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NBA Rumors: Friday, March 19
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As much as he's hurting right now, Deron Williams said at Friday's pregame shootaround that he never gave thought to sitting out tonight's game against the Suns in the hopes of resting his injured wrist, shoulder and ankle. Especially not with the Jazz trying to hold off Phoenix and Oklahoma City and remain in position for home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs. The Jazz lead the Suns and Thunder by two games. "That's pretty much it," Williams said. "Everything's so close right now. Oklahoma City's right on us with the tiebreaker over us. We have a chance to own the tiebreaker over Phoenix today. It's pretty much a no-brainer for me to play tonight." Salt Lake Tribune

Assuming Dirk Nowitzki exercises his player option, which he has said he will, the Mavericks were not going to have cap space to pursue LeBron James, Chris Bosh or anybody else. Any moves they do are going to be dependent on other teams being willing to sign and trade their free agents. If teams find themselves in the situation of losing them for nothing, the Mavericks could still be a player in the free-agent frenzy. Dallas Morning News

By the way, Yi Jianlian is also a likely return Saturday against the Raptors. Says the ankle is a little sore when he gets started, but it loosens up after a while. Kiki Vandeweghe hasn’t decided whether he’ll start him if he’s a go. Newark Star-Ledger

Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard picked up his 15th technical foul of this regular season during Thursday night’s overtime victory over the Miami Heat. Why should the Magic care? The all-star center now is on the verge of receiving a one-game suspension. In the NBA, a player or coach receives an automatic one-game suspension once he receives his 16th technical foul of the regular season. The same player or coach receives another one-game suspension for every two additional techs thereafter. So, an 18th tech would result in a one-game suspension. As would a 20th, a 22nd and so on. Orlando Sentinel Blog

In Thursday’s game, Howard picked up his technical with 3:09 remaining in overtime. He committed a personal foul on Miami’s Michael Beasley. Then, as Howard started walking away, he slammed the basketball against the court. It seemed like he slammed the ball because he was angry at himself for committing the personal foul, but a referee saw Howard’s action and gave Howard a technical. Orlando Sentinel Blog

Less than an hour passed after Georgetown's humiliating tournament loss to 14th-seeded Ohio before Hoyas center Greg Monroe said he would return for his junior season. The 6-foot-11 sophomore averaged 16 points and 9.5 rebounds this season and is a projected first-round pick should he enter the NBA draft. USA Today

NBA RUMORS FROM THE MORNING

For the first time since the controversy of last summer, Jazz chief executive Greg Miller met in person Wednesday with Rob Pelinka, the agent for Carlos Boozer. Also present were Jazz president Randy Rigby and general manager Kevin O'Connor, though Miller was believed to have done most of the talking. The meeting in Utah was said to have been "very, very positive" between the sides. Salt Lake Tribune

Having matched Portland's four-year, $32 million offer sheet to Paul Millsap last summer, it remains to be seen how the Jazz could re-sign Boozer while avoiding paying the luxury tax for a second consecutive season given their existing salary commitments. Salt Lake Tribune

Forbes magazine recently listed Memphis as the second-most miserable city in the U.S. So you can understand why pending restricted free agent Rudy Gay had to pause when asked if he wants to re-sign with the Grizzlies. "I wouldn't mind it," he said. "I wouldn't mind staying here." That kind of apathy should be alarming for a franchise that seems to finally have put together some legitimate talent on the basketball court. But even owner Michael Heisley sounded just as noncommittal when asked about Gay. Not because the Grizzlies don't want the former UConn star, but because Heisley doesn't see it as possible without support from the locals, who just don't seem as interested in the NBA team as they are in the university's hoop group. NY Newsday

The Grizzlies, who are known for running the franchise on a shoestring budget, can match any offer sheet Gay accepts from another team. But if the number is high enough, would they? "Do I think they're going to make a commitment to me? To some extent, I do," Gay said. "But it's a business . . . so it really doesn't matter to me which way it goes." NY Newsday

Zach Randolph shook his head when he saw the New York media surrounding Gay at the morning shoot-around. "Y'all trying to take him away from us?" he said with a grin. But everyone here knows the situation. Gay, who has played his first four NBA seasons with the Grizzlies, entered Friday night's game averaging 20.0 points and 5.9 rebounds per game. NY Newsday

