Week in Review

The Timberwolves shocked no one when they selected Kentucky’s Karl-Anthony Towns with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2015 NBA Draft. But despite the lack of drama to kick off the big event, there were certainly a number of surprises as the night moved along. The Lakers passed on Duke big man Jahlil Okafor to nab Ohio State playmaker D’Angelo Russell with the second pick, and the Knicks bypassed a number of NBA-ready prospects to take Latvian forward Kristaps Porzingis at No. 4 overall. Duke forward Justise Winslow fell into the Heat’s lap at No. 10, and the Celtics may have reached a bit when they grabbed Louisville point guard Terry Rozier with the 16th pick. Those were just a few of the mock draft busting choices made on draft night, and you can view the complete list of draft selections here.

There were also a number of minor deals consummated on draft day, but no major stars changed teams as had been widely anticipated. This sets up what should be an active offseason for quite a few franchises, and an entertaining and potentially agonizing summer for fans as players change addresses. Here’s the rest of the happenings from the week that was:

Trades

• The Grizzlies acquired Luke Ridnour from the Magic in exchange for the rights to 2013 second-round pick Janis Timma. Memphis then shipped Ridnour to the Hornets for Matt Barnes.
• The Hornets acquired Nicolas Batum from the Hornets in exchange for Noah Vonleh and Gerald Henderson.
• The Knicks acquired the rights to 35th overall pick Guillermo Hernangomez from the Sixers in exchange for two future second round picks. Hernangomez is expected to play overseas during the 2015/16 campaign.
• The Grizzlies dealt Jon Leuer to the Suns in exchange for the rights to No. 44 pick Andrew Harrison.
• The Jazz sent the rights to the No. 54 pick, Spanish small forward Daniel Diez, to the Blazers in exchange for cash.
• The Nets acquired the rights to Argentian small forward Juan Vaulet from the Hornets in exchange for Brooklyn’s 2019 second-round pick, a 2018 second-round pick and cash.
  
• The Timberwolves acquired the rights to Tyus Jones from the Cavaliers in exchange for the draft rights to Cedi Osman and Rakeem Christmas, as well as a 2019 second-rounder.
• The Nets dealt Mason Plumlee and the rights to Notre Dame shooting guard Pat Connaughton to the Blazers in exchange for the rights to No. 23 pick Rondae Hollis-Jefferson and Steve Blake.
• The Clippers acquired the rights to No. 56 pick Branden Dawson from New Orleans in exchange for cash.
• The Bucks acquired Greivis Vasquez from the Raptors in exchange for the rights to Norman Powell and the Clippers’ 2017 first-round pick.
• The Wizards acquired the rights to Kelly Oubre from the Hawks in exchange for the rights to Jerian Grant. The Hawks then acquired Tim Hardaway Jr. from the Knicks in exchange for the rights to Grant.
• The Thunder sent Jeremy Lamb to the Hornets in exchange for Ridnour and a conditional 2016 second round pick.

Pending Signings

• The Sixers intend to sign former Arizona point guard T.J. McConnell to a free agent contract. The deal includes a partial guarantee.
• The Rockets agreed to a free agent deal with UNLV forward Christian Wood, who’s also receiving a partial guarantee.

Option Decisions

• LeBron James is turning down his player option worth more than $21.573MM, and doesn’t plan to immediately re-sign with the Cavs, preferring to wait and see how the team goes about its other business in July.
• Arron Afflalo turned down a $7.75MM player option for next season to become a free agent this summer.
• The Rockets exercised their team option on Kostas Papanikolaou.
• Goran Dragic turned down his $7.5MM player option for next season.
• Brook Lopez opted out of his deal with the Nets and will become a free agent this offseason.
• Kevin Love opted out of his contract with the Cavaliers and will become a free agent.
• Wizards forward Paul Pierce is opting out of his deal with the team for the 2015/16 campaign.
• J.R. Smith opted out of his deal with the Cavaliers.
• Mavs point guard Raymond Felton exercised his $3.9MM player option for next season.
• Monta Ellis opted out of his deal with the Mavericks.
• Nuggets guard Jameer Nelson opted out of his $2.85MM player option for the upcoming season.
• David West decided to turn down his $12.6MM player option with the Pacers to become a free agent.
• The Cavs picked up their $4.95MM team option on Timofey Mozgov.
• Thaddeus Young opted out of his deal with the Nets for 2015/16.
• Lakers forward Ed Davis declined his player option for the 2015/16 campaign and will become an unrestricted free agent.
• Brandon Rush picked up his minimum-salary player option with the Warriors.
• Mavs forward Al-Farouq Aminu opted out of his deal and will become a free agent.
• Roy Hibbert opted in for next season with the Pacers.

Qualifying Offers

• The Pistons tendered a qualifying offer worth $4,433,683 to Reggie Jackson, making him a restricted free agent this summer.
• The Nuggets tendered Will Barton a qualifying offer worth $1,181,348, making the guard a restricted free agent this offseason.

