Headlines
Sources: Lakers Expected to Target Serge Ibaka in Free Agency

No matter what happens for the Lakers in the days after the upcoming NBA draft, when the league will begin its free-agency period, they will likely try to lure multiple veterans seeking to play for a contender to L.A., offering a chance at a championship but unable to offer a sizable payout as the team sits over the salary cap already.
One target is Raptors big man Serge Ibaka, according to executives around the league.
βFrom a personnel standpoint, he is exactly the kind of combo big guy that team (the Lakers) needs,β one NBA general manager told Heavy.com. βThey have had interest in him before and they will again. When he is healthy he is an excellent spot starter at the 5 (center) and the 4 (power forward). He is as good a bench big guy as there is in the league. He was a really credible 3-point threat last year. If he is willing to accept what the Lakers can afford to give him, I know they would want him.β
Source: Sean Deveney of Heavy.com
Headlines
Sources: Hawks Fire Lloyd Pierce, Nate McMillan to Serve as Interim Head Coach

Atlanta has dismissed Lloyd Pierce as coach, sources tell ESPN.
Atlanta has dismissed Lloyd Pierce as coach, sources tell ESPN.
β Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) March 1, 2021
ESPN Sources: Nate McMillan has accepted the interim head coaching job with the Hawks. McMillan has a 667-591 (.530) record in 16 seasons as head coach with Seattle, Portland and Indiana.
ESPN Sources: Nate McMillan has accepted the interim head coaching job with the Hawks. McMillan has a 667-591 (.530) record in 16 seasons as head coach with Seattle, Portland and Indiana.
β Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) March 1, 2021
Source: Adrian Wojnarowski on Twitter
Headlines
Sources: Joakim Noah to Retire

13-year NBA center Joakim Noah β a two-time All-Star and former Defensive Player of the Year winner β is effectively retiring from basketball, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium.
Plan is for the longtime Chicago star to eventually retire as a Bull.
13-year NBA center Joakim Noah β a two-time All-Star and former Defensive Player of the Year winner β is effectively retiring from basketball, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium.
Plan is for the longtime Chicago star to eventually retire as a Bull.
β Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) March 1, 2021
Source: Shams Charania on Twitter
Headlines
Sources: Victor Oladipo Turned Down Extension from Rockets

Houston Rockets guard Victor Oladipo recently turned down a two-year, $45.2 million maximum contract extension, the most the franchise could offer him before the end of the regular season, sources told ESPN.
As expected, Oladipo is pursuing a longer-term deal, sources said, something that the collective bargaining agreement doesn’t allow the Rockets to offer him until the offseason.
Source: Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN