HoopsHype.com Rumors

Ken Berger: Hornets have waived DaJuan Summers and Carldell Johnson, league sources say. As expected, Rockets waive Jeff Adrien. Twitter

Houston Rockets, New Orleans Hornets, Jeff Adrien, DaJuan Summers, Carldell Johnson 

Sam Amick: As @Jonathan Feigen reported, source says Houston to sign C Greg Smith from NBDL. Expected to be multi-yr deal. Twitter

Houston Rockets, D-League, Greg Smith 

Jonathan Feigen: Timing of Smith signing more to do w guaranteed contract day, w tms setting rosters, talking to Smith, than gm vs Nugs, according to source. Twitter

Houston Rockets, D-League, Greg Smith 

Jeff Zillgitt: Not like it's a secret, but NBA, Houston will announce Wednesday that 2013 All-Star Game will be in Houston, according to a person w/info. Twitter

Houston Rockets 

Love said the suspension, the first in his four-year NBA career, is "warranted," though he was not called for a foul on the play. After reviewing the incident, NBA executive vice president of basketball operations Stu Jackson assessed Love with a Flagrant Foul Two and issued the suspension. "It definitely won't happen again," Love said after Monday's practice. "I feel like it was a learning experience. There were no ill intentions with that step. I should have tried to step over him or fallen down with him. I don't want to be known for that. I want to be known as a stand-up guy who happened to make a mistake with his size-19 shoe." St. Paul Pioneer Press

Houston Rockets, Minnesota Timberwolves, Luis Scola, Kevin Love 

Love apologized to Scola after Saturday's game and said the two talked for "15 to 20 minutes." Love also issued a public apology to Scola and the Houston organization in a statement released through the Wolves' media relations department. "I know Luis is OK with it," Love said. "We're good. I know what type of person I am. These things happen to all sorts of players around the league. I just need to have a short- term memory and move on." St. Paul Pioneer Press

Houston Rockets, Minnesota Timberwolves, Luis Scola, Kevin Love 

Wolves coach Rick Adelman was asked if the two-game suspension is fair. "What do you want me to say?" Adelman said. "They do what they do and that's it. There's nothing you can do about it. Do I think it's fair? No, absolutely [not]. I don't know the reasoning. They don't tell you the reasoning. I don't know the reasoning why two games. They haven't said anything. You've just got to move on." Minneapolis Star-Tribune

Houston Rockets, Minnesota Timberwolves, Luis Scola, Kevin Love, Rick Adelman 

The New York Knicks and Los Angeles Lakers have contacted the Houston Rockets about acquiring Jonny Flynn, according to league sources. No deal is imminent with either team, but both clubs are in desperate need of a point guard and have Flynn on their radar. ESPN.com

Houston Rockets, Los Angeles Lakers, New York Knicks, Trade, Jonny Flynn 

The Knicks have shown the most interest, sources say, and discussed a possible deal involving Renaldo Balkman and Mike Bibby. The Rockets were not interested. Bibby, who was signed as a free agent before the season, can't be traded before March 1. ESPN.com

Houston Rockets, Los Angeles Lakers, New York Knicks, Trade, Jonny Flynn 

Kevin Love talked about his two-game suspension after practice today. He said the NBA suspension is “warranted” and said he apologized to Scola after the game and then talked to him another 15 to 20 minutes again later than night. Here is some of what he said: “I feel like it was a learning experience for me and it definitely won’t happen again. But there were no ill intentions in that step. I wasn’t trying to stomp on him like people said or anything… “I don’t want to be known for that. I want to be known as a standup guy that happened to make a mistake with his size 19 shoe and just move on.” Minneapolis Star-Tribune

Houston Rockets, Minnesota Timberwolves, Luis Scola, Kevin Love 

Asked if he thought the incident damages his reputation, he said, “No, if it does from the common fan’s standpoint, I’ll just have to win their respect back and make them like me again. I have no problem doing that. I know the type of person I am and I feel like you guys (reporters) and people who know me know the type of person I am. I don’t think it will affect my reputation.” The Wolves now will play Tuesday against Sacramento and Wednesday at Memphis without him after having just reached a .500 record with consecutive victories. “That’s it more than anything,” Love said. “We’ve got to get past these next two games. We’ve just got to take it one game at a time. I’m going to stay in shape. I’ll be ready to go when the time comes and I’ll have some rest. I just wish I could be here to cheer them on for both games, but that’s not going to be the case.” Minneapolis Star-Tribune

