NBA Trade Rumors

Some hope for an early Noah return
"The Bulls have been reeling lately, with seven straight losses and more tough games on tap this week. Following Sunday's practice at the Berto Center, coach Vinny Del Negro offered a vision of a brighter future. And he wasn't talking about next season. "We've had some tough things happen to us," Del Negro said. "Luckily, nothing's major. There's some hope we can get everyone back here in the next 4 days, 5 days, a week – I don't know what it is yet. But as soon as we can get everyone together, we can get on the same page quickly again and get back to playing the way we're capable of.""
Kirilenko, Okur and Price ruled out for Jazz tonight against Thunder
"I knew this was going to happen. Literally 10 minutes after I posted the update on Kosta Koufos' first two games with the Utah Flash, the Jazz public relations staff passed along word that three players will miss tonight's game against Oklahoma City. Andrei Kirilenko is out with a calf strain, Memo Okur is sidelined with back spasms and Ronnie Price won't play because of a sprained wrist. Translation: Utah will have nine players available against Kevin Durant and the Thunder. That includes D-League signee Othyus Jeffers, who might just find himself guarding Durant in a game critically important to the Western Conference playoff race."
Barea has Knicks on radar
"Mavericks backup point guard J.J. Barea, who could become an unrestricted free agent this summer, told The Post he has the Knicks as his top choice if he doesn't stick with the Mavericks. The Mavericks, looking to open cap space, have a team option and the emergence of young French point guard Rodrique Beaubois could become a factor. With the Sergio Rodriguez experiment on hold, rookie Toney Douglas inherited the starting point-guard slot in last night's surprise 128-94 win over the Mavs, and Chris Duhon was installed as the backup. Though Douglas could man the position for the rest of the season, the Knicks will be desperately on the prowl for a new point guard next season and Barea will ..."
Lawson remains on the bench with injury
"Before Saturday's Nuggets-Grizzlies game, the speedy Ty Lawson zipped up-and-down the court, but come game time, he was again quarantined to the bench, a prisoner of pain. "He's just doing some light sprints right now, but as far as basketball, I don't think he'll be playing anytime soon," acting coach Adrian Dantley said of the point guard, who has a left shoulder contusion. Dantley said it's a day-to- day process waiting for Lawson's pain to subside. Lawson said he has trouble dribbling. "Anthony Carter has great chemistry with those guys in the second unit," Dantley said of Lawson's backup. "Every team wants three good point guards." As for power forward Kenyon Martin, who is out with a ..."
Grizzlies' Gay could leave for New York
"Former UConn star Rudy Gay seemed lukewarm on remaining in the obscurity of Memphis when he becomes a restricted free agent in July when the Knicks and Nets become two of his options. "I wouldn't mind staying here, if I feel they were going to make a commitment to me,'' Gay said at the morning shootaround at FEDEX Forum. "It's a business. I'm only the one here from my first year so I know the business more than anyone on this team. It really doesn't matter which way it goes.'' Not exactly a ringing endorsement for wanting to remain on Beale Street, playing in the league's smallest market and playing before the second-worst attendance (averaging 13,000 despite a winning record). But it is ..."
Grizzlies' Gay sees future with Knicks
"Former UConn star and free-agent-to-be Rudy Gay can see himself playing the Garden next season. The Knicks can, too, if things break a certain way this summer. "It's the most famous arena in the world," Gay said yesterday before scoring 20 points in the Grizzlies' 119-112 victory over the Knicks at FedEx Forum. "It's great to play there. Every time I play there, I get chills. To play in that arena would be nice, but FedEx Forum has been home to me." If LeBron James is Plan A, Joe Johnson is Plan B, Gay is Plan C-plus. According to a source, the Knicks, who fell to 22-43 last night, have solid interest in Gay, but consider him a second-tier free agent. But if they can land Johnson and Gay ..."
Larry Brown to Philly?