In the meantime, Jay Wright additionally can expect to be romanced by the Nets. If Rod Thorn remains team president, as it appears he will when incoming majority owner Mikhail Prokhorov finally gets approval from the NBA's Board of Governors, "look for Jay to be on the top of the list when he presents his suggestions." NY Post

Should St. John's spike Norm Roberts, it's unfathomable the university would contact or consider anyone without first feeling out Mark Jackson. Yet, supposedly, Virginia Tech's Seth Greenberg already is the leading candidate for a coaching seat that's still occupied. No disrespect to the Plainview, L.I., product, but how can that be true? What makes anyone think Greenberg can convince local blue-chippers to stay home or lure out-of-towners to Union Turnpike, which doesn't even boast a nearby subway stop? NY Post

There's always a buyout, it seems, in every college coach's contract -- in small print. Then again, from what I hear, Wright may be turning pro sooner than later. Sources say the 76ers approached him a summer or two ago, but advances were rejected. Guaranteed, they will come calling again, as well as intensify their interest, in mid-April immediately after Eddie Jordan is fired, a conclusion no longer in doubt, I'm assured by a Philadelphian with a strong pulse on everything 76er-related. NY Post

Had a chance to talk to Warriors forward Kelenna Azubuike a couple of days ago, and asked him about next year's player option worth $3.3 million. Azubuike is finishing the second year of a three-year contract worth approximately $9 million, and can forgo the final year at $3.3 million if he wants. Back in 2008, Azubuike signed an offer sheet with the L.A. Clippers, but the Warriors matched. CSN Bay Area

No surprise, and I figured as much, but Azubuike indicated he’s virtually certain to exercise the option and return to the Warriors in 2010-11 rather than become an unrestricted free agent. CSN Bay Area

ESPN NBA analyst Ric Bucher quoted a league source yesterday when he said that LeBron James might be more interested in coming to the Knicks if they have Hawks' shooting guard Joe Johnson. "If it's LeBron James they want," Bucher said, "a league source says the Hawks' shooting guard is a very good place to start." NY Post

With salary dumping comes opportunity, and for new Knicks swingman J.R. Giddens, that opportunity is now. Since being traded to the Knicks on Feb. 18 in the deal that sent Nate Robinson to the Celtics, Giddens finally got to play during Wednesday's 109-97 loss to his former team. Still recovering from left knee surgery he had on Feb. 2 and without a team practice under his belt, Giddens played 13:25 and scored four points. NY Post

"I'm definitely not in game shape, or in J.R. shape," Giddens said yesterday before going to do some running and conditioning after his first practice. "I consider myself a fit guy. I was out there feeling it a little bit in the minutes I had." NY Post

Rockets coach Rick Adelman said his team could use a perimeter player and might want to recall Jermaine Taylor from the NBA Development League just a day after he was assigned to the Rio Grande Valley Vipers for a third time this season. Houston Chronicle

But general manager Daryl Morey said no move is imminent. “We talked about that,” Adelman said. “I would like to look at that, especially at that spot. We're going to have to look at what we're going to do with Jermaine, too. We sent him down there, but we're really short-handed.” Houston Chronicle

Rockets guard Kyle Lowry sat out Thursday's practice a day after leaving the court with a sprained left ankle but said he would play tonight against the Boston Celtics. “He's really sore,” coach Rick Adelman said. Houston Chronicle

Acie Law's playing time will dwindle significantly -- if not disappear completely -- when Rose (sprained left wrist) returns, so this opportunity might be his best chance to audition for a job next season. ''I'm a free agent this summer,'' he said. ''Up until this point, I really haven't gotten an opportunity to play. There are some question marks there. I'm getting an opportunity to play now, and these last two ballgames I'm finally getting an opportunity to show someone I can play. Chicago Sun-Times

Law: ''It's been tough for me. At Golden State, they had a lottery pick in Stephen Curry and an established guard in Monta Ellis, so it was tough there. I go to Charlotte, and they have two lottery picks [at point guard] in D.J. Augustin and Raymond Felton. Then I get here, and you have an All-Star in Derrick Rose.'' Chicago Sun-Times

But his offensive ability makes him a candidate to return to the Bulls as a backup point guard next season. ''We've talked about that with [general manager] Gar [Forman] and Vinny,'' Law said. ''They only have six players under contract. I just want to play, and I feel like I can help some ballclub in this league be successful." Chicago Sun-Times

Efes Pilsen reached an agreement to part ways with Bostjan Nachbar and Daniel Santiago. Both player arrived in the Turkish powerhouse last summer but they did not satisfied the expectations of the club. Sportando

