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» 02:38 PM ET Update » 11:57 AM ET Update

» Update: 02:38 PM ET

Frank Vogel said Monday that he has great respect for LeBron James and the Miami Heat, but as for James' perception that the Indiana Pacers coach considers Miami "just another team," he said the Heat superstar is mistaken. "Sorry, sports world, the words 'just another team' never came out of my mouth. Great respect for LBJ and the champs. Looking forward to [a] great series," Vogel said Monday, according to NBA.com. ESPN.com

Indiana Pacers, Miami Heat, LeBron James, Frank Vogel 

Shane Battier wouldn't be surprised if Mike Krzyzewski, his coach at Duke, comes back to coach at 3rd Olympics. “No,'' Battier said about not being surprised. "He’s one of the most competitive people I’ve ever been around. That’s what makes him great. And so it’s not surprising me at all to hear that he has interest. Every athlete, every person who’s done this at a high level, after they step away from a really trying time, a really emotional time, says, ‘It’s too much. I can’t climb that mountain again.’ But if you’re far away enough from that mountain, you start that jones, that itch. So it’s not surprising at all.’’ Sulia

Miami Heat, Coaching, USA Basketball, Team USA, Mike Krzyzewski, Shane Battier 

There are no concerns among the Lottery teams that Noel won't make anything but a complete recovery from the ACL tear, suffered Feb. 12 against Florida. A cynical view would be that it would be good for a bad team to take Noel this year and hope he doesn't play this season, making that team more likely to have another high Lottery pick for a 2014 Draft that potentially will be one of the best in recent memory. NBA.com

Draft, Nerlens Noel 

David Falk says he’s almost done rebuilding his agency, FAME, having recently signed Georgetown forward Otto Porter Jr., one of the top prospects in this year’s NBA draft. “We will sign two or three more players and that is it,” Falk said last week. “It is a business plan I devised in 2007, when I started the business again. When everyone else is trying to do what I did in the ’80s and ’90s — build a very large business and sell it — I am doing this because I love it and want to structure it for myself where it is rewarding and fun.” ph.sports.yahoo.com

Draft, David Falk, Agents, Otto Porter 

ASM Sports, the basketball representation firm founded by NBA agent Andy Miller, has signed prospects for the NBA draft, including Russian guard/forward Sergey Karasev, one of the top European prospects. Karasev, who plays for Triumph Lyubertsy in the Russian Professional Basketball League, was ranked No. 25 by NBADraft.net and No. 19 by DraftExpress.com in mock drafts last week. ph.sports.yahoo.com

Draft, Andy Miller, Agents, Sergey Karasev 

Frank Isola: FYI: MSG renovation, I mean transformation, will be completed this summer. That's code for "the middle class Knicks fan has been priced out" Twitter @FisolaNYDN

New York Knicks 

The Portland Trail Blazers have parlayed a sustainability-driven partnership with Burgerville into a top NBA sponsorship award. The Blazers won the 2013 NBA Team Sponsorship Activation of the Year Award, beating out submissions from all 30 NBA teams, for a limited time hamburger promotion. The arrangement with Burgerville led to the Blazers Burger, which the team and restaurant promoted on several platforms. The Blazers Burger became the second most successful limited-time product launch in Burgerville’s 52-year history. Sustainable Business Oregon

Portland Trail Blazers 
 

» Update: 11:57 AM ET

Adrian Wojnarowski: The MLSE remains in full pursuit of Denver GM Masai Ujiri to assume full control of Raptors, sources tell Y! Twitter @WojYahooNBA

Toronto Raptors, Bryan Colangelo, Masai Ujiri 

According to a source, point guard Pablo Prigioni faces a tough decision on whether to stay in the NBA or return to the Spanish League next season, because his wife, Raquel, wants to return overseas. Prigioni on Saturday continued to be noncommittal on whether he wants to return to the Knicks. “I think it’s not the moment to talk about that now,’’ Prigioni said after the Game 6 playoff ouster. “It’s painful to lose. It’s painful to start the vacation now. This is about the team. Now I stay quiet.” New York Post

New York Knicks, Spain, Pablo Prigioni 

GM Glen Grunwald tried to get Prigioni to sign for two years, but he opted for the one year at the league minimum of $473,000, thinking he could get a larger wage in his second season once he proved himself. The Knicks are in a tough spot because even if they make him a qualifying offer of $900,000, they ultimately would need to use part of their $3 million mini mid-level exception to re-sign him. New York Post

New York Knicks, Spain, Pablo Prigioni 

Regardless of whether Kidd or Pablo Prigioni return next season, the Knicks need to upgrade at point guard. They will likely look to add a young guard through the draft or free agency (they will have the veteran's minimum or the mini-mid-level exception to offer free agents) or via a trade. Ideally, they'd find a guard who can excel on both ends of the floor. Outside of Iman Shumpert and Smith (when he's engaged), the Knicks don't have many two-way players. ESPN.com

