Category: NBA Teams

NBA teams blog

Dwight Howard recovering from knee strain

The Houston Rockets are off to a great start this season with a 9-3 record, though they’ve dropped two games in a row. Center Dwight Howard is in recovery from a minor knee issue. Here’s the Houston Chronicle with the latest:

Dwight Howard recovering from knee strain

The Rockets listed Dwight Howard as “day-to-day” to return from his strained right knee, but no one seemed to think that day would be Saturday.

Rockets coach Kevin McHale even said the Rockets would “probably” be without Howard when they face the Dallas Mavericks. The question that will only be answered then is whether his knee or the Rockets’ offense needs more therapy.

Howard had sat out Wednesday’s game against the Lakers with no announcement coming until minutes before tip and after Howard had been in uniform intending to play.

Hawks assign Adreian Payne to D-League

The Atlanta Hawks have assigned rookie forward/center Adreian Payne to the Fort Wayne Mad Ants of the NBA Development League, it was announced today by Head Coach Mike Budenholzer. He was Atlanta’s first-round pick (15th overall) in 2014.

The Mad Ants’ next two games are Friday and Saturday night at Erie.

Another endorsement deal for Kevin Durant

Here’s the Oklahoman reporting on injured OKC Thunder superstar Kevin Durant, who continues to rack up endorsement deals:

Another endorsement deal for Kevin Durant

On Thursday, Kevin Durant — who has more endorsement deals than any other NBA player — signed on with fast food drive-in chain Sonic to be its first-ever athlete ambassador.

“Everything that Kevin pitches comes from an authentic point of view,” said Michael Yormark, president and chief of branding and strategy for Roc Nation, Jay Z’s agency that represents Durant. “When it comes to grab-and-go food, KD’s a Sonic guy.”

Durant hinted at his newest partnership on Wednesday via Twitter, saying “getting excited to announce my newest partner … the name is gonna be familiar.”

Grizzlies bring back Kalin Lucas

Grizzlies bring back Kalin Lucas

The Memphis Grizzlies have re-signed guard Kalin Lucas, the team announced today.

Lucas (6-1, 186) originally was signed on Sept. 25 and averaged 3.1 points and 1.0 assists on .429 shooting in 7.9 minutes in eight preseason games for Memphis before he was waived on Oct. 25. The 25-year-old was re-signed on Nov. 4 and did not appear in any regular season games before being waived again on November 9. Last season, the Michigan State product posted 15.1 points, 2.9 rebounds and 5.0 assists in 29.0 minutes in 29 games (20 starts) for the NBA Development League’s Iowa Energy, now exclusively affiliated with the Grizzlies.

Magic set to buy property for future entertainment complex

Here’s the Orlando Sentinel reporting on the Magic:

The Orlando Magic have reached a deal to buy one of the oldest homeless shelters in Orlando to make way for the team’s planned $200 million entertainment complex.

The Magic will pay the Orlando Union Rescue Mission $3 million for the property on Central Boulevard where its men’s shelter is located. The faith-based charity plans to use the Magic’s money — plus another $1.5 million it is now raising — to build a new, bigger shelter about two miles west.

“This works for us very well,” Mission CEO Allen Harden said Wednesday. “It’s a great location, a great piece of property. It expands our ability to reach other demographics and it’s close enough that our people downtown will be able to utilize it. We hope to be in the new building by the end of next year.”

The Orlando Magic already owns the rest of the block, after closing Tuesday on the purchase of two adjacent city-owned buildings: Orlando Police Headquarters, which is being relocated, and a parking garage. The property sits across Church Street from the Amway Center.

Chris Bosh slightly adjusting game with age

The Miami Heat are off to a 6-5 start this season. At 19.9 ppg, Chris Bosh is slightly ahead of Dwyane Wade’s 19.8 ppg to lead the team in scoring. Bosh is also grabbing 8.7 rpg. He’s shooting just 41.5% from the field, though. With LeBron James gone, and Dwyane Wade past his prime, it’s an adjustment for Bosh to lead as he once did with the Toronto Raptors. Here’s the South Florida Sun Sentinel reporting:

Chris Bosh slightly adjusting game with age

Now Chris Bosh can relate to Dwyane Wade.

For years, Wade has talked about having to adjust to playing at an older age. Wade would say he no longer jumps as high. He’s not as fast anymore. Playing smarter below the rim is more important than rising above it.

At 30, Bosh finally understands. It has hit home even more this season with him being asked to carry a bigger offensive load.

And he’s noticed the difference.

“I’m a little bit older,” Bosh said. “I have to adjust my game. They’re putting younger and bigger guys on me.”

Cleveland Cavaliers have their core, but moves could still be made

The Cleveland Cavaliers are new-and-improved, but still mostly on paper. On the court, they’re 5-4, which is better than the Cavs of the recent past, but certainly nowhere near the championship level LeBron James, Kevin Love, Kyrie Irving and company seemingly have the potential to reach. Here’s some insight from the Cleveland Plain Dealer:

Cavaliers general manager David Griffin is as aggressive as they come. It would be easy for him to sit back and wait for this LeBron James-led team to figure things out. He’ll remain patient through this process, but says he’s constantly strategizing ways to advance the team’s acceleration.

And in doing so, Griffin will spare no effort even if it means including a player in a deal no one even suspected was available.

“No one is untouchable, and you’re never done building a team, so we’re always paying attention to what opportunities are out there,” Griffin told Northeast Ohio Media Group. “My tendency is always trying to do what we can do to improve the roster. But I’m not looking to create one so much as paying attention to what I’m hearing.”

Clearly, there’s obviously a player or two who is excluded from being “untouchable.”

There has been talk of Minnesota guard Corey Brewer potentially being traded to Cleveland. The Cavaliers own a $5.3 million trade exception and Brewer’s contract can be absorbed onto the books.