HOOPSWORLD | Basketball News & NBA Rumors

Duke Coach Mike Krzyzewski acknowledged in a phone interview Saturday that  he’s in discussions to return as head coach of USA Basketball through the 2016  Olympics.

“There’s a chance,” Krzyzewski said. “That’s correct.”

Krzyzewski said he hasn’t made a final decision, but his openness to the  position represents a significant change. For eight months, Krzyzewski has  maintained he’s not returning as USA Basketball’s head coach.

On Saturday, Krzyzewski said he and USA Basketball Chairman Jerry Colangelo  have been talking about his return “quite a bit.”

Colangelo said Saturday he and Krzyzewski have been discussing his return “in  installments.”

“I think it’s very close to being resolved,” Colangelo said. “That’s all I  can say for sure. Give it another week and it should be resolved.”

While his return isn’t final, there’s a strong feeling in basketball circles  Krzyzewski will come back for a final run with USA Basketball that will include  the 2014 World Championships in Madrid and the 2016 Olympics in Rio De  Janeiro.

via Pete Thamel of SI.com

The Charlotte Bobcats are in the process of changing their name back to “Hornets,” a source with knowledge of the situation told CBSSports.com’s Will Brinson, including arranging digital assets that would allow a return to their original nickname.

There is no timetable for the switch though NBA commissioner to be Adam Silver told Bobcats season ticket holders in April that such a change would take at least 18 months to implement. Moreover, the change is not unexpected and would likely be popular with the North Carolina fan base.

Silver told season ticket holders re-acquiring the name “Hornets” would not be an issue, stating that the NBA and not the Pelicans owned the moniker.

via Eye on Basketball Staff of CBS Sports

Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment is pursuing Denver Nuggets general manager Masai Ujiri to take over as the top basketball executive of the Toronto Raptors, league sources told Yahoo! Sports.

Masai, the 2013 NBA Executive of the Year, has emerged as the top choice of the search firm – Korn/Ferry International – that’s been charged with finding a successor to Raptors president Bryan Colangelo, league sources said.

MLSE has until Monday to make a decision on Colangelo’s contract option for next year. It is possible that he could stay with the franchise under a new top basketball official.

Ujiri’s contract as Denver’s general manager expires this summer and he has been in talks with ownership on an extension. Ujiri, 42, has a strong bond with Nuggets CEO Josh Kroenke, but new MLSE top executive, Tim Leiweke, has expressed a desire to make a serious financial and organizational commitment to an elite executive to turn around the franchise.

via Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports

The Indiana Pacers won’t know until Saturday night whether point guard George Hill will start in Game 6 against New York. Hill participated in the team’s morning shootaround, which is part of the process of passing his concussion test. But doctors had not yet cleared Hill to play. Pacers Head Coach Frank Vogel said he was preparing to play without Hill.

“He just did some work today. He looked fine, but he has to do more tests this afternoon,” Vogel said. “There’s a long list of things that’s part of the NBA’s protocol. He’s in the middle of that process. He’s not ruled out, not cleared to play. He’s a game-time decision.”

via Ian Begley of ESPN New York

Hall of Fame coach Jerry Sloan has decided he is not interested in the Milwaukee Bucks’ head coaching job after meeting with Bucks officials last week, according to veteran agent Keith Glass, who is advising Sloan on potential head coaching jobs.

USA Today reported Monday that Sloan was being “seriously considered” for the position after meeting with Bucks officials. Milwaukee, which announced after its first-round playoff exit that it would not be bringing back interim coach Jim Boylan, has already interviewed former Blazers head coach Nate McMillan, Rockets assistant coaches Kelvin Sampson and J.B. Bickerstaff and Lakers assistant coach Steve Clifford for the position.

“The bottom line is, Jerry doesn’t really feel it’s the right fit for him right now,” Glass said Thursday. “He’s interested (in coaching again). He’s in Chicago now watching the Pre-Draft. And his name keeps popping up with every job, and he hasn’t applied for anything. He had a real nice meeting with them. They came to see him on his farm (in downstate Illinois). They had a great meeting just in terms of liking each other. (Bucks general manager) John Hammond said ‘I wish I could have stayed and watched the game with him.’ It’s just not the right fit for Jerry, from Jerry’s point of view. That’s not a negative thing; that’s just the reality.”

via David Aldridge of NBA.com

Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling has scheduled to meet with head coach Vinny Del Negro over the weekend to discuss Del Negro’s fate with the organization, a league source informed CSNNW.com.

According to the source, who spoke on the condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the situation, says the two will meet in Los Angeles and a decision is anticipated shortly after.

via Chris Haynes of CSNNW.com

In training camp this season, the Thunder told Harden they were willing to give him $56 million over four years — and not a penny more. Harden, knowing that No. 3 draft picks who pan out and win major awards should be rewarded with max money, said no. Days later, he was $26 million richer when the Houston Rockets acquired him for free-agent-to-be Kevin Martin, the rights to Toronto’s top-3 protected 2013 pick, plus assorted flotsam.

And now look where the Thunder are — back in Tornado Alley watching the rest of the playoffs on TV after losing four straight to the Memphis Grizzlies.

