Delmon Young of the Detroit Tigers has been suspended one week for an incident in New York, in which he allegedly yelled anti-Semitic comments at a group of men outside the team’s hotel last week, Major League Baseball has announced.

BREAKING: Tigers OF Delmon Young suspended 7 days for last week's incident in New York.

—
  (@MLB) April 30, 2012

Young was arrested at about 2:30 a.m. Friday when, reportedly intoxicated, he yelled a series of offensive remarks and allegedly pushed a man to the ground outside the hotel. He was charged with an aggravated aggravated harassment hate crime, a misdemeanor.

Young released a statement the following day apologizing for the incident.

“I sincerely regret what happened last night,” he said. “I take this matter very seriously and assure everyone that I will do everything I can to improve myself as a person and player.”

Paul Silas just vacated the head coaching position in Charlotte about four hours ago, and already there’s speculation about who will take over the Bobcats next season. It’s unlikely to be former Portland Trail Blazers coach Nate McMillan, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports:

Nate McMillan is a North Carolina native and natural candidate for Michael Jordan, but remote chance he'll have interest, sources tell Y!

—
Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) April 30, 2012

McMillan was fired in Portland at the March 15 trade deadline this season — the Blazers had lost 13 of their last 19 games to fall out of playoff contention, and there were rumors of a “mutiny” against him led by veterans Jamal Crawford and Raymond Felton. It’s unclear whether McMillan wants to get back into coaching right away.

Silas was let go today after the Bobcats finished the lockout-shortened season at 7-59, setting an NBA record for lowest winning percentage at .106.

The United States released its preliminary roster for basketball at this summer’s Olympics back in mid-March, but since then, a flurry have injuries have becursed Team USA and put the program in a tricky position with London on the horizon. Now, according to USA Basketball director Jerry Colangelo, some additions may have to be made.

From the AP’s Brian Mahoney:

US can't field allowable roster of 12 + 6alternates, so Colangelo on adding guys: "Probably when all's said and done, the answer's yes."

—
Brian Mahoney (@briancmahoney) April 30, 2012

Of the original 20 players on Team USA’s list, five (LaMarcus Aldridge, Chauncey Billups, Dwight Howard, Kevin Love and now Kevin Love) have become serious injury concerns, and a sixth (Lamar Odom) has deteriorated for other, off-court reasons. The Americans are running desperately low on bodies for this summer’s Games.

If Colangelo does decide to add more talent, there’s no shortage of available guys to choose from. Among the star American players omitted from the original list are Andrew Bynum, Josh Smith, James Harden and Rajon Rondo. Presumptive No. 1 draft pick Anthony Davis could also make for a wild-card selection.

The preliminary basketball rounds at this summer’s Games begin on July 29 at London’s Olympic Park.

We have an injury update on Caron Butler of the L.A. Clippers — it is indeed a fractured hand, and Butler is likely out for the rest of the playoffs, the team announced today.

Butler sustained the injury in the third quarter of the Clips’ comeback Game 1 win over the Memphis Grizzlies — he got caught in Rudy Gay’s jersey coming off a screen, and the hand was stuck. Butler broke the fifth metacarpal in his left hand; an X-ray taken later in the game confirmed the injury.

The Clippers said today that Butler is expected to be sidelined four to six weeks.

The Clips face the Grizzlies in Game 2 on Wednesday night at 9:30 p.m.

It sure looked likely that Boston Celtics guard Rajon Rondo would be suspended for one game following his “bump” of referee Marc Davis in last night’s Game 1 loss to the Atlanta Hawks — and now according to Mike Dowling, sports anchor for WCVB in Boston, it’s official. Rondo is out for Game 2.

Rajon Rondo has been suspended for 1 game for bumping an official in yesterdays playoff game so he will miss tues nits gm 2 vs atlanta

—
Mike Dowling (@MDowlingWCVB) April 30, 2012

Rondo was ejected in the final minute of Game 1 after a scrum for a loose ball broke out and Boston’s Brandon Bass committed a loose-ball foul against Atlanta’s Josh Smith. Rondo protested the foul call, he was given a technical, and when he persisted to argue whilst walking into Davis, he was immediately ejected.

The Celtics lost Game 1 to the Hawks, 83-74. They’ll be without Rondo tomorrow night when the two teams do battle in Game 2; they may also be without Ray Allen, who is still battling ankle bone spurs.

Jordan Hill of the Los Angeles Lakers is accused of choking his longtime girlfriend during an argument at his Houston area residence, according to a local ABC affiliate.

Hill’s girlfriend told police that Hill assaulted and choked her, causing bruising to her body and restricting her breathing, on Feb. 29 when Hill lived in the area and played for the Houston Rockets.

The girlfriend says she flew into Houston from Florida to see him, and they got into an argument about their future. She alleges that Hill then punched her in the legs, grabbed her, pulled her off the couch, dragged her and threw her against a wall.

Police have obtained photos of the injuries from Hill’s girlfriend that were consistent with her statements. Hill is charged with assault of a family member. No bond has been set in the case.

The Atlanta Hawks enter this first-round playoff series with the Boston Celtics considered underdogs by many, but an 83-74 win in Sunday night’s Game 1 gave them a little confidence. So much, in fact, that Hawks rookie Ivan Johnson isn’t afraid to open his mouth and bash opposing big man Kevin Garnett, a future Hall of Famer.

“Garnett, he’s a dirty player,” Johnson told Dan Duggan of the Boston Herald. “He gives me a lot of elbows and I can handle that.”

Johnson has always had a flare for the controversial — after playing for four different college teams and going undrafted in 2007 out of Cal State San Bernardino, he bounced around between the D-League, South Korea, Puerto Rico and China before finally catching on with the Hawks. Johnson, who turned 28 earlier this month, is perhaps best known for being banned for life from the Korean Basketball League in 2010 — he made an obscene gesture at a referee.

“I was prepared for that,” Johnson said of Garnett’s alleged dirtiness. “I already knew how KG was going to come at me. They’re a whole bunch of mess-talkers.

“I know we’re not going to fight on the court,” he added. “I can handle it. I can take some hits. I try not to [give hits] because I’m usually the one that gets caught.”

The Hawks and Celtics reconvene for Game 2 in Atlanta tomorrow night.

After enduring the worst season in NBA history, Paul Silas is out as coach of the Charlotte Bobcats. President of Basketball Operations Rod Higgins announced today that Silas will not return and the Bobcats will begin searching for a successor immediately.

PRESS RELEASE: Paul Silas Will Not Return as Head Coach of Charlotte Bobcats on.nba.com/JXjH3y

—
Charlotte Bobcats (@bobcats) April 30, 2012

“I would like to personally thank Paul for everything he has done for this team under some pretty unique circumstances,” Higgins said. “His basketball experience as a coach and a player speak for themselves. We have been fortunate to have someone of his character associated with this franchise and we hope he will continue to be a valuable resource to us in the future.”

Under Silas’ leadership this season, the Bobcats went 7-59, setting an NBA record for worst winning percentage ever at .106.

Silas had originally taken over the job on an interim basis on Dec. 22, 2010, replacing the fired Larry Brown; the interim title was removed on Feb. 16, 2011.

Silas has a career record of 377-531 in 11 seasons as an NBA head coach. In addition to the Bobcats, he’s coached the Cleveland Cavaliers, Charlotte Hornets and Los Angeles Clippers.

After signing a minor league contract with the Cleveland Indians three weeks ago, Johnny Damon is now ready to join the big club, according to the Associated Press. Damon will join the Tribe tomorrow for a three-game series in Chicago.

Damon originally signed on April 17 — now that he’s made the team, he’s due to make $1.25 million over one year.

The 38-year-old outfielder has spent the last couple of weeks at the Indians’ training facility in Goodyear, Ariz.; while the team was originally planning to season him in the minors for a little while, the anemic Indians have decided they need the offense right away.

Damon hit .261 for the Tampa Bay Rays last season with 16 home runs and 73 RBIs.

The Tampa Bay Rays have signed outfielder Hideki Matsui to a minor league contract, according to Joey Nowak of MLB.com.

Matsui played for the Oakland Athletics last season; he appeared in 141 games and hit .251 with 12 home runs and 72 RBIs. He was mostly a DH but started occasionally in left field.

