Celtics' Big Three in jeopardy? Danny Ainge Willing To Break Up Celtics Big Three

Is aging the problem here?  Danny Ainge does not want to see another decline in the franchise like the one that happened after the Boston Celtics’ original Big Three dried up, and he’s reportedly willing to break up his current star trio to ensure that.

Russell Westbrook signs 5 year contract with Thunder.

With Oklahoma Thunder looking strong this season, Kevin Durant and Westbrook are favorites to win this year's NBA title, and the season just started! With that in mind, Westbrook ain't going anywhere, as a matter of fact, looks like he wants to stay in Oklahoma for the rest of his career, maybe that will change in the future or not. Read more for the entire story.

Miami Beats Lakers 98 - 87

Kobe's playing with a torn ligament while Lebron's battling with a flu, so we can't say this one was a fair contest. Gasol racks up his season high with 26 points while Lebron display a spectacular all round performance, flu couldn't hold him down tonight. Not much of a difference between Kobe stats and Lebron's, but still Heat had the upper hand over the Laker in the entire match up. Read more for the full story.

Kobe Upset Over Lamar Odom Trade

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. -- The new-day, new-drama motif that has marked the opening of Los Angeles Lakers training camp continued Sunday as the team held its first media day since 2003 without Lamar Odom on the roster.

Lakers guard Kobe Bryant did not take a wait-and-see approach before voicing his opinion of the deal that sent Odom, along with a 2012 second-round pick, to the Dallas Mavericksfor a $8.9 million trade exception, as well as Dallas' 2012 first-round pick.

He was quite clear that he was unhappy.

"I don't like it," Bryant said. "To be honest with you, I don't like it."

Odom was not present at the practice facility while his teammates spoke to reporters and posed for photos in their gold home jerseys.

Bryant didn't wait until it was official to speak about the trade.

"You're talking about the Sixth Man of the Year last year," Bryant said. "He played lights out. I don't understand the criticism of reality shows and this, that and the other. I don't get it. I don't understand that. He had his best season last season, clearly wasn't a distraction, and he played his ass off. I don't get where that comes from."

Late Saturday night, Odom's wife and reality TV co-star, Khloe Kardashian, tweeted, "I am curious as to how I am the cause for any trade?"

Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle also spoke before the deal was completed on Sunday.

"Right now, for me, having Odom, Dirk Nowitzki, Shawn Marion, we may have the best forward trio in this league right now. And that's exciting," Carlisle said. "Lamar Odom is a guy we have great respect for as a person and as an all-around player in this league. We feel he's going to add so many different dimensions for us -- length, playmaking, scoring, experience, championship experience."

As Bryant continued to answer questions about Odom joining the team that swept the Lakers out of the second round of the playoffs last spring, his anger grew.

"Now I'm getting pissed off," he said.

Bryant said he was "especially" upset about Odom joining the Mavs, who not only beat the Lakers, but beat them by 36 points in Game 4 of the Western Conference semifinals to put an end to the Phil Jackson era.

Bryant would not even call the Mavericks by name, instead referring to Dallas as "that team" on several occasions.

He did call the Mavericks owner by name, however.

"I don't think Mark Cuban is protesting this trade," Bryant said, adding a sarcastic smirk.

Odom, 32, averaged 14.4 points, 8.7 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game last season while shooting a career-high 53 percent from the field in his 12th season in the league.

While being honored as the league's top substitute for filling in for Pau Gasol at forward when Gasol needed a break, Odom also started 35 games, making up for Andrew Bynum in the starting five when the center was out because of injury or suspension.

"The identity of our team will have to change in terms of how we go about doing things," Bryant said. "You have to search for it and find what that is."

Odom was also a strong presence in the locker room and an emotional leader of the team.

"I've known Lamar for a long time and for the team itself, he's meant a lot in terms of his versatility and his personality," Bryant said. "He's a big presence for us in the locker room, just from a team chemistry standpoint. He's great at bringing guys together and things of that nature."

