Rutgers lands ex-Georgetown player Greg Whittington

If you ask me Rutgers coach Eddie Jordan will need all the help he can get as he navigates the Scarlet Knights into the Big Ten next season.

While Jordan has done respectable on the recruiting trail he's going to need to lure some upper echelon talent to compete with the Ohio State's, Wisconsin's, and Indiana's of the world. Today Jordan landed a high major talent that can help his program.

Ex-Georgetown Hoya Greg Whittington announced that he would be transferring to Rutgers.

Whittington was dismissed from the Georgetown program over the Thanksgiving weekend. Last season Whittington missed the final 13 games of the season due to academic trouble. During the summer he tore his ACL and had no return scheduled.

Whittington had been recruited by Memphis, Nebraska, South Carolina and Oregon as he was a highly sought after transefer. If he is healthy, he can be an impact player for the Scarlet Knights.  He averaged 12.1 points and 7.0 rebounds during the 2012-2013 season.

Rockets might have "deal in place" for Omer Asik

When the Houston Rockets signed Dwight Howard I'm pretty sure Rockets coach Kevin McHale envisioned a twin towers lineup when he wanted to play big.

It was only a dream because Omer Asik begged to be traded and general manager Daryl Morey has been trying to find a place for him ever since.

Morey has taken his time to find the right deal and now it seems like the might have one in place.

USA Today's Sam Amick has reported that there may be a trade on the horizon involving the Philadelphia 76ers and the Rockets that could go down by next Thursday.

Asik might be the player involved on the Houston side but the speculation on the Philly side might be that Thaddeus Young or Spencer Hawes could be moved to Houston. Amick says that Morey is holding off on pulling the trigger to see if he can get a better.

Right now this is just all speculation but where there's smoke, there's fire and Morey is never afraid to deal if he can find a good partner.

Los Angeles Lakers show interest in Knicks' Iman Shumpert, Tyson Chandler

With Pau Gasol struggling again and their backcourt hit by the injury bug, the Los Angeles Lakers have reportedly called the New York Knicks about possible reinforcements.

ESPN's Chris Broussard reported that the Lakers have inquired about Knicks guard Iman Shumpert and center Tyson Chandler.

Shumpert has been getting the cold shoulder from the Knicks after enjoying a solid season last year. With the Lakers short on point guards and Kobe Bryant playing with the ball in his hands a little more, the Lakers are looking to Shumpert to help hold the fort until Jordan Farmar, Steve Blake, or Steve Nash comes back.  

The Denver Nuggets and Tornto raptors have also been discussed as possible trade partners for Shumpert.

As far as Chandler goes, the Knicks say they aren't willing to move him but anything is possible, especially of they find a sweetheart of a deal. Why the Lakers would want to take on Chandler's contract and his health concerns are beyond me, unless they would take on Gasol.

Report: Kyle Shanahan to leave Redskins, split from his dad

It's always a a nice, warm story when a father and son team up as coaches and try to make it to the mountaintop. That's how some might have thought when Kyle Shanahan became the offensive coordinator for the Washington Redskins and join his dad Mike on the sidelines.

Apparently the arrangement will be coming to an end.

The NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported that Shanahan has “decided it is no longer worth it to work with his father” and will attempt to blaze his own trail after four years with the Redskins.Shanahan spent two seasons as offensive coordinator of the Houston Texans before joining the Redskins in 2010.

This latest look into Washington’s implosion came shortly after CBS’ Jason La Canfora reported that many within the organization actually pin much of the blame for this 3-10 season on Kyle Shanahan’s relationships with Mike Shanahan and Robert Griffin III.

Conversations with several people within the organization have revealed a similar perception of Kyle Shanahan as someone who was empowered and enabled by his father, spending an abundance of time in his father's office, given a wide swath of power, and rubbing many people -- players, fellow coaches and members of football operations -- the wrong way. At the same time, Kyle Shanahan has been the most heavily rewarded of the team's assistant coaches, as team sources said the two-year extension Shanahan earned following the playoff run in 2012 will pay him $1.5M in 2014 alone. That's money he's almost certain to collect away from the team, with this regime widely expected to be fired after this season.

“Kyle is the head coach, it's just that no one knows he is,” said one member of the organization. “He gets whatever he wants. And he has no relationship at all with (quarterback Robert Griffin II). So how could it work?”

Although this is a surprise, Kyle wasn't pleased when starting quarterback, Robert Griffin III, was shutdown for the last three games of the season in favor of Kirk Cousins.

Kyle had a decent run in Houston so it's possible that he could co elsewhere and succeed, but he'll have to do it without any of his father's connections (Gary Kubiak in Houston).

Rays' Tim Beckham to miss most of 2014 season with as torn ACL

Tampa Bay Rays infielder Tim Beckham will miss a significant portion of the 2014 season after tearing the ACL in his right knee, the Times has learned.

Beckham, the top pick in the 2008 draft, made his major-league debut in September, and has earned praise from manager Joe Maddon.

Though Beckham, 23, would have been a longshot to make the opening day roster, he was likely to see action during the season if the Rays needed depth or had an injury to a middle infielder.

Beckham was promoted after a solid season at Triple-A Durham, hitting .276 with four homers, 51 RBIs and a .342 on-base percentage. He was chosen by the Rays ahead of Pedro Alvarez, Eric Hosmer and Buster Posey, among other present-day major-league stars.

The knee injury is the latest setback in Beckham's career, as he has progress has been slowed by inconsistent play and a drug-related suspension. Beckham was believed to have been hurt working out, but no details were available.

Hak-Ju Lee, the Rays other top middle infield prospect, is recovering well from knee surgery after being injured last season, but his status for the start of the 2014 season is uncertain.

Former North Carolina basketball player Will Graves, faces drug charges after drugs found in house rented from Roy Williams

Former UNC basketball player Will Graves is facing drug charges in Chapel Hill after an arrest at a property owned by UNC basketball coach Roy Williams.

According to an arrest report, Graves was charged with one count of possession of marijuana and one count of drug paraphernalia.

Police say Graves consented to a search of the home on Pinehurst Drive on Dec. 6. Officers found marijuana and drug paraphernalia in the home including marijuana "seeds," "three blunts," and "two burnt blunts," according to the police report.

A UNC spokesperson says Will Graves was finishing his degree at UNC and working as a part-time video coordinator for the basketball team this semester.

UNC says Coach Williams rented the house to Graves, and Graves paid for it.

Roy Williams is aware of the arrest and is "disappointed about it", according to UNC.  Graves has been in trouble before, being kicked off the team in 2010 for violating team rules.

Omar Infante signs four year deal with the Kansas City Royals

Omar Infante is officially once again an ex-Detroit Tiger. The second baseman reportedly will sign with the AL Central rival Kansas City Royals.

Reports say the contract is for four years and around $30 million.

The Tigers went in a different direction at second base when they traded first baseman Prince Fielder to the Texas Rangers for Ian Kinsler.

The New York Yankees were thought to be the leader for Infante's services and reportedly offered three years for $24 million but Infante wanted four years, so he signed with Kansas City instead. It's a good pickup for Kansas City as they filled their hole at second base for good value.

Infante batted  .318 with 10 home runs, 51 RBIs and a .795 OPS in 118 games for the Tigers in 2013. Infante has a .279 career average and a .721 career OPS.

Even though he won't be a Tiger, they'll see a lot of him within the division.