HoopsHype.com Rumors

Golden State Warriors' assistant coach, Michael Malone, is viewed by most as the hottest head coaching candidate out on the market. CSNNW.com has learned that Malone would have a great deal of interest in the Portland Trail Blazers head coaching position, according to multiple sources. CSNNW.com

Golden State Warriors, Portland Trail Blazers, Coaching, Mike Malone 

LaMarcus Aldridge: Second day walking on the treadmill went good. Twitter

Portland Trail Blazers, LaMarcus Aldridge, Injuries 

Victor Claver wants to play in the NBA next season. Claver is seriously considering playing with the Trail Blazers next year. Marca.com

Portland Trail Blazers, Victor Claver, Spain, Valencia Basket 

Claver is under contract with Valencia Basket but his buyout, according to TUBASKET.com, is only 600,000 euros ($760,000). TuBasket.com

Portland Trail Blazers, Victor Claver, Spain, Valencia Basket 

Alex Kennedy: Chris Mullin is in the mix for the Portland Trail Blazers' general manager job, according to sources close to the situation. Twitter

Portland Trail Blazers, Chris Mullin 

CSNNW.com has learned the Portland Trail Blazers did request permission to speak with Atlanta Hawks general manager Rick Sund and ownership denied their request, according to a source close to the situation. Chris Broussard of ESPN was first to report the Trail Blazers had interest in Sund and that Hawks ownership preferred to wait until their season concluded before they would allow the two sides to talk. Now that the Hawks' season is over, a source tells CSNNW.com that “Sund to the Trail Blazers is not in his plans.” CSNNW.com

Atlanta Hawks, Portland Trail Blazers, Rick Sund 

This past weekend, (Blazers) interim general manager Chad Buchanan, assistant general managers Bill Branch and Steve Rosenberry and director of NBA scouting Mike Born joined front office staffs from around the league in New Jersey for a two-day workout featuring draft eligible player TrailBlazers.com

Portland Trail Blazers, Draft, Chad Buchanan 

"There were a couple guys who made a good impression on us, guys we liked during the year and were kind of reaffirmed that at the workout," said Buchanan. "How they performed kind of backed up what we felt from them during the season. So there were a few guys who distinguished themselves, at least in our eyes." TrailBlazers.com

Portland Trail Blazers, Draft, Chad Buchanan 

Chris Haynes: Got word #Blazers have not asked for permission to speak with Celtics Danny Ainge regarding their GM opening. Doesn't mean they won't. Twitter

Boston Celtics, Portland Trail Blazers, Danny Ainge 

Alex Kennedy: Don't be surprised if Orlando's list of candidates is similar to Portland's list of candidates. They're eyeing many of the same executives. Twitter

Orlando Magic, Portland Trail Blazers 

John Canzano: Stan Van Gundy told me at a shoot-around earlier this season how he loves PDX. We're about to find out how much the Blazers like Stan. Twitter

Orlando Magic, Portland Trail Blazers, Coaching, Stan Van Gundy 

The Portland Trail Blazers have not asked for permission to speak to Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak about their opening for the same position, team spokesman John Black said before Game 4 on Saturday night. An Internet report last month suggested the Trail Blazers had a strong interest in speaking to Kupchak about their GM vacancy. They have not asked the Lakers to speak to him as of Saturday evening, however. Los Angeles Daily News

Los Angeles Lakers, Portland Trail Blazers, Mitch Kupchak 

Jason Quick: Blazers' search for GM has yet to include asking Lakers for permission to speak with GM Kupchak, according to John Black, Lakers VP of PR Twitter

Los Angeles Lakers, Portland Trail Blazers, Mitch Kupchak 

Blazers president Larry Miller on Nicolas Batum's contract extension talks: "[Restricted free agency] will help determine the market value for us. The good thing is that we have the option to match any offer made to Nic. That will kind of help us determine his market value. It's tough. Agents and players have one perspective, teams have another perspective. Generally you can come to a point of agreement and I think we'll be able to do that in this case." Quote via: 750 AM Sulia

Portland Trail Blazers, Free Agency, Larry Miller, Nicolas Batum 

J.J. Hickson's contract situation and could he recover Bird rights? "That's something that is going to have to be arbitrated or figured out. The league has one position and the players association has another position. We'll have to get that worked out and I'm sure it will be worked out in time to work on J.J.'s contract." Blazers Edge

Portland Trail Blazers, JJ Hickson 

Ben Golliver: Larry Miller: J.J. Hickson "used to kill" Blazers when he played for CLE. He averaged 5.4 points & 3.2 rebounds in 5 games for CLE vs. POR Twitter

Portland Trail Blazers, Larry Miller 

In an effort to revive his NBA career, Greg Oden recently underwent the controversial knee procedure that superstars Kobe Bryant and New York Yankees slugger Alex Rodriguez say took years of wear off their bodies, according to sources. ESPN.com

Portland Trail Blazers, Injuries, Greg Oden 

Oden, whose career with the Portland Trail Blazers was derailed by four knee surgeries, had the non-evasive procedure done in New York two weeks ago to accelerate the healing process on his left knee, which was operated on in February. "Greg had long planned to have this procedure done,'' one of the sources said. "He thought he'd wait until his knee was completely healed, but the doctor said Greg would get the greatest benefit by doing it now because it would help his recovery.'' ESPN.com

Portland Trail Blazers, Injuries, Greg Oden 

Blazers president Larry Miller continues to hedge on whether a new GM will be in place by 2012 NBA Draft: "I still say, even if we don't have someone in place by the time we draft -- which that is our goal -- with [Acting GM] Chad [Buchanan] and his team out there, we're going to be in a good situation for how to address the Draft." Sulia

Portland Trail Blazers, Larry Miller 

The Trail Blazers' search for a general manager will likely include "two or three" more candidates, who will join Jeff Bower and David Morway as finalists, president Larry Miller said. Bower, the former New Orleans general manager, and Morway, the general manager of the Pacers, are the only candidates who have interviewed with owner Paul Allen. "We are still looking to get a least a few more people in front of Paul ... at least two or three," Miller said. "We are still going through the process of determining who those folks are." Oregonian

Portland Trail Blazers, Jeff Bower, David Morway