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Wednesday, February 13

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» 08:58 PM ET Update » 04:34 PM ET Update » 02:01 PM ET Update » 10:28 AM ET Update

» Update: 08:58 PM ET

"That is not true," Jennings said in a text message when asked if his relationship with the Bucks is beyond repair. "Just because I got a new agent doesn't mean anything. That stuff never came out of my mouth. They're just reaching for a story since I changed my agent [to Jeff Schwartz]." ESPN.com said it stands by its reporting. ESPN.com

Milwaukee Bucks, Brandon Jennings 

"As long as I'm in a Bucks uniform, I'm going to play every night for the Bucks," Jennings said while seated at his locker before the game against the 76ers. "I'm trying to get out of this shooting slump that I'm in. Every player goes through it. "Look at the Lakers. Look at Boston in the beginning, the Brooklyn Nets. I guess we just hit our slump for a minute and this is the time it's over with." Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel

Milwaukee Bucks, Brandon Jennings 

Tayshaun Prince joined ESPN Memphis on the Chris Vernon Show to talk about his reaction when he found out he was traded, playing for the Grizzlies, how the adjustment has been playing for a new team, whether he is looking to prove anything now that he is in Memphis and whether he thinks the Grizzlies are built to go on a playoff run. On his reaction when he found out he was traded: “I was shocked, I was completely shocked. The situation that I had been in in Detroit, I thought I would know something was coming. I was pretty shocked. We played a game in Indiana, 45 minutes before the game and they came and grabbed me off and told me the news, so it was pretty shocking.” Sports Radio Interviews

Detroit Pistons, Memphis Grizzlies, Trade, Tayshaun Prince 

Addressing the media for the first time since back surgery cut his rookie season short on Feb. 1, Celtics forward Jared Sullinger said he has recovered nicely over the last two weeks. "I'm feeling a lot better," Sullinger said before tonight's game against Chicago. "No pain. Just taking it slow." Celtics Blog

Boston Celtics, Injuries, Jared Sullinger 

He probably won’t be the No. 1 pick—there was a chance he would go that high (in fact, Sporting News had him there in its most recent mock draft)—but his combination of size, athleticism and defensive instincts make a valuable commodity. “Depends on how things go, but, yeah, he could still be a lottery pick for sure,” the scout speculated to Sporting News. “He’s that good. I think he can still be Top 10 even with the ACL. And an injury doesn’t necessarily mean you fall off the radar altogether.” Sporting News

Draft, Injuries, Nerlens Noel 

Landry Fields of the Raptors is having a better time off the court than on it. After leaving the Knicks for the Raptors in the offseason, Fields is struggling north of the border – granted he’s been injured – he’s only shooting 11 percent on 3-pointers after making 39 percent as a rookie. On the plus side, he just got engaged to model Elaine Alden, and the Stanford grad was pretty creative about it. The Big Lead

Toronto Raptors, Landry Fields 

These days, more and more hearty vegetarian meals are popping up at sports venues across the continent. So, after years of ranking the most vegetarian-friendly Major League Baseball parks and NFL stadiums, PETA has surveyed the top vegetarian-friendly NBA arenas, and the results are in: 1. STAPLES Center Because Lob City is playing its best basketball in years, thanks to Blake Griffin and Chris Paul, Clippers fans may have more to cheer about this year than Lakers fans do. But fans of both teams have reason to celebrate the STAPLES Center's awesome vegetarian fare. With vegan sloppy Joes, a veggie burger, vegan sushi, a grilled veggie sandwich, and a hummus-and-pita plate, the STAPLES Center's vegetarian concessions are a slam dunk for fans, no matter which team they're rooting for. Opposing Views

Los Angeles Clippers, Los Angeles Lakers, Staples Center 
 

» Update: 04:34 PM ET

Jonathan Givony of DraftExpress gives his view on what that could mean for Noel, who was projected as the possible top overall pick in the NBA draft. Noel is expected to be out at least six to eight months with the injury. "It's a tough call," Givony said. "I don't think you can really say anything definitive at this point. Not every NBA GM will react the same way. Some will look at it as not the end of the world; he'll be back by December or January. USA Today Sports

