Ben Maller's NBA rumors
by FOXSports.com
Phil Jax: Lakers have no chance to win 70 games
Sorry, Lakers fans. The Chicago Bulls' record-setting 72-10 campaign won't be topped this season. At least that's what Phil Jackson said Wednesday, and he'd probably know a thing or two about such success. He was the Bulls' coach when they set the NBA standard for victories in 1995-96. He wasn't being critical when he said the Lakers (15-2) wouldn't do it this season. Nor was he throwing in the towel by conceding it wouldn't happen. It didn't even seem like he was inspiring the team with a publicly delivered "us-against-them" tactic. He might have just been telling the truth, at least from his perspective. "I don't think there's any chance that we're going to get anywhere close to 70 wins," he said. "I'm not going to say that we can't win 60, but I don't think that there's a chance [at 70] -- and that's if everything goes well health-wise. Traveling in the West is just too difficult. Changing time zones, it just makes it very difficult to be consistent night in and night out on the road." -- LA Times
Knicks Cuttino Mobley close to retiring
Cuttino Mobley is strongly mulling a medical retirement because of an enlarged heart condition and could make the announcement tomorrow, according to a person familiar with the situation. Mobley, 33, still has one more heart test left today in Minnesota. It had been reported that Mobley had signed a waiver with the Clippers to release them of liability if he had heart problems. If Mobley, obtained in the Zach Randolph trade from the Clippers, retires, it would free open a roster spot and save the Knicks about 75 percent of the $18. 9 million left on his pact because of insurance. Mobley, who gets all the money, was obtained more for his contract that expires after next season than for his game. According to the source, Mobley helped initiate the extra testing following his failed physical. "He's not really focused on basketball, his main concern is his health," the source said. -- NY Post
Wolves dealing McCants?
They also might have allowed Kevin McHale, along on this three-game Eastern trip that concludes Friday in New Jersey, a chance to see Foye at shooting guard most of the game in case he is trying to trade shooting guard Rashad McCants or looking for a point guard such as Charlotte's Raymond Felton. -- Star Tribune
Rockets T-Mac limited with painkilling medication
The Rockets have been encouraged by a couple of things. One is that Tracy McGrady has been diligent in his rehabilitation work. That hasn't always been the case. Not a good feel Another is that he has looked terrific for a couple of stretches this season. Those stretches coincided with his taking a round of painkilling injections and medication. "When he's pain-free, he has played his best basketball," Morey said. Doctors want to limit McGrady to four rounds of the painkillers for the season. He has two to go. Before the Rockets use up their final two lifelines, they're hoping rest and rehab will get McGrady's left knee strong again. -- Houston Chronicle
Sixers GM defends signing of Elton Brand
Ed Stefanski stood on the corner of the 76ers' home floor before last night's game against the Los Angeles Lakers and answered questions about why his team has failed to live up to big expectations. "We're obviously not happy we are 8-10," said Stefanski, the Sixers' president and general manager. "No one in this locker room is happy, but I'm not going to say we're shocked that we're 8-10." Stefanski said he, coach Maurice Cheeks, and everyone involved needed to "keep tinkering" rather than make a sudden move. The off-season acquisition of power forward Elton Brand has shifted the identity of last-season's run-and-gun squad. "We expect to be a good basketball team," Stefanski said. "We threw all our eggs in one basketball - Elton Brand - and I would do it again in a New York second." -- Philadelphia Daily News
Suns O'Neal says he's OK with up-tempo pace
Suns center Shaquille O'Neal and point guard Steve Nash are expected back in the starting lineup tonight. If Nash wants to have the offense bolting and breaking, he has O'Neal's blessing. "If we're going to run, we should stop talking about it and just do it," O'Neal said. "We don't need coach's permission to get a rebound and run. I'm going to be the one igniting the break because I'm getting most of the rebounds. It doesn't matter to me. I can play any style." -- Arizona Republic
Almond contributes to Jazz despite uncertain future
There's no telling what the future will hold for second-year guard Morris Almond beyond the fact that he's contributing right now for the Jazz and will be an unrestricted free agent after the season. If anything, Almond's role has increased almost by the week since the Jazz decided in late October to decline a contract option to bring back their 2007 first-round draft pick for the 2009-10 season. "Once I'm on the floor, I just play, as simple as that," said Almond, who scored a career-high 12 points in 26 minutes Tuesday against Sacramento, playing the entire fourth quarter. With the Jazz declining to bring him back for $1.156 million next season, Almond effectively is auditioning for teams around the NBA at the same time Jazz coach Jerry Sloan is giving him greater and greater opportunities. "It's not like we've sentenced him to exile a month ago. We made a decision to be able to have options," Jazz general manager Kevin O'Connor said. "He's responded and competed and that was the big thing that we wanted him to be able to do." Almond was the only first-round pick from his draft class not to have his third-year option exercised. -- Salt Lake Tribune
Orlando Magic taking time to bring back PG Jameer Nelson
The Magic are being cautious with point guard Jameer Nelson, who missed his fifth consecutive game Wednesday night because of a strained hip flexor. "I feel good," said Nelson, who participated in the morning shoot-around. "I'm taking it day-by-day. I'm not pushing to do anything. Obviously, I want to be on the court. It's up to the staff and my body." Coach Stan Van Gundy said the medical staff again will evaluate Nelson's progress after today's practice. He was expected to be out up to 10 days after being injured last Monday. The Magic's next game is Friday night against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Amway Arena. "They told me everything has been good [with Nelson]," Van Gundy said. "I'd put a uniform on him tonight and play him. But it's not up to me." -- Orlando Sentinel
Charles Oakley: LeBron James best for Cavaliers in long term
Charles Oakley is a rugged, old-school power forward who knows a thing or two about what it means for the Knicks to be relevant. But as a native of Cleveland, Oakley also understands what it would mean to his hometown if LeBron James leads the Cavaliers to an NBA title and then makes a long-term commitment to the city. Oakley, the former Knick, has mixed feelings about James' pending free agency in 2010. While LeBron's arrival in New York would make the Knicks contenders again, James already has a solid team. "I don't want to follow (Charles) Barkley because he already said something about it, but I think LeBron needs to finish the next two seasons out and then he should do right by Cleveland, for himself, his family and the people around him," Oakley said Wednesday over the telephone. "New York would be great. But who says New York will have a team for him to go to." -- NY Daily News
Knicks could turn to Allan Houston?
If Cuttino Mobley files for a medical retirement today because of a heart condition, the Knicks would have an open roster spot to sign a guard. Sources said they may be desperate enough to consider former All-Star shooting guard Allan Houston, now an assistant to the general manager. -- NY Post
Phil Jackson doesn't think Celts or Cavs can win 70
For what it's worth, Phil Jackson also didn't think Boston (18-2) or Cleveland (15-3) would hit 70 victories. "That would be a pretty difficult task," he said. -- LA Times
Knicks' owner Dolan Isn't Talking, but He Is Singing
James L. Dolan has not given an interview in 631 days, but the man has the blues. We know this because Ticketmaster sent an e-mail message Wednesday announcing that Dolan's blues band, J.D. and the Straight Shot, just released a new album, "Right on Time." There are no direct lyrical references to the Knicks, Dolan's woebegone franchise, though one imagines they inspired such tracks as "Slow Motion in Reverse" and "What Do We Do Now?" Dolan also croons at length about drinking, smoking and heartache, which seems like more than a coincidence. -- NY Times
Steve Francis back in Rockets uniform
Rockets guard Steve Francis was active and in uniform on Wednesday for the first time since his surgery last February. "They had to go get it out of the Compaq Center," Francis said. "They had to go find it. Tony (Nila, the Rockets equipment manager said he would dust it off." Francis said just being in uniform on the bench, available in an emergency, brought him one step closer playing. "That's what I'm looking forward to," Francis said. "I know it's a gradual process. If I don't get in, I don't. I'm not really worried about that. I'm just trying to get my timing. Try to get closer to the floor." Asked to describe his conditioning, Francis said, "Terrible. I think that will be the hardest thing. Any player will tell you that. You can run all you want on the treadmill. The actual game-time is hard." Francis was active with Brent Barry and Tracy McGrady out, but not yet part of Rockets coach Rick Adelman's plans. -- Houston Chronicle
Hawks Marvin Williams blossoms as 3-point shooter
The invitations won't go out for at least a month or so, but if Hawks forward Marvin Williams gets an offer to participate in the 3-point shooting contest during All-Star Weekend he'll gladly accept. After making just one of his 10 3-point attempts from a year go, Williams is one of the top 10 3-point shooters in the NBA -- he's tied for ninth at .474, while teammate Mo Evans leads the team and ranks fourth at .500. "Without a doubt I'd accept," Williams said before the Hawks faced the Memphis Grizzlies on Wednesday night at Philips Arena. "You go out there and make them all or you miss them all. Either way, that would have to be the experience of a lifetime." Williams would have the ideal coach if he does make it into the field. He has been working overtime this season Hawks' shooting consultant Mark Price. They do a drill at the end of practice that is like the 3-point shooting contest but without the ball racks. -- Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Marbury: waive me or play me, NOW
Banned Stephon Marbury said yesterday he is no longer willing to negotiate a buyout and either wants to be released or be told to rejoin the team to play. Marbury's new tact sounded as if he was daring the Knicks to play him now that they are in desperate need of guard help. Marbury actually used the word "we" when talking about the Knicks' chances against the Cavaliers last night. However, it may be too late after his recent rips on his teammates and coach Mike D'Antoni. -- NY Post
Kirilenko back with Jazz on Friday?
