David Joerger agreed Friday to a two-year deal with the Grizzlies that includes a significant increase in pay and a promotion to lead assistant.

Joerger is entering his fifth year with the Grizzlies and assumes the position vacated by Johnny Davis, who left earlier this month to become the lead assistant with the Toronto Raptors.

“I’m happy for (Joerger). He was instrumental in us being successful. Keeping him gives me a little peace of mind,” Hollins said. “It’s really disappointing that we lost two guys because in any endeavor you want continuity. You want to have trust in who your coaches are and what they are about. And that takes time to develop. When you’re changing coaches on a regular basis you never really get that. It’s hard to find coaches who know how to be followers but are leaders.

“Johnny Davis was important to us and nobody really knows how valuable Damon Stoudamire was to us. He had a very good connection with all the players. His relationship was unique and one I couldn’t have with the players. There were a lot of fires he could put out.”

Assistants Henry Bibby and Barry Hecker are also expected to re-sign with pay raises and more responsibility.

Kevin McHale added Greg Buckner to his staff with the Rockets as player development coach.

The position will be Buckner’s first coaching job after a 10-year NBA career with Dallas, Denver, Philadelphia, Minnesota and Memphis.

“He’s going to be coaching, a lot of player development,” McHale said. “He’s still young enough to run out there with them. I said he’s got to do a lot of that, a lot of player development. He just got done playing. He was a heady player, played with a lot of heart.

“He came up the hard way, really worked his way around the league. Just a really good, blue-collar guy who understands the league.”

With the door to the NBA that swung open nine years ago closed to him, Yao Ming on Wednesday chose “a new life.”

Yao announced his retirement in a ceremony and news conference in Shanghai, citing the repeated injuries to his left foot and ankle.

“At the end of the last year, my left foot had a third fracture,” Yao said. “Today, I need to make a personal decision. I will stop my basketball career and I will formally retire. Today, thinking back and thinking of the future, I have been very grateful. First of all, I need to be grateful to basketball. It has brought happiness to many people including myself.

“Life is my guide. Just follow it and it will open doors. Out of each door, there will be beautiful world outside. Since I am retired, one door is closed. But a new life is waiting for me. I have left the basketball (court), but I will not leave basketball.”

Indiana Pacers Head Coach Frank Vogel announced his coaching staff, naming Brian Shaw as associate head coach and Jim Boylen and Dan Burke as assistant coaches.

“This is a well-rounded, experienced staff,” said Vogel. “Each individual brings something different, yet collectively they all fit. Everyone will contribute, whether it’s offense, defense, player development or game preparation. All three are very capable of handling any responsibility. There was a lot of interest from other teams in all three of these coaches. The fact they chose to be here is indicative of what we’re building.”

The Houston Rockets made new coach Kevin McHale's staff official on Friday, announcing the hiring of Kelvin Sampson, J.B. Bickerstaff, Chris Finch and Brett Gunning.

Sampson, the former Oklahoma and Indiana head coach who served on Milwaukee's staff the last three years, will be McHale's lead assistant. 

Beneath him will be Bickerstaff, a former assistant coach in Minnesota, Finch, the head coach for the Rockets D-League team and Gunning, who was the Rockets director of player personnel.

The Knicks have parted ways with scouts Rodney Heard and Steve Yoder.

The Knicks are working to re-sign the rest of their top personnel in the front office and scouting department.

Heard was fined $20,000 in February for his participation in illegal workouts.

The Minnesota Timberwolves today announced that the team has relieved head coach Kurt Rambis of his coaching duties.

"I want to thank Kurt for his contributions to our franchise and wish him the best in his future endeavors," said David Kahn, Timberwolves President of Basketball Operations. "His arrival signaled we were serious about building a championship-contending ballclub over the course of time. We have accumulated a solid nucleus of young talent with a bright future during the last two years. I am hopeful Kurt receives his share of the credit for helping develop that talent and his contributions are not forgotten as we become a better basketball team.

"It is always hard to make these decisions. It is especially hard when it involves somebody of Kurt's reputation. Even so, this is the right time for us to make a head coaching change now that we've identified our roster and its specific needs."

Rambis was named the ninth head coach of the Timberwolves on Aug. 10, 2009. In his two seasons as head coach of the Wolves, Rambis compiled a 32-132 record.

The Indiana Pacers announced Wednesday that Frank Vogel has been named head coach. Per club policy, terms of Vogel’s contract are not released.

The 38-year-old Vogel compiled a 20-18 record as an interim coach at the end of the 2010-11 season after replacing Jim O’Brien, Jan. 30. Vogel helped lead the Pacers to their first playoff appearance since 2006 where they lost to the Chicago Bulls, 4-1, in a competitive best-of-seven series.

“We’re very happy to have Frank as our coach,” said Pacers President of Basketball Operations Larry Bird. “As I stated after the season, I was in no hurry regarding the coach, mainly because I knew I had a good candidate in Frank. But we wanted to get through the draft and I wanted to have numerous conversations with Frank about a staff that will cover all areas. I feel strongly he is doing that and this coaching staff, as a whole, will help this franchise continue to move forward.”

“I’m very grateful to (team owner) Herb Simon, Larry Bird and (general manager) David Morway for giving me this opportunity,” said Vogel. “Our team last year finished strong with a positive playoff showing and it’s something we all can definitely build on. This is a challenge I embrace and look forward to.”

The Los Angeles Lakers have hired Chuck Person and Quin Snyder to serve as assistant coaches, it was announced today by Lakers General Manager Mitch Kupchak.

After spending the last two years working with the Lakers organization, Person will remain with the team serving as an assistant coach under Head Coach Mike Brown. Person, who spent the 2009-2010 season assisting Phil Jackson and his staff during their championship run, was hired on as an assistant coach at the start of the 2010-11 season.

“I’m very pleased to add Chuck to my coaching staff,” said Lakers Head Coach Mike Brown. “I’ve seen firsthand his dedication and his desire to making the players he coaches better. The knowledge of the game that he has from his experience, both as a coach and as a former NBA player, is an invaluable asset that he brings to the team and I look forward to working with him once again.”

The Spurs and Antonio McDyess agreed on an extension of the guaranteed-salary deadline for the 11-12 season.

McDyess had to be waived by midnight Thursday if the Spurs were to avoid paying him $5.2 million next season.

The Spurs proposed extending the deadline to the first day of the next player free agency period.

McDyess had indicated that he plans on retiring, but the Spurs believe a lockout shortened season may change his mind.