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[Monta Ellis #11]

Sacramento mayor Kevin Johnson fights to keep Kings from moving to Seattle
Kevin Johnson vows to keep the Kings in his hometown, but deadlines loom and Seattle has its sights on his team.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Kevin Johnson knows what it was like in Seattle.

The former NBA point guard remembers the stream of sellout crowds and electric days and nights at the Seattle Center Coliseum and KeyArena.

Last week, when he was in Seattle for meetings at the Gates Foundation on Education, Johnson forgot for a moment that the Sonics no longer exist.

"I honestly was looking through the newspaper trying to figure out if I was going to go to a Seattle SuperSonics game and it just hit me that they don't have a team anymore," said Johnson, who played in the NBA from 1987 to 2000. "I was out talking to people, and the community hasn't recovered from that. I don't wish that on anybody."

Johnson hopes Seattle someday gets an NBA team, but he's adamant it won't be the Sacramento Kings.

As mayor of Sacramento since 2009, Johnson has made a priority of keeping the Kings in town. He is one of the central characters in a strange drama playing out in Northern California that includes a multimillionaire from the Bay Area and two brothers who lost millions in Vegas. The drama is playing out in an outdated arena on the outskirts of a city hit hard by the recession.

Put in basketball terms, the 6-foot-1 point guard known as K.J. during his playing days, wants the ball in his hands as the final seconds tick down. Can he hit the last-second game-winner or pull off the biggest assist of his career?

"This is his signature issue," said Marcos Breton, a columnist for The Sacramento Bee. "The only reason the Kings are still in Sacramento is Kevin Johnson. I'm convinced if the previous mayor were in place now, they'd be in Anaheim already, or going up (to Seattle). He has a personal relationship with (NBA commissioner) David Stern that he is able to trade on."

If Johnson can't secure a financing plan to keep the Kings in Sacramento, the franchise would be the prime candidate to move to Seattle. Adding another twist, the hopes of the city that lost the Sonics in 2008 are pinned on whether Chris Hansen, a Bay Area hedge-fund manager, can finalize a plan to build a new arena south of Safeco Field.

Sacramento's NBA future figures to be determined in the next few weeks as the city approaches a series of key deadlines for constructing a $400 million arena in the downtown rail yards.

The city hopes to raise roughly $200 million by leasing the rights to parking fees downtown for 50 years.

On Tuesday, the city is expected to ask the City Council for the OK to begin negotiating with 10 companies that have submitted proposals to lease parking.

That money will be the centerpiece of a financing proposal the Kings must submit to the NBA by March 1 (the City Council is expected to be asked to approve the plan on Feb. 28). If the financing proposal is not accepted, the NBA could give the Kings the right to relocate.

The rest of the financing is expected to be made up of money from the proposed builder of the arena ($50 million) and from team owners and the NBA ($80 million) as an upfront 30-year lease payment.

"I'm very confident," Johnson told The Seattle Times.

He made those remarks while the Kings rallied to beat the Oklahoma City Thunder on Thursday night, a pairing of the once and perhaps future Sonics. While Johnson has his detractors (though he may run unopposed for re-election this fall), few were found in a sellout crowd at Power Balance Pavilion. He received a loud ovation when he was introduced early in the game. Homemade signs praising Johnson were evident, including one that read: "Mayor K.J. Leads the Way, our MVP for Kings to stay."

Less clear is how the owners of the Kings — brothers Gavin and Joe Maloof — feel about the proposal.

The brothers aren't talking about the arena situation. The team issued a statement to The Times that said, "The organization will await the city of Sacramento's financing plan due out in early March, at which time the team, along with the NBA, will review the information."

Johnson acknowledges that once the city makes its proposal, it's up to the Maloofs, the NBA and the developer (AEG, which built Los Angeles' Staples Center) to finalize matters.

The Maloofs have repeatedly said they don't want to sell the team. Those working on the deal say they are confident that if the NBA approves the arena deal, the Maloofs will keep the team in Sacramento.

"The NBA has been heavily involved in the negotiations and they keep the Maloof family up to date," said Jeremiah Jackson, a project manager for Think Big Sacramento, a task force put together by Johnson to focus on the arena deal. "People have always speculated that they are going to sell the team, but they have always said they don't have an interest in selling. So they have been good partners in this, but they have been kind of waiting for the NBA to really negotiate the best deal on their behalf."

Yet the owners' situation is far from clear. The Maloofs ran into well-documented financial problems due in part to their investment in the Palms Casino in Las Vegas, and their popularity in Sacramento has plummeted.

The brothers, who have had controlling ownership of the team since 1999, once were fan favorites who sat courtside cheering on one of the most entertaining teams in the NBA. In 2001, the Kings fell a game short of the NBA Finals — the high-water mark for a franchise since it moved from Kansas City in 1985.

But since 2006 the Maloofs have pushed for a new arena to replace Power Balance Pavilion, which opened in 1988 as Arco Arena and was built outside of town for just $40 million.

At 17,317 capacity, it is the smallest arena in the NBA and one of the oldest. It also lacks many of the revenue-generating amenities such as suites and club seating of new NBA arenas.

The Maloofs tried to help push through a ballot measure in 2006 that would have added a one-quarter cent sales tax in Sacramento County to provide $470 million in taxpayer dollars for a new arena. That measure failed decisively, and some say the Maloofs haven't seemed as invested in the team since. The Kings haven't bid for big-time free agents in recent years and have had one of the lowest payrolls in the league the past two seasons.

Last year, the Maloofs announced at the NBA All-Star Game that they were considering moving the Kings to Anaheim, closer to the family's home base of Las Vegas and also in a more financially advantageous arena.

The team appeared gone when it finished last season, creating a scene eerily reminiscent of the Sonics' final game in Seattle on April 13, 2008. Most fans expected it to be the last time they'd be able to cheer for the Kings. But a Johnson meeting with the NBA Board of Governors last April is generally credited for Stern deciding to halt the move to Anaheim and give Sacramento one more year to get a deal done.

Supporters of a new arena say last year's close call has helped to align forces for getting it done.

"Previously, I don't think we ever had a plan," Jackson said. "I think it's different when you come really to the brink and thought the team was gone and come back from that to have another shot at it. I do think that changed things quite a bit."

A proposal Tuesday from a council member to put the arena deal up for a public vote in June — tantamount to saying goodbye to the team — was voted down but only by a 5-4 margin.

