Don Seeholzer of the Pioneer Press: “In announcing Kevin McHale’s departure Wednesday, Wolves president of basketball operations David Kahn said he has told the players that he wants to maintain the same kind of positive atmosphere that McHale instilled during a 10-4 January this past season. ‘I’ve assured them that I understand that and that that positive nature needs to be continued,’ Kahn said. ‘So I think that whoever the person is needs to understand that we probably will be a young team and we probably will be a team that is in transition and will need a very positive environment to grow as quickly as possible.’ Former Toronto Raptors coach Sam Mitchell played 10 seasons for the Wolves and is one obvious candidate. He is considered more of a disciplinarian than a players’ coach, but center Al Jefferson said McHale was both of those. ‘He was the type of guy who could communicate with you and also, if he was upset, he would get in your face, too,’ Jefferson said. ‘Most definitely I think it’s good to have a coach like that because some of us players are knuckleheads and some of us need a coach that is going to really get down on them and get in their face. … I think we need both of that.’”
Britt Robson of Secrets of the City: “The toxic public relations is reason enough to cut McHale loose, but that aspect is actually dwarfed in significance by the philosophical, hierarchical, and temperamental train wreck in the internal affairs of the Wolves braintrust that could have easily occurred if McHale had stuck around. As I’ve said many times before, what daft, self-destructive gene would compel a new personnel guru like Kahn to put the person who held his job for nearly 14 years on the sidelines in charge of molding and fulfilling his fresh blueprint for restoring the team to respectability? In case folks hadn’t noticed, Kevin McHale is hardly a shrinking violet. Even after his longtime buddy and college teammate took over the coaching reins and guided the club to eight straight playoff appearances, the friction between the two men over how to manage the players both on the court and in the locker room steadily escalated, to the point where less than a year after Flip Saunders had his squad in the conference finals, McHale was bouncing him out the door and replacing him on the sidelines, resulting in bad blood and ill will that lingers to this day.”
Ronald Tillery of the Memphis Commercial Appeal: “The most accurate reports had Rubio in Sacramento over the past two days. Via Twitter.com, Rubio said Wednesday that he ‘visit the Arco Arena … facilities are brutal! Medical examination, all OK! Dinner with Paul Westphal, the new coach. Everything’s great!’ Wallace finally made contact with Rubio’s agent, Dan Fegan, Wednesday after three days without communication. The Griz still don’t have confirmed plans for Rubio to visit Memphis. Would the Grizzlies draft Rubio with the No. 2 overall pick? Absolutely. The Grizzlies sent a message to Portland and the rest of the league this season with how they handled the Darius Miles situation. Say what you want about owner Michael Heisley but he won’t be bullied. Any direct snub or perceived threat by Rubio or his camp will compel the Griz to take him and maintain leverage. ‘If we want (Rubio), we’re going to take him,’ Wallace said Wednesday. ‘We wouldn’t have taken a 10-hour flight to Spain if we didn’t have interest in him.’”
Ailene Voisin of the Sacramento Bee: “Ricky Rubio is in town, and the Kings absolutely cannot let this kid escape. Resolve his contract issues, facilitate a trade if necessary to preclude Memphis or Oklahoma City from stealing him before the Kings select at No. 4, promise him the world, and then give him the damn ball. At the mere age of 18, encased in a rangy, maturing body that stretches to almost 6-foot-5 and continues to sprout muscles at odd angles, Rubio already answers a host of critical questions confounding the Kings. His presence in Sacramento would be transformative whether he becomes the next Jason Williams or the modern-day Pete Maravich. There are several reasons for this, not the least of which is he plays the lead position – point guard – with all the majesty of a mop-haired maestro. Attired in the purple jersey once favored by former Kings international stars Vlade Divac, Hedo Turkoglu and Peja Stojakovic, Rubio immediately would rekindle interest in an energy- and identity-starved franchise.”
Joe Freeman of The Oregonian: “He answers to the nickname Psycho T, spent part of one summer in college pushing an SUV around a parking lot at the University of North Carolina to build strength, and has been immortalized by a photo in which blood spews from his nose. Tough? Ah, yeah. If one thing personifies Tyler Hansbrough, it’s toughness. And since the Trail Blazers have stated that attaining toughness is one of their biggest offseason goals, perhaps no NBA draft prospect would be a more ideal fit than the former North Carolina forward. ‘There’s not a split second that he’s not going as hard as he can,’ Blazers general manager Kevin Pritchard said. ‘If you were to mark down how many times he hit the floor today, I’m sure the over/under was five, and you just expect that. He’s kind of a lunch pail, hard hat kind of guy. The thing about Tyler is … he’s going to bring every single ounce of energy and he’s going to knock you in your mouth. He’s going to get hit, too. It looks like he kind of enjoys pain a little bit.’”
