Description: Lakers guard Kobe Bryant is hoping to be return from his torn Achilles sometime in November or December. SOURCE: Mark Medina, Los Angeles Daily News
Insight: Bryant suffered the Achilles injury in mid-April. The 34-year-old was named First Team All-NBA for the 11th time this past regular season.
Description: ESPN reports that the Hawks and Mavericks will both be in the running to sign Monta Ellis this offseason.
Insight: Ellis would be a logical replacement for O.J. Mayo in Dallas while the Hawks haven't had an elite shooting guard since Joe Johnson left. Ellis averaged 19.2 ppg in 82 contests for Milwaukee in 2012-13.
Description: Thunder point guard Russell Westbrook (torn meniscus) is off crutches.
Insight: Westbrook had surgery to repair a lateral meniscus tear in his right knee on April 27, three days after suffering the injury in Game 2 of the Thunder's first-round series versus Houston. The team now should be able to provide a firm timetable for Westbrook's return to the court. He's expected to be ready for training camp.
Description: Spurs shooting guard Danny Green has set an NBA Finals record for 3-pointers made with 25 and is shooting 66 percent from behind the arc during the series against Miami.
Insight: Green has helped the Spurs take a 3-2 series lead into Game 6 at Miami Tuesday. He has made 53-of-103 from 3-point range this postseason. According to J.A. Adande of ESPN.com, Heat big man Chris Bosh said that Miami is changing its defense for Game 6 to keep Green from getting any open looks.
Description: Gery Woelfel from The Journal Times is reporting that Monta Ellis wants to play for Memphis next season.
Insight: We doubt the interest is mutual. Ellis isn't a great fit for the Grizzlies, especially with sabermetrics guru John Hollinger running the front office. Atlanta, Dallas and Sacramento are more likely destinations for the shot-happy combo guard.
Description: The Celtics are trying to include either Jason Terry or Courtney Lee in a trade that would also send head coach Doc Rivers and Kevin Garnett to the Clippers. SOURCE: Comcast Sports New England
Insight: The Celtics would receive DeAndre Jordan and draft picks as compensation. So far, the Clippers seem hesitant to absorb Terry's contract. Terry posted the second-lowest scoring average of his career last season (10.1 ppg) but admitted that knee issues forced him to play more cautiously.
Description: According to Yahoo Sports, Chris Paul will stay with Los Angeles if the Clippers are able to acquire Kevin Garnett and Doc Rivers in a trade with the Celtics.
Insight: ESPN's Chris Broussard reported last week that Paul and Dwight Howard have been texting about playing for the same team but there are only a handful of organizations that could realistically make that happen. Houston and Atlanta are two of them. Free agency begins on July 1st.
Description: Monta Ellis has opted out of his contract and will become a free agent as soon as free agency begins on July 1st. SOURCE: Chris Broussard, ESPN
Insight: It would appear that Ellis has played his final game for the Bucks. It's really anyone's guess where he might end up, though Ellis (19.2 ppg, 6.0 apg in 2012-13) does have a link to the Kings because of head coach Mike Malone (he was the assistant coach when Ellis played for Golden State).
Description: It doesn't look like Aaron Brooks will be on the Rockets next season. SOURCE: Houston Chronicle
Insight: Houston isn't going to pick up Brooks' option for 2013-14. By waiving Brooks before June 30th, the team will save $2.5 million. That money will probably go toward signing a top-tier free agent like Dwight Howard or Chris Paul.
Description: ESPN's Marc Stein and Ramona Shelburne have suggested that the Rockets could deal Omer Asik and Jeremy Lin to Los Angeles as part of a sign and trade deal for Dwight Howard.
Insight: The Howard to Houston speculation has really heated up in recent weeks and many think the Rockets are the favorites to land the All-Star big man. Getting rid of Lin would allow the Rockets to pursue a point guard in free agency. The guy from those State Farm commercials might be a good fit.
Description: San Antonio guard Manu Ginobili made a rare start Sunday in Game 5 against the Heat.
Insight: Gregg Popovich is going small tonight, opting to use three guards and two forwards as opposed to the more traditional alignment of two guards, two forwards and a center. Miami's lineup is just as small with only Chris Bosh standing taller than 6-foot-8. Game 5 marks the first time this series that Tiago Splitter has not been in the starting lineup for San Antonio.
Description: Orlando guard Arron Afflalo has been the subject of trade rumors involving Clippers point guard Eric Bledsoe. SOURCE: Orlando Sentinel
Insight: The Magic hold the second pick in this month's draft and Indiana's Victor Oladipo and Ben McLemore are both on the team's radar. Both are shooting guards, so drafting either player would make Afflalo expendable. The two sides might have to wait until free agency begins to get a deal done. If Chris Paul signs with another team, it's unlikely the Clippers would be willing to part with Bledsoe.
