Although Golden State is reluctant, the Hornets are reportedly interested in dealing for Klay Thompson, according to John Reid of The Times-Picayune: “Sources confirm the Hornets would be interested in any trade deal with the Golden State Warriors that would include second-year shooting guard Klay Thompson. But sources indicate the Warriors are reluctant to part ways with Thompson, whom they feel is a young emerging star. With the Hornets’ matching the Phoenix Suns’ four-year, $58 million offer sheet to retain him as a restricted free agent, Gordon has veto power over any trade deal going into Thursday’s deadline. The Hornets are restricted from trading Gordon to the Suns.”
According to Stephen A. Smith of ESPN, Gregg Popovich cursed at Dwight Howard during the All-Star game, from RealGM: “Gregg Popovich reportedly yelled several curse words at Dwight Howard during Sunday’s All-Star Game, according to sources. Popovich drew up a play for Howard during a timeout, but he was in his warmups not paying attention and socializing. Howard’s lack of focus has been alluded to by Kobe Bryant and others during his tenure with the Los Angeles Lakers.”
- Speaking of Howard, he allegedly mocked Kobe Bryant behind his back during All-Star weekend, from New York Post: “Relations between Kobe Bryant and his Lakers teammate Dwight Howard were beyond icy during the weekend’s All-Star game in Houston — with Howard mocking Bryant behind his back in the locker room, sources exclusively tell Page Six. Amid other reports that the Lakers’ chilly on-court chemistry was spilling into the locker room, we’re told that Howard “grabbed Kobe’s uniform, put it on, and imitated him in front of all the other players on the West team. He was joking and berating Kobe” to fellow NBA stars, including the Clippers’ Chris Paul and Blake Griffinand Oklahoma City Thunder star Kevin Durant. The source added Bryant later arrived in the locker room, “said hello to everyone on the team except Howard, grabbed his stuff and moved as far away from Howard as he could.”
Rudy Gay opened up about being dealt in detail, from Amick: “It was a total shock to me,” he said of the trade. “I never went to any of (the new management) and told them that I wanted to be traded. I’ve never done that. The summer before, I did. I said this team has a chance to be a competitor in the West, and we’re going to be good, but if you plan on doing anything – this is the summer before – I said I want to express to you that I may be wanting to move on.”And this was with Chris Wallace (the general manager who remains but who is no longer involved like he was under former owner Michael Heisley) … I wanted to see it through, because we started so well. We were playing so great as a team, it kind of made me feel like this is it. This could be the chance for us. There’s not too many times when you can build a team like that. Obviously financial stuff goes on, but when you build a team like that you have to see it through.”
Although it has been denied since, Paul Coro of The Arizona Republic heard of a possible trade involving Kendrick Perkins and Marcin Gortat: “ESPN.com reported New York’s interest in Jermaine O’Neal and Toronto’s interest in Sebastian Telfair while another source said there was All-Star break talk of Oklahoma City exploring Marcin Gortat and P.J. Tucker for Kendrick Perkins, Jeremy Lamb and a first-round pick. Perkins is the type of center to fit the new defensively geared culture, although he is limited offensively for a team wanting to post up its big men. Lamb probably would have been the Suns’ draft pick in June had Houston not made a trade to move up two spots and take him in front of Phoenix. The Suns do have $6.4 million of cap room to take on salary in a deal, but it is more likely that the Suns stand pat to protect their two first-round draft picks and salary-cap space, which leaves room to sign a maximum-level free agent.”
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