NBA News Blog – Page 1035 – NBA Blog

Bobcats narrow coaching search down to three

The Charlotte Bobcats are inching closer to naming a new head coach after trimming their coaching search three – Jerry Sloan, Brian Shaw and Quin Snyder, said a person familiar with the situation.

The person spoke on the condition of anonymity because the team has not made its list of candidates public.

Bobcats owner Michael Jordan will meet with Shaw, an assistant with the Indiana Pacers, and Snyder, an assistant with the Los Angeles Lakers, at some point this week. Sloan has already met with Jordan.

The previous candidates, other than Sloan, had interviewed with president of basketball operations Rod Higgins and general manager Rich Cho.

Eliminated from consideration were Orlando assistant coach Patrick Ewing, Charlotte assistant Stephen Silas, ex-Portland coach Nate McMillan, Golden State assistant Michael Malone, Cleveland assistant Nate Tibbetts, Memphis assistant Dave Joerger and St. John’s University assistant Mike Dunlap.

— Reported by the Associated Press

Seattle mayor meets with David Stern

Mayor Mike McGinn met with NBA Commissioner David Stern in New York City on Monday to tell him Seattle wants to bring back professional basketball.

“We met so the mayor could show his commitment to bringing an NBA team back to Seattle,” wrote McGinn spokesman Aaron Pickus in an email.

The visit came as a surprise to local representatives of Chris Hansen, the San Francisco hedge-fund manager who is proposing to spend up to $800 million to partially finance a new arena and buy an NBA team.

Rollin Fatland, a spokesman for Hansen, said he didn’t know anything about the meeting.

“What the hell is that about?” Fatland said, adding that the mayor may have contacted others about the meeting. “I’m not aware that anyone asked him to do it.”

— Reported by the Seattle Times

Ray Allen having ankle surgery Wednesday

Ray Allen vowed to take care of his problematic right ankle quickly, and the Celtics guard was as good as his word.

Allen will have surgery to remove bone spurs from the ankle at 6 a.m. on Wednesday at New England Baptist Hospital, according to a source.

The problem, which first surfaced during in Los Angeles during the C’s’ eight-game road trip in mid-March, eventually forced Allen to miss 15 regular-season games as well as the first two games of the Celtics’ first-round playoff series against Atlanta.

By Allen’s own admission, the ankle had a serious impact on his ability to cut, plant and rise for his fabled jump shot. It even affected his free throw form.

— Reported by Mark Murphy of the Boston Herald

Mike Miller denies that he will soon retire

The text message was swift and to the point, only minutes after ESPN reported that he had said these NBA Finals could be the final two weeks of his career.

“What!!!!” was the text message reply from Miami Heat forward Mike Miller to the Sun Sentinel.

A few minutes later, after he had the chance to get to others who had made him aware of the report, came a phone call.

“I’m not retiring,” he told the Sun Sentinel. “I don’t know what I’m doing.” …

Should Miller, 32, retire, he would forgo $18.8 million over the next three seasons.

— Reported by Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel

Sixers seeking replacement for Rod Thorn

Whether the Sixers need wholesale changes or a tweak here or there this offseason, the first change appears to be with the man charged with making those moves.

The Sixers are currently interviewing potential replacements for president of basketball operations Rod Thorn, team sources told the Daily News on Monday.

The team has received permission to talk with personnel executives from some teams, a source said. The Sixers also have been turned down by some organizations.

Potential candidates, according to league sources, include San Antonio vice president of operations Danny Ferry; Spurs assistant GM Dennis Lindsey; Jeff Bower, who was a general manager for the New Orleans Hornets; Oklahoma City assistant GM Troy Weaver; Atlanta GM Rick Sund, whose contract expires at the end of June; and Milwaukee GM John Hammond, who has a year remaining on his deal. Hammond, who was denied permission to talk to Portland last month, was an assistant coach for Doug Collins with Detroit.

