OFFICIAL 2010-2011 NBA PLAYOFFS THREAD : VOL. MOST. ANTICIPATED. PLAYOFFS. EVER?
- Thread in 'Sports & Training' Thread starter Started by bigmike23,
- Start date
darthska
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Do Be Doo:
I wasn't saying he didn't deserve it, champ.23ska909red02 wrote:
JapanAir21:
Did Kobe just get tossed?
I was actually coming in here to see if anyone made a big deal of this, since there were all kinds of people at the start of the season saying 'Oh, these quick technicals and ejections won't ever apply to the likes of Kobe and LeBron and Wade. Watch.'
Well... where'd y'all go?
KOBE was crying mid way threw the 3rd. The refs were letting it slide. Come on now.
I was just pointing out two facts and asking a question.
Fact: People said that the new focus on Ts and ejections wouldn't apply to the NBA's posterboys.
Fact: Kobe got two Ts and was ejected.
Question: Where are the people who said the NBA's elite (and especially those who specifically named Kobe) would be immune?
And while I'm at it...
Fact: Bears eat beets.
darthska
Staff member
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Do Be Doo:
I wasn't saying he didn't deserve it, champ.23ska909red02 wrote:
JapanAir21:
Did Kobe just get tossed?
I was actually coming in here to see if anyone made a big deal of this, since there were all kinds of people at the start of the season saying 'Oh, these quick technicals and ejections won't ever apply to the likes of Kobe and LeBron and Wade. Watch.'
Well... where'd y'all go?
KOBE was crying mid way threw the 3rd. The refs were letting it slide. Come on now.I was just pointing out two facts and asking a question.
Fact: People said that the new focus on Ts and ejections wouldn't apply to the NBA's posterboys.
Fact: Kobe got two Ts and was ejected.
Question: Where are the people who said the NBA's elite (and especially those who specifically named Kobe) would be immune?
And while I'm at it...
Fact: Bears eat beets.
do be doo
Banned
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Oh ok. RJ claps his hands AWAY from the ref and got a T in the PHX game. KOBE claps his when a buck player stole the ball. NO T.
So they are a little right.
So they are a little right.
do be doo
Banned
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Oh ok. RJ claps his hands AWAY from the ref and got a T in the PHX game. KOBE claps his when a buck player stole the ball. NO T.
So they are a little right.
So they are a little right.
darthska
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Why the hell are you bringing up Richard freaking Jefferson when my whole point is about people whining that these techs and ejections wouldn't apply to the NBA's elite?!
me: So where'd everyone go that said posterboys won't be tossed?
you: Richard Jefferson
double you tee eff?!
me: So where'd everyone go that said posterboys won't be tossed?
you: Richard Jefferson
double you tee eff?!
darthska
Staff member
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Why the hell are you bringing up Richard freaking Jefferson when my whole point is about people whining that these techs and ejections wouldn't apply to the NBA's elite?!
me: So where'd everyone go that said posterboys won't be tossed?
you: Richard Jefferson
double you tee eff?!
me: So where'd everyone go that said posterboys won't be tossed?
you: Richard Jefferson
double you tee eff?!
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jordan got tossed in a couple regular season games too...
but you guys can't honestly believe that kobe (and/or other elite players) are facing the same standard in regards to the enforcement of 'the rule'?
but you guys can't honestly believe that kobe (and/or other elite players) are facing the same standard in regards to the enforcement of 'the rule'?
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jordan got tossed in a couple regular season games too...
but you guys can't honestly believe that kobe (and/or other elite players) are facing the same standard in regards to the enforcement of 'the rule'?
but you guys can't honestly believe that kobe (and/or other elite players) are facing the same standard in regards to the enforcement of 'the rule'?
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furthermore, if that game was closer or a prime time game (like say the christmas game) does anyone think the results (him being tossed) would have been different?
i didn't watch the game.. but i did notice that he was tossed with only 2:07 left to play and the bucks won by 19
i didn't watch the game.. but i did notice that he was tossed with only 2:07 left to play and the bucks won by 19
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furthermore, if that game was closer or a prime time game (like say the christmas game) does anyone think the results (him being tossed) would have been different?
i didn't watch the game.. but i did notice that he was tossed with only 2:07 left to play and the bucks won by 19
i didn't watch the game.. but i did notice that he was tossed with only 2:07 left to play and the bucks won by 19
darthska
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^ No one said they were.
*facepalm*
Was he tossed? Yes.
Did people say that it would LITERALLY never happen? YES.
Where are those people at now?
everyone: Man, the NBA is craking down with these whistles.
some people: Enh, we all know the protected few won't ever get tossed.
me: *ahem* Really?
Honestly, I'm still waiting to see LeBron or Wade even get a tech, forget getting tossed.
*facepalm*
Was he tossed? Yes.
Did people say that it would LITERALLY never happen? YES.
Where are those people at now?
everyone: Man, the NBA is craking down with these whistles.
some people: Enh, we all know the protected few won't ever get tossed.
me: *ahem* Really?
Honestly, I'm still waiting to see LeBron or Wade even get a tech, forget getting tossed.
darthska
Staff member
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^ No one said they were.
*facepalm*
Was he tossed? Yes.
Did people say that it would LITERALLY never happen? YES.
Where are those people at now?
everyone: Man, the NBA is craking down with these whistles.
some people: Enh, we all know the protected few won't ever get tossed.
me: *ahem* Really?
Honestly, I'm still waiting to see LeBron or Wade even get a tech, forget getting tossed.
*facepalm*
Was he tossed? Yes.
Did people say that it would LITERALLY never happen? YES.
Where are those people at now?
everyone: Man, the NBA is craking down with these whistles.
some people: Enh, we all know the protected few won't ever get tossed.
me: *ahem* Really?
Honestly, I'm still waiting to see LeBron or Wade even get a tech, forget getting tossed.
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Originally Posted by 23ska909red02
^No one said they were.
*facepalm*
Was he tossed? Yes.
Did people say that it would LITERALLY never happen? YES.
Where are those people at now?
everyone: Man, the NBA is craking down with these whistles.
some people: Enh, we all know the protected few won't ever get tossed.
me: *ahem* Really?
Honestly, I'm still waiting to see LeBron or Wade even get a tech, forget getting tossed.
Lebrick gets away wit murda
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Originally Posted by 23ska909red02
^No one said they were.
*facepalm*
Was he tossed? Yes.
Did people say that it would LITERALLY never happen? YES.
Where are those people at now?
everyone: Man, the NBA is craking down with these whistles.
some people: Enh, we all know the protected few won't ever get tossed.
me: *ahem* Really?
Honestly, I'm still waiting to see LeBron or Wade even get a tech, forget getting tossed.
Lebrick gets away wit murda
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It isn't dumb, its truth. And did Bynum play in the world cup or what are you getting at? LolOriginally Posted by CP1708
rck2sactown wrote:
CP1708 wrote:
Oh I thought it was because some LA players would rather go to the WORLD CUP then heal up. My fault.
I'm proud of the SPURS. I don't give a !@%* if they didn't repeat. It would have been nice but not mad at all. So please stop saying dumb stuff like that.
MAVS need a coach more then anything.
Bynum went to South Africa for the World Cup rather than immediately getting surgery, thus setting his knee back.
Ahhhh, I see.......yeah, ok, um the World Cup lasted like a week or two right? And Bynum has missed the first, I dunno, 6 weeks of the regular season. So if he had that surgery a week or two earlier he would have.........what? Played in 3 extra December games?
