Gerald Green, Elijah Millsap among those pushing for NBA callup

Sunday’s Austin-Los Angeles NBA Development game will be the largest

assortment of legitimate, plug-them-into-the-lineup-like-a-speaker NBA

Prospects assembled in any NBA D-League game this year. The Western

Conference-leading D-Fenders host the second-place Toros in L.A. at 9:30

p.m. ET on Sunday, live on SportingNews.com.

Combined, the teams have already sent six players to the NBA this season,

with the D-Fenders tied with the Erie BayHawks for the most call-ups (4) on

the year. And if the recent flood of GATORADE call-ups is any indication,

both teams should be primed for more in the coming weeks, with three of the

league’s Top 10 Prospects—and somewhere in the range of eight of its Top

25—split between the two clubs.

The Toros, who’ve already shipped off two players to the NBA, have paced

the NBA D-League for most of the season. But they’ve struggled of late,

losing six of nine after a loss to Bakersfield on Thursday. The D-Fenders,

meanwhile, have caught fire, winning six straight to leap-frog Austin into

first place—thanks in large part to the play of a re-tooled, re-focused

and rejuvenated Gerald Green.

Green fell short of his potential during his four run in the NBA, when he

came straight from high school in 2005, won a Slam Dunk Contest, finished

second a year later to one of the most memorable dunks of all time, didn’t

play defense and found himself out of the league by 2009. But now, after

averaging 24.9 points and 6.3 rebounds over his past 10 games, Green’s

looking like he has the inside track for the next call-up.

And his closest competition might come from his teammates.

Swing man Elijah Millsap is the younger brother of the Jazz’s Paul

Millsap, and had dominated the NBA D-League until Green started cutting

into his numbers of late. But Millsap’s got an NBA frame and, thanks to a

combination of speed and size, an NBA game. He and scoring machine Brandon

Costner will take on Austin’s Leo Lyons, who looked like a top-tier NBA

Prospect until an injury delayed the start of his season. But Lyons has

posted eight double-doubles in his last 14 games, including rebounding

highs of 18 and 16 and scoring highs of 29 and 27 (twice). Leading

rebounder Eric Dawson joins Lyons in shoring up the low post.

If you’re looking for flash, check out the battle at the top of the key.

All season long, Austin point Justin Dentmon’s proven himself to be among

the league’s elite offensive point guards (22.4 ppg), and although his

distribution skills could use some polish, he’s gradually showing the

passing ability that can make him a true combo guard. He’ll be facing off

against Courtney Fortson, the rookie guard who spent some time with the Los

Angeles Clippers this year, and Rafer Alston, the former NBA fixture—not

to mention And1 Mixtape Tour magician—who’s trying to jump back into the

NBA by way of L.A. coach Eric Musselman’s pro factory.

This season, nobody’s sent more players to the NBA than Musselman, who

coached in the NBA from 2002-04 and 2006-07. The former Golden State

Warriors and Sacramento Kings coach has long had a knack for getting

players to the next level, as his 24 call-ups between 1990 and 1997 while

he was coaching in the CBA were the most of any other coach in that time.

Call Shaq the Big Hypocrite for his comments on Howard

Let’s put aside the big hypocrisy for a minute. The person who really needs counseling is Shaq.

His ego is way too fragile. Whether it’s jealously or insecurity or pettiness, Shaq has always snarled when he feels his place on stage is threatened.

His Enemies List is longer than Richard Nixon’s. The favorite target the past few years has been Howard, who, as far as anyone knows, has never done anything other than play hard against O’Neal on the court and be deferential off it.

But Howard also had the temerity to call himself Superman, a term Shaq apparently feels he has the copyright to. Even if Dwight had never put on a red cape in the dunk contest, O’Neal would have had issues.

Anything Howard accomplishes somehow diminishes Shaq’s legacy, or at least O’Neal sees it that way. So he has rarely passes on a chance to pick at Dwight. The latest gig came in a conference call about the upcoming All-Star Game in Orlando.

“It’d be good if he could put on a show a get the love and support from the fans and win the MVP,” O’Neal said. “Hopefully he stays because that arena there is one of the best arenas in the country. If he leaves, it’ll be a travesty.”

Shaq’s right, it would be nice if Howard had a big game in front of the fans who have given him unconditional love for seven years. It would be even better if O’Neal would start giving him a little less grief.

At least his latest salvo has been greeted with a Big Belly Laugh. O’Neal, you may recall, left Orlando a basketball wasteland when he bolted in 1996.

He now says he wanted to stay with the Magic, but Los Angeles presented a better opportunity. To do what, you might ask?

It certainly wasn’t to win a title. Even though he ended up winning three of them, the Lakers of ’96 had Nick Van Exel, Eddie Jones and fresh high school graduate named Bryant.

The Magic had Penny Hardaway, Dennis Scott and Nick Anderson. They were all 25 or younger and had already been to an NBA Finals.

Maybe The Big Nostradamus knew Bryant would evolve into an all-timer. More likely, he’d always wanted to be Laker, bask in the Hollywood life and make bad movies.

That was all well and good, but it hardly leaves him in position to put a warm arm of guidance around Howard and tell him to stay in Orlando, simply because the Magic can offer more money.

They certainly can’t offer him more rings. Not the way Otis Smith has surrounded Howard with overpriced flotsam and jetsam

New York Knicks guard Jeremy Lin added to All-Star event

NEW YORK— Jeremy Lin will play in the Rising Stars Challenge after all.

