NBA News Rumors

NBA Rumor - Feb 18 "The Knicks contacted the Milwaukee Bucks Wednesday about the availability of point guard Luke Ridnour, but the talks stalled when the Knicks wanted to expand the deal to include Jared Jeffries, according to a source close to the negotiations. If nothing else, the conversation demonstrates that Knicks president Donnie Walsh is working on a backup plan if a deal for Tracy McGrady, which would include Jeffries, falls apart."New York Daily News Comments (0)

NBA Rumor - Feb 18 "The Bucks were set to acquire John Salmons 6-foot-6 guard before Thursday's trade deadline in exchange for expiring contracts, league sources said, although the Milwaukee players involved were not confirmed as of Wednesday night. Forward Hakim Warrick and center Francisco Elson were the Bucks players expected to be in the deal, but late Wednesday the situation was still fluid regarding the Bucks going to Chicago. Warrick, who has a $3 million expiring contract, suited up but did not play in the Bucks' 127-99 loss to the Houston Rockets on Wednesday night. Elson has an expiring deal worth $1.7 million."Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Comments (0)

NBA Rumor - Feb 16 "The trade would send Jared Jeffries, rookie Jordan Hill and either Al Harrington or Larry Hughes to Houston for McGrady, Joey Dorsey and Brian Cook. The teams would also flip-flop first-round picks in 2011, and the Knicks would trade their 2012 first-round pick to the Rockets. Trading Jeffries is crucial for the Knicks because removing his contract, which runs through 2011, would free up additional cap space for the Knicks to sign two max free agents this summer. However, Jeffries also has a $2 million trade kicker, one of many reasons why the forward is difficult to move."New York Daily News Comments (0)

NBA Rumor - Feb 15 "Four days before the N.B.A.’s trading deadline, the Knicks have renewed efforts to acquire the former All-Star Tracy McGrady from the Houston Rockets, according to two people close to the talks. There were substantive discussions on Sunday between the Knicks’ president, Donnie Walsh; Rockets General Manager Daryl Morey; and McGrady’s agent, Arn Tellem, according to the people, who did not want to be identified discussing the negotiations."The New York Times Comments (0)

NBA Rumor - Feb 1 "Carlos Boozer continued to express optimism Sunday about his recovery from a moderate right calf strain and suggested that it was possible he might be able to play by the end of the week. "I think I have a shot at it if it continues to get better," Boozer said. He appeared on the court before Jazz practice, but said he was planning only to ride a stationary bike and possibly work out on an elliptical machine and lift weights. Boozer suffered the calf strain in the third quarter of Wednesday's victory in Portland."Salt Lake Tribune Comments (1)

NBA Rumor - Jan 14 "Jerry Stackhouse said reports of him continuing his career in China are false. His goal is a return to the NBA. Stackhouse still believes he can be a valuable player off the bench, and says all the ailments and pains in his feet and knees that slowed him the past couple of seasons have healed."I have the mind-set that I am going to be ready to try to help somebody," Stackhouse said. "I have been off a year and got my body right. It would be perfect for me to come in and try to win a championship.""Detroit Free Press Comments (0)

NBA Rumor - Jan 12 "The Detroit Pistons are going nowhere fast, so it's a fair bet that they'll try to shed a contract or two before the NBA trade deadline. They'd probably most like to move someone from their crowded backcourt, but an ESPN writer thinks a skinny swingman is the most likely to get dealt. Here's a portion of Marc Stein's column: The reality is that Tayshaun Prince would appear to be the most likely of Detroit's championship holdovers to be dealt first, since Prince possesses the more cap-friendly contract. "Detroit Free Press Comments (0)

NBA Rumor - Jan 12 "It was their playful response to a Yahoo! Sports report that Indiana refused a Wolves' Jefferson-for-Danny Granger trade offer, presented partly because Jefferson and Love are at odds with each other. Wolves boss David Kahn called the report "totally without merit" and said he will not offer any of his "core" players in trade until next summer. Kahn last week told Jefferson, through his agent, that he will not trade him this season, and Kahn met with Jefferson for about 20 minutes Monday to reassure him."Minneapolis Star Tribune Comments (0)

NBA Rumor - Jan 12 "Twelve days ago, Celtics management said Kevin Garnett would miss roughly 10 days with a hyperextended right knee. Doc Rivers obviously had to amend that number last night, and offered up another 10-day window for the forward’s return. But this time the Celtics coach believes he is right. The reason was Garnett’s workout yesterday, his first full-fledged run, minus the odd shootaround, since Dec. 30."Boston Herald Comments (0)

NBA Rumor - Jan 6 "Veteran point guard Rafer Alston has been given his parole from the Nets, who will save some money by reaching a buyout agreement for the final season of his $5.25 million contract.

