Warriors' guard Monta Ellis, who suffered a sprained left knee with 3:43 remaining in the fourth quarter of last night's game against the Dallas Mavericks, underwent an MRI exam earlier today in Palo Alto. The MRI confirmed the injury as a mild left knee sprain. Ellis will be evaluated again on Wednesday and his status for tomorrow night's game against the Los Angeles Clippers will be determined at that point. - NBA
A big trade? Involving the Timberwolves? Not likely, according to team president David Kahn. The Wolves have received inquiries about the availability of Al Jefferson, but Kahn said Monday there are no plans to trade the 6-foot-10 big man or to 'do something dramatic' before the Feb. 18 trade deadline. "I'm firm as firm can be. We will not move one of the big people," Kahn said. "It would be a mistake ... of epic proportions." - Pioneer Press
Teams talking trade with the Dallas Mavericks shouldn't bother asking for rookie guard Roddy Beaubois. "I’m not going to trade him," owner Mark Cuban said while sitting in the first row before the Mavs-Warriors game. - Dallas Mavericks Blog
A person familiar with the Clippers’ internal discussions said the team would move Camby and his $7.65 million contract only in a deal that would yield a significant player who could help them next season – or the cap space to sign one. The Clips are a small deal away from clearing the $15-$16 million necessary to sign a max player. If they can’t improve their 2010-11 position dramatically, Camby stays. Two of Camby’s former teams, the Nuggets and Knicks, are intrigued by the possibility of bringing him back for an encore. - CBS Sports
Two days after complaining the Heat's offense is too predictable and saying the team should be doing better, guard Dwyane Wade said he doesn't have an issue with coach Erik Spoelstra. Wade said if anyone thinks he does have a problem with Spoelstra they misconstrued his postgame words after Saturday's 95-91 loss at Chicago. "I don't have a problem with coach at all," Wade said after Monday's practice. "Me and him are on one page with each other." - South Florida Sun Sentinel
Instead, according to a few Celtics' beat writers, Boston All-Star Rajon Rondo — a.k.a. "The Clinic" — and marketable Sacramento rookie Omri Casspi will join defending H-O-R-S-E champion Kevin Durant in the second annual event. This year's shot-making shoot-out raises the stakes, as the contest will be held on All-Star Saturday Night (at 7 p.m. ET) in front of a packed house in Dallas. - Yahoo! Sports
Celtics' captain Paul Pierce practiced briefly Monday and is "questionable" for the Celtics' visit to New Orleans Wednesday. "Paul didn't do a lot, we actually pulled him out early," (Coach Doc) Rivers said of Pierce. "He wasn't moving around very well. He's questionable, I think he's going to play but right now we'll wait and see. We have a forced day off because we have to get to New Orleans before the parade." - Boston Globe
Kobe Bryant isn’t sure if he’ll play in this weekend’s NBA All-Star game in Dallas because of his sore left ankle. Bryant missed his second consecutive game Monday night against San Antonio, which lost to the Los Angeles Lakers 101-89. “If I’m not able to play, I won’t play. But I’m healthy, I will,” he said. - AP
Butler winding up somewhere in Texas is most likely, with Washington probably deciding between Dallas' and Houston's competing offers before next week's All-Star Game. The Wizards are determined to get a young player back, though, and the Mavericks' only non-geezer is rookie guard Rod Beaubois -- while Houston has a young guard like Kyle Lowry and an expiring big man contract in forward Luis Scola to pair with McGrady's $22 million expiring deal. - NBA
The Boston Celtics and Charlotte Bobcats are discussing a trade centered around Glen "Big Baby'' Davis and D.J. Augustin, according to league sources. The sources cautioned that nothing is imminent, but said the clubs are having discussions. - ESPN
As for Johnson, who’s already notoriously quiet by nature, he’s been even more closed-mouthed on the sensitive subject. “It’s nothing that I really sit back and think about. Every so often, but not much because we’ve been having so much fun and so much success here that I’m just trying to do what’s right, right now at this point,” said Johnson in Atlanta. “We’ve been playing great basketball. We’re just trying to position ourselves for down the stretch, to where we have a great spot in the playoffs. - CSNChicago
I had a recent conversation with a rival league executive who told me that the Wizards' asking price for Jamison is unreasonable for a 33-year-old player "on a bad contract." The executive told me that whenever a team starts asking for too much, they are usually reluctant about making a deal happen. Barring some mindblowing deal, Jamison should stick around. - Washington Post
The Pistons' Tayshaun Prince hears about the trade rumors but doesn't pay attention to them. But his family, well, that's a different story. Prince's family and friends back in Los Angeles are constantly checking in with him, asking about the rumors. "There was some talk last year, and the year before, but so much more this year, and that's why it's been bothering them," said Prince, who appears expendable because of his contract status (one year remaining, $11 million). "Last year there were reports of me going to L.A. and they were going crazy about that. It's just part of the business and we'll see what happens. "I'm pretty sure it's (the same) for guys around the league. It's just something that happens and you have to move on. I haven't been paying much attention to it; my family does more than I do." - Detroit News
