Author: Inside Hoops

InsideHoops.com has been a world leader in NBA basketball coverage for over 20 years. Read our blog, but also be sure to read our main website on www.insidehoops.com

Nets likely keeping Jason Collins for rest of season

Here’s ESPN.com with an update on the Nets and Jason Collins, who is on his second 10-day contract:

The Brooklyn Nets will sign center Jason Collins for the remainder of the season on Saturday, according to multiple sources with knowledge of the situation.

Sources told ESPN.com on Tuesday that the Nets, who feel they’re getting everything they expected from Collins when they signed him for frontcourt depth Feb. 23, are already operating under the premise that the 34-year-old will finish the season with them even though his second 10-day deal doesn’t expire until after Friday. Sources say that the internal expectation all along was that Collins would be a Net for the rest of the season, from the moment he signed his first 10-day deal, as long he proved that he could still be an effective defender, which he did immediately.

Nerlens Noel still not expected to play this season

Here’s the Philadelphia Inquirer with another update on injured 76ers rookie Nerlens Noel:

Nerlens Noel still not expected to play this season

Rookie center Nerlens Noel continues to impress observers in the closed-door sessions during 76ers practices.

Though a source with knowledge of the situation doesn’t expect Noel to play this season as he recovers from last year’s knee surgery, all who see him are encouraged about what he will bring to the future.

On the one-year anniversary of knee surgery, Noel remains a mystery, at least to the public.

The team sees him every day and considers him and rookie point guard Michael Carter-Williams the foundation of what is hoped will be a promising youth movement.

Gerald Henderson set to return for Bobcats

Here’s the Charlotte Observer blog with some good news about the Bobcats:

Gerald Henderson set to return for Bobcats

Charlotte Bobcats shooting guard Gerald Henderson practiced Tuesday after missing the past five games with a strained right calf. He believes he’ll be fine to play Wednesday against the Washington Wizards.

“I feel good,” Henderson said after a post-practice game of one-on-one against Jannero Pargo. “It’s tough having to be out in that stretch. But I wanted to get myself back to 100 percent and not have that calf bother me the rest of the season.

“I feel good and I’m ready to go.”

Celtics sign guard Chris Babb to second 10-day contract

The Boston Celtics announced today that they have signed guard Chris Babb to a second 10-day contract.

Babb, a 6’5” guard, has appeared in four games for the Celtics where he has averaged 3.3 points and 1.8 rebounds in 13.1 minutes per game. He has recorded a high of six points against Brooklyn on March 7 and also recorded five points and five rebounds against Golden State on March 5. Originally signed to a 10-day contract on February 28, Babb had appeared in 33 games for the Celtics’ NBA Development League affiliate, the Maine Red Claws, earlier this season. In his time with the Red Claws Babb averaged 12.0 points, 6.2 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 1.18 steals in 37.5 minutes per game.

Thunder assign Reggie Williams to D-League

The Oklahoma City Thunder has assigned forward Reggie Williams to the Tulsa 66ers of the NBA Development League, it was announced today by Executive Vice President and General Manager Sam Presti.

Williams has appeared in 20 games (16 starts) for the 66ers this season, averaging 20.8 points, 5.5 rebounds, 4.9 assists and 1.55 steals in 37.3 minutes per game.

The forward is expected to be in uniform this morning when the Tulsa 66ers host the Los Angeles D-Fenders at Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City, Okla.

He was originally signed by the Thunder on March 6.

Sixers losing streak reaches 17 games

Here’s the Philadelphia Inquirer reporting on the woeful 76ers:

Another night, another loss.

It was business as usual Monday for the tanking 76ers. This time, it was a 123-110 setback to the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden.

The loss dropped the Sixers to 15-48 and extended their losing streak to 17 games. That puts them three losses away from the franchise-record 20 straight defeats rung up by the infamous 1972-73 squad.

It also marked the Sixers’ ninth straight double-digit loss.

“To be honest with you, I’m trying to not even think about it,” Michael Carter-Williams said of the losing streak. “You know, we lose, it’s on to the next game. I can’t dwell on us losing 17 in a row. That’s not doing anything for me. That’s not doing anything for the team, for the coaching staff. Nobody.”

“Whatever all the talk is about us losing 17 games and people writing about it, that’s fine. We are going to stay focused as a team. And we are going to focus in on a win.”

Knicks might hire Phil Jackson: The latest

Here’s the New York Daily News with the latest on the Knicks and Phil Jackson:

Hiring Phil Jackson could result in Steve Mills losing job with Knicks

Offering Phil Jackson the head coaching job with the Knicks may end up costing Steve Mills his job.

Mills’ meeting with Jackson two weeks ago was a “disaster,” according to a person with knowledge of the negotiations. Jackson rejected the chance to replace Mike Woodson on the bench and instead is considering a move into the front office after speaking with Garden chairman James Dolan.

“Phil doesn’t want to work with Steve,” said a person close to Jackson. “Mills doesn’t know what to think now. Dolan is calling the shots on this one.”

Mills would remain in the organization in some capacity if Jackson joins the Knicks but would not be expected to have an active role in the day-to-day operations.