HoopsHype.com Rumors

Wednesday, November 4

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

The incoming NBA Development League franchise in suburban Dallas, co-owned by Dallas Mavericks president of basketball operations Donnie Nelson and scheduled to begin play in the 2010-11 season, has made a bold choice for its first head coach: Nancy Lieberman. Lieberman, currently an ESPN television analyst, is thus poised to become the first woman in charge of a team in the D-League, which sent 20 players to the NBA last season and is widely regarded as the most scouted league in the world outside of the NBA. ESPN.com

Sources close to the situation told ESPN.com that Nelson's ownership group has secured the requisite approval from the NBA to hire Lieberman to coach the yet-to-be-named team based in Frisco, Texas, which will serve as the Mavericks' D-League affiliate next season. A formal announcement of her hiring could come as early as this week. ESPN.com

Marc Stein: Specifics: Team will be Mavs' affiliate but not owned or operated by Mavs. Prez of basketball ops Donnie Nelson is a part-owner of franchise. Twitter.com

The Kings have signed guard-forward Ime Udoka to an undisclosed contract, team basketball president Geoff Petrie announced Wednesday afternoon. Udoka, 6-foot-5 and 220 pounds, has played for four NBA teams in five seasons. He averaged 6.0 points and 1.0 assists in 227 career games with the Lakers (2003-04), Knicks (2005-06), Trail Blazers (2006-07 and Spurs (2007 to 2009). Sacramento Bee

Will you be with the suns after this season? Amare Stoudemire: Whatever’s clever. (laughs) I guess that’s my politically correct answer right there. Whatever’s clever really, I mean, whatever makes sense. Everybody knows on the west coast, I love Phoenix. Phoenix is a great place to live, it’s a warm climate. I established a nice little foundation there. the fans love me, the city love me, the state loves me. Staying there is definitely an option. But leaving is also one. Orlando Sentinel

What are you considering when making your decision? Amare Stoudemire: I think it’s all about winning. It’s all about preparing to win. That’s the main thing. As teammates the guys always stuck together. We always played together. We love one another on that squad. We’re probably the most chemist squad in the league. We do everything together off the court from bowling, whatever. We all hang out together. Leaving is not really an option right now, I’m going to focus on the season. But when the time comes, I’m going to talk about it. Orlando Sentinel

Just as it must seem reasonable to Mavs fans -- after digesting all of the above -- to wonder whether Nowitzki and his buddy Kaman will ever wind up on the same NBA team. Do they ever talk about that scenario? "We don't go there too much," Nowitzki said of Kaman, whose name has blipped in and out of leaguewide trade speculation for the past few years. "He's a really skilled center, scores with both hands around the basket, can put it on the floor. He can do a lot of things, but all that stuff is out of our control." ESPN.com

Channing Frye on why he chose to come to Phoenix: “It was a combination of three things. It was definitely the system, how they play. Each year you can see how each player is getting better. When Amare (Stoudemire) came here he wasn’t really known for being a shooter, but now he can spot up, he can face up, he’s making moves and he’s done a great job of trying to get better at playing defense. You look at Steve (Nash) who continues to flourish here. J-Rich (Jason Richardson) did great last year, Boris Diaw, I can go down the list of players that have really nourished and flourished here that may not have had an opportunity somewhere else. For me, just talking to Grant Hill and Steve Kerr, those guys definitely influenced me a lot to come here. Coming back home doesn’t hurt. Being a hometown guy doesn’t hurt, but it does put a little bit of extra pressure on you and I kind of like that.” Sports Radio Interviews

Did Shaq cause problems in the locker room? Amare Stoudemire: I mean, I wouldn’t say that too much. I enjoyed playing with Shaq. Shaq was one of the players I watched growing up here in Orlando. But you know, I just think with so much happening that year it was hard to pinpoint whether it was Shaq, whether it was the trade, whether it was Terry Porter. It’s so hard to pinpoint the big fella. He’s the biggest target, you know, but it’s so hard to pinpoint him when you had a trade midseason, bring in a new coach.... It’s kind of hard to get that chemistry down. Shaq, that’s my man. I can’t just pinpoint him down like that. Orlando Sentinel

Did Steve Nash have trouble playing with him? Orlando Sentinel: You know, that’s a good question because I think with the fast-paced offense, that’s what Steve played the best. You get up and down, up-tempo, high octane. That’s when Steve’s at his best. That game changed. You know, that game changed. I think it was a little tough for him out there. He definitely wanted to get up and down a little bit more. Orlando Sentinel

Howard left the game early in the third holding the same right shoulder he was clutching in Toronto, and he had some choice words for Van Gundy as he passed by him. The shorthand version between the bleeps: Superman's going to break guys in half if they keep whacking him. Orlando Sentinel

The Pacers need somebody - Granger, Jim O'Brien, T.J. Ford, shoot, even the towel boy - to step up and make sure guys stay focused and upbeat during their problems. It could be a really LONG season if that doesn't happen because the Pacers don't have an experienced roster. "We're sick and tired of losing," Jones said. "We are still a work in progress and we've got to continue to help each other out and find a way to get this first win." Indianapolis Star

As one league official told me Tuesday, "the Pacers better hurry up and get healthy quick because their season could get ugly even quicker." Speaking of injuries, Troy Murphy is doubtful for Wednesday's game at New York because of a bruised lower back. Indianapolis Star

KC Johnson: Noah on guarding Shaq: "Imagine pushing a wall as hard as you can. That's what it feels like when Shaq is posting you up." Twitter.com