Draft, Injuries, Nerlens Noel 

"At the end of the day, he's still the best big guy on the board. If you need a center … Noel brings dramatically different things (than any other center). GMs are going to want a thorough examination, but I have to imagine he's going to recover and be just fine from this. "Maybe he slips one or two spots. It's tough to swallow if you're an NBA GM, the worst team in the league, and you get the No. 1 pick in the draft and you don't have immediate help coming. But I don't think it's going to hurt him that much when it's all said and done." USA Today Sports

Draft, Injuries, Nerlens Noel 

Bucks guard Brandon Jennings recently switched agents, leaving Bill Duffy of BDA Sports Management, as reported by Sports Business Daily. It is expected Jennings will join the clients of Jeff Schwartz and Excel Sports Management when the 15-day waiting period for signing with a new agent expires. It was a bit of a surprising move because Jennings has been represented by Duffy since 2009, when the Bucks guard was selected 10th overall in the NBA draft. Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel

Milwaukee Bucks, Brandon Jennings, Jeff Schwartz, Agents, Bill Duffy 

Jennings called his agent switch "a family decision" and thanked Duffy for all he had done for him over the past four years. Jennings is extremely close to New York Knicks center Tyson Chander, who also is represented by Excel Sports Management. So are a number of other NBA stars, including Boston's Paul Pierce, Minnesota's Kevin Love, Brooklyn's Deron Williams and Milwaukee native Devin Harris, now with the Atlanta Hawks. Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel

Milwaukee Bucks, Brandon Jennings, Jeff Schwartz, Agents, Bill Duffy 
 

» Update: 02:01 PM ET

Teams such as the Cavs and Bobcats would only make an offer after the trading deadline because adding a player prior to it might hinder their opportunities to make other potential moves. Sources said over the weekend Oden has been leaning toward the Cavs all along. If true, it would make good sense. They’re the only NBA team located in the state where he played his college ball, and he has a large and supportive following in Cleveland because of it. FOXSports Ohio

Cleveland Cavaliers, Free Agency, Greg Oden 

Both Cleveland and Charlotte are said to be prepared to make Oden an offer following the Feb. 21 trading deadline. Boston also remains interested, although it’s believed Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge won’t get into any sort of bidding war. The Cavaliers, however, are under the cap and can afford to take a low-risk-high-reward chance on a player like Oden. Their proposal reportedly will be for two years (the rest of this season and next), with a team option for a third. No word on what the Bobcats might be thinking. FOXSports Ohio

Boston Celtics, Charlotte Bobcats, Cleveland Cavaliers, Free Agency, Greg Oden 

Oden also likes the notion of playing on the same team as Kyrie Irving -- and considers the Cavs’ reigning Rookie of the Year the type of dynamic young point guard that could help jumpstart Oden’s rebirth, sources said. On top of all that, the Cavs are located in the same city as the Cleveland Clinic, famed for its rehabilitation of injuries and ongoing treatment. Oden, clearly, still needs plenty of both. Sources indicated Oden is likely to try to find the best situation in a variety of areas. That includes not just money, but opportunity. FOXSports Ohio

Cleveland Cavaliers, Free Agency, Greg Oden, Kyrie Irving 

So as a shot artist, what other shots do you admire around the league? I’m not talking about something as general as Ray Allen’s jumper. I’m talking specific shots. Dirk Nowitzki: I'm such a dork, still. This is my 15th year and I still sit, when my wife's asleep, I sit there and watch League Pass. I do it from sometimes 9 p.m. till 12:30 a.m., until the West Coast games are over. I was always a huge fan of Kobe. Obviously, he's now on the declining end, like most of us older guys, but the stuff he does … They are never out of a game. When I get home, at like 11 p.m., I know the fourth quarter will just be starting in L.A., and I'll sit down and watch him basically will his team to win with some incredible shots. Grantland

Dallas Mavericks, Los Angeles Lakers, Kobe Bryant, Dirk Nowitzki 

Kobe’s footwork in the post is obviously legendary. Oh yeah. The athleticism, the balance in the air, the lefty shots. He made a 3 on us one year in the corner. The shot clock was winding down, and he had to spin around and just shoot it lefty. To me, he's the no. 1 player over the 15 years I've been in this league. Grantland

