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The Lakers and New York Knicks would be O'Neal's top two choices for a deal. He would play with Kobe Bryant in Los Angeles or be reunited with former coach Isiah Thomas in New York. O'Neal's contract -- he is due $64.1 million over the final three years -- will narrow the list of potential trade partners. Indianapolis Star

A source who has spoken with Los Angeles Lakers G.M. Mitch Kupchak and Pacers G.M. Larry Bird says that the conversations about a Jermaine O'Neal-for-Andrew Bynum-and-Lamar Odom trade have accelerated in recent days, undoubtedly a reaction to Kobe Bryant's four-day tirade. "I wouldn't be surprised if this got done by the draft," the source said. Yahoo! Sports

Bird said he hasn't "really had any talks with L.A., but this is the time it heats up" and he expects to hear from teams about several players. "We'll move any player we think we can make us better," Bird said. "Jermaine has been a big part of our success here over the years. He's a very talented player. You would hate to give up on someone like that unless you get something back in return that's very, very good. Indianapolis Star

There's a new coach in town and he's promised to take the Pacers to the playoffs next season... but will he do it with the Pacers star player, Jermaine O'Neal? Sources have told WTHR's Henry Wofford that Jermaine O'Neal has purchased a home in Los Angeles within the past 6 weeks. WTHR.com / June 1

As a most unpredictable summer approaches, the Pacers certainly could trade Tinsley. He’s hardly achieved untouchable status. He doesn't show much leadership, he isn't punctual and, regardless of whether he’s found innocent or guilty of the charges stemming from the nightclub incident at 8 Seconds Saloon, the off-court scouting report is that he spends too much time in the clubs. Problem is, the Pacers are unlikely to find a better point guard in a trade. They also run the risk of watching him pull a Stephen Jackson and flourish in another team’s environment. I’ll bet they’re curious to see how he responds to a different brand of coaching. I’ll bet Tinsley is, too. Indianapolis Star / June 1

Despite public impressions of Tinsley, people around the team on a regular basis will tell you he cares more than he lets on. Why he doesn’t let on more often is a mystery, not to mention a fault. But give him a coach _ O’Brien, for example _ who shoots straight with him and he’ll respond. Like most kids who grew up on the streets, he doesn’t deal well with people of a political nature, and he’s seen plenty of that in his six seasons with the Pacers. Indianapolis Star / June 1

The Lakers have begun talks with the Denver Nuggets regarding center Marcus Camby, the NBA defensive player of the year, who has led the league in blocked shots the last two seasons. Los Angeles Times

The Nuggets are reportedly trying to lower their payroll, which would make Lakers center Kwame Brown a possibility in trade talks, a league source said. Los Angeles Times

Paxson smiled when asked about the Lakers possibly trading Kobe Bryant to the Bulls: "You take them for what they are. They're rumors. "We're in a world where the Internet has become so big, and people can say things without any accountability, and people pick up on it and kind of view it as something real. There's nothing real in this. The Lakers aren't going to let Kobe Bryant go." Dayton Daily News

There has been word that the Portland Trail Blazers would like to move Zach Randolph to the Celts for the pick and a contract, but one probably shouldn’t put much stock in that talk. In addition to off-court issues, Randolph is too close to the far more reliable Al Jefferson in his skills set. Boston Herald

I've asked around about the so-called Randolph rumor and from what I can gather, there is nothing to it. It came from Sam Smith of the Chi Tribune, who essentially writes a trade rumor column. The Portland people I spoke with yesterday said the Wiz and Blazers have not discussed a Randolph deal and that vibes with what I know about the Wiz. Abe Pollin isn't going to trade his favorite player since Wes Unseld (Jamison) for a guy who has been arrested repeatedly, plays no defense and has a monster contract. Not going to happen. That said, you'd better believe that Portland is looking to move him. They'd love to. Washington Post / June 1

There is a stronger possibility the C’s will talk to Seattle about one of its big men in exchange for No. 5, a contract and a younger player, but the SuperSonics are said to be sitting tight until they hire a new general manager. The Sonics’ Rashard Lewis would make the most sense for the Celtics, but he opted out of his contract and would have to be obtained in a sign-and-trade deal. Boston Herald

It's a thin free-agent class, with point guard Chauncey Billups, guard Vince Carter and forward Rashard Lewis the most prominent names. The Magic are expected to make an offer to Lewis and/or Carter as soon as free agency starts July 1. Orlando Sentinel

The Magic will have $10 to $13 million in cap room before signing Milicic, a restricted free agent. To create more room if Milicic is re-signed, they will have to trade some contracts, perhaps moving forward Hedo Turkoglu's $6 million salary off the books. Orlando Sentinel

Veteran guard Grant Hill becomes a free agent this summer, and Donovan said he would like to see him return. Hill is contemplating retirement and has said he will listen to other offers. It's likely, though, that he will return in a limited role with the Magic. "Absolutely he still fits," Donovan said. "I'd love to talk with him about what he wants, whether its a major role or maybe a secondary role. It would be really intriguing to have him." Orlando Sentinel

Bill Duffy, the agent for guard Bonzi Wells, told Rockets general manager Daryl Morey on Friday that although Wells would like to return to the Rockets next season, he had not decided whether to play under his current contract or to exercise his option to opt out and become a free agent. "There's still no answer," Morey said. "We thought he was a good fit and he is still a fit. If he opts in, that's good, but he still has to make that decision." Houston Chronicle

Morey said forward Chuck Hayes, who will be a free agent and is also represented by Duffy, hopes to return to the Rockets. Houston Chronicle

Guard Vassilis Spanoulis is less certain, though Morey said he and coach Rick Adelman have made it clear Spanoulis is a part of their plans for the team. "We're getting mixed signals," Morey said. "Coach Adelman had a direct conversation with him. We want him. We think he would be a great fit for coach Adelman." Morey said Spanoulis' ambivalence about returning is more cultural than professional, after his first six months living in the United States. Houston Chronicle

The NBA has decided not to suspend Pistons forward Antonio McDyess for tonight's game. There was some speculation that the valuable backup forward would have to sit out in Game 6 after he clotheslined Cavaliers forward Anderson Varejao in Thursday's game at The Palace of Auburn Hills. McDyess was ejected after a flagrant 2 foul was called. Cavs coach Mike Brown agreed with the decision not to suspend McDyess. Willoughby News-Herald

Fortunately for them, James' contract only runs through 2009-10. Maybe the Cavaliers will trade him for Kobe Bryant and give the division a break. "We're still in awe of the performance," Cavs coach Mike Brown told reporters Friday as both teams took the day off from practice. Game 6 is Saturday in Cleveland. Chicago Tribune

When the issue of the Phoenix suspensions came up, the Suns made their case about how unfairly they had been treated. But it was Pacers president Larry Bird who made the most impressive statement of the day. He implored Stern not to change the rule. Bird's point was that players lack self-control in emotional moments, and while they often run onto the court during a fight with no plan to cause harm, little good can come of it when they do leave the bench. What happened to the Suns was unfair, Bird said, but the rule is a good rule. SI.com / June 1

Wizards guard Gilbert Arenas continues to make progress with his surgically repaired left knee. Arenas, who underwent surgery to repair torn left meniscus on April 5, estimates that the knee is "65 percent" back to health. "I can't go full speed or anything like that, but I'm working out every day and it's getting back to where it was," Arenas said. "With everything I'm doing, it should be stronger than it was before." Washington Post