News/Rumors

• The Lakers and Dwyane Wade reportedly have mutual interest if Wade were to leave the Heat this offseason.
• George Karl reportedly has an intense desire for the Kings to trade DeMarcus Cousins, and he and some members of the team’s front office have expressed to executives and coaches from other teams that they hope to have owner Vivek Ranadive’s blessing to trade the All-Star soon.
• The Heat reportedly plan on making a five-year offer of more than $80MM to retain Goran Dragic. Miami is also reportedly shopping Mario Chalmers and Chris Andersen in an attempt to clear salary that they could use on a new contract for Wade, though team president Pat Riley denies this.
• Free agent center Greg Oden worked out for the Hornets, Grizzlies and Mavericks with the hope of landing a deal.
• Euroleague guard Daniel Hackett is voiding his contract with Emporio Armani Milano in order to pursue an NBA contract.
• The Pacers‘ Donald Sloan, who is an unrestricted free agent this offseason, has switched agents and is now represented by Byron Irvin and Dan Fegan of Relativity Sports.
• The Kings have reportedly expressed strong interest in signing free agent big man JaVale McGee.
• The NBPA is reportedly looking into the Sixers for any possible breach of the league’s collective bargaining agreement.
• The Suns have discussed Eric Bledsoe trade scenarios with other teams, including the Knicks, and are likely to continue to do so after the draft.
• The Celtics were reportedly looking to trade Marcus Smart and the 16th and 28th picks in this year’s draft to the Sixers for Nerlens Noel and the No. 3 pick, but the Sixers were uninterested.
• David West is reportedly likely to sign with the Knicks when he becomes eligible to do so after the July Moratorium.
• The Kings and soon-to-be free agent Rajon Rondo have mutual interest, as the idea of signing a one-year deal with Sacramento to rehabilitate his value around the league intrigues the point guard.
• Unrestricted free agent Wesley Matthews will reportedly seek a multi-year deal that pays approximately $15MM annually.
• The Mavericks are reportedly targeting soon-to-be free agent Danny Green this offseason.
• Private equity mogul Tony Ressler and his partners have officially assumed control of the Hawks after receiving unanimous Board of Governors approval.
• The Celtics plan to pursue Pierce and Robin Lopez as complementary players to sell Love on the idea of signing with Boston.
• The Raptors will have a D-League expansion team stationed in nearby Mississauga for the 2015/16 season.
• The Nuggets‘ plan for Serbian point guard Nikola Radicevic is for him to remain overseas next season with Sevilla in Spain’s Liga ACB.
• The Rockets and Kings are expected to be among the teams with interest when Rodney Stuckey hits free agency next week.
• Mavs GM Donnie Nelson indicated that No. 52 overall pick Satnam Singh will play with the D-League’s Texas Legends this coming season.
• The Bucks are reportedly interested in soon-to-be restricted free agent Enes Kanter.

Commissioner Adam Silver signaled this week that he doesn’t anticipate a lockout taking place in 2017, when the league and the union can opt out of the collective bargaining agreement. Players association executive director Michele Roberts said last week that the sides will begin negotiations this summer toward a new labor deal. “I think we have a very fair deal right now,” Silver said. “I think the deal is designed to pay players a percentage of revenue so it self-adjusts as revenue goes up. And when the new television deal kicks in in 2016/17, the players are going to be averaging over $8MM a year. I think, again, it’s a fair deal. If there’s things they want to talk about, of course we’ll talk about them. But I’m not overly concerned. I think we’ve got a great thing going right now. I think both sides recognize that.” While we all hope that a future work stoppage can be avoided, here’s the rest of the happenings from the week that was:

Trades

• The Hornets dealt Lance Stephenson to the Clippers in exchange for Spencer Hawes and Matt Barnes.

Option Decisions

• The Hornets’ Al Jefferson decided to exercise his player option and will remain in Charlotte next season.
• Garrett Temple will pick up his player option, worth his minimum salary of nearly $1.101MM, to return to the Wizards next season.
• Eric Gordon exercised his player option worth $15,514,031 for the 2015/16 season and will return to the Pelicans.
• Suns forward Danny Granger picked up his player option worth $2,170,465 for the 2015/16 season.
• Gerald Henderson picked up his $6MM player option for next season to stay with the Hornets.
• Jeff Green exercised his player option worth $9.2MM to remain with the Grizzlies for next season.
• Steve Blake exercised his player option worth $2,170,465 for the 2015/16 season to return to the Trail Blazers.
• The Lakers are reportedly likely to turn down their team option to retain Jordan Hill at a salary of $9MM next season.

2015 NBA Draft News/Rumors

• LSU big man Jarell Martin reportedly has a mid-first-round draft promise from a team and will likely shut down all workouts.
• St. Bonaventure center Youssou Ndoye, if drafted, is reportedly willing to sign overseas and become a draft-and-stash prospect if an NBA team so desires.
• Second round hopeful Michael Qualls was diagnosed with a torn ACL.
• Agent Arn Tellem is reportedly negotiating with Barcelona of Spain to reduce the buyout clause in top-10 prospect Mario Hezonja‘s contract.
• You can keep up with all of the scheduled and completed player workouts and interviews here.
• The list of players who have withdrawn their name from the 2015 NBA Draft can be found here.

Coaching News/Rumors

• The Nuggets hired Michael Malone as their new head coach.
  
• Assistant Jim Boylen left the Spurs to become the associate head coach of the Bulls.
• The Magic and Bulls assistant coach Adrian Griffin agreed to a deal that will make Griffin the lead assistant on Orlando’s bench.
• Spanish national team head coach Sergio Scariolo was offered a position as an assistant on Raptors coach Dwane Casey‘s staff, which Scariolo declined.

News/Rumors

• Bulls swingman Jimmy Butler intends to pursue shorter-term offer sheets this summer, resisting Chicago’s initial plan to offer him a five-year, maximum contract.
• The Nets are reportedly trying to trade Mason Plumlee to further their goal of landing a higher draft pick than the ones they have at 29th and 41st overall.
• The Hawks plan to work out deals that install coach and acting GM Mike Budenholzer as president and coach, promote assistant GM Wes Wilcox to GM, and allow the team to part ways with GM Danny Ferry via a buyout arrangement.
• There’s a legitimate chance that Sixers center Joel Embiid won’t play at all during the 2015/16 season.
• Jazz draft-and-stash prospect Ante Tomic inked a three year extension with FC Barcelona.
• Reigning Sixth Man of the Year Lou Williams is expected to receive strong interest from teams that include the Kings, Lakers, Knicks, and Nets, providing a clear competition for the Raptors to retain the free agent’s services.
• The Warriors and representatives for David Lee agreed to work together to find another team willing to take on his salary of nearly $15.494MM for next season.
• Clippers guard Jamal Crawford hired Wasserman Media Group to represent him. Crawford was previously with Andy Miller of ASM Sports. The Clippers are reportedly investigating the possibility of trading Crawford.
• A judge ruled Pelicans owner Tom Benson mentally competent, stymieing an effort from one side of his divided family to strip him of control of the team and the NFL’s New Orleans Saints.
• Aaron Gray announced that he is retiring because of the heart ailment that knocked him out of action this past season. He will join Stan Van Gundy‘s coaching staff in Detroit.
• Soon-to-be free agent Mo Williams reportedly has a strong interest in playing with the Cavs again, though he’d also be willing to re-sign with the Hornets.
• The Cavaliers are reportedly looking for trade partners who’ll take on Brendan Haywood and his unusually valuable contract, and in some proposals involving him, they’ve offered their first-rounder, the 24th overall pick.
• Real Madrid’s Sergio Rodriguez, who is considered the top point guard in Europe, plans to try and secure an NBA deal this summer.

