March 2011 Basketball Wiretap

Rockets Request Permission To Speak To Brian Shaw

Apr 30, 2011 11:33 PM

The Rockets have requested permission to speak to Lakers assistant coach Brian Shaw about their head coaching vacancy, according to an ESPN.com report.

Team rules restrict Lakers coaches from interviewing for another job while a playoff series is being played so Shaw will have to interview with the Rockets either Saturday or Sunday, or after the Lakers' second-round series with the Mavericks is concluded.

ESPN.com

Tags: Houston Rockets, NBA, NBA Misc Rumor

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Deron Williams' Agent Says Client Excited About Nets' Future

Apr 30, 2011 4:45 PM

On Thursday, Deron Williams toured the construction site of the Nets’ future home with Billy King, the team’s general manager. Williams’s interest in the Barclays Center site is significant. He can become a free agent after next season; the arena is scheduled to open for the 2012-13 season.

“He is certainly enjoying his time with the organization,” Bob McClaren, Williams’s agent, said in a telephone interview. “They’ve been tremendous to him and they have a great plan for the future, and Deron feels like the best is yet to come for the franchise. ...

“He relishes the opportunity to help market the team to the fans and to, hopefully, free agents,” McClaren said of Williams.

“There is always great hope and opportunity for success when you’ve got a guy that can distribute the ball and make other players better. That’s what Deron Williams does so well.

“That will make the Nets organization very attractive to free agents, and that style of play will be attractive to the fans. The possibility is there to do something really special.”

Jonathan Abrams/New York Times

Tags: Deron Williams, Brooklyn Nets, NBA, NBA Misc Rumor

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Report: Kings Losing $8 Million A Year

Apr 30, 2011 4:32 PM

A consultant familiar with the Kings' finances said the team is losing about $8 million a year. The losses would be higher, except that the Kings operate with the lowest player payroll in the league – around $44 million in the just-concluded regular season.

Such a business model isn't sustainable over the long haul. With a chronically low player payroll, the organization "just withers on the vine," said this consultant.

A new arena in Sacramento would significantly improve the Kings' finances; the Maloofs told an NBA consultant in 2009 that a new building would be worth more than $13 million a year in additional revenue from luxury suites and other amenities.

Dale Kasler/Sacramento Bee

Tags: Sacramento Kings, NBA, NBA Misc Rumor

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McDyess May Have Played Final Game

Apr 30, 2011 2:19 PM

Antonio McDyess is ready to call it quits.

“This was my last game,” the 16-year veteran said. “I’m pretty definite on that. But this was not the way I wanted it to end.”
McDyess suffered another “stinger” in the third quarter of the Grizzlies’ 99-91 victory at the FedEx Forum, temporarily losing the feeling in his left arm, as he had in Game 3 at the same venue.

This time, he was able to return to the game, scoring 10 points and doing a yeoman, if futile, defensive job on Zach Randolph. The Grizzlies’ power forward scored 17 points in the fourth quarter, including 12 in the final 4:25 after a McDyess 20-foot jumper had given the Spurs their first lead since the first quarter.

“He did everything he could against Zach,” Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said.

Mike Monroe/San Antonio Express-News

Tags: Antonio McDyess, San Antonio Spurs, NBA, NBA Misc Rumor

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Miller To Let Agent Handle Contract Situation With Blazers

Apr 30, 2011 5:01 AM

The Blazers have until June 30 to exercise a $7.8 million option to retain Andre Miller for next season. 

"I just let (agent Andy Miller) deal with it," Miller said Friday. "As long as I'm healthy, I'm going to be playing basketball, that's how I see it. I'm past proving myself to make some money. I consider myself a leader on the court and lead by example and habits, you know, that's the best I can do." 

Miller has remained remarkably healthy despite being well into his thirties.

Oregonian

Tags: Andre Miller, Portland Trail Blazers, NBA, NBA Signing Rumor, NBA Misc Rumor

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Oden Looks At Free Agency As 'His Move'

Apr 30, 2011 4:54 AM

Greg Oden will be a restricted free agent during this offseason and the Blazers are almost certain to extend the qualifying offer.

But there are also reports that the Blazers may make a four-year, $40 million offer.

"The way I look at it," he said, "is that it's not their move. It's my move. Everyone says it's their move. I think it's my move." 

There is inherent risk in offering long-term money, but it could prove to be a below market contract if Oden remains healthy.

As one Eastern Conference executive put it on Friday, "If you know Oden is a 1-in-20 shot to come back and be a factor, you have to take it. Because not signing him, you have a 0-in-20 shot of being there if he does. 

"Still, $40 mil makes you think." 

Oregonian

Tags: Greg Oden, Portland Trail Blazers, NBA, NBA Signing Rumor, NBA Misc Rumor

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Richardson, Clark Hope To Re-Sign With Magic In Free Agency

Apr 30, 2011 4:48 AM

Both Jason Richardson and Earl Clark will be free agents this offseason and each have expressed interest in re-signing with the Magic.

"I would definitely love to play here for a long time," said Richardson.

"I don't want to play anywhere else," said Clark.

