NBA : Paul George's max contract; Shaqramento Kings

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Source : NBA on Yahoo Sports
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) -- Now that Paul George has a new contract, the Indiana Pacers can focus on more pressing matters.

Cavs' Bynum still not quite ready for action

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Source : FOX Sports
With training camp less than two weeks away, the Cleveland Cavaliers are likely to be without their biggest offseason acquisition.

Kobe Bryant unsure if playing in opener

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Source : NBA.com
LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Kobe Bryant isn't sure he'll be ready to play when the Los Angeles Lakers open the season on Oct. 29, although he remains ahead of schedule in rehabbing his surgically repaired Achilles' tendon.

NBA Trade : Pacers, Suns swap; Bobcats lock up Gerald Henderson

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Source : NBA.com
PHOENIX (AP) -- The Indiana Pacers have bolstered their front-line depth with the acquisition of Luis Scola from the Phoenix Suns.

The Pacers sent forward Gerald Green, center Miles Plumlee and a lottery-protected first-round draft pick to the rebuilding Suns.
Scola, a 6-foot-9 forward from Argentina, played his first five NBA seasons with the Houston Rockets before coming to Phoenix a year ago when the Suns submitted the winning bid under the league's amnesty rule. He appeared in all 82 games for the Suns, averaging 12.8 points and 6.6 rebounds. It was the fifth time in his career that he's played in all games.
Scola, who has averaged 14.2 points and 7.5 rebounds in his career, joins a team that figures to contend in the Eastern Conference after he toiled for a season with a Suns squad that compiled the worst record in the Western Conference and second-worst in the franchise's history.
The 6-foot-8 Green has played for six teams since coming to the NBA in 2005. Signed as a free agent by Indiana in 2012, he appeared in 60 games, averaging seven points per contest. The 6-11 Plumlee was selected in the first round by the Pacers out of Duke last year, the 26th selection overall, but appeared in only 14 games for the deep, talented Indiana squad.
Not surprisingly, Scola said he was "very, very excited to play for the Pacers."
"They are one of the top three teams in the NBA with a good shot to win a championship," Scola said in a Pacers news release announcing the Saturday trade. "I think it's a great team and this is a great opportunity. I can't wait."
Hall of Famer Larry Bird, the Pacers' president of basketball operations, said Scola adds veteran experience to the Indiana bench.
"He has NBA experience, international experience and is the type of player that will fit nicely on our roster," Bird said.
Since returning to the Pacers in late June after taking a leave of absence for health reasons, Bird has re-signed power forward David West, then spent most of his time strengthening the Pacers bench.
When free agency opened, he convinced point guard C.J. Watson to sign. He also has signed backup swingman Chris Copeland and point guard Donald Sloan, and now he's added a solid scorer to back up West. Bird also selected Arizona forward Solomon Hill in the draft.
He's been able to make the moves without going over the NBA's luxury tax threshold - something Bird has said he will not do.
The price for Scola wasn't particularly high, from Indiana's perspective.
Pacers fans have grumbled constantly about the lack of productivity from Green, who still has two years and $7 million left on the free agent deal he signed last season, and Plumlee spent much of his rookie playing time with the Fort Wayne Mad Ants of the NBA D-League.
Bird believes that a better bench will help the Pacers continue to make deep runs in the playoffs, and possibly even get past two-time NBA champion Miami in the Eastern Conference. The Heat beat Indiana 4-2 in the second round of the 2012 playoffs and needed to win Game 7 to finally fend off Indiana in the Eastern Conference finals this year.
New Suns general manager Ryan McDonough called Plumlee "one of the best players" in this year's Summer League, where the big center averaged 10 points, 9.5 rebounds and three blocked shots. McDonough also said that Green will add athleticism and scoring ability to what is designed to be an up-tempo style under new Phoenix coach Jeff Hornacek.
Phoenix is undergoing a roster overhaul in what could be a lengthy rebuilding process.
"The trade is consistent with our stated plan to continue to acquire young assets," said Lon Babby, the Suns' president of basketball operations. "With this trade, we now have the potential of three first-round picks in the 2014 draft and five first-round picks in the next two drafts."
Plumlee gives the team a second young center. Phoenix used the fifth overall pick in this year's draft to select Maryland's Alex Len, a 7-foot Ukrainian who is recovering from right ankle surgery.

BOBCATS, HENDERSON AGREE TO 3 YEAR DEAL
Charlotte shooting guard Gerald Henderson and the Bobcats have agreed to a three-year, $18 million contract, said a person familiar with the situation.