Lakers co-captain Derek Fisher echoed Bryant's thoughts.

"What more could he do?" Fisher said. "He's been asked to play a different role, maybe a lesser role than he'd play on a lesser team, and he did that. He did what he was asked to do, the team wins two championships, goes to another [NBA] Finals. As a basketball player, it confuses you as to what your focus should be. If your focus is … about making sacrifices, making less money, playing a lesser role to be a part of a championship team, it doesn't seem like the reward fits anymore.

"The reward is, when something else better comes along, you're going to be traded and pushed out. That's just not a message that you'd want a friend or a teammate to have to experience, but at the same time we know that's a part of what this business is now."

Bryant left the pack of reporters when he was done speaking and immediately made his way up a flight of stairs to general manager Mitch Kupchak's office.

While Bryant has been critical of Kupchak in the past, he offered his support Sunday.

"I trust management knows what they're doing," Bryant said. "I'll let them do their jobs and I'll never get in the way of it, but it's tough.

"You got to let Mitch do his job. Look, Mitch has proven himself over the course of the years that he's been able to build a great team here. We have to all trust that he's going to do that."

Bryant acknowledged the sentiment that the Odom deal might precede another move by Lakers management, perhaps to secure Dwight Howard from Orlando.

"Whether they have something else going on, that's on them to decide," Bryant said.

Lakers forward Matt Barnes, a former teammate of Howard's, said he has spoken to the Magic center about the trade speculation but would not characterize the talks as pitches to come to L.A.

"He has a tough decision to make," Barnes said. "There's teams pulling at him every way. We just have real talks, more than anything about him being a Laker. He's got to do what's best for him and his family and what makes him happy."

Bryant, however, said he has not spoken to Howard, who he played with on the 2008 U.S. Olympic team, and would not entertain how the Lakers would look if the three-time Defensive Player of the Year was traded to L.A.

"If?" Bryant said. "If it happens, I'll give you my thoughts then."

- Written by Dave McMenamin from espn.com

NBA: Chris Paul To Clippers Deal Submitted to NBA.

The New Orleans Hornets and Los Angeles Clippers submitted a multiplayer blockbuster deal to the NBA on Sunday that would send All-Star point guard Chris Paul to Los Angeles, a source with knowledge of the discussions said Monday.

But the trade as submitted has one hitch: The league, which owns the Hornets, wanted Eric Bledsoe, while the Clippers want to keep their point guard, the source said.

The deal would be done if the league hadn’t asked for Bledsoe, according to the source.

The trade as submitted would cost the Clippers guard Eric Gordon, center Chris Kaman and forwardAl-Farouq Aminu. It would also include Minnesota’s first-round draft pick in 2012.

The Los Angeles Times, citing two sources familiar with the discussions, reported late Sunday the deal included Bledsoe, but the source told ESPN that is not so.

The Times’ report said both parties were in the final stages of negotiations and that the NBA will likely review the deal Monday.

A source close to Paul said he has decided to pick up the option on his contract as part of the potential deal, meaning he would be in Los Angeles through at least the 2012-2013 season.

Paul’s decision was what prompted the Clippers to put the pick they got from Minnesota in the deal, the source said.

The Clippers knew Paul was unlikely to sign an extension with any team that trades for him because the rules in place in the NBA’s new labor agreement make it more advantageous for top stars to play the season out and then sign a longer deal in free agency, even if they’re staying with the same team.

Sources told ESPN.com Sunday that the Clippers, in one scenario, merely wanted Paul to pick up the option at the time of the trade — thus delaying his free agency by one year — if they would cede one of their two most prized trade assets for Paul: Eric Gordon or a future No. 1 draft pick. 

In a similar situation in February, Mo Williams agreed to pick up his option for the 2011-12 season to clinch the Clippers’ deal with Cleveland that swapped Williams for Baron Davis. Sources said earlier Sunday that the Clippers — if Paul agreed to do the same — would be willing to reverse their previous stance and send either Gordon or the Minnesota pick to the Hornets because they’d know that Paul would be in place next to Griffin for at least two seasons, removing the threat of trading for Paul and then watching him leave in free agency in July. 