The Magic acquired both players in a December trade with the Suns.

Neither player has opened contract talks with Orlando.

Orlando Sentinel

Tags: Jason Richardson, Earl Clark, Orlando Magic, NBA, NBA Signing Rumor, NBA Misc Rumor

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Contract Extension On Table For Howard

Apr 29, 2011 3:56 PM

Orlando Magic President of Basketball Operations Otis Smith said Friday that the organization has offered superstar center Dwight Howard a contract extension, but Howard said he hasn't seen it.

"The extension is on the table," Smith said.

That extension is believed to be for two seasons.

Howard can become a free agent following the 2011-12 season.

Smith, coach Stan Van Gundy and Magic players were available to speak to the media Friday, about 15 hours after they were eliminated in the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs by the Atlanta Hawks.

When asked about the contract extension Smith referred to, Howard responded, "I haven't seen a contract."
When a reporter followed up, Howard said, "I haven't seen it."

Josh Robbins/Orlando Sentinel

Tags: Dwight Howard, Orlando Magic, NBA, NBA Misc Rumor

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Warriors GM Larry Riley Expects To Make Playoffs Next Season

Apr 29, 2011 3:53 PM

Warriors general manager Larry Riley, who was more willing to say the roster flaws were his fault than to talk about coach Keith Smart's on-court failures, assesses the team's needs as a center, a big guard and a legitimate sixth man who will probably be a wing player.

"I think next year we should be in the playoffs," Riley said. "We're not (a playoff roster) right now. It will be a playoff roster."
In what hinted at a major change in philosophy, Riley noted that all of the potential additions have to be better defenders. He even seemed open to slowing his preferred uptempo style offense.

"That doesn't mean I have to go get a defensive guru to coach," Riley said. "Our defense has to improve, but that's not necessarily the model for the coach. ...

"We do like the uptempo game, because the roster is geared that way. That could change, if we change the roster as well as the coach."

Rusty Simmons/San Francisco Chronicle

Tags: Golden State Warriors, NBA, NBA Misc Rumor

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Knicks May Force D'Antoni To Add Defensive Assistant

Apr 29, 2011 10:32 AM

As Donnie Walsh seeks to regain full autonomy within the Knicks organization, Mike D'Antoni could be losing some of his power on the Knicks' bench.

According to several sources, the front office will encourage D'Antoni to revamp his coaching staff to hire a defensive coach. In the past, D'Antoni has been reluctant to seek outside help, most famously refusing Steve Kerr's request four years ago to hire Tom Thibodeau in Phoenix. Thibodeau landed in Boston in 2007, and helped the Celtics win the title three seasons ago. He now is head coach of the top-seeded Bulls.

D'Antoni is under contract through next season and is expected to be retained after leading the Knicks to their first postseason appearance in seven years. However, under D'Antoni the Knicks have been among the league's weaker defensive teams, which is something Walsh would like to change.

Memphis assistant Dave Joerger, Orlando's Steve Clifford, Portland's Bill Bayno and Chicago's Ron Adams are all regarded as top defensive coaches. Another possibility for the Knicks is Thibodeau's replacement in Boston, Lawrence Frank, the former Nets' coach. Frank's contract expires this summer.

Frank Isola/New York Daily News

Tags: New York Knicks, NBA, NBA Misc Rumor

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Nuggets Aim To Keep Afflalo

Benjamin Hochman/Denver Post

Nuggets' Martin Willing To Come Off Bench For Winning Team

Ryan Casey/Denver Post

Paul: Hornets Committed To Winning

John Reid/Times Picayune

Granger Wants Vogel Back With Pacers

Lacy J. Banks/Chicago Sun-Times

Howard Not Thinking About Free Agency

Josh Robbins/Orlando Sentinel

Nets' Williams: Brooklyn Arena Will Be 'Baller’s Paradise'

Star-Ledger

Iguodala Misses Exit Interview

Kate Fagan/Philadelphia Inquirer

Young Unwilling To Give Wizards 'Hometown Discount'

Michael Lee/Washington Post

Haslem Nearing Return

Ethan J. Skolnick/Palm Beach Post

Knicks Won't Buyout Billups For 11-12

Chris Sheridan/ESPN.com

Knicks Interested In Return Of Wilson Chandler

Marc Berman/New York Post

Walsh's Contract Status To Be Determined Amid Power Struggle

New York Daily News

Warriors Unlikely To Retain Keith Smart

San Jose Mercury News

Sacramento Shows NBA $10M 'Down Payment'

ESPN.com

Sources: McHale Will Interview With Houston

Yahoo! Sports

Rockets Receive Permission To Interview Dwane Casey

Star-Telegram

Randolph, Grizzlies Agree To Four-Year Extension

Chris Broussard/ESPN

Howard Trade Possible This Offseason

Ric Bucher/ESPN

Rambis Expected To Be Fired, Announcement Could Come After CBA Resolution

Marc J. Spears/Yahoo! Sports

Sharks Looking To Assist In Bringing NBA Team To San Jose

Marc J. Spears/Yahoo! Sports