- Kobe Bryant’s pitch to Howard might not be what the center may have wanted to hear, according to Chris Broussard of ESPN:
Sources close to Howard tell me Kobe’s reported pitch in Tuesday’s meeting about teaching D12 how to win will be a “complete turnoff” to D12
— Chris Broussard (@Chris_Broussard) July 4, 2013
- Hakeem Olajuwon thinks the Rockets have a high percentage of landing Howard, from The Post Game: “Hakeem Olajuwon is hardly the unbiased observer when it comes to the Dwight Howard sweepstakes as he was part of the Rockets’ delegation to woo the free agent big man. But if you’re a Rockets fan, you have to like the vibe Olajuwon got from their sit-down. “It’s an 85 percent chance he ends up in Houston,” Olajuwon told ThePostGame on Wednesday. “You never know, but after that meeting we had, I feel very comfortable that we have the best chance to get him.”
- Danny Ainge wanted Doc Rivers to better utilize analytics, something Rivers apparently did not like the idea of. Woj has the story: “Celtics GM Danny Ainge leans heavily on his analytics staff, and at a meeting with Doc Rivers at season’s end, it was suggested Rivers should perhaps incorporate more of those elements into his game plans and preparations, several sources told Y! Sports. Privately, Rivers winced over the contents of some of the discussion, sources said. There was no confrontation, but there was tension. For Stevens, he’s long been immersed in the statistical revolution, and he’ll give management far more input into his rotations and style of play. For better or worse, that’s the new NBA.”
- J.R. Smith and Pablo Prigioni will both return to play for the Knicks, from Marc Berman of New York Post: “J.R. Smith has accepted the terms of a new 4-year, $24.7 million contract this morning, his agent Leon Rose told The Post. Smith, who was seeking a significantly higher offer elsewhere, will make roughly $6 million per year, starting at the league’s average salary of $5.75M. It was the most the Knicks can offer under the early-bird rights rules since Smith played only two seasons for the Knicks. Smith will have a player opt-out after the third year. Knicks point guard Pablo Prigioni also agreed to terms as expected with the Knicks. It’s a two-year with a non-guaranteed third year. Prigioni will receive $1.5 million of the $3.18 million mini mid-level exception.”
- With the addition of Jrue Holiday and Evans, Eric Gordon appears to have a newfound desire to stay with the Pelicans, from Woj: “The potential addition of Evans and New Orleans’ draft night trade that landed Jrue Holiday have improved Eric Gordon’s outlook on New Orleans. “I’m all in with the Pelicans,” said Gordon, who has been friends with Holiday and Evans since their AAU days. “It would be great if we can all play together. I would say we’d definitely have a chance to make the playoffs.”… “I wouldn’t say I’m 100 percent, but I do feel comfortable I am coming back,” Gordon said. “I think there is a good to great chance I will be back.”
- Daryl Morey got his daughter to make a video for Howard and posted it on youtube: