Kings trade Ramon Sessions to Wizards for Andre Miller

Washington Wizards President Ernie Grunfeld announced today that the team has acquired guard Ramon Sessions from Sacramento in exchange for guard Andre Miller.

“Ramon is a proven veteran who will bring an up-tempo style to our second unit and give us quickness, energy and defensive presence,” said Grunfeld. “He can make plays for himself as well as others and will help to solidify our bench as we head into the final 28 games of the season and the playoffs.”

Sessions (6-3, 190) holds career averages of 11.3 points, 4.5 assists and 2.9 rebounds in 503 career games (134 starts) in seven-plus years with six teams. He has shot .435 from the field and .797 from the line. The 56th overall pick in the 2007 NBA Draft has averaged 5.4 points, 2.7 assists and 1.9 rebounds in 36 games (seven starts) with Sacramento this season. In seven games as a starter this season, he averaged 9.6 points, 4.0 assists and 3.3 rebounds. Sessions enjoyed his best season during the 2012-13 campaign when he averaged 14.4 points, 3.8 assists and 2.8 rebounds in 61 games with Charlotte. In 12 career playoff games with the Los Angeles Lakers, he holds averages of 9.7 points, 3.6 assists and 3.0 rebounds.

Miller was originally acquired by Washington on February 20, 2014, in a three-team trade with Denver and Philadelphia. In 79 games with Washington in parts of two seasons, Miller averaged 3.7 points and 3.0 assists (including 3.6 points and 2.8 assists in 51 games this season).

“Andre was a consummate professional during his time with the Wizards and gave us great veteran leadership,” said Grunfeld.  “We wish him and his family the best.”

Nuggets trade JaVale McGee to Sixers

The Denver Nuggets have traded center JaVale McGee, a protected 2015 first round pick (via Oklahoma City) and the rights to Chukwudiebere Maduabum to Philadelphia in exchange for the right to Cenk Akyol, General Manager and Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations Tim Connelly announced today.

Akyol, 27, was originally drafted by the Hawks with the 59th overall selection in the second round of the 2005 NBA Draft. The 6-6 guard from Turkey plays for Galatasaray of the Turkish Basketball League and has averaged 6.2 points and 1.6 rebounds in 16.9 minutes per game this season.

McGee appeared in 17 games for Denver this season, averaging 5.2 points, 2.8 rebounds and 1.1 b locks in 11.5 minutes per contest. He had appeared in a total of 121 games (10 starts) in four seasons with the Nuggets, averaging 8.6 points, 4.6 rebounds and 1.8 blocks in 17.5 minutes.

Maduabum was selected by the Los Angeles Lakers with the 56th overall pick in the 2011 NBA Draft before his rights were traded to Denver in a draft-night deal. He most recently appeared in four games for the Fort Wayne Mad Ants of the NBA Development League and seven games for Tallinna Ulikool/Kalev of the Estonian Basketball League.

Nuggets trade Arron Afflalo to Blazers

The Portland Trail Blazers have acquired guard Arron Afflalo and forward Alonzo Gee from the Denver Nuggets in exchange for guard Will Barton, forward Victor Claver, forward Thomas Robinson and a lottery-protected 2016 first round draft pick, President of Basketball Operations Neil Olshey announced today.

If Portland’s 2016 first round draft pick is not conveyed to Denver, it will move to a 2017 lottery-protected first round pick. If that pick is not conveyed, the Nuggets will receive two future second round picks.

“Arron is a proven winner with playoff experience who will be easily integrated into our culture,” said Olshey. “He possesses a skill set that complements our style of play on both ends of the floor and will make an immediate impact as we continue our playoff push. Alonzo is an elite athlete and defender who adds a unique element to our perimeter.

“We thank Thomas, Will and Victor for their contributions to the team and wish them all the best for the future.”

Afflalo, 29, is averaging 14.5 points (42.8% FG, 33.7% 3-PT, 84.1% FT), 3.4 rebounds and 1.9 assists in 53 games (all starts) for the Nuggets this season. A 6-5, 215-pound wing, Afflalo holds career averages of 11.5 points (45.5% FG, 38.4% 3-PT, 81.8% FT), 3.0 rebounds and 2.0 assists in 552 games (413 starts) over eight seasons with Detroit, Denver and Orlando.

