Aug 2, 2012; London, United Kingdom; United States coaches and Jim Boeheim and Mike Krzyzewski and Mike D’Antoni and Nate McMillan and guard James Harden watch from the bench in the preliminary game against Nigeria in the London 2012 Olympic Games at Basketball Arena. The United States defeated Nigeria 156-73. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Earlier today we passed on the news that Mike Krzyzewski would return as head coach of the national American basketball team for the 2016 Rio Olympics. There will however be some changes on his coaching staff.

According to Marc Berman of The New York Post, Los Angeles Lakers head coach, Mike D’Antoni will not return as an assistant coach for Team USA.

According to the source, D’Antoni, who now coaches the Lakers, turned down the job as he didn’t want to make another four-year commitment because of his family.

“He wants to stay married,” the source said.

D’Antoni already has a lot on his plate with the mess over at Lakers headquarters so it comes to no surprise he passed on the opportunity to become an assistant coach for team USA.

He was a coach with Team USA since 2006 and worked under Kryzyzewski since the 2008 Bejining Olympics. With no D’Antoni in Rio there is no word yet whether former Portland Trailblazers head coach, Nate McMillian or Syracuse head coach, Jim Boeheim will be back however I fully expect them to return.

Kryzyzewski will officially announce his decision as head coach at a press conference presented by Team USA on Duke Campus Thursday morning.

Feb 11, 2013; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Los Angeles Clippers head coach Vinny Del Negro talks with guard Chris Paul (3) during the second quarter against the Philadelphia 76ers at the Wells Fargo Center. The Clippers defeated the Sixers 107-90. Mandatory Credit: Howard Smith-USA TODAY Sports

In what was the worst kept secret of all time, the Los Angeles Clippers fired head coach Vinny Del Negro on Tuesday after yet another promising season ended in playoff defeat. The reason for Del Negro’s firing is perhaps the most obvious reason of all time as well — Chris Paul didn’t want him in town anymore. Clippers owner Donald Sterling spoke to the Los Angeles Times and while he didn’t outright admit the firing was to please Chris Paul, he strayed pretty far away from denying it as well.

“I always want to be honest and not say anything that is not true, so I’d rather not say anything,” Sterling said when asked by Los Angeles Times reporter T.J. Simers if Chris Paul had anything to do with Del Negro’s firing. “But you know, the coach did a really good job. I think he did. And I liked working with him. There are just factors that make life very complicated and very challenging.”

While Sterling didn’t come right out and say that Del Negro was fired to keep the real leader of the Clippers happy, it doesn’t take a genius to realize that’s exactly what happened. At the end of the day, it was the only choice the Clippers had, as a billion Vinny Del Negro’s do not equal the importance of one single Chris Paul and Sterling was very aware of that fact.

The Clippers are a team that can be so much better than they are but the excuses leave town with Del Negro. He never seemed like a match for the team and now that he’s gone, the weight is squarely on Chris Paul’s shoulders. He seems like he can carry the burden, but another failed season will fall on him as it’s not clear he has total and possibly apocalyptic control over the future of the team.

October 30, 2012; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Dallas Mavericks power forward Elton Brand (42) fouls Los Angeles Lakers center Dwight Howard (12) in the first quarter of the game at the Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

The Dallas Mavericks making an appearance in the NBA Draft Lottery is a rare sight, but after missing out on postseason action this season, the 2011 NBA champions were awarded with the 13th overall pick in the 2013 NBA Draft to ease their suffering. Well, it seems that the Mavericks don’t need the consolation prize and are looking at the big picture, which might lead them to trading their lottery pick.

According to ESPN NBA Insider, Chad Ford, the Mavericks, who still have Dirk Nowitzki and Shawn Marion signed to relatively big contracts, might be trading their pick. The idea is that the Mavs will be making a run at signing Dwight Howard, who is an unrestricted free agent this summer.

Ford says that the 13th overall pick would earn $1,655,300 in the first year of his contract. While that isn’t that much, especially considering that Dallas has a bunch of one-year contracts coming off the books this offseason, the team still wants to maintain as much cap flexibility as possible. A player that would be picked 13th overall would likely not impact the team’s immediate championship aspirations that much, but would still get paid crucial dollars.

Nowitzki has already said that he would take a huge pay cut when his current deal expires, in an attempt to lure Howard to Dallas and allow the team to sign another superstar in the future.

@VytisLasaitis

The Toronto Raptors thought they had a good thing going when NBA legend Phil Jackson was attached to their team, but it turns out they may have just been a pawn in Jackson’s game to secure a top job with the Los Angeles Lakers. According to ESPN’s Marc Stein, the former Lakers coach apparently had little interest in the Raptors job and was “in no rush” to move into a position of power there.

That’s likely because Jackson is making a power play to move into a position of power with the Los Angeles Lakers and the parts are already moving in that direction.

Per Marc Stein:

Some league observers, however, remain convinced that Jackson’s flirtations with teams are largely aimed at convincing Lakers lead basketball decision-maker Jim Buss to cede his organizational power to sister Jeanie Buss … which would theoretically enable Jeanie to bring Phil, her fiancé, back to Lakerland as L.A.’s next front-office chief.

Everything about the play reeks of something Phil Jackson would do. The man knows how to get what he wants and it’s apparent that a return to the Lakers would please like no other job in the NBA would. Jackson admitted that he would have taken a job with the Seattle SuperSonics had they moved from being the Sacramento Kings, but he told Jay Leno that he has no interest in a job with the Kings as they sit now.

