Mavs Interested in Kaman?

Free agent forward Richard Jefferson is en route to San Antonio this afternoon, where he is set to sign a long-term contract with the Spurs on Wednesday. Details of the new deal are not yet available, but his salary next season will be well below the $15.2 million he would have been guaranteed had he not opted out of the final season of his contract with the Spurs on June 30. - San Antonio Express-News

It's no secret that the Boston Celtics have a gaping hole in their roster for a defensive-minded perimeter defender. And in all likelihood, it'll have to be a player willing to accept a salary for the veteran's minimum. Sacramento's Ime Udoka may in fact be that player. Udoka, who will be 33 years old next month, is a player that the C's have had preliminary discussions about acquiring. However, his agent Mark Bartelstein, made it clear that no deal is imminent. "There have been some talks, but nothing close to being done," Bartelstein told CSNNE.com. - NECN


Basketball fans wrinkled their eyebrows at the news of Penny Hardaway announcing he was putting his name in the hat for a role player position with the Miami Heat last week. But Hardaway, who celebrated his 39th birthday Sunday, told the Orlando Sentinel he is not trying to make a grand return to the NBA. “That was something that I felt in my heart that I felt my talent would match well with those guys. I wasn’t trying to come back to the league, just that I could help in that role,” Penny Hardaway told the Orlando Sentinel Monday. “If it doesn’t work out, I’m going to stay retired.” - Orlando Sentinel

The Charlotte Bobcats made it official today, signing 6-foot-7 point guard Shaun Livingston. The team made Livingston available to local media. A couple of quick headlines: -- Livingston suffered a horrible left knee injury as a Los Angeles Clipper (while playing against the Bobcats). I asked how this affects how many minutes he can play and how often he can practice. Livingston said there's no "cap'' (his word) on the minutes he can play, but that monitoring minutes, along with a lot of maintenance work on his knee and the surrounding muscles, is now part of his routine. - Charlotte Observer

The Miami Heat continued their radical roster reshaping on Tuesday by signing journeyman forward Juwan Howard. Per club policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed. However, the South Florida Sun-Sentinel reported it is a one-year deal for the veteran minimum of $1.4 million. "This is a great addition for us," said Heat president Pat Riley. "We feel that Juwan's ability to play both the four and five spot will be complimentary to what we have put together. He also gives us incredible professionalism and is a perfect fit behind Chris Bosh and Udonis Haslem." - Miami Herald

Andrew Bynum will undergo surgery July 28 to mend the torn meniscus in his right knee, the Lakers announced on their website. Bynum suffered the tear during the Lakers' opening-round playoff victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder in April. His strength and mobility suffered as did his production, but he did not miss a playoff game as the Lakers went on to win their second consecutive NBA title. He averaged 8.6 points and 6.9 rebounds in the playoffs, down from his regular-season totals of 15 points and 8.3 rebounds. Bynum's surgery was said to be minor and he is expected to be fit by the start of training camp in late September. - Los Angeles Daily News

Then Rome asked whether Gilbert's role will need to change, and Leonsis repeated his contention that the Wizards will have one of the best backcourts in the NBA. He also said Gilbert's role will change for the better. "I think John Wall will add years to Gilbert's career," he said. "He'll lug the ball up, he'll run. Gilbert is a great shooter, Gilbert goes hard to the rim....John has great physicality and off the chart basketball IQ, and great players want to play with great players, so I think this was a great thing for Gilbert Arenas and his career, and I also think that Gilbert understands that he has to perform and step up. The best way to re-bond with the fan base is to come in happy and healthy and be a really really highly functioning trusted teammate and be very very coachable. And my bet is Gilbert can be all of that." - Washington Post

For the past week, Cleveland fans have been dropping off their LeBron-related items at Yours Truly Restaurants in Northeast Ohio. Miller said he and his friends wanted to turn a negative situation into a positive and that the response has been "extraordinary." "We wanted something good to come out of this," he said. "We didn't want another 'I hate LeBron campaign.' There's enough of that going around." Doug Libelich, manager of the Yours Truly location in Shaker Heights, Ohio, said there has been a steady flow of fans - mostly young ones - ridding themselves of LeBron-related clothing, including the iconic 23 jerseys, which were wildly popular during James' seven seasons with the Cavaliers. - Cleveland Plain Dealer

Will parents in Cleveland approve of their children sleeping on LeBron James? That question will be answered in the coming months, as American Signature, the company that signed the former Cleveland Cavaliers star in February, has confirmed to CNBC that it will continue with its plans to launch a collection of items inspired by James. "Our relationship with LeBron has not changed,” Jonathan Schottenstein, chief operating officer of American Signature, said in a statement provided to CNBC. “The youth collection by LeBron James focuses on his commitment and relationship with America's youth. We are looking forward to this introduction in the Fall.” - CNBC


Sources say that the Mavericks, meanwhile, have continued to register trade interest in Kaman, which happened as recently as earlier this month before Dallas’ flirtations with an Al Jefferson trade and its eventual acquisition of Tyson Chandler. - ESPN


Atlanta, then, stands as the only team with a confirmed “live” interest in O’Neal. But Shaq, at last report, still wants assurances of a healthy slice of playing time as well as a salary that starts above the $5.8 million mid-level exception, which can be achieved through a sign-and-trade with Cleveland. No team out there, including Atlanta, is known to be willing to pay Shaq more than $2 million for next season. - ESPN

The Clippers do have legit interest in McGrady and are scheduled to work him out Tuesday. As Clips general manager Neil Olshey told ESPNLosAngeles.com’s Ramona Shelburne last week: "Tracy and I have a good relationship. We've known each other for a long time. He and Baron [Davis] have a good relationship [and] we obviously have a need for playmaking and scoring on the wings.” - ESPN

James To Join D-Wade and C-Bosh in Miami

One member of the Suns’ organization that never made it to free agency may have been one of the most important signings of the year. It may not have received a great deal of fanfare, but when reigning NBA Trainer of Year Aaron Nelson inked a four-year contract with the franchise, it was not overlooked by the people that work within US Airways Center. Nelson, who has been with the Suns for 17 years, is known for being a trailblazer within his field. “He’s one of the best trainers that you could ask for,” Suns point guard Steve Nash said. “He continually educates himself and has a great impact on this locker room with his expertise and his ability. He allows us all to go out there every night with less of a deficit physically. He plays an important role and it’s really important that we locked him up.” - NBA

