Hello. Our server is being updated, so for this morning the InsideHoops.com rumors for Monday are here, below.
Later today things will be back on our regular page as usual:
The Knicks and Nuggets were engaged in talks involving a Linas Kleiza-for- David Lee swap earlier this month, and a person with knowledge of the situation said things got close enough just before the West Coast trip for Lee to get word that something might go down. Coach George Karl, however, persuaded Nuggets management to hang on to Kleiza because of his versatility. Kleiza and Lee will be restricted free agents this summer. NY Newsday
The rumor began with a simple question posed to Thunder forward Joe Smith last week about whether he’d be open to playing for Cleveland again. When Smith expressed a general interest in rejoining the Cavs, the following day’s internet headlines boldly declared Smith wanted out of Oklahoma City and hoped to be dealt or have his contract bought out so that he could return to the Cavs. Oklahoman
Joe Smith’s wife, Yolanda, immediately contacted her husband via e-mail after a friend informed her of the report. She asked Joe if he did indeed say he desired to be traded. “She knows I never talk like that,” Smith said. “She knows I’m not ever going to put myself in a position where I can be judged negatively. So that’s what she didn’t appreciate, and that’s what I didn’t appreciate. “That’s what people have to realize, it doesn’t just affect us as players, it affects our families as well when we hear whatever’s said or whatever’s written.” Oklahoman
More than half of the Thunder’s roster is likely to hear their names mentioned in trade winds from now until February. Denver, Toronto, Miami and Orlando are also reportedly interested in Smith, whose veteran savvy and skills, along with his expiring contract, have made him a hot commodity. Oklahoman
According to the latest league-wide gossip, the Raptors are said to be interested in trading for veteran forward Joe Smith. The much-travelled Smith is a coveted player because of his versatility. He never has lived up to his billing as the first overall pick, but Smith brings a toughness and rebounding presence teams such as Toronto need. Toronto Sun
Miami and Orlando also are said to be keen on trading for Smith, whose days in Oklahoma City appear numbered. The speculation comes as the Raptors prepare to play the host Golden State Warriors tonight, the team that took the Maryland product first overall back in 1995. Toronto Sun
The Warriors came to Hollywood a day before Sunday’s game, so you can probably imagine how swingman Stephen Jackson spent his Saturday. That’s right, hanging with former teammate Baron Davis, one of Jackson’s best friends. What you might not imagine is what Jackson talked to the Los Angeles Clippers point guard about: Davis coming back to the Warriors. “That’s all we talked about,” Jackson said. “I went to his house, spent some time with his mom and his grandmother. He wants to come back. And if he wants to come back, I want him back.” Contra Costa Times
After talks about a contract extension with the Warriors stalled, Davis opted out of the final year of his contract in July and signed a five-year, $65 million contract with the Clippers. Davis has said he never wanted to leave the Warriors but chose the more secure option. Things haven’t gone so well with the Clippers. After losing to Dallas at the Staples Center hours before the Warriors took to the court, the Clippers are 8-21. Contra Costa Times
Stephen Jackson said he’s going to be the president of the “Bring B.D. Back” campaign. It is feasible that the Warriors and Clippers could pull off such a deal. It would have to involve swingman Corey Maggette (for salary cap reasons) and/or guard Jamal Crawford (to make room in the backcourt). Contra Costa Times
BD left the Warriors when Bobby Rowell over-ruled Chris Mullin’s tentative agreement (and I repeat: I agreed with Rowell’s decision on the length of the deal, but NOT with him over-ruling his GM; if Mullin wanted it, the team president should let him do it). San Jose Mercury News Blog
Plus plus, Clipper owner Donald Sterling loves Corey Maggette–you could see a BD-Maggette swap as a central part of a Clipper-Warriors deal. However… There are major problems: Rowell would never go for it, mostly because it’d be a victory for Mullin, and we know Rowell will have none of that. San Jose Mercury News Blog
Twenty-four hours after arriving in Chicago as one of the main pieces in the three-team, 11-player Ben Wallace dump, er, trade, last February, Larry Hughes made clear his desired role. “I plan to start,” he said Feb. 22. “I can play 35 or 40 minutes. I’ve been comfortable in that role for some time now.” Hughes’ words barely created a ripple then and sound fairly similar to what he’s saying this season, albeit now in more of a rock-the-boat fashion: More minutes please. Chicago Tribune
