NBA News/Injuries/etc. (3/4/12)

[HacheMan]

<table border="0" cellSpacing="0" cellPadding="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td>Michael Beasley - F - Timberwolves </td></tr><tr><td>

</td></tr><tr><td class="bodyCopy">Michael Beasley (toe) could miss some time after injuring himself on Monday.</td></tr><tr><td>

</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">Beasley "yelped" when attempting to put on his shoe, and beat writer Jerry Zgoda "wouldn't be surprised" if he is forced to the sidelines. Beasley is an interesting name to monitor with Thursday's trade deadline looming
Mar. 13 - 9:43 a.m. ET
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</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">Source: Minneapolis Star-Tribune</td></tr></tbody></table>

 

[HacheMan]

<table border="0" cellSpacing="0" cellPadding="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td>Devin Harris - G - Jazz </td></tr><tr><td>

</td></tr><tr><td class="bodyCopy">Utah General Manager Kevin O'Connor said that he's "actively looking" at trade scenarios.</td></tr><tr><td>

</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">There have been reports that the Jazz have been shopping Devin Harris and C.J. Miles, but it's clear that Utah is exploring anything that might improve the team. It's the job of the general manager to always be listening, and we'll see a plethora of reports like this before Thursday's trade deadline.
Mar. 13 - 8:45 a.m. ET</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">

</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">Source: Deseret News</td></tr></tbody></table>

 

[HacheMan]

<table border="0" cellSpacing="0" cellPadding="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td>J.J. Hickson - F/C - Kings </td></tr><tr><td>

</td></tr><tr><td class="bodyCopy">J.J. Hickson (hip pointer) practiced on Monday for the first time since his injury occurred on March 1.</td></tr><tr><td>

</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">Keith smart said Hickson was "OK," and didn't elaborate much further.

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</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">Source: Sacramento Bee</td></tr></tbody></table>

 

[HacheMan]

<table border="0" cellSpacing="0" cellPadding="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td>Ray Allen - G - Celtics </td></tr><tr><td>

</td></tr><tr><td class="bodyCopy">Ray Allen (ankle) could have re-entered Monday's 94-85 win against the Clippers.</td></tr><tr><td>

</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">Allen said that he slipped on a wet spot on the court, but was deemed okay. He did say that he felt a "sharp pain" on the back of his foot, but once he took pressure off of it in the locker room he felt better. Consider him questionable against the Warriors on Wednesday.
Mar. 13 - 7:00 a.m. ET</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">

</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">Source: Boston Globe</td></tr></tbody></table>

 

[HacheMan]

<table border="0" cellSpacing="0" cellPadding="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td>Emeka Okafor - C - Hornets </td></tr><tr><td>

</td></tr><tr><td class="bodyCopy">Emeka Okafor (knee) was cryptic when discussing his injury.</td></tr><tr><td>

</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">Okafor is getting additional tests done on the knee, and after the team provided no details on the extent of his injury, neither did the veteran big man. "It's going to take time," he said. "It's a sore knee, has a little swelling. It's going to take more time. I'd rather not get into specifics about what happened." Those are not encouraging comments, and Okafor admitted that although he already had the knee drained once, the swelling still exists. It doesn't sound as if he's close to a return.
Mar. 13 - 6:54 a.m. ET</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">

</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">Source: New Orleans Times-Picayune</td></tr></tbody></table>

 

[HacheMan]

<table border="0" cellSpacing="0" cellPadding="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td>Andrew Bynum - C - Lakers </td></tr><tr><td>

</td></tr><tr><td class="bodyCopy">Andrew Bynum confirmed he will play through his bruised knee Tuesday night.</td></tr><tr><td>

</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">Any knee issues surrounding Bynum is reason for at least a little concern, but there's no structural damage here. It's a simple bruise. He hasn't missed a single game all year and has topped 39 minutes in five of the last six games.
Mar. 13 - 6:49 p.m. ET</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">

</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">Source: Mike Trudell on Twitter</td></tr></tbody></table>

 

[HacheMan]

<table border="0" cellSpacing="0" cellPadding="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td>Jason Richardson - G/F - Magic </td></tr><tr><td>

</td></tr><tr><td class="bodyCopy">The Magic and Wolves are having discussions regarding Jason Richardson (ankle, day-to-day), sources tell Real GM's Jarrod Rudolph.</td></tr><tr><td>

</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">On paper at least, this one makes some sense. The Magic may be entering a rebuilding mode if they move on from Dwight Howard and J.J. Redick is ready to be a starting shooting guard. The playoff-hungry Wolves are desperate for guard help after losing Ricky Rubio (knee) for the season. Redick and Richardson are both fantasy holds.
Mar. 13 - 6:33 p.m. ET</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">

</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">Source: Jarrod Rudolph on Twitter</td></tr></tbody></table>

 

[HacheMan]

<table border="0" cellSpacing="0" cellPadding="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td>Kevin Martin - G - Rockets </td></tr><tr><td>

