Latest NBA News from February 25, 2013: Bynum nowhere near ready to return, D’Antoni suggets Gasol is unlikely to return in regular season

Mike D’Antoni doesn’t believe Pau Gasol will be back in time to help the Lakers in the regular season, from Mark Medina of Daily News: “Lakers coach Mike D’Antoni suggested Pau Gasol won’t return in the regular season after nursing torn plantar fascia in his right foot for the past three weeks. “By the time he gets back, we’ll be in or out,” D’Antoni said. “His impact will be in the playoffs if we get there.” The Lakers (28-29) have 25 games remaining before the regular season ends April 17 against the Houston Rockets. After their 103-99 victory Sunday over the Dallas Mavericks, the Lakers remain 2 games behind the Houston Rockets (31-27) for the eighth playoff spot. “I don’t think anyone on this team is counting the days for Pau to come back because we don’t have time,” Lakers guard Steve Nash said. “Although we’d welcome him back this instance, we have to move on and try to win games without him.”

Dwyane Wade’s knee has recovered ahead of schedule, while Kyrie Irving’s sore knee is having an effect on his game. Jason Lloyd of Akron Beacon Journal has details of both players: “I am as good as I am going to get,” Wade said tonight, referring to his knee. “I felt like in January I was a little ahead of schedule because we talked about all summer that February would be the time when I would start feeling very well, but I felt very well in January and I think I showed it with my play and just being consistent. Now it is just about taking care of your bumps and bruises that you are going to have throughout this time of year and keep going.” Speaking of knees, Kyrie Irving has been less aggressive the last couple of nights while nursing a sore right knee. He said after the game tonight it is affecting his game, but I don’t think the Cavs are at the point of sitting him down. Playing four games in five nights certainly won’t help, however. Certainly something to monitor.”

Dirk Nowitzki feels healthy enough to say that he will play for another contract, from Tim MacMahon of ESPN Dallas: “”When my [current] contract’s up, I’m 36 and I’ll definitely sign a couple more years,” Nowitzki said after recording season highs of 30 points and 13 rebounds in Sunday’s loss to the Los Angeles Lakers. “It’s still fun, but I don’t know if I’ll play until 40. But when I’m 36, definitely sign one more deal, maybe two or three years.”… “Honestly, I had some doubts here when I came back,” Nowitzki said. “It took so long. Is it ever going to come back? It was a tough stretch for me coming back from the surgery, but the way I feel now, I still think I can play a couple of years.”

P.J. Carlesimo is making a habit of benching Brook Lopez in the fourth quarter, according to Stefan Bondy of Daily News: “From a celebrated All-Star to a spot on the bench: Brook Lopez has fallen fast and, on Sunday night, he fell in silence. For the third time in four games, P.J. Carlesimo benched Lopez for the fourth quarter — a move that nobody in the locker room seemed willing to discuss after the 76-72 loss to the Grizzlies. Lopez and his replacement in the fourth quarter, Andray Blatche, darted down the hallways of the Barclays Center, excused from talking to the media by GM Billy King. Accountability walked out with them. Carlesimo said he was concerned about Lopez’s confidence and planned on having a discussion with the 24-year-old, but that was after the coach indicated he didn’t even consider bringing his leading scorer into the game in the fourth quarter.”

George Karl wondered if LeBron James is headed back to the Cavaliers, which LeBron had a response for: Chris Tomasson of Fox Sports Florida has more: “James, who bolted the Cavaliers as a free agent in 2010, didn’t rule out that possibility last year. Denver Nuggets coach George Karl recently went so far as to tell FOX Sports Florida, “I think LeBron is at that stage where he’s challenging himself to motivate him to do something that’s maybe more difficult. I could see him maybe (returning to the Cavaliers). I see (Cleveland point guard Kyrie) Irving maybe being a reason for that.”. “That’s the first time I’ve heard it,” James said after Sunday’s game when asked about what Karl had said. “My only focus now is to win another championship. I can’t worry about speculation or rumors. What we’re doing on the floor right now is what it’s all about. We’re playing good ball right now. We’re trying to win a championship. I can’t worry about what people say.”