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Carlisle addresses Rondo communication issue

Rick Carlisle addresses Rajon Rondo communication issue

Here’s the Fort Worth Star-Telegram blog with an update on the disagreement between Carlisle and Rondo:

Carlisle addresses communication issue with Rondo

Dallas Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle addressed the media prior to Wednesday’s game in Atlanta to try and explain how him and point guard Rajon Rondo got in a heated profanity-laced exchange during Tuesday’s game against the Toronto Raptors.

The incident led to the Mavs suspended Rondo for one game without pay. But Carlisle said Rondo, who will sit out tonight’s game in Atlanta, will practice with the team Friday and be in the starting lineup when the Mavs entertain Brooklyn on Saturday.

“The incident last night was born in large part from poor communication between him and I, and that’s on both of us,’’ Carlisle said. “We had a long talk about the situation today and we both agreed that we need to communicate more frequently and we need to work on the solution for making his stint as a Dallas Mavericks the most successful one possible.”

Knicks still hope to get something from Andrea Bargnani

Here’s ESPN New York reporting on the Knicks and Andrea Bargnani, who has played in just six games this season, averaging 7.7 points on 39% shooting in 17.5 minutes per outing:

With Carmelo Anthony’s scoring punch on the shelf for the season, Phil Jackson sees one player on the Knicks roster who might be able to shoulder some of the scoring load.

Jackson thinks Andrea Bargnani can help offset some of the 24.2 points per game lost with Anthony. At the very least, Bargnani should be able to replace Amar’e Stoudemire’s 12 points per game — provided he can remain on the court.

Of course, Bargnani has been a 7-foot walking injury as a Knick.

“Now that we have a gap in scoring, this is a guy that is a natural scorer,” Jackson said last week when asked before the trading deadline what could happen with Bargnani if he isn’t dealt. “I think the coaching staff would like to have him on the court and be competitive with his scoring capabilities.”

Pistons sign John Lucas III for remainder of season

Pistons sign John Lucas III for remainder of season

Detroit Pistons General Manager Jeff Bower announced today that the club has signed guard John Lucas III for the remainder of the season following two consecutive 10-day contracts.

The 5-foot-11, 166-pound guard has averaged 5.0 points, 3.3 assists and 12.2 minutes in eight games with Detroit. He scored a season-high 10 points at Indiana (2/4) and has dished out a season-high six assists twice.

Originally signed on February 2, he was signed to a second 10-day contract on February 12. Lucas joined the Pistons following a stint with the Fujian Sturgeons of the Chinese Basketball Association where he averaged 26.6 points, 7.1 assists, 4.7 rebounds, 1.3 steals and 43.5 minutes in 26 games.

The Washington, DC native has spent parts of six seasons in the NBA with the Houston Rockets, Chicago Bulls, Toronto Raptors and Utah Jazz. He holds career averages of 4.8 points, 1.4 assists, 1.0 rebounds and 12.2 minutes in 216 games (eight starts) and is a career 34.7-percent shooter from three-point range.

Lucas has also spent time in the NBA’s Developmental League and played internationally in Italy, Spain and China. He played collegiately at Oklahoma State University.

Ronnie Price out 6-8 weeks after elbow surgery

Ronnie Price out 6-8 weeks after elbow surgery

Lakers guard Ronnie Price underwent successful surgery this morning to remove bone spurs and bone chips from his right elbow. The surgery was performed by Dr. Neal ElAttrache of the Kerlan-Jobe Orthopaedic Clinic. Price is expected to be out approximately six to eight weeks.

Price, who signed with the Lakers as a free agent on September 24, has appeared in 43 games (20 starts) this season, averaging 5.1 points, 1.6 rebounds, 3.8 assists, and 1.56 steals in 22.8 minutes per game.

New Phoenix Suns alternate home uniform, called PHXRising

Today the Phoenix Suns revealed a new look with a historic twist, one that celebrates an iconic Suns uniform of the past. The new uniform, deemed PHXRising, was revealed this morning.

The PHXRising uniform will serve as the Suns’ second alternate and be worn by the team for the first time tomorrow night (February 26) when it faces the Oklahoma City Thunder at US Airways Center. Tip-off is set for 8:30 p.m.

The PHXRising collection with its gray, black and orange palette symbolizes the ash, smoke and embers of the mythological bird for which Phoenix is named.

