HoopsHype.com Rumors

Gery Woelfel: All in the Family: Clifford, like Hammond and Weltman, are all represented by Steve Kauffman. Twitter @GeryWoelfel

Milwaukee Bucks, Coaching, Jeff Weltman, John Hammond, Agents, Steve Kauffman, Steve Clifford 

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 

The Suns’ decision for their next general manager could come down to two men – Jeff Weltman and Ryan McDonough. Weltman, Milwaukee‘s assistant general manager, has been seen as a favorite since the beginning of the process, particularly after coming close to getting the job in 2010 when Lance Blanks was picked. But Weltman has a strong challenger in McDonough, the Boston assistant general manager. Arizona Republic

Phoenix Suns, Jeff Weltman, Ryan McDonough 

The Suns’ search for their next general manager continues with Milwaukee assistant GM Jeff Weltman remaining the favorite, according to industry insiders. Weltman, former Indiana GM David Morway, San Antonio assistant GM and former Utah and New York executive Scott Layden and Boston 33-year-old assistant GM Ryan McDonough have been interviewed in Suns President of Basketball Operations Lon Babby’s process. McDonough visited Phoenix on Tuesday. Arizona Republic

Phoenix Suns, Jeff Weltman 

Three finalists have emerged for the Phoenix Suns' general manager's job, league sources told Yahoo! Sports. The Suns plan to have completed interviews with Boston assistant general manager Ryan McDonough, Milwaukee assistant GM Jeff Weltman and San Antonio Spurs assistant GM Scott Layden soon, sources said. Yahoo! Sports

Boston Celtics, Milwaukee Bucks, Phoenix Suns, San Antonio Spurs, Jeff Weltman, Ryan McDonough, Scott Layden 

McDonough interviewed with Suns president Lon Babby and owner Robert Sarver on Tuesday, sources said. Weltman is expected to meet with them on Thursday, sources said. Yahoo! Sports

Boston Celtics, Milwaukee Bucks, Phoenix Suns, Jeff Weltman, Lon Babby, Robert Sarver, Owners, Ryan McDonough 

Jeff Weltman, as has been reported, is the frontrunner to be the Phoenix Suns' next GM, and one source said he was team president Lon Babby's preference when he first joined the Suns but that owner Robert Sarver was eager to tap the San Antonio Spurs' braintrust and therefore preferred the now-deposed Lance Blanks. The bigger question is, how much longer will Sarver be calling the shots? One source says the increased evaluation of franchises inspired by the Seattle-Sacramento fight over the Kings has Sarver wondering if it's time to cash out. Sulia

Phoenix Suns, Jeff Weltman, Lon Babby, Robert Sarver, Lance Blanks 

Bucks assistant general manager Jeff Weltman is in the mix as a strong candidate for the Phoenix Suns' general manager position. And the Bucks have granted Weltman permission to interview with the Suns, a basketball source indicated Saturday. Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel

Milwaukee Bucks, Phoenix Suns, Jeff Weltman 

A good number of executives felt Lance Blanks got a raw deal when he was fired as the Phoenix Suns' GM earlier this week. Blanks, who comes out of the Spurs' highly regarded front office tree, is respected around the league and several execs thought he became the Suns' scapegoat. Blanks was indeed pushed out front on a few moves that weren't his doing, sources said. While blamed on Blanks, sources say the heavily panned signing of Michael Beasley to a three-year, $18 million deal was president Lon Babby's call. Blanks, having worked with the volatile Delonte West in Cleveland, warned Babby that paying Beasley that much guaranteed money would take away his incentive to work hard and change. But Babby didn't listen and got a disappointing 10 points per game on 40 percent shooting out of Beasley. Blanks also had little to do with the firing of Alvin Gentry, sources said. Milwaukee assistant GM Jeff Weltman, a longtime league executive who has worked for Detroit, Denver and the Los Angeles Clippers, is widely regarded as the frontrunner to replace Blanks in Phoenix. ESPN.com

Milwaukee Bucks, Phoenix Suns, Jeff Weltman, Lance Blanks 

Now that the Suns’ GM job came open this week, the more likely GM candidates are names that are largely to the general fan – Milwaukee assistant GM Jeff Weltman and former Indiana GM David Morway, for examples. But Barkley is interested, but not desperate for the job. Barkley has not been contacted by the Suns he did talk Wednesday on Brad Cesmat’s “Pros 2 Preps” show (KGME-AM) and addressed the topic in his usual candid way. Arizona Republic

