NBA News Rumors

NBA Rumor - May 13 "The Bulls still intend to talk with Avery Johnson to gauge his interest in being their next coach. As of Monday, however, Johnson's representatives had yet to reschedule an interview with Bulls general manager John Paxson, who postponed their original meeting last week. Johnson may be leaning toward taking at least a season off and collecting the money owed him by the Dallas Mavericks. Johnson, who was fired from the Mavs on April 28, has three years and $12 million left on his Dallas contract. The Mavs are on the hook for that money until Johnson is hired by another team."Chicago Sun Times Comments (0)

NBA Rumor - May 8 "According to a Lakers spokesman, Bynum saw Dr. Steven Gecha, an orthopedic specialist in Princeton, N.J., on Wednesday and was told that there has "been some improvement" in the knee, but the plan going forward is to re-examine him in 3-4 weeks and then determine the next step, which could be exploratory arthroscopic surgery."Los Angeles Daily News Comments (0)

NBA Rumor - May 8 "Gilbert Arenas insists he won't return to the Washington Wizards if forward Antawn Jamison isn't re-signed by the team. “If he doesn't come back, I'm not coming back,” Arenas said Wednesday in a posting on his blog, a rambling entry of more than 2,800 words. Arenas, a three-time all-star who missed most of this season after two operations on his left knee, can opt out of his contract. He has said since before the season that he planned to do that so he could stay with Washington for more money."The Globe and Mail Comments (0)

NBA Rumor - May 7 "But D'Antoni is on hold while Paxson and Walsh schedule interviews with Avery Johnson, who was fired by the Dallas Mavericks a week ago. The Bulls were working Tuesday on lining up a meeting with Johnson -- and he might not be the last candidate Paxson pursues. D'Antoni got permission to talk to other teams from Suns GM Steve Kerr, who has been at odds with his coach over the team's direction. Kerr wants D'Antoni, known for his offense-first coaching style, to bolster the Suns' defensive schemes and develop more of their bench players."Chicago Sun Times Comments (0)

NBA Rumor - May 6 "After reportedly interviewing Denver Nuggets assistant Mike Dunlap on Saturday, Paxson was in Phoenix on Sunday and Monday to meet with Suns coach Mike D'Antoni. Word out of Phoenix is that D'Antoni told Paxson he wants to be the Bulls' next coach. New York Knicks president Donnie Walsh also traveled to Phoenix over the weekend to interview D'Antoni. Suns GM Steve Kerr, initially hesitant to give teams permission to talk to D'Antoni, acquiesced after a meeting Friday involving Kerr, D'Antoni and Suns owner Robert Sarver."Chicago Sun Times Comments (0)

NBA Rumor - May 3 "Toronto President Bryan Colangelo ran off to scout in Spain this weekend, insisting that Sam Mitchell will coach the Raptors next season. Mitchell has been mentioned as a candidate for the Knicks' coaching job because of his ties to team president Donnie Walsh. "I finished my meetings with our players and I met with Sam and we both left the meeting under the impression that he will be coaching here next season," Colangelo said yesterday...:New York Daily News Comments (0)

NBA Rumor - May 3 "Point guard Andre Miller made several positive comments about his 76ers teammates on their exit day, after Thursday's 100-77 loss to the Detroit Pistons that eliminated them from their first playoff series in three years. While he had good things to say about the players and coach Maurice Cheeks, Miller wouldn't say whether he would like to stay in Philadelphia long-term. He is signed through the 2008-09 season and will earn nearly $10 million. When asked, after yesterday's final team meeting, about his future here, Miller was noncommital. "Right now, I'm here and can't control what happens with the team," he said."Philadelphia Daily News Comments (0)

NBA Rumor - Apr 30 "Nothing but the playoff losses has intensified the talk about Suns coach Mike D'Antoni's job.There has been no recent discord between him and the front office, other than the lack of a full vote of confidence from management.But a late report by Jack McCallum at sportsillustrated.com says Mike D'Antoni will not return as coach.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."Arizona Republic Comments (0)

NBA Rumor - Apr 29 "New Orleans coach Byron Scott, who led the Hornets to their first playoff appearance in four years this season, has been chosen as the NBA coach of the year, The Associated Press has learned.A person with knowledge of the award spoke with the AP on condition of anonymity because the league had not yet announced it."The Globe and Mail Comments (0)

NBA Rumor - Apr 29 "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.They haven’t rushed to D’Antoni’s defense or offered assurances that he’ll return next year.Instead, Kerr publicly countered D’Antoni’s belief that the Suns’ offense was to blame for the losses in Games 1 and 2.Broadcaster Tom Chambers, a team employee, went on the radio and questioned D’Antoni’s tactics."East Valley Tribune Comments (0)

NBA Rumor - Apr 29 "Well-traveled Larry Brown has reached an agreement to return to the NBA as coach of the Charlotte Bobcats, a person familiar with the decision told the Associated Press on Monday.The person, speaking on condition of anonymity because an official announcement has not been made, said Brown was expected to sign a contract today. The Bobcats have called an afternoon news conference for what was termed a "major basketball announcement.""Minneapolis Star Tribune Comments (0)

