NBA notes: Cousins at odds with Kings, Bosh wants to return

LOS ANGELES, USA – With a month remaining in the regular season, the Sacramento Kings find themselves having to cope with the antics of volatile center DeMarcus Cousins.

General manager Vlade Divac told the Sacramento Bee that Cousins was “not happy” with the one-game suspension meted out by the team after Cousins berated coach George Karl during a game against Cleveland and renewed the verbal attack in the locker room.

Karl, asked if his relationship with Cousins could be mended, admitted he wasn’t sure.

“I can’t answer that question,” Karl said. “Hopefully, we can communicate, and it gets to a good place.”

Carmelo Anthony wants Knicks to make off-season moves

New York’s star forward Carmelo Anthony says the Knicks must make solid moves in the off-season to reverse their flagging fortunes, which have seen them tumble to 28-40.

Anthony was no doubt cheered by Knicks president Phil Jackson’s insistence that he remains the cornerstone of the team, but he wants management to shore up the supporting cast.

“We’ve got to do something,” he said of the Knicks’ need to acquire talent through trades and free agency. 

“It’s there. Everybody has money this summer, so it’s kind of an even playing field. You’ve just got to hit the ground running.”

Chris Bosh wants back in

Miami Heat star Chris Bosh, sidelined for more than a month with an unspecified calf injury amid reports he was battling new blood clot issues, insisted he has no clots and hopes to return to the court this season.

“My situation this year has never been life-threatening,” said Bosh, who missed the second half of last season when he was treated for blood clots that travelled to his lungs.

“I am feeling great and currently do not have deep vein thrombosis. Together with the Miami Heat I am working with doctors, exploring the best precautionary treatment options, and taking every necessary step to make sure I’m healthy for myself, my family and my team… I remain positive that I will be able to return this season.”

A day later, however, the Heat were noncommital.

“We love Chris and he’s in a great place right now,” coach Erik Spoelstra said. “We don’t have any kind of a timetable or anything like that.”

Road to Rio

USA Basketball chief Jerry Colangelo said at the US Olympic Committee’s media summit that he plans to choose the US squad for the Rio Games sometime between June 26-28 – and it won’t be easy.

Colangelo said the talent pool is the deepest since he took over in 2005 and even injuries or opt-outs by players because of personal reasons will leave him with tough choices.

“I call it a high-class problem to have,” he said.

He said Los Angeles Clippers star Blake Griffin could still make the team, even after his suspension for punching a team staff member.

“I don’t judge people based on that,” Colangelo said. “We don’t have any issues with any of our players as far as personal conduct.” – Rappler.com