The Knicks point guard was added Thursday to the roster of players for the Feb. 24 game, just before Shaquille O'Neal and Charles Barkley began drafting for their teams.

Lin's breakout came after the pool of 18 players was selected, and the NBA was pressured to add him after he scored 136 points in his first five starts, most by an NBA player since the merger with the ABA in 1976-77.

Beyond his strong play, there has been enormous interest in Lin because he was undrafted out of Harvard and is the first American-born NBA player of Chinese or Taiwanese descent. Other NBA players have praised his feats on Twitter, and even President Barack Obama is a fan.

But Commissioner David Stern had told USA Today that Lin would not receive a special invite to play in the game involving rookies and second-year players.

Barkley praised the addition, saying it was "really stupid the NBA denied him in the beginning."

O'Neal took Lin with his third pick after starting with the Clippers' Blake Griffin. Barkley took Cleveland's Kyrie Irving at No. 2.

Miami's Norris Cole also was added to make 20 eligible players.

The game formerly matched rookies against second-year players, but the NBA changed the format this season so the teams would be mixed. O'Neal and Barkley served as general managers.

The other second-year players are Griffin, John Wall (Washington), DeMarcus Cousins (Sacramento), Landry Fields (New York), Paul George (Indiana), Gordon Hayward (Utah), Greg Monroe (Detroit), Tiago Splitter (San Antonio) and Evan Turner (Philadelphia).

The other rookies include Irving, Ricky Rubio (Minnesota), Kemba Walker (Charlotte), MarShon Brooks (New Jersey), Brandon Knight (Detroit), Kawhi Leonard (San Antonio), Markieff Morris (Phoenix), Tristan Thompson (Cleveland) and Derrick Williams (Minnesota).

Jeremy Lin, Carmelo Anthony say they’ll work well together on the floor

With the New York Knicks on a Jeremy Lin-inspired seven-game win streak, Carmelo Anthony—out since early in the first game of that run with a strained groin—is expected to return to the lineup Friday against the New Orleans Hornets. NBA observers will be watching intently to see how Anthony and Lin mesh, and some doubt the transition will be a smooth one.

Neither Lin nor Anthony, however, foresees a problem.

“I’ve been hearing reports, ‘can Jeremy coexist with Melo?’ and everything like that,” Lin said on WFAN in an interview transcribed by Sports Radio Interviews. “I’m just confused because he was the one who vouched for me in the first place (by asking coach Mike D’Antoni to put him on the floor). So, we want to play together and want to work together and are buying into that. Some people call Melo selfish and (say) he doesn’t buy into the team. That’s just tough for anyone to hear, especially when we don’t think it’s true.”

Lin added that with Anthony back, he’s likely to take fewer shots. “That’s the job of a point guard,” Lin said. “I don’t want to come out here and shoot 20 shots a game, but if that’s what the defense gives me, then on those nights that’s what I’m going to have to do.”

On a separate appearance on WFAN, Anthony said he laughs at people’s belief that he and Lin can’t co-exist. “I laugh at that. ... You just take it in stride. I am enjoying the time right now and watching Lin and the team do well. Guys are stepping up. I got hurt and guys are stepping up. We’re winning basketball games, but that’s the most important thing.

Anderson Varejao to miss several weeks with injured wrist

Anderson Varejao will be out another four to six weeks because of the fractured right wrist he sustained during the Cleveland Cavaliers’ loss to the Milwaukee Bucks on Feb. 10. Varejao, however, will not need surgery.

The center was having the best of his eight seasons in the NBA, averaging 10.8 points and 11.5 rebounds per game for the 11-16 Cavs.

Semih Erden starts in Varejao’s place.

Allen Iverson ready to play in minors in effort to get back to NBA

Allen Iverson is willing to play minor league basketball, whether that’s in the D-League, the Caribbean or South America, in order to get another shot at finishing his career in the NBA, ESPN.com reports.

"Allen only wants to play if there's a possibility that it leads to the NBA," a source told the site. "That's the only way he would go to one of these lower leagues. He wants to get back to the NBA and leave the game on his terms."

Iverson has reportedly been in talks with the Puerto Rican league, but one team there said it could not find a spot on its roster for the former NBA MVP.

While Iverson on multiple occasions has expressed his desire to play again in the NBA, news of his interest to play at a lower-level comes amid reports of his financial struggles. A Georgia judge ruled this month that Iverson's earnings be garnished so that his unpaid $860,000 jewelry bill, plus court costs, interest and attorney fees, can be paid.

There have so far been no takers in the NBA for Iverson's services. The Los Angeles Lakers' D-League affiliate, the Los Angeles Defenders, have contacted Iverson's reps, but nothing has materialized, the source told ESPN.

The source added that no deal is imminent, and that if Iverson doesn't sign with a club before the Feb. 26 NBA All-Star Game, he is likely to accept the notion that his basketball career is over.

Journeyman guard Mike James says Knicks almost cut Jeremy Lin

Linsanity almost never was.

Paul Adam, whom this Chicago Bull not long ago closed with a 10-day post paid, explained to ESPN Chicago which the Manhattan Knicks almost launched Jeremy Lin very last 30 days so that you can hint Adam from your D-League.

