The Palace at Auburn Hills

Mayor Dave Bing this morning expressed optimism that the Detroit Pistons could move back downtown.

“I think we can get the Pistons downtown,” Bing said during a meeting with media executives.

Karen Dumas, Bing’s director of communications, said the mayor is hopeful that the dynamics – the potential sale of the Pistons and the Red Wings needing a new home – could bring a new arena to the city’s business district.

Inside Hoops

Jeff Green

Jeff Green on Thursday expressed his desire to sign a contract extension this summer and continue his career with the Thunder.

“I’d love to,” Green told The Oklahoman. “It’s a great thing going here.”

The Thunder can re-sign Green to an extension of up to five years. Under NBA rules, teams can begin negotiations with free agents on July 1.

Inside Hoops

Eddy Curry

Knicks team president Donnie Walsh flew all the way to San Antonio to watch Eddy Curry’s return last night. And all Walsh saw was Curry’s return to the pregame layup line.

Curry’s ballyhooed comeback from left knee surgery in January was absurdly scrapped when he developed a tight right calf.

Curry sat on the bench in uniform but did not play in last night’s 97-87 loss to the Spurs at AT&T Center.

It was another night filled with setbacks as the Knicks fell apart late and fell to 22-42, officially securing their franchise-record ninth straight losing season.

HoopsWorld

Ryan Hollins

Ryan Hollins of the Minnesota Timberwolves has been suspended without pay for two games for punching DeShawn Stevenson and striking Dirk Nowitzki, both of the Dallas Mavericks, on Monday, March 8.

The suspension was announced today by Stu Jackson, NBA Executive Vice President, Basketball Operations.

The incident between Hollins and Stevenson occurred with 9:15 remaining in the second period, and the incident between Hollins and Nowitzki occurred with 3:38 remaining in the fourth period of Dallas’ 125-112 victory over Minnesota at Target Center.

Inside Hoops

Eddy Curry

Tonight, Eddy Curry will be feeling some butterflies. Because it has been a while since he even has been active for a game, let alone played in one.

With 19 games to go, the Knicks’ perpetually injured big man is set to return to action in San Antonio tonight.

Curry has not played since Dec. 17, missing 38 straight games.

HoopsWorld

Tyreke Evans

Kings rookie Tyreke Evans has apologized for publicly criticizing teammate Andres Nocioni following the team’s loss to the Thunder on Sunday.

The two players exchanged words during the fourth quarter and Evans told the Sacramento Bee after the game, “We were in the game, and you come down and take bad shots? That’s not team basketball.”

Evans said he and Nocioni resolved the matter after Monday’s practice.

Real GM

Luol Deng

Luol Deng left in the fourth quarter of Chicago’s 132-108 loss to Utah on Tuesday night with a right calf strain.

Deng is scheduled to undergo an MRI on Wednesday.

The Bulls are already without center Joakim Noah, who is dealing with a lingering foot injury.

Deng had missed practice on Monday with the flu, but scored 14 points prior to his departure.

Real GM

Steve Blake

It is hard to imagine anybody coveting any player on the 25-39 Los Angeles Clippers right now, but the Orlando Magic is apparently thinking that it would like to add Clippers point guard Steve Blake this summer.

Blake stepped into the starting lineup last night to replace the hurting Baron Davis and ended up with 11 points, two rebounds, five assists, and one steal.

Nine of those points came through three three-pointers.

Yahoo Sports

Kevin Durant

Kevin Durant is surprised people like Magic Johnson, who recently interviewed him, is shocked he is comfortable with small-market Oklahoma City instead of playing in New York, Los Angeles or Chicago.

“I was watching the Larry Bird-Magic Johnson documentary the other day,” Durant said.

“I’m similar to Bird. I like being at home. I like staying at my mom’s house and her cooking. That’s the kind of person I am. I’m not into the big city lights and the paparazzi, that type of stuff. I just love playing basketball and chillin’ out.”

HoopsWorld

Rodney Stuckey

Detroit Pistons guard Rodney Stuckey collapsed Friday night in the second half of a loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers right by the Detroit Pistons bench.

Plenty of tests have been done on the 23-year-old since then and it is looking very possible that he may have to miss the rest of the season, according to sources.

“I’m good, everything is good,” Stuckey told the paper, but also pointed out that nobody seemed to have an explanation as to what happened on Friday.

Yahoo Sports