With all four Conference Semifinals tied at one game apiece, the Heat and Spurs will be the first two favorites to try to regain home-court advantage tonight, in Chicago and Golden State respectively. As we look forward to those games, let's check in on a few odds and ends from around the Association:
- If the Lakers try to make significant moves this offseason, it may adversely affect the team's ability to undergo a major rehaul in the summer of 2014, opines Mark Willard of ESPNLosAngeles.com.
- In his most recent mailbag at Blazer's Edge, Dave Deckard says he doesn't anticipate the Trail Blazers to entertain trading LaMarcus Aldridge until at least next summer.
- Tim Kawakami of the San Jose Mercury News (Twitter link) expects the Warriors to pick up head coach Mark Jackson's 2014/15 option in the coming weeks, and engage in discussions about a longer-term deal.
- 6'8" wing Aaron Haynes, the 2012/13 MVP of the Korean Basketball League, will pursue an NBA roster spot for the '13/14 season, according to Chris B. Haynes at SLAMonline. The 31-year-old Haynes will be repped by Larry Williams of Union Sports Agency, who also counts Ivan Johnson among his clients — Johnson made his NBA debut for the Hawks at age 27 after spending several years playing for international and D-League teams.
- Lehigh guard C.J. McCollum tops Chad Ford's list of five potential draft sleepers in his latest Insider-only piece for ESPN.com.