HoopsHype.com Rumors

Tim Bontemps: Statement Pt. 3: "... age, national origin, or sexual orientation. Today is another example that we are intent on continuing that work." Twitter @TimBontemps

Jason Collins, NBPA 

Tim Bontemps: Statement, Pt. 4: "We congratulate Jason for having the courage to 'raise his hand,' as he wrote in his story, and start the conversation." Twitter @TimBontemps

Jason Collins, NBPA 

The founder of an investment firm that handled the National Basketball Players Association's investments and finances has been charged with fraud. Federal prosecutors in New York unveiled a three-count complaint Thursday against Ohio-based Prim Capital Corporation founder Joseph Lombardo. The 72-year-old was charged with attempted wire fraud, attempted mail fraud and obstruction of justice. Prim principle Carolyn Kaufman was charged with obstructing justice. Authorities say Lombardo used a signature stamp to forge the signature of a deceased general counsel for the NBPA and another employee that awarded Prim a $3 million fee over five years. NBA.com

Law, NBPA 

Adrian Wojnarowski: The U.S. Attorney's office has indicted Prim Capital employees for falsifying document to defraud NBPA of $3 million. Twitter @WojYahooNBA

Law, NBPA 

Adrian Wojnarowski: Special agent in gov't probe: "We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to ... root out corruption involving the NBPA..." Twitter @WojYahooNBA

Law, NBPA 

David Stern will be on Mike Krzyzewski’s SiriusXM radio show tonight and Coach K asked Stern about the changes coming to the union. “I think it is only to the good. It’s fair to say that while this matter has been percolating in the union they haven’t been as proactive as they could be on a variety of what we used to call ‘b-list’ issues, for player development, even discussions further with the NCAA about when players should be eligible. A wide variety of things. We’re looking for a partner that can really make life better for our players, would-be players, sort of the social welfare task of a union, together with growing the game so that everyone prospers. And then at some future date we’ll argue about how to split up the sum of all of the growth we’ve worked on together. So we see it as a significant opportunity once it gets itself settled down.” NBCSports.com

David Stern, NBPA 

Could the NBPA be working on a settlement with Billy Hunter behind the scenes? Sources indicate such talks could be picking up steam, though neither Hunter's representatives nor the union would comment Sunday. One source with knowledge of the situation said the two sides had been talking throughout the process and didn't believe there was any new momentum toward a potential deal. NBA.com

Billy Hunter, NBPA 

In speaking about Hunter, Stackhouse said, “We’re basketball players, we’ve trusted people to handle situations for us, and that was abused…Guys are on different teams in different cities, and nobody’s able to be on the day-to-day with the union, and that was taken advantage of.” Stackhouse will have a key role in deciding who will replace Hunter. “We have to go out and hire a search firm to find the brightest minds. We have to find an executive director eventually. We need to put a face to our union. For now, there are plenty of lawyers dealing with things, said Stackhouse.” BrooklynFans.com

Brooklyn Nets, Billy Hunter, Jerry Stackhouse, NBPA 

He said that, ideally, the executive director should be someone removed from playing, with knowledge of the sport, to lead the NBPA in the future. One thing Stackhouse emphasized is the role the players need to play, “We have to be more in tune with what’s going on.” BrooklynFans.com

Brooklyn Nets, Billy Hunter, Jerry Stackhouse, NBPA 

"It's my business," Iguodala said. "That was part of the whole reason why so much of what happened, happened. Where we come from, guys aren't used to having what we have, and having access to it. So something like the union, it may not be as important to guys as it should be. But it's kind of like, we have to wake the guys up. They've got to have awareness. "I think guys have concerns and questions, but as long as those checks are coming in, they can get full. They can get satisfied. There's something that's bigger than just us. We've got to move forward for the guys coming in, and the next collective bargaining, and the one after that, and the one after that. "You have to set an environment of, this is how we handle business. We're going to get, the stereotypes are going to be, a bunch of African- American men, as long as they're getting paid, they're going to be fine with that. But we want to make it known where it's common that we care about our business, and we're involved. I think I can help in that area." NBA.com

Denver Nuggets, Andre Iguodala, CBA, NBPA 

There are a number of issues yet to be resolved from the lockout, including the "B List" non-economic issues. The league is hoping to get an agreement with the union on a new drug test for Human Growth Hormone. Commissioner David Stern said last month that he believes a deal will be worked out with the union on a blood test for HGH by next season. The NBPA has balked at making an agreement on HGH, but with the National Football Players Association and the Major League Baseball Players Association well down the road toward agreements for new HGH tests, the handwriting seems on the wall for the basketball union. NBA.com

