Joel Freeland, Shawne Williams suspended for headbutting each other

Portland Trail Blazers center Joel Freeland and Detroit Pistons forward Shawne Williams have been suspended one game without pay for headbutting each other. The penalties were announced today by Rod Thorn, President, Basketball Operations.

The incident occurred with 1:15 remaining in the fourth quarter of the Trail Blazers’ 118-99 win over the Pistons on Friday, March. 13, at Moda Center.

Williams will serve his suspension tonight when the Pistons travel to Utah to play the Jazz. Freeland will serve his suspension on Sunday, March 15, when the Trail Blazers travel to Toronto to play the Raptors.

To view the play, click on this link.

Atlanta Hawks forward Mike Scott suffered a left toe injury against the Denver Nuggets on March 11 that was initially diagnosed as a strain. After further consultation and an MRI examination, taken yesterday at St. Luke’s Medical Center in Phoenix, a fracture of his left great toe was revealed. He will see a foot specialist at Peachtree Orthopaedics in Atlanta on Monday to determine the appropriate course of action. A timeline for his return will be updated at a later date.

Pelicans sign Elliot Williams to second 10-day contract

The New Orleans Pelicans announced today that the team has signed guard Elliot Williams to a second 10-day contract.

Williams, 6-5,180 has appeared in three games with the Pelicans, averaging 4.0 points, 1.0 assists and 1.0 rebounds in 11.0 minutes per game.

Prior to joining New Orleans, Williams played for the Santa Cruz Warriors of the NBA Development League. Appearing in 25 games for Santa Cruz, Williams averaged 21.8 points, 7.6 assists and 4.5 rebounds in 36.8 minutes per game while being named a NBA D-League All-Star. Williams had signed 10-day contracts with Utah and Charlotte earlier this season, appearing in five games for Utah, averaging 3.6 points in 8.4 minutes per contest.

Selected by Portland with the 22nd overall pick in the 2010 NBA Draft out of Memphis, Williams has appeared in 99 career games, averaging 5.3 points and 1.6 rebounds in 13.9 minutes per game.

Sergey Karasev undergoes season-ending knee surgery

Brooklyn Nets guard/forward Sergey Karasev underwent successful surgery on his right knee on Thursday, March 12, at the Hospital for Special Surgery in Manhattan. The surgery was performed by Nets’ Medical Director Dr. Riley Williams III along with Dr. David Altchek.

Statement from Dr. Riley Williams III:
“Sergey underwent successful right knee surgery to repair damage that occurred in association with a patellar dislocation on Thursday night. The surgery included the removal of several loose bodies as well as the repair of the medial patella femoral ligament and the medial collateral ligament. A full recovery is anticipated, and he is expected to be ready for training camp next season.”

Karasev played in 33 games (16 starts) for Brooklyn this season, posting averages of 4.6 points and 2.0 rebounds in 16.8 minutes per game.

Golden State Warriors’ center Marreese Speights has been suspended for one game without pay for pleading no contest to reckless driving, in violation of the law of the State of Florida, the NBA announced today.

Speights will be suspended for tonight’s game between the Golden State Warriors and the Denver Nuggets.

The Phoenix Suns have signed center Earl Barron for the remainder of the season.

Barron signed his first 10-day contract with the club on Feb. 21, and his second 10-day on March 3. The 33-year-old center has appeared in eight games (one start) with Phoenix this season, averaging 1.1 points and 0.8 rebounds in 5.7 minutes.

The 7-0 Barron averaged a double-double in 27 games with the Bakersfield Jam this season, posting 20.3 points and 10.9 rebounds for the Suns’ NBA Development League affiliate. Barron played with the Suns during the 2014-15 preseason and averaged 3.7 points, 4.3 rebounds and 13.7 minutes in six appearances, including a 10-point, 13-rebound performance in 24 minutes at Houston on Oct. 13.

Barron, who saw action in 12 games with the Suns in 2010-11, is an eighth-season NBA veteran from the University of Memphis who has also played with New York, Miami, Milwaukee, Portland, Golden State and Washington.

Warriors recall James Michael McAdoo from D-League

The Golden State Warriors have recalled forward James Michael McAdoo from the Santa Cruz Warriors of the NBA Development League, the team announced today.

McAdoo, who signed with Golden State for the remainder of the season on February 19, has appeared in four games with the Warriors, averaging 3.5 points and 1.3 rebounds in 5.0 minutes.

