HoopsHype.com Rumors

So, there's this job opening. Team USA is looking for a new head coach. Pop should get it because, in my opinion, he's the best coach alive. "I hope he gets the USA job," Karl said. "I think he wants it. He's a military guy who, I think, brings a dignity to representing the United States, and he's also earned the respect of the basketball world." Denver Post

George Karl, Coaching, Gregg Popovich, USA Basketball, Team USA 

Jerry Colangelo, then the director of USA Basketball, had replica Olympic gold medals crafted for each of the 2008 team's coaches. "Dad," Chris said, surrounded by lifelong friends and family, "I have something for you." He draped his gold medal around his father's neck "This is yours," he said. "It's 37 years too late. But it's yours." USA Today Sports

Philadelphia 76ers, Coaching, Jerry Colangelo, USA Basketball, Doug Collins 

Doug Collins is endorsing Spurs coach Gregg Popovich or Celtics coach Doc Rivers to be Team USA coach. “My feeling is the two guys who should be in the mix are Pop and Doc,’’ Collins said. “I think those two guys, what they’ve done. Pop, the years he’s put in, what he’s done and plus he has a military background a lot like Coach K, and what he’s done in San Antonio. And then I think Doc. “Those two guys are the cream of the crop. They’ve won championships.'' Sulia

Philadelphia 76ers, Doc Rivers, Coaching, Gregg Popovich, USA Basketball, Team USA, Doug Collins 

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

Blake Griffin, USA Basketball, Brazil 

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

Blake Griffin, USA Basketball, Brazil 

Doug Collins is throwing his name in the mix to be an Olympic coach. But not as the head coach, as an assistant coach. “I’d be thrilled if they’d let me be an assistant coach,’’ Collins told FOX Sports Florida on Friday night before his Philadelphia 76ers faced the Miami Heat at AmericanAirlines Arena. FOXSports Florida

Philadelphia 76ers, Coaching, USA Basketball, Doug Collins 

“My feeling is the two guys who should be in the mix are Pop and Doc,’’ said Collins, whose 76ers play at Orlando on Sunday. “I think those two guys, what they’ve done. Pop, the years he’s put in, what he’s done and plus he has a military background a lot like Coach K, and what he’s done in San Antonio. And then I think Doc.’’ FOXSports Florida

Philadelphia 76ers, Doc Rivers, Coaching, Gregg Popovich, USA Basketball, Doug Collins 

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 

It's probably too close to call this far out, but the early sense from those in the USA Basketball know give Celtics coach Doc Rivers some legit hope of edging out Spurs counterpart Gregg Popovich if, as it increasingly appears, USAB executive director Jerry Colangelo is forced to look for a successor to Mike Krzyzewski this summer. ESPN.com

Boston Celtics, San Antonio Spurs, Doc Rivers, Coaching, Jerry Colangelo, Gregg Popovich, USA Basketball, Mike Krzyzewski 

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 

With Mike Krzyzewski making it clear that he believes it's time to end his long association with Team USA, there's a near-unanimous feeling in basketball circles that Spurs coach Gregg Popovich would be the logical replacement to coach the team at the 2016 Olympics in Rio De Janeiro. But a person briefed on internal discussions regarding Coach K's successor told CBSSports.com that another high-level NBA coach shouldn't be ruled out: Celtics coach Doc Rivers. CBSSports.com

Boston Celtics, San Antonio Spurs, Doc Rivers, Coaching, Gregg Popovich, USA Basketball, Mike Krzyzewski, Brazil 

USA Basketball executive director Jerry Colangelo maintains that he wants to speak with Krzyzewski in an effort to persuade the Duke coach to stay on board. But sources believe Krzyzewski became burned out on his Olympic obligation last summer in London and is inclined to listen to his wife, Mickie, who wants him to back away from the added stress and travel obligations that come with the job. CBSSports.com

Boston Celtics, San Antonio Spurs, Doc Rivers, Coaching, Jerry Colangelo, Gregg Popovich, USA Basketball, Mike Krzyzewski, Brazil 

Rivers was in London for the Olympics as a studio analyst for NBC Sports, and he made his presence felt around the team -- staying in the team hotel and eating meals with the players. During the Celtics' run of success during the now-crumbling Big Three era, Rivers forged strong relationships with some of the biggest stars in the game -- many of whom will still be with Team USA in Rio. Also, there's a feeling among some involved in Team USA that Rivers' personality and skilled handling of star egos would provide a more natural transition. "With Doc, I think it would keep the same chemistry going," one person briefed on the matter said. "If Pop comes in, he would want his own way of doing it -- kind of the Spurs' secretive way of doing things -- and out of Jerry's norm." CBSSports.com

Boston Celtics, San Antonio Spurs, Doc Rivers, Coaching, Gregg Popovich, USA Basketball 

USA Basketball may not have a coach yet for the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, but there is a center who is volunteering his services. Los Angeles Lakers big man Dwight Howard, who won Olympic gold with the U.S. in the 2008 Beijing Games but had to miss last summer's London Games while recovering from back surgery, said he wants to be back on the team in 2016. "No doubt," Howard said Thursday when asked if he wanted to play in Brazil. ESPN.com

Los Angeles Lakers, Dwight Howard, USA Basketball, Team USA 

Spurs coach Gregg Popovich reiterated previous comments he’s made about the possibility of coaching USA Basketball’s senior team, saying it would be flattering to be considered before Wednesday’s home loss to Phoenix. “Anybody would feel honored to have their name mentioned as far as the Olympic movement is concerned,” he said. “There are a lot of people who can fill that role. That goes without saying. Anybody would feel humbled and honored to even be talked about in that regard.” San Antonio Express-News

San Antonio Spurs, Coaching, Gregg Popovich, USA Basketball 

But USA Basketball spokesman Craig Miller told Fox 29;s Maximum Sports on Tuesday that Popovich’s resume and past experience with the team made him an “obvious” candidate. Miller also addressed an alleged disagreement/misunderstanding between Popovich and Colangelo during the last round of hiring. “Jerry’s not going to put himself in a position where he’s not picking the best candidates,” he said. Tony Parker joked after practice on Tuesday that the French Federation would be thrilled to have his long-time Spurs coach. Popovich, a wine and food connoisseur, said he’d consider it on one condition. “Only if training camp is in Leon,” he said. “Paris is OK, but Leon is where all the food started.” San Antonio Express-News

San Antonio Spurs, Tony Parker, Coaching, Gregg Popovich, USA Basketball 

Marc J. Spears: Clipper Chauncey Billups, a member of 3 USA teams, named an athlete representative for USA Bball's Men's Development National Team Committee Twitter @SpearsNBAYahoo

Los Angeles Clippers, Chauncey Billups, USA Basketball