Amare Stoudemire may soon be ready to join the Knicks, according to Al Iannazzone of Newsday: “Amar’e Stoudemire walked off the court after shootaround and gave another indication that he’s getting closer to returning from left knee surgery. “Soon, guys,” Stoudemire said. “Soon.” The prognosis after Stoudemire had a debridement Oct. 31 was that he would miss six to eight weeks. That window is now here, although Mike Woodson said Stoudemire hasn’t been cleared to practice yet. Stoudemire has been running, shooting and working on strengthening the knee. He had a lengthy pregame workout Tuesday that featured several spin moves in the post and dunks. But Stoudemire has said he’s going to need some practices to test the knee.
- Marc J. Spears has a pair of bad news regarding the Toronto Raptors:
Raptors G Kyle Lowry has a partial tear to his right triceps muscle and has a estimated return time of 10 days. 
@SpearsNBAYahoo
Marc J. Spears
Raptors F-C Andrea Bargnani has a ligament tear in his right elbow and a strained right wrist. He is out indefinitely.
@SpearsNBAYahoo
Marc J. Spears
Ric Bucher explains what happened behind the scenes for the Lakers when they fired Mike Brown: “For those wondering why the Lakers’ coaching change has had no impact on the team’s fortunes, one big reason is, according to sources, that an ill Dr. Jerry Buss ordered the firing, posthaste, from his hospital bed, without concern about who might replace him. The move, hasty and unplanned as it might be, was apparently supported by voices outside the organization who thought it would open the door for Phil Jackson to return. But no one in the front office intended to move on Brown that quickly and, thus, no succession plan was in place. They were in full scramble mode. Teams usually consider their team’s health and the schedule and make a coaching change at optimal times — lots of winnable home games, lots of practice time, coinciding with a star returning to the floor — to make the change look like it provided a solution and aid in getting the players to buy into the new system. Instead, the Lakers made the move at the worst time.”
O.J. Mayo said DeMarcus Cousins has maturity and mental issues. Naturally, Cousins fired back and also explained the “conversation between him and Rick Carlisle. Jason Jones of The Sacramento Bee has the story: “I heard,” Cousins said. “This coming from a guy that doesn’t have a great image himself. So what does his really mean? I’m fine with it.” Mayo had problems with the NCAA in his one season at USC, which later determined he was ineligible for receiving improper benefits. In January 2011, Mayo was involved in a fight on Memphis’ team plane with teammate Tony Allen over a gambling debt. Later that month, Mayo was suspended for 10 games after testing positive for a steroid. After Monday’s game, Mayo said Cousins could be a franchise player, “but I don’t think he wants it.” “Is he a franchise player?” Cousins said. “So how is he going to tell me what I am?” Cousins said he hadn’t heard from the NBA and doesn’t expect to be disciplined. Cousins also exchanged expletives with Dallas coach Rick Carlisle during Monday’s game. “We made a run (in the third quarter),” Cousins said. “I started clapping, and the man said, ‘Eff off.’ I said, ‘Eff you,’ and that was it. And I still got scrutinized like I did something wrong.”
Due to the “groin hit”, DeMarcus Cousins has been suspended by the league, from Ben Golliver of SI: “Make it two suspensions in less than two months for Kings center DeMarcus Cousins. The NBA announced Wednesday that Cousins has been suspended for one game without pay for “striking” Mavericks guard O.J. Mayo “in the groin area” during Dallas’ 119-96 victory against Sacramento on Monday night. Cousins, who was previously banned two games for a postgame argument with Spurs broadcaster Sean Elliott, will serve his suspension during Wednesday’s game against the Bucks in Milwaukee.”
- Amir Johnson has also been suspended without pay for his unpleasant actions against a referee, from the NBA: “Amir Johnson of the Toronto Raptors has been suspended one game without pay for throwing his mouthpiece and hitting a referee, it was announced Tuesday by Stu Jackson, NBA Executive Vice President, Basketball Operations. The incident occurred with 5:01 remaining in the third quarter of Toronto’s 92-74 loss to the Portland Trail Blazers on Monday, Dec. 10, at the Rose Garden. Johnson will serve his suspension on Wednesday, Dec. 12, when the Raptors host the Brooklyn Nets at Air Canada Centre.”
Due to Steve Nash’s lingering leg issues, the Lakers will look to acquire another point guard in the interim, from ESPN: “Los Angeles Lakers point guard Steve Nash believes he will be out a while longer, and the team has begun weighing options to bolster its point guard corps. A source told ESPNLosAngeles.com that the Lakers’ options at this point are somewhat limited, but they’ll likely consider free agents such as Delonte West, who was cut by theDallas Mavericks in October, and Eddie House, as well as a trade. The Lakers remain committed to their core group of players, the source said, but feel they must address the situation at point guard with Nash’s situation difficult to get a handle on. “I think it will be at least another two weeks,” Nash told USA TODAY Sports late Monday night. “I can move. I can shoot. I just can’t run full speed. And I’m not even in shape. I’ll probably need at least a week of practice once I start running.”
Pekovic is now in his third year! Thus him being in the MIP talks last year.
My mistake. Thanks for the correction and thanks for reading.