Every day, as he battles his way back from cancer, there is more of a gleam in Nuggets coach George Karl's eyes. Some of that spark could be seen Thursday as he sat on a stool outside of Artist Hall in the Hard Rock Hotel. Minutes later, Karl received the inaugural "George Karl Award for Courage in Sports," given by St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, where Karl has done tons of charity work over the years. But before that moment, he talked basketball. "I'm more excited about coaching next year than I have been in a long time," Karl said. - Denver Post

Kendrick Perkins' right knee surgery has been rescheduled for Monday. “I know there were injuries to the MCL and the PCL, but I don’t know to what extent that they need to be surgically repaired,” Celtics general manager Danny Ainge said yesterday. “Those might heal on their own as sprains and strains. But I know that the ACL needs to be repaired.” As for the delay, he said, “I guess the philosophy is to get more range of motion and all the swelling (down) and strengthening his glutes and quads and all that kind of stuff before surgery. I guess it gives him a quicker recovery, so that’s what they’re doing right now, just rehabbing before the surgery.” - Boston Herald

DeAngelo Simmons, Millsap’s agent, called his client, “a potential all-star”, saying that with added minutes he could flourish in the Jazz system, especially along side point guard Deron Williams. It can be argued that Millsap was the best Utah big man in the playoffs this past season, and he seemed noticeably less bothered than Boozer by the length of the Los Angeles Lakers frontcourt. “I think he’s ready for what his role will be,” Simmons said. “He’s waited patiently and he’s done it professionally. He’s proven to be dependable, he’s proven to be reliable and he’s passionate for the game of basketball. He’s ready to be an important piece.” - Salt Lake Tribune

Ainge said he would not confirm the deals for O’Neal, Allen, or Paul Pierce until the contracts are signed. But a team source said O’Neal will earn the full midlevel exception, set Wednesday at $5.765 million, with an 8 percent increase in the second season. “I think the priorities to start the [offseason] were obviously Paul, Ray, and address our center position in lieu of Perk’s injury,’’ Ainge said. “Those were our priorities right there. By [today] we’ll have those three things taken care of and we can continue working.’’ - Boston Globe

The Knicks' hot pursuit of Stoudemire indeed stemmed from the belief he had the tough mindset to deal with New York, growing up for part of his childhood in upstate Newburgh. "Amar'e is not worried about culture shock," D'Antoni said. "He knows what he's getting into. He's a smart kid. It's a golden opportunity. One thing I know about him. In any circumstance, he's coming at you." - New York Post

One high-ranking Knicks official said Thursday that Jefferson was never in the team's plans, even if it whiffed on James. Aside from the Spurs, the Los Angeles Clippers could be Jefferson's best bet, but they are reportedly chasing Mike Miller instead. Cleveland — the ultimate loser in the LeBron derby — will have $9 million in available cap space once James is officially off the books. Teams view Jefferson as a complimentary player who probably won't command much more than the mid-level exception of $5.765 million. The Spurs are expected to offer a multi-year contract starting at a shade above that, at a number that reduces their luxury tax hit. - San Antonio Express-News

Prepare for the possibility the New Jersey Nets sign power forward Tyrus Thomas to a front-loaded offer sheet that could make the Charlotte Bobcats blink. The Nets lost out on the big-name free agents and still have a ton of cap room. They were quite generous in their offer to small forward Travis Outlaw (five years and $35 million) and feel they need a ready-to-play power forward, so as not to depend right away on rookie Derrick Favors. The Nets have expressed interest in Thomas, the Bobcats' restricted free agent. With the Bobcats determined to avoid the luxury tax, it's conceivable they wouldn't match a front-loaded offer sheet, which would be most expensive the first season, then decrease in value each remaining year of the deal. - Charlotte Observer

LeBron James’ decision to play for the Miami Heat wasn’t nearly as surprising as it could have been given that James and his associates told several league officials and players about his plans in the hours leading up to Thursday night’s TV announcement. Despite a stated desire to keep James’ selection secret, those around him had been free and easy with telling associates throughout the league late Wednesday and into Thursday that James planned to accept Heat president Pat Riley’s offer to play alongside Dwyane Wade(notes) and Chris Bosh in Miami. - Yahoo! Sports

A source with knowledge of the conversation, said James recently told a friend he would sign with the Heat because he didn’t see enough effort from his Cavaliers teammates in the playoffs and that he wanted to win a championship as soon as possible – rather than risk having to wait toward the end of his career like Boston Celtics stars Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen. - Yahoo! Sports

Gilbert, who posted a letter to Cavs fans on the team's website shortly after James announced his plans to sign with the Heat, told The Associated Press late Thursday night that it's "accountability time" for James. "He has gotten a free pass," Gilbert said in a phone interview with The AP. "People have covered up for (James) for way too long. Tonight we saw who he really is." - Cleveland Plain Dealer

“I’m suspicious,” Karl said. “I’m suspicious about the whole system. I think it buried [Cleveland]. It’s going to bury them for a while with the combination of your best player ever [leaving] and then keeping him in the same conference where you got to play him four times.” Said Nelson: “I thought, ‘Poor Cleveland.’ I’m not shocked. Things are changing. Times are changing.” - Yahoo! Sports

While it looks like this is the perfect team and time for Riley to come back to coach, Wade made a pre-emptive strike against his return, saying on Wednesday that Erik Spoelstra will continue to coach the Heat. But league sources who are familiar with Riley's thinking feel that Spoelstra will be on a short leash. "Pat won't come back for just Wade and Bosh, because that's not a sure thing in Pat's mind," said one Eastern Conference coach. "But with LeBron and those two, that's a sure thing for Pat. He will come back if they get LeBron." - New York Daily News

Clippers To Meet With Lebron, Al Jefferson Wants Out of Minny?