CBA, NBPA 

Imagine what would happen today during a work stoppage if star free-agents publicly threatened to play an entire season overseas if a new CBA wasn't negotiated by a certain date. James not only was vocal in Houston but pledged that, short of joining the executive committee, he'd keep a hand in union affairs. "He has asked to be in a position where he's more heartily informed," a source said Sunday night. "He's pretty much said straight out to the players that while he can't commit time-wise to be in certain places he would be required to be, such as for executive committee meetings, he will be available for different assignments, other committees, and would make the time." NBA.com

Miami Heat, LeBron James, NBPA 

If anything, these comments bring a bit more credence to a pre-All Star break column by Jason Whitlock, FoxSports.com’s opinionated and occasionally controversial writer, who detailed the jumbled mess that became of the NBA Players Union, ending in the firing of executive director Billy Hunter. In it, Whitlock, aided by a candid interview with former NBA player Maurice Evans, speculated that Fisher only used the Mavericks as a way to keep his position as union president. Oklahoman

Dallas Mavericks, Oklahoma City Thunder, Derek Fisher, NBPA 

Liz Mullen: NBPA on search for new Exec Dir to replace Billy Hunter: “The players are in the process of prioritizing their next steps," #NBA Twitter @SBJLizMullen

Billy Hunter, NBPA 

Marc J. Spears: NBA agent said,"I came to work today in a hearse with a black suit,black top hat because its dead out there."Blamed new CBA and Billy Hunter Twitter @SpearsNBAYahoo

Trade, Billy Hunter, NBPA, Agents 

At All-Star weekend, LeBron James made his presence felt in places other than the arena. One such place was a meeting room, where James, according to reports from The New York Times, turned in a “spectacular” performance “cross-examining” lawyers who had prepared an audit of activities related to embattled Players Association executive director Billy Hunter — with that performance playing some role in Hunter’s firing. Which raised a question: How did James, with all his other endeavors, find the time to educate himself on the issues? “Me and J.J talked about it,” James said, referring to the team’s union representative and Players Association secretary James Jones. “I’ve also been reading a lot of articles. My team does a good job of sending me e-mails of what’s been going on, and I try to stay on it as much as I can. I’m not as far in it as J.J. is, but I’m far enough to know what I’m talking about, the situation that was going on. So it’s my opinion, and I felt like my opinion needed to be heard.” Palm Beach Post

Miami Heat, LeBron James, James Jones, Billy Hunter, NBPA 

Jones called the conversations with James a “two-way street,” as they bounce ideas and opinions back and forth. “He’s inquisitive,” Jones said. “That’s one thing I learned as a kid, my Mom always told me to ask questions,” James said. “If you don’t know something, ask it. I thank my Mom for that. I was never afraid in class to ask a question, if I didn’t know an equation, or whatever the case may be.” Palm Beach Post

Miami Heat, LeBron James, James Jones, Billy Hunter, NBPA 

By the time the meeting had ended, executive director Billy Hunter had been dismissed, and Stackhouse had been elected to a newly formed executive committee as its first vice president, helping to shepherd in what he called a “transitional period” for the NBPA. “The most important thing was rehashing the stuff with Hunter and making a decision to move forward,” Stackhouse told The Post Tuesday morning. “Obviously there was a lot of things that happened over the years, but we focused on moving forward right now. “We’ve had some system malfunctions, but the group we have now is a good group of guys that is committed to doing whatever it takes to put the union [in a better place]. We’re not in a bad place financially, or anything like that, but it could be better.” New York Post

Brooklyn Nets, Billy Hunter, Jerry Stackhouse, NBPA 

“It’s really important,” Stackhouse said. “Our superstars got somewhat alienated under Hunter because there was so much focus on the middle class and the lower-level guys. “It was somewhat of a ‘divide-and-conquer’ [strategy] … it sounds great that you created a [higher] average salary and all of this type of thing, but it was more [about] having more of those guys on your side, even though it’s a superstar driven league. New York Post

Brooklyn Nets, Billy Hunter, Jerry Stackhouse, NBPA 

As part of those criticisms of the union leadership, Stackhouse had publicly pushed for a more democratic process to go into every decision the group makes, among other changes. It was a big reason why he was so intent on being present at the meeting in Houston, and when he presented those views to the players, he found the room to be in agreement with him. “Everybody was very receptive to my ideas,” Stackhouse said. “Now, it’s just kind of getting in and locking those ideas down. Nobody really had, I guess, the guts to step up and challenge and say, ‘Everybody here works for us, we don’t work for you. You have to take some consideration for how we feel and what we want, because at the end of the day, it’s our union.’ “I think that’s established now.” New York Post

Brooklyn Nets, Billy Hunter, Jerry Stackhouse, NBPA