HoopsHype.com Rumors

The reason for the fines wasn't in the memo, but a recent letter sent by a Hawks employee to season ticket holders mentioned Los Angeles Clippers guard Chris Paul and Lakers center Dwight Howard as possible signees. It's not permitted by the league to name players before they officially become free agents. USA Today Sports

Atlanta Hawks, Free Agency, Chris Paul, Dwight Howard, Tampering 

Adrian Wojnarowski: CSKA Moscow's Quin Snyder has been hired as an assistant coach with the Atlanta Hawks, league sources tell Y! Sports. Twitter @WojYahooNBA

Atlanta Hawks, Coaching, Quin Snyder 

Dahntay Jones: The @BrooklynNets should hire Brian Shaw. Great guy and great coach. He deserves it Twitter @dahntay1

Atlanta Hawks, Brooklyn Nets, Coaching, Brian Shaw, Dahntay Jones 

It is hardly a slam dunk Lester Connner, Drew’s lead assistant in Atlanta, will follow him to Milwaukee. Racine Journal-Times

Atlanta Hawks, Milwaukee Bucks, Coaching, Lester Conner, Larry Drew 

Sean Deveney: One more bit from Tracy McGrady, abt his time w Hawks: "I felt like I was lied to. I don’t want say names. But I was lied to." Twitter @SeanDeveney

Atlanta Hawks, San Antonio Spurs, Tracy McGrady 

Within the middle of the next week, Lakers assistant coach Darvin Ham will talk with the Atlanta Hawks and Charlotte Bobcats, according to league sources. Los Angeles Daily News

Atlanta Hawks, Charlotte Bobcats, Los Angeles Lakers, Coaching, Darvin Ham 

Ham is strongly expected to leave the Lakers, according to league sources, leaving D'Antoni with only his brother, Dan, as the remaining assistant on his coaching staff. Eddie Jordan took the Rutgers head-coaching job before the season ended. Los Angeles Daily News

Atlanta Hawks, Charlotte Bobcats, Los Angeles Lakers, Coaching, Darvin Ham 

The Hawks may have violated the NBA’s anti-tampering policy by mentioning Dwight Howard and Chris Paul by name in a recent letter sent to prospective ticket buyers. Atlanta native Howard and Paul are scheduled to become unrestricted free agents July 1. As each are currently under contract, with the Lakers and Clippers respectively, a team is not allowed to speak about them publically. The letter, obtained by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, was sent via e-mail from one member of the ticket sales department. It was on team letterhead and headlined “Hot New Player news: Chris Paul and Dwight Howard.” It began with the statement: “The buzz around our offseason is more than heating up. With massive cap space, 4 draft picks, and free agency rapidly approaching, we sit in the best position in the NBA. Player interest is skyrocketing as the possibilities of landing Chris Paul & Dwight Howard become more and more of a reality.” Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Atlanta Hawks, Los Angeles Clippers, Chris Paul, Dwight Howard 

The letter included a link to a story on ESPN’s Website reporting that Paul was unhappy with the notion that he played a role in the dismissal of head coach Vinny Del Negro last month. Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Atlanta Hawks, Los Angeles Clippers, Chris Paul 

While Howard reportedly has strong interest in the Houston Rockets and could be courted by Dallas, Atlanta, Golden State and Cleveland, Bryant is in no rush to be the first to pitch the All-Star center to come back to L.A. "For me, you kind of let him do his due diligence and then move in and talk to him and figure out if this is a place he wants to be," Bryant said. "We all want him here. But then that's when the selling begins [after Howard is courted by other teams]. You don't start the selling process right before he goes and does all this stuff. You want to get the last word. You want to have the final word and the closing argument. "I'll give him a little opening statement, but then I have to make sure I have the final word." ESPN.com

Atlanta Hawks, Cleveland Cavaliers, Dallas Mavericks, Golden State Warriors, Houston Rockets, Free Agency, Kobe Bryant, Dwight Howard 