The Los Angeles Clippers have officially been granted an audience with the King. The team announced it will be one of the small group of teams LeBron James will take meetings with at an undisclosed location in Northeastern Ohio with a chance to pitch the merits of joining their organization. A team source said the meeting will not take place Thursday but will happen sometime within the next two days. - ESPN

Dolan wants to look James in the eye and detail his background as an owner willing to spend whatever it takes, and take him through a $800 million "transformation" of the Garden with a video display. There will be talk of James having his own show for MSG Network — a no-brainer if interested. According to a source, the pitch will include a montage videotape of the Knicks’ bank of celebrities and former players Willis Reed, Earl Monroe, Walt Frazier and Bill Bradley raving about the Big Apple and playing for the championship Knicks teams. - New York Post

The Oklahoma City Thunder opened the free-agency period with a visit to a familiar face. Sources with knowledge of the Thunder's plans said team officials met with star forward Kevin Durant at his new Oklahoma City home at one minute past midnight Thursday to formally open negotiations on a contract extension. - ESPN

To land Bosh, the Rockets would have to work a sign-and-trade with the Raptors. The team could offer a players like Jordan Hill, Aaron Brooks and the expiring contracts of Jared Jeffries and David Anderson for Bosh. - ESPN

As soon as the NBA's free-agency clock finally clanged late Wednesday night, the Timberwolves invited Memphis forward Rudy Gay and New York forward David Lee to visit Minnesota. Gay is scheduled to visit with team officials and tour Target Center on Thursday. Lee is due in Saturday. - Minneapolis Star-Tribune

Al Jefferson has requested a trade from the Minnesota Timberwolves. The Wolves tried to move Al leading up to the NBA Draft. Two teams that have shown serious interest include the Denver Nuggets and Chicago Bulls. - HoopsWorld

In an interview with FanHouse early Thursday morning, after the free agency period had begun, Hammond said he spoke to both Salmons and his agent, Joel Bell, by phone, shortly after midnight EDT. He plans to negotiate with Bell during the day Thursday. "We've told him that we want him back,'' Hammond said of Salmons, who opted out of a contract that would have paid him $5.81 million next season. But is the feeling mutual? "I think so,'' Hammond said. "We talked at the end of the season about how much we appreciated the season that he had and helping us get back to the playoffs. And he appreciated that.'' - FanHouse

Already he is a laughingstock on the Internet. A headline on Yahoo! Sports read: “Jefferson opts out of contract, mind.” Incredulous at Jefferson's decision, respected NBA basketball executives pondered preposterous pecuniary precedent. “This one is right up there with Bonzi Wells,” said one Western GM, recalling how Wells walked away from a five-year, $37 million offer from the Kings in the summer of 2006, then ended up with a two-year, $4.5 million deal in Houston. - San Antonio Express-News

With NBA rumors buzzing like a stadium full of vuvuzelas, a source close to Jazz unrestricted free agent Kyle Korver said the 3-point sharpshooter doesn't believe he is coming back to Utah. "He's about 95 percent certain that he's not coming back," the source said Wednesday, hours before the start of the NBA's free agency period. - Standard-Examiner

The Lakers, meanwhile, had their own issues on which to dwell Wednesday night, none of them including the frenzy surrounding LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh. They called the agent for Derek Fisher right after free agency began and expressed interest in having the 14-year-veteran return for another run at a championship. - Los Angeles Times

Coach Avery Johnson will concentrate on his approach and James’ play as huge pieces of a resurgent team with quality youth in place. Team president Rod Thorn can show how he twice brought the team from the brink and, even if he’s not in place in two more weeks, that with Prokhorov’s determination to have a dynasty, the commitment to winning is ferocious. Dmitry Razumov, CEO of Prokhorov’s Onexim company, will pitch business opportunities awaiting James. - New York Post

Riley's itinerary also will soon have him in Akron, Ohio, where he will join at least four other teams scheduled for individual presentations to Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James, the prized catch in a free-agent class that includes more than 150 veterans. - South Florida Sun-Sentinel

Lebron-Wade-Bosh in Miami?

Timberwolves: David Kahn says he plans to call two agents at 11 o'clock Wednesday, when the NBA's free-agency negotiation period begins. I hear from a good league source that one of those guys is Memphis forward Rudy Gay. I texted David Kahn for a confirmation or denial Monday evening and he did not respond. - Minneapolis Star Tribune

Dwyane Wade has given the Miami Heat his ``wish list'' of potential targets he wants team president Pat Riley to pursue when free agency opens at 12:01 a.m. Thursday. Landing the services of LeBron James and either Amare Stoudemire or Chris Bosh in Miami would be the beginning of the kind of championship makeover Wade seeks this summer. - Miami Herald

If LeBron James decides to leave the Cleveland Cavaliers, most observers believe a sign-and-trade would be the likely way it would happen. That way, James could sign a six-year, $127 million deal instead of a five-year, $97 million deal. Under the rules of a collective bargaining agreement, teams can re-sign their own free agent to an additional year and offer bigger raises (10.5 percent instead of eight percent) after each year. Why would the Cavaliers, or any team in that position, reward a departing by enabling him to earn roughly an extra $30 million? Well, the main reason is it allows a team to get something in return instead of losing a player for nothing. - Chicago Sun-Times Blog

A source close to Dwyane Wade said the Miami Heat guard believes his team is poised to pull off a free-agency coup of landing himself, Cleveland Cavaliers guard LeBron James and Toronto Raptors forward Chris Bosh. But that same source, as well as a party inside the league, told the Sun Sentinel that Wade also plans to cover himself during the initial days of the free-agency negotiating period by scheduling interviews with the New York Knicks, Chicago Bulls, and, in somewhat of a surprise, the Dallas Mavericks. - South Florida Sun-Sentinel

Actually, Colangelo does know something. He admitted it's likely Bosh won't re-sign with the Raptors, but that has been obvious for a few months. Wade echoed the cry for reason in a chat with The Miami Herald. "None of us know what's going to happen," he said. "Not LeBron. Not me. Not Chris. Not any of us, right now. As a free agent, you explore everything and see what happens." - Arlington Heights Daily Herald

