NBA Rumors Archive

"The Dallas Mavericks parted company with coach Avery Johnson on Wednesday, a day following the team's first-round exit from the NBA playoffs, ESPN.com has learned. Speculation about Johnson's future with the franchise had been mounting for weeks, ever since Dallas struggled to reach the playoffs as the seventh seed following its midseason acquisition of point guard Jason Kidd from New Jersey. "

"The revolving door between pro teams and TV analysts might be about to get a big spin — opening up two of the top NBA jobs on TV. TNT's Kenny Smith, Charles Barkley's sidekick on the most lively studio show in TV sports, is interested in becoming the New York Knicks general manager. "

"Yesterday, Mitchell was asked about speculation about his job security and the possibility that if Phoenix Suns coach Mike D'Antoni, a Colangelo favourite, were to come available in the wake of a Suns first-round ouster, would the domino effect be felt in Toronto?"

"T.J. Ford made it clear he isn't happy to be job-sharing with Jose Calderon at point guard. He concedes Calderon “is probably a starting guard in the league,” but Ford wants the Toronto job."

" Raptors GM Bryan Colangelo gave his head coach, Sam Mitchell, a resounding endorsement yesterday. Sort of. Rumours have been blowing hard the past few weeks that if the Raptors lost in the first round of playoffs to the Orlando Magic -- which they did -- Mitchell would get fired in the off-season. "

" T.J. Ford made a point yesterday of wanting to start at the point. The point Jose Calderon hammered home was that he wants to play for a winner, regardless if he starts or is asked to come off the bench. "

" The Raptors are doomed to years of Leafesque mediocrity unless general manager Bryan Colangelo makes a daring move or two in the off-season. And one of those moves has to involve Andrea Bargnani. The Raptors either have to trade the big Italian and get something valuable in return, which would be difficult given his rather mediocre season."

"President and general manager Bryan Colangelo finds it "absolutely ludicrous" that there would be suggestions he's going to fire Mitchell and replace him with Phoenix head coach Mike D'Antoni, who is still actually working for the Suns."

"Ford, in essence, said he thought things were fine between the two men, that he "definitely" thinks he'll be back in Toronto and that the two can co-exist with the job-share – provided, of course, he is the starter and Calderon is the backup."

"The Bulls' coaching search continues to progress at a slow pace. General manager John Paxson met with Mark Jackson, the long-time point guard and current ABC broadcaster, on Monday. He joins former Indiana and Detroit coach Rick Carlisle as the only candidates to receive a formal interview."

"If even flirting with the idea of bringing back Jeff Van Gundy was a test of the autonomy Garden chairman James Dolan bestowed on Donnie Walsh to run the Knicks, including Larry Brown on Walsh's list of candidates might have resulted in seismic tremors felt throughout 2 Penn Plaza."

"On the day Bobcats part-owner Michael Jordan resurrected Larry Brown's career, the former Knicks coach looked back on his disastrous season in New York and took full responsibility... Brown likely will pluck Knicks assistant Dave Hanners for his coaching staff and possibly longshot Knicks candidate Herb Williams. Bobcats advisor Bernie Bickerstaff could head to the Knicks as Mark Jackson's top assistant."

"If indeed Avery Johnson was a lame duck coaching, he didn't act like it Tuesday night. The former St. Augustine High School standout worked the sidelines in Game 5 against the Hornets at the New Orleans Arena with the zeal that helped him earn an NBA championship ring as a player and a Coach of the Year award. "

"With the offensive funk Carlos Boozer has suffered through in the Jazz-Rockets playoff series, Jazz eyes focused on him in Game 5 here on Tuesday night. Sad eyes for one half, and, after that, it didn't really matter. "

"There's also the possibility that D'Antoni might initiate the separation. Two team sources said D'Antoni has grown weary of the grind and the expectations and could take a year off or move to another team and get a fresh start. Say, for example, Toronto, where he would rejoin Bryan Colangelo."

"Allen Iverson's camp has formulated some strategy. But will The Answer get the answer he wants? Gary Moore, personal manager for the Nuggets guard, said Iverson is looking into doing something similar to what New Jersey's Vince Carter did last summer."

"Eduardo Najera wants to be in Denver. But he said he'll do his due diligence and test the free-agent waters."

"Throughout the season, A.I. and his personal manager, Gary Moore, have said that opting out and re-signing a long-term contract with Denver is enticing. If he opts out to sign with a different team, it would be risky, because A.I. has a little over $20 million guaranteed for next season in Denver."

"With two years and $8.5 million left on his contract, D'Antoni is unlikely to be fired. If he returns, it could be with concessions to change. But there is also the possibility that he leaves of his own accord, especially with a perceived lack of support - and interest from New York and Chicago, both of which have vacancies. There is also the chance Toronto President Bryan Colangelo fired Sam Mitchell to hire the coach he brought to Phoenix from Italy."

" The end wasn't pretty. New Orleans clearly was the better team in this first-round series, winning three games by 12 or more points. Tuesday's 99-94 loss at New Orleans Arena sent the Mavericks into the playoff night, four games to one, and intensified speculation about the future of head coach Avery Johnson."

