Dwight Howard will undergo back surgery on Friday morning in Los Angeles to repair a herniated disk.   The surgery will end his season and eliminate the possibility of his participation in the 2012 Summer Olympics.   “It hurts (emotionally),” Howard told ESPN the Magazine’s Chris Broussard. “That’s the first…

The NBPA executive committee has voted to seek the resignation of Derek Fisher, according to sources.   Fisher has refused to resign as union president and has been working to gather a coalition of players to challenge the business and financial practices of Billy Hunter.   Fisher has vowed not to step…

The Portland Trail Blazers have strong interest in interviewing Los Angeles Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak for their general manager vacancy, according to sources familiar with Portland’s thinking.     Kupchak is one of the Blazers’ top targets in their quest to land an executive with experience running a franchise’s basketball operations, sources told…

  Ray Allen has privately felt slighted by the Celtics over the past few weeks.   Allen was nearly traded to Memphis at the deadline and he has played a bench role since returning from injury following the emergence of Avery Bradley.   Allen will be a free agent this…

Kobe Bryant anticipates returning from his shin injury on Friday against the Spurs.   Bryant missed his seventh straight game on Wednesday against the Warriors.   Bryant ran and jumped on Wednesday without any pain.   (Via Kevin Ding/Orange County Register)

The Celtics had a deal with the Grizzlies at the deadline that would have centered around Ray Allen for O.J. Mayo and a draft pick.   Doc Rivers went so far as to tell Allen that he had been traded, but called again 20 minutes later to say the deal…

Paul Silas shoved Tyrus Thomas following a postgame screaming match on Sunday, league sources said.   No punches were thrown as several players intervened immediately to separate Silas and Thomas.   Silas was angered by Thomas talking to members of the Celtics on the court. Thomas eventually snapped back at…

The Washington Wizards made a pair of related roster moves on Monday. The team released Roger Mason Jr. and signed guard Morris Almond to replace him.   Mason had season-ending surgery on his finger on Monday. Washington needed the roster space, having recently signed Cartier Martin and James Singleton. Mason had been dealing with pain in his…

The NBA will announce that they will host the 2014 All-Star Game in New Orleans, according to a source.   New Orleans also hosted the game in 2008, which was the first major sporting event held in the city following Hurricane Katrina.   The next possible date to avoid conflicts…

Carl Landry claims that the Hornets ownership situation improves their chances of signing him to a long-term contract. Something tells us that money here is the deciding factor more than anything.   Forward Carl Landry said he agreed to only a one-year deal last summer because of the Hornets’ ownership…