HoopsHype.com Rumors

Monday, November 2

Visit the HoopsHype.com Forums to discuss the latest news and rumors in the NBA / You also can check out rumors from back in the day in the Rumors Archive

Fourth-year forward Rudy Gay will not sign a contract extension with the Grizzlies before the NBA’s 10:59 p.m. CST deadline, according to his agent Jeff Austin. Both parties have broken off negotiations. Barring a dramatic turn of events, Gay will become a restricted free agent next summer. “We’ve agreed to not agree,” Austin said. “It will not happen. We looked at different ways we might try to get something done and we weren’t able to agree.” Memphis Commercial Appeal

Austin disputed the salary figures that have been reported. He called some of the speculation “absurd” as it relates to what Gay asked for. “A lot of numbers I’ve read I’m trying to figure out where they come from,” Austin said of reports that Gay sought a five-year deal worth $50-$60 million. Memphis Commercial Appeal

"We just couldn't agree," said Gay's agent, Jeff Austin. "I think Rudy's going to have a terrific year. It's a good year to be a free agent, and hopefully the Grizzlies win a lot of games and everyone is happy." NBA.com

Austin acknowledged that Gay’s contract status might have affected him. “It’s stressful for anybody,” Austin said. “He’s very comfortable with the result either way and that’s a fact. The uncertainty is still stressful, not knowing what will happen. It’s going to be helpful for everybody that it’s resolved.” Memphis Commercial Appeal

Miller even was asked about possibility of a new contract for Boozer next offseason — something seemingly unfathomable last summer. "I wouldn't rule it out," he said, "and it's . … (because) we always want to be as competitive as we can be. "There's no personal hard feelings against Carlos," Miller added, "and if we could come to terms economically, and Carlos wanted to be here, and we felt that Carlos was still in a point in his career where he could help us win, we would absolutely entertain an opportunity to bring him back." Deseret News

Boozer's response to that after Monday's morning shootaround: "We'll wait 'til the season's over to talk about it then, if that's what the case is. We're gonna worry about the season right now, get wins and look forward to playing our best basketball, and we'll take care of the rest of it later." Deseret News

The Jazz did spent the summer trying to deal Boozer, but no trade was ever made. "This is just a 'Welcome back Carlos,'" Miller told show host Tom Kirkland. "I want to make him feel welcome. I'm glad he's here. I want to let him know that whatever happened over the summer is water under the bridge and it's all about winning going forward." Deseret News

If Boozer was impressed, he didn't let it be known Monday morning. "Didn't watch it. Didn't watch it. I was watching football," Boozer said when a KSL reporter asked about Miller's outfit. Deseret News

No, going to the Lakers makes all the sense in the world, and, at least to my view, fits LeBron better than it would other players of his caliber. Of which there’s basically only Kobe Bryant. I’ve heard this scenario from some NBA people, though I’ve heard every other one as well, from staying in Cleveland to New York to New Jersey to running Berkshire Hathaway for Warren Buffett. Bulls.com

The big reason I believe this could occur and work is because James is an unusual superstar. Jordan never would do it, and I doubt Kobe would. But you watched James in the Olympics and he seemed to embrace the supporting role, rebounding and moving the ball. He’s always said he wants to play with those Olympic teammates, and it doesn’t seem like the Cavs payroll can accommodate that. Bulls.com

And, really, everyone wants to play in L.A. The weather is fabulous. You can be a star and have privacy because there are so many other stars. And then when you want to be a star you can because it is a city of stars. And basketball is by far No. 1, the only big city in the U.S. where you can say that. Plus, owner Jerry Buss knows stars sell and has been the most successful at recruiting and paying for stars. I’ve heard the Clippers mentioned, though I see James preferring to join the best rather than try to overcome the best from a distance. Bulls.com

"New York is an amazing place to play," Falk said. "But to be marketable -- I mean, LeBron's pretty marketable now. It's a very interesting dynamic. I think at the end of the day, if you're advising LeBron, you advise him to go where he can win and the marketing will follow. You're not going to advise him to go where he's marketable and hope you win. He's been in the league seven years. He's a great player. He works his ass off, and he's got to go where he has the best chance to win. If it were Utah, I'd tell him to go to Utah." CBSSports.com

"To be sincere, I try to not think about the future," Gallinari said. "Because with the New York situation, everybody talks about the future. We are playing 2009-10 season and we have to be focused on this season. I want to be focused on this season. I don't want to think about the future." CBSSports.com

Facing a Monday deadline, the Celtics and Rondo reached an agreement in principal on a contract late Sunday night, reportedly locking up the 23-year-old up-and-coming star to a five-year deal worth at least $55 million. "I'm thankful for what I'm signing for," Rondo said at practice today, but added that he has not seen the contract yet. "I'm blessed, and the situation I'm in, I can't ask for more." Providence Journal

Rondo said that he met with Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge after Sunday night's victory over New Orleans and the two had a heart-to-heart conversation about life. "Danny's like a mentor," Rondo said. "It was a long conversation. We talked maybe about an hour and he was just telling me things that comes with that kind of contract and the situations I may face and he was just kind of preparing me for life after this day is over." Providence Journal

General manager Danny Ainge and owner Wyc Grousbeck balked at giving Rondo the kind of deal he wanted because of concern about his leadership skills and integration in the team fabric when negotiations began. "They were candid and we understood," said Rondo's agent, Bill Duffy. "It was never about on the court. They wanted him to demonstrate being more of a leader, meshing with the team, being engaged in the locker room. Those issues have been squelched. I have to give a lot of credit to Ainge and Wyc. When there is an issue and you get it resolved, it's like a cleansing." ESPN.com

The Celtics and Rondo were faced with a Sunday night deadline at midnight to work out a deal. Had the sides not been able to come to an agreement on an extension, Rondo would have become a restricted free agent July 1. Yahoo! Sports first reported the agreement. "There's always the possibility that there would be more money in a free-agent situation, even though it's harder for a restricted free agent," Duffy said. "But because Rajon is in such an ideal situation, it was my responsibility to promote continuity." ESPN.com

Rivers suggested that the deal — which has yet to be finalized — will do little else to change the Celtics. Rondo will be treated as the same player, and the team is unlikely to view the point guard differently just because he received the lucrative deal. “I just look at him as a player. I’m not going to look at him today any differently than I did yesterday. When he screws up, I’m still going to yell at him. I can fine him more. I guess that’s the good news of the contract. We treat him the same. We treat everyone the same. Our motto here is we’re going to coach you the way you should be someday, not the way you are today. That goes for everyone,” said Rivers. “It’s obviously a topic of conversation because everyone talks about it all around. It’s funny – no one made a big deal of it [at practice] today. They kidded him about it. We just went about our business. That’s pretty much who we are.” WEEI

No truth -- none -- to a report linking the Spurs and Warriors in a Manu Ginobili-Stephen Jackson deal, a non-story flatly shot down by both sides, and with some heat which I am not at liberty to reproduce here. Ditto to the supposed connections of the Warriors and Clippers and Warriors and Hornets for Jackson. NBA.com