</td></tr><tr><td class="bodyCopy">Kevin Martin (shoulder) will not play in Tuesday's game against the Thunder.</td></tr><tr><td>

</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">Martin has been in coach Kevin McHale's doghouse of late and the strain is on his right (shooting) side. It makes sense to regroup with a game off. Consider Martin another game-time decision for Wednesday's game against the Bobcats. Look for Chase Budinger, Courtney Lee and Chandler Parsons to all see a boost in minutes Tuesday.
Mar. 13 - 6:24 p.m. ET</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">

</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">Source: Jonathan Feigen on Twitter</td></tr></tbody></table>

 

[HacheMan]

<table border="0" cellSpacing="0" cellPadding="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td>Monta Ellis - G - Warriors </td></tr><tr><td>

</td></tr><tr><td class="bodyCopy">Monta Ellis' camp has had recent conversations with the Warriors about the possibility "that it is time for Ellis to move on," sources tell the San Jose Mercury News.</td></tr><tr><td>

</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">Ellis has two years left on his current deal, but can opt out after the 2012-13 season. His name has popped up plenty in rumors this week, including talk that the Magic were trying to get him in an effort to appease Dwight Howard. "I probably could go to Orlando or Chicago and get a championship," Ellis said. "But if they don't move me, what can I do? Hopefully — if they don't move me – they get somebody in here so we can win and I don't have to go through this every year."
Mar. 13 - 6:13 p.m. ET</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">

</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">Source: San Jose Mercury News</td></tr></tbody></table>

 

[HacheMan]

NBA News/Injuries/etc. (3/14/12)

<table border="0" cellSpacing="0" cellPadding="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td>Michael Beasley - F - Timberwolves </td></tr><tr><td>

</td></tr><tr><td class="bodyCopy">The Wolves, Lakers and Blazers are reportedly in serious discussions about a trade that would send Michael Beasley to L.A., Steve Blake to Portland, and Jamal Crawford to Minnesota.</td></tr><tr><td>

</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">There might be more pieces in play but these three players are the core of the deal, which multiple sources are reporting as close to done. At face value this seems like a rare trade that will help all three teams in reality, while also improving (or at least maintaining) the fantasy value of all three players. Beasley would step into the Lakers' watered-down SF spot, Crawford would instantly become a reliable SG for the Wolves, and Blake would have the starting PG job (whether or not disappointing Raymond Felton is still around).
Mar. 14 - 5:43 p.m. ET</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">

</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">Source: CSNNW.com</td></tr></tbody></table>

 

[HacheMan]

<table border="0" cellSpacing="0" cellPadding="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td>Andray Blatche - F/C - Wizards </td></tr><tr><td>

</td></tr><tr><td class="bodyCopy">The Wizards are unlikely to trade Andray Blatche due to a league-wide "lack of interest," according to the Washington Post.</td></tr><tr><td>

</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">Blatche is owed $23 million over the next three years, which combined with his attitude and conditioning issues make him an undesirable asset -- the Wizards have even tried, unsuccessfully, to package him with JaVale McGee. He's averaging just 5.2 points and 3.7 rebounds in the past six games and we're not expecting to see one of his patented late-season surges.
Mar. 14 - 5:23 p.m. ET</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">

</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">Source: Washington Post</td></tr></tbody></table>

 

[HacheMan]

<table border="0" cellSpacing="0" cellPadding="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td>Stephen Jackson - G/F - Warriors </td></tr><tr><td>

</td></tr><tr><td class="bodyCopy">The Warriors are "leaning toward keeping" Stephen Jackson, sources tell the San Francisco Chronicle.</td></tr><tr><td>

</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">It's going to be really hard to pass Jackson and his $10 million 2012-13 contract along before Thursday's deadline. The Warriors could consider a buyout, but they are already short-handed now that they have Andrew Bogut (ankle, out indefinitely) and Stephen Curry (ankle) both on the shelf. It remains to be seen exactly what role Jackson will have, but the Warriors are clearly building for the future now. Klay Thompson, not Jackson, is part of that young core.
Mar. 14 - 4:55 p.m. ET</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">

</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">Source: San Francisco Chronicle</td></tr></tbody></table>

 

[HacheMan]

<table border="0" cellSpacing="0" cellPadding="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td>Deron Williams - G - Nets </td></tr><tr><td>

</td></tr><tr><td class="bodyCopy">Coach Avery Johnson said that Deron Williams (calf) is tentatively targeting this weekend for his return.</td></tr><tr><td>

</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">Johnson said that Williams will test his calf on Friday, but they will err on the side of caution. He's unlikely to play in both sides of a back-to-back anyway. Regardless, this confirms that Williams' calf strain is not of the overly serious variety. He's truly day-to-day, with Jordan Farmar drawing the start again Wednesday night.
Mar. 14 - 4:51 p.m. ET</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">

</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">Source: Newark Star-Ledger</td></tr></tbody></table>

 

[HacheMan]

<table border="0" cellSpacing="0" cellPadding="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td>Dwight Howard - C - Magic </td></tr><tr><td>