" Johnson's annual problem with point guards isn't the only reason he'll lose his job sometime soon. He lost this team even before his players called a players-only practice the day before they were eliminated by the Hornets. He'll lose his job because he told the owner he could get the most out of Erick Dampier."

"Was that T.J. Ford's last game in a Raptors uniform? Ford doesn't think it was, but he's not discounting the possibility either. Ford was the first Raptor to talk with the media when the Raptors dressing room opened following last night's season-ending loss to the Orlando Magic."

"T.J. Ford watched the Raptor season end from a seat on the bench, the player once thought to be an integral part of the franchise's long-term future reduced to being a spectator. It may have been a moment of foreboding, or it may have been nothing more than a decision by coach Sam Mitchell to let Jose Calderon try to steal a victory."

"The Charlotte Bobcats have their Hall of Famer. Larry Brown has decided to accept the Bobcats' offer to become their coach, a long-time NBA executive confirmed early today. The Bobcats have called a 1 p.m. news conference to make a "major" announcement."

"The Bulls' coaching search continues with no favorite having emerged and no hiring imminent, according to those close to the situation. General manager John Paxson is set to interview Mark Jackson in Los Angeles, likely Wednesday. Jackson, the longtime NBA point guard and currently a TV analyst, reportedly is the front-runner to land the New York Knicks' vacancy."

"If Donnie Walsh wants to interview Boston Celtics associate head coach Tom Thibodeau for the Knicks' coaching position, he might have to wait until after the NBA Finals."

" Despite the remaining two-year, $4M per obligation and the Raptors' second straight playoff appearance - and 41 wins despite the full-season absence of starting small forward Jorge Garbajosa, T.J. Ford missing half the year due to neck damage and Chris Bosh being unavailable for franchise-player duty for 15 games (another six to get back in shape) - Mitchell reportedly is in job jeopardy. Should Mike D'Antoni bear the brunt of the Suns' annual playoff eviction by the Spurs, the prevailing suspicion is Colangelo will pick up his faithful Phoenix companion on the short hop. "

"Despite his reputation as a mediocre defensive coach, Mike D'Antoni is on Donnie Walsh's radar for the Knick opening if D'Antoni is fired by the Suns after the first round, according to a source close to the Knick president. Meanwhile, veteran coach Paul Silas told The Post last night he plans on contacting Walsh in the next few days with interest in interviewing for the Knick job."

"As speculation about Mike D’Antoni’s job security has increased the last few days, this is what we’ve heard from Suns owner Robert Sarver and general manager Steve Kerr: Nothing."

"Suns General Manager Steve Kerr calling it a non-issue and saying evaluations will come at season's end did not stop the talk. A convincing Game 4 win did nothing to quell it either. Now, Suns players are trying to take the public heat off their coach, Mike D'Antoni."

"So Pat Riley is stepping down as coach of the Heat. Hey, whatever floats his boat. The thought I can't get out of my mind is that the Heat will be good again someday, probably sooner than anyone thinks, and then Riley will appear magically on the sideline once more, no longer finding the job of head coach so tiresome."

"Former Marquette University player Jim Boylan has emerged as the leading candidate to become the lead assistant to new Bucks coach Scott Skiles."

"If the Knicks hire him, Jackson would be a job-hopping naif compared with Bill Parcells, Doc Rivers, Mike Ditka, Mike Fratello, Doug Collins, Jimmy Johnson, Pat Riley and Hubie Brown."

"Pat Riley has scheduled a Monday afternoon news conference where he is expected to step down as coach of the Miami Heat but remain in the role of team president. Riley has two more seasons remaining on a contract that gives him the leeway to serve in the dual role or exclusively as president."

"Last place and the Hall of Fame will be the final two stops of Pat Riley's coaching career. In a move that took days of deliberation but was hinted at months in advance, Riley will announce today he is stepping down as coach of the Heat to concentrate full time on what had been his dual role as team president, according to sources familiar with the situation. Assistant coach Erik Spoelstra is expected to be named his replacement at a 4 p.m. news conference"

"A source close to the situation stressed Saturday that Karl, who has two years and $6 million left on his contract, will be Denver's coach next fall regardless of how the Lakers series concludes. But any decision ultimately is up to Kroenke. "George Karl is our coach," Nuggets executive Rex Chapman said when asked about Karl's future."

"So there's that. But the crux of the buzz, really, is this: If you asked Colangelo, in a fantasy-league hypothetical, who he'd pick to coach his dream team, Mike D'Antoni would be in the conversation, and probably at the top of it. And for the first time since Colangelo arrived in Toronto more than two years ago, D'Antoni, the Phoenix Suns coach, may well be available this off-season."

"Kenny Smith confirmed Sunday that he will interview for the Knicks general manager job this week. Smith, who attended Archbishop Molloy High School in Queens, is scheduled to meet with Knicks president Donnie Walsh. "

"While Mark Jackson is expected to talk to the Bulls Wednesday, Sam Mitchell may soon pose the largest threat to Jackson's lead candidacy for the Knicks' job."

