HoopsHype.com Rumors

Houston Rockets assistant coach J.B. Bickerstaff is interviewing with Milwaukee Bucks officials on Friday for the franchise's head coaching job, league sources told Yahoo! Sports. This is Bickerstaff's second interview for a head-coaching job this week. He met with Detroit general manager Joe Dumars on Tuesday. Yahoo! Sports

Detroit Pistons, Houston Rockets, Milwaukee Bucks, Coaching, Joe Dumars, JB Bickerstaff 

Warriors coach Mark Jackson with a hard takedown of Monta Ellis. Jackson was asked Thursday how trading Ellis to the Bucks in March 2012 not only brought Andrew Bogut in return as the inside presence the Warriors had long desired but also created a clear path for Klay Thompson to blossom at shooting guard. Jackson's response: “It helped change the culture. Obviously it was easier to pull the trigger because we knew what we had in Klay and it was time for him to be a starting two-guard. And he does everything right.” How did that trade change the culture? Jackson paused four seconds. "It helped change the culture," he finally said. Anything specific? “You know.” Sulia

Golden State Warriors, Milwaukee Bucks, Trade, Monta Ellis, Mark Jackson, Andrew Bogut, Klay Thompson 

9. Milwaukee Bucks "Here comes the bad. There's a ton of uncertainty there. I've heard through the grapevine that they could move, so you don't know where they potentially could be. It's a poor market. It's a tough city. You're going to have to undo some things there. You can't brag on the facilities. You're not going to be able to just walk in there and attract free agents. [GM] John Hammond does a good job, but how do you sell free agents on this place? They got into the playoffs this year, which probably was worse than if they didn't make the playoffs. Being mediocre is not what you want to be. I think you keep either [Brandon] Jennings or [Monta] Ellis. I don't think you want both from a cultural standpoint. You're going to want some change. They haven't been terrible, but they haven't been good enough. ESPN.com

Milwaukee Bucks, Coaching 

The Bucks acquired Ellis from Golden State in March 2012 in a deal that sent Andrew Bogut to the Warriors. Oddly, a member of the proposed ownership group trying to keep the Kings in Sacramento has done some background checking on Ellis as a possibility for the Kings if the team decides to part ways with restricted free agent Tyreke Evans this summer, a league source involved in the discussions said. Ellis is weighing his options and hasn't decided yet whether he will opt out of his $11 million deal. CBSSports.com

Milwaukee Bucks, Sacramento Kings, Trade, Monta Ellis, Tyreke Evans 

Monta Ellis and Larry Sanders nearly came to blows in the locker room after Game 3 of Milwaukee's first-round sweep at the hands of defending champion Miami, four people with knowledge of the confrontation told CBSSports.com. CBSSports.com

Milwaukee Bucks, Monta Ellis, Larry Sanders 

Though the players had to be separated, the dust-up didn't get serious enough to trigger disciplinary action for either player. One source described the confrontation as “just words between teammates in the locker room.” But the incident offered a glimpse into some troubling team dynamics as the Bucks navigate a critical offseason for the franchise. CBSSports.com

Milwaukee Bucks, Monta Ellis, Larry Sanders 

Ellis “took umbrage,” according to another person with knowledge of the situation. Correctly assuming that Sanders' comments were directed primarily at him and backcourt mate Brandon Jennings, who both are prospective free agents, Ellis approached Sanders and squared off with him, sources said. A teammate got between the two players and separated them before the conflict became physical. CBSSports.com

Milwaukee Bucks, Monta Ellis, Brandon Jennings, Larry Sanders 

Bucks GM John Hammond, who got a three-year extension in January, has interviewed former Trail Blazers coach Nate McMillan and Rockets assistant Kelvin Sampson for the head coaching job. It is believed Hammond also will reach out to former Magic coach Stan Van Gundy and Lakers assistant Steve Clifford, a Van Gundy disciple who worked for Stan in Orlando and brother Jeff in Houston, sources said. CBSSports.com