“Over the past two decades, Hideki has been one of the most consistently productive hitters in the world,” said Rays executive vice president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman. “We are happy to add his ability, approach and professionalism to our organization.”

Matsui has a career .285 batting average with 173 home runs, 753 RBIs and 248 doubles in 1,202 games in Major League Baseball. Between his American and Japanese experience, he has a total of over 500 home runs; he’s the only player in baseball history to combine for over 500 between the U.S. and Japan.

Matsui, who turns 38 in June, will report to the Rays’ extended spring training in Florida on Wednesday.

Buffalo Bills wide receiver Stevie Johnson will have “very minor” surgery to repair a nagging groin injury, according to the Associated Press.

Agent C.J. Laboy confirmed to the AP that Johnson will go under the knife tomorrow in Philadelphia. He says that the procedure was planned and that Johnson is expected to be ready for the start of voluntary minicamps on May 29.

Johnson has been the Bills’ leading receiver the past two seasons — he made 76 catches for 1004 yards and seven touchdowns last year, and 82 receptions for 1073 yards and 10 touchdowns the season before. He signed a five-year, $36.25 million contract extension last month.

The Virginia Cavaliers have made a major steal, poaching quarterback Phillip Sims from the national champion Alabama Crimson Tide, according to Joe Schad of ESPN.

Former Alabama quarterback Phillip Sims has told Virginia coaches he will enroll at the school

—
Joe Schad (@schadjoe) April 30, 2012

Sims, a redshirt freshman last year, competed with AJ McCarron for the starting QB position on the Crimson Tide. He lost out, but he still played a few snaps as McCarron’s backup — in eight games, he completed 64 percent of his passes for zero touchdowns and two interceptions.

Sims, a native of Chesapeake, Va., issued a statement Friday saying he needed to be closer to home to support his family. He originally chose Alabama over Georgia, Tennessee, FSU and Clemson, but this move to Charlottesville puts him much closer to home.

Sims could possibly attempt to be immediately eligible to play through an NCAA appeal citing family circumstances.

Andrew Bynum had 10 blocks for the Los Angeles Lakers in their easy Game 1 win over the Denver Nuggets yesterday, 103-88, helping him to record the first Laker playoff triple-double since Magic Johnson over two decades ago. But Nuggets coach George Karl isn’t impressed — he thinks officiating may have played a big role in that.

“He was playing nice illegal defense,” Karl said of Bynum, according to ESPN. “He zoned up good. I think we got one illegal defense. I saw about 30.”

The Nuggets shot just 36.5 percent from the field against the Lakers, their worst shooting performance of the entire year. While the defensive presence of Bynum and fellow behemoth Pau Gasol played a part in that, Karl said the refs just wouldn’t give the Nuggets a fair fight.

“It just isn’t going to be called,” he said. “We know it’s not going to be called. It’s just not a thing that’s called. We play too fast sometimes and we don’t let the call happen, and then other times, the action creates the vision of the referees.

“[Bynum] was sensational defensively. Pau Gasol was good out front and they did a great job protecting the basket.”

The Nuggets take on the Lakers in Game 2 tomorrow night, at 7:30 p.m. Pacific.

Get ready for an insane media circus — New York Knicks point guard Jeremy Lin says he might return Sunday, when the Miami Heat visit Madison Square Garden for Game 4 of their first-round playoff series.

“I’m going to evaluate at the end of the week and see how I feel,” Lin told Marc Berman of the New York Post. “Hopefully I’ll feel good. Every time I come into the gym, the playoff atmosphere is unbelievable.”

Lin has been out since March 24, recovering from surgery to repair a partially torn meniscus in his left knee. After playing in 35 games this season and averaging 14.6 points, 6.1 assists and 3.1 rebounds, Lin has been stuck on the bench as the Knicks open their postseason in South Beach.

Lin has recovered rapidly from the knee operation and was even seen playing one-on-one before Saturday’s Game 1; he’s nearing a return. He said he definitely won’t play in Games 2 or 3 this week, but Game 4 is not out of the question.

“I don’t really want to make a promise because I just don’t know,” Lin said. “If I felt good today, then that would be more of a possibility. But I don’t feel that great today.”

The New Jersey Nets’ move to Brooklyn has been rumored for years, and now it appears that it’s finally here. Franchise center Brook Lopez appeared today at an event to introduce the team’s new “Brooklyn Nets” apparel.

The Brooklyn move has been in the works since 2004, when real estate developer Bruce Ratner bought the team as part of a plan to build Atlantic Yards, an upscale development project in downtown Brooklyn. Rap star Jay-Z also got in on the project, and Russian businessman Mikhail Prokhorov then became principal owner of the team in September 2009.

The Nets broke ground on the Barclays Center, where they plan to open their 2012-13 season, on March 11, 2010.

The Nets played their final game in New Jersey a week ago, losing 105-87 to the Philadelphia 76ers in front of a sold-out crowd of 18,711 at the Prudential Center. They finished the season 22-44.

With one of his two careers in serious disarray, Lamar Odom has decided to pull the plug on the other. Reality TV star Lamar will be no more, as the Dallas Mavericks forward has decided to pull the plug on “Khloe and Lamar” to focus on basketball, according to TMZ.

Odom has appeared for two seasons alongside wife Khloe Kardashian on the E! reality show, which is the third spin-off of the mothership “Keeping Up with the Kardashians.” Season two concluded last night after 10 episodes; now, reportedly, the show is gone for good.

TMZ reports that Odom “will be living in L.A. full-time, and he’s hired trainers to help him get his game back.”

Odom and Khloe Kardashian will reportedly still make occasional appearances on “Keeping Up With The Kardashians,” but nothing more.

As for basketball, Odom is still currently on the Mavericks’ roster, but he’s inactive for the playoffs. The power forward had a disappointing season this year after his trade to Dallas, averaging just 6.6 points and 4.2 rebounds in 20.5 minutes per game.

The Los Angeles Clippers staged an epic comeback to beat the Memphis Grizzlies in Sunday night’s Game 1, coming back from down 24 with 8:54 left by ripping off a 28-3 run and winning 99-98. But the news wasn’t all good for the Clippers — small forward Caron Butler broke his left hand earlier in the game.

“I feel terrible for him,” Clippers coach Vinny Del Negro told the L.A. Daily News. “He’s been such a pro for us, but injuries are part of it. Other guys are going to have to step up like they did tonight. But replacing Caron right now … He’s been so valuable for us all year. I know the guys feel bad.”

Butler played 23 minutes earlier in the game, posting 12 points and two rebounds, but he hurt himself getting caught in Rudy Gay’s jersey on a screen early in the third quarter. He tried to stay in the game but later left for an X-ray.

“I was about to go back in the game and got the X-ray results,” Butler said. “I told Coach I was ready, and he was about to throw me back in the fire.”

The exact outlook is unknown on Butler, who also sat out last year’s playoffs with an injury as the Dallas Mavericks won the NBA Finals, but it doesn’t look good. The Clippers take on the Grizzlies on Wednesday night at 9:30 p.m. Eastern for Game 2.

Terrell Stoglin, the leading scorer in the ACC this past season, will be leaving the University of Maryland after two seasons to enter the NBA draft, a source tells Jeff Barker of the Baltimore Sun.

With the May 8 deadline looming for college players to declare early, both Stoglin’s family and the university remained tight-lipped about the sophomore guard’s decision.

“I don’t know what’s going on,” father Joe told the Sun on Sunday night. “I haven’t heard from the coaches or anything.”

At the end of the Terrapins’ season, Stoglin said he planned to return for his junior year; he later amended that statement to say he was weighing his options. Now, reportedly, he’s gone.

The 6-foot-1 Arizona native averaged 21.6 points per game last year, becoming the first Terrapin to lead the ACC in scoring since Joe Smith in 1995; Smith went No. 1 overall in the draft that year. However Stoglin, who’s known for shooting too much and making selfish plays, is considered a second-round pick at best.

Long-time Detroit Tigers infielder Brandon Inge is expected to sign with the Oakland Athletics, according to the Associated Press. Inge was released by the Tigers Thursday after a slow start to the 2012 season.

According to the AP report, Inge will sign with the A’s if he passes a team physical.

In his 12 year career with Detroit, Inge batted .234/.304/.387 with 140 home runs.

After losing star guard Derrick Rose to a torn ACL in Saturday’s opening round win, Chicago Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau remained positive.

“I think we all feel awful for him,” Thibodeau said Sunday, according to ESPN.com. “Derrick’s not only a great player, he’s a great teammate, he’s a great person, but it’s not a death sentence. It’s not a death sentence for him, it’s not a death sentence for our team. He’s going to come back. He’ll come back better than ever. It’s just the way it is and we’ve got to deal with.”

The Bulls ended up winning Game One over the Philadelphia 76ers, 103-91.

Former all-star outfielder Vladimir Guerrero will work out with the Arizona Diamondbacks, team general manager Kevin Towers said on the broadcast of Sunday’s game.

Uh, I guess Vlad Guerrero is going to work out for the Dbacks, per Kevin Towers on the team's broadcast.—
Nick Piecoro (@nickpiecoro) April 29, 2012

Guerrero, 37, is a 9-time all-star, but his numbers have plummeted in recent years. He hit only 13 home runs last season with the Baltimore Orioles.

Reports stated that during the offseason Guerrero was in search of a $5 million contract.

San Antonio Spurs backup center Tiago Splitter will have an MRI on Monday to determine the severity of a wrist injury he suffered Sunday, according to the San Antonio Express News. Splitter fell during the first quarter of Sunday’s game with the Utah Jazz.

Though he finished the half scoring four points and grabbing a rebound, Splitter did not join his teammates on the bench for the second half.

The 6-11 Splitter is not a significant contributor, but he is the only viable backup to starting center Tim Duncan.

New York Yankees right fielder Nick Swisher left Sunday’s game after experiencing tightness in his left hamstring, according to MLB.com. He will undergo a precautionary MRI.

Swisher left in the third inning after coaxing a walk. The report states he ran down to first, and it appeared as if he were trying to massage out a cramp in his leg.

On the season, Swisher is batting .284/.355/.617 with six home runs and 23 RBIs, which is second-best in all of baseball.

There’s been an outpouring of support from all over the sports world today for Derrick Rose and Iman Shumpert, both of whom went down today with season-ending ACL injuries. None of the well-wishers was quite as sincere as this one: Minnesota Timberwolves point guard Ricky Rubio, who also tore his left ACL this season.

I feel the pain. So sorry for DRose and Shumpert. Wish u a speedy recovery.

—
Ricky Rubio (@rickyrubio9) April 29, 2012

Rubio went down in mid-May with a torn ACL and LCL. He had reconstructive surgery to repair the knee on March 21, but it’s still unclear when he’ll be ready to return.

Rubio averaged 10.6 points and 8.2 assists per game for the Wolves as a rookie this year. With the young Spaniard in the lineup, the Wolves were contenders for a Western Conference playoff berth; without him, they finished the season with 20 losses in their last 25 games.

For a moment, it looked like the winningest quarterback in college football history would wind up homeless in the NFL — but now, according to a report from ESPN’s Chris Mortensen, undrafted Boise State QB Kellen Moore has caught on with the Detroit Lions.

Great landing spot for Kellen Moore - Boise St QB agrees to terms with #Lions after going undrafted, per sources.

—
Chris Mortensen (@mortreport) April 29, 2012

Moore went 50-3 as the Broncos’ starter over his four years in Boise, shattering the all-time NCAA Div. I FBS wins record. He also finished fourth in the Heisman Trophy voting in 2010.

Moore had another impressive season in 2011 — he threw for 3,800 yards with 43 touchdowns, then capped off his career with a victory in the MAACO Las Vegas Bowl over Arizona State, 56-24.

Moore’s role in Detroit will likely be that of backup to Matthew Stafford, who was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2009 NFL draft out of Georgia.

There’s more bad news on the NBA injury front — just hours after it was revealed that Derrick Rose was done for the season with a torn ACL, there’s now word that Iman Shumpert of the New York Knicks has suffered the same injury. Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports has the scoop:

New York's Iman Shumpert has suffered a torn ACL in his left knee, league source tells Y! Sports.

