Will Kobe Bryant stay with the Lakers? "I know he wants out of L.A. in the worst way," swears one of the few people who would know something so serious. By L.A., my informant means the Lakers, not the city; Kobe's thought process hasn't ruled out my Paper Clips. "Yeah, but I don't think that's going to happen," the source added, playing a little dodge ball. "Of all the teams who own ample salary cap room, the Clippers are a long shot." Meanwhile, Denver and Utah "have no shot," stressed the source. "If he goes [oh, great, now it's an if] it wouldn't surprise me if Kobe chooses between the Suns and the Spurs." The Boston Celtics are willing to include their No. 15 overall pick in next month's NBA draft in a deal for the Timberwolves' Wally Szczerbiak, but the Wolves are not interested. But look for the Wolves to include Michael Olowokandi in trade talks with several teams this summer. Hawks GM Billy Knight said he was "happy" to hear about Dwight Howard's desire to stay home, but he doesn't feel any pressure to trade up for the local 6-foot-10 phenom. "If I do anything, it will be because I think it's the right thing to do," Knight said. "If we go after Dwight Howard, we will not go after him because he's a hometown kid. We wouldn't care if he was from Senegal or California or Alaska." For Knight to acquire the player he covets, he likely would have to convince either the Orlando Magic or the Los Angeles Clippers that a package including Jason Terry and the No. 6 pick is enough to secure one of the top two spots. Terry is the only player on the Hawks roster with any trade value, and he provides what the Magic and the Clippers sorely need -- scoring punch from the point guard position. I keep hearing that Danny Ainge, who was at Game 4 of the Lakers-Wolves series sitting next to Kevin McHale, has his eye on Tyson Chandler. Ainge's response: "You better check your sources on that one." We know this much: Chandler is available. He could be even more available if the Bulls go big at No. 3. To get Tracy McGrady, the Rockets would have to offer Steve Francis (Yao Ming is untouchable). The Rockets are not looking to deal Francis. He and Van Gundy do not have the problems with one another that many believe. But after five seasons with Francis, the Rockets can understandably wonder if they can do better with an MVP candidate. Funny thing is, Francis seems to have become much more of a Van Gundy kind of guy. His strong playoff showing was encouraging, but his shortcomings remain. He is turnover-prone and had his worst shooting season from the perimeter and as a finisher. But he does get teammates open outside shots every night, and he is willing to defer to Yao. Using Kerry Kittles and any combo of side components - Aaron Williams, Rodney Rogers, Lucious Harris - the Nets have talked to Seattle regarding Ray Allen, who is entering the final year of his contract, worth $14,625,000. The Nets also have talked to Portland about Shareef Abdur-Rahim; Dallas with their high-priced players, including Antawn Jamison and Antoine Walker; and with Miami regarding Eddie Jones and Brian Grant. The Nets also will have major interest in free agent guards Brent Barry and Damon Jones. "There is a chance" of one of the deals getting done, another league source claimed. There's been some speculation the Heat could trade Caron Butler to attain such a big man, but Riley and an Eastern Conference scout said that's not an option. "Heck no, I wouldn't trade him," the scout said. "I think they've got a pretty good team to build off of." Boston's Mark Blount, who lives in South Florida, expressed interest in the Heat during the season and could be a good fit. Blount, who will be 29 in November, earned $1 million last season while averaging 10.3 points and 7.2 rebounds. "At 7 feet, he has the ability to step out and hit the corner jumper," the scout said. "And as we've seen, he has the ability to get 20 rebounds in a game. The thing with him is concentration." For those who didn't get it the first time, Ervin Johnson is the player the Wolves are expected to expose to the Charlotte Bobcats for the NBA's June 22 expansion draft. Insiders say Timberwolves guard Sam Cassell's hip problem is caused by a loose ligament that might need surgery this summer. Apparently, among the reasons the Cavaliers want Dajuan Wagner to play summer league is to boost the guard's trade value. In a perfect word, Cleveland would find a way to lose the former first-round pick in the expansion draft. The Heat at one time had interest, but that was pre-Wade. ... To appreciate why the Hawks still have a coaching vacancy, consider that Atlanta has only four players under contract for next season: Jason Terry, Boris Diaw, Chris Crawford and Alan Henderson. It is not exactly a core that a proven quantity would be rushing to guide. ... If the Celtics have indeed zeroed in on Bakersfield high school center Robert Swift -- and the buzz is not subsiding -- then Swift will at least recognize one face at training camp: Paul Pierce. The Celtics captain and Swift were participants in a camp last summer in Las Vegas, where