Report: Los Angeles mansion owned by Earl Watson robbed

Here’s TMZ reporting some bad news from Los Angeles:

An L.A. mansion owned by former NBA player Earl Watson was robbed Monday night by at least 4 men in ski masks — who handcuffed the occupants and ransacked the place.

While 35-year-old Watson owns the $4 million Encino home, he currently rents it out to a local elderly couple.

Officials say the men — at least one of whom had a gun — broke in through a back door and once inside, they handcuffed the couple and stole various items … including cash.

Name change: Yes, Bill Walker is now Henry Walker

Name change: Yes, Bill Walker is now Henry Walker

Here’s the South Florida Sun Sentinel reporting on the newest member of the Miami Heat:

Miami Heat forward Henry Walker considered it a sign of maturity.

Last year the player formerly known as “Bill” started going by his middle name. If his Heat debut was any indication, Walker has already grown up a bunch.

He scored 11 points, including three 3-pointers in Monday’s victory against the Philadelphia 76ers. The plan is for Walker to remain in the rotation the duration of his 10-day contract.

“It’s just my middle name,” Walker said. “I’m just trying to mature and just trying to grow up, trying to change the perception about me.”

Sixers add Thomas Robinson, release Tim Frazier

Sixers add Thomas Robinson, release Tim Frazier

Sixers add Thomas Robinson, release Tim Frazier

The Brooklyn Nets had reportedly planned to sign forward Thomas Robinson once he cleared waivers. But the Philadelphia 76ers decided not to let that happen.

The Sixers announced today the team has claimed forward Thomas Robinson off of waivers.

Robinson has appeared in 172 career games in three NBA seasons and has posted averages of five points and four rebounds in 14 minutes per game. He was selected fifth overall in the 2012 NBA Draft after a junior season in which he was named Big 12 Player of the Year and a consensus First Team All-American.

In a related move, the team has released Tim Frazier from his second 10-day contract.

According to the Philadelphia Inquirer, “the Sixers picked Robinson up as a way to get an up-close look at him to see if he fits in their long-term plans The 6-foot-9, 240-pounder out of Kansas was the fifth overall pick by the Sacramento Kings in the 2012 NBA draft. Robinson was traded to the Houston Rockets on Feb. 20, 2013 and then to the Blazers on July 10, 2013. He averaged 4.6 points and 4.4 rebounds in 172 games played.”

Cavs sign Kendrick Perkins

Cavs sign Kendrick Perkins

The Cleveland Cavaliers have signed center Kendrick Perkins, Cavaliers General Manager David Griffin announced today.

Perkins (6-10, 270, Clifton J. Ozen High School (TX)) is a 12-year veteran who holds career averages of 5.6 points on .530 shooting from the field, 6.0 rebounds and 1.2 blocks in 22.6 minutes over 727 games (560 starts) with the Oklahoma City Thunder and Boston Celtics. Originally selected in the first round (27th overall) of the 2003 NBA Draft by Memphis, Perkins has appeared in 51 games (three starts) for the Thunder this season, averaging 4.0 points and 5.5 rebounds in 19.2 minutes.

A member of the 2008 NBA Champion Boston Celtics, Perkins has appeared in the postseason eight times, seeing action in 135 games (129 starts) and averaging 5.4 points, 6.2 rebounds and 1.1 blocks in 24.7 minutes. Perkins will be available for tonight’s game against the Detroit Pistons and will wear jersey number 3 for the Cavaliers.

Ronnie Price will have elbow surgery

Ronnie Price elbow surgery info

Ronnie Price will have elbow surgery

Lakers guard Ronnie Price is scheduled to have surgery tomorrow morning to remove a bone spur from his right elbow. The surgery will be performed by Dr. Neal ElAttrache of the Kerlan-Jobe Orthopaedic Clinic. A timetable for his return will be given at the conclusion of his surgery.

Price, who signed with the Lakers as a free agent on September 24, has appeared in 43 games (20 starts) this season, averaging 5.1 points, 1.6 rebounds, 3.8 assists, and 1.56 steals in 22.8 minutes per game.