Other than that, though, the story was right on the money. Discussions have and do continue between Golden State and Cleveland, though there doesn't appear to be any Warriors interest in Zydrunas Ilgauskas nor any interest on Cleveland's part in trading him. Denver is trying, too, but has offered nothing of real value the Bay's way. It should surprise no one that teams are balking on swallowing Jax's escalating loot ($8.45M next year; $9.25M in 2011-12; $10M in '12-'13) into uncertain, new collective bargaining agreement territory. NBA.com

I asked DeShawn whether he'd ever consider signing with the Cavs; "you think they would sign me?" he asked. "Do you think that? They would never sign me over there, I already know that." Washington Post

Not surprisingly, the Wolves picked up the 2010-11 contract options on Kevin Love and Corey Brewer. They did not pick up the 2010 option on F/C Oleksiy Pecherov, one of the players acquired in the draft-day trade with Washington that landed the Wolves Ricky Rubio and cost them Mike Miller and Randy Foye. Pecherov, who started Sunday night in Phoenix, will now become an unrestricted free agent next summer. Minneapolis Star Tribune

GM John Hammond announced today that the team will not exercise the 3rd year team option on the rookie contract of Joe Alexander. Twitter.com

Foye, who will become a restricted free agent next summer, said he wasn't too worried about not getting a deal done. "The biggest thing to me is, if we win, everything will take care of itself," Foye said after practice today. "That's not really a concern with me. Really not on my mind." Washington Post

A major difference between Foye and those guys is that Foye played his first three seasons in Minnesota and has been with the Wizards for only a few months. "I just got traded here," Foye said. "They knew what kind of player I was, but whenever you're dealing with giving somebody money like that, you got to know what type of person he is, and then I turn out to be completely opposite of what they think I am. I know they worked hard to try to get things done, but right now, I'm focused on winning." Washington Post

I also ran into Javaris Crittenton after practice. He was elated to have the cast removed from his left ankle, allowing him to walk freely in a boot. But he was disappointed that the Wizards declined to pick up his fourth-year option worth $2.28 million. He will become an unrestricted free agent next summer. "I was shocked, really," Crittenton said. "I feel like I progressed when I got the opportunity to play. I feel like I did some good things out there. I don't know what the reason was -- it could be because of the injury." Crittenton shrugged. "I talked to Ernie [Grunfeld], and he said he couldn't get a chance to evaluate me because of my injury or whatever to see how I fit in. That kind of shocked me. I didn't expect to be a free agent, but maybe it will be a blessing in disguise for me." Washington Post

Spartak SPB signed for the next three seasons big man Goran Suton. The player spent the last four years in NCAA with Michigan State Spartans, averaging 10.1ppg and 8.2rpg in his senior season. Sportando

Remember when LeBron James said there was no rivalry between the Wizards and the Cavaliers? DeShawn Stevenson was asked about that comment Monday afternoon, on the eve of the rivalry's first 2009-2010 incarnation. "He's the Golden Child, he's gonna say that," Stevenson said. "He has a lot of stuff to lose. I don't. I don't care." Washington Post

In other words, we're still allowed to milk this thing for Web hits. Later, Stevenson talked about how Cleveland had 40-some wins a year ago. The number was actually 66. Close enough. And the bearded, duck-tailed one was asked about ex-teammate Antonio Daniels possibly signing with the Enemy in Ohio. "I have nothing against [Daniels] as a person," Stevenson said. "It's just that jersey and that person that's over there." Washington Post

Stevenson said he knew he'd get boos and chants, and even his teammates agreed that he'd get heckled. He's talked in the past about what fans there would say when they saw him around town, but apparently that's no longer a concern. "I really don't go out when I'm in Cleveland no more. I just stay in my room," he said. "Ain't nothing to do in Cleveland. Have you been there?"I pointed out that there's a lake. "I don't do lakes," he said. Washington Post

"I think some guys have a distaste for Cleveland on this team, but me personally, it's just another game," Brendan Haywood said, drops of insincerity streaming out of his pores. "I play basketball. We can go out there, I can foul you hard, you can foul me hard, I can be mad at you that day, but the next time we see each other, it's a different game, it's a different day. I don't need to hold a grudge. Life's too short. C'mon, Dan." "Just ready to play man, just ready to play," Caron Butler said, when I asked if this rivalry was still a going concern. I pointed out he hadn't technically answered my question. "I'll tell you half the story, the rest you fill it in," Butler said. "I'm just ready to play." Washington Post

"That Cleveland soil?" See, the Wizards don't say such things about the soil in Phoenix or Utah. Foye said he knew some about this rivalry from watching on TV, but that that he learned more when he arrived in D.C. "I got a little bit of education, talking to DeShawn, talking to Gil, guys like that," he said. "I just YouTubed DeShawn Stevenson versus LeBron, to see what came up, because I heard them talking about it, so I got a little bit of everything. You know, I heard Brendan talking, I heard Caron talking, I heard Stuart Scott saying things. From then on, I understood that it was a big rivalry." Washington Post

What, no Soulja Boy? "Yeah, I saw little bit of Soulja Boy, I saw Jay Z," Foye confirmed. "Like I said, I just checked up on it to see what it was about and how serious it was." Washington Post

In fact, this rivalry is largely for the fans, and the fans in both cities love it. The regular season is so dang long, it's nice to have little Super Bowls here and there. As for Stevenson, the man most responsible for this thing getting as fun as it got, he tried to play it cool on Monday, saying LeBron has been "playing awesome," but he didn't deny that he still has certain feelings. Like, his thoughts on the rivalry's health? "As long as I'm on the court, as long as Gilbert's on the court, 'Twan, Caron...until pretty much all that goes away, it's gonna be a rivalry" he said. "Watch the tip ball, nobody say what's up to each other. No hand shakes. You see any other team, we always give a handshake before." Washington Post

Former coach Eddie Jordan chiseled lots of clearouts and isolations for Arenas out of the Princeton offense, but Flip Saunders has the ball in Arenas's hands 80 to 90 percent of the time. Saunders doesn't want to limit Arenas's aggressiveness; to the contrary, he wants Arenas to be more aggressive than ever -- as long as that's what the defense is giving him. "When he gets into trouble," Saunders told me, "is when he predetermines what he's going to do. I think you can't predetermine, 'Well, I'm going to look for an assist on this play.' Those are things that just kind of happen. But the more he plays with our guys, the more it's going to happen ... we're like the typical counterpuncher. You punch us first, we'll duck and miss, and we'll hit you in the ribs" ... NBA.com

CDR was sticking to his guns this morning, suggesting that his team took two hard fouls in D.C. and didn’t give any back, and that this is “a sign of weakness in the NBA.” “Indeed,” said Alston, who might be the first point guard in history to use that word. “I mean, that’s something we talked about before the season started. It’s about protecting the paint and protecting a teammate. You can’t let guys walk in for layups. They were just walking to the basket on us, with nobody there. When we drove, they contested the shot hard or fouled. That’s the way you do it.” Newark Star-Ledger

