There has been talk that Howard and pending UFA Chris Paul would like to team up, but Bryant believes both players will re-sign in the end. Bryant said he talked to Howard a couple weeks ago but will "touch base a lot more" in the coming weeks before free agency. Despite the rumored angst between Bryant and Howard, it's clear Kobe knows how valuable a player like Howard can be when healthy and would prefer to play with him than against him next season. It remains to be seen if Howard feels the same way.
Kobe expects Dwight Howard to stay with LAL
Dwight Howard | LAK
(June 19, 2013 4:08 PM EDT)
Kobe Bryant said Wednesday he expects Dwight Howard to stay with the Lakers.
Source:
Mark Medina on Twitter
Kobe Bryant says he might be out until Dec.
Kobe Bryant | LAK
(June 19, 2013 4:04 PM EDT)
Kobe Bryant (Achilles) says he's aiming to return to game action at some point in November or December.
Kobe said Wednesday he's fully mobile aside from being unable to run still. More importantly though, this is the first time we've heard Bryant admit he probably won't be ready for opening night after undergoing surgery on a torn Achilles on April 13. The normal recovery timetable for such an injury is six to nine months and a December return would slot right into the middle of that timeline. We'll have to see how Kobe progresses over the summer before coming anywhere close to a realistic return timetable.
Source:
Mark Medina on Twitter
Pacers owner expects Larry Bird decision soon
Larry Bird | IND
(June 19, 2013 3:41 PM EDT)
Pacers owner Herb Simon says he expects a decision from Larry Bird on whether he'll return to the organization "shortly."
Simon added he expects a resolution at some point next week. Bird took last season off and then briefly flirted with the Kings' GM position earlier in June before withdrawing his name from consideration. Donnie Walsh, who replaced Bird as team president, has said he plans to step aside as soon as Bird returns, which Walsh believes will happen at some point this summer. Walsh expects to run the Pacers' draft, but it sounds like Larry Legend could be back in the fold after that.
Source:
NBA.com
Report: Shaw, Sterling will meet on Wednesday
Brian Shaw | IND
(June 19, 2013 3:15 PM EDT)
Brian Shaw will meet with Clippers owner Donald Sterling for the first time Wednesday, according to Brad Turner of the Los Angeles Times.
Shaw is having his second interview with the Clippers on Wednesday. The sit-down with Sterling is a sign that Shaw is clearly one of the finalists for team's vacant head coach position and the outcome of this interview will definitely go a long way to determining the Clippers' next head coach. With Doc Rivers now out of the picture, it appears Shaw and Byron Scott are the two favorites to replace Vinny Del Negro.
Source:
Brad Turner on Twitter
Raptors announce coach Dwane Casey to return
Dwane Casey | TOR
(June 19, 2013 2:44 PM EDT)
The Raptors announced Wednesday that Dwane Casey will return as coach next season.
There had been speculation regarding Casey's future after new GM Masai Ujiri stopped short of guaranteeing his job security for 2013-14. However, it's clear Ujiri was content with what he heard from Casey in their one-on-one meetings to keep him in place to at least begin the year. It should be noted that Casey has only one year left on his contract and Ujiri likely won't be shy pushing him out the door during or after the season if things go poorly.
Source:
Doug Smith on Twitter
Dwyane Wade says other knee is swollen, sore
Dwyane Wade | MIA
(June 19, 2013 2:35 PM EDT)
Dwyane Wade says he missed the start of the third quarter Tuesday night because his surgically repaired left knee swelled up at halftime.
Wade said Wednesday afternoon his left knee, which he had operated on following last season, was still swollen and sore after Tuesday's Game 6 overtime win. The Heat guard is already dealing with bone bruises in his right knee, which Wade said is more painful than last season's knee injury. Wade only managed 14 points on 6-of-15 shooting in 36 minutes Tuesday night, but we can't foresee any injury or ailment keeping him off the court for Thursday's Game 7. Whether Wade is healthy enough to make a difference is another issue entirely.
Source:
J.A. Adande on Twitter
Brad Beal (leg) expects clearance next month
Bradley Beal | WAS
(June 19, 2013 11:50 AM EDT)
Bradley Beal (leg) is expected to receive clearance to resume basketball activities in early July, sources told the Washington Post.
Beal's season ended early due to a stress fracture in his fibula, and after nearly three months of inactivity, Beal is almost ready to return. However, Beal's status for summer league is up in the air, and there's a chance he winds up missing it in order to recover. The Wizards will treat their shooting guard of the future with kid gloves. Beal is expected to be ready for Team USA minicamp.
Source:
Washington Post
Report: Mavericks likely to trade No. 13 pick
Mark Cuban | DAL
(June 19, 2013 8:42 AM EDT)
The Mavericks are "almost certain" to trade the No. 13 overall pick to make a run at Dwight Howard in free agency, a source told the Dallas Morning News.
We've heard previously that the Mavs are likely to move their draft pick, and this confirms that chatter. It wouldn't be a surprise to see the Mavs trade the pick or take someone from the international ranks and stash him overseas during the 2013/14 season.
Source:
Dallas Morning News
LeBron, Heat win Game 6 for the ages
LeBron James | MIA
(June 19, 2013 12:35 AM EDT)
LeBron James triple-doubled with 32 points, 10 rebounds, 11 assists, three steals and a block -- and hit just 11-of-26 shots -- but he constantly resurrected the Heat from the dead as they took Game 6 in overtime in one of the greatest NBA Finals games ever played.
It's going to take a while to sort through all of the mayhem, and James' status as a choker and world beater on Twitter swung like a metronome throughout the game -- most notably when he lost his headband and turned into the flying death machine. Dwyane Wade's stat line of 14 points on 6-of-15 shooting with four rebounds and four assists isn't going to stand out, but he was awful tonight on both sides of the floor. Mario Chalmers was the team's second best player for most of the game and finished with 20 points on 7-of-11 shooting and four treys, while Chris Bosh's defense picked up down the stretch as he finished with 10 and 11 to go with three steals and two blocks. If Thursday's Game 7 has even half of the excitement of Game 6, the Internet might break.
Duncan's 30 and 17 not enough in Game 6 loss
Tim Duncan | SA
(June 19, 2013 12:24 AM EDT)
Tim Duncan scored 25 points in the first half and finished with 30 points and 17 rebounds, but it wasn't enough for the Spurs in their Game 6 overtime loss to the Heat on Tuesday.
The Heat had no answer for Duncan in the first half and the Spurs looked primed to take the title before Duncan and Tony Parker both pooped out down the stretch. Parker finished with 19 points and eight assists, but hit just 6-of-23 shots and despite that his trips to the bench late in overtime will be something reporters (timidly) ask Pop about in the post-game. Kawhi Leonard played great with 22 points, 11 rebounds and three steals, but his missed free throw that could've iced the game will haunt him unless the Spurs pull out Thursday's Game 7. Danny Green finally regressed with a 1-of-7 mark from the field and Manu Ginobili was terrible with eight turnovers.