The Lakers are one of several teams waiting on Dwight Howard, as most in the NBA expect him to be traded by March 15. They may need one (or both) of those first-rounders to make a deal for Howard.

I would think they would need everything they can muster for that one.

LeBron James Has Heated Conversation with Washington Wizards’ Fan: Cavs’ Fan Perspective

By R. Elizabeth C. Kitchen, Yahoo! Contributor Network

Feb 12, 9:45 pm EST

I am a Cleveland Cavaliers fan through and through, so LeBron James is not someone I particularly care for. However, I think that this fan going after LeBron by talking about his mother was just plain wrong. I make my fair share of James jokes, but I would never speak ill of his mother or other family members. LeBron's choices are solely his so disliking him is perfectly fine, but keep the dislike at him only. Yes, fans, I am sticking up for LeBron on this one.

The fan in question (Bob Moore) made a remark about Delonte West and James' mom to James. There were rumors floating around about West and LBJ's mom back in 2010 when he left the Cavs for the Heat.

"According to Moore, James said to him, 'The only reason you talk [expletive] is because you know I can't come off the court right now and beat you're [expletive].' James continuted, 'But if I had a free pass, I'd kick your [expletive] right now.' Moore replied, 'I'm right here baby. Let's go.' Security then intervened," reports AOL Sporting News.

LeBron should have simply ignored the fan and went on about his business. However, this can be difficult when someone is speaking ill of your mother. This situation probably wouldn't have been as widely reported if James had not just had it out with Kendrick Perkins over a Tweet.

LeBron James seems to be finding himself in hot water often since he left Cleveland. Many see him as a villain so this does not help things. Personal feelings aside, I think that LBJ should not have insults about his mother thrown at him. I do not like him, but he is human and does not deserve to have the person who gave birth to him trashed. His mother is not the one that left Cleveland and caused the discontent, so she should be left alone. So, in my opinion, the fan was wrong for saying anything of the sort and LBJ should have just ignored him.

Tough call because I absolutely hate LePunk.

At the same time, moms are off limits. Man code. I would have had to shut that guy up.

Just wondering, but do you think Sacramento would release the trade restriction this year in exchange for Sessions, or possibly give them a top 3 protection? They need a point guard and with NY no longer needing one, I'm not sure who we can trade Sessions too unless Lakers bite.

Just wondering, but do you think Sacramento would release the trade restriction this year in exchange for Sessions,

Sacramento is very hard to deal with so I would think not. Since they are not going to make the playoffs no matter what I think they would want to hold on to their pick.

Not sure how many if any teams are interested in Sessions.

Aren't the Lakers still interested? Or did they discover some unknown Japanese kid out of Yale?

Lakers have to keep all of their assets to use to try to get Dwight Howard. Once the Howard sweepstakes is completed if they still have assets they may be interested. Closer to trade deadline of March 15.

Anyone else getting annoyed with all the Lin hype? I think its just because he plays in NY. I wonder if he was on a small market team if we would have even heard of him yet...

Kyrie is having a much better season and the crickets are still chirping!

Jeremy Lin will play in the Rising Stars Challenge after all.

The New York Knicks point guard was added Thursday to the roster of players for the Feb. 24 game, just before Shaquille O'Neal and Charles Barkley began drafting for their teams.

New York's current sensation has also been invited to take part in the Sprite Slam Dunk Contest at All-Star Weekend in Orlando.

Sources with knowledge of the league's plans told ESPN.com that Knicks rookie Iman Shumpert -- one of four dunk-contest entrants alongside Houston Rockets forward Chase Budinger, Indiana Pacers swingman Paul George and Minnesota Timberwolves rookie Derrick Williams -- will be enlisting Lin to "assist" him in a manner similar to the help 2011 champion Blake Griffin got from then-Los Angeles Clippers teammate Baron Davis.

O'Neal took Lin with his third pick after starting with the Clippers' Blake Griffin. Barkley took Cleveland's Kyrie Irving at No. 2.

Miami's Norris Cole also was added to make 20 eligible players.

Barkley praised Lin's addition, saying it was "really stupid the NBA denied him in the beginning."

Lin, a second-year point guard, has started six games and led the Knicks to seven straight wins. His strong performance the past two weeks has drawn international attention, including that of President Barack Obama, and led to debate about whether he would be invited to participate in All-Star Weekend, which begins Feb. 23 and culminates with the All-Star Game Feb. 26.

A league source Thursday confirmed a New York Daily News report that the NBA will make Lin part of the field for the Haier Shooting Stars competition during All-Star Saturday night. That would enable Lin to join Shumpert's dunk routine as well.

NCBrownsfan wrote:Anyone else getting annoyed with all the Lin hype? I think its just because he plays in NY. I wonder if he was on a small market team if we would have even heard of him yet...

Kyrie is having a much better season and the crickets are still chirping!

I'm far from annoyed, but I do to a degree agree with the Mayweather tweet.