You have your opinions. Erick Dampier has his proof. “I hear the talk, but I’ve been through all of this before,’’ the Mavs center tells DallasBasketball.com in an exclusive interview. “The talk … it’s really not a big deal to me. In (2006-07) they decided I should come off the bench and we started the season winless. … then I became the starter again and we ended the season with the best record in the NBA. “I think that means something.’’ The often taciturn Dampier – off to a fine start as the first-team center for the 2-1 Mavs – has more to say about this. .. and again, has the numbers to support his assertions. "People who have played basketball, people who know basketball, they know what I contribute here,'' Damp says. “Some people just want to watch the games to see who scores 40 points. But that’s not all basketball is about. There are a lot of things that go into winning a basketball game, and I help my team do those things. Basketball people know this.’’ DallasBasketball.com

“Drew’s a good guy, and a good player,’’ Damp tells me. “He’s learning what we need him to do, and he’s going to be an asset to this team. But I have confidence in what I contribute. There’s a good reason for me to be in there (starting).’’ DallasBasketball.com

The other day, I asked Kirilenko if he considered confronting Anthony. "I think that's more a media thing," Kirilenko said. "The media likes to create those kind of rivalries. Sometimes in a game things happen without our will. I don't think somebody really wants to hurt somebody. I think it's more game moment and you don't really pay attention. You got hit so you just try to stand up and play as aggressive as you can." Salt Lake Tribune

Without saying anything to your opponent? "I don't think I'm going to tell him about it," Kirilenko. "I'm just going to play hard and, anyway, it doesn't matter if he hit me or not." Salt Lake Tribune

Since then, Jameer Nelson's basketball life has gone from good to great. He's solidified himself as Orlando's starting point guard, earning the trust of coaches and management with a $35 million contract extension. He made his first All-Star team last season. But a part of Jameer Nelson is still back in Chester, wondering what happened. "That's the toughest thing I've ever been through," Nelson said. "This basketball stuff, to me, what people say about me, you weather the storm with that. I'm still hurting on the inside with my father. At the same time, I'm strong enough to deal with it." NBA.com

Lakers star defender Ron Artest deserves a lot of credit for holding Johnson to just one field goal the rest of the way (Kobe Bryant certainly had no luck slowing Johnson down), but in hindsight, that quick and unexpected hook from Woodson seems even more perplexing after the fact. “I’m not the coach of this team and I don’t decide who goes in and who comes out or when they do it,” a still upset Johnson said after the game about his groove being interrupted. “That’s beside the point. We didn’t fight at all in that third quarter. We just let things get out of hand and didn’t take it on ourselves to man up and defend the way we have to. You saw it, we just let them punch us in the face and we didn’t stand up for each other, we didn’t help each other at all. That can’t happen, not against a good team or any team. That just can’t happen.” Atlanta Journal-Constitution

"Ron-Ron got me into eating oranges," said Odom, still in the early stages of rehab from his highly publicized candy addiction. "It's funny, because we started to get it goin' (against Atlanta) and we looked up and we're up by like 20 … and he said to me, 'How about those oranges?' "I just started laughing. You never know what to expect from my man." Orange County Register

Chris Paul: Gettin ready for this big game in NY... jus to clear this up I never came close to approaching the Celts locker room last nite not sure where thats coming from...also me n coach Thibodeau never got in a shouting match, we talked...2 much respect for him, crazy how its twisted. Twitter.com

Last year, Calderon would have been the obvious choice, having hit 151 of his 154 free-throws, an NBA record for efficiency in a season. But at that point, he had already surpassed his total of misses from last year, having hit just eight of his first 12 free throws. "I'm going to finish the season at 90%; 98% is impossible. It happened once. Forget about it," Calderon said Monday in mock seriousness. "Everybody has to be calm. National Post

Does it get hard not playing, because you wouldn't be in the league if you didn't have talent? Sean Williams: You've just got to understand the situation that you're in. Once you get an understanding, it makes it a lot easier. If you don't understand it, it can be really difficult. I felt like I went through that last year. I didn't understand the situation I was in. It was really difficult to see what was going on. But once you understand it, it makes it a lot easier. You want to come to work. It's just a job. You've got to approach it like that every day. NBA.com

Me: So what didn't you understand last year? Sean Williams: Just more your role and the situation you're in. You've got to make it work for you. NBA.com

Being a rookie point guard on a team that features an All-Star like Kevin Durant is no easy task - just ask Russell Westbrook. Nonetheless, we are often defined by the way we handle life's challenges, and Westbrook accepted this one head-on. Last season he got off to a shaky start, but as the season moved along he got better and better, giving Oklahoma City Thunder head coach Scott Brooks reason to believe in his young floor leader. "I see him improving constantly," Brooks tells HOOPSWORLD. "He improved every month last year and I thought he improved over the summer. Going into the season I see the improvement. It's nearly impossible to lead as a rookie. Magic Johnson did it, but that's Magic Johnson. I don't think anything else needs to be said there. As a point guard you have to understand that that's a job where it takes toughness every night. You have four guys thinking that they're open. You have a coach demanding that the ball here and there. Russell is mentally tough and he's equipped to handle that. I see it. He enjoys the big competition and the big games and I look forward to continuing to see improvement. He has many years - he's not even close to where he's going to be as a player." HoopsWorld

The Orlando Magic's Dwight Howard and the Denver Nuggets' Carmelo Anthony today were named the Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Week, respectively, for games played Tuesday, Oct. 27, through Sunday, Nov. 1. NBA.com

The veteran guard – recovering from a partially torn hamstring – will make his Grizzlies debut tonight in Arco Arena against the Sacramento Kings. Iverson, 34, confirmed with his latest Twitter entry that he’ll make what had always been considered the target date. “The day that I return to the court has arrived! I am ready to help my team win at the game that we love! I will play tonight against the Sacramento Kings! Stay Tuned,” Iverson wrote. Memphis Commercial Appeal

Pau Gasol had an MRI on Monday to evaluate the extent of his right hamstring strain that has sidelined him for three weeks. A sonagram revealed a possible partial tear of the muscle, according to Phil Jackson. An MRI was ordered to give the coaching staff a more detailed report. “I think it will turn out really well,” Jackson said of Gasol, who is expected to travel with the team to Oklahoma City and Houston. Orange County Register

The team had the day off on Monday in Detroit, but Magic SG Vince Carter worked out, testing his sore left ankle. The club expects Carter --- who sprained his ankle Friday night in New Jersey --- will play Tuesday night against the Detroit Pistons if he can participate fully in the morning shootaround. Carter tried to play Sunday in Toronto, but he said he was unable to move from side to side without pain during a pregame workout. Orlando Sentinel

Michael Redd of the Milwaukee Bucks will miss at least two weeks after experiencing soreness in his surgically repaired left knee, a source told ESPN.com on Monday. Redd underwent surgery in March to repair a torn anterior cruciate ligament, and he left Saturday night's game against Detroit during the third quarter because of discomfort in the knee. ESPN.com

