The Nuggets have made no indication that they will actively shop Carmelo Anthony, but they will listen to offers, according to the Denver Post.

Because of his off the court problems and the luxury tax, Denver may be inclined to see what sort of package Anthony would yield. [READ]

Raptors restricted free agent Jose Calderon has posted on his website that he wants to be an NBA starter, which is the same declaration made recently by fellow Raptor point guard T.J. Ford, the Toronto Star is reporting.

"I want to be a starter and be in a team that aspires to everything," he wrote. "I will not be on a team in which I cannot be an important contributor." [READ]

Dennis Lindsey, assistant general manager of the San Antonio Spurs , is reportedly a candidate for the vacancy with the Atlanta Hawks following the resignation of Billy Knight.

The Spurs have yet to receive a request for permission to speak with Lindsey. [READ]

Kevin Love has turned down an offer to participate in the NBA's official pre-draft camp in Orlando.

Stan Love said his son doesn't have any scheduled workouts yet, but the Clippers, Miami, New Jersey and New York are among the teams that have shown interest.

"We're not going to get carried away (with individual workouts)," Love said. "He's going to work out for the teams that are going to be a good fit for him. He's not going to work out for teams that don't need a power forward or center."

"He's not playing ball or participating in (the camp)," Stan Love said. "He's just going to get measured and those things. It's a guard kind of thing. It doesn't do anything for Kevin.

"The guards just jack the ball up. It's very difficult when you're at a camp with all the guards trying to impress. As a big guy, they're not throwing you the ball. You're not going to show anything. Private team workouts will be much better for both parties." [READ]

Golden State's Mickael Pietrus drew interest from the Heat last summer as a restricted free agent and will be a UFA this summer. They are likely to express interest in the small forward again this year.

RealGM Note: Pietrus was ranked 218th amongst all players according to our FIC and had a -24% Reina Value. With a per 40 FIC of 10.8 (just over the league median), Pietrus 'deserved' to make $2.75 million in 07-08. [READ]

The Atlanta Hawks could fill their head coaching vacancy with Avery Johnson or Mike D'Antoni.

Johnson has $11 million owed to him from Dallas and that may cause him to be patient to wait for the right opportunity to reemerge. [READ]

The Nuggets are eyeing North Carolina point guard Ty Lawson with their late first round draft pick.

Lawson was injured for long stretches of his sophomore season at the University of North Carolina. [READ]

Jazz owner Larry Miller will not attend the team's Game Four against the Lakers on Sunday because of his religious beliefs, according to NBA.com.

Miller is a member of the Mormon Church, which encourages its members to avoid non-religious activities on Sundays.

Game Four will be the team's first home game on a Sunday since the 2001 playoffs. Ironically, the game was against Los Angeles as well. [READ]

Donnie Walsh refuted an internet report that the Knicks were preparing to make Mike D'Antoni a "staggering" offer to succeed Isiah Thomas, according to The New York Daily News.

The team's newest president has not given any indication that D'Antoni has replaced Mark Jackson as the favorite for the vacant gig in New York.

"We have not offered anyone a coaching contract," Walsh said in a released statement on Thursday night.

ESPN.com reported on Thursday that D'Antoni had become Walsh's newest top target. [READ]

Bobcats executive Bernie Bickerstaff has been fired by the organization, New York Post columnist Peter Vecsey is reporting.

According to Vecsey, Bickerstaff has been mentioned by many as a genuine contender for the Knicks' GM job and as a sideline mentor for Mark Jackson should he become Isiah Thomas' successor. [READ]

According to Marc Stein from ESPN, the New York Knicks outlined the parameters on a lucrative 5 year deal they are prepared to give to to Suns coach Mike D'Antoni on Thursday, and the Bulls offer is expected to come by Sunday at the latest.

While many still consider Chicago to be D'Antoni's most likely destination, ESPN The Magazine's Ric Bucher, quoting a source close to D'Antoni, reported on SportsCenter early Friday that D'Antoni is leaning toward taking the New York job.

It remains to be seen how high the Bulls are willing to go financially in comparison and how much security their pitch will afford. The Chicago Tribune reported in Thursday's editions the Bulls are determined to "pay D'Antoni only on their terms" and won't engage in a "protracted price war" with the Knicks. [READ]

The City of Seattle claimed another small legal victory on Thursday when U.S. District Court Judge Marsha Pechman denied the team's motion aimed at exposing some documents subpoenaed from developer Matt Griffin, Greg Johns from the Seattle Post-Intelligencer is reporting.

Sonics attorneys had asked Pechman to eliminate "Attorney's Eyes Only" designations and some redactions on much of the material obtained from Griffin during the discovery process, but the judge ruled those items can remain sealed. [READ]

The day after Gilbert Arenas announced via his blog that he will not return to Washington without teammate Antawn Jamison, team president Ernie Grunfeld told reporters that he and Arenas were on the same page, the Washington Post is reporting.

"It's good because we're on the same page, because we want to sign Antawn and we want to sign Gilbert," Grunfeld said. "I kind of like that he's supportive of his teammate, he's supportive of Antawn and that's been our plan all along. So, I'm glad to see everybody in the organization on the same page." [READ]

The Dallas Mavericks and representatives for Rick Carlisle worked into the night on Thursday hammering out an agreement for Carlisle to be hired as the team's new coach, the Dallas Morning News is reporting.

While there have been no major snags, meaning it is only a matter of time, the press conference scheduled for today may be pushed back to allow for the deal to be completed. [READ]

The NBA players union plans to file a complaint after an official was denied access to the Boston Celtics locker room ahead of Game 2 on Thursday night, Marc Stein from ESPN.com is reporting.

Union spokesman Dan Wasserman said the union was initially told that no one from the organization would be allowed in the Celtics' locker room. After calls of protest were made to the Celtics and to the league office, the team agreed to allow union director Billy Hunter into the locker room prior to tip-off.

Another union official, attorney Hal Biagas, was told he could have access to the locker room after the game, but not before.

"The Celtics are the only team in the league that believes they have the right to keep union personnel from the locker room, and as a result we're filing a complaint with the NLRB," Wasserman said, explaining that a basic tenet of labor law calls for union representatives to have access to employees inside the workplace. [READ]

Cavaliers forward Ben Wallace was forced from the court during the team's 89-73 loss in Boston last night with what was originally labeled dizziness, the Associated Press is reporting.

Wallace later blamed allergies for the problem.

"You know it's a tough place for allergies, but no one has warned me," Wallace said. "That's when it started -- headaches. Then it got worse. I got lightheaded and my head started spinning."

"I got lightheaded," he said. "There was smoke in the first quarter. You can't play basketball with your head spinning like that." [READ]

Pistons guard Chauncey Billups is not sure if he'll be okay to play in Game 4 in Orlando because of a troublesome right hamstring, Chris McCosky of the Detroit News is reporting.

"Sore, man, it's just sore," Billups said when asked about the hamstring. "I am just going to take it one day at a time." [READ]

Guards Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili both scored 31 points and the Spurs beat the Hornets 110-99 on Thursday night in Game 3 of the Western Conference semifinals, as reported by the Associated Press.

Chris Paul led the Hornets with 35 points, who still hold a 2-1 series lead. [READ]

The Cleveland Cavaliers jumped out to an early lead, but the Boston Celtics stormed back in the second quarter and ran away with Game Two, 89-73, to take a 2-0 series lead on Thursday night.

Kevin Garnett posted 13 points and 12 rebounds and Leon Powe tallied 11 points and 7 boards for the Celtics, who shot 40% from the field and outrebounded Cleveland by six.

Paul Pierce rebounded with 19 points and 6 boards in the Game Two win, while Ray Allen contributed his first points of the series with 16 on 4-for-10 shooting after being held scoreless in Game One.

LeBron James struggled once again, scoring 21 points on 6-for-24 shooting. He added 6 assists, 5 rebounds and 7 turnovers in the loss.

Zydrunas Ilgauskas added 19 points for the Cavs, who shot just 35% on the night because of both poor shooting and Boston's defense.

Ben Wallace left the game in the first quarter due to dizziness.

Cleveland also struggled from behind the three-point line, going 2-for-13 in Game Two.

The Cavaliers led 24-17 after the first quarter, but the Celtics used 53-27 run over the second and third to take a nineteen-point lead into the final twelve minutes of play.