Tyrus Thomas is not at Bulls practice Wednesday at the Berto Center and will not accompany the team to Cleveland for Thursday's game against the Cavaliers. Thomas also missed Tuesday's home victory over Milwaukee with what the team called flu-like symptoms. Thomas has endured a difficult week in which he sat for the entire fourth quarter of Sunday's close road loss in Miami and failed to have his contract extended by Monday's deadline. Chicago Tribune

Yi spoke today about his sprained right knee. He walked out the locker room during shootaround with a noticeable limp and a huge wrap under his sweatpants. He then gave us a clearer picture of just how long he may be out. "It will probably take about four weeks, maybe five, maybe three," Yi said. "We'll see how it's going." New York Daily News

Rockets forward Chase Budinger will miss tonight’s game against the Los Angeles Lakers because of a sprained left ankle. Tests on Tuesday were negative, but with Budinger still sore Monday morning, the decision was made to have Budinger sit out tonight’s game. He is day-to-day, with the Rockets hosting the Oklahoma City Thunder on Friday. Budinger has played an average of 16 minutes per game, making half his shots (40 percent of his 3s) and averaging 9.3 points. Houston Chronicle

"Going to Beijing after 10, 11 years [of trying] was probably the greatest experience of my basketball career and it would have been very, very hard to get there without [Kaman]," Nowitzki said. "He was huge for us on the boards, got a lot of tough rebounds against Brazil and Puerto Rico [in the qualifying tournament]. I will never forget that." ESPN.com

"International basketball has done a lot for career," Nowitzki said. "I think I've always come back from the national team [as] a better player [for the NBA]. "I want to see Germany in every major tournament. Even last summer [when Nowitzki wasn't playing at the European Championships in Poland] I taped all of the [Germany] games and watched the young guys. We've got to stay at the top level, [so] the wild card would be great." ESPN.com

Kaman likewise can't make any commitments yet. He has to prove he can stay healthy first after a stubborn foot injury limited him to 31 games last season, which enabled the Clippers to block him from playing for Germany last summer. The NBA's agreement with FIBA -- basketball's international governing body -- stipulates that NBA teams cannot prevent their players from participating in international competition in the offseason as long as the players' respective national federations can afford the requisite insurance . . . unless the player is injured or still recovering from a documented injury. ESPN.com

In the aftermath of the Manu Ginobili bat incident, there will be no official change to the Spurs' team policy when it comes to the removal of wild animals from the AT&T Center. Just the same, coach Gregg Popovich says, in the future, he would prefer his players leave that job to professionals. “Animals are animals,” Popovich said before practice Tuesday. “You always have to be a little bit wary about what's going on.” San Antonio Express-News

Faced with the second of two bat delays during Saturday's win over Sacramento, Ginobili disposed of the flying animal with his bare hands. “I think it happened so quickly, Manu didn't think about it,” Popovich said. “If he'd had more time, he probably would have thought about it, or one of us would have yelled, “No, don't touch that thing!” San Antonio Express-News

The Indiana Pacers will posthumously hold a jersey-retirement ceremony for co-owner Mel Simon before Friday's game against the Washington Wizards. Simon, who died in September at the age of 82, bought the woebegone franchise with his brother, Herb, in 1983. The Pacers said Wednesday the banner will hang alongside the retired jerseys of former players Reggie Miller, Mel Daniels, Roger Brown and George McGinnis, and ex-coach Bobby "Slick" Leonard. USA Today

Creative Artists Agency signed fmr NBA player & broadcaster Chris Webber. Andy Elkin 2 lead CAA agent representation team. Twitter.com

In his NBA.com video recap of last Friday's Magic-Nets game, NBA TV analyst Rick Kamla made the unfortunate mistake of referring to New Jersey forward Yi Jianlian as a "Chinaman." After FanHouse contacted Turner Sports about the remark, the video was pulled from NBA.com. It ran on NBA TV Friday and Saturday and has been available on NBA.com since Friday night. Turner Sports spokesman Jeff Pomeroy relayed to FanHouse an apology to anyone offended by the remark from Kamla and the network, which manages NBA TV and NBA.com. Pomeroy said Kamla was not aware of the connotations of the word, and meant nothing malicious or offensive by it. FanHouse

Former NBA referee Tim Donaghy was released from jail Wednesday after serving most of a 15 month sentence for taking bribes to provide tips on games. Donaghy left the Hernando County jail in Brooksville on Wednesday morning, according to an assistant in the warden's office. She said she had no information on where Donaghy went. Washington Post

Donaghy vividly illustrates that many officials are capricious, too influenced by superstars and by fawning personal relations with players and coaches, plus, at least tacitly, by which big-market teams they believe the league wants to win. Just one brief example: Donaghy describes a game in which an official accedes to Shaquille O'Neal's request to let some air out of the official game ball. This would be the equivalent of a baseball pitcher getting an umpire to allow him to throw spitballs. No, I don't believe you can read Donaghy's book without harboring doubt about the integrity of the league's officiating. SI.com

Naturally, Donaghy, a liar and a felon, may be dismissed as a suspect source. In fact, I seriously doubt he's owned up to all his culpability. But the detail he supplies reeks of veracity. And remember now: when Jose Canseco, the steroid user, wrote a book about other baseball druggies, cynics sneered that Canseco was just implicating others to diminish his own guilt. Well, turned out that Canseco's charges were proved right time and again. Sinners may have good memory, too. Then last week the National Football League finally admitted -- when pressed in Congress -- that its refusal to acknowledge independent research that playing football damages players' brains may need a bit of rethinking. And Andre Agassi admitted that he was detected taking crystal meth in drug tests, but was graciously let off by tennis officials when he simply, baldly, lied. Look, I'm no conspiracy theorist, but the evidence builds: big money sports will do all they can to protect themselves and their stars. And one specific piece of advice: if I were you, I wouldn't bet on NBA games. SI.com