Tracy McGrady is willing; he practices with the Rockets every day. His knee, not yet. I'm told that he still doesn't have any explosiveness when he gathers himself in the paint on drives, which should come as absolutely no surprise, as he's just eight months removed from microfracture surgery, a procedure that usually has recovery times of at least a year. Give the man credit for getting back out on the court in any condition after a summer in Chicago with Tim Grover, but he can't play yet. NBA.com

Yao Ming. He's not playing this year, he can't even run yet and he's making a phat $16 million this season. But he's still out on the Rockets' practice court almost every day, with his foot in a chair, taking 300 shots a day so he doesn't lose his shooting touch. NBA.com

Some people won't think it's so horrible. As a matter of fact, some will cheer the announcement that because of back injury that was so bad he couldn't sit for long stretches, Bill Walton has announced he will give up announcing. Walton, in a statement today: "As I return after a grueling multi-year, life-threatening, life-changing ordeal with back problems, it is time to dedicate the rest of my life to service. ... Thanks everybody -- for everything." FanHouse

The Washington Wizards have been downright fun to watch this year, and it turns out they are also relatively cheap to see in person, according to the latest information from Team Marketing Report. According to TMR, the Wizards' average ticket price is $27.21, the third-lowest in the NBA, ahead of only New Orleans and Memphis. Prices dropped about 6.6 percent from last year. Washington Times

Greg Miller on the status of active contract extension talks with coach Jerry Sloan: "I'm a big fan of Jerry. I love his no-nonsense approach. I love his work ethic. "A lot of people criticize us as a family, criticize me. A lot of people have some bad things to say about Jerry. But what I would say to that is that I'd rather be criticized for being consistent, and building on a foundation that's worked for us over the years, and trying to improve on that, than I would be for being hair-triggered and just doing the flavor-of-the-month club." Deseret News

We haven't heard much from Magic Johnson after Isiah Thomas sounded off on Johnson's comments in the book "When The Game Was Ours", but in a conference call with Larry Bird to promote the book on Monday Johnson offered a bit of an explanation as to why he decided to provide further details about the Johnson/Thomas rift, such as Johnson's role in keeping Thomas off of the 1992 Olympic team, at this moment. "It was time," Johnson said. "We had an incredible relationship, we used to do everything together back in the day, and then that kind of faded. It was a tough period. Probably when we played those two championships [in the 1988 and 1989 NBA Finals] made that happen. Then it just really went in opposite directions from then. Even today, though, I still want Isiah to be successful. I‘m sure he would still want me to be successful even though we’re not where we were with our friendship and everything. Sometimes, what happened with the Olympics and on and on, those things have to be revealed sometime. When [Madison Square Garden's] Steve Mills was deciding on the Knicks job, when he offered it to me, I was the one who told him to call Isiah. Because I thought Isiah could do a good job." ESPN.com

Johnson said that he and Isiah "Haven’t talked. If that day comes then we’ll sit down and talk. If that day doesn’t come, then it doesn’t come. Right now, we've both got a lot to do." ESPN.com

They sure aren’t going to bemoan any lack of civility between opponents. Not when the book (which was co-written by Jackie MacMullan) contains page after page detailing how much the Lakers and Celtics despised each other in the 1980s. So they didn’t harp on LeBron James walking off the court without shaking hands after the Orlando Magic beat his Cleveland Cavaliers in the playoffs. “I can remember when I played, I wouldn’t shake anybody’s hands after a loss,” Bird said. Said Johnson: “The Celtics and Lakers, we never shook anybody’s hands.” ESPN.com

I don't believe everything that Tim Donaghy wrote in his non-published book, or at least the excerpts that were in Deadspin this week. But some of it rings true and you'd be naive to think otherwise. I was in Denver when Steve Javie tossed Iverson, in his first game against the 76ers, and maybe it wasn't personal, but I know that Iverson felt it was. It does not take a leap of faith to believe that refs had nassaus on the side, just like your standard weekend foursome, or that they had feuds with players. They're human. That doesn't, though, make them complicit in conspiracy, as Donaghy infers without producing any first-hand evidence. NBA.com

Based on what I've seen, there absolutely is some truth to the description of how the officiating system works. For example, one referee once told me he is reluctant to get a center into foul trouble because there are so few quality big men in the league. I believe what has happened is some officials view themselves as guardians of the league. It's not a matter of an agenda, it's their perception of having a respect for the league as an entertainment vehicle. South Florida Sun-Sentinel

A moment of silence was observed before the tipoff of Sunday's Miami Heat- Chicago Bulls game against AmericanAirlines Arena in honor of former Heat center Alan Ogg. Ogg died Sunday in his native Alabama, after an infection reached his heart. He had checked into a hospital amid concerns of swine flu. Ogg, 42, and Alec Kessler are the only known deceased former Heat players. Palm Beach Post

Former Dallas Mavericks player and current assistant coach Ronald Jerome "Popeye" Jones was arrested Sunday evening in Richardson and accused of drunken driving. Jones, who played for the Mavericks from 1993 until 1996 and again in 2002-03, was bonded out of jail this morning at about 4 a.m., according to Richardson Police Department public information officer Jonathan Wakefield. Dallas Morning News

At about 9:30 p.m. Sunday, Richardson police received calls from other motorists, who reported that someone was driving erratically in a gray GMC Yukon. When police pulled Jones over in the 100 block of South Greenville Avenue, Jones declined a breathalyzer test and briefly resisted arrest, according to Wakefield. When police finally corralled Jones, he lost his balance and fell to the pavement, receiving minor cuts on his face. Wakefield said Jones would not be charged with resisting arrest. Dallas Morning News

FanHouse has received confirmation from the Richardson Police Department that the arresting officers were using an in-car dashboard camera, although video from that device, as well as video from the detention center, will not be released at this time. Assuming the video presents a clear angle, it's possible the footage will quickly clarify what exactly happened when it is finally released -- which is fortunate, because it doesn't seem like the Mavericks plan on being too forthcoming on the incident. FanHouse

Dallas Mavericks' owner Mark Cuban declined to comment on the arrest this morning via e-mail. "I'm not going to comment on Popeye specifically," he wrote. "The question I do have on the record is this: Why do you care? Do you report on every DWI that occurs in Dallas?" Jones is a player development coach for the Mavericks, who began their season last week. He was not at the team's practice today. Dallas Morning News

The Boston Celtics and Rajon Rondo have reached an agreement in principle on a contract extension, Rondo’s agent, Bill Duffy, said early Monday. League sources said the extension is for five years and guarantees Rondo at least $55 million. With the two sides facing a Monday deadline to get a deal done, Duffy said he called Celtics president Danny Ainge on Sunday to inform him Rondo was prepared to play out his contract and become a restricted free agent next summer because they weren’t satisfied with the team’s previous offers. Ainge, however, surprised Duffy by responding that Rondo’s contract hopes would be met. Yahoo! Sports

“As much as we were willing to wait his contract out, the Celtics stepped up to the plate to meet the original request,” Duffy said by phone. “This is a really fair contract. We wanted him to be paid like one of the top five point guards around. It also allows the Celtics to maintain continuity to continue to be one of the best teams at this time.” Yahoo! Sports

