- The Kings are finalizing terms of a buyout with Jimmer Fredette: “The Kings tried to move Fredette before Thursday’s trade deadline, but were unable to find a destination for him. Fredette had been one of college basketball’s most prolific scorers at BYU – scoring 2,599 points in his career – and earning consensus honors as college basketball’s player of the year in 2011. Nevertheless, he has struggled to find his niche with the Kings. Still, there are expected to be several teams with interest in signing him for the rest of the season, league sources said. Fredette, 25, has averaged 5.9 points per game for the Kings this season – and seven in his three-year NBA career. Before the season, the Kings passed on picking up the 2014-15 option on Fredette’s contract, almost assuring that he’d be elsewhere next season.”
- Kendrick Perkins could miss up to six weeks for the Thunder: “The Thunder got their starting lineup back for the first time in weeks against the Heat. But they only got to have it for a half, as Kendrick Perkins will miss up to six weeks after having a successful procedure on a strained left groin, the team announced Tuesday. Perkins was injured early in the third quarter while setting a screen. He immediately exited the game and did not return. The Thunder started rookie Steven Adams in his place against the Clippers on Sunday and will likely stick with him as the starter until Perk returns. Adams has shown flashes of being a stellar big man, but he’s raw and inexperienced. The six week timetable puts Perk returning right at the end of the regular season. A little scary, but it’s also a big opportunity for Adams. The Thunder are 0-3 in games this season without Perk.”
- Ken Berger of CBS believes the Knicks have hit a new low: “Anthony was brilliant again with 44 points against Dallas, including a tying 3-pointer with 50 seconds left — only to be victimized by a wildly caroming buzzer-beater from Dirk Nowitzki at the other end that gave the Mavs a 110-108 victory. After the Knicks’ sixth loss in seven games, point guard Raymond Felton was arrested on weapons charges — only hours after seldom-used backup point guard Beno Udrih was granted a buyout. As they say, you can’t make this stuff up. It would be hysterical to suggest that Rose wanted to approach Mills and Houston again after this latest debacle and request the same buyout treatment for his client. But it should be noted that Anthony, who has held his head high as this Knicks season has crumbled around him, openly wondered after the game if all of his efforts have been for naught.”
- Paul Millsap remains out for the Atlanta Hawks: “Millsap, a first-time All-Star selection averaging 17.6 points and 8.3 rebounds in his first season with Atlanta, was injured late in the fourth quarter Friday at Detroit and missed the team’s win against the New York Knicks the following day. An MRI was negative. Millsap didn’t participate in Monday’s practice for Atlanta. The team hosts the Chicago Bulls on Tuesday night and visits the Boston Celtics on Wednesday. The Hawks also say center Pero Antic, who has missed the past 14 games due to a stress fracture in his right ankle, also will be held out against the Bulls and Celtics. Center Gustavo Ayonwill miss his fourth straight game against the Bulls with a right shoulder injury. Antic and Ayon were the replacements for Al Horford, who is recovering from season-ending surgery for his torn right pectoral muscle.”
- Brian Shaw has had a rough season as head coach for the Denver Nuggets: ““I can’t remember who it was that asked me yesterday; he said ‘Would you have taken this job with the roster, if it was just the guys who are healthy and playing right now would you have taken this job?’” Shaw said. “I said, after interviewing for head coaching jobs as many times as I did, 11 times prior to this interview, and not getting a job, I said ‘Yeah, I most likely would have taken it.’ But the expectation and everything else would have been different, knowing if there wasn’t going to be Gallo, JaVale (McGee), Nate (Robinson) for half the season and the situation be what it is. “So, no, I don’t hate the roster. What I hate is having to beg guys to play. That simple. That shouldn’t be a part of what coaching should be. And circumstances are what they are. None of us asked for it.” Going into Tuesday’s game against Portland, the Nuggets are 5-12 since Jan. 17, at which point they were 20-18. “I’ll take whatever criticism comes my way,” Shaw said. “That’s what comes with the job. But for me, especially that road trip right before the all-star break, I don’t want our guys to feel sorry for themselves or feel sorry for us because we’re shorthanded. Just go out and fight.”
- Chandler Parsons strikes a big endorsement deal with ANTA: “Following up on news we reported in December, Houston Rockets forward officially announces his endorsement deal with Chinese brand ANTA. With the deal, Parsons will be featured in global campaigns and wear ANTA sportswear on and off the court. Tonight, he’ll debut his new shoe against the Sacramento Kings. In an exclusive interview with Bleacher Report, Parsons expressed excitement about the new partnership and pointed out some of the personal design elements on his first signature shoe. Number ’38’ embroidery on the backside of the tongue serves as a reminder that 37 players were selected before him in the 2011 NBA Draft. His grandfather Don is saluted with 25 perforations on the toebox, representing his old jersey number and the number Chandler has worn throughout his career. Parsons’ ‘CP25’ logo is embroidered on the heel.”
Ben Baroff is a basketball journalist who blogs for SheridanHoops.com. Follow him on Twitter here.
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