" Then Mark Cuban can spend the off-season blowing up this team that has a penchant for quitting. Did you forget its 25-point loss to Golden State in the final game of the first-round loss last season? Perhaps Cuban will fire Avery Johnson. Maybe he'll deal Josh Howard. Or Jason Terry. "

"Proving yet again his open-mindedness to a coach search that is nothing but open-ended, Bulls general manager John Paxson is scheduled to interview former NBA point guard Mark Jackson this week."

"Kenny Smith, a TNT analyst and 10-year veteran of the N.B.A., confirmed Sunday that he was interested in joining the Knicks’ front office."

"Stefanski obviously is not tipping his hand as to whom he will pursue. But it has been mentioned that forward Josh Smith of the Atlanta Hawks, a restricted free agent, could be someone the Sixers would like."

"Patrick Ewing wants the job. Now let's see if Donnie Walsh will grant him an interview."

"Assuming the Phoenix Suns don't become the first team in NBA history to recover from a 3-0 playoff series deficit and go on to win the NBA championship, Steve Nash has an important decision to make. His career now can go one of two ways."

"Less than a year after proclaiming Sam Vincent as the coach that would lead his ex-pansion team to the NBA playoffs, Charlotte Bobcats part-owner Michael Jordan has fired his former Chicago Bulls' teammate. And since Vincent's firing comes two days after legendary coach Larry Brown resigned as a Philadel-phia 76ers executive vice president, speculation immediately pointed toward Brown being Vincent's successor."

"The Charlotte Bobcats fired rookie coach Sam Vincent Saturday following a 32-50 season, and it appears they're considering replacing him with a 67-year-old Hall of Famer. Various NBA sources connected Larry Brown to the Bobcats' coaching opening Saturday."

"Redick's camp has asked repeatedly for a trade out of Orlando so that he can seek more playing time elsewhere. The Magic denied his request in February, but will likely revisit it this summer. Shooting guards Keyon Dooling and Evans will be free agents, and Keith Bogans can opt out of his contract."

"Let's connect the polka dots. No sooner does Larry Brown resign his vacuous vice president's job - or whatever title it was - with the 76ers than the 32-50 Bobcats turn Sam Vincent into Sam Vincent van Gone... If my conclusion-jumping is off target, the Grizzlies' presidency and coaching jobs are there for the scoop should Brown want them. Again, he was never in Bulls GM John Paxson's interviewing equation, which has expanded beyond Rick Carlisle... Yesterday's La Gazzetta dello Sport claimed Mike D'Antoni could wind up in Toronto with former Suns exec Bryan Colangelo should Phoenix make him the designated scapegoat for its playoff failures and Sam Mitchell be fired by the Raptors."

"President Donnie Walsh, who met with Mark Jackson in Phoenix Friday, should know there are others prominent basketball people who believe Jackson's the right choice to coach the Knicks."

"Rick Pitino, who ran the Knicks from 1987 to 1989, said he's done with coaching in the NBA and would not be interested if Donnie Walsh came calling... With Sam Vincent fired in Charlotte, Knicks assistant Herb Williams could get a crack at the Bobcats head coaching job, if the favorite Larry Brown passes."

"There has been no indication that Larry Brown is among the coaches general manager John Paxson is considering for the Bulls' vacancy. That's unfortunate because Brown might be the best candidate to help the Bulls bounce back from this season's disappointment."

"Patrick Ewing is upset that Donnie Walsh has not reached out to him regarding the Knicks' head coaching vacancy."

"If it were anyone else other than Mark Jackson, another guy with no coaching experience, would there be more media scrutiny - and more questions asked - concerning his qualifications to lead the Knickerbockers out of the toilet?"

"Kenny Smith is looking to make the move from the TNT studio to the highly volatile world of the Knicks' front office, while Larry Brown could resurface in Charlotte. According to a league source, Smith is scheduled to interview this week with Knicks president Donnie Walsh about becoming the team's new general manager."

"With the Nuggets down 3-0 in their first-round playoff series to Los Angeles Lakers, a top Nuggets executive dismissed speculation about George Karl’s job future."

"With the Suns now one loss from postseason elimination, the belief that Mike D’Antoni won’t be back as coach next season is becoming widespread."

"Elton Brand and Corey Maggette of the Los Angeles Clippers could have expiring contracts going into next season and therefore be trade-deadline bargains. The same could be true for Sacramento forward Ron Artest and Washington guard Gilbert Arenas. And New Orleans guard Jannero Pargo, Philadelphia guard Andre Miller and swingman Andre Iguodala, Portland sharpshooter James Jones, and Toronto guard Carlos Delfino, to name a few."

"A source close to Larry Brown says the Hall of Fame coach would be receptive to speaking with the Charlotte Bobcats, should their head-coaching job become available."

"But Johnson just got lucky. He was just offered the opportunity to prove that, darn it, he really does care. The opportunity's name is Larry Brown. Brown, who is one of the great coaches of all time, resigned Thursday as executive vice president of the Philadelphia 76ers."