That was portrayed ominously in some media reports. Johnson and Jackson, though, say all that matters is that it didn't pass.

"Ultimately, a win is a win," Jackson said.

Breton agrees last year's near-miss only reinforced what the team means to Sacramento. The Kings are the only major-league sports franchise in California's capital city, and even in down years provided a shot of civic pride to a city that has been hard hit by the economic downturn. The city, dependent on government jobs, has an unemployment rate of 11 percent.

"A lot of people have lost a lot of things," Breton said. "That makes people realize we don't want to lose this team."

Johnson insists that won't happen on his watch.

"I certainly wish Seattle well," said the mayor who played 14 years in the NBA. "With that said, we can control our own destiny in Sacramento. We are going to do our part. And I think we are going to figure out a way to pull it off."

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/htm...ramento12.html

[Mandanda]

Dirk, Mavs to play in Germany



By Jeff Caplan
ESPNDallas.com


DALLAS -- Reigning NBA Finals MVP Dirk Nowitzki will play a preseason game in his home country of Germany and one in Barcelona next October as the Dallas Mavericks will participate in the league's international program for the first time, a source said.

Schedules and opponents are not yet set, the source said, but the Mavs are planning to open next season's training camp a few days early to accommodate the trip.

Nowitzki, in his 14th season, has played multiple summers for the German national team, including leading his country to the 2008 Olympic Games, but he has never played an NBA game on his home soil.

And for years, the 2007 NBA MVP said he never figured he would. Mavs owner Mark Cuban has never been an advocate of playing preseason games overseas because of the travel demands while his team prepares for the long grind of an NBA season.

But, the source said, organizations can no longer pass on the league's invitation to play overseas. The Mavs have long been an obvious choice to play international preseason games because of the presence of Nowitzki, and Dallas' run to the championship last season only heightened the desire to send Nowitzki and the Mavs to Europe.

Nowitzki on Thursday was selected to his 11th consecutive All-Star team. He is averaging 18.3 points and 6.2 rebounds.

http://espn.go.com/dallas/nba/story/...-germany-spain

[Mladen]

Derrick Rose has no structural damage

CHICAGO -- Chicago Bulls guard Derrick Rose saw a back specialist on Monday who confirmed MRI results that there is no structural damage to Rose's back, according to general manager Gar Forman.

"Derrick saw a specialist this morning," Forman said. "And it reconfirmed what we had thought previously and what the MRI had shown in that there is nothing structurally wrong with his back. It's muscular.

"So at this point, we will continue with what we're doing, which is we'll continue with his therapy, continue to get rest, and it will be day to day. Seeing how he responds to the therapy. And when we feel, he feels, that he's well enough to go back on the floor [he'll return]."

Rose, who underwent the MRI last week, has missed the past two games with back spasms. The Bulls have home games coming up Tuesday against the Sacramento Kings, Thursday against the Boston Celtics and Saturday against the New Jersey Nets.

Forman said if a player is injured he won't play, but if a player is merely hurting, he'll have a say in whether he gets on the court.

"Derrick's a competitor," Forman said. "He always wants to be out there competing and playing. That's what you love about Derrick Rose.

"At the same I think he realizes that until he's back to 100 percent that he needs to get his rest and continue with therapy to try to get him back where he's healthy. We're always cautious with any injury, and we want to evaluate all the information and have our medical staff keep tabs with what's going on."

The reigning MVP has missed a total of seven games this season, including five for turf toe.

"The course of action we've been taking we'll continue with, and that is the constant therapy, the massage, and working with our medical staff," Forman said. "You don't know when it's muscular like this. It could respond overnight, it could be a couple days, you just don't know. But the positive is that the MRI was negative and structurally there's nothing wrong."

Rose was voted in to start the All-Star Game on Feb. 26, and the Bulls are hoping he'll be playing by then.

"We really haven't looked ahead that far," Forman said. "We're hopeful that with therapy and rest that he'll have the opportunity to get back sooner rather than later."

As far as adding someone, Forman doesn't feel any urgency, but he's keeping his options open.

"I don't think [we will] in the short term," he said. "One of the beauties of our team has been our bench and the depth that they provide.

"Obviously [an injury] disrupts the [bench] when we've got to go with different starting lineups. But we feel we've got enough right now to continue to play at a high level. And then we'll re-evaluate it. That's fluid. If there is a need to bring in another guy, obviously part of our job is keeping tabs on who's available and who we think could step in and help us."

http://espn.go.com/chicago/nba/story...al-damage-back

[T-Snell]

Kobe Bryant backs Gilbert Arenas


Los Angeles Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak held a private workout over the weekend for free agent guard Gilbert Arenas while the team was on the tail end of a six-game road trip, multiple sources told ESPNLosAngeles.com's Dave McMenamin on Sunday. While no signing is imminent, according to the sources, the 10-year veteran would be welcomed by star guard Kobe Bryant.


"Sure," responded Bryant during Tuesday's practice in El Segundo when asked if he was in favor of bringing in Arenas. "It certainly wouldn't hurt, that's for sure."

The Los Angeles native and Grant High School standout boasts a 21.2 ppg career scoring average, but hasn't played more than 70 games since the 2006-2007 season, when he was considered one of the NBA's best players. A former three-time All-Star, Arenas, 30, last played with the Orlando Magic after a mid-season trade, where he averaged just 8.4 points on 34.4 percent shooting in 49 games. The guard has experienced recurring left knee problems requiring multiple surgeries, but recently underwent PRP-treatment similar to that of Bryant this offseason in Germany. The procedure took place on both knees as well as both hips.


Arenas was also suspended, along with former Lakers guard Javaris Crittenton, for 50 games during the 2010 season after an incident involving guns in the locker room while Washington Wizards teammates. Arenas' character has been questioned on several occasions throughout his career, but Bryant expressed no concern about off-court problems resurfacing.


"Everybody makes mistakes," insisted Bryant. "He'll be fine."


Asked the need potentially supplied by Arenas, Bryant smiled and replied "Hibachi," a reference to what Arenas used to call out after made baskets while on a hot shooting streak.


"I have not seen him work out," explained head coach Mike Brown. "I have not spoken to him ... I still have not talked to Mitch about it, either. If somebody can help us, then I'm open to that, but I can't say whether or not he can help us because I haven't seen or talked to him, nor talked to anybody that has seen him."


"Obviously, whoever they decide to bring in to help, that's (the front office's) decision," noted forward Pau Gasol. "But if we could have a talented player that can help us and be effective and make a difference, we'll be happy."


