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Saturday, May 25

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» 07:51 PM ET Update » 03:15 PM ET Update » 10:08 AM ET Update

» Update: 07:51 PM ET

Mark Cuban's goal is to make the Dallas Mavericks a championship team again within a two-year window. After Dallas missed the playoffs for the first time in 12 years, the owner vowed the Mavs would have a "quick rebuild." The pending pitch to free agents this summer -- including Chris Paul and Dwight Howard -- is that the franchise can take a significant step forward next season and then have the salary-cap space available again in 2014 to make more major upgrades. ESPN.com

Dallas Mavericks, Free Agency, Chris Paul, Dwight Howard, Mark Cuban, Owners 

The NBA is reviewing Miami Heat guard Dwyane Wade's elbow to Indiana Pacers guard Lance Stephenson's head, a person familiar with the review told USA TODAY Sports under the condition of anonymity. The person requested anonymity because he was not authorized to speak while NBA vice president of basketball Stu Jackson's office looked at the play. USA Today Sports

Indiana Pacers, Miami Heat, Dwyane Wade, Lance Stephenson, Stu Jackson 

When Indiana Pacers guard George Hill knocked down four big free throws in the final 50 seconds of the Pacers’ Eastern Conference-evening Game 2 win Friday night, one of George’s biggest fans was glued to a TV set some 1,000 miles away. “I watched the whole game,” San Antonio Spurs point guard and Hill’s former teammate Tony Parker said following Saturday morning’s shootaround in preparation for tonight’s Game 3 of the Western Conference finals (9 p.m. ET, ESPN). “We’ve been texting the whole playoffs. I always follow George. He’s like my little brother, so I always text him.” NBA.com

Indiana Pacers, San Antonio Spurs, Tony Parker, George Hill 

Amar'e Stoudemire will resume working out with Hall of Fame center Hakeem Olajuwon for the second summer in a row, according to his training adviser, Travis King. King said the workouts will take place "sometime in August" at Olajuwon's ranch outside of Houston. It's not clear yet if Tyson Chandler will join him, which was on the table in 2012. ESPN.com

New York Knicks, Amare Stoudemire, Tyson Chandler, Hakeem Olajuwon 

New majority owner Vivek Ranadive met briefly with Kings basketball president Geoff Petrie on Thursday before attending the "Long Live the Kings" rally at Cesar Chavez Plaza in downtown Sacramento. Petrie's contract expires at the end of June. Petrie had planned to attend this week's predraft group workout in New Jersey. Instead, he's in California as the transition from the Maloof family to Ranadive's group takes place. Sacramento Bee

Sacramento Kings, Geoff Petrie, Owners, Vivek Ranadive 
 
 

» Update: 03:15 PM ET

In response to the NBA's $5,000 flopping fine on Grizzlies guard Tony Allen after Game 2 of the Western Conference finals, Memphis coach Lionel Hollins conceded the league's anti-flopping rules were appropriate and could possibly be enforced more widely. "Flopping isn't a part of the game and it shouldn't be a part of the game," Hollins said. "That's why we have rules in place. There are probably a few more that could be called on a lot of people still in it." ESPN.com

Memphis Grizzlies, Tony Allen, Lionel Hollins 

Williams said he has spoken with both Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge and coach Doc Rivers about his future and suggested the team envisions him as part of their future plan. `"We talked about the future, and I was part of that. Everything else, is between us," said Williams. Asked if that was an encouraging vote of confidence from his employer, Williams added, "Very encouraging. Because everybody writes a million stories that I’m just this horrible person. Whatever, I’ve been used to that my whole life, for 25 years." ESPN.com

Boston Celtics, Doc Rivers, Danny Ainge, Terrence Williams 

Chris Forsberg: Terrence Williams on arrest situation: "It's very frustrating, because I was there, I know what happened, and I know what didn’t happen. To anybody reading, and everybody that’s writing these stories, it makes me out to be this bandit -- whatever that guy’s name is in Public Enemies... John Dillinger. It made me be like I was him. It’s very frustrating, because I know what happened, and what didn’t happen. All you can do is pray and move forward. That’s what I’ve been doing my whole life when something happens." Twitter

