NEWS
- Al Harrington of the Denver Nuggets does not want to sit out with a torn right meniscus as his team is in the middle of a playoff chase.
- Darren Collison of the Indiana Pacers will miss his second straight game with a groin injury.
- Ricky Rubio of the Minnesota Timberwolves is not sure if his surgically repaired left knee will be ready in time for training camp.
NOTES
- This isn’t what Crawford expected when he signed with the Blazers four months ago. This summer, he’s expected to opt-out and become an unrestricted free agent, according to sources close to the situation. “If I opt-out, I think it’ll be really cool to have a traditional free agency,” Crawford said. “Last year, everything was so rushed. A lot of people didn’t even think we’d have a season and then, all of sudden, everything was thrown together. It happened so fast. If I choose to opt-out, this year will be much different and more traditional.” HoopsWorld
- LeBron James was asked importance of Thursday game vs Chicago to get No. 1 seed: “We want to play well. We want to play good. Honestly personally I don’t get involved in the seeding too much. I don’t get involved in it. I was No. 1 seed for two years straight and I keep you telling you guys that we didn’t win. And when we were the No. 2 seed last year and we got to the Finals… I don’t really care about seeding too much I just want to play well going into the playoffs. That’s my only concern” Sulia
- Portland Trail Blazers’ forward LaMarcus Aldridge flew to Vail, Colo., yesterday with team trainer Jay Jensen to evaluate Aldridge’s sore right hip that has been bothering him of late. Acting GM Chad Buchanan addressed the media at shootaround today and said the doctors in Colorado found something that will keep him out of tonight’s game versus the Golden State Warriors. “Doctors saw an abnormality,” Buchanan said. “That’s why we’re gonna list him as day-to-day right now and there’s gong to be further consultations and exams before any decisions are made.” CSNNW.com
RUMORS
- After an informal phone interview last week, Steve Kerr has told the Trail Blazers that he is not interested in filling their opening at general manager. Kerr, the accomplished NBA guard and former general manager of the Phoenix Suns, said he is happy with his life as a broadcaster for TNT, which allows him to spend more time with his family. It is the same reason he gave the Trail Blazers last May when team president Larry Miller first approached him as a candidate to fill the vacancy left by the firing of Rich Cho. Oregonian
- Former general manager of the New Orleans Hornets, Jeff Bower, is “very intrigued” by the Portland Trail Blazers’ GM vacancy, according to a source familiar with his thinking. The source also says Bower “would definitely be interested in interviewing for the position” if the Trail Blazers made a call. CSNNW.com
- Cuban confirmed Tuesday evening the crux of the heated halftime confrontation was Cuban questioning Odom’s commitment. Odom, who had played only four minutes in the first half, reacted angrily to the question, shouting “stop playing games” several times. Odom did not take his seat on the bench until after the third quarter began. “Well, yeah,” Cuban said when asked whether that exchange was the final straw. “Just his response to it. Everybody goes through ups and downs. Every player does. We tried to put him in a position to succeed. You guys saw it, saw what we did. It didn’t work.ESPN.com