That said, Gasol expressed confidence in the team's ability to win a championship as currently constructed.


"I think we do (have enough talent). We have three All-Star caliber players. We have great backups. We have experienced players. We have some youth. We have some rookies that give us some youth and some speed. So now it's up to us to really come out and play and deliver."


http://espn.go.com/los-angeles/nba/s...angeles-lakers

[T-Snell]

Dwight Howard and Kevin Love competing for another rebounding title


Dwight Howard and Kevin Love have combined to win the last four NBA rebounding titles, and this season is shaping up to be more of the same. Howard entered Monday night's game between the Orlando Magic and the Minnesota Timberwolves as the league's leader in rebounding, averaging 15.5 boards per game.

Love, who wrested last season's rebounding title from Howard, was averaging 13.9 rebounds per game.

"Rebounding is definitely very important," Love said before tipoff.

"As far as the rebounding title goes, it's a big deal to me. But am I going out there every night thinking, 'Oh, I've got to beat out Dwight for the rebounding title?' No. I'm just going out there and playing. But he's a tough guy to fight for that [with]. He's been really rebounding the ball this year."

High on Vázquez
Of the 18,000-plus people inside Amway Center on Monday night, perhaps no one knows the Magic's first-round draft pick in 2005 better than the Timberwolves' starting point guard.

Ricky Rubio knows Fran Vázquez well. They played together on Regal FC Barçelona in Spain and on the Spanish national team.

Rubio thinks Vázquez can help the Magic if Vázquez decides to sign with the Magic when his contract with Barçelona ends after this season.

"He's physically ready to come here [and play in the NBA]," Rubio said of the 6-foot-10 big man. "I played with him a couple of years in Barçelona, and it's easy to play with him because he doesn't need the ball. He's a worker. He's going to fight for every rebound. He's going to fight every possession. And you can throw the ball in there, and he's going to catch it and throw it down."

Rubio's own progression could give the Magic some hope that Vázquez would contribute as an NBA player. Rubio's own stats in Europe were relatively poor in recent seasons, leading some NBA observers to label him a "bust" before he played an NBA game. Now, Rubio is a contender for Rookie of the Year honors and began Monday averaging 8.7 assists per game, the fourth-highest average in the league.

Layups
• J.J. Redick said he has not received an invitation to participate in the 3-point shootout on the Saturday of All-Star weekend.

• Jameer Nelson and Jason Richardson both played better and looked more explosive after they sat out a few games this season. But Magic coach Stan Van Gundy doesn't regard giving players games off as a perfect option. "When those guys were taking games off we weren't playing great, either," Van Gundy said. "So, yeah, we could probably give everybody a week off, and they'd come back looking pretty good. But, in the meantime, you're taking losses."

• Van Gundy on Rubio: "He's a great passer. He sees the floor incredibly well and delivers the ball on-target. Whoever's open is getting the ball, and they're getting it right on their hands where they can shoot it."

• The Magic did not hold a shootaround Monday morning even after they had Sunday off. Van Gundy tried to give his players extra rest because of the compressed schedule.

• The matchup against the Timberwolves started a stretch in which the Magic will play seven games in 11 days.


http://www.orlandosentinel.com/sport...tory?track=rss

[T-Snell]

Carmelo Anthony could return


GREENBURGH, NY -- Carmelo Anthony insists that when he returns to the floor nothing will change for the new-look New York Knicks. Jeremy Lin will continue to run the show.

"When I get back Jeremy will have the ball in his hands and I'm playing off of that," Anthony said on Monday.

The Knicks announced on their Twitter account that Anthony could return "toward end of week."

Many people have wondered over the past week how Anthony will fit into the Knicks' offense under Lin, who has become the talk of the NBA over the Knicks' past five games.


Forward Amare Stoudemire is slated to return to the lineup Tuesday after missing a week for his brother's funeral. He should benefit from the pick-and-roll. Anthony traditionally thrives in isolation situations. So far under Lin, the Knicks' offense has been predicated on ball movement. So some have questioned whether Anthony can adjust to things under Lin.

Anthony has seen the speculation on television and the Internet. And he thinks it's pretty amusing, calling Lin's recent ascension "a dream come true" for the Knicks (13-15).

"When I'm reading the stuff, it's more funny than anything because at the end of the day I know what I bring to the game, I know what I bring to this team," Anthony said on Monday after missing practice due to a strained right groin. "My teammates know that. But to say, 'How can I fit in?' It's easy; give him the ball and space out. I get back to doing what I know how to do best. So we'll see."

Anthony said he is confident that he can fit in well with Lin, who missed practice on Monday for a standard recovery day and will play on Tuesday against the Toronto Raptors. Anthony has missed the Knicks' last three games after injuring his groin on Monday against Utah. He is happy that Lin has emerged to take some of the load off of his shoulders.

"I know there's questions about, 'Can I fit in?' and stuff like that, but this is like a dream come true to me," Anthony said. "It takes some pressure off of me. I don't have to play point guard. I don't have to try to get Amare 20 points, try to get this guy 20 points, me try to go out there and get 25-30 points a night, play defense, rebound do the whole thing."

It's clear that the Knicks have looked like a different team since Lin took over at point guard.

New York is averaging 11 more points per 48 minutes with Lin on the floor. The Knicks' shooting percentage is 5 percent higher with Lin.

Lin and Anthony rank fourth and fifth, respectively, in usage rate -- a measurement of how many possessions a player uses per 40 minutes. So they will have to find a happy medium when it comes to handling the ball. Anthony said there will still be opportunities for him to run isolation plays but Lin will be the team's primary ball handler.

"I don't think I want to take that away, I don't think Coach wants to take that away," Anthony said. "But at the same time, I have to get away from the ball knowing that Jeremy is the guy with the basketball, and knowing that he can create for me, for Amare, for everybody else and make other guys better."

Coach Mike D'Antoni acknowledged that adjustments will need to be made when Anthony returns.

But he openly questioned anyone who assumes Anthony will struggle to fit in.

"I think that's ludicrous in a sense. Until you prove it, it's like anything else," the coach said.


http://espn.go.com/new-york/nba/stor...kes-jeremy-lin

[ЕлБиЏеј]

Wallace on verge of mark for undrafted players



AUBURN HILLS, Mich. (AP) — Ben Wallace was talking about Jeremy Lin — but in a way, he was also discussing his own unique career.
"It takes a special type of guy to stay at something long enough to make it to this level," Wallace said. "A lot of times you're being told that you're too this, you're too that, you can't do this, you can't do that."