ESPN.com reported late Saturday that the Clippers had emerged as the “early front-runner” in the race to land Paul after the frustrated Lakers finally withdrew from three-team talks with the Hornets and Houston Rockets. One source close to the situation said early Sunday that New Orleans had asked the Clippers for Gordon, Kaman, Bledsoe, Aminu and at least two future first-round picks in exchange for Paul. 

Sources say that the Clippers, meanwhile, are quietly confident that having Paul for the next two seasons will ultimately lead to a long-term arrangement, especially if L.A. manages to sign Griffin to an extension next summer. ESPN.com reported earlier this week that Gordon and the Warriors’ Stephen Curry are the players most coveted by New Orleans in a potential Paul deal, but the Warriors have been pessimistic about getting the assurances about the future they need from Paul to surrender Curry.

 The Hornets remain under pressure to find a palatable deal for Paul, who can become a free agent in July 2012 and has already told the franchise that he does not intend to sign an extension. In addition to New Orleans’ natural desire to find a new home for Paul as quickly as possible to avoid the sort of soap opera that engulfed the Denver Nuggets last season until they traded Carmelo Anthony in February, league officials now technically in charge of the Hornets also know that the union has hinted at soon pursuing legal action on Paul’s behalf if a new trade is not hashed out.

 Paul spoke extensively with the union on Thursday, after Stern squashed the original three-team trade, about what legal options were available. The union planned to speak with Paul Sunday to gauge how he wants to go forward and how vigorously he may want to fight the league’s ruling, sources said.

 While Paul is despondent, sources say he also understands that a drawn-out battle with the league, whether in the courts or elsewhere, could lead to a heavy public backlash in New Orleans. But there is also a push within the union to sue the NBA if no trade is consummated by Monday, with possible claims of circumvention or collusion.

 New Orleans officials are likewise crestfallen by the NBA’s steady refusal to sign off on any trade construction presented by the Hornets, Rockets and Lakers that would have landed Paul in L.A. next to Kobe Bryant after NBA commissioner David Stern vetoed the teams’ original trade Thursday.

 The Clippers, at least, remain a very plausible trade partner for Paul, given all the young assets possessed by the Lakers’ Staples Center co-tenants. Sources say that Aminu, Bledsoe and the expiring contract of Kaman are among the pieces that have been made available to New Orleans this week. 

Paul has known from the start that a trade to the Knicks was virtually impossible because of New York’s limited trade assets beyond star forwards Carmelo Anthony and Amare Stoudemire. The recent arrival of Tyson Chandler in free agency has enabled New York to offer a package centered around Stoudemire for Paul, but sources say that the league-owned Hornets have no interest in taking such a risk, given the fact that Stoudemire’s massive contract signed last summer with the Knicks could not be fully insured because of his longstanding knee troubles.

- Written by Chris Broussard from Espn.com

LAKERS ACQUIRE FIRST ROUND DRAFT PICK FROM DALLAS IN EXCHANGE FOR LAMAR ODOM & SECOND ROUND DRAFT PICK

Odom will be playing for the Mavericks this season. The Los Angeles Lakers has reached a deal with the Mavericks to trade Odom & A second draft round pick in return for a first round pick. 

Here's the full story:

EL SEGUNDO – The Los Angeles Lakers have acquired the Dallas Mavericks’ first round selection in the 2012 NBA Draft in exchange for Lamar Odom and the Lakers 2012 second round draft pick, it was announced today by General Manager Mitch Kupchak. In addition, the Lakers will receive a trade exception.

Odom originally joined the Lakers on July 14, 2004 along with Caron Butler, Brian Grant and a future first round draft pick as part of a trade with Miami that sent Shaquille O’Neal to the Heat. The transaction led to future deals that included sending Butler to Washington for Kwame Brown and Brown to Memphis in exchange for Pau Gasol.

