Wizards sign Ron Baker, waive Okaro White

The Washington Wizards have signed free agent guard Ron Baker.

“Ron is a tough and physical defender who can give us added depth in the backcourt,” said Wizards President Ernie Grunfeld. “He is a hard-nosed player who will have the chance to earn minutes with his competitiveness and intensity.”

Baker (6-4, 220) has averaged 3.3 points, 1.8 assists and 1.5 rebounds over 92 NBA career games (14 starts), all with New York. He was released by the Knicks on Dec. 13 after averaging 1.3 points and 1.2 assists in 11 games on the season. As an undrafted rookie out of Wichita State, Baker averaged 4.1 points, 2.1 assists and 1.9 rebounds for New York during the 2016-17 season. He averaged 13.2 points over his four years as a Shocker, earning All-Missouri Valley Conference First Team honors three times and All-Defensive First Team honors once.

The Wizards have waived forward Okaro White. White, who was originally signed as a free agent on Nov. 21, appeared in three games for Washington this season.

Warriors would reportedly still like to hold onto Patrick McCaw

Remember guard Patrick McCaw? He got some attention while on the most famous team in the world, the championship-winning Warriors. He averaged 4.0 points per game in 2016-17, and that same number in 2017-18. You probably haven’t thought about him in a while. That’s because he hasn’t been on the court this season. Here’s Yahoo Sports with an update on what the Warriors may be thinking about the situation:

The Golden State Warriors are still prepared to match any offer sheet for restricted free-agent holdout guard Patrick McCaw, league sources told Yahoo Sports.

McCaw, 23, has held out this season and stayed away from the team in an attempt to secure a contract of his liking or in hopes that the Warriors would renounce him, setting free the No. 38 pick in the 2016 NBA draft to sign with any team without restriction.

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Bobby Portis injured again, out 2-4 weeks

Injuries have been a season-long problem for the 2018-19 Chicago Bulls.

Bobby Portis, who has played in just nine games so far this season, injured his right ankle in the fourth quarter of yesterday’s game against the Nets. An MRI and repeat physical exam were performed this morning, and he was diagnosed with a sprained ankle.

Portis will be out two-to-four weeks.

The Bulls are 7-25 this season, which as of today is the worst record in the NBA.

Zach LaVine injury update: Out 1-3 more weeks

Zach LaVine injured his left ankle in the fourth quarter of the Bulls game against the Orlando Magic in Mexico City on Dec. 13.

Additional medical opinions taken since then agreed with the original diagnosis of a medial ankle sprain.

LaVine will be out approximately two-to-four weeks from the date of the injury. So, he could be out around one-to-three more weeks.

The young, rebuilding Bulls are 7-25 this season. ZaVine at 23.8 points per game has been their leading scorer.

Raymond Felton and Dennis Schroder suspended one game each

Oklahoma City Thunder guards Raymond Felton and Dennis Schroder have each been suspended one game without pay for leaving the bench area during an altercation and participating in the altercation which spilled over into the spectator stands, it was announced today by Kiki VanDeWeghe, Executive Vice President, Basketball Operations.

As part of the same incident, Chicago Bulls center Robin Lopez has been fined $25,000 for escalating the altercation, Thunder forward Jerami Grant has been fined $20,000 for escalating the altercation, and Bulls guard Kris Dunn has been fined $15,000 for instigating the altercation by shoving Thunder guard Russell Westbrook.

The incident, for which Dunn, Westbrook, Grant and Lopez each received technical fouls, occurred with 4:27 remaining in the third quarter of Oklahoma City’s 121-96 victory over Chicago on Dec. 17 at Chesapeake Energy Arena.

Felton and Schroder will serve their suspensions tonight when the Thunder visits the Sacramento Kings at Golden 1 Center.

Evan Fournier discusses life on the road

Here’s the Orlando Sentinel reporting on the Magic, who are 8-8 at home and 6-7 on the road so far this season:

The Magic play the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday at Amway Center after two games in Mexico City. Those games were preceded by a trip to Dallas for a game against the Mavericks.

