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Clippers Notes: Crawford, Trades, Hollins, Karl

June 14th, 2013 at 10:34pm CST by Chuck Myron

For most of the Clippers' time in Southern California, they've been afterthoughts for the Lakers, but if the Clips' recent success hasn't fostered a rivalry, adding three prominent Celtics would certainly turn up the heat in Staples Center. We're a long way from seeing Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and especially Doc Rivers change from green into red and blue, but the idea has generated plenty of buzz in L.A. Here's the latest: 

  • Jamal Crawford wouldn't be a part of a trade for Garnett and Pierce, sources tell Arash Markazi of ESPNLosAngeles.com, who received an assist from Salary Cap FAQ Author Larry Coon to break down the feasible scenarios for a Clippers-Celtics blockbuster. In addition to the trades covered in the piece, Pierce could also become available to the Clippers via free agency if the Celtics decide to waive him by June 30th, as his $15MM+ contract is guaranteed for just $5MM until the end of the month.
  • Lionel Hollins' basketball IQ, demeanor and ability to develop players left the Clippers impressed after a two-day interview, several NBA executives told Broderick Turner of the Los Angeles Times.
  • In a separate piece summarizing the latest Clippers storylines, Turner passes along word from an unnamed executive who said the Clips "never expressed tremendous interest" in George Karl.
  • TNT's David Aldridge expects Vinny Del Negro, the coach the Clippers are trying to replace, to quickly resurface in connection with another coaching job now that he's hired highly respected agent Lonnie Cooper (Twitter link).
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Odds & Ends: Cavs, Bobcats, Nuggets, Farmar

June 14th, 2013 at 2:42pm CST by Luke Adams

On the heels of a pair of unsurprising option decisions – Brandon Rush and Marvin Williams will return to the Warriors and Jazz, respectively – we received word that Andre Iguodala will opt out of the final year of his contract and become a free agent. Iguodala's decision isn't a huge surprise either, but it certainly makes this year's class of free agents even more interesting.

In addition to the Nuggets, Wojnarowski listed six other teams expected to pursue Iguodala, while Marcus Thompson of the Bay Area News Group tweets that the Warriors are interested in well. Golden State would have a much tougher path to landing Iggy than teams with cap space, but a sign-and-trade is within the realm of possibility.

Here are a few more Friday odds and ends from around the NBA:

  • An Eastern Conference executive tells Sam Amico of FOX Sports Ohio (Twitter link) that the Cavaliers and Bobcats have both been "ultra-aggressive" in seeking out trades.
  • We heard yesterday that the Nuggets hoped to bring Brian Shaw in for an interview next week, but according to a tweet from Chris Broussard of ESPN.com, it sounds like Denver was able to schedule a meeting with Shaw for today. Lionel Hollins' interview is still set for tomorrow, as planned.
  • Discussing his team's upcoming offseason, Pistons GM Joe Dumars says many teams facing possible tax penalties next season are already making trade calls in an effort to reduce or avoid a tax bill (link via David Mayo of MLive.com).
  • Agent Tony Dutt tells Gery Woelfel of the Racine Journal Times that his client, Jordan Farmar, wants to return to the NBA "for sure." Farmar signed a three-year contract in Turkey last summer, but has the chance to opt out of the deal after each season.
  • In an Insider-only piece for ESPN.com, Kevin Pelton follows up on the story that Chris Paul and Dwight Howard are interested in playing together by ranking a handful of possible destinations from least likely (Lakers) to most likely (Hawks).
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Western Notes: Wolves, Mavericks, World Peace

June 13th, 2013 at 10:40pm CST by Ryan Raroque

Jerry Zgoda of the Star Tribune writes that the Timberwolves will likely trade either J.J. Barea or Luke Ridnour by draft night. In the same piece, Zgoda notes that GM Flip Saunders is impressed with Victor Oladipo. Minnesota – currently slated to draft ninth overall – would have to swing a deal into the top five in order to have a chance at the former Hoosier star, though Zgoda doesn't think the team has enough assets to accomplish that. Here are more news and notes from the Western Conference tonight: 

