Earlier this week, the Nets backed out of the Dwight Howard sweepstakes and instead opted to re-sign restricted free agent Brook Lopez. General Manager Billy King told reporters, including Stefan Bondy of the New York Daily News, that it was clearly time to walk away from the talks and focus on the pieces that are already in Brooklyn. “At some point, you have to decide that you’ve got a young center who is pretty good,” King said of Lopez. “It was about getting him under contract and getting him focused, and getting our team focused." Here's more out of the Atlantic..
- The Knicks are “unhappy’’ about the change in the Rockets’ offer sheet for Jeremy Lin which took the deal up to $25MM over three years, an NBA source told Marc Berman of the New York Post. The Knicks are still expected to match the offer but will wait the full three days in order to tie up Houston's cap.
- The acquisition of Jason Kidd was a big reason why J.R. Smith wanted to re-sign with the Knicks, Berman writes. “Wherever J-Kidd is, that’s where I’m at. That’s where I want to be. I love his game. I don’t know him personally. I love his demeanor toward the game, how serious he takes the game. I heard he’s one of the best teammates. He’s a class act from what I understand," said the guard.
- Forward Chris Wilcox said he has been given full clearance to play and always targeted the Celtics for his return, writes Gary Washburn of the Boston Globe. Wilcox agreed to a one-year deal with Boston yesterday.