From the moment the Bulls decided a couple of years ago to do what they could to become major players on the free-agent market this summer, the plan wasn't necessarily to sign James. It was to put themselves in position to make a big-time signing. They can do that by signing Toronto Raptors center/power forward Chris Bosh and, say, Atlanta Hawks shooting guard Joe Johnson. But now the ante has been upped because the Bulls are the perceived front-runners in the James sweepstakes -- even ahead of the Cavaliers at this point. - Chicago Sun-Times

But the Rockets would not be serving their many followers well if they didn't do all they could to entice Toronto Raptors free-agent-to-be Chris Bosh to don Rockets red. If that means adding a second big-contract All-Star, then so be it. The Rockets have coveted Bosh for a long time. It is easy to understand why. Since drafting Yao Ming No. 1 eight years ago, the Rockets have started at power forward the likes of an offensively limited Chuck Hayes, a defensively limited Luis Scola, a young Eddie Griffin, an aging Juwan Howard, and, well, supply your own description of Kelvin Cato. - Houston Chronicle

A league source said on Monday that Dwyane Wade is contemplating a free-agent visit to his hometown Bulls, who would be receptive to meeting with the Heat's All-Star guard. Such a scenario seemed far-fetched on May 26 when Wade questioned the organization's loyalty to star players in an exclusive interview with the Chicago Tribune's Fred Mitchell. Also, Wade has made little secret of his desire to re-sign with the Heat. Along those lines, the Sun Sentinel reported on Monday that Wade is hopeful his current employer can woo both LeBron James and Chris Bosh to South Florida. - Deseret News

After that, it's a crapshoot. While James respects Mavericks owner Mark Cuban enough to grant him visitation to make a sales pitch, the Mavericks remain long, long shots to lure the biggest of the free agents. Ditto for Bosh and Wade. - Fort Worth Star Telegram

A head coach has to be hired - league sources expect it to be Dallas assistant Dwane Casey or former Chicago head coach Vinny Del Negro, the only two candidates to receive "face-to- face" interviews - and that bit of business may not be wrapped up before the NBA free agency negotiation period begins at 9:01 Pacific Time Wednesday night. League rules forbid team personnel from discussing free agents they may pursue until then, but it's no secret the Clippers are armed with enough space under the NBA's current salary cap (which will be defined next week) - approximately $16million - to accommodate a maximum-salary free agent. - LA Daily News

While the Cavaliers await a decision on LeBron James' future, their coaching search appears to be nearing the final stages. Los Angeles Lakers assistant coach Brian Shaw arrived in town Monday and will continue meetings with owner Dan Gilbert and General Manager Chris Grant today, the team confirmed. The Cavs would like to make a decision on their next coach today, according to a source with knowledge of their plans, although a ''decision'' does not necessarily mean a contract offer today. - Akron Beacon Journal

Phoenix Suns owner Robert Sarver said he has begun the interview process for a new general manager. Sarver would not comment on reports that he interviewed San Antonio Spurs assistant general manager Dennis Lindsey on Monday, saying he did not want to get into those kinds of specifics. The Spurs have confirmed that the Suns received permission to speak with the highly regarded Lindsey, who was a front-runner for the Minnesota Timberwolves GM job a year ago before withdrawing from consideration. - AP

Suns Managing Partner Robert Sarver interviewed San Antonio Assistant General Manager Dennis Lindsey on Monday in San Diego for Phoenix's GM job, will go to Los Angeles on Tuesday with coach Alvin Gentry to talk to soon-to-be free agent Amar'e Stoudemire and is planning a Thursday chat with his other soon-to-be free agent, Channing Frye. Two weeks ago, Lindsey was the front-runner name that surfaced when Steve Kerr announced he would not return as GM. Lindsey has been with the Spurs since 2007 after 11 years with Houston, where the former Baylor player ascended from video coordinator to vice president. He declined Minnesota's GM job last year. - Arizona Republic

"It's just a chance," Martell Webster said during a news conference at Target Center. "Not to say I didn't have one in Portland. Now the opportunity is a little bit bigger. This is something that means a lot more — coming in here trying to change the identity and make this organization a winning organization." The Wolves acquired Webster last week in a draft-night trade that sent forward Ryan Gomes and the 16th overall pick to Portland, which used the selection on Nevada forward Luke Babbitt. - St. Paul Pioneer Press

Dallas To Join the Lebron Sweepstakes

A league source told ESPNDallas.com on Sunday that the Dallas Mavericks have been in touch with the LeBron James' camp in an attempt to set up a meeting with the holy grail of the upcoming free agent season. According to a New York Times report, five teams already have meetings set with James in Ohio on Thursday, the first day of free agency: the Chicago Bulls, New York Knicks, New Jersey Nets, Miami Heat and Los Angeles Clippers. - ESPN

Team sources re-confirmed over the weekend that Nowitzki, as reported by ESPN.com in mid-May, will formally notify the Mavericks and the league office of his decision to walk away from next season's $21.5 million salary before Wednesday's deadline to do so in his current contract. - ESPN


Well, today, Italy-based La Repubblica made that fantastical dream seem just a bit closer to reality. In a piece running on the sports page, Kobe gave the depressed journalists covering the World Cup some bon mots to run with today. “Yes, I would love to end my career in Italy. I have a lot of friends in Emilio [a region in northern Italy] and Milan.” Kobe went on to state that such an occurrence wouldn’t happen anytime soon (to be sure), but did describe the possibility as a “dream.” (The key quote, presumably given in Italian, as Kobe is fluent, reads: “Sì, è vero, mi piacerebbe moltissimo chiudere la mia carriera giocando in Italia. Ho tanti amici a Reggio Emilia e Milano. Adesso no, ma è un sogno che realizzerò”) - Ball In Europe

Miller and guard Ray Allen are expected to be the Celtics’ two top priorities in free agency following the retirement of Rasheed Wallace and a knee injury to Kendrick Perkins. - Yahoo! Sports