The rookie forward has appeared in 32 games (30 starts) with Santa Cruz, averaging 19.4 points (12th in the D-League), 8.8 rebounds (12th), 2.3 assists, 2.00 steals (fourth) and 2.06 blocks (sixth) in 32.9 minutes while hitting 58.3 percent from the field.

Pero Antic hopes to re-sign with Hawks

Here’s the Atlanta Journal Constitution reporting on a Hawks reserve who doesn’t play much but is enjoying being part of a successful squad and hopes to stick around in the future:

The Macedonian is in the final season of the two-year contract he signed with the Hawks in 2013. The center left Europe for a rookie season in the NBA at the age of 31. Now, he’d like to stay beyond that original deal…

The feeling is mutual. When Hawks management plans for next season, nearly every scenario includes Antic. The versatility of the 6-foot-11, 265-pound center has played a key role in the Hawks’ system under head coach Mike Budenholzer. The coach raves about Antic’s ability to stretch the floor from the center position. Yet, he’d rather talk about his defense, basketball IQ and leadership…

Antic signed a two-year, $2.45 million contract. The Hawks picked up his team option of $1.25 million this summer. Antic was selected to the Rising Stars Challenge, the rookie-sophomore exhibition, at last year’s All-Star Game. He finished his first NBA season appearing in 50 games and averaging 7.0 points, 4.2 rebounds and 1.2 assists in 18.5 minutes. He shot .418 from the field, including .327 from 3-point range.

Raptors assign Lucas Nogueira to D-League

The Toronto Raptors announced Thursday they have assigned center Lucas Nogueira (No-GARE-uh) to the Fort Wayne Mad Ants of the NBA Development League. Nogueira will continue to be included on the Raptors’ roster and will remain on the team’s inactive list. He is expected to be in uniform for the Mad Ants on Saturday when they play host to the Delaware 87ers at 7:30 p.m.

Nogueira made his NBA debut November 21 versus Milwaukee and grabbed a season-high five rebounds in nine minutes of action. He has played a total of 23 minutes in six games with Toronto this season, recording six points and 11 rebounds.

A native of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Nogueira was selected 16th overall by Boston in the 2013 NBA Draft. The Raptors acquired his rights June 30, 2014 from Atlanta. He spent the 2013-14 season with Estudiantes Madrid in the Spanish Liga Endesa and averaged 6.3 points, 4.1 rebounds and 16.0 minutes in 18 games.

Wizards sign Toure’ Murry

Washington Wizards President Ernie Grunfeld announced today that the team has signed guard Toure’ Murry. He is the 47th D-League “Call-Up.”

In 23 games in the D-League this season with Idaho and Rio Grande Valley, Murry has averaged 12.9 points, 6.1 rebounds, 6.0 assists and 1.6 steals in 29.1 minutes per game. In 16 games with Rio Grande Valley this season, he tallied three triple-doubles, including two in his last four games with the Vipers.

In parts of two seasons with New York and Utah, Murry (6-5, 195) has appeared in 52 career regular season games while averaging 2.7 points in 7.2 minutes per game. Last season with New York, he appeared in 51 games while averaging 2.7 points in 7.3 minutes. Murry appeared in one game with Utah this season after signing with the Jazz in August of 2014.

Murry was undrafted out of Wichita State in 2012. While at Wichita State, Murry averaged 12.1 points, 4.8 rebounds and 3.3 assists during his four-year career and helped the Shockers to the 2011 NIT title.

Suns sign Seth Curry to 10-day contract

The Phoenix Suns have signed guard Seth Curry to a 10-day contract.

Curry, a 6-1, 180-pound point guard, has averaged 23.5 points on shooting splits of 48.0 percent from the field, 48.2 percent from three-point range and 91.9 percent from the free throw line, in addition to 4.3 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 1.3 steals and 37.0 minutes in 36 games with the Erie BayHawks of the NBA Development League this season. Among D-League leaders, Curry ranks second in scoring average, first in three-point percentage and second in free throw percentage.

Curry played in all five games with the Suns at 2014 NBA Summer League in Las Vegas, averaging 10.2 points in 21.0 minutes, including a 26-point performance against Milwaukee on July 13. Curry played with the Orlando Magic during the 2014-15 preseason before joining Erie.