Game Three will be Saturday night in Cleveland. [READ]

The New Jersey Nets have promoted Kiki Vandeweghe to the position of General Manager, Nets President Rod Thorn announced today. Vandeweghe originally joined the Nets as Special Assistant to the President on December 31, 2007. As per team policy, terms of the contract were not released.

“We are very pleased that Kiki will continue his relationship with the Nets organization, “said Thorn. “When Kiki joined us in December, I felt that his experience as both an All-Star player and front office executive would be an invaluable asset to both myself and the franchise, and his work in the ensuing months has reinforced that belief. This new position solidifies his relationship with Nets basketball.” [READ]

Celtics' guard Sam Cassell doesn't understand why the NBA is protecting Cleveland's LeBron James with favorable foul calls, according to The Boston Globe.

Cassell was called for a flagrant-1 foul during Game One on Tuesday after fouling James from behind during a layup attempt.

"Wow. It's just different right now," said Cassell Wednesday. "They gave me a flagrant-1 foul, and no way in the world was it a flagrant-1 foul. I'm going to call [NBA vice president] Stu [ Jackson] and see what he thinks about that. That's not a flagrant-1 foul at all. Back in the day, a flagrant-1 was bloodshed. Now, you can just grab somebody...It's the new NBA."

Cassell claims that James receives even more favorable attention than Michael Jordan did during his heyday.

"I know Jordan is sitting at home right now pouting because they didn't protect him. There wasn't no bigger star than him, and he took some banging. But he got through it. That's why he got considered the best player to pick up a basketball," Cassell added. [READ]

The 76ers have roughly $11 million in cap space this summer and General Manager Ed Stefanski reportedly has Elton Brand and Josh Smith on his radar, according to The News Journal.

Stefanski is also rumored to be interested in Antawn Jamison, but he appears to be the most likely to remain with his current team (Washington).

"The perfect situation is to get a power forward," Stefanski said. "But I'm not going to be distraught if we don't get one because we'll add some pieces to do it in a different way."

Stefanski is also hoping to re-sign swingman Andre Iguodala this summer while fortifying the team's roster through the draft (16th pick). [READ]

NBA Commissioner David Stern said on Wednesday that the league plans to consider changing its rules on fouls away from the ball and the use of replays for game clock malfunctions, according to ESPN.com's J.A. Adande.

"I think there are two subjects that are going to get some attention by the competition committee. Number 1 is review on clock situations, and number 2 is the whole intentional fouls away from the play, etc. I don't know what the results will be in each one, but I think those are worthy of some considered attention," Stern said at the STAPLES Center before he presented Kobe Bryant with the league's MVP award.

Both issues have moved to the forefront during this year's playoffs.

The Spurs repeatedly used the 'Hack-a-Shaq' strategy during their first round series with the Suns while Chauncey Billups was credited with a three-pointer at the end of the third quarter in Game Two against Orlando that should not have counted. [READ]

Seattle SuperSonics General Manager Sam Presti announced today that Troy Weaver has been named Sonics assistant general manager.

Weaver was the Director of Player Personnel for the Utah Jazz in 2007-08. He originally joined the Jazz as head scout and served in that capacity for three seasons before his promotion to Director of Player Personnel.

Prior to joining the Jazz, Weaver spent four seasons as an assistant coach at Syracuse, one season at New Mexico and three seasons as an assistant coach with Pittsburgh. While at Syracuse, the team won the 2003 NCAA National Championship led by Weaver recruit Carmelo Anthony.

“Troy comes from a very successful organization in Utah,” Presti said. “He has a terrific array of personnel and coaching experience that will positively impact what we are trying to build here with the SuperSonics.” [READ]

NBA Most Valuable Player Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers headlines the First Team, as the NBA announced the 2007-08 All-NBA Teams today. Bryant is joined on the First Team by Kevin Garnett of the Boston Celtics , Dwight Howard of the Orlando Magic , LeBron James of the Cleveland Cavaliers and Chris Paul of the New Orleans Hornets .

The All-NBA Second Team consists of Phoenix’s Steve Nash and Utah’s Deron Williams at guard; San Antonio’s Tim Duncan and Dallas’ Dirk Nowitzki at forward; and Phoenix’s Amaré Stoudemire at center.

The All-NBA Third Team includes San Antonio’s Manu Ginobili and Houston’s Tracy McGrady at guard; Utah’s Carlos Boozer and Boston’s Paul Pierce at forwards; and Houston’s Yao Ming at center.

