- With the Lakers’ season now officially ended, Mark Medina of the Los Angeles Daily News looks ahead to the offseason: “The most pressing question is will Howard re-sign? He could for five years and $117.9 million instead of a four-year, $87.6 million deal with another team. “I haven’t thought about it,” Howard said. D’Antoni, who has two more guaranteed years worth $8 million, won’t need to worry. Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak said last week D’Antoni will return next season, crediting how he managed a 40-32 record his first season despite no training camp and persisting injuries, notably to Nash (fractured left leg). The Lakers won’t have much clarity elsewhere. They could use the amnesty provision on Bryant ($30.5 million), Gasol ($19.9 million), World Peace ($7.7 million) or Blake ($4 million). World Peace might opt out of his player option in hopes for a longer but less expensive contract, although that runs the risk of the Lakers letting him walk. The Lakers also will have expiring contracts to Antawn Jamison, Clark, Morris, Goudelock, Robert Sacre and Devin Ebanks, although the latter is sure to leave considering he’s rarely played all season.”
- Celtics? One Pierce confidante says "no way" PP even thinks of retiring after NYK series. KG surely tougher call but I still say he plays on
@ESPNSteinLineMarc Stein 
Jarrett Jack wants to stay a Warrior, reports Scott Howard-Cooper of NBA.com: “He arrived in a July trade and embraced the adventure of a new city and the new situation that would have been difficult for many players to accept. Jarrett Jack actually liked the unknown. The season-long discovery process led to a decision. He wants to re-sign with the Warriors in the summer, even with the clear understanding he might be giving up the chance to start somewhere else for the certainty of a backup role to Stephen Curry at point guard in Golden State. Jack is so sure of it, he told NBA.com, that he has informed management and directed his agents to re-enforce the message that he is hoping to stay once he becomes a free agent in July. “That’s one of the reasons why I’m really trying to enjoy the moment right now,” he said Saturday with the Warriors holding a 2-1 lead over the favored Nuggets in the best-of-seven first round that continues Sunday night at Oracle Arena. “I’m appreciating everything that’s going on. In the summer, hopefully that process is a little bit further than we all want it to be. There are a lot of variables that go into making that decision. Hopefully, I can stay right here. I told my agent. I’m sure he spoke to the powers that be that I have desires to stay right here and help this franchise grow to the best of its ability. I think it’s just a perfect marriage. My teammates, the camaraderie we have, I like my role. I like what I’m able to bring to this team. Could I go somewhere and it would be bigger, but we might not be playing for as much? I try to make it a perfect marriage. The economics, that’s going to take precedent at times, but you also want to be happy. That’s the most fulfilling thing I have playing on this team.” “- Pretty impressed by @patbev21 for defending kid with Twitter death threats. Blamed emotions. "If I see him the next game, I'll dap him up."
@Jonathan_FeigenJonathan Feigen - C.J. Watson had some strong words for Nate Robinson after an incident involving the two in the second quarter of Game 4 of the Nets-Bulls series. Tim Bontemps of the New York Post writes: “After Robinson took exception to Watson trying to clear space for himself by swinging his arm out in Robinson’s direction, Robinson grabbed Watson and drove him into the scorer’s table, where they had to be separated by the referees. Robinson picked up a personal foul on the play, and both were assessed technical fouls, as well. “He pushed me, and I was holding him so I wouldn’t fall into the table,” said Watson, who said he was confused about what he did to earn a technical foul. “It was nothing.” When Watson was asked if he thought it was a cheap shot by Robinson, he made it clear how he feels about his counterpart. “I mean, that’s in his character, so that doesn’t surprise me,” Watson said.”
- Another pair of players who are having some… disagreements are JaVale McGee and Andrew Bogut. The Denver Post’s Christopher Dempsey writes: “Nuggets center JaVale McGee promises not to let Golden State’s 7-foot bruiser, Andrew Bogut, get to him. The two had a dust-up in Game 3, which resulted in a technical foul for Bogut, during which McGee said Bogut tried to provoke him: “He told me to punch him in the chin. That was idiotic. I’m never going to tell someone to punch me in the chin.” This series has been an exercise in patience for McGee — and most of the other bigs on the Nuggets’ roster. The minute Golden State’s David Lee was injured, the complexion of the series changed from one the entire team could love to one where small ball is severely cutting into the time of Nuggets’ post players. So McGee’s time on the court at the same time as Bogut’s, which was endangered because Bogut starts and McGee comes in as a reserve, is even shorter.”
- There are increasing whispers Jim Boylan will be relieved of his duties in the next couple of days.
@GeryWoelfelGery Woelfel - Here’s Jeff McDonald of the San Antonio Express-News with an injury update on Tiago Splitter: “Just as the Spurs drew closer Saturday to getting one injured big man back on the floor, another one hit the shelf. Coach Gregg Popovich says starting center Tiago Splitter is out indefinitely after spraining his left ankle late in the third quarter of the Spurs’ 120-89 Game 3 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday night. Unofficially, the team’s medical staff estimates it could be a week to 10 days for Splitter to return, a timetable that would make him available for most if not all of the second round.”
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Dwight Howard is GONE, fishing in Houston. Sounds like Howard has made up his mind but won’t tell us until he gets free rehab.
The Big question will be whether Kobe is amnestied, in which case it would make sense for him to take the entire year off to recover (or retire), and return to Lakers in a year for Vet Min?
If Howard retires, the only way to get well under the cap is to Amnesty Kobe. Lakers could rebuild with the cap space, while they wait for Kobe to return in 1 year.