HoopsHype.com Rumors

Colangelo planned on naming a coach by the start of the calendar year, but deviated from that plan in an attempt to convince Krzyzewski to come back. (He did not want to bother him during Duke's season.) A coach needs to be in place by the first USA basketball minicamp in July. Colangelo said he hasn't approached any other candidates. (The candidates widely speculated were Boston Celtics coach Doc Rivers, San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich and former Philadelphia 76ers coach Doug Collins.) "I would never do that," Colangelo said about talking to other candidates. "I've said that from the beginning, for what he's invested in USA Basketball, he's entitled to make his decision before anyone." SI.com

Doc Rivers, Coaching, Jerry Colangelo, Gregg Popovich, USA Basketball, Team USA, Mike Krzyzewski, Doug Collins 

Colangelo said there would likely be changes to the USA Basketball staff if Krzyzewski did return. The 2012 staff included Los Angeles Lakers coach Mike D'Antoni, former Portland Trail Blazers coach Nate McMillan and Syracuse Orange coach Jim Boeheim. Colangelo said it's likely Boeheim would again be part of the staff if Krzyzewski returned. SI.com

Coaching, Mike D'Antoni, Jerry Colangelo, USA Basketball, Nate McMillan, Team USA, Mike Krzyzewski, Jim Boeheim 

Lakers coach Mike D'Antoni gave Phil Handy a great recommendation. An NBA source told The Plain Dealer on Friday that Handy has been hired by the Cavaliers, but the team said nothing is official yet. Handy was a player development coach for the Lakers under Mike Brown and D'Antoni, who replaced Brown earlier this season. "He's really good at developing players, a good workout guy with a great work ethic," D'Antoni said Friday. "He'll do a super job for Mike, for sure." Cleveland Plain Dealer

Cleveland Cavaliers, Coaching, Phil Handy 

What exactly is the difference between a player development coach and assistant coach?"It's more just area of responsibility," D'Antoni said. "It's the same thing. One guy might [prepare] defense against Detroit. Another guy might develop players. It's just a different area. "He can do whatever. His specialty was working guys out, making them better. Especially for a young group of guys he's good for them. I don't what he's going to do for Cleveland, so I don't know where he fits in. But wherever he fits in, he'll be good." Cleveland Plain Dealer

Cleveland Cavaliers, Coaching, Phil Handy 

A team source confirmed reports coach Mark Jackson hired super agent Arn Tellem and fired Steve Kauffman. The move happened months ago, but the source said it was not part of Jackson's plan to get a new contract form Golden State. Jackson hired Kauffman presuming he had to hire an agent of coaches. When he learned he could retain Tellem, Jackson's representative as a player, Jackson made the switch. San Jose Mercury-News

Golden State Warriors, Coaching, Mark Jackson, Arn Tellem, Agents, Steve Kauffman 

Tellem is Warriors general manager Bob Myers' former boss and close friends with executive board member Jerry West. Jackson has two seasons left on his contract, next season is guaranteed and the Warriors hold an option for 2014-15. Without any further guarantees, Jackson would enter next season as a virtual lame duck in potentially his final contract year. San Jose Mercury-News

Golden State Warriors, Coaching, Mark Jackson, Jerry West, Arn Tellem, Agents, Steve Kauffman, Bob Myers 

Stan Van Gundy has indicated to teams that he has no intention of coaching in 2013-14. Although he has accepted calls from at least two inquiring GMs recently, he hasn't had any formal interviews with potential employers, a league source said. Orlando Sentinel

Coaching, Stan Van Gundy 

University of Arizona men's basketball coach Sean Miller today announced the hiring of Wildcat alumus and former NBA great Damon Stoudamire as assistant coach. ArizonaWildcats.com

Coaching, Damon Stoudamire 

Larry Drew is preparing to part ways with the Hawks and will interview for the head coach position with the Bucks Monday. Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Atlanta Hawks, Milwaukee Bucks, Coaching, Larry Drew 

