Grizzlies trade Lee to Hornets
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The Charlotte Hornets acquired veteran swingman Courtney Lee from the Memphis Grizzlies in a three-team trade Tuesday that will help bolster the team’s perimeter shooting and defense after losing Michael Kidd-Gilchrist for the season to a shoulder injury.
The Grizzlies got forward P.J. Hairston from Charlotte and big man Chris Andersen and two second-round draft picks from the Miami Heat, who will get guard Brian Roberts from Charlotte.
“He brings a lot of experience,” Hornets general manager Rich Cho said of Lee. “He is a vet that is a true pro. He’s a great shooter and plays great defense.”
Lee is in his eighth NBA season and has es- tablished a reputation as a coveted “3 and D guy,” a player who can knock down open 3-point shots while also serving as a capable defender on the wing.
Magic deal Harris for Pistons pair
The Detroit Pistons acquired forward Tobias Harris from Orlando in a trade that sent guard Brandon Jennings and forward Ersan Ilyasova to the Magic.
The 23-year-old Harris gives Detroit another athletic young player, and he’ll be under team control for a while. Harris signed a $64 million, fouryear deal to stay with the Magic last summer, when he was a restricted free agent.
Detroit, which is a half-game out of the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference, gave up its starting power forward in Ilyasova. Jennings was the Pistons’ backup point guard, and they could afford to part with him after making a long-term commitment to starter Reggie Jackson.
Heat’s Bosh back on blood thinners
Chris Bosh is back on blood thinners to treat a clot that formed in his leg, the second straight year the Miami Heat forward has dealt with such a situation over the All-Star break.
Athletes in contact sports are typically discouraged from playing while taking blood-thinning medication, because of the additional risk of bleeding and other issues.
A year ago at this time, the clot had traveled from Bosh’s leg to his lung and he had a wave of other problems — including fluid in his lungs. It took about two months to properly diagnose last year’s blood clot problem. This time, the diagnosis apparently came far quicker.
Odds and ends
The Atlanta Hawks say center Tiago Splitter needs season-ending hip surgery. Splitter, from Brazil, has missed the last six games. …
The NBA has informed teams that jumping on a player’s back to commit an intentional foul could be ruled as a flagrant violation.