Utah forward Andrei Kirilenko is targeting Friday to return from an irritated right ankle. He reported improvement in the ankle Wednesday, plans on working out today and will not require a second cortisone shot. "It feels way better," Kirilenko said. -- Salt Lake Tribune
Magic coach worried about backup guard Anthony Johnson
Stan Van Gundy is worried about the trickle-down effect the Nelson injury is having on the Magic's roster, namely 34-year-old point guard Anthony Johnson. The 12-year veteran entered Wednesday having played 37, 38, 38 and 30 minutes over the past four games. Said Van Gundy: "We're a halfcourt team without Jameer. AJ makes great decisions and doesn't turn the ball over, but we're just not getting the same kind of push. He's having to play the kind of minutes that we don't even expect Jameer to play." The Magic are without a third point guard after Mike Wilks was lost with a preseason knee injury. -- Florida Today
Pacers Dunleavy closer to return
Indiana Pacers guard Mike Dunleavy could be taking a significant step toward his season debut as early as next week. Dunleavy, who has not played this season because of bone spurs in his right knee, will undergo a test on the knee in the next week to 10 days to see if he is ready to start practicing. "We're going to see how the next week or so goes," he said. "I have to pass some test in terms of on-court activities, and after that, hopefully, I'll be able to pick it up more and more." Dunleavy, who missed only 11 games in his first six seasons, has been a spectator in the Pacers' first 18 games. -- Indy Star
Pietrus out 2 more weeks for Magic
Magic shooting guard Mickael Pietrus, who missed his third consecutive game because of a torn ligament in his right thumb, said he won't get the cast off his hand until Dec. 17. He had a new cast put on Tuesday. Pietrus has been out since Nov. 28 and his recovery was listed as three to five weeks. "What upsets me is that I won't be able to play against my Golden State friends," said Pietrus, who left the Warriors as a free agent this summer to sign with Orlando. The Magic will face the Warriors in Oakland on Dec. 15. -- Orlando Sentinel
Kevin Garnett: I'm not close with Stephon Marbury
Kevin Garnett spoke briefly about the circus surrounding suspended Knicks guard Stephon Marbury, who is seeking a buyout of the final year of his contract and has been banished from the team. Garnett and Marbury were teammates in Minnesota from 1996-99. "We're not close at all, not really as close as we used to be," Garnett said. "I haven't really been following [the Marbury situation]. I watch it here and there when I go through the locker room when it's on TV. I hear about it. It's unfortunate. But I haven't been following it or had an assessment of it." -- Boston Globe
Sixers rookie Speights learns by doing, not watching
When the 76ers took Florida sophomore Marresse Speights with the 16th pick in this year's draft, the master plan probably called for the 6-10 power forward/center to be brought along slowly, until he made the transition from college basketball to the NBA and proved himself ready to become a regular contributor in the frontcourt rotation. But master plans are available for daily rewrites, and Speights has shown he is ready, now, to log some major minutes as the occasion warrants. Or at least he did Tuesday night in Chicago, playing the final 26 minutes, 4 seconds in an overtime victory over the Bulls that snapped a four-game losing streak. Veteran big men Samuel Dalembert and Theo Ratliff mostly sat as Speights had possibly his finest game as a pro, finishing with 11 points on 5-for-9 shooting and eight rebounds (five on the offensive boards). So, is Speights, at the tender age of 21, ready to be handed a larger role on consistently? Perhaps. -- Philadelphia Daily News
Patrick Ewing hurting for Magic
The injury bug has even bitten the Magic coaching staff. Assistant Coach Patrick Ewing is wearing a walking boot on his left foot. Ewing says he has a stress fracture. " Dwight [Howard] kicked me," Ewing joked. -- Orlando Sentinel
Did You Know?