Drew told the Atlanta Journal Constitution Friday that in a meeting with general manager Danny Ferry earlier this week the two came to an amicable agreement to allow the coach to interview for other vacant positions in the league. The Bucks called Ferry about speaking with Drew, who is still under contract until June 30, and they were granted permission. “I’ve moved on from the situation,” Drew told the AJC. “We had a very professional talk just trying to get things in order since I’m still under contract.” Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Atlanta Hawks, Milwaukee Bucks, Coaching, Larry Drew 

The door is not completely closed on Drew returning to coach the Hawks were he spent the past nine years, the last three as head coach. “There is not a sadness,” Drew said. “This is a business. We left open that this could evolve back. If it doesn’t, I have to move on. That’s how this business works. I knew that. Nine years is a good run. There is a business side to this profession.” Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Atlanta Hawks, Coaching, Larry Drew 

Nikolai Tsynkevich, spokesman for CSKA Moscow, denied head coach Ettore Messina's departure to the NBA. "All I can say is that Messina signed a three-year contract in July 2012 with the team". Interfax

Coaching, Ettore Messina, CSKA Moscow 

Phil appeared on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" last night and said about Mike D'Antoni: "Mike, with the right personnel is a great coach. This personnel wasn't really quite fit for Mike's coaching. He likes a 3-point shooting group of guys; he likes twos and threes in the corner. His great guard Nash was on the team, obviously; Steve's a great guard. He can distribute the ball. But that other big guy has to be, they call it now a stretch four. He has to be able to shoot 3-pointers. Pau wasn't quite fit into that. Pau and Howard together, too big, too much of a load for that post. He doesn't really like guys in the post. He likes guys outside." Sulia

Phil Jackson, Coaching, Mike D'Antoni, Los Anglees Lakers 

Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling has scheduled to meet with head coach Vinny Del Negro over the weekend to discuss Del Negro's fate with the organization, a league source informed CSNNW.com. According to the source, who spoke on the condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the situation, says the two will meet in Los Angeles and a decision is anticipated shortly after. CSNNW.com

Los Angeles Clippers, Vinny Del Negro, Coaching, Donald Sterling, Owners 

They may meet next week after the Combine, but so far the Suns have not requested to interview Houston assistant J.B. Bickerstaff. Phoenix, like a few teams, is still in search of a new head coach. 1500 ESPN

Houston Rockets, Phoenix Suns, Coaching, JB Bickerstaff 

Atlanta Hawks general manager Danny Ferry is giving significant consideration to hiring the first European-born head coach in NBA history, sources told Yahoo! Sports. Ettore Messina, the Italian-born coach of CSKA Moscow, is among the top candidates to replace coach Larry Drew. Ferry and Messina have had contact about the possibility, and Messina is intrigued with the chance to be a global trail blazer in the NBA, sources told Y! Sports. Yahoo! Sports

Atlanta Hawks, Coaching, Danny Ferry, Russia, Larry Drew, Ettore Messina, CSKA Moscow 

Atlanta's top target, Stan Van Gundy, is a long shot to accept the job, league sources said. Yahoo! Sports

Atlanta Hawks, Coaching, Stan Van Gundy 

Asked about a report that the Sixers had asked for permission to talk to Rockets assistant coach Kelvin Sampson about their coaching vacancy, Hinkie said: "I'm not even there yet. I won't confirm or deny, but I will say I don't know where that came from." Philadelphia Inquirer

Houston Rockets, Philadelphia 76ers, Coaching, Kelvin Sampson 

As I tweeted last week, Jerry Sloan yearns to coach again but not with the Bucks. Racine Journal-Times

Milwaukee Bucks, Coaching, Jerry Sloan 

The Hawks have interviewed Stan Van Gundy and Spurs assistant Mike Budenholzer for their yet-to-be vacant head coach position. Each has previously been described as a candidate for the position held by Larry Drew until June 30 when his contract expires. However the AJC has learned that Van Gundy and Budenholzer have been interviewed by general manager Danny Ferry. Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Atlanta Hawks, San Antonio Spurs, Coaching, Danny Ferry, Stan Van Gundy, Larry Drew, Mike Budenholzer