NBA Blog – NBA Basketball Blog
NBA Blog: The NBA basketball news blog section of Inside Hoops
Wizards blog – Washington Wizards basketball blog
Wizards President Ernie Grunfeld announced today that the team has signed swingman Othyus Jeffers to a second 10-day contract.
Jeffers has appeared in five games for the Wizards, averaging 1.4 points and 2.0 rebounds. He was originally called up by the Wizards from the NBA Development League’s Iowa Energy on March 17.
Wizards President Ernie Grunfeld announced today that the team has signed swingman Othyus Jeffers from the NBA Development League’s Iowa Energy to a 10-day contract. Jeffers (6-5, 200), a two-time D-League All-Star (2009, 2011) and the 2009 D-League Rookie of the Year, has averaged 21.1 points, 9.1 rebounds and 3.1 assists this season through 38 games (18 double-doubles) with Iowa.
Jeffers has also appeared in 15 NBA games over two seasons after being called up by the Utah Jazz in 2009-10 and the San Antonio Spurs this season. He will wear uniform #12.
The AP reports:
 |
Even a shortage of big men couldn’t slow the Bulls’ march to the top of the Eastern Conference.
Derrick Rose scored 23 points in Chicago’s seventh straight win, a 98-79 victory over the Washington Wizards on Tuesday night that moved the Bulls into sole possession of first place in the East.
Luol Deng added 20 points and Keith Bogans scored 17, his highest total since joining the Bulls. Bogans took all of his 10 shots from behind the 3-point arc, hitting a season-high five…
Washington center JaVale McGee had a rare triple-double with 11 points, 12 rebounds and 12 blocks, the most by an NBA player since Toronto’s Keon Clark had 12 on March 23, 2001.
“I had three (blocks) the first quarter and I was trying to match that in the second quarter and I had seven, so I was like I’m going to try and get 14,” McGee said. “It was working for me tonight. I was blocking so good in the first half people were starting to hesitate and were more afraid to go up and it was easier to block shots.”
Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald reports:
|
As Mike Bibby mulled where he wanted to play, the decision quickly became obvious.
“It was a clean choice,” the Heat’s new point guard said Thursday morning after participating in his first shootaround with Miami. “They’re on TV a lot and you’re just in awe of the way they play. It looks like everybody has the right attitude. You can tell the guys here have a winning mentality. Great chance to win a championship. I feel I could help this team.”
Bibby, who was traded from Atlanta to Washington last week, was asked if friends or family questioned his decision to give up all of his $6.2 million salary for next season as part of buyout terms with the Wizards.
“It’s not their decision to make,” said Bibby, who signed for the rest of the season at a prorated share of the $1.2 million veteran’s minimum. “I make the money. I decide what to do with it. It’s always tough to give up money. [But] this part of my career I want to be happy. This was the best place as far as winning.”
Wizards President Ernie Grunfeld announced today that Head Coach Flip Saunders will miss tonight’s game against Golden State due to a family emergency involving his mother.
Assistant Coach Randy Wittman will serve as head coach for tonight’s game.
Washington Wizards President Ernie Grunfeld announced today that the team has waived forward Al Thornton after coming to an agreement on a contract buyout.
“The additions of Rashard Lewis and Mo Evans combined with Josh Howard’s return from injury gave us a logjam at the small forward spot,” said Grunfeld. “Coming to terms on a contract buyout with Al was mutually beneficial, as it allows us to clear space in the rotation and allows him the chance to pursue an opportunity with another team.”
Thornton was originally acquired from the L.A. Clippers in a three-team, six-player deal on February 17, 2010. He appeared 49 games for the Wizards this season, averaging 8.0 points and 3.2 rebounds.
Washington Wizards President Ernie Grunfeld announced today that the team has signed guard Mustafa Shakur. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not released.
Shakur will be signed for the remainder of the season after being signed to two separate 10-day contracts earlier in the season (first on January 22 and then on February 12). He averaged 3.3 points and 2.2 assists in six games during that stretch.
Washington Wizards President Ernie Grunfeld announced today that the team has waived guard Mike Bibby after coming to a mutual agreement on a contract buyout.
“We agreed to terms with Mike on a buyout of his contract, which gives us increased financial flexibility and opens up more opportunities for us to continue to develop and evaluate our younger players,” said Grunfeld.
Bibby was acquired by the Wizards on February 23 along with Maurice Evans, Jordan Crawford and a 2011 first round pick from the Atlanta Hawks in exchange for Kirk Hinrich and Hilton Armstrong. He appeared in two games for the Wizards, totaling two points and eight assists.
|
The Atlanta Hawks tonight acquired guard Kirk Hinrich and center/forward Hilton Armstrong from the Washington Wizards in exchange for Mike Bibby, Maurice Evans, Jordan Crawford and a draft pick, according to Hawks Executive Vice President/General Manager Rick Sund.
