The Charlotte Observer (Rick Bonnell) reports: Charlotte Bobcats majority owner Bob Johnson has stepped up efforts to sell the team, recently hiring a sports investment banker to look for a buyer. Sal Galatioto, president of New York-based Galatioto Sports Partners, confirmed to the Observer Thursday that he’s representing Johnson in a potential sale. Galatioto declined to comment further on the situation. Johnson told Observer columnist Scott Fowler last month that he’d like to sell controlling interest to minority owner Michael Jordan, the former NBA star who oversees the team’s basketball operations. Since then, according to multiple NBA sources, Johnson has begun looking for other potential buyers.
Month: May 2009
Randy Brown auctions off his NBA championship rings
The Chicago Sun-Times reports: Former Chicago Bull Randy Brown’s three NBA championship rings were sold at auction Thursday for $53,833. The winning bidder, identified only as “RingKing,” outbid Michael Jordan’s publicist. A judge ordered them sold following Brown’s 2008 bankruptcy filing. The minimum bid was $19,000.
InsideHoops.com editor says: That’s a damn shame.
76ers interview Tom Thibodeau
The Philadelphia Inquirer (Kate Fagan) reports: The 76ers confirmed they met yesterday with Boston Celtics assistant coach Tom Thibodeau about their head coaching vacancy, bringing the number of interviewed candidates to four. The Sixers would not comment further on the interview, and Thibodeau could not be reached for comment. The Sixers called the Celtics for permission last weekend. Thibodeau joins former Washington Wizards coach Eddie Jordan, current Los Angeles Lakers assistant Kurt Rambis, and Dallas assistant Dwane Casey as the four known candidates on the list of Sixers general manager Ed Stefanski.
Richard Hamilton sues former agent
The Detroit Free Press reports: Pistons guard Rip Hamilton has filed a federal lawsuit accusing his former business manager, already at the center of recruiting allegations at the University of Connecticut, of stealing about $1 million from him. The lawsuit was filed in U.S. District court in eastern Pennsylvania against 34-year-old Josh Nochimson of Glenview, Ill. It accuses Nochimson of using Hamilton’s credit card to buy airline flights, game tickets and other items.
Nuggets beat Lakers 106-103 in Game 2
The AP reports: Similar game, different ending for the Los Angeles Lakers. Their 24-year playoff dominance of the Denver Nuggets dissipated over the final 29 seconds of the fourth quarter in the second down-to-the-wire game in the Western Conference finals. That’s when Kenyon Martin hit a layup in traffic and Chauncey Billups made 3 of 4 free throws to give Denver a 106-103 victory in Game 2 on Thursday night to even the series… Carmelo Anthony scored 34 points, Billups had 27 points and Linas Kleiza added 16 for the Nuggets. Nene finished with six points, nine rebounds and six assists… Kobe Bryant had 32 points, including making all 10 of his free throws, Trevor Ariza scored a career playoff-high 20 points and Pau Gasol had 17 points and 17 rebounds for the Lakers, who dropped to 7-2 at Staples Center this postseason… The Lakers were shaky on free throws in the fourth, making 9 of 14, while Denver didn’t blink at the line. The Nuggets were 29 of 37, with Billups hitting 13 of 16 and Anthony 10 of 14.
Chicago Bulls name Gar Forman general manager
The Chicago Bulls today named Gar Forman the team’s General Manager.
A member of the Bulls’ front office for the last 11 seasons, Forman came to the Bulls as a Scout prior to the 1998-99 season. Since then, he has overseen a wide array of responsibilities within the Bulls Basketball Operations Department, most recently as the team’s Director of Player Personnel, a post he has held for the last five seasons.
According to Bulls Chairman Jerry Reinsdorf, “The promotion of Gar Forman to General Manager of the Chicago Bulls publicly formalizes a successful formula that has been evolving for some time. Over that time, Gar has been assuming more and more of the daily GM duties, freeing John Paxson to spend more of his time and energies on talent evaluation, and on long-term, strategic planning for the organization. As winning in the NBA becomes more complex, team building in the front office is as important as it is on the court. The strong finish by this young Bulls team, coupled with its valiant efforts during one of the best playoff series in NBA history, places the franchise at an important juncture. The front office tandem of Paxson and Forman will continue to be charged with preparing us for an even brighter future. I am excited at their prospects. I think our fans are, too.”