The younger brother of Golden State Warriors All-Star Stephen Curry and son of former Charlotte Hornets great Dell Curry, Seth Curry has played in two career NBA games with both coming during the 2013-14 season. Curry played in one game each with the Memphis Grizzlies and Cleveland Cavaliers, making his debut with the Grizzlies at Detroit on Jan. 5, 2014, and scoring his first NBA points on a three-pointer against Houston with the Cavaliers on March 22, 2014.

An All-ACC selection at Duke University in 2012-13, Curry is the 46th GATORADE Call-Up from the D-League to the NBA this season.

The Suns host the Minnesota Timberwolves tonight with tip-off scheduled for 7:00 p.m. (Phoenix time). The game will be televised on FOX Sports Arizona and carried on Arizona Sports 98.7 FM.

The Suns’ roster now stands at 15.

Byron Scott does not think Kobe Bryant will eventually become a coach

Here’s the Los Angeles Daily News reporting Lakers head coach Byron Scott’s views on Kobe Bryant’s eventual post-playing days:

Scott then quickly reiterated his doubts Bryant would ever coach.

“He would be like Earvin (Johnson),” said Scott, referring to Johnson’s brief Lakers coaching stint that entailed a 5-11 record in the 1993-94 season. “Kobe would be in the locker room like Earvin throwing stuff and going crazy. It’s a tough job. Those two guys, as competitive as they are and as much as they won back on their day, both of them would be beating up players.”

Scott conceded he threw “a tantrum or two” early in his coaching career that included stops with the former New Jersey Nets (2000-04), former New Orleans Hornets (2004-09) and Cleveland Cavaliers (2010-13).

Scott said he has since mellowed. How did that happen?

“Just the experience of knowing these guys don’t do it the way we did it,” said Scott.

Lakers officially eliminated from playoff contention

Here’s ESPN Los Angeles reporting what was inevitable:

The Lakers were eliminated from playoff contention Tuesday, marking their earliest elimination since the franchise moved to L.A. before the 1960-61 season.

The Lakers were officially knocked out when the New Orleans Pelicans defeated the Brooklyn Nets.

They later beat the Detroit Pistons 93-85 to improve to 17-46.

Their elimination marks only the seventh time in franchise history that the Lakers will miss the postseason and only the second time that they’ve missed the playoffs in consecutive seasons (1974-75 and 1975-76).

Hassan Whiteside racking up lots of NBA fines

Here’s the South Florida Sun Sentinel reporting on talented Miami Heat center Hassan Whiteside, who is having a breakout season but must tone a couple things down on the floor:

This time the financial penalty for Hassan Whiteside was not as severe, but the impact to the Miami Heat is more extreme.

With Whiteside suspended for Wednesday’s game against the Brooklyn Nets at AmericanAirlines Arena for his Monday blow to the back of the neck of Boston Celtics forward Kelly Olynyk, the Heat will be reduced to Chris Andersen as their lone available center in the key matchup for playoff seeding.

The loss of salary for the suspension equates to $7,000 for Whiteside, less than half of the $15,000 he was fined for last week’s skirmish with Phoenix Suns center Alex Len, with no suspension accompanying that NBA sanction.

Joel Embiid is wearing a walking boot again

Here’s the Philadelphia Inquirer reporting on injured 76ers rookie Joel Embiid:

Brett Brown wants folks to relax.

The 76ers coach confirmed Tuesday that Joel Embiid is once again in a walking boot. Brown added that the rookie center is just experiencing “soreness” in his right foot, and that Embiid’s doctor’s visit Tuesday in Los Angeles was long scheduled.

“People shouldn’t overreact,” Brown said after practice at Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine. “I get why we all can. But it’s not a situation all the people need to overact to.”

A report Monday stated that Embiid had a “minor setback” and apparently was wearing a walking boot. The rookie, who has yet to play, was in California on Tuesday for the doctor’s appointment.

Lakers sign Jabari Brown to 10-day contract

The Los Angeles Lakers have signed guard Jabari Brown to a 10-day contract, it was announced today by General Manager Mitch Kupchak.

Brown, who was most recently a member of the Lakers NBA Development League affiliate, the Los Angeles D-Fenders, joins the team after leading the D-League in scoring at 24.4 points per game to go along with 4.1 rebounds and 2.2 assists in 39 games (25 starts). A 2015 NBA D-League All-Star, Brown tallied two of the highest single-game scoring outputs in the D-League this season, finishing with 50 points on January 10th at Sioux Falls and 48 points on February 28th versus Bakersfield.