Dallas Mavericks, Los Angeles Lakers, Kobe Bryant, Dirk Nowitzki 

People write all the time about how your emergence as a jump-shooting big man — and your team’s success — literally changed the NBA. Do you ever think about your career in terms like that? I don't really think that way. Honestly, when I first got in the league, it was a lot of back-to-the-basket pounding. Charles [Barkley] would back the ball in for 15 seconds. Over the years, the game has changed, with me spreading the floor, and now almost every team has to have a spread [power forward]. Almost no one plays with two bigs anymore. And obviously they changed the rules — they put in the five-second back-down rule, and you can play zone. The game changed. There's more movement and teams playing together instead of just one-on-one pounding. There is still some of that, but the game has become European again. More five guys, more movement. Grantland

Dallas Mavericks, Dirk Nowitzki 

Danny Granger's return to the Indiana Pacers will have to wait at least another week. Any chance of the team's leading scorer returning to game action tonight at Bankers Life Fieldhouse against the Charlotte Bobcats was derailed by the flu-like symptoms. Coach Frank Vogel said Granger's injured left knee "responded well" to Tuesday's practice, but Granger might not have played tonight anyway. "He probably wouldn't be quite ready yet if he wasn't sick," Vogel said after the morning practice. Indianapolis Star

Indiana Pacers, Danny Granger, Injuries 

Mo Williams underwent a successful procedure Wednesday in New York to have two pins removed from his right thumb, the first major step toward a return to the floor for the Jazz point guard. Williams missed his 25th straight game since tearing a ligament in the thumb on Dec. 22 in Miami, and his 29th overall. The Jazz (29-24) are 18-11 without Williams. Salt Lake Tribune

Utah Jazz, Maurice Williams, Injuries 

Nerlens Noel is out for the rest of the year, according to Matt Jones of Kentucky Sports Radio, with what was suspected after his horrific injury last night–a torn ACL. Noel has likely played his last game at Kentucky, and will now begin the recovery process as he looks to the NBA Draft. He would have been in contention for the number one pick. Sad stuff to see such a promising player, and one who was really starting to emerge as the season went on, go down like this. The Big Lead

Draft, Injuries, Nerlens Noel 

Deron and I have actually known each other for a little bit. We met at an All-Star Game a couple of years ago. I was out partying one night, and here he comes into the club with a whole crew of guys. It was a Nike party in L.A. two years ago, and so he comes with his crew, and there's no room in the entire thing. We had a little room, and so his whole crew starts talking to us and shoves their way into our table. We had an awesome night that night. We had a blast. Kanye West was onstage — Kanyeezy! Was that the same party where your old friend Steve Nash got a lap dance from Nicki Minaj? [Laughs] Nah, that was at a different party. So I've had Deron's number since then, and we were texting sometimes. And he knew I wanted him to come here. We talked when it was all in the process. I didn't fly up on July 1. I wanted him to come. Cubes had to film freaking Shark Tank. I just watched that for the first time the other night. I still didn't. I still refuse to watch it. It was actually not bad. I haven't seen one episode and I probably won't ever see one. Grantland

Dallas Mavericks, Steve Nash, Dirk Nowitzki, Mark Cuban, Kanye West, Nicki Minaj 
 

» Update: 10:28 AM ET

Back to the East. The Celtics are 7-1 since losing Rajon Rondo for the season to the knee injury. Then things off the floor got worse, with productive rookie forward Jared Sullinger (back) and guard Leandro Barbosa (also knee) also going down. Are they open to trading Kevin Garnett? Sources say yes. But you’d better give Danny Ainge something about which to get really, really excited. FOXSports Ohio

Boston Celtics, Trade, Kevin Garnett 

As for Smith and where he winds up, it remains to be seen. According to a person with knowledge of the situation, Smith's representatives have made calls to other teams and have indicated he's not likely to re-sign in Atlanta. Time will tell if that's the case, as the Hawks- - like every other team that carries the "Bird Rights" of its player – can offer a five-year deal with 7.5% annual raises while other teams can only offer a four-year deal with 4.5% raises. First-year Hawks general manager Danny Ferry has quite the quandary on his hands with the 28-22 Hawks. He came to town with the intention of rebuilding (hence the Joe Johnson-to-Brooklyn trade in the summer) and has a team that has looked, at times, like one of the best teams in the East.​ USA Today Sports