Antawn Jamison was fined an undisclosed sum of money for missing the Wizards' practice in Orlando on Monday. Jamison was granted permission to attend the Super Bowl in Miami on Sunday, but he said he was unable to make his commercial flight into Orlando. He said that when he originally planned to go to Miami nearly two months ago, he had booked a private jet out of Washington, but with the blizzard keeping the team in Orlando over the weekend, he bought a commercial round trip-ticket. But he said he got caught up with the rest of the Super Bowl revelers at the airport Monday morning and couldn't catch his early morning flight. - Washington Post
Omri Casspi of the Kings, the first Israeli-born player in the NBA, makes his Madison Square Garden debut Tuesday night in a game against the Knicks with particular transcontinental interest because of the large Jewish population in New York. Later in the week, Casspi goes to Dallas for All-Star weekend, with a media session with reporters from around the world and a spot on the rookie team that plays the sophomore squad Friday. That's four days, three high-profile events, two cities and one growing problem. The Kings are cheering his success and cringing at the same time. What was once the nice story of a player proudly representing his country and connecting with Jewish fans around the league has become a worry among team officials increasingly concerned he is being overburdened with commitments, to the point that they are stepping in to save Casspi from himself. - NBA
The all-star center believes a players-only meeting in late January has helped make Magic players more accountable to each other and has helped him be a more effective, more mature and more vocal leader. Late Monday, Howard revealed that he called a team meeting at RDV Sportsplex following a practice after Orlando’s 96-94 win over Boston on Jan. 28. “We all told each other we have to be honest with each other,” Howard said. “When we’re out there playing and we’re in the locker room, don’t be afraid to tell the next man anything. We have to hold each other accountable. - Orlando Sentinel
When Mike Dunleavy stepped down as the Los Angeles Clippers’ coach last week, Baron Davis(notes) lost his last excuse. If Davis doesn’t regain his All-Star form – if the Clippers don’t start winning – no longer can people simply blame it on Dunleavy’s controlling style. With interim coach Kim Hughes promising to run more, Davis is free again. And with that comes pressure. “I got to go out and get back to being my old self now,” Davis told Yahoo! Sports. “Coach Kim is going to allow me to be a little bit freer and play off instincts. So, I just got to get back to that mentality. From there, I think everything else will take care of itself.” - ESPN
Spud Webb became a giant when the 5-foot-6 mighty mite shocked the basketball world by beating 6-8 Atlanta Hawks teammate Dominique Wilkins to win the NBA Slam Dunk Contest at Reunion Arena in 1986. And with the NBA All-Star Game returning to Dallas for the first time since, Webb -- still the shortest champion in the event's history -- will have a big part in determining the next Slam Dunk Contest champion as a judge. "Having lived in Dallas my entire life, it's great to finally see the All-Star Game back here," Webb said in a statement. "This event brings back a lot of great memories." - ESPN
One league source familiar with the market for Stoudemire expressed skepticism about rumblings that Stoudemire could be headed to Philadelphia. The person said there’s no consensus among the Sixers’ brass that Stoudemire would be the player they’d want to commit max money to – especially after the Elton Brand fiasco. From the Phoenix side, the person said, owner Robert Sarver’s non-basketball businesses (banking and real estate) have been hit too hard by the recession to make the Suns a credible landing spot for Samuel Dalembert’s $12.2 million due next season – not to mention Andre Iguodala’s four years and $56 million remaining. - CBS Sports
Early Monday evening, the Arizona Republic posted a story that included a rumor that Gordon could be a part of a three-team deal that would bring Amar’e Stoudemire to the Pistons. - Booth Newspapers
Washington wants Rudy Fernandez in a Haywood deal, and the Blazers haven't been willing to trade Rudy because owner Paul Allen thinks he'll be an All-Star one day. But if it gets to the 11th hour and all the Wiz can get is Blake/Outlaw, I think they'd probably do it. - ESPN
Sources say the Bulls would prefer to package Thomas in a bigger deal that would clear cap space for a major free agent signing -- such as a scenario detailed here involving the Celtics’ Ray Allen. - CBS Sports
Count the Orlando Magic and Miami HEAT as two possible teams interested in the services of Steve Blake, according to one trusted league source. "His value lies in the fact that he is a very serviceable and experienced starting point guard who, and as importantly, has a decent sized expiring contract," the source said when asked what teams - if any - are showing interest in Blake. "(Jameer) Nelson hasn't been great for the Magic, so they could use a solid back-up to (Jason) Williams. Miami now has (Rafer) Alston to platoon with (Mario) Chalmers and (Carlos) Arroyo, but Blake would be an upgrade over those three. His expiring contract would be vital to any deal (Pat) Riley would make." - Beyond the Beat
