HoopsHype.com Rumors

The Nets, who fired Avery Johnson in late December and decided not to re-sign interim P.J. Carlesimo after their first-round playoff loss to Chicago, are expected to turn their attention to the coaching candidates not named Jackson now. According to two people with knowledge of the search, that list includes Indiana Pacers assistant Brian Shaw, longtime NBA coach and current Southern Methodist University coach Larry Brown, and former Milwaukee and Chicago coach Scott Skiles. USA Today Sports

Brooklyn Nets, Coaching, Brian Shaw, Larry Brown, Scott Skiles, Indiana Paces 

While the Jackson situation has to play out before some of the other candidates will be considered, former Milwaukee Bucks and Chicago Bulls coach Scott Skiles is also on the Nets' list, according to that same person. USA Today Sports

Brooklyn Nets, Coaching, Scott Skiles 

Charles F. Gardner: Jim Boylan is out as Bucks coach, source indicates. He went 22-28 at end of season after replacing Scott Skiles. Twitter @cf_gardner

Milwaukee Bucks, Coaching, Scott Skiles 

A source close to former Miami and Orlando coach Stan Van Gundy said Van Gundy has no interest in coaching any of the three current openings in the NBA: in Philadelphia, Detroit or Cleveland. Ex-Portland and Seattle coach Nate McMillan might have some interest in the Cavs' job, but if the Sacramento Kings move to Seattle, he'd be earmarked for that position. Former Milwaukee coach Scott Skiles is available. He's hard-nosed and a defensive coach, but he is known to wear down everyone around him with his relentless style. News-Herald

Cleveland Cavaliers, Coaching, Mike Brown, Nate McMillan, Stan Van Gundy, Scott Skiles 

The Cavs also have an interest in former Orlando Magic coach Stan Van Gundy and former Milwaukee Bucks coach Scott Skiles, and Mike Malone is a former assistant under Brown in Cleveland and Miami Heat assistant coach David Fizdale has intriguing ties to Grant. Fizdale and Grant were college teammates at the University of San Diego, he is an up-and-coming assistant on Erik Spoelstra’s staff in Miami and has close ties to LeBron James. Akron Beacon Journal

Cleveland Cavaliers, Coaching, Chris Grant, Stan Van Gundy, Scott Skiles, David Fizdale 

One major change that happened mid-season was the mutual decision between the team and head coach Scott Skiles that he would relinquish his duties as coach. The Bucks were 16-16 and riding a four-game losing streak when Jim Boylan took over. “Jim’s done a nice job with the team and I think we’re all seeing these situations that have occurred,” Hammond said. “It’s not a rarity in the NBA to have something like this happen. It’s not normalcy, but it’s not rarity by any stretch, so it happens. Most of the times when these sort of things happen, the situation goes south and goes south very quickly, but Jim has done a great job of working with our guys and communicating with our guys and motivating them to play hard. He deserves a lot of credit.” HoopsWorld

Milwaukee Bucks, Coaching, Scott Skiles, Jim Boylan 

The latest word on veteran center Samuel Dalembert, meanwhile, is that the Bucks are actually more inclined to keep him than move him now in the wake of Dalembert's fine fill-in work since Sanders was sidelined by a back injury. For much of the season -- largely when he was barely playing under Scott Skiles -- Dalembert was regarded as one of the players most likely to be traded this season. ESPN.com

Milwaukee Bucks, Trade, Samuel Dalembert, Scott Skiles 

Since his ouster in Milwaukee last month, ex-Bucks coach Scott Skiles has been hanging out in Bloomington, Ind., where Indiana University is located. Interestingly, when Skiles became the Bucks coach five years ago, he bought his house from Tom Crean, Indiana’s head coach. Racine Journal-Times

Coaching, Scott Skiles 

Why do you think Skiles’ attitude toward you changed? Sam Dalembert: We had a talk briefly at a shootaround; I forgot where it was. I think it was in Boston. After that talk, everything went downhill. After the game in Chicago, you said Skiles had attacked your integrity in that talk. Can you elaborate? Sam Dalembert: He told me some different things and I explained to him that I’m a happy person. And the reason I’m happy is I grateful for coming from where I came from, Haiti, and I’m grateful for every single day of my life. I’m grateful to wake up and see I’m able to have a home here, a home there and be able to help so many kids go to school back home (through his foundation) and help my family. For that, it’s a blessing. To me, being a happy person, I don’t think there’s anything wrong with that. Racine Journal-Times

Milwaukee Bucks, Samuel Dalembert, Scott Skiles 

Can you be more specific about what Skiles said that upset you? Sam Dalembert: No, I really don’t want to go into detail. I don’t want to go into it because it really hurt me. I had to express myself. I had to let him know where I’m coming from, the root of who I am today, what is defining me. It’s my country defining me. Anybody who knows me, you can ask any of my teammates, I am the most enthusiastic, happy person coming in the morning. I’m the player where I am always very respectful. I don’t know what happened between us. I’m not going to say that conversation was 100 percent the reason for what happened (not him being demoted) but for some reason there was nothing said to me again and everything went downhill. There was no explanation. There was no conversation. Nothing was said to me. He didn’t say, ‘Hey, this is what I want you to focus on or anything like that.’ It wasn’t just me. Other guys were going through the same thing with him, guys who have been here way before me. So you can only imagine what they were going through. For me, it was new. I never got a chance to know him or what he didn’t like about me. Racine Journal-Times

