HoopsHype.com Rumors

Net Daily: #Nets & Knicks ownership see big market in rehabbing old arenas. Fighting over right to rehab Nassau Coliseum; MSG purchased Forum in LA. Twitter @NetsDaily

Brooklyn Nets, New York Knicks, Owners 

Net Daily: How much Prokhorov has committed to Nassau plan is a mystery. Mentioned in original materials but not in wave of Ratner interviews. Twitter @NetsDaily

Brooklyn Nets, New York Knicks, Mikhail Prokhorov, Owners 

Knicks rookie point guard Pablo Prigioni said on Argentine radio Wednesday his preference is to remain in the NBA next season rather than return to the Spanish League and his wife is OK with it. “If I can choose, I prefer to play in the United States and stay in the NBA,’’ Prigioni said. New York Post

New York Knicks, Free Agency, Spain, Pablo Prigioni 

Prigioni’s agent, George Bass, is expected to seek a one-year deal worth about $2 million. The Knicks could include Prigioni in a sign-and-trade and receive back a trade exception. There’s a possibility San Antonio will have interest because Prigioni is close friends with fellow countryman Manu Ginobili. New York Post

New York Knicks, San Antonio Spurs, Free Agency, Spain, Pablo Prigioni 

Meanwhile, Anthony’s MRI exam showed he had played in the playoffs with a small, partial tear in his shoulder, but the Knicks don’t expect him to need surgery, according to a league source. Anthony has been prescribed rest and physical therapy for a month to allow the shoulder to heal. Had the shoulder sustained a full labrum tear, surgery would have been required. Now it’s unlikely. New York Post

New York Knicks, Carmelo Anthony, Injuries 

The Post has learned J.R. Smith’s nightmarish playoff performance was partly because of a swollen left knee that contained fluid buildup. According to a league source, Smith likely will have his knee drained of the fluid in the next two weeks — the same procedure Anthony underwent in March. So Smith’s struggles weren’t only about his sharp elbow in the Celtics series, alleged hangover and viral infection. New York Post

New York Knicks, Injuries, JR Smith 

“[Smith’s] been playing hurt,” the league source said. “He probably should’ve sat out a couple of games. It’s what Melo had. That’s why he wasn’t driving the ball like he was. That’s why his jump shot wasn’t right, not having the lift.’’ New York Post

New York Knicks, Injuries, JR Smith 

Carmelo Anthony of the New York Knicks ranks third with U.S. retail sales of $40 million for his Jordan Melo M9. Anthony is part of the Jordan Brand roster, which also includes Blake Griffin, Chris Paul and Russell Westbrook. Forbes.com

Los Angeles Clippers, New York Knicks, Oklahoma City Thunder, Chris Paul, Blake Griffin, Carmelo Anthony, Sneakers, Russell Westbrook 

Smith’s image took a further blow when his former friend, Rihanna, stated on her Instagram account that his playoff woes stemmed from his being “hung over.’’ Rihanna deleted the post after a request from CAA superagent Leon Rose, who represents Smith. New York Post

New York Knicks, Leon Rose, JR Smith, Agents, Rihanna 

Jared Zwerling: Copeland: "After Game 6, I didn’t take my jersey off for a long time. I just sat there and was staring at it. [New York] is a part of me." Twitter @JaredZwerling

New York Knicks, Chris Copeland 

Julian Mozo: #NBA Pablo Prigioni: "It's not true that I want to leave New York because my wife didn't adjust to the city. She is pissed off." Twitter @JulianMozo

New York Knicks, Spain, Pablo Prigioni 

Julian Mozo: "If I can choose, I prefer to play in United States and stay in the #NBA", said Prigioni on the rumors about returning to Spain. Twitter @JulianMozo

