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Sunday, May 19

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» 03:34 PM ET Update » 08:30 AM ET Update

» Update: 03:34 PM ET

Everyone knows the deal: Pau Gasol to the Lakers for his chubby, unheralded younger brother Marc Gasol, bust Kwame Brown, Javaris Crittenton and a couple first-round draft picks. Stunning criticism crushed Wallace for getting fleeced while being backhandedly credited for handing the post-Shaquille O’Neal Lakers the keys to certain championships. “I expect the media to shoot from the hip and not study the deal. That’s to be expected,” Wallace said. “I just shook my head. I had never seen that kind of response from inside the league. I don’t deny that was the assist for two Lakers championships, but we had to shake things up. We had never won a playoff game. We had been in the 20s [wins] and there was complete apathy in our market. Calipari and the Tigers were roaring at the time. "When we went around the league, we weren’t going to get a tit-for-tat deal. We wanted to bring our salary structure down, get assets and draft picks. And no one else had a Marc Gasol.” NBA.com

Memphis Grizzlies, Pau Gasol, Chris Wallace, Marc Gasol 

Marc Gasol attended high school in Memphis as Pau was becoming the franchise’s all-time leading scorer. At 18, he returned to Spain to begin his professional career in the Spanish ACB league, largely considered the world’s second-most competitive league. In 2007-08 he was tearing it up. "He was trending up so much at the time. He was on pace to be the ACB MVP,” Wallace said. “I said it at the time, I felt like the little boy crying wolf. There was no question Pau was going to flourish next to Kobe and could win several titles, but this deal couldn’t be judged for several years.” NBA.com

Memphis Grizzlies, Pau Gasol, Chris Wallace, Marc Gasol 

"We're very confident," James said. "We'll be ready for them. We don't need bulletin board material. We've heard everything, we've seen everything. But I would say we're not just another team, though." ESPN.com

Indiana Pacers, Miami Heat, LeBron James, Frank Vogel 

Although the 76ers decided not to interview C.J. McCollum at this week’s NBA draft combine, the potential lottery pick remains interested in the franchise. The Sixers can go countless ways in this year’s draft. While most think they will take a post player with their first-round pick, Evan Turner remains inconsistent, Jason Richardson is coming off injury, Nick Young and Dorell Wright are free agents, and Jrue Holiday still lacks a solid back-up. “I was [attending college] pretty close to Philadelphia, out in Bethlehem. So I will be interested to see if they are taking a guard or a post player in this draft.” The Sixers Sense

Philadelphia 76ers, Draft, CJ McCollum 
 

» Update: 08:30 AM ET

After the Bucks bowed out of of the playoffs to Miami, I asked current Heat and former Bucks guard Ray Allen which Bucks impressed him. He immediately cited Mike Dunleavy. Apparently, Dunleavy’s fine playoff showing after a quality regular-season performance has impressed some other NBA folks as well. I’m hearing several teams are keenly interested in signing the soon-to-be unrestricted free-agent. Racine Journal-Times

Milwaukee Bucks, Free Agency, Mike Dunleavy 

I also hear the Cavs are still considering 7-foot Greg Oden, the former Ohio State center who has not played in an NBA game since December 2009. He was the top pick in the 2007 draft, but he's played just 82 NBA games -- averaging 9.4 points and 7.3 rebounds for Portland. The real problem is Oden having three microfracture knee surgeries. (Two such surgeries may have ended the career of Indians outfielder Grady Sizemore.) So Oden's a gamble, and a signal the Cavs are looking for a defensive center. Cleveland Plain Dealer

Cleveland Cavaliers, Free Agency, Greg Oden 

Whether Smith, 27, gets a chance to redeem himself in New York is uncertain. He is expected to opt out of the final year of his below-market value contract ($2.8 million per year) and test free agency this summer. The most the Knicks can offer the Jersey product is an “early Bird” exception starting at $4.9 million per year over four years, but there might be a team with more salary-cap room willing to pay Smith substantially more. “I want to retire a Knick. I don’t want to go anywhere else,” Smith said. “I love my teammates, I love my coaches. I was standing in the locker room looking at my jersey after the game and just knowing that I don’t want to be anywhere else except in the orange and blue. We’ll see.” New York Daily News

New York Knicks, Free Agency, JR Smith 

Kenyon Martin says he’d like to return to the Knicks but understands “that’s not up to me.” Martin was a good addition after being signed in February and eventually moved ahead of Stoudemire in the rotation. New York Daily News

