Day: July 3, 2009

Mike Bibby reaches out to 76ers

The Philadelphia Daily News (Phil Jasner) reports (via blog): The 76ers received an inquiry from the agent for Atlanta Hawks free agent guard Mike Bibby, but a source familiar with the situation said the conversation ”didn’t go anywhere.” The theory seemed to be that the agent waqs doing his due diligence, checking the market for his client. Bibby was listed on the Hawks’ salary cap last season at more than $14.98 million, but is more likely to play the coming season for something in the range of the $5.6 million mid-level exception.

InsideHoops.com editor says: I haven’t heard much about Bibby and the Hawks in free agency yet. It doesn’t sound like Atlanta plan on making any dramatic changes.

Phil Jackson probably returning for Lakers

ESPN.com reports: The Los Angeles Lakers’ commitment to sign the mercurial Ron Artest would appear to make retaining Phil Jackson even more imperative than the team believed when the NBA’s free-agent period began. It shouldn’t be a topic of discussion much longer. Jackson’s presence on the bench next season, according to one NBA coaching source, is “99.9 percent” assured, with another source indicating that Jackson’s return will be publicly confirmed by the Lakers by early next week at the latest.