Derrick Rose

The 23-year-old Rose tore the ACL on April 28 during the first game of the Bulls’ Eastern Conference quarterfinals series against the Philadelphia 76ers. Without Rose, the Bulls became only the fifth No. 1 seed to lose to an eighth seed as the Sixers won in six games.

“Derrick is doing great,” Cole said Tuesday at a news conference at Rush University Medical Center. “The surgery went extremely well. Really no surprises. It was pretty routine.

ESPN.com

Related Rumors

• April 10, 2012 -- Derrick Rose Injured Ankle against Knicks
• February 28, 2012 -- Derrick Rose Dislikes All-Star Dancing
• February 3, 2012 -- 2012 NBA All-Star Game Starters Announced
• July 25, 2011 -- NBA Players Becoming Profitable Playing in Philippines Exhibition
• May 27, 2011 -- Derrick Rose: ‘Everything is On Me’

Kevin Garnett

Kevin Garnett scored a game-high 28 points, grabbed 14 rebounds, blocked five shots, and recorded three steals in Boston’s 83-80 Game 6 elimination of the Atlanta Hawks.

Garnett opened his postgame press conference by taking aim at Hawks co-owner Michael Gearon Jr., who had called Garnett a “dirty player”.

“First off, I want to say thank you to the owner for giving me some extra gas tonight,” Garnett said. “My only advice to him is next time he opens his mouth, actually know what he’s talking about — X’s and O’s versus checkbooks and bottom lines.

“We’re not dirty. We’re firm, we play aggressive, but we’re not dirty. You have to understand the word ‘dirty’ in this game is very defined: Trying to hurt guys, ill intent. That’s not how we play basketball. We play very, very respectable to the opponent, to the city. I play with a lot of passion and with force. It’s the playoffs.”

Real GM

Related Rumors

• January 19, 2012 -- Ainge Willing to Break Up Celtics Big Three
• October 18, 2011 -- NBA Official: Garnett Ruined CBA Progress
• September 8, 2011 -- Players Will Receive $161 Million in Escrow Funds
• September 2, 2011 -- Garnett Reveals Turmoil Between Kobe and Phil Led to Boston Trade
• May 9, 2011 -- Phantom: Game 3 Battle in Boston

James Harden

Harden averaged 16.8 points on career-best 49 percent shooting this season, and he recorded his first career 40-point game last month in a win at Phoenix.

The bearded combo guard also became known in the final week of the regular season when he sustained a concussion while taking an elbow from the Los Angeles Lakers’ Metta World Peace.

He recovered in time to return for the playoffs and was the star of the Thunder’s fourth-quarter comeback to beat Dallas in the clinching Game 4 of their opening round sweep.

ESPN.com

Related Rumors

• April 23, 2012 -- Metta World Peace Ejected for Vicious Elbow
• January 17, 2012 -- Thunder Expected to Re-Sign Russell Westbrook, Split Difference
• July 25, 2011 -- Kevin Durant to James Harden in Manila
• December 12, 2010 -- James Harden Dunks on J.J. Hickson
• December 8, 2009 -- James Harden One Handed Slam Dunk

Paul Pierce

Paul Pierce and Avery Bradley have more serious injuries than previously thought, but both players went through the morning shootaround Thursday and are expected to play in Game 6.

The team revealed that Pierce has a sprained medial collateral ligament in his left knee, while Bradley has a strained left rotator cuff.

Pierce suffered the MCL sprain during a shootaround before Game 4 Sunday in Boston and further aggravated it in a collision with Josh Smith that night. He looked hobbled at times in Game 5.

ESPN.com

Related Rumors

• May 5, 2011 -- Sounds of the Playoffs, First Round
• January 28, 2010 -- Complete All-Star Reserves Leaked
• May 1, 2012 -- Josh Smith Sprains Left Knee in Game 2
• January 19, 2012 -- Ainge Willing to Break Up Celtics Big Three
• January 17, 2012 -- Several Teams Interested in Paul Pierce

Blake Griffin, Chauncey Billups, Chris Paul

Griffin went down after a hard foul from Grizzlies center Marc Gasol with 1:31 remaining in the third quarter and the Clippers trailing 75-58. Griffin lay on the ground for a few moments, grasping his left knee while surrounded by his teammates, coaches and team trainers.