—
Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) April 29, 2012

Shumpert suffered the injury when he bumped into Dwyane Wade midway through the third quarter of the Knicks’ Game 1 loss to the Miami Heat today. He had to be helped off the floor; he was later examined by team doctors before being taken to a local hospital for an MRI.

Shumpert was a key member of the Knicks’ rotation as a rookie this season — in addition to averaging 9.5 points, 3.2 rebounds and 2.8 assists, he was also known as the team’s elite perimeter defender.

The Knicks were demolished in Game 1 of their first-round series against the Heat, 100-67. They’ll reconvene for Game 2 at 7 p.m. Monday.

The Washington Redskins turned a few heads this weekend when they selected two quarterbacks in the same draft this weekend — and inevitably, that meant someone was on the way out. The Redskins are indeed releasing QB John Beck, reports Michael Lombardi of the NFL Network.

Liked the new Raider pick and Skins have released John Beck

—
Michael Lombardi (@michaelombardi) April 28, 2012

After drafting Baylor’s Heisman Trophy winner Robert Griffin III with the No. 2 overall pick in the draft on Thursday night, the Skins surprisingly doubled up on QBs by taking Kirk Cousins, a former Michigan State Spartan, in round four. After the two rookies and Rex Grossman, who started for most of the 2011 season, Beck was the odd man out.

Beck, the Miami Dolphins’ second-round pick in the 2007 draft, never won a game as the Redskins’ starter. He completed 80 of 132 passes last season, with four interceptions and only two touchdowns, as the Skins went 0-3.

File this under “unsurprising but notable nonetheless” — guard Jamal Crawford is opting out of his contract with the Portland Trail Blazers, a source tells Marc Spears of Yahoo! Sports.

Crawford signed with the Blazers in December for two years and $10,225,000, with an early termination option to get out of year two. He was productive statistically as a Blazer — he averaged 14.0 points and 3.2 assists per game as a third guard off the Portland bench — but things were tumultuous off the floor. There were rumblings of Crawford and Raymond Felton leading a “mutiny” that led to the firing of coach Nate McMillan last month.

Technically, Crawford’s deadline to make a decision isn’t until June 15, but the star sixth man has reportedly already made up his mind. If he does indeed hit the open market, he’ll be an unrestricted free agent for the second year in a row.

Crawford turned 32 last month; he’s been highly productive as a bench scorer with the Blazers and Atlanta Hawks over the last few years. He’s sure to generate plenty of interest this summer.

The news on Chicago Bulls point guard Derrick Rose is even worse than we initially feared: Rose has suffered a torn ACL in his left knee, the team has announced. He is done for the playoffs.

Breaking news: Bulls guard Derrick Rose tore his Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) and he is out for the remainder of the season.

—
Chicago Bulls (@chicagobulls) April 28, 2012

Rose injured the knee attempting to drive to the basket late in the Bulls’ 103-91 win over the Philadelphia 76ers in Game 1 today. He was unable to leave the United Center floor on his own power.

This is the latest in a long progression of injuries this season for Rose, who has also hurt his toe, lower back, groin, ankle and foot this year. Rose played in just 39 of the Bulls’ 66 games this season; he averaged 21.8 points and 7.9 assists.

The Bulls play the Sixers in Game 2 at home on Tuesday night. C.J. Watson is likely to be their starting point guard going forward.

For the second time today, we’ve witnessed what’s potentially a major knee injury in these NBA playoffs — Iman Shumpert will not return for the Knicks in their Game 1 against the Miami Heat, and according to ABC sideline reporter Lisa Salters, Shumpert is now being taken to a local hospital for an MRI.

Shumpert collided with the Heat’s Dwyane Wade with 6:07 left in the third quarter and the Knicks trailing 64-40. He was down for a minute and needed to be helped off the floor; he was taken to the locker room and examined by both the New York and Miami team doctors.

Shumpert started 35 games for the Knicks as a rookie this season; he averaged 9.5 points, 3.2 rebounds and 2.8 assists. But perhaps more importantly, he was known as the team’s best perimeter defender, often guarding the opposing team’s best scorer.

The Knicks are headed for a blowout loss in Game 1 against the Heat, down by over 30 points midway through the fourth quarter. Game 2 will be in Miami again, at 7 p.m. Monday.

