Nick Collison undergoes knee surgery

Nick Collison undergoes knee surgery, out 4-6 weeks

Nick Collison undergoes knee surgery

Oklahoma City Thunder forward Nick Collison underwent a successful arthroscopic procedure today on his right knee, Thunder Executive Vice President and General Manager Sam Presti announced.

The procedure was performed by the Thunder’s Head Orthopedic Physician, Carlan Yates at the McBride Orthopedic Hospital in Oklahoma City. Collison is expected to miss 4-6 weeks before returning to normal offseason activities.

This past season, Collison appeared in 66 games (two starts) and averaged 4.1 points, 3.8 rebounds and 1.4 assists in 16.7 minutes per game.

Billy Donovan is getting the OKC Thunder head coaching job

Billy Donovan is getting the OKC Thunder head coaching job

The Oklahoma City Thunder have made a decision as to who should lead Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, Serge Ibaka, Enes Kanter and friends into the future. Here’s the Oklahoman reporting:

A coaching search that started with Thunder general manager Sam Presti saying he wouldn’t limit the scope of candidates he would consider ended Thursday with Oklahoma City getting the one man it seemed to be after from the start.

Billy Donovan will become the third coach in Thunder history after agreeing to a multi-year deal with the team just one week after Oklahoma City fired Scott Brooks.

Complete terms of the deal are unknown at this time. Yahoo Sports reports the deal is for five years.

Donovan, 49, is a two-time national championship coach at Florida, the program he’s leaving after 19 seasons.

Chandler Parsons plans to actively recruit talent for Mavs

Chandler Parsons plans to actively recruit talent for Mavs

Here’s the Dallas Morning News reporting on injured small forward Chandler Parsons, who aside from focusing on regaining health plans to do his part as a talent recruiter this offseason:

Chandler Parsons plans to actively recruit talent for Mavs

Parsons is willing work for getting those good players around him. He plans to spend the summer recruiting free agents to play for the Mavericks.

“I’m officially shifting into GM mode,” he said. “I have great relationships with a lot of guys that are out there. I have a great relationship with a lot of guys that are currently on our team, so as a guy that will be here for a while and as one of the key guys going forward I will definitely be talking to management. Anything I can do to help I’ll obviously do.”

Parsons said he hasn’t talked to management about who to target yet – the season ended yesterday – but that it was a “known thing” that he’d like be in on the recruiting pitches this offseason. He’ll be taking over for Dirk Nowitzki as the lead player recruiter. For his part, Nowitzki is fine with it.

“He’s great at that,” Nowitzki said.

Orlando Magic GM Rob Hennigan gets contract extension

Orlando Magic GM Rob Hennigan gets contract extension

The Orlando Magic have extended the contract of General Manager Rob Hennigan, Chief Executive Officer Alex Martins announced today. Hennigan’s contract has been extended through the 2017-18 season. Per team policy, terms of the deal are not disclosed.

“Under the leadership of Rob (Hennigan), we feel that we are positioning ourselves to be able to contend in a long-term, sustainable fashion,” said Martins. “We are proud of the work that Rob and our basketball operations department has done to this point and we look forward to taking the next steps in the process.”

Hennigan was named general manager of the Magic on June 20, 2012. He is responsible for overseeing all aspects of the team’s basketball operations, including day-to-day business, roster management and development, player acquisitions, salary cap management, analytical systems, and process development throughout the department. Before joining the Magic, Hennigan spent the previous four seasons (2008-12) with Oklahoma City, including his last two seasons as the Thunder’s assistant general manager/player personnel.

“It’s an honor to be a member of this organization and a privilege to work for the DeVos Family under Dan and Alex’s leadership,” said Hennigan. “I am extremely grateful for the unwavering trust and support that our entire organization demonstrates as we continue building our team for competitive longevity and one in which all of Central Florida can be proud.”

Prior to joining the Thunder, Hennigan spent four seasons with the San Antonio Spurs. He was named director of basketball operations in September of 2007. Hennigan began as an intern during the 2004-05 season and was later named the team’s basketball operations assistant during the summer of 2005. The Spurs won the NBA World Championship in 2004-05 and 2006-07.