This Bulls delivered aboard Adam, a new stage guard, to aid support with the layoff with Derrick Increased, who’s missed tendencies games this year using bottom and also back issues.

Adam includes bounced throughout the little league considering that the 2001-02 year, suiting upward for nine diverse competitors. He’s gamed throughout about three games for Chicago this year, scoring 16 items from a overall with 26 mins. Hardly Lin-esque.

Adam, that is by Manhattan, would not begrudge Lin’s being successful. "Everything has a program and also reason lurking behind this, " Adam said, for each ESPN. "Everything comes about for your reason. I'm joyful for his or her being successful. Lets hope this he persists to complete what exactly he would need to carry out can be maintain this going. It is not what exactly people does with this adventure, it is regarding what exactly you are carrying out. ".

U.S. to face Spain in possible gold-medal game preview

Team STATES can enjoy The country throughout an exhibition adventure, July twenty four throughout Barcelona, ahead of the 2012 Olympic basketball tournament situation, Google! Sports information. This Oughout. Vertisements. could be the serious beloved for you to win this precious metal medal london, and also The country won this European championship very last summer time, hence the adventure throughout Barcelona may possibly without difficulty be a new preview of the precious metal medal adventure. This Olympic tournament situation tips away with July twenty nine.

This favorable are going to be gamed with 3 or more: 25 p. m. ET within the Palau Sant Jordi mountainside world, according to Google! It will indicate this 20 th loved-one's birthday of the Fantasy Team’s run to precious metal with the 1992 Barcelona Games. STATES Basketball can be supposed to compel people of that team for you to Barcelona for you to remember this loved-one's birthday, this site information.

Team USA’s Kobe Bryant and also Spain’s Ricky Rubio previously fueled this Oughout. Vertisements. -Spain rivalry, using some favorable rubbish converse this followed this Lakers-Timberwolves adventure throughout Minnesota very last 30 days, when Rubio promised Kobe which the Oughout. Vertisements. would likely win gold london.

This Oughout. Vertisements. conquer The country, 118-107, within the 08 gold-medal adventure throughout Beijing.

This The spanish language team can be replete using NBA these people :. In combination with Rubio, this roster as well involves Pau and also Marc Gasol, Jose Calderon and also Serge Ibaka.

Crass comments on Jeremy Lin put the twit in Twitter

What wondrous moments we all have.

Isn’t life a great deal of much better given that we all don’t must hold out one more following to understand who’s really prejudiced, along with against to whom?

Also, a large number of old-timers plus a handful of purists perform desire for a simpler, additional fantastic interval, when a Jeremy Lin could blow up on the national scene, along with a long time and even days and nights could go by previous to the prominent individuality ended up being observed and also noticed providing a little something significantly racist, degrading along with dehumanizing about your pet. And also within the little league whereby they played, for example.

Confident, along with fuel was previously the money the gallon.

Sarcasm in reserve, the earth connected with Twitting, Fb along with almost every other societal method set up and also originating possesses functioned the rspectable purpose. Folks that really want to look at the statements the past few days and nights within the Lin phenomenon—from the likes connected with Floyd Mayweather along with Jason Whitlock—and fault Twitting because if it’s a living company using a may connected with a, are generally fully not universally known the place.

They recognize how Twitting operates. They comprehend that. They don’t must know about the a fallout connected with saying a little something uninformed on that.

That will moose will be from the barn. Now there aren’t virtually any rookies to the risks connected with positioning the most fleeting, unfiltered, knee-jerk allergic reactions on screen to the globe to be able to digest right away, any longer than you can find folks that don’t realize how to avoid upsetting TV ON PC pictures by simply adjusting the station.

They knew what we were holding executing. They knew the punishment. They might don’t you have loved these people, yet at this point, they couldn’t were the amaze.

It’s not necessarily really value car detailing what virtually any of these trio tweeted about … uh … okay, yet simply this place time period, along with that’s the third from the plays on his title … Lin-sanity. You know the gist ones, a minimum of from the kinds from the globe boxing champ as well as the national columnist. (To be able to his credit history, Whitlock managed easily apologize, which often is better than nothing, and also superior to blaming the method once more. )#)

What’s value showing you, although, comprehensive along with detail, include the challenges by themselves raised by simply these people. Needless to say, the problems ended up raised in a forum that will, by simply its characteristics, is a opposing players connected with detail along with detail, not forgetting nuance along with subtlety. Not necessarily that will everyone possesses time period for your when a low-priced, lazy stereotype and also unhealthy, hateful remark will be a lot quicker, along with suits easily into 140 personas.

Everyone knows the reason why it’s therefore seductive to adopt the social media marketing journey. Nearly everybody will be is unable connected with fighting off that will testing, no matter how much much better it is going to echo done to you, and also will make the place more lucid, and also builds actual ways of the problems raised.

Also, improve the set of the allures from the Twitterverse: Parenting challenges, after that working from the these people with no acknowledging task connected with managing these people.

As well as the responsibility intended for mobilizing all the followers who nodded thirstily inside arrangement along with Mayweather, along with laughed hysterically during Whitlock.

After all, species runs right to the coronary heart connected with Lin’s standing like a across the country communicating place, thinking that gives fat for just anybody, if charcoal, white wine, Asian and also everyone else. Everything about species will be awash inside complexities. One group’s positives can certainly recently been understood because another’s problems, even when all the subtexts are generally additional.

This is not the race-neutral phenomenon, no matter the best way very difficult persons try to avoid that will factor connected with that.

