LeBron James recently stated that the NBA might be better off if teams were eliminated in order to create a more competitive atmosphere and now Derek Fisher, the reigning President of the NBA Players Association, has publicly commented on those statements for the first time.

You can read about LeBron’s comments by CLICKING HERE.

Welcome to my daily NBA news column for December 26, 2010 where I scour the net to find a few NBA-related news items that I think you might be interested in.

Before I jump into the regular news items I would like you to check out a fantastic column by Sports Illustrated’s Zach Lowe on the recent increase in production of Chris Bosh.

You can read that piece by CLICKING HERE.

He does a spectacular job explaining how Bosh has helped Miami’s spacing significantly and how he easily has the best plus/minus among the Heat super-trio thus far.

I’m also going to touch on the following news/rumors from various sources that have piqued my interest today:

  • Is Andre Miller the key to New Jersey landing Carmelo?

  • Are the Bobcats attempting to land Marcus Camby?

  • Is DeMarcus Cousins headed to the D-League?

  • Is it time for Richard Hamilton to leave Detroit?

  • Would the Knicks be interested in Andre Iguodala?

Enjoy!

(NOTE: As usual please click on the bold headlines to view the entire column from the original source)

Lakers guard and president of the National Basketball Players Assn. Derek Fisher expressed disagreement with LeBron James’ recent suggestion that the NBA should contract teams and “figure out one way where it can go back to the ’80s where you had three or four All-Stars, three or four superstars, three or four Hall of Famers on the same team.”

“I agree that the ’80s was a great time for NBA basketball,” Fisher said Friday after practice at the Lakers’ facility in El Segundo. “But I don’t agree that contraction or arbitrarily trying to get Hall of Fame or All-Star guys all on the same team is necessarily how you re-create one of the greatest times in NBA history.”

“I don’t know if it necessarily hurts our cause,” Fisher said. “It’s surprising I would say maybe to a lot of people. I guess I’m a realist in that regard. Even in the past when guys have comments that have been deemed detrimental to the cause, it’s unrealistic to think we have 500 people in one group and everybody is going to say the same thing and have the same responses to certain questions. I don’t necessarily agree.”

“I don’t necessarily agree with them, but at the same time I understand and respect the fact that 460 opinions won’t always be alike,” Fisher added, estimating the number of players in the league. “I don’t think it’s my place to tell one of our guys what they should be thinking or feeling or saying, but I don’t necessarily agree with it.”

The New Jersey Nets are hoping to sell Carmelo Anthony on their future by also acquiring point guard Andre Miller, one of his former teammates.

The Nets have continued talks with the Portland Trail Blazers and Denver Nuggets about the possibility of adding Miller in a multiteam trade that would land them Anthony, league sources told Yahoo! Sports. Anthony and Miller were teammates in Denver from 2003-06 and played well together. While reuniting with Miller would be attractive to Anthony, sources continue to insist the Nets would likely need to acquire an additional quality player for Anthony to seriously consider committing to a contract extension with the franchise.

King is still a big fan of Miller, who played for him in Philadelphia.

Denver is attracted to dealing with New Jersey in large part because the Nets have five first-round picks over the next two years.

The Nets discussed a possible deal for Miller during the preseason, but nothing materialized. The Charlotte Bobcats also have had recent conversations with the Blazers about Miller, but the talks haven’t progressed.

