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Nets: Markel Brown finally getting some playing time

Here’s the New York Post reporting on a guy at the end of the Nets bench getting to stand up, leave the bench and play some basketball:

Everyone on the Nets has gotten an extended shot at playing time at some point this season.

Everyone, that is, except for Markel Brown.

The rookie guard, taken by the Nets with the 44th pick in last year’s draft out of Oklahoma State, has spent most of the season watching from the sidelines. Before Friday’s game against the Lakers, Brown had played in just 17 of the first 51 games — and had played more than 10 minutes just three times, all in blowout losses.

But after the Nets traded Kevin Garnett for Thaddeus Young at Thursday’s trade deadline and coach Lionel Hollins opted to go to a smaller lineup, Brown played 15 minutes in Friday’s win, finishing with nine points, two rebounds, an assist and a steal in 15 minutes, a performance that could lead to more playing time.

Kevin Garnett, Flip Saunders may team up and try to buy Timberwolves

Kevin Garnett, Flip Saunders may team up and try to buy Timberwolves

Here’s the St. Paul Pioneer Press reporting on a fun possibility in Minnesota:

The contract extension Kevin Garnett, 38, will sign with the Timberwolves this summer will be for two years. During that period, Garnett and Wolves president-coach Flip Saunders are expected to try to form a group to buy the team from Glen Taylor.

Garnett has amassed more than $325 million in salaries during 20 seasons in the NBA. Saunders, who turns 60 on Monday, has made an estimated $40 million during 17 seasons as a NBA coach.

The Wolves, for whom Taylor paid $88 million in 1994, were valued at $625 million last January by Forbes. Taylor, who turns 74 in April, is amenable to taking in more limited partners. But he’s not interested in selling his team until he finds out what the Atlanta Hawks, who are for sale and currently are taking bids, end up going for.

Carmelo Anthony played through injury most of this season

Carmelo Anthony played through injury most of this season

New York Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony is out for the season after averaging 24.2 points, 6.6 rebounds and 3.1 assists in 35.7 minutes per game this season. He played in 40 games, starting all 40. Here’s the New York Post reporting what he was dealing with along the way:

Carmelo Anthony played hurt most of this season

Carmelo Anthony played most of the season with a partial tear of the left patellar tendon, The Post has learned.

In new details, the debridement part of Thursday’s surgery was to clean out the calcium deposits that formed within the partial tear, so the tear could be repaired.

If Anthony had suffered a full tear of the patellar tendon — also known as a rupture — he could not have played on it this season. Ex-Knick Antonio McDyess suffered a full tear in 2000, as did the Giants’ Victor Cruz last season.

JaVale McGee hopes to stay with Sixers

JaVale McGee hopes to stay with Sixers

New Philadelphia 76ers center JaVale McGee has averaged 8.5 points, 5.6 rebounds and 1.8 blocks per game over his NBA career, though he’s received little playing time this season and hasn’t contributed much. But that was on the Denver Nuggets. There’s room for him to step up at least a little on the very-rebuilding Sixers, if given a shot. Here’s the Philadelphia Inquirer reporting:

Center JaVale McGee wants to remain with the 76ers for the rest of the season and beyond.

The Sixers, at least for the time being, are committed to giving him every opportunity to do just that.

“We are coming into this whole thing with an open mind,” coach Brett Brown said Sunday after the team’s morning shootaround at the Amway Center. “He is around a bunch of genuine people, coaches that care. That will give him every chance to keep moving and to be as good as he can be.

“And if it doesn’t work, it doesn’t work. But it’s not going to be on us.”

Hawks end Bucks` home winning streak

Here’s the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reporting on Sunday NBA action:

Milwaukee’s seven-game home winning streak came to an end Sunday afternoon at the hands of the Eastern Conference-leading Atlanta Hawks.

The Bucks dug out of a deep hole to tie the game in the third quarter but could not survive a fourth-quarter surge by the Hawks and dropped a 97-86 decision at the BMO Harris Bradley Center.

Kyle Korver found his shooting touch and Paul Millsap finished with 23 points and 15 rebounds as the Hawks (44-12) avoided a three-game skid.

All five Hawks starters were in double figures, including Al Horford with 15 points, Korver with 12 and DeMarre Carroll and Jeff Teague with 10 each.

Sixers sign Ish Smith, waive Malcolm Thomas

Sixers sign Ish Smith, waive Malcolm Thomas

The Philadelphia 76ers announced today that the team has signed guard Ishmael “Ish” Smith.

Smith has appeared in 221 career NBA games and owns career averages of three points, two assists and over one rebound per game. He was selected by the Delaware 87ers during the team’s expansion draft in August, 2013.

Smith finished at Wake Forest as the first player in school history to record 1,000 points, 500 assists and 400 rebounds in a career.

In a related move, the Sixers have waived forward Malcolm Thomas.

Nuggets waive Victor Claver and Thomas Robinson

Nuggets waive Victor Claver and Thomas Robinson

The Denver Nuggets have waived forwards Victor Claver and Thomas Robinson, General Manager and Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations Tim Connelly announced today.

Both Claver and Robinson were acquired along with Will Barton and a lottery-protected 2016 first round draft pick from the Portland Trail Blazers in exchange for Arron Afflalo and Alonzo Gee on February 19, 2015.

Anthony Davis out 1-2 weeks with right shoulder sprain

Anthony Davis out 1-2 weeks with right shoulder sprain

Anthony Davis out 1-2 weeks with shoulder sprain

The New Orleans Pelicans announced today that forward Anthony Davis has been diagnosed with a right shoulder sprain. An MRI conducted by the team’s medical staff this morning confirmed the right shoulder sprain. The injury occurred at the 3:38 mark of the first quarter in last night’s game against the Miami HEAT. He is expected to miss 1-2 weeks.

Additionally, Ryan Anderson underwent an MRI this morning and has been diagnosed with an MCL sprain in his right knee. The injury took place at the 9:41 mark during the second quarter of last night’s game against the Miami HEAT. He is expected to miss 2-4 weeks.

Shawn Marion bothered by hip injury since early January

Shawn Marion bothered by hip injury since early January

Here’s the Akron Beacon Journal blog reporting on Shawn Marion of the Cleveland Cavaliers, who has been playing hurt for most of 2015:

Shawn Marion said Saturday he has been fighting a left hip injury for the last couple months, which helps explain his sporadic playing time recently.

As the Cavs prepare to face the New York Knicks this afternoon at Madison Square Garden (1 p.m., Fox Sports Ohio), they may have to do it yet again without Marion, who has fallen from starter to completely out of David Blatt’s rotation in recent weeks. Part of it is because of the hip.

“My hip is bothering me right now. I’ve been trying to fight through it as much as I can, but it’s causing me a lot of discomfort,” he said. “ I just want to get back to 100 percent healthy.”

Jared Sullinger out for season with foot injury

Jared Sullinger out for season with foot injury

The Boston Celtics announced today that, following further medical evaluation at the New England Baptist Hospital, it was determined that forward Jared Sullinger has sustained a left metatarsal (foot) stress fracture and will be out for the remainder of the 2014-15 regular season.

In 51 games played this season, Sullinger averaged 14.4 points and 8.1 rebounds in 28.7 minutes per outing.

According to ESPN Boston, “the loss of Sullinger leaves Boston thin up front. The Celtics were hoping to get second-year big man Kelly Olynyk back shortly after the All-Star break, but he remains sidelined by a right ankle injury that has caused him to miss 12 straight games. The Celtics will get some help up front after recently acquired Jonas Jerebko joined the team Saturday.”