"Donnie Walsh opened the interview process in his search for a head coach with a visit to Phoenix to meet Mark Jackson. The Knicks' president is believed to have met with Jackson on Friday before Jackson worked Game 3 of the San Antonio Spurs-Phoenix Suns series on ESPN."

"Donnie Walsh met with Mark Jackson Friday in Phoenix, the Daily News learned. Jackson was there working Spurs-Suns Game 2 for ABC Friday night."

" Friday might not have been the beginning of the end for Josh Howard as a Maverick. It may have come a week before or nearly a year earlier. But when the Mavericks forward used a local radio show to detail his off-season marijuana use for the second time in a week and third time in a year, he certainly made his future cloudier. "

"Two coaches who might be joining his staff are former Indiana University coach Kelvin Sampson and former Bucks player Joe Wolf, who has made a name for himself as coach of two teams in the NBA's Development League."

"A free agent at the end of the season, Brown said he wants to re-sign with the Cavs and said the vibe he's gotten from the organization is that it is mutual. ''I definitely would like to come back and I am under the impression that I will be,'' Brown said. ''So I am hoping things will work out.'' Cavs General Manager Danny Ferry has another challenging summer ahead. Both Daniel Gibson and Delonte West are restricted free agents, and talks with restricted players have dragged on for months in the past. "

"Milwaukee has emerged as the most likely landing spot for former Indiana coach Kelvin Sampson. The Milwaukee Bucks, specifically. NBA front-office sources told ESPN.com on Thursday that Sampson and the Bucks are discussing an assistant coach's role at the urging of new Bucks coach Scott Skiles."

"Donnie Walsh didn't meet with Mark Jackson in New York Thursday, but apparently did travel out of town to conduct an interview with the former Knicks point guard who is shaping up as his one and only candidate to coach the team. Walsh was believed to have flown to Phoenix or Los Angeles to meet with Jackson, who lives in L.A. and is doing analysis on the Suns-Spurs playoff series tonight in Phoenix for ESPN. "

"Orlando Magic Coach Stan Van Gundy on Thursday questioned why the New York Knicks might hire an inexperienced head coach when Patrick Ewing --- one of Van Gundy's assistant coaches and guru for star Dwight Howard --- is apparently not a candidate to run his former team. Former Knicks guard Mark Jackson is considered by many to be a frontrunner for the coaching position left vacant after the firing of Isiah Thomas. Jackson has never coached and is currently working as a television analyst. Ewing is interested in becoming a head coach, but told the Sentinel recently he had not been contacted by the Knicks."

"The wish list that Donnie Walsh is compiling will include Chuck Person, a Walsh protégé who is currently an assistant coach with the Sacramento Kings. An NBA executive told Newsday yesterday that Walsh is expected to contact Kings president Geoff Petrie for permission to interview Person, who spent six of his 13 seasons as a player with the Indiana Pacers. Mark Jackson is believed to be Walsh's top choice, but unlike in 1997, when Walsh said he knew he only needed to interview Larry Bird, Walsh plans to meet with a handful of candidates"

"The agent for Nuggets vice president of basketball operations Mark Warkentien said his client is a "viable candidate" to be New York's general manager, but he doesn't believe anything is imminent. Steve Kauffman, who represents Knicks president Donnie Walsh and Warkentien, said his understanding is Walsh will keep the current New York staff intact through the draft and likely won't look to bring in an executive until after that."

"Mark Jackson's inexperience - he's never spent a single day on an NBA bench as a coach - concerns Donnie Walsh but it won't prohibit him from making Jackson the Knicks' next coach. According to a source close to Jackson, the former Knicks point guard is aware that Walsh would want him to hire a veteran top assistant to his staff. Walsh, the Knicks president, is willing to give his next coach the freedom to hire his staff but Walsh will insist that any first-time head coach - Jackson, Tom Thibodeau - bring in an experienced lead assistant. "

"Bulls general manager John Paxson confirmed Wednesday that he has spoken to Rick Carlisle about the team's head coaching vacancy. Other than that, Paxson said he will keep quiet about his search. Agents for coaching candidates -- legitimate and otherwise -- take no such vows of silence, which is why you will hear just about every name but Scott Skiles and Jim Boylan linked to the Bulls' opening between now and when Paxson names his new coach."

"A rumor-filled Wednesday basically ended with the Bulls' coaching search in the same place it began, with general manager John Paxson continuing his stated plan to explore different candidates and listen to different philosophies about personnel. This despite Paxson talking with Rick Carlisle about the job and then two separate league sources claiming it's the former Pistons and Pacers coach's job to lose. "

"Jeff Van Gundy isn't interested and Mark Jackson isn't a slam dunk to be the Knicks' next coach, Donnie Walsh insisted Tuesday."

"The wish list of candidates Donnie Walsh is hoping to interview remains a work in progress. He's already lost one viable replacement for Isiah Thomas, but the diligent Knicks president is not rushing to find a new coach. He's not dropping any hints, either."

"Jeff Van Gundy has said that the Knicks coaching search is a "one-horse race," with Mark Jackson playing the role of Secretariat, an impression Van Gundy may have gotten from numerous reports suggesting the same."