"It was an odd experience at Bobcats coach Larry Brown's pregame media availability: The Philadelphia Inquirer had just reported 76ers coach Eddie Jordan would be fired by the end of the season, and Brown - the most successful coach in recent Sixers history - was asked to size up that team. "They've had phenomenal drafts and they're in a good situation financially. I don't think they're very far away," Brown said. "I know what kind of owner (they) have, I know the fans are as good as any. I look at their roster and I see the chance for improvement very quickly." Maybe all that was idle reminiscing, but I couldn't help but think how much Brown misses his wife and kids, back in Philadelphia ..."
76ers near a decision on Jordan
"Comcast-Spectacor and the 76ers are balanced on a ledge. In the next few days, they will either fire coach Eddie Jordan or step back and wait until the season ends. Former Sixers coach Larry Brown, now coach of the Charlotte Bobcats, advised Comcast-Spectacor chairman Ed Snider against firing Jordan before the season ends, according to a source close to the situation. Brown told Snider to keep Jordan, play the young guys, and make the necessary changes in April, the source said. According to other sources, the organization is weighing two schools of thought: Keeping Jordan through the season and demanding that he give more playing time to younger players such as Jodie Meeks, Jason Smith, ..."
Josh Howard wants to return to Washington Wizards next season
"After leading the Washington Wizards to a shocking 10-point victory over the Denver Nuggets nearly three weeks ago, Josh Howard reached into his locker room stall and picked up an all-white Washington Nationals baseball cap. Howard explained how much he liked the curly W logo and that he had bought a few Nats hats in different colors long before the Dallas Mavericks made him a District resident in a trade. "I got a whole bunch of these," Howard said, flashing his crooked grin as he twisted the slightly oversize cap around his head. "You'll see." Howard had hoped to make wins and his assortment of Nats caps a regular postgame sight, but that was the last time he would play a game at ..."
Rumors persist about Jordan
"The rumors are persisting that 76ers coach Eddie Jordan will be fired after the season, if not sooner. Jordan has heard the published reports saying management will fire him at the end of the season, but he refuses to think about them. Sixers president and general manager Ed Stefanski has refused to comment on those rumors. Jordan, meanwhile, said he's focusing on preparing the players for each game. The Sixers were 23-41 following their 102-87 loss to the the Charlotte Bobcats Wednesday. They have lost seven of eight games and 10 of 13. Jordan also defended his staff. "Look, if you know how to handle it, it won't bother you," Jordan said. "You stay strong. There's an old poem I read a ..."
Comcast-Spectacor's Luukko says no decision on Sixers coach Jordan yet
"The rumors and speculation are out there, with only the tail end of the season remaining. Eddie Jordan's job reportedly is on the line, with Comcast-Spectacor supposedly already having decided to fire him in the first year of his 4-year contract to coach the 76ers. Peter Luukko, chief operating officer and president of the company, denied that a decision has been made. "No, we haven't [made a decision]," Luukko told the Daily News yesterday. "We have not done any of that. I've had a lot of people telling me things, and I'm getting calls, but we have not made a predetermined decision." However, anyone who has paid the slightest attention to the team can feel the vibes. Some sources say the ..."
Ty Lawson's injured shoulder will sideline him for tonight, questionable Friday
"The big injury talk surrounding the Nuggets is about Kenyon Martin, the starting forward who is out for likely a few weeks due to his left knee, but Ty Lawson's injured shoulder is still a big issue – it will keep him out of tonight's game at Minnesota and possibly Friday at New Orleans. "It's day-to-day now," the reserve point guard Lawson said after today's shootaround at Target Center. "It doesn't hurt a lot, I'm moving it now, there's just one spot (in my shoulder) that catches every time I dribble and make a move. So I'm trying to work it out. … Once it stops catching, then I'll be able to play.""
Luol Deng out for 'a while' with strained right calf
"It appeared the Bulls hit rock bottom Tuesday as a late collapse resulted in a humiliating 132-108 loss to the Utah Jazz -- their fifth loss in a row. That dropped the Bulls to ninth place in the Eastern Conference with a tough four-game road trip on the immediate horizon. Then the Bulls got more bad news Wednesday. Forward Luol Deng is out for ''a while'' with a strained right calf, and rookie power forward Taj Gibson (plantar fasciitis in both feet) is questionable for tonight's game against the Orlando Magic. ''[Deng] has a little calf issue, a little strain,'' coach Vinny Del Negro said after an MRI exam confirmed the injury. ''We'll see how he feels, but I think he's gonna be out for ..."
