April 2011 Basketball Wiretap

Wall Suspended, Howard, Ilgauskas Fined For Altercation

Mar 31, 2011 7:19 PM

The fallout from the Heat-Wizards fight on Wednesday night: John Wall was suspended one game, Zydrunas Ilgauskas received a $25,000 fine, and Juwan Howard was fined $35,000.

Wall will serve his suspension on Friday.

Ira Winderman/Sun Sentinal (via twitter)

Tags: John Wall, Juwan Howard, Zydrunas Ilgauskas, Miami Heat, Washington Wizards, NBA, NBA Suspension, NBA Fines

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Jazz Have Liked Weaver Since 2008 Draft

Mar 31, 2011 6:11 PM

Kyle Weaver is optimistic about his opportunity with the Jazz.

“It’s a good situation," said Weaver. "Great feeling to be here. I know a lot of guys are banged up right now and they are struggling a little bit. ... Hopefully I can bring some versatility to the team. That’s one of my assets.”

According to coach Tyrone Corbin, the Jazz have liked Weaver since he worked out for them prior to the 2008 NBA draft.

“I loved his attitude,” Corbin said. “He’s a hard-worker -- a good defensive player. Hopefully, we can get him up to speed [because] he may have to play for us right off the bat.”

Salt Lake Tribune

Tags: Kyle Weaver, Utah Jazz, NBA

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UW's Isaiah Thomas Declares For Draft, Won't Hire Agent

Mar 31, 2011 4:25 PM

University of Washington junior guard Isaiah Thomas has decided to enter his name in the upcoming NBA Draft.

In a statement on the UW web site, the two-time first team All-Pac-10 member said that he would not hire an agent.

Thomas, an honorable mention Associated Press All-American, averaged 16.8 points and 6.1 assists per game for the Huskies in 2010-11.

Press Release

Tags: Isaiah Thomas, Washington Huskies, Pacific-12 Conference, NCAA, NBA, NBA NBA Draft, NBA Draft Declarations

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Przybilla's Right Knee Ends 10-11 Season

Mar 31, 2011 4:10 PM

Charlotte Bobcats center Joel Przybilla is finished for the season because of continued pain in his right knee.

Przybilla will undergo another procedure to remove wires inserted in the knee after he twice tore his patella tendon.

Przybilla has not played for Charlotte since March 7. He was acquired from Portland in a Feb. 24 trade that sent Gerald Wallace to the Trail Blazers.

The Bobcats now have only one healthy center, Kwame Brown.

AP

Tags: Joel Przybilla, Charlotte Hornets, NBA, NBA Injury

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Knicks' Team Doctor Recommended No Home Shootarounds

Mar 31, 2011 12:56 PM

A study lead by Knicks' Director of Medical Care Dr. Lisa Callahan is what led to the team's decision not to hold morning shootarounds over the past two seasons, according to a person familiar with the situation.  It was not Mike D'Antoni's decision as was originally reported.

The sleep study showed it was better for the players to get the rest for home games rather than undergo double commutes to their Westchester compound and the Garden.

The Knicks regularly hold road shootarounds over the past two seasons as the club's hotel usually is a couple of minutes from the arena.

Marc Berman/New York Post

Tags: New York Knicks, NBA

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Ainge Unsure When Shaq Will Return

Mar 31, 2011 12:38 PM

Celtics General Manager Danny Ainge said that whether Shaquille O'Neal returns for the regular season or waits until the playoffs is uncertain.

Ainge watched O'Neal go through a private workout at the Celtics practice facility on Wednesday. O'Neal is trying to recover from a sore right Achilles tendon.

"It could be a week or two weeks," said Ainge. "I watched him work out, and he’s starting to do things on the court. We’re just still not sure of when he’s going to come back."

Boston Herald

Tags: Shaquille O'Neal, Boston Celtics, NBA, NBA Injury

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Karen Davidson's Frustration Grows As Sales Of Pistons Drags On

Mar 31, 2011 12:17 PM

Despite reports that a deal to sell the Detroit Pistons to billionaire Tom Gores was near completion, some close to the negotiators say that no agreement is imminent.

After two months of exclusive negotiation between Gores and Karen Davidson, widow of long-time Piston's owner Bill Davidson, one source close to Davidson said that she feels as though she has lost control of the process, causing her to feel frustration and fatigue.

Part of her concern is that Gores continually requires more information, yet too few details of the agreement are in place.

