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[Monta Ellis #11]

Jennings not focused on contract

Bucks guard Brandon Jennings is eligible for a contract extension this summer, as he enters the fourth and final year of his rookie-scale contract.

But the team's leading scorer reiterated Friday that he's not worried about his contract situation.

"I will let (agent) Bill Duffy handle that," Jennings said from Los Angeles on Friday. "That's what he does. I will leave it up to Bill Duffy and (Bucks general manager) John Hammond. It's really not my department."

Jennings recently returned from southern China where he participated in a league-sponsored event in Guangzhou. He and Toronto Raptors forward DeMar DeRozan served as coaches for celebrity teams and appeared along with former NBA stars Horace Grant and Gary Payton.

"They just go all out for the game of basketball," Jennings said of the fans in China.

Jennings said he wasn't worried about the pressure the Bucks will face next season with both coach Scott Skiles and Hammond in the final year of their contracts.

"It's good to have pressure," Jennings said. "We missed the playoffs two years in a row. This year we need to say we are going to make the playoffs, not we are trying to make the playoffs."

The Bucks point guard said he is anxious to see what the team can do over an 82-game season and a full year with shooting guard Monta Ellis in the lineup.

"The lockout hurt a lot of teams," Jennings said of the shortened 66-game campaign. "Guys can come in shape and ready for training camp."

Jennings said he felt blessed to have played in every game for the Bucks in two of his first three seasons, including 89 games his rookie year and 66 last season.

"Guys were going down left and right," Jennings said. "Seeing (Chicago Bulls guard) Derrick Rose go down was tragic (in the playoffs).

"It was just one of those freak accidents."

Jennings said he isn't sure yet if he will be working out in Milwaukee, Baltimore or Los Angeles this summer. But he expects a less hectic summer than he experienced a year ago when he was on his own, trying to find pickup games around the country during the lockout.

And he indicated he was glad to have Skiles back as his coach.

"He's the guy I've been brought into the NBA with," Jennings said. "I know the system; I know what to expect.

"He gives you freedom on offense and expects you to work hard, play hard and give your all. That's all you can ask for as a player."

http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/sports...rt=newestfirst

[Monta Ellis #11]

Atlanta Hawks: On Josh Smith’s future

Before Josh Smith started his summer vacation, he was asked about the possibility of signing a contract extension with the Hawks.

“I can’t get extended,” Smith said. “They didn’t give me the money; I had to go get it. That’s something I have to play it out and see how it goes from there.”

Two things stand out about that statement. The first is that Smith, who presumably got the info from his agent, is wrong about his contract not being eligible for an extension.

I looked at Larry Coon’s CBA FAQ and could see no reason why Smith is not eligible for an extension. It’s been at least three years since he signed the deal, it’s never been renegotiated and it doesn’t include an opt-in. I checked with Coon and he confirmed the Hawks can extend Smith’s deal (they actually have been able to do so since August).

But the more interesting aspect of Smith’s statement is his allusion to having to “go get” his contract. He’s referring, of course, to the offer sheet he signed with Memphis in 2008, which Atlanta subsequently matched. (The Hawks can thank the Grizzlies for being able to keep Smith with a reasonable deal.)

It bothers Smith he had to create a market for himself to get a satisfactory contract from the Hawks (though at least he didn’t have to leave the country like Josh Childress). Smith’s feelings were amplified when Al Horford got an extension before becoming a restricted free agent. So add that 2008 contract dance to Smith’s list of grievances with the Hawks.

The question now is whether Smith can be persuaded to sign an extension with the Hawks. My educated guess is Smith won’t do it. The Hawks may be able to make Smith feel more appreciated with their public comments, but what can can do about Smith’s main gripe, that they aren’t committed to winning a championship?

It seems unlikely the Hawks will even spend the full mid-level on a free agent. Remember what happened after Smith, Horford and Joe Johnson called on the Hawks to make some major moves during training camp? The Hawks ended up signing an assortment of minimum-salaried free agents, with two of those players on non-guaranteed deals.

Nor do trades look like a very promising way to placate Smith. Any deal that involves sending away Horford could leave as many holes as it covers. If trading Johnson is possible, it almost certainly means taking back another burdensome contract.

Zaza Pachulia and Jeff Teague are assets because they are productive players with reasonable contracts. But those are also good reasons to keep them. As for Marvin Williams, there hasn’t been a market for him for going on three years now.