New York Knicks, Free Agency, Draft, Trade, Pablo Prigioni 

Greg Oden is still on the Celtics’ radar, but the oft-injured free agent center doesn’t seem to be a high priority. There have been good reports lately on Oden, who met with the C’s three months ago. “We’ll look into Greg still,” Ainge said of the 2007 No. 1 overall pick who hasn’t played since making 21 appearances in the 2009-10 season. “He wasn’t ready to play when we saw him last. He wasn’t ready to work out — I mean, not like a real workout. We’ll probably check into that some time this summer.” Boston Herald

Boston Celtics, Free Agency, Greg Oden 

This is a true story about Randolph, though, one that starred Tiago Splitter, Tim Duncan, Matt Bonner and even Boris Diaw as the resident bullies, and it has the Grizzlies forward gritting and grinding his teeth after an ominous sign in the opener. "That was the best defense I've seen on the big fella in a long time; they did a great job," said the Grizzlies' Mike Conley, who was outplayed in his point guard battle with the Spurs' Tony Parker. "He tried to apologize (in the locker room), and we wouldn't accept that. We said, 'It's not you; it's all of us.' He's just saying that he's going to do better, but we've all got to do better defensively, and offensively we've got to move the ball in order to get other guys open like Zach and play our game." Parker, who had eight of his 20 points in the first quarter in which San Antonio led by 17 points, said, "Yeah, we tried to make it hard on him (with a) double-team. Obviously, he's their best scorer. He's a beast inside. (But) we know he's not going to play like that every game." USA Today Sports

Memphis Grizzlies, San Antonio Spurs, Tony Parker, Zach Randolph, Mike Conley 

In the final edition of "Nets Magazine" on YES, Deron Williams talks about how criticism of his first half play motivated his post All-Star Break bounce back. After Sarah Kustok noted, "he used the criticism from the media for fuel for a bounce back in the second half," Williams explained how much it hurt to hear the criticism ... and how the motivation will last beyond this season. "When you hear people talking about it that way ... [that] it's all on me ... it definitely hurts, definitely motivates you to come back stronger," said Williams, adding, "So I look forward to prove people wrong -- for years to come." NetsDaily

Brooklyn Nets, Deron Williams 

In an interview last week with a Bosnian website, Mirza Teletovic talked about the country's national team which will vie for the European championship in September. But he also told his Bosnian fans to expect better days ahead for him and the Nets, once again saying he has not intention of giving up on the NBA. "I will work hard over the summer and next year, things will be different," he told Klix, without detailing what he hoped to achieve. "This is my first year in Brooklyn and to play in the playoffs was a success," Teletovic added, according to a Google translation. "Our players fought to the end in the final game, which was very difficult." NetsDaily

Brooklyn Nets, Mirza Teletovic 

Carmelo Anthony will have his ailing left shoulder re-examined by team doctors to determine the extent of the injury and how to treat it, according to a Knicks official. The club is hopeful that Anthony's injury is not serious and that it will improve with rest and therapy and won't require surgery. Anthony had been playing with minor discomfort since Game 5 of the Knicks first round series against Boston when Kevin Garnett yanked his arm while setting a screen. New York Daily News

New York Knicks, Carmelo Anthony, Injuries 

It was Feb. 28, 2006 and Bryan Colangelo was being hailed as the man who would turn around the flagging fortunes of the Raptors and once again make them competitive. For about two seasons, Colangelo would live up to that billing. But for the past five years, he and the organization he has overseen have been spinning their wheels. Needing someone to play alongside Chris Bosh, Colangelo dealt T.J. Ford and the Raptors’ No. 1 pick, Roy Hibbert, to Indiana for Jermaine O’Neal. Since that trade, it has been a succession of deals with declining returns to try to make amends for that gaffe. Today, barring a stunning turn of events, it is expected Colangelo’s term in Toronto will end seven years and 81 days after it began. Toronto Sun

Toronto Raptors, Bryan Colangelo 

Kings basketball president Geoff Petrie is interviewing prospects for next month's NBA draft while questions about how decisions will be made going forward remain unanswered. In recent months, there had been little if any communication from the Maloofs about the future of the front office amid the proposed sale and relocation to Seattle that league owners voted down last week. "I haven't had the opportunity to talk to anybody yet (from Ranadive's group)," said Petrie, whose contract expires at the end of June. "But my understanding is the sale probably won't officially close for a couple more weeks. How that plays into communication, I really don't know at this point." Sacramento Bee