Hollins said he isn't offended by Iverson's comments and has no plans to change anything against the Warriors. "My thought process is we're starting the same way," Hollins said. "Every player has his own opinion and prerogative to speak his mind. To me, it's not anything derogatory. In this case, it's Allen's opinion of himself and how he perceives his role on the team. He has that right. "It's my right as head coach to do what's best for the team. If that means starting Allen, he'll start. If that means Allen comes off the bench, then Allen comes off the bench. I don't know what the future holds. I'm trying to do what's best for the team. Individuals will succeed if the team succeeds. It's not about personal success trumping team success. If that's the case we're not going to have any success, period." Memphis Commercial Appeal

However, Hollins cautioned that integrating Iverson isn't as easy as it may seem. There will be growing pains because the 14-year veteran missed the entire preseason and the first three regular-season games. "I still have to determine what I see the team needs at a particular time," Hollins said. "Will I be right 100 percent of the time? No. But that's my job. I've got to get comfortable with how A.I. plays and how he best helps us. I started him out at point guard and eventually moved O.J. to the ball and let A.I. play freely. That time, A.I. did a nice job." Memphis Commercial Appeal

Not that he wants his former boss, Donnie Walsh, to fail at rebuilding the Knicks, but Pacers president Larry Bird doesn't want to see LeBron James come to New York next summer. "I hope he stays in Cleveland," Bird said Monday. "He's from Ohio and he means so much to that team and that state. I used to love to go and play in Cleveland because they love the game. And, I like to see the great players stay in the cities and with the teams that drafted them. It means so much for the league and the state. So I would rather see him stay." New York Daily News

All the talk is about the NBA's free-agent class of 2010 that has LeBron James, Chris Bosh, Dwyane Wade and AmareStoudemire as the big names. Joe Johnson of the Atlanta Hawks is another free agent next summer, and teams will be interested in him. Johnson just dropped 27 points on the Lakers, 18 in the first quarter. He turned down a four-year, $60-million extension from the Hawks. "I try not to put too much pressure on myself," Johnson said, "and just come out and just play my game." Los Angeles Times

Guard Alando Tucker remains with the Suns, but he talks about his time with the team in past tense. Last week, the team declined a $1.9 million salary option to keep him for the 2010-11 season. "It's something you kind of expect, especially in my position with the guards we have," said Tucker, who was out of Tuesday's rotation with Barbosa out. "It's tough, but it's a business. My whole mindset is to keep getting better. I had a great run here in Phoenix. The organization's been good. I had unfortunate breaks, but I feel I can play in this league." Arizona Republic

We have not seen or heard from Robert Swift since his summer league stint with the Celtics. The former BHS and Garces center is not in the NBA....he's not in Europe....so where is Big Rob? ABC-23 Sports has learned that Swift will reportedly join the Bakersfield Jam of the NBA's D-League. ABC-23 Sports

"As soon as I heard that Bakersfield had a team, I was hoping I could play for them," said Swift, who is healthy again and thrilled to be returning home. "I'm excited to just be able to play, and not worry about getting injured again or all the little things. Being back home and in a more stable and secure situation, I think it's gonna be a great year." The Bakersfield Californian

It was curious when Tayshaun Prince was a late scratch Tuesday due to what the team reported as a lower back strain, and Jason Maxiell didn't play against Orlando. Was there a trade in the works? Were they considering packaging Prince and Maxiell for another expiring contract that could help them next summer in the free-agent shopping market? Joe Dumars shot down the suspicions, insisting there are no deals looming. He figures that the Pistons already have enough new faces. Detroit Free Press

Martos Napoli announced the signing of Robert "Tractor" Traylor. The big man spent last season in Turkey with Kepez Antalya averaging 14.5ppg and 8.3rpg. Sportando

My last Derrick Byars-related post was truly designed to be my last. I even called for a truce in the opening. But no one abided by it, so neither will I. Derrick Byars has taken his two years of decent work in the NBA D-League, added the words "Chicago Bulls" to an already decent resumé, and landed himself a rather plush gig in Germany. He has signed for ALBA Berlin, one of the stronger German teams in no way affiliated with Jessica. Or Irving. ChicagoNow.com

Rondo started the week $55 million richer, following the signing of a five-year contract, after negotiations continued until just before the Monday deadline. Any changes in Rondo? “Just his bank account, that’s it,’’ Rivers said. “Besides your clothes, your house, your car, I don’t think you change much as a person. I don’t think money does that to you. “Honestly, that whole thing about when you give a guy money they change, I’ve never bought into that. I think guys that love the game love the game and guys that don’t they don’t. Pay them 10 bucks or a million bucks they’re going to be the same.’’ Boston Globe

On the court, basketball is about winning, about producing, about becoming an NBA champion. Ariza did all that last season, having the best of his five seasons in the league, as the Lakers won the NBA title with him starting at small forward. Off the court, though, basketball is a business. "You learn that it's cutthroat," Ariza said Tuesday. "It doesn't always go the way you want it to." Los Angeles Times

Stunned and disappointed, Ariza then signed with the Rockets for five years and $33.9 million. "Of course I was upset," Ariza said. "But there was nothing I could do about it." Artest played last season for Houston, so it amounted to a swap of free-agent forwards. "I'm happy for Ron Artest," Ariza said. "He's doing what he wants to do and he has a chance to play in L.A. like he's always wanted to do. I don't never have no hard feelings and I don't wish bad on anybody. I wish him the best of luck and that team the best of luck." Los Angeles Times