“I am very honored to be named General Manager of the Chicago Bulls. I would like to thank Jerry Reinsdorf for allowing me to evolve and present me with such a great opportunity,” said Forman. “During my 11 years with the Bulls, I have had the chance to progress professionally and I am eager to expand into this new role. I look forward to continue working with John Paxson on the challenge of building the Chicago Bulls and elevating the Bulls into the NBA’s upper echelon of teams.”
Prior to being named General Manager, Forman oversaw the coordination of the Bulls amateur and professional scouting operations. He also implemented the team’s pro-player personnel scouting plan and assisted Bulls Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations John Paxson in the evaluation of free agents and prospective trade acquisitions.
“Over the past six years, Gar Forman has been growing into a more prominent role within the Bulls organization,” said Paxson. “With his help, we have improved the way we conduct business within our Basketball Operations Department, and this promotion is a reflection of his hard work, commitment and contributions to the organization. For Gar, this is long overdue and well deserved.”
Prior to joining the Bulls, Forman was a coach and recruiting coordinator at the collegiate level for 17 seasons with stops at his alma mater Utah State (1981-82), College of the Desert (1982-85), New Mexico State (1985-87, 1988-94), Cal Poly Pomona (1987-88) and Iowa State (1994-98).
Magic stun LeBron, Cavaliers 107-106
The AP reports: Dwight Howard scored 30 points, Rashard Lewis added 22 and the Orlando Magic rallied from a 15-point halftime deficit to hand James and the Cavaliers their first loss of the postseason, 107-106 on Wednesday night in the Eastern Conference finals opener. LeBron James finished with 49 points, eight assists and six rebounds, but the league MVP limped off the floor after Cleveland’s loss—just its third in 46 home games… Lewis made a 3-pointer with 14.7 seconds left and the Magic, who dethroned the champion Boston Celtics in seven games in the previous round, survived two shots by Cleveland in the closing seconds… Hedo Turkoglu scored 15 points with 14 assists for Orlando… Leading by 15, the Cavs got complacent and lost their offensive rhythm in the third quarter. They stood around either waiting for James to do something or settled for jump shots that didn’t fall.
Clippers likely to draft Blake Griffin no.1
The Los Angeles Times (Lisa Dillman) reports: Danny Manning, Michael Olowokandi . . . and now Blake Griffin. The Clippers have twice had the No. 1 overall pick in the NBA draft, and will get it again for a third time, having won the league’s draft lottery Tuesday night at Secaucus, N.J. “Clearly, we’re taking Blake Griffin,” Clippers General Manager and Coach Mike Dunleavy said in a telephone interview from Barcelona, Spain. “This guy is the No. 1 pick. We’re extremely excited. He’s the guy.” There wasn’t much of a question the Clippers would do anything other than take the dynamic, explosive forward from Oklahoma. Dunleavy, though, wasn’t about to be coy in the wee morning hours in Spain and erased any shred of doubt about the team’s intention in the draft June 25 in New York.
Bryant scores 40, Lakers beat Nuggets 105-103
The AP reports: Kobe Bryant proved a steadying presence for his wildly inconsistent teammates, taking over in the fourth quarter and delivering a come-from-behind victory. Bryant scored 40 points, including six free throws in the final 30 seconds, to lift Los Angeles to a 105-103 win over the Denver Nuggets in the Western Conference finals opener on Tuesday night after the Lakers trailed most of the game… Pau Gasol added 13 points and 14 rebounds for the Lakers, who faced a seven-point deficit in the fourth quarter. Gasol’s two free throws tied the game for the last time at 99 before Bryant started his closing streak at the line, offsetting a 3-pointer by Chauncey Billups and a free throw by J.R. Smith. Carmelo Anthony scored 39 points and Billups added 18 for the Nuggets, who hadn’t played since taking care of Dallas in five games last Wednesday… J.R. Smith sprained his right knee and will be re-evaluated Wednesday.
J.R. Smith sprains knee, Renaldo Balkman sprains ankle
Nuggets G JR Smith suffered a sprained right knee at the end of tonight’s game against the Lakers. His status for Thursday’s game will be updated tomorrow.
Renaldo Balkman suffered a sprained right ankle in pregame workouts. He is questionable for Thursday’s game.