Gee, 27, is posting averages of 4.9 points (48.2% FG, 41.7% 3-PT, 73.8% FT), 1.8 rebounds and 0.5 assists this season with Denver. Gee (6-6, 225) has career averages of 7.5 points (42.4% FG, 33.3% 3-PT, 77.0% FT), 3.4 rebounds and 1.1 assists in 316 games (173 starts) over six seasons with Washington, San Antonio, Cleveland and Denver.

Barton averaged 3.8 points, 1.7 rebounds and 0.8 assists in his two-plus seasons (144 games) with the Trail Blazers after being selected by Portland with the 40th overall pick in the second round of the 2012 NBA Draft.

In parts of three seasons with the Trail Blazers, Claver averaged 3.2 points, 2.2 rebounds and 0.7 assists in 80 games. Portland selected him with the 22nd overall pick in the 2009 NBA Draft out of Valencia, Spain.

Robinson averaged 4.4 points (49.0% FG), 4.3 rebounds, 0.4 assists and 0.30 blocks per game in parts of two seasons with the Trail Blazers after being acquired in a July of 2013 trade with Houston.

Three-team trade sends Enes Kanter to Thunder, Reggie Jackson to Pistons

The Utah Jazz announced today the team has acquired rookie forward Grant Jerrett, the rights to German center Tibor Pleiss, center Kendrick Perkins and a future first-round pick from Oklahoma City, as well as a 2017 second-round pick from the Detroit Pistons as part of a three-team trade.  As part of the deal, the Jazz traded center Enes Kanter and forward Steve Novak to Oklahoma City, who also received guard D.J. Augustin and forward Kyle Singler from Detroit while sending the Pistons guard Reggie Jackson.

“This trade allowed us to add assets while helping to maintain flexibility for the future,” said Jazz General Manager Dennis Lindsey.  “Trades like this are never easy, but we thank Enes and Steve for their contributions to the team and in the community and wish them well as they move forward in their careers.”

Jerrett (6-10, 232, Arizona) has seen action in five games as a reserve for Oklahoma City this season, recording 1.4 points in 5.0 minutes per contest.  The 21-year-old rookie forward has also appeared in 10 games while on assignment with the Thunder’s NBA Development League affiliate, the Oklahoma City Blue, averaging 14.6 points, 5.5 rebounds and 1.1 assists in 25.5 minutes.  He spent the 2013-14 season with the Thunder’s D-League affiliate, where he saw action in 27 games and averaged 15.1 points and 6.1 rebounds in 29.2 minutes per contest.  Originally selected in the second round (40th overall) of the 2013 NBA Draft by the Portland Trail Blazers, Jerrett played one season at the University of Arizona after being named a 2012 McDonald’s All-American and to the Jordan Brand Classic as a senior in high school.

Pleiss (7-1, 262, Germany) was originally selected by the New Jersey Nets in the second round (31st overall pick) in the 2010 NBA Draft.  His rights were then traded to the Atlanta Hawks before eventually being moved to Oklahoma City.  The 25-year-old Pleiss currently plays for FC Barcelona, where he joined the club after averaging a career-high 12 points in addition to 5.4 rebounds with Laboral Kutxa Vitoria in Spain.  A member of the German Men’s Senior National Team, Pleiss began his career with Brose Baskets in Germany.

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.  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.

Kanter appeared in 49 games for the Jazz this season, averaging 13.8 points and 7.8 rebounds in 27.1 minutes.  Novak averaged 2.2 points and 0.7 rebounds in 22 games.

Grizzlies sign JaMychal Green to second 10-day contract

The Memphis Grizzlies signed free agent forward JaMychal Green to a second 10-day contract, Grizzlies General Manager Chris Wallace announced today.

Green (6-9, 220) initially was signed by Memphis to a 10-day contract as a Call-Up from the Austin Spurs of the NBA Development League on Feb. 2. He has averaged 4.0 points and 2.5 rebounds in 6.5 minutes in two appearances for Memphis, scoring eight points on 3-of-3 shooting in his Grizzlies debut on Feb. 6 at Minnesota. Green has averaged 2.7 points and 1.8 rebounds in 6.3 minutes in six games for Memphis and San Antonio in his rookie NBA season.

