March 2014 Basketball Wiretap

Kevin Love Visits Boston, Declines To Discuss Potential Connection To Celtics

Jun 1, 2014 7:12 AM

Kevin Love is visiting Boston this weekend, hanging out at bars near TD Garden, fraternizing with New England Patriots players and walking the streets of the city.

Love took a picture with a Harvard graduate on Saturday that went viral on the Internet. He is also expected to attend the Red Sox game on Sunday.

Love, 25, has one more season left on his contract and his representatives have reportedly told the Minnesota Timberwolves their desire for a trade. The Boston Celtics are believed to be a suitor for Love.

When approached at a local hotel, Love said, “I’m sorry man, I can’t do nothing [in terms of talking], I can’t.”

Love averaged 26.1 points, 12.5 rebounds, and 4.4 assists this season. He said during NBA All-Star weekend that he was intrigued by Boston, impressed with Brad Stevens but was unfamiliar with the city.

“I’ve never really spent much time in Boston. I don’t know it too well,” Love said in February. “But I think as far as playing there, we love competing against those guys. I think they have a great coach and they have a ton of youngsters that are up-and-comers.

“Boston is a great city. I’m sure free agents would love to go there, especially with Stevens as a coach. He’s a guy that can win basketball games. He gets guys to play for him. They’ve been having good success there, even in his first year, and he has a lot of young players. The coach has a lot to do with it, but yeah, Boston is a great place.”

Gary Washburn/Boston Globe

Tags: Kevin Love, Boston Celtics, Minnesota Timberwolves, NBA, NBA Misc Rumor

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Kerr Denies Giving Verbal Agreement To Jackson For Knicks' Job

May 31, 2014 10:17 PM

Steve Kerr denied giving Phil Jackson a verbal commitment to become head coach of the New York Knicks before backing out when the Golden State Warriors' job became available.

"We were very close, but we never agreed to a contract,” Kerr told the Daily News Saturday night before working Game 6 of the Western Conference Finals for TNT. "We didn't have a handshake agreement or anything like that. But I did think I was going to go there. And I think Phil and I both thought it was going to happen.”

Kerr and Jackson had many phone conversations about the Knicks and he admitted that he may have strongly intimated that he would accept the job.

“I’m not upset he expressed it that way,” Kerr said. “I’m OK with that. But in the end, Phil knew I wasn't quite comfortable and he didn't hold me to any of our conversations. That's what is great about dealing with Phil. There was no pressure on me to take the job. He reiterated to me, ‘You need to feel good about this. You need to make sure of it.' That's why he didn't make a fuss about it, when I wanted to speak with Golden State.”

Mitch Lawrence/New York Daily News

Tags: Golden State Warriors, New York Knicks, NBA, NBA Misc Rumor

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Knicks Target Bucks, 76ers As Possible Trade Partners To Acquire Draft Pick

May 31, 2014 6:16 PM

The New York Knicks will attempt to trade for a second round draft pick by purchasing a selection.

Phil Jackson cited the Milwaukee Bucks and Philadelphia 76ers are possible trade targets because those teams own multiple picks in the draft.

Jackson said the Knicks will not get in "a bidding war."

“Teams do sell draft picks," Jackson said. "If teams are willing to allow us to buy a draft pick for a player we want to have at a position, we’ll do it.’’

Marc Berman/New York Post

Tags: Milwaukee Bucks, New York Knicks, Philadelphia Sixers, NBA, NBA Misc Rumor, NBA NBA Draft, NBA Draft General

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Jazz To Bring In Adrian Griffin, Quin Snyder For Second Interviews

May 31, 2014 6:10 PM

Adrian Griffin will interview a second time for the Utah Jazz's head coach opening in the next week, according to sources.

The Jazz could be near the end of their coaching search, with multiple candidates separating themselves from the pack.

Griffin originally interviewed with the Jazz two weeks ago. Griffin, who has served as an assistant coach on Tom Thibodeau's staff, is reportedly also a candidate for the Cleveland Cavaliers and New York Knicks.

Quin Snyder will also receive a second interview with the Jazz.

Tony Jones/The Salt Lake Tribune

Tags: Utah Jazz, NBA, NBA Misc Rumor

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Tyrone Corbin Expected To Interview For Kings' Assistant Coach Opening

May 31, 2014 4:46 PM

The Sacramento Kings are in the early stages of their search to fill an assistant coaching vacancy.

Tyrone Corbin is expected to interview for the position.

Corbin was fired by the Utah Jazz after the season.

Marc J. Spears/Yahoo! Sports

Tags: Sacramento Kings, NBA, NBA Misc Rumor

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George Puts Stephenson Decision On Pacers' Front Office

May 31, 2014 2:58 PM

Paul George was asked on Friday if he wants to have Lance Stephenson return to the Indiana Pacers next season.

"I don't know," George said after a long pause. "That's for Larry (Bird), Kevin (Pritchard), for them to decide. It would be great. We came into this league together. It would be great for us to continue our journey together.

"But he's played a huge (role) this whole season and in this postseason. So it's definitely put pressure on us to make decisions going forward with Lance."

David West took a more decisive position.

