Both California guys, Barnes knows Pierce’s game well. And while some of Pierce’s antics annoy Barnes, he couldn’t deny Pierce’s effectiveness. “My third foul in the third quarter, when I tried to beat him over the screen, he fell down like I threw him,” Barnes said. “It was ridiculous. But the refs called it, so it was a good play. It was a flop, 100 percent. But if the refs call it, it’s effective.” Orlando Sentinel Blog
Word out of Chicago and the predraft camp is that the Atlanta Hawks may be close to hiring Mavericks' assistant Dwane Casey. No deal is done, but the Hawks and Casey met again in Chicago and signs are pointing toward the former Minnesota head coach being the leading candidate for the Hawks. - Dallas Morning News Blog
I'm at the NBA's draft combine in Chicago, and I hear the Bobcats are at least subtly investigating what it would cost to trade in -- maybe late into the first round, but more realistically into the second. If they do acquire a pick -- and it's not that hard to trade into the second round -- a name to keep in mind is Alabama point guard Mikhail Torrance. Torrance said at a media session today that he's scheduled for a job interview here with Bobcats management. - Charlotte Observer Blog
The Nets’ general manager – or lame duck GM, if you’d prefer – returned to Jersey today, because it just makes more sense that way. “I thought it was better this way,” Kiki Vandeweghe explained after returning from Chicago, where he officially relinquished all roster-building chores to Rod Thorn for the final time. “I had some projects I was doing that I should finish up – I’m happy to work, I enjoy it.” - Newark Star-Ledger
John Wall really hasn't been planning on being a Net. Oh, if it happens, fine – in fact he would welcome it, he said. But the Kentucky point guard, then consensus No. 1 pick in next month's NBA Draft, figured the Nets would fizzle at the lottery. And they did, falling to No. 3. "To be honest, I really wasn't focused on who," Wall, who is here with 50 other top draft candidates at the NBA combine, said of lottery night. "When I looked into it, they said the teams that had the losing records never get the No. 1 pick so I was like, 'Hey, they might not get it so I really don't know. I was just sitting back and enjoying the moment." - NY Post
Still trying to figure out Knicks explanation on why they never announced Wilson Chandler broke his nose in January. Chandler played with a broken nose until he was shut down in mid-March, as I reported in today's Post. Chandler did not use a mask or protective shield, which was unusual and dangerous, considering how often he drives to the hole. After the season, Chandler has had nose surgery to reset it, another ankle surgery and sports hernia surgery. Bring on LeBron! - NY Post Blog
Question: Can you talk about the defense? It seemed like the Lakers gave a little bit of trouble to the pick-and-roll, caused some turnovers, and how difficult it was? Steve Nash: Well, I think they were loading up on the pick-and-roll and putting a third defender in there. So we tried to make them pay on the weak side. Grant got a lot of open looks tonight because of that. It may not come out of the pick-and-roll, but other guys may benefit from it. So we still scored enough points tonight. I thought our offense was pretty decent. But when they score 120-something, it is asking the offense to score way too much. - InsideHoops
The 76ers are a few hours of negotiations away from hiring Doug Collins as their next head coach. According to multiple sources, Sixers president and general manager Ed Stefanski began the negotiations with Collins' agent, John Langel, on Wednesday afternoon. - Philadelphia Inquirer
That said, sources indicate the Bulls expect to have their coach in place when the July 1 free-agency period begins. And Forman will have what are being termed more casual conversations than formal interviews with at least some of the widely reported candidates. - Chicago Tribune
Another NBA assistant coach with ties to Hawks general manager Rick Sund is a candidate to be the team's next head coach. Portland assistant coach Dean Demopoulos is scheduled for a phone interview with the Hawks, according to a person with knowledge of the team's search. Demopoulos, 56, was an assistant coach in Seattle when Sund was the general manager there. - Atlanta Journal Constitution