Yet too many who plunge right into that, continue of these way to simply gloss over the surface area, along with nothing skims the surface area superior to the method you could get into along with get out of inside moments, with all your terms heading viral instantly.

The umbrella condemnation. The elementary laugh. And also the thoughtless generalization.

Which often gives you to your twitter a week ago that will appeared from the account connected with Northwestern football discipline Pat Fitzgerald: “There’s last but not least the NBA participant (sic) who plays very difficult along with affirms the ideal things over judge. ”

For two days and nights, Fitzgerald is at the crosshairs him or her self, considered a man connected with power along with control who hid the backhanded slap during a full sport activity, its way of life as well as the species that will recoups its bulk, on the inside what appeared to become salute to be able to Lin. It was before the most egregious illustration of an uglier portion of the Lin phenomenon: applying your pet, the exception compared to that bulk, to be able to whip " up " the remaining portion of the NBA.

That proved, although, that your fellow member connected with Fitzgerald’s personnel despatched the twitter less than the coach’s title.

Which often is wonderful for Fitzgerald, yet harmful to the staffer, along with negative for all the followers who feasted into that will mentality.

Therefore listing that will, also, less than very difficult classes discovered social media marketing. Work with it if you value. Yet see why: if you value that will method an excessive amount of, you most likely aren’t executing very much to be able to move forward contemporary society.

Apart from by simply alert that you whilst your sick and tired imagination are generally out there.

Bobcats sink to new lows, look to get lucky in draft

Bobcats discipline Paul Silas ended up being aware, heading to the period, that this go-round may not the smooth one. That has been perhaps previous to three connected with his leading bothersome threats—point defend Ve had. J. Augustin, taking pictures defend Gerald Henderson along with tiny onward Corey Maggette—were forced from the lineup intended for major exercises on account of injuries. Along with that will actuality, the Bobcats have become going through not only the embarrassing document, yet the historically negative one.

“When My spouse and i noticed this year being released in, we all have the Maggette, we all have the Gerald Henderson, we all have the Ve had. J. Augustin, along with My spouse and i knew i was going to build at their side, ” Silas shared with Wearing Media. “So we all would have been a far better workforce than were right now. We have to play along with might know about include, along with that’s what we’re seeking to perform. ”

It’s not necessarily heading nicely. Now there doesn’t seem to be anything at all efficient with this Charlotte workforce, on sometimes conclusion from the judge. Offensively, they’re previous inside scoring, 29th inside taking pictures along with 28th inside 3-point taking pictures. Defensively, they’re 29th inside factors granted, 28th inside taking pictures portion granted.

The Bobcats have not surpassesd the 90-point tag that calendar month, they have got six losses by simply twenty-five factors and up along with sixteen losses by simply two bottle digits. They’re on the 15-game sacrificing skills to be able to decrease to be able to 3-25, total portion connected with. 107. Because the lockout-shortened season, Charlotte won’t leading the ’73 Sixers for the reason that worst inside little league history, yet that will team’s earning portion ended up being. 110—and the Bobcats could eclipse that will document.

“It’s heading to become tough hop on over, ” TNT analyst Steve Kerr reported. “They’ve fully bottomed out there. They're just a complete catastrophe right now. They'll have to get fortunate from the lottery along with become really strong just as one corporation from the upcoming couple of years to obtain via that. ”

It’s zero secret regarding what sort of Bobcats became here—they’ve in no way set up by themselves into their marketplace the way in which the Hornets managed previous to these people, thinking that aids leading company to be able to touch cents.

An old user Bob Johnson ended up being gambling the workforce would certainly match up the Hornets’ recognition if they ordered the extension privileges intended for $300 mil. Alternatively, they ended up selling that to be able to Michael Jordan truly for a reported $275 mil. That’s the $25 mil deprivation beforehand, yet issue in that , much of what Jordan paid arrived comprising suppose the team’s personal debt, along with you do have a franchise that has been hemorrhaging funds.

And for that reason, from the eighteen months because the Bobcats confirmed offer by making their particular one along with simply playoff visual appeal, Jordan possesses hacked the team’s payroll, hoping to obtain out from below the weighty plans connected with DeSagana Diop, Maggette along with Boris Diaw from the summertime connected with 2013. They permit place defend Raymond Felton go inside no cost company truly, making only one low-ball offer you. They traded in Tyson Chandler intended for Erick Dampier’s expiring contract. They traded in Gerald Wallace to be able to Portland for more expiring plans. They traded in workforce boss Stephen Jackson intended for Maggette, a deal breaker that will didn’t provide massive benefits yet afforded the Bobcats the lottery choose. Inside full, the roster has been sapped connected with skills due to these types of techniques.

“I believe they have got to an excellent level along with Gerald Wallace along with Stephen Jackson, ” reported NBA TV ON PC analyst Steve Cruz, who played lightly to the extension Bobcats when they get home connected with his occupation. “I can’t chat intended for Michael Jordan, however you observe what’s taking place , right now. If they became gone Gerald Wallace, that appeared to myself such as Microphone ended up being taking again plans, expiring plans.... That workforce right now appears like its bottoming out there, yet they're just going to repair through scratch. Sadly, you do have a workforce that will looked like it was before becoming greater it's true it’s bottoming out there. ”

It’s not necessarily going to get better for the short term. The Bobcats include let it become identified that will virtually any experienced on the roster may be have by simply upcoming month’s trade deadline, if salary reduction and/or set up randomly chooses are generally included—but you can find which has no assets still left to be able to trade. The anticipation is that, on this year’s stacked set up course, the Bobcats may property the franchise participant, maybe Kentucky’s Anthony Davis and also North Carolina’s Harrison Barnes. They’ll probably become in for tough moments upcoming period, also, yet that can imply a further big-time set up choose.