Milwaukee Bucks, Samuel Dalembert, Scott Skiles 

You may have heard the rumors that it was your fault and not Skiles’ fault for your demotion, that you were reporting late to games and practices, etc. Sam Dalembert: Listen, I’m not the only one who’s ever been late for a game. At some point in an 82-game season, somebody is going to be late. I wasn’t the only one on the team. But that’s not the reason for all of this. That one (where he was allegedly late), there was a cutoff time and I was in the hallway on the phone. I had something important to talk about and then I came back (in the locker room). That’s not being late for the game. But that’s got nothing to do with this. If I was late for one game, it was because of miscommunication. Ever since that time, I’ve never been late. Racine Journal-Times

Milwaukee Bucks, Samuel Dalembert, Scott Skiles 

There have also been whispers that Skiles reprimanded you because of some off-the-court incidents, that you were partying too much and not taking your job seriously. SD: Wow. I was partying too much? Where at? I would like to know where I was partying too much. I know where I go to restaurants. But partying too much? What off-the-court issues do I have? At the end of the day, people can say whatever they want to say. They can use whatever excuses they want. That’s why I don’t go on the internet and read all that stuff. You got haters and lovers. You can’t convince people who already hate you. Racine Journal-Times

Milwaukee Bucks, Samuel Dalembert, Scott Skiles 

Dwane Casey knows how changes can be made abruptly in the NBA. So the Toronto Raptors coach was not too stunned to hear that Jim Boylan was replacing Scott Skiles as Bucks coach a few days ago. Boylan's Bucks meet the Raptors in a Sunday matinee, Canadian style. "Nothing surprises me in the NBA," Casey said in his remarks to reporters about an hour before tip-off. "I've been there before, seen it, done it, been in that situation. "That's our league. Not trying to be flippant about it. There's different situations, circumstances or whatever it is. I do know Scott has done a good job with that team. They've got his personality. They play hard; they scratch, they claw. So you're in for a 48-minute fight. "That's what we're going to face today." Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel

Milwaukee Bucks, Toronto Raptors, Coaching, Dwane Casey, Scott Skiles, Jim Boylan 

The reality in Milwaukee is that coach Scott Skiles wanted out months ago, putting his house up for sale in the area and banking that he could get the Orlando job. It didn’t happen, and Skiles had no interest in a contract extension with a roster that is a strange combination of aging veterans, solid but not spectacular youngsters, and the backcourt of Monta Ellis and Brandon Jennings, who can score but can’t defend. Boston Globe

Orlando Magic, Coaching, Scott Skiles 

In Wednesday night’s game against Chicago, Jennings torched the Bulls for 35 points, making 12 of 24 shots from the floor and 5 of 10 3-pointers. Jennings absolutely lit up his Bulls’ counterpart, Nate Robinson, in the third quarter by scoring 20 points. Jennings said his recent surge can be attributed to a boost in confidence. “I got my swagger,’’ Jennings said after the Bulls’ game in Chicago. “I was dancing a little tonight, clowning around. That’s just who I am. So if I’m not doing that, it means I’m having fun.’’ Asked the biggest difference between Boylan and Skiles, Jennings said, “Jim is more vocal. When I’m down, he comes and talks to me and says we need to keep it going. “When your coach is like that, you get all the confidence in the world.’’ Racine Journal-Times

Chicago Bulls, Milwaukee Bucks, Brandon Jennings, Nate Robinson, Coaching, Scott Skiles, Jim Boylan 

Then there was Brandon Jennings, who said he understood the business side but not the way the news was conveyed to him in particular. "Scott Skiles was my coach for four years. He was my first NBA coach. He was the guy who put the ball in my hands as a rookie and just told me to go, so I have nothing negative to say," he said. "I’m real shocked. The only thing was a little bit upset about is I had to hear from him first and not from the team. Scott called me last night and we talked for about 15-20 minutes. He was the first one to tell me that he wouldn’t be coming back. "It was tough on me a little bit, but I slept on it and I know it’s part of the business. So we just have to move on. But he told me to keep in contact with him, and I will. "To go out like this and the fact we’re still at .500 and No. 7 in the Eastern Conference is just a total shock to me. It’s going to be different for me, but I’m going to be ready." Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel

Milwaukee Bucks, Brandon Jennings, Coaching, Scott Skiles 

"I mean, the team didn't tell me. Scott told me," he said. "I think that's why I was a little frustrated at first -- just the fact that I had to hear it from my own coach and not from the team. If I'm supposed to be the franchise player, why don't I hear the news first? Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel

Milwaukee Bucks, Brandon Jennings, Coaching, Scott Skiles 

Frank Madden: Skiles on supposedly hating his team: "If (the writer) has that information, it was given to him by somebody to demean me." via @Charles F. Gardner Twitter @brewhoop

Milwaukee Bucks, Coaching, Scott Skiles 

So what did Skiles think of his team? The Bucks went 16-16 under his leadership this season and were tied for the seventh playoff position in the Eastern Conference, although they had lost four straight. "There's always the normal coach-player friction that goes on," Skiles said in an interview Tuesday afternoon. "Guys at this level are great players. This is, as NBA teams go, this is a good group of guys." Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel

Milwaukee Bucks, Coaching, Scott Skiles 

Steve Aschburner: Skiles statement on Bucks exit: “John and I met and mutually agreed that a coaching change would be in the best interest of both parties." Twitter @AschNBA

Milwaukee Bucks, Coaching, Scott Skiles, Jim Boylan