Description: Spurs shooting guard Manu Ginobili hasn't ruled out the possibility of retiring after the season. SOURCE: Ramona Shelburne, ESPN
Insight: Ginobili will turn 36 in July and if the Spurs win the title, it wouldn't be a bad way to go out. He's had a tough series so far, averaging just 7.5 ppg on 34.5 percent shooting. Game 5 will be played Sunday night in San Antonio.
Description: San Antonio guard Tony Parker says his strained hamstring could tear "any time now." SOURCE: Associated Press
Insight: That's obviously not what the Spurs want to hear heading into Game 5. Parker didn't shoot particularly well in San Antonio's last game (just 7-for-16 from the field) but he still managed 15 points, four boards and a team-high nine assists. If Parker's hamstring gives out, Gary Neal would run the point for the Spurs.
Description: Chris Paul and Dwight Howard have been texting each other about the possibility of signing with the same team this offseason. SOURCE: Chris Broussard, ESPN
Insight: The only teams with enough coin to make that happen are Houston and Atlanta. Howard grew up in Atlanta and Paul has family in North Carolina, so a move to Atlanta would make sense for both players. Joining up to form a big three with James Harden in Houston is an intriguing possibility as well.
Description: According to ESPN, Mike Miller might get the start at small forward Thursday against the Spurs.
Insight: Miami is desperate for offense and Miller has been their hottest shooter this series (10-for-11 in the first three games). If Miller does get the start, Udonis Haslem would move to the bench.
Description: According to the Los Angeles Times, Lakers point guard Steve Nash expected to be 100 percent before next season begins.
Insight: Nash suffered a fractured fibula in early November and then dealt with back and hamstring injuries in the final months of the season. He ended up averaging 12.7 points and 6.7 assists in just 50 games and should only be drafted as a third point guard in 10-team fantasy leagues.
Description: Spurs point guard Tony Parker (hamstring) will play Game 4 of the NBA Finals Thursday night, Gregg Popovich said, according to Jeff McDonald of the San Antonio Express-News.
Insight: Parker suffered a Grade 1 hamstring strain in Game 3 against the Heat, but he's going to try to play through the injury.
Description: Spurs point guard Tony Parker had an MRI which revealed a strained hamstring, but no tear and he is expected to play on Thursday in Game 4.
Insight: Parker injured the leg in the third quarter and didn't return, but the Spurs were well ahead and could afford to sit him. Expect him to be limited, but on the floor.
Description: In a recent interview with ESPN Radio, Kobe Bryant made it seem like he wants to play at least two more seasons in the NBA.
Insight: Earlier, Bryant had hinted that the 2013-14 season would be his last but seeing Tim Duncan lead the Spurs to the Finals this year may have changed his mind. "If [Duncan] does win five, hopefully that pushes our organization upstairs to be even more determined and more driven to make the necessary expenses to make sure we continue the next year and the year after that." That's good news for Mamba fans. Meanwhile, Bryant is still recovering from surgery on his torn Achilles.
Description: 1500 ESPN Twin Cities is reporting that the Timberwolves are interested in signing O.J. Mayo when free agency starts next month.
Insight: Mayo hinted that he'd like to stay in Dallas but if the price is right he'd probably consider playing elsewhere. The T-Wolves started two point guards last season (Ricky Rubio and Luke Ridnour) so the team is obviously looking to upgrade at shooting guard.
Description: According to the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, Monta Ellis recently turned down a three-year contract offer from the Bucks.
Insight: The deal would have been worth just under $36 million. Ellis seems content to test the free agent market. In 82 games last season, the combo guard averaged 19.2 ppg and 6.0 apg while shooting 41.6 percent from the field.
Description: Miami shooting guard Ray Allen hasn't made his decision yet on whether or not he'll return to the Heat next season. SOURCE: Gary Washburn, Boston Globe
Insight: At age 37, retirement is definitely a possibility for Allen, especially if the Heat win the title. Allen can also opt out of his contract and test free agency, though we're assuming he'd want to finish his career with Miami. He's been a nonfactor in the playoffs, averaging just 10 ppg in a little under 24 minutes per contest.
Description: Boston sixth man Jason Terry had minor knee surgery earlier this offseason. SOURCE: Boston Herald
Insight: Terry had his left knee repaired and is expected to be back at full health for training camp this fall. 2012-13 was kind of a down season for Terry. The veteran averaged just 10.1 ppg, his lowest scoring average since 1999-00.