Rick Carlisle, Rajon Rondo express some disagreements

Let’s get this right out of the way. Players sometimes disagree with each other. Players and coaches often do the same. Sometimes it’s a lingering problem but quite often it’s nothing to be alarmed about. That said, here’s ESPN Dallas reporting on Mavericks head coach Rick Carlisle and relatively new Mavs point guard Rajon Rondo:

Carlisle predictably wasn’t in much of a mood to chat about Rondo after Tuesday night’s 99-92 win over the Toronto Raptors. Nor was Rondo, at least to the media.

But Carlisle and Rondo had plenty to say to each other during a tense timeout with 8:10 remaining in the third quarter. The stubborn coach and headstrong point guard exchanged a lot of expletives as they shouted at each other in a dispute stemming from Rondo’s desire to have more play-calling responsibilities.

“Well, it’s an emotional game and we had a difference of opinion,” Carlisle said. “There was an exchange, and then, in my mind, it was over.”

Well, it apparently lasted at least the rest of the game. The evidence: Rondo rode the pine for the final 20:10, a span in which reserve guards Devin Harris and J.J. Barea played key roles in the Mavs’ rally from a nine-point deficit.

Report: Los Angeles mansion owned by Earl Watson robbed

Here’s TMZ reporting some bad news from Los Angeles:

An L.A. mansion owned by former NBA player Earl Watson was robbed Monday night by at least 4 men in ski masks — who handcuffed the occupants and ransacked the place.

While 35-year-old Watson owns the $4 million Encino home, he currently rents it out to a local elderly couple.

Officials say the men — at least one of whom had a gun — broke in through a back door and once inside, they handcuffed the couple and stole various items … including cash.

Name change: Yes, Bill Walker is now Henry Walker

Name change: Yes, Bill Walker is now Henry Walker

Here’s the South Florida Sun Sentinel reporting on the newest member of the Miami Heat:

Miami Heat forward Henry Walker considered it a sign of maturity.

Last year the player formerly known as “Bill” started going by his middle name. If his Heat debut was any indication, Walker has already grown up a bunch.

He scored 11 points, including three 3-pointers in Monday’s victory against the Philadelphia 76ers. The plan is for Walker to remain in the rotation the duration of his 10-day contract.

“It’s just my middle name,” Walker said. “I’m just trying to mature and just trying to grow up, trying to change the perception about me.”

Sixers add Thomas Robinson, release Tim Frazier

Sixers add Thomas Robinson, release Tim Frazier

The Brooklyn Nets had reportedly planned to sign forward Thomas Robinson once he cleared waivers. But the Philadelphia 76ers decided not to let that happen.

The Sixers announced today the team has claimed forward Thomas Robinson off of waivers.

Robinson has appeared in 172 career games in three NBA seasons and has posted averages of five points and four rebounds in 14 minutes per game. He was selected fifth overall in the 2012 NBA Draft after a junior season in which he was named Big 12 Player of the Year and a consensus First Team All-American.

In a related move, the team has released Tim Frazier from his second 10-day contract.

According to the Philadelphia Inquirer, “the Sixers picked Robinson up as a way to get an up-close look at him to see if he fits in their long-term plans The 6-foot-9, 240-pounder out of Kansas was the fifth overall pick by the Sacramento Kings in the 2012 NBA draft. Robinson was traded to the Houston Rockets on Feb. 20, 2013 and then to the Blazers on July 10, 2013. He averaged 4.6 points and 4.4 rebounds in 172 games played.”

Clippers sign Jordan Hamilton to 10-day contract

Los Angeles Clippers sign Jordan Hamilton to 10-day contract

The Los Angeles Clippers announced today they have signed free agent forward Jordan Hamilton to a 10-day contract.

Hamilton, 24, comes to the Clippers from the Reno Bighorns of the NBA Development League. He averaged 18.1 points, 7.6 rebounds and 3.6 assists for Reno in 27 games (22 starts) and is the 40th GATORADE call-up of the 2014-15 season.

Originally drafted by the Dallas Mavericks with the 26th overall pick in the first round of the 2011 NBA Draft, Hamilton was traded to the Denver Nuggets on Draft Day. He has career averages of 5.8 points and 2.8 rebounds in 13.3 minutes over 126 games (15 starts) with Denver and the Houston Rockets.

The Los Angeles native spent two years at the University of Texas, earning second team All-American by the USBWA following his sophomore season. He averaged 14.5 points, 5.7 rebounds and 1.8 assists for his career at Texas over 70 games.