February 2
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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The Hawks met Thursday with a representative for center Kenyon Martin, according to a person with knowledge of the team's thinking. Martin, 34, averaged 8.6 points and 6.2 rebounds in 48 games for the Nuggets last season. The 11-year veteran signed a one-year deal to play in China with Xinjiang during the NBA lockout last summer. He is eligible to return to the NBA following the Chinese season in several weeks. Martin has reportedly been offered a contract by the Heat. ESPN recently reported that he is also interested in signing with the Clippers, Spurs and Knicks, along with the Hawks and Heat."
February 2
New Orleans Times-Picayune
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Another day, and another rumored destination for Hornets backup center/forward Chris Kaman, still in limbo and away from the team while New Orleans attempts to negotiate a trade that will satisfy another NBA team and the league office, the de facto team owners. On Wednesday, SI.com was reporting that the Houston Rockets had moved to the front of the suitor line, with various offers of young players and draft picks, apparently the price the Hornets have placed upon any potential deals. Hornets General Manager Dell Demps was unavailable for comment."
February 2
Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
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To say LeBron James' dunking juices are stirring would be an understatement. Two days after the fact, he still was talking Wednesday about what Los Angeles Clippers forward Blake Griffin did Monday night to Oklahoma City Thunder center Kendrick Perkins. So could this finally be it, the year James takes his dunks to the show level and enters the dunking contest during All-Star Weekend in Orlando, perhaps to go one-on-one against Griffin? "I don't know. I'll be on the fence every year about it," he said following the Miami Heat's shootaround at the Bradley Center, in advance of their game against the Milwaukee Bucks."
January 30
New Orleans Times-Picayune
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The Hornets are getting inquires from several teams interested in obtaining center Chris Kaman in a trade, according to league sources. Since General Manager Dell Demps said this past Friday they intend to trade Kaman, at least five teams have inquired, including Southwest Division rivals the San Antonio Spurs and Houston Rockets. Kaman will not be with the team until he's traded, Demps said in a statement."
January 28
New Orleans Times-Picayune
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New Orleans Hornets backup center-forward Chris Kaman is not with the team right now because of an organizational decision, team officials said Friday night. The Hornets are expected to pursue trade offers for Kaman, who has an expiring contract that pays him about $14 million this season. Although he is not injured, Kaman was put on the inactive list for Wednesday night's game against the Oklahoma City Thunder for the first time this season. In place of Kaman, Gustavo Ayon played 17 minutes and scored 16 points on eight-of-10 shooting against the Thunder. ``It's just something that we want to play our young guys and we certainly don't want to disrespect Chris at all,'' Hornets Coach"
January 28
New Orleans Times-Picayune
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New Orleans Hornets shooting guard Eric Gordon said Friday morning it was a mutual decision between him and the franchise to put off trying to get an extension agreement finalized before Wednesday's deadline. Gordon will become a restricted free agent on July 1, and the Hornets General Manager Dell Demps said they will make a push to re-sign him. ``It wasn't that I turned down anything, it works both ways,'' Gordon said. ``Yes, I'll be restricted, but I am just a basketball player right now and the future is unclear. ``All I can do is worry about coming back at this point to try and help the team win games at the end of the year. It's not the best situation, but it's also not the worst. As"
January 27
Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
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The record is now 8-1 without Dwyane Wade. And yet all the Miami Heat want is their star shooting guard back on the court. That could happen as soon as Friday's home game against the New York Knicks, with Wade testing his sprained right ankle in an aggressive pregame workout Wednesday night in Detroit. The Heat had Thursday off. "We want our All-Star out there," LeBron James said after the Heat moved to 5-1 in Wade's absence during this latest injury. Wade also missed three games earlier this season with a bruised left foot."
January 27
New Orleans Times-Picayune
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As the centerpiece of last month's trade that involved All-Star point guard Chris Paul going to the Los Angeles Clippers, shooting guard Eric Gordon was in the Hornets' long-term plans to emerge as their franchise player. For those plans to continue, the Hornets are going to have to compete with other teams this summer to keep Gordon around after he declined to accept their four-year extension offer before Wednesday's 11 p.m. deadline passed. Gordon, 6 feet 3, 215 pounds, will become a restricted free agent July 1, and General Manager Dell Demps said they are going to make a strong push to re-sign him. "I'm still very optimistic that we will make Eric a big part of our team for years to"
January 26
New Orleans Times-Picayune
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The Times-Picayune's John Reid just tweeted: "Guard Eric Gordon could miss up to six weeks to recover from his knee injury, according to Hornets." Reid is reporting that Gordon will be re-evaluated after three weeks, but the team is prepared for him being out longer."