Jerry Colangelo will listen to New Jersey Nets owner Mikhail Prokhorov about replacing Rod Thorn as team president if Prokhorov chooses to reach out to him, Colangelo said in a phone interview Sunday. "If I did get a call I'd certainly take the call," the head of USA Basketball said. "I still think I have some juice left. I don't need to do anything, and I'm not seeking anything, but if the right situation presented itself and met my criteria, I would listen." Colangelo repeated his contention in a CBSSports.com report that he'd had no contact with Prokhorov or any Nets officials to date. But with Thorn set to retire on July 15, and with the Russian billionaire said to be enamored of Colangelo's gold-medal showing in Beijing, the former owner of the Phoenix Suns and Arizona Diamondbacks is favored to be a candidate for Thorn's job. "I've been following the Nets' situation for a long time, just from my years in the NBA," Colangelo said of the move to Newark and scheduled move to Brooklyn. "It's been an ongoing saga, and at some point they've got to get to the finish line. There are all kinds of hills to climb, and they've been hemorrhaging for years, but there's no reason all of that can't work itself out so the Nets can turn into a very successful franchise very soon." - ESPN


The LeBron James sweepstakes will kick off in Ohio on his home turf Thursday as five teams — the Chicago Bulls, the Miami Heat, the Knicks, the Nets and the Los Angeles Clippers — travel there in an attempt to woo James away from the Cleveland Cavaliers, an executive of one of the teams in the hunt said Saturday. But the meetings might not be much more than a formality. The executive, who did not want to be identified discussing a player who is not yet a free agent, said he had gathered from discussions with his fellow N.B.A. executives that James was strongly leaning toward joining the Bulls in tandem with another free agent, Chris Bosh of the Toronto Raptors. “I think it’s a done deal,” the executive said. - New York Times


It will come down to knowing that the Knicks can sign two "max" free agents and still have enough cap space to sign another significant free agent next summer. Although the Bulls and Heat are clearing cap space, several people familiar with James' thinking believe that the Knicks are still his desired destination if he elects to leave Cleveland in his rearview mirror. "He told me after the Olympics he wanted to live in New York," said one source. "And as far as I know nothing has changed." -New York Daily News

The Knicks had contacted celebrity restaurateurs and Knicks fans Danny Meyer, Phil Suarez and Drew Nieporent about preparing an elegant dinner party in Manhattan for LeBron James and his advisors at some point after the free-agency period begins at midnight Wednesday, according to sources. But those plans will have to be scrapped after James' longtime manager, Maverick Carter, announced yesterday that LeBron does not want to stage an elaborate recruiting tour and prefers to meet with the Knicks and other teams on neutral turf. "LeBron is not going on a tour," Carter told ESPN.com. "He never planned to go on a tour and has not been a part of any team's plans for a recruiting trip." - New York Post

Houston is considered a key figure because of his connection with the Knicks and ability to speak on the team's glorious past, according to a source. D'Antoni had a good feeling about James' intentions when he spent a lot of time with him during the Summer Olympics two years ago. But a lot has happened since, and the Knicks are consensus underdogs to land James, with the Bulls, because of their $31 million of cap space and deeper corps, emerging as favorites if he leaves Cleveland. - New York Post

As the Bulls finalize their pitch, which sources said will be low-key and business-like, management knows its salary-cap space of roughly $30 million trails only the Knicks' $34 million. Failed attempts to trade Luol Deng or James Johnson prove management knows that falls just short of offering maximum contracts — which will start at roughly $16.5 million---to James and another player. - Chicago Tribune

One of the easiest ways to upset James in any conversation is to imply that he doesn't have final control, either on the court or off. Suggest that he doesn't make every key decision with his commercials, playing time or investments and you'll have an angry 6-8, 250-pounder to deal with. It isn't that James doesn't listen to friends and so-called advisors. He has put people in place around him for the very purpose of getting trusted advice. But they'll all tell you that James doesn't do anything he doesn't want to do. Whether it is an interview, a charity event or a business venture, James may not do the little details, but he makes the big call. - Cleveland Plain Dealer

They’ll gauge James’ interest first, on Thursday morning. The Nets will bring along a sizeable contingent to recruit the game’s most dynamic star, with owner Mikhail Prokhorov and partner Jay-Z doing most of the talking. According to those familiar with the sales pitch, it will be a “low-key” approach, with the Russian billionaire using two or three hours to illuminate what he can do for James’ image and reputation on a global scale, and try to get James to specify what other player he would have the team sign. - Newark Star-Ledger

The Knicks are deadly fearful of tampering charges and the news account of the elaborate dinner proved to be a minor setback. All in all, it was a bad few days for the Knicks considering that Chicago and Miami both made trades to create enough salary cap space to potentially sign two “max” free agents. Two such free-agent targets, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh, have agreed to visit New York, but Wade is almost certain to re- sign with the Heat. Bosh, meanwhile, is expected to leave Toronto. - New York Daily News

Chris Bosh told us Saturday he hasn't decided what team he will sign with but is seriously considering Miami and expects to meet with Heat officials after free agency starts July 1. Also Saturday, Yahoo.com reported the Heat will be one of six teams granted a meeting with LeBron James. - Miami Herald

If Bosh signs, it also means the Heat will need a center in free agency, with Brendan Haywood or re-signing Joel Anthony among the options. Among power forwards, Bosh is Miami's top preference, with Amare Stoudemire and Carlos Boozer also on its radar. One concern for Heat fans is Toronto receiving a sign-and-trade offer for Bosh that's more enticing than what Miami has to offer (Beasley, future draft picks), unless a third team is involved. Bosh could make $125 million over six years if he re-signs with Toronto (to stay or more likely for purposes of a sign-and-trade), or $97 million over five years otherwise. - Miami Herald

In Utah, Boozer also developed a good relationship with coach Jerry Sloan, whose offense fit his abilities perfectly and always been defended him in the face of criticism. So why is Boozer considered a long shot to stay? No. 1, the Jazz probably won’t offer him as much money as under-the-salary-cap teams like New York , New Jersey, Chicago or Washington. It could take close to a max contract to sign Boozer, and the Jazz are unlikely to offer one. - Salt Lake Tribune

The Timberwolves say they received no trade offers for Ricky Rubio during Thursday's NBA draft. Plans remain for the point guard, chosen No. 5 overall in last year's draft, to play another season in Spain, then consider Minnesota. "I think it's finally starting to seep in, league-wide, that we're not moving him," Wolves president of basketball operations David Kahn said. "The word is out — he's not moving." - St. Paul Pioneer Press

Not only the agent of Sergio Rodríguez denies any agreement with Real Madrid. The 23-year-old has also slammed the rumors about his signing for any team, and has declared that he still doesn't know where he will play next season. Rodríguez is at the end of his expiring contract with the New York Knicks, though the NBA team has an option to extend the player to another year. - The Hoops Market

CP3 Available? Arenas To Lakers?