Clippers sign Jordan Hamilton to 10-day contract

Los Angeles Clippers sign Jordan Hamilton to 10-day contract

Clippers sign Jordan Hamilton to 10-day contract

The Los Angeles Clippers announced today they have signed free agent forward Jordan Hamilton to a 10-day contract.

Hamilton, 24, comes to the Clippers from the Reno Bighorns of the NBA Development League. He averaged 18.1 points, 7.6 rebounds and 3.6 assists for Reno in 27 games (22 starts) and is the 40th GATORADE call-up of the 2014-15 season.

Originally drafted by the Dallas Mavericks with the 26th overall pick in the first round of the 2011 NBA Draft, Hamilton was traded to the Denver Nuggets on Draft Day. He has career averages of 5.8 points and 2.8 rebounds in 13.3 minutes over 126 games (15 starts) with Denver and the Houston Rockets.

The Los Angeles native spent two years at the University of Texas, earning second team All-American by the USBWA following his sophomore season. He averaged 14.5 points, 5.7 rebounds and 1.8 assists for his career at Texas over 70 games.

Jazz sign Jack Cooley and Bryce Cotton to 10-day contracts

Jazz sign Jack Cooley and Bryce Cotton to 10-day contracts

The Utah Jazz announced the team has signed forward Jack Cooley (Idaho Stampede, the Jazz’s exclusive NBA Development League affiliate) and guard Bryce Cotton (Austin Spurs) to 10-day contracts. Respectively, Cotton and Cooley become the NBA’s 38th and 39th overall NBA D-League Call-Ups of the 2014-15 season and the 28th and 29th different players to be called up.

Cooley (6-9, 246, Notre Dame) appeared in 16 games (14 starts) for the Stampede this season, averaging 15.5 points, 10.6 rebounds and 1.4 blocks in 29.1 minutes per contest. He recorded nine double-doubles, including recording a season-high 25 points and a season-high 20 rebounds vs. Austin Spurs on Feb. 18. He scored in double figures on 13 occasions and recorded 15-plus points in 10 games.

Cooley attended 2014 training camp with the Jazz, averaging 3.5 points and 3.0 rebounds in 5.8 minutes in two preseason games. He was waived on Oct. 22.

The 23-year-old forward played for Trabzonspor in the Turkish Basketball League during the 2013-14 season, averaging 12.6 points and 6.9 rebounds in 22.9 minutes in 28 games (19 starts).

Cooley played four years at Notre Dame (2009-13), averaging 13.1 points and 10.1 rebounds during his senior season. He also led the team with 41 blocked shots and earned 2013 All-Big East First Team honors. Cooley totaled 32 double-doubles throughout his career with the Fighting Irish, including 19 his senior campaign. He also earned the 2012 Big East Most Improved Player award and was named to the 2012 All-Big East Second Team.

Cotton (6-1, 165, Providence) appeared in 34 games (all starts) for the Spurs this season, averaging 22.4 points (third in the D-League), 4.7 rebounds, 4.6 assists and 1.3 steals in 40.5 minutes (first in the D-League) per contest. He is also shooting 90.0 percent from the free throw line this season, which ranks second in the D-League among active players. Cotton has scored in double figures on 31 occasions and recorded 20-plus points in 20 games. He also registered 40-or-more points twice, including a season-high 43 points, eight rebounds, nine assists and two steals at Reno Bighorns. His 43 points rank tied for third in the D-League in scoring performances. Cotton was named D-League Performer of the Week on Feb. 23 after averaging 30.0 points, 5.7 rebounds, 5.3 assists and 1.3 steals last week.

Cotton attended 2014 training camp with the San Antonio Spurs, averaging 4.0 points and 1.5 assists in four games as a reserve. He was waived by the Spurs on Oct. 23.

A native of Tucson, Ariz., Cotton played four seasons at Providence (2010-14). He earned All-Big East First Team honors twice (2013, 2014) and was named the 2014 Big East Tournament Most Outstanding Player. He finished his career ranked fourth all-time in scoring at Providence and became the fifth player from a major conference to average 20-plus points and five-or-more assists in a season since 2002, when he did so as a senior.

Cooley and Cotton become the 15th and 16th D-League Call-Ups in Jazz history, and the fourth and fifth this season. Cooley also becomes the first call-up from the Stampede since the team became the Jazz’s direct affiliate prior to this season.

Cooley will wear uniform #45 for the Jazz while Cotton will wear #8.

Following the moves, the Jazz roster now stands at 15 players.

Shawn Marion out two weeks with hip injury

Shawn Marion out around two weeks with hip injury

Shawn Marion out around two weeks with hip injury

Cavaliers forward Shawn Marion returned to Cleveland from New York to have his left hip examined at Cleveland Clinic Sports Health.

The results of the exam and imaging revealed a left hip strain. He will undergo a treatment and rehab process and is expected to be Out for approximately two weeks.

The Cavs are 35-22 this season, but have been a much-improved team in 2015. Marion gets decent minutes — 20.0 mins per game — but scores just 4.9 ppg and has played a limited, supporting role this season.

Kings hire Vance Walberg as assistant coach

Kings hire Vance Walberg as assistant coach

The Sacramento Kings today hired Vance Walberg as an assistant coach, according to General Manager Pete D’Alessandro.

A veteran of the coaching ranks with more than three decades of experience at the prep, collegiate and professional levels, Walberg joins George Karl’s staff after spending the last two seasons in a similar capacity with the Philadelphia 76ers. Prior to his tenure with the 76ers, he was an assistant for Karl on Denver’s bench.

Walberg is known for his innovative offensive ideas and credited with developing the dribble drive motion offense—implemented by John Calipari at the University of Memphis and later Kentucky. His coaching resume includes three seasons at UMass as an assistant coach (2008-2011) after serving two seasons as the head coach at Pepperdine University (2006-2008).

Prior to joining Karl in Denver for the 2011-12 campaign, Walberg led Fresno City College to a 133-11 (.924) record in his four seasons at the helm, including a perfect 34-0 mark culminating in a California state community college championship in 2005. His extensive head coaching background at the prep level includes stints at Clovis West, Newark Memorial, Los Altos and Mountain View High Schools. In 13 years at Clovis West (Fresno), Walberg guided his teams to a 343-68 record with nine league titles, 10 CIF Central Section Championship appearances, and three trips to the Southern State Championship Game.

An alumnus of Cal State Bakersfield, the College of Belmont and Saint Mary’s College, Walberg and his wife, Rose have four children: Jason, Heather, Jaimie-Rose and Ian.

Guard Bryce Cotton named D-League Performer of Week

Guard Bryce Cotton named D-League Performer of Week

Austin Spurs guard Bryce Cotton was today named NBA Development League Performer of the Week for games played Monday, Feb. 16 – Sunday, Feb. 22. The honor is the first of Cotton’s career and he is the second Spurs player to earn the award this season.

Cotton (6-0, 163, Providence) led Austin to a 3-0 record last week, averaging 30.0 points, 5.7 rebounds, 5.3 assists and 1.3 steals. Cotton recorded an NBA D-League career-high 43 points to go with eight rebounds, nine assists and two steals in a 147-142 road win over Reno on Feb. 19, the night after he scored 32 points against the Bighorns. For the week, Cotton shot 54 percent (28-of-52) from the floor and 56 percent (10-of-18) from three-point territory. The three-victory week helps Austin extend a nine-game win streak that began on Jan. 27.

Selected as a 2015 NBA D-League All-Star, Cotton has appeared in 34 games for the Spurs this season, averaging 22.4 points, 4.7 rebounds, 4.6 assists and 40.4 minutes.

Other top performers considered included Bakersfield’s Mac Koshwal, Delaware’s D.J. Seeley, Idaho’s Jack Cooley, Iowa’s Kalin Lucas, Oklahoma City’s Marquis Teague, Reno’s Sim Bhullar, Rio Grande Valley’s Clint Capela and Santa Cruz’s Elliot Williams.