The Raptors hired former player and coach John Lucas as a basketball development consultant for the remainder of the season, the team announced on Friday.

Lucas, who has helped players get their personal lives on track in the past, will assist the coaching staff in the development of the players? on-court skills with the Raptors.

The Bobcats waived Jeff McInnis on Friday, a move intended to make Raymond Felton the full-time point guard, according to an Assoicated Press Report.

McInnis started 26 of the 54 games he played this season, averaging 4.5 points and 4.1 assists. Coach Sam Vincent had been using McInnis and Felton together for much of the season in a small backcourt.

John Wooden broke his left wrist and collarbone in a fall, leaving the former UCLA basketball coach hospitalized Friday, according to an Associated Press report.

Daughter Nan Muehlhausen said the 97-year-old Wooden fell in his condominium Thursday night. She said Wooden was resting comfortably in a hospital and visited with family members throughout the day.

"Dad's spirits are good," Muehlhausen said in a statement. "He is up and joking around with the family. He will probably be in the hospital for a couple of more days before he goes home."

Reno, Nevada has been awarded an NBA Development League franchise and will begin play during the 2008-09 season, it was announced today at a press conference at the Boys and
Girls Club of Truckee Meadows.

?We?re thrilled to be bringing an NBA Development League team to Reno, one of the truly remarkable economic success stories in America the last several years,? said the team?s owner David Kahn, who also operates Southwest Basketball LLC. ?With the increase in population and the diversification of the economy, we believe the market is primed to support high-quality family entertainment at affordable prices.?

The announcement featured 300 local children, Kahn, Fat Lever, a two-time NBA All-Star and current Director of Player Development for the Sacramento Kings, and Dan Reed, the president of the D-League.

?There?s no doubt our league is thriving,? said Reed. ?Attendance is up over 20%, our team sponsorship numbers and team season ticket sales numbers are up as well, and we continue to provide NBA teams with high-quality players. I expect Reno will be very happy with the brand of basketball we feature, and also the positive impact our players make in
the communities that we serve.?

Although the NBA teams Reno will be associated with will not be determined until this summer, the team will be the affiliate of two or three NBA teams that can assign their first and second year players to Reno a maximum of three times per season.

This season there have been 30 players assigned to the D-League by NBA teams in order for the player to gain valuable playing time and enhance skills.

Sonics General Manager Sam Presti announced today that the team has signed Mike Wilks to a 10-day contract.

The 5-10 guard appeared in eight games with the Denver Nuggets and four games with the Washington Wizards earlier this season.

Chauncey Billups is questionable for the Pistons' game against the Clippers in Los Angeles on Saturday after flying home for a personal matter, according to the Detroit Free Press.

Is it unknown as to when Billups will rejoin the team.

Assault charges against Rockets' guard Rafer Alston were dropped on Friday, according to the Associated Press.

A man had accused Alston of stabbing him with a knife at a nightclub in August of 2007.

Prosecutors were unable to prove their case beyond a reasonable doubt, a Manhattan district attorney told the AP.

Caron Butler won't need surgery on his injured hip, according to the Associated Press.

Doctors told the Wizards' star that all he needs to heal his injury is rest and rehabilitation.

Butler, Washington's All-Star forward, had an MRI earlier this week that revealed he had a small labral tear in his left hip joint.

He will be re-evaluated at the beginning of next week.

The Seattle SuperSonics have waived forward Ira Newble. Newble was acquired by the Sonics in a trade with the Cleveland Cavaliers on Feb. 21. He logged 17 minutes in two games for Seattle.

Indiana Pacers forward Danny Granger has been suspended for one game without pay for striking the Chicago Bulls? Andres Nocioni in the face, it was announced today by Stu Jackson, NBA Executive Vice President Basketball Operations.

The incident occurred with 7:10 remaining in the fourth period of Indiana?s 113-107 loss to the Bulls on Wednesday, Feb. 27 at Conseco Fieldhouse. Granger will serve the suspension tonight when the Pacers visit the Toronto Raptors at Air Canada Centre.