Swift apparently held his own against the likes of Jermaine O'Neal. Pierce is said to be intrigued with the kid's game and potential. The Clippers, meanwhile, came up with the No. 2 pick on the redone drawing, and, well, here's the best summation of that from Jazz owner Larry Miller, from the Salt Lake Tribune: "I'm probably going to hear from [Clippers owner] Donald Sterling on this, but . . . I thought, `Well, there's a guy who's gonna be available in three years.' " The inference, of course, is that the Clippers rarely hold on to their own free agents and historically have done so only when others have done the bidding for them. This is the fourth time since the inception of the lottery in 1985 that the Clippers have ended up with the second pick. On each of the previous three occasions, the individual they selected never played a game for them. Red Auerbach already has been passed for total coaching victories and it's looking more and more as if Phil Jackson will finally vault him for the most championships. But he also knows that Hubie Brown won the Red Auerbach Award this season for being named Coach of the Year. "I feel secure and good about my record," Auerbach said. "I mean, I've been involved in 16 championships, not nine or 10. That's the way I look at it. I did it with one team. He did it with picking his spots, you know what I mean?" He's bracing for the inevitable telephone calls. We're getting close to the NBA Finals and the Lakers look like they're going to win it all again, which means Phil Jackson will, at last, get that record-setting 10th NBA title. We all know who also has nine titles: Red Auerbach. We also know there is no love lost between the two, although Auerbach said he's never had anything approaching an earnest or lengthy chat with Jackson. "I'm not into that Zen stuff," the redhead said. Not surprisingly, he's also not into graciously acknowledging Jackson's success. The best he could offer was, "Records are made to be broken. If he does it, it's a hell of an achievement. But it's not a big deal to me. It might be to him." According to league execs and coaches, Isiah Thomas has something to smile about after bringing Brendan Suhr on board to assist in Knicks' player-personnel decisions. "I think he's an amazing hire for the Knicks," says new Celtics coach Doc Rivers. "He's been around a lot of good coaches and has been able to sit back and evaluate talent. He is one of the smartest minds in our game. Good news on the high school front, where guard Sebastian Telfair of Lincoln is attending school on a regular basis and is on target to graduate on time. Telfair has received permission to participate in workouts with two lottery teams - the L.A. Clippers and Portland Trail Blazers. Byron Scott said he will begin the process of hiring a staff soon, and the Hornets' current assistants will be considered. Kenny Gattison was the only assistant attending Friday's news conference at New Orleans Arena. Gattison and Scott were teammates with the Vancouver Grizzlies in the 1995-96 season. Alvin Gentry, who was the Hornets' top assistant on Tim Floyd's staff last season, said Saturday he has accepted an assistant coaching job with the Phoenix Suns. Gentry was an early candidate for the Hornets' head coaching job, but was not interviewed. Former New Jersey Nets coach Byron Scott was hired Friday to replace Floyd. Did you know? Since Kevin Garnett entered the draft in 1995, 27 high school players have followed suit. Only seven have developed into All-Star-caliber players. Of the other 20, six were undrafted, five were busts and the rest are still trying to make it. As many as 10 high school players could go in the first round. Only one college senior ? Saint Joseph's guard Jameer Nelson ? seems likely to go in the first half of the first round. Of the high school players, five could be lottery picks: point guards Shaun Livingston ( Peoria, Ill.) and Telfair (New York), forwards Dwight Howard (Atlanta) and Josh Smith (Mouth of Wilson, Va.) and shooting guard J.R. Smith (Newark, N.J.). With Indiana and Detroit still battling in the Eastern Conference playoffs, the Hawks won't interview Pistons assistant Mike Woodson or Pacers associate head coach Mike Brown until their respective seasons end. Woodson has been an NBA assistant for eight years, including the past three under Larry Brown in Detroit and Philadelphia. He was Knight's teammate with the Kansas City Kings in the early 1980s. Forward Leon Smith, on the Knicks' radar earlier this season, is again fading from NBA view, this time with the former first. The Wolves would have drafted 29th in the first round but lost the pick because of the illegal contract given to Joe Smith. This will be the last year the Wolves don't have a pick as a result of penalties levied by the NBA because of that deal. Did you know? Emeka Okafor's real first name is "Chukwuemeka." In his native Nigerian tongue, it means, "God has done wonderfully well."
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting BRockwell:</div><div class="quote_post">Are you really from Hawaii?</div> Ummmmm What?
