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Kobe Bryant wants Rajon Rondo to join Lakers this summer

Kobe Bryant wants Rajon Rondo to join Lakers this summer

Would you want to play with Kobe Bryant? In his prime, sure. What about now, as his career winds down? Depends on the other teammates, we’d assume. If Rajon Rondo has to make a decision and it’s going to be Rondo, old Kobe and a rebuilding project, that’s probably not too attractive to Rondo. Anyway, here’s ESPN Los Angeles reporting:

Rajon Rondo knows Kobe Bryant is recruiting him to join the Los Angeles Lakers when Rondo becomes an unrestricted free agent this summer.

And the Dallas Mavericks point guard is obviously flattered to hear Bryant admit as much publicly, as Bryant did in late January.

But Bryant’s recruiting efforts appeared especially strong Sunday, when he appeared on the Lakers sideline for the first time since his season-ending shoulder injury Jan. 21 — just in time to watch Rondo’s Mavericks beat the Lakers 100-93.

“When he speaks, it speaks volumes,” Rondo said after finishing with eight points, nine assists, four rebounds and three turnovers. “It’s an honor and a compliment that he’d want to play with a guy like me, but right now, I’m focused on winning a championship with the Dallas Mavericks.”

Would Rondo want to play with Bryant, who will enter his 20th, and likely final, NBA season in 2015-16?

“I’m focused on what I have to do right now,” Rondo said. “It’s impossible to play with Kobe right now.”

Chandler Parsons concerned that his shoes were factor in his injury

Chandler Parsons concerned that his shoes were factor in his injury

Here’s ESPN Dallas reporting on something we don’t get to hear much about: the impact that shoes have on NBA player injuries. There are plenty of suspicions in many cases. But few quotes or info to go on. Here’s the report:

Dallas Mavericks small forward Chandler Parsons returned Sunday after missing seven games due to an ankle injury.

His signature shoes were nowhere to be seen, however.

Parsons, who has a $1 million per year endorsement deal with the Chinese shoe company Anta, wore Jordan Brand sneakers with the logos covered during the Mavs’ 100-93 win over the Los Angeles Lakers because of concerns that his shoes contributed to the sprain and bone bruise to his left ankle.

“I just am trying to figure out if it was one of the shoes that I was wearing that bothered me,” Parsons told ESPNDallas.com. “I just wanted to fix them and make them stiffer.

“The injury that I had, [Mavs athletic trainer Casey Smith] was telling me how [the Anta shoes] were a little too flexible in the ankle, so I guess they said Jordan Brand had a stiffer shoe. In the meantime, I blacked out the logo and am trying to wear those until my new shoe is out.”

Julius Randle returns to court for non-contact basketball drills

Julius Randle returns to court for non-contact basketball drills

Here’s the Orange County Register with an update on a promising Lakers rookie who has gained at least a partial NBA education this season but won’t really begin until 2015-16:

Officially speaking, Julius Randle’s rookie season will have consisted of 14 minutes of basketball before it ended with a cruel twist and a bad break.

Unmeasured by statistics, is the vast majority of his season that has consisted of two surgeries, multiple stints on crutches and monotonous hours on an elliptical machine.

Finally, Randle was back on the court with the Lakers on Monday, more than four months after breaking his tibia on opening night, and two months after surgery to replace a screw in his right foot.

While Randle will not play again this season, the Lakers are slowly adding to his workload, which on Monday meant working with the coaching staff on some post moves and shooting.

CJ McCollum back in Blazers rotation

CJ McCollum back in Blazers rotation

Here’s the Oregonian reporting on the aftermath of the Wesley Matthews injury in Portland:

It’s not the circumstances he likely pictured, but Trail Blazers second year guard CJ McCollum is back in the role he envisioned for himself heading into the season.

He’s a top option off the bench for a Portland team making a playoff push.

Of course, now he’s backing up Arron Afflalo and not Wesley Matthews, but McCollum’s role, the minutes and opportunity are back to where they were in the beginning of the season.

“Take advantage of whatever minutes you get and continue to gain trust,” McCollum said of his mindset at Blazers on Monday. “That’s the biggest thing. The past is over with.”

Mo Williams, Russell Westbrook named NBA Players of Week through March 8

Charlotte Hornets guard Mo Williams and Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook today were named NBA Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Week, respectively, for games played Monday, March 2, through Sunday, March 8.

Williams led the Hornets to a 4-0 week, which included two road wins and a home victory over the Toronto Raptors. Williams’ 19.5 ppg was tied for 10th in the East, while his 10.8 apg led the conference. He scored 20-plus points in three of four games, and posted two point-assist double-doubles. On March 6, he connected on four three-point field goals en route to 23 points and added seven assists during a 103-94 win over the Raptors.