"Mark Jackson, for the Knicks' coaching vacancy, it may be the widely respected Tom Thibodeau, who, like Jackson, is also a Jeff Van Gundy disciple. And Thibodeau, who has more than a decade of experience as an NBA assistant coach, doesn't need Van Gundy to campaign for him on national television."

"Raptors general manager Bryan Colangelo launched an informal, typically low-key, but quite impassioned defence of his head coach, Sam Mitchell, yesterday, suggesting that the travelling Toronto media has been too hard on his bench boss during these early days of the Eastern Conference playoffs."

"Bryan Colangelo, the Raptors president and general manager, spent some time defending Mitchell to various media types before the game. He said, essentially, that Mitchell had absorbed far too much heat for the Game 1 loss; that Bosh's call-out of the coaching strategy was a product of frustration with the loss, not with the coach; that speculation about the coach's future was unfair."

"Jeff Van Gundy thinks Mark Jackson is the right man to take over as the Knicks' coach. Former Knick Charles Oakley has his own candidate in mind - someone he believes should have gotten the job years ago."

"Donnie Walsh denied that Isiah Thomas is not permitted to have any contact with his former players while admitting that he doesn't envision a scenario where the exiled Knicks coach would have a reason to communicate with the team... Walsh gave an update on the Knicks' coaching search and also revealed that Jeff Van Gundy officially informed him yesterday that he was removing his name from consideration."

"Living legend Larry Bird said his former Pacers point guard Mark Jackson would be a nice fit to coach the Knicks, but wasn't the right fit in Indiana last year."

"If the Mavericks lose this series to New Orleans – and they're well on their way to doing so – Mark Cuban must decide whether Avery Johnson can lead his team to a championship. A few months ago, the question would've been laughable. These days, it's legitimate. "

"Bogut, through his agent, David Bauman, confirmed that he would be available to play for Australia in the Beijing Olympics this summer. But Bauman also repeated that Bogut would not be available until July 9 at the earliest, the first day the 7-foot center could sign a contract extension under terms of the NBA collective bargaining agreement."

"Donnie Walsh has a list of prospective coaches — “a workable list,” he called it, “not too big and not too small” — and it probably begins with, but is not limited to, Mark Jackson."

"The agent for Magic shooting guard Maurice Evans says his client isn't necessarily counting on the Orlando Magic offering a new deal during the offseason... Magic assistant coach Patrick Ewing, who carved out his Hall of Fame playing career in New York, said he has not been contacted about the head-coaching position with the Knicks."

"Mitchell is tough-minded and thick-skinned, and an intuitive communicator who can make his points in a roar or at a whisper, depending on the situation. He's not afraid and could very well be a successful NBA head coach when he leaves the Raptors. But that day is looming closer, it's hard not to conclude."

" Mark Jackson played the game at a high level as a point guard, and by extension served as an on-court coach, one of those locker-room lawyers who had the ears of management. He has no coaching experience, but Jackson just might be the perfect fit for the Knicks, who need a fresh start and the accompanying good public relations. "

"That was quite the love-in Jeff Van Gundy hosted for Mark Jackson Saturday on ABC (Suns-Spurs). Van Gundy was so persuasive pitching his broadcast partner for the Knicks' coaching job, Jax should pay him a 10% commission."

"Addressing a variety of topics in a season-ending meeting with reporters at the team's practice facility, Thorn did not reveal exact details of his plan to get the Nets back on track after they missed the playoffs for the first time in seven years. But he did suggest that Carter will be back despite calls from some to trade the star guard, who signed a four-year, $62 million contract last summer. He also said he would not be surprised if Richard Jefferson, Devin Harris and Nenad Krstic are back again, too."

"When, not if, Mark Jackson arrives in New York, he won't have to worry about Isiah Thomas meddling with the players or making any surprise visits to the Knicks' training headquarters in Westchester. According to a team source, Thomas has been barred from having any contact with the team as part of his reassignment agreement with Knicks president Donnie Walsh."

"So change will be forthcoming, but Thorn stressed it doesn't mean a complete, total overhaul. He said he would be "comfortable" if the four main offensive pieces - Carter, Richard Jefferson, Devin Harris and Nenad Krstic - returned en masse."

"One Knicks coaching candidate officially was scratched from the list and another marched into Donnie Walsh's office at the team's Westchester campus and took his best swing. Assistant coach Herb Williams interviewed with Walsh to kick off the Knicks' coaching search. "

"It's against that backdrop of issues that Riley and Arison will meet this week, possibly as early as Tuesday, to discuss the direction of a team looking to regroup from a season that began ugly and only deteriorated. In recent weeks, Riley, who said he was spending last weekend evaluating his options, has sounded as though he were leaning toward stepping down as coach after 25 seasons that have included five NBA titles and 1,210 victories, third-most in history."

"Bryant looked and sounded liked a contented man Monday afternoon, one day after the Lakers defeated the Denver Nuggets in Game 1 of their first-round Western Conference playoff series. He smiled. He laughed. He joked. Above all, he spoke in the most emphatic terms about remaining with the Lakers for the rest of his career. He said he hasn't thought about terminating his contract with the team and opting to become a free agent after next season."

