HoopsHype.com Rumors

You didn't hear about Bill Simmons saying Warriors turned down a trade swapping you and Harden? "I didn't know that. Even if I did, he can say what he wants. All I know is we've got a better record than them at this point. I seem to play well against him. So, yeah, it don't effect me. All I can control is what I do out there." Sulia

Golden State Warriors, Houston Rockets, Oklahoma City Thunder, Trade, Media, James Harden, Bill Simmons, Klay Thompson 

Bill Simmons is serving a three-day Twitter suspension after sending tweets critical of ESPN's "First Take." Simmons blasted the ESPN program for the Richard Sherman vs. Skip Bayless feud. He told his 2 million followers to stop watching the show and called the segment "awful" and "embarrassing." ESPN spokesman Mike Soltys on Thursday said the network declined to comment. This much is clear, however: ESPN is sending the message that nobody is exempt from its internal Twitter policies, which read: "At all times, exercise discretion, thoughtfulness and respect for colleagues, business associates and fans." Detroit Free Press

Media, Twitter, Bill Simmons, Skip Bayless 

Jalen Rose explains to Bill Simmons and David Jacoby how he gets inside NBA information before everyone else does and offers a cryptic answer to Bill’s question about whether Michael Jordan’s famous flu game was a “flu game or hangover game.” YouTube

Michael Jordan, Media, Jalen Rose, Bill Simmons, David Jacoby 

Rose: When you go to one of your favorite restaurants, you can order things single, or you can order a combo meal... I would think that that was a number three. A combo meal. David Jacoby: What?! If I'm a little bit under the weather, I'm staying home. Rose: Not if it's game six or seven. YouTube

Michael Jordan, Media, Jalen Rose, Bill Simmons, David Jacoby 

Last week I had the opportunity to attend the prestigious MIT Sloan Sports Analytics Conference, where a senior executive of the Dallas Mavericks told me the following when I asked him about the famous "flu game": "The fact that Jordan wasn't sick that afternoon is an open secret in the NBA. Flu is a smokescreen that gives value to what he did. It's much better to say that someone is playing under the weather that saying he's feeling weak because he had few drinks the night before. (...) what Bill Simmons did with Jalen Rose, it's a question to which they both know the answer, but it is a question nobody asks. Simmons, asking that question in a network like ESPN shows why he is the best sports writer out there. (...) It is not surprising that this has not come to light before. There are certain sports brands and sponsors that don't want this to come to light. There is big money at stake. That's why the media is not giving this story any shine. The Jordan brand is worth so much. The media knows it and don't want to take risks, and Jordan's sponsors are going to protect him." Marca.com

Michael Jordan, Media, Jalen Rose, Bill Simmons, David Jacoby 

Maurice Williams: What the hell Bill Simmons talking about the jazz need a point guard. What the hell position have I been playing all yr? #smh #espn #cmon Twitter @mowilliams

Utah Jazz, Trade, Maurice Williams, Media, Bill Simmons 

Even though Stan Van Gundy won’t be joining ESPN’s formerly boring NBA pregame show — a development that disappointed us greatly — NBA Countdown will be getting a shot of life in another form: Bill Simmons and Jalen Rose are going to be joining Magic Johnson and Michael Wilbon. This is a good thing. They’ll de-vanilla the robotic proceedings with their sharp opinions and whatnot, and if all goes according to plan, we should have our first incidence of accidental cursing from Bill Simmons by mid-November. It will be a moment we’ll celebrate. And it’s a moment Simmons doesn’t sound like he’s looking forward to. SportsGrid.com

Media, Jalen Rose, Magic Johnson, Bill Simmons 

“I’m a little worried,” said Simmons, during a podcast he recorded with Rose. “Because, in this day and age, where you’re not allowed to make any mistakes whatsoever and the internet just jumps on you, I’m a little bit worried about having a live mic. I’ve been doing a podcast for five-in-a-half years, and when I cross the line, Jacobi or whomever says, ‘Hey Bill, we’re gonna edit that out, you shouldn’t have said that.’ I’m like, ‘Yeah, that’s a good idea! I shouldn’t have said that.’ I’m not gonna have that option on live television.” SportsGrid.com

Media, Bill Simmons 

Jalen Rose, whose star continues to rise at ESPN, has just been selected as the 4th member of ESPN’s “NBA Countdown,” sources tell me. The deal, which came together over the weekend, will pair Rose with Bill Simmons, Magic Johnson and Michael Wilbon, as ESPN makes a run at TNT’s “Inside the NBA.” The two shows don’t go head-to-head, but “Inside the NBA” is far more popular among fans. The Big Lead

