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Thursday, March 18

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Last update: 7:53 pm ET

Of course, they could re-sign Lee in addition to a second star, but what would be the point of that? They didn't submit to so much pain in order to retain the status quo. So it's understood that Lee probably is auditioning himself for rival employers. "There's a lot of money out there this summer and LeBron [James] can't take it all," said Celtics coach Doc Rivers after watching Lee produce 29 points, nine rebounds and seven assists in a 109-97 Knicks loss Wednesday at Boston. "Somebody has got to take it." SI.com

Said Lee: "It definitely would be different [playing in a smaller market]. There are positives and negatives to both. New York, we all know, is the greatest place to be when you're winning and the toughest place to be, media-wise and fans-wise, when you're losing." SI.com

Yet many players don't react so well after negotiations go dry. "That's because a lot of them play the victim," said D'Antoni. "He didn't. But that's the reality: It's a business and he didn't let it bother him. Once the season started, he honed in on having the best season he could have." SI.com

Michael Lee: Wiz signed F Alonzo Gee to 2nd 10-day contract today. Flip says Wiz will likely sign PG Shaun Livingston for the rest of the season tomorrow. Twitter.com

The season of Stromile Swift is over, after his team, Shandong, failed to reach play-off in the Chinese league. Despite of his good adaptation to his new country (besides some problems with local food), Swift will try to go back to the NBA. The low salaries in China (his monthly salary in Shandong was just $60k) are the main reason for his likely leaving. Former Rockets and Grizzlies player has averaged 22.1 points and 11.8 rebounds in 31 games, being also the best dunker in the CBA with 2.7 dunks per game. The Hoops Market

Are you willing to pay the luxury tax in order to add an impact player? Michael Jordan: Right now, no. I’m not sure we need to take that risk at this time. If we become a perennial playoff team, then it may make sense to exceed the luxury tax, but it will depend on the situation. We’re not going to exceed the luxury tax just for the sake of it. But if there's a player who can make a real difference for us and that puts us into luxury tax territory, then it’s something we might consider. Bobcats.com

When crazy Josh Smith decked Calderon for now apparent reason and then appeared ready to fight when Calderon bounced up, Horford made a beeline for the scene, saved Smith for doing something really stupid and then did something I’ve never seen Bosh do and, frankly, you just don’t see in pro basketball: He grabbed his teammates around the necks, pulled them all close and seemed to tell them to chill out and focus on the task at hand. Impressive. Toronto Globe & Mail

D'Antoni will answer any question, no matter how stupid. But when a beat writer asked him how he felt Robinson was fitting in with Boston, D'Antoni shut it down. "I don't know. Ask them.'' Not a big fan. New York Post

Mike Bresnahan: Gasol sat out Thursday's practice because of tonsilitis. He's listed as day-to-day and might be game-time decision Friday against Minnesota. Twitter.com

As a twelve year old in New Jersey, Caracter signed his first of many autographs. Shortly after, he was being mentioned in the same breath as LeBron James. But as the hype grew, so did the power forward's head. "My sophomore year and going into my junior year of high school, I started getting a little bit big headed," Caracter tells HOOPSWORLD. HoopsWorld.com

But disagreements with Rick Pitino and other off-court problems kept Caracter from thriving with the Cardinals. After two tumultuous years of suspensions, personal leaves of absence, and clashing with Pitino, the school dismissed him. "You take a look at yourself in the mirror when something like that goes wrong. You ask yourselves a lot of questions. What happened? Why does God want it to happen this way?" says Caracter. HoopsWorld.com

With these lessons learned, what's next for the big man? He's back on the right track but can he still be an elite player in the NBA, like his former peers Durant and James? "I believe I can," he says with confidence. "You can't compare me to those guys because they're doing it right now. But when the time comes and basketball is my job and I can spend all my time on basketball, not classes or this other stuff going on, once I can just zone in and focus on just basketball, I believe the sky is the limit. I have a strong faith and I believe everything happens for a reason so only time will tell. It's how bad you want it." HoopsWorld.com

