Miami

Karl Malone Available! The Mailman Takes Lakers Off His Route


Philip Maymin
Basketball News Services 

The drama in Lakerland continues and the climax may be to the Heat's benefit. Told of Kobe Bryant's comments that it wasn't fair to his teammates to wait on pins and needles for Karl Malone to return and face disappearing minutes, the Mailman immediately scratched the Lakers from his delivery route, saying he will not play for them. He is being courted by the Spurs, the Timberwolves, and of course, the Heat. He says his knee is 100% and he will be ready to play in a couple of weeks max. Wouldn't it be great if his debut came with the Heat, on Christmas, against the Lakers? Now that's drama.

The Lakers attempted to do some damage control, releasing a statement that Bryant's comments reflected his personal opinions and not that of the organization, but Malone wasn't fooled. "You gave a person 100 percent control of an organization - 100! - and that person don't want you there. How can it be a way for me to be back there? How can it be a way for me to play for the Lakers?" For more quotes from Malone, see Broderick Turner's article in the Press-Enterprise below in Newslines.

The Spurs appear to be the frontrunners for Malone's services but if there's anything anybody should have learned throughout the past decade in the NBA it's to never count out the influence, power, and charm of Shaquille O'Neal. Whether Malone joins them or not, Christmas day will be a very merry time all around.

NEXT GAME
The Heat (12-7, tied for first in the Southeast) conclude their four-game road trip with a visit to Milwaukee (5-10, fourth in the Central) TONIGHT. The game starts at 8:00pm Eastern and will be broadcast on the Sunshine Network and NBA League Pass. Michael Redd is coming off an impressive game against Reggie Miller and will be looking to score and score big against Miami. Stan Van Gundy, meanwhile, will be looking for perimeter defense.

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INJURY UPDATE
Jerome Beasley(back),Malik Allen(back) andDorell Wright(abdomen) are on the Heat's injured list.

NEWSLINES

Broderick Turner ofThe Press-Enterprisewrites: Karl Malone, sounding calm and relaxed during a 30-minute telephone interview Tuesday night, said he won't play again for the Lakers because of comments Kobe Bryant made during a radio interview.Malone said initially he was "furious" when he was told of Bryant's comments and that he felt "betrayed" because he stood up for Bryant over the past year throughout his felony sexual assault case. Malone said other personal attacks by Bryant in private and the damaging radio remarks left Malone believing Bryant doesn't want him as a teammate. Malone, a power forward who was at his El Dorado, Ark., ranch, said the right knee he had surgery on is fine and that he might play again this season. His agent, Dwight Manley, told Malone about Bryant's comments... Malone said he has fielded calls from the San Antonio Spurs, Miami Heat, Dallas Mavericks and Minnesota Timberwolves. Malone wouldn't say which team he'd prefer to play for, but the Spurs appear to be the leading candidate. He said his knee is just about 100 percent and that he'll be ready to play in a "couple of weeks max." 

Ross Siler ofThe LA Daily Newswrites: Not that the game needed any additional storylines, but the Lakers' Christmas Day showdown with the Miami Heat could include the subplot of forward Brian Grant's return to action.Grant, who went on the injured list Nov. 23 with knee tendinitis, has been rehabbing daily with athletic performance coordinator Chip Schaefer and physical therapist Alex McKechnie, and said Tuesday he would "definitely like" to be back by Dec. 25.

Israel Gutierrez ofThe Miami Heraldwrites: Think Dwyane Wade and Damon Jones like being on the court together?Just listen to them. ''I love it, I love it, I love it,'' Jones said. ``He's always looking for me.'' ''We have a good chemistry already,'' Wade said. ``I told him [Monday] night that it was the first lob I caught since [Travis] Diener at Marquette.'' So it makes perfect sense, that the Heat got off to such a great start when the two started in the same backcourt for the first time this season.