Chad Ford reports today that (gasp!) GM have been throwing various offers at Kevin Pritchard in hopes of getting their hands on the No. 1 pick: No, he's not giving up the No. 1 pick in the draft, though I did hear from a good source that he's been offered two different All- Stars for the pick. It appears he's trying to find a way to move a player (read: Zach Randolph) or two off the roster while simultaneously acquiring another draft pick. His goal is most likely not point guard Mike Conley, but one of the draft's elite small forwards. Corey Brewer is at the top of the list, but Pritchard also likes Jeff Green, Julian Wright and Al Thornton. Oregonian / June 1

Conley is considered the top point guard prospect in the draft, and the Atlanta Hawks are thinking hard about selecting him with the third overall pick. Yahoo! Sports

The Blazers would be willing to trade Zach Randolph and Jarrett Jack as part of a package to secure that No. 3 choice, but Atlanta wants LaMarcus Aldridge. In fact, the Hawks believe Aldridge is a much better bet to be a star forward than the 2007 draft crop that includes Brandan Wright, Corey Brewer, Al Horford and Joakim Noah. Atlanta would pass on Wright, despite the belief that he might be the most talented player in the draft after Oden and Kevin Durant. After taking North Carolina's Marvin Williams two years ago over Deron Williams and Chris Paul, the Hawks can't take another forward whom they'll have to wait to develop. They see Florida's Horford, the strongest, most physical of the class, as the choice at three with Conley. Yahoo! Sports

As for Conley, he says he is rooting for Portland to make a deal for him, but Oden's thoughts on the dynamic between the two of them – and the shadow – resonates with Conley. "I can understand what he's talking about," Conley said. "I've had to deal with being in his shadow growing up. I thought going to the NBA would be the time we would end up splitting anyway … but once I heard about the trade, it was like, 'Wow, me playing with him again?' "I'd definitely welcome it. He's a great teammate, a great player, and my best friend. I have had nothing but success with him." Yahoo! Sports

Nevertheless, Oden, who's expected to be chosen first in the June 28 draft, is sensitive to the shadow that has chased Conley throughout his basketball career. Perhaps, Oden wonders, Conley could benefit with a fresh start somewhere else in the NBA. "I would love to play with him," Oden told Yahoo! Sports at the NBA predraft camp, where he underwent a physical for NBA teams. "Being with him for so many years, it would be great. But I just think he might want to (go elsewhere), just to be his own person after always being pegged as my sidekick. I think he might want to go do his own thing, and be his own person, without me getting most of the glory." Yahoo! Sports

Mike Conley Jr. struggled Friday during shooting drills. Many scouts consider outside shooting Conley's only weakness. Dayton Daily News

Joakim Noah, the gregarious Florida power forward who was born in Manhattan, said he plans to steer clear of the Big Apple until the June 28 NBA draft at The Theater at Madison Square Garden. Noah, who could be snatched at No. 9 by the Bulls with the pick they got from the Knicks in the Eddy Curry trade, has trained the last three weeks in Los Angeles. "I have to stay away from New York," Noah said at yesterday's pre-draft camp. "I have too many temptations, too many friends. I felt I needed to go somewhere, far from everything. After the draft's over, yeah." New York Post / June 1

Perhaps no player has created as much intrigue as Eastern Washington shooting guard Rodney Stuckey, who is believed, according to sources, to be the Detroit Pistons' target at No. 15. Said one Eastern Conference scout: "If this kid was playing at Washington, instead of Eastern Washington, people (would be) talking about him as a top 10, maybe top seven or eight player, in this draft." Yahoo! Sports

Josh McRoberts is intriguing to the New Jersey Nets at No. 17, so much so there was some discussion within the franchise of guaranteeing the 6-foot-11 Duke forward the spot. Yahoo! Sports

Karl, son of Nuggets coach George Karl, said he heard plenty of good things this week while participating at the NBA predraft camp in Lake Buena Vista, Fla., where he averaged about 12 points, three assists and two rebounds in three games. "I think it went good," he said. "I wasn't expecting to do special things. I wasn't trying to make a point to be the best player in camp. I just wanted to show that I belong in the NBA, that I belong on the floor with those guys. I think I did that." Rocky Mountain News

Karl, who will turn 24 on Friday, is two months removed from surgery to remove cancerous lymph nodes in his throat. It was his second operation since being diagnosed with papillary carcinoma, a treatable form of cancer, in 2006. He expects the Nuggets will be among the teams he visits for a workout. The Nuggets do not not have a draft pick this year but likely will sign undrafted players for their summer-league entry in Las Vegas. Rocky Mountain News

Marist point guard Jared Jordan dazzled scouts with his passing and poise, and he says that he has "nine or 10" workouts scheduled with teams. He'll start in San Antonio next week. "I think I proved to people that I can run a team," Jordan said. Yahoo! Sports

One player who appeared to really raise his stock was Stephane Lasme, a 6-8 forward from the University of Massachusetts. In the view of many scouts, he was the best athlete in the camp. NBA scouts often fall in love with athletes, sometimes at the expense of basketball players. That is not to suggest that Lasme isn’t a basketball player. In the camp, he averaged 15.2 points per game, but his game is far from refined. He will need to show continued improvement to have a chance in the NBA. HoopsHype.com

Radenovic's approach has NBA scout Ryan Blake thinking Radenovic could find a home somewhere in the NBA, no matter what position he plays. "He's either a combo or a tweener," Blake said. "But what he does is he knows how to play. He's got a high I.Q. And he can make others better. He can defend two positions. He can spread the defense or go inside against a smaller guy. He's a guy who can come in and fit at different spots." Arizona Daily Star

Marquette sophomore Dominic James struggled for most of the camp, leaving him with no choice but to return to school. His coach, Tom Crean, spent two full days watching him and said that he hoped "whatever he decides, he needs to use this experience to see where he needs to improve." With James returning for his junior year, Marquette is expected to be one of the elite teams in the Big East Conference. Yahoo! Sports

The NBA held one of its longest and most important competition committee meetings in years Tuesday in Orlando before the pre- draft camp. The meeting ran more than four hours and was chaired by commissioner David Stern, with 29 of the 30 teams in attendance. Spurs general manager R.C. Buford took a red-eye from the Western Conference finals in Salt Lake City to participate. According to people who were there, the big issues were the alleged tanking of regular-season games, the mess created by last week's lottery and the rule prohibiting players from leaving the bench during on-court altercations that resulted in the suspensions of the Suns' Stoudemire and Boris Diaw during the West semifinals. SI.com / June 1

There are suspicions among some league executives and coaches that Stern rigs the results of the lottery -- in this case to punish the three worst teams (Memphis, Boston and Milwaukee, who came out of the lottery Nos. 4, 5 and 6 in the draft) for contributing to the perception of late-season tanking. To deal with the conspiracy theories, the league spelled out during the committee meeting how the lottery machine works and how it would be practically impossible to fix the outcome. (I've been in the closed room during the lottery, and the NBA mechanism is a lot like the Powerball or other lottery machines that you see on television.) SI.com / June 1

Brown, second choice in Memphis, dodged the media at the pre-draft camp, escaping through a side exit. Brown, a Sixers executive, told a confidant he wants to coach again because "I don't want my last season to be 59 losses." New York Post

The Post has learned Thomas, in a goodwill gesture, has named assistant Phil Ford, one of Larry Brown's men, as summer-league coach in Las Vegas over Mark Aguirre. New York Post

Wilkens has said that he'll wait to hire a coach, until his G.M. is on board. There's a lot of belief among league officials that, with Durant on the way to the Sonics, Wilkens might make himself the coach. However, one league source familiar with Wilkens' thinking this week at the camp said the speculation was "highly unlikely" to happen. Yahoo! Sports