“We felt we had a good opportunity to improve our ballclub by adding Kirk and Hilton,” Sund said. “Kirk is a well-rounded player that gives us options at both guard positions. In addition to being a solid and hard-nosed defender, he is a good shooter who can also distribute the ball. His resume includes significant playoff experience as well. Hilton can play both center and power forward, and will add frontcourt depth.”
“I sincerely want to thank Mike, Mo and Jordan for their contributions both on and off the court in Atlanta, and wish them well in the future.”
In his eighth NBA season, Hinrich was averaging 11.1 ppg, 4.4 apg (tied for 29th in the NBA), 2.7 rpg and 1.3 spg in 30.6 mpg (.452 FG%, .384 3FG%, .876 FT%) with the Wizards, appearing in 48 contests (29 starting assignments).
Taken with the seventh overall pick in the first round of the 2003 NBA Draft by Chicago, Hinrich spent his first seven pro seasons with the Bulls before being traded to Washington on July 8, 2010 along with the draft rights to Kevin Seraphin in exchange for the draft rights to Vladimir Veremeenko. With career averages of 13.2 ppg, 5.7 apg, 3.3 rpg and 1.3 spg (.417 FG%, .379 3FG%, .814 FT%), Hinrich has played in 562 career regular season games (462 starts). In 34 playoff contests (27 starts), he has averaged 15.3 ppg, 5.8 apg, 3.7 rpg and 1.4 spg (.421 FG%, .405 3FG%, .757 FT%).
Named to the NBA’s All-Defensive second team in 2007, he is Chicago’s all-time leader in three-pointers made (812) and attempted (2,144), while ranking fourth in team history in assists (3,004) and steals (655). The former Kansas University standout was teammates with Joe Johnson on the 2006 USA Men’s World Championship Team. Kirk James Hinrich was born January 2, 1981 in Sioux City, Iowa.
Armstrong saw action in 41 games (two starts) for the Wizards this season, his first in Washington, averaging 1.9 ppg and 2.8 rpg (.484 FG%, .609 FT%). The fifth-year pro was drafted in the first round (12th overall) by New Orleans in the 2006 NBA Draft and spent his first three-plus seasons with the Hornets. Armstrong also played for Sacramento and Houston during the 2009-10 season. The 6-11 University of Connecticut product owns career averages of 3.2 ppg and 2.6 rpg (.502 FG%, .603 FT%) in 265 games (39 starts). He has also seen action in 12 career playoff games, putting up 3.0 ppg and 2.3 rpg (.538 FG%, .400 FT%). Hilton A. Armstrong Jr. was born November 23, 1984 in Peekskill, NY.
Bibby started 56 games this season for the Hawks, posting averages of 9.4 ppg, 3.6 apg and 2.6 rpg (.435 FG%, .441 3FG%, .630 FT%). He appeared in 248 regular season games and 29 playoff contests as a Hawk after being acquired by Atlanta from the Sacramento Kings on February 16, 2008, and re-signed on July 13, 2009.
Signed by the Hawks as a free agent on July 29, 2008, Evans has played in 47 games (12 starts) this season, posting averages of 4.5 ppg and 1.8 rpg (.393 FG%, .315 3FG%, .857 FT%). In his three years with in Atlanta, Evans has seen action in 206 regular season contests, and 22 playoff games (starting eight).
Acquired by the Hawks on draft night 2010 (June 24) from the New Jersey Nets after being selected 27th overall from Xavier University, Crawford has totaled 4.2 ppg and 1.8 rpg (.351 FG%, .333 3FG%, .667 FT%) in 16 contests.
Getting to play the Cavaliers tends to cure whatever ills an NBA team tends to have.
After breaking their 26-game losing streak to beat the Los Angeles Clippers, the Cavs immediately returned to their losing ways and got dropped in dramatic fashion by the Wizards Sunday.
The Wizards were 0-25 on the road coming into this game.
The AP reports:
Nick Young scored 31 points, John Wall had 19 points and 14 assists and Washington snapped its 25-game road winless streak with a 115-100 win Sunday night over the Cleveland Cavaliers, who reverted to their losing ways one game after ending their record skid.
The Wizards opened a 25-point lead in the third quarter, survived a Cleveland comeback and got their first road win since April 9 at Boston.
Antawn Jamison scored 21 and J.J. Hickson added 16 and 13 rebounds for the Cavs, who stopped their losing streak at 26 on Friday night against the Los Angeles Clippers but failed to post back-to-back wins for the second time this season.
Washington finished four losses shy of matching the league’s longest losing streak to start a season, 29 in a row by the 1992-93 Dallas Mavericks.
Blown out and embarrassed in a 118-94 loss to the San Antonio Spurs on Saturday, the Wizards came out focused on getting a win outside D.C.’s city limits. They started 9 of 11 from the field and opened a 17-point lead in the first quarter on Young’s second straight three-point play.
The Cavs were down 68-46 at the half, showed some life in the third quarter but never seriously threatened the Wizards.
Point guard Mo Williams, who recently returned for Cleveland, struggled tonight, but should be worth watching over the next few games as he regains form.
