Nets forward Shawne Williams needs foot surgery

Shawne Williams

New Jersey Nets forward Shawne Williams will undergo surgery on Wednesday, February 22 to remove a bone fragment from his left foot, Nets General Manager Billy King announced today.  The surgery will be performed at the Hospital for Special Surgery in Manhattan by foot specialist Dr. Martin O’Malley and Nets team orthopedist Dr. Riley Williams III.

A timetable for his return will be determined following surgery.

Williams was signed as a free agent prior to the 2011-12 season.  He appeared in 25 games, averaging 4.5 points and 2.7 rebounds in 20.6 minutes of action per contest.

Wilson Chandler will probably rejoin Nuggets

Wilson Chandler
Wilson Chandler
Can now identify authentic Chinese food

Upon seeing Wilson Chandler in the Denver locker room, Nuggets coach George Karl greeted him with a handshake and a smile.

“I could’ve used you tonight,” Karl said.

That wish could soon be a reality.

Chandler, a restricted free agent, attended Denver’s 103-101 overtime victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday night and said he hopes to sign a new contract with the Nuggets “in the next week or so.”

Chandler, 24, finished last season with the Nuggets but spent the past several months playing in China, where he averaged 26.6 points and 11.6 rebounds in 32 games with the Zhejiang Guangsha Lions.

— Reported by Aaron J. Lopez of Nuggets.com

Cavs sign Manny Harris to 10-day contract

The Cleveland Cavaliers have signed guard Manny Harris from the Canton Charge of the NBA Development League to a 10-day contract, Cavaliers General Manager Chris Grant announced today. The signing of Harris marks the 27th D-League to NBA Call-Up of the 2011-12 season. Harris will wear No. 6 for the Cavaliers and is available for tonight’s game against the Detroit Pistons.

In 17 games (12 starts) with Canton this season, Harris is averaging 21.4 points on .470 shooting with 7.9 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 1.7 steals in 32.9 minutes per game.  He currently ranks third in the D-League in scoring. Yesterday, he was named the NBA Development League Performer of the Week for games played from February 13-19.  Harris also earned the honor on January 30th, making him the only player in the league to do so twice this year. In two games last week, he averaged 41.0 points on .574 shooting with 9.0 rebounds, 6.0 assists and 3.5 steals in 44.5 minutes per contest.

The 6-foot-5 guard spent the 2010-11 season with the Cavaliers, playing in 54 games (15 starts) and averaging 5.9 points on .374 shooting, 2.6 rebounds and 1.6 assists in 17.2 minutes per game.

Lakers GM Mitch Kupchak responds to Kobe comments about Gasol

Pau Gasol
pau gasol
Finesse big-man

In response to comments made by Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol after last night’s game against the Phoenix Suns, Lakers General Manager Mitch Kupchak issued the following statement today:

“As a former player, I understand how the days leading up to the trade deadline can be nerve-wracking for an NBA player.  Nonetheless, as General Manager of the Lakers, I have a responsibility to ownership, our fans and the players on this team to actively pursue opportunities to improve the team for this season and seasons to come.  To say publicly that we would not do this would serve no purpose and put us at a competitive disadvantage.  Taking such a course of action at this time would be a disservice to ownership, the team and our many fans.

According to the Los Angeles Times Blog, Kobe had said the following: “It’s just tough for a player to give his all when you don’t know if you’re going to be here tomorrow. I’d rather them not trade him at all but if they’re going to do something, I wish they would just … do it.”

Greg Oden undergoes microfracture surgery on left knee

Greg Oden
greg oden
Knees are made out of pretzels

The Portland Trail Blazers have announced that center Greg Oden underwent microfracture surgery on his left knee today. The surgery was performed by Dr. Richard Steadman in Vail, Colo. Oden will miss the remainder of the 2011-12 NBA season.

“Initially, Greg was undergoing a procedure similar to the one he had a couple of weeks ago to have debris cleared from his right knee,” said Acting General Manager Chad Buchanan . “However, once the doctors were inside Greg’s left knee, they unfortunately found articular surface damage and determined microfracture was necessary.”

Oden, who will become an unrestricted free agent at the end of this season, was selected by the Trail Blazers with the first overall pick in the 2007 NBA Draft. In 82 career games (60 starts), Oden has averaged 9.4 points (57.7% FG), 7.3 rebounds and 1.43 blocks in 22.1 minutes per game.

