NBA News Wire
NBA notebook: Anthony expected to be sidelined 4-6 months
Jeff Hawkins is an award-winning sportswriter with more than four decades in the industry (print and digital media). A freelance writer/stay-at-home dad since 2008, Hawkins started his career with newspaper stints in Michigan, North Carolina, Florida, Upstate New York and Illinois, where he earned the 2004 APSE first-place award for column writing (under 40,000 circulation). As a beat writer, he covered NASCAR Winston Cup events at NHIS (1999-2003), the NHL's Chicago Blackhawks (2003-06) and the NFL's Carolina Panthers (2011-12). Hawkins penned four youth sports books, including a Michael Jordan biography. Hawkins' main hobbies include mountain bike riding, 5k trail runs at the Whitewater Center in Charlotte, N.C., and live music.
All posts by Jeff HawkinsUpdated15 Oct 2021
The New York Knicks officially shut down forward Carmelo Anthony for the rest of the season and he could be out for four to six months, team president Phil Jackson said Wednesday.
Anthony will undergo surgery on his ailing left knee. The procedure is a patellar tendon debridement and repair, which will remove dead, damaged, or infected tissue that is causing pain and discomfort.
Anthony, the Knicks’ leading scorer, has been dealing with soreness in his left knee for months. Despite the injury, Anthony logged 30 minutes in the All-Star Game at Madison Square Garden on Sunday, scoring 14 points on 6-of-20 shooting from the floor. In 40 games this season, he averaged 24.2 points, 6.6 rebounds and 3.1 assists.
—The Dallas Mavericks waived swingman Ricky Ledo on Wednesday to clear a roster spot for forward/center Amar’e Stoudemire.
Stoudemire, whose contract was bought out by the New York Knicks on Monday, officially signed with Dallas after clearing waivers for a prorated veteran minimum of approximately $460,000.
Stoudemire is expected to make his Mavericks debut Thursday against the Thunder in Oklahoma City as a backup to center Tyson Chandler and forward Dirk Nowitzki. The 32-year-old averaged 12.0 points and 6.8 rebounds per game for the Knicks this season, below his career averages of 20.0 points and 8.2 rebounds.
Ledo was selected by the Mavericks in the second round of the 2013 draft but spent most of the subsequent time playing for Texas of the NBA Development League. He appeared in five games for Dallas this season, scoring one point.
—New Orleans Pelicans point guard Jrue Holiday will remain out for at least three more weeks after he aggravated a stress reaction in his right leg, the team said Wednesday.
The leg has been an issue for Holiday since last year, when he had surgery and missed 48 games. This season, he has missed 16 games, not playing since Jan. 12.
Holiday was averaging 15.2 points and 7.1 assists before the recent setback. He will be re-evaluated in three weeks, the team said.
Meanwhile, coach Monty Williams said he hopes forwards Anthony Davis and Ryan Anderson will return Friday in Orlando.
—The Phoenix Suns continue to discuss moving Goran Dragic before Thursday’s trade deadline after his agent informed the team that the All-Star point guard does not plan to re-sign this summer.
Sources told ESPN.com that the Suns are exploring all options to try to strike a deal before the 3 p.m. ET deadline to avoid losing Dragic in July without compensation.
According to ESPN, the Los Angeles Lakers and New York Knicks are destinations at the top of Dragic’s wish list, with the Miami Heat also in the mix. The Boston Celtics may be a contender for the 28-year-old Dragic, given the numerous future draft picks Boston president Danny Ainge has amassed in recent months.
Dragic is in his third season in Phoenix after leaving the Rockets in free agency in July 2012. He can become a free agent this offseason by declining a $7.5 million player option for 2015-16. Dragic is averaging 16.2 points and 4.1 assists this season.
—The Toronto Raptors reassigned forward Bruno Caboclo to the Fort Wayne Mad Ants of the NBA Development League on Wednesday.
Caboclo 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 Thursday when they face the Grand Rapids Drive in Michigan. Caboclo appeared in three games with Fort Wayne, averaging 4.3 points, 2.7 rebounds and 13.0 minutes.
Caboclo made his NBA debut on Nov. 21 against Milwaukee and scored a season-high eight points in 12 minutes of action. He has played a total of 16 minutes in four games with Toronto this season, recording eight points and two rebounds.
—The Cleveland Cavaliers recalled guard Joe Harris from the Canton Charge of the NBA Development League on Wednesday.
Harris has played in seven games for the Charge this season, averaging 17 points, 5.4 rebounds and 3.3 assists in 32.3 minutes per game. He has played in 38 games (one start) for the Cavs, averaging 2.8 points in 10.4 minutes.
