Category: NBA Teams

NBA teams blog

Jazz recall Morris Almond from D-League

Utah Jazz general manager Kevin O’Connor announced today that the team has recalled rookie guard Morris Almond from the Utah Flash of the NBA Development League (D-League).

Almond, a 6-6, 225-pound guard out of Rice has appeared in three games for the Jazz, playing a total of 12 scoreless minutes.  Almond was selected by the Jazz in the first round (25th overall selection) of the 2007 NBA Draft.

Almond was assigned to the Jazz’s D-League affiliate on December 6 and appeared in 10 games (all starts) for the Flash, averaging a league-leading 29.8 points, along with 3.8 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 1.1 steals in 37.6 minutes per game.  He was named D-League Player of the Week (Dec. 17-23) after averaging 43.5 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 2.0 steals while shooting 32-of-68 (.471) from the field.  During that week, Almond scored a D-League record-tying 51 points in a win over the Austin Toros on December 21.

Almond will join the Jazz for its game vs. Indiana tonight.

Would Mikki Moore Have Helped Knicks?

Mikki Moore, the Sacramento Kings’ back-up center, knows all about persistence. He is in his 10th NBA season, and with his ninth different team. Job security was never something he took for granted. Last season, with the NJ Nets, he averaged a career-high 9.8 ppg and 5.1 rebounds, and became the only undrafted player since 1976 to lead the league in field goal percentage.

Over the years, he has gotten to know Isiah Thomas, the Knicks’ coach.

“Me and Isiah, and Joe Dumars, have been talking for years. My first team was Detroit. He has been wanting me on his squad for a long time, ‘cause he respects my hard work, and how I play –old school. No lay-ups. Foul, if you have to, but not to end someone’s career. That’s how I was raised –on old school basketball. And he likes that.”

Imagine that. A big man who defends the paint.

“Me and him see eye to eye on a lot of things. I’ve told him, “Keep your head right. Don’t let this crowd get you out of your element. All this picketing, and all that stuff -you turn these boys around, [the fans will] be kissing your butt by the end of the season. He already knows that. That’s just how it is.

“You have hard times, and you struggle. Just keep on trying hard. Don’t look at what happened yesterday. Think about tomorrow.”

Perhaps, had Thomas made a play for Moore during the off-season, he would’ve had more tomorrows to pursue his vision of a championship.

Demetris Nichols back to Bulls, JamesOn Curry to D-League

The Chicago Bulls announced today that the team has recalled rookie forward Demetris Nichols from the Iowa Energy of the D-League.  The team also assigned rookie guard JamesOn Curry to the team’s D-League’s affiliate.

Nichols (6-8, 216), claimed by the Bulls on waivers on Dec. 7, appeared in nine games with the Energy and averaged 18.1 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 2.6 apg, 1.00 bpg in 36.9 mpg and shot .414 from the field, .333 from the arc and .800 from the line. Prior to his arrival with the Bulls, he also spent time this season in New York and Cleveland, having appeared in three games with the Cavaliers.

Nichols was originally selected by Portland in the second round (53rd overall) of NBA Draft 2007 after a four-year standout career at Syracuse.

Curry’s assignment to Iowa marks his second stint with the Energy.  In nine games with the D-League affiliate, he averaged 21.9 ppg, 5.8 apg, 3.6 rpg and 1.00 spg in 41.4 mpg.  He shot .473 from the field, including .378 from three-point range, and .774 from the free throw line.

Curry was selected by Chicago in the second round (51st overall) of NBA Draft 2007 after three years at Oklahoma State.

Grizzlies waive Jeremy Richardson

InsideHoops.com NewsWire: The Memphis Grizzlies waived guard/forward Jeremy Richardson, club General Manager and Vice President of Basketball Operations Chris Wallace announced today.

Richardson, a 6-7, 195-pound swingman, was signed on Dec. 20 and appeared in three games, totaling one rebound and one assist in 15 minutes played.

Prior to his GATORADE Call-up from the NBA Development League, Richardson was averaging a league-high 28.5 points, 6.6 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1.63 steals in 41.5 minutes in eight games this season for the Fort Wayne Mad Ants.

The current roster now stands at 13 players.

Nuggets waive Bobby Jones

InsideHoops.com NewsWire: The Denver Nuggets have waived G/F Bobby Jones team Vice President of Basketball Operations Mark Warkentien announced today.

Jones appeared in 23 games for the Nuggets this season, averaging 3.3 ppg and 1.4 rpg in 9.0 mpg.

Jones came to the Nuggets from the Philadelphia 76ers as a part of the Sept. 10 trade that included C/F Steven Hunter in exchange for F Reggie Evans and the draft rights to F Ricky Sanchez.

The Nuggets roster now stands at 13 players.

Nets waive Billy Thomas

InsideHoops.com NewsWire: The New Jersey Nets have requested waivers on guard Billy Thomas, Nets President Rod Thorn announced today.

Thomas, who signed with the Nets on December 24, 2007, scored two points in four games with New Jersey. Prior to signing with the Nets, Thomas played for the Colorado 14ers of the NBA Development League.

That was quick.

– Subscribe to the InsideHoops blog RSS feed and get the news first.
– Talk with other fans all day and night on the InsideHoops basketball forum.