March 2011 Basketball Wiretap

Report: Wade Yelled At Stern While Making Pointed Remarks

Sep 30, 2011 8:30 PM

Dwyane Wade reportedly yelled at David Stern while making 'pointed remarks' during Friday's labor meeting, sources tell ESPN.

Sources say Stern pointed at Wade, which was taken as a sign of disrespect and that triggered the outburst.

Wade was quoted this week of saying that players like him would be worth upwards of $50 million if there were no salary restrictions.

Chris Broussard/ESPN

Tags: Dwyane Wade, Miami Heat, NBA, NBA Misc Rumor, NBA CBA

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Stern Calls Report Of 82 Games Or No Games 'Ludicrous'

Sep 30, 2011 7:43 PM

David Stern blasted an ESPN report as "ludicrous" that the entire season would be in jeopardy if there was no progress on a deal this weekend.

Stern was asked if he can see the framework of a deal.

"We leave that to the bloggers," said Stern.

Alan Hahn/Newsday

Tags: NBA, NBA CBA

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Labor Talks Will Resume At 10 AM Saturday

Sep 30, 2011 7:03 PM

Derek Fisher and the players exited a Friday meeting with the owners that lasted nearly five hours and immediately addressed the media.

"We did not come out with a deal today," said Fisher. "We will be back at 10 am tomorrow."

Fisher said no proposals were exchanged and there were no threats to cancel the season. He also indicated that he does not believe the sides are any closer to agreeing to a deal than they were on Wednesday and that talks were contentious at times.

"We can't continue to go down any path without making sure it's a fair way to go," said Fisher.

David Stern addressed the media shortly after the union concluded their remarks.

"Both sides expressed a willingness to make a deal," said Stern. "Once you start to lose games, positions on both sides start to harden." 

Stern also indicated that the union knows "precisely" what the revenue sharing system would look like. "They know as much as we know."

One source from inside the meeting told an associate that there was a 'sense of cooperation' during the day.

Adrian Wojnarowski/Yahoo! Sports (via Twitter)

Tags: NBA, NBA CBA

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'Spirit Of Cooperation' In Friday Labor Meeting

Sep 30, 2011 6:12 PM

The NBA and NBPA have been in an ongoing labor meeting on Friday that has lasted over four hours.

One participant in the talks texted an associate that there has "been a spirit of cooperation" in the room.

The consensus heading into Friday's larger-scale meeting was that it would go a long ways in determining whether the nature of negotiations.

Caron Butler and Theo Ratliff were the first two players to exit the meeting. Ratliff told reporters that there will be a meeting on Saturday.

Adrian Wojnarowski/Yahoo! Sports

Tags: NBA, NBA CBA

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Kobe To Italy Talks Ongoing, Partnership Described As 'Complex'

Sep 30, 2011 5:52 PM

Kobe Bryant remains in talks with Virtus Bologna, the Italian team interested in signing him during the NBA lockout.

The burgeoning relationship between Bryant, Virtus Bologna and the Italian league has been described as "complex".

Sources say Bryant has a strong desire to play in Italy and wants an arrangement where the entire league benefits financially.

Adrian Wojnarowski/Yahoo! Sports (via Twitter)

Tags: Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers, NBA, NBA Signing Rumor, NBA Misc Rumor, International, International Signing Rumor

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Owners' Inability To Agree Internally To Revenue Share Slows Talks With Players

Sep 30, 2011 5:37 PM

The owners have been unable to agree on revenue sharing and, as much as anything, it is keeping them from bridging the gap with the players, according to sources.

Large-market owners have refused to share their local television revenues, which are substantial in comparison to smaller-market teams.

If the big-market owners don't agree to share more revenue, the small-market owners will keep pushing for a harsher deal from the players.

Chris Broussard/ESPN

Tags: NBA, NBA CBA

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Without Fellow Canadians, Kabongo Still Happy With Texas Decision

Sep 30, 2011 4:33 PM

Myck Kabongo chose to commit to Texas, in part, to play with fellow Canadians Tristan Thompson and Cory Joseph.

"We've always wanted to play with each other all our lives when we were growing up," said Kabongo, a 6-foot-1 point guard from Toronto. "That's why we all decided to come to Texas. But in the back of my mind, I knew how hard those two guys worked and knew they'd be in the position that they were in - to be able to go in the NBA draft and play in the NBA."

Thompson and Joseph left school after one season and were first round picks.

Kabongo knew about the Longhorns' recent history of playing freshman point guards. T.J. Ford was a Big 12 freshman of the year in 2002, while Daniel Gibson earned that same honor three years later. The tradition continued with Avery Bradley in 2009-10 and Joseph last season, though both could more accurately be described as combo guards.

Kabongo had also developed a strong relationship with Rick Barnes.

"With everything, they were very honest with me," said Kabongo, the No. 26 overall prospect in the 2011 recruiting class. "They kept it very real with me. They didn't just tell me things I wanted to hear. Whenever I call Coach Barnes, he's always telling me things he thought I could improve on as a basketball player and as a person."

Kabongo has a reputation as a pass-first point guard, which will make him well-liked by his teammates and he has already exhibited a strong work ethic.

