NBAThe Texas Legends made Bruce Pearl an offer Thursday and are waiting to see if the former Tennessee coach will take over the reins of the NBA D-League team. Legends owner Donnie Nelson presented Pearl with what he labeled the "most aggressive package in D-League history." Reports have put the offer as high as $500,000 per season.
NBA
Darius Miles nabbed at airport with gun (AP)
Former NBA player Darius Miles was arrested after guards found him trying to take a loaded gun through security at Lambert Airport in St. Louis, a jail official said Thursday. Miles, 29, was booked then released on Wednesday and no charges have been filed, according to Ginna Jones, a bonding specialist at the St Louis County jail.
Maccabi Tel Aviv signs Nets G Farmar (AP)
Jordan Farmar became the latest New Jersey Nets player to head for the European leagues when he signed with Israeli champions Maccabi Tel Aviv on Wednesday. The 6-foot-2 guard will play for Tel Aviv as long as the NBA lockout continues, the team said in a statement. Farmar, who is Jewish, won two NBA titles with the Los Angeles Lakers before moving to the Nets in 2010.
Wolves want coach with 'up-tempo DNA' (AP)
From the moment David Kahn took over as president of basketball operations for the Timberwolves, he has focused on bringing an up-tempo style of play to Minnesota. The Timberwolves finished 10th in the league in scoring last season, but that wasn't fast enough for Kahn and he fired coach Kurt Rambis after two years on the job.
Pacers hire Shaw as asst., retain Burke (AP)
Brian Shaw had Kobe Bryant's support, among others, to become the Los Angeles Lakers coach upon Phil Jackson's retirement. The Lakers bypassed their longtime assistant and went with Mike Brown. Shaw has moved on in a reunion of sorts. The Indiana Pacers introduced Shaw on as their new associate head coach Tuesday.
Bobcats begin laying off workers (AP)
With the NBA lockout less than two weeks old, at least two NBA teams have begun cutting staff. One of the first to resort to layoffs: Michael Jordan's Charlotte Bobcats. Radio play-by-play announcer Scott Lauer was one of at least seven employees let go by the Bobcats in the past week. A person familiar with the situation says the Detroit Pistons fired 15 people two weeks ago.
Sampson, Bickerstaff join Rockets staff (AP)
Kevin McHale has added a couple of familiar names to the Houston Rockets coaching staff. Kelvin Sampson and J.B. Bickerstaff will join McHale once teams get back to work, a person with knowledge of the decisions said Tuesday. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because no official announcement has been made by the team in the midst of the NBA lockout.
Durant won't rule out playing abroad (AP)
Kevin Durant isn't ruling out playing basketball abroad next season if the NBA lockout isn't resolved. The Oklahoma City Thunder forward said Tuesday during a promotional tour in China that he thinks more players will follow Deron Williams' example and play overseas if the NBA season is disrupted.
No players at Basketball Without Borders (AP)
The NBA is celebrating the 10th anniversary of its Basketball without Borders program, the first that won't involve active players because of the lockout. Camps will be held in Slovenia, Johannesburg, South Africa, and Rio de Janeiro. The Slovenian camp will be the first held in one of the former Yugoslav republics, where the 50 campers who attended the inaugural camp in 2001 came from.
Bulls C Noah to play for France in Euros (AP)
A person familiar with Joakim Noah's decision says the Chicago Bulls center plans to play for the French national team in the European Championships in Lithuania. The person spoke Tuesday on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss Noah's plans. Noah was limited by a thumb injury last season, averaging 11.7 points and 10.4 rebounds in 48 games while helping the...
Yao's retirement may hurt NBA in China (AP)
Yao Ming's expected retirement could diminish the NBA's once-burgeoning popularity in China, with many fans saying they would no longer watch games. "What's the point of watching NBA now?" asked an online user called Lubingxia on Sina Weibo, a Chinese Twitter-like site. An online poll on Weibo by Monday lunchtime showed that 57 percent of respondents would stop watching the...
Rubio works out, helps family in need (AP)
When Ricky Rubio held his introductory news conference this week, he jokingly promised that he would keep his credit card in his pocket on his first trip to the Mall of America so his family didn't buy everything in sight. That didn't keep him from busting it out for a good cause Saturday. As a hectic first week in his new hometown drew to a close, Rubio participated in his first charitable...
Raptors G Barbosa exercises option (AP)
Raptors guard Leandro Barbosa has exercised his contract option to return to Toronto next season. The team announced the move Saturday. The 6-foot-3 Brazilian averaged 13.3 points, 2.1 assists and 24.1 minutes in 58 games last season, his first in Toronto. Barbosa made $7.1 million last season and was second on the team in three-point shooting.
Nets owner elected Kremlin party chief (AP)
Russian tycoon and New Jersey Nets basketball team owner Mikhail Prokhorov was confirmed Saturday as the new head of a Kremlin-friendly political party. The 46-year-old billionaire was all but unanimously elected head of the Right Cause party by its members. Right Cause is seen as a Kremlin creation designed to lure opposition-minded, pro-business voters, while building an illusion of competition...
Mavs acquire G Fernandez from Blazers (AP)
Eventually, Jordan Hamilton or another guy taken late in the first round of this year's NBA draft will blossom into a quality player, perhaps even an All-Star. The Dallas Mavericks don't want to wait. Fresh off their first championship, the Mavericks are determined to stay on top. So they gave up the uncertainty and potential of a draft pick for a known commodity in Portland guard Rudy...
Pippen: Jordan, not James, greatest ever (AP)
Scottie Pippen made it clear he thinks Michael Jordan is the best player ever -- not LeBron James. Speaking to reporters at a youth camp in suburban Lisle on Friday, Pippen says he was simply giving "LeBron some props as a player" when he suggested to ESPN radio last month that James could be better than Jordan.
Cavaliers introduce No. 1 pick Irving (AP)
Kyrie Irving's entourage consisted of one -- his father. Irving didn't show up with a multimillion-dollar shoe contract, proclamations of greatness, nicknames or tattoos, either. Cleveland's newest No. 1 draft pick is far different than the last one. He's hardly like LeBron James. And that might be exactly why the Cavaliers love him.
DeRozan among 3 options Raptors pick up (AP)
The Toronto Raptors have picked up team options on guard-forward DeMar DeRozan and forwards James Johnson and Ed Davis. The club announced the moves involving all three players on Friday. DeRozan had his fourth-year option picked up after averaging 13 points, 3.4 rebounds and 28.4 minutes in his first three seasons.
Pacers pick up Collison option, 2 others (AP)
The Indiana Pacers have picked up the 2012-13 team options on Darren Collison, Tyler Hansbrough and Paul George. All three were starters by the end of last season. The Pacers acquired Collison in a trade last offseason, and he quickly established himself. The second-year point guard started 79 games and averaged 13.2 points and 5.1 assists per game.
With No. 2 pick, Wolves' coach unclear (AP)
For the second time in three years, Minnesota Timberwolves President David Kahn is heading into an important NBA draft without a coach by his side. Kahn has yet to make a decision on Kurt Rambis's future and the coach will not be in Minneapolis for Thursday night's draft. The Timberwolves hold the No.
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