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Karl said that being fired in a situation like this is mostly a disappointment but also somewhat of a relief. “About 80 percent of Mike Dunlap is sad and despondent because he wants to continue coaching in the league,’’ Karl said. “There will be a piece of him that is relieved. In general, we get paid a lot of money to do a very difficult job. Sometimes it’s not an appropriate or thankful job.’’ Charlotte Observer

Charlotte Bobcats, Denver Nuggets, George Karl, Coaching, Mike Dunlap 

Marc J. Spears: Bobcats brass meeting in morn to make new coach search list. Source said getting many much inquiries now than year ago. No one contacted yet Twitter @SpearsNBAYahoo

Charlotte Bobcats, Coaching, Mike Dunlap 

A source close to the team told me that in the team's annual season-ending exit interviews that Dunlap received a number of negative evaluations from current Bobcat players – not only for those occasional long practices but for his general demeanor. Dunlap was a demanding guy who tended toward the negative. He was smart with Xs and Os and didn’t mind letting you know that, but he was also snappish and hard to relate to. He was, simply, a boss who many of the players didn't like. Has that style worked for some other basketball coaches? Sure. You could name dozens who weren't warm and cuddly but still won a lot and kept their jobs – although most of them on the list would be college coaches, a place where Dunlap’s personality more naturally fits. Charlotte Observer

Charlotte Bobcats, Coaching, Mike Dunlap 

Rick Bonnell: Dunlap had one season left on his contract, which Bobcats will pay Twitter @rick_bonnell

Charlotte Bobcats, Coaching, Mike Dunlap 

Rick Bonnell: Higgins:"it's the NBA; you're not surprised by a lot" Twitter @rick_bonnell

Charlotte Bobcats, Coaching, Rod Higgins, Mike Dunlap 

Charlotte Bobcats President of Basketball Operations Rod Higgins announced today that the team has relieved Mike Dunlap of his duties as head coach. The search for his successor will begin immediately. “Rich Cho and I conducted our season-ending review and met with Coach Dunlap to reflect on this season. As an organization, it was decided that we needed to make a change with the head coach position,” Higgins said. “We want to thank Mike for his contribution and wish him the best in his future endeavors.” NBA.com

Charlotte Bobcats, Coaching, Rich Cho, Rod Higgins, Mike Dunlap 

Players were asked in their exit interviews last week for a review of Dunlap’s coaching style. It’s unclear how much that factored in the decision to let him go. In a post-season interview with the Observer Friday, Dunlap said he had evolved as a coach this season. He noted that he had backed off on managing every aspect of games from the sideline and had shortened practices. “Whether it’s Kemba Walker or Brendan Haywood, they appreciate what you don’t say when the game is being played,’’ Dunlap said. “In college you can literally yell across the floor and direct traffic with a player and it’s perfectly acceptable. Here the pro player can’t stand that.’’ Charlotte Observer

Charlotte Bobcats, Coaching, Brendan Haywood, Rich Cho, Rod Higgins, Kemba Walker, Mike Dunlap 

Rick Bonell: Mike Dunlap has been fired as Bobcats coach. Twitter

Charlotte Bobcats, Coaching, Mike Dunlap 

B.J. Evans: Breaking @bobcats News: Mike Dunlap will not return as head coach. Team posted a 21-61 record this season. Twitter

Charlotte Bobcats, Coaching, Mike Dunlap 

It’s kind of an oldie, but it’s still a goodie… Remember when Michael Jordan sued Qiaodan Sports for ripping off his name? Well, now Qiaodan is coming back with a lawsuit of their own against Jordan to the tune of $8 million bucks. The Fujian-based company’s suit was accepted by a Quanzhou court on April 2nd after they claimed Jordan tarnished their reputation and delayed their plans for an initial public offering on the Chinese stock market. Qiaodan Sports, founded in June 2000, was approved by the China Securities Regulatory Commission in November 2011 for listing on the Shanghai Stock Exchange. The news was originally reported by the Wall Street Journal. NiuBBall.com

