Blake Griffin is apparently open to participating in this year’s dunk contest at NBA All-Star weekend. For those of us who have been captivated by this young man’s play over the past few months this is a pretty awesome revelation.

Don’t let us down, Blake!

That is just one of a few headlines that caught my eye this evening/afternoon.

Before I do that though I want to send my condolences to Carmelo Anthony and his family - Anthony’s sister died yesterday and left behind four children.

No matter what transpires in the NBA world nothing should override the loss of life and I’m glad that the Nuggets have decided to halt trade talk as Anthony grieves.

Back to Blake Griffin for a second. I would love to see him in the dunk contest but for those who haven’t seen him play regularly and just watch his jams on ESPN please take the time to watch him when you can.

He’s that awesome.

He’s also on pace for a rather historic season - check out my column HERE for the details.

Here are a few others that I’ll touch on via different sources:

  • Is Baron Davis headed back to Charlotte?

  • The Nuggets halt trade talks amid death in Carmelo Anthony’s family

  • Are the Rockets planning on an extension for Yao Ming?

  • O.J. Mayo’s father charged with attempted murder

  • There is no timetable on Vince Carter’s return to the Suns

As usual, please click on the bold headlines to view the entire column from the original source.

NBA.com: Tell us, right here and now, that you’re going to participate in the Slam Dunk Contest. BG: That would be cool. If it’s something that the league wants me to do, I’ll probably try to do it. NBA.com: Do you already know what dunks you would do? BG: Not really. I really don’t work on them a lot. If it turns out I’m going to do it, I’ll try to think of something creative. NBA.com: Dwight Howard has said he’s done with dunk contests, so you won’t have a chance to jump over him the way Nate Robinson did. Maybe you could bring Timofey Mozgov with you and re-create your dunk against the Knicks. By the way, you’re undefeated in these things, right? BG: Yes. But I haven’t done one at a level as high as this one. I did the McDonald’s All-America contest when I was in high school. And I did a couple other small ones in Oklahoma.

If Blake does enter this year’s dunk contest it might be the most anticipated version since Vince Carter soared to the title. I don’t often watch the contest but my eyes would be glued to the set this year if he entered.

**Just don’t destroy your face on the rim - WATCH THIS VIDEO OF GRIFFIN’S OOP AGAINST THE ROCKETS. **

Silas is a long way removed from the NBA – and longer from his late 1990s success in Charlotte. And if bringing back Silas isn’t retro enough for everyone, how about Silas’ old Hornets point guard, Baron Davis? Jordan is considering a trade proposal that would send Augustin, DeSagana Diop and Matt Carroll to the Los Angeles Clippers for Davis, a league source told Yahoo! Sports.

The Clippers have desperately tried to trade Davis and have included him in proposals with center Chris Kaman, league executives told Yahoo! Sports. Brown could’ve never coached Davis, but Silas allows a different freedom for his players. Whatever moves Jordan makes now, he can’t tear these Bobcats apart and start over again. No way can Jordan sell this market on another cost-cutting revamping of the franchise.

Trade speculation surrounding Denver Nuggets forward Carmelo Anthony was pushed to the backburner as the basketball star was dealt a family tragedy.

Anthony’s sister, Michelle, died Wednesday night in Baltimore of a pre-existing medical condition, leaving behind four children. Anthony left the Nuggets to spend time with his family and is expected to return after Christmas, reports the Associated Press.

Anthony had already left Denver by the time of Wednesday’s game against the San Antonio Spurs and will likely miss the Nuggets’ Christmas Day matchup with the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Coach George Karl said news of Anthony’s loss “brings us down to earth.”

And what about Yao? His latest injury has created an uncertain future. The Rockets will support him as he weighs his options over the next couple of weeks (surgery is likely) and will provide him with everything he needs as he begins his recovery. But Yao will be a free agent on July 1. Despite his injury history Houston wants to help him see this through, which is why Morey says the team hasn’t ruled out giving Yao an extension into next season. Even if Yao is not under contract, Morey says the team will do what it can to assist in his rehabilitation.

“We see him as being different than a normal player,” Morey said. “He is an essential part of the Rockets. Whenever he’s done [playing], we want him to be involved with the team as long as he will have us. And if you look at our team, our biggest need is someone in the middle. We hope Yao will be an option there for us.”

A bigger problem could be a lockout, something many team executives view as an inevitability. The league prohibits players from using team facilities during a work stoppage, which puts the pressure on Yao and his agent, Bill Duffy, to enlist top-shelf medical treatment.

There is a lot of work to be done in Houston, whether Yao is part of the team or not. The championship window is closed and it will take some creativity to pry it open again. The decisions the Rockets make the rest of this season will have a measurable impact on the direction this team goes in the future.

“I have no idea,” Carter answered, when asked how long he might be out. “I will say this: the swelling that I had when I first got here in the knee, and the first day they worked on me from this morning, it’s gone down significantly. Once you get the swelling out, that’s how you heal — not that I’m a medical specialist, but I ask questions and I’ve learned over the years that’s what happens.

“I feel better today than I did yesterday — a lot better. I’m able to do more and now it’s just all about building the strength back up, and you know going back out there. You always have to prove that you can go. I’m okay with that.”

As recently as Tuesday, there was speculation that the knee might require arthroscopic surgery, which would have kept Carter out of action for a minimum of four weeks. He was predictably relieved when doctors decided that they would be able to treat the injury another way.

“I’m not a surgery guy,” Carter said. “I never want to get that, ‘Oh yeah, you’ll be out, what, I guess four weeks’ or something? That’s all well and good but you never want to go under the knife. It’s just the rehab and everything you’ve got to go through to get back is so frustrating. And particularly when you’re on a new team, I want to get out there and play. Luckily, I don’t have to worry about that.”

*The father of former Huntington high basketball star and current NBA player O.J. Mayo is in jail — again. *

Huntington police arrested Kenneth Ziegler early Thursday morning after a brief chase. Chief Skip Holbrook said Ziegler was observed in a vehicle in the 2200 Block of 10th Avenue.

When confronted by officers, the driver allegedly put the car in gear and drove off, dragging the officer several feet.

Spike strips stopped the vehicle near Hal Greer Boulevard and Charleston Avenue.

Ziegler was charged with attempted murder, possession, obstructing and fleeing in a vehicle and on foot. He also had outstanding warrants for his arrest.

See you all tomorrow!* *