New Orleans general manager Jeff Bower has no intention of trading Paul, but multiple league executives believe that until owner George Shinn closes on the team’s sale with billionaire oilman Gary Chouest, there is a price with which Paul could be pried away. “He can be had with Shinn in there, but once the new guy takes over, he’s off the market,” one senior front office executive told Y! Sports. - Yahoo! Sports

Why would World Wide Wes want to help broker a deal for Paul? Here are two reasons: First, James loves the prospect of playing with one of the best point guards in the NBA. Secondly, it would show Paul how Wesley could make things happen for him, and perhaps get him to leave Octagon for Wesley and Leon Rose at CAA. - Yahoo! Sports

The San Antonio Spurs once had a chance to be frontrunners for Paul – if New Orleans ever felt compelled to make a trade – because they could offer an All-Star caliber point guard in Tony Parker. Nevertheless, the emergence of Darren Collison allows the Hornets to make a trade without taking back a point guard. Now, New Orleans could possibly improve itself at two positions – perhaps shooting guard and small forward – and get draft picks. - Yahoo! Sports

So how would LeBron fit with the Minnesota Timberwolves? I know, I laughed, too. But then I was told it wasn’t such a funny idea, which suggests even more so that this recruitment of James is going to take even more forms than we imagined possible. The talk is the Timberwolves intend to be very aggressive with their cap space and not accept some veteran or modest talent under the assumption no free agent would go there. As it was pointed out to me, Brett Favre went there because it was a better chance to win. And Favre left New York to go to Minnesota, whose sports teams, including the Twins, have a successful track record and supportive fan base. - NBA

If Toronto is going to lose Bosh, a sign-and-trade involving David West and Collison would look awfully good for the Raptors, who are said to be looking for a point guard and are interested in moving Jarrett Jack. That would enable them to replace Bosh and upgrade with a young point guard, a win for the Raptors. Of course, the key would be getting Bosh to go to New Orleans. No, he wouldn’t be the No. 1 guy. But he would be the No. 1 scorer as Chris Paul is one of those players who makes teammates much better and makes you a better scorer. Maybe that appeals to Bosh. Again, he may be the toughest one to figure as Houston also is said to be a contender and could present a Yao/Bosh front line with a top coach and strong backcourt of Aaron Brooks and Kevin Martin. - NBA

So could/would the Lakers put together something for Gilbert Arenas? We hear all this stuff now how the new Wizards owner is becoming close with Arenas, but the Wizards know they will never get the most out of No. 1 pick John Wall as long as Arenas and his monstrous personality are around. They’d love to move on. Certainly the biggest obstacle for anyone is those four big years left on his deal. - NBA

Rasheed Wallace, like Rivers, is considering leaving the game. Rivers said he expects we’ve seen the last of the controversial center. “I think you have,” he said. “It’s so emotional right after the game. But Rasheed told me before [Game 7]. He told me the the night before. He walked up to me and said, ‘Hey, listen, I’m going to give you everything I’ve got. I really believe this is my last game that I’m going to play.’ And he said this year was very difficult for him physically. He never felt like — even the conditioning part of it hurt. He said he doesn’t think he wants to go through that again, and he wants to watch his kids. I do think it’s the last time we’ll see him in a Celtics uniform.” - WEEI

Kobe Bryant on his comments after the game about Shaq and whether or not he meant them seriously: “100 percent. I meant it 100 percent. It’s a competitive thing. It’s always a competitive thing and he’s always made jokes about winning and me not being able to win and things like that. Whether it was in jest or not, I took it to heart. I had an opportunity to get one more than him and I’m happy my teammates pulled through for me and I was able to get that.” - Sports Radio Interviews

Throughout the past season and a half, Bryant was leaning on the self-taught expertise of a white bald guy who is no taller than 5-foot-7 and no thinner than 220 pounds. Sweetchuck would analyze every upcoming game for Bryant and he would do so without reverence. He didn't want to meet with Bryant in person. He didn't even want to speak by phone. Up through Game 2 of the NBA Finals, they did most of their communication by e-mail because that was how Sweetchuck wanted it to be. "I think he likes the fact I'm a little different, a little off," said Sweetchuck. "I just work. I don't ask for tickets, I don't ask for shoes or any of that. I try to argue my way out of going to the games. I don't want to be Turtle from Entourage, I don't want to be that guy. I'd rather watch the games with my fiancée back home." - SI

The Miami Heat will have to wait longer than expected to see how much forward Robert Dozier has developed after some seasoning overseas. Dozier, one of the Heat's two second-round picks in the 2009 NBA Draft, broke his foot during a recent workout at AmericanAmerican Arena and will be out for three months. The injury prevents Dozier from playing the Heat's entry in next month's Las Vegas Summer League, where Miami's team of draft picks, young players and lower-level free agents are scheduled to play five games against other NBA teams. - Miami Herald

Around midday, DraftExpress's Jonathan Givony tweeted that a source close to big-time prospect DeMarcus Cousins said the center's preference was to land with the Pistons, who pick No. 7 and have been rumored to be trying to move up to No. 4 or No. 5 to grab Cousins. Cousins did not wait long to respond. About on hour after Givony's tweet, Cousins tweeted that "Draft express needs to get there [sic] facts straight ....ME nor ANYBODY close to me made those comments .." - FanHouse

Favors has worked out for the teams selecting second through fifth in the draft. Minnesota Timberwolves president David Kahn told reporters that coach Kurt Rambis said Favors “appeared to be out of shape” during his solo workout. A source said Kahn later called Favor’s agent Wallace Prather to apologize for the comment. The Sacramento Kings were impressed with Favors’ conditioning after he measured just 5 percent body fat and dunked the ball 20 times in 60 seconds during one drill without breaking a sweat. - Yahoo! Sports

