NBA Teams – Page 1080 – NBA Blog

Pelicans coach thinks team will keep Eric Gordon and Tyreke Evans

Here’s the New Orleans Times-Picayune reporting on the Pelicans, who have some players that could be on the move. But for now, there’s no reason to expect anything. Maybe. Anyway, here’s the report:

With Thursday’s trade deadline approaching, speculation persists about the New Orleans Pelicans’ front office listening to offers for Eric Gordon and Tyreke Evans.

But Pelicans coach Monty Williams said after Monday’s practice that he expects for both players to still be with the team after the trade deadline passes.

”I don’t know where all that stuff comes from man,’’ Williams said. ”It’s silly to me to put guys names out there like that. I don’t know how to answer that.

”I’m focused on tomorrow’s practice. As far as I know, those guys are going to be here. All the trade stuff, I guess there is nothing else to talk about. It’s not something we put a lot of stock into as coaches.’’

Bobcats, Lakers discuss deal for Pau Gasol

Here’s the Charlotte Observer blog with a report on the Bobcats being interested in veteran Lakers power forward Pau Gasol. Doesn’t sound like anything will happen, but here’s the discussion:

The Charlotte Bobcats have been in contact with the Los Angeles Lakers concerning veteran big man Pau Gasol, but a source familiar with the discussion downplayed the likelihood Gasol would end up a Bobcat by Thursday’s NBA trade deadline.

Gasol makes over $19 million in this, the final season of his current contract. Superstar Kobe Bryant is hurt and the Lakers have fallen out of the Western Conference playoff race, so getting something for Gasol – like a first-round pick – is something the Lakers have explored.

While adding Gasol could give the Bobcats the short-term boost to make the playoffs, giving up a first-round pick would make Gasol more of a long-term investment. That’s where the Bobcats would have pause.

LeBron James says he thinks his future is with the Heat

Here’s the Associated Press (via the Washington Times) reporting on Miami Heat star LeBron James, who says his future is probably with his current squad. He kind-of has to say that sort of thing, though. It doesn’t make sense for him to say anything different between now and the end of the playoffs. Still, read on:

LeBron James cannot currently envision a scenario where he leaves the Miami Heat this summer, though he still plans to assess his needs and his future at the end of the season.

James made the comments in a wide-ranging interview with NBA TV. The Heat star can choose to become a free agent after this season by exercising an option in the contract he signed when he arrived in Miami during the summer of 2010.

Asked by interviewer Steve Smith if he can picture himself being anywhere else, James did not seem to hesitate before answering.

“At this point, I can’t,” James said. “At this point, I can’t. We don’t know what can happen from now to July, so what I’ve been able to do this whole season to this point is just worry about what’s at hand and that’s winning another championship. And hopefully at the end of this year I can put myself in a position where I can hold that Larry O’Brien Trophy up once again and then I will assess what I have to do with my future after that.”

John Wall loses bet with Bradley Beal, must wear pajama onesie to practice

Here’s the Washington Post blog with a fun report on some serious betting action between a pair of Wizards players. Kids, don’t try pajama onesie-based bets at home:

A few hows before he hurdled G-Man for his unforgettable reverse dunk to claim the dunk contest, Wall made a peculiar bet with Bradley Beal about last Saturday’s college basketball game between his 18th-ranked Wildcats and Beal’s second-ranked Florida Gators. Wall declared that the loser would have to wear a footed pajama onesie of the opposing school to practice.

“He know what’s up with me. He might not want to want to see me,” Wall said on Saturday morning. “You know how that is, you’ve got a big rivalry going on. He got to wear that Kentucky onesie if we win. I have to wear that Florida onesie if they win. He don’t know that yet. That’s what I made. I’m the big brother so I make the rules.”

Wall never shared those stakes with Beal, whose Gators defeated the Wildcats, 69-59, around the time that Beal was finishing second in the three-point shootout and Wall was preparing to lead the Eastern Conference to a dunk contest win.

After scoring 12 points in his all-star debut for the victorious East, Wall said he still planned to make good on his essentially self-made bet.

Kareem Rush not retired from basketball just yet

I know you were all wondering about the status of Kareem Rush, so here’s the Los Angeles Times blog with an update:

Kareem Rush not retired from NBA just yet

According to the NBA Development League transactions page, former Lakers guard Kareem Rush retired last month.

In a recent phone interview with The Times, Rush said that’s not the case.

“I’ve retired from the D-League,” he said. “[I’m] not retired from basketball completely.”

Rush, 33, last played in the NBA for the Clippers on Nov. 17, 2009, tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee.

After All-Star MVP award, back to Cavs work for Kyrie Irving

Here’s the Cleveland Plain Dealer reporting on Cavaliers star Kyrie Irving, who on Sunday won the 2014 NBA All-Star game MVP award and now returns regular season reality, where his team has a 20-33 record:

Irving was asked what’s next for the Cavaliers after the All-Star break.

