The Raptors' fondness for Nuggets GM Masai Ujiri has been the worst kept secret in basketball over the last month and this week, the club officially got the top executive on their wishlist. Ujiri reportedly has a five-year deal with the club that will pay him $15MM in total. While he liked the opportunity in Toronto, he gave Denver a chance to match before accepting the contract. More from this week on Hoops Rumors..
- Dwight Howard is leaning towards the Rockets but will meet with every potential suitor starting on July 1st. Houston is increasingly hopeful that they'll be able to land DH.
- Mike Budenholzer has been a key part of the Spurs' success for some time and he'll take his expertise over the to the Hawks as their new head coach.
- The Bucks hired former Hawks coach Larry Drew to fill their vacancy. Drew agreed to a four-year, $10MM deal.
- The Bobcats grabbed Lakers assistant Steve Clifford to be their next head coach. Clifford takes over for former St. John's assistant Mike Dunlap, who was let go after just one year at the helm.
- The Suns tapped Jeff Hornacek as their next head coach.
- Sacramento informed Keith Smart that he won't be back as coach and quickly reached agreement with his replacement, Michael Malone.
- The Kings also bounced Geoff Petrie and reportedly have their eye on Larry Bird. They also like Chris Wallace for the job but another guy high up on their list, R.C. Buford, has already said he's not interested.
- The Cavs would give up the No. 1 pick for Kevin Love.
- Maurice Cheeks and Nate McMillan appear to be the frontrunners for the Pistons job.
- Grant Hill announced his retirement.
- Chris Paul is upset about the perception that he got Vinny Del Negro fired, so the club has publicly come out and taken responsibility for the move.
- The union is zeroing in on Steve Mills as their next executive director.
- Alvin Gentry and Jeff Van Gundy could be the leading candidates for the Clippers job while Nate McMillan and Byron Scott are on the outside looking in.
- The Nets reached out to JVG but his interest level is currently unknown.
- The Kings sale to Vivek Ranadive & Co. has been finalized.
- Ujiri's first order of business could be to move Andrea Bargnani. Good luck.
- The Raptors are likely to keep Dwane Casey.
- A report indicated that the Kings are looking to move DeMarcus Cousins, but that may not be the case. If Cousins is available, the Bobcats are among the clubs interested but the Cavs are not.
- The Rockets are trying to deal Thomas Robinson in an effort to clear more cap room for a run at Howard.
- Teams around the league have a "healthy interest" in Paul Pierce, but the Celtics won't just give him away.
- Monta Ellis could have interest in the Kings.
- George Karl's job status could be in jeopardy and the Clippers may have interest in him.
- The Raptors dismissed Ed Stefanski after hiring Ujiri.
- Carmelo Anthony wants the Knicks to add another scorer.
- Several candidates have emerged for the Nuggets' GM job and Stefanski could be among them now.
- Richard Jefferson will exercise his player option.
- The Bucks might prefer to keep Monta Ellis over Brandon Jennings.
- Flip Saunders is looking to hire a GM in Minnesota and likes Pelicans assistant GM Tim Connelly and Wizards VP of player personnel Milt Newton.
- Shane Larkin won't work out for the Knicks as he believes he'll be gone before the No. 24 pick.