Thunder Won't Be Letting Go of Kendrick Perkins

NBA via Oklahoma City Thunder(NEW YORK) -- After a second-round playoff exit in this year's playoffs, the Oklahoma City are left asking questions about their team going forward. What is for sure though, is that center Kendrick Perkins will be staying with the team despite his poor performance.

"We think Perk has a lot of value to our team," Thunder general manager Sam Presti told the Oklahoman. "He's a member of a team that won 60 games and helped us to our third division title in three years. I don't know that we can discount that."

Presti declared that the team will not use the amnesty clause on Perkins, who is still under contract for another two years.

"I'm sure he'd like to have had a better postseason. But I'm sure that's pretty universal for the whole group. And we accept that," he continued.

Kendrick was supposed to be a defensive force in the paint for the Thunder, but in this season's playoffs, his performance hit a steep decline. He averaged just 2.2 points and 3.7 rebounds in 19.1 minutes per game during the postseason.

The Thunder lost to the Memphis Grizzlies in five games.

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Mavericks' Dirk Nowitzki Willing to Take Massive Pay Cut

NBA via Dallas Mavericks(DALLAS) -- After missing the playoffs this past season, Dirk Nowitzki is willing to do whatever it takes to get back to the postseason, even if it means making far less money than he's accustomed to.

If the team is able to land a free agent this summer such as Chris Paul or Dwight Howard, Nowitzki has assured the organization that he'll take a big pay cut after next season when his contract is up so the team can land even more talent.

Next season, Nowitzki will enter the final season of a four-year, $80 million contract. Over the course of his 15-year career, Nowitzki has earned $204 million, which is the fifth-most in NBA history. Since he's made his money, Nowitzki wants more rings.

"At this piont in my career, it's all about competing and winning," Nowitzki said. "It's not about money. Obviously, Cuban took care of me for a long, long time. I always tried to pay him back by hard playing and being here for this franchise, so I don't think we're going to fight over money. I want to compete over these last couple of years. That's going to be the goal."

The Mavericks are hoping to have enough salary cap space this summer to give out a max-deal. If Nowitzki takes a big enough pay cut, they could land a second max-player during next season's offseason.

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Bull's Gibson Fined For Verbal Abuse

Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images(NEW YORK) -- Chicago Bulls forward Taj Gibson was fined $25,000 for verbal abuse directed at an official during Game 2 of their Eastern Conference semifinals with the Miami Heat.

Gibson picked up two technical fouls in a row and was then ejected from the game by Scott Foster in the fourth quarter.

"I have a good accord with Scott," Gibson said after the contest. "It's one of those games that's chippy; it's playoff basketball, words are going to be said. I don't mean any harm to Scott. He's a good referee sometimes. Just got to keep pushing and move forward."

The Bulls lost the game, 115-78. It was their worst playoff defeat in franchise history.

No fine was announced for Joakim Noah, who was also ejected in the game.

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Bulls' Joakim Noah Defends Derrick Rose

Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images(MIAMI) -- The Chicago Bulls surprise playoff run continues as former MVP Derrick Rose continues to remain on the sidelines. Center Joakim Noah is tired of all the criticism aimed towards Rose.

"If you tore your ACL and you have to be the starting point guard and have the expectations that Derrick has, then maybe you can judge, but everybody who hasn't been in this situation before should really shut up because I feel like it's so unfair to him and to this team," Noah said of his teammate.

Even though he's been cleared by doctors to play, Rose is still recovering from a torn ACL that he suffered during the first round of the playoffs last season. He has yet to play a single minute this season.

When healthy, Rose is one of the best players in the NBA. Last season he averaged 21.8 points and 7.9 assists per game for the Bulls.

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PJ Carlesimo Understands Nets' Decision to Let Him Go

Jim McIsaac/Getty Images(NEW YORK) -- When the Brooklyn Nets dismissed interim head coach P.J. Carlesimo earlier this week, it came as a surprise to some considering the team's success. Carlisemo though understands and accepts that he was not the right man for the job.

"Philosophically, I think Billy and the organization wanted someone that they felt was more in line with their thoughts and the way they felt about the roster and the whole situation going forward," Carlesimo said on ESPN Radio's The Herd With Colin Cowherd.

"They felt I wasn't the guy, so they gotta get the guy in here that they want," he continued. "It was a great opportunity, it was a nice job. The franchise is in great shape right now in terms of the move to Brooklyn and the Barclay's Center and everything is on the uptick right now."

Carlesimo went 35-19 while taking over for the fired Avery Johnson during the 2012-2013 season. Despite his regular season success, the Nets were bounced out of the first round of the playoffs by the Chicago Bulls in seven games.

The Nets are reportedly seeking Phil Jackson and Jeff Van Gundy for the vacant coaching position.

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NBA Center Jason Collins Announces He's Gay

NBA via Washington Wizards(NEW YORK) -- Today is a landmark day not only in sports, but American culture as NBA center Jason Collins has announced in a cover story with Sports Illustrated that he is openly gay.

Collins is a 12-year NBA veteran and has played for the Nets, Grizzlies, Timberwolves, Hawks, Celtics, and Wizards. He is the first active player in a major American team sport to announce he is gay.

"I didn't set out to be the first openly gay athlete playing in a major American sport team," Collins wrote. "But since I am, I'm happy to start the conversation. I wish I wasn't the kid in the classroom raising his hand and saying, 'I'm different." If I had my way, someone else would have already done this. Nobody has, which is why I'm raising my hand."

Collins is now 34-years-old and is a free agent after most recently playing for the Washington Wizards. His twin brother, Jarron Collins, played ten seasons in the NBA.

"He never suspected. So much for twin telepathy," Collins wrote. "But by dinner that night, he was full of brotherly love. For the first time in our lives, he wanted to step in and protect me."

In 713 careers games, Collins averaged 3.6 points and 3.8 rebounds per game.

He admitted that the recent acts at the Boston Marathon motivated him to make his announcement at this time.

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Pacers' Paul George Wins NBA's Most Improved Player Award

NBA via Indiana Pacers(INDIANAPOLIS) -- As evidence from his playoff-opening triple-double, the NBA has announced that Indiana Pacers forward Paul George has won the NBA's Most Improved Player Award.

Since entering the NBA in 2010, George has gotten betterby the season. This season, George put up career highs in points, rebounds, assists and steals.

In the team's first playoff game of the opening round against the Atlanta Hawks, George recorded just the second playoff triple-double in franchise history.

George also becomes the fourth player in Pacers history to take home the award. He joins Jalen Rose, Jermaine O'Neal and Danny Granger on that list.

Voting wasn't even close when it came to the award. George received 52 first-place votes and 311 points. He received more than double the votes of runner-up Grevis Vasquez of New Orleans. Milwaukee's Larry Sanders finished third in voting.

The award also caps a season that saw George reach his first All-Star game and helped the Pacers clinch their first Central Division title in nine years.

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Warriors' David Lee Out For the Rest of the Postseason

NBA via Golden State Warriors(NEW YORK) -- If the Golden State Warriors hope to beat the Denver Nuggets in their opening round playoff series, they'll have to do it without David Lee. Lee will miss the rest of the postseason with a torn right hip flexor.

Lee suffered the injury during the team's Game 1 loss against the Nuggets on Saturday. He banged into JaVale McGee on a drive in the fourth quarter and was in pain as he landed on his right hip.

Lee has always been a productive player, but has always been on losing teams. Game 1 was the first playoff game of his eight-year career.

The Warriors will be forced to adjust on-the-fly, which is something you typically don't want to have to do during the playoffs. Carl Landry and Draymond Green are expected to receive bigger roles in the Warriors' rotation with Lee's injury.

In his third sesaon with the Warriors, Lee averaged 18.5 points and 11.2 rebounds per game. He finished his first playoff game with ten points and 14 rebounds.

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Bulls Admit Derrick Rose May Miss Entire Playoffs

NBA via Chicago Bulls(NEW YORK) -- The Derrick Rose watch may finally be coming to an end, but without the resolution Bulls fans were hoping for. Chicago's head coach Tom Thibodeau admitted that Rose will most likely miss the entire postseason.

Rose has yet to play a single minute this season after tearing his ACL during the first round of hte playoffs last year. Doctors have physically cleared him to play but Rose has not felt comfortable enough to get back on the court.

"He's most likely out but you never know," Tibodeau said. "The playoffs are stretched out, too, so you have to factor that in. So who knows another week from now where he is? You always want to leave that possibility open."

Even though Rose is facing pressure to return, the Bulls will not force him to return before he feels comfortable enough to play on his injured knee.

"It's going to be the same," Thibodeau added. "We're not going to change that. It's gone this far so we'll see, we'll see if he can improve."

Rose was the MVP during the 2010-2011 season, and last season he averaged 21.8 points and 7.9 assists per game.

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Heat's Pit Riley Confident He Will Keep the Big Three Intact

Gary Bodgen/Getty Images(MIAMI) -- As the Miami Heat gear up to try and win their second straight NBA title, team president Pat Riley is already thinking about the future, specifically the future of the team's "Big Three."

 Riley has let be known that he is already hard at work trying to keep together Lebron James, Dwayne Wade, and Chris Bosh. The trio can all opt out of their contracts following the 2013-2014 season. Despite the financial challenge of keeping the All-Stars together, Riley is confident it can be done.

"It's doable in this tax economy, but I'll leave that up to [Heat owner] Micky [Arison]," Riley said. "That will all be tackled after the season, but it is doable."

"I would love to see all of (the current Heat players) end their careers here at the same time and hang their numbers, all of the players become godfathers to each other's children and have one big, happy barbecue in the backyard somewhere. I would love to see that. But I don't know if that's reality in today's game."

Not only are the contract of Bosh, Wade, and James up after next season. Head coach Erik Spoelstra has one year remaining on his deal as well.

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