The Finals ended in the third week of the June, Bynum goes to the World Cup during the second or third week of July and doesn't get surgery until the last week of July. Maybe he had to wait until swelling went down or something but he definitely could have undergone the surgery roughly a month earlier.
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^ i get that and some ppl were obviously being unrealistic when saying that..
i'm just trying to to get/understand ppls opinions in a more realistic situation(s)
i'm just trying to to get/understand ppls opinions in a more realistic situation(s)
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^ i get that and some ppl were obviously being unrealistic when saying that..
i'm just trying to to get/understand ppls opinions in a more realistic situation(s)
i'm just trying to to get/understand ppls opinions in a more realistic situation(s)
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It isn't dumb, its truth. And did Bynum play in the world cup or what are you getting at? LolOriginally Posted by CP1708
rck2sactown wrote:
CP1708 wrote:
Oh I thought it was because some LA players would rather go to the WORLD CUP then heal up. My fault.
I'm proud of the SPURS. I don't give a !@%* if they didn't repeat. It would have been nice but not mad at all. So please stop saying dumb stuff like that.
MAVS need a coach more then anything.
Bynum went to South Africa for the World Cup rather than immediately getting surgery, thus setting his knee back.
Ahhhh, I see.......yeah, ok, um the World Cup lasted like a week or two right? And Bynum has missed the first, I dunno, 6 weeks of the regular season. So if he had that surgery a week or two earlier he would have.........what? Played in 3 extra December games?
The Finals ended in the third week of the June, Bynum goes to the World Cup during the second or third week of July and doesn't get surgery until the last week of July. Maybe he had to wait until swelling went down or something but he definitely could have undergone the surgery roughly a month earlier.
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Good to see another new VC mix. Hopefully the knee problem isn't too serious.
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Good to see another new VC mix. Hopefully the knee problem isn't too serious.
Bears, beets, Battlestar Galactica
Last week we broke down the short list of Rookie of the Year candidates. But in reality, with John Wall still nursing an injury and having already missed 11 games, Blake Griffin is running away with the award right now.
However, things can change quickly for NBA rookies, who experience many rises and dips in production all season. They'll play a good game or two, then a bunch of bad ones. Next they'll string together a longer streak of good games before putting up a stinker (or three). And finally, their good games start outnumbering their bad ones.
For one rookie, his immense talents were finally on full display for a whole week. That's why every fan in Sacramento, Calif., has the same Christmas wish -- Kings fans want to see their 6-11 center continue his transformation from a doughy raw kid just having fun to a snarling beast who loves to dominate opponents in the paint.
DeMarcus Cousins, this is your NBA life.
In November, Cousins put up two good games and one decent one for the entire month, despite playing against only four playoff-quality teams. And there were five days separating each of those performances. Thus far in December, he's already had six good games against a tougher schedule, four of them in a six-night span.
What has Cousins done that's so special, considering the Kings have now lost six straight and have won just three times since Nov. 1? The better question is, what hasn't he done?
[h4]ROOKIE 50 RANKINGS[/h4]
We're keeping track of every NBA rook. Here are the latest Top 50 rankings.
• Click here for the complete rankings »[th=""]Rank[/th][th=""]Player[/th][th=""]Stock[/th]
1 Blake Griffin 
2 Landry Fields 3 DeMarcus Cousins 
4 Derrick Favors 5 Gary Neal 6 Gary Forbes 
7 Greg Monroe 8 John Wall 9 Tiago Splitter 10 Wesley Johnson
He's scoring more -- at least 17 points in three of his past five games. He's rebounding better -- 37 boards (11 offensive) in his past three games combined. And he's playing more minutes, while turning the ball over less and fouling less. Sure, two of the past five games were against the Rockets, whose starting center is the 6-6 Chuck Hayes. But remember, Hayes totally shut down both Amare Stoudemire and Zach Randolph this season. Yet he was no match for Cousins, who also gave the taller and longer Thunder all sorts of problems on Friday.
The key for Cousins, for the most part, has been his willingness to bang inside. Despite his love of the "little man's game" which is full of dribbles and jump shots, Cousins is most comfortable hammering his opponents with his big body while fighting for space, then lofting a soft hook after one last bang clears space for him. It's the foundation for what can become an excellent "bucket getter" move (see Al Jefferson and Carlos Boozer).
Of course, he's not perfect, not by a long shot. He still takes three shots per game from beyond 10 feet and makes just one on average. And he likes to dribble. A lot.
Consider these astounding statistics:
Samuel Dalembert, who gets most of the center minutes in Sacramento in place of Cousins, has 70 percent of his made jump shots assisted (meaning he scored off a catch -- no dribbling), 45 percent of his paint shots assisted and 60 percent of his dunks assisted.
Cousins, on the other hand, has 42 percent of his jumpers assisted, 28 percent of his paint shots assisted and 50 percent of his dunks assisted. When watching him play, and seeing how often he tries to outmaneuver his man with dribble moves whether he's outside or on the block, those statistics are not surprising. Make no mistake, he makes some moves that make all of us smile and marvel at his skill, but in terms of helping his team win, those moves make us cringe, too.
This is the point, however, in the overall story. Cousins can still be a mess from game to game. He may have the worst body language in the NBA, overreacting to everything, including his own mistakes. And he does not yet value winning enough to take fewer jumpers and dribbles. Yet he's performing much better than he was, and with more consistency. He's also getting in good enough shape to make more defensive plays above the rim. This is the kind of talent the Kings (and everyone else) were expecting.
As he succeeds more often, he will be tested anew. We've seen how he dealt with failure in November -- with marked improvement. How will he deal with his success this month?
If he relaxes for a bit after the kind of December he's having, he wouldn't be the first player to do so. And it wouldn't mean he's a failure. On the other hand, what if he's starting to get it and the success just drives him to practice harder, watch more tape, eat better and spend less time reacting to the game and more time dictating? Well, if that happens, Cousins has the game to make the ROY race an exciting one for us all.
[h3]Rookie Rankings: Top 5[/h3]
[+] Enlarge
Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE/Getty ImagesBlake Griffin is enjoying the view from above in our rook rankings.
1. Blake Griffin
Mr. Griffin is pulling away from this class more and more every week. And I know this sounds crazy, but if the Clippers were more relevant this season, there would even be some talk about Griffin as an MVP candidate.
During the team's current three-game winning streak, Griffin is averaging 25 ppg, 13 rpg and 4.7 apg. And he's made 30-of-47 shots, including a 3. This is the second time the Clippers have strung together victories this season, the first time coming just before Thanksgiving (a two-game streak). Griffin's numbers then? Try 24.5 ppg, 14 rpg, 4.5 apg and 16-of-26 shooting from the field. That's why I call him Mr. Griffin.
2. Landry Fields
Miami and Boston introduced Fields to high-level defense and awareness this past week and basically made him look like a rookie for the first time all season.
Against those defenses, he scored 11 total points and grabbed 11 total rebounds -- pedestrian numbers for Fields. But his success has raised our expectation level for him, as most rookie guards would be proud of getting 11 total rebounds against those powers.
3. DeMarcus Cousins
If I could force Cousins to stop doing one thing, it would be his dribble moves from the block. Yes, he often tries to beat his man with a fancy dribble instead of powering his man to the rim. As you might guess, the latter method works a lot more for him.
4. Derrick Favors
Favors rarely puts up eye-popping numbers, but there is a reason people believe he is valued greatly by Denver as part of a Melo deal. He plays with a good pace, plays under control and always thinks rebound, especially on the offensive end. Among rookies, he trails only Ed Davis in offensive rebound rate.