The style is a Thunder, who endured eighteen months along with 43 combined is the winner, yet arrived connected with that while using key connected with what the heck is at this point one of the best workforce from the NBA. The Thunder are also lucky to get All-Star online players on the snowboard if they include drafted.

“You will get fortunate. ” Kerr reported. “If a person evaluate Oklahoma City/Seattle, we were holding horrible for two decades, yet due to becoming horrible, they made it possible to set up Kevin Durant, David Harden, Russell Westbrook. A person much better become excellent, also, although. A person can’t try to be lucky—you 've to select the ideal guys. ”

That’s result in intended for trepidation inside Charlotte. A booming repair involves that will Jordan’s workforce produce the ideal choices from the set up, along with that’s if brands such as Adam Morrison along with Kwame Darkish, a couple of connected with Jordan’s most heavy set up flops, come to mind. The jury continues to be out there on previous year’s a couple of lottery randomly chooses, Kemba Walker along with Bismack Biyombo, yet one Far east hunt details the binocular because “solid allies, excellent regular guys, however , not online players who ought to be starters from the NBA, at this point and also from now on. ”

Eventually, becoming really, really negative at this point could exercise sessions intended for Charlotte. At the same time, Silas must learn how to continue his online players engaged along with try to continue his workforce from the document guides.

“We’re aiming to repair, along with whenever you’re aiming to repair, it’s going to become tough, ” they reported. “So I simply assume since it will be, along with I think, one or two years to come, we’re heading to become far better golf ball team. There are a number connected with guys on the workforce I do believe we can build along with.... It’s hard. Sacrificing will be in no way enjoyment not has been, along with Relating to in no way really displaced this way. Yet it’s just simply the way in which its. ”.

NBA reportedly looking to add Jeremy Lin to All-Star festivities in Orlando

Many around the NBA are wondering if the league will make sure that Jeremy Lin is part of next weekend’s All-Star festivities in Orlando. Commissioner David Stern has said he won’t add Lin to the Rising Stars game, which features the league’s best first- and second-year players, and there's no way he'll play in Sunday's main event. But, the New York Daily News reports, the NBA wants to add Lin to the Haier Shooting Stars competition on Saturday night.

The Shooting Stars competition pits one current NBA player, one WNBA player from the same market and a TNT personality against other trios of the same makeup from around the league.

It would be almost shocking if the NBA fails to capitalize on Lin’s sudden popularity by finding a spot for him in Orlando, and the Shooting Stars competition, not one that has traditionally generated much buzz, would benefit immensely from his participation.

Metta World Peace, Mike Brown clear the air

Lakers coach Mike Brown sat down with Metta World Peace to address World Peace’s opinion that Brown’s decision are too heavily-weighted in statistics and that he should be getting more quality playing time despite his poor shooting. The two “talked and cleared the air,” and Brown and World Peace said that everything between them is just fine, the Los Angeles Daily News reports.

"The main thing is just winning," World Peace said before the Lakers beat the Atlanta Hawks, 86-78, on Tuesday night. "The main thing here is everybody wants to win. That's a good sign. I was not frustrated. It was not frustration. I was just looking for consistency."

Brown said, per the Daily News, "I'm the coach. I make the decisions. I'll make a change if I feel I need to. I talked not just to him but a lot of guys on the team because I have changed the minutes. ... If I were a stats guy, Metta wouldn't be playing at all. If I were him, I would be frustrated."

Despite the kumbaya moment between coach and player, World Peace’s status in L.A. appears rocky. Some of Lakers players told Fox Sports West that they’re concerned about their teammate's mental health and that they wouldn’t mind seeing him traded.

Mark Cuban knocks David Stern (again) for trading Chris Paul

With the NBA-owned Hornets sitting at a dreadful 5-23, Mavericks owner Mark Cuban blasted the league for the decision to trade Chris Paul from New Orleans to the Los Angeles Clippers before the season. The Hornets, Cuban opined, would have been better off holding onto Paul for the rest of the season—and watching him walk away as a free agent in summer 2012—rather than trading him to the Clippers for a package that included Eric Gordon, Chris Kaman, Al-Farouq Aminu and Minnesota's unprotected 2012 first-round pick.

"You're better off just taking the cap room, or whatever,"

In fairness to the Hornets, Gordon, the centerpiece of the package they got in return for Paul, has played only two games this season because of a bone bruise. But the trade looks even worse for the Hornets with the news that Gordon will miss an additional six weeks after having arthroscopic surgery on his right knee on Tuesday. Plus, Gordon may leave New Orleans as a free agent this offseason, anyway, since the team did not sign him to an extension by the Jan. 25 deadline.

The Hornets originally tried to trade Paul to the Lakers in a three-way deal that also included the Rockets, but that move was nixed by commissioner David Stern, who was acting as steward of the New Orleans franchise. Some believed Stern wanted to keep Paul away from the Lakers, since thrust of the owners’ stance in the collective-bargaining negotiations was that big-market teams had too many advantages when it came to acquiring the league’s best players.