Presti made the Harden trade because he wanted to save money under the cap to be able to sign Serge Ibaka to a long-term deal this summer. If the Thunder had maxed out Harden, they’d lose Ibaka.

But the flaw in that strategic planning was that Presti didn’t have to make that move prior to the season. Yes, he would have been at risk of losing Harden for nothing in free agency — but he also would have had a season to consider whether keeping Ibaka happy was more important than keeping Harden happy. By making the decision prematurely, he artificially inflated Ibaka’s value (which was quite low on the value scale when the Thunder needed Ibaka to be more of a scorer in the playoffs after Westbrook’s injury) while also removing from the roster the one player who was capable of replacing Westbrook as the primary ballhandler, distributor and secondary offensive weapon.

via Chris Sheridan of SheridanHoops.com

The Knicks trail the Pacers 3-2 in this best-of-seven series, and are 0-4 at Bankers Life Fieldhouse this season.

“We’ve got to validate what we did [Thursday] night,’’ Woodson said Friday. “That was a must win. Our backs were against the wall and still is. We lost Game 1 [at home]. We knew right then and there the only way to get out of this series is you’ve got to go get a game in Indiana and this is our last chance.’’

Carmelo Anthony, who didn’t have a field goal in the fourth quarter in either of the two losses at Indiana, played solid late in Game 5. He scored 28 points and looked more like himself, as did J.R. Smith, active on both ends even if his shot-making isn’t all the way back.

“We are trying to get a huge win on the road,’’ Anthony said. “We have proven we can win on the road but it’s a matter of who wants it. Indiana is definitely a tough place to win, but we feel like we have an opportunity to do something special.’’

via Marc Berman of the New York Post

Woodson limited Kidd to just 5:20 of playing time before a quick hook after he blew a layup and let a rebound bounce off his hands. Woodson said he would have a similar rotation for tonight’s potential final game of Kidd’s career as the Knicks-Pacers battle in do-or-die Game 6.

Nevertheless, Woodson also said he still thinks Kidd has some big moments in him.

“Jason played early on in the game and our lead grew when he was in the game,’’ Woodson said. “Those are the things that go unnoticed. Everyone’s so focused on him making a shot. Eventually he’s going to pop loose and make a big one. And we’re all going to say, ‘OK, that’s the Jason we know.’”

Kidd has been scarce with the media recently. Perhaps he is playing with an undisclosed back injury. Or dead legs. Kidd is arguably the smartest player of his generation, but it’s not inconceivable tonight is his last game as a player in a Hall-of-Fame career.

“It’s the other intangible things he brings to the table, the leadership that’s more important to me when he’s on the floor than making a shot,’’ Woodson said. “I know he’s capable of making it. He’s had his struggles but still I’m not going to be hesitant on putting him in the game.”

via Marc Berman of the New York Post

Chris Copeland, a training-camp long shot who spent part of the season lugging around a pink knapsack as part of rookie hazing, may turn into a very attractive piece on the free-agent market.

Knicks general manager Glen Grunwald likely hopes Copeland will be part of the team’s future plans, especially after coach Mike Woodson finally turned to him in the crunch of a do-or-die Game 5 and he delivered 13 points and four rebounds in his 19 unexpected minutes in the Knicks’ 85-75 win over the Pacers Thursday night at the Garden.

Of all the summer additions, Copeland became the biggest revelation — even if Woodson refused to use him in the playoffs until Game 4 of the Eastern Conference semifinals.

Considering his numbers, versatility and a changing league bent on 3-pointers, Copeland may seek Steve Novak money, according to a person familiar with the situation. Novak landed a four-year, $16 million package last summer. Copeland has become a more versatile scorer — a 3-point specialist who can put the ball on the floor and score in the post.

via Marc Berman of the New York Post

Mike Woodson still has confidence in Jason Kidd.

Just not enough confidence to guarantee the slumping veteran more minutes in Game 6.

Woodson played Kidd just five minutes in the Knicks’ Game 5 win over Indiana. Kidd did not play in the second half.

Neither did Amar’e Stoudemire, who played just seven first-half minutes in Game 5.

When asked on a conference call if he planned to change his lineup for Game 6 to give Kidd and Stoudemire more minutes, Woodson was noncommittal.

But he hinted that he’d be sticking with what worked in Game 5 — which probably means Kidd and Stoudemire will get minimal playing time.

“Those two guys have just got to be ready to play. At this point, it’s about winning. We played a different rotation last night, it worked. We’ll look at that rotation again,” Woodson said.

via Ian Begley of ESPNNewYork.com

“I hear it’s a great place for players. I’ve been there and I love it. I’m all about working hard and getting better everyday. I think playing in Portland will be good for me if I ended up there.”

That comes from 6-4 athletic shooting guard, Victor Oladipo, out of Indiana who is projected to be selected in the top five of the 2013 NBA Draft. The Portland Trail Blazers are slotted at the No. 10 spot with the NBA Draft Lottery this coming Tuesday.

Unless the Trail Blazers get the luck of the ping-pong balls and find themselves in the top three, the chances of them acquiring Oladipo are slim to none.

However, there are moving up possibilities.

Sources close to the prospect say the Trail Blazers, among a few others teams, “really like him” and are “considering moving up to get him.”

via Chris Haynes of CSNNW.com