Next destination of the Slovenian forward, with a long experience in NBA, could be a Real Madrid player which targeted him few months ago. Other possible destinations are Moscow (CSKA) and Roma. Sportando

Brian Scalabrine, who turned 32 on Thursday, is playing in a contract year. He knows there is a possibility this could be his last season in Boston — or in the NBA, for that matter. “If I can play in Boston for another year, play with this great team and this great staff and be with this organization, I’d be really excited about that,” he told WEEI.com following the Celtics' win over the Knicks on Wednesday. “If that doesn’t happen, then I would try to play somewhere else. If I can’t play in the league then I’d go overseas.” WEEI

While zero minutes is not an ideal situation for any player in a contract year, he refuses to point fingers. “I’m not really like an egomaniac or anything like that,” he said. “I look at it like, I shoulder all responsibility on me. If I’m not playing, it’s because of me. If I am playing, on that side, I always say it’s because I’ve got good people around me. “It’s the way I work. In practice, do the best you can individually, but I think about the team and what we’re trying to do first.” WEEI

DeRozan and Weems, a couple of colts still trying to figure out the NBA and their place in it, are Antoine Wright's main projects at the moment. And while DeRozan has made great strides offensively, he still needs major improvement at the other end and that's where Wright's incessant harping could have its greatest impact. "He was more of a scorer coming in; defence is not glorified at all," Wright said of DeRozan. "I think what he's understanding is that he sets the tone of the game and you let a guy like (Oklahoma City's) Kevin Durant make his first five shots, it's going to be difficult for me and Sonny to come there and put that fire out." Toronto Star

Weems is another of Wright's pet projects, even if the two of them are often competing for minutes. Sitting on the bench watching Weems try to defend Atlanta's Jamal Crawford on Wednesday night, Wright was constantly in Weems' ear. But it was apparently nothing Weems hasn't heard before, thanks to Wright's boisterous practice persona. Toronto Star

It looks like the Pistons will be at full strength Friday at Indianapolis. Rodney Stuckey and Ben Wallace were full participants in Thursday’s workout at the practice facility, and coach John Kuester is cautiously optimistic that both would be available for the game. Kuester said both players looked good, but because they have missed so much time, they will come off the bench whenever they return. Detroit Free Press

Stuckey has missed six games since he collapsed and was carried from Quicken Loans Arena on a stretcher wearing an oxygen mask during a loss at Cleveland on March 5. He has undergone a battery of tests looking for any potential life-threatening condition, but all tests have come back negative. He has been cleared to return to the team. Detroit Free Press

The Pacers are one game behind the Pistons, so this game could help decide which team will have a better chance during the NBA draft lottery in May. Detroit Free Press

The Wizards signed forward Alonzo Gee to a second 10-day contract on Thursday. Gee is averaging 7.6 points and 4.2 rebounds in just more than 13 minutes the past five games. Saunders also said that the team intends on retaining point guard Shaun Livingston for the remainder of the season. Washington Post

Fabricio Oberto said he felt a little freer, a little lighter during Thursday's practice, the first time in nearly a week that the Washington Wizards reserve forward was allowed do his regular routine without being linked to a heart monitor. Oberto played in four of the past five games with three wires and patches attached to his chest and an electrocardiography monitor connected to his shorts. The device and wires were attached to him continuously for seven days -- when he slept and showered -- and was a part of his continued care following a procedure Oberto had last June to correct an irregular heartbeat. Washington Post

"I don't worry about it. It's just when you move, you feel all the sticks and patches on your chest. But it's always good when you finish," said Oberto, who had to complete the same exercise in late December. "It's just to see if my heart is in rhythm at all times, if it has some skips or something." Oberto said a company in New York observed his heartbeat via computer throughout and sent the results to Andrea Natale, the Austin-based doctor who performed the procedure last summer. Washington Post

The Wizards have lost a season-high nine games in a row, but Saunders said his players shouldn't get too wrapped up in the losing streak. Washington Post

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Perhaps the most physically gifted player on the team, Wilson Chandler could miss the remainder of the season due to a groin injury. The fact that he played the last six weeks with the injury, and performed well, tells you something about Chandler's character. He appears to be the type of player that Walsh admires. The fact that Chandler is shooting 47% makes him even more desirable. But what also impresses Walsh and the coaching staff about Chandler is that he has a professional work ethic and an endearing personality. NY Daily News

