The latest news and notes from around the NBA on Saturday evening.
Beyond the Knicks playing host to the Bulls this afternoon, the Heat will take on the Pistons while the Celtics defend their homecourt against a struggling Sixers squad. The Heat have played exceptionally well at home as they hold the best record in the NBA at 23-3 when they get to play their games in Miami. Let's take a look around the Eastern Conference to see what headlines are being made on this Easter Sunday.
- No longer in playoff contention, the Cavs will be tinkering with their lineup as the season winds down with hopes of figuring out which players will have a long-term future with the team, writes Tom Reed of The Plain Dealer. Equipped with four picks in the upcoming draft, the remainder of the season will be used to give players an opportunity show what role they may be best suited for heading into next season. This may ultimately spell decreased minutes for a veteran like Antawn Jamison, who's future with the club remains uncertain.
- Colin Stephenson of The Star-Ledger reports Nets guard MarShon Brooks would have been a part of a potential deal for Dwight Howard that was on the table at the trade deadline. While Brooks says that he didn't let any rumors affect his play, knowing that he will remain with the Nets at least for the rest of the season is a comforting feeling. The 23-year-old former Providence star has had an up-and-down rookie campaign in which he is currently averaging 12.3 PPG.
- The lack of a quality backup point guard has hurt the Heat especially when dealing with more athletic guards who can get to the basket quickly, says Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun Sentinel.
The 2012 NBA Draft is still more than three months away, but draft junkies will be happy to know ESPN.com's Chad Ford, NBA.com's Scott Howard-Cooper and Fox Sports Ohio's Sam Amico have released their first mock drafts of the year. Ford's Insider-only piece has Anthony Davis going first overall, followed by Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Thomas Robinson, Bradley Beal, and Harrison Barnes. Howard-Cooper has Barnes, Andre Drummond, Kidd-Gilchrist, and Jared Sullinger rounding out the top five after Davis. Amico has it as Davis, Barnes, Robinson, Kidd-Gilchrist and then Drummond.
Here are a few more Tuesday afternoon links from around the NBA:
- In another draft-related item, South Florida small forward Victor Rudd has declared for the draft, according to Jeff Borzello of CBS Sports. The 6'7" junior, who isn't on the draft board of Ford, Howard-Cooper or NBADraft.net, has said he won't hire an agent yet, leaving open the possibility he'll return to school.
- The Lakers plan to exercise their team option on Andrew Bynum for next season, but Bynum wouldn't mind a longer-term commitment. The center told Dave McMenamin of ESPNLosAngeles.com that he'd be amenable to discussing a contract extension.
- If Dwight Howard didn't opt in to the final year of his contract, the Magic were prepared to trade him to the Nets for Brook Lopez, MarShon Brooks, Mehmet Okur's expiring contract, and first-round picks, according to Peter Vecsey of the New York Post.
- The Wizards are looking forward to taking an extended look at Edwin Ubiles, who signed a 10-day contract with the team this weekend, writes Michael Lee of the Washington Post. In a separate column, Lee says the Wizards have shut down Andray Blatche until he works his way into better condition. SI.com's Zach Lowe would be surprised if Washington doesn't amnesty Blatche before next season (Twitter link).
- Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun Sentinel thinks Mike James or Anthony Carter would be better fits for the Heat than Derek Fisher.
Chuck Myron contributed to this post.
Here's the latest out of the Atlantic, where the 76ers' Sunday win extended their division lead to three games:
- Carmelo Anthony wasn't on board with the Knicks' signing of J.R. Smith, a source tells Marc Berman of the New York Post. While Anthony's public comments indicated he was behind the move, Carmelo "was not gung-ho and was 'hurt' Knicks upper management tossed his advice out the window," according to Berman.
- WEEI.com's Paul Flannery examines how the Celtics might fill the void in the middle, following Jermaine O'Neal's wrist injury and Chris Wilcox's heart condition.
- Stefan Bondy of the New York Daily News writes that Kris Humphries was cryptic when asked if he'd waive his no-trade clause for the right deal: "Would you jump off a bridge? It depends how high it is. It depends on if there’s a drowning baby in the water…. Cause if you jump in the summer, the water was warm enough, you know it’s deep underneath." Humphries' point, I believe, is that his decision would vary depending on where the Nets intended to send him.
- The Nets' MarShon Brooks isn't worried about the trade deadline, as he tells Colin Stephenson of the Star-Ledger.
Just a handful of days remain until Thursday's trade deadline, so we'll know soon where Dwight Howard will be for at least the next few months. Earlier today we heard that the Nets were looking at backup plans if they don't get Howard at the deadline, and its inevitable that most of D12's suitors will come away from their pursuit empty-handed. One team, though, will have him on the roster come Friday. We'll pass along any clues about which team that will be here, with the latest stuff on top:
- Josh Robbins of the Orlando Sentinel takes a close look at the assets the Nets have to entice the Magic into a Howard trade. Brook Lopez, MarShon Brooks and the Nets' draft picks all come with uncertainty, Robbins says.