- J.R. Smith says he is signing with the Knicks, an there is an intriguing back story. On Thursday, Smith hopped a plane from China to LAX, arriving at the airport in the late afternoon, where he was intercepted, his camp said, by a representative for the Knicks. Smith was apparently headed later in the evening to Las Vegas, and according to a source in Smith’s family, the Knicks bought a ticket for their guy and sent him along, too. New York apparently hoped to sign Smith as he cleared U.S. Customs, and I can’t say I blame them after what I heard Del Negro promised Smith, John Canzano wrote in the Oregonian. Get this: Smith was told via text message from Del Negro, in what feels like a desperate, last-ditch effort, that he’d be — a starter — for the Clippers. Start? Smith? Really? “What I text to J.R. is between J.R. and me,” Del Negro said. “We’re just trying to make our team better. I think everyone on our team understands that.”
- Adrian Wojnarowski: The Knicks are offering J.R. Smith a second year player option of $2.5M that could make deal worth $4.3M, league sources tell Y! Twitter
- In order to make room for J.R. Smith, the Knicks had to cut someone loose. Renaldo Balkman: New york was great love da big apple #imout Twitter
- Marc J. Spears: Former Clippers forward Bobby Simmons, now with D-League Reno, is working out for the Clippers today. Twitter
- Portland point guard Raymond Felton says he’s reached a point he’s never been at as a professional athlete, and playing for someone who doesn’t have confidence in him is very frustrating. “I know I’m struggling, but it’s hard to perform the way you know how when you know they don’t have confidence in you,” Felton told CSNNW.com. “Never in my days playing basketball, have I felt like a coach wasn’t confident in my abilities. It’s hard to play knowing that. “Coming in and out of games is throwing my rhythm off, but it’s something that I’ll get through.” CSNNW.com
- Star Tribune basketball writer Jerry Zgoda has tweeted that Ricky Rubio will not participate in the NBA All-Star Game skills competition next weekend. “Ricky says he won’t participate in the All Star skills challenge. Didn’t say why, just said he decided not to,” Zgoda tweeted from this morning’s practice. Minneapolis Star-Tribune
- Last we heard he was deciding between the Bulls and Heat, but then the Heat resigned gladness and word was that Przybilla was not going to be heading to Miami after all. Sam: I’m not sure anyone knows. The Bulls have worked him basically since the lockout ended and I’ve heard they continue to talk to him. It seems more now a question of whether he wants to play, which he is not sure about. He has moved back to Wisconsin and is a family guy and one of those rare players who apparently can live without the game. He knows the Bulls want him. I think so do the Bucks, where he could be the starting center with Bogut out. I suspect that’s become a consideration as its sounded to me he would like to be closer to home than Miami. Have to respect that. NBA.com
- Asked if Boston could mount a “full court press” to change D12’s mind and consider the Celtics, here’s what Woj said. I think it’s late in the game to do that. Boston has tried very hard to get into that mix to be a team he would consider. I think there are really two scenarios for him in free agency, one is going to Brooklyn with Deron Williams and the other is going to be Dallas. Dallas…do you see Mark Cuban telling everyone how great Shawn Marion is, he’s all defensive team, why does’t anybody appreciate Shawn Marion? because he’s trying to get his contract off so he’ll have the cap space to sign both Deron Williams and Dwight Howard. If they get rid of Shawn Marion, then Dallas is in the game for both those guys and then, they’ll be right there with the Nets in getting both guys. NetsDaily