The irony is that one of the best ways for the Hawks to bring in a major piece is to trade Smith. His production, experience and expiring contract make him an attractive target. So does the sense that he’s still yet to fully reach his potential, though that’s a reality that cuts both ways for the Hawks.

Are the Hawks beyond hoping Smith can become a superstar for them? How much is he worth? If the Hawks don’t think they can persuade Smith to commit beyond next season, do they aggressively try to trade him before the deadline or risk losing him for nothing next summer?

I’m genuinely interested to see how all that plays out. The Hawks have a recent history of overvaluing their own players. Michael Gearon Jr. does have a deep appreciation for Smith, even if Smith doesn’t think Gearon or his partners have done enough to show it.

For his part, Smith deflected questions about his standing trade request, noting that he could be fined for talking about it. But he didn’t sound as if he expects to be traded in the offseason.

“All I know is I have one more year on my contract so I will definitely be here,” he said. “I just have to go into the offseason to better myself and do whatever I have to do to help this ballclub. I was an Atlanta Hawk after the trade deadline and I’m one now, so I have to look at some of the things I can do to help my basketball team win ballgames, especially in the postseason.”

http://blogs.ajc.com/hawks/2012/05/2...id=blogs_hawks

[Monta Ellis #11]

Report: Deron Williams prefers Nets, but Mavs, Lakers are in play

Zero hour is coming for the Brooklyn Nets.

The franchise took a major calculated risk in targeting Deron Williams in a trade that sent substantial assets and talent out the door. He's an unrestricted free agent this July and if he choose to sign elsewhere, the Nets will be back to square one.

But according to SI.com, it sounds like the Nets are at least still the leader in the clubhouse.

A source close to the three-time All-Star said he would be interested in joining the Lakers, though it would have to be via a sign-and-trade deal. (Lakers point guard Ramon Sessions, who was acquired from Cleveland at the trade deadline, has a $4.5 million player option for next season.)

The source said Williams' preference, however, is for the Nets to improve the roster sufficiently enough that he can feel good about staying put rather than fear a repeat of this season, when they finished 22-44. As for Dallas, which sacrificed its best chance to defend the title by preserving salary-cap space last summer in anticipation of this free-agent class, the source said of the Mavericks: "There's no longevity there." If owner Mark Cuban can clear enough space to sign a worthy sidekick for Williams, though, then maybe he'd join his hometown team after all.

Buyers are lining up for Williams as he's the top prize of this offseason. The Nets are catering everything around keeping him, but had a big swing and a miss on Dwight Howard at the trade deadline. All's not lost though, as Howard seems to not be interested in staying with a new Orlando regime.

The Lakers are obviously ready and willing to make a push as their elimination at the hands of the Thunder signaled a window closing down. Kobe is aging and it's time for a new star to be ready to take the torch in a few years.

Dallas has spent the season positioning for a run at Williams, a hometown guy, but as the report states, he's not going to go to another Nets situation in Dallas. Dirk Nowitzki has some years left, but there's a lot of uncertainty around the roster and a rebuild could be coming soon. A report earlier in the month had the Nets with only a "50-50" shot at Williams.

It seems pretty clear that Williams would prefer to be a part of the Nets new look in Brooklyn, but he's had to spend two seasons in the lottery since his move to the franchise, and has probably had about enough of that. The Nets traded for Gerald Wallace at the deadline this season, have Brook Lopez and a little extra cap space. And of course they're major players for Dwight Howard when those talks kick back into gear.

Come July, Williams will be the player most are focused on and it seems the field is narrowing. With a clear leader in Brooklyn.

http://www.cbssports.com/nba/blog/ey...rs-are-in-play

[ЕлБиЏеј]

Frank Vogel: Young Pacers will stay on championship track

Indiana Pacers coach Frank Vogel isn't looking back on the season. He's only looking forward, and he likes what he sees ahead of them.

Vogel said during his season-ending press conference today the franchise is just scratching the surface.

The Miami Heat beat the Pacers 4-2 in the second round of the playoffs last week.

"The theme is basically we have a chance to do something really big," Vogel said. " -- My system is brand new. I'm a young coach and we have a young core of players in place. So I feel like we have more room for growth than any team that's competing for a championship right now. We're excited to get back to work at some point here soon and build on what we started."

