Truth & Rumors > NBA

06:29 PM ET 05.19 | The New York Knicks are out of the NBA Playoffs and the team now has more than a few questions to answer about where the club will be when the season tips off in 2013. One of those question marks surrounds Sixth Man of the Year J.R. Smith and his plans for the future. He was teetering on the brink but after the Game 6 loss to the Pacers, there is likely nothing that will stop Smith from testing free agent waters this summer. All the way back in late April, sources told Moke Hamilton that Smith is "very, very likely" to decline his player option with the Knicks and see what he's worth to other teams in free agency. Should Smith sign with another team, it would mark the second straight year that the Sixth Man of the Year started the following season in a new uniform, and the Knicks won't be as in control of the situation as Oklahoma City was with James Harden.

Fansided

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06:29 PM ET 05.19 | The series will come down to one thing: can the Pacers take LeBron James out of the series? If the Pacers contain James and neutralize him, then they match up incredibly well against the Heat. Miami has struggled inside all season and the Pacers present a beefy, physical gameplan when it comes to whose bigs can out-rebound the other teams. Amazingly enough, with the Big 3 in town, the Heat have gotten by with a small-ball mentality and so far it's worked. But the Pacers aren't built like the Chicago Bulls or Milwaukee Bucks and can beat up the Heat all over the court with guys like Roy Hibbert and David West. But Paul George will be the biggest name to watch in the series as he'll be drawing heavy minutes defending LeBron James and working on making him as little a factor as possible.

Fansided

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11:25 AM ET 05.19 | Suppose the Cavs end up with the No. 3 pick. They could offer their entire draft (all four picks) for No. 1, and that team could still draft someone such as Otto Porter at No. 3. Nerlens Noel is ideal for the Cavs, a team on a mission to improve its defense. He blocks shots, 4.4 per game. He can rebound, 9.5 per game. He influences the game defensively with a 7-4 wing span. What did the Cavs talk about all season? Improving the defense. Add Noel into the middle of the lane and suddenly there is help for Kyrie Irving and Dion Waiters, who both have trouble on defense. Some of those layups the Cavs yielded a year ago will be blocked or missed at the rim. Noel would instantly transform the defense, and he's worth the wait for his knee to heal.

Cleveland Plain Dealer

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11:10 AM ET 05.19 | During the NBA playoffs, Nate Robinson took his game to new heights -- from his heroics in a historic triple-overtime win over Brooklyn and vomiting on the sideline while playing with the flu, to his clutch performance in the Bulls' Game 1 win over the Heat and getting his own postseason "BIG" commercial -- and cemented his status as much more than a novelty act. In the wake of the Bulls' Eastern Conference semifinals loss in Miami, Robinson's tireless approach to the game was evident: "I'm not tired at all, but I wish we could have had another game. It sucks, but it's basketball. Go back to the summer and prepare yourself for next season." However, with Rose's expected return next season, Hinrich having another deal on his contract and rookie point guard Marquis Teague needing at least the opportunity to develop in game situations, it's unlikely that next season will be in Chicago for the instant-offense scorer and fan favorite.

CSN Chicago

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09:49 AM ET 05.19 | After being benched for the second half for the second straight playoff game, Amar'e Stoudemire is confused with his role with the Knicks going forward. His injury-wracked season never included a single start and ended with coach Mike Woodson not trusting the $100 million man after the first two quarters. When asked if next season he should come back as a starter alongside Carmelo Anthony, Stoudemire made his loudest statement. "We didn't give it a chance," Stoudemire said after the Knicks' season ended in heartbreak in a 106-99 loss to the Pacers in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference semifinals. "We need to understand exactly what my style of play is and what I bring to the table. It's something I have to sit down with Coach Woody and express to him."

New York Post

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