Nets, Nuggets discuss a Brook Lopez deal

The Brooklyn Nets are 18-28, have won just 2 of their last 10 games, and are on a 4-game losing streak. Center Brook Lopez, playing just 26.9 minutes per game, is averaging 15.3 points, 6.2 rebounds and 1.7 blocks per game. Those stats look good when taking the court time into account. But his actual impact has been limited. And when you factor in Brook’s massive contract, things get bleak. Changes are being discussed. Here’s ESPN.com reporting the latest:

The Brooklyn Nets continue to explore the possibility of trading center Brook Lopez but to date have resisted a serious push from the Denver Nuggets, according to league sources.

Sources told ESPN.com that the Nuggets have offered big men JaVale McGee and J.J. Hickson, as well as one of the two draft picks Denver recently acquired in a trade with the Cleveland Cavaliers for center Timofey Mozgov, in exchange for the Lopez.

But Brooklyn, sources say, has rebuffed those advances so far.

Adam Silver interested in expanding All-Star team rosters to more than 12 players

Adam Silver interested in expanding All-Star team rosters to more than 12 players

Now this is interesting. NBA team rosters have a minimum of 12 players, maximum of 15. Almost no teams only carry 12 players on their squad. But All-Star team rosters (two of them, one for the East, one for the West) have 12 players each. Why not a few more? I think you can make an argument that things are fine the way they are, especially considering the limited minutes available in the actual All-Star game compared to the amount of talent on each roster. Still fun to consider the possibilities of more All-Stars being named. Here’s ESPN.com reporting:

NBA commissioner Adam Silver told ESPN Radio on Sunday that he favors expanding All-Star rosters from their current limit of 12.

On the first day of his second year in charge of the league, Silver added that “this is going to be the year where we have to make those decisions‎” in reference to proposed tweaks to the league’s current playoff format and draft lottery.

‎In the wake of what he described as “essentially a tie” in trying to choose between Sacramento’s DeMarcus Cousins and Portland’s Damian Lillard to replace injured Kobe Bryant on the Western Conference squad, Silver told ‎the “NBA Lockdown: Insiders” show Sunday night that he intends to broach the subject in the near future with new Players Association executive director Michele Roberts.

Asked to reflect on what he would remember most about his first year as commissioner, with Sunday marking exactly one since he replaced David Stern, Silver said: “That I had to decide between DeMarcus Cousins and Damian Lillard. I didn’t like having to make that choice. I wish I had another slot for Damian because I think he’s deserving of being an All-Star as well.‎”

Ricky Rubio set to return for Timberwolves

Ricky Rubio set to return for Timberwolves

The Minnesota Timberwolves, owner of an NBA-worst 8-39 win-loss record, are set to welcome exciting, flashy point guard Ricky Rubio back into the mix. They won’t suddenly become a winning team — that’s not in the cards this season — but Rubio at the very least makes them a more fun squad. Here’s the Minneapolis Star Tribune reporting:

Ricky Rubio set to return for Timberwolves

Only four days a Timberwolf, newly signed Lorenzo Brown played all but five seconds during Saturday’s crackling 106-90 loss to Cleveland because the Wolves had not another single healthy point guard available, not even emergency backup Robbie Hummel.

By the time they play at Dallas on Monday, the Wolves could have three, possibly four ready to play at least some minutes at that position.

That includes, of course, Ricky Rubio.

He’s aiming to make his return after missing 42 games and nearly three months because of a severely sprained ankle that damaged muscle and bruised bone.

Wolves coach Flip Saunders said after Saturday’s game he’s hopeful both Rubio and veteran Mo Williams, out the past three games because of a hip he injured in Atlanta more than a week ago, can play some minutes to spell Brown, who has played 95 minutes in three games since the team signed him on Wednesday out of the D League.

Cleanthony Early wraps up brief D-League trip

Cleanthony Early wraps up brief D-League trip

cleanthony early trip to d-league

New York Knicks rookie forward Cleanthony Early’s trip to the D-League was brief and successful.