The Pacers finished with their best winning percentage since 2004 and advanced to the second round of the playoffs for the first time since 2005.

There's no guarantee they'll open training camp in the fall with the same roster.

Roy Hibbert (restricted), George Hill (restricted), Leandro Barbosa (unrestricted), Lou Amundson (unrestricted), Kyrylo Fesenko (unrestricted) and A.J. Price (unrestricted) are all free agents.

It's a long shot, but Vogel said he'd like to have the same roster next season.

"I think we're really good now and I think we have a tremendous chance for growth w the guys we have on our roster," he said.

[ЕлБиЏеј]

LeBron wishes Derrick Rose well

MIAMI -- Miami Heat superstar LeBron James has a simple piece of advice for injured Chicago Bulls guard Derrick Rose.

"Get healthy," James said after Tuesday afternoon's practice.

James says he hasn't spoken to Rose since the 23-year-old former MVP had surgery to repair a torn ACL in his left knee, but James hopes Rose will be able to return to the court quickly.

"No, I don't personally have D-Rose's number," James said, when asked if the pair had spoken. "I have never really had an extended conversation with D-Rose. I did say to the media that it sucks that (the injury) happened and I wish him a fast recovery and hope he gets back to 100 percent."

While James acknowledged he doesn't have any idea what Rose is going through as far as the knee injury, he did admit that he has always been a fan of Rose's and wants to see him back on the floor.

"I don't know what he's going through," James said. "I've never had that type of injury, knock on wood, so I can't imagine what he's going through. I just hope he comes back 100 percent, 110 percent, because I am a fan of his. I love the way he plays the game of basketball and what he brings to the game."

That feeling was shared by James' teammate, and Chicago native Dwyane Wade. He also acknowledged that he hadn't spoken to Rose yet, but planned to do so over the summer.

"No, I sent out my best wishes to D-Rose and his family, but I've been focused on the playoffs a little bit," Wade said. "I'm sure I'll be around Chicago a little bit in the summer and get an opportunity to hopefully talk to him, but I just sent out my wishes when it happened and hopefully all is well with him and his family and he gets back on this basketball court."

While Wade never has dealt with Rose's specific injury, he has dealt with plenty of injuries of his own. He knows that Rose's rehab will try the former MVP's patience.

"When it comes to rehab, yes (I can empathize)," Wade said. "It's going to be ... when I had to rehab through injuries if it's a point in rehab where you don't question if this is what you want to do, (there's) going to be that time. It's going to be hard.

"It's going to be times where you feel like you're not making any improvement and you're not going to be able to do some of things you've always done your whole life. But (if) you continue to stick with it, continue to listen to the doctors, continue to stay on your rehab process, eventually you can get back there."

While James and Wade may not know exactly what Rose is going through, Boston Celtics coach Doc Rivers certainly does. Like Rose, he suffered a knee injury similar to Rose's during his career. He doesn't think Rose will have much problem getting back to the player he used to be.

"He'll be 100 percent," Rivers told ESPNChicago.com. "He'll be fine. He may take 'til December or whatever but when he comes back he'll probably take a month or so just so he can trust it. You're healthy, right? When you do the surgery, actually. Just the rehab part and the trust. The trust will take a little bit, but he'll be fine."

[T-Snell]

Sources: Getting Anthony Davis won't be enough for the Nets to hold onto Deron Williams


All-Star point guard Deron Williams has made one decision about his free agency: If the Brooklyn Nets win the No. 1 pick in the NBA's draft lottery on Wednesday night – and the chance to secure Kentucky center Anthony Davis – it won't be enough for Williams to sign a contract extension, league sources told Yahoo! Sports.

"It's Dwight Howard or bust," said a league source who has spoken to Williams.

Williams doesn't want to stay with the Nets unless they become an instant Eastern Conference contender and wouldn't accept waiting for Davis' development. The Nets have a 7.5 percent chance of winning the lottery, and sources said the organization would be willing to part with Davis for the chance to pair Howard and Williams for the franchise's move into a new Brooklyn arena next season.

For the Nets to beat the odds and get the rights to draft Davis, they believe that they'll be able to hold onto forward Brook Lopez in a potential deal with Orlando. Howard regrets forgoing his early termination option on his 2012-13 contract, sources said, and wants a trade before next season. Nevertheless, the Nets become far less appealing should Williams leave in July as a free agent, so Howard's camp is applying pressure on Orlando to expedite a deal once it hires a new general manager.