Former Florida coach Billy Donovan did his best Friday to deflect hopes that he'll be the savior of the Orlando Magic, which hasn't won a playoff series in more than a decade. "It's not about me," Donovan said upon being introduced as coach. "I'm a piece of the puzzle." But by giving a five-year, $27.5 million contract to Donovan - a hero in Central Florida because of his national titles with the Gators - the Magic front office has raised expectations. Management is under additional pressure because it is seeking support for a new arena. Palm Beach Post / June 1

Other NBA teams also liked Donovan and showed interest in hiring him, agent Lonnie Cooper said. One was Memphis, which ultimately hired Phoenix assistant Marc Iavaroni. Cooper was asked if there were multiple teams interested in Donovan. "There was lots of interest," Cooper said with a smile. Palm Beach Post / June 1

Donovan was ushered back to Gainesville on Friday afternoon where he met with UF's boosters and more media, explaining his decisions for leaving for the NBA. At times, he got emotional, but he was mostly resolute about looking forward to the next challenge ahead. Florida Today

When asked if he still wanted a chance to coach, he said, "I do." For now, though, Hill said, "They offered me a position in the organization that's not clearly defined yet, and once I get that, and see exactly what it is, I'll make a decision." Yahoo! Sports

O'Brien said Friday he plans to add veteran assistants Dick Harter and Frank Vogel. Milwaukee Bucks general manager Larry Harris also confirmed he has given the Pacers permission to speak with assistant coach Lester Conner. Harter, Vogel and Conner coached with O'Brien in Boston and Philadelphia. Indianapolis Star

Dan Burke, who joined the Pacers as an assistant in 1997, will be retained. O'Brien left open the possibility of adding another assistant. Indianapolis Star

Two sources have told me that Gordon Chiesa, an assistant coach under Bob Hill this season, is getting hired by Marc Iavaroni as an assistant in Memphis. Tacoma News Tribune / June 1

Pending some loose ends being tied up, it appears soon-to-be-former C’s assistant coach Tony Brown will wind up on Larry Krystkowiak’s Milwaukee Bucks staff. According to people involved in the process, ex-Celts assistant Lester Conner was prepared to move from Milwaukee to join former C’s head coach Jim O’Brien in Indiana, thus opening a space for Brown, who couldn’t reach agreement on a new contract with the Celtics. Brown’s Celtics deal runs through the end of this month, but the club will let him walk early. Boston Herald

Rivers has been talking to potential candidates to fill Brown’s vacancy, and the opening has been discussed with Dwane Casey. Boston Herald

Donovan said he will bring assistant coach Larry Shyatt from his Gators’ staff. Shyatt is his defensive coordinator, credited with helping bring home UF’s two titles. Orlando Sentinel / June 1

Seattle SuperSonics president Lenny Wilkens interviewed the fourth and final candidate for the team's general manager opening, meeting with San Antonio assistant G.M. Sam Presti, the 30-year-old whiz kid of the Spurs. Several sources believe Presti will be the choice, but apparently Washington Wizards assistant G.M. Tommy Sheppard impressed Seattle officials with his interview a week ago. John Gabriel, the ex-Magic G.M., and Gary Fitzsimmons also met with Wilkens. Yahoo! Sports

The Seattle SuperSonics interviewed Tommy Sheppard, the Wizards' vice president of basketball operations, for their open general manager position early in the week. Sheppard, who has been with the Wizards for four seasons, is one of a handful of candidates. According to the Tacoma News Tribune, others include John Gabriel, a scout with Portland; Gary Fitzsimmons, assistant general manager of the Atlanta Hawks; and Sam Presti, assistant general manager of the San Antonio Spurs. Washington Post

An intern in the Suns’ media relations office just 14 years ago, David Griffin could have stepped into his first NBA general manager’s job this week after the Memphis Grizzlies pursued him. Instead, Griffin said he decided to stay in his role as VP of basketball operations for the Phoenix Suns—- in large part because of the new GM he will be working with. “I’m very, very excited about Steve” Kerr, Griffin said during the NBA’s predraft camp today. “He’s been an integral part of what we’ ve done already, and to know that he’s going to with us on a full time basis is exciting for all of us. “ Arizona Daily Star / June 1

Griffin said he had a great meeting with Grizzlies owner Michael Heisley and would have enjoyed working with new Grizzlies coach Marc Iavaroni, the former Suns assistant. But ultimately, loyalty to the Suns and Kerr’s hiring won him over. “I just know they want me to stay and I’m excited about Steve’s presence,” Griffin said. “It was a very attractive situation (in Memphis) and I couldn’t be more impressed with the people I met in their organization. But ultimately, we’ve got unfinished business and I believe in Steve implicitly.” Arizona Daily Star / June 1

With Phoenix Suns No. 2 executive David Griffin apparently pulling himself out of the running for the top basketball job in the Memphis organization, Celtics GM Chris Wallace is now seen as the front-runner for the Grizzlies position. If Wallace goes, he might not be alone. Word is assistant director of basketball operations Leo Papile could be moving on to the Grizzlies in the deal. Boston Herald

Wallace said he was uncertain where things stood, but sources said the matter could be decided by Tuesday. Boston Herald

You can now buy Scottie Pippen's English-style manor on NW 88th for the low, low price of $2,950,000, which is a steal considering he purchased it for $4 million. Oregonian / June 1

Former Golden State Warrior Charles Johnson, a starter on the club's only NBA championship team, died early Friday of cancer. He was 58. Oakland Tribune / June 1

For more than two decades, when something was done on the basketball side of the franchise, there was a pretty good chance it had Sally's fingerprints on it. Let your mind wander to all that is done -- from insurance to arranging the charter flights, from securing practice courts to hotels, from preparing contracts to scheduling doctor's appointments - Sally was the person the team relied upon. This week, the Rockets lost Sally Martin. Sally died on Tuesday in her home. She left a husband, Malcolm, who made people all over the NBA jealous. She left a daughter, Belle, and son, William Blake Hunter, who was born two months ago. She was just 44 years old. Houston Chronicle / June 1

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Friday, June 1

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And remember this: all those trades that Colangelo may have considered but didn't consummate in February could very well be on the table again. One guy they had interest in, according to a couple of spies, is Golden State's never-used Sarunas Jasikevicius and that might be a name being kicked around this week. Toronto Star

They'll be shopping Morris Peterson, at least informally, to gauge interest and you can be sure if someone wants to talk about Rasho Nesterovic, they'll listen. So no matter what dearth of news comes out of the camp, rest assured work is being done. Toronto Star

The Lakers had an exploratory talk with the Indiana Pacers about six-time All-Star forward-center Jermaine O'Neal, although nothing was accomplished. Los Angeles Times

So the decision on O'Neal's future hasn't been resolved? "Not really,'' Bird said. "He's still thinking about it, we've talked about it a couple of times. We're looking and we're talking to people, and he wants to do what's best for the franchise and that's what we'll do.'' Bird added that O'Neal recently has been leaning toward remaining with Indiana. "That's more of what he wants to do,'' Bird said, "so we'll see what we can do with it.'' SI.com

The Lakers have not spoken with New Jersey about Jason Kidd and are not expected to resurrect the lukewarm conversations they had with the Nets before the trade deadline in February. Minnesota forward Kevin Garnett is still considered to be the longest of all longshots. Los Angeles Times