Sacramento Kings, Draft, Geoff Petrie, Vivek Ranadive 

Will Hinkie use the same methods he employed as executive vice president of basketball operations for the Rockets? Or will he do things his way, emphasizing some stuff the Rockets did and ignoring others? "I think we just need to be opportunistic about the things that come along," Hinkie said. "There, we had a particular focus, at the time, on trying to get a star player. So we made moves that were consistent with that. "I think here there's a lot to be determined before we decide exactly how we will attack it. But I think whatever we decide, I would hope - if not every move - almost every move is consistent with that." Philadelphia Inquirer

Philadelphia 76ers, Sam Hinkie 

And what of the head-coaching position? The hot names that are out there have been said over and over and over again - from Mike Malone to Fred Hoiberg to Kelvin Sampson to Nate McMillan to Larry Drew to Michael Curry and everyone in between. Said yet another league executive: "I hear the coaching search isn't at the top of their list right now. I hear they're concentrating on other areas and will address the coaching vacancy after a couple of weeks." Philadelphia Inquirer

Philadelphia 76ers, Coaching, Nate McMillan, Larry Drew, Kelvin Sampson, Mike Malone, Michael Curry, Fred Hoiberg 

During the Sports Spectacular event on Sunday night, Kobe announced (via remote video) that he was teaming up with Sports Spectacular to help eradicate homelessness. Kobe, who’s been fighting homelessness in Los Angeles along with his wife and the Kobe & Vanessa Bryant Foundation, wasn’t able to be at the event (something about a torn Achilles), but was still excited to share the news. Lakers Nation

Los Angeles Lakers, Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles, Vanessa Bryant 

Kobe Bryant: “I’d like to officially announce that we’re partnering with Sports Spectacular to help eradicate homelessness. We’re doing an event, it’s called Kobe: Up Close, and it’s about my past presence and future if you are interested. The event is August 15th at the Nokia Theater.” Lakers Nation

Los Angeles Lakers, Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles, Vanessa Bryant 

ABC is really hurting without the benefit of the Miami Heat on their airwaves. This past weekend, ratings for the Spurs-Warriors and Knicks-Pacers games suffered sharp declines. Sunday's San Antonio-Golden State matchup drew a 3.4 rating and 5.3 million viewers, down 29% in ratings and 30% in viewers from last year's Heat-Pacers game and 36% and 40% from 2011's Lakers-Mavericks matchup. The Knicks and Pacers didn't fare any better on Saturday evening, drawing similar marks of a 3.5 rating and 5.3 million viewers, down 29% and 35% from Heat-Celtcs in 2011 (with no comparable game last year). Awful Announcing

Dallas Mavericks, Golden State Warriors, Indiana Pacers, Los Angeles Lakers, Miami Heat, New York Knicks, San Antonio Spurs, Media 

So Hunter claims that one of the highest-compensated players and his agent called him on Oct. 27, 2011, and said a 50-50 BRI deal had been struck with ownership and Hunter should accept it. I am not certain who that player is. I have been told by two different sources it was Kobe Bryant. Bryant and Fisher share the same agent — Rob Pelinka. Bryant and Fisher are close friends; they joined the Lakers the same year. Bryant was the NBA’s highest-paid player in 2011-12, earning $25 million. Bryant spent part of the 2011 offseason in Germany receiving experimental treatment for his arthritic knee. Given his salary, advancing age, health concerns and legendary competitive zeal, no NBA player had more reason to be desperate for an end to the lockout than Bryant. FOXSports.com

Kobe Bryant, Billy Hunter, NBPA, Agents, Rob Pelinka 

On Friday, I made several attempts to speak with Pelinka. We’ve known each other for 20 years. He was a role player on the Michigan “Fab Five” basketball teams that I covered for the Ann Arbor News. We also occasionally run into each other in Los Angeles. I left a message at his office. I left a voicemail on his cell phone. I wrote him a detailed email explaining why I was contacting him. I also sent him a text message that my iPhone confirmed that he read. Pelinka did not respond to my inquiries. Whether it was Bryant, Garnett or some other highly compensated veteran player who contacted Hunter on Oct. 27, 2011, doesn’t really matter. (Although a court case and Hunter’s phone records will eventually reveal the callers.) The point is that during the lockout, Hunter was caught between the NBA’s elite and the rank-and-file players who actually worked in the union. FOXSports.com

Kobe Bryant, Billy Hunter, NBPA, Kevin Garnett 

Chris Daniels: JUST IN: NBA player, Former Rainier Beach HS star, Terrence Williams, arrested by Kent Police & accused of making threats with gun. Kent Police say Williams was arrested this afternoon. PD says T. Williams waved gun during scheduled child visitation, and made threats. More: A Kent Police detective says Terrence Williams is currently in custody, and will be booked into the King County Jail. Twitter

Law, Terrence Williams 
 

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