Orlando ownership has softened on moving Howard and doesn't want to spend another season pleading with him to sign an extension. The organization's preference is to get the best possible trade package for him and start retooling the franchise. Nevertheless, the Magic will give a new GM some latitude to navigate Howard's future once he's hired. Several of the potential GM candidates in Orlando have already been devising trade scenarios for Howard and plan to propose those ideas to Orlando president Alex Martins in the interview process.

Unless the Nets get one of the top three picks in the lottery, the Portland Trail Blazers will own Brooklyn's 2012 choice. The Nets made a trade deadline deal for forward Gerald Wallace, whom they hoped would help convince Williams to stay as a free agent. Nevertheless, Williams has been largely unmoved by the potential free agent and trade scenarios that don't include Howard joining him in Brooklyn.


http://sports.yahoo.com/news/nba--ne...GlvbnM-;_ylv=3

[T-Snell]

Spurs wise not to trade Parker, Ginobili


Last season at this time, the Spurs, who had finished at the top of the NBA’s Western Conference, already had been eliminated two rounds previously by the eighth-place Grizzlies.

The Celtics, meanwhile, had been erased in the preceding round by the Heat.

Both franchises were in the mood to renovate their rosters.

Spurs management called around the league to let the right people know that every player was touchable, exempting Tim Duncan. Owner Peter Holt, team president/coach Gregg Popovich and general manager R.C. Buford were committed to honor Duncan’s reign of scandal-drama-free excellence (four titles) over 14 seasons until he decided not to play for pay anymore.

Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili, I must reemphasize, were available for the appropriate equity.

The idea was to get longer and younger, another meaning for less brittle. Ginobili’s wrist injury the final game of the regular season last year had as much impact on San Antonio’s malfunction as Memphis’ magnification.

Luckily, the Spurs weren’t overly tempted by anything offered for Parker or Ginobili, who were in the midst of a fairly fruitful outbreak before the Thunder rudely ruined their team’s 20-game roll, 102-82.

You know what they say, “Tricks of the trade that are best not made” or something like that.

On the other hand, George Hill was moved. Popovich and his coaching staff loved the 6-foot-2 guard, but felt when he played alongside Parker and Ginobili they were too small. Plus, he was a rising free agent and would warrant an ample long-term investment. So Hill was exchanged for the Pacers’ No. 15 pick, which was used to draft unobtrusive 6-7 small forward Kawhi Leonard, whose value covers every nook and nuance.

The Spurs hit a home run.

Eight months later, they swapped Richard Jefferson for Stephen Jackson.

That’s called “multiplication by subtraction.”

That brings us back to the Celtics. Before and after the lockout, general manager Danny Ainge repeatedly tried to convert Rajon Rondo into Chris Paul by using assets from a third team — Pacers, Warriors, Clippers, etc.

According to even those who swear up and down by the multi-dimensionally dangerous Rondo (nine playoff triple-doubles, tying him with Wilt Chamberlain for third place), he’s tough to coach, not easy to play with and is a First Team All-League Loon, a personality peculiarity he does not deny.

Luckily for the Celtics, Ainge’s longing for comparable acumen and skill couldn’t be satisfied.

You know what they say, “If you can’t pack ’em, then re-rack ’em” or something like that.

That’s what I was thinking Tuesday night as I watched the unflappable Rondo become a legend in his overtime as he nearly beat the Heat (44 points, 10 assists and eight rebounds) single-handedly.

Such rhyme has so much reason in this season’s Final Four.


http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/knick...55veHsit3DG4jL

[Monta Ellis #11]

Report: Warriors targeting Iguodala, Gay, Granger, unicorns, hippogriffs

The Warriors at this point might as well put up a big neon sign outside their offices that read “TRADE MARKET FLEA SALE TODAY!” Ever since they went into tank mode, they have made it known that their players are available for trade and that they want a small forward in return. And by landing the seventh spot and avoiding losing their pick to Utah, it means that’s something else they can throw on the trade pile.

What are they looking for? Well, let’s just say they’re not aiming low. From the Contra Costa Times:

"Golden State has long since had interest in Philadelphia’s Andre Iguodala, who is exactly the playmaking athlete the Warriors need at small forward. Other small forwards high on their list, according to league sources, are Portland’s Nick Batum, Indiana’s Danny Granger and Memphis’ Rudy Gay. And don’t be surprised if the Warriors make a play for Atlanta forward Josh Smith.