NBA Rumor - Apr 29 "Mark Jackson, who has no NBA coaching experience, is thought to be Donnie Walsh's favorite for the Knicks' head- coaching job. That media-driven theory could be tested now that Jackson is expected to meet with Bulls executive John Paxson in Chicago tomorrow.Walsh and Jackson are being very quiet about their meeting in Phoenix last week, but a person with knowledge of the situation said Walsh isn't ready to rush into anything with Jackson and isn't concerned about losing him to another team."Newsday Comments (0)

NBA Rumor - Apr 29 "The Charlotte Bobcats have called a news conference this afternoon for what they termed "a major basketball announcement," and The Associated Press is reporting that well-traveled Larry Brown has reached an agreement to return to the NBA as coach of the team. The Charlotte Observer also reported that Brown had an agreement with the team. The 67-year-old Hall of Famer will be taking over his ninth NBA team."Raleigh News & Observer Comments (0)

NBA Rumor - Apr 29 "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. Jackson met with new Knicks president Donnie Walsh last week in Phoenix. Current Bulls assistant Ron Adams and former Bulls interim coach Jim Boylan are among the candidates Walsh reportedly would consider to assist Jackson."Chicago Sun Times Comments (0)

NBA Rumor - Apr 28 "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. That's not to say it's going to happen; D'Antoni has two years left on his deal. But as one courtside soothsayer noted the other day, "someone has to pay" if Phoenix succumbs in round one to the Spurs."The Toronto Star Comments (0)

NBA Rumor - Apr 24 " North Carolina coach Roy Williams said today that Tyler Hansbrough, Wayne Ellington and Ty Lawson have still not made final decisions about this year's NBA Draft. "We're not finished, and we'll definitely have something before Sunday's deadline ... I met with a couple of them today and we're still going through the process," Williams said before a Tar Heel Tour stop in Cary. "Raleigh News & Observer Comments (0)

NBA Rumor - Apr 24 "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....Paxson also might be waiting to learn the fate of some current NBA head coaches. Phoenix's Mike D'Antoni, Dallas' Avery Johnson and Detroit's Flip Saunders are rumored to be on the hot seat if their teams make an early exit from the the playoffs. Top assistants such as Boston's Tom Thibodeau and Detroit's Michael Curry, who could replace Saunders, also are on Paxson's list....The same Yahoo! Sports report that made headlines with the news Paxson and Carlisle met also indicated the Bulls consider Michigan State coach Tom Izzo a prospect. The report cited ''multiple league sources'' for the Izzo information.Chicago Sun Times Comments (0)

NBA Rumor - Apr 19 "Although Kevin Garnett was excused from another practice for family reasons, he was expected to sneak in a workout last night. Celtics coach Doc Rivers said Garnett missed practice Thursday and yesterday to take care of family business but declined to go into detail. Garnett asked team officials to keep his personal matter private. NBA sources said Garnett's wife, Brandi, went into labor Thursday with their first child."Boston Globe Comments (0)

NBA Rumor - Apr 18 "The predraft rumor mill was really cranking Thursday, and the Bucs were in the middle of what was being cranked out.Along with the Minnesota Vikings, the Bucs are one of two teams who appear to still have interest in possibly trading for disgruntled and sometimes troubled Kansas City Chiefs defensive end Jared Allen."Tampa Tribune Comments (0)

NBA Rumor - Apr 17 "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."New York Daily News Comments (0)

NBA Rumor - Apr 16 "Dwyane Wade's injury problems aren't just a concern for the Miami Heat. In Wade's hometown on Tuesday, a USA Basketball official said he is eager to find out how well Wade is recovering from a knee injury during the countdown to this summer's Beijing Olympics. "That's a good question," Jerry Colangelo, managing director of USA Basketball, said at the U.S. Olympic Team Media Summit. "We're also curious to know exactly where he is physically. We know he's rehabbing. We intend to have some dialogue with him soon."Palm Beach Post Comments (0)

NBA Rumor - Apr 16 "The Nets will be looking to make significant changes. But one of those changes won't involve the coach, as team president Rod Thorn has repeatedly endorsed Lawrence Frank. Frank has come under fire. But Thorn thinks Frank, who publicly apologized to team management and owner Bruce Ratner last week, can be part of the solution. "New York Daily News Comments (0)

NBA Rumor - Apr 16 "Rockets starting point guard Rafer Alston will miss at least the first few games of the playoffs with a pulled right hamstring he suffered Sunday in Denver, the Rockets announced Tuesday. After an MRI examination, Alston was declared out for at least another week after sitting out Monday's 105-96 loss to Utah, an absence that even at the minimum projection would force him to miss the first two games of a first-round playoff series to begin Saturday or Sunday."Houston Chronicle Comments (0)

NBA Rumor - Apr 14 "Kansas State freshman Michael Beasley plans to announce whether he will enter the NBA draft at a Monday news conference on campus. While Beasley is expected to be the first pick in the June 26 draft if he declares, the consensus All-American is apparently having a tough enough time deciding that advisers and family members gathered over the weekend to help him make a choice before his self-imposed 5 p.m. CDT deadline."The Globe and Mail Comments (0)

NBA Rumor - Apr 12 "Bulls forward Drew Gooden's season is over. Gooden, who missed his sixth consecutive game Friday with an abdominal strain, initially said he would return to the lineup. But he became worried that surgery would be necessary if the injury worsened. ''There was no significant improvement, so we figured he's better off just shutting him down the rest of the year,'' coach Jim Boylan said."Chicago Sun Times Comments (0)