5. Gary Neal
Because of the role he plays on the Spurs, Neal will never put up consistent or impressive numbers compared with others in this class. But the importance of his shots and successes will continue to rise with San Antonio hunting for a No. 1 seed. If he can continue to shoot over 38 percent from 3, he'll continue to be a force for the Spurs. If not, they might start looking elsewhere for deep shooting. Such is life for an undrafted rookie.
[h3]Click here for the complete rankings »[/h3]
[h3]More rookie observations[/h3]
[+] Enlarge
Joe Murphy/NBAE/Getty ImagesPistons fans can rejoice over their rookie big man showing progress.
Greg Monroe, Pistons
Simply put, Monroe is finishing shots that he was missing in November, making over 56 percent of his field goals this month after hitting just 35.4 percent last month.
The game is slowing down for him and he's using his size and length more effectively. Next up? Block more shots. He hasn't had more than two blocks in a game thus far (and he's had only two blocks twice).
Ed Davis, Raptors
Davis had five offensive rebounds against Chicago, an impressive number even against a banged-up Joakim Noah. In fact, he's managed at least one offensive board in every game, save his second, since he recovered from his injury.
Not only is he providing something that is sorely needed in Toronto, where Andrea Bargnani ranks as the second-worst center in offensive rebound rate in the NBA, it's a great way for him to impact the game without demanding touches. An offensive board assures him of a paint touch almost every time.
Semih Erden, Celtics
The big man from Turkey is making a run at joining the other rookies with experience in Europe at the top of this class. An integral part of most Celtics games, Erden knows exactly what's expected of him on both ends of the floor -- finish layups and dunks, never take a bad shot and defend without fear of fouling. Could he be the Marcin Gortat of this season's Celtics team come playoff time? Yes, if he's still needed then.
Pooh Jeter, Kings
Jeter has quietly surged into meaningful minutes in Sacramento. He's quick off the dribble and tough as nails, and his 3-point shot is better than he realizes (just 2-for-5 on the season). Considering the troubles Tyreke Evans and the Kings are having, perhaps we'll see more of Jeter creating shots for Evans and Cousins than is currently happening. If he could develop into a reliable rotation player going forward, the Kings, who are in need of positives, would have another important young piece.
Evan Turner, 76ers
The Sixers are hot, and they are leaving Turner behind. We weren't surprised when last season's No. 2 pick, Hasheem Thabeet, barely played, but to see Turner, the national player of the year in college last season, play 15 or fewer minutes in every game but three in December is a surprise.
The good news is that many rookies take awhile to find their step. The bad news is that if Philly keeps up its winning ways, the team could be miles ahead by the time things start clicking for him. Why not let him kill the D-League for a few weeks? It could help him find his groove.
Ekpe Udoh, Warriors
In action for the first time this season, the big man from Baylor displayed terrific energy in a tough loss to Houston.
Going into the draft, I wrote that he had a chance to be a guy who had to be double-teamed in the post on offense, but who never needed help when defending in the post. Those kinds of guys are very rare.
Yes, he's a long way from being that guy, but he showed low-post talent and some solid (and in one case, spectacular) defense in that game -- a sure sign that his development into a front-line NBA player must be at the forefront of Golden State's plans. He and Stephen Curry make an intriguing combination, and when teamed with Monta Ellis and David Lee, the Warriors have a potential top-four core that can be dynamite.
[h3][/h3][h3]Howard's interest in the Lakers[/h3]
11:41AM ET
[h5]Dwight Howard | Magic[/h5]
Dwight Howard has an early-termination option on the last year of his contract (2012-13) and thus can exercise it and become a free agent after the 2011-12 season.
And as Ken Berger of CBS Sports notes, there has been some indication Howard hasn't 100 percent married himself to the Magic before their trade deals on Saturday.
"People with knowledge of Howard's thinking said the superstar is on board with Orlando's moves, with one saying he's 'a big fan' of the changes," wrote Berger. "But as he grew restless over the summer about the developments in South Florida, and as the Magic were exposed in recent weeks, Howard privately already was beginning to weigh his options. Like the list of stars he wanted to join him in Orlando, he was forming another list: potential suitors for him. Two teams were on it, according to sources: the Knicks and Lakers."
Like Berger, ESPN The Magazine's Ric Bucher is also hearing the Lakers whispers, which we've reflected below.
Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports adds more to all this, writing it's possible it might be championship or bust for Orlando to keep Howard.
"As the Magic GM tore apart one of the best teams in the NBA, the words hung over his every machination," he wrote. "To keep Howard, the mandate's unmistakable: nothing short of a championship."
So while Howard may like the team's recent changes, it's possible how they perform this year and next -- whether the Magic can contend for, or make, the NBA Finals -- may go a long way towards revealing what Howard's future holds.
-- Ryan Corazza
[h5]ESPN The Magazine's Ric Bucher[/h5]
Many have indicated Howard's interest in the Lakers
[h5]ESPN's John Hollinger[/h5]
Magic looking to win with Howard now
http://[h3]Philly's altered stance with Iguodala[/h3]
11:33AM ET
[h5]Andre Iguodala | 76ers[/h5]
As we noted Tuesday, there's been some chatter that with the Sixers' recent string of success -- before Tuesday night's blowout loss to Chicago, the team had won 8 of 11 -- they may be more inclined to keep Andre Iguodala, a name that's been rumored as a possible trade chip for the team.
And as ESPN The Magazine's Ric Bucher reports, it looks the team has indeed backed off plans to dump his large contract for now.
"It's not good enough to give them a good young player and some cap space for Iguodala now," one GM told Bucher. "The tenor in Philly has changed."
Of course, if the Sixers head back south again before the trade deadline, it's possible they may revert back and look for young talent and some cap space in return for Iguodala.
As ESPN The Magazine's Chris Broussard wrote on Tuesday, Iguodala is one Plan B for the Knicks if they fail to land Carmelo Anthony.
More from Bucher:
-- Ryan Corazza
[h5]ESPN The Magazine's Ric Bucher[/h5]
With recent success, Sixers may be inclined to keep Iguodala now
http://[h3]Bulls in mix for Barron[/h3]
11:30AM ET
[h5]Earl Barron | Suns | Interested: Bulls?, Magic?, Knicks?[/h5]
UPDATE: According to Alex Kennedy of HOOPSWORLD, the Bulls, along with the aforementioned Knicks, have expressed interest in Barron.
With Joakim Noah out with a thumb injury, Barron could be brought in to shore up depth concerns at the center position.
---
According to Paul Coro of the Arizona Republic, the Suns have waived center Earl Barron.
Such a move was predicted by Coro in an earlier tweet, as seven of their 14 -- now 13 -- players were either listed as a center or power forward.
With the Magic looking for another center, it's possible they could look to sign Barron.
The Knicks -- who had Barron on the roster at the end of last season and liked what he brought to the table -- could also get in the mix for him as they look for more depth on the bench.
But at 15 players, they'd have to release someone to bring him on board. As we noted Monday, Kelenna Azubuike could be a candidate for release.
-- Ryan Corazza
http://[h3]Kings push for an arena continues[/h3]
11:26AM ET
[h5]Sacramento Kings[/h5]
The Sacramento Kings are desperate to have a new arena, but are having a difficult time putting together a proposal that works for the team and the city. The Sacramento Bee reports the Kings have talked with some of the bigger companies that have built arenas around the country and the hope is that they can help broker a deal between the team and city.
Local developer David Taylor says building an arena in Sacramento will require a multifaceted development team.