Antawn Jamison is day-to-day after MRI exam; LeBron James expected to play Friday
"The Cavaliers finally got some good injury news on Tuesday. An MRI on Antawn Jamison's left knee at the Cleveland Clinic revealed nothing serious. Jamison was pulled from the Cavs' 97-95 win over the San Antonio Spurs in the third quarter when the back of the knee tightened up. Jamison said he's been bothered by soreness in the knee earlier this season and was able to get through it with treatment."
Chris Paul awaiting all-clear signal
"Realistically, the return of New Orleans Hornets All-Star guard Chris Paul is two weeks away at a minimum. As the Hornets prepare to play their 19th consecutive game without him - and the 27th overall this season - Paul remains sidelined as a result of Feb. 4 arthroscopic surgery to remove the torn portion of the meniscus cartilage in his left knee, a convalescence originally termed to last four to six weeks. Five weeks after the surgery, Paul still has not been cleared to begin running, and the Hornets, who travel to Oklahoma City to face likely playoff participant Oklahoma City tonight at the Ford Center, are hopeful their postseason aspirations aren't vanishing while their leader ..."
Sixers coach Jordan on way out, sources say
"Comcast-Spectacor is ready to fire 76ers coach Eddie Jordan, according to multiple sources with knowledge of the situation. Several other sources also indicated that the organization will "seriously evaluate" Sixers general manager Ed Stefanski, who hired Jordan less than a year ago. One of these sources indicated that the company had considered terminating Jordan earlier, but likely was "deterred" by the early-season firing of former Flyers coach John Stevens. Comcast-Spectacor owns both franchises. These sources indicated that Jordan could be fired before this season ends - if it becomes obvious he has lost the team - but more likely after the final game of this dismal season. One of ..."
Pistons point guard Rodney Stuckey cleared to work out
"The Detroit Pistons released a medical statement regarding guard Rodney Stuckey just after noon today. It said that Stuckey underwent "a completely negative cardiac evaluation" under the direction of doctors at the University of Michigan, the Cleveland Clinic and the Detroit Medical Center"
Brown reacts to Clippers speculation
"Asked pre-game Tuesday whether he's committed long-term to coaching the Charlotte Bobcats, Larry Brown leaned on a familiar refrain: "It's up to Michael," Brown said, referring to managing partner Michael Jordan. Brown has expressed elation over Jordan's decision to buy controlling interest in the Bobcats. Jordan hired Brown, and Brown has repeatedly said Jordan's presence was the single reason he took the job. Brown joked away a question about an SI.com report that he contacted the Los Angeles Clippers to gauge their interest in him coaching there again."
Curry expects to play tonight as Knicks battle Spurs
"Tonight, Eddy Curry will be feeling some butterflies. Because it's been a while since he even has been active for a game, let alone played in one. With 19 games to go, the Knicks' perpetually injured big man is set to return to action in San Antonio tonight. Curry hasn't played since Dec. 17, missing 38 straight games, thanks in part to coach Mike D'Antoni's decision not to play him but mainly to the left knee surgery Curry underwent in January. "Feeling pretty good. Just go out there [tonight] and see what I can do," Curry said after practice yesterday. "[I'm] a little bit nervous. I haven't played in so long. But I'm looking forward to the opportunity." Curry is averaging just 3.7 points ..."
Grizzlies' reinforcement Ronnie Brewer nearly ready
"Ronnie Brewer, injured in his first game after being acquired by the Grizzlies in a trade, could return to the team early next week. Ronnie Brewer is experiencing very little pain these days, unless you count the agony of sitting out while the Grizzlies try to earn a playoff spot. The 6-7 swingman, acquired Feb. 18 in a trade with Utah, is recovering nicely from a partially torn right hamstring and could return to action early next week. Brewer's rehabilitation took a giant step Tuesday afternoon when he participated in his first noncontact practice since suffering the injury Feb. 19. Brewer won't be available tonight when the Grizzlies play at Boston against the Celtics. But his return ..."