"Sources said the Bulls called veteran NBA player Mark Jackson, who is the front-runner to land the Knicks job. That Paxson contacted somebody with no prior coaching experience speaks to how open-minded Paxson is—and how open-ended the search could be. Paxson also has assistants on playoff teams like the Celtics' Tom Thibodeau and the Pistons' Michael Curry on his list, which could lengthen the process."

"If Walsh waits long enough, the field of qualified candidates could grow in the coming weeks as teams are eliminated from the playoffs. Dallas Coach Avery Johnson could be in jeopardy if the Mavericks lose their first-round series to the New Orleans Hornets. The same goes for Flip Saunders in Detroit and Sam Mitchell in Toronto... Walsh could reach out to three other assistant coaches who interviewed in Indiana last year: Brian Shaw of the Los Angeles Lakers, Chuck Person of the Sacramento Kings and Johnny Davis, a former Pacers assistant now with the Memphis Grizzlies."

"Michael Redd: The Bucks have tried for five years to win with Redd as their best player and it hasn't worked. He would be great in a supporting role for a superstar -- are you listening, Cleveland? -- but this season proved that Redd will never accept that role with the Bucks. He's a liability on defense and a stop sign on offense, so he needs to be replaced."

"If the opportunity arises, Celtics coach Doc Rivers likely would make it possible for two of his assistants to interview for head coaching jobs during the playoffs. Rivers said yesterday that NBA teams have inquired about his associate head coach, Tom Thibodeau, and assistant coach Armond Hill for head coaching openings."

"Scott Skiles verbally has accepted an offer from the Bucks, erasing him as a Knicks coaching candidate, according to a league source. Skiles' imminent hiring strengthens front-runner Mark Jackson's candidacy, which received another boost over the weekend with Jeff Van Gundy's endorsement. "

"Jeff Van Gundy may be onto something when he says Donnie Walsh's coaching search is a "one-horse race." The job is Mark Jackson's to lose - or decline - with Van Gundy all but eliminating his name from contention and Scott Skiles inching closer to signing with the Milwaukee Bucks."

"Continuing to make significant progress in their negotiations, the Milwaukee Bucks might be ready to name Scott Skiles their new coach in the next day or two."

"The Nets have been reluctant to pursue restricted free agents because their teams can match any offer, but they could get lucky. Atlanta's Josh Smith and Luol Deng would fit the Nets' needs."

"It's that model Walsh, less than three weeks into his Knicks presidency, plans to explore when he interviews former Knicks and Pacers point guard Mark Jackson to become his first head coach in New York after firing Isiah Thomas on Friday."

"Package deal: Unless the Nets get impact players in the draft or someone gets hurt, their three rookie picks won't play. Package a pick or two and maybe a future No. 1 with Richard Jefferson and see what it gets."

" There were three coaches fired this past week, but that may be a mere foreshadowing for what follows. As many as 11 jobs are still undecided as we head into the playoff season, some of them may be vacated by guys who are merely fed up, and the playoffs themselves could determine the fate of two or three of them."

"Now that Donnie Walsh has made it clear how strongly he is considering Mark Jackson to replace Isiah Thomas as Knicks head coach, Jackson is free to make it clear how much he would love to get the job."

"Odds on replacing Isiah as coach of the Knicks... MARK JACKSON 2-1"

"I still think Jackson would make a better choice for the front office than the bench, but he's good and smart enough to succeed either way. If Walsh is looking elsewhere to fill out the top of his organizational tree, he should consider not only the out-of-work former GMs such as Billy King, Rick Sund and Larry Harris but also the currently employed, such as Denver's Mark Warkentien."

"The Knicks will have a lottery pick, so this is an especially critical decision that should involve the coach. By reassigning Isiah Thomas so soon after the regular season ended, Walsh gave himself plenty of time to sift through the list of candidates and go through interviews. And if Mark Jackson impresses him as much as he expects, Walsh might not need to go any further."

"His candidacy as head coach of the Knicks would borrow from the theme currently being used successfully by Barack Obama. Yes, merely by blowing his whistle at practice for the very first time, Mark Jackson would create change, be it real or imaginary."

"We're in an election year, the campaigning is well under way to win the first seat on the Knicks' bench, and a dynamic ticket is starting to gain a groundswell of support. Van Gundy-Jackson '08. Or perhaps Jackson-Van Gundy?"

" For the second year in a row, Sam Mitchell is coaching for his job. Only this year, the circumstances are completely different. "

"As stated from the giddy-app, Billy King and Mark Jackson are the common sense choices to become GM and coach... Sources say Scott Skiles is being romanced by the Bucks and Grizzlies. . . . Rick Carlisle appears to have a clear path to the Bulls. . . . P.J. Carlesimo's future with the Sonics is real shaky; too many players aren't fond of him and none are named Latrell Sprewell. . . . Should the Raptors, losers in 13 of last 20, get bounced in the opening round, Sam Mitchell, word has it, could be in jeopardy with two years left on his deal."