In case you missed : Heat repeat as NBA Champions

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Source : NBA on Yahoo Sports

MIAMI, June 20 (Reuters) - The Miami Heat won their second straight National Basketball Association (NBA) title on Thursday with a 95-88 win over the San Antonio Spurs in the decisive seventh game of an epic series.

Grant Hill, Jason Kidd retires

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Source : ESPN

LOS ANGELES -- Los Angeles Clippers forward Grant Hill announced his retirement Saturday after a 19-year career in NBA.

In case you missed : Kings staying in Sacramento

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Source : NBA.com
DALLAS (AP) -- The Kings are staying in Sacramento, and Seattle will have to wait for another NBA franchise.

Report : Lebron James to be awarded 4th MVP

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Source : NBA Sports Illustrated

The NBA will announce Sunday that Heat forward LeBron James has been named the 2013 Most Valuable Player, according to multiple reports.

NBA : Lillard named ROY; coaching changes

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Source : NBA.com

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) -- It's unanimous: Damian Lillard is the NBA's Rookie of the Year.

NBA Awards : JR Smith - Sixthman of the Year Marc Gasol - Defensive Player of the Year

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Source : NBA.com

NEW YORK -- The New York Knicks' J.R. Smith is the winner of the 2012-13 Kia NBA Sixth Man Award as the league's best player in a reserve role, the NBA announced Monday. Smith, who came off the bench in all 80 games in which he appeared, led all reserves in scoring, averaging 18.1 points. Additionally, Smith contributed 5.3 rpg, 2.7 apg and 1.3 spg in 33.5 minutes per game to a Knicks squad that went 54-28 and earned the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs.

Steve Nash angling for playoff return; Joakim Noah a question

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Source : NBA.com

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. (AP) -- Steve Nash is hoping to return to the Los Angeles Lakers' lineup in time for their playoff opener.

Stern : Recommendation for Kings next week

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Source : NBA on Yahoo Sports

NEW YORK (AP) -- A recommendation on the Kings' sale and possible move to Seattle could be issued as soon as next week and a final decision made early next month, ending a process NBA Commissioner David Stern called the most ''wrenching'' of his career.

Pitino, Payton, King lead Hall of Fame cast of 2013

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Source : NBA.com

ATLANTA (AP) -- Rick Pitino got the phone call of a lifetime and an incredible text at the same time.
Last Wednesday, John Doleva, the president of the Naismith Memorial Hall of Fame, called seven people to tell them they'd in the class of 2013.
Pitino was one of the seven.

Seattle - Sacramento Kings issue decision to be delayed

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Source : NBA.com

NEW YORK -- The decision on where the Sacramento Kings will play NBA basketball next season might not be made by the April 18 Board of Governors meeting, NBA Commissioner David Stern said Wednesday, detailing the full complexity of the decision the league has to make on whether to keep the Kings in Sacramento or approve a sale of them and move to Seattle in time for next season.

Sacramento approves NBA arena deal

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Source : Yahoo Sports

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) -- With the clock clicking down, the Sacramento City Council took its last shot at keeping the NBA Kings in California's capital by approving a public-private deal Tuesday to build a new 18,500-seat arena and retail center downtown.

Kobe Bryant getting treatment for sprained ankle

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Source : Yahoo Sports

Kobe Bryant says Dahntay Jones' dangerous defense left him with a sprained left ankle, and the NBA agreed.
Now, the Los Angeles Lakers are hoping the injury doesn't keep their star away from a playoff push for long.

In case you missed : NBA preseason game in Manila

Source : NBA Philippines

MANILA, Philippines – The National Basketball Association (NBA) will stage its first-ever preseason game in the Philippines between the Indiana Pacers and the Houston Rockets this October.

Magic Johnson offers Lebron US$ 1mil to join dunk contest

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Source : NBA.com

NEW YORK (AP) -- Magic Johnson is giving LeBron James a million reasons to consider the slam dunk contest.

MOA Arena Manager to announce NBA game info on March 5th

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Source : SPIN.ph

MALL of Asia general manager Arnel Gonzales said the country is expected to host its very first NBA regular season game sometime in late October or November as negotiations with NBA Entertainment continued.

Derrick Rose : Far away from return

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Source : NBA.com

DEERFIELD, Ill. (AP) -- Chicago Bulls star Derrick Rose still has no target date for his return from a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee, and he even indicated he might sit out the season.