Atlanta Hawks, Trade, Josh Smith 

Source: Atlanta Hawks are looking to move Josh Smith, but Brooklyn Nets don't have the necessary pieces to make a deal without including a third team. The Spurs have also been rumored to be interested and, aside from having a built-in level of trust with Hawks GM Danny Ferry, have the kind of assets that would allow them to make a more "interesting" deal, according to the source. It also makes far more sense for the Hawks to move Smith to the Western Conference rather than put him where he would serve as competition. Sulia

Atlanta Hawks, Brooklyn Nets, San Antonio Spurs, Trade, Danny Ferry, Josh Smith 

But Smith may have hurt his own cause by deeming himself a max player and scaring off potential suitors. One of the teams that may have been willing to give him a max deal was Dallas, though it appears they're no longer in the mix (the "Bank of Cuban," for what it's worth, still is). The Mavericks, according to a person with knowledge of their situation, had talks with the Hawks that are no longer active. The person spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the private nature of the talks. USA Today Sports

Atlanta Hawks, Dallas Mavericks, Trade, Josh Smith 

It's not a question of whether Mikhail Prokhorov – whose net worth was pegged at $13.2 billion by Forbes last March – can afford moves like these. He's clearly all-in with this big-money, big-market approach, but the Nets' decision makers are still well aware that they can't add any more high-priced pieces unless it has a significant effect on the ultimate goal of deep playoff contention. Prokhorov has expected deep playoff contention all along, but it wouldn't be wise to add someone like Smith unless they were convinced it was the sort of move that could make them a Finals contender. Meanwhile, a deal that has been reported in which Humphries would go to Charlotte for veteran shooting guard Ben Gordon (player option for $13.2 million next season, the last of his deal) remains possible as well. USA Today Sports

Charlotte Bobcats, Brooklyn Nets, Trade, Mikhail Prokhorov, Ben Gordon 

Perhaps no name is spinning on the rumor mill more than that of Josh Smith of the Atlanta. Everyone from San Antonio to Brooklyn to Charlotte supposedly has a strong interest. Smith is one of six expiring contracts on the Hawks’ roster, and when you consider the power forward’s overall talent (17.1 ppg, 8.6 rpg), landing Smith would be like hitting the lottery’s daily double. FOXSports Ohio

Atlanta Hawks, Charlotte Bobcats, Brooklyn Nets, San Antonio Spurs, Trade, Josh Smith 

Dallas GM Donnie Nelson insisted the Mavericks aren’t looking to make a deal, but league sources say differently. Not that Nelson is taking a gung-ho approach to the deadline. But he is secretly seeing what he might be able to accumulate via veteran forward Shawn Marion, according to sources. FOXSports Ohio

Dallas Mavericks, Trade, Donnie Nelson, Shawn Marion 

ben ... Three years from now is Darren Collison still starting at point guard for the Mavs? Eddie Sefko: Nope. I'm not even sure he's starting three games from now. If any of you believe the trade talk coming out of Mark Cuban, Rick Carlisle and Donnie Nelson, you don't know the decision-makers at the top of the organization. Anybody and everybody, save for Nowitzki and Brand, is available for the right price. But I don't blame the Mavericks a bit for playing hardball and demanding a hefty return for some of their best veterans. And if they don't get it, move along. Dallas Morning News

Dallas Mavericks, Trade, Darren Collison, Mark Cuban, Donnie Nelson, Rick Carlisle 

New York Knicks coach Mike Woodson said reserve guard Iman Shumpert will not be traded before the Feb. 21 deadline. Woodson made the statement while appearing on ESPN New York 98.7 FM radio on Tuesday. During the show, co-host Stephen A. Smith asked the coach if Shumpert would be in a Knicks uniform after the Feb. 21 trade deadline, and Woodson said, "You got it. I don't need to say any more." ESPN.com

New York Knicks, Trade, Mike Woodson, Iman Shumpert 

Danny Ainge: “Immediately we will probably bring someone in on a 10-day contract, and we’re going through all those names. There’s a lot of names actually, but it’s going to be very difficult to replace Leandro Barbosa.” “Immediately” will likely mean the end of the All-Star break that starts tomorrow, and in terms of free agents, the Celtics are looking beyond the D-League and the U.S. border. “There are guys playing all around the world, and I need to figure out when they may become available with their contracts,” said Ainge. “So there’s a lot to go through here.” Boston Herald