*League sources told FanHouse that the Bobcats and Portland have discussed a trade that would send beloved small forward Gerald Wallace to the Blazers with center DeSagana Diop and point guard D.J. Augustin in exchange for center Marcus Camby and point guard Andre Miller. And while the Blazers are exploring a litany of their own options and don’t appear eager to do the deal as of now, the discussion that is one of many being had by the Bobcats reveals plenty about the sort of the on-court changes Jordan has in mind for his club. *

  • He wants a point guard not named D.J. Augustin who comes with a veteran’s resume and a veteran big man who produces on both ends of the floor. But it’s the final prerequisite that is by far the most problematic for most scenarios being considered, as he wants to significantly cut future salary just in time for the new landscape that will come with a new collective bargaining agreement.*

  • The Blazers deal would certainly do that next season, as Miller’s contract is expiring (team option worth $7.8 for 2011-12) and Camby is owed $9.2 million in the last year of his deal while Wallace, Diop and Augustin are set to earn a combined $20.7 million. The savings are even greater in the subsequent season, as Wallace and Diop have player options worth a combined $18.7 million for the 2011-12 campaign (Augustin is a restricted free agent).*

** ***The immature rookie inched closer to behaving his way to the minors, the foundation of the future disclosed he is now aching emotionally as well as physically and that his All-Star plans have been adjusted accordingly, and stories popped from two very credible reporters that **Geoff Petrie **is close to being fired as head of basketball operations in a move the Kings would regret for years. Oh, and coach **Paul Westphal **is also close to being shown the door, but we’ll stick to what isn’t obvious. *

The possibility is increasing that the Kings will have serious conversations about sending DeMarcus Cousins, the No. 5 pick in June and projected future starting center, to the NBA Development League. Kicking him out of practice hasn’t changed his sloppy focus, fining him hasn’t improved his attitude and, most recently, pulling him from the opening lineup Thursday against the Bucks for giving a choke sign to the Warriors two nights earlier hasn’t nudged him in the right direction. So, some quality time with the Reno Bighorns becomes a growing thought.

“If that’s what they feel is best, then I can’t do anything about it,” Cousins said. “But I don’t believe that’s happening.”

It may not be happening on Christmas Eve. But let’s just say the Kings definitely know a very public demotion is an option.

The road is rocky for Hamilton. He is having his worst season as a Piston statistically and psychologically. He’s been kicked out of three games and no longer is that heartbeat scorer that kept the Pistons afloat during their glory days.

We all know the Pistons are limited in the deals they can make until the team is sold. The organization does not want to add payroll or lengthy contracts until a buyer is found.

That has tied Dumars’ hands.

This is no longer Hamilton’s team. The future might be with Gordon, a guy who has been stymied all season until Hamilton sat out Sunday. Gordon broke from his slumber and scored 25 during a 111-108 victory over New Orleans. Gordon seemed lost out on the floor before. Now he gets an opportunity to be the Gordon of old by becoming a starter.

Gordon has told me over and over he is just fine being a bench player. Sorry, pal. For the money he’s making — he’s in year two of a five-year, $55 million deal — he’s a starter.

Hamilton is a starter, too; he just can’t be one in Detroit anymore. Instead, he can help a team in a playoff chase.

My guess is if Hamilton gets traded, and with a bigger prize to play for, we will see a new and revived Rip Hamilton. ** **

So if the Knicks can’t trade for Anthony by the Feb. 24 trade deadline, they’ve got two other potential Plan Bs in mind.* *

In one, they may go after Philadelphia’s Andre Iguodala, who would seem to fit nicely in Mike D’Antoni’s system. Eddy Curry’s expiring contract and one other player might be enough to pry Iguodala away from the Sixers, though Philadelphia doesn’t want to give away its top player in a mere salary dump.* *

The Knicks’ other scenario would potentially bring Cleveland’s proven role players Anderson Varejao and Daniel “Boobie” Gibson to Madison Square Garden. The Knicks are aware of their need for more toughness inside and Varejao would provide that. And Gibson could fill the backup point guard spot the Knicks have been looking to upgrade.

Iguodala would be a calculated risk. His athleticism and package of skills could make him a perfect fit for D’Antoni’s system, but he’s picked up some bad habits as a #1 option in Philadelphia — his True Shooting percentage has been lower than 54% for the last two seasons, and he’s spent far too much time pounding the ball on the perimeter and launching ill-advised jumpers.