Mark Jackson’s decision to sign with an agent this week has not gone unnoticed in coaching circles, where it is believed that the former All-Star point guard and current broadcaster finally will get his chance to roam the sidelines as an NBA head coach. Jackson did not employ an agent when he was in the running for head coaching jobs in New York and Minnesota last summer and Phoenix in 2008, preferring to deal one-on-one with team executives. Jackson, 44, got passed over for all three jobs but is expected to be in demand once the NBA’s coaching carousel starts spinning at the end of April. “Despite the economy and the potential work stoppage, there’s going to be more movement than we’ve seen in the past,” said one person involved in the coaching business. CBSSports.com

The two most sensible landing spots for the ABC/ESPN commentator are the Clippers and Nets, according to sources familiar with both situations. Jackson lives in Los Angeles and is a native New Yorker. Despite turmoil in both organizations, the situations will be extremely attractive for top coaching candidates this summer. CBSSports.com

One person familiar with how coaching candidates view the Clippers job described the team as being in the “best shape in the league” payroll-wise and talent-wise. There are signs that frugal owner Donald M. Sterling, who demoted and then fired former coach and GM Mike Dunleavy in recent weeks, could be ready to open his notoriously tight checkbook for a high-profile name like Jackson. CBSSports.com

The Nets, according to sources, would be viewed as more of a longer-term growth opportunity for Jackson, who has no previous coaching experience. But the cap space to sign a max free agent, the possibility of landing presumed No. 1 pick John Wall, and the team’s eventual move to a new arena in Brooklyn – one borough over from Jackson’s native Queens – might overshadow the fact that the Nets (7-61) are on their way to one of the worst seasons in NBA history. CBSSports.com

Another situation that bears watching is Indiana, where Jackson enjoyed some of his best years as a player. Former Pacers GM Donnie Walsh, who also is represented by Jackson’s new agent, Steve Kauffman, thinks highly of Jackson and still holds sway over Pacers owner Herb Simon when it comes to transformational decisions such as a coaching hire. If the Pacers decide to dismiss Jim O’Brien after the season for a new voice, and Jackson’s communication skills popularity within the organization will be among his biggest strengths. CBSSports.com

Jackson’s decision to sign with Kauffman Sports Management made official his well-known private desire to leave the broadcast booth for a chance to coach. Sources familiar with Jackson’s thinking say he is cognizant of the role his lack of experience would play and is determined to recruit the most experienced assistants possible to help him make the transition. Philadelphia, Chicago, New Orleans and Golden State are among the other teams that could be contemplating coaching changes this summer. CBSSports.com

Are you interested in extending Larry Brown’s contract? Michael Jordan: Larry has supported me and I support Larry. One of the reasons that Larry came here is because of our relationship. I want to keep Larry as long as he’ll stay here. Bobcats.com

PJ Carlesimo remains on the short list of people Oregon will consider. Although, I've heard a lot of talk lately about how well Carlesimo, 60, will relate to young recruits. I like the idea of PJ as a finalist, but I'm coming from a different place than many of the recruits. Oregonian

Former University of Oregon standout Fred Jones called into the Bald Faced Truth radio show (3-6 p.m. on 95.5-FM) on Tuesday to express his interest in someday coaching the Ducks. Oregonian

Boise State's newly formed search committee apparently has Trail Blazers coach Dean Demopoulos on its radar. This is still early-stage stuff but the Broncos have put together a 10-person search committee to identify the next men's basketball coach. Oregonian

Brian T. Smith: #Blazers' McMillan said Penn was a friend and always supported him. McMillan was surprised by Penn's firing, but said it was a business move. Twitter.com

Roy on Penn's unexpected firing: We'll miss him. But that seems to be this business. Guys come and go. On whether the issue can be distracting: No. I'm not easily distracted. I'm trying to fight to get into this playoff race, and I think guys know how important things are. And, again, guys get injured, you've got to play through it. Guys get traded, you've got to play through it. And that's unfortunate what happened with him, but again, we've got to play through it. We're trying to get as high as we can in this race; we've got teams on our heels. We don't got time to really sit back. Maybe after the season, we can sit back and say, 'Wow, that was a crazy year.' Columbian