The NBA and the National Basketball Players Association will open negotiations toward a new collective bargaining agreement in August. This is well in advance of a December 2016 deadline that both sides face to inform the other if they intend to opt out of the existing CBA after the 2016/17 season. An opt out from one side or the other has long been expected. The sides will discuss how to split a flood of new revenue from the $24 billion TV deal the league struck with its media partners this fall, among other matters. Union head Michele Roberts has taken an aggressive tack since being hired last summer, with the recent bombshell having been the revelation that the union will apparently exercise its rarely used right to independently audit five teams this summer. Adam Silver, who’ll be in the role of commissioner during CBA talks for the first time, has raised the notion that the league would push for a hard salary cap, among other measures sure to meet with union resistance.

Here’s a look back at the rest of the week that was…

Trades

• The Pistons acquired Ersan Ilyasova from the Bucks in exchange for Caron Butler and Shawne Williams. Butler expects that Milwaukee will waive him.

2015 NBA Draft News/Rumors

• French forward Alpha Kaba is expected to withdraw his name from the draft.
• The Knicks are reportedly involved in active discussions to acquire a late first round or early second round pick in this year’s NBA Draft.
• Second-round draft prospect Nedim Buza has signed with Oostende of Belgium. Buza’s deal runs three years with an option for a fourth, though it’s unclear whether it’s a team, player or mutual option.
• German forward Paul Zipser intends to withdraw from this year’s draft.
• You can keep up with all of the scheduled and completed player workouts and interviews here.

Coaching News/Rumors

• Michael Malone landed a second interview with the Nuggets for their head coaching vacancy. Trail Blazers assistant David Vanterpool has also interviewed for the post.
• The Jazz hired Hawks strength and conditioning coach Jeff Watkinson as an assistant coach.
• The Kings have added John Welch and Chad Iske as assistants on George Karl‘s coaching staff.
• Robert Pack has signed on to be an assistant on the staff of new Pelicans coach Alvin Gentry.
• Adrian Griffin is being considered for a spot on Scott Skiles‘ coaching staff with the Magic.
• The L.A. D-Fenders, the Lakers‘ D-League affiliate, named Conner Henry as the team’s new head coach.

News/Rumors

• The Cavaliers announced that point guard Kyrie Irving suffered a fractured left kneecap during the first game of the NBA Finals, and he underwent surgery to repair the damage and will be out of action for a minimum of three to four months.
• Kings GM Pete D’Alessandro accepted an offer to join the Nuggets front office. He’ll work in a supporting role under team president Josh Kroenke with both the Nuggets and the National Hockey League’s Colorado Avalanche.
• The Warriors and Harrison Barnes share a mutual interest in a contract extension.
• Draft-and-stash prospect Nikola Jokic reportedly has his sights set on joining the Nuggets next season.
  
• The Rockets will reportedly exercise their team option to keep Kostas Papanikolaou under contract for next season.
• Eric Gordon is reportedly leaning toward picking up his player option worth more than $15.514MM to stay with the Pelicans for next season.
• Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge’s quest to acquire Kevin Love has reportedly cooled off a bit, though Ainge still has an interest in the big man.
• The Mavericks will look at avenues of ridding themselves of Raymond Felton‘s salary of more than $3.95MM for next season in an effort to clear flexibility to re-sign Al-Farouq Aminu.
• The Guangdong Southern Tigers have reportedly given Will Bynum a standing offer to return to China on a three-year deal.
• The Mavericks are reportedly the “biggest threat” to sign LaMarcus Aldridge away from the Trail Blazers this summer.
• Suns president of basketball operations Lon Babby will move into a role as senior adviser and GM Ryan McDonough will become the team’s head of basketball operations on August 1st.
• The Lakers are likely to retain Robert Sacre past June 30th, when his non-guaranteed salary becomes fully guaranteed.
• Andrei Kirilenko is expected to retire this offseason.
• The Bulls, Mavericks, Pacers and Magic have expressed interest in signing point guard Aaron Jackson, who plays for Russia’s CSKA Moscow.
• The Jazz are reportedly expected to make an active pursuit of soon-to-be free agent Paul Millsap this summer.
• The Bucks have grand designs for the summer ahead and plan a hard push to sign at least one of Brook Lopez and Tyson Chandler.
• The Sixers are reportedly in talks with Turkey’s Anadolu Efes to bring 2014 draftee Dario Saric to the NBA next season.

The Bulls made it official and formally announced the hiring of Fred Hoiberg as the team’s new head coach. Hoiberg replaces the recently fired Tom Thibodeau on the bench in Chicago. The former Iowa State coach’s deal is for five years, and $25MM. “In Fred, we feel that we’ve got a guy who has a terrific package of skills: a winning coach, a natural leader and a great communicator,” Bulls GM Gar Forman said in the team’s statement. “He is a guy that has played in the league, has been an executive in the league and has had unparalleled success coaching at Iowa State—winning multiple Big 12 Championships, consistently having nationally ranked teams and NCAA Tournament teams. There is no question that we think he’s the right fit and that he will maximize the potential of this team.”

Here’s a look back at the rest of the week that was…

2015 NBA Draft News/Rumors

• The Knicks, who own the No. 4 overall pick in this year’s draft, are reportedly “enamored” with Kentucky forward Trey Lyles.
• Bosnian swingman Nedim Buza, an early draft entrant from overseas, is in talks about a potential deal with Telenet BC Oostende of Belgium.
• Jazz draft-and-stash prospect Ante Tomic is still reportedly waffling on whether or not to leave FC Barcelona for the NBA.
• You can keep up with all of the scheduled and completed player workouts and interviews here.

Coaching News/Rumors

• The Pelicans hired Alvin Gentry as their new head coach. Gentry’s four year deal is worth a total of $13.75MM, and that includes a team option of $4MM for the final season.
• The Nuggets interviewed Mike D’Antoni, Wizards assistant Don Newman, and former Kings coach Michael Malone for their vacant head coach position. There are reports that Mike Woodson could be in line for an interview as well.
• The Thunder reached an agreement with former Pelicans coach Monty Williams that made him the top assistant on new head coach Billy Donovan‘s staff.
• The Pelicans and Celtics assistant coach Darren Erman reportedly have an agreement in principle for Erman to join Gentry‘s coaching staff in New Orleans.
• The Suns hired Earl Watson as an assistant coach.