"It is going to take a combination of lots of things -- the correct designer, the correct builder, construction manager, the correct group to negotiate terms with the city, the Maloofs, the NBA and any private investors," Taylor told The Sacramento Bee. "I feel like I bring some local, downtown experience perhaps no one else can bring."
-- Nick Borges
http://[h3]Yao's future with the Rockets[/h3]
10:57AM ET
[h5]Yao Ming | Rockets[/h5]
Even though Yao Ming has been injury-prone and is out for the season because of the stress fracture to his left ankle and his future as a player is uncertain, the Rockets want the center to remain a fixture with the organization.
"We see him as being different than a normal player," general manger Daryl Morey tells SI.com. "He is an essential part of the Rockets. Whenever he's done [playing], we want him to be involved with the team as long as he will have us. And if you look at our team, our biggest need is someone in the middle. We hope Yao will be an option there for us."
Yao's contract is set to expire in July, but Morey, according to the website, has not ruled out the possibility that an extension will be offered to the center.
-- Nick Borges
[h5]ESPN's Chad Ford[/h5]
Will Rockets part with Yao?
http://[h3]Teams willing to rent Anthony[/h3]
10:36AM ET
[h5]Carmelo Anthony | Nuggets[/h5]
The biggest obstacle in trading Carmelo Anthony is the uncertainty about his willingness to sign an extension with the team that acquires him. Most teams won't trade young players and draft picks, if he won't agree to that extension, but some will reports Benjamin Hochman of The Denver Post.
Hochman writes: "NBA sources said Tuesday a couple of contending teams have expressed interest in 'renting' Anthony for the rest of the season. Those teams appear willing to trade for Melo knowing they might not be able to sign him to a long-term contract. The sources would not identify the teams willing to possibly rent Anthony, but Dallas could be one team making an inquiry."
Mavericks owner Mark Cuban told a radio station earlier this season that he's not opposed to renting a player if it means winning a championship.
"It just depends on who the guy is and what we'd have to give up -- (but) we'll play rent-a-player, no question about it," said Cuban.
CBSSports.com reports Cuban is interested in renting Anthony as a way to keep the All-Star away from the Nets billionaire owner, Mikhail Prokhorov.
The website also reports many teams believe Houston will make a run at Anthony, even if he doesn't agree to the $65 million extension.
-- Nick Borges
http://[h3]Grizz work out Hughes and Murray[/h3]
10:05AM ET
[h5]Memphis Grizzlies[/h5]
The Memphis Grizzlies are looking for a veteran point guard and a shooter and according to The Commercial Appeal, the team worked out Larry Hughes and Ronald "Flip" Murray this week.
General manager Chris Wallace told the newspaper that no moves are imminent, but he does want to keep his options open.
The Grizzlies only have 13 players under contract, so they could add both Hughes and Murray if they wanted.
Hughes played for Charlotte last season, while Murray finished the year with Chicago.
-- Nick Borges
http://[h3]Harris and the Bobcats[/h3]
9:50AM ET
[h5]Devin Harris | Nets[/h5]
Nets point guard Devin Harris was set to become a member of the Bobcats in September, but a four-team trade fell apart. The Nets are once again trying to land Carmelo Anthony from the Nuggets and Harris might be one of the players traded out of New Jersey.
The Nuggets don't want Harris, but the Bobcats may still have interest, especially since head coach Larry Brown is not thrilled with any of his point guards, including .J. Augustin.
According to the New York Daily News an Eastern Conference general manager speculated that Brown would renew talks with the Nets regarding Harris.
All the recent trade rumors don't seem to bother Harris, like they did in September.
"Been there, done that," Harris said. "You go through a little bit of emotions, thinking how you want to be a part of something and obviously with a new regime and a new coaching staff, you're moving out right away. But you get over it."
-- Nick Borges
http://[h3]Orton out until All-Star break[/h3]
9:27AM ET
[h5]Daniel Orton | Magic[/h5]
Earlier this month Magic general manager Otis Smith said he didn't think rookie Daniel Orton would need surgery to fix the cartilage damage to his left knee.
According to the Orlando Sentinel, the rookie center said Tuesday that he does need surgery and it will take place within the next week.
Orton said he was told the operation will sideline him until the All-Star break in February.
The Magic are woefully thin in the frontcourt and they have inquired about New York's Ronny Turiaf and Philadelphia's Tony Battie. The Magic could also sign a free agent like Earl Barron, who was waived on Tuesday by Phoenix.
-- Nick Borges
http://[h3]Clippers to sign Diogu[/h3]
8:49AM ET
[h5]Ike Diogu[/h5]
Chris Kaman (ankle), Craig Smith (back) and Brian Cook (ankle) are all out with injuries, so the Clippers plan on bringing in a big man. According to the Los Angeles Times, the team is expected to sign power forward Ike Diogu to a contract on Wednesday.
Diogu worked out at the Clippers practice facility on Tuesday and should be ready to play immediately.
Diogu was released by Detroit just before the start of the regular season.
-- Nick Borges
http://[h3]Smith out two weeks, Cook three[/h3]
8:36AM ET
[h5]Craig Smith | Clippers[/h5]
UPDATE: Smith had the MRI and according to the Los Angeles Times, it revealed he has a herniated disk in his lower back.
Smith is expected to miss at least the next two weeks.
Cook's sprained right ankle is bad enough that it will keep him out about three weeks.
-- Nick Borges
----
Craig Smith sat out Monday's Clippers game against the Timberwolves due to a bad back, one that's been bothering Smith for a bit this season and was an issue last season for him, too.
Coach Vinny Del Negro indicated to the Los Angeles Times that Smith is scheduled to have an MRI.
While the power forward is only averaging 13.8 minutes off the bench in a reserve frontcourt role, Brian Cook, another reserve PF, has missed the last two Clippers' games due to a sprained right ankle.
With Chris Kaman also out due to injury, if both Smith and Cook continue to miss time, the Clippers will be thin up front with the threesome of rookie Blake Griffin, DeAndre Jordan and Jarron Collins carrying the frontcourt load.
-- Ryan Corazza
http://[h3]Hickson wants starting spot back[/h3]
8:18AM ET
[h5]J.J. Hickson | Cavaliers[/h5]
Cavaliers head coach Byron Scott pulled J.J. Hickson from the starting lineup eight games ago because the power forward was not playing well enough or hard enough. Hickson was not happy with the decision then and he's trying to get that position back.
"Right now, I have to get back to the 'Old J.J.,' so to speak," Hickson told The Plain Dealer. "Just getting tip-ins, offensive rebounds and hustle points."
Hickson admits it has been hard going from a starter to a reserve.
"I don't think I've adjusted yet," Hickson said. "I'm still trying to get my starting spot back. I know what I have to do to get it back, and it's just a matter of me working hard every day and every practice and just staying focused."
Hickson may want to start, but Scott likes the current rotation and he may not make a change unless there is an injury.
-- Nick Borges
http://[h3]Roy will miss road trip[/h3]
7:42AM ET
[h5]Brandon Roy | Trail Blazers[/h5]
UPDATE: According to The Columbian, Blazers president Larry Miller announced Tuesday that Roy, who missed the last three home games, will not travel with the team on their three-game road trip to Golden State, Utah and Denver.
Roy will have his left knee re-evaluated next week when the team returns to Portland.
-- Nick Borges
----
According to the Trail Blazers' official Twitter account, Brandon Roy will miss the team's next thee games due to a sore left knee.
He's set to be re-evaluated later next week.
The news doesn't necessarily come as a surprise, as Roy's tender knees have been an ongoing issue for him this season.
