J.R. Smith weighing options

Free-agent Swingman JR Smith is currently showing on her Twitter page and New York Knicks, Los Angeles Clippers, Los Angeles Lakers and Orlando Magic, Chicago Bulls and Indiana Pacers as the teams he is considering.

But the Knicks and Clippers seem to be the front runners to sign him, according to the source familiar with negotiations.

Clippers coach Vinny Del Negro said Wednesday that he has spoken with Smith recently and the conversation went "very, very good."

The Knicks are still the presumed favorites to sign Smith, because they can offer him a pro-rated portion of their $ 2.5 million mini-midlevel manager exception and a player option for another year. The New York Daily News reported Thursday that the two sides closer to an agreement. Smith's agent, Leon Rose, met with Madison Square Garden chairman James Dolan after Wednesday's Knicks game, the newspaper reported.

The Clippers, meanwhile, can offer Smith only has the veteran minimum for the rest of this season.

While Smith would probably do far more than $ 2.5 million, an unrestricted free agent this summer, security in the player option for next season will be an important factor in his decision, according to a source.

Smith had to fly back to U.S. from China late Wednesday evening. He had expected to make a decision on Tuesday, according to two league sources, but has yet to choose.

Each day that passes is lost money to Smith. New York's $ 2.5 million mid-level exception will be pro-rated for each game missed after 10 February. All other contracts are pro-rated from the beginning of the season, which means that the gap between what the Knicks can offer, and a pro-rated veteran minimum will actually narrow as time passes.

Of course, each day that passes another day new suitors may arise or a team like Indiana - which currently has the most salary cap space in the league - could skip the line and offer more than the Knicks.

Clippers point guard Chris Paul has been actively recruiting Smith, who he played with the Hornets for two seasons.

"I think our chances are very high," Paul told ESPN.com 's Marc Stein earlier this week. "Who knows J.R. better than me?

"Also, he knows he will have the opportunity to play here," said Paul. "He can only make us better."

Paul believes that the presence of three of Smith's former teammates at the conn Clippers roster and the minutes and shots opened the season ending Achilles injury of Chauncey Billups will be strong lures.

Paul - having regard to Kenyon Martin and Billups, who both played with Smith in Denver - told Stein he attributes his optimism to "my relationship with JR, Kenyon relationship with him and Chauncey relationship with him."

The Clippers were interested in Smith even before Billups' injury last week, believing that they could use more offensive firepower off the bench. But it would be a harder sell with the Knicks so desperate for shooters to play along with Carmelo Anthony, Amare Stoudemire and the rapidly growing Jeremy Lin.

Without Billups, but LA is suddenly offering a greater role, which could offset the Knicks financial edge. The choice will be able to get down to where Smith believes he has the best chance to prove to the rest of the season after signing in China during the lockout.

The challenge for the Clippers is that Smith also is being recruited hard by Anthony, another former Nuggets teammate, who, like Smith and Paul, represented by Rose. Smith has been a legend about his intentions, often respond to fans of the Knicks, Lakers and Clippers heat via his Twitter feed in the days leading up to the end of his Chinese season on Wednesday.

On Tuesday he tweeted that he had a good conversation with Lakers coach Mike Brown.

Is Jeremy Lin A Relief for Lamar Odom and Khloe Kardashian?

As Tim Tebow and his Tebowmania, Jeremy Lin and has absorbed the improbable, the attention of NBA fans, Lamar Odom and Khloe Kardashian as lightning rods former stardom rise from obscurity was grateful.

Lin has New York Knicks fans seeing shades of Tim Tebow and playoffs

Harvard Chinese-American children far more than winning basketball games. NBA to bring the audience with his story and his selfless play. His ethnic background has drawn interest in the Far East, long since retired, who died after Yao Ming. Together, Buffalo Bills quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick is turned on in the normal academic Ivy League university, a hotbed of hidden athletic talent. However, the most important to him, the four-game winning streak and an opportunity for the playoffs is eyeing the New York Knicks. His source of inspiration? Sleep on couches and a big chip on his shoulder, as well as Jeremy Lin Tim Tebow passed to overcome the long odds, NFL and build trust with people outside the game led him to play hard and unselfish. After saying this right, a young Los Angeles Lakers with 38 points. To the extent possible, it is pure guess-work, at this point, but people forget that a contribution will be deflecting attention away, for those who need a break.

Odom and Khloe can focus on Dallas Mavericks while Kris Humphries preps

Lamar Odom, ultimately, less successful than someone who is not in the tabloids called on Kobe Bryant. Khloe Kardashian Together with his wife, two-time NBA champion and reigning Sixth Man of the Year, finally, in the rest of his tumultuous life, and the Dallas Mavericks to repeat as champions to accumulate. Although his numbers have not quite caught up yet, as teammates Dirk Nowitzki and Jason Terry believes Odom has improved significantly since joining the Mavericks, and December 10. Its unique versatility is the key to their success, they believe that once the playoffs begin. The media, about the lack of production bashings, Khloe and Lamar has lost the show settled down, and helped Dallas 16-11 record and the Western Conference playoffs today, the fourth seed slow start to recover. This situation will continue, there is no reason in today's champions can not defend their crown, in May and June will be considered. Meanwhile, Linsanity, will continue to be hogging the headlines, the former brother-law, Kris Humphries return to Madison Square Garden in New York preparing for the competition as expectations build.

Jeremy Lin has not won anything much. The competition is good in a game against some okay. However, its power to influence the New York Knicks, NBA and extension. Tim Tebow, as was the leadership and team-first mentality. To capture the imaginations of sports fans, Lamar Odom and Khloe Kardashian are grateful for the later time period used as the focus.