"I don't think it was about the Lakers, per se," Cuban said, per ESPN. "I think it was just the way they did the deal, which was ridiculous. I don't think it was about which team. I think it was the fact that, even with the Clippers, we just went through this whole (collective bargaining agreement) and said the incumbent team still has the advantage and then the team the league owns (wimps) out. And look how it's worked out for them.

"Bad management gets you bad results."

Lakers’ interest in Gilbert Arenas reportedly tepid

While Lakers GM Mitch Kupchak attended Gilbert Arenas’ workout Sunday in Los Angeles, the team’s interest in the free agent guard is lukewarm, a source tells the L.A. Times.

Arenas reportedly looked good in his workout, and Hoopsworld’s Alex Kennedy tweeted he “worked hard over the summer and dropped roughly 20 lbs. ... He was working out in Orlando until last week and several people, outside of Gil's inner circle, told me that he looked great. ”

Still, not many league observers are buying the notion that acquiring Arenas would be too impactful for the Lakers’ on-court success. Once a prolific scorer, Arenas’ production has declined considerably in recent seasons. In 49 games with the Magic last season, he averaged 8.0 points and shot just 34.4 percent from the field and 27.5 percent from 3-point range.

Lakers coach Mike Brown says he has not even had a discussion with Kupchak about Arenas, ESPN notes.

Kobe Bryant, meanwhile, nodded when asked if he was in favor of Arenas joining the team, according to the report.

"It surely wouldn't hurt," Bryant said.

Is Lakers' Metta World Peace on verge of a breakdown?

Lakers players are concerned about Metta World Peace’s state of mind, FoxSportsWest.com reports. World Peace, formerly Ron Artest, “might be on the verge of a meltdown,” according to some teammates cited by the website.

World Peace is "walking around all crazy-like. We're just waiting for him to go off," one Laker said.

World Peace told CBSSports.com recently that new Lakers coach Mike Brown puts too much emphasis on stats when making decisions about his rotation, and that he should get more playing time late in games because of his defense.

"He's always talking about how he should be playing no matter how bad he's shooting, but he can't figure out that when he takes bad shots and misses eight in a row it puts us in a hole," another teammate told Fox Sports.

The team may trade World Peace, not because of a personality conflict with Brown, but because he isn’t playing well. Such a move would not be protested by other Lakers players, according to the report.

"There are a lot of guys in here who'd just like to see him gone," one player told Fox Sports. "I think we'd definitely be a better team if everyone didn't have to walk on eggshells when he's around."

Jeremy Lin affecting change in New York, around entire NBA

It took only five games, but Jeremy Lin is changing things. He’s about to cause even more things to change, not only in New York, but perhaps at the All-Star game and on your television, too.

Start with the Knicks, who are getting back power forward Amare Stoudemire for tonight’s game in Toronto. Both Stoudemire and All-Star small forward Carmelo Anthony have missed the entirety of the Lin phenomenon, and one of the pressing problems facing coach Mike D’Antoni is how to transition the two stars back into the lineup without disrupting the magic that has propelled the Knicks to a five-game win streak.

One idea floated on Tuesday by NBA TV analyst Steve Smith: Change the lineup. Put Anthony at power forward, shift Stoudemire to center and bring Tyson Chandler off the bench. Or, at least, if Chandler starts, get Anthony and Stoudemire into a power forward-center combo as much as possible. “If you look at Jeremy Lin’s run, they’re kind of back to Mike D’Antoni basketball, with Jared Jeffries at the 4, and the spacing of Steve Novak,” Smith said on a conference call for TNT's and NBA TV's All-Star coverage “Maybe there are some times you can play Carmelo Anthony at the 4 with Amare at the 5.”

TNT analyst Steve Kerr—general manager of the Suns when D’Antoni was in Phoenix—seconded that motion, pointing out Lin’s ability to run the staple of D’Antoni’s offense, the pick-and-roll, has been a big part of the team’s resurgence. And Lin has been running it with Chandler, who is averaging 14.6 points on 65.9 percent shooting in the last five games. Now, the Knicks will have Stoudemire on the floor, too.

“It’s a great point about the lineups, maybe have Carmelo at the 4 and Amare at the 5 because, what’s happened, along with Jeremy Lin’s play, is that Tyson Chandler has been a monster because he is the one rolling to the rim and scoring big,” Kerr said. “Now with Amare, you have two guys who want to roll and play that position. Can the Knicks space the floor with Chandler and Amare playing?”


Another issue raised on today’s conference call was the possibility of finding some role for Lin at this year’s All-Star festivities in Orlando. Obviously, he can’t be added to the All-Star roster, and even if there’s an injury, he hasn’t played enough to warrant a spot. But he could be worthy of the Rising Stars game, held the Friday night before Sunday’s main event and consists of rookies and second-year players. The pool of players is already set, and the rosters will be decided by a draft conducted by Hall of Famers Shaquille O’Neal and Charles Barkley on Thursday.

O’Neal is hopeful the league will find a way to get Lin involved.

“Business-wise, it would be good,” O’Neal said. “He has taken New York by storm. He is an NBA sensation. It is one of those great 'Rocky' style stories, this guy you never heard of becoming a star. It’s not like people would be upset. I think people will want to see what the guy can do.”

