The Latest Basketball Newslines

Knicks, Jackson Discussing Front Office Job

Phil Jackson has been offered a front office position with the Knicks and is expected to give the club a decision sometime next week, the Daily News has learned.

According to an NBA source, Garden Chairman James Dolan has met with Jackson about a potential return to the franchise where he was a member of the Knicks' only two championship teams. Jackson also won 11 titles as a head coach with the Chicago Bulls and Los Angeles Lakers but apparently has no interest in coaching the Knicks.

ESPN's Stephen A. Smith reported that Knicks president Steve Mills offered the head coaching position to Jackson but he declined. Jackson has on numerous occasions ruled out returning to the bench. However, the 68-year-old Hall of Fame coach has said publicly that he would like to move into a front office and run a team.

via Frank Isola of the New York Daily News

NBA Suspends Bucks’ Ilyasova 1 Game

https://twitter.com/SpearsNBAYahoo/status/442040383078289408

via Marc J. Spears of Yahoo! Sports on Twitter

Millsap to Play for Hawks Tonight

https://twitter.com/SpearsNBAYahoo/status/442014174881665024

via Marc J. Spears of Yahoo! Sports on Twitter

Blazers’ Robinson Set to Return Tonight

Portland Trail Blazers head coach Terry Stotts announced at shootaround this morning that forward Thomas Robinson will be activated for tonight's game against the Dallas Mavericks. Whether he plays tonight or not is unknown.

Robinson, 23, suffered a left patella tendon strain on Feb. 25 in game against the Denver Nuggets when he went up for a dunk attempt.

via Chris Haynes of CSN Northwest

Lakers’ Kobe Feels High Chance Gasol Stays

According to @RicBucher, Kobe Bryant believes Pau Gasol's chance of returning next season is 8 out of 10.

via Serena Winters of Lakers Nation on Twitter

LeBron Open to Mentoring Paul George

LeBron James would be open to mentoring rival Paul George this summer if he's asked by the Indiana Pacers' star, James said Thursday night.

In an interview this week with BasketballInsiders.com, George said he hoped he could spend some time talking to James this summer to get some advice.

"Pick [my brain] like Hannibal Lector?" James said jokingly. "You know me, I don't mind it at all. I don't mind giving guys [advice], whatever he wants to ask. Guys know I have an open door/phone policy."

via Brian Windhorst of ESPN

Woodson Takes Blame for Knicks’ Struggles

If you're looking for someone to blame for the Knicks' miserable season, Mike Woodson has a candidate for you.

"I put it all on my shoulders," Woodson said Thursday in an interview on ESPN New York 98.7 FM's The Stephen A. Smith and Ryan Ruocco Show.

"I’ve always thought as a coach, and most coaches probably feel the same way, you need talent to win, you need healthy bodies to win. But I’ve kinda gotten past that," Woodson added. "I think I can take whoever suits up and win with it. That’s just how I feel."

via Ian Begley of ESPN New York

Rudy Gay Admits Inefficiency As a Raptor

Apparently, and the veteran (Rudy Gay) has handled himself with class, even as he’s been branded a scapegoat and the lone reason why the Raptors looked headed for the high lottery to start this season.

To Gay’s credit, he recognizes that while he wasn’t the only problem, his career-low 38.8% shooting and career-worst 3.3 turnovers per game were hurting the Raptors significantly.

“I was inefficient when I was here. I’m not anymore. I was when I was here,” Gay said, declining to provide a reason other than “it could have been a lot of things,” as to why his game was so off.

via Ryan Wolstat of the Toronto Sun

Another NBA Lockout Looming Already?

It is a little more than three years before the NBA’s current collective bargaining agreement, accepted after a five-month lockout in 2011, can be tinkered with — only after the 2016-17 season can either the league or the union exercise its opt-out on the deal.

So it may be premature to mention this, but hidden in the details of the league’s day-to-day business in recent months has been this fact: The groundwork is already being laid for another lockout.

That is the consensus among league executives and prominent agents. But it is articulated particularly well by Charles Grantham, who worked for the union from 1978-95, serving as its executive director for the last seven of those years (he left a year before Billy Hunter, who was deposed last year amid scandal, took over). No replacement for Hunter has been named, and that’s just one element feeding lockout fears.

via Sean Deveney of the Sporting News

Woodson Deflects Melo To Chicago Talk

Knicks coach Mike Woodson steered clear of the recruitment talk.

"I'm not going to get into all of that," he said on ESPN New York 98.7 FM's "The Stephen A. Smith and Ryan Ruocco Show" Thursday. "You know legally nobody can recruit anyone. You can't do that at this point. Melo is still wearing a Knicks uniform and I hope he stays with the Knicks for the rest of his career. I've always said that. So whatever was said between Noah and the Chicago Bulls, that's on them."

via Chris Broussard of ESPN

Silver Vows to Fix Perception on Officiating

New NBA Commissioner Adam Silver has vowed to have an open dialogue about officiating that he hopes will bridge the gap between fact and fiction. And while his new methods have caused some early concerns that this will lead to even more criticism than before, the most ardent critic on the other side sees this as a significant step forward.

"I love it," Dallas Mavericks owner and resident pain-in-officials'-sides Mark Cuban told USA TODAY Sports via e-mail. "We are the only top league where some fans question the integrity of the league. That will change under Adam."

via Sam Amick of USA TODAY Sports

Bulls’ Noah Sprains Thumb; Update Friday

Initial tests on (Joakim) Noah's thumb showed a sprain, according to a league source. Should get another update tomorrow from Thibs.

via Nick Friedell of ESPN Chicago on Twitter

Curry Expected to Play Tonight for Warriors

The Warriors expect Steph Curry to play tomorrow vs. Atlanta and say he didn't require further examination on his "sore right leg" Thursday.

via Rusty Simmons of the San Francisco Chronicle on Twitter

Wizards to Sign Gooden to Second Contract?

For (Drew) Gooden to join the Wizards in Milwaukee, the team will have to sign him to another 10-day contract. With Nene out for another five weeks with a left knee sprain and Kevin Seraphin day-to-day with a right knee injury, the Wizards still need some interior help. Gooden liked his chances when he showed up to practice on Tuesday and saw that there was nameplate above his locker room stall that read, “Gooden 90.”

“They gave me a little incentive that I might be here,” Gooden said.

A source with knowledge of the team’s thinking said the Wizards’ “likely” will sign Gooden to a second 10-day  contract on Saturday after his first one expires.

via Michael Lee of the Washington Post

Brown: Hawes, Thompson to Remain Starters

(Coach Mike) Brown said he expects to leave center Spencer Hawes and power forward Tristan Thompson in the starting lineup. If he uses Varejao and Tyler Zeller with the second unit, that leaves little or no minutes for No. 1 overall pick Anthony Bennett.

“That’s for Coach to figure out,” Zeller said. “Whatever happens, happens. It’s the life of an NBA player. You have to compete for every minute you get.”

via Bob Finnan of The News-Herald & The Morning Journal