Rockets waive Gerald Green and sign Mike Harris to 10-day contract

Houston Rockets General Manager Daryl Morey announced today that the team has signed forward Mike Harris to a 10-day contract. The Rockets also waived guard/forward Gerald Green, who was acquired by Houston via trade with the Minnesota Timberwolves on Feb. 21, 2008.

That was quick! Gerald Green sure didn’t last long. Well, he had wanted minutes, and apparently doesn’t seem to be getting them anywhere. He’s got more game development to do, judging by how many teams have moved him in his short career so far.

As for this news:

Harris (6-6, 240, Rice), who signed with the Rockets as a rookie free agent on July 13, 2007, averaged 5.0 points and 6.0 rebounds while playing in Houston’s first two preseason games this season. Released by the Rockets on Oct. 22, Harris averaged 24.3 points and 11.6 rebounds in just 28 minutes per game in 25 outings with DongGuan (2007-08) of the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA). Harris’ season highs in the CBA included a 46-point, 26-rebound game. The former standout at Rice University also averaged 12.6 points and 7.0 rebounds in five games with Houston in the 2007 NBA Summer League presented by adidas.

In 2006-07, Harris averaged 6.0 points and 2.4 rebounds in five preseason games with the Milwaukee Bucks. Selected third overall in the 2006 D-League Draft by Colorado, Harris also averaged 11.8 points, 6.8 rebounds and 1.54 blocks in 48 games (16 starts) with the 14ers in 2006-07.

Green, who was on the inactive list for five games with the Rockets, scored six points and two rebounds in his only game with Houston vs. Washington (2/26/08).

Wizards-Bobcats team connections

Gilbert Arenas (31st overall) and Charlotte guard Jason Richardson (5th overall) were both 2001 draft picks of the Golden State Warriors.

Washington and Charlotte sport a combined five former North Carolina Tar Heels — Brendan Haywood, Antawn Jamison, Raymond Felton, Sean May, Jeff McInnis — and two more ex-Heels on the bench; Washington’s Mike O’Koren and Charlotte’s Phil Ford.

Jamison and McInnis were college teammates…McInnis played 35 games for Washington in 1998-99.

Jamison attended Providence High School in Charlotte, NC.

Brendan Haywood attended Dudley High School in Greensboro, NC.

Antonio Daniels and Bobcats guard Derek Anderson were teammates in San Antonio in 2000-01 and in Portland in 2003-03…Gilbert Arenas, Antawn Jamison and Bobcats guard Earl Boykins were teammates in Golden State in 2002-03.

Darius Songaila played collegiately at Wake Forest in Winston-Salem, NC.

Bobcats center Othella Harrington played collegiately at Georgetown University.

Heat recall Daequan Cook and Joel Anthony from D-League

The Miami HEAT announced today that Daequan Cook and Joel Anthony have been recalled from the NBA Development League. Cook and Anthony were assigned to the Iowa Energy, the HEAT’s D-League affiliate on Feb. 27 and guided the club to a 2-1 record.

Cook appeared in three games (all starts) for the Energy, averaging 19.3 points, 7.0 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.33 steals in 39.7 minutes of action. Additionally, Cook has appeared in 38 games (two starts) for the HEAT this season, averaging 7.2 points, 2.3 rebounds and 1.1 assists in 19.5 minutes per game.

Anthony appeared in three games (all starts) for the Energy, averaging 8.0 points, 6.7 rebounds and 4.00 blocks in 24.3 minutes of action. Additionally, Anthony has appeared in four games for the HEAT this season, and is averaging 7.8 minutes per game.

Cook and Anthony will join the HEAT in Atlanta today and be available to play the Hawks tonight at Philips Arena.

Baron Davis tells InsideHoops how great Kobe and LeBron are

I was with Baron Davis in Miami after Friday’s Warriors-Heat game for an exclusive InsideHoops mini-interview, and here’s part of what was said:

InsideHoops.com: What’s the official Baron Davis vote for the league’s MVP? Other than you or anyone on your team, of course.

Baron Davis: LeBron and Kobe. I mean, Kobe and LeBron, in that order. Kobe and LeBron… you talk about the most valuable players. That’s how I look at it.

InsideHoops.com: How about LeBron’s game the other day? Insane; 50 points, 8 assists, 10 rebounds.

Baron Davis: Yeah. He’s a monster. He makes monster music. He’s a monster. He’s a beast and he’s only 23, so imagine what he’s going to be when he hits his prime.

The rest of the mini-interview is here.

InsideHoops talks to Marcus Banks

After Wednesday’s Raptors at Heat game I talked with Miami guard Marcus Banks. Here’s a piece of it:

InsideHoops.com: Things didn’t go well for the team today, but at least you as an individual did well out there.

Marcus Banks: I felt decent. I would trade it in any day for a win, and see my guys on the team smile and have a good time. But an opportunity came today for me to knock down some shots and I did it in the minutes I played, and it’s simple as that.

InsideHoops.com: As you said, of course a win for the team is more important. Ideally, eventually you’ll step up like today and the win comes, too.

Marcus Banks: I’d love to get both. Get a win and a good game. That’d be even better. But sometimes, that’s the way the ball bounces. You got to live with it. Get up tomorrow and forget about it, go on and try to get the next one.