Boston Celtics, Law, Terrence Williams 

After Thursday’s workout, D’Antoni confirmed a New York Post report that he won’t be part of Mike Krzyzewski’s staff for Team USA going forward and also discussed the status of Lakers’ stars Kobe Bryant and Dwight Howard, as well his former Knicks’ buddy, Carmelo Anthony. As for coaching with the Olympic team, D’Antoni said, ”Probably not.” “It’s been an unbelievable experience and I would recommend it for any coach,” D’Antoni told SNY.tv exclusively in his first interview since the news broke. “But I kind of ran my course, and happy for it.” ZagsBlog.com

Los Angeles Lakers, Coaching, Mike D'Antoni, USA Basketball, Team USA 

Brandon Jennings unofficially threw his support behind Rockets assistant coach Kelvin Sampson in the Bucks’ search for a new head coach. Jennings posted a picture of he and Sampson, who was an assistant with the Bucks for three seasons before he went to Houston to become Kevin McHale’s top assistant. As a caption, he added, “This my guy for Life. He needs to be a Head Coach in the NBA.” Sampson interviewed for the Milwaukee coaching vacancy nearly three weeks ago and Jennings, of course, is a restricted free agent. Behind The Buck Pass

Milwaukee Bucks, Free Agency, Brandon Jennings, Coaching, Kelvin Sampson 

On which NBA players are genuine soccer fans: Dirk Nowizki: Who I know of is obviously Luol Deng who you guys obviously know from the Chicago Bulls. He grew up in London. He’s a huge Arsenal supporter. I know that for a fact. But then I’m not 100 percent sure. Steve (Nash) is a huge Tottenham (fan). I was actually just texting him saying we bet 100 bucks. I said Arsenal was going to make it, and he said Tottenham was going to make it and now, he owes me $100. Dallas Morning News

Chicago Bulls, Dallas Mavericks, Los Angeles Lakers, Luol Deng, Steve Nash, Dirk Nowitzki 

San Antonio Spurs All-Star Tim Duncan is getting divorced. Amy Duncan apparently filed for divorce in March according to court documents obtained by the San Antonio Express-News. Spurs spokesman Tom James confirmed Saturday that Duncan and his wife are divorcing. ESPN.com

San Antonio Spurs, Law, Tim Duncan 
 

» Update: 10:08 AM ET

It's no wonder then that Malone's name has floated to the top of the early lists of candidates for the Clippers job, now that Vinny Del Negro has officially been let go. The lead assistant for the Golden State Warriors has always been regarded as a shrewd tactician, but the extra warm fuzzy feelings from Paul don't hurt his case. Williams, for one, thinks his time is overdue. "You don't know what it takes to get a job. It's not just about basketball all the time. But I just hope, I hope that he gets a job soon," Williams told ESPNLosAngeles.com. "I know he really wants to do it, and I know he'll be a really good head coach. The tough part is knowing I gotta coach against him because I know he really knows his stuff." ESPN.com

New Orleans Pelicans, Coaching, Monty Williams, Mike Malone 

It should be noted that Malone also has a reputation for standing up a bit too forcefully at times. Williams said he appreciated that fire, though. "I've really grown from the coaches around me who aren't afraid to voice their opinions," Williams said. "Mike was smart enough, he knew the game well enough to give me something that was going to help the team that didn't have anything to do with him. "I can only base it on my experience with him. I was the head coach and I know that he made me a better head coach. He's certainly a guy that can run a team." ESPN.com

New Orleans Pelicans, Coaching, Monty Williams, Mike Malone 

James walked into the postgame news conference disappointed in himself. He won Game 1. He may have lost Game 2. Two weeks ago, James said the first stat he looks at on the boxscore is team turnovers. The Heat had 15. The next stat he looks at is his turnovers. He had five and none more costly than the final two. "I made two mistakes tonight," James said. "That hurt our team. And that hurt more than anything. Let my teammates down. They expect me to make plays down the stretch, and I had the ball with the opportunity to make a couple of plays and I came up short. "That burns." USA Today Sports

Miami Heat, LeBron James 

After George leaped into the rafters to impale the 6-foot-10 Chris Andersen with a dunk, James rushed the ball down the floor and hit a 30-footer at the buzzer of the third period. It was a magnificent sequence, two spectacular plays within a 5.1-second window that inspired James to change direction on his way to the Heat's huddle. James chased down George, reached out his hand and pressed palm on palm. "I got you back, young fella," James told him. For a moment, George had to gather himself. Here unfolded a most surreal scene in a surreal rise out of mid-major college basketball, the evolution of James' dutiful understudy into James' problem. "That was a moment for me," George said, "that I'll always remember." Yahoo! Sports