Rodney Stuckey to miss at least another game
"Pistons guard Rodney Stuckey will miss at least a second game after collapsing in Cleveland. Detroit president of basketball operations Joe Dumars says Stuckey won't play Wednesday night against Utah and there is no timetable for his return, which will be determined by doctors. Stuckey was out of the lineup against Houston on Sunday, two days after he was wheeled off the court on a stretcher during a game against the Cavs. An oxygen mask was put on his face and he was taken to a hospital for tests and an overnight stay."
Rodney Stuckey unsure what his future holds
"Rodney Stuckey was at Pistons practice Tuesday looking and feeling fine. But it isn't known when Stuckey will resume his basketball career. Stuckey collapsed near the Pistons bench in the third quarter of Friday's loss at Cleveland. Stuckey, 23, said numerous tests have been done on his heart, his blood, and everything checks out OK. "I'm good, everything is good," said Stuckey, who is questionable for tonight's game against Utah. "They ran a lot of tests on me and everything came back good. My heart's good. I'm just taking it day by day. "Right now, I'm just chilling." But when asked if he'll play again this season, Stuckey said, "I don't know," saying it'll be up to the doctors. "I got ..."
Eskin: 76ers will fire Jordan at seaons end
"Sixers general manager Ed Stefanski, asked yesterday about a report by Howard Eskin that the organization will fire Eddie Jordan at the end of the season, said: "I don't comment on rumors." During his Sunday night show on NBC-10, Eskin reported that the Sixers will get rid of Jordan."
Center Biedrins' 'wasted season' is probably over
"Warriors coach Don Nelson couldn't help but deviate from his usual light and humorous interview before Monday night's 135-131 loss to New Orleans. The injury woes have gotten to the point that they're simply not funny anymore. "If it wasn't for the tears," Nelson said, "I guess it would be funny." That comment came following the Warriors' announcement that Andris Biedrins will have surgery to repair a tear in an abdominal muscle today, a procedure that will likely cost the center the rest of the season. The Warriors have already lost Kelenna Azubuike (knee) and Brandan Wright (shoulder) for the season. Biedrins, who is expected to miss four to six weeks, joins a group - Raja Bell (wrist), ..."
Nuggets' Martin will return, but maybe not before playoffs
"The pain in Kenyon Martin's left knee was so bad Saturday, he couldn't play golf — "that's my plant leg" — so the Nuggets forward spent the sunny day indoors, instead golfing on a Nintendo Wii video game. The pain has persisted, and now Martin will miss an undetermined amount of time while undergoing platelet rich plasma (PRP) therapy. He plans to return this season, although perhaps not until the NBA playoffs, the team announced Monday. Martin began the PRP therapy Monday. It's definitely a good news-bad news situation for the Nuggets (42-21), who rank third in the Western Conference. The good news is Martin won't require surgery on the knee, which is suffering from patella tendinitis. ..."
Grizzlies' Rudy Gay will consider Nets
"Grizzlies small forward Rudy Gay wasn't just playing the political game when he told reporters last month he would consider the Nets in free agency this summer. Gay, who will be a restricted free agent July 1, also has told friends New Jersey is a place he wouldn't mind going. If the Nets strike out on targets such as LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Joe Johnson, they're expected to pursue Gay. But the Grizzlies can match any offer and it sounds as if that's their plan. Grizzlies' owner Michael Heisley told the Memphis Commercial Appeal, "I feel we're going to sign him.""
Could Bobcats be in Worthy's future?
