HoopsHype.com Rumors

Q: How much did you celebrate when Miami fell short? Jim Cleamons: Nah, nah, nah. I give them credit. They had a lot of stamina. A lot of heart. And I know they will appreciate what the '71-72 team did, because you've got to be lucky and good to do that. Their 27 [wins], I take my hat off to 'em. And if they would have gotten to 33 or 34, I would have taken my hat off to 'em then. Sooner or later, one of these days, somebody's gonna get it. But 33 ... it's gonna roll on for another year. ESPN.com

Miami Heat, Jim Cleamons 

Q: Which of the two records will last longer? The 33-game winning streak or the Bulls' 72-10 season? Jim Cleamons: I've got two things out there I've been a part of that I think are going to live for a while. Obviously the 33 in a row has been out there for a while, but the 72-10 ... that one might go on for a really long while. That 33 is not a cakewalk, as time begins to testify for me. But 72-10 ... it's going to take a real juggernaut to top that one. ESPN.com

Chicago Bulls, Los Angeles Lakers, Miami Heat, Jim Cleamons 

Cleamons: Believe you me, traveling on a charter is a lot easier. Traveling in those days was pretty horrendous. Don't get me wrong: It was better than the guys before me had. But just to show you how compacted it was: I was home by Mother's Day that year. We had gone through all of our playoffs and the championship round and I was able to drive from Los Angeles to Columbus, Ohio, and get there prior to Mother's Day. But I'm not trying to cry foul. Each team can only do the best they can do what with what's in front of them. ... Once we got past the record -- Milwaukee had it before us with 18 (wins in a row) or 20 or whatever it was -- every game we won we were setting a new record. So we were really able to enjoy it. We weren't trying to catch anybody. We were just taking care of our business. ESPN.com

Los Angeles Lakers, Miami Heat, Jim Cleamons 

Jackson, according to a source who knows him well, is in good shape after having a knee replacement last March. The likelihood is that if Jackson returns to coach, he'd want to bring back many of his longtime assistants, including Jim Cleamons, Frank Hamblen and Kurt Rambis. Most observers around the league think it would be easy for the team's current personnel that weren't in Los Angeles when Jackson last coached the Lakers to pick up the triangle offense Jackson has used since his days in Chicago in the 1990s. The offense would be especially good for Howard, who could thrive in the low post the same way Shaquille O'Neal did when the Lakers won three straight titles from 2001 through 2003. NBA.com

Los Angeles Lakers, Phil Jackson, Coaching, Frank Hamblen, Jim Cleamons, Kurt Rambis 

If Jackson decides to take the job, he's expected to bring back former assistant coaches Kurt Rambis, Jim Cleamons and Frank Hamblen. Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak said money won't be a problem in negotiations with Jackson. Yahoo! Sports

Los Angeles Lakers, Phil Jackson, Coaching, Frank Hamblen, Jim Cleamons, Kurt Rambis 

Adrian Wojnarowski: Jim Cleamons has coaching offer in China, but waiting for direction from Jackson on Lakers, sources tell Y! Cleamons would join Jax's staff. Twitter @WojYahooNBA

Los Angeles Lakers, Phil Jackson, Coaching, Jim Cleamons 

Two key Jackson assistants, Kurt Rambis and Jim Cleamons, are available and ready to join Jackson, 67, if he decides to reunite with the Lakers once again, sources said. CBSSports.com

Los Angeles Lakers, Phil Jackson, Coaching, Jim Cleamons, Kurt Rambis 

Within a one-year span, Jim Cleamons went from serving as an assistant to the NBA's most accomplished coach in Phil Jackson to suddenly looking for work. He spent this summer coaching Zhejiang Guangsha of the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA), but he doesn't plan on returning. "One of the reasons the Chinese job was intriguing to me is the season is over with and I have this opportunity to look, secure and interview maybe at the collegiate level," said Cleamons, who coached former New York Knicks forward Wilson Chandler. "I'm still hopeful and optimistic that may happen." Los Angeles Times

Coaching, Jim Cleamons 

Cleamons himself did not learn that Chandler had been granted his release until the night it happened. Along with the rest of the Lions team, he was unable to say goodbye to Chandler before he left. Still, his teammates understand Chandler’s situation, “I think they wish him well. If the shoe was on their foot and they had the opportunities that Wilson is going to have, they would wish him well,” added Cleamons, “ From a business perspective, they would understand. The timing could be better. It is what it is.” NiuBBall.com

Denver Nuggets, Free Agency, Jim Cleamons, Wilson Chandler, China 

That skepticism appears to be based on the failure of coaches other than Jackson to implement his offense of intricate team play. Jackson's assistants -- Jim Cleamons (with the Mavericks from 1996-98) and Kurt Rambis (with the Timberwolves from 2009-11) -- tried and failed to install it elsewhere. "I interviewed Brian four years ago and we talked about that," Bird said. "He said, 'I like the triangle, it's great, but you've got to have the right players to run it. I would use part of it, but it's according to the talent that we have. You've got to have the right guys.' " SI.com

Indiana Pacers, Los Angeles Lakers, Phil Jackson, Coaching, Brian Shaw, Jim Cleamons, Kurt Rambis, Indiana 

Former Los Angeles Lakers' assistant coach Jim Cleamons had been hired by the Zhejiang Guangsha of the Chinese Basketball Association league (CBA) on Sunday, local reports said. Guangsha's general manager Ye Xiangyu told media that Cleamons had arrived in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, on Saturday. "There were several offers from teams of the National Basketball Association (NBA), but Mr. Cleamons finally chose the Guangsha," Ye said. Xinhua

Los Angeles Lakers, Coaching, Jim Cleamons, China 

Jim Cleamons is withdrawing his name from contention to coach the Puerto Rico National team, agent Giovanni Funiciello told HoopsHype.com. “Cleamons is pursuing other opportunities that basically would have made it a conflict of interest. He wishes the federation best of luck in their search for a coach.” HoopsHype

Coaching, Puerto Rico, Jim Cleamons 

Lakers assistant coach Jim Cleamons said he has been contacted by Puerto Rico officials about becoming the national team coach. Cleamons said he is scheduled to meet with the officials this week to talk about leading the team at the FIBA Americas Championship. "They said they had some interest," Cleamons said. "I have some interest. It's something I would do, especially if there is a lockout." Los Angeles Times

Los Angeles Lakers, Coaching, FIBA, Puerto Rico, Jim Cleamons 

Puerto Rico basketball officials will meet with Los Angeles Lakers assistant Jim Cleamons this week and discuss the possibility of the veteran leading the national team at the FIBA Americas Championship. The 61-year-old Cleamons, a former NBA player, served as a head coach for the Dallas Mavericks in 1996-97 but is best known as a trusted aide to Phil Jackson with both the Chicago Bulls and most recently, the Lakers. FIBA.com

Los Angeles Lakers, Coaching, Puerto Rico, Jim Cleamons 

Kupchak said the Lakers are negotiating one-year deals for assistant coaches Frank Hamblen, Brian Shaw and Jim Cleamons that the GM hopes will get done in about a week. Kupchak said the Lakers first want to get Coach Phil Jackson's deal signed. "That should be done soon," Kupchak said. "We've had discussions [with our assistants]. I don't see any problems." Los Angeles Times

Los Angeles Lakers, Coaching, Brian Shaw, Frank Hamblen, Jim Cleamons