“We’ve reached an agreement in principle regarding a buyout for Rafer,” agent Dan Fegan said in a phone conversation.

Fegan would not say whether he has a landing spot awaiting his 33-year-old client, but the South Florida Sun-Sentinel is reporting that the Miami Heat are at the top of Alston’s list. He has played there before, helping Miami get into the postseason during Dwyane Wade’s rookie season."Newark Star Ledger Comments (0)

NBA Rumor - Jan 1 "If the 76ers want Houston Rockets forward Tracy McGrady and his expiring $23 million contract, it will take a package deal built around Sixers swingman Andre Iguodala.
According to a source close to the situation, the Houston Rockets have said they would only consider shipping McGrady to the Sixers if the Sixers "knocked the Rockets over" with the amount of young talent included in the deal.

The source said that the teams have not spoken in "more than a week," but that a deal involving Iguodala "has a chance."

The Rockets, one of only a handful of NBA teams willing to take on salary, would have to be overwhelmed by the talent included - perhaps power forward Thaddeus Young, point guard Lou Williams, or center Marreese Speights - to take on contracts for McGrady's expiring deal.

The same source said the Rockets were unwilling to trade McGrady for Sixers center Samuel Dalembert and power forward Elton Brand, although the source confirmed that the Sixers have been trying to unload both players."Philadelphia Inquirer Comments (0)

NBA Rumor - Dec 29 "With Rockets coach Rick Adelman unable to predict when McGrady will get significant playing time, McGrady’s representatives Monday asked that the Rockets trade McGrady, according to a person with the Rockets with knowledge of the decision.

Rockets general manager Daryl Morey agreed Monday to try to trade McGrady during talks with McGrady’s representatives.

Morey declined comment Monday.

McGrady, 30, was granted an indefinite leave of absence while the Rockets seek a trade. A person with knowledge of the Rockets’ talks said no trade is imminent but added the Rockets had not been aggressive in seeking a deal, a stance that likely will change."Houston Chronicle Comments (0)

NBA Rumor - Dec 5 "When Donnie Walsh passed on Allen Iverson last month, the Knicks president talked about potential moves the team could make that fit into their long-range plan. Enter the athletic young 6-foot-10 forward Tyrus Thomas. Donnie Walsh recently held discussions with the Bulls about his availability, according to a Knicks source. The Bulls are shopping Thomas and have interest in Knicks leading scorer Al Harrington, according to a team official."New York Post Comments (0)

NBA Rumor - Dec 5 "Maybe, just maybe, the Pistons are going to see their roster healthy again. Tayshaun Prince (small ruptured disc) and Richard Hamilton (severely sprained right ankle) continue to do a little more in practice each day. Prince, especially, seems to be moving more freely. Neither has gone through a full practice, but they're getting to that point. "It is optimistic," coach John Kuester said. "Seeing them on the floor and doing things (strength and conditioning coach) Arnie (Kander) has them doing, certainly they're getting close. "Detroit News Comments (0)

NBA Rumor - Dec 2 "As the Orlando Magic huddled after their workout Tuesday at RDV Sportsplex, PG Jameer Nelson stood alongside his teammates wearing a practice jersey and practice shorts. Just don't read anything into that. Nelson, who underwent arthroscopic surgery on Nov. 18 to repair a torn lateral meniscus in his left knee, spent Tuesday rehabbing the knee, not practicing. Nelson said that the original timeframe for his return still applies: that he expects to return four to six weeks from the date of his surgery. He said he's dealing with watching games from the sidelines."Orlando Sentinel Comments (0)

NBA Rumor - Dec 1 "The Bulls announced Monday that guard Kirk Hinrich would be sidelined 1-2 weeks after three doctors examined his sprained left thumb. Hinrich, who suffered the injury Wednesday during practice in Portland, Ore., was examined by team physician Brian Cole and hand specialists John Fernandez and Marc Cohen of Midwest Orthopedics at Rush University Medical Center."Chicago Sun Times Comments (0)