Even if he is not in Orlando, he will almost certainly be making more appearances on national television. The Knicks have 14 national television appearances lined up for the rest of the season. Four are on ABC on Sundays, four are on TNT and six are on ESPN, with a total of eight of those appearances coming in April.

Turner Sports executive producer Jeff Behnke said today, though, that there could be alterations coming to that schedule. “Those discussions will be taking place, certainly after All-Star weekend, and certainly as we get closer to the playoffs,” Behke said. “We do have flexibility on certain nights. But no decisions have been made at this point on any scheduling changes.”

Ten days ago, few people had even heard of Jeremy Lin. Now, five games later, he is changing everything.

Kevin Garnett iffy for Celtics’ next two games with hip flexor

Celtics forward Kevin Garnett suffered a hip flexor injury during Sunday’s win over the Bulls and may miss the next two games, including Wednesday’s game against the Pistons, the Boston Herald reports. Garnett is the only Celtics player to have appeared in all 27 of the team’s games so far this season.

Boston may also be without two other forwards for the Pistons game—Mickael Pietrus, who has a right knee injury, and Brandon Bass, who’s dealing with swelling in his left knee.


“It started for Kevin during the game the other day," coach Doc Rivers said, per the Herald. "Kevin has a 50-50 chance (Wednesday night). He’s the best of the three, but all are doubtful.”

Rivers added, "It’s nothing bad with Kevin, but (trainer Eddie Lacerte) suggested two days off, and then he said today maybe even three days off."

After hosting the Pistons, the Celtics visit Chicago Thursday night.

Two people apply to register ‘Linsanity’ trademark

NBA NEW-The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has received two applications for the registration of “Linsanity,” the term that describes the phenomenon of second-year Knicks guard Jeremy Lin, Bloomberg News reports.

California resident Yenchin Chang, 35, the first person to file the trademark application, said, “I wanted to be a part of the excitement.” Chang, who, like Lin, is of Taiwanese descent, added, “I’m very proud of Jeremy.”

Andrew W. Slayton, also from California, filed the second application. Slayton said he used to coach Lin in high school and that in 2010 he registered the domain names Linsanity.com and thejeremylinshow.com, where Lin-related merchandise is being sold, Bloomberg notes.

Attorney Milord A. Keshishian told Bloomberg the law may prevent Chang and others from profiting off of such a trademark. “This looks like a bad-faith attempt to profit from Jeremy Lin’s recent acclaim,” Keshishian said.

Attorney Gary Krugman agrees, saying he’d advise Lin to file his own application and contest whichever application is approved. “I have a feeling both of these guys are small operators,” he said. “If Jeremy comes in with a big law firm they won’t be able to hang with him.”

Coach Brown can not understand what’s best for Lakers

Metta World Peace believes this different Lakers’ coach Paul Brownish can be hence aimed at stats this he does not find on line casinos the gamer formerly also known as Ron Artest may bring towards team the later part of throughout games. World Peace can be filming a new small 31. 5 various % from your area and also of sixteen. four % by 3-point selection, and in many cases his or her preserving stats are below average, although he insists Brownish can be lacking this large graphic and also “doesn’t understand” this structure of the team.

"I'm wanting to win, " World Peace explained to CBSSports.com. "And right now, coach is a stats guy. His background is video coordinator or whatever. So he's all stats. But Ron Artest is all feel. He doesn't understand that. Having me in (Thursday night’s Celtics) game at the end, he was worried about me shooting bad from the free throw line. And I was like, 'I could care less because I'm gonna get a stop at the end of the game.' He didn't understand the rhythm that we had—me, Fish (Derek Fisher), Kobe (Bryant), Pau (Gasol) and Drew (Andrew Bynum). I've been through games where I would have two points, go 1 for 9 and we'd win. That's what matters. Stats are for people who need stats."

World Peace, that is using simply twenty two. 3 or more mins for each adventure below Brownish, this fewest with 13-year NBA employment, pronounces Brownish would not realize his or her affect this preserving finish, typically mainly because Brownish under no circumstances gamed skilled basketball.

"If I really could be counted how many occasions a different team went off from the most effective gambler when i was with him, Truly have to be including Simply no. a single within the little league, " World Peace said, for each CBS Sports. "That's not only a cit, and also coach would not... people will have to enjoy basketball for you to think. When Phil Jackson was below, that is why I got in the game, mainly because he realizes that. Philly and also Utah, I got around the bench owing to stats.... I do think he simply includes to obtain a improved look of the gamers. ".

Spurs early season success with role players

In this article i am once more, with all the Spurs possessing jam-packed up its boot styles in addition to moseyed about from in a niche community for any up coming 12 nights, vacating that AT&T Facility to create approach for any total San Antonio Stock Present in addition to Rodeo. Establishing Mon within Memphis, they will perform 9 straight mmorpgs on your way, not surfacing once more within Arizona right until that 29th, several nights following on from the All-Star activity.

Since regular, they will prepared therefore to their getaway which has a successful talent, consuming its next in the strip through slamming heli-copter flight league-best Thunder about Saturday, any acquire which produced these folks within several mmorpgs regarding Oklahoma Metropolis and also the top rated seed starting in the Rest of the world. All of it noises quite Spurs-like—a good early-season beat, a little bit February bonding moment abroad, in addition to because of the moment early spring proceeds around, that collection shall be playoff-ready in addition to close to the top rated in the discussion.