Indiana Pacers, Miami Heat, LeBron James, Paul George 

"I've got the most respect for LeBron," George said. "I look up to him." Ten months ago, this was George's mandate: Get into Bryant and Durant, Anthony and James. Get into the NBA's biggest stars and learn the most valuable lessons of all. "I want to be great," George said. "I want to be a leader in this league. For me, that was a front-row seat for how to be one of the best players in this league." Yahoo! Sports

Indiana Pacers, Miami Heat, LeBron James, Paul George 

Chris Tomasson: Here's LeBron's full response to George Hill saying that only God is scarier than him. "I'm nowhere near close,'' James said. "I made two mistakes tonight. That hurt our team. And that hurt more than anything. Let my teammates down. They expect me to make plays down the stretch, and I had the ball with the opportunity to make a couple of plays and I came up short. That burns. But the best thing about it is this isn't college. It's not one loss and you're done. I have another opportunity to get better in Game 3, and if I'm put in that position again, to be able to learn from it.'' Sulia

Indiana Pacers, Miami Heat, LeBron James, George Hill 

I'm hearing quite loudly from multiple sources the Mavs are likely to trade this pick to save cap room for a run at Dwight Howard this summer. If they keep the pick, the Mavs are as high on Saric as any team in the league. ESPN.com

Dallas Mavericks, Draft, Trade, Dwight Howard, Dario Saric 

The rumors flying around Chicago were that Dennis Schroeder had a promise from a team. The Celtics seem like just the sort of team that would try to lock him down. ESPN.com

Boston Celtics, Draft, Dennis Schroeder 

The Nuggets are in a tricky situation with executive Masai Ujiri heading into the weekend. After agreeing in principle to a multi-million dollar and multi-year deal with team president Josh Kroenke prior to this summer, Kroenke said Friday night that as he and Ujiri were working through the final details of the arrangement, the Toronto GM position opened up and Toronto asked permission to interview Ujiri. "I have understood all along the relationships that Masai has in Toronto, and I respect those immensely," Kroenke said in a phone interview. "So when Toronto inquired about him recently, I knew that it was going to be a tough situation for everyone strictly because of the relationships involved." Denver Post

Denver Nuggets, Toronto Raptors, Masai Ujiri, Josh Kroenke 

But Kroenke felt obliged to let him do the interview because of their friendship and Ujiri's relationships in Toronto. Now Ujiri is mulling over an offer with the Raptors. Yahoo Sports reported it could be as high as $3 million, a high payment for a team executive. "No matter what happens, we're going to be OK. I have all the confidence in the world in our players, our staff, and organization as a whole," said Kroenke, whose Nuggets won executive of the year in 2009 with Mark Warkentien and then this season with Ujiri. Denver Post

Denver Nuggets, Toronto Raptors, Masai Ujiri, Josh Kroenke 

Shaquille O’Neal loves Miami Heat center Chris “Birdman Birdman” Andersen. That doesn’t mean he and the TNT crew are going to cut the tattooed one any slack. Paul George obliterated Andersen so bad even LeBron James had to give props. So the TNT guys did dying bird noises because why not. For The Win

Miami Heat, Shaquille O'Neal, Media, Chris Andersen 

Dancing across a stage is nothing new for Isiah Thomas, but when he picked up his Master of Education degree from the University of California, it was the first time Thomas was able to do so in person. The last time his name was called at a commencement, he was slightly busy, dancing down the lane of the Pontiac Silverdome, hitting a running, game-winning layup against the Atlanta Hawks in Game 4 of the 1987 Eastern Conference semifinals, putting the Pistons a game away from their first trip to the Eastern Conference Finals. On that day, his mother, Mary Thomas, took the place of her then-26-year old son to accept his bachelor's degree at Indiana University. It's cause for pause and reflection for the 52-year-old Thomas, as the accomplishment of higher education brings about memories of his journey. "As a kid, you think of winning the NBA championship and stuff like that," said Thomas, owner of two championship rings as a player. "To me, this is the equivalent. Being a champion on the floor and in the classroom as a student, it's very gratifying to me." Detroit News

Isiah Thomas 
 
 

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