“This is unbelievable for a kid that was taken far down in the draft,” Duffy said of Rondo, who was picked 21st overall in the 2006 draft. “But we’ve said that it’s not where you’re drafted, but where you are selected. He ended up being in the perfect situation.” Yahoo! Sports

“The relationship between Rajon and the Celtics is on the highest level on and off the court,” Duffy said. “It’s a strong bond right now. Any concerns they had relative to this approach are no longer.” Yahoo! Sports

Before Sunday’s game against the Hornets, Rajon Rondo addressed his ongoing contract negotiations. After saying that he wants to stay a Celtic, he told WEEI.com, “Hopefully for my career, but it’s very unlikely because it’s like five guys that’ve played in the NBA for their entire career. Paul [Pierce] is one of them. You’ve got guys like Ray [Allen] and Kevin [Garnett] that are future Hall of Famers that haven’t been on the same team their entire careers. “It’s unlikely [I finish in Boston] but I want to.” WEEI

On his contract status, Rondo said he was going to call his agent Bill Duffy on his way home to see if there were any updates. He had no updates before the game. Asked if he'd like to remain a Celtic for another year or for life, Rondo paused and answered, "For life." Boston Globe

Today is also the deadline for teams to exercise their third-year option on players in their rookie deals, and it appears the Celtics will not pick up reserve guard J.R. Giddens. Giddens, taken with the team’s first-round pick in 2008 (30th overall), signed a standard two-year contract, with options for the third and fourth seasons. But he has played in just eight NBA games. So far this season, Giddens has played 12 minutes in two games. Boston Globe

After making some progress in negotiations in recent days, the Memphis Grizzlies must submit a final proposal to Rudy Gay’s representatives on Monday for a chance to reach an agreement on a contract extension, league sources told Yahoo! Sports. Gay, a 6-foot-9 forward, has been seeking an extension comparable to the five-year, $60 million deal the Indiana Pacers gave Danny Granger last year. Memphis has offered $50 million over five years in recent days, sources said, but will still need to close the gap before the NBA’s deadline on Monday. Yahoo! Sports

One league source says a shorter contract – three years for $33 million-$36 million – has also been discussed with Gay’s reps from Octagon. Yahoo! Sports

With Monday the deadline to sign a contract extension, Memphis forward Rudy Gay said it will take a deal of about $50 million over five years to get his signature. "I think I should be in that range,'' Gay told FanHouse before his team's 133-123 loss to Denver on Sunday night at the Pepsi Center. However, Gay said the Grizzlies have yet to offer a deal worth as much as $50 million over five years. "Yeah, you're right,'' he said. FanHouse

Gay said his agent, Jeff Austin, told him Friday it's "50-50'' an extension will be reached by the deadline, and he planned to talk with him again late Sunday night. Gay said he's putting much of the responsibility upon Austin to come up with a suitable contract and had told Austin he only wanted to hear from him in recent days if a deal was close. "If it's not 50, if it's more, I stand behind him,'' said Gay, speaking of Austin being able to negotiate a contract in excess of $50 million over five years. "I'm not going to turn it down.'' FanHouse

A source confirmed to FanHouse the deadline is expected to pass without Washington guard Randy Foye getting an deal done, but that has been expected for the past week. Foye, taken No. 7 in that draft, did look good Saturday with 17 points and eight assists after moving into the Wizards' starting lineup. FanHouse

Jordan Farmar now has extra motivation, should he need it. So does Adam Morrison. The Lakers did not give contract extensions to either fourth-year player, making them both restricted free agents in July. The Lakers had until today to reach an agreement with each player. Los Angeles Times

Because the original deadline fell on Saturday, the league office extended the deadline to Monday for members of the 2006 draft class to sign extensions. But the Bulls aren't extending Tyrus Thomas, who will be a restricted free agent next summer. "Man, I ain't even been thinking about that," Thomas said. "Honestly. There's nothing I can do but play. I'm not going to fret myself over something I can't control." Chicago Tribune

NBA officials are prohibited from discussing prospective free agents. But one Eastern Conference executive, speaking on the condition of anonymity, talked glowingly of a potential Rose-Wade pairing. "I've heard some people say both need the ball in their hands too much to be effective," the executive said. "I don't see that as an issue at all. Wade doesn't get credit for how well he moves without the ball. And great players always find a way to make it work." Chicago Tribune

Wade joked about not liking the United Center rims, said he spent the entire summer in Chicago and didn't hear one bit of news about some Bulls fans wanting him to come home and laughed at one final question. Asked if he would hold a news conference announcing his signing with the Bulls at Richards High, Wade visibly cracked up. "You all are funny," he said. "Next question." Chicago Tribune

	Want to follow HoopsHype.com on Twitter too? Click here.

Antonio Daniels is continuing to weigh his options after clearing waivers on Tuesday. A source close to the situation tells HOOPSWORLD that Daniels is receiving significant interest from a number of new teams. The Cleveland Cavaliers have been in contact with Daniels since his release from the Minnesota Timberwolves and were at one point described as the most likely destination for the veteran point guard. However, the source says that there is no longer a front-runner and the new suitors are the reason things have slowed down. HoopsWorld

Balkman's extension was considered a surprise. But Balkman, knowing what a tough economy this is, didn't hold out for more money next summer, and accepted a three-year deal worth around $5 million. "I feel great,'' said Balkman, apparently now minding less that he hasn't played due to a coach's decision in Denver's first three games. FanHouse

Aris BSA 2003 completed an overhaul of its backcourt with the signing of combo-guard Juan Dixon, who will play in Europe for the first time. Sportando

CAA Sports has signed Denver Nuggets point guard Ty Lawson, the 18th overall selection in this year’s NBA draft, for representation. Lawson will be represented by a team of CAA agents led by basketball agents Leon Rose, Steven Heumann and Ty Sullivan. He was formerly represented by Peake Management Group. Sports Business Journals

First, Paul walked over to shake hands and exchange congratulations with Paul Pierce following the Celtics’ rugged 97-87 win over Paul’s New Orleans Hornets. In the midst of that conversation, Paul was approached by Celtics guard Rajon Rondo - less than 24 hours away from signing a long-term extension in Boston or staying perhaps only one more season - who said some unkind words to his point guard counterpart. Boston Globe

Paul shot back at Rondo and the two had to be separated. Rondo was ushered to the tunnel by Celtics director of security Phil Lynch, while Paul continued his testy conversation with Celtics assistant coach Tom Thibodeau, and the two were seen yelling at each other while Paul slowly walked to toward the Hornets’ tunnel. Boston Globe

"Rondo is a lucky guy, to play with guys like Pierce, [Ray] Allen and [Kevin] Garnett," Paul, who scored 22 points with eight assists, said with a sly smile. Asked if that was meant as a slight toward Rondo, the two-time All-Star said, "No, no. He is a great point guard and he's a champion. It's my hope to achieve that." ESPN.com

Rondo couldn’t argue with that. “He has to do a lot more than what I have to do,” he said of Paul. “My job is easy playing with these guys.” Worcester Telegram & Gazette