Knicks President Phil Jackson announced this morning that the team recalled forward Early from the Westchester Knicks.

Early, 6-8, 220-pounds, made his D-League debut on Friday and Saturday nights, against the Sioux Falls Skyforce at the historic Westchester County Center in White Plains, NY, to average 18.5 points and 11.0 rebounds in 45.2 minutes. He was in uniform for today’s afternoon game versus the Los Angeles Lakers, though Knicks head coach Derek Fisher did not play him.

Dwight Howard knee issue may keep him out for extended period

The 33-15 Houston Rockets face a troubling injury situation, according to this ESPN.com report:

Dwight Howard knee issue may keep him out for extended period

The Houston Rockets are bracing for the loss of Dwight Howard for at least a month due to persistent trouble with his right knee, according to league sources.

Sources told ESPN.com that the Rockets, while confident that Howard ‎has enough time to bounce back for the regular-season stretch run and playoffs, fear their defensive anchor will be lost for a period of “weeks” as opposed to days.

Howard is still in the process of getting additional consultation from various doctors to determine the best treatment course for the knee.

Knicks sign Lance Thomas for rest of season

Knicks sign Lance Thomas for rest of season

Knicks sign Lance Thomas for remainder of season

New York Knicks President Phil Jackson announced today that the team has signed forward Lance Thomas for the remainder of the season.

Thomas, 6-8, 225-pounds, is averaging 10.6 points, 4.4 rebounds and 2.0 assists over 25.5 minutes in seven games (one start) with New York after signing the first of two 10-day contracts on Jan. 10.

Gani Lawal signs in Athens, Greece

Gani Lawal signs in Athens, Greece

Here’s EurocupBasketball with an update on Gani Lawal:

Panathinaikos Athens added size and intimidation to its front court with the signing of big man Gani Lawal on Saturday. Lawal (2.05 metres, 26 years old) arrives from the Turkish side Trabzonspor where so far this season he averaged 9.9 points, 5.8 rebounds and 1.1 blocks in the Turkish League, and 9.3 points, 5.4 rebounds and 1.3 blocks in EuroChallenge action. Last season he played with EA7 Emporio Armani Milan, winning the Italian League title and being the second overall blocker of the Turkish Airlines Euroleague playoffs, rejecting 7 shots in 4 games.

Derrick Favors playing great season for Jazz

Derrick Favors playing great season for Jazz

Derrick Favors enjoying good season for Jazz

Scan the top 20 in Player Efficiency Rating (PER) and you’ll find a host of perennial All-Stars and MVP candidates. Also in the mix is a fifth-year big man who keeps progressing and has helped stabilize a young, developing team. Derrick Favors, 23, is enjoying his best season yet for the Jazz, setting career highs in scoring (15.7 ppg), field goal percentage (54.4, 10th in the NBA) and PER (22.45, 16th in the league) while approaching personal bests in rebounding (8.6 rpg) and blocked shots (1.6 bpg). Favors has already made nearly as many mid-range shots this season (51) as he did all of last season (54), and his field goal percentage on those attempts has improved to 38.6 from 30.9. The 6-10, 262-pound Favors has been a standout during the recent turnaround for Utah, which has gone a solid 10-11 since a 6-19 start.

Clippers set to begin tough road trip

Clippers set to begin tough road trip

Los Angeles has won eight of 10, including Wednesday’s victory at Utah, its 13th straight against the Jazz. The Clippers play their next seven games on the road, including stops in San Antonio, Cleveland, Toronto, Oklahoma City and Dallas. During the 8-2 stretch, DeAndre Jordan is averaging 12.8 points while shooting 79.1 percent from the field. He leads the NBA in field goal percentage (73 percent) and rebounding (13.3 rpg). He’s also blocked at least one shot in 33 straight games, the longest current streak in the NBA. Blake Griffin has also been on a tear, shooting 54.5 percent from field and averaging 23.0 points over his last 10 games.