“Lamar was a fine player for us in his seven years with the Lakers and was a key to helping us win two championships,” said Kupchak. “In addition, he always conducted himself with class and professionalism and we wish him well in the remainder of his career.”

A 12-year NBA veteran, Odom has averaged 14.6 points, 8.9 rebounds and 4.0 assists in 829 career games over 12 NBA seasons. In 519 games (382 starts) with the Lakers, Odom posted career averages of 13.7 points, 9.5 rebounds and 3.7 assists.

Source: http://www.nba.com/lakers/news/111211lakers_acquire_draftpick.html?utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=br_lakers&utm_source=twitter.com

NBA: Lakers will not trade Bynum and Gasol for Howard

According to NBC sports, The Los Angeles Lakers will not trade Gasol & Bynum for Howard which makes a lot of sense to me since they will be giving up two big men for one. Here's what NBC reported:

The Lakers are starting to play a little hardball in their negotiations. Or at least threatening to.

First they pull out of the Chris Paul trade,surprising the Hornets and Rockets, and now this nugget from the well connected Kevin Ding of the Orange County Register.

I’m told the Lakers will not be trading Bynum and Gasol for Howard.

One or the other, not both.

It’s really hard to make the numbers work without Bynum and Gasol or Lamar Odom, who the Lakers are about to trade to the Mavericks. Remember that the Magic are going to want to move the bloated contract ofHedo Turkoglu — three years, $32 million — as part of this deal so the Lakers have to send out enough salary to take it all back.

You can do it with Bynum (or Gasol, but the Magic would want the younger big) and Metta World Peace(Ron Artest) and Luke Walton, but do you really think the Magic would go for that?

It’s why the trade of Odom is confusing — they need him as a trade chip. Odom and Bynum (plus picks or other filler) makes way more sense for a rebuilding Orlando than World Peace and Walton. What would make the most sense for them is Gasol, but the Lakers are trying to avoid that option (they would have almost no front court depth).

So why did the Lakers trade Odom? Ding explains.

Lamar Odom requested the Lakers to trade him Friday, which was a driving force to them moving him in the deal to the Dallas Mavericks for a first-round pick, trade exception and other considerations in a deal not yet finalized.

The Lakers didn’t want a disgruntled Odom at his $8.9 million salary and believe they can acquire a new third big man to play behind Andrew Bynum and Pau Gasol.

Props to Nbc

NBA: Dwight Howard Explains/Confirms His Trade Request

Dwight wants out! CP3 deal is dead, Odom goes to Dallas, L.A.L pursuing Howard but his #1 choice is the Nets! Espn reports:

ORLANDO, Fla. -- When Magic star Dwight Howard signed a contract extension in 2007, he joked that he and Mickey Mouse would be in Orlando forever.

Now Howard wants out, putting one of the NBA's most dominant big men on the block at the start of training camp.

Howard acknowledged for the first time Saturday that he has formally requested a trade. It came a day after the team granted New Jersey, Dallas and the Los Angeles Lakerspermission to talk to Howard's agent, Dan Fegan, about possible deals.

Howard

The All-Star center is eligible to opt out of his current contract in July 2012.

Wearing a retro Magic hat, Howard spent a stoic half-hour explaining his reasoning and expressed empathy for a fan base that had to watch Shaquille O'Neal depart for the Lakers in 1996. Howard likened his trade request to a divorce that only one party wants.

"I've done everything for this city. I don't think people understand the magnitude of love I have just for this city," he said. "It's beyond basketball. I think people, anybody should understand that. For me this has just not been a city I enjoy playing basketball in. I love everybody here, that's why it's been so tough."

He said the decision went deeper than what happened on the court, but also said recent playoff disappointments played a role. He alluded to the hurt he felt as he watched the Lakers celebrate their 2009 NBA championship on the Magic's home floor.

"I've been back and forth," he said. "Mainly because the people here really care for the city. Nobody's gonna understand that. And if you hate me because of a jersey, then you never really loved me. That's how I feel."