The Garnett trade has not generated success for the Wolves as quickly as hoped, and David Kahn, their new president of basketball operations, anticipates a "two- or three-year" wait before the team becomes a playoff contender. Kahn's first offseason with the Wolves resulted in the departure of nine players from last year's team. Still, it might be too soon to conclude that the deal that ended Garnett's 12-year term in Minnesota was a total failure. "How the trade is viewed will come down to two things — the health and longevity of Al Jefferson and the development of Jonny Flynn," said ESPN NBA analyst Tim Legler, who played on the Wolves' inaugural team in 1989-90. "Once those two things play out, say five years or so from now, it will be a lot easier to look at this deal." St. Paul Pioneer Press

"That was tough on the franchise when Al got hurt," former Timberwolves forward Mark Madsen said. "There's no question that Al is an all-star and a potential Olympic athlete. He's trying to carve out his own legacy in Minnesota." Garnett was viewed as a primary attraction at the Wolves' box office and an attraction for midlevel free agents who considered the Wolves mainly because of the chance to play with him. That role now goes to Jefferson and Flynn. Both could be instrumental in selling the Wolves and the Twin Cities market next summer to a collection of marquee free agents, led by Cleveland's LeBron James, Miami's Dwyane Wade and Toronto's Chris Bosh. "Guys around the league joke about cities they don't like to play in, and Minneapolis is not on that list," Legler said. "It's a great place to play. The franchise just has to show some growth so guys know what direction the team is heading. You have to show that somebody is making the right personnel decisions." St. Paul Pioneer Press

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

The NBA office has not made a determination regarding an inquiry into a conflict between New Orleans guard Chris Paul and the Celtics’ Rajon Rondo Sunday night. Boston Globe

“I have no comment on it, really,’’ Rondo said after last night’s 105-74 win over Philadelphia. “They’ve got to do what they’ve got to do.’’ Said Rivers, “I don’t expect anything to come of it.’’ Boston Globe

Allen denied part of a Yahoo! Sports report that claimed he later went into the New Orleans locker room to apologize to Paul for Rondo’s actions. Though he went into the locker room to meet with Paul, Allen said he didn’t apologize. “Chris was giving us an autographed jersey for the High Hopes Fund,” Allen said of a charity his family supports that is sponsored by the Joslin Diabetes Center. “Chris and I share the tie of being Brand Jordan athletes, so we’re in contact. “I did ask him, ‘What was going on between the two of you on the floor?’ and he said, ‘It was just the two of us out there competing, that’s all.’ ” Boston Herald

Wallace was about the only Celtic who had his normal night, even getting whistled for a technical foul for arguing with the refs in the third quarter. His fuse burst late in the quarter when he appeared to be fouled on a shot. The ref called a foul, he just didn't call it a shooting foul and denied Wallace a trip to the free-throw line. Wallace kept badgering the refs over the perceived blown call until he was hit with the T with 4.5 seconds left in the third. "I just wanted to get my point across," Wallace said. "I wasn't going to get thrown out." Boston Globe

While the subject of an alleged homophobic slur by Drew Gooden continued to fan his own flames Tuesday, the Mavericks stayed silent, and the NBA opened a review of the situation, although it's difficult to see any substantial penalty forthcoming from the incident. Clippers fan Chris Wylde said in a YouTube video he posted that he and a friend were in a hallway at Staples Center after Saturday's game and that Gooden said to the people he was leaving the game with, "there's that other [slur]." Wylde added that "it wasn't hateful, but it's something that shouldn't be said." Dallas Morning News

An NBA spokesman said the league was looking into it. A Mavericks source said earlier Tuesday that Gooden was not the one who made the remark after the game. Unless the league can decipher the real truth, doling out fines will prove difficult. Dallas Morning News

Who says recruiting violations are limited to the college game? The NBA notified its teams on Tuesday that four clubs have been fined $25,000 each for reimbursing travel, lodging and/or meal expenses incurred by free agents in excess of league-approved limits, ESPN.com has learned. ESPN.com

And where was Granger? By the time the media arrived, he was gone, his locker clean and empty. Can anybody imagine if Peyton Manning flew the coop after a painful Colts loss? I can't count how many times Manning stood up there after brutal playoff losses and answered the questions over and over again, replaying his nightmare for public consumption. Indianapolis Star

Before the game, Del Negro was asked if he was unhappy with Thomas' play so far. ''I'm unhappy with the play of our team,'' he said. ''I'm not gonna talk about guys individually like that, but everyone needs to pick it up a little bit.'' When asked if Thomas has expressed any frustration with his playing time, Del Negro said: ''I haven't seen Tyrus. He's sick; I haven't seen him all day. Next time I see him, if something's on his mind, he knows where to find me and we'll talk. ''But he just needs to get healthy right now and we have to focus on tonight's game.'' Chicago Sun-Times

"Everybody wants to take a shot at him because of the things that happened over the summer," Sloan said of Boozer, who — after spending the offseason opting into the final season of his current contract with the Jazz, then talking about wanting to play elsewhere — has struggled in Utah's first four games of the season. "I just told him (before the season) you have to come and play, and play through those things, and that's easier said than done. Deseret News

Sloan said he hasn't had any one-on-one talks with Boozer since the season started. "I didn't see somebody come to me and beg me to play," he said. "I just went out there and tried to prove I could, and I think that's how you work yourself out of it. You feel better about yourself after it's over." Deseret News