The 24-year-old averaged 23.0 points on .577 shooting, 10.9 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.55 blocks in 31.8 minutes in 20 games (all starts) this season with Austin. Green, who was named NBA D-League Player of the Month for games in December, ranked sixth in the D-League in scoring and rebounding per game and tied for seventh in double-doubles (15) before his Call-Up to the Grizzlies (among players with at least 10 games played).

Undrafted in the 2012 NBA Draft, the Montgomery, Ala. native averaged 13.5 points, 7.4 rebounds and 1.72 blocks in 123 games over four seasons at the University of Alabama. He played 25 games for Chorale Roanne of the LNB Pro A League in France during the 2013-14 season.

Byron Scott may change Lakers lineup

Here’s the Los Angeles Daily News blog reporting on the 13-40 Lakers:

Byron Scott may change Lakers lineup

The Lakers appear likely to make lineup changes, regardless of whether they make a move leading into Thursdays’ trade deadline that ends at 12 p.m. PST.

With Byron Scott insistent he would evaluate his starting lineup every 15 to 20 games this season, the Lakers coach strongly suggested another shuffle will take place.

“I’ll probably make another lineup change just to get some other guys some time to just go out there and show what they can do as well,” Scott said. “So I do expect probably one more, at least, lineup change.”

Danny Ainge discusses playing with Jerome Kersey

Here’s the Oregonian with quotes on Jerome Kersey, the former Trail Blazers who has unfortunately passed away:

Danny Ainge discusses playing with Jerome Kersey

Danny Ainge will remember many things about Jerome Kersey, but one thing will always stand above all: His smile.

“He always played happy and hard,” Ainge said Thursday morning. “And that made him a great joy to be around on a day-in-day-out basis.”

Kersey died unexpectedly on Wednesday in Tualatin. He was 52.

Kersey played his first 11 seasons with the Blazers, including two with Ainge – the record 63-win season in 1990-1991 and the NBA Finals season of 1991-1992.

Spurs visit the Clippers tonight

Here’s the San Antonio Express-News blog reporting on the Spurs, who head to Los Angeles to visit the Clippers tonight:

The Spurs view their annual rodeo trip as an opportunity to bond and gear themselves up for the stretch run. They need that now more than ever as they enter the second half of the season still stuck in seventh place in the bloodbath that is the Western Conference despite winning 13 of their last 17 before the All-Star break.

If they’re going to climb up the standings, winning games against the six teams above them is critical. Especially when said teams are missing a key player, as the Clippers are without injured All-Star Blake Griffin. His absence didn’t prevent the Clippers from spanking Dallas and Houston by a combined 32 points in their most recent outings. But it leaves them perilously thin with Glen Davis as their primary backup big.

Rodney Hood should return Friday for Jazz

Rodney Hood should return Friday for Jazz

Here’s the Salt Lake Tribune with good news on the Jazz health front:

Rodney Hood should return Friday for Jazz

It’s been more than a month since Rodney Hood has played a game of a basketball, but the Jazz rookie is optimistic that streak is about to end.

“Yeah. I expect to play,” the 6-foot-8 swingman told reporters Wednesday, when asked about his availability for Friday night’s game against the Portland Trail Blazers. “I’ll be on restricted minutes. We’ll see how practice goes tomorrow … and go from there.”

Hood was only a partial participant in Utah’s first practice back from the all-star break. Joe Ingles, who has missed three straight games with back spasms, was a full participant Wednesday.

Carmelo Anthony to undergo season-ending knee surgery

Carmelo Anthony to undergo season-ending knee surgery

To no one’s surprise, the New York Knicks announced Wednesday that Carmelo Anthony will have season-ending left knee surgery.

The procedure, which will be performed by Team Orthopedist Dr. Answorth Allen, includes a left knee patella tendon debridement and repair.

At 10-43, the Knicks have the worst record in the league. Melo played in 40 of those 53 games, averaging 24.2 points, 6.6 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game, shooting 44.4 percent from the field.

The team is focused on summer free agency and the draft, and the future, not present. So there was no need for Anthony to continue playing hurt, even if he was able to do so.