For much of the season, there were rumors that Boston's "Big Three" were playing their last games for the Celtics. Now, as Harvey Fialkov of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel writes, the Celtics are on the verge of forcing the Heat to break up their Big Three if Miami fails to rally in the Eastern Conference Finals. There's been plenty of speculation today about the future of the Heat, but that team isn't the only one casting an eye toward the future.
- Jared Zwerling of ESPNNewYork.com suggests via Twitter that the Knicks could take a look at Lakers free agent swingman Matt Barnes.
- Tom Moore of PhillyBurbs.com looks at the decisions facing Sixers president Rod Thorn concerning Lavoy Allen and Jodie Meeks, a pair of restricted free agents.
- Bob Cooney of the Daily News outlines the Sixers draft priorities, identifying an inside presence and a wing player with length who can shoot as likely targets for the team at picks No. 15, 45 and 54.
- Boston is on a roll now, but during a tough four-day stretch in December, the Celtics missed out on David West and Reggie Evans in free agency and lost Jeff Green to a heart ailment, coach Doc Rivers revealed to reporters, including A. Sherrod Blakely (Twitter link).
- The Celtics have employed former Wizards coach Flip Saunders as a consultant during the playoffs, but he's not expected to be a full-time assistant for Rivers next season, Blakely tweets.
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