Category: In the News

Do they know the way to San Jose? Report links possible Hornets’ move

California already has more NBA teams than any other state. And the Golden State could be adding another one.

The San Jose Mercury-News reports that Oracle Co. co-founder and chief executive officer Larry Ellison and moving them to the HP Pavilion in San Jose.

As of 2011, Ellison is the fifth richest person in the world, with a personal wealth of $39.5 billion.

Ellison told the Mercury News earlier this year that he unsuccessfully bid on the Golden State Warriors.

His interest in the Hornets potentially would be good news for the NBA, which has taken control and is currently operating the Hornets.

It would be an interesting move for the Golden State Warriors, who own the San Jose area as part of the league’s 75-mile “marketing rights” agreement but have no veto power to keep a potential competitor out of the area.  All power to approve or block franchise shifts rests with the NBA Board of Governors — with one vote for each team.

With the strong likelihood the Sacramento Kings soon will be moving from the area, but another competitor could challenge the Warriors in an immediate manner.

Ellison, a dropout from the University of Chicago and the University of Illinois, has made a history throughout his career of making savvy business moves. I can’t believe he would be interested in owning an NBA franchise until after this summer’s looming labor negotiations.

The NBA would like to rid itself of running the New Orleans franchise. And Ellison would be the kind of big-money owner who would make David Stern and the other NBA owners drool to join their club.

Despite recent surge, Bynum playing with sore knee

The Los Angeles Lakers’ recent surge as the NBA’s hottest teams has coincided with the return to the lineup of center Andrew Bynum.

The Lakers have streaked to a 10-1 record since the All-Star break. Bynum has been one of the biggest reasons as he’s averaged 12.9 rebounds — including a career-best 18 against Orlando and 17 against the Spurs — and 2.6 blocked shots during that span. He’s averaging 15.8 rebounds in his last six games.

After missing the first 24 games of the season recovering from off-season surgery on his right knee, Bynum took some time getting acclimated back to basketball. The Lakers started 17-7 in those games.

Bynum told the Los Angeles Times he’s in every practice and game.

“I have a little bit of fluid,” Bynum told the Times. “I’m still taking medication. I’ll let you all know when I get off that, and it’ll be fine.”

When Bynum is playing like he has in recent games, the Lakers have an unstoppable force in the middle.

But his knee pain still raises concerns whether he can stay healthy throughout the playoffs. Bynum’s knee remains one of the primary questions that hovers over the Lakers’ hopes of claiming a third straight NBA title.

Duncan may return by April

By Jeff McDonald
jmcdonald@express-news.net

DENVER — Though the Spurs have yet to release an official timetable for Tim Duncan’s return from an ankle sprain, coach Gregg Popovich said Wednesday the two-time MVP could be back on the floor by the beginning of April.

Asked before the Spurs’ game against Denver if two weeks sounded like a plausible prognosis for Duncan, Popovich sounded optimistic his captain might be back sooner.

“I’m hoping it won’t be that long, a good four or five games for sure,” Popovich said. “Beyond that, I really won’t know until we get back.”

Duncan, who injured his left ankle Monday against Golden State, did not accompany the Spurs on their three-game road trip, instead remaining behind in San Antonio in a walking boot. An MRI conducted Tuesday confirmed the sprain and revealed no structural damage in Duncan’s ankle.

“Once he gets back on the court in a couple of days, we’ll be able to tell more,” Popovich said. “But four or five games for sure.”

By that estimate, Duncan could be back for the Spurs’ ?? final seven regular-season games, beginning April 1 at Houston.

Asked again Wednesday if team doctors had given any indication Duncan might miss the start of the playoffs, Popovich said, “No, no, no.”

SPLITTER STARTS: With Duncan shelved, rookie center Tiago Splitter earned his second career start, earning the nod over DeJuan Blair, who started the first 63 games of the season before moving to the bench earlier this month.

The deciding factor was height. Splitter is 6-foot-11, while Blair is 6-7.

“We’re a pretty small team,” Popovich said. “We’ve got to have some size on the court.”

Blair came off the bench Wednesday after missing the Golden State game with a sprained left wrist.

THE RING LEADER: Spurs guard Danny Green doesn’t have so much as a job guaranteed past the end of the season, but he does have something nobody else in the Spurs locker room does: an NCAA championship ring.

Green started for the North Carolina team that won the 2009 title, along with fellow future NBA players Ty Lawson, Wayne Ellington and Tyler Hansbrough. He keeps his ring in a lock box at home and knows better than to crow about his accomplishments on a team that features four players with NBA championship hardware.

“I can’t brag around these guys,” Green said. “They’ve got some big-time guys here.”

This year’s version of March Madness, meanwhile, has drawn battle lines in the Spurs’ locker room. Green’s Tar Heels will face Steve Novak’s former school, Marquette, in a Sweet 16 game Friday, while Richard Jefferson’s Arizona team will face assistant coach Chip Engelland’s Duke Blue Devils tonight.

“I feel like March Madness, even if you haven’t won a ring, is a fun time for guys,” Green said. “Guys like to fill out brackets and watch our teams play. We have our little battles and arguments and inside friendly bets. It’s a good time to watch basketball.”

The only other Spurs with alma maters still alive in the tournament are Matt Bonner (Florida) and assistant coach Jacque Vaughn (Kansas).