Alan Hahn of Newsday: “Let’s take a break from the draft talk for a minute to discuss the other Curry, as in Eddy, who is said to be still doing well following his offseason regimine. Do we even bother asking about weight loss numbers? No. Because his listed weight has never been accurate anyway so there’s no way to get a true indication of how much he shed unless he admits the heaviest he hit during the past season and then steps on a scale to show where he is today. But none of that matters right now. The most important thing is that Curry has about three more months to keep on keepin’ off before he is expected to arrive at the Training Center before camp opens for the big reveal. And, yes, expect him to be there in Saratoga. The value of a quality big man just skyrocketed after the NBA Finals and the Knicks may not want to be so quick to dump Curry’s contract to the first bidder.”
Mark Murphy of the Boston Herald: “Amid trade rumors that he is offering everyone from point guard Rajon Rondo to center Kendrick Perkins to move up in next Thursday’s NBA draft, Celtics general manager Danny Ainge didn’t sound like a man particularly encouraged by the possibilities yesterday. ‘I think it’s unlikely,’ Ainge said of trading up. ‘It’s possible, but unlikely.’ Though Ainge declined to discuss the rumors involving Rondo, a team source sniffed at the speculation involving the young floor leader, saying, ‘Rondo’s not going to be traded.’ As for the speculation that the Celtics are trying to make moves now that will clear space for a shot at a member of 2010’s highly anticipated free agent class, Ainge said, ‘We’re trying to win a championship next season. That’s my goal this summer.’”
K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune: “So, Ben Gordon, do you or your agent have a backroom agreement to sign with Detroit when the free-agency period begins July 1? ‘You can’t even negotiate until July 1, so that’s just rumors,’ Gordon said Wednesday at his basketball camp in Lisle. ‘I really don’t know what’s going to happen.’ Several media outlets, including the Tribune, have reported Gordon is expected to be a primary target of the Pistons, who have roughly $23 million of salary-cap space. Former Tribune NBA reporter Sam Smith took matters to another level Wednesday, writing on Bulls.com that he has ‘heard that Gordon’s agent allegedly has been saying he has an $11 million promise from the Pistons.’ Even if true, nobody would confirm this development because it would represent a violation of league rules. But free agents verbally agree to terms on the first day of free agency all the time, which suggests either parameters for deals privately get discussed prematurely or the official offers are so large as to blow the player away.”
Reuters: “The Houston Rockets center will not play for China at this August’s Asia Championships because of a foot injury and said last year that the Beijing Games would be his last Olympics. The 28-year-old said Chinese basketball should be less concerned with putting out the strongest possible team for every tournament and give young players more court time to increase their experience. ‘I think chances should always be given to young players. However long time I could play, one day I will retire,’ he told Shanghai TV. ‘A team that wants to continue and improve has to have fresh blood.’ The 7ft 6in (2.29m) Yao injured his left foot during the NBA playoffs last month. He had a series of serious injuries in 2005 and 2006 and underwent surgery for a stress fracture on the left foot before last year’s Olympics. ‘I’ve seen many players still playing in the national team at the age of 30. But it was different that they did not play in a league as intense as the one I do,’ he said.”
Kyle Hightower of the Orlando Sentinel: “Magic Chief Operating Officer Alex Martins said that the financial boost from reaching the postseason’s championship round (which included 12 home games) has helped the team’s bottom line. Martins estimates the Magic have lost an average of $15 million each season during the last half-dozen years. They will likely lose money again this year. But revenues from the playoff run, as well as the $10 million they got from the renewal of a league-wide credit facility, will help bridge their operation losses and debt. He said that will be particularly important as they go into a big summer in the construction phase of the arena. ‘When you include tickets and merchandise, it certainly helped the bottom line in terms of millions,’ Martins said. ‘But we’ve talked extensively about the fact that this has been a money-losing operation for a long, long time and that’s not going to turn around, regardless of how far we go into the playoffs, until we get into the new building. Did it improve the bottom line? Yes, it reduced the loss for the team this year. But we won’t break even until we get into that new events center.’”
Kevin Ding of the Orange County Register: “Our joy comes from within, but the expression of it is far more telling than the feeling itself. That’s what parade day Wednesday was about: the expression of joy. Yes, Phil Jackson is absolutely right when he says it’s about the journey. … Eight and a half months ago, Jackson handed out season-planning books to his players, and on the front of each was a big ‘D,’ with the message: ‘DEFENSE = discipline/desire/determination/dedication.’ None of those ‘D’ words is meant to start thinking happy thoughts. It’s about work and teamwork and then maybe one day sharing off-the-charts joy with your teammates that leaves Fisher unwilling to remove his game uniform, reeking of sweat and champagne both, even back at the Lakers’ Orlando hotel for their postgame meal and party. The common statement is that these Lakers will always share a bond as champions, which isn’t entirely true.”