Boston Celtics, Free Agency, Trade, Danny Ainge 

In addition, he must also weigh what he can sign now as a free agent against what could be available between now and next week. “The problem with trades now is we don’t have enough bodies to trade,” Ainge said. “Like, we can’t afford to trade a big for a guard. It’s not like we have an excess amount of anything. We have nine or 10 players, and we’re not trading draft picks unless someone really special becomes available.” Boston Herald

Boston Celtics, Free Agency, Trade, Danny Ainge 

The Lakers are scrambling just to scrape into the playoffs, but coach Mike D'Antoni sounds skeptical that any move before the Feb. 21 trade deadline would do anything beneficial to the team's fortunes. "It would add somebody who doesn't know what they're doing and it could take awhile," said D'Antoni, who spoke with Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak last weekend in Miami. "You're playing games you have to win and we might not even play them. That's a hard thing. "As an organization, I'm sure we'll keep looking and talking and if something makes sense, we'll do it." Los Angeles Daily News

Los Angeles Lakers, Free Agency, Trade, Mike D'Antoni 

Whether they can beat two of the Thunder-Spurs-Clippers trio in the playoffs depends on two huge questions, notwithstanding the possibility that Denver uses its bevy of midpriced assets to swing a major trade. Rival executives say Denver is projecting calm ahead of the deadline, and the vibe coming from there since the summer has been one of satisfaction with incremental progress and patience with this young core — in part because the team does not want to add much to its current payroll, according to GM Masai Ujiri. Those two questions: Grantland

Denver Nuggets, Trade, Masai Ujiri 

Anything you would do would likely require breaking up that core, right?: “Well, we can do anything, really. We can make lateral moves, moves to improve the team, moves to save money, moves to spend money. … We can do a variety of things.” You can go further into the luxury tax?: “Yeah, we can, if it makes sense for us. There are no orders from ownership that say, ‘This is the line we’ve drawn. Don’t go over it.’ There’s no edict saying, ‘You’re not allowed to do A, B or C.’” San Francisco Chronicle

Golden State Warriors, Trade, Bob Myers 

Mack was in Texas on Tuesday evening with the Red Claws to take on the Rio Grande Valley Vipers. While aware of the Celtics backcourt vacancies, he was focused on doing the best he could in his current situation just hours before tip off. "I feel like it would be a great opportunity," Mack said of the Celtics, adding, "(I haven't been given any indication from the Celtics), I try not to worry about that. That's another thing I've learned throughout this process, just worry about the things you can control. I can't control how they're thinking, All I can control is just going out and playing basketball, trying to be a great basketball player and a great teammate." CSNNE.com

Boston Celtics, D-League, Shelvin Mack 

Tuesday night in Miami, LeBron James became the first player in NBA history to score 30 points and shoot over 60 percent in six straight games as the Heat beat the Portland Trail Blazers 117-104. At 28 years old, James has evolved into the player he was forecasted to be coming out of high school, continuing to improve his game even after winning his first NBA championship last summer. No matter how much of his own history James creates, he's never going to escape the comparisons to Michael Jordan, associations that started back when he was prep player in Akron. USA Today Sports

Miami Heat, LeBron James, Michael Jordan 

Via MagicJohnson: If MJ and LeBron played 1-on-1 10 times, MJ would win all 10. MJ is the ultimate 1-on-1 player! #MJvsLeBron So it's understandable that James feels the need to do what he can to step outside of that shadow, especially after he likely woke up this morning and saw Jordan getting more airtime on the so-called Worldwide Leader than him. Hence the following tweet. Via KingJames: "I'm not MJ, I'm LJ" USA Today Sports

Miami Heat, LeBron James, Michael Jordan 

When Durant threw a block into Alec Burks and was called for his first career flagrant foul with 6:06 left in the Jazz’s 109-94 win, Carroll responded. Carroll walked over to Durant and said something to him. Durant responded, and players from both teams gathered around. The confrontation did not escalate, although Carroll and Durant received technical fouls. Said Carroll: "I just told him, ‘Don’t be playing dirty out here. If you’re going to play dirty, play dirty in the park. We’re not going to be playing dirty out here.’ " Salt Lake Tribune

