HoopsHype.com Rumors

Tony Parker spent time in the summer playing basketball in his father's native Chicago during his youth, but was mostly raised in France. When it came time to decide the next step of his burgeoning basketball career, the San Antonio Spurs' guard was "very close" to going to UCLA or Georgia Tech before opting to begin his pro career in France. That decision, according to Spurs coach Gregg Popovich, is the primary reason why Parker has seemingly flown under the radar for so long. "I've often thought that he didn't have a name here," Popovich said. "He just came in from Europe. Had he been a college player here and done what he did at 19, he wouldn't have been the 28th pick for sure. He would have been first, second or third. He would have been high in the draft and would have been talked about here like the kids who were young studs that are just coming out." Yahoo! Sports

Parker is aware of the lack of attention, but he is more concerned about wins. "It's better late than never," Parker said. "That's not what drives me. What drives me is winning championships. I always knew my time would come because Pop always challenged me." Yahoo! Sports

San Antonio Spurs, Tony Parker

"LeBron is the best player in the NBA, by far. But if you want to give it to someone to change it, why not [me]?" Parker said with a laugh. "Charles Barkley had it one year [1992-93] even though M.J. [Michael Jordan] was the best player. Steve Nash got it [twice from 2004-06] even though Kobe [Bryant] was the best player in the NBA. But for me the most important thing is we win. "If it [the MVP] happens, it happens. If not, LeBron is unbelievable. But for me, I don't think about it. It's not in my hands." Yahoo! Sports

San Antonio Spurs, Tony Parker

At one point during the discussion, Bayless said that a source inside the Sixers organization told him that the most recent MRI on Andrew Bynum’s knees showed degeneration, meaning in effect that they will never return to full strength. Bynum was also a no-show in the locker room prior to Tuesday's game, when he was scheduled to give an update on his condition. Bayless continued by explaining that Andrew may show some flashes of the dominance he displayed last season, when he averaged 18.7 points and 11.8 rebounds per game for the Lakers, but he will be unable to sustain it, as the knees will never be able to fully recover. Philadelphia Inquirer

Philadelphia 76ers, Andrew Bynum, Injuries

Brian Windhorst: Rasheed Wallace done for the year w/foot injury. Knicks have known for awhile but Mike Woodson wanted to give him a last rehab chance Twitter @WindhorstESPN

New York Knicks, Rasheed Wallace, Injuries

» Update: 12:55 PM ET

Salmons, making $8.08 million this season, is scheduled to earn $7.58 million next season and $7 million in 2014-15. But only $1 million is guaranteed in that final year, which could make Salmons an intriguing trade piece this summer and beyond. “I’m not sure,’’ Salmons said when asked if he could be dealt and might not even be with the Kings if they move next season to Seattle. “I don’t know. Who knows what’s up with the move? Who knows what will happen? It’s all up in the air.’’ FOXSports Florida

Sacramento Kings, Trade, John Salmons

Salmons is averaging just 9.1 points entering Sacramento's game Wednesday at Orlando. The forward was asked if he’s cool with the role he now plays for Sacramento. “No, it’s not cool,’’ Salmons said before the Kings' 141-129 double-overtime loss Tuesday to the Miami Heat at AmericanAirlines Arena. “But I’m just trying to help the team win. I’m not going to be a distraction or complain about it. I’m just going to try to be professional and go out there and try to do the best I can with the touches or the minutes or whatever I get.’’ FOXSports Florida

Sacramento Kings, John Salmons

“I know he’s frustrated with his role,’’ said Kings guard Tyreke Evans, who, like Salmons, is a native of the Philadelphia area. “It’s tough for him, but you can’t (score like he did before) for every team. There’s always something different. But he’s handled it like a pro. He’s playing through it.’’ FOXSports Florida

Sacramento Kings, John Salmons

But according to Robinson’s former teammate, Tyreke Evans, the rookie was frustrated with his role in Sacramento and likely needed a change of scenery to truly develop. Evans compared Robinson’s rookie year to date with current Utah Jazz forward Derrick Favors, the No. 3 pick of the 2010 draft, who was involved in trade rumors from the day Brooklyn drafted him until being traded 56 games into his rookie season. “[Robinson] is going to be pretty good,” Evans told HOOPSWORLD. “He’s young and got a lot of talent. He was a little frustrated here, but the same thing [happened] with Derrick Favors. He was in New Jersey frustrated, went to Utah and now he’s playing good.” HoopsWorld

Houston Rockets, Sacramento Kings, Tyreke Evans, Thomas Robinson

Al Iannazzone: Knicks just announced Rasheed Wallace will have foot surgery and will miss at least eight weeks. Twitter @Al_Iannazzone