If Hughes is trying to force his way out of town, he’s going about it the wrong way and is probably just forcing himself out of the rotation. Just wait until Kirk Hinrich comes back in February from thumb surgery. The difficult part of all this is while statistics back up Hughes’ claim — that he’s more effective when he plays more — this season is more about discovering who fits with Rose moving forward than anything else. And, with an expiring $13.65 million contract next season, Hughes equals either trade bait or salary-cap relief at that point, not Rose’s backcourt mate. Chicago Tribune
With the Nuggets having talked to Oklahoma City about possibly acquiring one of its big men, Thunder forward Chris Wilcox doesn’t rule out his team making some sort of move if New Jersey doesn’t match Oklahoma City’s offer sheet on Nenad Krstic. “Right now, we’ve got nine big men. . . . Something has got to happen,” Wilcox said. If the Thunder doesn’t deal forward Joe Smith by the Feb. 19 trade deadline, some believe his contract could be bought out. Rocky Mountain News
“Whatever happens, happens,” said Smith, a former Denver player who said he hasn’t thought about whether he has interest in returning. Coach George Karl said the Nuggets could use another big man if they were to get a certain playoff matchup, but he doesn’t have to “predict it (until) the trade deadline.” Rocky Mountain News
Yet the only phone calls that will make a difference at this point are the ones that lead to a trade. While it continues to look as if nothing is heating up on that front, losses like these may very well change the team’s outlook on doing a deal. Even if it’s not the Brad Miller move that is expected to be atop the priority list, it could be something smaller in an attempt to change the mix. The thing about Miller is that – based on conversations with executives, coaches and agents around the league – the interest in him continues to be lukewarm. For all the time I spent looking at the possibilities with Chicago, I left out the part about the Bulls having almost no interest at this moment. Sacramento Bee Blog
Because the Kings wouldn’t mind getting cap room earlier than expected, teams with potential young pieces to offer along with attractive expiring contracts like Cleveland (Wally Szczerbiak, $13 million), Miami (Shawn Marion $17 million), and maybe even New York (Stephon Marbury, $20.8 million) would fit their needs. Except that I’ve been told there have been no talks with the Cavs (who announced their lack of desire to make moves just days ago because they’re rolling), Miami is in playoff position and isn’t believed to be eager to do a deal, and the Knicks appear more motivated to buy Marbury out than to ship him out. Sacramento Bee Blog
Since I haven’t spent any time talking about the NYC scenario, the thinking on the Kings’ side would be that it’s a whole lot of money you get back this summer and – all things considered – Marbury could actually help this bunch. On the other side, a deal involving Miller and Kenny Thomas gets the Knicks two players who could contribute and whose money comes off before the pivotal summer of 2010 in NYC. Throw Brooklyn native Quincy Douby in, and he probably becomes yet another shooter to flourish under Mike D’Antoni. Sacramento Bee Blog
Asked about a report out of Milwaukee that an offer is on the table to send him to the Bucks for point guard Tyronn Lue, Mihm said it was the first he’d heard of it and he hoped it wasn’t true. “Hopefully, it’s just a rumor like most of that is,” Mihm said. “I’m happy knowing that we’re trying for something special here. I know there’s other places where I could play more, but I understand my role here. My role is to come with it every day in practice, keep myself in shape and be ready when I’m called upon in practice.” Press Enterprise
“I’m nine years in. I want to win a title,” Mihm said. “That’s my focus right now. I’ve been through a lot in the past 2 ½ years. This team has come a long way in the past five years since I’ve been here, and this is something I’ve worked for my whole career. I’m fine with whatever role I have to play.” Press Enterprise
Chris Mihm said he has no interest in playing more minutes for a losing team. He wants to stick with the Lakers and have a chance to win the NBA title that eluded him and his teammates in last June’s bitter loss to the Boston Celtics. He said he heard of the report out of Milwaukee that he could be traded for Bucks guard Tyronn Lue. LA Daily News Blog
“I’m happy here,” Mihm said before the Lakers played host to the Golden State Warriors on Sunday night. LA Daily News Blog