Phoenix Suns, Jeff Weltman, Charles Barkley, David Morway 

Babby would like for the Suns to tab a new GM before addressing the coaching situation, although he did call interim head coach Lindsey Hunter “a good strong candidate.” The GM search began this week with the Suns considering Milwaukee assistant GM Jeff Weltman (a finalist in 2010 when Blanks was hired), former Indiana Pacers GM and Arizona graduate David Morway and former Lakers assistant GM Ronnie Lester. Assistant GMs Ryan McDonough (Boston), Wes Wilcox (Atlanta) and Troy Weaver (Oklahoma City) are potential candidates too. Arizona Republic

Phoenix Suns, Ronnie Lester, Jeff Weltman, Troy Weaver, Wes Wilcox, David Morway, Ryan McDonough 

There will be widespread interest and the list could run the gamut from a top past candidate like Milwaukee assistant GM Jeff Weltman to people with local ties like Tony Ronzone (USA Basketball scouting director and Dallas player personnel director), Eddie Johnson (Suns analyst) and David Griffin (Cleveland vice president of basketball operations) to experienced, out-of-work GMs like David Morway (Indiana fame) and Mark Warkentien (Denver). Arizona Republic

Phoenix Suns, Mark Warkentien, Jeff Weltman, David Griffin, Tony Ronzone, David Morway, Eddie Johnson 

General Manager John Hammond wasn’t the only Milwaukee Bucks’ front office official who received a contract extension this week. The Journal Times has learned that Jeff Weltman, the Bucks assistant general manager, also had his contract extended. Weltman’s extension, like that of Hammond, is for three years. Racine Journal-Times

Milwaukee Bucks, Jeff Weltman, John Hammond 

Former Denver general manager Kiki Vandeweghe is the only candidate to have formally interviewed for the job, according to sources. The club has also had preliminary conversations with Jim Paxson, Larry Harris, Jeff Weltman and Tony DiLeo, according to sources, but the Clippers seem to have turned their focus to Thursday's draft, where they hold the 53rd pick, and free agency. ESPN.com

Los Angeles Clippers, Kiki Vandeweghe, Jeff Weltman, Jim Paxson, Larry Harris, Tony DiLeo 

Bucks assistant general manager Jeff Weltman is drawing consideration from the Los Angeles Clippers for their vacant GM job. Weltman was once the Clippers’ player personnel director and worked in the organization for 13 years. Racine Journal-Times

Los Angeles Clippers, Milwaukee Bucks, Jeff Weltman 

Bucks assistant general manager Jeff Weltman said several of the players would be considered with the Bucks' second-round pick, the 42nd overall selection in the June 28 draft. "At 42, you don't know what you're going to be picking," Weltman said. "You pick the best player. We have needs on our team, but at 42 you feel like the odds are at a point where you have to go (with the guy) with the strongest likelihood to make the league, play on your team and hopefully address a need." Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel

Milwaukee Bucks, Draft, Jeff Weltman 

Shake up in Milwaukee coming? "Based on the conversations I've had, you just don't know what's going to happen. I would imagine the Bucks are going to make some major moves. Scott Skiles, John Hammond, I think they're both under the gun at this point." Would Hammond bring director of scouting Billy McKinney and assistant GM Jeff Weltman to Portland? "Those guys are joined at the hip. Billy McKinney and John Hammond grew up together in Illinois. They've been best of friends since they were kids. So that's a given. Weltman has been with John for the last five or six years so I can definitely see that as a scenario." Blazers Edge

Milwaukee Bucks, Portland Trail Blazers, Coaching, Jeff Weltman, John Hammond, Scott Skiles 

Jennings then an indirectly took a shot at Bucks general manager John Hammond, assistant general manager Jeff Weltman and coach Scott Skiles, the three biggest personnel decision-makers in the organization next to owner Herb Kohl. "We traded a lot of pieces I feel like we should have kept,'' Jennings said. "But that's part of the business and you've got to roll with it.'' Racine Journal-Times

Milwaukee Bucks, Brandon Jennings, Jeff Weltman, John Hammond, Scott Skiles 

One source said that the Suns have not abandoned their interest in Milwaukee Bucks assistant general manager Jeff Weltman, who according to a Yahoo Sports report last week has withdrawn from consideration to stay with the Bucks. Babby declined comment about his current list of candidates when reached by ESPN.com, saying he does not want to discuss the process until it is complete. ESPN.com

Phoenix Suns, Jeff Weltman 

Weltman, the Milwaukee Bucks assistant GM, became the top candidate for the job after Demps, a former Spurs vice president, chose the New Orleans Hornets over the Suns, but Weltman has decided to stay with Milwaukee, sources said. Yahoo! Sports