  • The Grizzlies interviewed Ed Pinckney today and are another team among those monitoring Doc Rivers' situation with Boston, says USA Today's Sam Amick (Twitter links). 
  • While recalling the Mavericks' decision to break up their championship roster, coach Rick Carlisle described it as "gut-wrenching." This summer, Dallas will have another chance to reap the rewards from that tough decision, and Carlisle seems determined to get things done: "We're going to be active in free agency…We're an aggressive franchise by nature; our owner (Mark Cuban) is. And that's good. We're going to put together a good team" (A. Sherrod Blakely of CSNNE.com) 
  • Lakers forward Metta World Peace has been working out at the IMG Academy and reportedly looks great, tweets Alex Kennedy of Hoopsworld. 
  • Matt Moore of CBS Sports isn't so sure George Karl would be a good fit with the current Grizzlies roster. Going off of reports that Brian Shaw and Lionel Hollins are in the lead for the Nuggets' job, Moore thinks Shaw would be an ideal fit, whereas Hollins would have more of a challenge with Denver's youth. 
  • Darnell Mayberry of NewsOK explains why Mason Plumlee would be a solid pick for the Thunder with the 12th overall pick. 
  • Janis Carr of the OC Register (Subscribers only) takes a closer look at Mark Madsen's coaching opportunity with the Lakers' D-League affiliate, the Los Angeles D-Fenders.  
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Coaching Rumors: Kidd, Nuggets, Clippers, Suns

June 13th, 2013 at 2:39pm CST by Luke Adams

A pair of teams held press conferences to announce their new head coaches earlier today, as the Pistons introduced Maurice Cheeks, while the Nets introduced Jason Kidd. At the presser in Brooklyn, Kidd revealed that before he was hired by the Nets, Mavericks owner Mark Cuban contacted him to ask if he was interested in learning the business side of the NBA with Dallas (Twitter link via Adam Zagoria of SNY.tv). Kidd ended up opting for a coaching job with one of his former teams over an executive role with another. Here's more of the latest coaching-related rumblings from around the league:

  • The Nuggets are focused on landing either Lionel Hollins or Brian Shaw for their head coaching opening, and will only consider other candidates if they're unable to land one of those top two targets, according to Marc J. Spears of Yahoo! Sports. Spears reports that Hollins will interview with the team on Saturday, while Denver hopes to have Shaw in for a meeting next week.
  • Spears adds within the same piece that the Nuggets are leaning toward promoting Pete D'Alessandro to assume the role of general manager, though we heard earlier today that Tony DiLeo is firmly in the mix as well.
  • Benjamin Hochman of the Denver Post also takes a look at the top two candidates for the Nuggets' coaching opening.
  • The Clippers initially were scheduled to interview Nate McMillan today, but had to cancel that meeting to accommodate Hollins, who is meeting with the team today and tomorrow. However, the Clippers are still trying to work out a time to bring McMillan in, perhaps early next week, according to Broderick Turner of the Los Angeles Times.
  • Paul Coro of the Arizona Republic has the details on the three new assistant coaches the Suns have added to Jeff Hornacek's staff.
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Latest On Clippers’ Coaching Search

June 12th, 2013 at 2:55pm CST by Luke Adams

2:55pm: Because Hollins was attending an NBA competition committee meeting in San Antonio today, his interview with the Clippers will be pushed back to Thursday and Friday, reports Broderick Turner of the Los Angeles Times. McMillan had been scheduled to meet with the team on Thursday, but that interview was cancelled and may not be rescheduled, given the club's "lukewarm" interest in McMillan, says Turner.

Hollins, meanwhile, expects to interview with the Nuggets on Saturday after meeting with the Clippers.

10:11am: As the Nets appear to be closing in on Jason Kidd, a coaching candidate with no previous experience, the Clippers continue to interview previous head coaches for their own opening. According to ESPN.com's Marc Stein (via Twitter), owner Donald Sterling is seeking a candidate with head coaching experience and is a fan of Lionel Hollins, who will meet with the team today.

Stein reports (via Twitter) that Hollins remains "firmly in the mix" for the Clippers' job, and that today's sitdown with the team will be the third time the former Grizzlies coach has spoken to the club. In addition to Hollins, the team has also met with Byron Scott and Brian Shaw, with Shaw still a "strong contender" for the job, says Stein.

