J.J. Redick talked about being objective when it comes to going to certain teams, from Brian Schmitz of Orlando Sentinel: “J.J. is frank about getting paid. He’s different than a lot of players – and no different than any others. “I think for any player sometimes, if the money is so different between offers, you go with the money,” he said. “You secure you and your family’s financial future. But there’s other things, for sure.” Truth be told, Redick’s financial future has been secure for years. Now he just holds a winning lottery ticket. “Hypothetically, if there were multiple offers, I think you just have to value things out,” he said. “You do put a value on winning. You put a value on peace, the situation, the organization, who the coach is, who your teammates are. Then, of course, the money – that’s another factor you have to weigh.”
Mark Cuban will look to add a co-star in the offseason, and thinks the Mavericks would have been in the playoffs if not for Dirk Nowitzki’s injury, from Tim MacMahon of ESPN Dallas: “Trust me, we want to do that,” Cuban said Wednesday evening, referring to giving Nowitzki a legitimate co-star. “If you’ve got the guy who’s going to say, ‘You know what, I’m going to come to the Mavericks no matter what,’ let me know.” The only promise Cuban can make about this summer: “We’re going to be opportunistic and do the best we can.”… “We maximized for the first generation of Dirk’s golden years to win a championship,” Cuban said. “So we’ll do our best for his second generation of golden years and then the next generation and the next generation until he runs out of golden years. The Mavs’ mission this summer: Make major steps in the rebuilding process, putting together pieces of a roster that will give Nowitzki a chance to contend for another championship and the Mavs to be positioned for post-Dirk success. “That’s what we’re trying to do. Hypothetically speaking, if Dirk wasn’t hurt and we’re in the hunt for a fifth or sixth seed, you’re asking me different questions: ‘Hey, you guys put together a decent squad, what do you have to do to take it to the next level?’ That’s the way it goes.”
Dirk Nowitzki could play the role of recruiter in the offseason, from Eddie Sefko of The Dallas Morning News: “When Dirk Nowitzki said on Sunday that he would be happy to accompany owner Mark Cuban on any recruiting trips he makes when free agency opens on July 1, it was great news for Cuban. Could he envision a tag-team recruiting pitch? “Yeah, obviously,” Cuban said. “He hasn’t been shy to make calls in the past. He just hasn’t been in the country. He’s happy to text and make calls. He just hasn’t been here. Dirk will do anything. He’s a team player from top to bottom.” Nowitzki has always been amenable to chatting with a peer about the virtues of the Mavericks. But he’s never actually gone on a trip to help Cuban or the coaches or president of basketball operations Donnie Nelson with the sales pitch. So is Nowitzki a persuasive sort of guy? “He got somebody much hotter than him to marry him,” Cuban quipped.”
Andrew Bynum was a no-show for the team’s photo day, from Daily Times: “Andrew Bynum wasn’t present for 76ers’ photo day, a team spokesperson said. “Might’ve seen the last of the big guy,” one player said, when asked whether Bynum was around for the team photo. Like Jason Richardson, Bynum skipped out on the photo shoot to focus on rehabbing their surgically repaired knees. Bynum, who hasn’t spoken to reporters in more than a month, missed the entire season with a series of knee setbacks. His contract, which paid him $16.5 million, expires this summer. A jersey hung in Bynum’s locker, which seemed like a strong indicator that he might have made the trip from New York, where he’s doing his rehab, for a semi-reunion with the Sixers teammates with whom he never shared the court. Wasn’t the case, though.”
Rajon Rondo discussed all the chatter about the improved offense of the Celtics since his knee injury, from Baxter Holmes of Boston Globe: “There has been a lot of chatter about how the Celtics will play when their ball-dominating guard returns. With him out, they reverted to an up-tempo, share-the-ball scheme, one that helped result in seven straight wins after his injury. “I just try not to listen too much into it,” Rondo said. “I’m still talking to Danny (Ainge) weekly and Doc all the time. At the same time, I was happy for my teammates. We were winning. I wanted to make the playoffs because I think we were under .500 or right at .500 at the time, so I definitely wouldn’t be rooting against my team. “And like I said earlier, those guys are like my brothers. So I wished them well. No big deal. I wasn’t jealous or buying into people saying they are better without me. If they are, they are, but for the most part, I’m still a Celtic.”