A lot of things need to happen before Jackson moves into power with the Lakers but Jim Buss must realize that the team is falling apart and having a figure like Jackson running the team and luring players in is good for business. It’s all a matter of ego and if it will stand in the way from the baton being passed from brother to sister to Phil Jackson.

Jan 27, 2013; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers power forward Pau Gasol (16), shooting guard Kobe Bryant (24) and center Dwight Howard (12) celebrate the 105-96 victory against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

Kobe Bryant is keeping Los Angeles Lakers fans entertained through this offseason by staying active on Twitter. Monday evening, the Black Mamba let his followers know that he will be trying his best to convince Dwight Howard to stay with the Lakers and continues to have Pau Gasol’s back.

Recent reports have said that Howard is far from a lock to re-sign with the Lakers, as he is also intrigued by the Houston Rockets and Dallas Mavericks, and will take full advantage of exploring the freedom that unrestricted free agency entails.

Bryant, who is recovering from a torn Achilles tendon, acknowledged that a crucial summer is ahead for the franchise:

Interesting off season looming.. Will spend time with d12 #stay and talk with the Buss family in hopes that Pau stays as well #my2cents

— Kobe Bryant (@kobebryant) May 21, 2013

Kobe has always had Gasol’s back, so the fact that he will continue to make a case for Pau not to be traded this summer is really no surprise. However, the fact that Gasol is entering the final year of his contract makes him an easily movable piece, if the Lakers wish to trade him.

Still, the most interest story of the 2013 summer for the team will definitely be Howard. There a lot of things that Dwight is not entirely satisfied with when it comes to the Lakers, and he could definitely look for an easy way out and sign with a team that can put him into instant title contention.

@VytisLasaitis

Apr 28, 2013; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers center Dwight Howard (12) during the game against the San Antonio Spurs in game four of the first round of the 2013 NBA playoffs at the Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports

It was a very disappointing season for the Los Angeles Lakers and their star-studded roster, so it should be no surprise to see that the way things ended have only amplified their unhappiness. For center Dwight Howard, that frustration boiled over to a meeting with Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak when he voiced his unhappiness with head coach Mike D’Antoni.

From Dave McMenamin of ESPNLosAngeles.com:

According to sources with knowledge of the situation, part of the discussion between Howard and Kupchak centered around Howard’s frustration with D’Antoni — particularly how the center felt marginalized as the coach looked to Bryant and Steve for leadership and suggestions and discounted Howard’s voice….

D’Antoni chose not to retain assistant coach Chuck Person, a Howard confidant, on his staff for next season. Also, Lakers assistant coach Steve Clifford, who was with Howard in Orlando for five seasons before both of them came to L.A. last year, has become a hot head coaching candidate, interviewing with Milwaukee and receiving interest from Charlotte.

One source described the potential departure of Clifford, coupled with the loss of Person as “removing the buffers,” between Howard and D’Antoni, “which is a bad thing.”

With Howard set to become a free agent this offseason, the Lakers need to listen to what he is saying. If Los Angeles wants a clear shot at retaining Howard for the future, they may have to dump D’Antoni and find a coach that gets his approval. 

You would have to say that re-signing with the Lakers is still the most likely option for Howard because of the financial advantage they have over other teams, but he is as unpredictable as you can get and you can never be sure what Howard will do next.

If he is unable to sort out the frustration with his coach and some teammates, Howard may prefer playing in Atlanta or Houston rather than returning to a place he is unhappy with.

Apr 28, 2013; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers center Dwight Howard (12) during the game against the San Antonio Spurs in game four of the first round of the 2013 NBA playoffs at the Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports

According to Ken Berger of CBS, Dwight Howard will not give in to the wishes of the Los Angeles Lakers. While the Lakers would like a swift decision on whether or not their superstar center plans on returning to the team or not next season, Howard would like to take the opportunity to explore other options via free agency.

A summer removed from “Dwightmare”, let the sequel now begin.

Unfortunately for the Lakers, Howard is worth all of the attention from around the NBA and media. When healthy, Howard is easily the most dominant center in the league, capable of taking over a game single-handedly.

In a year plagued with injuries and drama surrounding the relationship between Kobe and Dwight, he still managed to post impressive numbers of 17.1 points, 12.4 rebounds, and 2.4 blocks on almost 58% shooting from the floor.

At just 27 years of age, Howard is unquestionably worth the maximum number salary wise for any NBA team. Luckily for the Lakers, if money is what the free-agent-to-be desires, they hold the upper hand. Thanks to the new collective bargaining agreement, they can offer him a substantial amount more over the entirety of a contract.

Teams that were involved in trade talks involving Howard last year such as the Houston Rockets, Dallas Mavericks, and Atlanta Hawks are likely to try to sway the superstar away from Los Angeles.

With all that said, expect news involving Dwight Howard starting July 1, the day he becomes a free agent officially.

April 26, 2013; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers small forward Metta World Peace (15) controls the ball against the San Antonio Spurs during the first half in game three of the first round of the 2013 NBA playoffs at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

Los Angeles Lakers forward Metta World Peace, the man formerly known as Ron Artest, is one of the most unpredictable and entertaining athletes in the sports world. When there is a camera in from of World Peace, you never have any idea what he will do next and it often provides some great television.

Most recently, World Peace stopped by FOX 11 Los Angeles to give us all the weather report. As you would expect, it is hilarious. 