Westbrook averaged a triple-double as he led the Thunder to a 2-1 week. His 40.7 points led the league, while his 11.3 assists placed third in the West. Westbrook also averaged 11.3 rebounds – good for fifth in the conference, and his 3.0 steals were second-best in the conference. Westbrook recorded his seventh triple-double of the season on March 8, posting 30 points, 17 assists and 11 rebounds during a 108-104 win over the Raptors.

Other nominees for the Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Week were Boston’s Isaiah Thomas, Houston’s James Harden, the Los Angeles Clippers’ DeAndre Jordan and Chris Paul, Miami’s Dwyane Wade, New Orleans’ Anthony Davis, Orlando’s Victor Oladipo, Portland’s LaMarcus Aldridge, San Antonio’s Tony Parker and Toronto’s DeMar DeRozan.

Jared Dudley in serious shooting slump

Here’s the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reporting on a veteran Buck:

Jared Dudley is in a serious shooting slump.

Since the Milwaukee Bucks returned from the all-star break, Dudley has compiled only a few hits and plenty of misses.

How bad is it?

The 29-year-old forward is shooting 14.3% from three-point range (3 of 21) and 25.5% overall (13 of 51) in his last eight games.

It got so bad on Saturday night that he had two wide-open looks in a matter of seconds early in the fourth quarter and missed both.

This is the same player who was shooting 44.2% from beyond the arc and 50.6% overall before the break. It’s the same player who hit all 10 of his shots in a game against the Atlanta Hawks in December, including 4 three-pointers, while leading the Bucks to a 30-point victory over one of the league’s top teams.

Steven Adams back in action for Thunder

Steven Adams back in action for Thunder

Here’s the Oklahoman reporting on the Thunder:

Four Sundays after breaking his hand against the Clippers, Steven Adams returned to the Thunder lineup

In OKC’s win over the Raptors, Adams was relatively effective in his 16 minutes. Adams entered to a rousing ovation from the home crowd and immediately blocked a shot on his first possession.

For the game, Adams finished with six points, six rebounds and two blocks. He nailed a pair of floaters with that surgically repaired right hand – which was covered by a protective glove – including a smooth buzzer-beater to end the third quarter.

“He’s still getting his timing back,” teammate Anthony Morrow said. “But he did a great job defensively tonight.”

For the first time this season, though, Adams came off the bench. Enes Kanter started and played extremely well, compiling 21 points and 12 rebounds.

Heat sign Michael Beasley to second 10-day contract

Heat sign Michael Beasley to second 10-day contract

The Miami HEAT announced today that they have signed forward Michael Beasley to a second 10-day contract.

Beasley, who was originally signed to a 10-day contract by the HEAT on February 26, has appeared in six games with Miami this season averaging 10.5 points, 4.2 rebounds and 23.6 minutes while shooting 44.6 percent from the field. In the HEAT’s last two games, he posted 13 points, all in the fourth quarter, on March 6 at Washington and then a season-high 18 points, seven rebounds, two steals and a block on March 7 vs. Sacramento.

Beasley, who was originally drafted by the HEAT in the first round (second overall) in the 2008 NBA Draft, has appeared in 415 career NBA games (199 starts) averaging 13.2 points, 4.9 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 24.8 minutes while shooting 45 percent from the field.

C.J. Miles, making music when off court

C.J. Miles, making music when off court

Here’s the Indianapolis Star reporting on C.J. Miles, who has been making music for a while now — but not promoting it too heavily:

He grew up singing in the church choir. Playing piano in middle school. Writing music as a teen, songs few people ever heard.

Now, Indiana Pacers guard C.J. Miles can be heard. He has ventured beyond writing to recording and releasing his own hip hop music – quietly.

Most fans who watch him on the court have no idea Miles is an undercover musician. That’s OK with him.

“I have no interest in being a rapper (as a career). I just like to do music. That’s why I don’t pub it or anything,” he said. “If people want to listen to it, they can listen to it. If they don’t, I’m still going to do it. It doesn’t really matter.”

Miles views music as his outlet, much like other guys play video games to relax. During the NBA season, while on the airplane or the bus, it’s not unusual to find Miles writing music.

Bucks retire Bobby Dandridge jersey

Bucks retire Bobby Dandridge’s jersey

Here’s the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reporting on the Bucks’ jersey retirement ceremony for Bobby Dandridge:

Bobby Dandridge said he was trying to stay emotionless in the hours before his No. 10 jersey was to be retired by the Milwaukee Bucks on Saturday night.

Speaking fondly of his nine seasons with the Bucks, though, the tears that welled up in the 67-year-old’s eyes betrayed him.

“My family’s here, friends have come in from out of town and my friends and the fans here in Milwaukee are real special,” Dandridge said during a halftime ceremony at the BMO Harris Bradley Center. “I’ll try to hold back the emotions, try not to tremble too much, but this is probably the greatest honor that I have received as a professional athlete.”

After being introduced by his friend and former teammate Oscar Robertson, who drew a roar from the crowd by saying Dandridge deserved to be considered for the Hall of Fame, Dandridge succeeded in holding his emotions in check.