Nicolas Batum may re-assume the starting small forward role with Wesley Matthews moving to shooting guard while Roy rests the injury.
-- Ryan Corazza
[h5]ESPN's Chris Broussard[/h5]
Due to knees, Roy may never return to All-Star form
http://[h3]Will K-Mart play Wednesday?[/h3]
6:59AM ET
[h5]Kenyon Martin | Nuggets[/h5]
UPDATE: Kenyon Martin practiced on Tuesday and said he was feeling good. There is a chance he'll make his season debut against San Antonio on Wednesday.
"It feels great," Martin told The Denver Post. "I didn't have any problems. It's about the same."
Will he play against the Spurs?
"I didn't say that," he said. "We'll see (Wednesday)."
Head coach George Karl says he won't rush Martin back into the lineup.
"Let's wait until (Wednesday)," Karl said. "Let's see how they wake up and see how they feel. Let's see how they do in the shootaround. Chauncey and Kenyon both want to play, and I think there's a chance of that to happen."
Martin will start whenever he is finally activated.
-- Nick Borges
----
Due to offseason knee surgery, Kenyon Martin has yet to play for the Nuggets this season.
But according to Chris Tommason of FanHouse, coach George Karl has indicated Martin will return to practice next week, and there's a chance he may play next week as well.
While it may not happen in Martin's season debut, expect Shelden Williams -- who's started all 25 Nuggets games so far this season -- to eventually slide back into a reserve role with Martin assuming the starting power forward role.
Despite being a tad undersized, Martin is a talented defender at the 4, so he should help bolster the team's interior defense.
-- Ryan Corazza
[h5]ESPN's John Hollinger[/h5]
Martin improved rebounding last season
http://[h3]Carter may need arthroscopic surgery[/h3]
6:22AM ET
[h5]Vince Carter | Suns[/h5]
UPDATE: Vince Carter says he hurt the knee on Nov. 22 and recently swelling returned. He was planning to see the doctor on Tuesday.
"It still bothered me," Carter told The Arizona Republic. "I just tried to keep playing, being hard-headed and not listening to your body. There's been some swelling. The day of the trade is when I told them (Orlando) I wanted to get a MRI."
Carter probably won't play Thursday against Miami.
-- Nick Borges
----
The Suns just acquired Vince Carter as part of a six-player trade with Orlando, but they may not be able to play him for a month.
According to The Arizona Republic, Carter is having issues with his left knee and may need to have arthroscopic surgery to fix the problem.
The surgery would sideline him for about four weeks.
-- Nick Borges
http://[h3]Mason most likely to be waived[/h3]
5:54AM ET
[h5]Roger Mason | Knicks[/h5]
The Knicks need another point guard and center, however their roster is already at the limit of 15. Howard Beck of The New York Times takes a look at the Knicks roster and comes up with the player most likely to be waived and it's Roger Mason Jr.
Beck writes: "Teams typically cut their lowest-salaried players, when possible. But the Knicks prefer to hold onto the rookie Andy Rautins for his 3-point shooting and his potential as a backup point guard. They need Bill Walker as insurance at shooting guard and small forward. Shawne Williams seemed expendable three weeks ago but is now part of the rotation. ... they need Eddy Curry's large expiring contract in any potential trade for Carmelo Anthony and there is some hope that Kelenna Azubuike will regain his health and contribute; even if he does not, Azubuike's expiring contract ($3.4 million) also has value as a trade chip. That leaves Roger Mason Jr. ($1.4 million) as the most likely candidate, based on his contract and lack of playing time."
The Knicks can get another center on Thursday when Earl Barron becomes available. He was released by the Suns on Tuesday. Barron finished last season with the Knicks and averaged 11.7 points and 11 rebounds in seven games.
-- Nick Borges
http://[h3]Hamilton responds[/h3]
5:20AM ET
[h5]Richard Hamilton | Pistons[/h5]
Richard Hamilton spoke to the media on Tuesday and said he's upset that someone with the Pistons went to The Detroit News and said he quit on the team.
"The biggest thing that hurt was when I heard a source in the organization say that I quit," Hamilton said. "I read it this morning. I was like, 'Wow.' That was hard for me because for the last nine years I played hard and aggressive. I left everything on the line every night. To hear that allegation was tough on me."
"I did not play one game and it's, 'Rip is (ticked). Rip did this. Rip did that,'" Hamilton added.
Head coach John Kuester moved Ben Gordon into the starting lineup and Hamilton to the bench over the weekend and the long-time Piston says he'll take the benching "like a man."
Pistons president Joe Dumars stated once again that he never has to worry about Hamilton playing hard.
"He's the last guy I need to worry about competing," Dumars said. "He's been here for a long time and I trust him as much as anybody on this team. Rip is our captain."
Bears, beets, Battlestar Galactica
Last week we broke down the short list of Rookie of the Year candidates. But in reality, with John Wall still nursing an injury and having already missed 11 games, Blake Griffin is running away with the award right now.
However, things can change quickly for NBA rookies, who experience many rises and dips in production all season. They'll play a good game or two, then a bunch of bad ones. Next they'll string together a longer streak of good games before putting up a stinker (or three). And finally, their good games start outnumbering their bad ones.
For one rookie, his immense talents were finally on full display for a whole week. That's why every fan in Sacramento, Calif., has the same Christmas wish -- Kings fans want to see their 6-11 center continue his transformation from a doughy raw kid just having fun to a snarling beast who loves to dominate opponents in the paint.
DeMarcus Cousins, this is your NBA life.
In November, Cousins put up two good games and one decent one for the entire month, despite playing against only four playoff-quality teams. And there were five days separating each of those performances. Thus far in December, he's already had six good games against a tougher schedule, four of them in a six-night span.
What has Cousins done that's so special, considering the Kings have now lost six straight and have won just three times since Nov. 1? The better question is, what hasn't he done?
[h4]ROOKIE 50 RANKINGS[/h4]
We're keeping track of every NBA rook. Here are the latest Top 50 rankings.
• Click here for the complete rankings »[th=""]Rank[/th][th=""]Player[/th][th=""]Stock[/th]
1 Blake Griffin 2 Landry Fields 3 DeMarcus Cousins 4 Derrick Favors 5 Gary Neal 6 Gary Forbes 7 Greg Monroe 8 John Wall 9 Tiago Splitter 10 Wesley Johnson
He's scoring more -- at least 17 points in three of his past five games. He's rebounding better -- 37 boards (11 offensive) in his past three games combined. And he's playing more minutes, while turning the ball over less and fouling less. Sure, two of the past five games were against the Rockets, whose starting center is the 6-6 Chuck Hayes. But remember, Hayes totally shut down both Amare Stoudemire and Zach Randolph this season. Yet he was no match for Cousins, who also gave the taller and longer Thunder all sorts of problems on Friday.
The key for Cousins, for the most part, has been his willingness to bang inside. Despite his love of the "little man's game" which is full of dribbles and jump shots, Cousins is most comfortable hammering his opponents with his big body while fighting for space, then lofting a soft hook after one last bang clears space for him. It's the foundation for what can become an excellent "bucket getter" move (see Al Jefferson and Carlos Boozer).
Of course, he's not perfect, not by a long shot. He still takes three shots per game from beyond 10 feet and makes just one on average. And he likes to dribble. A lot.
Consider these astounding statistics:
Samuel Dalembert, who gets most of the center minutes in Sacramento in place of Cousins, has 70 percent of his made jump shots assisted (meaning he scored off a catch -- no dribbling), 45 percent of his paint shots assisted and 60 percent of his dunks assisted.