Here is the video of Artest giving the weather report, via FOX Sports:

This may be my favorite weather report ever.

On top of the hilarious quotes that come from the video, World Peace still appears to be in postseason form with his in your face defense. He looked more like he was defending the screen from viewers rather than sharing with everyone.

It was either that or he was trying to earn a roll in the next Spiderman movie by the way he appeared to be crawling around North America.

Whatever he was doing, it was great. God bless World Peace.

April 26, 2013; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers center Dwight Howard (12), small forward Metta World Peace (15), center Robert Sacre (50), small forward Earl Clark (6), point guard Steve Nash (10) and point guard Steve Blake (5) watch game action from the bench against the San Antonio Spurs during the second half in game three of the first round of the 2013 NBA playoffs at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

Underwhelming. This was the sad sentiment of the Lakers regular season that was plagued with debilitating injuries to key players along with a controversial coaching change that seemed to cause more internal strife than it did unity.  Arguably, the two best centers in the league, Dwight Howard and Pau Gasol were never fully utilized under Mike D’antoni’s system and seemed to get in each other’s way rather than providing the Lakers with a reliable and consistent defense.

A Laker team that seemed to be rejuvenated with newly acquired superstars at the beginning of the season (Dwight Howard, Steve Nash), quickly succumbed to a life of mediocrity that was completely foreign to a city which prided itself on fostering one of the best NBA franchises of all time.

Now, after a possible career ending injury to the Lakers leading man Kobe Bryant, this team is faced with the difficult reality that they may no longer be the dominant franchise to beat in the west.  Even if Bryant were to make a triumphant return sometime next season, it would only delay the inevitable retirement of the future hall of famer for only a year or two.  With that looming prospect in mind, the Lakers have a grim but necessary decision to make; Do they rebuild their franchise back from the ground up or do they take the ultimate risk by signing Dwight Howard to a max contract (making him the face of the franchise after Bryant’s departure) and hope that the atrocities of this season were simply a one time fluke in the Lakers illustrious and treasured basketball existence?

Initially, it would seem fairly clear that the Lakers will be forced to deal with at least one ultimatum; Either keep Pau Gasol, who was been Bryant’s right hand man since his initiation into the Lakers organization resulting in two national championships. Or, if Dwight Howard decides he wants to stay with the Lakers, reciprocate his loyalty with a maximum contract in hopes he’ll be the crux to your team in the upcoming years.  It is possible that the Lakers could opt to rekindle a previous deal with the Clippers to trade Gasol for their star point guard Chris Paul.  Given their premature elimination in this years playoffs against the Grizzlies, Paul could be seeking an organization that is predicated on being not only competitive but also on building a championship caliber team that is usually a contender for being a national champion.  While this may seem like the ideal situation for the Lakers going forward in terms of having a younger and more athletic roster, simply dismissing Pau who is a proven dominant center is easier said than done.

However, the Lakers have a more pressing predicament at hand when it comes to essential personnel; Kobe Bryant’s status going into next season.  It’s hard to imagine Kobe not coming back for at least one more season given his unwavering tenacity and unrivaled toughness, which is difficult to find especially in players who have participated in the NBA for over 17 years and continue to post elite numbers nearly every game.  While Jodie Meeks has proven to be a fairly sufficient back up, he isn’t a scoring juggernaut and still has yet to prove that he can step up as a supremely confident leader for the long haul.  In this case, the Lakers may decide to look to the draft to discover a talented prospect that can fill their lofty needs at the position.  While top prospects such as Ben McLemore and Victor Oladipo are clear favorites, the likelihood of them being available by the time Los Angeles gets to pick is slim to none.  Given this disappointment, the Lakers have a shot at grabbing the younger sibling to one of the best shooters who is currently playing for the Golden State Warriors: Seth Curry.

According to CBS Sports Jeff Goodman, Seth Curry (Duke Blue Devils) is ranked 17^th out of the top shooting guard prospects going into the 2013 NBA draft.  Assuming these rankings hold true, Curry could be a steal for the Lakers if he falls to them.  Not only does Curry follow in his eldest brothers footsteps by being extremely accurate from beyond the perimeter (43.8%, 2012-2013 season), he also has a beautiful mid- range shot that is hard to contest (46.5 FG% 2012-2013 season).  If Curry can carry these impressive accomplishments over to the NBA he could prove to be not only a prolific shooter in his own right, but also an adequate replacement for Bryant somewhere down the line.

Even if the Lakers make all the right decisions, it’s hard to fathom that they’ll be immediately competitive right out of the gate.  However, if this franchise is patient and weighs its decisions properly there is little doubt that this team won’t be back to their dominant selves in the years to come.

Mar 30, 2013; Sacramento, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Steve Nash (10) dribbles the ball against the Sacramento Kings in the first quarter at Sleep Train Arena. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports

Steve Nash is finding other ways than basketball to fill up his schedule now that the Los Angeles Lakers are out of the NBA Playoffs. The 39-year-old isn’t getting any younger, and told the Vancouver Sun that when his current contract expires, that will probably be it for the two-time NBA MVP.

The first season with the Lakers has not been kind to Nash. In only his second game, the point guard broke a bone in his leg, which sidelined him for 24 games. While he was relatively healthy after that, his body once again fell apart towards the final stretch of the season and he could only play through injections for pain relief.

2014-15 is the last year of Nash’s contract, and currently the only guaranteed contract the Lakers have for that year.