Amid the hoopla Lin has created with his unexpected rise, Wallace is on the verge of setting a new standard for undrafted players. The Detroit veteran is now tied with Avery Johnson for the most games played by an undrafted player since the 1976-77 NBA-ABA merger. Wallace — who says this is his final season — can break the record if he plays his 1,055th game Tuesday night against San Antonio.

"Once you get here, you want to be able to show everybody that you're capable of going out and playing at a high level night in and night out," Wallace said. "I'm just proud to have had the opportunity to come here and play."

Wallace tied Johnson's mark Sunday night. Next on the list of undrafted players are David Wesley (949) and Bo Outlaw (914), according to STATS LLC. The latest undrafted player to make a splash is Lin, the guard from Harvard who has helped the New York Knicks improve their fortunes lately with his dazzling play.
Wallace can relate to Lin because he too had to carve out a niche for himself. Wallace was a virtual unknown before earning his spot in the NBA with his tough defense around the basket and terrific rebounding ability. He eventually won four defensive player of the year awards and helped the Pistons win the 2004 championship.

After considering retirement, the 37-year-old Wallace decided to come back for 2011-12, his 16th season in the NBA. He confirmed Monday it will definitely be his last, and he's looking forward to spending time with his family.

"No consideration to coming back," he said. "This is definitely my last year."

Wallace, who played his college ball at Virginia Union, made his NBA debut with Washington in November 1996. After three seasons there and one with Orlando, he was dealt to the Pistons in a trade that sent Grant Hill to the Magic.

His career took off in Detroit. The 6-foot-9 Wallace led the NBA in rebounds per game and blocks per game in 2001-02. That season, he won his first of four defensive player of the year awards in a five-season span.

"You look at his story. That's a great story," said Lawrence Frank, who is in his first season as Detroit's coach. "Not only undrafted, but the guy came into NBA training camp with Boston and they were playing him at 2-guard — seriously. The guy was a bedrock. When you think about the Pistons, he's a guy that immediately you identify those teams in 2000 on — as kind of the heart and soul of that group."

Wallace has never been a prolific scorer. This season, he's scored 28 points in 28 games. In 398 minutes, he's attempted only two free throws. Those came Friday night against New Jersey.

Wallace once said his older brothers wouldn't pass the ball to him when he was younger, so he had to fight for it by getting rebounds and steals. It was a good way to learn to play basketball without shooting much.

After leaving the Pistons following the 2005-06 season, Wallace played with Chicago and Cleveland before coming back to Detroit in 2009. This is the third season of his second stint with the Pistons.

He considered retirement after last season, and in November, Wallace pleaded guilty to misdemeanor charges of drunken driving and possessing a firearm while under the influence of alcohol. At that point, the NBA lockout was still dragging on, but when it ended, Wallace was on the Pistons' practice court shooting baskets on the first day players were allowed to use team facilities again.

Wallace has started 10 games this season and can still contribute, whether he's on the court defending the low post or helping young big man Greg Monroe adjust to the league.
"He has so much knowledge he can share," said Monroe, who is in his second pro season. "He's definitely helped me out a lot, especially on the defensive end. The more time I spend with him, the better I'll get."
Although Wallace's playing days are numbered, he's leaving quite a legacy, and soon, he might be working at a different kind of court. He says he's interested in going to law school at some point.
"That's definitely on the radar," Wallace said. "I'm going to take a little time, get away from basketball, clear my head and jump back into school."

http://www.timesunion.com/sports/art...on-3312232.php

[T-Snell]

Kings' arena deadline nears, Smith sweepstakes heats up, more news


Anyone who wondered how anxious the mood was in Sacramento these days need only be paying attention last Thursday night. During the Kings' game against the Thunder, TNT's only telecast in Sacramento, the announcers all but declared that the city's beloved team was leaving. And sure enough, the fallout ensued.

It was news the locals never wanted to hear -- even if they knew it wasn't true.

With just two weeks before the city's March 1 deadline to have a viable arena plan in place or risk losing the team to relocation, the confusion started when Sacramento Mayor and former NBA player Kevin Johnson did a courtside interview with Cheryl Miller. Johnson, who has aptly run the political point for his hometown after the Kings looked headed for Anaheim last season, attempted to explain how the city council's recent rejection of a ballot measure that would have required public approval for the use of revenue from proposed parking bids was actually a good thing for his cause (a "yes" vote would have pushed the process past the deadline while, as Johnson and arena backers saw it, unnecessarily involving the public).

Instead, the message had somehow been sent (and reiterated by the two game analysts, former Kings forward Chris Webber and Reggie Miller) that an arena plan was dead on arrival, with the March 1 deadline creeping up.

A day later, Miller tried to explain the gaffe to local media while Webber -- the five-time All-Star whose jersey hangs in the Power Balance Pavilion rafters -- got heated and hung up on a longtime local radio host and the team's television play-by-play announcer, Grant Napear, after clearly feeling besieged.

But here's the likely good news for the Kings fans who were incensed by it all: Chances are -- and this is just educated opinion here -- the team will stay and this will all be remembered as the silliest of subplots someday. While Johnson is still working to finalize a financing plan that needs to be worth about $387 million for a new building, and despite all the white noise created by Seattle and its well-publicized attempt to swoop in and steal the Kings like their Sonics were taken from them in 2008, the overwhelming optimism among those heading the Sacramento effort is making it hard to envision this not getting done.

Johnson, who famously lobbied for the team to stay last season rather than go to Anaheim, as the owners had hoped, told SI.com that there are still obstacles ahead. There's a city council vote Tuesday to determine whether to move forward with the plan of leasing parking garages, spaces and enforcement to raise an estimated $200 million for the arena (a "no" vote here would be both shocking and likely fatal to the effort), and a vote on Feb. 28 when the council is expected to vote on a finalized "term sheet" that details the financing.

In short, the arena is expected to be funded by a combination of the parking money and contributions from arena operator AEG, as well as the Kings' owners, the Maloof family, and perhaps the NBA. The question of whether the Maloofs -- who sold their lucrative beer distributorship and lost controlling interest in their Las Vegas casino in recent years -- are willing or able to close the financial gap at the end remains. And while that factor alone means nothing is for certain, there is an internal confidence that creative financing can be utilized.

"I would say I'm cautiously optimistic," Johnson said as he sat courtside at Saturday's game against the Suns. "I think we have our destiny in our own hands. We have an excellent opportunity in the next three to four weeks to put ourselves in a position that we basically have figured out a financing plan. And if we're able to do that, Sacramento will be the final resting place for the Sacramento Kings."

While the Maloofs have said they see the March 1 deadline as flexible, Johnson isn't about to budge from the timeline he agreed to with commissioner David Stern. He'll be briefing Stern on the state of affairs during All-Star weekend in Orlando.

"We'll either have an extensive phone conversation or sit down before the All-Star Game," Johnson said. "And I think the critical things [of their meeting] are [telling Stern], 'What are we trying to accomplish in Sacramento by Feb. 28?'

"We want to have a term sheet, a financing plan, everything in place where we deliver our side of the equation going into the 28th. And then secondly, we want to do our part to make sure that the March 1 deadline is something that we stick to on our end. Those are the two big objectives."

Scorer for hire

The J.R. Smith watch will heat up later this week, as the free-agent shooting guard is due to return from China and will pick his next destination soon thereafter.

The Clippers and Knicks are known to be two possible landing spots for the 26-year-old scorer. Sources close to Smith also said that Minnesota is in the running, in large part because the Timberwolves can offer up to $5 million with their midlevel exception, while the Knicks can offer a prorated portion of their $2.5 million mini-midlevel and the Clippers the veteran's minimum. A source with knowledge of Minnesota's thinking, however, said Smith is not in the team's plans.

Smith has extensive ties with the Clippers (former Denver teammates Kenyon Martin and Chauncey Billups, friend and fellow CAA client Chris Paul) and the Knicks (former Nuggets teammate Carmelo Anthony and former Denver executive/backer Mark Warkentien, who is now part of the Knicks' front office). Considering Smith is known to have been analyzing his potential role with both teams, Billups' season-ending Achilles injury suffered on Feb. 6 would appear to increase the odds of a move to Los Angeles.

Paul sounded confident Monday night, telling reporters in Dallas that the Clippers' chances of landing Smith are "very high."

Smith tweeted Tuesday afternoon that he "just had a great talk with Coach Brown!" but didn't specifically mention the Lakers, who are coached by Mike Brown. It's no secret that the Lakers need help in the backcourt.

Redd enjoying his return

Whether it's Steve Nash recently becoming just the fourth player age 38 or older to make an All-Star team, or 39-year-old Grant Hill shutting down players two decades younger than him, everyone knows of the Suns' knack for revitalizing the careers of veterans. Now, after 11 years in Milwaukee (his last three spent suffering through ACL and MCL injuries), Michael Redd is the latest project for Phoenix's trainers.

The 32-year-old, pegged by many for early retirement, is producing in the NBA again after signing with the Suns on Dec. 29. After a slow start in which he was hardly used in his first 20 games, Redd -- an All-Star in 2004 who averaged at least 21.2 points from 2003-09 -- has become a regular part of coach Alvin Gentry's rotation in the last six games.

He had his finest moment yet in his reunion game in Milwaukee, where he scored 14 points on 7-of-14 shooting in a 107-105 win. In all, Redd is averaging 6.9 points and 13.7 minutes -- and loving every minute of it.

"I missed it," Redd said recently. "I love spending time with my family, too, but at the same time this is my love, just being back here and playing and playing at high level after having two of these [ligament tears in my knees]. I'm grateful, man. It's a great fit."

If for no other reason than the walking inspirations that surround him.

"It's hope," he said. "I look at Grant and what he's been through with the injuries, and I look at Steve and I'm saying, 'I'm young.' To watch him run around at 38 and continue to play at a high level, and I'm 32 and I'm continuing to get my body back where it needs to be -- I'm encouraged."


Big-city blunder

Speaking of small-market relocations, Brandon Jennings warned Bucks fans that they shouldn't count on him signing an extension when he's eligible to do so this summer.

The third-year point guard told ESPN.com that he was "doing my homework on big-market teams" as he plotted his future, although he clarified that it didn't mean he had completely ruled out signing an extension. Still, it was the sort of public relations blunder that was completely unnecessary considering the timing. Jennings, the 10th pick in the 2009 draft, won't be a free agent until after next season and the fact that he's studying up on the big cities is sure to rub some locals wrong.

While Redd was not aware of Jennings' comments when asked recently, he said their situations were simply too different to compare.

"I enjoyed my time there, and I think my perspective is a little different because I came in as a late second-round pick and was just grateful to get drafted," Redd said. "They stuck with me, so when it was time for me to be a free agent I was like, 'I'm sticking with the team that stuck with me.' That was my perspective.

"I don't know his perspective and how he feels right now. I know I talked to him last year before I left there and kind of passed the torch to him and shared some things with him that I went through."

Redd remains close with Jennings and said he planned to reach out to him soon.

"I think he just has to continue to be professional," Redd said. "I'll text him once in a while, and would probably tell him, 'Continue to lead, lead by example.' When you're going through tough times, one of the hardest things to do is to keep your head and stay professional, so he's got to continue to do that."

While the Bucks are just 12-16 and have lost five of their last seven games, Jennings is doing his part on the floor. He leads the Bucks in scoring with a career-high 18.4 points and is on pace to set a personal best in shooting (41.5 percent).

More to come from Lin?

If Jeremy Lin's offseason work ever winds up paying off, there could be another layer to "Linsanity": The Knicks' point guard might become an outside threat, too.

Lin, who has done much of his damage attacking the rim during New York's five-game winning streak but has hit just 3-of-17 three-pointers, spent much of his time during the lockout focusing on his long-range shooting at his old high school in Palo Alto, Calif. He was on Golden State's roster at the time, though he would later by cut by the Warriors and Houston before landing in New York.

And while Warriors owner Joe Lacob wasn't permitted to watch his player in action during the lockout, he heard that Lin was working hard to improve his most glaring weakness.

"I knew exactly what was going on [with Lin's training], and I told our coaching staff that this kid has worked on this incredibly hard," said Lacob, who considers Lin a family friend because his son and Warriors director of basketball operations, Kirk, grew up playing against him in the Bay Area. "He was working out every single day taking hundreds and hundreds of three-pointers, with his old high school coach, Peter Diepenbrock. He was working hard."

