In a move that was long expected, the Knicks assigned Chris Smith to the D-League’s Erie BayHawks earlier today. The younger brother of star guard J.R. Smith was in the headlines recently after Pistons guard Brandon Jennings insinuated that he was the beneficiary of nepotism and the elder Smith responded with what appeared to be a threat via Twitter. Here’s the evening edition of Atlantic Notes..
- Iman Shumpert‘s name has been all over Hoops Rumors for the last week but he says that he won’t let it affect his play. “Thanks to all fans who [are] concerned. I feel [your] presence in my corner as usual! I’m more worried about winning than trade rumors,” tweeted the Knicks guard.
- Celtics head coach Brad Stevens says that star Rajon Rondo is making progress but a timetable for a return remains unclear, tweets Baxter Holmes of the Boston Globe. Stevens says that he doesn’t expect Rondo’s return to come “very, very soon.” Earlier today, Celtics GM Danny Ainge made it clear that Rondo is not going anywhere, despite talk of interest from other clubs.
- Brandon Davies went undrafted out of Brigham Young University and was waived by the Clippers in the preseason, but the 6’10”, 240-pound rookie is making quite an impression with the Sixers, writes Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer. “He’s got a real motor,” coach Brett Brown said of the combo forward. “He’s got a tenacity that you are born with. … I love the way he plays.”