HoopsHype.com Rumors

Tim Reynolds: LeBron says he's happy Coach K will be back for 2016 Olympics, says he'd love to join him if health allows. Twitter @ByTimReynolds

Miami Heat, LeBron James, USA Basketball, Olympics 

Joan Nielsen: Fun fact about Kevin Love's Olympic ring: Said he ordered it a size too big so he can "fit his fat fingers into it" when he's 50 or 60. Twitter @JoanNiesen

Minnesota Timberwolves, Kevin Love, Olympics 

Griffin said he wants to play for the U.S. in the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. Griffin, who will be 24 on March 16, was unable to play on the gold medal-winning 2012 team in London because he suffered a left knee injury during a U.S. team practice that required surgery. "Yeah, absolutely, it's something that I want to do," Griffin said. "Obviously it's a great honor. I was really looking forward to playing last year. It was very disappointing not being able to be there. I kind of turned my sights to getting back healthy. So my next goal for that is 2016." Los Angeles Times

Los Angeles Clippers, Blake Griffin, USA Basketball, Olympics 

Griffin said he hasn't been approached recently by anyone from the USA Basketball, but figures it will happen soon. "They talked about it last summer when I got hurt, about me coming back and being involved in the process over the next four summers," Griffin said. Los Angeles Times

Los Angeles Clippers, Blake Griffin, USA Basketball, Olympics 

Dwight Howard won't ever publicly divulge whether he will re-sign with the Lakers this offseason until that moment comes. But he sounded certain on whether he wants to play in the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. "No doubt," he said. Long Beach Press-Telegram

Los Angeles Lakers, Dwight Howard, USA Basketball, Olympics 

He sounded understandably frustrated that back surgery kept him out of the 2012 London Olympics. "I was (upset) mad I couldn't play in the playoffs and mad I couldn't play in the Olympics," Howard said. "I wasn't too happy with the fact I had to have surgery and miss a lot of basketball." Long Beach Press-Telegram

Los Angeles Lakers, Dwight Howard, USA Basketball, Brazil, Olympics 

It is believed in some Team USA circles that Deron Williams has played himself out of contention for the 2016 team, while Dwight Howard is viewed as a 50-50 proposition for Rio. But come to think of it, if Colangelo wants Howard in the mix, it's hard to think of a coach more capable of handling the drama that comes along with him than Rivers. It's just one of many factors that would make him ideal for the job. CBSSports.com

Los Angeles Lakers, Brooklyn Nets, Dwight Howard, Deron Williams, USA Basketball, Brazil, Olympics 

Alvaro Martin: NBA spokesperson: “There are no plans to take in-season breaks,” regarding FIBA’s new qualifying format for the 2019 World Cup. Twitter @AlvaroNBAMartin

FIBA, USA Basketball, Olympics 

Alvaro Martin: USABasketball spokesperson: "Newly-elected Board of Directors will study [FIBA 2019 WCoB qualif procedures] in its first meeting coming up." Twitter @AlvaroNBAMartin

FIBA, USA Basketball, Olympics 

Q: What do you think about the changes FIBA is making to the international calendar? Think we'll ever get to the point where the NBA takes breaks during the season like they do in soccer, so players can join up with their national teams and play qualifying games during the (NBA's) regular season? A: To be honest, I don't know. Unfortunately I'm not going to make it (long enough) for when these changes get in. You want me to play until I'm 40 years old? I don't think so. ESPN.com

Minnesota Timberwolves, FIBA, Andrei Kirilenko, Russia, Olympics 

Mark Woods: Feeling among NBA players, coaches is that international ball in mid-season is non-starter. Euroleague will oppose, say shutdown wont happen Twitter @markbritball

FIBA, Olympics 

The FIBA Europe Board has expressed its dissatisfaction with certain aspects of the planned reform of the global calendar, decided by FIBA's recent Central Board in Kuala Lumpur. In particular, the FIBA Europe Board, which convened in Ljubljana, Slovenia this weekend, reiterated its rejection of the FIBA proposal for a four-year cycle for EuroBasket, its flagship even and Europe's premier basketball event. FIBA Europe believes that the two-year cycle should be maintained. FIBA Europe

FIBA, Olympics, Eurobasket 

The Board, in principle, agrees with the introduction of windows during the season for the National Teams competitions. FIBA Europe has decided to have a full analysis of the proposed changes, informally through a working group and seminars involving its member Federation, and formally by bringing the issue before the General Assembly next spring. FIBA Europe

FIBA, Olympics, Eurobasket 

Yet one of the more interesting changes to the international basketball calendar involves the introduction of six planned qualifying windows for the 2019 World Cup that will be staged in November 2017, February 2018, June 2018, September 2018, November 2018 and February 2019. You'll notice, as you re-read that sentence, that four of those six windows take place at the same time that the NBA schedule calls for NBA players to play NBA games. ESPN.com

FIBA, USA Basketball, Schedule, Olympics, World Championship 

The notion of an international break in the NBA, however, is a complete non-starter. Even at this early juncture, one source familiar with the NBA's long-range thinking told ESPN.com that building breaks into the NBA's regular-season schedule is simply "not being considered." Not now and not later. ESPN.com

FIBA, USA Basketball, Schedule, Olympics, World Championship 

How big a deal is that? Not that massive, realistically, when viewed through a strictly American prism. USA Basketball will continue to field teams that qualify for every major tournament even if it has to trot out a pack of All-Stars from the D-League for most of the qualifying games starting in November 2017. As one longtime European coach told ESPN.com this week: "There's no way FIBA would go to a system that hurts the big countries. They want the stars playing in the biggest tournaments." ESPN.com

FIBA, USA Basketball, Schedule, Olympics, World Championship 

As we touched on the other day, FIBA is hoping to get three-on-three basketball in the 2016 Summer Olympics. While this sounds very exciting, it does create a lot of questions that could not be answered until the International Olympic Committee actually makes a decision on the idea. But if you are wondering how “official” three-on-three basketball can look, the FIBA 3×3 World Tour can give you an idea. Dime

FIBA, Olympics 

I think I agree with the general consensus that having NBA players participate in the 1992 Olympics fanned the flames of worldwide interest. When Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson and the other members of that Dream Team showed the world how exciting and competitive the top level of the game was, something changed. More and more players from outside the U.S. chose basketball as their favorite sport, and the results have been spectacular. Pau Gasol was among those motivated to play basketball by what he saw at the '92 Olympics. The international game, which had grown to the point of eclipsing U.S. college players, might have taken longer to reach the current level had Stern not backed the participation of NBA players in the Olympics. ESPN.com

Pau Gasol, Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, David Stern, Spain, Olympics 

Leandro Barbosa: “You know my country hasn’t been in the Olympics for 16 years and coming back to the Olympics, we thought we had an opportunity to get a medal. Unfortunately it wasn’t this time. “But I think we did a great job for so many years not going to the Olympics, we got fifth place. We have the Olympics next time in Brazil and I think the opportunity [to medal] is very, very high next time.” Boston Globe

Boston Celtics, Leandro Barbosa, Brazil, Olympics 

When asked if he would consider playing for his country in 2016 at age 33, he said: “Yeah, yeah, I’m there definitely. It’s a great environment, energy. It’s different than anything that I’ve been through so I am more than happy to be enjoying the national team again.” Boston Globe

Boston Celtics, Leandro Barbosa, Brazil, Olympics