News/Rumors

• The Pistons’ Cartier Martin is reportedly picking up his minimum-salary option for next season.
• Andrei Kirilenko is reportedly leaning toward retiring this summer.
• The Grizzlies are considering bringing in oft-injured former No. 1 overall pick Greg Oden for a free agent camp next month.
• Longtime NBA front office executive Joel Litvin is stepping down from his post as the NBA’s president of league operations and will assume a role as a consultant, effective September 1st.
• Michael Jenkins, who was in training camp with the Thunder prior to the 2014/15 season, signed a two-year, $1MM deal with the Turkish club Turk Telekom.
• Rockets coach Kevin McHale indicated that Houston wants to sign draft-and-stash point guard Sergio Llull this summer.
• Kevin Durant‘s preference if he were to leave the Thunder when he hits free agency next summer, according to an associate of his, would be to go to his native Washington, D.C. to play for the Wizards.
• Nuggets guard Jameer Nelson is planning to opt out of his $2.85MM player option for the upcoming season.
• Former first-round pick Royce White is closing on a commitment to join the Clippers for the July Summer League.
• The Pistons announced the hire of prominent NBA agent Arn Tellem as the vice chairman of Palace Sports and Entertainment.

The uncomfortable marriage between the Bulls and Tom Thibodeau finally came to an end, with the franchise firing its beleaguered head coach on Thursday. “When Tom was hired in 2010, he was right for our team and system at that time, and over the last five years we have had some success with Tom as our head coach,” Bulls GM Gar Forman said in the team’s statement.  “But as we looked ahead and evaluated how we as a team and an organization could continue to grow and improve, we believed a change in approach was needed.” Multiple reports have cast Iowa State coach Fred Hoiberg as Chicago’s top choice to succeed Thibs.

Here’s a look back at the rest of the week that was…

2015 NBA Draft News/Rumors

• The Clippers are reportedly attempting to trade for a 2015 first round draft pick.
• League sources have suggested that Murray State guard Cameron Payne has a draft promise from a team, and that there is a very good chance he is going to be a lottery pick.
• You can keep up with all of the scheduled and completed player workouts and interviews here.

Coaching News/Rumors

• The Magic hired Scott Skiles as their new head coach. Orlando was also reported to have interviewed Clippers assistant Mike Woodson and Hoiberg as well.
• The Pelicans reportedly interviewed Jeff Van Gundy and Vinny Del Negro for their vacant head coaching position. Skiles also interviewed with the team.
• Pistons head coach and president of basketball operations Stan Van Gundy said the team will hire a full-time shooting coach by July.
• Alvin Gentry interviewed with the Pelicans a second time.
• Knicks interim D-League coach Craig Hodges is expected to be back with the Westchester team as an assistant coach next season.
• Nuggets interim coach Melvin Hunt is the front-runner to take over the job permanently.
• The Suns let go of assistant coach Kenny Gattison and will be transitioning Nate Bjorkgren, the coach of their D-League affiliate, into a player development role.

News/Rumors

• The Heat and Dwyane Wade have been discussing his contract situation and there reportedly appears to be a significant difference in what the two sides believe Wade’s next deal should be worth. Though Wade still prefers to remain with the franchise, where he has spent his entire 12-year career, he is now reportedly open to leaving if Miami does not raise its offer.
• Goran Dragic is a fan of coach Erik Spoelstra as well as team president Pat Riley, and the Heat’s status as the front-runner to keep him reportedly remains unchanged. However, if Wade were to depart the team it could negatively impact Miami’s chances to retain Dragic.
• There is reportedly mutual interest between Pacers president Larry Bird and veteran Luis Scola in coming to an agreement on a new deal.
• Stanko Barac will participate in mini-camp workouts for the Pacers in June with the aim of signing an NBA contract. The 7’2” draft-and-stash prospect from Croatia played for Cedevita of the Euroleague this season.
• LeBron James noted his desire to have the Cavaliers re-sign forward Tristan Thompson.
• There are many around the league who believe that Paul Pierce will opt out of his deal with the Wizards and join the Clippers for the home stretch of his career.
• Thaddeus Young is believed to be leaning toward turning down his player option worth nearly $10.222MM for next season and becoming an unrestricted free agent this offseason.
• Suns draft-and-stash pick Bogdan Bogdanovic won’t be making the jump to the NBA next season, and he will remain with the Turkish club Fenerbahce.
• Ty Lawson and Kenneth Faried are reportedly losing confidence in the Nuggets, and both have let the team know that unless it hires an inspiring name to fill the coaching vacancy or makes a significant trade, they’d rather be dealt away than go through the rebuilding process.
• There is reportedly mutual interest between the Mavericks and Lawson in having the veteran suit up for Dallas next season, though acquiring the point guard is reportedly not at the top of Dallas’ offseason priority list.
• Wizards majority owner Ted Leonsis said that the team will look to establish its own D-League franchise once its new practice facility was completed.
• The Nets and assistant GM Bobby Marks have officially parted ways.
• Soon-to-be free agent Lou Williams hired agent Wallace Prather of Perennial Sports and Entertainment for representation.
• The two way games of soon-to-be Hawks free agents Paul Millsap and DeMarre Carroll have Knicks president Phil Jackson intrigued, and the team could look to sign them this offseason.
• There are “whispers” that a sprained right shoulder that’s been nagging Millsap since the end of the regular season might require surgery in the offseason. Millsap denied that was the case, saying all he required was rest.
• Bucks team president Peter Feigin and Milwaukee leaders have indicated that both sides are close to a deal for the public’s share of funding for a new Bucks arena in the city.
• The Magic, Kings and Celtics are all reportedly interested in signing soon-to-be free agent Kosta Koufos.
• Members of the Mavs front office have reportedly tossed around the idea of engineering a sign-and-trade that would send Tyson Chandler and Raymond Felton to the Clippers for DeAndre Jordan, should Jordan elect to sign with the Mavs this summer.
• The Raptors are looking to establish a one-to-one D-League affiliate stationed in the Toronto area for the 2015/16 season.
• Wolves swingman Shabazz Muhammad parted ways with agent Bill Duffy of BDA Sports Management and signed with Rob Pelinka of Landmark Sports.
• Kings GM Pete D’Alessandro is reportedly a “significant candidate” for the now vacant athletic director post at St. John’s University.
• The Hornets announced that former player and current broadcaster Dell Curry has expanded his role with the organization, becoming a team Ambassador and Special Projects Advisor.

