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NBA Rumors for Wednesday, April 16

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If Carmelo Anthony indeed has played his final game as a Knick, this is a doubly painful way for his time in New York to end. The pending free agent was shut down by the going-home Knicks after an MRI on Tuesday revealed he has a small labrum tear in his right shoulder. Anthony bypassed surgery after he was diagnosed with a torn labrum and rotator cuff in his left shoulder one year ago. The Knicks said he’s also not expected to require surgery for this injury and will be reevaluated in a month. NY Daily News

Anthony, who has stated plans to opt out of his contract this summer and test free agency, arrived at Barclays Center just before 7 p.m. But he did not address reporters before the Knicks’ penultimate game of the season against the Nets. "It's hard. Really hard,” Anthony told TNT before the game. “I have a lot to think about." NY Daily News

The late-season injury only adds more intrigue for when the 29-year-old perennial All-Star heads into a career-defining decision this summer. The Knicks can pay Anthony $33 million more – a max of $129.1 million over five years -- than another NBA team can offer him in free agency. On Sunday, he called the hiring of Jackson “definitely a big play for our organization, for the Knicks and for me.” NY Daily News

Center Josh Powell was in Houston on Tuesday for his physical, which he passed, and signed his contract with the Rockets. Powell's deal is for rest of this season and next, but year two of his contract is not guaranteed. Sources told FOX 26 Sports Powell received his clearance from FIBA, world governing body for basketball, late Monday night to return to the NBA and sign with the Rockets. Fox 26

Powell, who has been with six different NBA teams, most recently with the Atlanta Hawks in 2011, has been playing in the Philippines. "I'm excited," Powell said in an interview with FOX 26 Sports. "I'm Definitely grateful for the opportunity, being able to play for an organization like this." Fox 26

[Channing] Frye has a $6.8 million player option for next season. Only Goran Dragic ($7.5 million) and amnestied Josh Childress ($7.32 million) are on the Suns' books for more next season, although restricted free agent Eric Bledsoe stands to make more. Frye would like to negotiate a contract extension after averaging 11.2 points and 5.1 rebounds this season on 43.3 percent shooting, including 37.1 percent on 3s.

"I want to talk to the Suns and make sure we're both on the same page about what I want," Frye said. "I'd love to stay here. It's up to them and their future and what they want to do. I love wearing this uniform. I think I take a little more pride in it than everyone else because I'm from here. "It's looking for the future and if I could get something longer. I got kids and I want to be somewhere. I've been here for five years already so it wouldn't be bad to kind of not be worried about being traded or buying a house." Arizona Republic

The Sixers (18-63) publicly have expressed their desire to build around Thaddeus Young and rookies Michael Carter-Williams and Nerlens Noel. However, it's no secret that Young wants to play for a contender and wasn't thrilled that the Sixers tanked this season. For now, his immediate goal is to fly to his hometown of Memphis with his family Thursday afternoon. He will go on a European vacation to get his mind off what he called the toughest season of his career. "I'm going to do some touring of Greece, Italy, Paris, England," Young said. Philadelphia Inquirer

Young is slated to make about $9.1 million next season and has a player option worth a little less than $9.8 million with the Sixers for the 2015-16 campaign. Fearful that he will turn down the player option, the Sixers could try to trade Young this summer. That would enable them to get something in return. "It has been a tough year, but I made it through," Young said. Philadelphia Inquirer

Both the Kings and Cousins’ agents appealed the technical, though not surprisingly, to no avail. League officials are maintaining a tough-love approach to their immensely gifted young star; they realize he’s a huge personality who won’t suddenly and quietly go away. The sense is that if Cousins can play 22 consecutive games without a technical – since his last infraction Feb. 25 against Houston – then he can suck his thumb or suck it up, or do whatever else is necessary to remain in their good graces. In fact, if Cousins doesn’t play his way onto Mike Krzyzewski’s World Cup team this summer, he should be sent to his room without his supper … and breakfast and lunch … for about a year. Sacramento Bee