Before Lakers owner Jerry Buss stepped onto a plane for a vacation in China, he spent some time on the phone with his franchise player. It was Day 6 of the ever-evolving Kobe Bryant ordeal, time for the Buss family patriarch to try to patch the holes that had been created. "I talked with Kobe this morning and assured him that I share his frustration and, more importantly, I assured him that we will continue to pursue every avenue possible to improve our team with him as the cornerstone," Buss said in a statement released by the team. Los Angeles Times

"I told him that we will keep him apprised of our progress and we agreed that we will talk again in the very near future." In other words, Bryant's not going anywhere, even if things are still unsteady when Buss returns from a three-week vacation that begins in Shanghai. Los Angeles Times

"Dr. Buss wants to win because his summers have been messed up, too," said Magic Johnson, who won five championships with the Lakers as a player and is now a minority owner. "I can understand why Kobe's frustrated. I love the kid. He is the ultimate competitor. He's the one kid in this league who really wants to win every game, every championship." Los Angeles Times

The Wolves don't have any intention of re-signing free-agent guard Bracey Wright, the former second-round pick from Indiana. Minneapolis Star Tribune

The NBA announced Friday afternoon Pistons forward Antonio McDyess will not be suspended for his flagrant foul in Game Five of the Eastern Conference Finals. McDyess was whistled for a flagrant-2 foul on the Cavaliers Anderson Varajeo with 28 seconds remaining in the first quarter of Cleveland's 109-107 double overtime win. WXYZ.com

Who is Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick rooting for in the Eastern Conference finals? Judging from the smile and congratulatory hug Kilpatrick gave Cleveland forward LeBron James after Tuesday night's Game 4, Pistons fans might wonder. Detroit Free Press

But mayoral spokesman James Canning said Wednesday that Kilpatrick, who attended Game 4 in Cleveland, "was there to root for the Pistons." "The mayor," Canning said, "has known LeBron personally even before the game." As for the hug? "It wasn't like they didn't know each other," Canning said. Detroit Free Press

But he is clearly still bothered by the role he played as a rookie and some of his teammates' commitment to winning. "I wasn't really happy with the way last year went," Williams said after Wednesday's game. "I felt like I could have helped the team a lot more than I did. I try not to hold that against them too much. It still lingers in my mind. "At the same time, I love it here. I love Salt Lake, I love the fans, I love the team. All the guys on the team are great guys. Off the court, everybody's great. On the court, I might not agree with some guys' effort, some guys' thought process." Salt Lake Tribune

Williams went on to say: "I like to win. Some guys, it seems like they don't play to win sometimes." The extension on Williams' rookie contract would not take effect until the 2009-10 season. The Jazz, however, already have some $50 million in player salaries committed for that season and would have to factor luxury-tax implications into any future signings. Salt Lake Tribune

By Thursday, tempers had cooled, and so had the harsh criticism. "I like to think this group of guys can do it," Boozer said when asked if changes needed to be made, something he and Williams hinted about Wednesday after the game. "I'm very confident in my teammates and I love each and every one of them. We have the talent, we just need to press the button a bit to get some of them going, but we got where we are with this group, and why wouldn't we be able to go up the mountain?" Salt Lake Tribune

Giricek said he hadn't heard of the criticism and shrugged it off Thursday to frustrations of the big loss. "Guys were trying to do their best," he said. So was Okur, he said, who admitted his offense was harmed by the defensive effort he gave against the Spurs' inside game. Salt Lake Tribune

Pritchard maintains there is still a debate within the Blazers organization about whom to take, and that the decision won't be determined until Oden and Durant visit Portland. Oden is scheduled to arrive June 19 and work out June 20; Durant will come June 21 and work out June 22. Oregonian

When the discussion yesterday turned to the fact he’d expressed interest in the Celtics and then couldn’t have landed much further away in the NBA (Portland has the No. 1 pick), he grinned. “I could have went to Hawaii,” Oden said. “They could have opened up a new expansion team. You never know.” Boston Herald

He has been listed in several mock drafts as going to the 76ers with the 12th overall pick, but there is uncertainty surrounding Georgetown forward Jeff Green. That's because the 6-foot-9 Green insists that there is a possibility that he will playing next year against Villanova rather than the San Antonio Spurs. Philadelphia Inquirer

"I haven't made it final that I'm coming out yet, and I'm still going to take some time to make a decision," Green told ESPN.com. "I haven't signed with an agent yet and there's still a chance [to go back to the Hoyas]," Green said. "It just depends on how my workouts go. I just have to keep working hard and hopefully get the commitment that a team wants to draft me. If I don't get that commitment that a team is willing to take me in the lottery, then that will sway my decision to come back." ESPN.com

Green said Thursday that the only thing he was saying last week was, "I was keeping my name in the draft." And he qualified that by saying as in last week. As of this week, he still hasn't made up his mind on whether he's staying in the draft past the June 18 withdrawal date. Multiple NBA teams told ESPN.com Thursday that they had heard the same thing about Green. They said Georgetown coach John Thompson III, not an agent, was the contact person for Green. And Green will be conducting a workout in Washington, D.C. next week after he returns from the physical-only portion of the pre-draft camp. ESPN.com

After a subpar first game that included eight turnovers, Ohio State 6-4 freshman shooting guard Daequan Cook showed improvement. Cook had eight points (4 for 9 shooting) and didn’t turn the ball over in more than 19 minutes. Said one NBA executive, “He has first-round talent, but he has to show consistency.” HoopsHype.com

Pitt’s Aaron Gray has averaged 15.5 points in his first two games. When it was suggested that Gray isn’t as dominant as he should be, an NBA exec said, “It’s hard for anybody to dominate here. The players are in and out every five minutes.” Fair point, but it would still be risky to call him a sure-fire late first-rounder. HoopsHype.com

Vinny Del Negro, the Suns' VP of player personnel, said his team is planning to bring Shakur in for a workout and interview to "get a look on an individual basis," even though the club already has a thorough knowledge of his on-court skills. Arizona Daily Star

Wood said his agent, Bill Strickland, has heard from more teams asking about private workouts. The day's last game, which Wood's team lost, 89-87, was a Horizon League showcase. Detroit's Ryvon Covile had nine points and four boards while Loyola's Blake Schilb had eight and three. Dayton Daily News

Billy Donovan found the opportunity too good to resist: a big payday, a promising team and a job close to home. "My decision to come here had nothing to do with the University of Florida. ... This is a totally different environment," Donovan said Friday when introduced as coach of the Orlando Magic. ESPN.com

Billy Donovan has been here for 11 years, won two national championships," Florida president Bernie Machen said Thursday at the Southeastern Conference's annual spring meeting in Destin. "He's been a great ambassador for the University of Florida. We'll always love Billy Donovan, whether he's here 11 years or 21 years." A source told ESPN.com's Pat Forde that Donovan will have no front-office responsibilities. "He's just the coach," the source said. "I love Billy Donovan to death and thank him for what he did for us," Florida athletic director Jeremy Foley told ESPN.com's Andy Katz. ESPN.com

"My decision to come here had nothing to do with the University of Florida. ... This is a totally different environment," Donovan said Friday when he was announced as coach of the Magic, according to the Associated Press. New York Times

University of Florida athletic director Jeremy Foley didn’t waste time zeroing in on his top candidate to replace departed basketball coach Billy Donovan. A Florida source confirmed Friday morning that Gators officials have contacted Virginia Commonwealth coach Anthony Grant, who served as Donovan’s assistant for 12 years, including 10 at Florida. Tampa Tribune

Donovan gave Grant a strong endorsement when asked about who his successor should be Friday morning at his introductory news conference in Orlando. "The one guy I feel very strongly about is Anthony Grant," Donovan said. "When you look at the success we were able to have at Florida over the last 11 years, he was a very strong instrument in that success because he was there 10 of the 11 years I was there. "But this is really the University of Florida's decision. It's Jeremy's decision. Jeremy knows Anthony very well." Gainesville Sun

