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Brandon Rush wants to be Warriors starting SF

Brandon Rush wants to be the starting small forward for the Warriors next season.

Rush, who just re-signed with the team on Tuesday, won't just be handed the job. "I'm coming in trying to get that starting job (at small forward)," he said. "I've been working hard the entire summer to build up on that." Rush shot 50.1 percent from the field and 45.2 percent from behind the 3-point line in 2011-12, but the Warriors just drafted Harrison Barnes seventh overall. If Rush does wind up in a starting role, he's going to be an intriguing player to gamble on in the latter portion fantasy drafts.

Source: Oakland Tribune

Thu, Aug 2, 2012 09:11:00 AM

Report: Celtics won't let Nets talk to Rivers

The Celtics have denied the Nets permission to speak with Doc Rivers regarding their head coaching vacancy, sources told ESPN Boston.

This only furthers our belief that Rivers will either coach the Celtics next season or won't coach at all. Although Danny Ainge has said Rivers is expected to return, a notion that's been supported by co-owner Wyc Grousbeck, Rivers hasn't come out and confirmed his intent to do so. Nevertheless, the overwhelming expectation is that Rivers returns to Boston next season, and the Celtics have no interest in letting him out of his contract to coach elsewhere. Doc has three years and $21 million remaining on his deal. Interestingly, Rivers reportedly turned down an offer from the Orlando Magic to be the team's president last season.

Source: ESPN Boston

May 24 - 8:31 AM

Celtics owner wants to keep Pierce, Garnett

Celtics co-owner Wyc Grousbeck said he'd like to retain both Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett next season.

Grousbeck said he wants to retire Pierce's number, and although he also acknowledged he wants Garnett to return, Grousbeck admitted to roster uncertainty after a first-round playoff exit and has not spoken to Garnett about his future. Furthermore, Grousbeck wouldn't say with certainty what the roster will look like next season and acknowledged that the team needs help after losing to the Knicks in the first round.

Source: Chris Forsberg on Twitter

May 24 - 8:27 AM

Report: Mavs will target Jack, Bayless as FAs

The Mavericks will be interested in free-agent point guards Jarrett Jack and Jerryd Bayless, a source tells Dwain Price of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.

Both players were integral parts of their team's playoff success, Jack for the Warriors and Bayless with the Grizzlies, who are down 2-0 to the Spurs. Jack and Bayless are also due hefty raises this offseason with Jack possibly commanding as much as $10 million annually. The Mavs are in desperate need of an upgrade at point guard and could look at Jack or Bayless as fallback options if they fail to land Chris Paul. One thing's for sure, the Mavs' fervent interest in free-agent guards doesn't bode well for incumbent Darren Collison.

Source: Fort Worth Star-Telegram

May 23 - 5:27 PM

Dwyane Wade says knee worse than last year

Dwyane Wade said his current knee injury is more painful than the one he played through last postseason.

Wade's injury was bad enough last summer that he required surgery in the offseason. While that's unlikely to be the case with the bone bruises he's playing through, it's clear the injury is extremely painful. Wade said his role will develop on a night-to-night basis depending on how his knee feels. If it feels strong, he'll take on more of an attacking role, but if the knee is weak Wade said he'll become more of a facilitator.

Source: Miami Herald

May 23 - 4:35 PM

Mario Chalmers plans to play in Game 2 Friday

Mario Chalmers (shoulder) said he expects to play in Friday's Game 2.

Chalmers suffered the injury during the third quarter of Game 1 and did not return. Despite planning to play, Chalmers said he'll want to see how the shoulder feels when he wakes up tomorrow before making any final decisions. Norris Cole replaced Chalmers on Wednesday and would continue to man the point along with LeBron James if Chalmers is sidelined Friday.

Source: Rachel Nichols on Twitter

May 23 - 3:56 PM

Hibbert will demand to be in game next time

Roy Hibbert says he might need to start speaking up more after he sat out the final two possessions of Indiana's overtime loss to Miami on Wednesday night.

"They pay me (max-contract money) for a reason. I didn’t say anything, and I wish I did. From now on, I need to speak up," Hibbert said after the game. LeBron James got two easy layups on back-to-back possessions as Pacers coach Frank Vogel kept Hibbert on the bench at the end of overtime. It's a decision Vogel's been ridiculed for ever since the final buzzer sounded and probably rightly so. Hibbert does have holes in his game defensively -- holes coach Erik Spoelstra and Heat big man Chris Bosh can definitely exploit -- but we expect this is the last time something like this will happen in the series.

Source: Yahoo! Sports

May 23 - 3:22 PM

MRI of Tony Parker's calf reveals he's fine

Tony Parker's calf MRI came and went without a whimper, and Gregg Popovich said Parker is "fine."

"He's fine. It's the playoffs," said Popovich. We didn't expect much more than this given the MRI was precautionary, and it's good news that the injury is progressing as expected. Parker said the contusion is "dissipating well," so it's as we expected.

Source: Jeff McDonald on Twitter

May 23 - 1:24 PM

LeBron James headlines All-NBA First Team

LeBron James headlined the All-NBA First Team when it was announced by the league on Thursday.

Joining him on the first team will be Tim Duncan, Kobe Bryant, Chris Paul and Kevin Durant, while the second team will be comprised of Carmelo Anthony, Blake Griffin, Marc Gasol, Tony Parker and Russell Westbrook. The Third team is James Harden, Dwyane Wade, David Lee, Paul George and Dwight Howard.

May 23 - 1:11 PM

Kupchak denies Howard vented about D'Antoni

Lakers GM Mitch Kupchak reiterated that Mike D'Antoni "did not come up" in his meeting with Dwight Howard following Howard's exit interview.

ESPN Los Angeles reported that Howard specifically complained about D'Antoni, but that doesn't appear to be the case. "Criticism of a coach did not come up," Kupchak said. "Our coach did not come up. I think in general they all felt that there are ways to utilize their talent better going forward. That would include Dwight in that group." Kupchak added that "players don't have to like coaches. They just have to play hard."

Source: Mark Medina on Sulia

May 23 - 11:31 AM

Reports: Vasquez to have surgery on ankles

Multiple reports from Venezuela indicate Greivis Vasquez will have surgery on both ankles during the offseason.

The news is passed along from Bourbon Street Shots, a True Hoop affiliate of the ESPN Network. One report from Venezuela indicates Vasquez will need 12-to-16 weeks for recovery, and it's possible this impacts Vasquez's ability to play in the FIBA tournament in late August. Vasquez dealt with ankle injuries late in the year, but there has been no word on any sort of surgery or procedure to date. Stay tuned, we shouldn't have to wait too much longer to know more.

Source: BourbonStreetShots.com

May 23 - 8:50 AM

Report: J.R. Smith (knee) had fluid buildup

J.R. Smith played through the postseason with a swollen left knee "that contained fluid buildup," a source told the New York Post.

According to the source, Smith is "likely" to have his knee drained at some point during the next two weeks. While this would certainly help to explain Smith's struggles in the playoffs, we're not buying into the idea that the knee was solely responsible for his shortcomings. He's expected to be fine well in advance of training camp, but it's unknown where he'll be. He has until June 25 to exercise his player option for next year, or he'll be an unrestricted free agent in the offseason.

Source: New York Post

May 23 - 8:23 AM