The rest is here.

Kings sign Justin Williams to 10-day contract

Houston Rockets General Manager Daryl Morey announced today that the team has signed center Justin Williams to a 10-day contract. Williams takes the roster spot which was created after the previous 10-day contract of guard/forward Bobby Jones expired on Friday morning. 
 
Williams (6-10, 260, Wyoming) has averaged 3.4 points and 3.4 rebounds in 48 career games (one start) with the Sacramento Kings.
 
Jones scored two points, one rebound and a steal in limited minutes during his three games with the Rockets.
 

Full recovery still expected for Shaun Livingston

Los Angeles Clippers guard Shaun Livingston had his left knee re-examined on Thursday, March 6 by Dr. James Andrews in San Francisco. Dr. Andrews issued the following statement regarding the current status of Livingston’s recovery:

“I evaluated Shaun yesterday in San Francisco. He has developed a lot of muscle return and recovery in the knee. The stability of the knee looks excellent. We are still holding him back from competitive play because he has developed some tendinitis about his knee, which will require approximately four more weeks to settle down. We will re-evaluate him at that time to see if he’s able to undergo some high level basketball activity at the end of the season. We still expect a full recovery, but it is time related.”

Livingston was originally injured during the first quarter of the Clippers win over the Charlotte Bobcats on February 26, 2007 at STAPLES Center, when he suffered tears to the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), posterior cruciate ligament (PCL), medial collateral ligament (MCL) and lateral meniscus. Livingston also suffered a patella dislocation, in addition to a tibia/femoral dislocation. Andrews performed the surgery to repair the injuries on March 13, 2007 at St. Vincent’s Hospital in Birmingham.

Caron Butler speaks on his status

Caron Butler on his status: “I am trying to get back out there.  I am going to wait until next week to start participating in practices, and I am going to play it by ear.  My body is going to determine whether I am able to play or not.”

Butler on the team’s performance without him: “Overall, I am really proud of the team and how they have stepped up in the last couple of weeks.  Somehow, someway, no matter what we have been hit with, guys have been stepping up and coming up with wins.”

Butler on his injury: “It’s amazing how an injury can put a halt to what you are doing.  I have been unfortunate the last couple of years.  I have been hit with the injury bug in the second half of the season.  This is one of those things that I am pretty sure I can bounce back from.  The medical staff feels the same way, and I feel great about that.”

Butler on his return: “The best way to do it is to come back 100%, so that is what I am waiting on and we will see how it works.  I am walking and I am feeling better.  Jogging around…I can do that with no discomfort.  Leg lifts with weight…I can do that with no discomfort.  And rest does a body good.  I am very confident that I will be back on the court, sooner rather than later.”

Butler on avoiding surgery: “That (surgery) will be the very last option for us.  I would have to play and get pulled out again, and play through more pain…and all sorts of things before it would even be an option.”

Butler on if he has a timetable for his return: “No, that is the beautiful thing about the medical staff here, Ernie (Grunfeld) and the coaching staff.  We talked and we are not going to make a timetable.  I am just going to go with my body and how it feels.”

Pistons to honor George Yardley March 9

The Detroit Pistons announced today that the club will honor George Yardley during Sunday’s home game vs. Chicago at The Palace of Auburn Hills.  That day, March 9, 2008, marks the 50th anniversary of Yardley’s historic 2,000-point season.  He scored 26 points against the Syracuse Nationals to become the first player in NBA history to tally 2,000 points in a season on March 9, 1958.

Palace Sports and Entertainment and Pistons President, Tom Wilson, will present a special plaque to Yardley’s son, Rob, during the first quarter of Sunday’s game.

Inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1996, the six-time all-star averaged 19.2 points per game over seven seasons with Fort Wayne, Detroit and Syracuse.  Yardley was the first player in NBA history to score 2,000 points in one season, averaging 27.8 points and 10.7 rebounds per game in 1957-58.  He earned All-NBA First-Team honors and set NBA records in free throws made (655) and attempted (808) that season.  He averaged 20.3 points per game in 46 playoff contests during his career and led Fort Wayne to two NBA Finals appearances.

2008 EuroCup Final Four to be in Cyprus

FIBA Europe announced on Friday that Proteas EKA AEL will host the 2008 EuroCup Final Four in Limassol, Cyprus.

The event will take place between 18th and 20th April.

Proteas, who are also hosting the EuroCup All Star game on 25th March, are participating in the Final Four the first time in their history after sweeping Khimik 2-0 in the Quarter-Final round.

“Cyprus is a fast growing basketball country and we are very happy to be able to bring the Final Four to Limassol,” said FIBA Europe President George Vassilakopoulos.

“I’m sure it will be a great event both on the floor and off for fans and players alike.”

“Having hosted the EuroCup All Star game four straight years Proteas are perfectly suited to organize an event like this,” commented FIBA Europe Secretary General Nar Zanolin.

“We’ve got four great teams taking part and it should be an exciting weekend of basketball.”

The hosts will take on Dexia Mons-Hainaut in one semi-final on 18th April while Baltic sides Tartu Rock and Barons LMT of Riga will battle in the other.