— Reported by Bob Cooney of the Philadelphia Daily News

Vanessa and Kobe Bryant divorce is off

Vanessa Bryant will NOT sign documents to make her divorce final … at least for now … because TMZ has learned, she and Kobe are working on a full reconciliation.

We’ve learned Kobe and Vanessa are trying to work out the issues that caused her to file for divorce back in December. They spend a lot of time together but he has not officially moved back in with her.

Under California law, Vanessa has to wait 6 months before she can file final docs making the divorce official. The 6-month mark hits this weekend, so Vanessa could end the marriage as early as Monday … but we know she won’t.

— Reported by TMZ

Obama passes on making NBA Finals prediction

Asked by a television reporter from Reno, Nev., to predict a winner on Monday Obama demurred.

Obama, an avid basketball fan, said, quoting: “Both teams look terrific and I am looking forward to a good series. Hopefully, it will go to seven games. But I can’t make a prediction right now. They both look pretty tough.”

— Reported by the Associated Press

Memphis Grizzlies confirm that team will be sold

Michael E. Heisley, the majority owner of the Memphis Grizzlies, announced today an agreement for the sale of the franchise to an entity owned by Robert J. Pera. Robert J. Pera is the founder and CEO of Ubiquiti Networks, a publicly-traded next-generation communications technology company. The sale transaction is subject to approval by the NBA Board of Governors, antitrust clearance and other conditions.

The Grizzlies were purchased by Mr. Heisley in 2000 when the team was located in Vancouver, Canada. In 2001, the Grizzlies were relocated to Memphis, Tennessee, and in 2004 moved into FedExForum, a state-of-the art NBA arena built by the City of Memphis and Shelby County. Since moving to Memphis, the team has participated in the NBA playoffs for five seasons, including the two most successful campaigns in franchise history, in 2010-11 and 2011-12.

“I have enjoyed my ownership of the Grizzlies and the support for professional basketball in Memphis,” said Heisley. “I am confident that the franchise will continue its development toward being a perennial championship contender and an important member of the Memphis community. I am particularly gratified that we have put together a team which is poised to continue its improvement. We have an outstanding team of players, coaching staff, and basketball and business management. In Robert, we have a new owner who has expressed a total commitment to build on our success in Memphis.”

“I am excited about the opportunity to build on the work that has made the Memphis Grizzlies a highly competitive NBA team,” Pera said. “I look forward to getting to know the Memphis community and to continuing the team’s success in Memphis.”

Memphis Grizzlies sale agreement reached

After two consecutive trips to the playoffs and a return to respectability in the Western Conference, Michael Heisley has found a buyer to purchase the Memphis Grizzlies, according to sources with knowledge of the owner’s plans.

Sources told ESPN.com that Heisley has an agreement in principle to sell the team to communications technology magnate Robert Pera, who at 34 has a spot on Forbes’ list of the 10 youngest billionaries in the world.

The purchase price is in the $350 million range, sources said. A formal announcement to publicize the agreement between the parties is expected this week, possibly as soon as later Monday, with NBA Board of Governors approval then required before Pera can be officially installed as successor to Heisley, who recently turned 75.

Sources say that Pera intends to keep the team in Memphis. The Grizzlies’ lease at the FedExForum, furthermore, ties the team to the city until the year 2021, with steep financial penalties attached to breaking that lease.

— Reported by Marc Stein of ESPN.com

NBA referees to honor Greg Willard during Finals

NBA referees officiating the Finals will wear number 57 on their jerseys to recognize NBA referee Greg Willard who was recently diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. The gesture of support for Greg and his family was arranged in cooperation with the NBA.

Greg Willard has been an NBA referee for 24 seasons and has officiated over 1,500 regular season games, 120 playoff games and has been officiating in The Finals since the 2009-2010 season. “Greg’s professionalism and integrity have made him a role model within the NBA community,” said NBRA General Counsel Lee Seham. “We want him and his family to know that our thoughts and prayers are with them.”