Paul jammed the middle finger on his right hand in the first quarter before straining his right hip flexor in the fourth quarter. Both players will be evaluated Thursday.

ESPN.com

Related Rumors

• February 3, 2012 -- 2012 NBA All-Star Game Starters Announced
• July 5, 2011 -- Source: Deron Williams Signs with New Agent
• May 8, 2012 -- Blake Griffin’s Top Ten Plays of the Season
• April 5, 2012 -- Blake Griffin Dunks on Pau Gasol… Again.
• April 5, 2012 -- Blake Griffin Dunks on Pau Gasol

Related Rumors

• March 7, 2012 -- Pau Gasol, Lakers GM Discuss Trade Rumors
• February 27, 2012 -- Kobe Bryant Suffers Broken Nose
• February 26, 2012 -- Lin More Marketable than Bryant, LeBron
• February 7, 2012 -- Bryant Denies Howard Conversation Report
• February 3, 2012 -- 2012 NBA All-Star Game Starters Announced

Dwight Howard

Magic CEO Alex Martins was asked if the franchise may trade Dwight Howard this offseason.

“We’ll cross that bridge when it comes to it,” said Martins. “The number one goal is to get him to sign an extension.” But Martins added that “necessary decisions will be made” if Howard does not sign an extension this offseason.

The franchise was in a similar situation with Howard ahead of the March trade deadline. Howard is eligible to become a free agent in 2013 if he doesn’t sign an extension.

Real GM

Related Rumors

• April 20, 2012 -- Confirmed: Dwight Howard Done for Season
• April 14, 2012 -- Dwight Howard Diagnosed with Herniated Disc
• April 5, 2012 -- Stan Van Gundy Confirms Dwight Howard Wants Him Fired
• March 15, 2012 -- Source: Dwight Howard Signs Opt-In for 12-13
• March 12, 2012 -- Dwight Howard Declines Trade to Bulls

YouTube.com

Related Rumors

• May 10, 2012 -- Blake Griffin, Chris Paul Injured in Game 5 Loss
• April 5, 2012 -- Blake Griffin Dunks on Pau Gasol… Again.
• April 5, 2012 -- Blake Griffin Dunks on Pau Gasol
• March 8, 2012 -- Blake Griffin Injures Left Ankle, Knee
• February 13, 2012 -- Blake Griffin Alley-Oop to Kenyon Martin

Joakim Noah

“He’s a little better,” Thibodeau said after Monday’s practice. “He’ll be a game-time [decision], most likely out.”

Noah sprained his ankle badly in Game 3 on Friday night after stepping on the foot of Philadelphia 76ers guard Andre Iguodala midway through the third quarter.

ESPN.com

Related Rumors

• July 21, 2011 -- France Concerned with Health of Joakim Noah
• June 23, 2011 -- Trade Talk: Lamar Odom for Andre Iguodala
• June 21, 2011 -- Pau Gasol to Minnesota Timberwolves?
• June 20, 2011 -- Andre Iguodala to Los Angeles Clippers?
• June 9, 2011 -- Rumor: Monta Ellis to Orlando Magic?

Baron Davis

Baron Davis has a torn ACL and MCL, as well as a partial tear of his patellar tendon.

Davis will undergo surgery within the next few days and his expected recovery time is 12 months.

Davis had assumed the starting point guard duties for the Knicks due to the injury to Jeremy Lin.

New York expected to re-sign Davis at the veteran minimum next season. The team will now need to pursue a backup point guard during the offseason

Real GM

Related Rumors

• February 26, 2012 -- Lin More Marketable than Bryant, LeBron
• February 16, 2012 -- Jeremy Lin Imitating other Basketball Players
• February 15, 2012 -- Knicks Can Re-Sign Jeremy Lin with $5 Million Exception
• February 14, 2012 -- Knicks, Raptors Discussed Jeremy Lin for Anthony Carter Trade
• February 10, 2012 -- Video: Landry Fields and Jeremy Lin Handshake