“Just a higher focus level,” he said. “We went into the All-Star break with some momentum and now, coming out, its really important to get that first game and get up for that first game no matter how tired we are.

“Everybody’s rested. It’s just really important to come out with that same focus and play as a team and hopefully continue this streak.”

The Cavs won four straight games heading into the break, including rallying to win at Detroit on Wednesday night, to improve to 20-33. In the weak Eastern Conference, they’re only three games out of the No. 8 spot in the playoffs, currently held by the Charlotte Bobcats, 23-30.

“I think the last couple games before the break we’ve been jelling,” Waiters said. “We’ve just been passing the ball and running the floor, playing team basketball, and it shows. You see the results. I think we’ve got to keep that momentum after the break and hopefully we’ll make the playoffs.”

Sixers are looking for draft picks

The Philadelphia 76ers are rebuilding. And want draft picks. Here’s the Philadelphia Inquirer reporting:

The 76ers’ focus in the days leading up to Thursday’s NBA trade deadline is acquiring draft picks, according to an Eastern Conference executive.

The franchise wants to gain future compensation in exchange for Evan Turner, Spencer Hawes, and Thaddeus Young, said the source, who spoke on condition of anonymity. With the most cap space in the league and an open roster spot, the Sixers will consider acquiring an expiring contract from a team looking to dump a salary. But that most likely will also involve receiving a draft pick.

As a result, the 76ers are believed to be the most active team in trade talks leading up to the deadline. The Sixers have had discussions with all 29 other NBA franchises.

Different type of All-Star Weekend for Dwyane Wade

Here’s the South Florida Sun Sentinel reporting on banged-up veteran Heat guard Dwyane Wade:

An experience that had become routine for Dwyane Wade over the years suddenly was foreign. It was so new Wade for a moment thought about returning in the fourth quarter of Sunday’s NBA All-Star Game at Smoothie King Center. Then he thought against it.

“I’m normally in there at the end,” Wade said. “It was a part of me that really wanted to be in there. I came out in the second half and I felt a lot better. I wanted to play but I decided not to for the better of our season.”

As expected, the night ended earlier than usual for Wade in the Eastern Conference’s 163-155 victory against the West. Wade left with 5 minutes, 49 seconds remaining in the third quarter, becoming a cheerleader the remainder.

He experienced the game from a “different lense.”

“Just on my vet stuff this year,” Wade said. “I actually got it from other vets. I’ve been around guys when they were older and how they approached the All-Star Game, where they kind of let the younger guys go out there and enjoy themselves and get a feel for the game and have fun. I just kind of chilled a little bit.”

Raptors GM will be listening as trade deadline looms

The Toronto Raptors are having a fine season, but like every squad in the league, deals are possible. Here’s the Toronto Sun reporting:

Masai Ujiri has always said he would let the players dictate which way he went with things and he’s not backing off that now.

That does not mean he definitely won’t be busy between now and Thursday’s NBA trade deadline, just that he’s not going to be out there seeking moves as hard as he would have been had the Raptors not got on a bit of a roll and shown their President and GM something over these last couple of months.

“I’ll be right here (waving his cellphone) waiting and we’ll see what happens,” he said of his plans between now and the trade deadline. “I never know what to expect. Sometimes it’s quiet until the last minute. Sometimes it’s busy. As far as our team, I think the team has played well. They have done well with the platform so keep trying to grow.

“These guys are taking the opportunity and I said we would give them the platform, and if they continue to grow we’ll see how we do but we haven’t done anything yet,” Ujiri cautioned. “I don’t want to call out the conference, I can’t do that, but it’s the measuring stick and I think we have to keep that in mind.”

Carmelo Anthony sets NBA All-Star game three-pointer record

Here’s the New York Post reporting on Knicks star Carmelo Anthony, who had a memorable All-Star weekend in New Orleans:

It was an eventful All-Star weekend for Carmelo Anthony off the court in New Orleans, where he declared he’d take “a pay cut’’ to re-sign with Knicks if he likes their roster plans. Anthony then made his on-court experience a memorable one by setting an All-Star Game 3-point record.

Anthony’s smile, which rarely has been seen this season, were in abundance in the Big Easy. The Knicks superstar admitted he would have a tough time enjoying All-Star Weekend because of the club’s 20-32 record, but he still had a blast — even if he fell short of winning the MVP. Kyrie Irving of West Orange, N.J., won it with 31 points and 14 assists.

Anthony scored 20 of his 30 points in the first half and hit a huge 3-pointer with 1:04 left to key the Eastern Conference’s 163-155 come-from-behind All-Star Game shootout victory over the West at New Orleans Arena. He finished with eight 3-pointers, breaking the record of six, co-held by LeBron James and Mark Price.