Houston Rockets, Minnesota Timberwolves, Luis Scola, Kevin Love 

He also released an apology through the Wolves that read like this: "I want to publicly apologize to Luis Scola and the Houston Rockets. My intention is to never hurt another player on the basketball court. I've always had the utmost respect for the game of basketball and all of my opponents. I also apologize to my coaches, teammates and our fans for the consequences of my actions." Minneapolis Star-Tribune

Houston Rockets, Minnesota Timberwolves, Luis Scola, Kevin Love 

Kevin Love of the Minnesota Timberwolves has been suspended two games without pay for driving his foot into the upper body and face of the Houston Rockets’ Luis Scola as Scola was lying on the floor, it was announced today by Stu Jackson, NBA Executive Vice President Basketball Operations. HoopsWorld

Houston Rockets, Minnesota Timberwolves, Luis Scola, Kevin Love 

Jordan Hill: pray for @Amare Stoudemire and his fam...sorry about da lost of yo brother big homie Twitter

Houston Rockets, New York Knicks, Amare Stoudemire, Jordan Hill 

Minnesota Timberwolves forward Kevin Love has been suspended two games for stomping on Rockets forward Luis Scola's face in their game on Saturday. The NBA announced the suspension on Monday. The incident occurred when Scola fell to the court during the third quarter. As Love headed back to the other end, he stepped on Scola's face and upper body. Love said after the game that the stomp was not intentional and he went to the Rockets' locker room to apologize to Scola. SI.com

Houston Rockets, Minnesota Timberwolves, Luis Scola, Kevin Love 

And Morris, 22, is in the unique situation of having a twin brother, Markieff, who plays 20 minutes a night as part of the rotation in Phoenix. It had been generally understood that Marcus is the better player of the two brothers who until this season had always been on the same team. "I feel his pain," Markieff said. "To have his talent and be the type guy he is and not to even get a shot to play, I know he's hurting right now because of that. "He's got fire in his heart right now and in his stomach. He's going to destroy the D-League, like he did last time." Houston Chronicle

Houston Rockets, Marcus Morris 

The incident began with the Rockets holding possession of the ball, trailing the Timberwolves leading, 64-52, with a little less than nine minutes remaining in the third quarter. Scola was working on Love with his back to the basket in the post. Scola fell to the ground in the paint after Love swiped down hard on the ball to force a turnover and Timberwolves guard Ricky Rubio collected the ball and passed ahead to start a fast break the other direction. Love then moved to join the play as Scola lay on his back in the paint, in between Love and the upcourt action. Love seemed at first to attempt to step over Scola but his left foot wound up coming down with full force on Scola's face. Replays seemed to indicate that Love was looking down at Scola prior to stepping his foot down. CBSSports.com

Houston Rockets, Minnesota Timberwolves, Luis Scola, Kevin Love 

The big question afterward was: Was it intentional? And, will it be something NBA head of discipline Stu Jackson takes a look at? "He was kind of right there," Love said. "I have size-19 feet. He just happened to be there. I had nowhere to go. I kind of tripped up. I just had nowhere to step. It was a heat-of-the-moment type play. He was there and it happened to be his face." Minneapolis Star-Tribune

Houston Rockets, Minnesota Timberwolves, Luis Scola, Kevin Love 

Love said he and Scola have a good relationship, and was sure Scola didn't take it personally. "And obviously it was nothing personal against their team," Love said. "... Nothing personal, just heat of the moment." Should Love be suspended? "I just don't care about the play, the game is over," said Scola, who added that he didn't know if the step was intentional or not. "I was just really surprised. ... I'm talking about the play. I think he wanted to foul me, and I don't know why the ref didn't call it." Minneapolis Star-Tribune

Houston Rockets, Minnesota Timberwolves, Luis Scola, Kevin Love 

Love, who apologized to Scola after the game, not surprisingly said he didn't think the play merited a further action. "It was one of those plays," Love said. "You look at it, and you might think otherwise." On Monday night, Scola saved a ball from going out of bounds when he threw it off Love's groin. Said Love: "It happened to be his face, just like Houston, where it happened to be my groin." Minneapolis Star-Tribune

Houston Rockets, Minnesota Timberwolves, Luis Scola, Kevin Love