O'Brien soon will begin assembling his staff. He is expected to hire former Pacers assistant Dick Harter, who was with O'Brien in Boston and Philadelphia. Lester Connor, also a former O'Brien assistant, is another possibility. The Pacers must get permission from Milwaukee to talk to Connor, who is under contract. It's uncertain if any of Carlisle's assistants will be retained. Indianapolis Star

Mullin last spoke to Nelson before the holiday weekend and said the coach, who will decide by July 1 if he plans to return for another season, sounded well and was trying to rest up in Maui while working off the extra pounds he gained during the season. Nelson is skipping this week's camp in Orlando, but should return to Oakland in time to watch some workouts of prospective draft picks. Under a rule change this season, teams are prohibited from working players out until after the pre-draft camp. San Francisco Chronicle

The next step in the Warriors' ascension under vice president Chris Mullin will take place without his right-hand man. General manager Rod Higgins officially left Golden State for the same position with the Bobcats on Thursday, ending months of speculation that he would reunite with close friend Michael Jordan in Charlotte. Though the lateral move came on the same day three coaching vacancies were filled around the league, Higgins' departure will not create a front-office opening. Mullin has no plans to name another GM in the near future, if at all, and is instead divvying up the workload among his current staff. San Francisco Chronicle

The voice of the Charlotte Bobcats won't be returning, one of at least six staffers dismissed this week as the team continues to shuffle employees under the new management team brought in last year. Matt Devlin, the Bobcats' play-by-play announcer since the team's inception, was told this week the team wanted to move in a new direction. His contract expires June 15. Charlotte Business Journal

The Charlotte Coliseum helped bring a once-sleepy town into the sports mainstream. It hosted the city's first major pro sports team and was home to the Final Four and the NBA All-Star game. The building won't reach its 19th birthday. The Coliseum will be demolished Sunday -- five years after its lack of luxury suites and premium seating led the NBA's Hornets to leave town and two years after it was made redundant by a glitzy replacement. ESPN.com

According to sources close to the team, the Lakers called Denver to see about the availability of center Marcus Camby, the defensive player of the year who will make $9 million next season and has three years and $26.65 million left on his contract. Riverside Press-Enterprise

An NBA source said some teams, including the Los Angeles Lakers, have called the Nuggets to inquire about center Marcus Camby, although nothing imminent is on the table. Denver Post

Sources also said Indiana called the Lakers to gauge their interest in former All-Star forward Jermaine O'Neal, who will make $19 million next season and still has three years and $64.1 million left on his deal. Riverside Press-Enterprise

Several NBA officials are convinced the Pacers will trade Jermaine O’Neal to the Lakers for Lamar Odom and Andrew Bynum. Racine Journal-Times

Jerry Buss has released a statement in which he says he's spoken to Kobe, assured him that Kobe's frustrations are shared, and that the team will do everything they can to get better "with him as the cornerstone." They're going to speak again soon. While I don't know exactly what was said during their conversation, the good news is if the pattern of the last few weeks tells me anything, someone will be on the radio shortly to fill everyone in. Los Angeles Times

Isiah Thomas revealed yesterday he began constructing trade offers to the Lakers on Wednesday afternoon when he heard Kobe Bryant's emphatic trade demand. The Knicks coach/president has backed off for now after Bryant flip-flopped four times Wednesday. New York Post

If the Lakers were not interested in Stephon Marbury, Thomas likely would have to string together a package of David Lee, Jamal Crawford, Channing Frye and Malik Rose. Thomas said Eddy Curry would not be part of any package for Bryant, his strongest indication of the Knicks center's untouchable status. "We want to build around him . . . what he's doing and what he's going to be," Thomas said of Curry. "There aren't many big men in the league like him. "You try to add that player to somebody; you try to put them together," Thomas added. "For the one hour [Bryant] was leaving, you try to put him together with someone he likes." New York Post

New Charlotte Bobcats general manager Rod Higgins said he has the resources and mandate to pursue whatever would help the team. Including a trade for Kobe Bryant. "In this business, you go down every road, every dark alley. You shake every bush you can," Higgins said Thursday, when asked about investigating Bryant's availability. Charlotte Observer

Fisher said that Laker star Kobe Bryant has been "very generous in his time and his concern" for the Jazz guard since the veteran found out his daughter had a rare form of cancer. Now that Bryant has embroiled himself in controversy by demanding a trade and then retracting that request, Fisher was asked whether he would be calling Bryant. When Fisher responded that he would, someone then wondered whether the Jazz guard would suggest that Bryant make his way to Utah. Fisher's response: "I don't know if we have room here. I love every guy on this team. If he comes here, that means that my spot'll be gone. "We won't," he added with a smile, "be talking about that." Deseret Morning News

The buzz at pre-draft camp has the Kings shopping Ron Artest. Despite Thomas' love of Artest's game, the Knicks appear to be mixed on him because of his baggage. New York Post

Gasol re-iterated his desire to remain a Grizzly despite having made a trade request in January. "Yes," he said, "I still want to be (in Memphis). There are a lot of things that still need to happen to make us better. We all want to see who the new general manager will be and what moves they make. We need a good free agent. We need some more pieces to be more competitive. Talent and youth don't always translate to wins. But it's great we have a coach now. It seems like a good fit." Memphis Commercial Appeal

Gasol sounded as though he wasn't concerned about the possibility of the Grizzlies trading him this offseason. As the team management contemplates how to continue to reshape the roster and re-establish it as playoff caliber, there are questions that linger. Do they keep the one-time All Star and continue to build around Gasol? Do the Grizzlies trade the offensive dynamo and move toward a full-blown rebuilding plan? "I'm optimistic," Gasol said. "I think we can get back to being competitive in a sense that we're working toward winning a championship." Memphis Commercial Appeal

Gasol said he's optimistic that the franchise is establishing a clear direction with Iavaroni as a definite staple. "The stability of a coach means a lot to players," Gasol said. "What I wanted in a coach was an ability to carry a team in the appropriate way, and someone who will transmit a good vibe. We need someone to put everybody on the same page with a winning mentality. Leadership is important for young teams." Memphis Commercial Appeal

Owner Larry H. Miller, senior vice president of basketball operations Kevin O'Connor, coach Jerry Sloan and others will make a litany of decisions about the future of the team over the summer. Among them, the Jazz will decide what to do with free agents-to -be Rafael Araujo, Dee Brown and C.J. Miles. O'Connor wasn't at the EnergySolutions Arena Thursday during the Jazz's annual locker clean-out day, but Sloan said the organization will be deciding whether to pursue those players as the summer unfolds. "Those things we will have to discuss," he said. "We just finished up the season. We'll get prepared for the draft and talk about those things. "We don't make any decisions today, obviously," Sloan added, "but everybody has to be talked about." Deseret Morning News

For their part, all three Jazz players had slightly different answers when asked about their impending free-agency. "I love the city. I want to be here. I think everybody knows I love it," said Araujo, who played his college ball at BYU. "I wanna be here so much, but I have no control there. "Just leave this stuff between the organization (and) my agent," he added. "Make sure — when it comes the right time — at least they know I love to be here, I wanna be here. That's all I can control." Deseret Morning News

Asked if he would prefer to remain in Utah, Brown, a rookie guard from Illinois, responded: "Yeah, I've got a year under my belt with all the fellas and everybody in the organization. With me, it's all about just me being able to play basketball everyday." Deseret Morning News