Do you plan to be more visible here in Charlotte? Michael Jordan: Yes, I plan to be here more often than I have been in the past. When I joined Bob as a minority investor, my role was to oversee basketball operations. Now that I'm the principal owner, I understand the commitment I’ve made and know the responsibilities are different. I'm up for that challenge. Bobcats.com

How will your ownership style differ from that of Mr. Johnson’s? Michael Jordan: I plan to be very hands-on with this business. For me there’s a personal dimension to owning this team. I'm doing this because Carolina is, and always has been, home for me, and basketball is my main business. I’m also the first player to become the principal owner of a team, and that gives me a different perspective on ownership than anyone else in the league. Bobcats.com

I know you’re the team chaplain for Kansas. Now will you travel with them on the road during the Tournament? Wayne Simien: Yeah, I’m not going to travel with them to the preliminary rounds. My wife and I just had our third child recently and so I need to stay pretty close to home to help out with the kids. But I do plan on going to the Final Four. I’m going to be doing some coaches’ ministry there with the NABC and hopefully the Jayhawks will meet us up there in Indianapolis. But I went to the practices the last couple of days and sent them off yesterday so hopefully they’ll come back victorious during the first round in Oklahoma City and then in St. Louis and I hope to meet them in Indianapolis. LostLetterman

Last update: 8:20 am ET

The notion is not far-fetched. Multiple team sources agreed Harrington "would be someone to consider" during this summer's free agency. Thorn declined comment -- teams are not permitted to discuss players under contract to other teams. But he didn't do anything to squash the idea. New York Post

Team president Rod Thorn admits the Nets will have to look everywhere to find players after this nightmare season concludes and at least six player contracts expire. And current Knicks forward Al Harrington hopes they look his way. New York Post

Monday could bring a shakeup to the Cavaliers' roster. That's the day when the Cavs can begin negotiating with Zydrunas Ilgauskas about his possible return to the team. Ilgauskas, 34, indicated that was his intention through his agent, Herb Rudoy, on March 4, after his contract was bought out by the Washington Wizards. Akron Beacon Journal

The Cavs traded Ilgauskas to the Wizards in a three-team deal Feb. 17 that brought forward Antawn Jamison and Telfair to Cleveland. Green, who was drafted in the second round out of the University of North Carolina, said he isn't concerned. ''Honestly, I'm not really worried about that right now and I don't have any control over what happens,'' he said. ''All I can control is what I do.'' Akron Beacon Journal

Walker will have some major decisions to make this summer, perhaps the most important being whether to hire an agent. Walker is one of the few NBA players without an agent, and that is intentional. Before his Knicks took on the Celtics last night, Walker said he never saw the need for an agent, though he had legal representation to work out his first contract with Boston. The second-year swingman said he does not feel pressed to seek an agent to negotiate what could be a lucrative, multiyear contract. Boston Globe

“When the time comes, I will use him like a lawyer,’’ Walker said. “No need of somebody getting 4 percent of something I’ve earned. You know what I mean? That never made sense to me. “If it works for some guys, it does, but the way I figure, if you can bring me something bigger than what I am worth, then yeah. “If I get the same number that you’re getting, then why are you getting 4 percent? That’s my logic, man — trying to save up every penny I can.’’ Boston Globe

And even as Law knows he soon will cede the point-guard spotlight when Derrick Rose returns from his sprained left wrist, the well-traveled former lottery pick is fully aware he's playing for a future job — somewhere. "We've talked about that with (general manager) Gar (Forman)," Law said of he and his agent. "They only have six players under contract (next season). I just want to play. I feel I can help some team be successful and that's what I'll concentrate on this summer. Now, I'm trying to help this team get to where it can get to." Chicago Tribune

When the Nuggets traded for Petro last season, it was solely as a guy to help the team get under the luxury tax threshold. And it worked. What they didn’t necessarily know at the time was they were getting a player that had potential to be a nice complimentary piece in the future. That was until they got him on the Pepsi Center practice court. “Almost immediately our coaching staff said ‘Hey this guy is an NBA player, give us time. He’ll be a player,’” Warkentien said. “This summer when we were looking at the bigs available at minimum (cost), this guy is a guy they asked for. Our guys asked for him and recruited him. He’s the guy they wanted all along. Johan has worked everyday and they have worked everyday to get this guy there. And for all of their efforts, that tree is bearing fruit.” Denver Post