Trading the No. 7 pick for a veteran wouldn’t rule out the Warriors’ filling a need with a rookie from this year’s draft. The Warriors could potentially move up using their other three picks and have a shot at Illinois center Meyers Leonard, St. Bonaventure power forward Andrew Nicholson or maybe even Kentucky’s Jones (who some mocks have falling out of the lottery).

via Golden State Warriors thrilled they have seventh spot in lottery"

Taking a look at their roster, this gets a bit tricky. Their biggest assets on roster are Stephen Curry, David Lee, the expiring-by-virtue-of-non-guaranteed-in-2013-2014 contract of Andris Biedrins. Curry is the best young player they have, Lee has a monster contract with four years, $57 million left on it, and Biedrins is just painfully low on value. Dorrell Wright, a crack shooter, would likely be involved in a deal along with the seven. But is any team going to take the No. 7 in what is considered to be a weak draft, Dorrell Wright, and either David Lee’s salary or Biedrins’ dead weight for their franchise small forward?

It seems like a fairytale. But we’ve seen teams take on contracts before. Were the Sixers to amnesty Elton Brand, Lee would be a solid replacement at power forward. the Grizzlies need an outside shooter like Wright and center depth with Biedrins. The Pacers might be compelled by a forward at the No.7 spot to take a gamble on moving Granger. It’s going to take some trickery, but it could be done. The Warriors do have another first-rounder at the very bottom of the round, and could of course leverage future assets as a throw-in. That always works out well.

The Warriors are aiming high on the rebuild. With Andrew Bogut and Curry (unless they get really dangerous and trade the young guard which changes everything), they could make a few moves and have their future core set. One thing is certain. We’re going to hear a lot about this potential move over the next four weeks.

http://probasketballtalk.nbcsports.c...riffs/related/

[Monta Ellis #11]

Randy Wittman to return

The Washington Wizards are in the process of completing a contract that will keep Coach Randy Wittman with the team for at least next season, according to sources with knowledge of the situation. For weeks, the Wizards have been noncommittal publicly about bringing back Wittman but a lack of aggressiveness with so many big name candidates available has spoken volumes about their plans. “I think it’s pretty clear what’s going to happen,” a league source said, “but nothing is official.”

The same source intimated that something could get done by early next week, with an official announcement to follow.

President Ernie Grunfeld said on Wednesday that he liked the job Wittman has done and that a decision would be made regarding his future “way before the draft,” which will be held June 28. Nothing has been agreed upon or signed with Wittman, according to multiple league sources. And, a person with knowledge of the situation said that the Wizards’ intentions hadn’t been fully expressed as of Thursday night to the person with the most at stake in the decision – Wittman.

“Randy’s under contract,” Wizards owner Ted Leonsis said after the draft lottery, “and right now, he’s our coach.”

With the NHL’s Capitals making a run into the second round, Leonsis wasn’t able to spend any time with Wittman until a meeting last month. Leonsis had no relationship with Wittman because the two never interacted after Wittman replaced Saunders during the lockout-shortened season. Wittman went 18-31, but the team was 11-14 after completing a trade with Denver for Nene. The Wizards were 7-4 with Nene in uniform.

Wittman has a career record of 118-238, including previous coaching stints in Cleveland and Minnesota. Leonsis was prompted to meet with Wittman after John Wall and Nene, among others, expressed their support for him. Wittman brought more discipline to the team, shut down Andray Blatche because of he was out of shape, and held players accountable for their mistakes.

“To a man, everyone thought that Randy did a fantastic job,” Leonsis said. “So that gave me confidence that I should interview and I had a quality day with Randy. And we’re still talking through some things and I feel very, very comfortable that when Nene has been around and a John Wall, both say this was a coach that treated us the right way, respected the game and we listened to him.”

With the season completed more than a month ago, it appeared that the Wizards were stringing Wittman along, but they didn’t interview other coaches while he was still under contract. That didn’t necessarily mean that they had no interest in looking elsewhere.

According to a league source that has been in contact with the Wizards, the team would’ve been more inclined to go outside of the organization if Wittman and his entire staff hadn’t been under contract for next season.