Then there was Miles. "I don't have any problems with anything where I'm at now," he said. "But if something seems like it's better for me at the time, then I'll just have to take it." Deseret Morning News

A number of NBA teams were here to watch Fizer in particular, including Chicago, Indiana, Miami, the LA Lakers, New Jersey, Portland, Charlotte, the LA Clippers, and Charlotte just from the people we were able to recognize from our vantage point. Fizer looks like he could play in the NBA for at least the minimum if that’s what he really wanted to do, but losing 15-20 pounds could really make an intriguing prospect out of him. DraftExpress.com

In addition to its pre-draft workouts, the Heat also has been running a series of veteran free agents through tryouts at AmericanAirlines Arena, with former University of Miami forward Darius Rice and NBA journeymen Michael Bradley and Mateen Cleaves among those given auditions. "I think we know who Darius is at this point," General Manager Randy Pfund said. "It's just a matter of where are we later in the summer. Do we need another guy who's a big pick-and-pop, shooter guy? We've always been intrigued." South Florida Sun-Sentinel

Zach Marbury, brother of Knicks guard Stephon Marbury, will attend the Los Angeles Clippers summer camp, publicist Tiff Vaughn told HoopsHype.com. HoopsHype.com

Wizards GM Ernie Grunfeld said his son, Danny, who played in Germany this season, has joined the Pacers for their summer- league squad. New York Post

Another standout from this workout was Desmon Farmer, who averaged 20 points per game in the D-League this year (after being cut by Seattle) and is heading to the Indiana Pacers summer league here in Orlando this July. DraftExpress.com

Let us get that out of the way right now. What LeBron James did Thursday night in the Eastern Conference finals was not Jordanesque. It was Mike to a max not even he reached. In one of the greatest performances in NBA history, the "Chosen One" of the Cavaliers scored 48 points. He scored his team's last 25 in the fourth quarter and the two overtimes it required for the Cavaliers to beat Detroit, 109-107. He scored 29 of his team's last 30. Cleveland Plain Dealer

But James was too much for a quality defensive team like Detroit, he was too much for the rabid fans, he was too much for anything that stood between him and victory. "I feel tired. I feel beat up. I feel fatigued. None of this would have mattered if we had lost," James said. "We tried to trap him and get the ball out of his hands, but he would get it back and attack again," said Detroit coach Flip Saunders. Cleveland Plain Dealer

"I could not believe he scored 29 of the last 30 points," said Cavs coach Mike Brown. James is always spoken of as a prodigy. Zydrunas Ilgauskas said there are no songs of innocence to be sung by James' fourth year in the league, with the spotlight that follows him around and the media X-rays always looking for cracks in the edifice. The voice James has found in this series is that of experience. Cleveland Plain Dealer

``This is the single best game I've ever seen at this level in this atmosphere, hands down,'' Cavs coach Mike Brown said. ``I don't know what he can't do.'' Akron Beacon Journal

There were signs all game that the Pistons were battling themselves. Webber, after firing up a bad shot and picking up his fourth foul, yelled to the bench, apparently at assistant coach Ron Harper, “Just let me play my game. Let me play my game.” Detroit News

Later, Billups and Hamilton appeared to have a brief discussion over who would shoot a technical foul free throw. Hamilton had made five straight at that point, Billups had missed two. Billups kept the ball and missed the free throw. Then, to compound the problem, he fired up a rushed three-pointer. Wallace was angry, apparently at coach Flip Saunders, for his decision to go small for a stretch against the Cavaliers. Saunders did that because Antonio McDyess had been ejected. Detroit News

Between the third and fourth quarters, Wallace and assistant Dave Cowens engaged in a fairly animated discussion. Mostly Cowens was listening to Wallace’s complaints about the strategy. Wallace later got peeved with Billups for a couple of his decisions. It was a long way from team harmony. Now, McDyess, ejected for a flagrant-2 foul on Varejao late in the first quarter, could be suspended for Game 6. And, to avoid another disastrous playoff fade, the Pistons have one day to regroup. Detroit News

Lots of people have been watching the video on YouTube of Rasheed Wallace angrily tossing his uniform jersey over his shoulder and into the face of teammate Will Blalock. What wasn't captured on camera was a scene I witnessed a few minutes later in the Pistons locker room, Sheed slamming the door to the trainer's room so hard that it knocked a bunch of dust and dirt out of a nearby overhead light fixture. Assistant coach Igor Kokoskov was standing beneath the light and got showered with the debris. ESPN.com

Doc Rivers chatted briefly after the morning session at the pre-draft camp, reporting that he hears good things about Paul Pierce. ‘‘I’ve talked to Paul about three days before the lottery,’’ said Rivers shortly before the first of two daily sessions of the Orlando pre -draft camp concluded today. ‘‘I think he’s good. After the season we had, everyone needed distance. We needed to exhale from that. That was something I hope never happens to anybody. He’s good. He’s been working. He looks great right now. He’s been working his [butt] off. For the time in his life, Paul was not in shape [after being injured last season] and that scared the [expletive] out of him and that’s good for us.’’ Boston Globe

Just got confirmation on the dates for the Portland visits of Greg Oden and Kevin Durant. Oden will arrive in Portland on June 19 and work out on June 20. Durant will arrive in Portland on June 21 and workout on June 22. The Blazers can bring back one, or both, for one more visit after that. Oregonian

Durant was stunned Isiah said he could be better than Garnett. "Garnett's a Hall of Famer, I don't know about that.'' New York Post

Another well-informed personnel guy suggested that the Hawks don’t have the “guts” to take the third-best talent (Yi) because he’s such a mystery. He likened it to the year Dirk Nowitzki was pilfered from the Milwaukee Bucks in a draft day trade with Dallas (he didn’t say Yi was as good a prospect as Dirk, only that there was a similar mysteriousness about Dirk at this same stage of the process). Until I see Yi, I won’t dive off that cliff. But I have to admit I am sufficiently intrigued by this guy and how good he might be. Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Power forward Joakim Noah of Florida, considered one of the top eight players in the draft, said he doesn’t intend to work out for the Bucks, who have the sixth overall selection. Noah refused to elaborate on the situation. Racine Journal-Times

We had a Spencer Hawes sighting Thursday afternoon at the Radisson Hotel, and he eloquently spoke with the media and said he is still undecided about entering the draft, although it appears certain he will because he is a projected top 12 pick. That Hawes is in the "physical only" portion of the predraft camp is an indication he is a lottery pick. Hawes said that his main motivation for potentially returning to Washington would be the chance to lead the Huskies back to the NCAA Tournament, rather than being a top 5 draft pick next year. Hawes would not give a timetable on his decision nor give any indication on where he is leaning. Seattle Post-Intelligencer

Once Hawes finishes the exam on Monday, the 7-foot center will begin taking his first serious steps towards the NBA. He's scheduled to workout for Minnesota on Wednesday, Chicago on Friday and Sacramento on June 14 or 15. Seattle Times

Ohio State guard Mike Conley Jr. is widely considered the best point guard in the draft, but Texas A&M's Acie Law IV doesn't think so. He has a different player in mind. "I think I'm the best point guard, cut and dried," said Law, who averaged 18.1 points and 5.0 assists, leading the Aggies to the NCAA Sweet 16 this past season. "Conley's a great player, I'm not taking anything away from him. He led his team to the national championship. ... But I think he had a lot more help than I did. We're going to get the chance to work out against each other, and we'll prove it on the floor." Denver Post

