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LeBron James was asked on Wednesday if he's considering entering the 2012 Slam Dunk contest.
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“I have thought about it before and a few times in the past I kind of had an ankle injury that kind of kept me out of it and a couple of times I was just like, ‘You know what, I’m going to go in here and rest my legs for this weekend and then get back to the regular season,” James said. “But, I mean, they say a lot of the greats have done it and I’ve watched it over the years.”
James promised to participate three years ago but eventually backed out.
“I don’t know, I’ll be on the fence every year about it,” James said. “It’s always a fence year for me. I know they’re getting tired of me, though, so I’m not even going to start up nothing.”
Real GM none
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“I have thought about it before and a few times in the past I kind of had an ankle injury that kind of kept me out of it and a couple of times I was just like, ‘You know what, I’m going to go in here and rest my legs for this weekend and then get back to the regular season,” James said. “But, I mean, they say a lot of the greats have done it and I’ve watched it over the years.”
James promised to participate three years ago but eventually backed out.
“I don’t know, I’ll be on the fence every year about it,” James said. “It’s always a fence year for me. I know they’re getting tired of me, though, so I’m not even going to start up nothing.”
Real GM none
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The Miami Heat, interested in any and all veteran big men who become available on the market, are in the race for two such players that could make their decisions by the end of the week.
The Heat have offered contracts to both Joel Przybilla and Kenyon Martin. Przybilla is expected to make a choice between the Chicago Bulls and Heat, according to agent Bill Duffy.
Martin is interested in several teams, with the Heat in the mix, according to agent Andy Miller.
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Martin has spoken with executives from each of the clubs and is hoping to make his decision next week.
Martin signed a $2.6 million deal with Xinjiang during the lockout, but left the team in late December in hopes of returning to the NBA.
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New Jersey Nets power forward Kris Humphries -- better known to the general public as Kim Kardashian's ex-husband -- is the most disliked player in the NBA, according to a survey conducted by Nielsen and E-Poll Market Research that appeared on Forbes.com. James finished second.
Humphries received a 50 percent dislike percentage, while James took in 48 percent.
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Mark Bartelstein, who represents free agents Kwame Brown and Shannon Brown, said Tuesday night he has had in-depth discussions with Miami about both.
The Heat desperately need a center, and Kwame Brown could fit the bill, having averaged 7.9 points and 6.8 rebounds for Charlotte last season.
Bartelstein said he has also talked to Heat president Pat Riley about Shannon Brown, a shooting guard who averaged 8.7 points last season for the Lakers.
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Because of their limited spending power and the multiple areas of their roster that need shored up, the Miami Heat might have to get a little creative in free agency.
That could be part of their plan to address the center position. The Heat are considering making a run at restricted free agent Greg Oden, league sources said.
Oden, who has not played in nearly two years after suffering two different knee injuries, has a key doctor's examination this week when he could be cleared to resume contact practices.
Oden has a one-year qualifying offer from the Portland Trail Blazers for $8.9 million on his plate at the moment. The most the Heat could offer is the bulk of the $5 million mid-level exception.
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Meanwhile, as has been widely speculated, the Knicks are also very much interested in adding Phoenix Suns free agent Grant Hill to the mix.
Hill made it clear at the end of last season that he was not in the least bit ready to retire. He would not mind retiring in Phoenix, but he would also welcome a shot at a title.
It has been suggested that he would wind up in Miami, but count the Knicks among the teams that believe he still has plenty to contribute both on and off the court.
It remains to be seen whether either of the Knicks’ primary targets can be lured to the hallowed halls of Madison Square Garden, but if the Knicks could add Jeff Foster and Hill they would consider the lockout-shortened free agency period to be a success.
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Ilgauskas was an All-Star in 2003 and 2005 after fighting back from foot injuries early in his career that limited him to 29 games over three seasons.
"Personal tip of cap to Zydrunas Ilgauskas for going 13 years with those feet," wrote former Cavaliers' beat writer Brian Windhorst. "You can't believe what he went through behind scenes to play."
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“Every team over the years that has been successful has had three guys averaging at least 15 points or more,” Wade told The Daily News on Thursday. “They need a third guy but he doesn’t have to be the same caliber of Carmelo (Anthony) and Amar’e (Stoudemire).”
“They don’t need a superstar to be successful,” Wade added. “Teams have won without three superstars. They have two great players. They just need to continue to add pieces. What they need is other player that is consistent…but I don’t want to give them the recipe.”
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After the first few years of Zydrunas Ilgauskas' career it looked like number 11 would never leave the bench, when the NBA Lockout is lifted the number 11 will never leave Quicken Loans Arena.
According to lithuaniabasketball.com, Big Z's number 11 jersey will be hanging from the rafters as soon as the former Cavalier big man retires.
Reports started coming out after the Cavs' number one draft pick, Kyrie Irving, asked to wear number 11 in the wine and gold. Irving was told that number was slated to be retired and couldn't wear it.