Wittman and assistants Don Zierden, Sam Cassell, Gene Banks and Ryan Saunders all signed two-year extensions before last season to match up with former Coach Flip Saunders. The Wizards held the option on the fourth year of the $18-million contract Saunders signed in 2009 – an option that obviously didn’t need to be used when Saunders was fired on Jan. 24 after a 2-15 start.

“It’s completely a money decision,” the source said.

The terms of the contract being discussed were not disclosed, but Yahoo! Sports is reporting that the two sides are finalizing a two-year agreement.

Wittman is expected to be retained at a price much less than proven available coaches Stan Van Gundy, Jerry Sloan and Nate McMillan likely would’ve commanded – and two sources added that the team was not very high on Mike D’Antoni because they didn’t believe the former New York and Phoenix coach would demand enough discipline.

The Wizards were also burned the last two times they made a huge investment in a big-name coach, with Saunders going 51-130 after having considerable success in Minnesota and Detroit, having reached the conference finals four times. Eddie Jordan had led the Wizards to the playoffs four consecutive years but was also fired nearly four months after he signed an extension with the team in 2008.

Grunfeld and Wittman were in Minneapolis the previous two days, where representatives from nearly 30 teams are scouting players at Target Center during workouts in preparation for the draft. Wittman maintains an offseason residence in Minnesota. He is also expected to be in Chicago next week for the pre-draft camp to watch drills and meet with many of the top prospects.

Reports had been surfacing this week about the Wizards’ intention to retain Wittman, including a recent ESPN.com article. And with little movement to the contrary – especially with proven coaches such as Van Gundy, Sloan and McMillan and sought-after assistants Mike Malone and Brian Shaw on the market – it was impossible to refute the sentiment of most league executives and agents that Wittman would be coach next season.

All signs had been pointing in one direction. Now the Wizards are almost there.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/...KK7U_blog.html

[Monta Ellis #11]

Bobcats meet with Pacers assistant Shaw

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) A person familiar with the situation says the Bobcats have met with Indiana Pacers assistant coach Brian Shaw about their vacant head coaching position.

The person spoke to The Associated Press Friday on condition of anonymity because Charlotte has not made its list of candidates public.

Shaw won five NBA championships with the Los Angeles Lakers - three as a player and two as an assistant coach.

He's the ninth known candidate to interview, joining former head coaches Nate McMillan (Portland) and Jerry Sloan (Utah), assistant coaches Michael Malone (Golden State), Stephen Silas (Charlotte) Nate Tibbetts (Cleveland), Dave Joerger (Memphis), Patrick Ewing (Orlando) and Mike Dunlap (St. John's).

Ewing has since been ruled out.

Bobcats executive Rod Higgins said Wednesday the team will hire someone ''in a couple of weeks.''


http://sports.yahoo.com/news/ap-sour...XYO0Fdc_G8vLYF

[Урош94]

Blazers F LaMarcus Aldridge hospitalized with 'deadly blood virus'

Portland Trail Blazers forward LaMarcus Aldridge disclosed that he was hospitalized this week with a "deadly blood virus" on his Blazers.com blog on Friday.

On Saturday I came down with a blood virus. I quickly became sick and had to be rushed to the hospital. I thought it was a case of bad food or a bad cold, but I was wrong. It turned out to be a very serious virus that if not treated quickly could actually be deadly! One thing I know for sure is that I've never felt worse in my life and there were times I wasn't really sure where I was going. Thankfully I had a lot of family support and great medical care that helped me fight through it and now I've turned the corner and I'm feeling much better.

Aldridge, 26, has been writing the blog -- dubbed L.A.'s Rehab Central -- as he recovers from a minor hip surgery he underwent in May. His recovery time from the labral tear and subsequent surgery was pegged at 2-to-4 months and effectively eliminated him from consideration for USA Basketball's 2012 Olympics team.

Aldridge has also missed time during his career due to Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome, a heart condition that has required him to undergo an eletrical treatment procedure multime times.

What makes this situation doubly unusual is Aldridge's decision to release the news as well as his method for doing so. Given that it's the middle of the offseason and he was already undergoing a rehabilation, there's a fairly decent chance he could have kept the virus a secret had he wanted to, at least for the short-term. Surely no one besides a few family members and team officials were aware that it had even happened.

Kudos to Aldridge here for being open and honest with his disclosure, which some might feel was a private matter. In the long run, getting the facts out is likely in his best interests. It prevents rumors from starting and it protects both himself and the Blazers, whose medical staff has come under heavy scrutiny due to a string of injuries to key players, from unnecessary criticism if the news was eventuallly revealed later.

