Colin Stephenson of the Newark Star-Ledger reports:

Assistant coach John Loyer has left the Nets to join Lawrence Frank’s coaching staff in Detroit and Sam Mitchell is still on the Nets’ staff, for now, Nets coach Avery Johnson said today in an informal sit-down session with reporters at the team’s East Rutherford practice facility.

“John Loyer is going to Detroit,” Johnson said. “We’ll have Popeye Jones taking John’s spot. We’ll figure out where we go from there with the rest of the bench.”

Jones was on the Nets’ staff last season, but he will now be moved up to the front row of the bench, sitting in Loyer’s spot.

Mitchell, who was the lead assistant last season, was a candidate for the head coaching job of the Minnesota Timberwolves until the T-Wolves settled on Rick Adelman to take over for the fired Kurt Rambis. Asked whether Mitchell would return to the Nets, Johnson said yes. Asked if he will be with the team when training camp begins (after the lockout ends), Johnson said, “As of right now, yes. That’s what we anticipate.

The San Antonio Express-News blog reports:

So much for that optimism that the players and owners were getting closer to a settlement that would end the lockout.

After Tuesday’s meetings with owners, NBPA executive director Billy Hunter advised players to prepare to miss at least half the upcoming season.

NBPA president Derek Fisher was just as bleak in his assessment.

“We can’t come out of here thinking that training camps and preseason are going to start on time at this point,” Fisher told CBS Sports.com after the meeting.

NBA owners also agreed with the players union (see this page) that Tuesday’s huge Collective Bargaining Agreement meeting between the two sides did not result in positive developments.

Ken Berger of CBS Sports reports the following via Twitter:

David Stern: “We reiterated to the players that we needa system that is economically feasible ..”

Stern: Felt going in there was an economic deal “within view.” Thought there were economic goals they could mutually meet.

Stern said concern came from players stating the cap system had to remain exactly as it is today for them to accept economic concept.

Stern: Owners huddled and were not unanimous on concepts. But all owners unified they need system allowing 30 teams to compete.

Stern: “We agreed to be in touch.”

Stern: “We did not have a great day.”

Stern says it’s “still our goal” to start season on time.

Stern says players did make proposal last week that formed discussions.

Stern says not accurate that owners are still sitting on same proposal from June.

Adam Silver says players’ proposed economic move was “preconditioned for acceptance” that system remains the same.

Silver: “You don’t hear us using terms like ‘blood issue’ and ‘non-negotiable.’ Frankly, we don’t understand.”

Players’ proposed economic concession is “on the road,” and “we know how to negotiate dollars.”

Silver: “A GM that’s given $100m to spend compared to a GM with $50m to spend is at a huge competitive advantage.”

Stern says players’ stance against hard cap is “an emotional attachment.”

Stern: Owners spent “substantial time” discussing revenue sharing plan amongst themselves.”

Stern: We won’t cancel camps/preseason at Thursday’s BOG meeting in Dallas.

There was apparently no progress at all in Tuesday’s huge Collective Bargaining Agreement between David Stern, Adam Silver and NBA owners, and Billy Hunter, Derek Fisher and the players union. It seems there is no end in sight to the ongoing NBA lockout that threatens to erase 2011 NBA preseason and some of the regular season.

Ken Berger of CBS Sports reports the following via Twitter:

The biggest factor remains the calendar. Time is getting short, but we’re still about a month away from real games being canceled.

Billy Hunter: “We came with intent to negotiating … prepared to compromise. …”

Hunter: “Unfortunately, we’re a bit pessimistic.”

Hunter: “The owners are unwilling to move off of the position on which they’ve anchored themselves.”

Hunter says two sides remain at odds on two key isssues: economics and the system. No future meetings scheduled.

Hunter: “As of this moment there doesn’t appear to be any progress that we can predict.”

Hunter said lines of communication will remain and players will meet again if the need arises. As of now, not enough progress to warrant.

Derek Fisher: “It’s discouraging and unfortunate, but that’s the reality that we’re facing.”

Fisher: Players remain committed to process. “We’re not walking way from the table.”

Hunter: “We were prepared to make a significant move and it was conditioned on certain things.”

Hunter said players were prepared to move on economics, but owners insisted on major changes to system.

Hunter: Owners did not make a formal proposal and remain in the same place they were June 30 before lockout began.

Fisher: “We’re not marching towards a deal at this time or at any time we an predict.” That’s a killer quote.

Fisher: “We can’t come out of here thinking that training camps and preseason are going to start o time at this point.”

Hunter: “We’ve never had any discussions about decertification.” Waiting for NLRB reponse to players’ unfair labor practices charge.

