HoopsHype.com Rumors

Mark Madsen, a popular ex-bench warmer with the Los Angeles Lakers, is finalizing an agreement to become head coach of the Los Angeles Defenders of the National Basketball Development League, sources told Yahoo! Sports. The Lakers own and operate the Defenders, who recently lost coach Reggie Theus to the coaching job at Cal State Northridge. Yahoo! Sports

Coaching, D-League, Mark Madsen 

Adrian Wojnarowski: Stanford assistant Mark Madsen is in serious talks to become head coach of the Los Angeles Defenders of D-League, sources tell Y! Sports. Twitter @WojYahooNBA

Coaching, D-League, Mark Madsen 

Adrian Wojnarowski: Blazers D-League team in Boise loses a good one: Barry Rohrssen's returning to Pitt coaching staff. Neil Olshey loved job he did w/ Stampede Twitter @WojYahooNBA

Portland Trail Blazers, Coaching, D-League, Barry Rohrssen 

Royce White: Congratulations to the @rgvvipers on winning the D-League championship. That organization deserves it, Nick Nurse is a GREAT coach. Twitter @Highway_30

Houston Rockets, D-League, Royce White 

The Philadelphia 76ers announced today that they have completed the purchase of the operating rights for a team to compete in the 17-team National Basketball Association Development League. The NBA D-League is the NBA’s only minor league. The acquired operating rights were previously held by the Utah Flash, a team that went on hiatus two seasons ago. The Philadelphia 76ers’ new NBA D-League franchise will relocate to Delaware and commence play this coming autumn for the 2013-14 NBA D-League season, which runs from November through April. The team will be known as the Delaware 87ers, and will be nicknamed the “Sevens.” It will play its games on the campus of the University of Delaware at The Bob Carpenter Center in Newark, Del. NBA.com

Philadelphia 76ers, D-League 

Ken Berger: The Sixers have secured a D-League team to be based in Newark, Dela., league sources say. Announcement will come tomorrow. Twitter @KBergCBS

Philadelphia 76ers, D-League 

Los Angeles Lakers guard Andrew Goudelock was today named the 2013 NBA Development League’s Most Valuable Player, as voted by the NBA D-League’s 16 head coaches, for his efforts as a member of the Rio Grande Valley Vipers and Sioux Falls Skyforce. NBA.com

Los Angeles Lakers, D-League, Andrew Goudelocks 

D-League President Dan Reed expects the number of singly-aligned relationships to grow. Of course, that requires adding more teams, and that’s not going to happen for the upcoming season, according to Reed. “We’re not expanding right now,” he said during a visit to Canton last weekend. “We’re very happy with our current footprint. We expect more NBA teams to get involved in the league, and that at some point it becomes imperative that we do expand as demand grows.” Canton Repository

D-League, Dan Reed 

Tom Moore: #Sixers owner Josh Harris: 'We are in advanced discussions to buy a D-League team.' Twitter @tmoorepburbs

Philadelphia 76ers, D-League, Owners, Josh Harris 

The Oklahoma City Thunder has recalled forward Perry Jones and guards Jeremy Lamb and DeAndre Liggins from the Tulsa 66ers of the NBA Development League, it was announced today by Executive Vice President and General Manager Sam Presti. Jones played in three games (all starts) this postseason with the 66ers, averaging of 10.0 points, 5.7 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 1.0 steal in 33.7 minutes per game. In 15 regular season games (all starts) the forward averaged 14.3 points, 7.3 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 1.2 steals in 32.5 minutes. NBA.com

Oklahoma City Thunder, D-League, Perry Jones, Jeremy Lamb, DeAndre Liggins 

The Boston Celtics announced today that they have recalled center Fab Melo from their NBA Development League affiliate, the Maine Red Claws. Melo has appeared in 33 games for the Red Claws during the regular season and averaged 9.8 points, 6.8 rebounds and an D-League leading 3.1 blocks per game. NBA.com

Boston Celtics, D-League, Fab Melo 

Springfield Armor forward Willie Reed has signed with the Memphis Grizzlies for the rest of the season, agent Joel Bell told RealGM on Sunday afternoon. Reed averaged 14.8 points, 7.8 rebounds and 1.8 blocks for Springfield this season, posting 12 double-doubles in 48 games. At 6-foot-10, Reed will bolster what’s already a big, physical Grizzlies frontcourt. RealGM

Memphis Grizzlies, D-League, Willie Reed 

Marc Stein: Word on D-League grapevine is that Lakers are lining up Andrew Goudelock for a callup for some backcourt reinforcement. Twitter @ESPNSteinLine

Los Angeles Lakers, D-League, Andrew Goudelock 

Marc J. Spears: Lakers expected to sign their former guard Andrew Goudelock late Sunday morning and could make him available for Spurs game, source tells Y! Twitter @SpearsNBAYahoo

Los Angeles Lakers, D-League, Andrew Goudelock 

Williams, along with head coach Mike Peck, and fellow assistant coach Barry Rohrssen, started the season off 4-16 as the Idaho Stampede quickly fell to the bottom of the D-League standings. However, Peck and his crew (Williams included, of course) turned things around and went 15-15 over their last 30 games, also ending the year with a three-game winning streak. Yet, the highlight for Williams this past season wasn't their turn around, but a Call-Up for Justin Holiday. "Without a doubt, having Justin (Holiday) get a GATORADE Call-Up was the pinnacle for us as a coaching staff. He wasn't necessarily a guy on many NBA teams' radars, or a top prospect going into the season, but he worked very hard, and seeing that hard work pay off was very gratifying. He put in all the extra time, the late night workouts, and we were very proud." Williams said. Ridiculous Upside

Coaching, D-League, Scott Williams 

Williams explained, "I learned and grew so much as a coach in the NBADL. Head coach Mike Peck and myself didn't even know each other entering the season, but we quickly developed a connection, and he was amazing to me. He assigned me in charge of our "bigs" and defense. I could probably have been a sixth assistant coach at another level, but I wouldn't have learned as much as I did coaching in the D-League. I was able to get my hands in the clay." Ridiculous Upside

Coaching, D-League, Scott Williams 

As with any offseason, coaching vacancies pop up, so the opportunity for a guy like Williams to continue his coaching career in the NBADL is almost a sure thing. Williams said he feels confident in his abilities after his first season. "I now know that I can do it, I can coach. Interacting with guys from Solomon Alabi to Sean Evans, I felt like I could connect, and deal with each personality that was apart of our team. I'm moving in baby steps, and I have a lot to learn still as a coach, but I feel confident in my abilities." Williams concluded. Ridiculous Upside

Coaching, D-League, Scott Williams 

NBA D-League: .@Suns have reassigned Diante Garrett to top-seeded @BakersfieldJam, who tip off their Game 1 v. @austintoros, tonight 8:30et @YouTube! Twitter

Phoenix Suns, D-League, Diante Garrett 

The Oklahoma City Thunder has assigned forward Perry Jones and guards Jeremy Lamb and DeAndre Liggins to the Tulsa 66ers of the NBA Development League, it was announced today by Executive Vice President and General Manager Sam Presti. Jones has appeared in 36 games this season with the Thunder while recording averages of 2.1 points and 1.5 rebounds in 6.7 minutes per game. NBA.com

Oklahoma City Thunder, Sam Presti, D-League, Perry Jones, Jeremy Lamb, DeAndre Liggins 

Mark Berman: NBA sources: Rockets rookie forward Royce White unlikely to play for Rio Grande Valley Vipers in NBA D-League playoffs. Twitter @MarkBermanFox26

Houston Rockets, D-League, Royce White