SH Blog: Gasol still unhappy about benching, will not request trade; JVG rants about Howard on ABC

• The Raptors are highly interested in Rudy Gay, according to Marc Stein of ESPN: “The Memphis Grizzlies continue to field calls from teams interested in Rudy Gay and are engaged in active trade discussions with the Toronto Raptors, sources with knowledge of the talks told ESPN.com. Although the framework of a workable trade has not yet been established, sources told ESPN.com that Toronto — known to be perhaps Gay’s most determined suitor — has continued to make a hard push for the swingman. The Grizzlies, though, maintain that last week’s luxury-tax-slashing trade with Cleveland means they no longer feel the same pressure to move Gay or another high-priced player before the NBA’s Feb. 21 trade deadline.”

• J.J. Redick hopes to remain in Orlando, according to Michael Scotto of RealGM: “It’s become a home for me,” Redick told RealGM of Orlando. “I met my wife there and I’d love to play there after this year. If they wanted to re-sign me, I’d definitely consider it, obviously if I’m here past the deadline. “I like Orlando and I like the people. The community has been wonderful for me. I’m very grateful to play for one team for seven years. It’s very unique and I’m fortunate for that.” Magic general manager Rob Hennigan controls Redick’s fate for the rest of the season. As a result, Redick has kept in contact with Hennigan and his agent while rumors continue to surface. “My agent (Arn Tellem) has kept me in the loop and Rob has kept me in the loop,” said Redick. “Nothing is imminent, nothing is in the foreseeable future. I expect that there will be more discussion, more serious discussion I should say, around the deadline. If I’m here, I’m here. If I’m not here, I’m not here. There’s nothing I can do to control that situation.”

• Steve Nash says the Lakers aren’t running any specific offense in particular, from McMenamin of ESPN Los Angeles: “”This isn’t necessarily any offense,” Nash said after the Lakers’ 105-96 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder on Sunday. “This is bringing the ball down, calling over a pick and playing the game and because we have good players on the floor, when (Bryant) distributes we can make them pay for leaning too much to Kobe. When they lean too much to us, he makes them pay.”… “There is an adjustment but I think the key for us is to not look at the past and how we played in the past individually and say, ‘Hey, I had success doing it this way,'” Nash said.

• Keyon Dooling is considering a comeback with the Celtics due to Rajon Rondo’s injury, according to Gary Washburn of Boston Globe: “Dooling, 32, retired after last season following shocking revelations that he was sexually abused as a child. He joined the Celtics front office in October and has been working in an advisory role, taking selected road trips with the club. He said he has entertained thoughts of return to the court, and the Celtics now have a need for a veteran point guard. “I’m not in shape, but I would [consider it],” he told the Globe after the Celtics’ 100-98 double-overtime win over the Heat Sunday at TD Garden.”

• Kevin Garnett advised Rondo to take his time with the torn ACL, from Mark Murphy of Boston Herald: ““The first thing I told him was, do not play Superman,” Garnett said after yesterday’s 100-98 double-overtime win over Miami. “Take care of yourself. I know you think you’re young, but you’re not that young. He’s old in a young body, if you will. But take it seriously. Go get second opinions. Live right.”… He’s played through a lot of things you guys have no idea about, nor will I share now,” Garnett said. “The game in Sacramento, he shouldn’t have even played that game. I’ve seen Paul (Pierce) play through some stuff, I saw Ray (Allen) when he was here muscle through some stuff. He’s a tough kid and I learned that the first day I got here. It’s no surprise. That’s why I said what I said to him: Hey, you’re a human being, take care of yourself.”

• Ken Berger explained which team may have the most interest in Paul Pierce: “One team that rival execs expect to be at the forefront of the Pierce pursuit is Memphis, which delayed but did not solve its long-term payroll concerns by getting under the luxury-tax line with last week’s trade with Cleveland. While Memphis can survive for the rest of this season without trading Rudy Gay, Zach Randolph or Marc Gasol, it still cannot sustain such a top-heavy payroll for the next two seasons. Pierce would keep the Grizzlies dangerous — arguably, make them more dangerous — for the rest of this season, and allow them to reorganize their spending as soon as next season.

• Chris Paul has no timetable for a return from a bone bruise in his knee, from Jim Peltz of Los Angeles Times: “There still is no set date for the return of injured Clippers point guard Chris Paul, Coach Vinny Del Negro said Sunday. “Day to day, no timetable,” Del Negro said of Paul, the team’s star playmaker who is out because of a bruised right kneecap. “With a bone bruise it’s just a matter of letting it calm down,” and then the Clippers have to wait “until he gets out on the court [in practice] and see how he reacts,” Del Negro said. In the meantime, “it’s a matter of when [head trainer] Jasen[Powell] gives him the OK to get out there and start working,” Del Negro said.

• Jeff Van Gundy went on quite a rant about Howard and his maturity issues:

 

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