One report recently accused Chandler of not being articulate, which is an unfair characterization. He happens to be incredibly shy, which isn't necessarily a bad thing. NY Daily News

David Lee: Continues to put up impressive numbers in a lost season. He may be the most important asset for the Knicks this summer. The Knicks either re-sign him or use him in a sign-and-trade, perhaps for Chris Bosh or even for one of Walsh's favorites, Indiana's Danny Granger. NY Daily News

Tracy McGrady: Just doesn't have it physically and who knows if he'll ever get it back. Walsh seems to admire the fact that McGrady has a superstar presence about him and he brings professionalism into the locker room. The Knicks also know one thing about McGrady: He will have a lights-out game against the Rockets on Sunday. Whether he can play at a high level for 65 to 70 games next season is another story. NY Daily News

Portland Trail Blazers president Larry Miller on whether he has any knowledge of tension between the basketball and business sides of the Blazers: "No. I mean, to me, I think we are probably more so than any team in the NBA that I am aware of, we have a closer relationship between basketball and the rest of the business more than any team, I think, in the NBA. As far as my knowledge or the awareness of any animosity or anything like that, the answer is no. I mean, we've done our retreats together. We work together, as good, if not better, than any team in the NBA. And the idea that there's some animosity from folks towards Kevin (Pritchard) and Tom (Penn) any reason is definitely not true. To me, everybody in the organization wants the basketball side to do well. Because the better the basketball department does, the better we all do. So, definitely from my perspective, as far as my concern, as far as my knowledge, there's no animosity at all between the basketball departments and the rest of the departments. So, wherever you're hearing that from, I don't know where they're getting that from." Columbian

Larry Miller on whether Penn, former vice president of basketball operations, was given a specific reason when he was fired: "I can't go into any of the details. And, again, to me, the comment of "philosophical differences," that's really what it came down to. And it was an organizational decision. It was a senior-management decision. And, like I said, I can't get in to any details. But we wish Tom the best and I have to stick with the comment." Columbian

Larry Miller on whether Pritchard's future with the organization is short term, Pritchard's job security, and his overall performance as GM: "Kevin is our GM. He continues to be our GM. From my perspective, Kevin's done a good job of building the team that has gotten us to where we are. To me, this was an incident that was specific to Tom Penn. We should, from my perspective, again, we should be focused on winning games and trying to go deep in the playoffs. And as unfortunate as this is, we should now move to put it behind us and move forward." Columbian

The Kevin Garnett you’re seeing now isn’t the same Big Ticket who gained the Celtics admittance to the Garden rafters two years ago. You know it; the Celtics know it. But Danny Ainge believes it is as much about the logical career progression for someone who’s played 1,184 games as it is his right knee issues. The C’s general manager acknowledges Garnett doesn’t have the same lift, but he’s encouraged that he’s getting up and down the floor better. Boston Herald

“I think he’s gotten better as the year’s gone along, and I think that he’s playing at a very high level right now,” said Ainge, who’s seen Garnett make 15-of-20 shots and average 18 points in the last two games. “He’s doing a lot of things better. He’s shooting the ball better, and I think he’s playing really good team position defense. So I think that what he may lack from a couple of years ago athletically he’s making it up in other ways." Boston Herald

The question is whether Garnett can perform as well as the Celtics need him to in the postseason. “Yes,” Ainge said. “Absolutely. Boston Herald

This was a question that had to be asked of new Charlotte Bobcats owner Michael Jordan: What if coach Larry Brown, with two years remaining on his contract, asked to leave because his family is still living in the Philadelphia suburbs? But don't get excited, 76ers fans, about the likelihood of Brown returning here if and when current coach Eddie Jordan is replaced. Philadelphia Daily News Blog

''I don't want Larry to leave,'' Michael Jordan told the Charlotte Observer after a press conference, his first as the official owner of the team. "I'd like to keep Larry here. But I totally understand his relationship, with what he feels from a husband-wife scenario . . . I'd do everything I can to keep him here. I want him here. But if for family reasons or (wife) Shelly's reasons he feels like he's got to do something else, what else can I do? I'm going to sgtay away from that one.'' Philadelphia Daily News Blog

''I don't expect Larry is going anywhere,'' Jordan said. ''In all honesty, I think (when those reports surfaced), there were so many articles being written about George Postolos getting the (Bobcats) and they're clearing house, I can imagine Larry thinking about other options. But everything I read and everything that I understand from Larry, his reason for coming here was because I'm here.'' Philadelphia Daily News Blog