The Dallas Mavericks' offense barely had a pulse for most of three quarters. Then Dirk Nowitzki decided to take control. Nowitzki scored a club-record 29 of his 40 points during a frantic fourth-quarter comeback and the Mavericks beat the Utah Jazz 96-85 on Tuesday night. Nowitzki broke the franchise record of 24 points in any quarter set by Mark Aguirre against Denver on March 24, 1984. "It was an ugly game," Nowitzki said. "We couldn't get anything going for three quarters. We were slow. We were looking for a spark offensively and I was able to do that tonight." AP

It was the fourth straight time in Dallas that Nowitzki's scored 30-plus-points against the now 1-3 Jazz, and the 12th time in 13 tries — including five straight — that Utah has lost here. "Just another game, same story," said Jazz point guard Deron Williams, whose 22 points were a team-high. Asked if anything could have been done differently, one Jazz player after another seemed to be at a loss. "It's Dirk," Williams said. "He's been clutch all of his career. Deseret News

He was here Tuesday night, scoring a team-high 22 points in the Jazz's loss to the Dallas Mavericks, and he'll be back for another regular-season game Jan. 9. But point guard Deron Williams really would love to be in the Dallas area Feb. 14, when the NBA holds its 2010 All-Star Game at the Dallas Cowboys' new stadium in nearby Arlington. "It would mean a lot," said Williams, who feels he belonged in the 2008 All-Star Game at New Orleans. Deseret News

"I think that stuff takes care of itself," Sloan said when asked about Williams' chances. "I've always felt (that), even when John (Stockton) and Karl (Malone) were here ... 'I hope they all make the All-Star team. That means we've got a pretty good team.' Deseret News

For the second time in those five games, the team's effort was questioned, this time by coach Nate McMillan. "We are not playing as hard as we need to to win," McMillan said. "To win games in this league, you have to work, and that's not something I've had to say to this group in the last couple of years. This team ... that was just a known that we were going to get that (effort)." Oregonian

Miller cautioned against drawing conclusions, saying it takes time for players to jell and for a team to change its playing style. "It's easy to say you want to run," Miller said. "But it's probably one of the hardest things to do in this game, get up and down the court at a fast pace consistently. This team hasn't done that in the past. They have been methodical on offense and played solid defense. But there is a way to fast break, but we haven't done it. The coaching staff has done a good job, we just haven't been able to carry it over for four quarters." Oregonian

"I've always felt if given the minutes I will produce," said Hughes, who has produced 18 and 20 points in the two games since D'Antoni decided to pull him out of cold storage. Newsday

"I went through a similar thing last season in Chicago where I didn't handle it the best way I could have," Hughes said. "But I learned from it and I just applied it to this situation." Hughes said he has one goal for this season. "I'd like to stay with one team all year," he said. "It would be nice to have some continuity. It's just about being comfortable, having your teammates be comfortable and your coach be comfortable. I'd like to have that." Newsday

Cavs All-Star LeBron James is happy to see Wizards All-Star Gilbert Arenas back on the floor. Arenas missed most of the last two seasons, as he has had three knee surgeries since 2007. “To see him back healthy I think it’s good for the NBA, it’s good for the city of Washington,” James said. “I’m a big fan of Gilbert’s and the way he plays the game.” The two worked out together some over the summer in Chicago. Canton Repository

Though such a change often has been the recipe for discord in the NBA, Brown said he's pleased with how willing Ilgauskas was to adapt. "Z is easy going and he's adjusted well to the role," Brown said. "He's always got that skill set, he's going to be able to shoot the ball and he's always going to be tall." Cleveland Plain Dealer

When Kobe Bryant went to bed Monday night with a scratchy throat and mild fever, he still had reason to be confident he could overcome it against Oklahoma City the following night. "I knew I'd played through worse before," Bryant said. Sure enough, Bryant gutted it out just as he has so many times in the past. He scored 31 points on 9-for-22 shooting and sank the go-ahead fade-away 16-footer in overtime to help the Lakers eke out a 101-98 overtime victory over the Thunder. "Because of everything that's going on with H1N1, I was relieved when the fever went down," Bryant said. "I'm happy it's not something a little more serious." Riverside Press-Enterprise

"I liked him sometimes and I didn't like him sometimes," Lakers coach Phil Jackson said when asked about Bryant's play. "I think he was a little dehydrated when he ran off at the end and let Sefalosha have a wide-open three, but he made plays that he makes in ballgames. He got to the free-throw line and he was able to control the game at the end." Riverside Press-Enterprise

I write a column about Lamar Odom’s increased maturity after his sensational game vs. Atlanta, then he drills a key 3-pointer in overtime against Oklahoma City … and then (after missing the first foul shot) he air-balls a free-throw attempt with 10.3 seconds left to keep the Lakers’ lead at three points? “I shot the first one a little too long, and I told myself to do everything I can not to shoot the second one long,” Odom said. “It was a lack of concentration. There was no excuse for that. It has to at least touch the rim.” Orange County Register

Thunder coach Scott Brooks was impressed by his young team’s effort in the overtime loss to the Lakers, but he was also impressed by the Lakers. “They turned up the heat,” Brooks said. “They are a physical team. They don’t get enough credit for being a physical ballclub, but they are physical at a lot of positions. Derek (Fisher) is strong and as tough as a point guard gets. And (Ron) Artest, (Andrew) Bynum, Kobe (Bryant) and even Lamar (Odom) … they turned it up and really put a lot of pressure on us.” Orange County Register

While Martin is known as an efficient and creative scorer, he is a high scorer on a lowly team. It's a distinction that rarely comes with acclaim. "I think that he's definitely a guy who has established himself as a guy who can score the basketball in the league on a consistent basis," ESPN analyst and former player Jalen Rose said recently. "I don't think that he's a franchise-caliber player … or – based on the guys he's going to go against on a nightly basis on the perimeter – an All-Star-caliber player. But he is a guy who's going to be able to give some guys headaches because he can score the ball." Sacramento Bee

