NBA Rumors and News Roundup: Dirk Hurt, Baron Davis Nearing Knicks Debut, More

Carmelo Anthony, Amar'e Stoudemire and the New York Knicks are a dysfunctional team right now, but the club is hoping that Baron Davis' presence on the floor will help to right the ship.

The injuries continue to pile up in a shortened season, and several key contributors around the league have been sent to the sidelines despite no team playing more than 20 games to date.

The Los Angeles Lakers and Boston Celtics have questions waiting to be answered, while the Atlanta Hawks and Memphis Grizzlies are thriving despite not having Al Horford and Zach Randolph out on the floor.

Rodney Stuckey

Stuckey has been dealing with a groin injury over the last couple of weeks, and he acknowledged that it's unlikely to heal at any point in the near future.

After a 28-point outburst led to a surprising win against the Trail Blazers, Stuckey said that his groin will likely be an issue for the duration of the season.

We could very well see Stuckey sit out some games as a precaution given the condensed schedule, and groin injuries tend to linger for a lot longer than anyone would like.

Ray Allen

Allen left Sunday's game against the Wizards with a "jammed" ankle and did not return, but it doesn't appear as if the veteran considers the injury of serious nature.

He'll try to play on Monday night against Dwight Howard and the Magic, and there is no 36-year-old in the game who keeps himself in better condition than Allen.

It definitely wouldn't be shocking to see him sit out as a precaution and give his ankle a night off, but Allen takes pride in being a model of consistency and will do everything possible to ensure he's on the floor.

Kirk Hinrich

Hinrich has been out of the lineup for the entire season as he recovers from offseason shoulder surgery, but his return to the rotation is imminent.

He's hopeful to come back at some point in the next handful of games, and the Hawks could certainly use him as the first guard off the bench capable of playing either position in the backcourt.

With Al Horford sidelined, Hinrich can make his presence felt in the second unit with his ability to facilitate the offense as well as his scoring touch from beyond the arc.

Josh Harrellson

There were some serious eyebrows raised when the Knicks burned a second-round pick on Harrellson this season, but he's established himself firmly in Mike D'Antoni's rotation.

Unfortunately for a reeling Knicks team, "Jorts" fractured his wrist and will be sidelined for approximately six weeks as a result.

New York might need Steve Novak to play a lot more now that Harrellson is injured, and that doesn't exactly inspire confidence for many fans who are already on the edge of their seat.

D.J. Augustin

Augustin has been playing extremely well for the Bobcats this season, but he's another player who has suffered an injury that might hamper him for a little while.

He's going to be out at least three days with a crack in between the two bones of his right big toe, and how much time he ultimately misses will depend on how the area responds to an injection designed to seal the crack.

If Augustin is forced to miss a significant chunk of time, the Kemba Walker show will be in full effect as the Bobcats have no reason to hold back the youth at this point.

Rajon Rondo

Rondo's wrist has been the subject of chatter among Boston fans since he hit the court and was seemingly in a great deal of pain.

However, the injury is not a serious one, and Doc Rivers said that the point guard is "close to returning" to the court.

It'd be a serious surprise if Rondo wound up missing any more time than he absolutely had to, as the kid is a warrior on the floor and his work ethic doesn't get praised often enough.

Dirk Nowitzki

Nowitzki has been struggling with his shot for the Mavericks this season, and it sounds like he's got some regret about how he spent his offseason.

Dallas announced that he'd sit for four consecutive games  in order to work on his conditioning and strengthen his knee, and the club has to be hopeful this doesn't turn into a long-term concern.

Unlike any other power forward in the game, Nowitzki's consistency has been a staple of his attack since he came into the league, and there is no reason to think that this year will be any different.

Baron Davis

The Knicks need a point guard desperately to improve ball movement, but is Davis the answer which will solve New York's woes?

The team is hopeful that Davis will be cleared to practice on Monday and make his debut on Saturday, and that would put his debut for the Knicks exactly where we thought it would always come.

It'll be interesting to see what kind of impact Davis has on the lineup, but the Knicks have a lot of work to do before anyone will say the troubles are firmly in the rear view mirror.