NBA Rumors and News for October 11, 2013

Daily Trivia: During the 2009-10 season, which team became just the fifth team in NBA history to lose 70 games in a single season?

Pau Gasol unlikely to take a pay cut to remain with the Lakers
Posted 4:15 pm ET
With his free agency pending once the 2013-14 season concludes, Pau Gasol has made it clear that his chances of taking a significant pay cut to remain with the Los Angeles Lakers are slim to none. Gasol has recently talked openly about keeping his options open. Per the Los Angeles Daily News , when asked if he would be willing to take a significant pay cut in the interest of the Lakers maximizing financial flexibility his response was,”Probably not.” he said. “You have to explore your options, but I would like to continue to play for the Lakers and maybe finish my career here. But you have to see the cards on the table.”

Kendrick Perkins denies wrongdoing in alleged assault case
Posted 2:30 pm ET
The attorney for Oklahoma City center Kendrick Perkins has released a statement denying any wrongdoing in the pending assault case against his client. Perkins is accused of punching a woman and her brother. Per NewsOk.com: “Kendrick Perkins did nothing wrong, and I am confident that he will be exonerated,” said Matt Hennessy of DeGuerin, Dickson, Hennessy and Ward. “My client takes these charges very seriously. He is a respectful and kind person and is anxious to address these charges for the sake of his family and his team. We will defend these allegations vigorously in court.”

Jason Collins confused on why no NBA team has signed him
Posted 1:00 pm ET
As the first openly gay NBA player, Jason Collins has already cemented himself in history in that regard. A career journeyman, having played for over 12 years on six different teams, Collins questions why he hasn’t received interest from an NBA team already. Despite being a moderately average player for most of his career with averages of 3.6 points and 3.8 rebounds, it does bring to question if his sexual orientation has kept teams from signing him. Per The New York Times: “You don’t want to speculate – I don’t go there,” he said, while picking at a bowl of greens in a cafe in the Brentwood section of Los Angeles, near where he lives.However, while conceding he would at this stage of his career be at the lower end of a team’s depth chart, he admitted being perplexed because, he said: “I feel there are players in the league right now that, quite frankly, I’m better than.”