just have to stay ready,” Milicic told CSNNE.com recently. “Just be ready to play when I get my chance. That’s all I can do.”

Austin Rivers banged up, but playing

Austin Rivers

After rolling his right ankle during Monday’s practice, New Orleans Hornets rookie shooting guard Austin Rivers participated in Tuesday’s practice without limitations. He is expected to start Wednesday night against the Houston Rockets at the Toyota Center.

Rivers said his ankle remains sore but is not serious enough to prevent him from playing. Prior to Monday, Rivers sprained his right ankle twice last month and he suffered a sprained left index finger that forced him to miss last week’s game against the Philadelphia 76ers.

“I just like to play,’’ Rivers said after Tuesday’s practice. “I can’t stand sitting there watching basketball. I have to do something to help.’’

— Reported by John Reid of the New Orleans Times-Picayune