Surprisingly, Texas A&M point guard Acie Law and Washington center Spencer Hawes don't expect to audition for Charlotte. They indicated the Bobcats were already deep at point guard and center, which isn't necessarily true. Charlotte Observer

Wisconsin standout forward Alando Tucker isn’t playing at the pre-draft camp because he believes he’ll be a first-round draft choice. Tucker has piqued the curiosity of several teams, one being the Philadelphia 76ers. Racine Journal-Times

Kurt Rambis seems to have a slight edge over Scott Brooks for the vacant Sacramento head coaching job. Racine Journal-Times

With eight candidates having interviewed in at least three locations, Rambis and Van Gundy have emerged as the leading figures for the Kings' head-coaching vacancy -- league sources confirmed that both will next meet with team co-owners Joe and Gavin Maloof. Sources would not comment on record because of the ongoing interview process. Sacramento Bee

The timing of the future interviews is uncertain. Contrary to previous reports that the Kings would wait for the Pistons' season to end to speak with Detroit assistant Terry Porter, the plan is to move forward with Rambis and Van Gundy, and perhaps later add Porter. Petrie also might arrange a Maloof session with one of the six other candidates. Although the predraft camp concludes tonight, Petrie and others from the six-man contingent are expected to remain for a Tuesday workout with a couple dozen players, to be organized with other teams as part of the response to the draft schedule being tightened this year. Sacramento Bee

Donovan picked up the telephone in his Gainesville home Thursday and called his old boss, Jeremy Foley, to tell him that he was leaving for the pros. Eventually, his neighbor, Urban Meyer, stopped over, and Donovan and his assistant coaches talked long into the night about the move to the Magic. Foley later tried to tell people this was a difficult decision for Donovan, but he's flattering himself. Yahoo! Sports

Around the NBA, everyone knew Donovan was dying to get here, and knew he had his fingers crossed behind his back when he told recruits that he planned to stay in the post-Brewer/Noah/Horford era. In fact, when assistant coach Larry Shyatt discredited a Yahoo! Sports report that Donovan had met with Memphis' owner, a friend of Donovan told me, "They're going to deny everything to try and save this recruiting class." Yahoo! Sports

Donovan has been obsessed with a move to the NBA for years, and he privately worried that he needed to make this leap before the glow of his national titles had dimmed. Around the league, there was a belief that Donovan had intermediaries reaching out to several teams, searching for bidders. In the past, he had been careful to wait for a good NBA job to be offered him. It wasn't uncommon for him to tell people that he could've been coaching the Hawks, but he was determined never to take a bad job just for the money. Yahoo! Sports

But Donovan's luckier than his predecessors. He's taking over a Magic team that won 40 games, made the playoffs, has a young star in center Dwight Howard and about $12 million to spend in the free-agent market. "I'm sure that's a situation Billy has looked into and considered,'' said Alvin Gentry, the former NBA head coach and Heat assistant who is now on the Phoenix Suns staff. "And I think if he's ever going to make a move from college to the NBA, this is a good job.'' The hiring of Donovan was a hot topic at the NBA Pre-Draft Camp on Thursday, with many agreeing that he is the first college coach in recent memory who's set up to suceed rather than fail in the pros. Still, there also were warnings that any first-year NBA coaches need some help. Palm Beach Post

Donovan, in fact, had privately expressed concern about working with Shaquille O'Neal had the Heat called. South Florida Sun-Sentinel

Donovan, one source says, has the ability to bring up to 13 staff members with him, from secretaries to strength and conditioning gurus to assistant coaches. He has told his entire Florida coaching staff that they're welcome to join him in the NBA. More than that kind of loyalty, Donovan desperately needs pro experience with him. This is where the transition gets tough for college coaches because there's so much about the complexities of coaching the pro game, the grind, the relationships with players. Yahoo! Sports

Donovan had planned to hire his old Kentucky colleague, Jim O'Brien, as his top assistant, until Larry Bird hired him to coach the Pacers on Thursday. Donovan leans heavily on Jeff Van Gundy and would be wise to hire his longtime assistant, Tom Thibodeau, on the Magic bench. "Billy has told me that he'd like to be an assistant in the league for a couple years before taking a head job, but with the money guys make now in college, that's impossible to do," Van Gundy told me earlier this season. Yahoo! Sports

Even if University of Florida officials had formally finalized a new contract for men's basketball coach Billy Donovan, the Gators couldn't have prevented him from bolting for the NBA's Orlando Magic. Florida president Dr. J. Bernard Machen said Thursday Donovan's new contract with the Gators had been agreed to "for a while." Florida officials had hoped to announce the new contract -- a seven-year deal that would have paid Donovan an average of about $3.5 million per season -- as early as next Monday. ESPN.com

"It's done. It's been done," Machen said of Donovan's pending contract with Florida. "Billy will tell you the contract has been done for a while." ESPN.com

Joakim Noah, Corey Brewer and Al Horford, in Lake Buena Vista for an NBA predraft camp media opportunity, were initially caught off guard by the news. "I'd be surprised, but I'd understand," Brewer said. "Coach Donovan has been at Florida for 11 years, 11 great years. If he feels like it's time to move on, it's time to move on." Gainesville Sun

Virginia Commonwealth coach Anthony Grant, the 10-year University of Florida assistant with longtime recruiting ties to the state, has emerged as the logical candidate to succeed Billy Donovan. For now, Grant, 41, isn't talking. "I don't want to comment on speculation," Grant said Thursday, reacting to early reports that Donovan was headed to the NBA's Orlando Magic. Tampa Tribune

In some ways Jim O'Brien's hiring as Pacers coach comes as a bit of a shocker. The veteran coach, who replaces Rick Carlisle, was not among the names mentioned early in the Indiana hiring process. Sam Mitchell, Stan Van Gundy, Mark Jackson and a group of assistants that included Chicago's Jim Boylan, L.A.'s Brian Shaw and Indiana's own Chuck Person were considered the front-runners. But as one Pacers insider said Thursday: "That's Larry Bird." SI.com

More important, he felt O'Brien fit his desire for a veteran coach who would hold players accountable. After three seasons of turmoil, the Pacers needed a steady hand with a touch of old-school discipline. "He has the complete package," Bird said at Thursday's media conference to announce the move. "He has coaching experience. After talking to him about how he'd structure practice, handle players, game strategy ... I liked all of it." SI.com

Dick Harter is expected to be on Jim O’Brien’s staff in Indiana. The word from those close to the situation was that when others fell out of the running, the Pacers leaned on the familiar with Harter, who was an assistant to Larry Bird. That got O’Brien into the picture. Boston Herald

In other NBA coaching news, Chicago Bulls assistant Jim Boylan will interview with Lenny Wilkens about the Seattle SuperSonics' head coaching opening on Friday. Yahoo! Sports

Iavaroni, a seven-year NBA verteran (1982-1989), said he looked forward to working with the Grizzlies' younger, more athletic players, like Kyle Lowry, Hakim Warrick and Rudy Gay, and that the team would be built around veterans Pau Gasol and Mike Miller. "I thought the talent here - young, energetic - fits the type of basketball that I’ll be looking to instill here," Iavaroni said. "I believe that there’s a lot of speed in this court. I believe that they have the ability to attack defensively, and that’s going to be very important in terms of what we’re going to be trying to do." Memphis Commercial Appeal