NBA Rumor - Dec 1 "The potential homecoming of Allen Iverson has gone from laughable to plausible to, in the words of 76ers coach Eddie Jordan last night, intriguing. Jordan, along with president and general manager Ed Stefanski, assistant GM Tony DiLeo and assistant coach Aaron McKie, met yesterday with Iverson and his agent, Leon Rose, and his personal manager, Gary Moore, to discuss the possible signing of the free-agent guard."Philadelphia Daily News Comments (0)

NBA Rumor - Nov 20 James Dolan never played in the NBA, but the chairman of Madison Square Garden has the power to do what few players ever could: Stop Allen Iverson. According to a high-ranking Knicks official, Dolan has reservations about the club signing Iverson, the multi-talented yet controversial guard who became a free agent last night after clearing waivers. Dolan's concerns about Iverson won't necessarily be deal-breakers."New York Daily News Comments (0)

NBA Rumor - Nov 19 "The answer to The Answer appears to be yes. Donnie Walsh said Wednesday night that the Knicks have yet to make a final decision on whether to sign Allen Iverson but the Knicks president hinted that the club is leaning strongly in that direction. Iverson, a former MVP, is expected to clear waivers at 6 p.m. today and will become an unrestricted free agent. The Knicks could have competition from Miami, who according to a person close to Iverson said the team is "hot" after him."Akron Beacon Journal Comments (0)

NBA Rumor - Nov 18 "In his acting debut, Pau Gasol died of a brain injury as a character on Monday night's episode of "CSI: Miami." He'll soon be coming back to life in his other, more lucrative job. Gasol is expected to return Thursday against the Chicago Bulls after sitting out 11 games because of a strained right hamstring. "Sounds good to me," he said Tuesday."Los Angeles Times Comments (0)

NBA Rumor - Nov 12 "Linebacker Ernie Sims was held out of practice Wednesday with a right hamstring injury he suffered in Sunday's loss in Seattle. Lions coach Jim Schwartz called the injury "fairly significant" during Monday's press conference. "As of right now it looks like I'm not going to play this week," Sims said Wednesday. The Lions travel to Minnesota for a 1 p.m. game this Sunday."Detroit News Comments (0)

NBA Rumor - Nov 12 "The 76ers are struggling to put people in all those red seats at the Wachovia Center. Despite facing the Celtics and high-flying Suns among their first four South Philadel-phia dates, the Sixers are last in the league in home attendance with an average of 11,537 fans. The next team (the Kings) is 1,050 ahead of the Sixers. The Sixers are playing to 56.8 percent capacity - none of the other 29 teams is below 70.6. With that in mind, would the Sixers be interested in bringing back Allen Iverson to try to get some fans back in the building? The answer is still no, according to team president Ed Stefanski. "Phillyburbs Comments (0)

NBA Rumor - Nov 11 "Vince Carter told me he felt good seconds after testing his ankle and it sounds as if he is playing. "It feels good. It's not up to me," he said. When I told him that Stan Van Gundy probably would let him play, he laughed. He surprised coaches and teammates, considering he didn't participate in Tuesday shootaround. "It's weird. It just started feeling better," he said."Orlando Sentinel Comments (0)

NBA Rumor - Oct 28 "The Memphis Grizzlies asked for and received permission to speak to Hall of Fame center Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, possibly about a position with the team, a Lakers spokesman said Tuesday. Abdul-Jabbar attended opening night festivities at Staples Center, but declined to comment. Abdul-Jabbar, whose role as a special assistant to Lakers coach Phil Jackson has been decreased this season, attended the Grizzlies' practice Monday. He also had dinner with the Grizzlies' big men Sunday, according to a report in a Memphis newspaper."Los Angeles Daily News Comments (0)

NBA Rumor - Oct 22 "The Portland Trail Blazers are close to signing forward LaMarcus Aldridge to a contract extension, a person close to the situation told The Associated Press. The five-year deal is expected to be completed within the next two days, according to the person who spoke on condition of anonymity because the contract wasn't final. The Blazers need to strike a deal with Aldridge to prevent him from becoming a restricted free agent next summer."Minneapolis Star Tribune Comments (0)