Hooped Up

Jermaine O’Neal was nearly in tears after the Pacers fell to the Magic by a final score of 95-87 on national television Friday.

“It’s just disappointing to lose the way we have been losing,” O’Neal said. “It’s embarrassing; it’s a lot of things.”

O’Neal was asked about wanting to be traded, a question likely to continue to come up as the Pacers move closer to missing the playoffs for the first time since 1996-97.

After pausing for 10 seconds to take in the question, O’Neal put a towel over his face to hide his emotions and ended the interview session. O’Neal has said a number of times since last summer that he plans to sit down with CEO Donnie Walsh and president Larry Bird at the end of the season to address future plans.

Indianapolis Star

Two league sources say that the search for Bernie Bickerstaff’s successor in Charlotte is underway — and one of the candidates is former Raptors coach Butch Carter. The sources maintain that Carter has been promised an interview with Bobcats minority owner Michael Jordan. But it isn’t known if Carter is a favorite to get the job. The Bobcats already announced that Bickerstaff won’t be returning as coach next season, though he is expected to maintain an executive role in the front office.”

SI.com

Allan Houston attended last night’s game and was a surprise visitor to the Knicks’ morning shootaround in Greenburgh. The former Knicks shooting guard has remained noncommittal about a possible comeback. At least two NBA coaches believe that Houston is planning to play again. Houston, whose contract expires this summer, retired in October 2005 with chronic knee pain. Until then, he remains the second highest paid player in the league at $20.7 million behind Minnesota’s Kevin Garnett ($21 million).”

New York Daily News

The Mavericks are going to bring in Kevin Willis for a workout on Thursday to find out if he might be a viable option for their vacant roster spot. This is a sign of how shallow the pool of available big men is.”

Dallas Morning News

The Toronto Raptors have boasted about their resiliency all season long.

 But when rookie forward Jorge Garbajosa crashed to the floor with a season-ending ankle injury Monday night, his foot jutting out at an unnatural angle, it became clear that the Raptors are about to find out just how resilient they are.

 Less than a week after prized rookie Andrea Bargnani underwent an appendectomy that could cost him the rest of the regular season, Garbajosa suffered the gruesome injury late in Toronto’s 95-87 loss to the Celtics.

Due to the soft tissue component of the injury, recovery time is estimated in the range of six months.

Toronto Star

The reclusive Quentin Richardson and David Lee have something in common with Jamal Crawford. There’s no assurance either will return this season. Richardson avoided reporters for a seventh straight day, sitting out last night again, raising speculation he’s finished. During practice and shootaround at their Westchester compound, he has hidden in the locker room, supposedly getting treatment. Last night, Richardson again was requested by the press and declined to come out, spending the availability session hiding in the trainer’s room. It his aberrant behavior for a player normally very accessible.”

New York Post

It is unlikely that Francis will return next season. The Knicks reneged on a buyout agreement with Francis after Jamal Crawford suffered a season-ending ankle injury. A Cavs source said that the team was made aware of Steve Francis’ pending buyout and had internal discussions about acquiring him.”

New York Daily News

The New York Knicks signed free-agent centre Randolph Morris to a two-year contract Friday, adding the former Kentucky star to their roster thanks to an unusual provision in the NBA’s collective bargaining agreement.Morris, the Wildcats’ leading scorer this season, declared himself eligible for the 2005 draft following his freshman year but was not selected. He decided to return to school and played two more seasons.

Due to a condition in the CBA, Morris was not eligible to re-enter another draft. He had free-agent status throughout his junior season but decided to play out the year with the Wildcats, who were eliminated in the NCAA tournament last weekend by Kansas.

CBC

Had Timberwolves forward Kevin Garnett been playing for the SuperSonics on Wednesday night, Seattle fans might have seen something more memorable than Washington’s Gilbert Arenas stripping off his jersey and laying it on the court near the three-point arc. That’s what the showboating Wizards guard did after hitting a running bank shot to win 108-106 as time expired at KeyArena. Obviously, it was way too in-your-face for Garnett’s liking.”

Minneapolis Star Tribune