New York Knicks, Spain, Pablo Prigioni 

Jackson added that he has never had contact with the Clippers, who announced Tuesday they won’t be signing coach Vinny Del Negro to a new contract, about an opening, and also said that he was never contacted by the Knicks. “No,” Jackson said, adding he wasn’t disappointed about it. “They’re pretty locked into the people they’ve got there, and they have a nice rapport between [general manager Glen Grunwald] and [coach Mike] Woodson. “That Indiana connection goes back a long way. They think alike, they have a good idea of what they want to have. That’s pretty solid.” New York Post

Indiana Pacers, Los Angeles Clippers, New York Knicks, Phil Jackson, Coaching 

Knicks general manager Glen Grunwald thought Mike Woodson should have won Coach of the Year this season. So he is hardly listening to fan and media complaints that Woodson had a bad playoff. Woodson, 55, finished third in the Coach of the Year voting, won 54 games, the Atlantic Division title and the Eastern Conference’s second seed. Woodson’s regular-season record as Knicks coach is 72-34, but critics point to his playoff miscues. He never has been out of the second round in eight seasons as a head coach with the Knicks and Hawks. The naysayers knock Woodson for his misuse of rookie Chris Copeland, his blind allegiance to slumping J.R. Smith, his insistence on forcing a rusty Amar’e Stoudemire into the rotation midstream and ignoring 3-point ace Steve Novak versus Indiana. New York Post

New York Knicks, Mike Woodson, Coaching, Glen Grunwald 

“I think Woody did a great job,’’ said Grunwald, an Indiana classmate of Woodson’s. “I think he’s my coach of the year still, although he finished third. He did an excellent job this year. We wound up where we didn’t want to be — out of the playoffs. We all have to take a look at ourselves from the front office to the coaching staff to the players.’’ New York Post

New York Knicks, Mike Woodson, Coaching, Glen Grunwald 

Grunwald confirmed the Knicks are unable to do a sign-and-trade for free agents Chris Paul or Dwight Howard because of new collective bargaining agreement rules forbidding luxury taxpayers from partaking in free agency. They only have the $3.1 million mini-midlevel exception, plus the 24th overall pick in June’s draft. New York Post

New York Knicks, Free Agency, Trade, Chris Paul, Dwight Howard 

Anyone else think it seemed odd that Glen Grunwald seemed more convinced Jason Kidd would be back than J.R. Smith? Speaking of Kidd, he stressed the positive exit interview - but as Frank Isola tweeted earlier - I still would not be surprised if Kidd looked for a buyout for a lesser role with a contender to finish his career. Sulia

New York Knicks, Jason Kidd, JR Smith, Glen Grunwald 

But he wasn't so glowing about Smith. "Like I said before, I think it’s best in general for us to maintain some continuity, the same group, the same core group together," Grunwald said. "But I’m not going to comment on any individual player because we’re not finished with our evaluation. I don’t think you should read that one way or another - I just don’t think it’d be fair for me to start talking about, ‘yeah, we really want him back’ or ‘yeah, maybe he comes back.’ I think right now we’re just going to go through the evaluation. I’m very happy for J.R. He had a great year. Obviously, he’s disappointed how it finished for himself as it is for our team, but now I think that’s going to make us stronger and more committed to next season." Sulia

New York Knicks, JR Smith 

Asked about Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim attacking the Knicks roster, going after Chandler and Pablo Prigioni, among others, Grunwald said, “Jim’s a great coach and he’s obviously very loyal to Melo. So I understand where his comments came from.’’ Boeheim stated the Knicks can’t win a title without getting better players around Carmelo Anthony. New York Post

New York Knicks, Carmelo Anthony, Jim Boeheim, Pablo Prigioni 

James White's agent, William McCandless, told ESPNNewYork.com Tuesday that the small forward will "unlikely" return to the Knicks for the 2013-14 season. White has a team option for around $1 million next season that the Knicks have to decide on by June 30. If they decline, White will become an unrestricted free agent. ESPN.com

New York Knicks, Free Agency, James White, William McCandless