The Warriors would ultimately cut Lin in order to make a run at center DeAndre Jordan. The next stage of his story will involve Knicks stars Amar'e Stoudemire and Carmelo Anthony, both of whom have been out for most of his time in the spotlight.

Stoudemire missed the last four games after his brother died in a car accident, but he's expected to play Tuesday in Toronto. Anthony (strained right groin) is expected to return later this week.



http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/201...ook/index.html

[ЕлБиЏеј]

Magic a Favorite for J.R. Smith?

The Orlando Magic may have emerged as a leading suitor for guard J.R. Smith.

Smith, who signed in China during the lockout, is expected to be available as a free agent on February 16th. Once he receives a Letter of Clearance, he’ll be free to sign once again in the NBA.

While players cannot always be taken by their word on their Twitter feeds, but guard J.R. Smith has six teams listed on his profile: New York Knicks, Los Angeles Lakers, Los Angeles Clippers, Chicago Bulls, Indiana Pacers and Magic.

Orlando is in a difficult spot, trying to find the means to entice center Dwight Howard to stay beyond his current contract. While the organization may look to trade him before the deadline, it’s ultimately the last thing they would like to do.

As previously detailed (http://www.hoopsworld.com/nba-2-rond...l-a-possiblity), multiple sources have indicated that Smith is looking for more than a minimum contract. He also wants the opportunity to showcase his talents in a significant role.

That would theoretically take both the Lakers and Clippers out of the running, although don’t put it past Smith to have a change of heart. The Lakers might provide Smith with the most media exposure. The Clippers have former teammates who are all pitching in to try and sway his opinion (Chris Paul, Chauncey Billups and Kenyon Martin).

Additionally, sources have told HOOPSWORLD that the Pacers do not intend to sign Smith, despite having easily the most money to offer out of any team the NBA.

The Knicks may be the best combination of showcase (they can start him), media attention and salary ($2.5 million available).

Meanwhile the Bulls have some interest as well and their $1.9 million Bi-Annual Exception to spend. Chicago (along with the Miami HEAT), would probably be favored by most pundits to make the Eastern Conference Finals.

While the Magic already have two shooting guards in Jason Richardson and J.J. Redick, they also have the advantage over most suitors with about $4.9 million of their Mid-Level Exception (MLE) still available.

Under the new Collective Bargaining Agreement, a team cannot use their full MLE to climb to $4 million over the luxury tax. Currently the Magic are under; any investment in Smith would put Orlando above the threshold.

Orlando would also have to waive an additional player to make a roster spot, perhaps center Daniel Orton who has played all off three minutes for the Magic this season after missing his rookie year with a knee injury. Other possible waiver option might be DeAndre Liggins or Ish Smith.

The Lakers, Clippers, Pacers and Bulls each have open roster space. The Knicks would have to make room, perhaps Mike Bibby.

Oddly Smith does not list the Minnesota Timberwolves who have interest, $2.5 million to spend, a starting role and possibly a chance to sneak into the playoffs.

http://www.hoopsworld.com/nba-2-magi...-for-j-r-smith

[ЕлБиЏеј]

Bulls bring veteran guard James back

The Chicago Bulls are bringing veteran guard Mike James back from the D-League to help them get through Derrick Rose's back injury.

The Bulls called James, 36, up from the Erie BayHawks in January when Rose suffered a toe injury. They signed him to a 10-day contract on Tuesday and he will be in uniform when the Bulls play the Sacramento Kings at the United Center. Rose is out of Tuesday's game and is listed as day-to-day because of his back issues.

Erie is the New York Knicks' D-League affiliate and sources said that New York strongly considered replacing second-year sensation Jeremy Lin with James earlier this month before Lin erupted for 25 points in a win over New Jersey after never having scored more than 13 points in an NBA Game.

Signed last month when both Rose and C.J. Watson were injured, James appeared in three games in his first stint with the Bulls and averaged 4.0 points and 3.7 assists. James has career averages of 10.4 points and 3.6 assists in 10 NBA seasons with nine different teams. He averaged 20.3 points and 5.8 assists per game for Toronto in his best individual season in 2005-06.

James spent last season in China and Turkey before submitting his name into the D-League's player pool, hoping to convince NBA executives that he can still play at the highest level. He was the first player from the largest group of NBA veterans in D-League history to successfully play his way back to the NBA through a D-League stint; other vets to play in the league season include Rafer Alston, Ricky Davis, Damon Jones, Greg Ostertag and Antoine Walker.

http://espn.go.com/blog/chicago/bull...ing-james-back

[Monta Ellis #11]

Derrick Rose ASG status uncertain

Chicago Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau, who will coach the Eastern Conference All-Stars, said Wednesday he'll wait until the Feb. 26 game draws near before deciding whether Derrick Rose will play.

Rose has missed the last three games with a bad back. An MRI revealed no structural damage to the back, and Rose is considered day to day. The 23-year-old reigning MVP, who was voted in as an All-Star starter for the second straight year, also has missed five games with turf toe.

"We'll see where (the back situation) is when we get there," Thibodeau said on "The Waddle & Silvy Show" on ESPN 1000. "We just want to do what's best. We don't how it will be. That's down the road."

There has been a hot debate for weeks on how Thibodeau should use Rose. Some believe Thibodeau should have rested Rose more than the last three games, especially against lesser opponents like the New Orleans Hornets (22 minutes on Feb. 8 in a 23-point blowout), the New Jersey Nets (11 minutes on Feb. 6 in a 21-point blowout) and the Milwaukee Bucks (35 minutes on Feb. 4 in a 23-point blowout). Rose said his back tightened against the Bucks and he had to come out of the Nets game because it flared up.

"I don't believe in the thing about sitting a guy out because it's this opponent or that opponent," Thibodeau said. "If a guy is injured, he sits out regardless of who you're playing. If he's hurting and can play and can't do further damage, then he plays.

"But we are going to be smart with him, if he needs rest, we're going to rest him. Like I said, we feel very good about our bench and the guys that we have. We feel we have more than enough to win, regardless of who may be in or out.'

Bulls owner Jerry Reinsdorf admitted he's someone who wonders why stars are in at the end of blowouts.

"I don't know how much pain he was in [against the Hornets]," Reinsdorf told ESPN Chicago's Melissa Isaacson. "He wasn't even looking for his shot. He's got a tremendous desire to win and to be a team player."

Thibodeau said the decision to play someone is a team effort.

