HoopsHype.com Rumors

Jeff Zillgitt: Tim Leiweke said he has already talked to David Stern and Adam Silver about bringing NBA All-Star game to Toronto. Twitter @JeffZillgitt

Toronto Raptors, All-Star, Tim Leiweke 

Adam Silver, the NBA's commissioner-in-waiting, Thursday confirmed talks with the Knicks and Nets for a weeklong "basketball festival'' that will place events at Madison Square Garden and the Barclays Center in conjunction with the 2015 All-Star Game. Newsday

All-Star, Adam Silver 

During a session with Associated Press sports editors at the league's Manhattan headquarters presided over by commissioner David Stern, Silver said "several cities" have submitted bids for multiple years, including 2015, to stage the All-Star Game. Silver said those cities "are aware we're trying to work something out with the Knicks and Nets," and that New York's teams are "ahead" in the competition. Newsday

All-Star, Adam Silver 

Silver is pleased the Bobcats have shown interest in hosting an NBA All-Star Game at Time Warner Cable Arena. “I’m very excited about the prospect of an All-Star Game returning here,’’ said Silver, adding that last summer’s Democratic National Convention shows Charlotte has the infrastructure and will to host major events. Charlotte Observer

Charlotte Bobcats, All-Star 

Portland Trail Blazers President Chris McGowan has informed CSNNW.com that he will make it known at an April 18 NBA Board of Governors meeting in New York, that he has every intention of preparing a bid to bring NBA All-Star Weekend to the city of Portland. “We made the decision that we're going to go all in for it,” McGowan told CSNNW.com. CSNNW.com

Portland Trail Blazers, All-Star, Chris McGowan 

The city of New Orleans is hosting the event in 2014 and it is between Brooklyn and New York for 2015. Word is Cleveland and Toronto have the upper hand for 2016, leaving door open for the year 2017. A high-ranking NBA source told CSNNW.com that an announcement on who receives the event for 2015 and 2016 will be forthcoming, but added that the bidding process has not begun for 2017. “We're definitely going to pursue it,” McGowan said. “Doesn't mean we're going to get it, but if the opportunity presents itself, we're going to go for it. If 2017 is available, we want to get in the mix for that year.” CSNNW.com

Portland Trail Blazers, All-Star, Chris McGowan 

Net Daily: Union sets up site to push NBA into giving 2015 ASG to Barclays because Dolan is abusive to workers and union buster. brooklynnotbusters.com Twitter @NetsDaily

All-Star 

If Magic Johnson’s $1 million offer to get LeBron James into next year’s NBA dunk contest wasn’t crazy enough, Sex.com just released a press release (read below) offering Kobe $5 million to enter the NBA dunk contest with the contingency that LeBron is in the contest. BallIsLife.com

Los Angeles Lakers, Kobe Bryant, All-Star 

Brian Windhorst: LeBron leads league in flirting with dunk contest & will probably never do it. FYI he's been offered large $$ by sponsors in past & said no. Twitter @WindhorstESPN

Miami Heat, LeBron James, All-Star 

Arash Markazi: Kobe laughed at a slam dunk contest question: "Not a chance." Twitter @ArashMarkazi

Los Angeles Lakers, Kobe Bryant, All-Star 

Portland Trail Blazers President Chris McGowan and Oregon Sports Authority Chief Executive Officer Drew Mahalic will meet next week and one of the main topics they'll be discussing will be what needs to be done in order to bring NBA All-Star Weekend to the city of Portland. These two key prominent figures coming together is certainly a step in the right direction and if they are able to come up with the right proposal, both have expressed the desire to place a bid to host NBA All-Star Weekend in the year 2017. “The year 2017 would be the ideal year for us,” Mahalic told CSNNW.com. “We're capable right now. If there was a chance that we could get it earlier, we would be able to ramp things up and get our local partners together to make it happen.” CSNNW.com

Portland Trail Blazers, All-Star 

By the way, here's what happened between Gregg Popovich and Howard during the All-Star Game, according to a source who witnessed it: in the third quarter, Pop called out a play, but Howard jacked up a corner three instead. Pop immediately turned to the bench and said 'get him the (bleep) out.' That was it, really. No extended swearing or shouting, just Pop being Pop. NBA.com

