Jameer Nelson falls down Nuggets depth chart

The 23-35 Denver Nuggets are getting 7.9 points and 5.0 assists in 27.1 minutes per game this season from veteran guard Jameer Nelson. His shooting has been a mess: 36.9% FG and 29.9% threes. Here’s the Denver Post with more:

Jameer Nelson falls down Nuggets depth chart

Right now, the point guard hierarchy is as follows: Emmanuel Mudiay, D.J. Augustin, Jameer Nelson. And Mudiay is getting the majority of the minutes.

Two factors have gone into Nuggets coach Michael Malone’s decision to change the depth chart. First, Augustin has come in and quickly played very well since being traded to the Nuggets a week ago. Second, Nelson continues to battle through a sprained left wrist.

And even though he’s been able to suit up, ready to play if needed, he’ll have to wait.

“You know, it’s tough,” Malone said. “D.J. has played well for us. Emmanuel is getting the lion share of the minutes. You cant play three point guards. Jameer and I have talked, and I told him that right now I’m going to play D.J. as the backup.”

Joe Johnson will reportedly join Heat

Small forward Joe Johnson averaged just 11.8 points on 40.6% shooting this season for the Brooklyn Nets, plus 3.9 rebounds and 4.1 assists per outing. His career is winding down. Still, he’d make a terrific addition to just about any team that wants him as a member of the supporting cast. Here’s the Akron Beacon Journal reporting:

Joe Johnson will reportedly join Heat

Six years later, the Cavaliers have reportedly lost out on another free agent to the Miami Heat. This one, however, doesn’t sting nearly as much.

Joe Johnson will join the Miami Heat after he clears waivers Saturday night, according to multiple reports. The soon-to-be free agent guard was considering the Cavs, but has chosen South Beach instead. Yahoo Sports reported Johnson chose the Heat for the chance to start and play meaningful minutes.

LeBron James, who also spurned Cleveland for Miami in 2010, confirmed earlier Friday the Cavs had interest in Johnson, but stopped short of saying he would reach out to him.

Should NBA three-point shot be deeper?

Here’s ESPN.com reporting the views of Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban on the distance of the NBA three-point shot:

Mark Cuban has a suggestion to reintroduce the midrange shot to the NBA game: Move back the 3-point arc.

“It’s getting too close,” the Dallas Mavericks owner said Friday night of the 3-point arc, which is 23 feet, 9 inches at the crest and 22 feet in the corners, where there is no room to move it back. “Guys are shooting a foot behind it anyways. … That’s something we should look at. It’s worth looking at.

“I don’t think the number of shots would decline, but I think it would reward skill and open up the court some more. So guys would still take [3-point] shots if it’s seven inches back or whatever, but at the same time, it opens up the court for more drives, more midrange game.”

The midrange jumper has become an endangered species of sorts, while NBA players are firing 3-pointers at record rates.

Bryce Dejean-Jones out for season after wrist surgery

New Orleans Pelicans guard Bryce Dejean-Jones underwent successful surgery this morning to repair a right wrist fracture. He will miss the remainder of the 2015-16 season.

Dejean-Jones, 6-6, 203, has appeared in 14 games (11 starts) for the Pelicans, averaging 5.6 points and 3.4 rebounds in 19.9 minutes per game.

Prior to joining New Orleans, Dejean-Jones played for the Idaho Stampede of the NBA Development League, appearing in nine games (seven starts), averaging 19.2 points, 4.7 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 2.0 steals in 31.1 minutes per game.

Undrafted out of Iowa State, Dejean Jones was a member of the Pelicans’ 2015 Las Vegas Summer League team and training camp roster. In six summer league contests, Dejean-Jones averaged 12.8 points on .619 shooting from the field, including .500 from three point range, to go along with 1.8 rebounds, 1.5 steals and 1.2 assists in 21.7 minutes per game. Appearing in all seven preseason contests for New Orleans, Dejean-Jones averaged 8.9 points, 1.6 rebounds and 1.4 assists.

Beno Udrih out three months after foot surgery

Beno Udrih out three months after foot surgery

Miami Heat guard Beno Udrih underwent surgery to repair a torn plantar plate in his right foot. The one hour, 45-minute procedure was performed by HEAT team physician Dr. Harlan Selesnick and Dr. Thomas San Giovanni at Miami Orthopedics & Sports Medicine Institute at Doctors Hospital. He is expected to miss three months.

Udrih has appeared in 36 games (five starts) with the HEAT this season averaging 4.4 points, 2.5 assists, 1.8 rebounds and 16.3 minutes while shooting 43.4 percent from the field. He was originally acquired by the HEAT, along with Jarnell Stokes, via trade with the Memphis Grizzlies in exchange for Mario Chalmers and James Ennis earlier this season on November 10.