“There’s a chance that that (41) could be it. A big chance,” Nash said. “But you never know how it goes, or how I’ll feel. Anything can happen between now and then.”

Considering how much Nash struggled to stay healthy this year, it’s hard seeing him signing another contract in the NBA. It’s certainly impossible to predict what will happen at this point, but Nash has truly been fortunate enough to be around for as long as he has.

After Nash was traded by the Dallas Mavericks to the Phoenix Suns, he really blossomed into one of the best ball distributors the game as ever seen. Following the trade, Nash played eight seasons for the Suns and averaged a double-double in all but one.

Vytis covers the NBA for FanSided. You can follow him on Twitter here: @VytisLasaitis

May 8, 2013; Miami, FL, USA; Miami Heat small forward LeBron James (6) and Miami Heat shooting guard Dwyane Wade (3) during the second half in-game two of the second round of the 2013 NBA Playoffs against the Chicago Bulls at American Airlines Arena. The Heat won 115-78. Mandatory Credit: Robert Mayer-USA TODAY Sports

Miami Heat small forward, Lebron James, made $56.5 million last year. Even still, he is only the second highest paid athlete in America trailing only to Floyd “Money” Mayweather.

According to Sports Illustrated‘s report of its annual top 50 earners, James trailed to Mayweather who tops the list making $90 million. James made $17.5 million in salary (he took less than the maximum) and  made $39 million in endorsements. Among the deals are a Samsung endorsements, a deal from Baskin Robbins and a deal with Nike.

While James is the highest earner in the NBA, there are some notable players. Los Angeles Lakers guard, Kobe Bryant, came fourth on the list as he made $46.8 million this year. He made $27.8 million this season and $19 million from endorsements. He’s expected to make $30 million just in salary next season. He also has a deal with Nike and deals with Smart Car and Lenovo.

Seventh on the list is none other than Derrick Rose. Rose racked in $33 million in total. $16 million from salary and $17 million from endorsements. He has a life time deal with Adidas, and deals from Wilson, Powerade, Skullcandy and Giordano’s Pizza in Chicago.

The following is a list of the rest of NBA players who also made it on the SI top 50 earners.

• 11. Dwyane Wade: $28.7 million
• 12. Kevin Durant: $27.7 million
• 16. Carmelo Anthony: $25.3 million
• 24. Amar’e Stoudemire: $23.5 million
• 31. Dwight Howard: $21.9 million
• 33. Chris Paul: $21.6 million
• 35. Dirk Nowitzki: $21.3 million
• 37. Pau Gasol: $21.1 million
• 43. Joe Johnson: $19.95 million
• 47. Chris Bosh: $18.5 million

The list compiled by SI contains 25 baseball players and eight football players.

What do you think of the list? Is Lebron James overpaid or underpaid? Are any of these NBA superstars overpaid or underpaid as well? Tell me what you think in the comments below.

April 26, 2013; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers point guard Steve Nash (10), point guard Steve Blake (5), assistant coach Chuck Person, head coach Mike D’Antoni, assistant coach Steve Clifford and athletic trainer Gary Vitti watch game action against the San Antonio Spurs during the second half in-game three of the first round of the 2013 NBA playoffs at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

Two weeks ago, I wrote that Stan Van Gundy, the former Orlando Magic head coach, was the front-runner for the Milwaukee Bucks job. While the Bucks were interested in him, Van Gundy however decided to decline. He however gave a strong recommendation for Los Angeles Lakers assistant, Steve Clifford.

Los Angeles Lakers assistant Steve Clifford is interviewing for the Milwaukee head coaching job today, league sources tell Y! Sports.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) May 13, 2013

Clifford, known for his defensive-minded mentality, is experience in coaching and has a big resume to prove it. Having worked with Stan Van Gundy in Orlando and Jeff Van Gundy in Houston and New York, Clifford learned the defensive-first system at ease. He also worked with Tom Thibodeau during his tenure with the Rockets and Knicks. The Van Gundys strongly recommend Clifford.

The Bucks have already interviewed Nate McMillan (a big name in the market), Kevin Sampson and J.B. Bickerstaff as potential head coaching candidates. Both Bickerstaff and McMillan were also interviewed by the Pistons. Out of the four coaching candidates interviewed by the Bucks, McMillan is the only one with head coaching experience.

Apr 2, 2013; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Phil Jackson (left) and Jeannie Buss stand with Los Angeles Lakers former player Shaquille O’Neal as his jersey is retired during a half time ceremony during the game against the Dallas Mavericks at the Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

The news was too good to be true. Phil Jackson, who was reportedly interested in taking over the Toronto Raptors, will not travel to the north and take the Raptors’ team president job.

According to Sportsnet.ca, the chances of Phil Jackson taking over as president of basketball operations for the Raptors is in fact “remote”.

On the other, sources close to the MLSE familiar with Tim Leiweke’s thinking say he’s also tapping into his NBA contacts to determine if there might be a preferred choice to give the franchise over to for a complete makeover.

One name that can be crossed off any lists, sources say, is Phil Jackson. The 11-time NBA champion head coach won six titles working with Leiweke in Los Angeles and the two are friends, but the likelihood of Jackson relocating to Toronto and taking on a full-time role as a club executive are considered remote at this point.

When Tim Leiweke took over as CEO of MLSE, many reports indicated Leiweke, who was the head of AEG, the company that runs Staples Center, would consider Jackson as a candidate for the team’s president since both have a good relationship. Leiweke ran AEG during Jackson’s tenure with the Los Angeles Lakers and knew Jackson had a desire to have a team president role.