"I think so, I hope so," said David West. "He's a huge part of the progress that we made. He's a great young talent. He fits with this group so hopefully we get him back."

"In our eyes (right now), Lance is still here, still a part of this organization," George Hill said. "We love Lance as a teammate and we hope that the organization brings him back with this group. He's a big part of this team's success."

Zak Keefer/USA Today

Tags: Lance Stephenson, Indiana Pacers, NBA, NBA Signing Rumor, NBA Misc Rumor

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Pacers To Bring Back Frank Vogel Next Season

May 31, 2014 2:34 PM

The Indiana Pacers plan on bringing back Frank Vogel as head coach next season, according to sources.

Vogel led the Pacers to the Eastern Conference Finals again this season, as well as the best record in the Eastern Conference. But the Pacers narrowly moved past the Atlanta Hawks and the Washington Wizards in the first and second rounds.

Adrian Wojnarowski/Yahoo! Sports

Tags: Indiana Pacers, NBA, NBA Misc Rumor

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Hibbert's Camp Hasn't Asked For Trade From Pacers

May 31, 2014 1:07 PM

Roy Hibbert's camp hasn't outright asked for a trade from the Indiana Pacers, according to sources. But the word is that they wouldn't oppose a deal to give him a fresh start.

Hibbert has two seasons remaining on his contract, which is worth more than $30 million.

The Pacers would have to take a lot of money back in return for Hibbert and he certainly could have a bounce-back season after a tough second half.

Marc Stein/ESPN

Tags: Roy Hibbert, Indiana Pacers, NBA, NBA Trade Rumor, NBA Misc Rumor

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Stephenson's Market Expected To Be Soft

May 31, 2014 1:04 PM

Lance Stephenson was nearly an Eastern Conference All-Star selection, but his free agency stock has dropped substantially since then.

Stephenson has annoyed his fellow Indiana Pacers' teammates and is now being perceived as an overall distraction after so many ill-conceived attempts to mess with LeBron James during the Eastern Conference Finals.

The Dallas Mavericks have a need for a player of Stephenson's skill-set and have a history of taking gambles on players, but they do not intend to pursue him in free agency.

Marc Stein/ESPN

Tags: Lance Stephenson, Dallas Mavericks, Indiana Pacers, NBA, NBA Signing Rumor, NBA Misc Rumor

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Lance Stephenson 'Definitely' Wants To Return To Pacers

May 31, 2014 12:50 AM

Lance Stephenson will become an unrestricted free agent in July.

Stephenson scored 11 points in the Indiana Pacers' season-ending loss in the Eastern Conference Finals on Friday and was asked about his upcoming free agency.

"I definitely want to be back," Stephenson said. "Right now I can't really, I’m not really focused on that right now."

Candace Buckner/Indianapolis Star

Tags: Lance Stephenson, Indiana Pacers, NBA, NBA Misc Rumor

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Steve Ballmer Committed To Keep Clippers In Los Angeles, Spend On Top Free Agents

James Rainey/Los Angeles Times

Quin Snyder Emerges As Leading Candidate For Jazz

Jody Genessy/Deseret News

Pistons Hire Malone, Beyer, Klask As Assistant Coaches

Matt Watson/Detroit Bad Boys

Jackson Advises Carmelo To Wait Until 2015 For Free Agency

Frank Isola/New York Daily News

Kerr Gave Verbal Commitment To Knicks

Chris Herring/Wall Street Journal

Vinny Del Negro Emerges As Serious Candidate For Wolves

Marc Stein/ESPN

Dario Saric Will Come To NBA Immediately If Drafted By Celtics, Lakers

Gary Dzen/Boston Globe

Wade: LeBron's Decision Goes Beyond My Health

Jeff Zilgitt/USA Today

Bosh Expects To Remain With Heat, May Be Willing To Take Less

Jason Lieser/Palm Beach Post

Jonas Jerebko Plans To Exercise Player Option For 14-15

Vincent Goodwill/Detroit News

Donovan: Basketball Part Of NBA Intriguing

Mary Schmitt Boyer/The Plain Dealer

Griffin, Lue, Hollins, Gentry Considered Most Likely Candidates For Cavs

Mary Schmitt Boyer/Cleveland Plain Dealer

Kurt Rambis Interviews With Lakers

Mike Bresnahan/Los Angeles Times

Randy Wittman Close To Three-Year Extension With Wizards

Adrian Wojnarowski/Yahoo! Sports

Carmelo Anthony Meets With His Reps To Discuss Free Agency

Marc Berman/New York Post

Kings Interested In Kevin Love, Willing To Deal Without Assurance He'll Re-Sign

Marc J. Spears/Yahoo! Sports

Report: Cavaliers Believe Kyrie Irving May Decline Max Contract Offer

Peter Vecsey/Twitter

James Nunnally To Have Pre-Free Agency Workouts With Warriors, Jazz

Shams Charania/RealGM

Zach Randolph, Grizzlies Have Begun Discussions On New Contract

Adrian Wojnarowski/Yahoo! Sports

Wizards Considered 'Stealth Candidate' To Pursue Kevin Love

David Aldridge/NBA.com