HoopsHype.com Rumors

The hiring of Najera, beloved in his native Mexico, could very well push the Legends to seek to play games in Mexico. "We would love to work with the NBA and figure out how we can increase our presence in Mexico and greater Latin America," Nelson said. "I think the uniqueness of the D-League is that we can be a little more flexible and easier to move around than an NBA team. The NBA’s had a long history of taking teams south of the border. I was involved in one in one of Eddie’s first couple years and they’re still talking about that. "I think that the Latino, Hispanic community initiatives are going to take a new level with Eddie’s new position." ESPN.com

D-League, Eduardo Najera 

Marc Stein: Team president Donnie Nelson confirms at press conference that Najera will also join Michael Finley as new members of Mavs' front office Twitter

Dallas Mavericks, Donnie Nelson, Michael Finley, Eduardo Najera 

Dwain Price: "Eddie will be assisting me on all major decisions with the Mavericks.'' -- Mavs GM Donnie Nelson on Eduardo Najera Twitter

Dallas Mavericks, Donnie Nelson, Michael Finley, Eduardo Najera 

Mexico’s Eduardo Najera, who officially retired Wednesday from professional basketball due to persistent injury problems, said he wants to bring an NBA franchise to his homeland in the near future. “The main goal, my goal that I’m dreaming about, is to bring an NBA franchise (to Mexico), maybe in five or 10 years. It’s a dream of mine, but it’s possible,” Najera, who wrapped up his 12-year career with the Charlotte Bobcats, said. “It something that’s difficult, but it’s not impossible. The NBA has its rules, but in the end this is a business and if Canada can do it, why not us? It would be a long process, for the future,” Najera said. Latin American Herald Tribune

Eduardo Najera 

The Texas Legends have named Eduardo Najera the first Mexican-born head coach under the NBA umbrella, pending NBA approval. Najera becomes the third head coach in Legends history, following former NBA Coach of the Year Del Harris, and basketball Hall-of-Famer Nancy Lieberman. Subject to NBA approval, Najera will also be a minority owner of the Legends, as well as hold a front office position with the Mavericks. Najera’s NBA career began with the Mavericks in 2000, after he became the first Mexican-born player to be drafted in NBA history. HoopsWorld

Coaching, D-League, Eduardo Najera 

“I have the utmost respect for Eddie,” commented Legends Owner Donnie Nelson. “The work ethic he exhibited as a player, and his knowledge of the NBA game will serve him well in his role as Head Coach of the Legends. Whether coaching a rookie, or an NBA veteran, Coach Najera will have valuable insight for all of our players. I am equally excited to begin working with Eddie in a front office capacity with the Mavericks as he learns the management side of the game. I am proud to be able to call Eddie an ownership partner with the Legends.” HoopsWorld

Dallas Mavericks, Coaching, Donnie Nelson, D-League, Eduardo Najera 

Eduardo Najera is retiring from the NBA to become the head coach of the NBA D-League's Texas Legends, according to sources with knowledge of the decision. Sources told ESPN.com that Najera, although he has no significant coaching experience, has accepted the offer from Dallas Mavericks president of basketball operations and Legends co-owner Donnie Nelson to take over from Del Harris as coach of the Mavs' D-League affiliate. ESPN.com

Coaching, D-League, Eduardo Najera 

Najera also will have an ownership stake in the Legends, sources say, and likewise receive a to-be-determined title working under Nelson in the Mavericks' front office. Sources say Harris, who turned 75 in June, will return to his original role as Legends general manager and also mentor Najera as the 36-year-old makes the transition to coaching. ESPN.com

Coaching, D-League, Eduardo Najera 

Peter Vecsey: Very slow news day. Hoopshype lead item f Yahoo claims Najera ia considering BK, Houston & Minny. I'm told he's retiring 2 B D-L assistant Twitter

Eduardo Najera 

Eddie Najera - better known as 'El Rayo' to DB.com readers and Mavs fans - is at a crossroads. He's been cleared to resume his basketball career after sustaining a fractured forehead (!) but in my visit with him early today, Najera says he may be ready to go into retirement ... and into coaching with the Mavs organization. Scout.com