"As a basketball player, Gastonia's James Worthy has few peers. As a television analyst and fundraiser for charitable organizations (including his own), Worthy also has received high marks. Can another job be on the horizon for Worthy? With his former University of North Carolina teammate and close friend Michael Jordan recently becoming the majority owner of the Charlotte Bobcats, Worthy says he has talked with Jordan about just such a possibility. "He's really interested in helping some people I know," Worthy said of Jordan. "He's talked to myself. He's talked to (former UNC teammate) Sam Perkins. When he gets ready to hire, he has our numbers. And I'm sure he'll call people that are ..."
Warriors might have lost Biedrins for remainder of season, C suffering from sports hernia
"For most NBA teams, Anthony Tolliver, Devean George and Reggie Williams would be small forwards. And not very intimidating ones, as the 6-foot-9, 243-pound Tolliver is the largest of the bunch. But when the huddle broke to start the third quarter, the trio walked onto the court as the Warriors' front line. It almost worked: the quickness advantage, spreading the floor, the outside-in offense. In the end, however, the inside game of the New Orleans Hornets was just too much. The Warriors fell 135-131 after giving up 24 second-chance points and losing the battle of the boards by 21 rebounds to complete an 0-5 trip. With their top two centers out, and starting center Andris Biedrins possibly ..."
Casspi may need more time to rest
"As Paul Westphal assessed his team during Monday's practice, one of the things the Kings' coach planned on watching closely was the play of Omri Casspi. One day after Westphal decided to make the rookie small forward inactive as a way to "recharge his batteries," he was still undecided as to whether the mandated rest would continue for tonight's game at Portland. So when Casspi darted through defenders in the lane en route to a roaring right-handed dunk, it appeared the 21-year-old was plenty ready to return."
Hawks' Johnson: Knicks an option, if ...
"Joe Johnson spent a brief time in Boston to start his NBA career, but beyond that, hasn't played in a major market. The Hawks star hails from Little Rock, Ark., went to college at Arkansas and has spent almost his entire NBA tenure in the mid-level cities of Phoenix and Atlanta. This summer, though, Johnson has a chance to head to the big time, as he could very well be a Knick free-agent target. Question is, would the All-Star guard be comfortable in a major town like New York? He insists he would be. "Yeah, definitely," Johnson said last night before posting 22 points, five assists and four rebounds in the Knicks' dramatic 99-98 win over his Hawks at the Garden. "It's nothing but ..."
Parker returns to San Antonio in cast, could miss rest of regular season
"The Spurs' charter plane took off as scheduled from Memphis International Airport on Sunday, bound for Cleveland. That was the good news. The bad news for the Spurs was that their starting point guard wasn't on it. Tony Parker had already left town hours earlier, on a commercial flight going the opposite direction. Wearing a dark blue cast on his newly fractured right hand, Parker returned to San Antonio to be examined by the team's medical staff. The Spurs' trip to Cleveland, and perhaps the rest of their reason, will go on without him. "We'll find a different way to play and hope we can bide our time until he's back," Tim Duncan said. "Nobody's going to play like him, but we have to find ..."
Blazers center Joel Przybilla slips in shower, reinjures right knee
"Trail Blazers center Joel Przybilla on Saturday reinjured his surgically-repaired right knee and will require another surgery, the team said Sunday. Przybilla reinjured the knee Saturday morning when he slipped while entering the shower at his home in Milwaukee, Wisc. He flew to Portland on Saturday and had a magnetic resonance imaging test Sunday morning at the office of team doctor Don Roberts. The MRI showed a tear of the patella tendon that was repaired. Przybilla, 30, ruptured his right patella tendon in a Dec. 22 game at Dallas. He was 10 weeks post-operation and had just started to walk without a brace."
Bell feels used by Bobcats
"Some very interesting comments by former Charlotte Bobcat Raja Bell about how he feels manipulated by his former team, in regard to the left wrist injury he suffered in the preseason. "I felt like I was used a little bit,'' Bell told the Contra Costa Times. "They played on the fact that I want to play and want to please, and they played on that and, uh, it cost me my season.'' Bell wanted to have arthroscopic surgery, to explore the extent of damage to his left wrist, following a preseason injury. He says he was talked out of that. Bell was trying to tough it out, to help the Bobcats reach the playoffs. Eventually, following the trade to the Warriors (a deal that acquired Stephen ..."