"Rajon has requested you not ask anything about Chris Paul now, tomorrow, or any other time," Celtics spokesman Jeff Twiss said when Rondo limped out of the trainer's room favoring his right ankle. "We have different styles based on what each team needs," Rondo said. "He has to do a lot more than what I have to do. My job is easy playing with these guys." ESPN.com

Celtics captain Paul Pierce, who led Boston with 27 points in tonight's 97-87 win over New Orleans, praised point guard Rajon Rondo's play after the game. "I think he's just mature," said Pierce. "He understands that he's the quarterback out there and he understands he has to do it with his defense and distribution. He understands that we have so many weapons out there." Boston Globe

Paul, on the other hand, was more forthcoming. “I don’t know man, they won, that’s all it was a good game,” Paul said. “When you’re winning (you can talk trash).” When told he looks upset on the court, Paul, hardly drawn in by the questioning said, “I just have that expression on my face sometimes. I’m a funny guy like that. I was talking to (Paul Pierce and Ray Allen), somebody came up to me. I don’t know. Boston Globe

Rondo is still searching for that security. Perhaps that is why he was a little agitated. “It’s just a battle,’’ Boston center Kendrick Perkins said. “You’ve got two good point guards, two young point guards, that’s going at it. It’s heated up. They both want to play good against each other. Sometimes you get into a little noise talking, it’s nothing serious I don’t think. It’s nothing personal. “It started from the first time they got the double-tech. It kept going, but that’s expected. They’re both talented guards that’s young in this league and proving something. When you get a good matchup like that, they’re going to go at it.’’ Boston Globe

No imposing his will, though. Just working within the confines of the offense and capitalizing on a hole in New Orleans defense. “We noticed Peja [Stojakovic] wasn’t playing no defense,’’ said the Celtics’ Rasheed Wallace. “So [coach] Doc [Rivers] was like, ‘Look, we’re going to drop it to Paul.’ ’’ Boston Globe

“Most definitely,” Davis said. “I’m on the sideline, so I have to keep myself focused and positive and try to make the best out of the situation. And I’ve got a left hand, so to be able to work that while I’m out will help me when I get back.” “I’m just trying to work out and keep moving and improve the parts of my game that I can right now. Hopefully when I get back, it’ll pay off.” Boston Herald

The cost of Al Harrington's foul on D.J. Augustin with 2.5 seconds left in Friday's double-overtime loss to Charlotte was more than two game-winning free throws. It'll also cost Harrington $25,000 for public criticism of the referees after the game. Harrington insisted he did not foul Augustin, said it was "a terrible call" and added, "I guess people was ready to go home." Newsday

Everybody has their marbles on you because you were a top ten pick in the draft two years ago. Do you feel any pressure, especially from the New Yorkers? Danilo Gallinari: I think there is a lot of pressure on me. I feel it a little bit, but it's what I like it. It's what I like to feel. If you're like the player, you get to the point you have expectations, and if you don't get to that point, you have a problem. Now, I feel like I have pressure from a lot of people, and expectations. They expect a lot out of me. Baller Status

In those games, Williams made just seven of 22 shots and had as many turnovers as assists while often looking sluggish and confused on the floor and in the huddles. "I'm just thinking too much and I'm like, the worst at it, because I have to get everybody in their spots and I'm like, 'oh, I have a shot,' but I'm not even looking for it," Williams said while sitting in the locker room after the Cavs lost to Toronto last Wednesday. "I'm just thinking too much. I'm not reacting and that isn't what you want to be doing." In those games, Williams made just seven of 22 shots and had as many turnovers as assists while often looking sluggish and confused on the floor and in the huddles. Cleveland Plain Dealer

Working with LeBron James, the two went back to their roots from last season when they would often operate in an unscripted two-man game, slipping into floor space created by the other's movements. James assisted on three of Williams' five 3-pointers against the Bobcats, a night after they each scored more than 20 points setting each other up against the Wolves. "We've played a lot of games together now," Williams said. "We're getting better and better and acclimated and we can read each other. We can do things without talking, it is a bond. You can't explain things like that, you just have to play together and have confidence in each other." Cleveland Plain Dealer

By the end of the season, the Pistons returned to the playoffs, even though there was little chance they would be a factor. Even so, the team decided it would be better off without Iverson. Citing a back injury, he was left off the playoff roster. "His style of play, maybe it just didn't work with what we had going on at the time," said Nuggets guard Arron Afflalo, who played with Detroit last season. "But I don't know, man. I think in some ways, Allen was something of a scapegoat for what happened last year. There were a lot of things going on — we had a new coach (Michael Curry); Chauncey had been traded, so we had a new guy at the point (then-rookie Rodney Stuckey). Denver Post

"I think there's an economic atmosphere out there that's against everybody, not only superstars like A.I.," Nuggets coach George Karl said. "That means there's changes about contracts given to 33-, 34-, 35-year-old guys. There's probably a philosophy that they won't sign those guys, just like there are some teams that are near the luxury tax that won't spend a lot of money and go over it." Denver Post

On Sunday, there were fans at the Pepsi Center eager to send well-wishes his way, but at game time, Iverson remained in the visitors' locker room. "I think, deep down inside, A.I. likes to play basketball, and he was going to play basketball," Karl said. "Memphis was probably the best opportunity to get minutes and be on the court and lift a team. "He's still a great competitor; I'm sure he's still going to have some great nights this year. I'm going to be rooting for him for 78 games this year." Denver Post

Cavs coach Mike Brown considered bringing O'Neal off the bench. ''I probably thought about everybody coming off the bench except LeBron — I think you should always explore who should start and who should come off the bench,'' he said. Akron Beacon Journal

Chris Bosh and Dwight Howard are good friends. You wouldn't have known that after Howard reacted with some harsh words after a hard Bosh foul in Sunday's Raptors-Magic game. "There's no hard feelings or anything," said Bosh. "I didn't want him to have a chance to make the basket so I wrapped him up." Toronto Star

No offence taken, said Howard. "It's over with now and you can't do anything about it now. I'm accustomed to getting fouled. Does it hurt sometimes? Yes. I just try to not retaliate but sometimes it does get frustrating." Toronto Star

Before his Grizzlies met Denver on Sunday night, Haddadi told FanHouse he never has faced an Israeli player on the court because teams from his Iran, which does not recognize the Jewish nation, are not allowed to play Israel. In 2005, Haddadi said Iran was not allowed to go to Argentina for the 2005 FIBA World Championship for Young Men because of the possibility of Israel being an opponent. But Haddadi has no problems with facing Casspi. "It is just a sport,'' he said. "I don't know what happened with the two countries. I don't care. I just do my job. I don't think about politics ... I do not think what the two positions of Iran and Israel is.'' FanHouse

Haddadi realizes the high-profile position he is in as an NBA player. In order to make a statement that this is indeed just sport, he was asked if he would shake Casspi's hand before the game. "Why not? Which is his number? Haddadi said of Casspi, who wears No. 18. "I think it could be good (to make a positive statement).'' FanHouse