As a preview to last night’s game between the Orlando Magic and San Antonio Spurs, ESPN’s First Take took on the question of which big man you would rather have on your team right now: Tim Duncan or Dwight Howard. Skip Bayless’s answer? Tim Duncan. Bayless said Duncan had the “winner’s intangibles” that Howard did not. He tweeted his views here, saying, “Right now, for these playoffs, still take boring old Tim Duncan over Dwight Howard on winner’s intangibles. I KNOW 4-ring Tim will show up.” Orlando Sentinel

Howard was then asked how he feels about being called out by Bayless. Howard’s answer indicated he doesn’t put much stock in what Bayless says. His full comments: “I think everybody has a problem with anything I do on the floor. We got to the Finals last year with the same way I played this year. I’m not going to change who I am, I’m not going to change my personality. I’m not going to change anything about me. I’ve been playing basketball since I was three years old. I never changed one part of myself in this game. I’ve gotten a lot better since I’ ve been playing basketball, but one thing that has always been consistent is I’m going to have fun out there. Basketball brings me joy. I don’t care what people say about me smiling too much or having too much fun. Hey, I’m doing something I love. I’m going to be thankful and have fun doing it. Orlando Sentinel

“Well Skip Bayless can call me out a million times. I don’t think he’s ever put on a jock strap, stepped on the floor and played any type of basketball. That’s his job. That’s their job to criticize players. Only people that we have to listen to are our coaches. Those are the guys that get paid to make us better players. Skip, he’s called everybody out. He’s called LeBron “Prince James.” LeBron’s one of the best players in the world, and he doesn’t think LeBron is good. It’s somebody just talking.” Orlando Sentinel

Skip Bayless: Yep, TDuncan dreadful last night in road backtoback. But seriously, is DHoward the best all-around center on his own team? Did you watch? Twitter.com

Alex Kennedy: Later today, @DwightHoward is releasing a blog that responds to some of his critics, especially Skip. I wonder if he mentions it. Twitter.com

In an interview with HoopsTV, Rondo had some things to say about the fact that the Celtics' record against the best teams in the league is something rather pathetic. (It means) we beat ourselves if we don't win it. I don't think anybody can beat us. Atlanta swept us already, Cleveland is up two to one (now 3 to 1), Orlando is up two to one, but at the end of the day I think that we can beat any of those teams (in a playoff series). NBCSports.com

Since he rubbed shoulders with his fellow members of the NBA elite in Dallas in mid-February, he has averaged about 21 points and nine rebounds on 47 per cent shooting in seven games, six of them losses. Before the break he was averaging 24 points and 11 rebounds on 53 per cent work. Why the drop-off? "My numbers since the all-star break, it doesn't matter. I haven't played many games since the all-star break. My only focus is trying to win basketball games. And that's really it," said Bosh. "If my mind was elsewhere, I don't think we would have won (Wednesday's) game." Toronto Star

But throw out those on rookie contracts, and who might in future years be the billboard star for underpaid players? Try Blatche, the Washington power forward who has averaged 24.4 points and 9.5 rebounds in 16 games since the All-Star Break. He's making $3 million this season, and has two years left on a five-year, $15 million deal. "I look at the situation as being underpaid,'' Blatche, 23, said in an interview with FanHouse. "I understand why I got the contract that I got and I make the best of it.'' FanHouse.com

"I went for the long deal for security,'' Blatche said of later that summer signing the five-year contract for about half of what a player would get for a deal using the mid-level exception. "It was either that or a one-year deal for close to nothing. I was like, 'OK, I'll just take it.''' The Wizards have handed out some crazy contracts before, but they sure got plenty of value with this one. Blatche admits now he regrets locking himself up for so long. "Yeah, I do,'' he said. "But it's already done. It was already in the works [at the time of his arrest]. I just have to live with it ... Who would have known this situation where I would [now] be the key go-to guy?'' FanHouse.com

