Nets GM Billy King is willing to make a deal to bring in help following the center's injury, but is in no rush to do so, ESPNNewYork.com reports.

"If there's a deal out there that we feel is going to make us a better team, we'll do it regardless of tax or the future, but we're not going to panic and do a move just to make a move because we feel we have to," King said Sunday. "I still believe in this group. Brook's a big part of it, but we do have other guys, that's why we have depth."

The Nets are applying to the NBA for a disabled player exception, which would help the team acquire one player from free agency or trade to replace Lopez, according to the report.

"Every team that has a big guy on the sideline calls to offer their services, but we had been in discussions with a lot of teams up to this point," King said. "There's not an imminent move, we're not looking to make any imminent move trade-wise. We've got 14 other guys that can step up, but we'll continue to discuss possibilities if it can make our team better."

Lopez was averaging a career-high 20.7 points and 6.0 rebounds per game this season, and the Nets (9-17) are 2-7 without him.

But despite a season of injuries and disappointing play given their preseason expectations, the Nets are just a couple games out of first place the Atlantic Division.

"It's crazy," King said. "You can keep saying you're only two games back and keep being two games back and at the end of the year finish two games back. We need to start playing better."


ROCKETS' BEVERLEY OUT 4-6 WEEKS


Patrick Beverley was just getting comfortable as the Rockets' starting point guard.

But the 25-year-old Arkansas product fractured his right hand during Houston's 114-97 win over the Pistons on Saturday. He'll be out 4-6 weeks, Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle reports.

“I went for a low strip and my hand went back,” Beverley told the Chronicle. “I kept playing with it. It still doesn’t feel like it’s broken. I still feel like I could finish the game. It’ll be four to six (weeks). I’m going to work on my left hand now.”

Losing Beverley will hurt the Rockets mostly on defense, as guard James Harden handles most of the team's ball control on offense, anyway.

Jeremy Lin, who's recovering from a knee sprain, hopes to make it back in a timely manner to fill the void at point guard.

“Hopefully, I’ll be back Monday if there are no setbacks,” Lin told the Chronicle. “Just to get back in shape after having to sit, not do anything for a while, not even really being able to sit, let alone jog or run, it’s good to sweat again and get your body going.”

If Lin can't go the Rockets will turn to Aaron Brooks, who came in to spell Beverley against the Pistons and recorded seven assists in the win.

"I thought Aaron had a good game," coach Kevin McHale said after the game. "We are not going to have Patrick for a while, which means that Jeremy is due to come back.

"We just have to go out there and play. It does not matter how many guys we have. It does not matter who is playing or who is not playing. We just have to go there and play together and play with some toughness. Toughness and togetherness overcomes a lot of stuff."

Lin, who averages 14.3 points and 4.2 assists this season, is the best replacement option for the Rockets — especially considering his size and athleticism. But Brooks, who averages seven points and 2.1 assists per game this year, is a solid stand-in.


WADE ENGAGED 


Dwyane Wade enlisted some help with his proposal to Gabrielle Union.

The three boys that the Miami Heat guard is raising, his two sons and a nephew, all were part of the engagement surprise, Wade said Sunday when he spoke out about the big news for the first time.

— His youngest son Zion held a sign with her name.

— His nephew Dahveon Morris' sign said "Will you."

— And his oldest son Zaire's sign read "marry us?"

Bewildered, Union turned to Wade and saw him on bended knee, then realized what was happening. An 8½-carat cushion cut diamond sealed the deal, and with that, Wade was an engaged man again.

"I planned it," Wade said. "No concrete for my knee. I planned it very well."

Wade told The Associated Press that no date for the wedding has been set, but expects it to occur in September 2014. He also said he's been working on finding the right ring since October, around the time that the Heat returned from training camp in the Bahamas.

He met with his jeweler several times in the last three months just to make sure everything was right.

"I kind of know my lady," Wade said. "I know she's simple, but at the same time, I just wanted the rock to kind of speak for itself and not do too much with the diamonds. I think it's a simple ring, but it's nice. It was nicely done ... it's timeless."

The proposal came Saturday afternoon inside the house that the couple has been building for months. It wasn't exactly a surprise for either — Union has been considered part of the family for some time, but the timing of the actual proposal caught the 41-year-old star of films such as "Bring It On" and "Think Like A Man," along with the BET series "Being Mary Jane," decidedly off-guard.

"Just a regular Saturday," Wade said. "My kids were involved in it. We asked her to marry all of us, not just me. We're a package deal, so it was cool."

On Sunday, Union wrote on Twitter that she was still "floatin" over the big news.

"I was truly caught off guard but happy nonetheless," Union wrote.

Some teammates were also surprised by the news, which became public Saturday night when the couple turned to Twitter, Instagram and Facebook to make the announcements. Wade and Union showed off the ring at a team Christmas party a few hours after the proposal, and fellow Heat star LeBron James said he knew for a while that the big day was coming.

"It took a lot for him to do it," said James, a four-time NBA MVP and a longtime friend of Wade's. "But I think Gab is perfect for him. I think D-Wade is perfect for Gab. For them to be at one now and for their whole family to come together, man, I think it's amazing. It's another step for him. I thought it was pretty cool. I'm all for it. I'm happy for them."

Wade said Union didn't hesitate in saying yes, though his kids were concerned that she would turn them down. It will be the second marriage for Wade and Union, who have been dating for several years.

"Terrific news about Dwyane and Gabby," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. "It was a special night."

Contributors: Tadd Haislop, The Associated Press