Aldridge averaged 21.7 points and 8.0 rebounds per game this season and was named to his first All-Star Game.

http://www.cbssports.com/nba/blog/ey...ly-blood-virus

[Monta Ellis #11]

Latest on the chase for Steve Nash

The chatter about Steve Nash’s future whipped up in earnest over the weekend, which isn’t surprising for two reasons:

1. Free agency is officially less than a month away now that we’re into June.

2. Nash and another NBA senior citizen -- Boston’s Kevin Garnett –--would appear to be the two most attractive unrestricted free agents on the 2012 market not named Deron Williams ... since no one expects Tim Duncan to give leaving San Antonio one millisecond of thought when Duncan theoretically joins Nash and KG on the open market July 1.

Nash himself, I’m told, is still days away from giving his future deep thought. He said many times late in the regular season that he’ll listen to any pitch that comes this summer, hoping that the next contract he signs -- preferably for three seasons -- will be his last. But he admitted last month at a press conference in Toronto that he hadn’t even started the process.

More, then, is known about the teams chasing Nash. It’s a list that still starts with the Phoenix Suns, who cling to the hope that they can keep the most beloved player in franchise history, but it’s also destined to be a longer list than you think once free agency actually starts, since Nash is seen around the league as far more gettable than D-Will.

Sources briefed on the matter told ESPN.com that the three teams with salary-cap space best positioned to make a credible run at the 38-year-old, at this early juncture, are Portland, Toronto and Brooklyn (should the Nets lose D-Will).

New York and Miami are also frequently mentioned as potential Nash destinations, but neither the Knicks nor the Heat have the requisite cap room to make a serious bid. The Blazers, by contrast, have coveted Nash for years in trades and will finally have the financial flexibility to chase him, offering the closest proximity to Nash’s Vancouver roots than anywhere else on the NBA map among other perks. Sources say that the Raptors, meanwhile, will be determined suitors in the Nash Sweepstakes, with a serious offer forthcoming to try to bring the newly installed general manager of Canada’s national team back to home soil after 16 seasons south of the border with the Suns and Mavericks.

Also: CSNChicago.com reported Sunday that the Chicago Bulls intend to join the Knicks and Heat on the list of glamour teams that will take a long-shot run at Nash. You can go ahead and put Dallas in that club, too, should the Mavericks fail in their attempt to bring DFW-area native D-Will home.

The New York Daily News, furthermore, reports that the Suns plan to “go all out” for Williams if they end up losing Nash. The safest forecast of them all: This won’t be the last story that mentions both Williams and Nash, since they’re two of the certifiable stars -- albeit at vastly different stages of their career -- in a free-agent class with precious few of them.


http://espn.go.com/blog/truehoop/pos...for-steve-nash

[Monta Ellis #11]

Report: Chicago Bulls interested in signing Jason Kidd

After tearing his ACL in the opening round of this year’s playoffs, Derrick Rose may miss all of next season, which has the Chicago Bulls searching for a veteran free agent to add to their roster this offseason

According to CSN Chicago, the Bulls will likely target Jason Kidd as well as former Dallas Mavericks point guard Steve Nash. A source claims Chicago will try to sell the opportunity of winning a championship.

Nash has never won a championship while Kidd won his first title with the Mavs last season.

Kidd, whose three-year contract ended after the season, has stated that he would like to return to the Mavs as backup, but this may be a more intriguing option for the 39-year-old.

http://www.dallasnews.com/sports/dal...jason-kidd.ece

Rose making progress, Bulls thinking big?

Take this with a grain of salt if you will, but Derrick Rose is embracing the challenge of returning to full strength from his devastating knee injury. Yes, the medical prognosis for his return is eight months to a full year, but every athlete is different and those who have doubted the Chicago native's determination to beat the odds before--as in almost everyone who heard his famous "Why can't I be MVP?" Bulls media day declaration prior to last season--have been pleasantly proven wrong in the past.

Rose is already walking with a soft brace on his injured knee and only one crutch, according to a source who has witnessed the Bulls superstar's initial stages of.recovery at the Berto Center. Another source, who spoke to Rose recently, told CSNChicago.com that the All-Star point guard's "spirits are up," a consistent description of his mental state since surgery to repair his torn left ACL last month.