Magic general manager Otis Smith said he would still like to see Howard eventually decide to stay in Orlando, but in the meantime they would explore options that were in the best interests of the Magic.

"When you invest seven years in a player and that's what he decides, then you have to deal with that from that angle. But it's not the end of the world," Smith said. "Like I said before, the Orlando Magic franchise is what it's about. We like to make this into an individual game, but the fact of the matter is it's a team sport. And we'll continue to move forward. "

Smith said there is no timetable or deadline for a trade. Likewise, he said he hasn't allowed himself to get caught up on how the team might adjust if Howard does depart.

"Anytime you lose the best player on your team you have to adjust to that," Smith said.

Talk of Howard's possible departure from Orlando exploded Friday after the center denied an ESPN report that he met with Nets owner Mikhail Prokhorov and general manager Billy King on Thursday in Miami without the Magic's permission. It followed reports that Howard planned to request a trade to the Nets.

Fegan said in a statement that any claims of tampering are false.

Magic coach Stan Van Gundy said the team is going about business as usual, despite the circus-like atmosphere that has surrounded the franchise over the past two days.

Van Gundy said Howard's approach and demeanor in practice were the same on Saturday.

"I think again, it's not an easy situation," Van Gundy said. "But just like I'm doing I'd like our other players to do -- stay out of it. My issue is to go out and coach the guys that are here every day, which includes Dwight. And their issue is to come out and focus and play basketball every day."

Howard said he thought about the situation all summer and spoke to Magic CEO Alex Martins again on Saturday about it. He declined to go into specifics on those discussions or what he said when he originally conveyed the news to Smith.

"The last couple of weeks before training camp were very tough," Howard said. "Just stressed out about it. Got sick, couldn't sleep. It was a very stressful time. After I said what I said to Otis, got it out -- I started feeling better."

Howard maintains his decision was multifaceted and came down to feeling he didn't have an ideal situation to pursue an NBA title.

Specifically, Howard said overall he didn't feel satisfied with the talent around him and he would like to have the kind of personnel input he said Dallas star Dirk Nowitzki enjoys.

"If Dirk told (Dallas owner) Mark (Cuban) 'Hey, I think this is the direction our team is going, this is what we need in the locker room and these are the kind of players we need,' I think Mark would listen," Howard said. "That doesn't mean Mark has to say, OK, we'll make a rash decision. But I think he would listen and really found out what the player needs around him in order to win."

Smith said the team's free agency approach also hasn't changed since Howard's request.

He said the team is close to working out a deal to retain shooting guard Jason Richardson, who is eligible for free agency.

"Actually Jason and I are close to terms, with Dan (Fegan) we are close to terms," he said. "He's expected in camp if not tomorrow, then Monday."

The Magic are waiting on final paperwork before finalizing a trade that will send Brandon Bass to Boston in exchange for Glen Davis. They also are working on a separate deal to acquire guard Von Wafer, who spent time playing in Europe this summer.

Once that paperwork is complete, they too will begin practicing with the Magic. According to Davis' Twitter account, he is already in Florida.

Along with the recent developments with Howard, Smith also had what he called a tough meeting with former Magic guard Gilbert Arenas on Friday.

The Magic decided to use the new amnesty provision in the recently ratified labor agreement that allows teams a one-time option to waive a player's remaining contract from the salary cap and luxury tax.

After coming over from the Washington Wizards in a trade for Rashard Lewis last season, the 29-year-old Arenas struggled to make an impact in Orlando. He had about $62 million remaining on the final three years of his six-year, $111 million deal.

"It was rough, it was rough," said Smith, who has been close to Arenas for years. "It was rough to come out of my mouth and it was rough for him to receive it."

But the biggest story for the Magic continues to be Howard.

"I've been here since I was 18," Howard said. "All I know is Orlando. All I know is this city. When I got down here it was the biggest place in the world to me. ... That's why it's tough. Very tough."