Del Negro Still Bulls Coach, Bender Injured Again

Although some media members anticipated it -- and some fans wished for it -- there was no news conference Thursday at the Berto Center to announce another Christmas Eve massacre. Vinny Del Negro is still the Bulls' coach despite the team's dismal 10-17 record. - Chicago Sun-Times

Tyrus Thomas will return to the active roster Saturday against the New Orleans Hornets exactly seven weeks after surgery to repair a fractured radius in his left forearm. Also, Del Negro announced that the lineup changes he made for the second half of the game Tuesday in New York will remain in effect.  - Chicago Sun-Times


The source said the Wizards are obviously very open to moving guard Gilbert Arenas, but don’t think they will have any takers because of his hefty contract. “Someone will take the fall,” the source said. The source added that Washington management “loves” young center JaVale McGee and would only deal him in a trade that includes Arenas.  -  Yahoo! Sports

No surprise here, but after season-ending injuries to centers Greg Oden and Joel Przybilla, the Portland Trail Blazers are scouring the league in hopes of acquiring a big man. Yahoo! Sports

An NBA source said the Cavaliers are seeking a power forward who can shoot the ball. The source said that Cleveland has been floating center Zydrunas Ilgauskas’ expiring contract as bait and is also open to moving power forward J.J. Hickson. Yahoo! Sports

Tracy McGrady’s $23 million salary makes him difficult to trade – but not impossible. While McGrady is playing a limited role for the Rockets since returning from knee surgery, he is confident that if he’s traded his new team won’t be disappointed.  -  Yahoo! Sports

One NBA executive said the Warriors are “trying to unload” forward Corey Maggette (no surprise, given his mammoth contract) and would trade young forward Anthony Randolph for “the right veteran.”  -  Yahoo! Sports

Sources with knowledge of the Hornets’ thinking maintain that the club won’t even consider trade inquiries for Chris Paul, even though New Orleans remains $3.3 million over the luxury-tax threshold and despite the fact that big spenders in the league such as the Dallas Mavericks are believed to be eager to offer the Hornets major payroll relief by volunteering to take on an unsavory contract – such as Peja Stojakovic’s deal and/or Emeka Okafor’s – for the privilege of pilfering Paul.  - ESPN.com

"I am hearing," the guy said, "that Nike wants LeBron in New York even more than ever, because of Tiger." He was referring to Tiger Woods. Maybe you've heard about him. The guy said: "And the reason they want it more than ever is because they know Tiger is going to continue to regress. That there's going to be a void to fill, even when he comes back and starts winning."  - NY Daily News

A month ago, I thought Donnie Walsh had no shot at LeBron, none, forget about it. But lately the Knicks have become a team their best and most diehard fans want to watch. In the short run, as you try to imagine LeBron in New York, you can see him actually wanting to be able to kick the ball out to the Italian kid, Danilo Gallinari, because you can see how the Italian kid might end up being the best shooter in the gym one of these days. Or there is David Lee, who plays like a champion every night, no matter what the score.  -  NY Daily News

Mitch Kupchak said Thursday he was a bit baffled by Phil Jackson’s recent comments regarding his future. “To me it boils down to how he feels at the end of the season,” Kupchak said. “If he feels healthy and he sees growth and a future with this team, he’ll come back. Cutting a deal is the easy part."  -  Orange County Register Blog

Asked if he was concerned about Pierce’s condition, Rivers replied, “No, it’s just what it was, an infection, and it’s taken care of. So I’m not that concerned by it. I’m always concerned by anything that takes you out, I’m concerned any time you go to the hospital. But, other than that, he’s good."  -  Boston Globe

Tracy McGrady knows good and well why he's in the running to make his seventh All-Star Game start despite playing just 45 minutes this season. "Well, 90 percent is all my Chinese fans," T-Mac said, laughing. "We have a great relationship. That started when I was in Orlando. I used to go over there [China] every summer. Those are great fans.  -  NBA.com

He isn't too keen on taking a spot in the All-Star Game if he finished with starter's votes. "No, I don't think I'd play," McGrady said. "I would attend, just to show my appreciation and my thanks to my fans. But you have guys like Steve Nash, Chris Paul and Deron Williams, guys who have been playing since Day 1 and are very deserving of being out there. I don't know which ones will start, but all three of them can. I think they're very deserving."  - NBA.com