Told of Rose's comment, Martin wasn't afraid to have some fun with the quasi-prediction. "Was Jalen Rose ever an All-Star?" (Answer: no)," Martin said. "You know what Cedric Ceballos said to me in the preseason, is that the difference between a star and a scorer is wins and losses, so that's what I'm doing now. I'm finding ways to win in other (areas)...(Rose) may not have meant anything harmful if he was looking at wins and losses. If that's the case, it doesn't have to be a personal thing because I respect him as a player and don't want to get into that." Sacramento Bee

A pause and a grin... "Besides, in my prime and his prime, I'd bust his (butt)," he said with a laugh. Sacramento Bee

Nash, 35, has averaged 33.6 to 35.4 minutes in the previous five seasons, consistent with his previous four in Dallas. He understands the concern but said there is "a fallacy that's created about my durability." "It doesn't matter to me," Nash said recently of high-minute games. "I take care of myself and prepare to play all summer. I'm not out playing golf or drinking. I feel like I can handle it." "If I play 37 a game for the season, that's OK." Suns coach Alvin Gentry forces Nash and Grant Hill, 37, to sit out of practice at times. "I'm concerned about him (Nash), but I'm going to play him," Gentry said. "I'll tell you when I'll start looking at his minutes - when they put an X by our name in the paper that says, 'clinched playoffs.' I'm not going to sit him an extra three minutes and risk us losing a game." Arizona Republic

"I'm more inside on the offence, I'm in the right positions," Bosh said. "That's all it is. You have to get positioning early and you have to be strong with guys, but you have to be inside first and that makes it a lot tougher on a team." The emphasis on offensive rebounding came after consulting with the Raptors' head coach in the off-season. "That's one of the things Jay (Triano) and I talked about over the summer, even if the play was designed a certain way, I was floating around the elbow and the wing a little bit too much," Bosh said. "So that was really a point of emphasis for me, to roll a lot more and get down closer to the basket a lot more, be a more traditional big." Keeping up the effort is the goal for the rest of the season. There will be nights when his shot isn't dropping and his scoring diminishes; there can't be nights of less than 100 per cent effort. "He can withstand more, he can withstand more minutes, he can withstand more of the pounding and I think it's (giving) him a lot of confidence to start the season," Triano said of Bosh. Toronto Star

Jennings said winning the 2010 rookie of the year award would be "a good accomplishment" but that making the playoffs and running the team well are his primary goals. Bucks coach Scott Skiles said after the team's victory Saturday that he would try to keep Jennings "grounded" throughout the 82-game NBA season. "What's interesting is it might not be that difficult of a job," Skiles said. "He's a pretty grounded kid. Because the whole situation has been so unique - he bucked the system and went to Europe - people raised their eyebrows and said, 'What's this kid doing?' "He comes back and he's a high draft pick. He said a couple things he probably shouldn't. It's a world and a league of perception, but we know the perception isn't always true. "He actually has a nice head on his shoulders." Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel

A big reason for his increase in minutes this season is due to things clicking during the Playoffs last season. “I think the experience of last year’s playoffs has given me a good perspective on things,” Redick explained after the game. “It’s given me a lot of patience and taught me about being ready. Plus, the experience of starting eight playoff games and playing in the NBA Finals game me a lot of confidence coming into this year.” SLAM

Redick seems to have embraced the idea of doing the little things like making the extra pass, helping out on the glass and playing gritty defense. In fact, after the game against Toronto he showed more pride in his rebounds and assists than he did in setting a career-high with 27 points. “Starting even last year Stan put me in situations coming off pick-and-rolls where I’m coming off screens looking to get an assist,” a modest Redick explained. “I had five assists today and defensively I think I’ve gotten better. Obviously 6 defensive rebounds is a good contribution and that is something I made a point of doing today.” SLAM

Marcus Thompson: Stephen jackson has two new tattoos on his neck. Chinese characters. What do they mean? Jax: "Honor and loyalty. Two things I'm big (on)." Twitter.com

His new found strength (Bosh put on close to 20 pounds) was evident on Sunday when he grabbed Orlando strongman Dwight Howard and pinned his arms to his side so he couldn’t get a basket on a foul call. “In the past, Dwight might have been able to break through those arms and go up and do something,” said Triano. “This time, Chris held him down and held on to him. “The work that Chris did in the off season, building up his body and building up his strength, is going to pay dividends in the second half of the season because he can withstand more,” added Triano. “He can withstand more minutes, he can withstand more of a pounding and I think that’s given him a lot of confidence.” Toronto Sun

Raw Like Sushi was the name of a Neneh Cherry album. It also could end up being the title for the Hasheem Thabeet rookie highlight video. Of course, if you think this guy is green now, Memphis coach Lionel Hollins says you should have been around for his first workout after the Grizzlies took the 7-foot-3, 267-pound Connecticut center with the No. 2 pick in last June's draft. "He was really bad,'' Hollins said. "Even though he's a shot blocker, he only had to stand in the paint in college. Now you've got guys attacking you and how you have to go meet them, he knew none of that. He had no footwork. He had no jump hook. He had nothing. And I can say that out of all the rookies in this draft, he probably has come the farthest. He has the farthest to go, and he still has a long ways to go.'' FanHouse

