I’ve never been huge on the All-Star Game. Sure, the novelty is great. I mean, all the stars are there. But that wears off pretty quickly, and then I remember that what I really like about basketball is seeing players stand out above the rest, and that doesn’t usually happen in an all-star environment. I also like defense sometimes.
Speaking of players standing out above the rest, if you haven’t seen John Wall’s dunk from last night, go do that right now. Once you come back, I’ll have the latest NBA news for you.
WESTBROOK RETURNING FOR HEAT GAME?
Oklahoma City hasn’t really missed their star point guard yet, thanks to Kevin Durant. But there aren’t many teams that wouldn’t benefit from the addition of Russell Westbrook, and if he can make the Thunder even better, the West might not even be close.
Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports:
The Oklahoma City Thunder are hopeful that injured guard Russell Westbrook will return for Thursday’s game against the Miami Heat, a source to Yahoo Sports.
The Thunder announced on Dec. 27 that Westbrook had surgery on his right knee for the second time since late October. He was projected to be out until after the NBA All-Star break without a specific return game. The source said Westbrook will be re-evaluated on Tuesday in Oklahoma City, which could open the door for a return against the visiting Heat.
Westbrook averaged 21.3 points, 7 assists and 6 rebounds in 25 games. The Thunder are 22-8 without Westbrook, mainly due to Kevin Durant playing on an MVP level.
DAN GILBERT THINKS IRVING AND WAITERS CAN COEXIST
This is part of a larger interview, which is thoroughly worth reading. Gilbert can’t talk about LeBron because of tampering issues, but he does talk about The Letter, which is… interesting. Towards the end, Gilbert talked about Kyrie Irving, who he seems to believe isn’t going to pull a LeBron despite reports to the contrary in the media.
Jason Lloyd of the Akron Beacon-Journal:
Q: There has been a lot of talk about Kyrie and Dion and if they can coexist? Do you think they can start together, play together and succeed?
A: Yeah, I do. In fact I can make a case that as they both mature, and we’ve seen that even more recently, that kind of threat at the perimeter and driving and shooting ability of both of them, it’s going to be a hell of a load for any defense to handle. I think they can and I think there’s other examples of that in NBA history. We’ll see what happens, but I think they’re both extremely talented players and they genuinely like each other. People think they don’t like each other, they genuinely like each other. That’s sort of made up. Look, they’re both 21, 22 years old. There was a little bit of feeling out of who’s going to do what, but I do believe like I said in the news conference, I think the talent on this team is so good, but they’re so young. We’ll see what happens.
Deng hasn’t been discussed much since he just landed in Cleveland, but with the firing of GM Chris Grant and multiple reports suggesting that he’ll leave as an unrestricted free agent this summer, the Cavaliers have to seriously consider moving him before the deadline. Remember, he supposedly told a close friend that “the stuff going on in practice [in Cleveland] would never be tolerated by the coaching staff or the front office back in Chicago. It’s a mess.” They might as well trade him now and get something back for him, rather than likely losing him for nothing over the summer.Cleveland can trade Deng, but he can’t be packaged in a deal with any other Cavs players and he can’t be dealt back to the Chicago Bulls.
Read more at http://www.basketballinsiders.com/nba-pm-luol-deng-may-be-traded-once-again/#e3hqsDJUB8LfXd8r.99
Luol Deng, an All-Star over the last two seasons, was traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers in early January, but he could be dealt again before the deadline.
Read more at http://www.basketballinsiders.com/nba-pm-luol-deng-may-be-traded-once-again/#e3hqsDJUB8LfXd8r.99Luol Deng, an All-Star over the last two seasons, was traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers in early January, but he could be dealt again before the deadline.
Read more at http://www.basketballinsiders.com/nba-pm-luol-deng-may-be-traded-once-again/#e3hqsDJUB8LfXd8r.99Luol Deng, an All-Star over the last two seasons, was traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers in early January, but he could be dealt again before the deadline.
Read more at http://www.basketballinsiders.com/nba-pm-luol-deng-may-be-traded-once-again/#e3hqsDJUB8LfXd8r.99
SIXERS LOOKING FOR DRAFT PICKS
The Sixers are making no bones about the “blow it all up and start again” strategy they’re using in their rebuilding. But they still haven’t found a deal to their liking for some of their major assets. There was a lot of buzz about an Omer Asik deal involving Spencer Hawes or Thaddeus Young, but that never happened. Now the deadline’s coming up, and Hawes, Young, and Evan Turner are still in Philly.
Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer:
The 76ers’ focus in the days leading up to Thursday’s NBA trade deadline is acquiring draft picks, according to an Eastern Conference executive.
The franchise wants to gain future compensation in exchange for Evan Turner, Spencer Hawes, and Thaddeus Young, said the source, who spoke on condition of anonymity. With the most cap space in the league and an open roster spot, the Sixers will consider acquiring an expiring contract from a team looking to dump a salary. But that most likely will also involve receiving a draft pick.
As a result, the 76ers are believed to be the most active team in trade talks leading up to the deadline. The Sixers have had discussions with all 29 other NBA franchises.
SILVER WANTS HIGHER AGE REQUIREMENT:
This is one of those things that fans of the college game should appreciate. A minimum of two seasons would mean less year-to-year fluctuation in teams’ fortunes, and also possibly mean more parity in recruiting as teams like Kentucky won’t be able to guarantee starting spots to every top high school prospect every year.
Silver said everywhere he goes that “people dislike so-called one and done,” referring to the many players who go to college for just one year to meet the league’s age minimum of being one year out of high school and 19 years old. He favors pushing the age minimum to 20.
“It is my belief that if players have an opportunity to mature as players and as people, for a longer amount of time before they come into the league, it will lead to a better league,” he said. “And I know from a competitive standpoint that’s something as I travel the league I increasingly hear from our coaches, especially, who feel that many of even the top players in the league could use more time to develop even as leaders as part of college programs.”
LAKERS’ KOBE DEAL COULD MEAN GIVING UP ON LEBRON
The Lakers have almost no payroll commitments after this season, but one of them is Kobe Bryant, the NBA’s highest-paid player, and also a player who has barely seen the court this season. As bad as it looks on paper, it was also a deal that had to be made, because it’s not like the Lakers could just let Kobe walk.
Mark Heisler of the Orange County Register:
If the Lakers don’t intend to spend all their money in 2014, they don’t intend to wait until 2019.
Signing Bryant meant giving up the minimal chance they thought they had at LeBron James this summer. With little interest in Carmelo Anthony, that pretty much does it for the Class of 2014.
The best remaining players are Chris Bosh – a younger Pau Gasol – Kyle Lowry and Luol Deng, none of whom will be bargains since all will get big offers from their teams.
On the other hand, why should James come out this summer? Dwyane Wade’s future is uncertain. LeBron’s preferred option, the Clippers, can happen only if Miami president Pat Riley trades him. With no more leverage than James has – the possibility of signing with Cleveland or Dallas – I don’t see it.
What if LeBron stays next season and opts out in 2015, instead?
The Lakers will have a max slot – but if LeBron gets his full $22.1 million with Kobe at $25 million, that leaves less than $20 million for 10 more players.
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Dan Malone is in his fourth year as a journalism student at the University of King’s College in Halifax, Nova Scotia, and spent this summer as a features intern at the Cape Cod Times. He blogs, edits and learns things on the fly for Sheridan Hoops. Follow him on Twitter.
http://www.philly.com/philly/sports/sixers/20140216_Sixers_are_looking_for_draft_picks.html