Thompson hopes for an early return to lineup
"Jason Thompson stood on the American Airlines Center floor Friday night, his warm-ups drenched in sweat and the hardwood under his feet more slippery by the second. The Kings forward, who had two non-displaced transverse fractures in his lower back from a Feb. 23 fall against Detroit, had just completed his pregame rehabilitation. He teamed with Kings strength and conditioning coach Daniel Shapiro in the session, stretching with bands and sprinting so much you could hardly tell he was injured. "I only know one way to go, and that's going hard," he said. "That's just not talk. That's how I've always been working. That's how I'm in this league, really. Coming from a small school (Rider), ..."
LeBron James pal William Wesley reportedly considers becoming agent
"Worldwide Wes to be agent? Sports Illustrated had an interesting report Friday that had plenty of NBA and college basketball insiders scratching their heads and sending e-mails and texts around. SI.com's Seth Davis reported that a confidant of LeBron James and a well-known behind-the-scenes operator in player recruitment and management circles, William "Wes" Wesley, is in talks to become an agent. Davis reported said Wesley is close to joining the massive Creative Artists Agency, which represents top actors and athletes, to represent NBA and college coaches. James' agent and Wesley lifelong friend Leon Rose works for CAA. Rose and Wesley sat in the front row next to the Cavs bench ..."
Lionel Hollins deal 'in my hands'
"The Grizzlies are still working toward a contract extension for coach Lionel Hollins, two months after team owner Michael Heisley initiated negotiations. "It's in my hands," Heisley said when asked about the status of contract talks. Hollins is working on a 17-month deal he signed Jan. 25, 2009 to replace Marc Iavaroni. Neither side would disclose the nature of the discussions nor why talks are still ongoing. Hollins, though, didn't sound concerned when asked about the situation Saturday night before the Griz hosted the San Antonio Spurs. "I talked to Mike when I was in Chicago. I think it'll get done," Hollins said while taping The Lionel Hollins Show, which posts today on ..."
Spurs' Ginobili will be in demand
"When the Hornets made a fourth-quarter run at the Spurs in Friday's game at the AT"
Ginobili factor in NBA free agency
"With the talent-laden free agent class of 2010 just months from availability, what are the chances a team may be willing to offer Spurs guard Manu Ginobili a contract big enough to lure him away from San Antonio? Depending on where the salary cap figure for the 2010-11 season is set - it is projected to be between $53 million and $54 million -- five teams figure to have at least $15 million in cap space to spend on free agents. Two more will have about $9 million and nearly $12 million. There will be plenty of talented free agents vying for all that money, led by the triad of All-Stars - LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh. Each of those superstars can sign with only one team, and ..."
Cavs lose without James, coach says he might not play again on Monday
"It already was going to be a tough game. Then Cavaliers coach Mike Brown made it tougher. Brown elected to rest LeBron James -- and hinted he might do it again Monday when the San Antonio Spurs visit The Q. The coach denied it had anything to do with the fact that James rolled his ankle in Friday's victory over Detroit. But without their leader, the shorthanded Cavaliers, who already were missing Shaquille O'Neal after his right thumb surgery, just didn't have enough left against the resurgent Milwaukee Bucks. Antawn Jamison had 30 points -- his high since joining the Cavs -- and Delonte West added a season-high 27, but Milwaukee snapped Cleveland's six-game winning streak with a 92-85 ..."
Stoudemire seemingly still hot for Heat
"Because it's all about July 1, 2010, another no-pretense look into what everyone is wondering about, anyway. -- An impending free agent if he opts out, Phoenix Suns forward Amare Stoudemire acknowledged last week that his best avenue this summer could be a sign-and-trade to one of his prime suitors from last month's trading deadline. Of course, acquiring Stoudemire in a trade, as opposed to free agency, would be huge for the Miami Heat, because it then could retain its Bird Rights with players such as Udonis Haslem, Dorell Wright, Jermaine O'Neal and Quentin Richardson (or at least those left after a trade), and therefore be able to exceed the salary cap to retain its incumbent free ..."
Marcus Camby headlines Donnie Walsh's supporting cast in case Lebron James joins New York Knicks
"The Knicks' primary target this summer is LeBron James, but when it comes to the supporting cast Donnie Walsh plans to assemble, the team president has his eye on a free agent with New York ties. The Knicks, according to sources, will make a strong push for Marcus Camby, who 11 years ago played a significant role in helping the Knicks reach the NBA Finals. Walsh has tried for two years to acquire the 7-foot Camby and last month lost out again when the Clippers traded him to Portland. Although Camby turns 36 in two weeks, he still moves well and doesn't need the ball to make an impact. Instead, he is the shot-blocking, rebounding type of center Walsh and Mike D'Antoni covet. "He only has ..."
Hedo, he don't?
"Hedo Turkoglu's wonky ankle and wayward shot were absent from Saturday's practice. Whether he plays Sunday afternoon remains to be seen. It's obvious Turkoglu is favouring a left ankle he sprained in Monday's blowout loss in Houston when he was unable to play the entire second half. The added off-days before Friday's visit by New York helped Turkoglu, but he briefly left the game to have his ankle re-taped. In back-to-back losses to Oklahoma City and Houston, Turkoglu was a combined 4-of-13 from the field. He had a two-game stretch where he didn't attempt a single free throw. Against the Knicks, Turkoglu was a presence, making six trips to the line, hauling down nine rebounds, posting four ..."
Rafer Alston suspended by Heat, parting likely imminent
"Rafter Alston's comeback with the Miami Heat apparently has come to an end. The veteran point guard was suspended indefinitely without pay Saturday after failing to make himself available to the team. Alston failed to report for practice Friday, which the team did not initially disclose, and then did not appear at Saturday's victory over the Atlanta Hawks. According to the team, as of early Sunday morning Alston had not made himself available other than by text message. His abrupt departure from the team came a day after he was demoted from his starting role in Thursday's overtime victory over the Los Angeles Lakers. Alston, who was signed Jan. 7 to add punch to a shaky rotation at point ..."
Chris Bosh has chance to leave Toronto Raptors this summer, New York Knicks may lure forward
"Tracy McGrady took the first chance he got to leave Toronto and ended up playing for the Orlando Magic in his home state. Chris Bosh will have a similar decision to make this summer, and McGrady - who like Bosh began his career in Canada - can see the All-Star forward skipping town. "He's been here for quite some time now," McGrady said. "He personally has been successful. The team really hasn't done that much. Maybe he wants to start off fresh with another franchise. Or maybe he's doing it for tax reasons. "I'm not speaking (for) Chris Bosh. I'm just saying, the individual that wants to move on . . . there are different reasons why a guy wouldn't want to play (in Toronto)." The Knicks' ..."
Zydrunas Ilgauskas' agent says the center plans on rejoining Cleveland Cavaliers
"He's back. Or at least he wants to be. In a move sure to delight Cavaliers fans, Zydrunas Ilgauskas has announced his intentions to rejoin the team and has asked agent Herb Rudoy to begin negotiations with the Cavs on March 22, the first date he can do so. "It is Zydrunas' desire to return to the Cavaliers if a suitable contract can be agreed upon," Rudoy said in an e-mail to reporters. "He has been overwhelmed and deeply touched by the outpouring of support and affection by the fans and by his teammates. He hopes to return to bring a championship to the Cavaliers and to the city of Cleveland.""
Jason Terry out from week to two months with eye socket fracture
"Jason Terry's surgery today to fix facial injuries -- which include a fractured orbital bone that will sideline him anywhere from a week to two months -- will open up opportunities for several of his teammates. It will also cement his reputation as the Mavericks' ironman. The Mavericks were mum on how long Terry will be out, but a source said the optimal time frame was seven to 10 days after surgery. That would represent a speedy recovery. Other NBA players, such as Hakeem Olajuwon, required much longer to recover. He missed 25 games with an orbital fracture after receiving an elbow from Bill Cartwright in 1991. That obviously would push Terry to the playoffs, which start in six weeks, ..."
