Chris Douglas-Roberts Rumors | Hoops Rumors

Western Notes: T-Wolves, Douglas-Roberts, Kings

November 23rd, 2012 at 2:05pm CST by Luke Adams

After a Thanksgiving Thursday that didn't feature any NBA games, the season resumes in earnest tonight, with 12 games on the slate. Perhaps the most intriguing matchup of the evening involves the Lakers, still finding their rhythm under new coach Mike D'Antoni, traveling to Memphis to face the Grizzlies.

Yesterday, I suggested that the Grizzlies, Clippers, and Knicks have all shown signs of being ready to make the leap and become legit title contenders this season. The poll results are still very tight, but for now, the Clippers narrowly edge the Grizzlies as your choice for the club most ready to take that next step.

Here are a few of Friday's updates out of the Western Conference:

The Timberwolves signed Demetris Nichols and Troy Hudson late in October and quickly cut them, according to Mark Deeks of ShamSports (Twitter links). The purpose of the moves was to ensure that the T-Wolves' D-League squad could add Nichols and Hudson as "affiliate" players. Sure enough, both guys are currently on the Sioux Falls Skyforce roster.
Chris Douglas-Roberts was another player whose D-League affiliate rights were acquired by the Mavericks toward the end of the preseason. Douglas-Roberts, who is now a member of the Texas Legends, Dallas' affiliate, spoke to Eddie Sefko of the Dallas Morning News about the D-League experience: "Sometimes, the NBA isn’t just about basketball. It’s about business and it’s about being in the right place at the right time and the right system at the right time. I feel I’m an NBA player. So instead of going overseas and chasing the money, I’m going to be here for however long I’m here."
Kendrick Perkins still gets emotional when the Thunder head to Boston to play the Celtics, as Gary Washburn of the Boston Globe writes. "Going against guys that you played with for a long time, won rings, went through wars with, still brothers over there," Perkins said. "But at the end of the day, we're still trying to win games."
Jake Appleman of the New York Times examines the future of the Kings in Sacramento.

Mavericks Waive Ely, Douglas-Roberts

October 28th, 2012 at 11:15am CST by Chuck Myron

The Mavericks have waived Melvin Ely and Chris Douglas-Roberts, the team announced via press release. The moves come on the heels of a report that team officials have convinced owner Mark Cuban to waive suspended guard Delonte West, whose roster spot Ely and Douglas-Roberts appeared to be competing for. Instead, it seems that spot will go to Eddy Curry. Ely and Douglas-Roberts, like Curry, were on non-guaranteed deals.

It's the second time Douglas-Roberts has been waived this week, as the Lakers let him go Tuesday after he averaged 4.0 points in 8.3 minutes per game over four preseason contests with L.A. Ely is a veteran of eight NBA seasons, but didn't play in the league last year, instead catching on for five games in Puerto Rico. Neither player appeared in a preseason game for the Mavs after signing Thursday.

Tim McMahon of ESPNDallas.com believes both will wind up with the Texas Legends, the D-League affiliate for the Mavs, as the Legends hold their rights in that league.

Mavericks Sign Ely, Douglas-Roberts

October 27th, 2012 at 1:05pm CST by Ryan Raroque

SATURDAY, 1:05pm: The Mavericks have confirmed the moves via press release.

THURSDAY, 7:51pm: Tim MacMahon of ESPN Dallas reports that the Mavericks have agreed to sign Melvin Ely and Chris Douglas-Roberts to non-guaranteed contracts. Both additions are expected to compete with Eddy Curry for the 15th and final roster spot.

Ely last played in the NBA during the 2010-11 season for the Nuggets, averaging 2.3 PPG, 2.5 RPG, and 12.2 MPG in 30 games. He had most recently played for Brujos de Guayama of the Baloncesto Superior Nacional in Puerto Rico, where he averaged 8.0 PPG and 5.6 RPG in five games after signing with the team in March.

Douglas-Roberts was recently waived by the Lakers after appearing in four pre-season games, averaging 4.0 PPG and 45.5% shooting in 8.3 MPG.

Mavericks Notes: West, Ely, Douglas-Roberts

October 25th, 2012 at 6:03pm CST by Ryan Raroque

Eddie Sefko of SportsDay DFW relayed an announcement made by Mavericks GM Donnie Nelson on the deal reached with Eddy Curry: “We are excited to bring (him) to Dallas…He has worked extremely hard this of-season and can provide our front line with much needed depth.” While Nelson made no mention of Delonte West, Sefko maintains that the 6'3 guard is set to be waived. Here are a few more topics surrounding Dallas tonight:

Sefko notes that West's suspension is without pay, and three resolutions to his situation could either involve a trade, a buyout agreement, or West agreeing leave without any of the salary owed to him this year. It is also mentioned that he will not be eligible to be traded until December 15th.
The team also expects to bring in center Melvin Ely and guard/forward Chris Douglas-Roberts for tryouts.
Chris Kaman has been dealing with a strained right calf muscle and remains doubtful for the season opener.