The Lakers need a guard. Earl Boykins very likely will need a place to play. It seems like the ideal situation for both parties. With Jordan Farmar out for at least eight weeks while recovering from knee surgery, the Lakers have a need for an experienced guard. Boykins is a proven scorer, a terrific ball handler and an excellent free-throw shooter. From 2003-2007, he averaged 12.4 points per game, off the bench, with the Denver Nuggets and the Milwaukee Bucks. Orange County Register Blog
Boykins, who inexplicably did not receive any attractive offers this past summer as an unrestricted free agent, signed to play for Virtus Bolongna of the Italian Professional League. In 12 games, Boykins is the team’s leading scorer at 16.3 points per game. He also leads the team in average minutes played, free-throw percentage, steals and assists. Orange County Register Blog
The Lakers have a void at point guard because of an injury. In Sasha Vujacic’s eyes, he is capable of filling that role. The Lakers have a need for a backup point guard because Jordan Farmar had surgery on his left knee for torn cartilage and will be out for eight weeks. Vujacic pointed out he came into the NBA as a point guard. LA Times
Ball-handling duties aside, Vujacic hadn’t been shooting that well this season, making only 37.7% of his three-point attempts before Sunday, a reality that led to a moment of humor from a former teammate. “Do you guys still call him ‘the Machine?’ The Machine’s a little broken right now, I guess,” said Ronny Turiaf, who played against the Lakers on Sunday with Golden State. LA Times
Ronny Turiaf was a restricted free agent when he signed an offer sheet with Golden State, giving the Lakers a week to match it. The Lakers decided against it, figuring Turiaf would have had trouble finding minutes in a frontcourt with Pau Gasol, Andrew Bynum and Odom. “As a human being, you hurt because you feel like ‘Oh, they weren’t willing to give me that [contract]’ ” said Turiaf, who didn’t score and had one rebound in 20 minutes. “But as a businessman, you understand that they had to make a choice. They had to look at the energy guy that’s trying to do whatever he can to help the team, or they were trying to keep Sasha to help spread the floor.” LA Times
Forward Kendrick Perkins lived up to his promise of needing just one game off when he returned to action last night, scoring 7 points and grabbing 12 rebounds in 27 minutes of the Celtics’ 108-63 blowout of the Kings. Perkins missed Friday’s game at Golden State with a strained left shoulder. While the Celtics listed the 6-foot-10-inch, 280-pounder as day to day, he said before the Golden State game he planned on returning last night against Sacramento and didn’t think the injury was a major concern. Perkins not only returned, but before the contest he said the short rest helped his shoulder feel “great now.” Boston Globe
Team president Danny Ainge will be in Utah soon to scout college games and to watch rookies J.R. Giddens and Bill Walker with the Development League‘s Utah Flash at the upcoming league showcase. With no timetable for their return, Giddens and Walker are making the best of their time with the Flash and hope to impress Ainge during his first visit this season. Boston Globe
In D-League: Bill Walker was averaging 17.5 points, 4.7 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 1 steal and a .529 field goal percentage through Dec. 26. The 47th pick in the second round said he has been concentrating on defense. “I’ve been developing at a good pace,” Walker said. “I’m learning about the defensive three-second rule. I’m learning more how to guard over screens and in pick and rolls.” Boston Globe
President Larry Bird is going to start traveling with the team on the road so that he can get more of a first-hand look at things. It’ll also allow him to talk face-to-face with other league officials. The league’s trade deadline is Feb. 19. Bird doesn’t normally like to travel because of a back issue he has and the constant attention he gets from fans at games. Indianapolis Star
Swingman Mike Dunleavy, who is up to 20 minutes of practice a day, is the latest Pacer to come down with the viral infection that is making its way around the locker room. Dunleavy wasn’t at the game, but that didn’t stop his teammates from cracking few jokes. One player asked me if I had talked to him before the game. I looked toward his locker and there was a mop turned upside down with a shirt over top of it as if that was Dunleavy. Indianapolis Star
Is Al Harrington playing differently for the Knicks than he was a few weeks ago? Coach Mike D’Antoni isn’t sure. “That’s up to you guys,” D’Antoni said. “I don’t know that.” Unfortunately for Harrington, though it’s the holiday season, his numbers are hardly merry, and his two-week slump continued yesterday in the Knicks’ 117-110 loss to the Nuggets at the Garden. NY Post