New York Knicks, Rasheed Wallace, Injuries

Ira Winderman: LeBron on his 4.6 40 that he pointed out was without training, "It's better than Manti Te'o, I'll tell you that." Twitter @IraHeatBeat

Miami Heat, LeBron James

But one warm spot between the countries is apparently basketball, something the Vice media founder Shane Smith realized while filming two documentaries in North Korea recently. He visited the country’s national museum, the Hall of Trophies, where a Michael Jordan-signed basketball given to the former leader Kim Jong-il in 2000 by Secretary of State Madeleine K. Albright is displayed prominently among national treasures. Kim Jong-il was obsessed with the Chicago Bulls dynasty of the 1990s, a fascination he apparently passed along to his son, the current leader. “It’s weird because when you go there, it’s all very anti-American,” Smith said. “North Korean kids are fed anti-American propaganda from pretty much the day they are born. But it’s O.K. to like American basketball.” New York Times

So Smith hatched a plan to take some of those Bulls players to North Korea for one of the installments of a series Smith will host on HBO, called “Vice,” featuring news and footage from around the world, which will make its debut April 5. Smith did not go through the State Department but received permission through his previous contacts and the North Korean ambassador to the United Nations. Smith said he was sure that Kim Jong-un’s love of basketball was why the trip was approved. He quickly found that Jordan was not likely to be a willing ambassador. “But Dennis is up for anything and everything, ” Smith said. He then recruited the Globetrotters to round out a team, and they offered up Anthony Blakes, known as Buckets; Alex Weekes, known as Moose; and Will Bullard, known as Bull. Ryan Duffy, a Vice correspondent who is on the trip, will also join in on the games to fill out the team. New York Times

The group plans to spend four to five days, visit a children’s sports camp and play some games with North Korean players. They tried to make a good first impression with the North Korean news media upon their arrival. “I’ve always loved Korea — North, South, doesn’t matter,” Bullard told reporters. “I’ve always loved Korea personally. We all do. We love every place that we go. They all accept us for who we are. We’re role models. We have great characteristics. It’s all family fun.” In a bit of unintentional hilarity, one of the reporters asked Rodman whether this was his first visit to North Korea. “It is my first time,” he said. “I think it’s most of these guys’ first time here.” New York Times

Rodman quickly took to his Twitter account to talk about the trip, writing: “I’m not a politician. Kim Jung Un & North Korean people are basketball fans. I love everyone. Period. End of story.” On a less diplomatic note, he also wrote, “Maybe I’ll run into the Gangnam Style dude while I’m here,” apparently unaware the pop star Psy is South Korean. New York Times

The Warriors have made second-round pick Ognjen Kuzmic an offer to play in the NBA next season. El 9

» Update: 08:43 AM ET

Colangelo, chairman of USA Basketball, said Tuesday by phone that Golden State Warriors forward David Lee, a former University of Florida star, approached him at All-Star Weekend earlier this month in Houston to indicate his desire to play for Team USA. And Colangelo is intrigued. “He’s had a heck of a year,’’ Colangelo said. “He’s been healthy. He’s been with us before but he had injuries.’’ FOXSports Florida

Golden State Warriors, David Lee, USA Basketball, Team USA

Jalen Rose: I heard a rumor that Dwyane Wade even promised (Li Ning) that when he retires from the NBA, he's going to play a year in China as a part of the deal he signed with them. ESPN.com

Miami Heat, Dwyane Wade, China

Olshey has spent 56 games scrutinizing his young roster and determining who fits long-term in Portland. Williams is the one unknown. “Right now we just don’t have a big enough sample size to make a decision on whether Elliot is a part of the future or he isn’t,” Olshey said Tuesday. “We’ve been able to evaluate everybody else on the roster. But with him, there’s still some uncertainty there and we wanted to keep him in the fold going forward.” Oregonian

Portland Trail Blazers, Elliot Williams

Golden State Warriors, Ognjen Kuzmic

Kuzmic's buyout is worth one million euros ($1.3 million). El 9

Golden State Warriors, Ognjen Kuzmic

Cuban, who said there was “no side deal” regarding family issues when Fisher signed with the Mavs, sarcastically claimed he understood Fisher’s decision to resume his career with a contender. “His kids are older,” Cuban said. “It’s easier to fly in and out of Oklahoma City than Dallas. I understand that. It’s a decision a parent has to make. Every parent has difficult decisions to make.” Moments later, Cuban added: “A lot can happen in 65 days.” ESPN.com