The All-NBA Teams were chosen by a panel of 127 sportswriters and broadcasters throughout the United States and Canada. The media voted for All-NBA First, Second and Third Teams by position with points awarded on a 5-3-1 basis.

Other players receiving votes, with point totals: Allen Iverson, Denver, 116; Carmelo Anthony, Denver, 89; Marcus Camby, Denver, 59; Chauncey Billups, Detroit, 38; Baron Davis, Golden State, 32; David West, New Orleans, 24; Rasheed Wallace, Detroit, 22; Tyson Chandler, New Orleans, 18; Antawn Jamison, Washington, 15; Al Jefferson, Minnesota, 14; Chris Bosh, Toronto, 11; Joe Johnson, Atlanta 8; Andre Miller, Philadelphia, 7; Caron Butler, Washington, 5; Shaquille O'Neal, Phoenix, 5; Pau Gasol, Los Angeles Lakers , 5; Kevin Martin, Sacramento, 4; Ray Allen, Boston, 4; Hedo Turkoglu, Orlando, 3; Jason Kidd, Dallas, 2; Josh Howard, Dallas, 2; Richard Hamilton, Detroit, 2; Andre Iguodala, Philadelphia, 1; Brandon Roy, Portland, 1; Michael Redd, Milwaukee, 1; Tayshaun Prince, Detroit, 1; Tony Parker, San Antonio, 1. [READ]

Jim O'Brien claims that his relationship with point guard Jamaal Tinsley is good, but that he isn't sure he can depend on him to run the Pacers, according to The Indianapolis Star.

"To say as a coach we're going to go with him as our point guard despite the injuries, you can't do that," O'Brien said Wednesday. "I would love to see him healthy, but that has not been the track record. It's very, very difficult to depend on him when, physically, he's been undependable. When he's on the court, we know what we're going to get. He's a great assist guy, he runs the fast break great. But based on the track record of physical ailments, how much can you depend on him?"

O'Brien campaigned to keep Tinsley on the team shortly after he was named coach last offseason, but their relationship appeared to sour soon after.

The two deny any personal misunderstanding, but their on-court relationship appears headed for the worst as well.

"It comes down to whether Jamaal is healthy enough to be part of the mix for the future," O'Brien said. [READ]

In a teleconference with reporters on Wednesday 76ers' GM Ed Stefanski admitted that retaining Andre Iguodala is the team's top priority this offseason, according to The Philadelphia Daily News.

"Iguodala is a very good basketball player. I think - I know - he's a guy we'd like to keep, going forward here," Stefanski said.

"Now, negotiations are negotiations," Stefanski said. "What I've said numerous times is, 'we're trying to get a 'team.' We're not built to run [the Detroit Pistons '] style, but if we can get a team like that and have a style we'd like to play, which is an up-tempo style, that would be our goal."

Iguodala is a restricted free agent and rejected an in-season offer to remain with the team over the long-term.

RealGM Note: Iguodala ranked 20th in the NBA using the Floor Impact Counter (FIC) as a guide. He also posted a Reina Value of +399, meaning that he 'deserved' to make more than the 76ers were actually paying him. [READ]

John Paxson plans to meet with Avery Johnson before deciding who the next coach of the Chicago Bulls will be, Mike McGraw of the Daily Herald is reporting.

[READ]

The lawyer for Nets' forward Richard Jefferson has called the case bought against his client bogus, claiming that the accuser of the Nets forward was "incredibly drunk" at the time of the altercation at a Minneapolis club last winter, Newark Star-Ledger columnist Dave D-Alessandro is reporting.

Defense attorney Joe Friedberg added the plaintiff's only motive is to set up a subsequent civil case for financial gain.

"I think we all know this guy (Jefferson) is not the type to get involved with something like this," Friedberg said. "Something is really out of whack, and beneath this is the potentiality of a civil suit." [READ]

According to the East Valley Tribune, the New York Knicks could soon make a substantial financial offer to Suns coach Mike D'Antoni, which could show him that he is their number one coaching target.

The offer, which could top $30 million for five years, would figure to far outdistance any offer D'Antoni's other suitor, the Chicago Bulls , could muster.