So far, you need a microscope to see some of Thabeet's statistics. He's played in three of Memphis' four games, averaging 7/10ths of a point, 2.7 rebounds and 1.3 blocks over 8.3 minutes. To find a top-two pick who figures be as unproductive as a rookie as Thabeet, one can go back to 2003 No. 2 selection Darko Milicic, who was staple gunned to the bench in Detroit. The difference, of course, was the Pistons were a title team that season while the Grizzlies are locked in a battle to win 30 games. "I've got to learn,'' said Thabeet, the first native of Tanzania to play in the NBA "I want to come here and play well and help the team win. But it's my first year. It doesn't matter how many minutes I play. I just want to get better and then maybe next year [have a bigger role].'' FanHouse

One scout said, if everything works out for Thabeet, he could be another Dikembe Mutombo. If it doesn't, the scout said he could be another DeSagana Diop. Thabeet is athletic. He grew up playing soccer, and Phoenix guard Steve Nash, quite accomplished in that sport, remarked how good Thabeet looked in a charity game Nash held over the summer. In basketball, though, Thabeet sometimes looks lost. He was grabbing at everything when he picked up his six fouls against the Nuggets. "He needs to learn to play defense in the NBA without his hands,'' Hunter said. "But he's learning a lot. He's very raw, but he has great physical gifts. ... He's going to be good one day. He's going to be a great shot blocker some day.'' FanHouse

Kevin Durant: If u not positive dont speak at all.....we see so much negative stuff in the papers and on tv...lets all try to be positive. Twitter.com

Pau Gasol's hamstring now stretches all the way to Spain . . . sort of. The Lakers sent the information from Gasol's latest medical test to his personal physician and also his parents, who are in the medical field in Spain. (His mother is a doctor and his father is a hospital administrator.) The Lakers declined to reveal the results of the MRI exam, citing the need for confirmation from Gasol's chosen recipients, but his strained right hamstring doesn't appear to be bad enough to keep him out much longer. He went through a "pretty good workout" after the team's Tuesday afternoon shoot-around, Lakers Coach Phil Jackson said. Los Angeles Times

Gasol will not play tonight against Houston, his fifth consecutive game on the sidelines, but what about Friday against Memphis, his old team? "We'll see," Jackson said. "We hope he can get a practice in this week." Los Angeles Times

Coach John Kuester said the Pistons do not expect to have guard Richard Hamilton in the lineup on the two-game road trip that starts Wednesday in Toronto. The Pistons will have an off-day Thursday before playing at Orlando on Friday, which means the team likely will re-evaluate the situation Saturday during practice. Kuester was asked if he wants to see Hamilton practice before he gets into a game. “I would like to see him on the court -- that’s what I want to see,” Kuester said. “Don’t kid yourself, he’s an integral part of what we’re about, and he had such a phenomenal game (in the opener) and had a nice flow. Booth Newspapers

The injuries mount for the Pistons. The team announced just before Tuesday night's home game against the Magic that small forward Tayshaun Prince will be out through Friday night's game at Orlando because of a lower back strain -- ending his league-leading consecutive-start streak at 439 games. Detroit Free Press

Prince has been somewhat of an iron man for the Pistons since the last time he didn't appear in a game, April 13, 2003, during his rookie season. His run of consecutive appearances ended at 496. The streak has been a source of pride for Prince. In years past, at the end of the regular season, when sometimes the Pistons would have little to play for, Prince would get minutes to keep the streak intact. Detroit Free Press

Suns guard Leandro Barbosa probably could drive past anyone with a hand tied behind his back. But Barbosa's sore right wrist took hits in the previous two games, prompting him to sit out Tuesday night's game against the Heat. "I definitely want to play and be there for my teammates, but I want to be able to do something," said Barbosa, who did not shoot a jumper in Sunday's game. "I don't think I can play with one hand." Arizona Republic

In other former Bull news, would you like to see former Bulls coach Tim Floyd breaking up a multi-lady cat fight at a casino? Yes, yes I think you would. ChicagoNow.com

Ticket prices fell for the first time since 2001-02, according to Team Marketing Report. The average price is $48.90, down 2.8% from last season. Prices declined for 14 clubs, remained even for 13 and slightly increased for three. A Lakers game at Staples Center is the highest average ticket ($93.25); a Grizzlies home game the lowest ($24.10). The Indiana Pacers lowered their average price 29.5%, the sharpest drop of any club. USA Today

The local NBA team here in promoting a yet another new plan for turning the 37-acre Rose Quarter, home to its 13-year-old Rose Garden arena and the 50-year-old Memorial Coliseum, into a 24-hour mixed-use district. The Trailblazers organization’s latest scheme calls for keeping the old while adding condos, apartments, hotels, office space and restaurants and retailers in several new buildings. The Trailblazers organization is owned by billionaire Paul Allen of Microsoft fame, which also owns property next to the Rose Quarter on the nearby Willamette riverfront. Marketing for the Trailblazers new plan, including the rollout of the imaginejumptown.com web site, is running alongside a public request for ideas on how to jumpstart the Rose Quarter by Portland Mayor Sam Adams and his new Rose Quarter Stakeholders Committee, which is accepting plans for fixing the Rose Quarter through its own web site, rosequarterdevelopment.org. Globest

Bruce Bowen is clearly loved — not just as a former Spur but as a future TV broadcaster. Fans have filled my e-mail box, blog and Twitter page with ecstatic reaction to his upcoming ESPN gig. As I reported in Jakle’s Jacuzzi last week, Bowen said he’s been hired as an in-studio NBA analyst for the cable network and is excited about the opportunity. He had mentioned the job should begin soon, although Bowen, when I phoned Monday, said he’s still not up on specifics. He has yet to return a signed contract to ESPN, though he indicated there should be no problem doing so. San Antonio Express-News

