HoopsHype.com Rumors

Fratello also weighed in on CryGate, with his view perhaps offering some insight, considering his closeness with Riley. “If Erik Spoelstra could have taken the statement back, he probably would have,” Fratello said. “He was trying to tell people that this team really cares, they do care about the fact that they lost five games in a row. “At that point, he may have said the wrong thing that he wishes he could take back. He’s not looking for sympathy. He’s all about his team. He was trying to defend his players and make people understand that this isn’t a group that is just shrugging off the loss of another game.” South Florida Sun-Sentinel

Miami Heat, Coaching, Pat Riley, Erik Spoelstra, Mike Fratello 

Former Grizzlies coach Mike Fratello, 64, has agreed to coach Ukraine's national team at the European Championship this year. The Ukrainian Basketball Federation says it has a verbal agreement with Fratello, who has been working as an NBA television analyst for Turner Sports. The European Championship is scheduled for Aug. 31-Sept. 18 in Lithuania. Memphis Commercial Appeal

Mike Fratello, Ukraine 

Al Iannazzone: People I've spoken to said Mike Fratello has not yet accepted the job to be the Ukraine's national team coach this summer Twitter

Coaching, Mike Fratello, Ukraine 

Former NBA coach Mike Fratello has agreed to coach Ukraine's national team at the European Championship this year. USA Today

Mike Fratello, Ukraine 

In an interview to Vladimir Kotsur of sport-express.ua , Alexander Volkov confirmed that the Ukrainian federation of basketball and former Atlanta Hawks head-coach Mike Fratello are in talks that could lead to the TNT analyst coaching the Ukrainian national team at the 2011 Eurobasket which will be held in Lithuania in September. As mentioned by Kotsur in the interview, the connection between Fratello and Volkov exists through Atlanta, where Volkov played from 1989 to 1992 and Fratello coached from 1983 to 1990. Volkov also mentions on the interview that they are still negotiating and that there are other candidates, which he preferred not to mention. The Basketball Post

FIBA, Mike Fratello, Ukraine 

It's equally true that the interim options out there make even less sense. I've been reliably advised that Isiah Thomas would crawl from the Florida International University for the right to coach LeBron and Co. ... even if he had to accept game-to-game contract. I've also been led to believe that longtime Riles' pal Mike Fratello would be willing to come in whenever summoned and try to get LeBron and Dwyane Wade clicking. But how could anyone believe that an knee-jerk change like that -- given the resultant chaos and knowing that the new guy would have to endure all the same speculation about Riley coming downstairs -- could work out better than Spoelstra? ESPN.com

Miami Heat, Coaching, Erik Spoelstra, Isiah Thomas, Mike Fratello 

Though I’ve heard speculation Riley feels the team is a year away, anyway, given the roster situation after free agency and either rides Spoelstra or goes with some old buddy, maybe like Mike Fratello. NBA.com

Miami Heat, Mike Fratello