Brown, a 6’4” rookie out of Missouri and a teammate of Lakers guard Jordan Clarkson last season in college, averaged 19.9 points, 4.4 rebounds and 1.9 assists in 2013-14 before declaring himself eligible for the 2014 NBA Draft. An Oakland, Calif. native, Brown later signed with the Lakers for NBA training camp in 2014.

The Lakers roster now stands at 16 players after being granted a hardship waiver exception from the NBA.

Hassan Whiteside suspended for elbow to Kelly Olynyk

Miami Heat center Hassan Whiteside has been suspended one game without pay for elbowing Boston Celtics center Kelly Olynyk in the back of the neck, it was announced today by Rod Thorn, President, Basketball Operations.

The incident occurred with 2:45 remaining in the third quarter of Boston’s 100-90 win over Miami on Monday, March 9, at AmericanAirlines Arena.

Whiteside will serve his suspension tomorrow when the Heat hosts the Brooklyn Nets.

To view the play, click on this link.

Shawn Marion should return fairly soon for Cavs

Here’s ESPN.com reporting some good news for the Cleveland Cavaliers, who are enjoying great success these days and will get a bit deeper in the fairly near future:

Shawn Marion returned to the practice court Monday for the first time in more than two weeks after being sidelined with a left hip strain.

“Shawn is out on the court, which is a good sign,” Cavaliers coach David Blatt said. “He’s still not ready. He’s definitely coming along in the process well.”

The Cavs begin a four-game road trip Tuesday in Dallas, then Thursday in San Antonio. Blatt said if Marion responds well to practice Wednesday, the 36-year-old forward could play on the tail end of the trip in Orlando and Miami.

Kobe Bryant wants Rajon Rondo to join Lakers this summer

Would you want to play with Kobe Bryant? In his prime, sure. What about now, as his career winds down? Depends on the other teammates, we’d assume. If Rajon Rondo has to make a decision and it’s going to be Rondo, old Kobe and a rebuilding project, that’s probably not too attractive to Rondo. Anyway, here’s ESPN Los Angeles reporting:

Rajon Rondo knows Kobe Bryant is recruiting him to join the Los Angeles Lakers when Rondo becomes an unrestricted free agent this summer.

And the Dallas Mavericks point guard is obviously flattered to hear Bryant admit as much publicly, as Bryant did in late January.

But Bryant’s recruiting efforts appeared especially strong Sunday, when he appeared on the Lakers sideline for the first time since his season-ending shoulder injury Jan. 21 — just in time to watch Rondo’s Mavericks beat the Lakers 100-93.

“When he speaks, it speaks volumes,” Rondo said after finishing with eight points, nine assists, four rebounds and three turnovers. “It’s an honor and a compliment that he’d want to play with a guy like me, but right now, I’m focused on winning a championship with the Dallas Mavericks.”

Would Rondo want to play with Bryant, who will enter his 20th, and likely final, NBA season in 2015-16?

“I’m focused on what I have to do right now,” Rondo said. “It’s impossible to play with Kobe right now.”

Chandler Parsons concerned that his shoes were factor in his injury

Here’s ESPN Dallas reporting on something we don’t get to hear much about: the impact that shoes have on NBA player injuries. There are plenty of suspicions in many cases. But few quotes or info to go on. Here’s the report:

Dallas Mavericks small forward Chandler Parsons returned Sunday after missing seven games due to an ankle injury.

His signature shoes were nowhere to be seen, however.

Parsons, who has a $1 million per year endorsement deal with the Chinese shoe company Anta, wore Jordan Brand sneakers with the logos covered during the Mavs’ 100-93 win over the Los Angeles Lakers because of concerns that his shoes contributed to the sprain and bone bruise to his left ankle.

“I just am trying to figure out if it was one of the shoes that I was wearing that bothered me,” Parsons told ESPNDallas.com. “I just wanted to fix them and make them stiffer.

“The injury that I had, [Mavs athletic trainer Casey Smith] was telling me how [the Anta shoes] were a little too flexible in the ankle, so I guess they said Jordan Brand had a stiffer shoe. In the meantime, I blacked out the logo and am trying to wear those until my new shoe is out.”