The All-NBA Teams were announced and LeBron James and Stephen Curry finished atop the voting, with James Harden, Anthony Davis and Marc Gasol joining them on the first team. Russell Westbrook, LaMarcus Aldridge, Chris Paul, Pau Gasol and DeMarcus Cousins comprised the second team. Blake Griffin, DeAndre Jordan, Tim Duncan, Klay Thompson and Kyrie Irving made up the third team.

Here’s the rest of the happenings from the week that was…

2015 NBA Draft News

• The 2015 NBA Draft Lottery was held and this year’s big winner was the Timberwolves. You can view the full NBA Draft order here.
• South Korean prospect Jong-Hyun Lee will remain in the 2015 NBA draft.
• Overseas draft entrant Guillermo Hernangomez, also known as Willy Hernangomez, is likely to play for Real Madrid in his native Spain next season.
• You can keep up with all of the scheduled and completed player workouts and interviews here.

Coaching News/Rumors

• Recently fired Pelicans coach Monty Williams is reportedly among Billy Donovan’s targets for assistants with the Thunder.
• A shakeup of Dwane Casey’s staff is underway as the Raptors parted with assistants Bill Bayno and Tom Sterner. One of the factors reportedly involved was the slow growth curve of former No. 5 overall pick Jonas Valanciunas.
• New Orleans interviewed Warriors assistant Alvin Gentry for its vacant head coaching position. The Pelicans have also made calls on Jeff Van Gundy and have an interest in Scott Brooks. But Brooks reportedly plans to decline opportunities to interview with the Pelicans and Nuggets and seems to be leaning toward taking next season off.
  
• Timberwolves owner Glen Taylor is non-committal regarding whether or not Flip Saunders would coach the team next season.
• The odds that the Nuggets will formally fill their head coaching vacancy with interim coach Melvin Hunt are reportedly getting better, though Mike D’Antoni still remains in the mix.

News/Rumors

•  Wizards big man Kevin Seraphin, who is set to become an unrestricted free agent this summer, reportedly wants to play for a team that would allow him to compete for a starting job. This likely means that the center won’t re-sign with Washington.
• Kawhi Leonard, Draymond Green, Tony Allen, Jordan and Paul comprise this year’s All-Defensive First Team. Davis, Jimmy Butler, Andrew Bogut, John Wall and Duncan are on the second team.
• Doc Rivers, the Clippers‘ coach and president of basketball operations, said that re-signing DeAndre Jordan is the franchise’s top offseason priority. The team would also like to re-sign Austin Rivers.
• The Timberwolves’ Andrew Wiggins was a unanimous All-Rookie First-Team selection, the league announced as it revealed the media voting results for the honors. Nikola Mirotic was the second-leading vote-getter, followed by Nerlens Noel, Elfrid Payton and Jordan Clarkson, all of whom comprise the first team. Marcus Smart, Zach LaVine, Bojan Bogdanovic, Jusuf Nurkic and Langston Galloway comprised the second team.
• The Spurs are widely expected to focus their attention on LaMarcus Aldridge first before turning their attention to fellow free agent target Marc Gasol.
• The Mavs, Knicks and Lakers are also reportedly putting together proposals to make to Gasol when free agency opens July 1st.
• The Wizards have made it clear that they’re committed to paying Bradley Beal the maximum salary either via an extension or when he hits free agency after next season.
• The Clippers have reportedly expressed interest in signing unrestricted free agent Wesley Johnson this offseason.
• Mavericks guard Raymond Felton will file paperwork to exercise his $3.9MM player option for next season.
• Kobe Bryant has signaled to Lakers GM Mitch Kupchak that the 2015/16 season will be his last as an NBA player.
• The Lakers, Pistons, and Celtics all reportedly have an interest in signing soon-to-be free agent DeMarre Carroll.
• The Hawks are optimistic about their chances to sign Paul Millsap when he hits free agency this summer.
• Garrett Temple said that he’s pretty sure he’ll pick up his player option, worth his minimum salary of nearly $1.101MM, to return to the Wizards next season.
• Nets assistant GM Bobby Marks‘ contract option for 2015/16 wasn’t picked up by the team, and Brooklyn has now reportedly given Marks permission to explore other opportunities.
• The NBA’s Board of Governors are expected to complete the approval process for Tony Ressler’s deal to buy the Hawks within the next four to six weeks.
• Center Sasha Kaun, whose draft rights are held by the Cavaliers, will likely leave CSKA Moscow at the end of the Russian League’s season.
• Kiki Vandeweghe, the league’s senior vice-president of basketball operations, said that the NBA is unlikely to pass any sort of draft lottery reform to prevent tanking this offseason.
• Tim Salier, the Spurs‘ Sports and Entertainment Vice President of Franchise Business Operations, was named the 2015 NBA D-League Team Executive of the Year.
• David Harrison, a former Pacers first-rounder, is looking to make a comeback to the NBA, and he has hired Zachary Charles of 3pt Sports Management for representation.
• The possibility of JaVale McGee joining the Celtics for next season remains in play.

The National Basketball Players Association intends to exercise its right to conduct an independent audit of the books of five teams this year. While the NBPA has rarely called for the audits in the past, the audit is set against the backdrop of coming labor negotiations in 2017, when the union and the league have a mutual option to terminate the existing collective bargaining agreement. Also complicating the next round of CBA negotiations will be the enormous television contract the league signed that will kick in for the summer of 2016, and is expected to create a significant increase in the salary cap.

At issue between the two sides is the definition of related parties with ties to NBA owners. For example, the Nets and the Barclays Center are not considered related parties, even though Mikhail Prokhorov and Bruce Ratner own significant stakes in both entities. This arrangement could allow Prokhorov and Ratner to arrange a deal that hides revenue on the arena side, keeping it out of the NBA’s calculation and lowering the pool of money available to players

The league offered counterpoint to the report by Deadspin’s Kevin Draper by pointing out that a third of the teams in the NBA are still losing money. The NBA called Draper’s article “grossly misleading” and asserts that the collective bargaining agreement expressly addresses related parties in a way that includes arenas and broadcast rights to ensure that the players receive their fair share of basketball related income. This situation warrants close scrutiny as it would appear the league and the union are gearing up for potentially contentious negotiations in the near future.