Los Angeles Lakers, San Antonio Spurs, Dwight Howard, Gregg Popovich, All-Star 

Harvey never talked to Popovich but did report: "Spur assistants who were in the All-Star Game huddle in Houston say the incident has been overblown." Howard said Friday night that what Smith had told everyone "just never happened." "Pop was diagramming a play for me, and then as he showed us what to do he kept saying, 'Blake.' So Blake and I are confused, but he keeps saying Blake, so Blake takes off his jersey and goes into the game. "Pop sees me and wants to know why I'm not in the game running the play, so I tell him he kept saying Blake so Blake went in. He wasn't swearing at me." The report by Smith provided more ammunition, though, to those who insist Howard isn't as intense as he should be. "It hurts me, but what can I do about it?" said Howard, who has averaged 19 points and 12.6 rebounds the last five games. "I can't fight ESPN." Los Angeles Times

Los Angeles Lakers, Dwight Howard, Gregg Popovich, All-Star 

Alex Kennedy: Dwight Howard put on Kobe Bryant's warmups and impersonated him in locker room. I heard Kevin Durant dared him to do it. The report is true. Twitter @AlexKennedyNBA

Los Angeles Lakers, Kobe Bryant, Dwight Howard, All-Star 

Alex Kennedy: Dwight Howard hasn't denied that he did it, but he has downplayed the story. He claims he was just impersonating Kobe, not mocking him. Twitter @AlexKennedyNBA

Los Angeles Lakers, Kobe Bryant, Dwight Howard, All-Star 

Tim Bontemps: PJ says that Brook is "obviously, in my opinion, showing a bit of an All-Star hangover." Twitter @TimBontemps

Brooklyn Nets, Brook Lopez, All-Star, PJ Carlesimo 

Ryan Wolstat: Terrence Ross told us last night that's the last time he does the dunk contest Twitter @WolstatSun

Toronto Raptors, All-Star, Terrence Ross 

Stephen A. Smith on ESPN radio: Then this past weekend, at All-Star weekend – I haven’t’ seen anyone report it, so I guess I’ll be the first. Coach Gregg Popovich dropped a few f-bombs in Dwight Howard’s direction, during All-Star break. Now why is that guys? Because during the timeout, Gregg Popvich drew up a play for Dwight Howard, in the game… except when it was time to run the play, Dwight Howard wasn’t in the game, wasn’t paying attention, was on the bench in his warm ups chillin out socializing with folks, and Gregg Popvich almost went ballistic, and basically was cussing at him according to numerous people I spoke to since this weekend. So, all of that speaks to the focus, or lack there of, that the Kobe Bryant’s and others have alluded to with their comments over the last few months. You can’t have something like that. It’s an All-Star game and you have Gregg Popovich upset at you. beyondthebuzzer.com

Los Angeles Lakers, Kobe Bryant, Stephen A. Smith, Dwight Howard, Gregg Popovich, All-Star 

Whitfield, just back from the all-star weekend in Houston, echoed the sentiment of a top tourism executive this week: The time is right for Charlotte to make a run at hosting the NBA’s midseason showcase. New Orleans has the all-star game next year and New York is expected to get the game the following year. That leaves 2016 as the next available game. Whitfield told me Wednesday morning that bidding would likely begin in the next six months or so. Until then, he and other Bobcats executives will discuss and debate whether the 2016 game would be the best fit for the organization. Business News

Charlotte Bobcats, All-Star 

The NBA's next commissioner, Adam Silver, told CSNNW.com that there is mutual interest from the league and the Portland Trail Blazers to see about bringing All-Star Weekend to the city of Portland. “They (Trail Blazers) have shown interest and we have interest,” Silver said. “It's an ongoing process. Portland is a great city. We like the idea, but it's something we have to investigate further.” CSNNW.com reached out to Trail Blazers President Chris McGowan and he acknowledged that there is a desire to bring the showcase to Portland and he added, “It would be great for the city to host the event.” CSNNW.com

Portland Trail Blazers, All-Star, Chris McGowan