Shabazz Muhammad out for season with finger injury

Shabazz Muhammad out for season with finger injury

The Minnesota Timberwolves today announced that forward/guard Shabazz Muhammad will undergo season-ending surgery to repair a ruptured ligament in his middle finger (left hand). The surgery will be performed Monday at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. The injury occurred during practice on Wednesday, February 18. Muhammad played 12:43 last night vs. Phoenix, scoring seven points.

In 38 games this season, 13 starts, Muhammad posted averages of 13.5 points, on 48.9 percent shooting, and 4.1 rebounds per game. Muhammad participated in the BBVA Rising Stars Challenge at All-Star Weekend in New York, totaling 10 points and five rebounds for the U.S. Team.

Pelicans waive Shawne Williams

New Orleans Pelicans waive Shawne Williams

Pelicans waive Shawne Williams

The New Orleans Pelicans announced today that the team has waived forward Shawne Williams, who was acquired Feb. 19 from the Miami HEAT along with Norris Cole and Justin Hamilton as part of a three-team trade.

Williams, 6-9, 230, has appeared in 44 games (22 starts) this season for Miami, averaging 6.6 points and 3.2 rebounds in 21.0 minutes per game. Originally the 17th overall selection out of Memphis in the 2006 NBA Draft by Indiana, Williams has appeared in 295 career NBA games, averaging 5.8 points and 3.1 rebounds in 17.6 minutes per game.

New Orleans’ roster now stands at 14.

Bucks waive Larry Sanders

The Milwaukee Bucks have requested waivers on center Larry Sanders, General Manager John Hammond announced today.

“We believe this decision is in the best interest of our team,” said Hammond. “We wish Larry well and remain excited about the future of the Bucks organization.”

This season, Sanders appeared in 27 games for Milwaukee (26 starts) and averaged 7.3 points, 6.1 rebounds and 1.4 blocks in 21.7 minutes per game. His best statistical season came in 2012-13 when he averaged 9.8 points, 9.5 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 2.8 blocks over 71 games (55 starts).

Mavs did not want to rush Amare Stoudemire into action

Mavs did not want to rush Amare Stoudemire into action

Health has been an issue with Amar’e Stoudemire. His new team, the Dallas Mavericks, are fully aware of this, and saw no reason to rush him out onto the court. But he should made his debut soon, possibly as early as tomorrow. Here’s the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reporting:

Mavs did not want to rush Amare Stoudemire into action

Rick Carlisle wanted to clear up some things in regard to Amar’e Stoudemire and the reason he has yet to play in a game for the Dallas Mavericks.

“He’s not unhealthy,’’ the Mavericks coach said Friday. “We’re making sure that he’s ready to play for the Mavericks is what we’re doing.’’

The Mavs signed Stoudemire to a free-agent contract on Wednesday for the rest of the season at the prorated salary of $485,670.

He sat out Thursday’s game against Oklahoma City and Friday’s game against Houston. The 6-foot-10 center/forward appears likely to play his first game with the Mavs on Sunday against Charlotte.

Chris Bosh out for season with blood clots on lung

Chris Bosh out for season with blood clots in lung

Chris Bosh out for season with blood clots in lung

The Miami HEAT announced today that Chris Bosh will miss the remainder of the 2014-15 Season, while being treated for blood clots on his lung.

Bosh, who is receiving care under the guidance of Miami HEAT team physicians at a Baptist Health System Hospital, is currently resting comfortably. Chris is OK and his prognosis is good.

According to the Associated Press, “Bosh is the second NBA player whose final game this season was the All-Star Game. New York’s Carmelo Anthony was shut down for knee surgery earlier in the week, a move that was long expected. Bosh’s situation was anything but. It was nothing short of a shock to the Heat, who entered Saturday with a 23-30 record and holding onto the No. 7 spot in the Eastern Conference playoff race.”

Utah Jazz waive Kendrick Perkins

Utah Jazz waive Kendrick Perkins

Utah Jazz waive Kendrick Perkins

The Utah Jazz announced today that the team has waived center Kendrick Perkins, who was acquired by Utah from Oklahoma City on Thursday, Feb. 19, along with rookie forward Grant Jerrett, the rights to German center Tibor Pleiss and a future first-round pick from Oklahoma City, as well as a 2017 second-round pick from the Detroit Pistons. Following the move, the Jazz roster now stands at 13 players.