Gerald Wallace had a solid first month in a New Jersey Nets uniform, averaging 15.2 points, 6.8 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 1.4 steals over the last 16 games of this season. But according to Stefan Bondy, who covers the Nets for the New York Daily News, Wallace will be testing free agency this summer.

Gerald Wallace says he'll test free agency. He has a one year player option worth 9.5 million with incentives

—
Stefan Bondy (@NYDNInterNets) April 27, 2012

Wallace re-signed with the Charlotte Bobcats in the summer of 2007 for six years and $57 million, but the final season is a player option. Wallace has been traded twice in the last two seasons — first from Charlotte to the Portland Trail Blazers at the 2011 trade deadline, and then from Portland to New Jersey this year — and it sounds like he has no interest in remaining a Net.

Wallace turns 30 this summer. He was an All-Star and a first-team All-Defense selection in 2010.

Six years into his NFL career, Matt Leinart is looking like a bust, but there are still teams out there willing to give him another chance. Leinart is visiting with the Oakland Raiders and appears likely to sign, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.

Leinart had a frustrating season last year — the former USC quarterback broke his collarbone in late November, requiring season-ending surgery. He started just two games and finished the season 10-of-13 for 57 yards and one touchdown. The Texans released Leinart on March 13.

If Leinart signs with the Raiders, he’ll be their second Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback from USC — Carson Palmer is their current starter. Leinart would likely be competing with Terrelle Pryor for the backup QB role.

Leinart turns 29 next month. He was the Arizona Cardinals’ first-round pick in the 2006 NFL draft, going No. 10 overall.

Derrick Rose appeared to injure his left knee in the final minutes of the Chicago Bulls’ Game 1 win today over the Philadelphia 76ers, and according to TNT sideline reporter Cheryl Miller, he’s now heading to a local hospital for an MRI.

Cheryl Miller reporting that Derrick Rose is on his way to the hospital for an MRI.

—
NBA Guru (@NBAGuru) April 28, 2012

Rose spun on a drive to the basket and landed awkwardly on his left leg with about 1:18 left in the Bulls’ 103-91 win. He was down for a couple of minutes and unable to leave the court on his own power; he needed multiple assistant coaches to help carry him off the United Center floor.

Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau said Rose was later able to move the leg, but an MRI was needed to determine the severity of the injury.

Unbelievably, this is the sixth different injury Rose has suffered this season — he has battled ailments of the toe, lower back, groin, ankle and foot throughout this year.

Rose played 39 of the Bulls’ 66 games this season, averaging 21.8 points and 7.9 assists per contest.

The Bulls play the Sixers in Game 2 at home on Tuesday night; Rose’s availability is yet unknown.

Jeremy Lin was on the floor today prior to the New York Knicks’ playoff opener against the Miami Heat today, but it’s still unknown when Lin will be ready to return to game action, according to Howard Beck of the New York Times.

Lin was seen three hours prior to today’s Game 1 at American Airlines Arena playing one-on-one against Knicks assistant coach Kenny Atkinson. Beck reports that the 23-year-old point guard was “running, cutting and moving laterally,” all good signs that he’s ahead of schedule in his recovery from April 2 knee surgery.

Lin hasn’t played since March 24; the team discovered shortly thereafter that he had a partially torn meniscus in his left knee. It was originally projected that Lin couldn’t return until mid-May; he’s now threatening to come back sooner.

Lin played 35 games for the Knicks this season, posting per-game averages of 14.6 points, 6.1 assists and 3.1 rebounds.

Former Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning sent a text to Andrew Luck, the man set to replace him, after Luck was drafted first overall in Thursday’s NFL Draft.

“Peyton did give me a text, a congratulatory text,” Luck told NFL Network on Friday. “It was nice of him to do so.”

Luck will now have the unenviable task of following a football legend.

“Big shoes might be an understatement,” Luck said at a news conference. “What he did is obviously legendary for this city, for this state really. I know that if I woke up every morning trying to compare myself to Peyton, I think I’d go crazy.

“If one day I can be mentioned alongside Peyton in football lore, that’d be a football dream come true.”