Royce White played his first game of the season in the D-League, and was pretty out of shape, according to insider Ric Bucher: “Whatever Rockets PF Royce White has been doing the last few months while working out mental-health protocol with the team, sources connected to the team’s NBDL team say it hasn’t been conditioning work. The report from his first appearance is that he is woefully out of shape. Perhaps that shouldn’t be a surprise, but it feeds the view of many around the league who are skeptical about just how committed White is to making the most of his chance at an NBA career.”
Bucher also shared one GM’s particular view about what the Hawks are trying to do with Josh Smith: “One GM’s view on Josh Smith being dangled out there by the Atlanta Hawks: it’s not that they’re committed to moving him as much as they want to show him his options and potentially utilize that to persuade him that staying in Atlanta for less than a maximum salary — his desire — could be more attractive. There remains a very good chance that if he is moved, it is after the season rather than before the February trade deadline.”
Paul Pierce has been playing with a hidden injury this season, from Jessica Camerato of CSNNE: “Paul Pierce has kept his discomfort under wraps. The Boston Celtics captain said Wednesday night he has been playing this season with a pinched nerve in his neck. Pierce has been battling through pain and stepping up while three teammates went down for the season. “It’s something that’s been bothering me probably like the last two months,” Pierce said after the Celtics 71-69 win over the Chicago Bulls. “It’s getting better, though. The last couple of weeks, it’s been better than it has been.”
DeMarre Carroll confronted Kevin Durant for playing dirty, from Steve Luhm of The Salt Lake Tribune: “When Durant threw a block into Alec Burks and was called for his first career flagrant foul with 6:06 left in the Jazz’s 109-94 win, Carroll responded. Carroll walked over to Durant and said something to him. Durant responded, and players from both teams gathered around. The confrontation did not escalate, although Carroll and Durant received technical fouls. Said Carroll: “I just told him, ‘Don’t be playing dirty out here. If you’re going to play dirty, play dirty in the park. We’re not going to be playing dirty out here.”
Dwight Howard allegedly told Rudy Gay that he should have waited (as if it’s possible to wait on getting traded) and joined Howard in Brooklyn, according to Stephen A. Smith (via Nets Income): “I had a reliable source tell me this…Dwight Howard will categorically deny it, but i trust my source…when they were playing Toronto recently, he sat there on the court and told Rudy Gay, ‘You messed up bad man. You should have waited and ended up with me in Brooklyn next year. That’s what he told him. “Now, here’s the problem. He doesn’t determine that. He can’t force his way to Brooklyn, can’t pull that off. You gotta remember, the way the rules are stipulated now, you understand, the reality of the situation is that with the Nets, he had his chance.”
- Gay, by the way, had this to say when asked what he missed about Memphis, from sideline reporter Rob Fischer:
If Rudy Gay keeps answering questions, maybe Memphis fans will get over it. Rudy when asked what he missed about Memphis, "Nothing"
@thefishnation
Rob Fischer
The 76ers have no interest in trading for Josh Smith, according to John N. Mitchell of Inquirer: “Websites have speculated about a possible trade that would send Evan Turner and Spencer Hawes to Atlanta for soon-to-be unrestricted free agent Josh Smith, but such a deal would not interest the 76ers, according to two league sources with knowledge of the situation. “Why would the Sixers be interested in making a deal for a player who can walk at the end of the season and leave them holding nothing but the bag?” one source said. “I don’t see where that makes sense for them.” Although the Sixers would acquire Smith’s Larry Bird rights – meaning they could sign him to a more lucrative deal than any other team – they would have no guarantee that Smith would re-sign with them.”
The Bobcats are more determined than ever to trade Ben Gordon, from Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports: “After a bout of disruptive behavior from Ben Gordon targeted at Charlotte Bobcats coach Mike Dunlap, the franchise’s desire to trade the guard has deepened, league sources told Yahoo! Sports. As Dunlap led the Bobcats in a morning shootaround on Monday before a victory over the Celtics, Gordon refused Dunlap’s request to stop bouncing a ball as the coach spoke, sources said. Before long, Gordon began baiting Dunlap, telling him that he needed to “humble himself,” sources said. Gordon refused to give the ball to Dunlap, and eventually tossed it toward a ball rack, sources said. Bobcats general manager Rod Higgins was in the practice session and ultimately intervened, sources said.”
Charles Barkley believes Tom Thibodeau should ease up, from ESPN Chicago: “I think he has to ease up like Pop a little bit because to me (the Bulls) are still the second-best team in the Eastern Conference,” Barkley said Thursday on “The Waddle & Silvy Show” on ESPN Chicago 1000. “I’m not a Knick believer. I’m not a Knick believer because first of all the Bulls own the Knicks because they hammer them inside. They do a really good job not leaving the three-point shooters and they just pound them inside. “I think (Thibodeau) has got to take a step back … there’s no need for (Luol Deng to lead the NBA in minutes) especially with them being short-handed without Derrick (Rose).”
The Hornets should really trade Gordon asap, he clearly doesn’t want to be there and they aren’t a contending team. They are building something good with Anthony Davis, and if they can trade Gordon for other young players (That want to be there) along with picks, that could give them a better structure and excitement to the future Pelicans.
He irritates me.
Regarding Josh Smith, there are all sorts of quotes out there from different GMs.
Truth is that many people don’t fully know the CBA rules.
There is no longer an advantage to do a S&T since can only get same deal as a free agent.
Therefore ATL would likely lose Smith to a team like Houston in free agency and even if there was a S&T, they couldn’t expect much in return.
Meanwhile a team like Nets have more assets than are being reported to be available to Hawks. It will get interesting next week. Another factor is whether Houston will make an attempt at Smith via trade. If Houston got Smith, they might not have space to get Howard over the summer, as his dissatisfaction with LAL keeps growing.
Regarding Gordon, I read that a former reporter with knowledge stated that the source for the initial trade interest (3 weeks ago) was his own agent. It makes sense that it was his agent this time time. That would mean that this latest incident was a deliberate attempt to get out of Charlotte. He wants to be traded somewhere. Nets have interest in Gordon as part of a 3 way deal that could send Humphries to Charlotte and Gordon to the team with a desirable PF, along with lots of other assets from Nets. Nets are NOT going to waste Humphries, soon to be expiring contract on an even trade for Gordon, when he would be an expiring this summer. Humps’ value is low at moment because he doesn’t play much. If Nets took Gordon, then they would have a log jam in the backcourt, with Gordon, MarShon, Bogans and Watson. Hump has been a good boy and the team, not complaining about his name in trade rumors all the time. They don’t need a trouble maker in Gordon.
Regarding Josh Smith, there are all sorts of stories out there from
RE: Howard-Gay, I don’t think Rudy was on Raps when they played the Lakers. Do you guys bother checking that stuff?
Probably true that it didn’t happen exactly as stated but I don’t doubt that the quote from Howard is correct. However, Howard may have been half joking or else he would be delusional. Nets would no longer trade Lopez for Howard, now that he is injured this season. I would love though to see LAL beg Nets for that trade and have Billy King reply – “not at this time, but do you want Hump instead of Brook (for Dwight)?”