Oklahoma City Thunder, Utah Jazz, Kevin Durant, DeMarre Carroll, Alec Burks 

Carroll said he was simply coming to the aid of a teammate. "Burks is a young guy," Carroll said. "He really ain’t going to stand up for himself so ... I know I might not have all the money to give away but, hey, I’ll take a stand for my man Burks." Durant was clearly frustrated by what at the time was a 17-point deficit. "He told me, ‘Get out of my face with that,’ " Carroll said. "I was like, ‘It is what it is.’ " Salt Lake Tribune

Oklahoma City Thunder, Utah Jazz, Kevin Durant, DeMarre Carroll, Alec Burks 

Royce White says he is ready to focus on basketball. The 16th overall pick last summer, White scored seven points, grabbed eight rebounds and had four assists for the Rio Grande Valley Vipers in Tuesday's 139-122 win over Maine, one day after reporting to the Houston Rockets' developmental league affiliate. He had been away from the Rockets since early November after requesting an arrangement to help him properly treat his diagnosed anxiety disorder while balancing the demands of the NBA schedule. USA Today Sports

Houston Rockets, D-League, Royce White 

After Tuesday's game, Kobe Bryant spoke about his relationship with Shaquille O'Neal, who was sitting courtside. "It was good to see him. I had a chance to kind of catch up with him a little bit after the Heat game here at Staples Center, and tonight we got a couple good laughs, a couple inside jokes," he said. "Shaq and I have a really, really good relationship now. It's good. It's a good lesson for all of us." Sulia

Los Angeles Lakers, Kobe Bryant, Shaquille O'Neal 

"I think we appreciate each other more now than ever," Bryant continued. "I think the further you get away from the history that you had together, the more you put perspective on it, and how dominant we were." It's interesting to hear Bryant reference himself in the clip above as a "supporting" player, who then moved into the primary role after O'Neal was shipped to Miami. Obviously neither guy wins without the other, but to hear Bryant classify himself that way was unexpected. At least for me. Sulia

Los Angeles Lakers, Kobe Bryant, Shaquille O'Neal 

You had qiote the competition to face, as Gasol brothers, Vasilis Spanoulis, Tony Parker, Goran Dragic, Danilo Gallinari, Marcin Gortat, Omer Asik and your teammate Nikola Pekovic were all in the race for the award. Do you think the decision was fair? Andrei Kirilenko: I have said it many times: determining the best invidividual in a team sport, where thousands of players compete on the highest level, is not easy. How can one compare me to Pau Gasol? Or to Parker, Nowitzki and Spanoulis? All this is very subjective. However I won't hide the fact that I'm flattered. Moreso by the fact that I was elected by both fans and experts. TalkBasket

Los Angeles Lakers, Minnesota Timberwolves, San Antonio Spurs, Pau Gasol, Tony Parker, Andrei Kirilenko 

What Rose recalls in excruciating detail is the pain after the May 12 surgery: holes drilled in the tibia and femur, replacing the torn ACL with a piece of the patellar tendon. "My health was terrible, where I wasn't eating," Rose said. "They put me on medication. And when you're not eating and taking the kind of medication they gave me, it can mess up your body. It messed me up for like a week where I was throwing up consistently every day. "I couldn't walk. I was in pain. My hamstrings were on fire. They had to block the nerve in my leg, so when that nerve block wore off, the pain came. It felt like someone was hitting my hamstrings with a sledgehammer." USA Today Sports

Chicago Bulls, Derrick Rose, Injuries 

The humble star became even more humble and more appreciative of those around him, such as his mother, Brenda, and his brothers, Dwayne, Reggie and Allan. "With that injury, you can't walk. You need help," Rose said. "Knowing that, it's all right for someone that loves you to take care of you. "I'm a loner. I'm used to do everything myself. For someone to help me out in a physical way, it was different. Helping me up out of the bed. That was something I could easily do. But everything changed then." USA Today Sports

Chicago Bulls, Derrick Rose, Injuries 

Including a father. "Growing up without my dad being around, it's definitely going to help me to raise him," Rose said. "If I just do everything the opposite of what my dad did, I think that will make things pretty easy." Rose let out a laugh. He got it off his chest. "I can joke about it now because I'm past that stage where it used to hurt," he said. "By having a kid, it's gone. I could take all that negative energy that I had and put it in a positive way." USA Today Sports