Although we heard earlier in the week that the Clippers will also interview Nate McMillan tomorrow, it sounds as if he may not be as strong a candidate for the position as the other contenders. Ramona Shelburne of ESPNLosAngeles.com reported last night that George Karl is still in play for the job as well, though it's unclear if the team has scheduled a meeting with the ex-Nuggets coach.

Reports have yet to indicate whether there's a specific timeline for a Clippers hire, but I would guess that after this week's interviews, the team will at least narrow its search to a smaller list of finalists.

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Nets Deciding Between Jason Kidd, Brian Shaw

June 11th, 2013 at 8:29pm CST by Luke Adams

8:29pm: The Nets have narrowed their search to just Kidd and Shaw, reports Brian Mahoney of The Associated Press.

7:49pm: TNT's David Aldridge bats down rumors that Kidd and the Nets have already begun contract negotiations, and reiterates that the team will interview Shaw on Wednesday (Twitter link).

5:10pm: The Nets were "very impressed" with Kidd after yesterday's interview, sources tell Howard Beck of The New York Times, who adds that there's no indication the team will turn to Lionel Hollins, whom they've yet to contact (Twitter links).

2:45pm: Despite Kidd's apparent lead, Shaw still has a shot at the job and will interview as planned tomorrow, reports Sam Amick of USA Today (via Twitter).

2:04pm: Jason Kidd has emerged as the strong frontrunner for the Nets' open head coaching job, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports. For now, the club still has a Wednesday interview scheduled with Brian Shaw, who had previously been considered the top candidate for the position, but it's unclear if that meeting will happen, says Wojnarowski.

According to Wojnarowski, talks for a potential contract with Kidd are already underway, and the longtime All-Star point guard could be hired by the end of the week. Kidd represents the sort of "fresh face" the franchise is seeking, and would give the Nets a hire with some starpower as well, as Wojnarowski points out.

If Kidd does land the job, it would be a pretty incredible turnaround, considering that a week and a half ago it still seemed as if he was set to play for the Knicks in 2013/14. Kidd announced his retirement as a player last Monday, and almost immediately rumors begin to swirl connecting him to Brooklyn's coaching opening.

Yesterday, we heard that Kidd was being seriously considered by the Nets, while this morning, over half of you voted in favor of Brooklyn hiring Kidd over a more experienced candidate like Shaw or Lionel Hollins. For his part, Shaw is interviewing with the Clippers today and considers that job his priority, according to Wojnarowski.

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Grizzlies Part Ways With Lionel Hollins

June 10th, 2013 at 7:00pm CST by Luke Adams

7:00pm: The Grizzlies have confirmed in a press release that Hollins won't receive a new contract and that the team will begin searching for a new head coach.

"After a thorough internal process, which included conversations with Lionel and his representatives, we decided as an organization to move in a different direction," said CEO Jason Levien in a statement.

5:38pm: Lionel Hollins is out as the Grizzlies' head coach, according to Ronald Tillery of the Memphis Commercial Appeal, who reports (via Twitter) that the team won't extend Hollins' contract.

With Hollins' contract set to expire at the end of June and an oft-mentioned "difference in philosophies" between the head coach and Memphis' new management, the team was expected to make a change this offseason. However, Hollins has repeatedly expressed a desire to return to the Grizzlies, and the two sides had been discussing the possibility of a new contract.

With Hollins now officially on the market, he becomes a more viable potential candidate for other teams searching for a head coach, such as the Clippers, Nets, and Nuggets. As for the Grizzlies, they reportedly have interest in former Nuggets coach George Karl, and could also promote assistant Dave Joerger to the head coaching role.