If the point guard does play next season--a reasonable estimation for an early return would be after the All-Star break--something Reggie Rose, the 23-year-old's older brother, pledged immediately after the surgery and echoed by backcourt partner Rip Hamilton on Thursday, he will likely join a roster consisting of several new faces.

In addition to finding temporary replacements for Rose and potentially fellow All-Star Luol Deng, at least for the beginning of the regular season if the small forward opts for wrist surgery following the upcoming Olympics in his adopted hometown of London, as expected, the Bulls will also probably have to fill the spots of "Bench Mob" stalwarts Kyle Korver, Ronnie Brewer and C.J. Watson, among others.

Brewer is the least likely to return, as rookie swingman Jimmy Butler is poised to fill his role, while Korver, despite his long-range shooting being such a needed asset on a team mostly lacking that quality, may have too high of a price tag for a team trying to avoid the league's luxury tax.

Although it's a possibility that Watson returns due to both financial reasons and the fact that the Bulls might not find a better player to fill in for Rose at a similar salary, there is a chance that organization looks to upgrade the position during their superstar's absence.

While the front office may seek out minimum-salary veterans at several positions, including point guard, a source tells CSNChicago.com that the Bulls will take a run at future Hall of Famers Steve Nash and Jason Kidd in free agency, trying to convince the former All-Stars that they will have an opportunity to win a championship, of which Kidd has one, from last season with the Mavericks, and Nash has none, in Chicago.

According to the same source, the rest of the team's "core"--starters Rose, Deng, Hamilton, center Joakim Noah and power forward Carlos Boozer, as well as reserve big men Taj Gibson and Omer Asik, the latter of whom is a restricted free agent this summer, though the Bulls are likely to match any offers for him from opposing teams--is "safe," though team management will surely at least listen to trade offers.

http://www.csnchicago.com/basketball...50&feedID=4900

[Monta Ellis #11]

Report: Mavericks could target restricted free agent Roy Hibbert

It’s obvious the Dallas Mavericks need a big man and Dwight Howard is the top candidate, but if that scenario doesn’t come into fruition, Indiana Pacers center Roy Hibbert could be another option.

Hibbert is a restricted free agent and according to DallasBasketball.com, the Mavs are willing to place a bid on the 7-footer. But the question is just how much are the Mavs are willing to spend.

Indiana will likely match a $12-13 million offer so if the Mavs really want Hibbert, they must be willing to cough up some dough and not just make a modest offer. Dallas will certainly have an even tougher time affording the Georgetown product if top target Deron Williams does choose to come back home.

The Mavs struggled to find an identity inside after losing Tyson Chandler to free agency last season and have made it clear they want to bring in someone who can be a presence in the post. Hibbert started 65 games this year and averaged 12.8 points and 8.8 rebounds per game. He was selected to the NBA All-Star game and helped lead the Pacers to a second round playoff appearance.


http://www.dallasnews.com/sports/dal...oy-hibbert.ece

[Monta Ellis #11]

Allen's improved health coming at perfect time for C's

BOSTON — The Boston Celtics are a different-looking team these days, and Ray Allen has a lot to do with that.

Allen is starting to move without the ball and raise up for shots -- and knock them down -- in a fashion that's similar to what we've seen from him in the past.

The ankle injury that hobbled him for weeks, Allen said, isn't nearly as bothersome anymore.

"Just going into the game, starting the game, having my legs underneath me is for me it's a huge deal now," said Allen, who had 16 points on 6-for-16 shooting from the field. "How I feel now is a lot different from how I start the game."

And with Allen getting healthier, that only makes the challenge awaiting the Miami Heat more difficult, as the series shifts back to Miami for Game 5. The winner of that game will have a chance to close the series in Boston in Game 6.

For Allen, the improved health has been nothing short of a miracle when you consider where he was at just a few short weeks ago.

"At my lowest point, I was ready to have surgery," Allen said. "I didn't think that I would get any better, because I was doing all the things I needed to do, treatment-wise, and just staying off of it. It didn't seem like it was going to get any better."

But it has improved to the point where it's not a question as to whether he'll play, but how long will Rivers stick with him and how effective will he be.

"It just progressively got better over time," Allen said. "We'll see how I deal with it once the season is over."

For Allen and the rest of the Celtics, they're hoping that day won't come anytime soon.

http://www.csnne.com/basketball-bost...22&feedID=3352