Ben Wallace admitted Wednesday he's unsure if he'll retire, or if he does return to the NBA, stay with the Pistons. "Everybody has supported me, and for the rest of my life I am going to be remembered for what I did here," he said. "I feel a part of the community of Detroit. This is always going to have a special place in my heart." The factor in his decision: his 35-year-old body. Wallace, who is working out almost daily at home in Virginia, said he must listen to his body. "When I am healthy, I can play this game at a high level night in and night out," he said. - Detroit News
Pistons owner Karen Davidson said Wednesday that the team was definitely for sale. “We’re looking for a buyer,” she told the Free Press at a Pistons charity event in Detroit. That is a slight change from Davidson’s initial position, revealed in late January, that she was exploring a possible sale. Davidson assumed control of the franchise after the March 13, 2009, death of her husband, Bill. - Detroit Free Press
Steve Nash won't be around forever. Amar'e Stoudemire's tenure is uncertain. The Suns are beginning to define their building blocks, and Robin Lopez is clearly one of them. "We hope he's the center of our future," said Steve Kerr, the Suns' general manager and president of basketball operations. "If you have a center and point guard in place, it's easier to put the pieces around those guys." Lopez is making a strong case to be one of team's key future players in the Western Conference finals against the Los Angeles Lakers. In Game 1, he was among the few bright spots with 14 points (on 6-of-7 shooting) and six rebounds in 24 minutes. In Game 2, he had seven points and six rebounds in 17 minutes. - Arizona Republic
Minnesota is another team that reportedly will consider trading on draft night, though — in a bit of good news for the Jazz — the Timberwolves supposedly consider their biggest need to be on the wing. The 'Wolves have the Nos. 4, 16 and 23 picks — and may want to move, especially after not winning one of the draft's top two picks via the lottery. Washington wound up with the No. 1 choice, Philadelphia No. 2 and New Jersey No. 3. "I tried to say before the lottery that we have enough arsenal and maneuverability to move around in the draft with the other picks we have and the assets we have," Timberwolves basketball operations president David Kahn told the St. Paul Pioneer Press. "Nothing tonight makes me feel our plans have been greatly disturbed." - Deseret News
Wesley Matthews made the leap from undrafted rookie to full-time starter while playing on a one-year minimum contract this season. As a result, Matthews will be a restricted free agent this summer and re-signing him is at the top of the Jazz’s list of priorities. The NBA’s free-agent rules are structured such that teams that are over the salary cap (like the Jazz) have the ability to re-sign their own free agents. If they wanted, the Jazz could re-sign Carlos Boozer to a six-year deal worth in excess of $100 million. - Salt Lake Tribune Blog
John McEnroe, one of the longtime celebrity Knick fans, said he would be willing to help in the recruitment of LeBron James. "I would give him free lessons at the academy, he looks like he's already a good server," said McEnroe, who announced the opening of the John McEnroe Tennis Academy on Randall's Island yesterday. Added McEnroe, "It's not only important for the Knicks, but for the next five, 10 years, the city needs LeBron as much as the Knicks do. It would give the city an unbelievable buzz. I also hope he can bring his friends, Dwyane Wade or [Chris] Bosh with him, too. We need to end the suffering." - NY Post
One of Mikhail Prokhorov's first moves as owner of the Nets was to announce that Kiki Vandeweghe is out as general manager. And he did so without first telling Vandeweghe. The news about Vandeweghe's job status came as a jolt during Prokhorov's lengthy sit-down with the media yesterday. After serving as GM and interim coach, Vandeweghe was performing his duties as if he planned on continuing with the organization. He learned of his status as the plane he was on was about to take off for Chicago, where Nets brass is meeting for the weekend pre-draft combine. - NY Post
The marijuana arrest of Wilson Chandler Tuesday night in Queens comes as a devastating blow to the Knicks -- the kind of publicity the franchise wants to avoid as it awaits the recruitment of the image-conscious LeBron James. The Knicks are trying to put their best foot forward. Instead, Chandler embarrassed the franchise. Of the five Knicks under contract for next season, he is one of two who matter the most. Chandler, with Danilo Gallinari, represents the two young building blocks the Knicks will use to lure King James. - NY Post