For that, the Wizards have Blatche under contract next season for the discount price of $3.26 million and for 2011-12 at $3.52 million. He can't become a free agent until the summer of 2012. "Definitely next year, if I'm going out and I'm doing the same thing and I become an All-Star player, it's definitely going to bother me a lot because I'm definitely going to feel underpaid and like I'm not being appreciated,'' Blatche said. "But there's nothing I can do about that.'' Looking back, Blatche knows the arrest did nothing to help his negotiating power that summer. "You learn from your mistakes,'' Blatche said. "It was taken more seriously than it should have been. We just got caught talking to the wrong people. That's what it was all about. We shouldn't have talked to them anyway. That's what happens.'' FanHouse.com

After getting treatment for the past couple of days, Williams was fit enough to go last night, but coach Eddie Jordan decided to keep him out of the starting lineup. Again, Williams' body language showed his displeasure, even if he somewhat hid it in his words. "I expected [to start]," Williams said before taking the court to warm up his back before game time. "I didn't see any reason . . . But we've been changing up the lineup a little bit. I guess this is just another episode of us doing that, seeing if we can find some way to win." Philadelphia Daily News

His comments dripped with sarcasm. Williams said his back has been acting up for a couple of weeks. "I got a hold of a bad bed on the road or something," he said. "It got unbearable on Monday. I woke up [Monday] and I was fine, then I started playing on the Internet a little bit. I got up off the couch and couldn't move. I felt like a 60-year-old man. They said I was having back spasms. The chiropractor said he felt some tension." Philadelphia Daily News

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Hassell is used to going from first team to 14th man overnight — how many guys in this league have started 31 games and been benched 16 times in the same season? Only the saintly ones, that’s how many. “Terrence is the future, I’m not,” Hassell said before the Nets’ 108-97 loss to the Sixers at Wachovia Center. “In two years, he’s an All-Star, as long as he continues to work. Just bring the people in here to teach him the right things, and he’ll be an All-Star.” Newark Star-Ledger

There were even times when he admits he didn’t much care: “There were a lot of those days, when I didn’t even want to go to work,” the rugged wing said. “And I never thought I’d say that to myself. But it’s not in me to fold up and stay home. You never let bad circumstances dictate or change the way you are. “So once I got to the gym, I never found myself not in the game mentally. I thought I would, but I became myself when the ball went up. But yeah, there were times when you’d say, ‘Man, do I really want to come to work?’ ” Newark Star-Ledger

“I’m only 31, but I feel I lost almost two years,” he said, alluding to the transition that began since his arrival in the Jason Kidd deal in February 2008. “That makes it hard to get a job — GMs don’t know what you can do on a regular basis. “So I’ve got to find a job. I’m actually preparing myself for next season physically. Rich Dalatri has me doing double-days right now, and I’m trying to get down to 215 (pounds) and get my old quickness back. It’s turning into an offensive league.” Newark Star-Ledger

Richard Jefferson has at least one thing in common with Vince Carter, his teammate for parts of four seasons with the New Jersey Nets. “We're both glad we're not in Jersey anymore,” Jefferson said. San Antonio Express-News

Leaning back in a recliner as he watches the game on a wall-mounted television -- a nice TV, but not obscenely large or anything -- with his 24-year-old son, Jamaal, and 26-year-old nephew, Mike Riggins, the honesty spouts from Hodges' lips with the same purity as his picture-perfect jump shot as he answers my questions and offers his observations during the game. He's agreed to have me over to watch the game with him so that I can see what he sees. "No," Hodges says flatly when I ask him at one point in the first half if any players on the team stand up to Kobe Bryant and critique him if he does something detrimental to the team. On this occasion it was Bryant not sprinting back on defense after turning the ball over with a bad pass. "Not one. They all kiss his a--." ESPN.com