Here’s the rest of the happenings from the week that was…

2015 NBA Draft News

• The Hawks will indeed swap first-round picks with the Nets, allowing Atlanta to move up to the No. 15 overall spot in the 2015 NBA draft.
• Turkish swingman Cedi Osman indicated that he is most likely two years away from joining the NBA, and that he wishes to gain more experience by continuing to play overseas.
• Projected No. 1 overall pick Karl-Anthony Towns signed with Creative Artists Agency agents Leon Rose and Richie Felder.
• D’Angelo Russell and Devin Booker chose the Creative Artists Agency for their representation.
• Westchester Community College swingman Luis David Montero has qualified to enter the 2015 NBA draft.
• The Bucks reportedly had significant interest in University of Utah center Jakob Poeltl before he became the highest-profile prospect in this year’s draft to decide against entering.
• The Timberwolves could consider 6’11” Serbian center Nikola Milutinov as a draft-and-stash prospect with either of their second-round picks.
• You can keep up with all of the scheduled and completed player workouts and interviews here.

Coaching News

• The Pelicans fired coach Monty Williams. Williams was under contract through the 2015/16 season. The Raptors will reportedly gauge Williams‘ interest in joining their team as an assistant coach.
• There is reportedly mutual interest in Tom Thibodeau joining the Pelicans as coach to replace Williams if he is let go by the Bulls. You can view all of the recent Thibodeau updates here.
• Warriors assistant coach Alvin Gentry would be among the front-runners for the Bulls head coaching job if the team were to part ways with Thibodeau after the season.
• Dwane Casey will reportedly return as the coach of the Raptors next season.
• Bulls lead assistant coach Adrian Griffin is also a contender to succeed Thibodeau as Bulls head coach should Chicago and Thibs part ways. This is in the event that Chicago fell short in its likely pursuit of Iowa State coach Fred Hoiberg.
• Sacramento picked up its team option on D-League coach David Arseneault Jr..

News/Rumors

• The Lakers are expected to be one of several teams preparing a maximum salary offer sheet for Bulls guard Jimmy Butler.
• Kenyon Martin nearly signed a deal to play for Panathinaikos in Greece.
• The Knicks informed the representatives for Thanasis Antetokounmpo that they will likely sign him to an NBA deal for next season.
• The Celtics will reportedly be open to putting together some type of package deal for Blazers free agents LaMarcus Aldridge and Wesley Matthews.
• The Rockets are reportedly pushing to sign big man Marko Todorovic this summer.
• Mavs forward Dirk Nowitzki ruled out the possibility of retiring this season, as well as indicated that he wished to play through his age-38 season.
• The Nets announced that Alan Anderson underwent successful arthroscopic surgery to remove bone spurs from his left ankle. The swingman is expected to return to basketball activities by July.
• James Dolan’s decision to bring Isiah Thomas back into the fold as team president and a minority owner of the New York Liberty, a WNBA franchise, reportedly hasn’t sat well with Knicks president Phil Jackson.
• Eight NBA teams attended a workout for former Mississippi State center Renardo Sidney, who is a free agent.
  
• Thunder draft-and-stash prospect Alex Abrines signed a deal with Barcelona of Spain that runs until 2019.
• The Nets aren’t expected to make a qualifying offer to Jerome Jordan, which would make him an unrestricted free agent this offseason.
• Josh Huestis, last year’s 29th overall pick by the Thunder, expressed a willingness to play another season in the D-League.
• Wizards draft-and-stash prospect Tomas Satoransky still dreams of playing in the NBA but intends to finish his contract with Barcelona of Spain.
• Seth Curry will join the Pelicans‘ summer league squad.

The 2015 NBA Draft combine will take place from May 12th through May 17th in Chicago. The invite-only event is a showcase where players can show their basketball skills to league personnel, as well as undergo medical tests and attend interviews with team executives and coaches. While a significant amount of the players who are projected to hear their names called this June will be in attendance, not all of them will participate in the five-on-five drills. A number of the higher profile players will instead limit their exposure to having their minds and bodies examined by interested NBA parties. The complete list of confirmed players who are attending the 2015 NBA draft combine was released and can be found here.

Here’s a look back at the week that was…

2015 NBA Draft Rumors/News

• The Rockets are reportedly growing increasingly enamored with Duke freshman point guard Tyus Jones.
• Southeast Missouri State senior guard Jarekious Bradley signed with agent Brian Bass of RBA Sports.
• The Sixers are potentially interested in selecting Jamal Jones and making him a domestic draft-and-stash pick this June.
• Incarnate Word combo guard Denzel Livingston, Ohio power forward Maurice Ndour, Penn State shooting guard D.J. Newbill, Illinois shooting guard Rayvonte Rice and TCU shooting guard Trey Zeigler worked out for the Jazz.
• Utah also worked out Virginia forward Darion Atkins, Murray State guard T.J. Sapp, Bowling Green forward Richaun Holmes, Ohio State guard Shannon Scott, Western Kentucky guard T.J. Price, and Wisconsin guard Traevon Jackson.

Awards

• The Warriors’ Stephen Curry won the NBA’s Most Valuable Player award.
• Bulls swingman Jimmy Butler was named as the NBA’s Most Improved Player.

News/Rumors

•  The Hornets would like to own and operate their own D-League franchise, and the team is reportedly considering seven cities in the Carolinas: Asheville, Charleston, Columbia, Fayetteville, Greensboro, Greenville (S.C.) and Raleigh for the team to call home.
• The Nets did not pick up the team option on assistant GM Bobby Marks‘ contract for 2015/16.
• Chandler Parsons underwent successful arthroscopic surgery to address a cartilage injury to his right knee. No timetable was announced for Parsons’ recovery.
• There are “serious rumblings” that the Nets are working on a contract extension with GM Billy King, who is entering the final season of his arrangement with the team.
  