Cousins, on the other hand, has 42 percent of his jumpers assisted, 28 percent of his paint shots assisted and 50 percent of his dunks assisted. When watching him play, and seeing how often he tries to outmaneuver his man with dribble moves whether he's outside or on the block, those statistics are not surprising. Make no mistake, he makes some moves that make all of us smile and marvel at his skill, but in terms of helping his team win, those moves make us cringe, too.
This is the point, however, in the overall story. Cousins can still be a mess from game to game. He may have the worst body language in the NBA, overreacting to everything, including his own mistakes. And he does not yet value winning enough to take fewer jumpers and dribbles. Yet he's performing much better than he was, and with more consistency. He's also getting in good enough shape to make more defensive plays above the rim. This is the kind of talent the Kings (and everyone else) were expecting.
As he succeeds more often, he will be tested anew. We've seen how he dealt with failure in November -- with marked improvement. How will he deal with his success this month?
If he relaxes for a bit after the kind of December he's having, he wouldn't be the first player to do so. And it wouldn't mean he's a failure. On the other hand, what if he's starting to get it and the success just drives him to practice harder, watch more tape, eat better and spend less time reacting to the game and more time dictating? Well, if that happens, Cousins has the game to make the ROY race an exciting one for us all.
[h3]Rookie Rankings: Top 5[/h3]
[+] Enlarge
Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE/Getty ImagesBlake Griffin is enjoying the view from above in our rook rankings.
1. Blake Griffin
Mr. Griffin is pulling away from this class more and more every week. And I know this sounds crazy, but if the Clippers were more relevant this season, there would even be some talk about Griffin as an MVP candidate.
During the team's current three-game winning streak, Griffin is averaging 25 ppg, 13 rpg and 4.7 apg. And he's made 30-of-47 shots, including a 3. This is the second time the Clippers have strung together victories this season, the first time coming just before Thanksgiving (a two-game streak). Griffin's numbers then? Try 24.5 ppg, 14 rpg, 4.5 apg and 16-of-26 shooting from the field. That's why I call him Mr. Griffin.
2. Landry Fields
Miami and Boston introduced Fields to high-level defense and awareness this past week and basically made him look like a rookie for the first time all season.
Against those defenses, he scored 11 total points and grabbed 11 total rebounds -- pedestrian numbers for Fields. But his success has raised our expectation level for him, as most rookie guards would be proud of getting 11 total rebounds against those powers.
3. DeMarcus Cousins
If I could force Cousins to stop doing one thing, it would be his dribble moves from the block. Yes, he often tries to beat his man with a fancy dribble instead of powering his man to the rim. As you might guess, the latter method works a lot more for him.
4. Derrick Favors
Favors rarely puts up eye-popping numbers, but there is a reason people believe he is valued greatly by Denver as part of a Melo deal. He plays with a good pace, plays under control and always thinks rebound, especially on the offensive end. Among rookies, he trails only Ed Davis in offensive rebound rate.
5. Gary Neal
Because of the role he plays on the Spurs, Neal will never put up consistent or impressive numbers compared with others in this class. But the importance of his shots and successes will continue to rise with San Antonio hunting for a No. 1 seed. If he can continue to shoot over 38 percent from 3, he'll continue to be a force for the Spurs. If not, they might start looking elsewhere for deep shooting. Such is life for an undrafted rookie.
[h3]Click here for the complete rankings »[/h3]
[h3]More rookie observations[/h3]
[+] Enlarge
Joe Murphy/NBAE/Getty ImagesPistons fans can rejoice over their rookie big man showing progress.
Greg Monroe, Pistons
Simply put, Monroe is finishing shots that he was missing in November, making over 56 percent of his field goals this month after hitting just 35.4 percent last month.
The game is slowing down for him and he's using his size and length more effectively. Next up? Block more shots. He hasn't had more than two blocks in a game thus far (and he's had only two blocks twice).
Ed Davis, Raptors
Davis had five offensive rebounds against Chicago, an impressive number even against a banged-up Joakim Noah. In fact, he's managed at least one offensive board in every game, save his second, since he recovered from his injury.
Not only is he providing something that is sorely needed in Toronto, where Andrea Bargnani ranks as the second-worst center in offensive rebound rate in the NBA, it's a great way for him to impact the game without demanding touches. An offensive board assures him of a paint touch almost every time.
Semih Erden, Celtics
The big man from Turkey is making a run at joining the other rookies with experience in Europe at the top of this class. An integral part of most Celtics games, Erden knows exactly what's expected of him on both ends of the floor -- finish layups and dunks, never take a bad shot and defend without fear of fouling. Could he be the Marcin Gortat of this season's Celtics team come playoff time? Yes, if he's still needed then.
Pooh Jeter, Kings
Jeter has quietly surged into meaningful minutes in Sacramento. He's quick off the dribble and tough as nails, and his 3-point shot is better than he realizes (just 2-for-5 on the season). Considering the troubles Tyreke Evans and the Kings are having, perhaps we'll see more of Jeter creating shots for Evans and Cousins than is currently happening. If he could develop into a reliable rotation player going forward, the Kings, who are in need of positives, would have another important young piece.
Evan Turner, 76ers
The Sixers are hot, and they are leaving Turner behind. We weren't surprised when last season's No. 2 pick, Hasheem Thabeet, barely played, but to see Turner, the national player of the year in college last season, play 15 or fewer minutes in every game but three in December is a surprise.
The good news is that many rookies take awhile to find their step. The bad news is that if Philly keeps up its winning ways, the team could be miles ahead by the time things start clicking for him. Why not let him kill the D-League for a few weeks? It could help him find his groove.
Ekpe Udoh, Warriors
In action for the first time this season, the big man from Baylor displayed terrific energy in a tough loss to Houston.
Going into the draft, I wrote that he had a chance to be a guy who had to be double-teamed in the post on offense, but who never needed help when defending in the post. Those kinds of guys are very rare.
Yes, he's a long way from being that guy, but he showed low-post talent and some solid (and in one case, spectacular) defense in that game -- a sure sign that his development into a front-line NBA player must be at the forefront of Golden State's plans. He and Stephen Curry make an intriguing combination, and when teamed with Monta Ellis and David Lee, the Warriors have a potential top-four core that can be dynamite.
[h3][/h3][h3]Howard's interest in the Lakers[/h3]
11:41AM ET
[h5]Dwight Howard | Magic[/h5]
Dwight Howard has an early-termination option on the last year of his contract (2012-13) and thus can exercise it and become a free agent after the 2011-12 season.
And as Ken Berger of CBS Sports notes, there has been some indication Howard hasn't 100 percent married himself to the Magic before their trade deals on Saturday.
"People with knowledge of Howard's thinking said the superstar is on board with Orlando's moves, with one saying he's 'a big fan' of the changes," wrote Berger. "But as he grew restless over the summer about the developments in South Florida, and as the Magic were exposed in recent weeks, Howard privately already was beginning to weigh his options. Like the list of stars he wanted to join him in Orlando, he was forming another list: potential suitors for him. Two teams were on it, according to sources: the Knicks and Lakers."
Like Berger, ESPN The Magazine's Ric Bucher is also hearing the Lakers whispers, which we've reflected below.
Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports adds more to all this, writing it's possible it might be championship or bust for Orlando to keep Howard.
"As the Magic GM tore apart one of the best teams in the NBA, the words hung over his every machination," he wrote. "To keep Howard, the mandate's unmistakable: nothing short of a championship."
So while Howard may like the team's recent changes, it's possible how they perform this year and next -- whether the Magic can contend for, or make, the NBA Finals -- may go a long way towards revealing what Howard's future holds.