With his $275 million purchase approved by the N.B.A. on Wednesday, Michael Jordan has become the new face of the Charlotte Bobcats. Now comes the hard part: he must remake the image of this troubled franchise both on the court and in the community, where fans have long been jaded about the league. NY Times

Jordan, the first former player to become the majority owner of an N.B.A. team, appeared ready for the challenge Thursday when he made his first statements since the purchase was announced in a 2 a.m. news release on Feb. 27. NY Times

Charlotte experienced little of that under Robert L. Johnson, the founder of Black Entertainment Television, who paid $300 million for the expansion franchise in 2003. The team never finished above .500 under Johnson. He lost as much as $100 million on the franchise. NY Times

Fans were angered again by the city’s decision to build a downtown arena for an expansion franchise after voters rejected the plan in a referendum. NY Times

Nor did Johnson endear himself to residents. He put the Bobcats on a cable network that was not seen by most people in the region and later berated local business owners for failing to support the Bobcats. NY Times

Speaking of Reinsdorf, Jordan was asked if he’s reached out to the Bulls’ chairman. “Have I reached out to him? Not yet. But I’ve got a feeling that I’m gonna,” Jordan said. “I’m not immune to asking for advice and trying to get an understanding for certain things we should be doing to try to improve this scenario. “My ego’s not that big. I’m not the type of guy that feels he knows everything. I have no problems asking David Stern, asking Jerry Reinsdorf – some of the relationships I’ve had during the course of my career – for advice.” AH Daily Herald Blog

“My playing days are over with,” Jordan said. “The only basketball talents I have is to allow a guy from Duke to beat me at HORSE, so everybody can write about it. I want you guys to know -- I let him win, just for the morale. He’s been playing great ever since, if you noticed that? “A lot of people have questioned my participation. I’m in a unique situation. I’m an owner that played in the league. I’m an owner that has a strong passion for the game of basketball. If I go there and start shooting with Gerald Wallace and start messing around with Stephen Jackson, I want you guys to understand – I’m not carrying out aspirations to come back. I’m having fun because of the passion I have." AH Daily Herald Blog

Derek Fisher of the Los Angeles Lakers, the president of the players association, spoke briefly with Off the Dribble last week about the status of the continuing labor negotiations. NY Times Blog

According to various reports, the now-shelved proposal contained: * Reductions in the percentage of revenues the players receive, from the current 57 percent to a 50/50 split after expenses are deducted. * A form of hard cap (including the elimination of the Bird exceptions) replacing the current soft cap. * Shorter contracts and reductions in guaranteed salary. * Reductions in maximum contracts. * Existing contracts slashed, rather than grandfathered into the new agreement. NY Times Blog

From Fisher’s perspective, the union’s priority is to create a proposal that can be built upon as talks progress. “We’ll just continue to push as hard as we can, so it’s as realistic and as serious a proposal as it can be, and not something we send back just for the exercise,” he said. NY Times Blog

Lakers forward Pau Gasol sought help from Redondo Beach police today when he became concerned about two men following him, officers said. The men turned out to be Spanish paparazzi trying to get a photograph of the star basketball player with his girlfriend. Gasol is dating a cheerleader who, like him, is from Spain. LA Daily News Blog

Gasol called a friend in law enforcement who advised him to pull into the back of the Redondo Beach police station. Gasol stopped at the station shortly after 1 p.m. and described the car to officers. Officers spotted the black sedan and pulled it over on Diamond Street near Catalina Avenue, just west of the police station. The occupants turned out to be credentialed paparazzi with a Spanish news agency and were allowed to leave, Keenan said. Police escorted Gasol home. LA Daily News Blog

The first day of the NCAA tournament was unlike any in recent years. Everywhere you looked, top seeds were falling fast. No. 3 seed Georgetown? Gone, courtesy of 14th-seeded Ohio. Fourth-seeded Vanderbilt? Gone, courtesy of No. 13 seed Murray State in buzzer-beating fashion. No. 6 seeds Marquette and Notre Dame? Both knocked out by No. 11 seeds Washington and Old Dominion, respectively. If you're counting at home, that's three Big East teams sent packing on Day One of the Big Dance. The fourth to play Thursday, No. 2 seed Villanova, was nearly upset before rallying to cut down Robert Morris in overtime. And so we're left with teams like Ohio, Murray State and Old Dominion advancing to the second round. USA Today

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