That said, The NBA is trying to get all the press it can get in this strike shortened season

Since Lin has more going for him than the Knicks logo to make him a neat story it would play in any case. That said, Rubio and Irving are sort of being lost in the mammoth tide of publicity for the other rookie point guard.

The "Rocky" story will always out sell everything else. Just a great story. Cut twice to most points scored in first 5 games since the NBA ABA mereger.

As to Mayweather. What a piece of crap he is. Really hope Pacquio beats the crap out of him if he gets the chance.

Just wondering, but do you think Sacramento would release the trade restriction this year in exchange for Sessions, or possibly give them a top 3 protection?

JJ was giving this a little more thought. What you may see is the Cavs giving back the first round pick to the Kings to exchange spots in the upcoming draft. Something like moving from 9th to 7th if there is someone they want. Michael Kidd Gilchrist please !!!!!!!!!!!

Rusty, I'm a big MKG fan too. I could live with that if we float around the 9th spot and they are a couple picks better. Still, I think the Cavs drop down to 6th and will finish with a wors erecord than Sacramento. I just can't see them sustaining without Andy, and I think a few of the bottom dwellers should jump us, such as Nets with Lopez coming back.

LeBron James’ sly campaign to return to Cleveland followed a private message to Dan Gilbert

By Adrian Wojnarowski, Yahoo! Sports
1 hour, 6 minutes ago


LeBron James came to Cleveland with an unmistakable mission this week, the beginning of a campaign to soften the fans and ownership on his desire to return to the Cavaliers in 2014. Free agency is forever on his mind, and James is determined to make his hometown want him as much he wants it again.

This was no accident, no misspeaking, nothing out of context. Before mentioning Thursday his openness to playing in Cleveland again, James months ago had an emissary or two carry that message to the Cavaliers’ front office, league sources told Yahoo! Sports. His camp wanted the message delivered to owner Dan Gilbert, sources said, but so far, the response has been silence.

The Heat play the Cavaliers on Friday night in Cleveland, and yes, LeBron has manufactured the drama of his return again. James can’t opt out of his contract until after the 2013-2014 season, but he understands that the Cavaliers would have to make a decision to hold back on its rebuild, preserve cap space, and wait on him all over again. He has to convince Gilbert to make the leap of faith, and that includes first working over the fans.

Of his return, James said: “I think it would be great. It would be fun to play in front of these fans again. I had a lot fun times in my seven years here. … I’m here as a Miami Heat player, and I’m happy where I am now, but I don’t rule that out in no sense.

“And if I decide to come back, hopefully the fans will accept me.”

And then, Friday morning, James tried to play the other side: “The fans of Miami shouldn’t be worried about anything at this point.”

At this point. Make no mistake: James will need to make this easy for Gilbert, make it a public mandate. It promises to be a delicate dance for Gilbert. After all that, how do you welcome him back. And, well, how do you tell that talent, that kind of winning and profit, no?

“He has started to lay the groundwork, and he’s waiting to see what Dan Gilbert’s reaction to it is,” one league source with direct knowledge told Yahoo! Sports.

Here we go again, yes. Sam Amico of Fox Sports Ohio reported a month ago that James had expressed unhappiness in Miami, and that a return was on his mind. Different dynamics are working here too. James loves to be in perpetual recruitment, always wanting to be wanted. LeBron is the MVP of the NBA this season, and yet, he isn’t the story. And he likes to be the story. In the middle of Linsanity, James made a bid for some bold headlines – and that worked. It always works for him.

James’ doubts on his choice of Miami started as soon as his cable television show ended July 8, 2010, sources said, and it wasn’t until Gilbert released that hellacious public statement that James knew fully that he would leave Cleveland behind. Cleveland’s reaction still haunts him, and he never wanted to be hated there.

Those who know Heat president Pat Riley believe he has to be livid with the past 24 hours, because loyalty is everything to him. The Heat stood with James through the public evisceration of a season, the NBA Finals collapse, and, with three more trips to the playoffs under this contract still awaiting him, it is beyond belief James is publicly discussing his next stop in free agency.

James’ camp hasn’t heard a word out of Gilbert, nor will they. Under NBA tampering rules, Gilbert isn’t allowed to engage them on the matter. Gilbert hired a private law firm and spent several hundred thousand dollars to investigate what he believed to be tampering by Riley and the Heat when James was a Cavalier. He never made any of those findings – if there were any – public, or turned them over to the league office.

Gilbert hasn’t bothered to weigh the pros and cons of such a historic reconciliation, sources said, largely because it’s well over two years away. Things change. How James feels tomorrow could be entirely different than how he feels today. Within the Heat, they have to wonder about his investment with them, his commitment. As one league executive briefed on this matter said, “At least with Cleveland, this didn’t start until the last year, or year and a half. He has a long way to go there. “

Whatever his desire to win championships, LeBron James lives for the recruitment, lives to be wanted elsewhere. That never changes, and it promises to start the hysteria to 2014 free agency all over again. LeBron James comes home on Friday, and yes, he may yet come home again for good.