Chicago Bulls, Derrick Rose, Injuries 

Dallas Mavericks center Chris Kaman passed the NBA-mandated cognitive testing for players who suffer concussions, according to two sources, but persistent headaches have prevented him from being cleared to practice or play. Kaman recently referred to the cognitive testing, part of the NBA's concussion protocol instituted before last season, as "the stupidest test ever." "For so many years in the NBA, they never had to do that stuff, and now they come up with all that concussion protocol crap," Kaman said before passing the test last week. "It's not cool, but it is cool, I guess. It keeps people safe." ESPN.com

Dallas Mavericks, Injuries, Chris Kaman 

Nerlens Noel, the shot-blocking Kentucky freshman center, suffered what appeared to be a terrible knee injury in the 2nd half of the Wildcats’ game against Florida. Noel blocked a shot on the fast break, but landed awkwardly and it appeared his left knee twisted or buckled. As you can hear in the video, Noel was writhing around the floor in pain as trainers rushed onto the floor. His teammates carried him off the court, and now Kentucky, college basketball, and the NBA wait for word on the status of his knee. Without Noel, the Wildcats would no longer be a lock to make the NCAA tournament. In the last two weeks, Noel had played his way into perhaps the top spot for the 2013 draft. The Big Lead

Draft, Injuries, Nerlens Noel 

DeMarre Carroll: Future coach: "It's probably got to be Earl Watson. He always goes in with us in the second unit, and we're a young second unit. He's always trying to come up with little nicks and nacks that we can use. He's helped me. The biggest thing with me, he just tells me that I'm so athletic and I should run and get easy baskets, because for my size I'm one of the fastest guys in the league." ESPN.com

Utah Jazz, Coaching, Earl Watson, DeMarre Carroll 

The U.S. Attorney's office is investigating the authenticity of a National Basketball Players Association contract that authorized future payment of more than $3 million to an investment firm that employed the son of executive director Billy Hunter, sources told Yahoo! Sports. One of the focuses of the probe centers on the legitimacy of the signatures on the union's document with the company, Prim Capital, including those of the NBPA's late general counsel Gary Hall and NBPA director of player services Purvis Short, sources said. Yahoo! Sports

Law, Billy Hunter, NBPA 

After issuing a report on its investigation of the union's business practices that included doubts about the legitimacy of an NBPA agreement with Prim, the law firm of Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton and Garrison recently secured several past union agreements to give hand-writing experts a chance to examine Hall's signature, sources said. Those documents were shared with the U.S. Attorney's office to assist in its ongoing probe of the union, sources told Yahoo! Sports. Hall died on May 11, 2011. The agreement called for a "five-year term, stretching from the date of execution, that cannot be cancelled or revoked while in effect for any reason by the NBPA." Under terms of the deal, the NBPA would pay Prim $602,000 per year. "In our opinion, this provision is highly unusual and inconsistent with normal business practices," the Paul-Weiss report said. Yahoo! Sports

Law, Billy Hunter, NBPA 

Charles Barkley: "Only really five teams can win the championship and the rest are out there playing for fun right now.” Who are those five?: “The Heat in the East and the Spurs and Oklahoma City in the West. Those are the three teams that have a legitimate shot at winning the championship. I don’t want to count Memphis out. I think we have to give Memphis a chance, so there’s three teams in the West and one team in the East and the second team (in the East), it depends on if Derrick Rose comes back. Those are the five.” Sports Radio Interviews

Chicago Bulls, Memphis Grizzlies, Miami Heat, Oklahoma City Thunder, San Antonio Spurs, Charles Barkley, Derrick Rose 

A Chicago attorney was found guilty Tuesday night of fatally shooting a former girlfriend of ex-Chicago Bulls player Eddy Curry and their infant daughter. Frederick Goings, 40, was convicted of two counts of first-degree murder by a Cook County jury that deliberated a little more than four hours. Chicago Tribune

Eddy Curry, Law 

The victims, Nova Henry, 24, and her 10-month-old daughter, Ava, were found shot to death inside their South Loop town house in January 2009. Henry's 3-year-old son Noah, who also was Curry’s child, was found in the town house unharmed. “We're very pleased with the verdict,” said Lisa Newman, Nova Henry's godmother. “We never doubted for a minute that it would be anything other than guilty.” Chicago Tribune

Eddy Curry, Law 
 

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