Evan Fournier was just happy to get back in his own bed.

“How about that schedule, though?” Fournier said while shaking his head. “How about that schedule? Oh my God. It’s the worst I’ve ever seen.”

The Magic — who are coming off back-to-back wins — play San Antonio, then travel to Chicago, then are home for four consecutive games before hitting the road for six games in a row.

“It’s just like… we’re never home,” said Fournier, who is in his seventh year in the NBA. “When I got into my bed last night, it felt like I haven’t seen my bed in years. I don’t know. It feels like we’re always on the road.”

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Rudy Gay having excellent season for Spurs

Here’s the San Antonio Express News reporting on veteran Spurs forward Rudy Gay, whose game has changed over the years, and this season in particular he’s a very key member of a 16-15 squad that is still trying to find its way:

In his second season with the Spurs, Gay has emerged as perhaps the team’s most important role player.

Unlike previous stops in Memphis and Sacramento, Gay isn’t counted on to be the Spurs’ top scorer. That job belongs to All-Stars DeMar DeRozan and LaMarcus Aldridge.

Heading into Wednesday’s game at Orlando, Gay is averaging 14.3 points and 6.8 rebounds. He is shooting 45.8 percent from 3-point range — 10 percent better than his career mark.

At 6-foot-8, Gay has also become the Spurs’ most important defensive player. His ability to switch and guard players both big and small has helped fuel a defensive surge in which the Spurs have held opposing offenses to fewer than 100 points in a league-high five consecutive contests.

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Wizards sign guard Chasson Randle

The Washington Wizards have signed guard Chasson Randle from the Capital City Go-Go, the team’s NBA G League affiliate.

Randle has appeared in seven games this season with the Go-Go, averaging 23.1 points, 4.9 assists and 3.7 rebounds per game. Randle has scored at least 20 points in six of his seven games played with the team this season and is shooting 50.4 percent from the field and 46.8 percent from three. The Stanford-product earned an NBA call-up earlier this season, but did not appear in any games for the Wizards.

In another move, the Wizards assigned forward Okaro White to the Go-Go. White was assigned to Capital City on the most recent three-game road trip, where he averaged 19.3 points and 11.3 rebounds per game while shooting 53.5 percent from the field. White had a season highs of 31 points and 12 rebounds while going 12-of-17 from the floor at Northern Arizona on December 11.

In a corresponding move, Devin Sweetney was reacquired by the Go-Go and will travel with the team to the NBA G League Winter Showcase this week in Las Vegas – where the Go-Go will play Austin on Wednesday at 3:30 p.m. ET on NBA TV and Agua Caliente on Friday at 3:00 p.m. ET on ESPNU. Wizards’ two-way player Jordan McRae will remain with Washington during the team’s back-to-back in Atlanta and Houston.

Suns waive Austin Rivers

The Phoenix Suns have waived guard Austin Rivers.

Rivers was acquired by the Suns from Washington in a trade that was completed just yesterday.

The Suns’ roster now stands at 16 players.

There have been conflicting reports suggesting that Rivers’ next stop could be with the Grizzlies, but nothing is confirmed.

Mavs forward Ding Yanyuhang undergoes knee surgery

Dallas Mavericks forward Ding Yanyuhang underwent arthroscopic surgery to his right knee. The surgery was performed by Dr. Daniel Worrel at the Carrell Clinic in Dallas.

“Ding’s successful return to the court is the number one goal for all of us,” Mavericks President of Basketball Operations/General Manager Donnie Nelson said. “Ding will start rehab immediately, and we all look forward to his full recovery.”

“I’m appreciative of all the support the Mavericks and Legends organizations have given me this season,” Ding said through a translator. “I’m getting great medical treatment here in Dallas. I look forward to a successful rehab process and hope to get back on the court in the near future.”

Ding will rehabilitate his knee at Baylor Physical Therapy in Frisco, Texas in conjunction with the Texas Legends.