I've heard that the Kings, Detroit Pistons, Indiana Pacers, New Orleans Hornets, Memphis Grizzlies, Toronto Raptors, Houston Rockets, Milwaukee Bucks, Chicago Bulls, San Antonio Spurs, Oklahoma City Thunder, Portland Trail Blazers and Denver Nuggets have all been talking about moving picks. The Kings, Pacers, Hornets and Bucks would like to trade down, while the Pistons, Grizzlies, Raptors, Rockets, Spurs, Thunder, Blazers and Nuggets would like to move up. And if the Pacers and Hornets can't move down, they, along with the Bulls, might look to get out of the draft completely. - ESPN

With his health steadily improving, Denver Nuggets coach George Karl is starting to feel more like his old self again. So much so that he said Monday he fully expects to be back on the bench next season -- health permitting, of course. Karl, who has been battling throat and neck cancer, feels "a little better" with each passing week. He still uses a feeding tube because of the sores in his mouth caused by efforts to kill the tumor and he has lost a lot of weight.  - ESPN

Monday was another such day. Karl, who will play a role in Denver's draft Thursday and at the (Las) Vegas Summer League next month, was on hand as the Nuggets worked out draft prospects at the Pepsi Center. "Very good,'' Karl said of how he's feeling. "Every week is a little better. Been in the office a lot. Energy is good. Draft has got me excited. The team has got me excited. Time to get better.''' - FanHouse

Turkoglu Wants A Trade To Kings?

But the reason the Clippers have not been mentioned as a serious suitor is no mystery. Sources say that the Clippers won't factor into James' thinking as long as they continue to be run by Sterling, whose increased willingness to spend over the past decade has done little to change his reputation as one of the league's worst owners. - ESPN

Arvydas Macijauskas gave up the fight. The Lithuanian star decided to retire and announced today his decision due to health problems. "I have a spinal hernia which needs surgery. In addition, from September 2006 I have problems with the Achilles tendon and my left calf is 2 inches lower than the other" said the guard who started a long legal war with Olympiacos when he returned to Europe after his stint in NBA. The Greek team did not allow Macijauskas to have the surgery. - Sportando


Haddadi, who has played a key role in Iran national team in recent years, will be playing for the Memphis Grizzlies instead of Iran. "The Asian Games are not an official tournament, so I'm obliged to stay in the U.S. However, Iranian officials are now negotiating with my team to allow me to accompany Iran in China," the 2.18 meter player said. - Payvand Iran News

Duke basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski's pay nearly tripled over four recent seasons — rising from about $1.3 million to more than $4 million, new records show. And that was before Duke won this year's national title. With total compensation topping $4.19 million, the pay appears to make him the top-paid college basketball coach in the nation for the 2008-09 fiscal year and clearly puts him among the highest-paid of all college officials, according to various surveys and analyses, studies and reviews, of pay in higher education and athletics. - Raleigh News & Observer

Oklahoma City Thunder General Manager Sam Presti has emphatically denied a new media report claiming he has interviewed for the same position with the Portland Trail Blazers. Tuesday’s editions of the New York Post, citing a “Northwest source,” reported Presti recently interviewed in Seattle, home of Blazers owner Paul Allen, for the job currently held by Kevin Pritchard. “The story is absolutely false,” Presti said in response Tuesday. “I have not interviewed with any teams or spoken to officials related to a team, nor do I intend to. I have a terrific situation here with the Thunder and enjoy being a member of the Oklahoma City community. I am excited about the short and long term vision for our organization.” - Oklahoman


Miller would not respond to either report. "The thing I can say is that Paul is committed to bring a championship to Portland,'' Miller said. "I think he has shown that by putting his resources forward to improve the organization.'' Miller did confirm that Pritchard is currently negotiating contract extensions for his top two scouts - Chad Buchanan and Mike Born - and that he continues to head the team's draft strategy as the June 24 draft nears. "Kevin has done a phenomenal job drafting players and he continues to lead that process now,'' Miller said. - Oregonian


Would LeBron James be willing to play for the Los Angeles Clippers if Donald Sterling no longer owned the team? Billionaire entertainment mogul David Geffen wants to find out. A source close to the situation confirmed reports that Geffen is interested in purchasing a majority share of the Clippers -- and that the long-shot attempt to convince Sterling to cede operating control of the team is among the reasons James and close friend Maverick Carter were in Los Angeles over the weekend. - ESPN


It’s not so much Nelson checking out as Nelson reading the room: Once the team is sold, he will no longer by the Warriors coach. He is o-u-t, and he knows it. Larry Riley will be out, too, but he has to keep working through the draft process because that’s his specific job. (I dunno what Robert Rowell is doing, but same deal with him, obviously. Maybe Comcast can give him a job.) But Nelson’s getting his $6M for next season no matter what. - San Jose Mercury News

Boston Mayor Thomas M. Menino today urged city residents to go green for the Celtics as the NBA Finals return to the Hub tonight. At the same time Police Commissioner Edward Davis warned cops will bust anyone drinking in public. “Now the Celtics are back home with the best fans cheering them on,” Menino said at a City Hall press conference. “Showcase your Celtic pride and wear green on game day. Green ties, green shirts ... Let’s show the Celtics and the world what great fans we are here and how much we love them.” - Boston Herald

Already public with his desire to be traded, disgruntled Toronto Raptors forward Hedo Turkoglu has privately expressed to league friends a desire to return to the Sacramento Kings, sources told Yahoo! Sports. After Raptors general manager Bryan Colangelo brought him to Toronto with a five-year, $53 million contract last summer, Turkoglu had a tumultuous season and recently told Turkish television – and apparently the organization – that he no longer wants to play for the franchise. - Yahoo! Sports

Grant, who previously worked for the Atlanta Hawks before becoming an assistant to former GM Danny Ferry in Cleveland, is highly respected around the league and ready to make the leap, but he’s fac ing a lot of tough questions that don’t really have answers at the moment. It all begins — and ends — with James, the two-time league MVP who, even if unin tentionally, basically has tied the franchise’s hands behind its back. Everything the Cavaliers have done, are doing and will do over the coming weeks is aimed at re-signing the 25-year-old superstar, includ ing the firing of former coach Mike Brown, the resignation of Ferry and the courting of Michigan State’s Izzo. - Chronicle-Telegram