• The Cavs have “a legitimate fear” that Kevin Love will leave the team in free agency this summer.
• Executive vice president of basketball operations Mickey Loomis and other Pelicans officials reportedly met with Joe Dumars multiple times this past fall to gauge the ex-Pistons executive’s thoughts on the Pelicans. The franchise later issued a statement indicating no job offer had been made to Dumars.
• Mavericks guard Raymond Felton intends to exercise his $3.9MM player option for next season.
• There is reportedly mutual interest between the Nuggets and free agent Will Barton for the shooting guard to re-sign with the team this summer.
• Nets swingman Alan Anderson intends to opt out of his player option for next season and become an unrestricted free agent this summer.
• Timberwolves draft-and-stash prospect Nemanja Bjelica reportedly wants a “serious offer” of somewhere around $5MM to $7MM a year if he’s to make the jump to the NBA next season.
• Pelicans guard Jrue Holiday underwent successful surgery to remove a previously implanted screw from his right leg.
• The Nuggets are reportedly expected to sign 2014 second-round pick Nikola Jokic prior to summer league in July. A second report relayed that it would likely take a long-term deal to convince Jokic to play in the U.S. next season.
• David LaRue, CEO of Bruce Ratner’s parent company Forest City Enterprises, told investors that Mikhail Prokhorov was not aiming to sell his stake in the Nets completely but rather “looking to monetize a portion of their asset.”
• The L.A. D-Fenders, the Lakers‘ D-League affiliate, reportedly informed coach Phil Hubbard that the franchise would not be exercising its team option for him next season.

The Thunder struck first in landing a new head coach this offseason with the announcement that Florida’s Billy Donovan would now be roaming the sideline for OKC, replacing the recently fired Scott Brooks. This was after Kevin Ollie, the franchise’s reported top choice, elected to remain at UConn. Donovan’s contract is reportedly for five-years and worth approximately $30MM, or roughly $6MM per season. The final year of the deal is a team option.

“It’s been a complete whirlwind for me the last four or five days,” Donovan said. “I am extremely thankful the way [OKC GM Sam Presti] laid out the organization to me over about a two-and-a-half-day period because, to be honest with you, I really did not know a lot about the Oklahoma City Thunder. I knew of Sam, I obviously knew of the players and organization, but I didn’t know what it was about. And it was that — that really made me turn my head when I started to find out more, that I think the qualities, the values, what this organization is about is directly in line and mirrors what I believe.” The Nuggets and Magic are currently the only other teams that are in the market for a new coach.

Here’s a look back at the rest of the week that was:

2015 NBA Draft News

• Isaiah Taylor will skip the NBA draft and return to the University of Texas.
• The Sixers are reportedly hoping to land Ohio State guard D’Angelo Russell in June’s draft.
• Duke freshman center Jahlil Okafor signed with agent Bill Duffy of BDA Sports Management. Duffy also signed on to represent Kansas freshman Kelly Oubre.
• Bulgarian forward Aleksandar Vezenkov, also known as Sasha Vezenkov, announced his intent to enter the 2015 NBA draft. A second report stated that Vezenkov intends to withdraw his name from consideration.
• Senior shooting guard D’Angelo Harrison signed with agent Bernie Lee of Lee Basketball Services.
• Latvian center Andzejs Pasecniks will enter this year’s draft.
• Andrey Desyatnikov has declared for the NBA draft.
• Lebanese point guard Wael Arakji is entering the June’s draft.
• Combo forward Beka Burjanadze submitted his name for the draft.
• Former LSU power forward Jordan Mickey has signed with agents Matt Babcock and Adie von Gontard of the APAA Sports Group.
• Rakeem Christmas decided on Stephen Pina of ASM Sports for his representation.
• Spanish shooting guard Marc Garcia submitted his name for the draft, his representatives at Octagon Basketball revealed.
• Projected second-rounder J.P. Tokoto signed with agent Steve McCaskill of Relativity Sports.
• Former Florida power forward Chris Walker hired agent Travis King of Relativity Sports.
• Oriol Pauli, another Octagon client from Spain, has also entered the draft.
• Lottery prospect Kevon Looney has hired both Aaron Goodwin of Goodwin Sports Management and Todd Ramasar of Stealth Sports to represent him.
• You can see the complete list of early entrants for the 2015 NBA draft here.

Coaching News/Rumors

• Raptors GM Masai Ujiri didn’t say whether coach Dwane Casey would be back next year, though he indicated that if he had decided against keeping him, he’d have already said so.
• The Kings are finalizing an agreement with Sixers assistant Chad Iske for him to become associate head coach under George Karl.

Awards

• Warriors GM Bob Myers won the NBA’s Executive of the Year award.
• Andrew Wiggins won this year’s Rookie of the Year award, receiving 110 of the 130 first-place votes.

News/Rumors

• Spurs forward Kawhi Leonard, who is set to become a restricted free agent this summer, reportedly doesn’t intend to pursue offer sheets from other teams.
• Soon-to-be free agent DeAndre Jordan has made it known that he has interest in signing with the Mavs this summer.
• The Pelicans reportedly plan to offer Anthony Davis a contract extension worth the league maximum this offseason.
• Kevin Love suffered a dislocated left shoulder that required surgery to repair. The Cavs’ forward is expected to be out of action for four to six months’ time.
• The Magic signed GM Rob Hennigan to an extension that carries through the 2017/18 season, and includes a team option for 2018/19.
• Mavs forward Al-Farouq Aminu said that he’ll turn down his minimum-salary player option with the Mavs for next season.
• Trail Blazers star Damian Lillard intends to seek a maximum contract extension from the team this offseason.
• Rookie Fuquan Edwin will join the Pelicans’ summer league team.
• The Celtics are reportedly willing enough to trade Gerald Wallace that to do so, they would part with one of the seven extra first-round picks in line to come their way.
• The prevailing belief around the league is that Brook Lopez will opt out but re-sign with the Nets on a max deal this summer.
• Blazers guard Arron Afflalo intends to turn down his $7.75MM player option for next season and become a free agent this summer.
• Small forward Chase Budinger has reportedly opted in and will remain with the Timberwolves for the 2015/16 season. The small forward has a player option worth $5MM for next season.
• The Celtics will reportedly make an attempt to trade for DeMarcus Cousins this summer.
• Stiff opposition has arisen against the Warriors‘ plan to construct a new arena in San Francisco’s Mission Bay area.
• Meanwhile, Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker said that he believes sides are nearing an agreement that would secure the public’s share of funding for a new Bucks arena in Milwaukee.
• Jazz draft-and-stash prospect Ante Tomic is reportedly signing a three-year extension with FC Barcelona, and will not be making the jump to the NBA next season.
• German center Tibor Pleiss could look to join the Jazz next season if his contract is bought out by Barcelona.
• The Celtics are among the teams with interest in soon-to-be free agent Al-Farouq Aminu.
• Brazilian point guard Marcelo Huertas, also known as Marcelinho Huertas, was reportedly eyeing a move to the NBA next season. But a second report which relayed Huertas’ love for playing in Barcelona, casts doubt on him playing in the U.S. in 2015/16.
• All of the week’s NBA D-League assignments and recalls can be found here.