New York Knicks, Free Agency, Kenyon Martin 

Wilcox will be a free agent on July 1 and it's questionable whether I will return to the Celtics. "Now is definitely a good time for me because I've had a chance to play, get contact during the whole season," I said. "I did not play a lot of minutes and I'm feeling good right now. So I've got a lot of extra-time to just to prepare and work on my game. This time that I have off right now is a time for me to grind and get my game right." Wilcox said he wants to return to the Celtics. "I definitely think I can help this team," I said. "This year I really was not able to show a lot of stuff that I can do, injuries and different things like that. But I do think I can help this team or get to a situation where I can help. " Boston Globe

Boston Celtics, Free Agency, Chris Wilcox 

So where one general manager shook his head and said, “Oh, they’re screwed,” another stated strongly, “As long as you have assets, you’re never screwed. The Celtics have players that other teams want. They’ve also got some guys that would be really hard to move, but when you’re talking about Rajon Rondo and even (Paul) Pierce and (Kevin) Garnett, those are people who can make a team better. Now the question then becomes who you can get back for them and will those new guys make the Celtics better.” One GM asked about Rondo said, “I haven’t heard his name being put out there like I have in the past, but if they’re ever going to try to overhaul that team, they’re going to have to at least be willing to discuss him (in trades). The thing is, with Rondo coming off an ACL (tear), teams will be looking to get a bargain, and Boston can’t go there. They’re better off letting him come back and show everyone what he can do again.” Boston Herald

Boston Celtics, Trade, Rajon Rondo 

“I’m really not sure what the Celtics will be able to do. Players get older, and that makes it harder to trade them. It’s hard to get another team to give you an asset of any value when they’re getting someone who will only be playing another year or two. Not many teams want to go that way, because it means they’d have to win right now to make the trade worthwhile — and that’s hard to do under any circumstances. “Everyone knows KG and Pierce can still play, but if you’re another team, what can you really give up for them? Another coach may want to make that deal, but the GM and the owner probably won’t.” Boston Herald

Boston Celtics, Trade 

Two days ago he was a non-factor, hitting just 1-of-7 shots in a loss at Madison Square Garden that threatened to shift the momentum of the series. But here was Lance Stephenson, all 22 years of him, dominating one of the most important – and best – games ever played at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Here was Lance Stephenson, becoming the fifth starter to lead the team in scoring in this series with a career-high 25 points, and adding 10 rebounds and zero turnovers in his 34 minutes. Here was Lance Stephenson, playing an essential and fearless role as the Pacers advanced past New York to the Eastern Conference finals for the first time since 2004, back when he was a 13-year-old kid on the playgrounds of Brooklyn and merely dreaming of playing in the NBA. Here was Lance Stephenson, screaming at the top of his lungs and pointing at the fans who were screaming at the top of their lungs as the final seconds wound down on his Broadway-worthy performance. “This is the best game of my life,” he said in an interview before leaving the court. NBA.com

Indiana Pacers, New York Knicks, Lance Stephenson 

When asked if next season he should come back as a starter alongside Carmelo Anthony, Stoudemire made his loudest statement. “We didn’t give it a chance,’’ Stoudemire said after the Knicks’ season ended in heartbreak in a 106-99 loss to the Pacers in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference semifinals. “We need to understand exactly what my style of play is and what I bring to the table. It’s something I have to sit down with Coach Woody and express to him.’’ New York Post

New York Knicks, Amare Stoudemire 

Jermaine O'Neal: Congrats to the pacers! I don't really cheer for teams but I'm soooo happy for the simon family, the state of indiana and the organization! Twitter @jermaineoneal

Indiana Pacers, Jermaine O'Neal 

The man who once wanted no part of playing center continues to embrace it and thrive — outplaying Chicago’s Joakim Noah, ranking among the playoff leaders in blocked shots, and raising his rebounding numbers from the regular season, when he averaged a career-low 6.8. All the while, he causes fits for opposing teams by drawing centers out to the perimeter, then sinking silky jumpers over their outstretched arms. “He is our most important player for a reason,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. “We’ve said that for three seasons. He allows everything to work on both ends of the court.” Miami Herald