With the exception, certainly, this can be not an average Spurs crew. They were the superior seed starting in the Rest of the world recently, nonetheless decreased its cutting open collection into the Grizzlies, paying attention to San Antonio’s very first completely healthy opening-round playoff decrease of that Bernard Duncan Era (another not one but two first-round cutbacks emerged whenever Manu Ginobili appeared to be injured last season so when Duncan appeared to be out within ’00). They will always make it possible for Duncan to diminishes in to the background, since this individual averages thirteen. 6th details by using career lows within units (30. several), rebounds (several. 6), firing (47. several pct) in addition to prevents (one particular. one particular). They want been without Ginobili because Present cards a couple of, whenever this individual out of cash his / her side in addition to essential medical procedures that is certainly maintaining your ex out with regard to 6-8 months.

Yet, that Spurs own handled to stay themselves on the list of contenders in the Rest of the world through identifying essential contributions from a good number of small-part players, some thing we’ve noticed that Spurs prosper over the years. Around San Antonio’s recent background is around Tony adamowicz Parker, Duncan in addition to Ginobili, it might be quite definitely with regards to its capacity to pluck unknowns right out the NBA bargain-basement in addition to change these folks directly into helpful players—Avery Johnson wouldn't normally end up being a good NBA private coach if not with regard to his / her moment with all the Spurs, Stephen Jackson wouldn't normally own produced $50 trillion within his / her NBA career if not for any Spurs, in addition to there’s not a way Bruce Bowen can have experienced his / her hat retired when this individual hadn’t been within San Antonio.

Recently, undrafted fresh firing keep Gary Neal in addition to second-year second-round power forward DeJuan Blair demonstrated its mettle. All those not one but two tend to be essential cogs right now, in addition to, unfortunately, that Spurs are hoping to bridegroom a fresh era regarding unheralded contributors as they quite simply always consider that stress off Ginobili in addition to Duncan. When San Antonio’s playoff circumstances shall be several this holiday season, it will eventually possibly fall to whether or not that Spurs obtain major has from a good number of mix off these kinds of mainly untested men:

Kawhi Leonard. Leonard appeared to be obtained in the Pacers in the draft-day deal with regard to famous mix keep George Hill. Once the deal appeared to be produced, the idea looked like that Spurs were being quiting a certain amount of its within dreams of getting better player, long-term, and most gifted that Pacers that acquire to the deal. Nonetheless since Leonard is rolling out, he has demonstrated which he has that protecting talent, rebounding capacity in addition to only plenty of scoring to add without delay. This individual appeared to be excellent in the OKC acquire, serving to hold on to leading scorer Kevin Durant to 25 details even though scoring 12-15 regarding his / her private.

“He truly hasn’t used any in the protecting techniques most people may work with, ” Spurs private coach Gregg Popovich explained. “We only tell him, ‘do this specific as well as make it happen, ’ in addition to that’s quite challenging, so considering that, Post notion this individual appeared to be wonderful alongside the next Arena regarding Popularity player. ”

Tiago Splitter. Spurs supporters are actually looking forward to quite a while with regard to Splitter, which emerged into the NBA only recently once this individual appeared to be that team’s first-round opt for within 2007. So Splitter is due to his / her minute 12 months in addition to he or she is by now 30. As consider, you’d possibly love to notice that Spurs consider that work out plans trolley wheels off, nonetheless which has a frontcourt which includes Duncan in addition to Blair, by using Shiny Bonner to be a floor-spacing shooter, it’s challenging to provide your ex more than that 17-25 units Popovich normally offers your ex. Nonetheless, within all those units, there is no concern which Splitter is actually building an impact in addition to exhibiting marvelous growth. Recently, this individual appeared to be a good player close to the basket, nonetheless didn't complete considerably in addition. This holiday season, he has demonstrated better firing range, is actually firing 61. one particular pct in the flooring in addition to offers greatly improved upon his / her free-throw firing (from 54. several recently to 71. 0 pct this specific months) in addition to safety.

Danny Efficient. That Spurs used Efficient to the advice regarding original Cavaliers general supervisor Danny Ferry, which appreciated Efficient plenty of to create your ex Cleveland’s second-round opt for last season. Efficient didn’t notice considerably flooring moment within his / her very first not one but two conditions, nonetheless enjoyed good in the D-League in addition to offers worked themselves in to the sixth-man spot which were being lived in through Hill. He or she is a reliable 3-point shooter, in addition to from 6-6, 210 pounds by using good basics, he has become a good over ordinary perimeter defender.

Whenever dealing with Efficient continue four week period, Popovich truly might have been dealing with any number regarding Spurs players: “He’s been through considerably. "

"He’s been through plenty of trials in addition to been denied more often than not over the last not too long. He’s an awesome case in point regarding keeping the idea without receiving along about one’s do-it-yourself, carrying on to learn, strengthen, listen in addition to right this moment he’s trying to play good in addition to been a significant component to just what we’ve executed. ”

That Spurs nonetheless own its several actors, and they also is certain to get any increase whenever Ginobili dividends sometime in the up coming not one but two months, in the middle in the rodeo getaway. Nonetheless whenever Ginobili will keep coming back, he'll know that his / her teammates—especially that unsung ones—have executed a good career building up with regard to his / her lack. So when that playoffs take place, that Spurs will make use of all those unsung teammates to alter continue year’s circumstances.