Jackson also wanted to see how the situation in Seattle unfolds first, before making any decisions.

Would the Raptors be an ideal situation for the 11-time champion coach? Not likely. The Raptors are a mess, need a new direction and sense of focus. As well, the team he team is struggling with a cap-loaded roster. Not to mention they don’t have any elite players.

Right now, the team needs to making a decision on Bryan Colangelo‘s pending contract. While it was expected that the Raptors would sign his extension option, it appears the board and Leiweke are taking their time to decide his fate.

The Raptors need a new start and it won’t be Jackson. Colangelo had eight years to construct this team and while he failed to make the post-season for five-consecutive years, he may not be the guy for the job. Needless to say, he’ll probably stick around for another year.

Apr 28, 2013; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers power forward Pau Gasol (16) sits on the bench during the 3rd quarter with injured teammates Jody Meeks (left), Steve Nash and Steve Blake in game four of the first round of the 2013 NBA playoffs against San Antonio at the Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports

Los Angeles Lakers power forward Pau Gasol underwent surgery to remove scar tissue from his patellar tendons in both knees and the procedure was completed on Thursday. The Lakers made an announcement on Gasol’s successful surgery and his recovery time moving forward.

Gasol underwent what is called the FAST Technique procedure.

From the Lakers official press release:

During the procedure, which was performed by Dr. Steve Yoon of the Kerlan-Jobe Orthopaedic Group, a probe was inserted into Gasol’s knees, which directed ultrasound wavelengths to debride degenerated tissue of Gasol’s patellar tendons non-surgically. Gasol will also receive autologous stem cell injections, which will stimulate regeneration of his tissue. The injections will be administered next week at Kerlan-Jobe by Dr. Yoon.

Gasol is expected to make a full recovery in three months and resume basketball activity. Next week, Gasol is also set to undergo receive stem cell injections to help regenerate his tissue. 

The next question for Gasol is not whether or not he will be ready for the start of the season, he will, the question is where he will be playing. There is some doubt about whether Gasol will return to the Lakers and a lot of that will hinge on the future of Dwight Howard when free agency starts.

April 26, 2013; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers power forward Pau Gasol (16) reacts during the first half in game three of the first round of the 2013 NBA playoffs at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

Los Angeles Lakers forward and occasional center, Pau Gasol, will undergo a procedure to relieve the tendonosis he’s been suffering from in both of his knees Thursday morning.

Via the Lakers press release:

Lakers forward Pau Gasol, who has been suffering from tendonosis in both knees, will undergo a FAST Technique procedure tomorrow. The procedure uses a probe inserted into the knee which directs ultrasonic energy to eliminate scar tissue without damaging healthy tissue. The procedure will be performed by Dr. Steven Yoon of the Kerlan-Jobe Orthopaedic Group.

A timeline for Gasol’s recovery will be issued at the conclusion of the procedure.

The procedure Gasol would undergo will use ultrasonic energy to find and destroy to scar tissue while the healthy tissue is unharmed. Once the procedure is complete, a time for his recovery will be announced.

Last season, Gasol missed 33 games because of the injury. On top of that, Gasol had to deal with concussions, plantar faciitis and sore knee problems.

With a bad season in the books for the Lakers, the team has questions to answer about their plan moving forward. It’s unclear whether Gasol returns or not, but this procedure would most likely answer some questions. As Gasol turns 33 next year, Gasol is scheduled to earn approximately $20 million. The Lakers could consider amnestying him to save some money and use it towards their financial burden or they can get key players more suitable to Mike D’Antoni system but that idea seems ridiculous. Most of it however depends on whether or not free agent center, Dwight Howard, resigns with the Lakers or not. Whether or not this procedure goes good or not may have impact on his future. At 33-years-old and chronic knee problems, it’ll make Gasol harder to trade. A perfect example would be former Lakers center, Andrew Bynum.

November 13, 2012; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers interim head coach Bernie Bickerstaff watches game action against the San Antonio Spurs during the first half at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

After a semi-disastrous 2012-2013 campaign, the first domino of a long off-season for the Los Angeles Lakers appears to have dropped. Top assistant Bernie Bickerstaff, and former NBA star Chuck Person were reportedly (according to multiple sources) relieved of their assistant coaching duties on Monday.

Bickerstaff is a long-time NBA presence, and he has served in a number of capacities including head coach for multiple teams (and the 1986-1987 Coach of the Year winner), and he was the interim head coach after the removal of Mike Brown early in the season. Many people (including myself) thought that Bickerstaff would have been a better choice than D’Antoni, and his reputation seems to be impeachable in the league.

Person was the final hold-over from the Phil Jackson regime (he was hired in 2009), and the “Rifleman” played in the league for over a decade. It won’t take long for Person to grab a seat on one of the 30 NBA benches, and he’s established himself in the Association.

This seems to be the first of many moves, but D’Antoni’s reported lean toward a smaller staff is the stated culprit of the downsizing. D’Antoni has been on and off of the hot seat as the off-season approaches, as public run-ins with both Kobe Bryant and Dwight Howard coupled with the team’s less-than-stellar record have brought out detractors. That said, he has a very lucrative contract, and that alone will likely keep him on the sidelines.

The dominoes will continue to fall, but they began on Monday, and it will be must-see TV in Los Angeles for every minute until the 2013-2014 season begins.