Unless he changes his mind — which, if you ask him, could come at any time — Sloan, Utah's longtime coach, said Thursday he plans to return next fall for what would be his 20th season in charge of the Jazz. "Yeah, as far as I know right now," said Sloan when asked whether he was planning to come back. "Everything should be fine. I'll try to come back, unless I wake up tomorrow and say otherwise. I've always felt that way. That hasn't changed." Later, when asked about the fact that he seems definitively committed to returning, Sloan retorted: "I may quit tomorrow." As far as his immediate plans are concerned, Sloan said deciding whether he wants to spend time at his Illinois farm won't be up to him. "I'm married now. I've got a boss," he said. "Tammy, she'll tell me what to do. Let me do whatever she wants. I'll pay attention to her." Deseret Morning News

The Celtics aren’t in a hurry to hire an assistant coach to replace Tony Brown, and they might not even fill the position. “Nothing’s been decided yet, including whether we need another coach,” Danny Ainge said last night at the NBA’s predraft camp. “We’re just taking our time with this.” Boston Herald

According to sources, Dwane Casey is in the mix, and so is former Houston assistant Tom Thibodeau. The latter certainly will be interesting to people at Salem State, where Thibodeau played and coached. Boston Herald

New Rockets coach Rick Adelman might keep a person or two from Jeff Van Gundy’s staff, but right now, he seems to be looking away from Thibodeau. Boston Herald

Barring last-minute glitch, however, the two current openings could be filled as soon as today. One of the jobs is expected to go to former Bucks forward Tony Brown, who has been an assistant coach with the Boston Celtics. Brown, who was a finalist for the Indiana Pacers’ head coaching position which went to Jim O’Brien, attended Thursday’s pre-draft camp but politely declined comment. Racine Journal-Times

As for the other coaching position, all signs point toward the Bucks hiring Bill Peterson, who is the associate head coach at Colorado State. Racine Journal-Times

The Bucks could be looking for another assistant coach as well. The scuttlebutt is assistant coach Lester Conner could possibly leave the Bucks and join O’Brien’s staff in Indiana, where he could possibly be given the title of associate head coach. Racine Journal-Times

The Bucks’ coaching vacancies has drawn interest from several former Bucks players, among them Paul Mokeski and Jack Sikma. Mokeski is an assistant coach with the Fort Worth Flyers in the D-League and Sikma is an assistant coach with the Seattle SuperSonics. The Sonics have the option of retaining Sikma for another season, but aren’t expected to exercise it so their new head coach can hire his own staff. Racine Journal-Times

Higgins acknowledged the Bobcats are talking employment with Coastal Carolina coach (and longtime friend of Jordan) Buzz Peterson. "We look forward to having something done real soon," Higgins said. Charlotte Observer

Murdock applied for one of six coaching positions reserved for aspiring former players at this week's camp. What followed was a coaching summit run by former NBA coaches Doug Collins and Kevin O'Neill. "He was one of the best there," NBA Vice President Stu Jackson said. Part of the tryout required Murdock to design a transition play he would teach at this week's camp. He also had to submit a drill he would run. South Florida Sun-Sentinel

While appreciative of Riley's support, he said he was not surprised, even though he ditched the Heat in 1998 in favor of a free-agent contract with his home-state New Jersey Nets, in order to be closer to an ailing grandmother. "There's this misconception that he doesn't care about the little people," Murdock said. "He took the time to contact me. He also wrote a letter to let everybody know I'm around." South Florida Sun-Sentinel

The Phoenix Suns plan to name Steve Kerr as the team's President of Basketball Operations and General Manager in the coming days, replacing Mike D'Antoni as the team GM to keep his focus on coaching. Kerr, an original partner in Suns Managing Partner Robert Sarver's 2004 purchase of the franchise, will complete his duties as a TNT analyst for the Eastern Conference finals before the team makes the announcement next week. Kerr, who helped facilitate Sarver's opportunity to buy the Suns, has been one of Sarver's trusted advisors in basketball decisions over the past three years. Arizona Republic

No decision has been reached as to who the Grizzlies will hire as general manager and/or team president upon Jerry West's departure at the end of June. Griz majority owner Michael Heisley and West will travel this weekend to Scotland on a golf trip. Heisley indicated he will announce a decision sometime after his return, scheduled for the week of June 10. And while Heisley suggested that Phoenix executive David Griffin is a front-runner because of his relationship with newly signed Griz head coach Marc Iavaroni, he hasn't agreed to terms with Griffin, contrary to media reports. Memphis Commercial Appeal

A source within the Phoenix Suns organization confirmed that Griffin had not received an offer from the Griz as of Thursday, and added that the Suns would make a pitch to retain their vice president of basketball operations. Memphis Commercial Appeal

Former Chicago Bulls guard B.J. Armstrong also remains a person of interest for the Grizzlies. Memphis Commercial Appeal

Portland's John Gabriel may be the frontrunner for the Seattle GM job, although Washington’s Tommy Sheppard, San Antonio’s Sam Presti and Atlanta’s Gary Fitzsimmons are in the hunt as well. Racine Journal-Times

Pfund, whose contract with the Heat is expiring, said he is close to completing a new deal. South Florida Sun-Sentinel

When told on Wednesday that Sonics chairman Clay Bennett plans to immediately petition the NBA for relocation after an Oct. 31 deadline, Denver coach George Karl said: "That's a shame. It really is. For that city and that team, that's sad." Karl, who spent 6 ½ seasons in Seattle, has the best winning percentage and has won more games than any other coach in franchise history. During the 1995-96 season, he led the Sonics to a team-record 64 wins and the NBA Finals. Seattle Times

Sonics president Lenny Wilkens said he had not read Bennett's comments, which first appeared Wednesday in his hometown newspaper The Oklahoman, and declined to comment about the team filing for relocation. Wilkens, however, said none of the candidates that he's spoken with have mentioned a possible move as a deterrent to taking the job. In fact, the search for a new GM has moved to stage two and now involves Bennett. "Clay and I are both working on that," Wilkens said. "We've interviewed people. We're going to get together, he and I, and discuss the candidates and then see where we go." Seattle Times

State lawmakers hope to lure the 2009 NBA All-Star Game to Phoenix by waiving the state sales tax charged on tickets for the game and its associated attractions. Supporters of the incentive, which would be worth $300,000 to $400,000 to the NBA and its assorted sponsors who purchase the tickets, say it could help the city land the event and the worldwide exposure and economic windfall that come with it. But the sales-tax waiver is caught up in state budget negotiations - it's included in the House's proposal, not the Senate's - and is targeted by critics who call it a tax giveaway to big corporations. Arizona Republic

Former NBA guard Tim Hardaway attended the pre-draft camp Thursday, making one of his first appearances at a NBA-sanctioned event since uttering homophobic remarks in February. His "I hate gay people" response to an inquiry about former NBA player John Amaechi led to Hardaway's removal from league-sanctioned events during All-Star weekend. Seattle Times

Hardaway, who chatted with former Warriors teammate Chris Mullin and other league executives Thursday, is attempting to find work on a team staff. "All that other stuff is over with. That's history," Hardaway said at the gym that was closed to the public. "This is about me trying to find something in the league again." South Florida Sun-Sentinel

Making an easy transition from player to talker has been Jon Barry, Rick's son. Jon is the former NBA guard who has been exceptional in his analyst work, from live games for ESPN to Wednesday, when he suggested Kobe Bryant was "selfish" for working various media outlets in his back-and-forth stance on whether he wants to remain with the Los Angeles Lakers. "He's really good, terrific," Rick Barry said of Jon. "I love when he works with Bill Walton." Sacramento Bee

Atlanta Hawks co-owner Ed Peskowitz arrived in Israel on Thursday ready to tackle a problem that has eluded many others: peace in the Middle East. He's not dealing with soldiers and militants, however, but shooters of another kind. Atlanta Journal-Constitution

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