Nothing is out of the question, but here's one scenario to clip and save: Yao Ming to the Lakers in three years to pair with Kobe Bryant. Think about it: I'm sure Houston is a fine place, but Yao is on the way to becoming perhaps the world's most famous athlete. Billboards of him are everywhere in Asia. It makes the most sense if he's going to remain in the NBA, certainly for marketing, to play on the West Coast with its huge Asian population. It was interesting last week when O'Neal again insisted he would not be taken for granted and expected a contract extension beginning at about $30 million per season. The Lakers are offering $10 million less per year. 76ers coach Jim O'Brien is confirming that Allen Iverson isn't going anywhere and that the team is committed to building around him rather than replicating the matchup problems he has posed throughout his career. The best sign Phil Jackson may return to the Lakers is Byron Scott taking the Hornets job. Scott supposedly has been the choice of Kobe Bryant to replace Jackson, but Scott supposedly was told not to count on that. Greg Ostertag grew up in the Dallas area and the Mavs are said to have interest. They supposedly would like the Jazz to re-sign Ostertag to a short-term deal matching that of Utah native Shawn Bradley and make the trade. Said Ostertag: "They need a rebounder and shot-blocker, which I can be. It would be my ultimate dream to play in Dallas." A li'l bird says if the Magic want to help keep Tracy McGrady, they should offer New Orleans a second-round pick for the return of Darrell Armstrong. Will Rasheed Wallace stay with the Pistons? He is going to be smart and not make decisions based on emotions. His best bet is to get away from the euphoria or disappointment of the playoffs, take time with his family and then make a decision. He owes it to himself and his family to listen to offers and then be selfish. But Detroit appears to be a good fit for him. He does not have to worry about carrying the team. He simply must be a big piece of a very good puzzle. The Hawks are said to be leaning toward Mavericks assistant Del Harris for their head-coaching job. Harris had a shot at the Cavaliers' job before Paul Silas, but rejected it. Now, Don Nelson's staff isn't as secure and Harris, coaching this summer's Chinese Olympic team, is looking for opportunities. The Hawks also talked with former coach Mike Fratello, who looks to be the best candidate given his success in previous jobs. Fratello also is talking to the Hornets about the general manager job but prefers to return to coaching. Figure the Magic package Tracy McGrady, the No. 1 pick and some of their bad contracts for Shaquille O'Neal and perhaps lesser and future draft picks. Kobe Bryant and McGrady can't really play together, but it could be a curiosity for a year. Or the Lakers could trade McGrady to Detroit or Indiana, two other teams McGrady mentioned he'd sign with because of their lack of playoff scoring. Who Knew? Richard Hamilton has scored at least 20 points in 27 of 34 career playoff games. His 22.7 career playoff scoring average is second to Bob Lanier (25.6) in Pistons history. Dave Bing (21.8) is third. Point guard Sam Cassell and the Timberwolves coaches remain cagey about Cassell's availability down the line this postseason. But it is unlikely the injured veteran will play again this spring. Cassell has torn cartilage in his left hip, near the point where the top of his femur meets the socket, said a team medical staffer who asked not to be identified. That causes his hip to pop out of place under sudden stress, a condition that could require surgery in the offseason. Preparing for a potential trade, Magic GM John Weisbrod already has begun a public-relations battle. Because he knows Tracy McGrady is so young and honest, Weisbrod is staying quiet and letting McGrady talk. That way McGrady comes off as the guy wanting to bail. Fans lose respect. It softens the backlash. It's an old trick the Magic always use when bracing for controversy. And this is sure to be a firestorm. The Nuggets have been informed that Nevada guard Kirk Snyder and Bakersfield (Calif.) High School center Robert Swift have declined workout offers. The Nuggets walked away impressed with Florida State guard Tim Pickett's workout last Wednesday. The standout guard averaged 16.5 points during his senior season with the Seminoles. Former Nuggets assistant and NBA coach John Lucas has been preparing Oak Hill (Va.) Academy senior forward Josh Smith in Houston for his predraft workouts. Smith, a McDonald's All- American, has been working on his perimeter shooting against Houston guard Cuttino Mobley and Portland guard Damon Stoudamire. Smith is scheduled to begin his workouts Tuesday at Atlanta, where he will be matched against Stanford forward Josh Childress. The 6-foot-8, 220- pounder also has scheduled workouts with Charlotte, Washington and Phoenix. Shaquille O'Neal on calling TNT analyst Kenny Smith a bum: "You see, bum stands for beautiful, understanding man. That's all it is." Pacers coach Rick Carlisle's close friend, musician Bruce Hornsby, performed the national anthem on a grand piano along with guitarist Pat Matheny. Hornsby did the same for the Pistons last year during the playoffs... Actor / director Rob Reiner was in attendance. Sacramento Kings co-owner Joe Maloof says some guy he met at a bar mitzvah gave him advice: "He says, `Be careful. Don't do drastic things. This is still one of the top teams in the NBA,' " Maloof told the Sacramento Bee. The guy? John Madden. Golf can be maddening. Magic forward Grant Hill has taken up the game and played in former Duke teammate Andrew Lang's tournament last week. Hill, who has showed incredible patience dealing with his ankle injury the past four years, walked off after seven frustrating holes.