D'Antoni's agent Warren LaGarie, who was flying back to the United States from Greece on Wednesday, will make use of a stopover in New York this morning to meet with the Knicks.

But while the Big Apple is coming after D'Antoni hard, sources confirm the Bulls still represent the better on-court situation in his eyes. [READ]

According to a report in the Arizona Republic, Avery Johnson has been eliminated as a candidate for the head coaching job in Chicago.

Mike D'Antoni still appears to be the strongest candidate for the Bulls, but money is still a concern with the team also paying Scott Skiles $4m next season despite Skiles signing a four year, $18m contract to coach the Milwaukee Bucks .

Former Sun Charles Barkley lashed out at D'Antoni on Wednesday, saying D'Antoni wants out but is too scared to resign.

"Mike D'Antoni wants to leave, and he don't have the (guts) to resign," Barkley said on Dan Patrick's radio show. "He wants them to fire him. He wants to get paid and get another job. He wants to get his cake and eat it, too. He's trying to hold them hostage. He knows he's going to get another job. He wants the Suns to fire him so he can get that $9 million they owe him."

"If he had any (guts) whatsoever, he'd say, 'You know what? I don't want to be here,' but he wants them to fire him so he can get paid and get another job." [READ]

The Seattle SuperSonics will name Utah Jazz head scout Troy Weaver as their assistant general manager, the Seattle Post-Intelligencer is reporting.

Weaver spent four years with the Jazz as a scout and has extensive experience working with blue-chip prospects. He spent four years as an assistant to Jim Boeheim and was responsible for recruiting Carmelo Anthony. [READ]

Andrew Bynum may undergo exploratory surgery on his troublesome left knee if he does not feel any relief in the next 3-4 weeks, Mike Bresnahan of the L.A. Times is reporting.

The injury has kept the Lakers' big man out of uniform since January 13.

Bynum had a medical consultation with Steven Gecha on Wednesday in Princeton, N.J., his second trip in the last few weeks to see an East Coast doctor.

"I'm not surprised about it," Lakers' Coach Phil Jackson said of the most recent medical update. "He was making progress and then he hit a wall and was experiencing continual swelling and backed off from that."

"Andrew was feeling better, and I think that's why the doctor said, 'Let's wait another three weeks or so to see how this goes because it's still a little bit touch and go.' " [READ]

No Antawn Jamison, no Gilbert Arenas.

That is the ultimatum that Arenas has given the Washington Wizards , according to the Associated Press.

"If he doesn't come back, I'm not coming back," Arenas said Wednesday in a posting on his blog.

Jamison is a free agent and Arenas can opt out of his contract, and the duo have been teammates in Washington for the past four seasons following the pair playing together in Golden State for two seasons before Arenas left via free agency.

"I want to be back in Washington, but weird things happen in free agency," Arenas said on the blog. "If Antawn is not back, then there's no point in me coming back because he's part of my success, too." [READ]

Pistons' guard Chauncey Billups was forced from the court during the first quarter of Orlando's 111-86 win in Game 3 last night, the Associated Press is reporting.

Billups played only 3:49 after getting tied up with Orlando's Jameer Nelson on a drive to the basket. Nelson's leg caught Billups', and the Pistons' All-Star fell to the court. [READ]

Steve Francis has decided to pick up his player option with the team, avoiding free agency, the team's official website has announced.

Francis appeared in 10 games in 2007-08, averaging 5.5 points and 3.0 assists before being sidelined by the knee injury. [READ]

Rick Carlisle's agent has told the Dallas Morning News that the agreement between his client and the Dallas Mavericks should be completed today and that Carlisle should be announced as the team's new coach on Friday.

"We're headed for a successful landing, I believe, in the next day or so," agent Warren LeGarie said. [READ]

Nuggets' assistant Coach Mike Dunlap, who interviewed with John Paxson for the vacant Chicago Bulls ' coaching position only last week, appears to be headed to the University of Arizona to join Lute Olson's staff, the Denver Post is reporting.

"My arrow is pointed in that direction," Dunlap said, confirming the offer and his interest Tuesday. He said he has yet to sign a contract.

"I've covered it with Coach (George Karl,) and they know what's on the table," Dunlap said. "It's just a matter of going into Arizona and seeing Coach (Olson) one last time to complete everything." [READ]