Detroit News

Tags: Detroit Pistons, NBA, NBA Misc Rumor

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Nets Sign Mario West To 10-Day Contract

Mar 31, 2011 12:16 PM

The New Jersey Nets have signed free agent guard Mario West to a 10-day contract, Nets General Manager Billy King announced on Thursday. Per team policy, terms of the contract were not released.

West is a fourth-year NBA veteran with career averages of 0.8 points and 0.8 rebounds in 156 games with Atlanta. The Georgia Tech product went undrafted in 2007 and signed with Atlanta as a free agent on October 1, 2007.

Press Release

Tags: Mario West, Brooklyn Nets, NBA, NBA Official Signing

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Barnes Will Let Loss Heal Before Making NBA Decision

Mar 31, 2011 10:36 AM

Shirley Barnes told The Daily Tar Heel that her son has goals that he wants to fulfill.

The North Carolina freshman forward said after losing 76-69 to Kentucky on Sunday in the Elite Eight that he felt just like he did three years ago, when a last-second shot gave Iowa’s Marshalltown the 51-50 win against Barnes-led Ames in the state playoffs when he was a sophomore.

“That hurt for three months,” his mom, Shirley Barnes, said on Tuesday. “And that was the last time he lost. He has goals and I think he wants to fulfill those goals.”

When asked if he had played his final game in a North Carolina uniform, Barnes gave no indication which way he was leaning, only that he was living in the moment that visibly consumed him.

“I’m not thinking about the NBA,” he said.

Shirley Barnes said when the time is right, her son will make his decision.

“Harrison needs to heal from this loss,” she said. “We haven’t really talked about it, honestly. It’s not pressing to us. It’s what it is.”

Jonathan Jones/Daily Tar Heel

Tags: Harrison Barnes, North Carolina Tar Heels, Atlantic Coast Conference, NCAA, NBA, NBA NBA Draft, NBA Draft General

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Irving Will Take Time Making NBA Decision

Mar 31, 2011 10:31 AM

Duke guard Kyrie Irving is projected as the No. 1 pick in the NBA draft if he decides to leave school early.

This weekend, the 19-year-old Irving will travel home to New Jersey to discuss his options with his family.

But no one should expect a quick answer.

"Right now, we're going to do our due diligence and privately discuss it as a family," Drederick Irving, Kyrie's father, said Wednesday. "It could be a month or it could be a week. It's not going to be quickly."

Irving said after the Arizona game that the decision remained uncertain. On Wednesday, his father echoed those comments, calling this the biggest decision of Kyrie's life.

"Right now," Drederick Irving said, "Kyrie's focus is on being a student and doing well in the classroom."

Steve Wiseman/Herald-Sun

Tags: Kyrie Irving, Duke Blue Devils, Atlantic Coast Conference, NCAA, NBA, NBA NBA Draft, NBA Draft General

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Villanova's Maalik Wayns Returning For Junior Season

Dom Cosentino/Phillyburbs.com

Cousins Wishes He Was Still At Kentucky

Will Graves/Associated Press

Nets Waive Quinton Ross

Press Release

Wizards' Booker Done For Season With Broken Bone In Foot

AP

Nets Begin Selling Tickets For 2012-13 In Brooklyn

AP

Former Ref Attacks Dominique Wilkins

Atlanta Journal-Constitution

LeBron Endorses Rose For MVP

Sun-Sentinel

Early Group Workout Of Potential Draftees Being Planned

Jonathan Givony/Draft Express

Fight Leads To Ejections In Wizards-Heat Game

AP

BC's Reggie Jackson Declares For Draft, Will Not Hire Agent

Santa Maria Times

Sources: League Sends 09-10 Financial Data To Union

Ken Berger/CBSSports.com

Elgin Baylor Loses Wrongful-Termination Suit Against Clippers

Los Angeles Times

Rose: Calipari Creates Us Against World Mentality

Shannon Ryan/Chicago Tribune

Thunder Assign Aldrich To Tulsa 66ers

Oklahoman

Jazz To Sign Weaver To 10-Day contract

Salt Lake Tribune

Denver and Portland In Race For Fifth In The West

Denver Post

Utes To Interview Krystowiak For Head Coaching Vacancy

Salt Lake Tribune

Allen Serves As 'Emotional Beacon' For Grizzlies

Ronald Tillery/Memphis Commercial Appeal

Howard's Latest Tech Upheld

ESPN.com

Hill Hopes To Re-Sign With Suns

Arizona Republic