Chicago Bulls, Miami Heat, Erik Spoelstra, Joakim Noah 

Rice, the son of former NBA star Glen Rice, averaged 25 points, 9.5 rebounds, 4.3 assists, 2 blocked shots and 2 steals in the leading the Vipers to the championship. In the final series, Rice averaged 29 points, 11.5 rebounds, 4 assists, 3.5 blocked shots and 3 steals. That virtuoso performance has shot Rice up the draft board charts. There are some NBA officials who believe Rice could be a mid-first round pick — or in the vicinity of where the Milwaukee Bucks pick at 15. Racine Journal-Times

Milwaukee Bucks, Draft, Glen Rice Jr 

Suns scouts have held a high interest in Len since before the past college season. “I think I have the biggest upside in this draft from the big guys,” Len said. “Maybe 10 years from now, I’ll be the best player in this draft.” The combine benefited Zeller, younger brother of ex-Suns player Luke Zeller. He did not show much improvement in his sophomore season or the shooting range that he needs to be an NBA face-up power forward. But Zeller measured 7 feet in shoes, although his wingspan is an inch shorter, and he had the best standing vertical leap (35 1/2 inches) and fastest lane agility drill time of all combine participants. His three-quarter court sprint was sixth fastest. “I have the ability to shoot,” Zeller said. “I didn’t show it as much this year. We needed more of a low-post player. We had so many outside shooters. I think I’ll be able to show more of that ability in individual workouts.” Arizona Republic

Phoenix Suns, Draft, Alex Len 

What is surprising, though, is that the Nets also have put Scott Skiles on their short list. Skiles was fired by the Bucks in January after four-plus tumultuous seasons in Milwaukee. Under Skiles, the Bucks had constant internal issues and qualified for the playoffs just once. Racine Journal-Times

Milwaukee Bucks, Coaching, Scott Skiles 

But at the end of the season Ferry took a different approach by keeping Drew under contract for the time being and allowing him to pursue other jobs. "It's very awkward but I appreciate that he (Ferry) was honest with me and that he allowed me to talk to other teams," Drew said. "It possibly may circle back to me. "But I want to explore my options as well. . . . I'm grateful for the opportunity to coach here in Atlanta. But if not, I want to continue coaching. I love coaching and I love dealing with players. "If it doesn't work out (in Atlanta), I'm not going to be bitter or angry." Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel

Atlanta Hawks, Coaching, Larry Drew 

Drew has been with the Hawks for the last nine seasons, six as an assistant under Mike Woodson before getting the top job. Drew said he is very familiar with the Bucks' personnel and the free-agency situation affecting the team's backcourt this summer. The Hawks swept all four games from the Bucks this season, including three games decided by five points or fewer. "We certainly had some battles," Drew said. "We knew they were going to be grind-out games and we were able to make some plays to come out with wins." Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel

Atlanta Hawks, Milwaukee Bucks, Mike Woodson, Coaching, Larry Drew 

While head coach Jim Boylan was dismissed from the team two weeks ago, his assistant coaches — Sidney Moncrief, Bill Peterson, Anthony Goldwire, Joe Wolf and Chris Gilmartin — are still under contract until the end of June. Whether any of them will be retained is uncertain. They aren’t the only ones in the Bucks organization on shaky ground. Player personnel director Dave Babcock, scouting director Billy McKinney and head athletic trainer Marc Boff, among others, are also in the final year of their contracts. Racine Journal-Times

Milwaukee Bucks, Coaching, Anthony Goldwire, Jim Boylan, Joe Wolf, Sidney Moncrief, Chris Gilmartin 

According to Nuggets coach George Karl, Kenneth Faried and Kosta Koufos have been doing offseason work at the Pepsi Center. Karl, meanwhile, took to the local airwaves last week, telling 104.3 FM The Fan that he doesn't think his team's first-round exit fits into the previous pattern of opening-round playoff defeats. "In 57 wins and what we did in the season and the growth of some of our younger players and the unity and the commitment of the team together, the mental toughness growth — OK, throw that all out because we lost to Golden State," Karl said. "Throw the coach away, that's fine. But I think that's an incredible overreaction to a scenario that because our history says that's the pattern, I don't think this is the pattern. I think this is a new team, a team that's been together about 14, 15 months and in those 14, 15 months they've done incredible stuff." Denver Post