Perkins (6-10, 270, Clifton J. Ozen High School (TX)) is a 12-year-veteran who holds career averages of 5.6 points, 6.0 rebounds and 1.1 assists in 22.6 minutes in 727 games (560 starts) with the Thunder and Boston Celtics.

Heat sign Henry Walker to 10-day contract

Miami Heat sign Henry Walker to 10-day contract

The Miami HEAT announced today that they have signed forward Henry Walker to a 10-day contract.

Walker has appeared in 17 games (eight starts) for the HEAT’s NBA Development League affiliate, the Sioux Falls Skyforce, this season averaging 15.1 points, 3.9 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 1.00 steals and 27.8 minutes while shooting 46.8 percent from the field and 44.8 percent from three-point range. He has recorded five 20-point games this season, including a 24-point, six-rebound, four-assist, three-steal game in a, 105-80, win against the Westchester Knicks on January 31.

Walker was originally drafted in the second round (47th overall) by the Washington Wizards in the 2008 NBA Draft. The four-year NBA veteran has appeared in 157 career NBA games (22 starts) and averaged 5.8 points and 2.0 rebounds in 15.2 minutes of action while shooting 47.1 percent from the field.

Walker will wear number 5.

Jazz look good in win over Blazers

Utah Jazz look good in win over Blazers

Here’s the Deseret News reporting on the Utah Jazz, who enjoyed a great win Friday over what appeared would be a superior opponent:

The Jazz got back to their post-All-Star week business Friday at EnergySolutions Arena, looking just short of invincible. They were missing a talented Turkish center that wished his way onto the Oklahoma City roster, and a long-range shooter who had just recently been enlisted.

That left the team a bit thinner in the ranks, but it handled the drama well, beating Portland 92-76.

Rudy Gobert was in the starting lineup, a spot he earned fair and square. Gordon Hayward continued trending upward and Derrick Favors was looking like “31 Flavors Favors,” offering a bit of everything. Meanwhile, Trey Burke was hot off the bench, contributing 19 points.

Is this a better Jazz team than the one that lost six of its last nine games before the break?

Sure seemed like it.

Celtics roster changes this season

Boston Celtics roster changes this season

The Boston Celtics have made a ton of roster changes this season as they rebuild for the future. Here’s ESPN Boston reporting:

In the days before the All-Star break, Boston Celtics coach Brad Stevens was asked if his team’s recent success could be traced in part to roster continuity. Stevens chuckled at the suggestion, but later admitted that three weeks without a roster move might truly have represented a lengthy period of time for a team that’s seen its player swap uniforms more frequently than famed halftime act, Quick Change.

The Celtics have employed a staggering 38 players since the formal start of the 2014-15 season. You could fill three NBA teams (or maybe two NBA teams and a D-League squad) with players that have been on the roster.

Just look at the list of players that are gone but not forgotten (in alphabetical order): Joel Anthony, Chris Babb, Keith Bogans, Will Bynum, Andre Dawkins, Chris Douglas-Roberts, Jarrell Eddie, Vitor Faverani, Tim Frazier, Kris Humphries, Chris Johnson, John Lucas III, Rodney McGruder, Erik Murphy, Jameer Nelson, Dwight Powell, Tayshaun Prince, Austin Rivers, Nate Robinson, Rajon Rondo, Malcolm Thomas, Christian Watford, and Brandan Wright.

Bradley Beal set to return for Wizards

Bradley Beal set to return for Wizards

The 33-22 Washington Wizards have won just 3 of their last 10 games, and on Friday got badly smacked down by the Cleveland Cavaliers. But there’s good news on the DC health front. Here’s the Washington Post blog reporting:

Bradley Beal set to return for Wizards

There was at least one positive development for the Washington Wizards on Friday: Doctors evaluated starting shooting guard Bradley Beal’s injured right fibula in the morning and have given him the green light to resume basketball activities Saturday.

“Things are progressing really good,” Coach Randy Wittman said. “They’re going to [ramp] him up more and more now so he can get out, shooting and running and stuff, and see how that reacts.”

Beal hasn’t practiced or played in a game since exiting the Wizards’ 94-87 loss to the Charlotte Hornets on Feb. 5. He was originally sidelined with an inflamed right toe, but tests the following week revealed a mild stress reaction in his right fibula. It was Beal’s third injury to his right fibula in his three NBA seasons.