NBA Rumors and News Roundup: Pierce Passes Bird, Kobe Denies Howard Talk, More

Paul Pierce moved into a new place in Boston Celtics history on Tuesday night, and it's incredible just how little he's talked about despite the success he's enjoyed over the course of his career.

Kobe Bryant offered an interesting response to the swirling Dwight Howard trade rumors, and there is no question that the Lakers are exploring all options in how to improve the current roster.

The injuries continue to take a toll on players and teams in the shortened season, and whatever team stays healthiest may have a sizable advantage when the playoffs roll around.

Paul Pierce

The captain of his team, Pierce is one of those rare players who has spent his entire career with the same city written across his chest.

The Truth passed Larry Bird on the Celtics' all-time scoring list for second, and now trails only John Havlicek in franchise history.

Pierce's career has flown under the radar for some, but he is a truly great player and there aren't many of his kind still around in today's NBA.

Chauncey Billups

Billups is out for the season with a torn Achilles, and it's just an awful way for the veteran's campaign with the Clippers to end considering everything he went through during the offseason.

However, by no means is this the end of Billups' career.

He's been a warrior throughout his playing days, and Billups assured everybody that he plans to play next season no matter what the rehab process is like in his road to recovery.

Al Horford

Horford has been out for the Hawks since he tore his pectoral muscle, and it's not looking like the big man will be back any earlier than anyone expected.

The big man wrote on his Twitter account that he hasn't even begun his rehab yet, and he's continuing his prescribed treatment of rest at this time.

It would be a shock to see Horford on the court before April, and even that may be a stretch considering how fluid his timetable can be this far out.

Eric Gordon

Gordon's first season for the Hornets has been, in a word, disappointing.

The prized possession from the Chris Paul trade has played in just two games for New Orleans this season, and his troublesome knee has prevented him from showcasing just how much skill he has on the court.

Coach Monty Williams revealed that Gordon is still at least one week away from participating in strenuous workouts, so Hornets fans will have to continue to play the waiting game with the shooting guard.

Pau Gasol

Gasol's name has cropped up in a litany of trade rumors since the failed Chris Paul trade, but the most recent one might be the most interesting to date.

The Celtics reportedly like Pau Gasol, and as hard as it might be to imagine him in the green, he fits a monumental need for the Celtics down low.

A framework of Rajon Rondo for Gasol is wild, but it's a hypothetical move that could very well benefit both teams going forward.

It's worth noting that Gasol and Paul Pierce's contract expire in the same season, and Danny Ainge is exploring routes to keep his captain's championship window open.

Dwight Howard

There have been multiple reports that Howard soured on a future in Los Angeles with Kobe Bryant after a phone call with Bryant made it clear that No. 12 would not be the primary option in the offense.

It's difficult to separate fact from myth when information is being leaked by a number of parties to the media, but Bryant offered a rather blunt response when prompted for one on the rumor that he had "blown it" with Howard.

Not only did Bryant deny that it ever happened, but he called the entire scenario "kiddy drama spit" before labeling it as untrue.

Kobe Bryant

Remember when Kobe Bryant almost left the Lakers? That's not something anyone should be thinking about anymore.

In a sitdown interview with Stephen A. Smith on SportsCenter, Bryant assured that he had no interest in ever donning a different uniform than the one he's sported his entire career.

Bryant wants to win at least one more championship ring to tie Michael Jordan, but almost everyone knows that he would like to surpass His Airness on the list.