Hunter bombshell: “We’ve advised (players) they may have to sit out half the season before we get a deal.”

Hunter says hard cap “highly untenable. … It could be characterized as a blood issue.”

Hunter and Fisher say economic concessions were contingent on system remaining the same or similar. Owners not willing to move on hard cap.

Hunter remains hopeful NLRB decision will move process forward. Not revisiting decision not to disclaim interest or decertify.

Hunter says there’s a “division of interest” within ownership. Owners spent three of 5 1-2 hours meeting amongst themselves.

Hunter: Hard cap would mean “at any whim,” players on non-guaranteed deals would be “out the door. And we’re saying, ‘No way.’”

Union VP Mo Evans on overseas deals: “As time goes by, guys are definitely going to defect.”

Matt Bonner of exec committee: “Given the calendar, we saw a window here. Unfortunately I don’t think the owners were willing.”

David Aldridge of Turner Sports reports via Twitter:

Billy Hunter: “pessimistic” that season will start on time, despite “robust” discussions today. No further talks scheduled.

Hunter said union was willing to move off if its current proposals, to no avail.

Derek Fisher: “it’s discouraging and it’s unfortunate, but that’s the reality of where we are right now.”

Hunter: owners were receptive 2 player proposal on economics, not willing to make concessions on their proposal on the system-a union must.

Fisher: “..obv b/c of the calendar, we can’t come out of this thinking that training camps and the season will start on time.”

Bottom line: union was willing to give up more money from its previous proposal ($100m/yr in concessions) to keep current system in place.

League previously called union proposal “modest” and claimed players wouldn’t be really giving back $100M annually.

Fisher: “this is a position we expected to find ourselves in two years ago.”

The Minnesota Timberwolves today announced the team has reached an agreement in principle on a contract with Rick Adelman to become the 10th head coach in franchise history. Adelman ranks eighth all-time in NBA coaching wins with a 945-616 (.605 winning percentage) career record in 20 seasons as a head coach.

Adelman, 65, has previously served as head coach of four NBA teams: Portland (1988-94), Golden State (1995-97), Sacramento (1998-2006) and Houston (2007-11). Some of his coaching highlights include: two NBA Finals appearances (1990 and 1992 with Portland), four Western Conference Finals (1989-90, 1990-91 and 1991-92 with Portland and 2002 with Sacramento) and four division titles (1990-91 and 1991-92 with Portland; 2001-02 and 2002-03 with Sacramento).

Additionally, Adelman’s teams have reached the NBA playoffs in 16 of his 20 seasons as a head coach, and he holds an all-time playoff record of 79-78 (.503 winning percentage). He is one of only five head coaches in NBA history to win 60+ games with two different teams (Portland and Sacramento). Adelman has been runner-up for the NBA Coach of the Year award four times. Most recently, Adelman was the head coach of the Houston Rockets the past four seasons leading Houston to a 193-135 record, with the .588 winning percentage being the highest in franchise history.

The AP reports:

The Detroit Pistons have agreed to terms with former NBA players Dee Brown and Roy Rogers to become assistants on the staff of new head coach Lawrence Frank…

Brown, who played 12 years in the NBA with Boston, Toronto and Orlando, has coached the Springfield Armor of the NBA Development League. Rogers played 137 NBA games from 1996-2000 with Vancouver, Boston, Toronto and Denver. He worked for Frank as an assistant when Frank was coach of the New Jersey Nets.

Frank Isola of the New York Daily News reports:

Jamal Crawford, who could love nothing more than to rejoin the Knicks when a new collective bargaining agreement is finalized, will apparently have new representation when he officially becomes a free agent.

According to a person close to the former Knicks shooting guard, Crawford has parted ways with his longtime agency, Goodwin Sports Management, and is seeking a new agent.

The Goodwin brothers, Aaron and Eric, have maintained a good relationship with the Knicks, particularly when Isiah Thomas was in charge. It was Thomas who orchestrated a sign-and-trade with the Bulls to originally acquire Crawford. Thomas also made a draft day trade for another Goodwin client, Nate Robinson.

John Reid of the New Orleans Times-Picayune reports:

Hornets point guard Chris Paul married his longtime girlfriend, Jada Crawley, this past Saturday in Charlotte, N.C.

A number of teammates and celebrities attended the wedding, including the Miami Heat’s LeBron James and his girlfriend, Savannah Brinson, New York Knicks star Carmelo Anthony and his wife, LaLa, and Heat star Dwyane Wade and his girlfriend, Gabrielle Union.

Hornets General Manager Dell Demps and Coach Monty Williams also attended — with league permission.