Atlantic Notes: Lin, Nash, DeRozan, Celtics
As the Celtics and Sixers look to close out their respective first round series tonight, let's round up a few odds and ends out of the Atlantic Division:
- Speaking to reporters, including Marc Berman of the New York Post, Knicks coach Mike Woodson ruled out Jeremy Lin for the rest of the team's series against the Heat, even if it goes seven games.
- Steve Nash was officially named the general manager of Canada's national team today, and talked to ESPN.com's Marc Stein about his new role. During the press conference in Toronto, Nash said he hasn't made any decisions about free agency yet, but that he wouldn't rule out signing with the Raptors (Twitter link via Ryan Wolstat of the Toronto Sun).
- Raptors swingman DeMar DeRozan has been named to the Team USA select team, Jerry Colangelo announced today (link via Jay Satur of Raptors.com). DeRozan will join Kyrie Irving, John Wall, DeMarcus Cousins, and others on the squad, which will scrimmage against the U.S. Olympic team this summer.
- Gary Washburn of the Boston Globe thinks it would be premature for the Celtics to break up their Big Three this summer.
Atlantic Links: Lin, Nash, Knicks, DeRozan, Nets
Here's the latest out of the Atlantic, as the division-leading Celtics prepare to host the Spurs in one of the many intriguing matchups on tonight's NBA's schedule….
- Ian Begley and Jared Zwerling of ESPNNewYork.com debate whether the Knicks would be better off re-signing Jeremy Lin or pursuing Steve Nash in the offseason. Currently, 65% of nearly 8000 ESPNNewYork.com readers have voted for Lin.
- DeMar DeRozan, who will enter the final year of his rookie contract in 2012/13, suggests to Eric Koreen of Postmedia News that he'd like to remain with the Raptors longer than that.
- Nets owner Mikhail Prokhorov will make a rare appearance in New Jersey to watch his team next week, writes Tim Bontemps of the New York Post. The Russian billionaire will also meet with commissioner David Stern and may be on hand at the NBA's Board of Governors meetings in New York, where the board will officially vote on the Nets' move to Brooklyn.
Smith’s Latest: Celtics, DeRozan, Daye, Beaubois
After previewing the Bulls' upcoming matchups with Eastern Conference contenders, Sam Smith of Bulls.com checks in on some rumors from around the league. Here are a few highlights from Smith's latest column:
- Celtics talk should pick up over the next week and a half, but Smith wonders if, rather than trading Rajon Rondo or the Big Three, GM Danny Ainge could try to move Brandon Bass to clear more cap space for two major free agents this summer.
- DeMar DeRozan "isn't as untouchable as once believed," writes Smith. Given DeRozan's lack of improvement this season, that isn't a huge surprise, but I doubt the Raptors would sell low on him.
- Austin Daye has played just over six minutes in the Pistons' last eight games, and Smith thinks he could be an intriguing gamble for some team, if Detroit makes him available.
- According to Smith, if the Mavericks want to create summer cap space by moving Shawn Marion's contract either during or after the season, packaging him with Rodrigue Beaubois could make it easier to find a taker. The 24-year-old Beaubois has averaged 13.8 points and 2.0 steals per game in four games since the All-Star break.