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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.
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.
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The AP reports: Former NBA star Scottie Pippen scored nine points to help Finland league leader Torpan Pojat beat Honka 98-85 on Saturday. Pippen also had nine rebounds. “It was great. I did not know what to anticipate without a game for the last three years,” the 42-year-old Pippen said. “My conditioning is not at the top level, but I played with a great team and had a lot of fun.”
The Golden State Warriors have recalled center Kosta Perovic (COAST-a PEAR-a-vich) from the Bakersfield Jam of the NBA Development League, Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations Chris Mullin announced today.
Perovic, who was originally assigned to the Jam on November 18, 2007, appeared in 19 games for Bakersfield, averaging 8.6 points, 5.7 rebounds and 1.37 blocks in 22.1 minutes per contest. The 22-year-old tallied a season-high 18 points in 28 minutes at the Utah Flash on December 22.
The Dallas Mavericks announced today that they have recalled guard Maurice Ager from the Tulsa 66ers of the NBA D-League.
Ager (6-5, 202) is being recalled for the first time this season after recently being assigned to Tulsa on December 16. He has played in 8 games for the 66ers and averaged 17.4 points and 2.3 assists in 33.4 minutes per game.
Ager, who was drafted by Dallas with the 28th pick in the 2006 NBA Draft, has played in 7 games for the Mavericks this season and holds averages of 2.1 points and 0.6 rebounds. He is scheduled to meet the team in Minnesota today for the Mavericks game against the Timberwolves on Sunday, Jan. 6.
InsideHoops.com NewsWire: The Golden State Warriors have waived center DJ Mbenga, Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations Chris Mullin announced today.
Mbenga, who originally signed with Golden State as a free agent on November 17, 2007, appeared in 16 games for the Warriors, averaging 1.2 points and 1.9 rebounds in 8.9 minutes per contest.
The Warriors roster now stands at 14 players.
The Sacramento Kings, minus the injured Shareef Abdur-Rahim, Ron Artest, Mike Bibby and Kevin Martin, beat the Knicks 107-97 at MSG on Wednesday [January 2]. The win boosted the Kings’ record to 12-18.
“[During the interview with the Maloofs], I had told them,” said Reggie Theus, their first year coach, “that I will coach this team hard, and I wouldn’t play guys if they didn’t deserve to be on the floor. I let them know that before they gave me the job ‘cause I needed to know where my support was coming from. We needed to change the culture around here.”
Theus, who averaged 18.5 points and 6.3 assists over 13 seasons, also weighed in with this summation of the Knicks. “I didn’t see any quit in them. But, I didn’t see any effort to take it to the next level. I didn’t see anyone out there [on their side] that was trying to make a difference.”
So, how much of that is Isiah Thomas’ fault?
“The coach is not on the floor. That is the players’ fault. I know Isiah is telling them the right things. There is a lot of talent over there. But, this league coddles the players way too much. Players have to take responsibility, and be accountable for [their play] on the floor. That’s the way it should be.
“The blame has to be spread out. I’ve been on losing teams. I know what it’s like. I’ve never had a coach tell me not to do certain things. In a lot of cases [when I played], it was talent-based. We weren’t very good. But, the Knicks are a lot better than that. The coach has to take the hit; we all understand that. But, the accountability still needs to fall on the players’ shoulders.”
Los Angeles Clippers’ forward Paul Davis underwent successful surgery yesterday to repair the torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and torn lateral meniscus in his right knee. The surgery was performed by Dr. James Andrews of the Alabama Sports Medicine and Orthopaedic Center in Birmingham, Alabama.
Davis is scheduled to remain in Birmingham undergoing physical therapy until his return to Los Angeles on January 11th. The timetable for his return is expected to be six to eight months.
Davis originally sustained the injury in the second quarter of the Clippers’ game in Dallas on December 21st. In 22 games this season, Davis averaged 2.5 points, 2.1 rebounds and 8.8 minutes per game.
InsideHoops.com NewsWire: Zach Randolph of the New York Knicks has been suspended one game without pay for throwing his headband and hitting an official, it was announced today by Stu Jackson, NBA Executive Vice President Basketball Operations.
The incident occurred with 1:47 remaining in the third period of the Knicks 107-97 loss to the Kings on Wednesday, Jan. 2 at Madison Square Garden.
Randolph will serve his suspension tonight when the Knicks visit the San Antonio Spurs at the AT&T Center.
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The Los Angeles D-Fenders have reacquired center Jelani McCoy, who was a free agent. McCoy, Los Angeles’ first-round selection in the 2007 NBA D-League Draft, returns to the D-Fenders after earning the second NBA Gatorade Call-Up of the 2007-08 season by the Denver Nuggets.
McCoy, 6-10, 245-pounds, was signed on Nov. 29 and appeared in six games (one start) for the Nuggets. Before being waived by Denver on Dec. 27, McCoy averaged 1.2 rebounds, 0.8 blocks and 0.5 points in 5.5 minutes of action. During his first stint with the D-Fenders he averaged 8.0 points, 6.5 rebounds 4.0 blocks and 3.5 assists in two games.
A seven-year NBA veteran, McCoy has played with Seattle, the L.A. Lakers, Toronto, Cleveland and Atlanta. He holds NBA career averages of 4.7 points and 3.6 rebounds in 254 career appearances.
To make room for McCoy on the roster, the D-Fenders waived forward/center Robert Whaley due to injury. Whaley averaged 5.9 points, 3.1 rebounds and 0.9 assists in 13 games (8 starts) for the D-Fenders.