A big trade? Involving the Timberwolves? Not likely, according to team president David Kahn. The Wolves have received inquiries about the availability of Al Jefferson, but Kahn said Monday there are no plans to trade the 6-foot-10 big man or to 'do something dramatic' before the Feb. 18 trade deadline. "I'm firm as firm can be. We will not move one of the big people," Kahn said. "It would be a mistake ... of epic proportions." - Pioneer Press
Teams talking trade with the Dallas Mavericks shouldn't bother asking for rookie guard Roddy Beaubois. "I’m not going to trade him," owner Mark Cuban said while sitting in the first row before the Mavs-Warriors game. - Dallas Mavericks Blog
A person familiar with the Clippers’ internal discussions said the team would move Camby and his $7.65 million contract only in a deal that would yield a significant player who could help them next season – or the cap space to sign one. The Clips are a small deal away from clearing the $15-$16 million necessary to sign a max player. If they can’t improve their 2010-11 position dramatically, Camby stays. Two of Camby’s former teams, the Nuggets and Knicks, are intrigued by the possibility of bringing him back for an encore. - CBS Sports
Two days after complaining the Heat's offense is too predictable and saying the team should be doing better, guard Dwyane Wade said he doesn't have an issue with coach Erik Spoelstra. Wade said if anyone thinks he does have a problem with Spoelstra they misconstrued his postgame words after Saturday's 95-91 loss at Chicago. "I don't have a problem with coach at all," Wade said after Monday's practice. "Me and him are on one page with each other." - South Florida Sun Sentinel
Instead, according to a few Celtics' beat writers, Boston All-Star Rajon Rondo — a.k.a. "The Clinic" — and marketable Sacramento rookie Omri Casspi will join defending H-O-R-S-E champion Kevin Durant in the second annual event. This year's shot-making shoot-out raises the stakes, as the contest will be held on All-Star Saturday Night (at 7 p.m. ET) in front of a packed house in Dallas. - Yahoo! Sports
Celtics' captain Paul Pierce practiced briefly Monday and is "questionable" for the Celtics' visit to New Orleans Wednesday. "Paul didn't do a lot, we actually pulled him out early," (Coach Doc) Rivers said of Pierce. "He wasn't moving around very well. He's questionable, I think he's going to play but right now we'll wait and see. We have a forced day off because we have to get to New Orleans before the parade." - Boston Globe
Kobe Bryant isn’t sure if he’ll play in this weekend’s NBA All-Star game in Dallas because of his sore left ankle. Bryant missed his second consecutive game Monday night against San Antonio, which lost to the Los Angeles Lakers 101-89. “If I’m not able to play, I won’t play. But I’m healthy, I will,” he said. - AP
Butler winding up somewhere in Texas is most likely, with Washington probably deciding between Dallas' and Houston's competing offers before next week's All-Star Game. The Wizards are determined to get a young player back, though, and the Mavericks' only non-geezer is rookie guard Rod Beaubois -- while Houston has a young guard like Kyle Lowry and an expiring big man contract in forward Luis Scola to pair with McGrady's $22 million expiring deal. - NBA
The Boston Celtics and Charlotte Bobcats are discussing a trade centered around Glen "Big Baby'' Davis and D.J. Augustin, according to league sources. The sources cautioned that nothing is imminent, but said the clubs are having discussions. - ESPN
As for Johnson, who’s already notoriously quiet by nature, he’s been even more closed-mouthed on the sensitive subject. “It’s nothing that I really sit back and think about. Every so often, but not much because we’ve been having so much fun and so much success here that I’m just trying to do what’s right, right now at this point,” said Johnson in Atlanta. “We’ve been playing great basketball. We’re just trying to position ourselves for down the stretch, to where we have a great spot in the playoffs. - CSNChicago
I had a recent conversation with a rival league executive who told me that the Wizards' asking price for Jamison is unreasonable for a 33-year-old player "on a bad contract." The executive told me that whenever a team starts asking for too much, they are usually reluctant about making a deal happen. Barring some mindblowing deal, Jamison should stick around. - Washington Post
The Pistons' Tayshaun Prince hears about the trade rumors but doesn't pay attention to them. But his family, well, that's a different story. Prince's family and friends back in Los Angeles are constantly checking in with him, asking about the rumors. "There was some talk last year, and the year before, but so much more this year, and that's why it's been bothering them," said Prince, who appears expendable because of his contract status (one year remaining, $11 million). "Last year there were reports of me going to L.A. and they were going crazy about that. It's just part of the business and we'll see what happens. "I'm pretty sure it's (the same) for guys around the league. It's just something that happens and you have to move on. I haven't been paying much attention to it; my family does more than I do." - Detroit News
