LDN - Sports

National Basketball Association roundup

[February 25, 2017] Feb 24 (The Sports Xchange) - The Philadelphia 76ers officially ruled out Australian forward Ben Simmons for the remainder of his rookie season after tests revealed his broken right foot was not fully healed.

The number one overall draft pick out of LSU is "heartbroken" over the news, Sixers general manager Bryan Colangelo told reporters in making the announcement on Friday.

The 6-foot-10, 240-pound Simmons fractured his foot on Sept. 30, the final day of training camp. He underwent surgery in October to repair an acute Jones fracture of the fifth metatarsal of his right foot. The Sixers said his latest scan taken on Thursday showed the injury was not healing as expected.

The 20-year-old Simmons did not appear in a regular-season game. He played a single season at LSU, where he averaged 19.2 points, 11.8 rebounds, 4.8 assists and 2.0 steals per game.

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The Atlanta Hawks suspended guard Dennis Schroder for one game without pay for failure to report to the team on time after the All-Star break.

Schroder was scheduled to serve his one-game suspension Friday when the Hawks hosted the Miami Heat.

Schroder, 23, said a visa problem delayed his return to the United States from Germany. The Hawks' starting point guard missed Wednesday's practice.

In 56 games this season, Schroder is averaging 17.5 points, 6.3 assists and 2.9 rebounds.

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All-Star center DeMarcus Cousins lashed out at Sacramento Kings management, terming Sunday's trade to the New Orleans Pelicans as "a coward move."

Cousins' sentiments were published by The Undefeated on Friday, one night after the Pelicans were routed 129-99 in his New Orleans debut.

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Cousins was asked if he would like to speak to Kings owner Vivek Ranadive or general manager Vlade Divac to hear why the team's guarantee not to trade him did not hold up.

"Nah. For what? It was a coward move, so I'm pretty sure I will get a coward response," Cousins said. "I've seen this happen before. I've been there through all same types ... I was there with (coach) Mike Malone's (firing in 2014). I've seen how they operate. I know what kind of answer I will get anyway. So, what is the point?"

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The New Orleans Pelicans signed free agent guard Jarrett Jack to a 10-day contract to help shore up a depleted backcourt.

The 11-year veteran has not played for an NBA team since tearing the ACL in his right knee shortly before the midway point of the 2015-16 season with the Brooklyn Nets.

Jack has career averages of 11.1 points and 4.5 assists in 803 career games with seven teams. The Pelicans had a need in the backcourt after guards Buddy Hield, Tyreke Evans and Langston Galloway were traded to Sacramento.

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The Los Angeles Clippers are in discussions with Los Angeles Rams owner Stan Kroenke about moving the team to a new arena in Inglewood, the Los Angeles Times reported Friday.

Clippers owner Steve Ballmer has engaged in multiple discussions with Kroenke about having the Clippers play in the facility that would be built on the premises of the new NFL stadium that will open in 2019.

The Clippers have played at the Staples Center since 1999. They share that facility with the Los Angeles Lakers and the NHL's Los Angeles Kings. (Editing by Gene Cherry)

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