NBA Rumors and News Roundup: Nets Still Pursuing OJ Mayo and Dwyane Wade Injury

The New Jersey Nets will explore the trade market thoroughly and be in the middle of a lot of rumors this season in an effort to get Deron Williams to sign a long-term extension with the team.

With injuries hitting players at a fast and furious pace, several teams are having to find ways to win games with its best player(s) at far less than 100 percent.

Adjusting on the fly is necessary to enjoy sustained success this season, and there is a myriad of big name players in the headlines as we enter the fourth week of the campaign.

Baron Davis

Some were expecting a much quicker return to action for Davis when the Knicks initially signed him and there was a belief that the extent of his injury was fabricated.

Unfortunately for those subscribing to that theory, it was a bunch of foolishness, and Davis has stuck to the timetable initially given to him by doctors.

Inching closer to a return, Davis could join Knicks practice as soon as this week, and the earliest we'll likely see him is at the end of January.

Zach Randolph

Randolph's absence in the Memphis lineup has left the team scrambling to fill his role, and the Grizzlies will be without him for at least another month.

He's got another four to six weeks in rehab ahead of him, and that means Z-Bo could be sidelined well into February.

The forward will have to get back into game shape when he does return, but he should be back well before the playoff push begins.

Chris Paul

Paul left the Clippers win over the Lakers with a hamstring injury, and he sat out crucial minutes in crunch time as a result.

An MRI on the area was "negative for any significant findings," but he's considered questionable to play in Monday's game.

Considering the Clippers signed Courtney Fortson out of the D-League as insurance, it wouldn't be a surprise to see Paul miss at least one game as to avoid further aggravation.

Pau Gasol

Gasol has been playing really well for the Lakers this season despite not getting much attention.

Averaging 16.4 points, 9.7 rebounds and 1.4 blocks, Gasol has been limited in what he can do on the court due to a shoulder sprain he sustained earlier in the year.

He acknowledged that the injury still bugs him, but he'll continue to play through it and hope that it heals as time moves forward.

Carmelo Anthony

Anthony is dealing with all sorts of injuries early this season, but his sprained ankle was the first time he was forced to miss an entire game.

After sitting out Saturday's loss to the Thunder, Anthony is hoping to play in Monday's game, and word is out that he has been cleared to do exactly that.

Given that the offense has flowed directly and entirely through Anthony throughout the season, any more time he would've missed could have been detrimental to his team.

Serge Ibaka

Ibaka has been a serious disappointment this season for those hoping to see some serious strides from him, and he's looked lost in Scott Brooks' rotation.

Darnell Mayberry believes that Ibaka has become a defensive liability at times and his offense can be non-existent. Those are sharp words coming from Mayberry considering he watches every game with a rather astute eye.

The numbers support the notion that Ibaka is struggling, and he's just not making the progress he needs to right now in order to garner more playing time.

O.J. Mayo

Mayo is once again the subject of trade rumors, and the Nets seemingly are fixated on the idea of finding a way to acquire him.

After the combination of Anthony Morrow and a draft pick was discussed last week, New Jersey is now offering either Morrow or Jordan Farmar along with the pick to acquire Mayo.

The Grizzlies haven't talked contract extension with the restricted free agent and appear unlikely to do so, but Memphis should be able to find a more attractive offer than either of the two scenarios above.

Andray Blatche

Blatche is hurting with his severely sprained shoulder, and it comes at a terrible time for a Wizards team that is struggling to find any kind of identity on the court.

A shoulder specialist told Blatche of the extent of his injury, and there is currently no timetable for his return to action.

With how badly Washington needs every source of offensive production possible on the court, an extended absence could be a devastating blow to an already miserable start to the season.

Lamar Odom

Odom had an extraordinarily difficult time coping with the Lakers trading him off the roster. Nevertheless, given everything that has happened to him in his personal life, the trade may have been a jumping off point for all of his emotions to pour out.

He was "real close" to taking a sabbatical from the NBA this season, but his wife Khloe Kardashian reportedly convinced him to stick with it.

With the Mavericks and Lakers batting it out on Monday, Odom will certainly walk into the Staples Center as a visitor with a lot going through him.

Stephen Curry

Curry's chronic ankle concerns have become the subject of conversation among Warriors fans, but a bit of good news is on the horizon.

He's getting very close to returning to the lineup, and he said that he's "really close to 100 %" over the weekend after going through a shootaround.

There is no question that the Warriors need Curry back in the lineup as soon as possible, and hopefully he can remain on the court for an extended period without limping off with yet another sprain.

Paul Pierce

Pierce has struggled immensely since returning to the Celtics lineup, and perhaps his shooting woes can be linked to the mysterious heel injury which kept him out of action through the first three games of the year.

He admitted that he's playing at less than full strength and that the heel isn't where he'd like it to be in terms of progression, but it's tough to imagine him taking any time off with his team struggling.

The Celtics really look old early this season, and there are very real concerns in and around Boston that this roster needs to undergo some serious alterations.

Kobe Bryant

Bryant is averaging a ridiculous 32.0 points per game, the second-highest mark of his career and the most prolific output since the 2005-06 season.

With all of the attention that his torn ligament has received, Bryant revealed that the injury is improving and that his wrist is getting stronger.

The more focal point of concern here is that Bryant's knee doesn't look anything like it has in previous seasons. The offseason treatment he received in order to strengthen it looks like the real deal.

Dwyane Wade

Wade has never played in a full slate of games during his career, and the shortened season will be no different in that regard.

After sustaining a really nasty ankle sprain, Wade was lifting weights on Sunday but was unable to do much else, and Erik Spoelstra refused to put a timetable on his recovery.

Miami will be extremely careful in handling his return. There will be every preventative measure taken to ensure it doesn't become a long-term concern.