Haddadi opted to push politics aside at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing. Even though Iran insisted its representatives have no contact with Israelis, Haddadi was among Iran players who shook hands with David Blatt, the Israeli coach of Russia's Olympic team. It happened after Russia easily beat Iran 71-49 in a first-round game. "After the interview, I shake his hand,'' Haddadi said of the post-game media session. "I don't care. It is just sport.'' After the game, Blatt told Israel's Sports Channel, "That's the beauty of Olympic Games. They go beyond the issue of nationality. Only here can an Israeli coach shake hands with the players and coach of the Iranian team.'' FanHouse

Frustrated that Kobe Bryant's tendency to rove on defense kept creating open looks from the perimeter for Johnson, Lakers coach Phil Jackson switched Artest onto the Atlanta shooting guard after he torched LA for 18 first-quarter points. Artest proved that his reputation for physical man-to-man defense is no myth, holding Johnson without another field goal until the final two minutes. "That's been my M.O. a long time -- getting stops," Artest said. "People say I was a little slower this year, but I actually feel more athletic this year, a little faster this year. It's going to be a little tougher for a lot of players. Riverside Press-Enterprise

Denver kept Memphis at arms length in the fourth quarter, never allowing the Griz to get closer than five points. Gay took exception when Mayo made a strong comment about his teammates not getting back on defense. Griz coach Lionel Hollins grabbed Gay and players also intervened to separate the pair. All parties downplayed the fiery scene after the Griz fell to 1-2 on the season. “I told them to shut up so we can get on with the rest of the game,” Hollins said. “It’s not about you. It’s about us trying to win a game. We can’t stand here with you guys going back and forth. It was a heat-of-the-moment incident. They get along. They’re just competitors. They both want to succeed.” Memphis Commercial Appeal

Gay said the incident was “nothing” and his hope is that people won’t blow it out of proportion because of rumors he didn’t get along with Mayo from last season. “It’s not what people think it was,” Gay said. “Me and O.J. were together all summer. We’re fine.” Memphis Commercial Appeal

“It’s an adjustment,” Ariza said. “It’s a different style of basketball that I’m playing now. I’m going from being the fifth option to one of the main guys on the team. It’s taken a little while to adjust to it, but I’m happy to be in this situation. “The best part about it is I can take shots, and if I take a bad shot, I’m not going to be yelled at. But the toughest part is probably having to take it all on my shoulders. It’s what people say pressure is.” Yahoo! Sports

But after Sunday's 133-123 home win against Memphis, the Nuggets' Billups sighed and said: "Melo's the best scorer I've ever played with, yes, he is. I've played with a lot of guys, but he just has a knack, man. His skill set, for his body type, is just tremendous. It's a mismatch every single night." Denver Post

"He's just so focused," teammate Chauncey Billups said. "And he's just riding a high wave right now. We're just kind of getting on his back." Denver Post

Once, he was just a scorer. He could have maintained that niche and had a great career, a Hall of Fame career, without doing much of anything else. Instead, he has used intimations of such limitations as motivation to expand his game. "I just use what people say, what I read and what I hear, to fuel my fire," he said. "I search for any and all that stuff. That's just me. I'm a competitor, so I'm going to find anything that somebody's saying that I can't do." He paused, smiling. "I don't hear I can't get out of the first round no more. So that's a good thing," he said. Denver Post

This summer, the Nuggets point guard worked with Memphis guard O.J. Mayo for a month in Las Vegas and came away impressed with one of the NBA’s brightest young stars. “He’s a student,” Billups said. “That’s why I know he’s going to be great. He’s a student. He wants to learn. I was so impressed with that. A lot of players say that, but he means it.” Mayo sought the help of Billups, and the veteran was more than willing to oblige. “It meant a lot because in my mind he’s the best one-guard in our league, the best leader in our league,” said Mayo, selected third overall in 2008. “To get the opportunity to work with him day-in and day-out in the summertime to better my game; for him to take the time to help a young player to help his game, I got a lot of respect for him.” Denver Post

Knicks GM Donnie Walsh said something to me this summer that I haven't been able to get out of my head. Walsh said that the future of the Knicks lies with Danilo Gallinari ... not a certain free-agent-to-be superstar in Cleveland that Walsh can't talk about. From Walsh's perspective having the cap room to lure a free agent wasn't going to be enough to lure a top talent to New York. Nor was having the most player-friendly coach in the league, Mike D'Antoni. ESPN.com

Less than 12 hours after the Blazers' defense had been sliced and diced for 111 points in Houston, leading some players to question the effort of the team, coach Nate McMillan talked to the Blazers about a simple concept: family. "Would you allow your brother to continue to do something he shouldn't be doing? Or would you say something to him?" McMillan remembers telling his team. "And that's what it is all about. They are brothers out there, this is a family, and if we are not playing defense or you are not covering your man, say something to him. It's not personal. It's holding each other accountable." Oregonian

Not that anyone was taking odds, but not many would have bet on which Blazers player would apply McMillan's concept later that evening during the Blazers' 83-74 victory against Oklahoma City. It was the team's gentle giant: Greg Oden. As a matter of fact, there was nothing gentle about Oden on Sunday. With a voice that was as loud, forceful and stern as ever before, and with animated body language that has rarely, if ever, been seen from him in a Blazers uniform, Oden on Sunday barked, ordered and inspired his teammates. "There was once in Toronto last year ... but it was not like this," Brandon Roy emphatically said. "Tonight, he was more vocal than ever. It was great. It was step one. But we can keep building on that." Oregonian

Nobody had to convince Detroit Piston coach John Kuester about point guard Brandon Jennings' promise. And that was before the Milwaukee Bucks rookie took apart the Pistons in the third quarter Saturday night. "He's somebody that can create for himself and create for others," Kuester said. "He's very athletic, and he's playing with a tremendous amount of confidence." Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel

"My job is to keep him grounded," Bucks coach Scott Skiles said. "He and I looked at all of his shots from (Friday's) game and all of his turnovers, and when I got done going through them, I told him it was one of the most impressive games from a rookie I've seen since I've been in the league. "And then I told him, 'You've got to try to follow it up.' He certainly did that; that's for sure." Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel

Nocioni isn't on any such team, having been traded from the playoff-bound Chicago Bulls to the lottery-land Kings in February. And until that changes, he'll make the best of the situation. "I'm 30 years old, so I want to do something," said Nocioni, who reaches that milestone later this month. "It's tough to be rebuilding again, but if I need to do it, it's my job. Sacramento and the NBA pay me to play games and improve the team. So if I need to do it, then I do it." Sacramento Bee

"Last year was really tough," Nocioni said. "It was the first trade of my career, and in the middle of the season change teams, to see new teammates and try to find my place was hard. Right now is much better for me." Sacramento Bee

Forward-center Pau Gasol sat out his third game because of a hamstring injury, though he will accompany the team for its quick trip to Oklahoma City and Houston. Gasol's return to the lineup is "close enough" that Gasol will not stay back in Los Angeles, Lakers Coach Phil Jackson said. Jackson revealed that Gasol typically would need six weeks to recover fully from his injury. "We don't have six weeks," Jackson said. "There are ways to come through this without having to jeopardize him." Los Angeles Times

