The Rockets fired coach Kevin McHale on Wednesday and installed J.B Bickerstaff as the interim coach for the remainder of the season. GM Daryl Morey said that he has not lost faith in the team’s ability to contend, and cited the lack of time to dally in the rugged Western Conference as reasoning for making the coaching move at this time. Team owner Leslie Alexander, who purchased the club in July of 1993, ripped the performance of the Rockets, saying the team has never played quite so poorly in his time as owner.
Here’s more from the week that was…
International Signings
- Jordan Crawford signed with the Tianjin Steel of the Chinese Basketball Association.
- Chris Babb signed with Germany’s Ratiopharm Ulm.
Waivers
- The Pelicans waived Jimmer Fredette.
D-League News
- Former Jazz big man Jack Cooley rejoined the team’s D-League affiliate.
- Nets preseason cut Justin Harper joined the D-League affiliate of the Lakers.
- Sean Kilpatrick, who was with the Timberwolves on a 10-day contract this past spring, re-signed with the D-League affiliate of the Sixers.
You can stay up to date on all the D-League assignments and recalls for the season here.
Miscellaneous News
- Tara Greco resigned from her role as NBPA communications director.
- Pacers lottery pick Myles Turner is expected to be out of action another six weeks with a chip fracture in his thumb.
- A California appeals court rejected former Clippers owner Donald Sterling’s attempt to reverse the $2 billion sale of the team.
- Trail Blazers shooting guard Gerald Henderson changed agents, going from Wasserman Media Group to agent Jim Tanner of Tandem Sports and Entertainment.
- Rasheed Wallace, Al Harrington and Keyon Dooling are among the 60 players who’ve so far committed to The Champions League, an upstart minor league circuit with plans to play in the summers beginning in 2016.
- Wizards small forward Martell Webster underwent surgery on Friday on his ailing right hip and he is expected to miss the remainder of the season.
- Rockets first-round pick Sam Dekker had back surgery on Friday and is expected to miss three months of action.