Word out of Chicago and the predraft camp is that the Atlanta Hawks may be close to hiring Mavericks' assistant Dwane Casey. No deal is done, but the Hawks and Casey met again in Chicago and signs are pointing toward the former Minnesota head coach being the leading candidate for the Hawks. - Dallas Morning News Blog
I'm at the NBA's draft combine in Chicago, and I hear the Bobcats are at least subtly investigating what it would cost to trade in -- maybe late into the first round, but more realistically into the second. If they do acquire a pick -- and it's not that hard to trade into the second round -- a name to keep in mind is Alabama point guard Mikhail Torrance. Torrance said at a media session today that he's scheduled for a job interview here with Bobcats management. - Charlotte Observer Blog
The Nets’ general manager – or lame duck GM, if you’d prefer – returned to Jersey today, because it just makes more sense that way. “I thought it was better this way,” Kiki Vandeweghe explained after returning from Chicago, where he officially relinquished all roster-building chores to Rod Thorn for the final time. “I had some projects I was doing that I should finish up – I’m happy to work, I enjoy it.” - Newark Star-Ledger
John Wall really hasn't been planning on being a Net. Oh, if it happens, fine – in fact he would welcome it, he said. But the Kentucky point guard, then consensus No. 1 pick in next month's NBA Draft, figured the Nets would fizzle at the lottery. And they did, falling to No. 3. "To be honest, I really wasn't focused on who," Wall, who is here with 50 other top draft candidates at the NBA combine, said of lottery night. "When I looked into it, they said the teams that had the losing records never get the No. 1 pick so I was like, 'Hey, they might not get it so I really don't know. I was just sitting back and enjoying the moment." - NY Post
Still trying to figure out Knicks explanation on why they never announced Wilson Chandler broke his nose in January. Chandler played with a broken nose until he was shut down in mid-March, as I reported in today's Post. Chandler did not use a mask or protective shield, which was unusual and dangerous, considering how often he drives to the hole. After the season, Chandler has had nose surgery to reset it, another ankle surgery and sports hernia surgery. Bring on LeBron! - NY Post Blog
Question: Can you talk about the defense? It seemed like the Lakers gave a little bit of trouble to the pick-and-roll, caused some turnovers, and how difficult it was? Steve Nash: Well, I think they were loading up on the pick-and-roll and putting a third defender in there. So we tried to make them pay on the weak side. Grant got a lot of open looks tonight because of that. It may not come out of the pick-and-roll, but other guys may benefit from it. So we still scored enough points tonight. I thought our offense was pretty decent. But when they score 120-something, it is asking the offense to score way too much. - InsideHoops
The 76ers are a few hours of negotiations away from hiring Doug Collins as their next head coach. According to multiple sources, Sixers president and general manager Ed Stefanski began the negotiations with Collins' agent, John Langel, on Wednesday afternoon. - Philadelphia Inquirer
That said, sources indicate the Bulls expect to have their coach in place when the July 1 free-agency period begins. And Forman will have what are being termed more casual conversations than formal interviews with at least some of the widely reported candidates. - Chicago Tribune
Another NBA assistant coach with ties to Hawks general manager Rick Sund is a candidate to be the team's next head coach. Portland assistant coach Dean Demopoulos is scheduled for a phone interview with the Hawks, according to a person with knowledge of the team's search. Demopoulos, 56, was an assistant coach in Seattle when Sund was the general manager there. - Atlanta Journal Constitution
Ben Wallace admitted Wednesday he's unsure if he'll retire, or if he does return to the NBA, stay with the Pistons. "Everybody has supported me, and for the rest of my life I am going to be remembered for what I did here," he said. "I feel a part of the community of Detroit. This is always going to have a special place in my heart." The factor in his decision: his 35-year-old body. Wallace, who is working out almost daily at home in Virginia, said he must listen to his body. "When I am healthy, I can play this game at a high level night in and night out," he said. - Detroit News