Kevin Durant wants to sign a contract extension this summer
"In an interview with AOL Fanhouse, Thunder forward Kevin Durant issued his strongest statements yet regarding his upcoming contract extension. Durant told the Web site that if the Thunder offered a maximum contract of five years and roughly $80 million, he would re-sign this summer. "Yeah, that's what I want to do," Durant said. "I want to be here. I want to be part of this organization." Negotiations between Durant's representatives and the Thunder can start July 1. A deal must be reached by Oct. 31 or Durant will become a restricted free agent in 2011. Durant, however, said he can't foresee it getting to that point. "If they did offer (a max contract), that would be something that nobody ..."
Ilgauskas to wait, hopes to return to Cavs
"The agent for former Cavaliers center Zydrunas Ilgauskas said Thursday evening that Ilgauskas would like to return to the team. The Cavs dealt Ilgauskas to the Washington Wizards in a three-team trade at the trade deadline that allowed them to acquire power forward Antawn Jamison. Upon his arrival in Washington, Ilgauskas' agent, Herb Rudoy, sought a buyout for the 7-foot-3 Lithuanian. A deal was reached last week and Ilgauskas cleared waivers, making him a free agent. He can currently negotiate with any team except the Cavs. ''Zydrunas has decided to wait until March 22 and has asked me to enter into negotiations with the Cavs on that date,'' Rudoy said in a text message. Ilgauskas' ..."
Bosh misses shootaround with upset stomach
"Chris Bosh was a surprise absence at the team shootaround due to an upset stomach. There's no word on his status for Friday night's game against the Knicks."
Amar'e Stoudemire in no hurry to talk about extension with Suns
"What forward Amar'e Stoudemire has done lately is not going to change the status of a possible contract extension with the Suns anytime soon. Stoudemire said he wants to shelve contract-extension talks until after the season, when he also will have to make a decision about opting out of the final year of the deal, which would pay him $17.7 million. He must decide by June 30. "I just don't want the distraction," Stoudemire said. "I don't want to distract the team right now. We're playing well. So in the off-season, we can talk about extensions. "The way I play is not really focusing on the contract at all. I'm playing strictly to get a better spot in the playoffs and a higher seed and also ..."
Elton Brand's achilles tendinitis might sideline him for a while
"This isn't the way Elton Brand envisioned his first two seasons here either, 76ers fans. When pointing out the disappointment with the Sixers organization, one of the first issues that is always brought up is the 5-year, $80 million contract to which general manager Ed Stefanski signed Brand in the summer of 2008. Brand had missed 74 games the previous season with the Los Angeles Clippers after tearing his left Achilles' tendon. Last season, after averaging just 13.8 points and 8.8 rebounds in his 29 games with the Sixers, Brand was shut down due to a shoulder injury, prematurely ending another season. For 2 years, Brand hasn't concentrated on basketball during the offseason. Instead, it ..."
Noah unsure of return
"Joakim Noah still isn't sure exactly when or even if he will be able to return to the Chicago Bulls lineup this season. The young center, who has missed 11 games this season because of plantar fasciitis in his left foot, has been shut down by the Bulls for three weeks. The hope is the rest will allow him to shake the injury, which has bothered him for the past few months."
Michael Jordan Bought the Bobcats for Only $175 Million
"Pretty much everyone around the league is excited that Michael Jordan now owns the Bobcats. He's still a marketable face, and the franchise clearly needs all the help it can get to draw fans and become financially reputable. Lost in the excitement, though, was the fact that we never heard the sale price. Michael K. Ozanian of Forbes.com has it, and it's not pretty: If NBA owners approve, Michael Jordan is going to buy controlling interest in the Charlotte Bobcats for a price that values the franchise at about $175 million. This is a big blow to the NBA because current owner Robert L. Johnson paid an expansion fee of $300 million seven years ago and the league has several teams hunting for ..."
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