"Longshot candidate Jeff Van Gundy admits he's conflicted about being included on Donnie Walsh's Knicks coaching list. But during yesterday's ABC's playoff telecast, Van Gundy seemed to make a concession speech in giving a gigantic endorsement to his broadcast partner and lead candidate, Mark Jackson, for the position that officially opened up Friday night with Isiah Thomas' ouster. "

"Jeff Van Gundy Saturday endorsed Mark Jackson as the best candidate to replace Isiah Thomas while not ruling out the possibility of joining Jackson's coaching staff."

"Free agent Ricky Davis -- who said Shaquille O'Neal called him with a ''little apology'' after Shaq took a verbal shot at Davis and Chris Quinn -- said he's looking for midlevel exception money ($6 million annually). It's unlikely Miami would go nearly that high, though he can be re-signed without using the exception."

"Mike Breen (the Knicks’ play-by-play man) turned to his left and asked Mark Jackson (the former Knicks point guard) if he wanted to coach his old team. Jackson hinted that he might. Then the former Knicks coach Jeff Van Gundy, sitting to Breen’s right, gave Jackson his unqualified endorsement."

"The immediate aftermath of a 33-49 season is obviously a regretful time. Ben Gordon and Luol Deng haven't expressed any regrets, at least not publicly, about turning down contract extensions last fall that would have paid them $10 million or more per season."

"Ben Gordon and Luol Deng left the Berto Center on Friday after player interviews with general manager John Paxson believing they will be back with the Bulls next season. Gordon and Deng, both of whom turned down five-year contract extensions worth $50 million last fall, will be restricted free agents July 1."

"Cassell reiterated he wants to re-sign with the Celtics during the offseason. Boston is projected to have $74.5 million in salary on next season's team."

"The lone dissenter was Boki Nachbar, who is probably no better than 50-50 to return, because some eager shopper might throw more money at the free agent than the Nets are willing to spend."

"Scott Skiles: His hiring could mean goodbye Eddy Curry (with whom he clashed in Chicago), but he could be the hard voice the Knicks need after Thomas' Mr. Softee-like reign — if Milwaukee or someone else doesn't hire him first."

"Now in the process of hiring a new head coach, Walsh said he would reach out to several candidates, including Mark Jackson, who recently resigned as analyst for the YES Network's coverage of Nets games. Jackson is the consensus leading candidate to take over, but Walsh said he needs to hear things in their interview that will indicate to him whether Jackson is ready for the job."

"Remember the helicopter? Mark Jackson might land it again at Madison Square Garden and return some long-lost New York flavor to the Knicks."

"Mark Jackson was never the player that Isiah Thomas was, but the former Knicks point guard could get the chance to prove he's a better coach. As the Daily News reported two weeks ago, Jackson has emerged as the leading candidate to become the Knicks' next head coach. "

"The Nets are headed into an offseason with more change looming than in any recent year. There will be draft picks at 10 (likely), 21 and 40. Bostjan Nachbar and DeSagana Diop are unrestricted free agents, and Nenad Krstic is restricted, so the Nets can match. All want to return. "

"Stripped of the presidency 2½ weeks ago, Thomas was fired yesterday as Knick head coach. Team president Donnie Walsh announced the move in a conference call, saying the Knicks didn't appear "motivated to try to win" during parts of the just-ended 23-59 catastrophe. Walsh said the coaching search begins immediately, adding he will interview Mark Jackson, who is the leading candidate, according to a source close to Walsh."

"Donnie Walsh was very specific in talking about what he wants to hear from Jackson in an interview, leading one to believe it's his job to lose."

"Q. Your name has been tossed around the coach-on-the-hot-seat rumor mill time and again during your tenure here and certainly this season. Has that been the toughest part of the job for you this season?"

"Among the top candidates in Chicago is former Detroit and Indiana coach Rick Carlisle, who also has ties to Hammond. Former Bulls coach Scott Skiles is a strong candidate for the Bucks job, but the Knicks also reportedly have interest in the 44-year-old Indiana native."

"At Thursday's news conference to announce the firing of interim coach Jim Boylan, general manager John Paxson said he would start his coaching search by making calls to gauge who is interested. Paxson needn't have bothered. According to one prominent agent, plenty of candidates called Paxson on their own."

"This Bulls off-season will feature more twists and turns than a bad soap opera. But at its outset, at least, Ben Gordon and Luol Deng said their individual exit interviews Friday with general manager John Paxson left the impression both players are in the team's future plans."

"Walsh said the search for Thomas’s successor would begin immediately, and he acknowledged for the first time that Mark Jackson, a former Knicks point guard, would be among the candidates. Walsh gave no timetable for naming a coach, but he has said he wants someone in place before the June 26 draft."

"Despite the grind of a difficult season, vice president of basketball operations Kevin McHale didn't sound at all like a man who might be contemplating retirement a day after the Wolves finished the season 22-60, their fourth consecutive year out of the playoffs. Although McHale didn't say he would be around for years to come — it has been his standard stance to say he re-evaluates his desire to return on an annual basis — he said the players on this team make his job fun. There's a belief among those close to the Wolves that it would be difficult for McHale to walk away from the team in its current state. "

"Does he stand pat and allow his young and talented nucleus to grow and mature together as is? Does he merely tinker and add another complementary player? Or does he make another bold splash and add yet another difference-maker that could push the Blazers over the top? "Who knows what Kevin is going to do?" Blazers coach Nate McMillan said, smiling. "He works his butt off to try to make something happen, and he's not a guy who is going to sit still and assume anything."

