Warriors trade Jackson
The Golde State Warriors found a home for disgruntled swingman Stepehn Jackson yesterday, sending him to the Charlotte Bobcats in a four-player deal that pairs him with coach Larry Brown. The Bobcats traded shooting guard Raja Bell and forward Vladimir Radmanovic to the Warriors for Jackson and guard Acie Law.
"I wanted to be out pretty bad," Jackson said. "I was getting blamed for everything."
Charlotte takes on Jackson's contract, which has 3 years and $28 million left after this season. Golden State inherits Radmanovic's deal, worth about $13.5 million over this season and next. Bell and Law are in the final year of their contracts.
Noteworthy
* Shaquille O'Neal's mysterious shoulder injury is expected to keep him out of Cleveland's game against Golden State tonight.
Cavaliers coach Mike Brown would not say which shoulder was injured.
* Former NBA star Dennis Rodman was temporarily detained in Germany after a hotel said he skipped out on a $5,100 hotel bill. Senior prosecutor Juergen Bauer said Rodman had played in a "USA Legends of Basketball" exhibition game and threw a party afterward at his hotel. Bauer says the game's organizers had agreed to pick up the tab for Rodman's overnight hotel stay, but not an additional $5,100 for beverages consumed at the party. Bauer said paid the outstanding bill along with an additional $2,500 to dismiss possible legal proceedings.
* Further tests on New Orleans point guard Chris Paul's ankle show nothing beyond a sprain, but there is no timetable for his return. He twisted his left ankle in the Hornets' loss to Portland Friday night.
* Utah point guard Deron Williams returned to practice after missing time as one of his young daughters went through medical tests for an undisclosed condition.
* Los Angeles Lakers forward Luke Walton has been diagnosed with a pinched nerve and is expected to be out at least 6 weeks.
In games last night:
* At Orlando, Rashard Lewis had 10 points in his first game back from a suspension and the Magic beat the Charlotte Bobcats, 97-91. Lewis returned after serving a 10-game ban handed out by the NBA for testing positive for an elevated testosterone level. Magic center Marcin Gortat missed the game after testing positive for the flu. He has also been tested for swine flu. Those results could take up to 2 weeks.
* At Atlanta, Joe Johnson scored eight of his 35 points in overtime and the Hawks defeated the Portland Trail Blazers, 99-95.
* At Milwaukee, Dirk Nowitzki scored 32 points including a 19-foot jumper at the buzzer in overtime to lead the Dallas Mavericks over the Bucks, 115-113.
Dallas center Erick Dampier rejoined the team, a night after being hospitalized for an unspecified illness before a game in Detroit. The Mavericks did not say why he was hospitalized.