Milwaukee Bucks, Coaching, Stan Van Gundy, Steve Clifford 

Gery Woelfel: Bucks wined and dined Nate McMillan yesterday; will entertain Kelvin Sampson tomorrow. Twitter @GeryWoelfel

Milwaukee Bucks, Coaching, Nate McMillan, Kelvin Sampson 

Sources say you can also add Rockets assistant Kelvin Sampson's name to that group out of the running. Sampson, though, does remain a top contender in Milwaukee and Charlotte. ESPN.com

Charlotte Bobcats, Houston Rockets, Milwaukee Bucks, Brooklyn Nets, Coaching, Kelvin Sampson 

Marc Stein: If they can't persuade G-Hill to start exec career in desert, Suns expected to choose between Celts' Ryan McDonough & Bucks' Jeff Weltman Twitter @ESPNSteinLine

Boston Celtics, Milwaukee Bucks, Phoenix Suns, Jeff Weltman, Grant Hill, Ryan McDonough 

Mark Berman: At least 3 teams requested permission to interview Rockets ass't Kelvin Sampson. Latest according to sources: 76ers along w/ Bucks & Bobcats Twitter @MarkBermanFox26

Charlotte Bobcats, Houston Rockets, Milwaukee Bucks, Philadelphia 76ers, Coaching, Kelvin Sampson 

Already linked to the Milwaukee Bucks Head Coaching gig, Sloan admits he's interested in getting back to roaming the sidelines, but only under the right circumstances and conditions. “According to reports, I'm interested in every job that's out there,” Sloan said. “That's just not the case. I don't like being linked to every opening. If the right situation presented itself, I will look into it.” CSNNW.com

Milwaukee Bucks, Coaching, Jerry Sloan 

Former Bucks assistant coach Kelvin Sampson is scheduled to interview for Milwaukee's head coaching job on Thursday, according to a basketball source. The Bucks asked Houston Rockets general manager Daryl Morey for permission to interview Sampson, currently an assistant to Rockets head coach Kevin McHale. Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel

Houston Rockets, Milwaukee Bucks, Coaching, Daryl Morey, Kelvin Sampson 

The Milwaukee Bucks are planning interviews with Nate McMillan and Kelvin Sampson this week for the franchise's head-coaching job, league sources told Yahoo! Sports. McMillan and Sampson, a Houston Rockets assistant, are two of Milwaukee general manager John Hammond's top candidates for the job, league sources said. Yahoo! Sports

Houston Rockets, Milwaukee Bucks, Coaching, Nate McMillan, Kelvin Sampson 

Gery Woelfel: Some prominent NBA officials insist Kelvin Sampson has been and still is Bucks' top choice as new head coach. Twitter @GeryWoelfel

Milwaukee Bucks, Coaching, Kelvin Sampson 

Gery Woelfel: I'm hearing Jerry Sloan is still receptive to coaching, but probably not in Milwaukee. Twitter @GeryWoelfel

Milwaukee Bucks, Coaching, Jerry Sloan 

The Milwaukee Bucks have announced two new additions to their senior management business team and promotions of current management and staff members to three executive vice president positions and seven vice president roles. Jamie Morningstar will serve the Bucks as Vice President of Ticket Sales and Service and joins the Bucks from Madison Square Garden where she was Vice President of Service and Retention. In her role at MSG, she managed the season ticket base for the NBA's N.Y. Knicks, NHL's N.Y. Rangers and WNBA's N.Y. Liberty, including the renewal and transition of 10,000 plus accounts and $250 million in revenue during the multi-year transformation of the Madison Square Garden arena. NBA.com

Milwaukee Bucks, Jamie Morningstar 

Jeff Zillgitt: In announcement that some season-ticket holders knew was coming, Bucks hire Jamie Morningstar from MSG to sell more tickets/boost attendance Twitter @JeffZillgitt

Milwaukee Bucks, New York Knicks, Jamie Morningstar 

Gery Woelfel: The Bucks haven't requested permission from Rockets to speak to Kelvin Sampson; they don't need permission to talk to his agent, though. Twitter @GeryWoelfel

Houston Rockets, Milwaukee Bucks, Coaching, Kelvin Sampson