Thursday, Jan. 08, 2009

Warriors' Ellis cleared for strenuous activity

OAKLAND — Monta Ellis passed another milestone in his recovery from his offseason ankle injury Wednesday when the Golden State Warriors' medical staff moved him into the final stage of his rehabilitation.

Ellis, who hasn't played this season, underwent a strength test Tuesday and an examination before Wednesday's game against the Lakers. Team doctor John Belzer cleared Ellis to begin strenuous running and jumping along with shooting drills, the final steps before returning to practice and playing for Golden State. The Warriors gave no timetable for Ellis' return to practice.

Ellis severely sprained his left ankle while crashing a motorized scooter in August, about one month after he signed a six-year, $66 million contract extension.

• TRADES — The Nuggets sent point guard Chucky Atkins and a protected first-round pick in this summer to the Thunder for center Johan Petro and the Thunder's second-round pick this year. "George has been asking for another big man," Nuggets executive Mark Warkentien said. Here comes 7 feet, 255 pounds of Petro. ... The Heat traded guard Shaun Livingston and cash to the Grizzlies for a conditional 2012 second-round pick. ... The Raptors got under the luxury tax threshold, trading guard/forward Hassan Adams to the Clippers for cash considerations and a future second-round pick.

• TIP-INS — Lamar Odom didn't travel to the Lakers' game against the Warriors on Wednesday night after getting hurt while fouling Chris Paul late in the second quarter of Los Angeles' loss to New Orleans one night earlier. An MRI exam revealed the injury wasn't serious, but it still could keep Odom out of the lineup for a bit longer. ... Wizards guard DeShawn Stevenson had a painkilling injection to relieve pain in his back and is expected to miss at least another 1½ weeks. ... The Grizzlies waived forward Darius Miles, who was trying to make a comeback after a two-year absence following knee surgery.