“This is not the news we were hoping for Greg or the organization,” said Trail Blazers President Larry Miller. “It’s hard to put into words the heartbreak for everyone involved, but especially for Greg. He’s a young man who has experienced a great number of physical challenges in his playing career and today is yet another significant setback for him. We have a lot of empathy for Greg and his family during this difficult time.”

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Manu Ginobili injured, out two weeks

Manu Ginobili
Manu Ginobili
Has played just 9 games this season

Manu Ginobili was examined by team physician Dr. David Schmidt today in San Antonio. An MRI confirmed that Ginobili suffered a left internal oblique strain. The injury occurred during the second half of the Spurs-Clippers game on 2/18. Ginobili will remain in San Antonio for the remainder of the Spurs road trip. He is expected to be approximately two weeks.

Tiago Splitter has been diagnosed with a right calf strain. The injury occurred during the first half of the Spurs-Clippers game on 2/18. Splitter started his rehab process today in Salt Lake City and will remain with the team for the balance of the road trip. He is expected to miss approximately two weeks.

Rajon Rondo suspended two games for hitting ref with ball

Rajon Rondo
rajon rondo
Apparently pretty good at dodgeball

Rajon Rondo of the Boston Celtics has been suspended two games without pay for throwing a ball at an official and striking him in the chest,it was announced today by Stu Jackson,NBA Executive Vice President Basketball Operations.

The incident occurred with 3:00 remaining in the third quarter of the Celtics’96-81 loss to the Detroit Pistons at the Palace of Auburn Hills on Feb. 19.

Rondo will serve his suspension tonight when the Celtics play the Dallas Mavericks at American Airlines Center and Wednesday,Feb. 22 when Boston plays the Oklahoma City Thunder at Chesapeake Energy Arena.

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Rockets recall Marcus Morris from D-League

Houston Rockets General Manager Daryl Morey announced today that forward Marcus Morris has been recalled from Houston’s single-affiliation NBA D-League partner Rio Grande Valley. Morris had re-joined the Vipers on Feb. 3.

Morris (6-9, 235, Kansas), who was selected by Houston with the 14 th overall pick in the 2011 NBA Draft, averaged 22.8 points, 9.1 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 1.40 steals in the 10 full games he has played with Rio Grande Valley this season. He made his debut with the Vipers by posting 33 points (13-24 FG), 16 rebounds, five assists and two steals vs. Dakota (1/6/12).

Yet another knee surgery for Greg Oden

The Portland Trail Blazers center was scheduled to have arthroscopic surgery to “remove debris” from his left knee. The team announced that the former No. 1 pick in the 2007 draft was to have the surgery Monday in Vail, Colo.

The often-injured 7-footer had the same procedure on his right knee earlier this month.

Over the course of his NBA career, Oden has had microfracture surgeries on both knees, surgery to repair a fractured left kneecap and now the two procedures this month.

Oden, who has hot played in an NBA game since Dec. 5, 2009, has appeared in 82 career games for the Blazers, averaging 9.4 points and 7.3 rebounds.It was expected that he might be able to play for the Blazers this season, but a checkup before the start of training camp in December reportedly revealed concerns about a non-weight-bearing ligament in the left knee, further setting back his rehabilitation. Since then, he has turned down repeated interview requests.

— Reported by the Associated Press

Hornets sign Donald Sloan to second 10-day contract

The New Orleans Hornets, struggling badly with a 7-23 record, made a very minor roster move today. The team announced they have signed guard Donald Sloan to a second 10-day contract.

Sloan, a Texas A&M University product, was originally signed by New Orleans on February 8th and has appeared in three games, averaging 4.0 points, 2.7 assists and 1.0 rebounds in just under 14 minutes per game. Sloan previously appeared in five regular season games with the Atlanta Hawks this season before being released on January 27. Originally signed by Atlanta on December 9, 2011, Sloan averaged 1.2 points, 1.0 rebounds and 1.0 assists in 4.0 minutes of play with the Hawks.

The 6’3” guard also played five games (all starts) for the Erie Bayhawks of the NBA D-League this season, averaging 24.8 points, 8.4 assists and 5.2 rebounds in 40.9 minutes of play. Born in Shreveport, LA, Sloan has appeared in 54 games (38 starts) in the D-League, with career averages of 12.0 points and 4.7 assists.

Sloan, who grew up in the Dallas area, was a first-team Big 12 Conference selection his senior season at Texas A&M, averaging 17.8 points.