The Chicago Bulls are closing in on a deal with Jimmer Fredette: “Sources told ESPN.com on Thursday that — while stressing a deal was not yet complete — serious mutual interest between the sides has made Fredette’s landing with Chicago look increasingly likely. After completing a contract buyout Thursday with the Kings, Fredette can’t officially sign a contract with the Bulls or any other team before clearing waivers Saturday at 5 p.m. ET. But sources say the former BYU star, drafted No. 10 overall in 2011, is highly intrigued by the prospect of playing for Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau, who — in spite of his defense-heavy reputation — has put score-first guards such as Nate Robinson and more recently D.J. Augustin in position to flourish. While Thibodeau wouldn’t discuss Fredette specifically, he did say the Bulls would welcome any shooting help they could get. Fredette is shooting 49.3 percent from beyond the arc this season.”
The Pelicans will miss Jrue Holiday for the rest of the season: “Already without their starting center for the remainder of 2013-14, the New Orleans Pelicans announced Friday that their first-string point guard also won’t play again this season. Jrue Holiday, an All-Star in 2013 who was acquired in a draft-night trade with the Philadelphia 76ers, has undergone season-ending surgery to correct a right tibia stress fracture. Holiday has been sidelined since Jan. 8 with the injury, after playing in each of the team’s first 34 games. Brian Roberts has started in his place at point guard over the past 23 games. Holiday had been one of the NBA’s most durable players during his previous four seasons with Philadelphia, playing in 298 of a possible 312 games. He played all 82 games in 2010-11 and only missed one contest in the following season. Holiday averaged 14.3 points, 7.9 assists, 4.2 rebounds and 1.6 steals in his debut season with New Orleans. He played through injuries prior to being sidelined in January, averaging just 6.0 points and 5.5 assists in the last four games he played Jan. 3-8.”
Andrew Bynum is getting closer to playing for the Indiana Pacers: “Bynum practiced three-on-three Thursday, and Vogel said he was optimistic the 7-foot center would be ready to play soon. Soon doesn’t mean a week from now, the coach said. “The goal is to get him to the point where he’s able to play every night,” Vogel said. “We don’t want him to play one game and sit three games.” Bynum signed with the Pacers as a free agent Feb. 1. Vogel has said a priority is improving the condition of Bynum, who missed the entire 2012-13 season with knee injuries and last played Dec. 26 for the Cleveland Cavaliers. “We know what we can expect from him when he’s healthy and in shape. He’s one of the best centers in the NBA,” Vogel said. “We’ve seen flashes of that in practice that he’s shown here.””
Pau Gasol offers some insight on his blog to how he is feeling in LA: “Here I am. Here I am. Wear thirty six seasons in Los Angeles and at least finish my contract. I’m happy. The working period for transfers over. There is good and bad news. The good news is that I’m master of my fate. The bad news is that last bit, just until I sign my next contract Neither are bad news, it’s just reality. From here to the end of the season I will focus on helping the team, as I have always done. The situation is delicate and just overcome an injury that came as all (I know) in a very inconvenient time. I know I repeat myself, but it is what it is. I always ask it this way: try to do things to try to best my team win. Simple. Real. In these months I really play, not be fooled. It should be a good performance for many reasons. I’m an unrestricted free agent, ie, I can go anywhere. The Lakers do not have the option of right of first refusal.The situation is identical to that of Howard last season. My franchise has the ability to offer more money and a longer contract, but that’s not the only thing that will make my decision.”
From SheridanHoops, why the Knicks are making Carmelo’s decision easy: “Before facing the Miami Heat on Thursday night, Anthony told the media which factors he will consider when making his free agency decision – and it’s not good news for the Knicks. “A lot of things are going to be thought about when that time comes,” he said. “Off the court, on the court, just a lot of things are going to have to be put all on the table.” Key pieces of the team’s core have struggled both on and off the court since the end of last season. Raymond Felton has been hampered by injuries, weight criticism and poor play throughout the season. He was caught yawning during the end of a game and, most recently, was arrested on gun charges after Monday’s game. J.R. Smith also has struggled mightily since winning the league’s Sixth Man Award. Last summer, Smith had knee surgery days after signing a new deal with the Knicks, was suspended five games for violating the league’s anti-drug policy and was fined $50,000 for attempting to untie the shoelaces of opponents before being benched. He also recently pulled down Vince Carter’s headband as a joke on Monday. Iman Shumpert has taken two steps back this season thanks to a lack of confidence in his jump shot amid constant trade speculation. Off the court, he has drawn verbal lashings from coach Mike Woodson, and owner James Dolan was reportedly angered that he played only one preseason game.
Danny Ainge and Rajon Rondo cleared the air after Rondo skipped a team trip: “Rondo, not scheduled to play on the second night of a back-to-back, elected to stay behind in Los Angeles and celebrate his 28th birthday on Saturday while his teammates lost to the Kings. Rondo rejoined the team in Utah before Monday’s finale of a four-game road trip, but his decision raised eyebrows and sparked a firestorm of opinion back in Boston. “I think it was important to talk because I just wanted to hear from Rondo,” said Ainge, who had hoped to meet with Rondo in person, but departed on a scouting trip before the team returned from the coast. “I wanted to hear what he was thinking.” Ainge said he never thought the story was as big as it became in the aftermath, adding the conversation was important to learn from the experience. “I’m completely satisfied,” Ainge said. “I learned some things and I think he learned from this experience. We’re moving on.””
