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| Updating an earlier report, Kendrick Perkins is now being listed as a game-time decision for Game 6 due to his injured shoulder, according to the Boston Herald. "Perk is a physical guy," Kevin Garnett said. "He plays the post better than anybody in this league. That’s what he does. When you lose a key guy, you’re losing something." |
Our View: The good news is that the team is expecting Ray Allen back, but it doesn't sound good as far as the case of Perkins goes.
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| James Jones hasn't decided whether or not he will exercise his $3.2 million player option and remain with the Trailblazers, according to The Oregonian. He has until June 25th, the day before the draft, to make up his mind. "I was a finance major in college and in business you don't make decisions until you absolutely have to," Jones said. "I'll wait all the way up to the 25th to make a decision." |
Our View: Jones was limited to just 58 games due to a knee injury, but he started basketball activities and is apparently progressing well. Jones was happy with his role with the team this year, and could very well return to the Pacific Northwest.
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| Despite earlier reports that he was ready to return to the court, Yao Ming has not been medically cleared by his doctors to return from his injured foot, according to the Houston Chronicle. "He's doing great," agent John Huizinga said. "The reports that he's been cleared to play are not correct. The checkups have been very good. He had one today. But it's much too early for him to be cleared. He has a series of check points to continue to go through." |
Our View: Ming has returned to practice in drill form, but he has not been cleared for any full contact work putting his availability to play in the Stankovic Cup in July in doubt.
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| Mario Chalmers has decided to stay in the NBA draft and forgo his senior year at Kansas, according to the ESPN. |
Our View: Chalmers was the 2008 Final Four MVP and will join Brandon Rush and Darrell Arthur, former teammates, in the NBA this coming season.
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| Bobcats coach Larry Brown has let it be known that his team will draft the best player available with the no.9 selection on June 26 even if that player turns down the Bobcats request for a personal workout, according to ESPN. "It's agents trying to control the draft, saying they don't want a kid at a certain spot," Brown said. If they don't come here and they're available and we think they can help our club, I'm sure Michael [Jordan] will pull the trigger." |
Our View: Good for you Charlotte. Player who are being given millions of dollars without having proven anything at the NBA level should be happy with whatever team wants to open up the bank vault.
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| Kobe Bryant and his Laker teammates are a game from elimination but there is no panic for the team, nor is there a sense that Kobe must win the series by himself, according to Slam Sports. "A lot of people say, 'Kobe, you have to go out for 40 or 50,' but that's not how we play," Bryant said. "That's not what's going to win championships. We've got to stick together, ride this out as a unit, and that's what we're going to do." |
Our View: While it's true that the whole team needs to contribute, it certainly wouldn't hurt if Bryant had one of those games where he lights up the scoreboard. If we had to guess, we would say there could be a lot of fireworks in Game 6.
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| Updating an earlier report, Ray Allen will be able to join his teammates for Game 6 after being forced to leave Game 5 immediately at its conclusion to tend to a sick child, according to the Boston Globe. |
Our View: The good news is that his child appears to be fine, though we still don't have the specifics of the the issue. The Celtics charter flight was also held up on its way to Los Angeles, though this has nothing to do with Allen (it was a mechanical issue).
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| Yao Ming has recovered favorably from foot surgery and is expected to play for China against Iran in the Stankovic Cup in July, according to ESPN.com. |
Our View: He had been given the all-clear by the Rockets medical staff to return to China on June 24. If he performs well and looks healthy during his run with China, his fantasy stock should go back up heading into next season.
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| Marcus Camby could get dealt by the Nuggets, according to the Boston Globe. Camby would be the most favorable player to deal in a trade, and Carmelo Anthony would be too hard to replace and is a fan favorite. Camby said, "You hear trade rumors every summer around this time. You just got to take it with a grain of salt. Denver is where I want to be. But I definitely want to be where I'm wanted." |
Our View: Camby, who was the 2007 Defensive Player of the Year, will make $11.25 million next season and $10.9 million in 2009-10. The 34-year-old averaged 9.1 points, 13.1 rebounds, and 3.6 blocks in 2007-08. He could be a good fit for a veteran team in need of a big man such as Detroit, San Antonio, Miami, or Dallas.
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| Coach Doc Rivers has pinpointed Rajon Rondo's problems, according to the Boston Globe. Rondo played just 14 minutes in Sunday's Game 5 loss, while going 1-for-7 from the field and finishing with three points, three assists, and two rebounds. Rivers said, "He's just not playing well right now. The Lakers are doing a nice job to start games with Kobe Bryant guarding him and roaming, and the ball is ending up in his hands. Rondo has got to look to make more plays and take more shots."
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Our View: Rivers hasn't lost confidence in Rondo, however. He noted that he simply just needs to play better.
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| After nearly a year and a half of rehab in his recovery from a torn MCL, ACL, PCL and dislocated kneecap, Shaun Livingston has been medically cleared for basketball-related activities, according to the LA Times. The 22-year old Livingston has played two games of one-on-one this past week and his seriously injured left knee has improved to the point where is now dunking. The odds of him being cleared to play in the Las Vegas summer league remain small, however. |
Our View: Livingston will become an unrestricted free agent on July 1 if the Clippers don't offer him a salary starting at $5.8 million. The team wants to see how he progresses before committing to him financially, and may try to re-sign him at a reduced price. His return to the hardwood still remains in doubt.
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| Kendrick Perkins was held out of Sunday's Game 5 loss to the Lakers due to a strained left shoulder, and is already said to be doubtful for Game 6 in Boston, according to the Boston Herald. Coach Doc Rivers said he would probably be doubtful for Game 6, and Perkins added, "I couldn’t tell you. I can raise my arm, but there’s just a lot of pain right now. I don’t know if I can take a hard hit on it. When we get back to Boston I’m supposed to get an MRI on it, and then we’ll know more about it."
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Our View: The team could be without Perkins for Game 6, as well as Ray Allen, who is dealing with an undisclosed family issue involving one of his children. Rajon Rondo is hobbling as well, and while the Celtics hold a 3-2 lead in the series and host the final two games in Boston, a championship could be in doubt.
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| Emeka Okafor has reportedly turned down the Bobcats' offer of more than $12 million to re-sign with the team, according to the Charlotte Observer. |
Our View: There are not many teams that have $12 million to spend on Okafor, and he may have turned down his best offer.
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| Coach Doc Rivers commented on Ray Allen's sudden exit in Sunday's Game 5, according to the Boston Globe. Rivers said, "Ray Allen was forced to leave Staples Center at the conclusion of tonight’s game due to a health issue with one of his children. We ask that you please respect Ray’s privacy at this time, and we’ll keep you up to date as best we can moving forward."
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Our View: The team did not disclose the exact issue regarding his child, but hopefully it isn't anything serious.
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