NBA News Wire
NBA roundup: Union set to appeal Taylor’s suspension
Jeff Hawkins is an award-winning sportswriter with more than four decades in the industry (print and digital media). A freelance writer/stay-at-home dad since 2008, Hawkins started his career with newspaper stints in Michigan, North Carolina, Florida, Upstate New York and Illinois, where he earned the 2004 APSE first-place award for column writing (under 40,000 circulation). As a beat writer, he covered NASCAR Winston Cup events at NHIS (1999-2003), the NHL's Chicago Blackhawks (2003-06) and the NFL's Carolina Panthers (2011-12). Hawkins penned four youth sports books, including a Michael Jordan biography. Hawkins' main hobbies include mountain bike riding, 5k trail runs at the Whitewater Center in Charlotte, N.C., and live music.
All posts by Jeff HawkinsUpdated15 Oct 2021
The NBA Players Association is prepared to appeal the NBA’s 24-game suspension of Charlotte Hornets forward Jeffery Taylor, NBPA executive director Michele Roberts said Thursday.
Roberts called the suspension handed down by commissioner Adam Silver excessive and in violation of the Collective Bargaining Agreement.
Silver announced Taylor’s suspension this week after he pleaded guilty to misdemeanor domestic violence assault and malicious destruction of hotel property in East Lansing, Mich., in late September.
“The CBA contemplates a minimum 10-game suspension in any case involving a conviction for a violent felony, including domestic violence,” Roberts said. “In contrast, Jeff Taylor was charged with a misdemeanor that is likely to be dismissed at the end of a probationary period. The 24-game suspension is one of the longest in the history of the league.”
–The Atlanta Hawks sent rookie forward/center Adreian Payne to Fort Wayne of the NBA Development League.
Payne was the Hawks’ first-round pick (15th overall) in the 2014 NBA Draft out of Michigan State. He has yet to play for the Hawks in the regular season because of plantar fasciitis in his left foot.
—The Dallas Mavericks assigned Ricky Ledo to the Texas Legends of the NBA Development League, the Mavericks announced.
Ledo has been inactive in each of the Mavericks’ 12 games this season.
—The Washington Wizards assigned guard Glen Rice Jr. to the Fort Wayne Mad Ants of the NBA Development League, the Wizards announced.
Rice has played in five games this season for Washington, averaging 2.2 points in 8.5 minutes per game.
