HoopsHype.com Rumors

Q: Who should run the NBPA in the meantime? Tellem: After many months of internal turmoil, stability will be the key during any transition. (Union counsel and interim Exec Dir) Ron Klempner has been with the union a long time. He's quite capable of running things smoothly until a new executive director is found. I’m confident that he will look out for and protect the interests of the players. Sports Business Daily

Billy Hunter, NBPA, Arn Tellem, Agents 

Q: What about the other union positions? Tellem: The union needs a clean sweep of executive leadership positions. The players would be wise to hire an outside general counsel, one not affiliated with either Billy or (NBPA President) Derek Fisher. He or she should be independent and impartial. Jim Quinn of Weil, Gotshal & Manges in New York is worthy of consideration. So is his law partner, Bruce Meyer. Jim’s proficiency in sports-related labor law dates to Oscar Robertson’s landmark 1970 anti-trust case. During the last lockout, both Quinn and Meyer were enlisted by the union to mediate a deal with (NBA Commissioner) David Stern. Sports Business Daily

Derek Fisher, Billy Hunter, NBPA, Arn Tellem, Agents 

Powerful NBA player agent and Wasserman Media Group Vice Chair Arn Tellem called for players to take time in finding a replacement NBPA player leaders vote to terminate Exec Dir Billy Hunter’s employment contract Saturday. WMG represents more than 50 NBA players, and Tellem was one of a group of seven so-called “power agents” who held meetings without Hunter during the '11 NBA lockout about decertifying the union, something Hunter initially opposed. Tellem already has sent a letter to WMG's player clients, urging them to fire Hunter. However, he said Thursday evening that the agents who met during the lockout have had no conversations about the future of the union. Sports Business Daily

Billy Hunter, NBPA, Arn Tellem, Agents 

But Fegan, one of the NBA’s most powerful agents, was still furious over what Falk said about his client late Wednesday night and called to address the situation. “David Falk’s rant about John Wall was uneducated, unsophisticated and immature. It proved the adage that one can grow old without ever growing up,” Fegan said. “I’m relieved David had the sense to apologize for his remarks but that doesn’t change the fact that he publicly disparaged a classy young man and a great young player. I have no further comment on what David said.” Washington Post

Washington Wizards, John Wall, David Falk, Dan Fegan, Agents 

Stephen A. Smith: "So my point is that when Dwight Howard opted in, he did it behind Fegan's back. Fegan had nothing to do with that." RR: "Oh yeah, yeah, I know." SAS: "So, if you could do it behind your agent's back once, you're very unpredictable...." NetsDaily

Los Angeles Lakers, Free Agency, Trade, Dwight Howard, Dan Fegan, Agents 

But he mostly wanted to go off on any perceived homer who believes Wall can eventually make Washington a contender. “I’m going to save you from embarrassment,” Michael Jordan’s former agent said as an introduction Monday night when he called. A Wizards season ticket holder, Falk added: “You guys are in dreamland. Because this team [stinks] so bad you guys want John Wall to be someone he will never be. “Before Wall becomes Nene, I would trade him and get rid of him.” Washington Post

Washington Wizards, Trade, John Wall, David Falk, Agents 

“I’m not down on John Wall,” Falk said, before being further down on John Wall. “I just think people want him to be something he’s never going to be. He’s a big tease. He doesn’t have a good enough feel for the game to be an elite player. I don’t think he’ll ever be the player you think he is.” Washington Post

Washington Wizards, Trade, John Wall, David Falk, Agents 

Bucks guard Brandon Jennings recently switched agents, leaving Bill Duffy of BDA Sports Management, as reported by Sports Business Daily. It is expected Jennings will join the clients of Jeff Schwartz and Excel Sports Management when the 15-day waiting period for signing with a new agent expires. It was a bit of a surprising move because Jennings has been represented by Duffy since 2009, when the Bucks guard was selected 10th overall in the NBA draft. Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel

Milwaukee Bucks, Brandon Jennings, Jeff Schwartz, Agents, Bill Duffy 

Jennings called his agent switch "a family decision" and thanked Duffy for all he had done for him over the past four years. Jennings is extremely close to New York Knicks center Tyson Chander, who also is represented by Excel Sports Management. So are a number of other NBA stars, including Boston's Paul Pierce, Minnesota's Kevin Love, Brooklyn's Deron Williams and Milwaukee native Devin Harris, now with the Atlanta Hawks. Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel

Milwaukee Bucks, Brandon Jennings, Jeff Schwartz, Agents, Bill Duffy 

Relativity Sports continues to build its talent representation business by bringing on prominent NBA agent Dan Fegan to lead its basketball division. Fegan will bring his 40 NBA clients, who include Dwight Howard, Shawn Marion and John Wall, to the firm and serve as president of the division. He will work out of Relativity’s Beverly Hills, Calif., offices and report to the company’s COO and head of its sports group, Happy Walters, who represents 12 NBA players. Sports Business Daily

Dan Fegan, Agents 

Walters said adding Fegan was a key move, not just because of his client list, but because of additional areas where he can add value to the group. “Dan has had No. 1 draft picks; he’s done all the negotiating you can do, but Dan is ready to help build a business and that is what we are excited about,” Walters said. “That is what we want to put together here. A lot of smart guys who have a lot of experience looking at how we want to grow sports in the future. What intangibles are we going to be able to identify and monetize and grow businesses around in the future?” Sports Business Daily

Dan Fegan, Agents, Happy Walters 

Liz Mullen: SBJ: Powerful NBA agent Dan Fegan joins Relativity Sports as President, Basketball. Firm will now rep more than 50 NBA player clients. Twitter @SBJLizMullen

Dan Fegan, Agents 

Liz Mullen: SBD: Brandon Jennings terminated contract w agent Bill Duffy last Saturday. 15 days until he can sign with new agent under NPBA rules. Twitter @SBJLizMullen

Milwaukee Bucks, Brandon Jennings, Agents, Bill Duffy 

I don't know all that went into Brandon Jennings' decision to drop BDA for Excel as his representation, but it's shocking in light of all that it appeared BDA did for him -- a deal in Italy that paid him $500,000 rather than going to college for a year, being drafted 10th even though he didn't play all that well overseas and landing one of the top five shoe deals for point guards with Under Armour. Whispers are that not making the All-Star team and anxiety about being one of the few guards in his class not to lock up an extension last summer drove Jennings' decision. Sulia

Milwaukee Bucks, Brandon Jennings, Agents 

Milwaukee Bucks point guard Brandon Jennings is dropping agent Bill Duffy, and two people familiar with the situation told CBSSports.com Monday that the soon-to-be restricted free agent will sign with New York-based Jeff Schwartz. Duffy confirmed that he and Jennings have parted ways in a statement to the Sports Business Journal. The two people with knowledge of Jennings' plans said the point guard will sign with Schwartz once the 10-day waiting period for switching agents has elapsed. CBSSports.com

Milwaukee Bucks, Brandon Jennings, Jeff Schwartz, Agents, Bill Duffy 

Jennings will be one of the top restricted free agents on the market this summer, and his hiring of Schwartz could be ominous for the Bucks. After failing to receive a multi-year extension by the Oct. 31, 2012 deadline, the 2009 first-round pick said, "I'm doing my homework on big-market teams." CBSSports.com

Milwaukee Bucks, Brandon Jennings, Jeff Schwartz, Agents, Bill Duffy 

Liz Mullen: Bill Duffy: "He has the prerogative to surround himself with whom he chooses and we fully respect that. We wish him nothing but the best." Twitter @SBJLizMullen

Milwaukee Bucks, Brandon Jennings, Jeff Schwartz, Agents, Bill Duffy 

The Delonte West saga has taken another detour. Who knows where it goes from here? West, the colorful journeyman guard who has been out of basketball since his detrimental conduct caused the Mavericks to release him just before the season opened, has left the D-League’s Texas Legends in limbo. The Legends claimed West on Jan. 25 after he put his name in the D-League player pool, but he has yet to report to Frisco. A source said it’s up to West whether he will play for the Legends, who are still open to having him on the team and continue to list him on the roster on the team’s website. West has complicated the process by parting ways with agent Dan Fegan. ESPN.com

Dallas Mavericks, Delonte West, Dan Fegan, D-League, Agents 

Earlier on Friday, a league source said that West is in the process of changing agents, which could be delaying his arrival in Texas. That is, if it happens at all. As of Friday night, West’s name was on the Legends’ roster on the team website, although no number had been issued. Legends officials did not immediately answer messages Friday night. NBA.com

Delonte West, D-League, Agents 

A league source said that West might be in the process of dumping agent Dan Fegan and that could be complicating him joining the Legends. There was some speculation that another NBA team could be kicking his tires, but that has gone unsubstantiated. Wherever Delonte is and whatever he is doing, he'd be wise to report to a basketball court -- NBA or otherwise -- sooner rather than later. Sulia

Free Agency, Delonte West, Dan Fegan, D-League, Agents