Pistons owner Karen Davidson said Wednesday that the team was definitely for sale. “We’re looking for a buyer,” she told the Free Press at a Pistons charity event in Detroit. That is a slight change from Davidson’s initial position, revealed in late January, that she was exploring a possible sale. Davidson assumed control of the franchise after the March 13, 2009, death of her husband, Bill. - Detroit Free Press
Steve Nash won't be around forever. Amar'e Stoudemire's tenure is uncertain. The Suns are beginning to define their building blocks, and Robin Lopez is clearly one of them. "We hope he's the center of our future," said Steve Kerr, the Suns' general manager and president of basketball operations. "If you have a center and point guard in place, it's easier to put the pieces around those guys." Lopez is making a strong case to be one of team's key future players in the Western Conference finals against the Los Angeles Lakers. In Game 1, he was among the few bright spots with 14 points (on 6-of-7 shooting) and six rebounds in 24 minutes. In Game 2, he had seven points and six rebounds in 17 minutes. - Arizona Republic
Minnesota is another team that reportedly will consider trading on draft night, though — in a bit of good news for the Jazz — the Timberwolves supposedly consider their biggest need to be on the wing. The 'Wolves have the Nos. 4, 16 and 23 picks — and may want to move, especially after not winning one of the draft's top two picks via the lottery. Washington wound up with the No. 1 choice, Philadelphia No. 2 and New Jersey No. 3. "I tried to say before the lottery that we have enough arsenal and maneuverability to move around in the draft with the other picks we have and the assets we have," Timberwolves basketball operations president David Kahn told the St. Paul Pioneer Press. "Nothing tonight makes me feel our plans have been greatly disturbed." - Deseret News
Wesley Matthews made the leap from undrafted rookie to full-time starter while playing on a one-year minimum contract this season. As a result, Matthews will be a restricted free agent this summer and re-signing him is at the top of the Jazz’s list of priorities. The NBA’s free-agent rules are structured such that teams that are over the salary cap (like the Jazz) have the ability to re-sign their own free agents. If they wanted, the Jazz could re-sign Carlos Boozer to a six-year deal worth in excess of $100 million. - Salt Lake Tribune Blog
John McEnroe, one of the longtime celebrity Knick fans, said he would be willing to help in the recruitment of LeBron James. "I would give him free lessons at the academy, he looks like he's already a good server," said McEnroe, who announced the opening of the John McEnroe Tennis Academy on Randall's Island yesterday. Added McEnroe, "It's not only important for the Knicks, but for the next five, 10 years, the city needs LeBron as much as the Knicks do. It would give the city an unbelievable buzz. I also hope he can bring his friends, Dwyane Wade or [Chris] Bosh with him, too. We need to end the suffering." - NY Post
One of Mikhail Prokhorov's first moves as owner of the Nets was to announce that Kiki Vandeweghe is out as general manager. And he did so without first telling Vandeweghe. The news about Vandeweghe's job status came as a jolt during Prokhorov's lengthy sit-down with the media yesterday. After serving as GM and interim coach, Vandeweghe was performing his duties as if he planned on continuing with the organization. He learned of his status as the plane he was on was about to take off for Chicago, where Nets brass is meeting for the weekend pre-draft combine. - NY Post
The marijuana arrest of Wilson Chandler Tuesday night in Queens comes as a devastating blow to the Knicks -- the kind of publicity the franchise wants to avoid as it awaits the recruitment of the image-conscious LeBron James. The Knicks are trying to put their best foot forward. Instead, Chandler embarrassed the franchise. Of the five Knicks under contract for next season, he is one of two who matter the most. Chandler, with Danilo Gallinari, represents the two young building blocks the Knicks will use to lure King James. - NY Post
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