NBA News: Morning Link Dump May 1
Apr 30, 2013; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Clippers small forward Caron Butler (5), power forward Blake Griffin (middle) and point guard Chauncey Billups (right) on the bench at the end of game five of the first round of the 2013 NBA Playoffs against the Memphis Grizzlies at the Staples Center. Grizzlies won 103-93. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
Here are links to some of the hottest NBA related stories around the web today.
“It makes sense, until you remember that Jackson’s ties to the Lakers remain extremely strong. And until the Lakers make some concrete decisions about their future, there always be those who hold out hope that Jackson (alongside his fiancée Jeanie Buss) will return to the Lakers and help fix all that’s gone wrong since he departed two years ago.”
“He owes it to his teammates and fans everywhere to bring his best in Game 5, but hopefully the Sixth Man of the Year doesn’t take that too much to heart.”
“With the Clippers in a tight series that is now headed back to Memphis, there will be mountains of attention sent Griffin’s way. Not only will L.A. need him to keep this series competitive, but they’ll be without their primary interior scorer if he’s gone.”
“The burden for Collins may be easier now that he’s not hiding his lifestyle from others, but that does not mean it will be easy. Collins made a choice this week—not on whether or not to be gay, but whether or not to tell the rest of the world he is gay—and that choice has made him an incredibly important part of the movement for gay rights in America.”
“Howard can sign a five-year, $118 million max-level extension to stay in L.A. come July 1. The most he could receive if he were to leave is a four-year deal worth $87.6 million. Howard is expected to entertain the free-agency process and hear competing offers, multiple sources with knowledge of Howard’s thinking told ESPNLosAngeles.com. Dallas, Houston and Cleveland are teams that will be vying for Howard, among other suitors.”
“The frustration appeared to boil over when Curry exited the floor after the final buzzer, as TNT’s cameras caught the star point guard stopping his egress to confront a fan seated next to the tunnel through which the players travel to the locker room.”
“Three Blazers have previously won the award: Geoff Petrie (1971), Sidney Wicks (1972) and Brandon Roy (2007). Petrie shared the award with Boston Celtics center Dave Cowens.”
“In a brief phone conversation on Tuesday evening, Wolves owner Glen Taylor said he’ll have a major announcement on the ownership front sometime in the next week.”
“Sorry, I would have given you a spoiler alert, but it’s not like LeBron has given you much of a reason to be surprised when the award is officially announced. It’s become about as dramatic as the Miami Heat-Milwaukee Bucks first-round series was.”