Tonight's NBA schedule only features two games, but they should be good ones. Three of the Western Conference's top five teams will be in action, including the Clippers and Nuggets squaring off in Denver. As we wait for the evening's games to tip off, here are a few updates on Western teams and players:
- The Timberwolves don't intend to put in a waiver claim for Jeremy Tyler, who was released yesterday by the Hawks, but the team is still "kicking around" the idea of signing a big man to a 10-day contract, tweets Darren Wolfson of 1500 ESPN Twin Cities. The Wolves have 15 players under contract, so they'd have to waive someone or get an injury exception from the NBA allowing them to add a 16th man.
- Mavericks owner Mark Cuban values the input of Donnie Nelson, Rick Carlisle, and other members of the organization, but as he tells Tim MacMahon of ESPNDallas.com, there will never be any confusion about who has the final say on basketball decisions. "Me, because I have to write the check," Cuban said. "So it’s my ultimate judgment, not so much on which guy, but does he fit economically into the big picture?"
- In an interview with Maurice Bobb of SLAM, Thomas Robinson says he felt disrespected being traded so early in his career by the Kings. However, Jason Jones of the Sacramento Bee (Twitter link) hears that some people around the league believe Sacramento was wise to move Robinson, who one scout says is a player with no position.
- ESPN.com's Joe Kaiser doesn't see a future for Chris Kaman with the Mavericks, so he takes a shot at naming five potential offseason suitors for the free-agent-to-be, including the Trail Blazers.