Dallas Mavericks, Oklahoma City Thunder, Derek Fisher

It was a confrontation. It was a melee. It was a tete a tete, and any other French term I can summon. And, oh yeah, the Pacers won their ninth game in the past 11, 108-97. “I’m sure I’ll hear from the league in the morning,’’ Hibbert said. “I’m guessing I’ll miss a game. But I know my teammates have my back. They had my back (Tuesday night). I’ve been on teams in my five years here, something like that happened, they left you alone on an island. This team, the guys look after one another. Everybody ran over and protected me.’’ Indianapolis Star

“I saw some light skinned guy coming at me. I didn’t know if it was Curry or Klay Thompson,’’ Hibbert said. (It was Curry.) “Really, it was between me and David Lee. I don’t know why the other guy (Curry) came at me. Seriously, I didn’t even feel him. It was between me and Lee, and he wants to get involved? I don’t want to get involved with somebody smaller than me. I don’t take pride in tossing some little guy aside.’’ Indianapolis Star

Golden State Warriors, Indiana Pacers, Roy Hibbert, David Lee, Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson

Make no mistake: Lee started the thing as surely as the Pistons’ Ben Wallace started the melee in Detroit. Hibbert defended himself, first against Lee and then against Curry. What’s he supposed to do when a little guy comes running at him? “I’m a mellow guy,’’ said Hibbert, who seemed embarrassed by the whole thing. “I don’t talk trash, I just go out and play tough. I’m not a thug, just a laid-back, gentle guy.’’ Which is true. Indianapolis Star

Ricky Rubio: "I was obsessed with Jordan (growing up). I just watched the NBA and just watched black players. I wanted to play (in the States) and I told my mother I wanted to be black." SER

Beasley sold some of his belongings last summer in an estate sale at the Orono home he rented during his two seasons in Minnesota. It made news nationally for its eclectic mix of items, ranging from giant glass grapes to a floral headboard to bunny-shaped salt-and-pepper shakers. "A lot of that stuff wasn't mine, like purses and earrings and stuff," he said, referring to a company he hired for the sale that brought other items into the house. "That kind of messed up my street cred. I'm a gangster on the street. I had some stuff that wouldn't fit into my house here, so we just sold it. A lot of the furniture was mine. The dresses and purses? Not mine." Minneapolis Star-Tribune

Minnesota Timberwolves, Phoenix Suns, Michael Beasley

Advanced statistics illustrate that Kidd—No. 3 in NBA history in made 3-point shots—has been getting an abundance of open looks, almost as if defenses are daring to him to shoot while he fights through this cold streak. In November, when made 51% of his attempts and 49% of his three-point tries, he was being left open only 55% of the time. In 10 games this month, he has been left open for a whopping 71% of his jumpers, according to Synergy Sports. He hasn't made teams pay for it: Kidd's connected on just 17% of his open shots in February. Wall Street Journal

New York Knicks, Jason Kidd

Kidd insists playing time isn't the problem. "The shots I've had have all looked good; felt good—nothing to do with minutes. It's just the game of basketball, where they go in or sometimes they don't," he said, adding that the nature of the misses—short and long, rather than right or left— leaves him confident. Wall Street Journal

New York Knicks, Jason Kidd

In honor of center Andrew Bynum, who didn't make a public appearance in the Wells Fargo Center during Tuesday night's game against the Orlando Magic, his 76ers teammates didn't show up, either. A season that has become a long trudge through quicksand took another stumbling step toward oblivion with a 98-84 loss to the Magic. If the prospect of losing the game ever concerned the Sixers, it wasn't noticeable. "I certainly didn't see this effort coming. It's mind-numbing to me," coach Doug Collins said. "Youth is a blaming thing. After a while, the talk gets old. It just does." Philadelphia Inquirer

Philadelphia 76ers

Minnesota Timberwolves, Ricky Rubio

Jackson said Warriors backup point guard Jarrett Jack deserves the Sixth Man of the Year award. “People talk about Jamal Crawford and J.R. Smith in New York,’’ Jackson said. “Jarrett Jack has been the Sixth Man of the Year. He’s playing lights out. He’s been a steal for us — a voice and a leader.’’ New York Post

Golden State Warriors, Jarrett Jack

On the Derrick Rose front, Thibodeau wouldn’t budge on shedding light on where Rose is this week. “Just daily improving, that’s all,’’ Thibodeau said, as Rose continued his rehab from May surgery to repair his torn left ACL. With three home games this week, the feeling was that if there was a good time for the MVP to return it would be now, but there were no signs of that on Tuesday. “I just go day-by-day,’’ Thibodeau said of a return this week for his point guard. “I just want him to continue to improve, when he’s ready, he’s ready. His focus is on the rehab, our team is focused on their improvement and the opponent, and at some point hopefully he’ll rejoin us.’’ Chicago Sun-Times

