Hooped Up

Philadelphia 76ers President and General Manager Ed Stefanski announced today that the Sixers have acquired guard Gordan Giricek and a first-round pick from the Utah Jazz in exchange for guard Kyle Korver. “We are excited about acquiring a player of Gordan’s ability, as well as an additional asset in the form of a first-round draft pick,” Stefanski said. “This move will provide us with increased salary cap flexibility this off-season and also allows us to continue our evaluation and development of the young talent we have on this team.”

The San Antonio Spurs today announced the signing of 27 year-old swingman DerMarr Johnson who has played with the D-League’s Austin Toros and Benetton Treviso in Italy this season. After a brief stint with the Italian powerhouse, Johnson joined the Toros, the Spurs’ NBA Development League affiliate on Nov. 29. In 11 games with the D-League team he posted averages of 16.8 points, 6.0 rebounds and 1.3 assists in 33.8 minutes of action. Johnson is the eighth Gatorade Call-Up this season and the third by the Spurs this week. He is preceded by guard Keith Langford (Dec. 28) and forward Marcus Williams (Dec. 26).

OurSportsCentral.com

A league source confirmed the NBA made overtures to the Bulls about playing exhibition games in London and Paris next training camp. But the Bulls, who already had all eight exhibition games scheduled, declined.

Chicago Tribune

Damon Jones’ displeasure over his removal from the Cavs rotation is continuing to simmer. Jones told the Palm Beach Post for Wednesday’s editions that he wants to be traded to the Miami Heat, where he was very successful in the 2004-05 season. When Brown called for him to be sent into the blowout Tuesday with 57 seconds to play, he flatly declined. After that move, it wouldn’t be surprising if Jones was deactivated in upcoming games. Jones is second on the team in 3-point shooting at 38 percent. He publicly asked for a trade at the beginning of the season.

Akron Beacon Journal

For the first time, Isiah Thomas acknowledged he’s ready to go to war with Stephon Marbury over the $195,000 fine he levied against the Knicks point guard in November for missing the Phoenix game last month. But Thomas said Marbury won’t get fined for games his missed since his father’s death Dec. 2. “We’re nowhere near that,” Thomas said.

NY Post

Before the game, Zach Randolph said he was “shocked” when Isiah Thomas informed him during the morning stretch that he wouldn’t be starting. Asked if he would try to play his way back in, Randolph uttered an expletive and said, “I ain’t played my way out of it.” Even so, Randolph wound up only one rebound shy of his usual double-double, recording 22 points and nine rebounds in 33:07. Crawford had 29 points and eight assists, Lee 11 points and 14 rebounds, and Robinson 16 points - but no assists - in 25:51. Richardson was 3-for-12 from the field, including three air balls, for eight points in 36:29.

NY Newsday

Magic Coach Stan Van Gundy said before Wednesday’s game that struggling point guard Jameer Nelson needs to quickly improve his play or he’ll have no choice but to bench him. Nelson’s sterling play early in the season helped the club jump to a 16-4 start. “He simply has not played to that level in the last three weeks and that’s a concern right now,” Van Gundy said. “And you want to stick with guys as long as you can because players sometimes. . . . their performances go up and down, but he has to get it going pretty quickly.”

Orlando Sentinel

Gordan Giricek is scheduled to have a meeting with Utah Jazz general manager Kevin O’Connor and coach Jerry Sloan this morning — the first time he and Sloan will have spoken since Sloan sent him home to Salt Lake City from the eastern road trip early last week. The two exchanged words on the bench during the game Dec. 19 at Charlotte, and Giricek was told after the game to go home while the team went on to Orlando and Miami. He was not at Jazz practice Tuesday nor at the shootaround or game against the Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday.

Deseret Morning News

Linked to teams in need of veteran stability at point guard, Philadelphia’s Andre Miller said he’s turning a deaf ear to the rumors. “I don’t have any control, so why worry about it?” he said before Wednesday’s game. “I’m sure there’s interest in a lot of players around this league.”

South Florida Sun-Sentinel

Chicago Bulls ‘ Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations John Paxson today announced that Scott Skiles has been relieved of his duties as the team’s head coach.

In a statement released this morning, Paxson said:

“This was a difficult decision to make, but one that was necessary at this time. Scott helped us in many ways during his time with the Bulls; most importantly, he helped this franchise get back to respectability. I am appreciative of his hard work and the imprint that he left on our team.”

At this time, no decision has been made on Skiles’ replacement. On November 28, 2003, Skiles became the fifteenth head coach in franchise history when he succeeded Bill Cartwright. Over the span of five seasons with the Bulls, he compiled a record of 165-172 (.490) and guided the team to the playoffs three consecutive years, highlighted by a first-round series sweep of the defending NBA Champion Miami Heat in the 2007 NBA Playoffs. In eight-plus seasons as a head coach in the NBA, Skiles owns a career coaching record of 281-251 (.528).