A group fronted by private equity mogul Tony Ressler finalized a deal with Hawks controlling owner Bruce Levenson to buy the team for approximately $850MM, a figure that includes roughly $120MM worth of arena debt. “We are honored and thrilled to have been chosen to become the new stewards of the Hawks,” said Ressler. “We respect the NBA’s approval process and, accordingly, can say no more other than we are incredibly excited by the Hawks’ success and wish them luck in the playoffs.” The sale, which also includes operation of Philips Arena, requires the approval of the NBA Board of Governors before it can formally take place. The new owners indicated that they plan to keep CEO Steve Koonin and coach/acting GM Mike Budenholzer aboard.

Here’s more from the week that was…

Coaching News/Rumors

• The Thunder fired longtime coach Scott Brooks. UConn coach Kevin Ollie was the front-runner to replace Brooks as OKC’s head man, but Ollie indicated that he wasn’t inclined to leave UConn for the NBA due to personal reasons. Florida coach Billy Donovan and Spurs assistant Ettore Messina are also being mentioned as a possibilities for the Thunder’s now vacant coaching position.
• People close to Tom Thibodeau are convinced that the Bulls will fire him after the season is over.
• During his end-of-season press conference Flip Saunders gave no indication that he’s planning on stepping away from his Timberwolves coaching duties.
• The Rockets cut ties with D-League coach Nevada Smith of the Rio Grande Valley Vipers, the team’s affiliate.

2015 NBA Draft News

• Projected lottery pick Jakob Poeltl decided not to enter this year’s draft.
• Arizona freshman forward Stanley Johnson intends to enter the 2015 NBA draft.
• Rich Kleiman of Roc Nation Sports and Leon Rose of the Creative Artists Agency will team up to represent Willie Cauley-Stein.
• Croatian shooting guard Mario Hezonja intends to enter the 2015 NBA draft.
• Purdue junior A.J. Hammons will skip the NBA draft this season and return to school for his senior campaign.
• South Korean prospect Jong-Hyun Lee intends to enter the 2015 NBA draft.
• Myles Turner hired agent Andy Miller of ASM Sports to represent him.
• Projected second-round pick Petr Cornelie will pass on entering this year’s draft.
• Brazilian point guard George Lucas will enter this year’s draft.
• Justise Winslow decided on agent Joe Branch of Roc Nation Sports to represent him.
• Hazan Sports Management signed on to represent University of Houston guard Jherrod Stiggers and Michigan State guard Russell Byrd.
• Spanish center Guillermo Hernangomez will enter this year’s draft.
• Projected first-round pick Caris LeVert will stay for another year at the University of Michigan.
• Louisiana-Lafayette forward/center Shawn Long intends to return to school for his senior season and bypass this year’s draft.
• Satnam Singh Bhamara, a 7’1” 290-pound player from India, is considering declaring for the 2015 NBA Draft.
• Oklahoma junior shooting guard Buddy Hield will return to Oklahoma for his senior year.
• Senegalese center Moussa Diagne is entering this year’s draft.
• Providence sophomore point guard Kris Dunn will return to school for another season.
• First-round prospect Christian Wood has decided to enter this year’s draft.
• Tennessee Tech junior center Charles Jackson has decided to enter this year’s draft and signed with agent Scott Nichols.
• Second-round prospect Tyrone Wallace will return to Cal rather than enter this year’s draft.
• Greek power forward Dimitrios Agravanis intends to enter the 2015 NBA draft.
• Small forward Nedim Buza has decided to enter this year draft.
• Serbian point guards Miroslav Pasajlic and Nikola Radicevic will enter the NBA draft.
• LSU sophomore power forward Jarell Martin signed with agent Andy Miller of ASM Sports.
• Oklahoma State senior swingman Le’Bryan Nash hired Matt Babcock and Adie von Gontard of APAA Sports Group to represent him.
• Italian forward Simone Fontecchio, 19, will enter the 2015 NBA Draft.

Signings

• Jarvis Varnado, who was in camp with the Sixers this past fall, signed to play in Puerto Rico with Piratas de Quebradillas.

News/Rumors

• Soon-to-be free agent Lou Williams won this year’s NBA Sixth Man of the Year award.
• Free agent Greg Monroe indicated that the Pistons have the upper hand to re-sign him.
• LaMarcus Aldridge‘s teammates are reportedly concerned that he may leave Portland as a free agent this summer. The Spurs and Mavs reportedly believe they’ll have a chance to sign the forward this summer.
• There are strong indications that the Lakers are the favorites to sign pending free agent Rajon Rondo this offseason. Rondo is out indefinitely with an injured back, and coach Rick Carlisle believes that he’s seen the last of the mercurial point guard in a Mavs uniforrm.
• Hawks head man Mike Budenholzer won the NBA’s Coach of the Year award.
• Joel Freeland would prefer to remain in the NBA and with the Blazers.
• Knicks team president Phil Jackson suggested that he would be more likely to trade New York’s first-round pick if it falls to fifth.
• The Rockets and Josh Smith have mutual interest in the player re-signing with the team for the 2015/16 season.
• Kawhi Leonard won the Defensive Player of the Year award.
• All of the week’s NBA D-League assignments and recalls can be found here.
• Jason Richardson is reportedly open to re-signing with the Sixers this summer.
• Hornets big man Cody Zeller had successful surgery to repair damage to his right shoulder and is expected to be out of action for three months.
• Mavs forward Chandler Parsons is out for the remainder of the playoffs with an injured knee and is expected to explore surgical options to correct the issue.
• Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge made it clear that he’d like to have soon-to-be restricted free agent Jae Crowder back with the team next year.