-- Ryan Corazza
[h5]ESPN The Magazine's Ric Bucher[/h5]
Many have indicated Howard's interest in the Lakers
[h5]ESPN's John Hollinger[/h5]
Magic looking to win with Howard now
http://[h3]Philly's altered stance with Iguodala[/h3]
11:33AM ET
[h5]Andre Iguodala | 76ers[/h5]
As we noted Tuesday, there's been some chatter that with the Sixers' recent string of success -- before Tuesday night's blowout loss to Chicago, the team had won 8 of 11 -- they may be more inclined to keep Andre Iguodala, a name that's been rumored as a possible trade chip for the team.
And as ESPN The Magazine's Ric Bucher reports, it looks the team has indeed backed off plans to dump his large contract for now.
"It's not good enough to give them a good young player and some cap space for Iguodala now," one GM told Bucher. "The tenor in Philly has changed."
Of course, if the Sixers head back south again before the trade deadline, it's possible they may revert back and look for young talent and some cap space in return for Iguodala.
As ESPN The Magazine's Chris Broussard wrote on Tuesday, Iguodala is one Plan B for the Knicks if they fail to land Carmelo Anthony.
More from Bucher:
-- Ryan Corazza
[h5]ESPN The Magazine's Ric Bucher[/h5]
With recent success, Sixers may be inclined to keep Iguodala now
http://[h3]Bulls in mix for Barron[/h3]
11:30AM ET
[h5]Earl Barron | Suns | Interested: Bulls?, Magic?, Knicks?[/h5]
UPDATE: According to Alex Kennedy of HOOPSWORLD, the Bulls, along with the aforementioned Knicks, have expressed interest in Barron.
With Joakim Noah out with a thumb injury, Barron could be brought in to shore up depth concerns at the center position.
---
According to Paul Coro of the Arizona Republic, the Suns have waived center Earl Barron.
Such a move was predicted by Coro in an earlier tweet, as seven of their 14 -- now 13 -- players were either listed as a center or power forward.
With the Magic looking for another center, it's possible they could look to sign Barron.
The Knicks -- who had Barron on the roster at the end of last season and liked what he brought to the table -- could also get in the mix for him as they look for more depth on the bench.
But at 15 players, they'd have to release someone to bring him on board. As we noted Monday, Kelenna Azubuike could be a candidate for release.
-- Ryan Corazza
http://[h3]Kings push for an arena continues[/h3]
11:26AM ET
[h5]Sacramento Kings[/h5]
The Sacramento Kings are desperate to have a new arena, but are having a difficult time putting together a proposal that works for the team and the city. The Sacramento Bee reports the Kings have talked with some of the bigger companies that have built arenas around the country and the hope is that they can help broker a deal between the team and city.
Local developer David Taylor says building an arena in Sacramento will require a multifaceted development team.
"It is going to take a combination of lots of things -- the correct designer, the correct builder, construction manager, the correct group to negotiate terms with the city, the Maloofs, the NBA and any private investors," Taylor told The Sacramento Bee. "I feel like I bring some local, downtown experience perhaps no one else can bring."
-- Nick Borges
http://[h3]Yao's future with the Rockets[/h3]
10:57AM ET
[h5]Yao Ming | Rockets[/h5]
Even though Yao Ming has been injury-prone and is out for the season because of the stress fracture to his left ankle and his future as a player is uncertain, the Rockets want the center to remain a fixture with the organization.
"We see him as being different than a normal player," general manger Daryl Morey tells SI.com. "He is an essential part of the Rockets. Whenever he's done [playing], we want him to be involved with the team as long as he will have us. And if you look at our team, our biggest need is someone in the middle. We hope Yao will be an option there for us."
Yao's contract is set to expire in July, but Morey, according to the website, has not ruled out the possibility that an extension will be offered to the center.
-- Nick Borges
[h5]ESPN's Chad Ford[/h5]
Will Rockets part with Yao?
http://[h3]Teams willing to rent Anthony[/h3]
10:36AM ET
[h5]Carmelo Anthony | Nuggets[/h5]
The biggest obstacle in trading Carmelo Anthony is the uncertainty about his willingness to sign an extension with the team that acquires him. Most teams won't trade young players and draft picks, if he won't agree to that extension, but some will reports Benjamin Hochman of The Denver Post.
Hochman writes: "NBA sources said Tuesday a couple of contending teams have expressed interest in 'renting' Anthony for the rest of the season. Those teams appear willing to trade for Melo knowing they might not be able to sign him to a long-term contract. The sources would not identify the teams willing to possibly rent Anthony, but Dallas could be one team making an inquiry."
Mavericks owner Mark Cuban told a radio station earlier this season that he's not opposed to renting a player if it means winning a championship.
"It just depends on who the guy is and what we'd have to give up -- (but) we'll play rent-a-player, no question about it," said Cuban.
CBSSports.com reports Cuban is interested in renting Anthony as a way to keep the All-Star away from the Nets billionaire owner, Mikhail Prokhorov.
The website also reports many teams believe Houston will make a run at Anthony, even if he doesn't agree to the $65 million extension.
-- Nick Borges
http://[h3]Grizz work out Hughes and Murray[/h3]
10:05AM ET
[h5]Memphis Grizzlies[/h5]
The Memphis Grizzlies are looking for a veteran point guard and a shooter and according to The Commercial Appeal, the team worked out Larry Hughes and Ronald "Flip" Murray this week.
General manager Chris Wallace told the newspaper that no moves are imminent, but he does want to keep his options open.
The Grizzlies only have 13 players under contract, so they could add both Hughes and Murray if they wanted.
Hughes played for Charlotte last season, while Murray finished the year with Chicago.
-- Nick Borges
http://[h3]Harris and the Bobcats[/h3]
9:50AM ET
[h5]Devin Harris | Nets[/h5]
Nets point guard Devin Harris was set to become a member of the Bobcats in September, but a four-team trade fell apart. The Nets are once again trying to land Carmelo Anthony from the Nuggets and Harris might be one of the players traded out of New Jersey.
The Nuggets don't want Harris, but the Bobcats may still have interest, especially since head coach Larry Brown is not thrilled with any of his point guards, including .J. Augustin.
According to the New York Daily News an Eastern Conference general manager speculated that Brown would renew talks with the Nets regarding Harris.
All the recent trade rumors don't seem to bother Harris, like they did in September.
"Been there, done that," Harris said. "You go through a little bit of emotions, thinking how you want to be a part of something and obviously with a new regime and a new coaching staff, you're moving out right away. But you get over it."
-- Nick Borges
http://[h3]Orton out until All-Star break[/h3]
9:27AM ET
[h5]Daniel Orton | Magic[/h5]
Earlier this month Magic general manager Otis Smith said he didn't think rookie Daniel Orton would need surgery to fix the cartilage damage to his left knee.
According to the Orlando Sentinel, the rookie center said Tuesday that he does need surgery and it will take place within the next week.
Orton said he was told the operation will sideline him until the All-Star break in February.
The Magic are woefully thin in the frontcourt and they have inquired about New York's Ronny Turiaf and Philadelphia's Tony Battie. The Magic could also sign a free agent like Earl Barron, who was waived on Tuesday by Phoenix.
-- Nick Borges
http://[h3]Clippers to sign Diogu[/h3]
8:49AM ET
[h5]Ike Diogu[/h5]
Chris Kaman (ankle), Craig Smith (back) and Brian Cook (ankle) are all out with injuries, so the Clippers plan on bringing in a big man. According to the Los Angeles Times, the team is expected to sign power forward Ike Diogu to a contract on Wednesday.