David Aldridge: Source: LaMarcus Aldridge's injury is a knee contusion. Bone-on-bone collision in first half vs. OKC Sunday. Will know more Monday. Twitter.com

Allen Iverson is expected to make his season debut for the Memphis Grizzlies on Monday night at Sacramento. Iverson is recovering from a partial right hamstring tear and missed his third straight game when the Grizzlies played the Nuggets in Denver on Sunday night. Grizzlies coach Lionel Hollins said that when Iverson returns, he'll be part of a three-guard rotation with O.J. Mayo and Mike Conley. ESPN.com

Nate Robinson could be sidelined up to two weeks after spraining his right ankle in Saturday's loss to Philadelphia. Lil' Him left the arena on crutches and was expected to have his ankle X-rayed either today or tomorrow. With Robinson out, Larry Hughes and rookie Toney Douglas will split time as backup guards. New York Daily News

Indiana Pacers center Jeff Foster will miss at least two weeks after suffering a high right ankle sprain. The injury to the 6-11 Foster, a 10-year NBA veteran from Texas State, happened at Friday’s loss to the Miami Heat at Conseco Fieldhouse. Indianapolis Star

After Brown's acrimonious departure from Detroit led to a five-year, $50 million deal with the Knicks, he quickly learned that even the enormous contract didn't necessarily mean he would have the control he so badly wanted. That much was made clear during the process of hiring assistant coaches. "I tried to hire Paul to come with me to New York," Brown said of Westphal, who coached at Pepperdine at the time. "He was going to be my top assistant, and (then-team president) Isiah (Thomas) didn't allow me to do that." Sacramento Bee

He had four years and $40 million left on his contract at the time and would eventually net $18.5 million of it through arbitration. Yet if Westphal had been his lead assistant, Brown said, the ending would have been different. "If Paul would've been with me, I'd probably still be there," Brown said. "I'm serious. They made me keep some guys (that he didn't want to), and I think it's so important that you have your own people. Loyalty is everything. "I knew having Paul and Dave Hanners and Phil Ford, that I would've been in a much better situation to succeed there because of who Paul is. I knew he'd have my back and would do everything he could to make me be a better coach. I think that was one of the main reasons I wasn't there any more than a year." Sacramento Bee

With the new National Basketball Association Season just getting under way, Turner Sports is selling a newly expanded package of multiplatform NBA games and content this season and pitching it as the optimum vehicle for reaching younger men. A new print campaign (including in Mediaweek, Adweek and Brandweek) and face-to-face meetings with major shops are on the agenda in the coming weeks to ensure the agency community gets the message. Advertisers on board so far include Hyundai, Autotrader.com, T-Mobile, Gatorade and Sprite. According to Jon Diament, executive vp of Turner Sports Ad Sales and Marketing, hoops is pacing ahead of last season with sales so far, as the recession has eased a bit and top-tier sports properties remain in demand. He declined to discuss pricing, but sources said deals are commanding single-digit percentage increases over last season and in some cases high-single digits. MediaWeek

The Portland Trail Blazers last Tuesday became the first NBA franchise to stream a regular-season game live on its Web site, and while team officials said they are satisfied with the number of subscribers who signed up, they also said they need to solve some technical difficulties that marred the webcast. About 500 people paid the $3.99 subscription fee to view the live stream on Blazers.com of the team’s opening night win over the Houston Rockets, according to team officials. Sports Business Journals

Memphis Grizzlies center Hasheem Thabeet, the No. 2 overall pick in the NBA draft, has signed a three-year endorsement deal with Chinese shoemaker Li Ning, said his agent, Bill Duffy, last week. Duffy would not disclose any financial details, but said that as part of the deal Li Ning will contribute to Thabeet’s charitable endeavors in his native country of Tanzania. “It is a deal that will hopefully have impact, because Li Ning is a global company and Hasheem has the ability to be the face of Africa,” said Duffy, who is the CEO and founder of basketball rep firm BDA Sports. In the next 10 years, Duffy added, “I think you will see more talent coming out of Africa and see more of a commercial platform there.” Sports Business Journals

BDA’s other first-round client, Brandon Jennings, who was selected No. 10 by the Bucks, signed his shoe deal with Under Armour more than a year ago when he went to play pro ball in Italy rather than go to a U.S. college for a year. “In retrospect, he had the best deal in the entire draft,” Duffy said. “Best shoe contract, without question.” Sports Business Journals

Randolph, a forward, was the 14th overall pick in the 2008 draft but didn’t sign a shoe deal. “It was worth the wait,” Duffy said, adding that Randolph’s performance on the court secured him a better deal this year than he would have gotten last year. “He was a human highlight film,” Duffy said. Sports Business Journals

Raptors Nation is getting vada – and that's a good thing. After the success of Punjabi Hockey Night in Canada, announcers Parminder Singh and Harnarayan Singh will now call Raptors games in the language of north India. (Vada means bigger in Punjabi.) "I think this was natural," says Parminder. "We did one Raptors game in March and the response was terrific. It was even picked up for broadcast in California." Toronto Star

Donyell Marshall: JJ Reddick is now a So Called Rapper. He is gonna remind me of the guy from the movie Malibu's Most Wanted. Twitter.com

Perhaps bracing for the inevitable PETA protest, Ginobili swears he didn't mean to kill the bat, and doesn't think he did. He said afterward the bat was still moving when he scooped it up. “I just stunned him,” Ginobili said. San Antonio Express-News

Reports conflict as to the ultimate fate of the bat. Saturday night, multiple arena sources confirmed the animal's demise. Sunday afternoon, team officials reported the bat had actually recovered and flown away. Whatever its fate, Ginobili's teammates left the AT&T Center on Saturday shaking their heads once more at what Ginobili had done. “Unbelievable,” Tony Parker said. “The thing is, he hit it. He's good at interceptions and stuff. But then he grabs it and puts it in the garbage.” San Antonio Express-News

“You had these big, tough guys, like Chauncey Billups and Rudy Gay, running for cover,” Mason said. “And then there's Manu, swatting it like it was a fly.” San Antonio Express-News

Tim Donaghy will be released from federal prison Wednesday, according to consultants the ex-NBA referee has hired to ease his post-prison transition. Donaghy, a Havertown native who lost his job and was sentenced to 15 months for providing inside information to gamblers, hopes to find a job in sales or marketing, according to a press release issued last night by Executive Prison Consultants. "Other than the injured condition of his knee, Donaghy is in good health and is excited about reuniting with his four daughters and family," the release read. Philadelphia Inquirer

Alan Ogg, a 7-foot-2 shotblocker who played for UAB and spent parts of three seasons in the NBA, died Sunday from complications from a staph infection, a university spokesman said. He was 42. UAB spokesman Norm Reilly said Ogg died at UAB Hospital. Ogg played 80 NBA games over three seasons beginning in 1990 with the Miami Heat, who had a moment of silence Sunday night before playing Chicago. He also played for Milwaukee and Washington, and averaged 2.2 points and 1.7 rebounds during his career. WKRG.com

Any rumor missing? E-mail us at hoopshype@hoopshype.com.