"You don't look back," Thibodeau said. "You base your decisions on the information you have at that particular time. Again, those decisions aren't made by Derrick alone. Of course, he's a big part of it. He is the only person who actually knows how he feels, but also you have a team of doctors and training staff that's studying all the information, and you try to make the best decision possible.

"We're certainly never going to ask a player who's injured to play. That's not ever going to happen here. We're day to day with him, he's getting better, and that's all you can do."

Thibodeau also knows the danger of taking Rose at his word about how he feels.

"(Rose) is a tough kid and he wants to play," Thibodeau said. "But you also have your medical staff and your training staff who are studying the test results. And also have the understanding of prior injuries and things of that nature. I think that if he needs rest, he's going to get rest. He's been out of eight games this year.

"If he needs to sit out, he's going to sit out. The medical staff has to clear him first, so it's not like he could just say, 'OK, I'm in there.' What he says is important, but we're going to be smart about it. You want to see him in practice. You want to see how he's moving around, and then you want to see how he responds the next day. There are a number of things that go into it."

As far as the All-Star Game, Thibodeau started laughing when asked if he'll make sure LeBron James of the rival Miami Heat plays all 48 minutes while Rose and teammate Luol Deng, who has a torn wrist ligament, play very few.

"This is where I'm in total agreement," Thibodeau joked. "I think they need rest now."

http://espn.go.com/chicago/nba/story...-all-star-game

[T-Snell]

Source: Heat hoping to land Kaman


The Miami Heat need a center and Chris Kaman sure would fit the bill.

It won’t be easy for that to happen. But the Heat are trying.

Heat officials, including president Pat Riley, have been calling people who know Kaman to ask about him, a source told FOXSports.com on Wednesday.

The thinking is the Heat’s best effort to get a center would be to sign Kaman — if his contract is bought out by New Orleans after the March 15 trade deadline.

The Hornets recently sent Kaman away from the team for seven games in an effort to trade him. When that was unsuccessful, he was brought back.

Now, apparently, the belief is that the 7-foot Kaman, who is making $14 million in the final year of his contract, could be bought out if the Hornets end up failing to get a deal they want for him. Kaman, acquired from the Los Angeles Clippers last December in the trade for Chris Paul, has played in three of the Hornets’ past four games. He totaled 27 points and 13 rebounds Monday in an 86-80 win over Utah.

In other news involving NBA big men, a source said Wednesday that Minnesota continues to pursue a possible trade for Lakers forward Pau Gasol, dangling rookie Derrick Williams, who is from the Los Angeles area, and draft choices. The only players considered untouchable by the Timberwolves, who are seeking to add a veteran by the trade deadline, are Kevin Love and Ricky Rubio. The Timberwolves believe it could be enticing for Gasol to play on the same team as fellow Spaniard Rubio.

As recently as two years ago, Kaman had joined Gasol in the NBA All-Star Game. That was during a season in which Kaman averaged a career-high 18.5 points and 9.3 rebounds.

Kaman slipped to 12.4 points and 7.0 rebounds last season while playing just 32 games because of injuries. He’s averaging 10.5 and 7.4 in 20 games this season.

But Kaman is said to be just what the Heat, who start undersized Joel Anthony at center, need. The Heat cannot talk directly with Kaman because that would constitute tampering

“If they could get him, that would solidify the championship,’’ said the source who spoke about Miami’s interest in Kaman. The source believes there is no realistic chance the Heat could trade for Kaman by March 15 because they don’t have the right pieces.

In order to carve out a roster spot by getting one under the maximum of 15 players, the Heat on Feb. 7 waived rookie center Mickell Gladness just before contracts were to become guaranteed for the season. But Gladness was brought back on a 10-day contract Sunday, indicating the Heat remain uncertain what they might do with that final roster spot.

The Heat have looked at 7-1 free-agent center Joel Przybilla, who finished last season with Charlotte and has been battling knee injuries for several years. For now, Przybilla has been said to still not be fully healthy, and some teams have backed off. Chicago also has been looking at Przybilla.

Acquiring Kaman on a minimum deal would be the ultimate coup for the Heat. But there are plenty of issues that would have to be worked out.

The Hornets obviously would like to get some pieces for him. Even if he becomes a free agent next summer, the Hornets still could have the option of dealing him in a sign-and-trade to a team under the luxury-tax threshold and getting something in return. And since the Hornets are owned by the NBA, there would be plenty of barking around the league if Kaman were bought out and then joined the Heat.

Of course, it could come down to what a buyout number might be. Guard Mike Bibby gave up a $6.2 million contract for this season last February to be let go by Washington and have the chance to join the Heat.

If Kaman can’t be traded, he would have to decide if he’s willing to give up his Bird free-agent rights. Those would be lost if he’s bought out, and that could cost him some money next summer in free agency.

Of course, the opportunity to win a championship could be more important to Kaman than taking a salary hit. The source also didn’t rule out Kaman considering the Heat, even for lesser money, if he doesn’t become a free agent until next summer.



http://msn.foxsports.com/nba/story/M...s-trade-021512

[T-Snell]

Source: J.R. Smith weighing options



Free agent swingman J.R. Smith currently lists on his Twitter page the New York Knicks, Los Angeles Clippers, Los Angeles Lakers, Orlando Magic, Chicago Bulls and Indiana Pacers as teams he is considering.

However, the Knicks and Clippers appear to be the frontrunners to sign him, according to the source with knowledge of the talks.

Clippers coach Vinny Del Negro said Wednesday that he has spoken to Smith recently and that the conversation went "very, very well."

The Knicks remain the presumptive favorites to sign Smith because they can offer him a pro-rated share of their $2.5 million mini-midlevel exception and a player option for a second year. The Clippers, meanwhile, can offer him only the veteran's minimum for the rest of this season.

While Smith would likely make far more than $2.5 million as an unrestricted free agent this summer, the security of that player option for next season could be an important factor in his decision, according to a source.

Smith was due to fly back to the United States from China late Wednesday night. He had been expected to make a decision on Tuesday, according to two league sources, but has yet to choose. Now the process could drag out a bit.

Each day that goes by is lost money for Smith. New York's $2.5 million mid-level exception will be pro-rated by each game missed after Feb. 10. All other contracts are pro-rated from the beginning of the season, meaning the gap between what the Knicks can offer and a pro-rated veteran minimum actually will narrow as time goes on.

Of course, each day that goes by is another day new suitors could emerge, or a team like Indiana -- which currently has the most salary cap room in the league -- could jump ahead of the line and offer more than the Knicks.