Charlotte Bobcats, Michael Jordan, Law, Qiaodan Sports 

Adrian Wojnarowski: Charlotte isn't rushing to make a decision on coach Mike Dunlap's future. Letting exit interviews and coaching market unfold for now. Twitter @WojYahooNBA

Charlotte Bobcats, Coaching, Mike Dunlap 

Rick Bonnell: Restricted FA Gerald Henderson said he "wants to stay here for sure." But also said the chance to win is a priority. Twitter @rick_bonnell

Charlotte Bobcats, Gerald Henderson, Free Agent 

Rick Bonnell: Kemba Walker 3rd Bobcat to play every game in 2 consecutive seasons. Others: Emeka Okafor and Boris Diaw. Twitter @rick_bonnell

Charlotte Bobcats, Emeka Okafor, Boris Diaw, Kemba Walker 

Should the Bobcats bring back first-year coach Mike Dunlap next season? I don’t know. There are people in the organization who consider him arrogant. He talks so much to his players during the game that it’s as if he gets paid by the word. Minutes are doled out as rewards. A player is in the lineup – Tyrus Thomas, Hakim Warrick – and then he goes to the end of the bench and is so far from the action he might as well be wearing a suit. Charlotte Observer

Charlotte Bobcats, Coaching, Mike Dunlap 

There also are people in the organization who consider Dunlap gracious and praise him for the manner in which he deals with employees who can’t possibly help his career. If so, that says something good about a man. But it’s victories we care about, and the Bobcats have won 21 games. They are the first team to win three times as many games as they did the previous season (because players were locked out they played only 66 games last season). Charlotte Observer

Charlotte Bobcats, Coaching, Mike Dunlap 

Small potatoes, maybe. But after going 7-59 last season – worst record in NBA history – 21-61 felt OK Wednesday night. “Absolutely we wanted to avoid that worst record. It was definitely one of our small goals down the stretch,” said Bobcats co-captain Gerald Henderson (15 points and six assists). “Obviously things didn’t go as well as we hoped, but we played hard.” “Coming down the stretch, we played as pros.” Charlotte Observer

Charlotte Bobcats, Gerald Henderson 

Basketball legend Michael Jordan has made yet another gesture to show he’s serious about the Charlotte Bobcats becoming invested in the community’s charity needs. In a partnership forged with Mooresville-based Lowe’s home improvement, the team unveiled a Book Bus Tuesday that will travel Mecklenburg County year round, giving away books to children at elementary schools and summer literacy programs. Up to 6,000 books to be given out annually, officials said.The announcement came at Albemarle Road Elementary School in east Charlotte, after a brief parade that included Jordan and his team, along with the Johnson C. Smith University band and staff from Lowe’s. Charlotte Observer

Charlotte Bobcats, Michael Jordan 

If the Charlotte Bobcats ask the NBA for a name change, it would be at least 18 months before such a request was implemented. NBA commissioner-to-be Adam Silver met with the Observer and other print media outlets Monday during a visit to Charlotte. Much of his 20-minute interview addressed the possibility the Bobcats might switch their nickname to “Hornets’’ now that the New Orleans Hornets are switching to “Pelicans.’’ Charlotte Observer

Charlotte Bobcats 

The Bobcats have done some market research, but have yet to make a request with the NBA. Silver said he’s fine with whatever the Bobcats decide, but that the team’s deliberate approach is the right course. Silver said this would be a “very expensive process for the team,’’ so it’s “a weighty process, not just what X amount of fans say in an opinion poll.’’ Charlotte Observer

Charlotte Bobcats 

Silver is pleased the Bobcats have shown interest in hosting an NBA All-Star Game at Time Warner Cable Arena. “I’m very excited about the prospect of an All-Star Game returning here,’’ said Silver, adding that last summer’s Democratic National Convention shows Charlotte has the infrastructure and will to host major events. Charlotte Observer

Charlotte Bobcats, All-Star