According to Elias Sports Bureau, playing just seven players in a game is a rarity in the NBA. Orlando's use of seven players Monday was just the fourth time this season that an NBA team has done that. New York did it the other three times (Nov. 21, 22 and 29), but those instances came after the Knicks were left short-handed following the trades of Jamal Crawford and Zach Randolph, and Stephon Marbury's reported refusal to enter a game. It was just the eighth time in Magic history that they have used just seven players in a game. -- Florida Today
Nuggets Nene's 64.2 percent from floor leads NBA
This is how Nene likes it. While the Nuggets' monthlong hot streak has been credited almost solely to the arrival of Chauncey Billups and the improved all-around game of Carmelo Anthony, the Nuggets center quietly is becoming the player they always said he could be. While Billups and Anthony continue to eat up the headlines, Nene has averaged 15.2 points, 7.4 rebounds and 1.68 blocked shots, all of which would shatter his single-season bests. But perhaps most telling about the 6-foot-11 Brazilian's emergence is his 64.2 percent field-goal percentage, which leads the NBA but is on pace to be the best since Artis Gilmore shot 65.2 percent for Chicago in 1981-82. "Now is my time," Nene said. "I've been through a lot of things to get to this position I am now." -- Rocky Mountain News
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Cavaliers' Ben Wallace is a shoe free agent
Ben Wallace is now a free agent, at least when it comes to shoes. Last year when he was a member of the Chicago Bulls, Wallace launched a partnership for a signature shoe and clothing line with Steve & Barry's. Like Stephon Marbury, Wallace joined up with the discount sporting goods retailer to offer low-priced shoes and apparel. One of 11 children, Wallace grew up in a family where money was tight and was pleased he could be part of an effort to offer low-cost shoes. Like with Marbury, though, the good intentions did not work out for the Cavs big man. "Things didn't happen the way they said they would," Wallace said. "They didn't produce all the pieces they said they would." Last week, Steve & Barry's announced it was liquidating its 173 remaining stores nationwide five months after it initially declared bankruptcy. Wallace became frustrated with the company earlier this year but has continued to wear his signature shoes, called the Big Ben, which had retailed for $14.98. Earlier this year, Marbury sued Steve & Barry's for $2 million in unpaid royalties. Wallace hasn't taken such actions, but he is looking for a new company to endorse. "I like the shoes, and I still have quite a few new pairs, so I'll wear them for a while," Wallace said. "But I've been a free agent." -- Cleveland Plain Dealer
Magic owner walking with assistance of a cane
Magic owner Rich DeVos attended Wednesday's game and walked with the assistance of a cane. DeVos, 82, suffered a broken rib recently following a fall. -- Florida Today
Jordan Brand Hopes Campaign Will 'Become Legendary'
Jordan Brand will launch new TV ads this weekend continuing its "Become Legendary" rallying cry. Eyeing the success its parent company Nike has had with "Just do it," Jordan Brand has pledged to make a long-term commitment to the marketing message which debuted last year. The first of three new national ads, called "Simple Math" breaks on Dec. 7. It focuses on what it takes to be a successful college football team, namely hard work and relentless training. -- Brand Week
NBA star helps friend stay safe during recent terrorist attacks
A phone call from Celtics guard Ray Allen helped an American friend stay safe during the recent terrorist attack in Mumbai, India. Allen's longtime friend Daryl Jones was in the Oberoi Trident Hotel when it was attacked with grenades and assault rifles in a rampage beginning Nov. 26. The Northwest Airlines flight attendant had gone to the front desk to get a new room key when he heard shooting in the lobby. Allen said Jones immediately headed to the 21st floor, where another hotel guest allowed him to hide in his room for two days. Allen learned of the attack during a phone call from his wife, Shannon, after a win over Golden State that night. Upon arriving home, Allen gave a whispering Jones an updated television news report for about 20 minutes. Worried that Jones could be targeted because he was an American, Allen also told his friend that if a terrorist asked for his passport to say he didn't have it and that he was Jamaican. "When I called him, I was telling him everything I heard on TV," Allen said yesterday. "[Jones learned] about the hotel being on fire and I told him that there was police outside. I told him, 'This is what is happening. From what they are saying, there are still terrorists running around shooting people and throwing grenades. You need to hide and don't open the door if someone knocks on it.' "We talked for about 20 minutes and I told him, 'We'll be [by the phone] if you need to call back. If you call back, we'll be up waiting, and if you [don't call], just leave us a message letting us know you're all right.' " Allen said Jones was able to make it back safely to the United States after stopovers in Germany and the Netherlands for interviews by officials. -- Boston Globe
Knicks Stephon Marbury still buying a $40 mil private jet
Stephon Marbury, the unwanted Knicks guard, is going ahead with buying a $40 million private jet, as Page Six first reported back in August. Although Marbury has yet to play this season, and the Knicks brass can't find any other team willing to take on his $21 million salary, the untradeable Coney Island native is awaiting delivery of the aircraft, according to the buzz at SoHo's Salt restaurant. "He already paid a large deposit in the multimillions and has no plans to try to cancel the order," said one source. Since the top NBA teams have their own jets, and the less-flush teams travel by charter, it's a mystery why Marbury would buy his own plane - unless he expects his future teammates to dislike him as much as the Knick players do and he feels the need to travel solo. -- NY Post
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