Asked this week about whether he still holds that hope, Oden sounds as if he has scaled back his plans. “I have no idea when I can get back to playing,” Oden says. “Until I get better, I won’t know for sure. “I want to get my knee feeling good to the point where if (a return this season) doesn’t happen, I can at least go into the summer knowing I’m ready for next season. I’m just being realistic.” Portland Tribune

Ross Siler: One Jazz player had no idea Darko Milicic still was in the NBA, let alone starting for the Timberwolves tonight. Twitter.com

Ross Siler: Kyrylo Fesenko started humming "What is Love?" in honor of Kevin Love before game. Jazz players kill him about his love of club music. Twitter.com

But Williams got even more banged up in the process. Late in the game, Williams suffered a contusion to his already sore left shoulder. He'll have an MRI on his shoulder as a precaution today. That goes along with his injured left ankle, left wrist and back. "I just need a whole new left side," Williams quipped. Deseret Morning News

Indiana Pacers coach Jim O'Brien said there is no timetable for forward Danny Granger's return to the lineup. Granger was examined and released from Methodist Hospital after a CT scan on his head and neck taken Tuesday night came back negative. "(The team's physicians will) evaluate him on a day-to-day basis," O'Brien said. "If he's capable of going, he'll go, but you never know when somebody gets hit that hard in the head area." Indianapolis Star

Oden says he is doing his best to keep in shape. “I’m lifting (weights) to keep my strength, doing a lot of (abdominal) stuff and trying to burn calories,” he says. Oden had a final exam in his sociology class at Portland State on Tuesday. He won’t take any classes spring term. For now, the Indianapolis native is working on keeping a good mental frame. “It’s frustrating not being out there,” he says. “I can’t stand here and say I’m happy. It’s very tough, because I want to be out there playing. “But I’ve stayed positive. If you don’t, it can eat at you.” Portland Tribune

Where is Greg Oden at with rehab? Last I heard he was doing some basketball stuff but it was extremely light, nowhere near a game-ready regimen. That means his knee is getting there but I'd still be surprised to see him back before next fall. BlazersEdge.com

Bucks forward Carlos Delfino was still wearing a walking boot on his left foot as he entered the locker room at the Staples Center on Wednesday night. Delfino said he hopes to miss only the game against the Clippers, although he was still feeling pain in the left ankle. He suffered the injury when he stepped on someone's foot while grabbing a rebound in the Bucks' 98-94 victory over Indiana on Sunday. He underwent a magnetic resonance imaging exam immediately on Sunday night and another MRI on Monday. After the second test was taken, Delfino's worst fears were relieved and the injury was termed a bone bruise. "It's getting better day by day," Delfino said. "It's nothing big. I'll be surprised if I've got to miss another game. "At the beginning we were crossing fingers. We had the first MRI on Sunday but then we had another test and it was just a bone bruise, not the worst-case scenario." Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel

If you’re the Warriors and you’re lucky to have this option–by winning the lottery, a very non-Warriors thing, I know–what do you do? “They’d take Wall,” the NBA source said immediately. “Any team that gets the first pick has to take Wall.” Even the Warriors. This source is not the only person who has been dead sure about this, and there’s great logic to it: You cannot bypass a potential superstar PG like Wall, no matter who you are, but especially if you’re a team lacking a superstar. These are the guys who lead you out of misery. San Jose Mercury-News

There’s no guarantee C.J. will stick around for a second season at KU, with brother Xavier expected to enter the 2010 NBA Draft. “I mean, shoot, all I know is about today,” C.J. said. Of Xavier, he said: “Eventually, he wants to play in the NBA. I know he wants to do that. I don’t know whether it will be this year or two or three years down the line. I don’t know. When he feels he’s ready, I think he’ll go.” Lawrence Journal-World

Along his jagged path, Caracter was overweight and academically underwhelming, and he transformed from a can’t-miss preps-to- pros prospect to being labeled a washout at age 20. “If I could do it all over again?” Caracter asked. “Maybe pray that David Stern didn’t change the rule about high school kids entering the draft. Some guys just aren’t built for college.” New York Times

Doherty recalled Caracter telling him, “I don’t understand why I have to be here in math class. I don’t need this. I’m just going to go to the N.B.A.” That year, as Caracter climbed atop the recruiting rankings and LeBron James transformed from phenomenon to N.B.A. sensation, Doherty said things began to change. He said Caracter could call a Nike representative and they would ship gear to him by overnight mail. Caracter would show up with things like a new watch or a cell phone with a California area code. Doherty said Caracter’s explanation would be, “People give me things.” New York Times

Caracter got his grades, but his game regressed with limited playing time and his weight ballooned. He openly clashed with Coach Bill Barton, now an assistant coach at Duquesne. Barton found Caracter lazy and irresponsible, though Caracter still managed to qualify academically for college. “He really wanted the N.B.A. lifestyle for the lifestyle and not the game itself,” Barton said. New York Times

With well over 100 N.C.A.A. draft prospects who need to be evaluated before the college season is over, it’s nearly impossible to get an accurate read on the class as a whole unless a G.M. starts the scouting process in November. Unfortunately, that doesn’t always happen. It’s for that reason that a single outstanding N.C.A.A. tournament game can weigh heavily on a prospect’s draft stock in the minds of N.B.A. teams. Players like Patrick O’Bryant, Julius Hodge, Jared Jeffries, Bo Kimble, Bryce Drew and many others rode terrific performances in March to improving their draft position substantially, but ended up being major disappointments relative to where they ended up being picked. New York Times

Bogut is under pressure in his native Australia to play for his country in the international tournament, but the Bucks are worried about the 7-footer's long-term health and protecting their five-year, $60 million investment. Bogut and the Bucks agreed to the five-year contract extension in the summer of 2008, and the current season was the first year of the deal. Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel

"We are going to support Andrew as he goes through this process," Hammond said before the Bucks played the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday night. "But we do have concerns. "We've made a long-term commitment to Andrew and obviously he's made a commitment back to us. We appreciate what he's done for us at this point in his career and think he's only going to get better and better. "We want to continue to monitor his back and make sure he stays healthy." Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel

Ilyasova played for Turkey in the 2009 European Championships and was one of the top scorers in the tournament. "Ersan's circumstance is a bit different," Hammond said. "Age, no injury. And the fact also his team is the host country. Hopefully we're going to attend and support him in some capacity." Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel

Dantley has coached five games this season while George Karl was undergoing treatment for throat cancer. Karl returned to the bench Tuesday, but Dantley's days calling the shots likely are not done. Through it all, Dantley has learned more about what it takes to be in the head chair and if he has the chops to handle it. "It's been a good experience," Dantley said. "I think just being a head coach in these five games, I think I've gotten better. And that's what you always want to do in anything you do. I think I've gotten better knowing basketball, knowing how to deal with certain people, deal with certain personalities, deal with certain playing time and all of those little things like that. But you get a feel and each time you do it you feel more comfortable." Denver Post

“I’ve never been that kind of person to worry about my job,” Stefanski said. “I don’t know if that’s foolish, but that’s never been my MO to worry about that. I go after it every day real hard and I’m confident that we will get back and go in the right direction.” Bergen Record

A former Detroit Piston and local businessman has filed for bankruptcy. According to financial documents obtained by Local 4, Derrick Coleman has filed for Chapter 7 and has an estimated debt of $2.19. ClickonDetroit.com

Coleman owes between 50 and 99 creditors, including Detroit Mayor Dave Bing, American Express, Comerica, Sprint, Verizon, Hungry Howie's Pizza and Nike. Rich Kassa owns XL Autobody and Paint in Warren, and said Coleman owes him money for work he's done on his cars. "I know Derrick Coleman well. I've done several vehicles for him and some other NBA players," Kassa said. "It's just an unfortunate situation." ClickonDetroit.com

Coleman was not available for comment, but his attorney, Mark Berke, issued the following statement: "Due to the state of the economy, including the decline in the real estate market, Mr. Coleman's investments could not be sustained. Attempts were made to remedy the circumstances. However, Mr. Coleman's efforts were unsuccessful. Mr. Coleman still has faith in, and is dedicated to, the city of Detroit. We are hopeful that this process will be amicable and cooperative for all parties involved." ClickonDetroit.com

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