Mar 27, 2013; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Los Angeles Lakers shooting guard Kobe Bryant (24) during the fourth quarter against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Target Center. Lakers won 120-117. Mandatory Credit: Greg Smith-USA TODAY Sports

The Los Angeles Lakers may not be in the postseason any longer but they’re still making headlines. Kobe Bryant may have torn up his achilles tendon but he’s still a hot commodity on the memorabilia market and it’s apparently something his mother is trying cash in on. According a report, the NBA superstar has filed legal action against his own mother in an attempt to block her from essentially exploiting his celebrity.

Goldin Auctions of West Berlin wants to sell more than 100 items from the Los Angeles Lakers’ pro career and his days as a high school player in suburban Philadelphia. The keepsakes — including uniforms, rings and trophies — would be offered on consignment for Pamela Bryant, the athlete’s mother.

While this seems all fine and dandy, Kobe is pulling rank by saying he owns the memorabilia being sold and wants to block the items from being sold by his mother. But while Kobe is claiming it’s his property his mother, Pamela, is trying to sell without his permission, Pamela is contending that the items have been in her possession for the last 15 years and are legally hers.

This is just the start of what is looking like an ugly court battle over a bunch of old sweaty uniforms. However, there is real value in what Pamela is trying to sell, as sports memorabilia collectors are insane about one-of-a-kind items and things like “the earliest game-worn Kobe jersey” would be an item that sells at quite the price.

The specific jersey mentioned was one worn by Kobe as a child in Italy. Kobe spent his childhood in Italy while his father Joe Bryant played pro basketball there. According to a court filing, Pamela states that Kobe “gave these items to her, stating ‘Here Mom, these are for you.’”

As we all do, when our famous child gives us something we immediately think  I wonder when I can sell these. Pamela says that for the last five years she stored the items in West Berlin at a cost of $1,500 per month. Goldin Auctions of West Berlin is in on this whole matter too, siding with Pamela. The auction company states that if the items aren’t sold, they stand to lose not only the advance they gave Bryant’s mother but the commission from the sale of the items.

Kobe’s attorney doesn’t see things the same way Pamela and Goldin Auction sees it.

“Mr. Bryant’s personal property has ended up in the possession of someone who does not lawfully own it,” asserted Mark Campbell of Loeb & Loeb in Los Angeles, via the Courier Post Online.

This matter seems far from over, but it just goes to show that while athletes may thank their mothers when they win awards and trophies, that love apparently exists up until they try to sell your belongings for personal gain.

Apr 07, 2012; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Orlando Magic head coach Stan Van Gundy during the second quarter against the Philadelphia 76ers at the Wells Fargo Center. The Magic defeated the Sixers 88-82. Mandatory Credit: Howard Smith-USA TODAY Sports

Former Orlando Magic head coach, Stan Van Gundy, was unable to keep an unsatisfied Dwight Howard happy in Orlando. As a result, his job was terminated with Howard heading to the Los Angeles Lakers in a blockbuster trade. While his dismissal may be unjustified, Van Gundy has apparently drawn interested from many teams around the league, including the Milwaukee Bucks.

Via NBA Insider Ken Berger of CBSSports:

 The Bucks will interview Van Gundy and Sampson, the Rockets’ top assistant, for the job vacated Wednesday when interim coach Jim Boylan was let go, league sources said. It is also believed that Lakers assistant Steve Clifford — a Van Gundy assistant in Orlando (under Stan) and Houston (under Jeff) — will be under consideration. Stan Van Gundy has long been a favorite of Bucks GM John Hammond, who is looking for a defensive-minded coach who will be able to “control the locker room,” one source said.

Van Gundy received a reputation as one of the most respected coaches in the league with a desire to win. He wants to win and will put the work in however would he be able to win with a Milwaukee team who just got swept by the Miami Heat in the first round? A team that barley made the playoffs due to the downfall of misfortunes of other teams in the eastern conference (injuries, trades etc.)? It’s doubtful especially considering the fact that Bucks’ superstars Brandon Jennings, Monta Ellis, J.J. Reddick and Mike Dunleavy will all be free agents this coming summer.

While the Bucks hiring Sampson, Van Gundy or Clifford remains a mystery, one thing remains certain. The Bucks need to go all in and obtain a serious head coach who will be able to utilize their player’s skills, and can maximize their abilities with the objective to win. A head coach that can control the locker room and make the Bucks a serious championship caliber in the next upcoming years. Playtime is over. It’s time to get serious.

January 4, 2013; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers center Dwight Howard (12) grimaces and grabs his shoulder during the game against the Los Angeles Clippers at the Staples Center. Clippers won 107-102. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

Los Angeles Lakers center and soon to be free agent Dwight Howard has been injury prone throughout the season and his biggest scare came in January when he suffered a torn labrum in his right shoulder. There were some concerns about whether Howard would follow an offseason where he underwent back surgery with an offseason where he would have to undergo the knife for shoulder surgery, but the Lakers confirmed he would not need surgery on the injured shoulder.

From Lakers PR: @dwighthoward was examined today by Dr. James Tibone & was advised that surgery is not necessary on his right shoulder.

— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) May 2, 2013

Last season, Howard averaged 17.1 points and 12.4 rebounds a game.

Howard is set to become a free agent on July 1, but he has not decided whether or not he will return to the Lakers or play for a new team next season.

