Cavaliers’ Smith accused of choking teenager
Cleveland Cavaliers guard J.R. Smith has been accused of choking a 19-year-old student after the teenager jeered the basketball player’s trade to Cleveland from the New York Knicks, the New York Daily News reported on Friday.
The alleged incident occurred in the Chelsea neighborhood of Manhattan at about 4 a.m. on Nov. 13, the newspaper said.
Police said Smith has not been arrested, although they are investigating the reported incident. The National Basketball Association said it was “in the process of obtaining more information” about the situation. Smith’s attorney said his client did nothing wrong.
The teen, Justin Brown, was with friends who admonished Smith for ignoring their request for a photo. “That’s why New York kicked you out, yo!” Brown remarked, according to the News.
Smith, 30, was traded to the Cavaliers last season.
Brown told police that Smith pushed him against the exterior of the building and put his hands around Brown’s neck, police sources told the newspaper.
“The accusation is completely false,” Smith’s lawyer, Alex Spiro, told Reuters.
Palmer, Wright, Mosley hit with fines
Arizona Cardinal quarterback Carson Palmer, Seattle Seahawks linebacker K.J. Wright and Miami Dolphins defensive tackle C.J. Mosley were among those hit with fines by the NFL this week, NFL.com reported Friday
Wright was fined $23,152 for a hit on Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald.
In that same game, Palmer did a gesture identified as his crotch chop and he was fined $11,576 by the NFL for that.
Mosley was was fined $17,363 for roughing the passer.
Jays pick up RHP Chavez in trade
The Toronto Blue Jays acquired right-handed pitcher Jesse Chavez from the Oakland Athletics in a trade that sent right-handed pitcher Liam Hendricks to the A’s, Fox Sports reported Friday.
Chavez, 32, was primarily a starter for the A’s this past season, making 26 starts and finishing with a 7-15 record and a 4.18 ERA.
Chavez suffered a non-displaced fracture in his ribs in mid-September and did not pitch after Sept. 11.
Chavez is entering his third and final year of arbitration eligibility after earning $2.15 million this past season.
Hendricks, 26, pitched only in relief for the Blue Jays in 2015, finishing with a 5-0 record with a 2.92 ERA while appearing in 58 games.
Wizards’ Webster could be out for season
Washington Wizards forward Martell Webster had surgery on his right hip on Friday and is expected to miss the entire season.
The Wizards said the operation was performed to repair the labrum and damaged cartilage in his hip. He has not played in a game this season.
Webster has a history of injuries. He signed a four-year contract with the Wizards in 2013 and had surgery to repair a herniated disc in his lower back in June 2014. He played in only 32 games last season as a result, averaging 3.3 points.
Webster, who turns 29 next month, was the sixth overall pick in the 2005 NBA draft. His best season was 2012-2013, when he played in 76 games and averaged 11.4 points for the Wizards.