Bill Walton will no longer work as a TV analyst because of a bad back, which surprised his son. "I know how much he loved it, so it's got to be really hard for him," forward Luke Walton said. The younger Walton was an occasional target of his father's criticism when the elder Walton worked a Lakers game. "People know he is always going to say what he thinks and sees, and not say the PC thing to say," Luke Walton said. Los Angeles Times

One of the leading domestic sportswear companies, Peak, announced it has signed sneaker contracts with Houston Rockets' power forward Carl Landry and the Minnesota Timberwolves' rising star, Kevin Love. Landry, a solid bench player, has helped fill the void created by the injury to his All-star teammate, Yao Ming. He was a key player in the Rockets' 22-game winning streak last year, the second longest in NBA history. China Daily

Charles Oakley on Butch Carter, former Raptors coach "Butch is probably one of the best coaches, as far as Xs and Os, that I've been around. I'd put him up there with Pat Riley. He knows the game. Unfortunately, some things happened. But I think he can come back in this league and be a great coach. People learn from their mistakes. That's what the NBA needs ... they need coaches like Butch Carter. He had game plans. He'd be great for Cleveland. LeBron, if he's a 10 now, his game would go up two or three levels. Look what Butch did for Vince Carter." Toronto Star

On Vince Carter's early success in Toronto: "It was all Butch. Butch got in his ear and told him, `Do you know what you have with you? You've got some guys who care for you and are going to look out for you.' Me, Antonio (Davis), Kevin (Willis), we said, `Hey, Vince, we got your back.' Vince would have never excelled the way he did if it wasn't for Butch and some of the guys on the team, because we kept pushing him. We said, `You're better ... shoot as much as you want. We rebound. We set the picks. We keep guys off of you. They hit you, we're gonna hit one of them. It's like baseball. That was my attitude – if you're my teammate, you've got nothing to worry about." Toronto Star

Sharapova recently began dating the Lakers' Sasha Vujacic. Now if she can only help "The Machine" get his deadly jump shot back. Twitter.com

Vujacic is aware of the reports out there. We’ll see what else develops on this issue and if it can upstage the Khloe-Lamar wedding set for E! on Sunday night. Orange County Register

Is it true? Sasha Vujacic would neither confirm nor deny reports that he is dating tennis superstar Maria Sharapova. He said he liked tennis, then he directed a handful of reporters to "Go ask Lamar about his personal life. I'm sure he wants to talk about it." Lamar Odom married reality television star Khloe Kardashian a few days before training camp opened in late September. Odom has revealed little about their wedding. Los Angeles Daily News

So, is the Machine dating Maria? The Machine wouldn't say for sure. When told Sharapova "is very nice," Vujacic said, "I know." When told Sharapova "is very smart," he responded, "I know." Los Angeles Daily News

Shaquille O'Neal: Would people b mad, if I woulda stepped on that bat, that manu ginobli knocked out the air. Twitter.com

Former National Basketball Association player Manute Bol usually towers over his audiences, but he spoke in Monroe County Tuesday from a wheelchair. A recent flare-up of arthritis made him unable to walk. The 7-foot-7-inch Bol was the NBA's tallest player when he went pro in 1985. With his size-17 right foot resting on the wheelchair's footrest, his knee reached his chest height. Democrat and Chronicle

He told audiences in Monroe County of his Sudan Sunrise effort — sudansunrise.org — to build schools and promote reconciliation in the war-torn country. The two-decade civil war between the mainly Muslim north and the Animist and Christian south has killed more than 2 million people and displaced more than 4 million people. A peace agreement was reached in 2005, but famine and suffering continue. A separate conflict broke out in Sudan's western region of Darfur in 2003. Democrat and Chronicle

Police alleged yesterday that illegal Palestinian workers from the West Bank were hired to do construction projects on the Petah Tikva home of basketball star Lior Eliyahu. Eliyahu, an Israel national team member who formerly played for Maccabi Tel Aviv, is now the starting power forward for Spain's Caja Laboral. Eliyahu's father, who is suspected of employing one of the Palestinians as a contractor, was reported to have undergone police questioning yesterday. Law enforcement officials say that Eliyahu will be questioned only if it becomes apparent to investigators that he was aware his father employed illegal workers at their home. Haaretz

Eliyahu was selected by the NBA's Orlando Magic with the 44th pick of the 2006 NBA Draft. He was later traded to the Houston Rockets, which still holds his draft rights. Haaretz

The legal process continues to unfold for Cavs guard Delonte West, who was indicted on additional charges Tuesday from his Sept. 17 arrest for weapons violations after a traffic stop in Maryland. West has been indicted on eight counts. Prince George’s County State’s Attorney Glenn Ivey said West likely will be arraigned by the end of the week, and the case could go to trial early next year. “These charges carry up to three years in jail for each offense,” Ivey told WTTG Fox 5 in Washington D.C. “So potentially he could be looking at some jail time here. ... I don't know that the sentencing guidelines are going to require that, but we'll have to see how that plays out over time.” Canton Repository

Former Miami University basketball player Phil Lumpkin, who according to Darrell Hedric “was one of the smartest point guards I ever coached,” has died at age 57. Lumpkin was found dead in his Seattle apartment by police on Monday, Nov. 2, according to news reports from the Seattle area. Hedric said he received a call Monday morning from Lumpkin’s uncle, Fred Lumpkin, who told him his nephew had suffered a bout of pneumonia and had been hospitalized recently. Lumpkin was inducted into the Miami Athletic Hall of Fame in 1983 and is one of only a handful of Miami players to be drafted into the NBA in the first round. Oxford Express

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