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Coaching Updates: Clippers, Jent, Snyder, Kidd

June 10th, 2013 at 5:57pm CST by Luke Adams

It's already been a busy day when it comes to NBA coaching news and rumors, with the Pistons officially reaching an agreement with Maurice Cheeks, the Grizzlies parting ways with Lionel Hollins, and Jason Kidd emerging as a serious candidate for the Nets. Here are a few more of the latest updates relating to potential head coaches and assistants:

  • The Clippers interviewed Brian Shaw today, and have meetings lined up with Byron Scott on Tuesday, Hollins on Wednesday, and Nate McMillan on Thursday, reports Broderick Turner of the Los Angeles Times (via Twitter). Ramona Shelburne and Chris Broussard of ESPN.com note that many of those candidates have already spoken to the Clippers at length on the phone, but these are the first in-person meetings scheduled by the team.
  • The Kings have officially hired Chris Jent as an assistant coach, tweets Jason Jones of the Sacramento Bee. We heard last week that Michael Malone had made Jent a three-year offer to become his top assistant in Sacramento.
  • Just hours after we heard that Quin Snyder had left CSKA Moscow to return stateside for an NBA job, Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports tweets that the Hawks have hired Snyder as an assistant on Mike Budenholzer's staff.
  • Josh Newman of SNYNets.com spoke to Jeff Van Gundy about whether or not Kidd would make a good head coach for the Nets.
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Lawrence On Messina, Nets, Pacers

June 9th, 2013 at 11:04am CST by Zachary Links

Mitch Lawrence of the Daily News has tons of interesting bits in his latest column and we have the highlights..

  • There has been talk about the Nets looking for a “fresh face" rather than going with an established coach and Italian coach Ettore Messina would fit  the bill, along with Pacers assisstant Brian Shaw.  A group of Russian Nets executives who report to Mikhail Prokhorov is quite familiar with Messina, which could help his candidacy.  Communication also won't be an issue for Messina as he speaks English fluently.  “Players will find that Ettore has the technical mind to do the job, he can do the X’s and O’s, so strategically, it would not be hard for him at all,’’ said Spurs GM R.C. Buford.
  • The Pacers know they need outside shooting help and would love to add Kyle Korver or J.J. Redick. Both players, of course, will be free agents on July 1.  The club's other free agents, Tyler Hansbrough and D.J. Augustin, are expendable, which can give them some extra breathing space this offseason.
  • David Stern plans to step down from the competition committee – which has the power to make rules changes – once he's done being commissioner.  Lawrence's bet, however, is that he’ll still be used by the committee as a consultant. 
  • Lionel Hollins wants to paint Grizzlies assistant Dave Joerger like the bad guy if he doesn’t get a new deal in Memphis, but people in the NBA feel that he hasn’t done anything to bounce Hollins and get the job for himself.  The Memphis front office doesn’t want Hollins back unless it’s on the cheap and he starts buying into the club's statistical analysis.
  • New Raptors GM Masai Ujiri wants to hire Bucks assistant GM Jeff Weltman to be his top assistant. Weltman and former Knick president Scott Layden were up for the Suns gig that went to Ryan McDonough.
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Odds & Ends: Grizzlies, Heat, McGrady

June 8th, 2013 at 10:40pm CST by Spencer Lund

According to Ric Bucher of 95.7 The Game, the Grizzlies' current ownership is in a serendipitous position to save money by honoring a bizarre clause in some assistant coach contracts (Sulia link). Usually, the playoff winnings from the NBA are shared with a team's players and personnel after postseason success. But former owner Michael Heisley negotiated deals with some assistant coaches that awarded a flat bonus based on a small percentage of their regular salaries.

After the Grizzlies surprised many by reaching the Western Conference Finals, the resulting playoff shares are worth $70K or more, depending on how many shares the team elected to have. Under the Heisley terms, some assistant coaches are due only 1/7th of that amount. 

Current Grizzlies principal owner, Robert Pera, is under no obligation to stray from the deals the previous regime negotiated, but as Bucher points out "sometimes there is a divide between what is acceptable and what is right." In the grand scheme of things, it's a paltry sum to pay for assistants who may not be back next season and who helped guide a Rudy Gay–less Grizzlies team far into the tough Western Conference playoff bracket. 

With Lionel Hollins' future as the Grizzlies' head coach in doubt, a sign of good faith to his assistant coaches, who rightfully deserve a larger share of the playoff winnings than their current contract calls for, might be the move that tips the odds in favor of Hollins returning to the sidelines for the Grizzlies next season. 

Here are some other links from around this quiet NBA Saturday night before the Heat and Spurs do battle in Game 2 of the NBA Finals tomorrow:

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