Miami Signs Beasley To 10-Day Contract
Michael Beasley has returned to the Miami Heat for a third stint, signing a 10-day contract on Thursday with the team that drafted him with the No. 2 overall pick in 2008.
He is expected to be available when the Heat visit the Pelicans on Friday night.
Beasley spent his first two seasons in Miami before being traded to Minnesota in the summer of 2010. Beasley averaged 19.2 points in his first Minnesota season, but declined in his second season with the team. He spent the 2012-2013 season in Phoenix, and eventually ended back in Miami for the 2013-2014 season.
Beasley appeared in 55 games for Miami in the 2013-14 season, averaging 7.9 points, and made four more appearances in the playoffs.
Beasley spent this season in the Chinese Basketball Association posting some big stat lines, which included a 59-point outburst in the CBA’s All-Star game. He has been working out in the Heat’s practice facility for the past several days, an obvious sign of the team’s plans since his arrival back from China.
Beasley’s addition is a timely one, and it comes less than a week after the Heat lost All-Star forward Chris Bosh for the remainder of the season because of blood clots on one of his lungs.
Miami (25-31) entered Thursday at No. 7 in the Eastern Conference standings, one-and-a-half games ahead of the Brooklyn Nets.
Paul George Closer To Returning, Goes Through First Full Practice
Indiana Pacers forward Paul George went through a full practice for the first time this season, as he inches closer to a return to the court following a gruesome compound fracture to his right leg that he suffered in the summer of 2014 while scrimmaging with Team USA ahead of the FIBA World Cup.
George told NBC Sports recently of his plans to be back on the court sooner rather than later.
“I want to (play this season),” George said during All-Star Weekend. “March 1st was the date I wanted to be able to full on practice without limitations or restrictions, and from there see where things go. But mid-March is ideally where I want to be able to make a comeback and play my first game.”
The Pacers are currently one game out from the eighth playoff seed in the Eastern Conference.
George, a two-time All-Star, averaged 21.7 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game last season.
Rondo Completes Suspension For Altercation with Carlisle
Dallas Mavericks point guard Rajon Rondo missed the team’s game against the Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday night after being suspended for one game for conduct detrimental to the team.
Rondo traveled with the team overnight to Atlanta but sat out in Wednesday night’s 104-87 loss to the Hawks.
Rondo embarked on a profanity-filled yelling match with Mavericks head coach Rick Carlisle during the third quarter of Tuesday’s win over the Toronto Raptors after a disagreement over play-calling responsibilities.
Rondo and Carlisle apparently had another emotionally charged dispute in the locker room after the game. Dallas announced Rondo’s suspension two hours before Wednesday’s tipoff, and Carlisle addressed reporters before the game.
“The incident last night was born in large part out of poor communication between him and I. That’s on both of us,” Carlisle said. “We had a long talk about the situation today, and we both agreed that we need to communicate more frequently. We need to work on the solution for making his stint as a Dallas Maverick the most successful one possible. We’re looking at 23 games here. Right now, this is a critical time for us.”
Rondo is averaging 9.0 points and 6.2 assists per game since being traded to the Mavericks on Dec. 18.
Darren Collison To Have Surgery, Out For At Least One Month
The Sacramento Kings announced on Thursday that point guard Darren Collison will have surgery next week and will be sidelined for at least one month afterwards.
Collison sustained the injury during Sacramento’s loss to the Dallas Mavericks on Feb. 5, and has missed the past six games following with what the team has described as a strained right hip flexor.
The team said on Thursday that the operation is to repair a core muscle injury. Collison will meet with doctors on Monday in Philadelphia, and will have the surgery the next day. He will be re-evaluated in three to six weeks.
The news comes as a blow to Collison, who was averaging a career-high 16.1 points to go with 5.6 assists and 3.2 rebounds.
Recently acquired Andre Miller will receive most of the playing time in Collison’s absence, with Ray McCallum and rookie reserve David Stockton receiving some as well.