Dallas Mavericks, Free Agency, Coaching, Eduardo Najera 

"I've actually been talking to Donnie (the Mavs GM and the owner of the D-League Texas Legends) for two years about someday going into coaching,'' Eddie tells me. "Hey, if I'm going to retire, I've got to start doing something, right?'' Scout.com

Dallas Mavericks, Free Agency, Coaching, Eduardo Najera 

"I live five minutes away from the (Legends headquarters in Frisco),'' Eddie says. "I haven't made up my mind yet. I'm going to visit with Donnie and with my family ... But if we decide to go that way, it's a good fit.'' Scout.com

Dallas Mavericks, Free Agency, Coaching, Eduardo Najera 

I asked Najera about reports that Brooklyn, Houston and Minnesota are all interested in talking with him about extending his playing career. "That's flattering, but I don't know anything about that,'' he said. "My agent is handling that. I'm open to it, but ...'' Scout.com

Dallas Mavericks, Free Agency, Coaching, Eduardo Najera 

Marc J. Spears: Free agent F Eduardo Najera fully recovered from fractured forehead frontal bone & is back playing. HOU, MIN, BK interested, source tells Y! Twitter

Houston Rockets, Minnesota Timberwolves, Brooklyn Nets, Free Agency, Eduardo Najera 

Alvaro Martin: League source: four NBA teams show interest in @Eduardo Najera for the 2012-13 season. Twitter

Free Agency, Eduardo Najera 

Vincent Goodwill: NBA's dirtiest players, according to the players: Reggie Evans, KG, Ron-Ron, Jeff Foster, CP3, Gerald Henderson, K-Love, Kurt Thomas, Varejao, Eduardo Najera, Ryan Hollins, Dwight Howard, Battier, Jamaal Magloire and Raja Bell...any surprises? Twitter

Raja Bell, Kurt Thomas, Dwight Howard, Reggie Evans, Jamaal Magloire, Ryan Hollins, Jeff Foster, Eduardo Najera, Gerald Henderson 

Bobcats veteran forward Eduardo Najera doesn't look like a player who just had major surgery to on his skull two weeks ago. The indentation in his forehead is no longer visible. And there's no visible scar from the surgery performed by Dr. Daniel Spagnoli from Charlotte, who cut Najera from ear-to-ear across the top of his head in order to peel back the skin on his face and repair the shattered bones beneath it. Najera walked away with 12 screws and a mesh screen inserted in his forehead after taking an elbow to the head from Milwaukee's Jon Brockman during a game on April 6. ESPN.com

Charlotte Bobcats, Injuries, Eduardo Najera 

Charlotte Bobcats forward Eduardo Najera underwent successful surgery this afternoon to repair the fractured frontal bone in his forehead he suffered last night from an inadvertent elbow during the game against the Milwaukee Bucks. The surgery was performed at Presbyterian Hospital by Dr. Daniel Spagnoli, who specializes in maxillofacial surgery. The injury occurred at the 11:07 mark of the second quarter and Najera was immediately taken to Froedtert Hospital, where a CT scan showed no brain trauma but confirmed the fracture. He was later released and flew back to Charlotte with the team. NBA.com

Charlotte Bobcats, Injuries, Eduardo Najera 

Charlotte forward Eduardo Najera didn't suffer any brain trauma after taking an inadvertent elbow to the head from Milwaukee's Jon Brockman during Friday night's 95-90 loss. Najera had a CT scan at a hospital that showed he suffered a fractured frontal bone. He accompanied his teammates on a flight back to Charlotte on Saturday morning after leaving the hospital, according to team spokesman B.J. Evans. ESPN.com

Charlotte Bobcats, Injuries, Eduardo Najera 

Bobcats forward Eduardo Najera has had surgery to repair torn cartilage in his left knee and will miss 6-8 weeks. The team said Friday the injury was discovered during an MRI earlier in the week. Najera figured to play a reserve role this season. He played in 31 games last season for the Bobcats, averaging 2.2 points and 1.4 rebounds in 12 minutes. ESPN.com

Charlotte Bobcats, Injuries, Eduardo Najera