The comeback of Jonathan Bender is on hold. Still suffering from a strained hip, Bender did not scrimmage with the club yesterday and has been listed as questionable for today's game against the Heat. Bender was removed in the second quarter vs. Chicago on Tuesday because of a strained hip pain and did not return.  -  NY Post

Gallinari's scoring average is third on the team -- 13.9 points in 30 minutes. He's pulling down 4.8 rebounds a game and already has blocked 25 shots -- second to Jared Jeffries (26). "That's why we liked him, he could really put the ball on the floor and make plays," said D'Antoni, who reinserted Gallinari into the starting lineup last week.  -  NY Post

Washington Wizards guard Gilbert Arenas stored unloaded firearms in a container in his locker, according to the team, and the NBA is looking into the situation. The Wizards issued a statement Thursday night saying there was no ammunition in the locked container, and Arenas and the team have notified authorities and the league.  - AP

While two NBA sources said the Sacramento Kings are considering trading sharpshooter Kevin Martin because of the emergence of rookie guard Tyreke Evans, one source with the team offered a reason why the Kings would be better off keeping Martin. Trading Martin, the source said, “would be foolish. [Opposing defenses] are clogging up the middle. We need him now more than ever.” -  Yahoo! Sports

O’Neal believes there is still a lot of basketball left in him should he choose to continue playing. But if he does win a championship this season, retirement might be a stronger option. “I would like to go out on a good note and win,” O’Neal said. “If I win, I don’t know. But I haven’t thought about [free agency] yet. I’m trying to get No. 5. I’m trying to pass up my daddy, [Abdul-Jabbar]. I still got two to get that out.”  -  Yahoo! Sports

For now, the Warriors hope big men Andris Biedrins and Ronny Turiaf are able to finally return from their injuries and play Saturday against the Phoenix Suns. If either player returns, the Warriors likely won’t seek a second injury exception to expand their roster.  - Yahoo! Sports

After O’Neal retires, it should be only a matter of time before his old No. 34 jersey hands in the Staples Center rafters alongside Jerry West, Wilt Chamberlain, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Elgin Baylor, Gail Goodrich, James Worthy and Magic Johnson. “I’ll always be a major part of their history,” O’Neal said. “Some guys are not a part of history, but I’m a major part of their history. Major, major – 60 percent.”  - Yahoo! Sports

"It shows a lot of character," Lee said. "You put any other person in that situation, it could crush their career. But I looked at it as something that's going to motivate me throughout the years. I had an opportunity to play at the highest level, in the NBA Finals, against one of the best players. I look at it as motivation from now on. "Once you've been in that situation I was in and just knowing that we could have won the game in the NBA Finals, it definitely motivates you to get out there and continue to work so the next time you have the opportunity, whether it's in the regular season or in the playoffs or if in the Finals again, I know for a fact that it's going to go down."  - NBA.com

Cavaliers forward Leon Powe is still projected to be sidelined until around the All-Star break after having reconstructive surgery on his left knee. But if the Cavs were in desperate need of some help, Powe thinks he’s actually healthy enough to aid them now in limited action. “They won’t let me go earlier anyway because of my past issues and to let [the knee] heal,” Powe said.  - Yahoo! Sports

Coach Larry Bird then turned toward the soft-spoken teenager from Picayune, Miss.: Hey Bender, what about you? Bender hopped up, jogged toward the foul line and launched himself. “He took off, jumped with the ball in his right hand, in midair switched to his left hand and did a windmill dunk from the free-throw line,” Bird recalled with a hearty laugh. “I couldn’t believe it.”  - New York Times

There is nothing left for Suns guard Leandro Barbosa to do but play. He has gone through every form of rehabilitation. He practiced three times this week, increasing his workload and seeing his first five-on-five, full-court action Thursday. He has done extra training and more shooting at night at the arena with relatives. That set up Barbosa for his first game action since he sprained his left ankle Nov. 29 at Toronto, when he scored 17 points to help the Suns win and move to 14-3. Since then, Phoenix is 4-8.  -  Arizona Republic