“For me, I’m going to do what’s best for myself, what’s going to make me happy,” Howard said, via Sports Illustrated. “At the end of the day, I can’t control who likes me and who dislikes me but I have the right to be happy. That’s what I’m going to do. That’s the biggest thing right there.”

It is clear that Howard has no plans to make a decision anytime soon and that he plans to take his time.

Apr 28, 2013; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers center Dwight Howard (12) leaves the court after being ejected with two technical fouls against the San Antonio Spurs in game four of the first round of the 2013 NBA playoffs at the Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports

Dwight Howard’s 2012-13 campaign came to an end after being ejected in the Los Angeles Lakers final game of the season, but we won’t know anytime soon whether or not that was his final walk off the court as a member of the Lakers squad.

Howard said in his exit view that he will test the open market, but he doesn’t plan on rushing his decision.

“I’m going to take my time, get away from the game, my phones and everything and just clear my head,” Howard said, via the team’s official website. “I’ll do what’s going to be best for myself, what’s going to make me happy. I can’t control who likes me, who dislikes me, but I have the right to be happy.”

All signs point to Howard returning to the Lakers, however, he has been unpredictable throughout his entire career, so you can never rule anything out.

Kobe Bryant and Steve Nash have both publicly stated they would like Howard to return to the Lakers and common sense tells you that the Lakers want Howard back, too.  Bryant is nearing the end of his career and dealing with a major injury, so the team needs to find a star for the future. That would be Howard.

Once Howard officially becomes a free agent after July 1, one team to keep an eye on will be the Houston Rockets.

While Howard would like to take his time making a decision, Lakers GM Mitch Kupchak thinks the sooner a decision comes the better.

“I think he has complete faith in the organization. I think he does like living here. I think it’s all good, which leads me to why I’m optimistic,” Kupchak said. “I think he understands that the sooner he makes a decision, the better it is for everybody. I don’t know if that means a week, a month or seven weeks.”

Let the drama begin.

Apr 28, 2013; Los Angeles, CA, USA; San Antonio Spurs point guard Tony Parker (9) shoots the ball against Los Angeles Lakers point guard Andrew Goudelock (0) in game four of the first round of the 2013 NBA playoffs at the Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports

On a night headlined by the ejection of Dwight Howard, the San Antonio Spurs advanced to the Western Conference Semifinals with a 4-game series sweep over the Los Angeles Lakers. Game four was yet another dominant performance by the Spurs, as they cruised past LA by the final score of 103-to-82, but as usual, the spotlight shifted from the “boring” Spurs to the “fashionable” Lakers.

Tony Parker led all scorers for San Antonio with 23 points (on 9-of-16 shooting), and the Spurs had five players (Parker, Duncan, Leonard, Blair, and Neal) in double-digits on the night. It was a total team effort for the Spurs offensively, but as a collective, they shot over 46% from the floor and a blistering 20-for-23 (87%) from the line on the night. In addition to their efficient shooting, San Antonio assisted on 24 of their 39 baskets, and committed only 8 turnovers while forcing a staggering 21 turnovers (that resulted in 24 points) from the Lakers.

The aforementioned Dwight Howard ejection (at the 9:51 mark of the 3rd quarter) grabs the biggest headline of the night, as he unceremoniously exited what could be his final game in a LA uniform. Howard played 21 minutes before his ejection, but somehow only attempted two field goals (he made both), and notched nearly as many turnovers (5) as rebounds (8). It was a fitting end to a disastrous year for Howard, but the icing on the cake was the emergence by Kobe Bryant from the locker room following the ejection and the subsequent jokes (as a sidebar, Twitter is fantastic) concerning the Kobe/Dwight relationship.

Frankly, this a complete dissection from the opening tip and even before the Howard ejection, the Lakers showed very little resistance against a much, much better Spurs team. In fairness to LA, they were deploying the backcourt combination of Andrew Goudelock, Darius Morris, and Chris Duhon (who played 43 minutes!!!), but even with the lack of talent, the effort level simply didn’t match that of the Spurs in the wire-to-wire victory for San Antonio.

With their dominant performance in the series sweep coupled with the giant loss of Russell Westbrook for Western Conference rival Oklahoma City, the Spurs put the entire league on notice. A healthy (and rested) Manu Ginobili will be key to San Antonio’s title chances, but with Tony Parker and Tim Duncan healthy and contributing, they emerge from round one as the clear favorite in the West. Stay tuned to see if they can capitalize.

Los Angeles Lakers center, Dwight Howard, had a bad run with the Lakers. With the Lakers on the verge of elimination, down 3 games to none, Howard pick his second personal technical foul after arguing with an official, complaining about physical play inside the paint which was not in his favour.

Some may suggest he intentionally wanted out of the game as they Lakers were getting smacked by overwhelming San Antonio Spurs. It’s not hard to blame him for wanting an early exit towards to off-season but he could’ve handled the whole situation more professionally.

He picked up his first technical in the first quarter when he shoved/elbowed Spurs guard, Corey Joseph, around the head out of frustration when a call wasn’t in his favour. He was complaining about being intentionally fouled by the Spurs in effort to be sent to the free throw line.

It understand Dwight’s frustration. It must be tough to be one of the league’s best centers, with skill, only to be fouled by a defender whose mission is to use his allotted six fouls only to test the referee. Still Howard should’ve known not to persist the officials and bark at them about a no call after he already had one technical.

Howard is set to become an unrestricted free agent this upcoming summer. While Lakers general manager wants Howard to stay in Los Angeles, Howard can test the market and sign somewhere else without the Lakers matching a qualifying offer.