Al Harrington, who said he didn’t care about not starting against Denver, admitted teams have been defending him differently. “A lot of the guys aren’t leaving me, so I’m not getting as many open shots and as many opportunities,” he said, “but that’s where I’ve got to be more active and start cutting more, stuff like that.” NY Post
In six games since his 33-point performance in Sacramento on Dec. 13, Harrington is shooting 34.6 percent. “I still have to figure out exactly what Coach wants,” Harrington said. “Not only what the system calls for, but what he wants.” NY Newsday
Dirk Nowitzki didn’t skate after all. After a 35-hour investigation, Stu Jackson, NBA executive vice president of basketball operations, informed the Dallas Mavericks just four hours before Sunday’s tip-off against the Clippers that Nowitzki would serve a one-game suspension. Nowitzki struck Jazz forward Matt Harpring in the face with a backhanded punch in the fourth quarter of Friday’s game, a by-the-book Flagrant-2 foul and automatic ejection. The league’s closed-fist rule dictates a suspension. Fort Worth Star-Telegram
Some Mavs officials thought the NBA’s silence on Saturday would mean good news for Nowitzki. Coach Rick Carlisle, however, said he anticipated the 11th-hour ruling. “I’ve been through this a lot,” Carlisle said. “If you have a back-to-back, it will accelerate their investigation. Otherwise, they go through a process. This didn’t surprise me at all.” Fort Worth Star-Telegram
“We had contingency plans based on whether or not there was a suspension,” Carlisle said. “It wasn’t like it ruined our preparation. We had a feeling this could happen.” Fort Worth Star-Telegram
Today is D-Day for the Nets and center Nenad Krstic. The likelihood is nil they will reach a last-minute deal because chances are the Nets will not match the three-year, $15.6 million offer sheet from the Thunder. NY Post
The Nets have until Monday to match the offer sheet Nenad Krstic signed with Oklahoma City. By all accounts, they are likely to recant and let the Serbian center play with the Thunder. Newark Star-Ledger
The only thing that could change is attendance and crowd engagement. Better yet, the folks who run the Nets’ widely-applauded game presentation could use their imagination: Perhaps they should start to pipe in boos and jeers, since that always seems to work in other venues. It creates an us-against-the-world mentality, their captain suggests, and so far that’s good enough to make the Nets — by one measure, anyway — the third-best team in the entire NBA. Newark Star-Ledger
Veteran guard Steve Francis is expected to make his Memphis Grizzlies debut on Tuesday against the Phoenix Suns after passing a physical. The Grizzlies acquired Francis from the Houston Rockets on Wednesday for a 2009 second-round draft pick and cash. Memphis sent the Rockets a 2011 second-round pick that is protected through the 55th choice. AP/USA Today
After years of focusing on the pirating of highlight clips and photos on the Web, the major professional sports leagues are finding that pirated feeds of live games are now common and becoming a menace to their businesses, especially at a time when leagues are trying to build their own businesses offering live games on the Internet for a subscription fee. “We never felt that the jewel in our crown, the live games, would be vulnerable,” said Ayala Deutsch, senior vice president and chief intellectual property counsel at the National Basketball Association. NY Times
The tangible effect on the leagues’ business today is small but the stakes are large: each sells the rights to its live games to broadcasters for billions of dollars. More important, each is trying to expand its revenue base by selling rights for games on mobile phones and the Web. Ms. Deutsch, the lawyer at the N.B.A., hosted a gathering recently of executives from other sports leagues — not just in the United States but around the world — at the N.B.A.’s offices in New York City to discuss ways of combating live-game piracy. “We view it as an international issue,” she said. NY Times
A recent unpublished report for the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development in Paris, the first major study of the issue, concluded, “This poses a major issue for the leagues and organizations who own and control sports as the sale of broadcast rights represents a major source of revenue, enabling the sports leagues to thrive and continue, from grassroots level to professional league.” The organization helps developed nations tackle mutual economic problems. NY Times