Lakers Cut Chris Douglas-Roberts, Greg Somogyi

October 22nd, 2012 at 3:30pm CST by Luke Adams

The Lakers have officially waived Chris Douglas-Roberts and Greg Somogyi, the team announced today in a press release.

According to Mike Trudell of Lakers.com (Twitter link), the Lakers "really liked" Douglas-Roberts, but even after releasing Ronnie Aguilar and Reeves Nelson, the team still had 18 players under contract, meaning at least three more players had to be cut.

Los Angeles' roster count now stands at 16, including three players on non-guaranteed deals: Robert Sacre, Andrew Goudelock, and Darius Johnson-Odom. The Lakers will cut at least one more of those guys, and perhaps two, if the team prefers to keep a roster spot free rather than carrying the maximum 15 players.

Camp Notes: Curry, Douglas-Roberts, Roberts

October 12th, 2012 at 10:53am CST by Luke Adams

Thursday night brought another round of roster cuts, as the Rockets, Spurs, and Hawks all released players, moving a step closer to finalizing their regular-season rosters. Plenty of camp invitees around the league remain on the bubble though, so let's round up the latest updates on a few roster hopefuls….

Eddy Curry has performed well for the Spurs in camp and preseason so far, and is optimistic about his chances of making the team, as he tells Mike Monroe of the San Antonio Express-News."I think I’m going to make it," Curry said. "Until they tell me I’m not, I feel like I’m part of this team."
In a Q&A with Brian Kamenetzky of ESPNLosAngeles.com, Chris Douglas-Roberts says he was talking to a few teams before signing with the Lakers. According to Douglas-Roberts, he passed up a situation or two where earning a roster spot likely would have been easier.
Although he graduated from Dayton four years ago, Brian Roberts has yet to play in a regular season NBA game. However, he has made a good early impression in Hornets camp, as Jim Eichenhofer of Hornets.com writes.
Displaying an ability to play point guard appears to be Jamar
Smith's best chance to earn a spot on the Celtics, but coach Doc Rivers
isn't sure yet whether the Southern Indiana product is a point or not,
according to Greg Payne of ESPNBoston.com.

Lakers Notes: Howard, Kobe, Douglas-Roberts

October 2nd, 2012 at 11:11am CST by Luke Adams

After the Lakers' biggest offseason in years, more than 300 media members attended the opening of the team's camp yesterday, according to Marc J. Spears of Yahoo! Sports. With expectations high for the Lakers' new-look roster, there were plenty of highlights from media day to round up….

Dwight Howard is hoping to play on opening night, but isn't guaranteeing anything yet, as Spears writes. "It’s a goal, but I’m not rushing it," Howard said. "Everybody wants me to play on opening night. But we are not going to rush it."
Also within Spears' piece, Kobe Bryant said yesterday that he still expects to be the Lakers' leader, but that he's prepared to hand the team over to Howard within the next few years. "It’s my team," Bryant said. "But I want to make sure that Dwight knows that when I retire this is going to be his. I want to teach him everything I possibly know so this organization can ride as if I never left."
Bryant also told the media yesterday that he urged executive vice president of player personnel Jim Buss to try to acquire Howard this summer if the possibility arose. Ramona Shelburne of ESPNLosAngeles.com has the details and quotes.
Gino Pilato of Ridiculous Upside believes a stint with the D-League's Los Angeles D-Fenders could benefit Lakers camp invitee Chris Douglas-Roberts.

Lakers Sign Chris Douglas-Roberts

October 1st, 2012 at 4:18pm CST by Luke Adams

The Lakers have signed Chris Douglas-Roberts to a training camp contract, reports Dave McMenamin of ESPNLosAngeles.com (via Twitter). Douglas-Roberts likely won't earn a spot on the Lakers' 15-man roster, but the team is hoping he'll join the D-Fenders, L.A.'s D-League affiliate, says McMenamin.

D0uglas-Roberts, 24, was drafted 40th overall in 2008 after leaving the University of Memphis a year early. Although Douglas-Roberts excelled in his junior year as a Tiger, averaging 18.1 PPG on 54.1% shooting, he failed to find a long-term home in the NBA, spending time with the Nets and Bucks from 2008 to 2011. In 155 career games, he has averaged 7.7 points and 2.2 rebounds.

For the Lakers, Douglas-Roberts is the 20th player under contract, meaning the team can't add any more players to its training camp roster without waiving someone.