Diogu worked out at the Clippers practice facility on Tuesday and should be ready to play immediately.
Diogu was released by Detroit just before the start of the regular season.
-- Nick Borges
http://[h3]Smith out two weeks, Cook three[/h3]
8:36AM ET
[h5]Craig Smith | Clippers[/h5]
UPDATE: Smith had the MRI and according to the Los Angeles Times, it revealed he has a herniated disk in his lower back.
Smith is expected to miss at least the next two weeks.
Cook's sprained right ankle is bad enough that it will keep him out about three weeks.
-- Nick Borges
----
Craig Smith sat out Monday's Clippers game against the Timberwolves due to a bad back, one that's been bothering Smith for a bit this season and was an issue last season for him, too.
Coach Vinny Del Negro indicated to the Los Angeles Times that Smith is scheduled to have an MRI.
While the power forward is only averaging 13.8 minutes off the bench in a reserve frontcourt role, Brian Cook, another reserve PF, has missed the last two Clippers' games due to a sprained right ankle.
With Chris Kaman also out due to injury, if both Smith and Cook continue to miss time, the Clippers will be thin up front with the threesome of rookie Blake Griffin, DeAndre Jordan and Jarron Collins carrying the frontcourt load.
-- Ryan Corazza
http://[h3]Hickson wants starting spot back[/h3]
8:18AM ET
[h5]J.J. Hickson | Cavaliers[/h5]
Cavaliers head coach Byron Scott pulled J.J. Hickson from the starting lineup eight games ago because the power forward was not playing well enough or hard enough. Hickson was not happy with the decision then and he's trying to get that position back.
"Right now, I have to get back to the 'Old J.J.,' so to speak," Hickson told The Plain Dealer. "Just getting tip-ins, offensive rebounds and hustle points."
Hickson admits it has been hard going from a starter to a reserve.
"I don't think I've adjusted yet," Hickson said. "I'm still trying to get my starting spot back. I know what I have to do to get it back, and it's just a matter of me working hard every day and every practice and just staying focused."
Hickson may want to start, but Scott likes the current rotation and he may not make a change unless there is an injury.
-- Nick Borges
http://[h3]Roy will miss road trip[/h3]
7:42AM ET
[h5]Brandon Roy | Trail Blazers[/h5]
UPDATE: According to The Columbian, Blazers president Larry Miller announced Tuesday that Roy, who missed the last three home games, will not travel with the team on their three-game road trip to Golden State, Utah and Denver.
Roy will have his left knee re-evaluated next week when the team returns to Portland.
-- Nick Borges
----
According to the Trail Blazers' official Twitter account, Brandon Roy will miss the team's next thee games due to a sore left knee.
He's set to be re-evaluated later next week.
The news doesn't necessarily come as a surprise, as Roy's tender knees have been an ongoing issue for him this season.
Nicolas Batum may re-assume the starting small forward role with Wesley Matthews moving to shooting guard while Roy rests the injury.
-- Ryan Corazza
[h5]ESPN's Chris Broussard[/h5]
Due to knees, Roy may never return to All-Star form
http://[h3]Will K-Mart play Wednesday?[/h3]
6:59AM ET
[h5]Kenyon Martin | Nuggets[/h5]
UPDATE: Kenyon Martin practiced on Tuesday and said he was feeling good. There is a chance he'll make his season debut against San Antonio on Wednesday.
"It feels great," Martin told The Denver Post. "I didn't have any problems. It's about the same."
Will he play against the Spurs?
"I didn't say that," he said. "We'll see (Wednesday)."
Head coach George Karl says he won't rush Martin back into the lineup.
"Let's wait until (Wednesday)," Karl said. "Let's see how they wake up and see how they feel. Let's see how they do in the shootaround. Chauncey and Kenyon both want to play, and I think there's a chance of that to happen."
Martin will start whenever he is finally activated.
-- Nick Borges
----
Due to offseason knee surgery, Kenyon Martin has yet to play for the Nuggets this season.
But according to Chris Tommason of FanHouse, coach George Karl has indicated Martin will return to practice next week, and there's a chance he may play next week as well.
While it may not happen in Martin's season debut, expect Shelden Williams -- who's started all 25 Nuggets games so far this season -- to eventually slide back into a reserve role with Martin assuming the starting power forward role.
Despite being a tad undersized, Martin is a talented defender at the 4, so he should help bolster the team's interior defense.
-- Ryan Corazza
[h5]ESPN's John Hollinger[/h5]
Martin improved rebounding last season
http://[h3]Carter may need arthroscopic surgery[/h3]
6:22AM ET
[h5]Vince Carter | Suns[/h5]
UPDATE: Vince Carter says he hurt the knee on Nov. 22 and recently swelling returned. He was planning to see the doctor on Tuesday.
"It still bothered me," Carter told The Arizona Republic. "I just tried to keep playing, being hard-headed and not listening to your body. There's been some swelling. The day of the trade is when I told them (Orlando) I wanted to get a MRI."
Carter probably won't play Thursday against Miami.
-- Nick Borges
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The Suns just acquired Vince Carter as part of a six-player trade with Orlando, but they may not be able to play him for a month.
According to The Arizona Republic, Carter is having issues with his left knee and may need to have arthroscopic surgery to fix the problem.
The surgery would sideline him for about four weeks.
-- Nick Borges
http://[h3]Mason most likely to be waived[/h3]
5:54AM ET
[h5]Roger Mason | Knicks[/h5]
The Knicks need another point guard and center, however their roster is already at the limit of 15. Howard Beck of The New York Times takes a look at the Knicks roster and comes up with the player most likely to be waived and it's Roger Mason Jr.
Beck writes: "Teams typically cut their lowest-salaried players, when possible. But the Knicks prefer to hold onto the rookie Andy Rautins for his 3-point shooting and his potential as a backup point guard. They need Bill Walker as insurance at shooting guard and small forward. Shawne Williams seemed expendable three weeks ago but is now part of the rotation. ... they need Eddy Curry's large expiring contract in any potential trade for Carmelo Anthony and there is some hope that Kelenna Azubuike will regain his health and contribute; even if he does not, Azubuike's expiring contract ($3.4 million) also has value as a trade chip. That leaves Roger Mason Jr. ($1.4 million) as the most likely candidate, based on his contract and lack of playing time."
The Knicks can get another center on Thursday when Earl Barron becomes available. He was released by the Suns on Tuesday. Barron finished last season with the Knicks and averaged 11.7 points and 11 rebounds in seven games.
-- Nick Borges
http://[h3]Hamilton responds[/h3]
5:20AM ET
[h5]Richard Hamilton | Pistons[/h5]
Richard Hamilton spoke to the media on Tuesday and said he's upset that someone with the Pistons went to The Detroit News and said he quit on the team.
"The biggest thing that hurt was when I heard a source in the organization say that I quit," Hamilton said. "I read it this morning. I was like, 'Wow.' That was hard for me because for the last nine years I played hard and aggressive. I left everything on the line every night. To hear that allegation was tough on me."
"I did not play one game and it's, 'Rip is (ticked). Rip did this. Rip did that,'" Hamilton added.
Head coach John Kuester moved Ben Gordon into the starting lineup and Hamilton to the bench over the weekend and the long-time Piston says he'll take the benching "like a man."
Pistons president Joe Dumars stated once again that he never has to worry about Hamilton playing hard.
"He's the last guy I need to worry about competing," Dumars said. "He's been here for a long time and I trust him as much as anybody on this team. Rip is our captain."