Denver Nuggets, George Karl, Coaching 

Next season ain’t going away for the Nets’ former interim coach. Neither is tomorrow. There’s a new future in sight. The ESPN faculty reached out to Carlesimo and will soon bring him in as an NBA studio analyst for the rest of the playoffs. Carlesimo is filling the spot Flip Saunders had before he recently left ESPN to become the T-Wolves’ president of basketball operations. Carlesimo will work on site at the NBA Finals, too. There’s a chance his role will be expanded next season. “The conversations have been let’s do the playoffs,” Carlesimo said. “Then we’ll sit down and talk about the future.” New York Daily News

Coaching, Media, PJ Carlesimo 

Carlesimo has extensive broadcast experience, having worked for NBC Sports, Spurs broadcasts, Fox Sports West and ESPN Radio. Now, he’s just another coach on the beach. Another guy with the same dilemma all these cats have: Do they use broadcasting as a weigh station until the next coaching gig comes along? Or do they go all in and commit to TV? “I’ve got to look at both options. But the likelihood is that I’ll be broadcasting next year,” Carlesimo. “I’m looking at broadcasting as what I’m going to do moving forward.” There was some backtracking, some well-you-never know in his voice. It’s hard leaving a life’s work. “I have enjoyed television and radio way more than I thought when I first started,” Carlesimo said. “But if I told you it is the same as coaching I would be lying.” New York Daily News

Coaching, Media, PJ Carlesimo 

Danny Ainge had been joking the Celtics won’t suffer in the upcoming draft for the loss of Ryan McDonough to the Suns, because “I have Ryan’s brain waves.” The new Phoenix general manager laughed, but he went on to suggest there is truth within the humor. “That was, I think, one of the reasons Danny and I worked so well together,” said McDonough, who worked his way through the Celtics organization to become Ainge’s top lieutenant. “We did agree on a lot of players. It was kind of weird. “We didn’t agree just to agree. One of us would say, ‘You know who I really like?’ And almost without fail, the other guy would say a name, and the other would be like, ‘Geez, how did you know that?’ I learned a lot from him. I obviously only have a fraction of his experience and knowledge, but I think that’s why we worked so well together.” Boston Herald

Boston Celtics, Phoenix Suns, Danny Ainge, Ryan McDonough 

The Charlotte Bobcats are on their way to becoming the Charlotte Hornets. The Bobcats have started pursuing a name change to Charlotte's original NBA team, an informed source confirmed to the Charlotte Observer. Though the Bobcats will need permission from the league to make such a change, incoming NBA commissioner Adam Silver has twice indicated that shouldn't be a problem. Charlotte Observer

Charlotte Bobcats, Adam Silver, Charlotte Hornets 

What's still in question is when the name change could be implemented and how extensively the Bobcats would assume the Hornets' old look. The source, who requested anonymity due to the sensitivity of the issue, would not comment on whether the popular teal-and-purple color scheme would return to Charlotte. Charlotte Observer

Charlotte Bobcats, Charlotte Hornets 

Any change probably couldn't be implemented before the 2014-15 season. Silver said last month during a trip to Charlotte that it would take a minimum of 18 months to rebrand an NBA franchise. The league's uniform-maker, Adidas, and other licensees need that much lead time to produce branded merchandise. The Bobcats have estimated it would cost them about $3 million to rebrand because so much signage and other logo material would have to be replaced. Sources indicate both Bobcats owner Michael Jordan and outgoing NBA commissioner David Stern advocated a switch to the Hornets to better market Charlotte's team. Charlotte Observer

Charlotte Bobcats, Michael Jordan, David Stern, Adam Silver, Charlotte Hornets 

The Celtics will have one summer league entry this Year as opposed to the two teams last year they carried. Boston will play in the Orlando Summer League team but will not feature that Bradley or Jared Sullinger. Sullinger is recovering from back surgery as expected. Bradley, who has missed the past two summers with injuries, is being held out to get rest. Fab Melo and the Celtics' first-round pick will be the featured players. Boston Globe

Boston Celtics, Summer League, Jared Sullinger, Fab Melo 

Mikhail Prokhorov, a prominent Russian businessman and leader of the Civil Platform party, plans not only to lead the party's ticket in elections to the Moscow City Duma in 2014 but also run in a single-mandate district in the Northwestern Administrative District. "I, for instance, will run in a single-mandate district," Prokhorov said in an interview with Interfax when asked what strong Civil Platform candidates could run in single-mandate districts in the elections to the Moscow City Duma. Russia Beyond The Headlines

Brooklyn Nets, Mikhail Prokhorov, Russia 
 

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