</td></tr><tr><td class="bodyCopy">Dwight Howard reportedly told his Magic teammates during a meeting on Wednesday that he is "all in" for this season -- the implication is that he will opt-in for the final year of his contract, keeping him with the franchise through the 2012-13 season.</td></tr><tr><td>

</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">The meeting, which took place in San Antonio, has been reported by multiple news outlets. It's conceivable that Howard is being completely manipulative and will opt-out anyway, but it's more likely that he's giving Orlando more time to scour the league for the best possible trade. In the meantime, he and the Magic can attempt one more championship run -- they are currently 3rd in the Eastern Conference. He could still be shipped out in the next 24 hours, as he'll need to give the Magic some written proof of his intentions before they agree not to trade him.
Mar. 14 - 4:05 p.m. ET</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">

</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">Source: WFTV.com</td></tr></tbody></table>

 

[HacheMan]

<table border="0" cellSpacing="0" cellPadding="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td>Monta Ellis - G - Bucks </td></tr><tr><td>

</td></tr><tr><td class="bodyCopy">Monta Ellis seems very unlikely to play for the Bucks on Wednesday.</td></tr><tr><td>

</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">All five players involved need to pass physicals and we haven't heard any indications that Ellis will be ready to play vs. the Cavaliers. In a delicious twist of the schedule, Monta and the Bucks will fly to Oakland for a game against the Warriors on Friday.
Mar. 14 - 3:50 p.m. ET</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">

</td></tr></tbody></table>

 

[HacheMan]

<table border="0" cellSpacing="0" cellPadding="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td>Corey Maggette - F - Bobcats </td></tr><tr><td>

</td></tr><tr><td class="bodyCopy">Corey Maggette (back) is listed as a game-time decision against the Rockets on Wednesday.</td></tr><tr><td>

</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">Maggette left Monday's game with back spasms and did not return, but clearly the injury isn't as bad as some had expected. If Maggette is forced to miss time, Reggie Williams should draw the start at small forward and has averaged 12.0 points and 1.6 treys in nine starts this year.
Mar. 14 - 1:36 p.m. ET</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">

</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">Source: Rick Bonnell on Twitter</td></tr></tbody></table>

 

[HacheMan]

<table border="0" cellSpacing="0" cellPadding="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td>Andrew Bogut - C - Warriors </td></tr><tr><td>

</td></tr><tr><td class="bodyCopy">Andrew Bogut (ankle) will have another scan in two weeks.</td></tr><tr><td>

</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">Bogut previously hinted that he's unlikely to return before the end of the regular season, but he said "it's getting better every day" when asked about his injury. The Warriors made the move to grab him for the future, and it's still to be determined as to whether or not we'll see Bogut on the court again this season.
Mar. 14 - 1:29 p.m. ET</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">

</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">Source: Gery Woelfel on Twitter</td></tr></tbody></table>

 

[HacheMan]

<table border="0" cellSpacing="0" cellPadding="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td>Luol Deng - F - Bulls </td></tr><tr><td>

</td></tr><tr><td class="bodyCopy">Luol Deng (wrist) will return to the starting lineup on Wednesday against the Heat.</td></tr><tr><td>

</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">Deng has skipped the last two contests to rest his wrist, but he'll be back out there on Wednesday after a brief absence. He's struggled with his shot since initially injuring his wrist, but owners should have no hesitancy about putting him into the lineup. He's averaging 15.3 points, 6.7 rebounds, 1.1 steals and 1.5 treys this year.
Mar. 14 - 12:35 p.m. ET</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">

</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">Source: K.C. Johnson on Twitter</td></tr></tbody></table>

 

[HacheMan]

<table border="0" cellSpacing="0" cellPadding="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td>Derrick Rose - G - Bulls </td></tr><tr><td>

</td></tr><tr><td class="bodyCopy">Derrick Rose (groin) skipped practice on Wednesday and remains a game-time decision against the Heat.</td></tr><tr><td>

</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">Mike James was brought back into the fold in case Rose can't go, but it sounds like last season's MVP will be a true game-time call. With C.J. Watson (ankle) also a game-time decision, John Lucas would start for Chicago if both Rose and Watson are unable to play.
Mar. 14 - 12:29 p.m. ET</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">

</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">Source: K.C. Johnson on Twitter</td></tr></tbody></table>

 

[HacheMan]

<table border="0" cellSpacing="0" cellPadding="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td>Manu Ginobili - G - Spurs </td></tr><tr><td>

</td></tr><tr><td class="bodyCopy">Manu Ginobili (hip flexor) said he was 100 percent "good to go" against the Magic on Wednesday, but is awaiting word from Gregg Popovich in regards to his playing status.</td></tr><tr><td>

</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">Ginobili remains officially listed as a game-time call
Mar. 14 - 12:12 p.m. ET
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</td></tr><tr><td class="vaLink">Source: Mike Monroe on Twitter</td></tr></tbody></table>