“DeMarcus, when he got ejected that last game (against Houston), he said he was sorry for disappointing me,” principal owner Vivek Ranadive said. “But overall he has had a very good year. We just have a lot more work to do this summer. We have to get him some help.” Ignoring the familiar histrionics for the moment – and just for the moment – Cousins, in fact, this season established career bests in points (22.7), rebounds (11.7), field-goal percentage (.496) and assists (2.9), often while double- and even triple-teamed. And particularly of late, he pushed the pace and tried to prod his teammates out of their chronic, slow-dribble snooze control. Sacramento Bee

That office was dark Tuesday afternoon — signifying the winds of change that are sweeping through the Pistons organization. It was the day after the news became official that [Joe] Dumars would step down as president of basketball operations after 14 seasons and move into an advisory role. The team went about the business of preparing for tonight’s season finale at Oklahoma City, conducting a short practice before boarding a plane. But it’s still time for reflection for the man who was a major part of three championship banners hanging from the Palace rafters. Detroit Free Press

Carrying a 29-52 record into the final game, interim coach John Loyer admitted it has been tough not to be distracted this season. “Anytime there’s things going on outside the basketball court, of course people are going to be affected differently by it,” Loyer said. “To say that it’s not, I don’t think would be accurate. “I go about my job the same way, every day, regardless of what’s going on. I would challenge our players to do that, too, and for the most part they’ve done a good job of that.” Detroit Free Press

Clippers forward Blake Griffin and guard J.J. Redick will not travel with the team for its final regular-season game Wednesday against the Portland Trail Blazers. Clippers coach Doc Rivers already had planned on resting Redick, but the decision to give Griffin the night off was essentially taken out of his hands Tuesday night when Griffin picked up his 16th technical foul in the first half against the Denver Nuggets, drawing a league-mandated one-game suspension. ESPN LA

The Milwaukee Bucks have signed forward Chris Wright (6-8, 225) to a multi-year contract, General Manager John Hammond announced today. Wright had played with the Bucks on two separate 10-day contracts, the last signed on April 5. He appeared in seven games with the Bucks, averaging 6.0 points, 2.1 rebounds and 1.0 steal in 15.4 minutes per game. Prior to joining the Bucks, Wright played with the D-League’s Maine Red Claws, where he’s appeared in 41 games this season and posted averages of 19.8 points and 8.1 rebounds per contest. InsideHoops

Point guard Elfrid Payton will forgo his senior season at Louisiana Lafayette and enter the 2014 NBA Draft, a league source informed CSNNW.com. According to another source educated on the situation says the 6-4 guard has agreed to make Ty Sullivan of Creative Artist Agency his agent. CSNNW

Epke Udoh will leave one positive lasting impression from this dreary season for the Milwaukee Bucks, and it has nothing to do with basketball. Few, if any, NBA players can say they've started a book club over Twitter. Fewer still probably cite entertainment magnate Oprah Winfrey as a role model. Udoh, a four-year NBA veteran, is thinking big. "I want to be like Oprah. I want to be like Oprah's book club," the Bucks forward said Tuesday. "I'll get there. It might take me a couple years, but I'll get some buzz going." AP

Luol Deng has been voted the 2013-14 winner of the J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award, presented annually by the Professional Basketball Writers Association to the player, coach or trainer who shows outstanding service and dedication to the community. The two-time All-Star forward recently recorded a public service announcement for the EnoughProject.org, urging peace during a time of renewed conflict in his native South Sudan. Morning Journal

Deng started the The Luol Deng Foundation, which is a global nonprofit organization that uses basketball as a platform to give hope to those in Africa, the United Kingdom and the United States. Two basketball courts will open this summer in Africa, and will include 12 hoops, locker rooms and basketball gear. Plans are also in the works to renovate and build schools in South Sudan. He said he feels very honored by winning the prestigious award. “At the end of the day, I’m just glad it’s one of those things when I talk to my parents about it, they’ll be very proud,” Deng said. Morning Journal

It’s been a good week for CBS president and CEO Les Moonves. After signing Stephen Colbert to succeed David Letterman on “Late Night“ — trumping the CNN upfront presentation with the announcement — Moonves is moving to “Billionaires Beach.” Page Six has exclusively learned Moonves has bought Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen’s home on Malibu’s prestigious Carbon Beach for $28 million. PageSix

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