Iman Shumpert Withdraws from Dunk Contest; Jeremy Lin Tribute Dunk Canceled

Knicks guard Iman Shumpert has withdrawn from this weekend's All-Star dunk contest due to an injury. He has missed the Knicks' last two games due to patellar tendinitis in his right knee.

Shumpert had planned to pay tribute to his teammate Jeremy Lin during the contest by leaping over a couch. Lin famously slept on Landry Fields' couch the night before his first big game with the Knicks back on February 4.

Utah Jazz forward Jeremy Evans will replace Shumpert in what is easily the most anonymous dunk contest field in recent memory. The other competitors are Houston forward Chase Budinger, Indiana's Paul George and Minnesota's Derrick Williams.

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Training Camps Postponed, Preseason Games Canceled, NBA Lockout Going Strong

NBA training camps have been "postponed indefinitely" and the first week of the preseason schedule has been cancelled due to the ongoing NBA lockout, the league announced today.

We have regretfully reached the point on the calendar where we are not able to open training camps on time and need to cancel the first week of preseason games," said NBA Deputy Commissioner Adam Silver. "We will make further decisions as warranted.

This doesn't necessarily mean we won't have a complete 82-game season this winter. Opinions on the matter vary, but the general consensus seems to be that a full season is possible so long as the sides come to an agreement before mid-October. The regular season is slated to begin on November 1.

So far, only meaningless preseason games have been canceled - but that doesn't mean today's announcement is insignificant. As Bleacher Report's Moke Hamilton points out, the preseason is when NBA players start collecting their 2011-12 salaries. Knocking roughly three games per team off the schedule represents a total savings of about $50 million.

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