He would sign a five-year deal worth $118 million with the Lakers, as opposed to a four-year deal worth $87.6 million with any other teams.Once he becomes an unrestricted free agent July 1, Howard still plans to test the open market and views the Lakers, Houston, Dallas, Atlanta and Golden State as possible considerations. "I haven't talked to him," Gasol said. "I think he has to make the decision. It's a big decision. We'll see what he ends up deciding. I understand he's going to take his time and I'm sure he's going to continue to do that. It's his future and his life. You have to respect that." Los Angeles Daily News

Atlanta Hawks, Dallas Mavericks, Golden State Warriors, Houston Rockets, Los Angeles Lakers, Free Agency, Pau Gasol, Dwight Howard 

A source familiar with Howard’s thought process has said he has currently been considering the Lakers, Houston Rockets, Dallas Mavericks, Atlanta Hawks and Golden State Warriors, though nothing remains binding. Howard could re-sign with the Lakers to a five-year deal worth $118 million, as opposed to a four-year contract worth $87.6 million with any other team. Los Angeles Daily News

Atlanta Hawks, Dallas Mavericks, Golden State Warriors, Houston Rockets, Los Angeles Lakers, Free Agency, Dwight Howard 

Peter Vecsey: If Rockets are unable to recruit Dwight Howard, I'm told second preference is Josh Smith. Sixers also targeting Smith, says a source Twitter @PeterVecsey1

Atlanta Hawks, Houston Rockets, Philadelphia 76ers, Free Agency, Dwight Howard, Josh Smith 

Anthony Tolliver: Congrats to 2 of the greatest players from this generation JKidd and GHill on retirement! Blessed to have played against you both! @NBA Twitter @ATolliver44

Atlanta Hawks, Jason Kidd, Anthony Tolliver, Grant Hill 

Dwayne Davis, the draft prospect out of Southern Miss, has scheduled workouts for six NBA teams and interests those organizations as a possible second round pick, a source told RealGM. Davis will work out for the Phoenix Suns, Chicago Bulls, Dallas Mavericks, Milwaukee Bucks, Atlanta Hawks and a sixth team that could sign the 6-foot-5 guard if he falls out of this month’s draft. RealGM

Atlanta Hawks, Chicago Bulls, Dallas Mavericks, Milwaukee Bucks, Phoenix Suns, Draft, Workouts, Dwayne Davis 

Alex Kennedy: I've heard that Dwight Howard will meet with every potential suitor. That means Houston, Dallas, Atlanta, etc. He'll weigh every option. Twitter @AlexKennedyNBA

Atlanta Hawks, Dallas Mavericks, Houston Rockets, Los Angeles Lakers, Free Agency, Dwight Howard 

Chris Vivlamore: The Hawks are aware of the accident involving Mooke Blaylock and are in the process of gathering information. #ATLHawks Twitter @ajchawks

Atlanta Hawks, Mookie Blaylock 

Adrian Wojnarowski: Larry Drew has accepted Bucks coaching job, GM John Hammond tells Y! Twitter @WojYahooNBA

Atlanta Hawks, Milwaukee Bucks, John Hammond, Adrian Wojnarowski, Larry Drew 

David West will be a hot commodity despite his advancing age. The Clippers are prepared to make him an offer, and according to a source, the Hawks could make him a priority, too. Should Memphis move Zach Randolph, West would be a natural fit there as well. Sporting News

Atlanta Hawks, Indiana Pacers, Los Angeles Clippers, Memphis Grizzlies, Free Agency, Zach Randolph, David West 

If Paul considers leaving the Clippers, the Atlanta Hawks would be a potential landing spot. Paul always has been fond of the city of Atlanta, and the Hawks have the cap room to sign both Paul and Dwight Howard, a Lakers free agent, to lucrative contracts. Paul and Howard have spoken in the past about joining forces, but once Paul was traded to the Clippers in December 2011 and Howard was moved to the Lakers last summer, the duo figured that possibility was dead. Howard, an Atlanta native, has been lukewarm at best about the idea of playing in his hometown. But the possibility of playing with Paul almost would certainly get him to rethink his position. ESPN.com

Atlanta Hawks, Los Angeles Clippers, Los Angeles Lakers, Free Agency, Chris Paul, Dwight Howard