Suns on 13-game losing streak

Here’s the Arizona Republic reporting on the 14-44 Phoenix Suns, who now have the third worst record in the league, ahead of the Lakers (11-48) and Sixers (8-49):

The Suns did not lose by 40 points again on Thursday night, but saying that is an improvement is like saying this season is better than the inaugural Suns team’s 16-66 campaign.

It is all relative.

Getting dominated for most of Thursday’s game by a formerly equally bad Brooklyn team at home in a 116-106 loss is arguably as bad as Monday’s third-worst rout in franchise history to a good Los Angeles Clippers team on the road.

The latest embarrassing Suns loss was also historic because it gave Phoenix a 13-game losing streak, matching the franchise’s single-season record from 1996. That one ended with a home win against the Nets. Not this time.

The Suns can still tie the franchise record for an overall losing streak Saturday against Memphis because that 1996-97 Suns team opened the season 0-13 and lost the previous season’s finale for 14 in a row.

Clippers defense has steadily improved this season

Here’s the OC Register reporting on the 37-20 Clippers, who have more than survived their time without injured power forward Blake Griffin:

In the first 15 games of the season, the Clippers’ defensive rating was 104.0, 23rd in the NBA. In the 42 games since, that number drops all the way to 99.0, the second-best total in the league, trailing only the San Antonio Spurs (96.5).

As of Thursday, the Clippers had the sixth-best defense in the NBA (100.3).

One reason stands out for the drastic improvement: The Clippers simply got more comfortable with the changes they made.

The biggest switch had to do with DeAndre Jordan, who was moved from the perimeter closer to the paint on pick-and-roll coverage. The change was designed to keep the Clippers from scrambling to cover for one another and to keep opponents from getting open 3-point attempts.

Pelicans: Bryce Dejean-Jones has broken wrist

The New Orleans Pelicans announced today that guard Bryce Dejean-Jones has been diagnosed with a fractured right wrist. An MRI today revealed the injury, which will require surgery tomorrow morning. A timetable for his return will be announced appropriately.

Dejean-Jones, 6-6, 203, has appeared in 14 games (11 starts) for the Pelicans, averaging 5.6 points and 3.4 rebounds in 19.9 minutes per game.

Prior to joining New Orleans, Dejean-Jones played for the Idaho Stampede of the NBA Development League, appearing in nine games (seven starts), averaging 19.2 points, 4.7 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 2.0 steals in 31.1 minutes per game.

Undrafted out of Iowa State, Dejean Jones was a member of the Pelicans’ 2015 Las Vegas Summer League team and training camp roster. In six summer league contests, Dejean-Jones averaged 12.8 points on .619 shooting from the field, including .500 from three point range, to go along with 1.8 rebounds, 1.5 steals and 1.2 assists in 21.7 minutes per game. Appearing in all seven preseason contests for New Orleans, Dejean-Jones averaged 8.9 points, 1.6 rebounds and 1.4 assists.

Timberwolves waive Andre Miller

The Minnesota Timberwolves waived guard Andre Miller today. Their roster currently stands at 14 players.

“Andre was a consummate professional and set a good example for our younger players on what it takes to be a pro in this league,” said Timberwolves general manager Milt Newton. “We wish him the best.”

Miller, in his 17th NBA season, played in 26 games for the Wolves this year, averaging 3.4 points, on 62.1% shooting, and 2.2 assists. He has career averages of 12.6 points, 3.7 rebounds and 6.6 assists in 1,291 games.

Wizards sign J.J. Hickson

Wizards sign J.J. Hickson

The Washington Wizards have signed forward J.J. Hickson.

“Signing J.J. for the remainder of the season gives us another solid veteran who will bring more depth to our frontcourt,” said Wizards President Ernie Grunfeld. “His experience, athletic ability and physical presence will be solid additions to our team as we continue our playoff push.“

Hickson (6-9, 242) has appeared in 519 career regular season games (307 starts) in seven-plus seasons with Cleveland, Sacramento, Portland and Denver. He has averaged 9.7 points and 6.9 rebounds while shooting .505 from the field. The former 19th overall selection in the 2008 NBA Draft averaged a double-double of 12.7 points and 10.4 rebounds in 80 games (all starts) during the 2012-13 season with Portland and posted 11.8 points and 9.2 rebounds in 69 games (52 starts) with Denver in 2013-14 . Hickson appeared in 20 games (nine starts), with Denver this season, averaging 6.9 points and 4.4 rebounds before being waived on February 19.