"He's up in the morning at 6:30 every day in the gym on his own," Texas assistant Rob Lanier said. "Any time he's asked me to come in and work him out ... by the time I'm out there, he's already got a full sweat going and already has been going for a half-hour.

"A couple of times, I've worked him out, and we come back that night. He's really motivated. He's not taking anything for granted."

Steve Megargee/Yahoo! Sports

Tags: Myck Kabongo Lukusa, Texas Longhorns, NCAA

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Kendrick Nunn De-Commits From Texas A&M

Sep 30, 2011 4:16 PM

Chicago Simeon's Kendrick Nunn has de-committed form Texas A&M.

Nunn committed to Texas A&M and is ranked as the No. 17 shooting guard in the class of 2013.

"He just felt he committed too soon without going through the normal process of being recruited and going on other campus visits and seeing other stuff," Simeon coach Rob Smith said. "Texas A&M is still one of his top schools. He had a conversation with their coaching staff already. They know it's a business and things happen like that when kids commit early."

Illinois, Memphis, Pittsburgh and Syracuse are among the schools recruiting Nunn now. 

Scott Powers/ESPN

Tags: Kendrick Nunn, Illinois Fighting Illini, Texas A&M Aggies, Pittsburgh Panthers, Memphis Tigers, Syracuse Orange, High School, High School Recruiting, NCAA, NCAA Recruiting

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Dunklin Commits To UC Santa Barbara

Sep 30, 2011 3:59 PM

Dalante Dunklin has committed to UC Santa Barbara.

Dunklin was also considering Cal Poly, Denver, Portland State and San Diego.

"The coaching staff is amazing and I was able to build a great bond with each of them," he said. "Along with that, the players were all great people."

Dunklin is a point guard of the class of 2012 out of Francis Parker.

"The program is making strides," he said. "I, along with the freshman, feel we can be the Butler or VCU of the West."

Collegiate Hoops

Tags: Dalante Dunklin, UC Santa Barbara Gauchos, High School, High School Recruiting, NCAA, NCAA Recruiting

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Curry Comfortable With Warriors But Wouldn't Be Opposed To Playing For Charlotte

Sep 30, 2011 3:54 PM

Stephen Curry bought a home in Weddington, North Carolina, which is near Charlotte, and continues to rent in San Francisco.

"Of course I'd like to play here - it's home and I know a lot of people. But that doesn't mean I'm trying to get out of Golden State,'' Curry said Thursday in a wide-ranging interview with the Observer.

"There's no reason I would not want to play in Charlotte. Maybe the pressure of being around family all the time would affect some people, but I wouldn't be opposed to any of that.''

Curry said he's excited about the Warriors' recent change in ownership and new coach Mark Jackson.

"I think the Warriors are headed in a good direction, and I want to be a part of that,'' Curry said.

Curry wrote on Twitter to clarify the comments he made to the Charlotte Observer.

"I'm #GSW for life and ready for the long haul," wrote Curry. "Just answering a question about the pressure of family in my hometown."

Charlotte Observer

Tags: Stephen Curry, Charlotte Hornets, Golden State Warriors, NBA, NBA Misc Rumor

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Miami's Arison Only Owner Beyond Labor Committee Present For Meeting

Ken Berger/CBS Sports

Purvis Commits To N.C. State

RealGM Staff Report

Parker To Make Decision About Playing Abroad Next Week

Project Spurs

NBA To Propose 'Carmelo Rule' Limiting Extensions Using Bird Rights For Traded Players

Marc Stein/ESPN

LeBron, Wade, Carmelo, Durant, Other Stars To Be Present For Friday Meeting

Marc Stein/ESPN

Arizona, UCLA Lead Pac-12 Recruiting Resurgence

MaxPreps

Kentucky To Run Modified Version Of Dribble-Drive

Jonathan Givony/DraftExpress (via Twitter)

Zydrunas Ilgauskas To Retire

Cleveland Plan-Dealer (via Twitter)

Wade Believes He Would See $50M Annually On True Open Market

Adrian Wojnarowski/Yahoo! Sports

Delfino Receives Offer From Siena

Ole

Source: Casey Jones Commits To Chattanooga

Garrett Tucker/BluegrassHoops.com

Virtus Bologna's Plea To Host Kobe Games In Big Arenas Denied

Sportando

Kobe Reaches Economic Deal With Virtus Bologna

Associated Press

Paul Mokeski Will Be Named Head Coach Of Reno Bighorns

Scott Schroeder/Ridiculous Upside

Owners, Players Ready For Most Important Meeting To Date In Labor Talks

Adrian Wojnarowski/Yahoo! Sports

Hansbrough Impressed By Hairston, McAdoo May Need More Time

Jeff Goodman/CBS Sports

Newark Memorial To Host Elite Bay Area Prospects At Tip Off Classic

RealGM Staff Report

Lietuvos Rytas, Cibona, Alba Berlin, Spirou Advance In Euroleague Qualifier

RealGM Staff Report

Ben Wallace Faces Drunk Driving, Gun Charges

Detroit Free-Press

McCants Considering Deal In China

Marc Stein/ESPN (via Twitter)