"Sonics general manager Sam Presti addressed the media at the team's practice facility Thursday and did nothing to dispel rumors that head coach P.J. Carlesimo's job may be in jeopardy. Presti said he and Carlesimo would sit down and evaluate the roster and coaching staff, but the GM did not come close to saying Carlesimo will coach the Sonics next season. While it was widely assumed Carlesimo had a long leash during the reclamation project, his status is uncertain."

"Mullin made clear Wednesday that he would like to keep the central pieces of his team together, guaranteeing the return of Ellis and center Andris Biedrins, both up for restricted free agency, and expressing an expectation that Davis -- a potential unrestricted free agent -- would be back as well. That means to build on this season's six-win jump, Mullin will have to improve the supporting cast. Unless Davis does opt out of his $17.8 million salary, the Warriors don't have the room to go after a top-of-the-line free agent, and will have to use their mid-level exception if they choose to go that route. The team also has a $10 million trade exception that expires on June 28, and will be able to match any offer sheets that might be signed by Ellis, Biedrins or guard Kelenna Azubuike, another restricted free agent."

"John Paxson said he will approach the search for his second coach as Bulls general manager in an "open-minded" fashion and won't worry about a timetable. He even didn't shoot down a question about college coaches, and those who witnessed the Tim Floyd era would hope that is a momentary lapse. But his blank-slate stance means even candidates outside this box could be considered. Here, in alphabetical order, are six candidates who are expected to intrigue, if not interview with, Paxson."

"Paxson's list is long and contains some of the usual suspects such as veteran coaches Rick Carlisle and Jeff Van Gundy. It contains some intriguing assistants such as Tom Thibodeau and Michael Curry. It contains some lesser-name former coaches such as Paul Westphal and Dwane Casey."

"A team source said the Bucks were pursuing former Bulls coach Scott Skiles, who also might be a strong candidate for the Knicks' anticipated opening. Skiles, a close friend of Krystkowiak's, advised him when the Bucks promoted Krystkowiak to the head coaching job in March of last year."

"The Bucks will immediately begin their search for a head coach. Former Detroit Pistons and Indiana Pacers coach Rick Carlisle and former Chicago Bulls coach Scott Skiles are expected to be considered, and it’s possible veteran Larry Brown could be in the mix. Brown, who coached the Pistons to the 2004 NBA championship, has said he wants to return to coaching."

"Boylan, who assisted Skiles both with the Bulls and Phoenix, could land a job on Skiles' next staff. The former Bulls coach is weighing at least two coaching opportunities and could be employed by this weekend, perhaps in Milwaukee. General manager John Paxson immediately will conduct a search that will include former coaches like Rick Carlisle and hot assistants like Tom Thibodeau."

"Scott Skiles may not be unemployed long enough to become a candidate to replace Isiah Thomas. According to a source close to the former Chicago Bulls head coach, Skiles is already in talks with another team - believed to be the Milwaukee Bucks - and could have a deal in place by next week. "

"Isiah Thomas coached his final game Wednesday night, looking and sounding very much like a dead man walking. The Knicks' season and the Thomas era ended with a 132-123 loss to the Indiana Pacers that left the club with a 23-59 record, matching Larry Brown's 2005-06 mark. New Knicks president Donnie Walsh could announce Thomas' fate as early as Thursday even though Thomas, according to a source, was notified last week that he would not return for a third season as coach. Thomas remains optimistic that he will be reassigned with a lesser role within the organization."

"Despite what his coach called a "turbulent" season at point guard, Raymond Felton says he wants to remain a Bobcat for the long haul. "I don't want to go somewhere else and start over," said Felton, who is eligible for a long-term extension this season under the rookie pay scale. In the alternative, he would become a restricted free agent in July 2009."

"And that question hung in the air: Will coach Sam Vincent make it to a second season? "I'm surely not going to walk away from my responsibilities," Vincent said when asked how confident he was that he'd return next season. Vincent was referring to a quote his boss, Michael Jordan, gave the Observer, indicating that unless Vincent wanted out, he'd likely be retained. However, Jordan also made it clear that Vincent's performance would be evaluated after the season."

"Magic General Manager Otis Smith flatly refused to trade J.J. Redick before this season's trade deadline, but he is a little more open to moving the unhappy Duke icon now. Smith told me that he'd look at dealing Redick either in the June draft or in another trade this summer. Redick, frustrated with his lack of playing time, requested a trade early this season. Smith now says he doesn?t rule out dealing Redick this summer, but would prefer he remain patient and stay with a promising team."

"If the Grizzlies' regular-season finale Wednesday night was supposed to also mark an abrupt end to Marc Iavaroni's stint at the helm on the bench then that's news to the rookie h