Antawn Jamison was fined an undisclosed sum of money for missing the Wizards' practice in Orlando on Monday. Jamison was granted permission to attend the Super Bowl in Miami on Sunday, but he said he was unable to make his commercial flight into Orlando. He said that when he originally planned to go to Miami nearly two months ago, he had booked a private jet out of Washington, but with the blizzard keeping the team in Orlando over the weekend, he bought a commercial round trip-ticket. But he said he got caught up with the rest of the Super Bowl revelers at the airport Monday morning and couldn't catch his early morning flight. - Washington Post
Omri Casspi of the Kings, the first Israeli-born player in the NBA, makes his Madison Square Garden debut Tuesday night in a game against the Knicks with particular transcontinental interest because of the large Jewish population in New York. Later in the week, Casspi goes to Dallas for All-Star weekend, with a media session with reporters from around the world and a spot on the rookie team that plays the sophomore squad Friday. That's four days, three high-profile events, two cities and one growing problem. The Kings are cheering his success and cringing at the same time. What was once the nice story of a player proudly representing his country and connecting with Jewish fans around the league has become a worry among team officials increasingly concerned he is being overburdened with commitments, to the point that they are stepping in to save Casspi from himself. - NBA
The all-star center believes a players-only meeting in late January has helped make Magic players more accountable to each other and has helped him be a more effective, more mature and more vocal leader. Late Monday, Howard revealed that he called a team meeting at RDV Sportsplex following a practice after Orlando’s 96-94 win over Boston on Jan. 28. “We all told each other we have to be honest with each other,” Howard said. “When we’re out there playing and we’re in the locker room, don’t be afraid to tell the next man anything. We have to hold each other accountable. - Orlando Sentinel
When Mike Dunleavy stepped down as the Los Angeles Clippers’ coach last week, Baron Davis(notes) lost his last excuse. If Davis doesn’t regain his All-Star form – if the Clippers don’t start winning – no longer can people simply blame it on Dunleavy’s controlling style. With interim coach Kim Hughes promising to run more, Davis is free again. And with that comes pressure. “I got to go out and get back to being my old self now,” Davis told Yahoo! Sports. “Coach Kim is going to allow me to be a little bit freer and play off instincts. So, I just got to get back to that mentality. From there, I think everything else will take care of itself.” - ESPN
Spud Webb became a giant when the 5-foot-6 mighty mite shocked the basketball world by beating 6-8 Atlanta Hawks teammate Dominique Wilkins to win the NBA Slam Dunk Contest at Reunion Arena in 1986. And with the NBA All-Star Game returning to Dallas for the first time since, Webb -- still the shortest champion in the event's history -- will have a big part in determining the next Slam Dunk Contest champion as a judge. "Having lived in Dallas my entire life, it's great to finally see the All-Star Game back here," Webb said in a statement. "This event brings back a lot of great memories." - ESPN
One league source familiar with the market for Stoudemire expressed skepticism about rumblings that Stoudemire could be headed to Philadelphia. The person said there’s no consensus among the Sixers’ brass that Stoudemire would be the player they’d want to commit max money to – especially after the Elton Brand fiasco. From the Phoenix side, the person said, owner Robert Sarver’s non-basketball businesses (banking and real estate) have been hit too hard by the recession to make the Suns a credible landing spot for Samuel Dalembert’s $12.2 million due next season – not to mention Andre Iguodala’s four years and $56 million remaining. - CBS Sports
Early Monday evening, the Arizona Republic posted a story that included a rumor that Gordon could be a part of a three-team deal that would bring Amar’e Stoudemire to the Pistons. - Booth Newspapers
Washington wants Rudy Fernandez in a Haywood deal, and the Blazers haven't been willing to trade Rudy because owner Paul Allen thinks he'll be an All-Star one day. But if it gets to the 11th hour and all the Wiz can get is Blake/Outlaw, I think they'd probably do it. - ESPN
Sources say the Bulls would prefer to package Thomas in a bigger deal that would clear cap space for a major free agent signing -- such as a scenario detailed here involving the Celtics’ Ray Allen. - CBS Sports
Count the Orlando Magic and Miami HEAT as two possible teams interested in the services of Steve Blake, according to one trusted league source. "His value lies in the fact that he is a very serviceable and experienced starting point guard who, and as importantly, has a decent sized expiring contract," the source said when asked what teams - if any - are showing interest in Blake. "(Jameer) Nelson hasn't been great for the Magic, so they could use a solid back-up to (Jason) Williams. Miami now has (Rafer) Alston to platoon with (Mario) Chalmers and (Carlos) Arroyo, but Blake would be an upgrade over those three. His expiring contract would be vital to any deal (Pat) Riley would make." - Beyond the Beat
No comments:
Post a Comment