Media, Jalen Rose, Magic Johnson, Bill Simmons 

Isiah Thomas was briefly in the picture to take Van Gundy’s spot, but a source says Bill Simmons favored Rose over the former Pistons point guard. A source said Simmons thought the Isiah-Magic pair might skew old with viewers, and he favored Rose, the former Fab 5 star. The Big Lead

Media, Jalen Rose, Isiah Thomas, Bill Simmons 

Stan Van Gundy, the former coach of the Miami Heat and Orlando Magic, was all set to join ESPN’s NBA Countdown last month. According to sources, Van Gundy and ESPN allegedly had a handshake deal, and the hope was that SVG, along with Bill Simmons, would perhaps inject some life into the struggling NBA show. And then, according to sources, NBA commissioner David Stern allegedly stepped in and prevented ESPN from hiring Van Gundy, who he has been at odds with for over a year. The Big Lead

Media, Stan Van Gundy, David Stern, Bill Simmons 

I called ESPN and asked about Stern blocking the Van Gundy hire, and the network confirmed Van Gundy was a candidate. A spokesman said, “We had discussions with Stan Van Gundy and were interested in a role for him at ESPN. Ultimately, we differed on potential assignments and we moved in another direction.” The Big Lead

Media, Stan Van Gundy, David Stern, Bill Simmons 

Would Bill Simmons actually make a good NBA GM? Daryl Morey: I think he would make a good GM. He really knows the game. He obviously is a friend so take my opinion for what you will but I have found his knowledge of the game to be very high over the many years we have known each other. The only time I think he would struggle is handling owner input as he is very independent minded (which has made him successful in everything he has done). reddit

Houston Rockets, Media, Daryl Morey, Bill Simmons 

The rumors of Bill Simmons replacing Chris Broussard on NBA countdown have grown to the point that the latter resorted to responding on his twitter account: @Chris_Broussard: Lol. This twitter stuff is crazy. I have not been fired; I still work at ESPN. The Big Lead

Media, Chris Broussard, Bill Simmons 

In the latest sign that Bill Simmons is the most powerful man at ESPN, the columnist and man behind Grantland will reportedly join ESPN’s NBA studio show this season. Simmons and former Orlando Magic head coach Stan Van Gundy would replace Chris Broussard and Jon Barry, according to Sports By Brooks. However, ESPN couldn’t confirm the report when contacted on Tuesday by FishbowlLA. “We are in the process of considering all assignments for both returning and potential new commentator roles. As we’ve said before, Stan is someone we’d be interested in exploring,” said ESPN spokesman Ben Cafardo. “For Bill, same applies, we’re exploring the best ways to utilize all of our talent, including Bill, this NBA season.” Media Bistro

Orlando Magic, Media, Stan Van Gundy, Chris Broussard, Jon Barry, Bill Simmons 

Bill Simmons is being strongly considered as an addition to the ESPN show, NBA Countdown, sources tell The Big Lead. Simmons, who wrote the best-selling, “Book of Basketball,” would add punch to a show that is routinely compared to TNT’s considerably more popular and successful Inside the NBA. ESPN has been searching for the right combination on Countdown for years – it used to be called NBA Shootaround – and the network believes Simmons is the missing piece. The Big Lead

Bill Simmons 

Chris Kaman: Put it this way: I wasn't crazy about Bill Simmons in 2006 and still not crazy about BS in 2012. ‪#Douche‬ Twitter

Dallas Mavericks, Media, Chris Kaman, Bill Simmons 

Mark Cuban has taken a lot of heat this off-season for his personnel moves — or lack thereof. The Mavericks owner decided to take a few shots of his own Sunday night on Twitter. In response to a tweet ESPN’s Bill Simmons made Friday night, in which the columnist and editor-in-chief for ESPN’s Grantland.com said “Put it this way: I wasn’t crazy about Elton Brand and Chris Kaman playing together in 2006 when they were still good,” Cuban said: They (sic) next smart personnel comment you mae (sic) will be your first Dallas Morning News

Dallas Mavericks, Mark Cuban, Owners, Bill Simmons 

Cuban later responded to a fan tweet that said “…Simmons also didn’t let an entire championship team minus the superstar walk away for nothing” by saying “possibly because he has never had any involvement with a championship team.” Dallas Morning News

Dallas Mavericks, Mark Cuban, Owners, Bill Simmons 

One that ought to be equally prominent is "No wagering on the teams or players you're covering." ESPN's Bill Simmons has just learned that latter lesson in a very public way. He has given back his ballot for the NBA's MVP award, because it was well known that he had bet on LeBron James to win. USA Today

Miami Heat, LeBron James, Media, Bill Simmons