HoopsHype.com Rumors

Hunter's lawsuit alleges Fisher "actively manipulated the investigation" by the firm Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison "by making false statements impugning Hunter's character." Hunter questions the validity of his termination "for cause" in the lawsuit because the reasons for his termination were not specified in the letter. He also uses Fisher's authority to sign his termination letter as proof Fisher also had the authority to sign Hunter to the contract in the first place. Fisher's signature also was on Hunter's 2010 employment contract, which the Paul- Weiss firm concluded in its report based on a nine-month investigation was not valid. CBSSports.com

Derek Fisher, Law, Billy Hunter, NBPA 

Billy Hunter sued the National Basketball Players Association and president Derek Fisher on Thursday for defamation and breach of contract stemming from his dismissal as the union's executive director. The lawsuit, filed in California Superior Court in Oakland, alleges that Fisher and his publicist, Jamie Wior, conspired to negotiate a secret deal to end the 2011 lockout and that their actions amounted to a breach of Hunter's employment contract with the NBPA. CBSSports.com

Derek Fisher, Law, Billy Hunter, NBPA, Jamie Wior 

"Once the lockout ended with an agreement in line with the owners' demands, Fisher and Wior waged a campaign to terminate his employment without cause and in violation of his contract," the lawsuit alleges, according to a press release from Hunter's attorneys. Hunter is seeking unspecified compensatory and punitive damages based on his termination, at the time of which he was owed $10.5 million in salary through 2015. CBSSports.com

Derek Fisher, Law, Billy Hunter, NBPA, Jamie Wior 

Darnell Mayberry: Derek Fisher says he was just made aware of Billy Hunter's lawsuit moments ago. "I won't choose to comment at this point," Fisher said. Twitter @DarnellMayberry

Derek Fisher, Law, Billy Hunter, NBPA 

Both the 76ers and the agent for guard Nick Young, Chicago-based Mark Bartlestein, declined to comment on allegations in a civil suit filed in Los Angeles that the player raped a woman almost two years ago. Young could not be reached for comment. Philadelphia Inquirer

Philadelphia 76ers, Law, Nick Young 

However, a source closed to Young labeled the claims by a woman referred to in the suit as "Jane Doe" as "preposterous." "This is just the world we live in today," said the source. "This is the world in 2013." Philadelphia Inquirer

Philadelphia 76ers, Law, Nick Young 

According to another source, the Sixers and the rest of the NBA were aware of the alleged incident before the Sixers signed Young, 27, to a one-year, $6 million deal. Philadelphia Inquirer

Philadelphia 76ers, Law, Nick Young 

A trial date has been set for a former NBA All-Star accused of squatting in a Paradise Valley home and then trying to list the place for rent on Craigslist. The Maricopa County Attorney’s Office said Wednesday that Chris Gatling has pleaded not guilty to two counts of theft and forgery, one count of taking the identity of another and one count of fraud. Washington Post

Law, Chris Gatling 

Gatling was accused of breaking into a key box and living in the home for nearly a year. A police report says the homeowners lived in California but had left the power on. Gatling’s attorney, Michael Alarid, has said the case is a misunderstanding. He has not been willing to elaborate. Washington Post

Law, Chris Gatling 

NBA star Nick Young is being sued by a woman who claims he raped her, but law enforcement sources tell TMZ ... when she went to cops with the allegations, they dismissed them as bogus. As we previously reported, the woman claims Nick -- a member of the Philadelphia 76ers -- slipped a date rape drug into her drink at a Hollywood bar in 2011, took her to his home and raped her vaginally and anally. TMZ.com

Philadelphia 76ers, Law, Nick Young 

Authorities in South Florida are investigating whether there are connections between recent burglaries at the homes of Miami Heat players Chris Bosh and Udonis Haslem. Miami Beach police spokeswoman Vivian Hernandez said Wednesday there are similarities in the two thefts aside from both being Heat players. Authorities are not releasing the exact nature of those similarities. USA Today Sports

Miami Heat, Chris Bosh, Law, Udonis Haslem 

A woman filed a lawsuit today against Philadelphia 76er player Nick Young, alleging he drugged her at a West Hollywood bar and later had non-consensual sex with her. The woman filed the lawsuit in Los Angeles Superior Court against Young and the Crown Bar. Her allegations range from sexual battery and false imprisonment to intentional infliction of emotional distress and negligence. She identifies herself in the complaint by Jane Doe and is seeking unspecified damages. Los Angeles Daily News

Philadelphia 76ers, Law, Nick Young 

Kobe Bryant and an auction house that wants to sell memorabilia from his high school days and early pro career are heading for a trial next month, unless they can work out a deal before then. U.S. District Judge Renee Bumb on Monday set June 17 as a trial date, but also set a court-guided mediation session for Friday in a case that's the manifestation of an ugly family dispute that all sides seem to want to resolve quickly. FOXSports.com

Los Angeles Lakers, Kobe Bryant, Law 

The main reason she didn't schedule the trial for an earlier date was that Bryant's father, Joe ''Jellybean'' Bryant, said he could not get to a trial sooner because he's coaching a Thai team in the Asian Basketball League playoffs. FOXSports.com

Los Angeles Lakers, Kobe Bryant, Law, Joe Bryant 

A family feud between basketball star Kobe Bryant and his mom has intensified with his mother claiming the Los Angeles Lakers guard has lied to block her planned sale of his memorabilia. USA Today Sports

Los Angeles Lakers, Kobe Bryant, Law 

Pamela Bryant insists her son gave her the items, which include jerseys, trophies and rings from his high school and professional career. Kobe Bryant denies that, saying he wants to give the items to his children. In a court filing here Monday, Pamela Bryant claimed sworn statements from her son and daughter-in-law contained "many false statements." She rejected Kobe Bryant's account of a May 2 phone conversation, in which she allegedly agreed he never had told her she could have his belongings. "This conversation never occurred, and I never made that statement," Pamela Bryant said. USA Today Sports

Los Angeles Lakers, Kobe Bryant, Law 

The athlete's father, Joseph Bryant, and his grandmother, Mildred Cox, supported the mother's claim that Kobe Bryant had declined an opportunity to take the collectibles from his parents' home in suburban Philadelphia. USA Today Sports

Los Angeles Lakers, Kobe Bryant, Law 

After Kobe Bryant sent a cease-and-desist order, Goldin Auctions sued May 2 in a bid for court approval. The firm noted that it has paid a $450,000 advance to Pamela Bryant, who used it to buy a house in Las Vegas. Kobe Bryant filed his own lawsuit May 7 in California, seeking to block the sale. Bryant's sister, Sharia Washington of Las Vegas, supported her brother in a filing Saturday in the West Coast case. "I have frequently heard my mother talk about how the family can make money on items associated with Kobe," she said. USA Today Sports

Los Angeles Lakers, Kobe Bryant, Law 

Kobe Bryant's parents have turned their backs on their son -- claiming Kobe was LYING when he accused his mother of stealing more than a million dollars worth of his basketball memorabilia ... and putting it up for auction, TMZ has learned. Kobe's mom and dad -- Pamela and Joe -- both filed sworn declarations in the legal dispute between Kobe and Goldin Auctions, the auction house planning to sell off the valuable stuff ... insisting Kobe willingly gave his mother the items in question ... and it's her right to sell them. TMZ.com

Los Angeles Lakers, Kobe Bryant, Law 

According to Kobe's dad, Kobe gave his mother the memorabilia over the years, telling her, "Here mom, these are for you." Kobe's mom insists she never took anything from him without permission. TMZ.com

Los Angeles Lakers, Kobe Bryant, Law