Kevin Love out 4-6 months after shoulder surgery

Kevin Love injury leaves Cavs with frontcourt hole

Kevin Love out 4-6 months after shoulder surgery

Cleveland Cavaliers forward Kevin Love underwent successful surgery this afternoon at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York City to repair his dislocated left shoulder. The surgery was performed by Dr. David W. Altchek.

Continuing treatment and rehabilitation at Cleveland Clinic Courts and Cleveland Clinic Sports Health will be conducted by the Cavaliers’ medical staff and Head Team Physician Dr. Richard D. Parker.

Love’s projected recovery time is four to six months.

Mavs players decline to share playoff money with Rondo

Mavs players decline to share playoff money with Rondo

If Rajon Rondo wasn’t going to share his heart or talent with the Dallas Mavericks, the Mavs players apparently didn’t want to share their playoff bonus with him. Here’s the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reporting:

During their exit interview with the media Wednesday, the Dallas Mavericks players made all of the politically correct comments when asked about wayward point guard Rajon Rondo.

But when it came time for the 14 players to vote on whether or not to give Rondo a share of the pool of money they earned for qualifying for the playoffs, the Mavs players voted not to give him a share, according to multiple sources.

For participating in the first round of the playoffs, the Mavs earned a total of $208,940. Shared equally among the other 14 players, that’s an estimated $14,924 per player.

Doc Rivers fined for public criticism of officiating

Doc Rivers fined for public criticism of officiating

Doc Rivers fined for public criticism of officiating

Los Angeles Clippers head coach Doc Rivers has been fined $25,000 for public criticism of officiating, it was announced today by Rod Thorn, President, Basketball Operations.

Rivers made his comments following the Clippers’ 111-107 loss to the San Antonio Spurs on Tuesday, April 28, at Staples Center.

Bucks trying to make sure that actual Bucks fans attend their next home game

Bucks trying to make sure that actual Bucks fans attend their next home game

Here’s the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reporting on the Bucks, whose Chicago-based first round playoff opponent is practically another local team:

Bucks trying to make sure that actual Bucks fans attend the next Bucks home game

The first two home playoff games for the Bucks were sellouts last week, with the crowds nearly evenly divided between Milwaukee and Chicago fans.

But Game 6 on Thursday might be a bit different.

Plenty of Bulls fans will be in the stands as always, but the Bucks have tried to make sure more of their fans are holding tickets. The team is having a pre-sale of tickets until noon Wednesday, limited to fans with Wisconsin zip codes.

“There certainly will be Bulls fans here, and that’s fine,” said Bucks vice president of marketing Dustin Godsey. “Our goal is to give local fans the opportunity to get tickets.”

Jimmy Butler wants to step up his defense against Bucks

Jimmy Butler admitted after the Chicago Bulls’ 94-88 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference quarterfinals on Monday night that he believes he has been focused too much on offense and not enough on defense.

The Bulls still lead the series 3-2, but after dropping two straight games, the group’s confidence has taken a hit. Butler acknowledged that as a leader of this team, he has tried to speak to teammates in order to get the group back on the same page.

“I have,” Butler said. “I’ll stay on us about it. I’m supposed to be the prime-time defensive guy, and I haven’t been guarding a soul. I’ve been worried about offense too much, and I need to change that quickly or it’s going to be my fault.”

— ESPN Chicago

Carmelo Anthony wants Baltimore riots to stop

Knicks star forward Carmelo Anthony is technically a New York native, but he spent much of his childhood in Baltimore.

He’s watched the city fall apart in recent days with riots and looting, so he decided to speak out in an Instagram message to Baltimore that’s been liked over 57,000 times and has 1,500 comments as of Tuesday morning.

“We need to protect our city, not destroy it,” he wrote in the message below. “What happens when we get the answers that we want, and the media attention is not there anymore? We go back to being the same ol Baltimore City again.”

— NJ Advance Media