An appreciably well-wired roundball entrepreneur believes LeBron James will re-up with the Cavaliers for three years, a possibility he almost certainly would not entertain had Mike Brown been retained -- something GM Danny Ferry fiercely advocated doing, hence his resignation. - New York Post

A strong theory that LeBron James will pass on the Knicks because he doesn't want the extra pressure and scrutiny of the New York market doesn't wash with South Jamaica's Lamar Odom. "Of course he can handle the pressure," the Lakers forward told The Post. "Obviously he can. He's so well-established." Odom still pulls for the Knicks and would like to see James on Broadway, despite what look like long odds. "To get a player of his caliber would be great for New York City," Odom said. - New York Post

The widely held assumption is that James can secure more sponsorship money in New York than in Cleveland . That is not a widely held assumption among most who study this sort of thing. "The knee-jerk reaction and conventional wisdom is that by coming to New York, he would further his chances for endorsements,'' said Andrew Forman, an associate professor of marketing at Hofstra. "He's already the highest-earning endorser in the NBA without being in New York. It's hard to say he's been hurt by being in Cleveland to this point.'' Forman said that, as a Knicks fan, he would love to tell James that coming here would boost his bottom line, but he said, "I'm not sure it really makes much of a difference. - Newsday

Hoping to re-sign Dwyane Wade when he enters free agency next month, the Heat has already extended the star guard a contract offer -- for all of South Florida to see. The Heat took its ``We Want Wade'' recruiting campaign to new heights Monday when the team unveiled a billboard designed as a contract near Wade's neighborhood. Wade plans to opt out of his contract by June 30 to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1, when he is expected to be one of the most sought-after players in a market likely to include LeBron James, Chris Bosh and Amare Stoudemire. - Miami Herald

Boozer's visit Monday to the ESPN campus in Bristol, Conn., also included an online chat. Three answers of note:  On the state of his relationship with Jazz point guard Deron Williams, and if Williams has asked him to stay in Utah: "Great. Really good. We were talking about summer stuff. We have a great relationship. It's only getting better and better." - Deseret News

Carlesimo To Join Raptors, Barnes To Test Free Agency

P.J. Carlesimo has an agreement in principle to join the Toronto Raptors as an assistant coach under Jay Triano, according to league sources. Carlesimo last served as a head coach with the Oklahoma City Thunder but was replaced by Scott Brooks midway through the 2008-09 season. Prior to that, Carlesimo served as an assistant coach with the San Antonio Spurs under Gregg Poppovich. Carlesimo spent this season working for the Spurs as a color commentator on their radio broadcasts. - ESPN

Matt Barnes will test the free-agent market this summer. Barnes said minutes ago that he will not exercise his player option for the 2010-11 season, but he added that he hopes to return to the Orlando Magic. “As for me and my contract situation, I’m going to opt out,” Barnes told reporters gathered at RDV Sportsplex this morning. - Orlando Sentinel

Word is Brandon Bass wants assurances from Otis Smith and Stan Van Gundy that he will have a much larger role next season or he wants to be traded. Bass was patient with the process this year and tried to stay positive in the face of a tough situation, but sources close to Bass say enough is enough. - HoopsWorld


But Lewis blossomed from an overmatched high school kid into a 16.7 points-per-game scorer and 39.2 percent 3-point shooter, a two- time All-Star and the holder of a $118 million contract thanks in part to the seven years he spent with Dwane Casey at the start in Seattle. "He's a great coach," Lewis said of Casey, the Sonics' longtime assistant who has had two interviews for the vacancy in Atlanta and is a candidate for other openings. "He's a gym rat. He made sure I worked on my game all the time. He knows the X's and O's. He was a great assistant coach when he did the scouting report. He's just one of those guys who eats, sleeps basketball." - NBA

Magic general manager Otis Smith wants to be clear: He's not looking to overhaul the roster again. Unless he does. Smith said Monday he doesn't expect any major moves this offseason, even after failing to return to the NBA finals. He believes Orlando already has the roster to win its first championship. - USA Today

Garnett, however, kept his shields up when asked after a practice in Waltham, Mass., recently about the roads not taken. "My road is what it is. I traveled it," Garnett told me. "Can't go back in time. Can't change that road. I have a greater sense of appreciation now, because of my journey. And I don't think too much into it, because it's really [wasted] energy to do that. There's no sense in doing that. It's not going to fix anything. It's not going to make anything better with me. I'm living in the moment and I'm enjoying it." - NBA


Gaffney, a Boston native, was signed to the Lakers training camp roster last summer after going undrafted out of the University of Massachusetts. He was the was the last player cut from training camp and went overseas to play in Israel before being signed by the Celtics in April. It has been months since he returned to Los Angeles, and he’s thrilled to be arriving as a member of the Celtics. “I wouldn’t want to be going back any other way. I’m looking forward to it,” he said before the team flew out to California on Monday. “It’s definitely unique, and having the two teams [that I’ve played for] be the Boston Celtics and the Los Angeles Lakers makes it that much more special. Obviously they’re two top of the line, class A organizations, it’s no surprise as to why they are in the finals. Having gotten the chance to witness that and see it firsthand, to me this all makes sense.” - WEEI


First, a source says that less than a week before the June 24 Draft, the Sixers have tentatively scheduled a workout in Philly that will feature Kentucky center DeMarcus Cousins and Georgia Tech forward Derrick Favors, the top two big man prospects in the Draft. There would be no reason to schedule such a workout -- and certainly no reason for either Cousins or Favors to attend -- if there wasn't some kind of indication sent by the Sixers that they're seriously considering one or the other with the second pick. - NBA

Dwight Howard might not play for USA Basketball at this summer's world championships. Orlando's All-Star center and the NBA's two-time defending defensive player of the year said on Monday that he hasn't decided if he will play. It was the first time Howard has publicly wavered about playing in this summer's world championships. He had stayed firm on his commitment all season even as LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and other stars expressed doubts about participating because of impending free agency. "I haven't decided what I'm going to do," Howard said after the Magic's end-of-season meeting. "I'm just going to get some rest and think about that later on." - ESPN

Casey to Hawks? Collins to Sixers?

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