When Howard went to the locker room, Kobe Bryant, who is inactive with a torn Achilles tendon he suffered earlier this month, made his first appearance on the bench with crutches since his injury. Players are usually recommended to stay away from the bench as anything could happen, however as the Lakers dreadful season winded down to a finish, Bryant wanted to join his team for one more last lost. Maybe there’s some sign of symbolism there with Howard to locker room and Bryant to the bench.

April 26, 2013; Los Angeles, CA, USA; San Antonio Spurs power forward Tim Duncan (21) controls the ball against the defense of Los Angeles Lakers power forward Pau Gasol (16) during the second half in game three of the first round of the 2013 NBA playoffs at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

The San Antonio Spurs will be looking to close out the Los Angeles Spurs on Sunday afternoon and eliminate the team on their own home court.

What time does the Spurs vs. Lakers game tip off? We’ve got all of the information you will need to know to make sure you don’t miss out on any of the action.

Start time: 7 p.m. ET
Location: Los Angeles, California
Venue: Staples Center
TV Info: TNT
Live Stream: TNT Overdrive (may be blacked out in your area)

Here is the schedule for today’s NBA action:

We hope that you enjoy Sunday’s action and check back in with FanSided.com throughout the day and duration of the playoffs as we keep you up to date with the latest news and rumors.

February 20, 2013; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers center Dwight Howard (12) loses the ball against the defense of Boston Celtics small forward Paul Pierce (34) and power forward Jeff Green (8) during the second half at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

Greatness doesn’t last forever.

If you were to convey this sentiment to die-hard Laker or Celtics fans a year ago, they would give you a look of disgusted bewilderment at the fact that anyone could say such a thing about two teams that have garnered a combined 35 world championships.

Sadly though, this incomprehensible pessimism has become an inevitable reality for both of these teams who have had to deal with devastating loses in Rajon Rondo and, more recently, that of the legendary Kobe Bryant. While these are crippling blows in and of themselves it is really only just one depressing facet that has caused both of these teams to succumb to mediocrity.

Looking at these organizations now, both are on the verge of being swept by their respective playoff opponents. As a result, it has become undeniably clear that a drastic reformation needs to occur in order to restore these teams back to their expected prominence. However, the question isn’t so much if these teams will bounce back into relevancy, the more important inquiry is who will get there first?

Initially, it would appear that the Boston Celtics would have the edge because they suffered only one major loss in their elite point guard Rajon Rondo. On top of that, they still have the ever-reliable Doc Rivers as their head coach who was able to motivate his team to fight for a playoff berth despite all of the mounting adversity they had to overcome.

However, the main problem the Celtics are facing is not who they don’t have court, it’s what is currently there that is cause for concern. Future Hall of Famers Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett, the two iconic superstars of this franchise, have become former shells of themselves. While they are by no means irrelevant and useless on the court, the tenacity and ferocity that made this duo an intimidating force, seems to be slowly withering away. Even before the Celtics faced the red-hot Knicks in the playoffs, their overall performance in the last ten games of the regular season was lackluster at best, winning only 4 out of their last 10. Out of those four wins, only one was against a reputable playoff opponent (Atlanta Hawks).

The Los Angeles Lakers on the other hand, have been systematically demolished because of injuries. At one point or another, all of the Lakers elite players were ousted during the regular season with some form of debilitating injury or another. Dwight Howard, torn labrum. Pau Gasol, torn planar fascia. Kobe Bryant ruptured Achilles. The list goes on and on. Rarely, if ever, did you see these superstars ever play in tandem because when one seemed to be completely rejuvenated; another would succumb to another physical ailment to take his place on the bench.

However, as detrimental as these injuries were to the Lakers, it allowed the bench players to get more playing time to not only hone their own skills, but to get acclimated with each other as a team to prove that they could fight admirably in the places of their fallen comrades. Steve Blake showed us his talents at perimeter shooting and Antawn Jamison became a reliable rebounder and a clutch shooter when called upon. This is what will give the Lakers the edge when all is said and done. While they may lack the consistency to put up monumental numbers game in and game out, it at least gives them a blue print and even some inspiration for how they can improve in the offseason.

In the end however, both of these franchises have a lot of rebuilding and crucial decisions to make regarding both their upcoming rosters and their off the court personnel (I’m looking at you Mike D’antoni). This doesn’t mean that Celtics and Lakers fans alike should cast their woeful heads down in utter despair as these growing pains occur. Rather, they should take solace in the fact that their teams will return to greatness again because it’s not a question of if these teams will be champions again; it is simply a matter of when.

Apr 25, 2013; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Miami Heat guard Dwyane Wade drives for the basket against Milwaukee Bucks forward Ersan Ilyasova during game three of the first round of the 2013 NBA playoffs at BMO Harris Bradley Center. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports

The NBA playoffs resume today with three teams on the verge of closing out a series. The New York Knicks, Miami Heat and San Antonio Spurs can all eliminate the Boston Celtics, Milwaukee Bucks and Los Angeles Lakers, respectively.

In the fourth game, the Denver Nuggets will look to even up the series and avoid going home just one game away from elimination.

Sunday is set up for a full day of action and drama.

Here is the full television schedule for today’s slate of games:

We hope that you enjoy Sunday’s action and check back in with FanSided.com throughout the day and duration of the playoffs as we keep you up to date with the latest news and rumors.