Chicago Bulls, Derrick Rose, Injuries

Jerry Zgoda: Pek visited the Suns training room after the game and was looked at by Suns doctors. Not sure what issue is, will know more at practice Wed Twitter @JerryZgoda

Minnesota Timberwolves, Nikola Pekovic, Injuries

The chances of Williams returning over the final two months of the season involve the words “slim” and “none.” But at the tail end of practice, when the Blazers separated into position groups for drills, Williams hopped in with Damian Lillard, Will Barton, Eric Maynor and Nolan Smith and went through a variety of game-like shooting and ballhandling drills. Oregonian

Portland Trail Blazers, Elliot Williams, Injuries

Just as he formulated the thoughts to answer the second query, Maynor walked by Williams’ interview with The Oregonian and interjected with his own opinion. “He’s ready now,” Maynor said. “I’m telling you, he’s ready to go. Did you get that on tape?” Well, Williams isn’t quite ready just yet. He’s been cleared to run and jump, but he’s still working to build strength in various muscles along his left leg, including his calf, quadriceps and hamstring. His Achilles tendon has healed nicely, but Williams spent nearly three months in a boot following Sept. 14 surgery and he’s still working to get his leg back into playing shape. Oregonian

Portland Trail Blazers, Elliot Williams, Injuries

“I haven’t ruled out anything, but it wouldn’t be smart for me to come back this season,” Williams said. “I’m getting back to 100 percent, healing up, strengthening my leg pretty good. I don’t want to have any setbacks. You never know. You never know how my body will heal. But the thing is, it doesn’t make sense to rush anything.” Oregonian

Portland Trail Blazers, Elliot Williams, Injuries

Isaiah Austin knows he faces a decision about whether he plays basketball at Baylor or in the NBA next season. At the moment, the 7-1 freshman from Arlington Grace Prep has far more pressing concerns. With six losses in eight games, Baylor must begin a climb back to NCAA Tournament contention quickly – as in Wednesday’s game at West Virginia. So the stay-or-go talk is on hold. In various mock online drafts, he’s projected anywhere from No. 6 to the middle of the first round. “I’ve thought about it a little bit,” Austin said. “Right now, it’s not where my mind is at. We’re struggling in the Big 12. We’re trying to make this run so we can hopefully make the tournament. “That’s what everybody wants to do when they’re in college. They want to get to the Big Dance. They want to get out there and show everybody what they have.” Dallas Morning News

Draft, Isaiah Austin

Adetokunbo's talent was recognized by first division Spanish team Zaragoza in December when they elected to sign him to a four year contract. He will move to the ACB next season—barring complications with his passport—but reportedly has comfortable NBA out clauses at the end of each year, including this summer. Adetokunbo's agent, Giorgos Dimitropoulos, says that he will almost certainly be entering his name in the 2013 NBA draft to gauge his prospects, and that there is an “80-90% chance” he will stay in. While nothing is set in stone at the moment, NBA teams likely wouldn't mind leaving a talent like Adetokunbo in Europe for a couple of years to develop on a team like Zaragoza that is known for working very well with young players. DraftExpress.com

Most of Filathlitikos's success has come thanks to the homegrown talent they developed and integrated onto their roster over the years, with head coach Takis Zivas coaching both the club's senior and U18 team since its inception 15 years ago. Many of the club's young players are the sons and daughters of immigrants from Russia, Ukraine, Poland, Albania and Nigeria. Thanks to the Adetokunbo's arrival, Greek basketball might have the most interesting prospect the country has seen in many years on their hands. Despite never having played for any of Greece's youth (U16, U18, U20) national teams in an official capacity, Giannis has drawn considerable interest as of late both in his home country and abroad, with eight NBA teams already having traveled to see him. An invitation to the senior national team is reportedly in the works for this summer, if his citizenship issues can be resolved of course. DraftExpress.com

Adetokunbo stands out first and foremost thanks to the tremendous physical profile he brings to the table, reminding somewhat of a Nicolas Batum or Thabo Sefolosha on first glance. He has great size at 6-9, 196 pounds, to go along with a developed upper body and an overall terrific frame that should fill out considerably in time. His wingspan has reportedly been measured at 7-3, but perhaps most interesting is the size of his hands, as he's able to palm the ball like a grapefruit which helps him out considerably as a passer, ball-handler and finisher. DraftExpress.com

It's popular to say that a prospect--particularly an obscure one-- “plays every position on the floor,” but in the game we watched in Greece, that was indeed the case. The competition level, as you can see in the video scouting report above, is indeed nothing to write home about, but it's difficult not to be taken aback by the incredibly versatile skill-set Adetokunbo brings to the table at 6-9. DraftExpress.com