Clippers point guard Chris Paul has been actively recruiting Smith, whom he played with on the Hornets for two seasons.

"I think our chances are very high," Paul told ESPN.com's Marc Stein earlier this week. "Who knows J.R. better than me?

"Also, he knows he'll have the opportunity to play here," Paul said. "He can only make us better."

Paul believes the presence of three of Smith's former teammates on the Clippers' roster and the minutes and shots opened up by the season-ending Achilles injury suffered by Chauncey Billups will be strong lures.

Paul -- referring to Kenyon Martin and Billups, both of whom played with Smith in Denver -- told Stein he attributes his optimism to "my relationship with J.R., Kenyon's relationship with him and Chauncey's relationship with him."

The Clippers were interested in Smith even before Billups' injury last week, believing they could use more offensive firepower off the bench. But that was going to be a tougher sell with the Knicks so desperate for shooters to play alongside Carmelo Anthony, Amare Stoudemire and the fast-emerging Jeremy Lin.

Without Billups, though, L.A. is suddenly offering a larger role that could offset the Knicks' financial edge. The choice could thus come down to where Smith thinks he has the best chance to showcase himself for the rest of the season after signing in China during the lockout.

The challenge for the Clippers is that Smith is also being recruited hard by Anthony, another former Nuggets teammate who, like Smith and Paul, is represented by agent Leon Rose. Smith has been playful about his intentions, frequently responding to fans of the Knicks, Heat, Lakers and Clippers via his Twitter feed in the days leading up to the end of his Chinese season on Wednesday.

On Tuesday he tweeted that he had a good conversation with Lakers coach Mike Brown.


http://espn.go.com/los-angeles/nba/s...nners-jr-smith

[T-Snell]

Pau Gasol unsure of his Lakers future


EL SEGUNDO, Calif. -- With the NBA's March 15 trade deadline now less than a month away, Lakers forward Pau Gasol admits he's not sure if his future lies in Los Angeles.

"There's talks and rumors every day. Today I was reading it was Minnesota is really interested in trying to put a good package together," he said. "[Other teams are] calling, and it seems like things are just waiting for the right offer to come along, for [the Lakers] to pull the trigger."

Certainly Gasol has evidence of the team's willingness to move him. He was a major component of the controversial three-team trade in early December between the Lakers, New Orleans, and Houston that would have sent Gasol to the Rockets and Chris Paul to the Lakers.

Ultimately, the NBA, in its capacity as stewards of the league-owned Hornets, stepped in and vetoed the trade. Paul, an All-Star point guard, was soon dealt to the Los Angeles Clippers.

In the aftermath of the failed trade, Gasol expressed happiness in remaining a Laker, a stance he reiterated Thursday afternoon.

"It's out of my hands. It is what it is. I'd like to be here," he said. "I'd like to make this team better and get back to a championship level, but it's not up to me."

In 29 games this season, Gasol is averaging 16.8 points, 10.6 rebounds, 3.0 assists, and 1.3 blocks, but saw his streak of three straight All-Star berths snapped last week when he was left off the list of Western Conference reserves.

The Lakers have been linked to multiple teams and players in published reports, adding a level of uncertainty as the team attempts to regain the championship form from in 2009 and 2010.

Coach Mike Brown deferred questions about personnel moves to general manager Mitch Kupchak, but believes the process isn't unique to Los Angeles.

"I think it happens every year. Even when I was in Cleveland and our team was set, come trade deadline it's the talk of each team," he said.

Asked when he thinks there will be a resolution to the trade rumors, Gasol said: "I'm not sure. I can't tell. I wish I knew, so it would give me some peace, or more peace, but I don't know."

Brown said he can't concern himself with the choices that management makes.

"But as a coach, I think you're cheating your team if you're worried about who we can go get and who we can move. I'm going to put my energy into trying to make this team better 'X' and 'O' wise, and emotionally and all that stuff because I like the team I have," Brown said.

Gasol admits it's difficult to put the rumors completely out of his mind but, like Brown, tries not to focus on them.

"Every day I tell myself, try to let it go. Don't think about it. Have fun, be the player you are out there," he said. "That's all that you can do."


http://espn.go.com/los-angeles/nba/s...trade-my-hands

[ЕлБиЏеј]

Knicks to add Smith today

The Knicks should officially add free agent reserve shooting guard J.R. Smith to Linsanity today, making the hottest team in the NBA a deep team as well.
According to multiple sources, Smith, who played in China during the lockout and became eligible to sign an NBA deal on Wednesday, will be at Madison Square Garden tonight, but won’t make his debut until Sunday against the Mavericks.

The Knicks have to cut a player to make room for Smith and Renaldo Balkman, who has been out of the rotation since early January, is the expected candidate, according to a source. Coach Mike D’Antoni was never a big fan of Balkman, a throw-in to the trade with the Nuggets for Carmelo Anthony. Balkman has one remaining year at $1.8 million and could have been an amnesty casualty if the Knicks were still going for 2012 cap space.



The only potential delay for the Smith signing is if the Knicks attempt to buy out Tony Douglas' contract.

Ironically, if Smith had been eligible to be signed two weeks ago, the Knicks probably would have cut Jeremy Lin for financial reasons because his contract wasn’t guaranteed and he hadn’t convinced D’Antoni he belonged in the mix.

The Knicks pursued Smith for a couple of weeks and D’Antoni said they would be “very aggressive’’ in offering their $2.5 million cap room exception on him as they were looking to add his 3-point shooting ability.

Even their seven-game win streak and perfect chemistry created by the stunning emergence of Lin didn’t sway the Knicks from going after Smith, though it could be seen as a risky move because of his reputation as being a rabble-rouser. But Anthony, who has the same agent as Smith, recently endorsed the move.
Smith, a former star at St. Benedict’s Prep in Newark, can be an explosive scorer and deepens the Knicks’ backcourt depth, especially if point guard Baron Davis never makes it back. Landry Fields is red-hot and not in danger of losing his starting shooting guard slot.

If Davis comes back after the All-Star Break, the Knicks could have a very deep backcourt of Iman Shumpert, Davis and Smith.
* Celtics broadcaster and former player Cedric Maxwell is not sold on Lin.

“Now let’s not get crazy, OK,’’ he said on Boston radio. “It’s been [seven] games. That does not make the season. I know that this is a wonderful story ... Call me back in about two months. Because some of the team he’s played against so far have not had dominant point guards.