NBA Capsules: Nowitzki considering playing for German national team
DALLAS (AP) — Dirk Nowitzki is considering joining the German national team this summer to help their chances of qualifying for the 2012 Summer Olympics.
Nowitzki told ESPN 103.3 FM on Tuesday that he would decide within a few weeks.
Germany must finish among the top six of the 24 teams at the EuroBasket tournament to be eligible to qualify for the next Olympics.
Nowitzki hasn't played for Germany since the 2008 Olympics, an experience he's called among the highlights of his career.
He said he's told German officials he'd help the next generation get to the Olympics. However, the Mavs' extended run and ensuing celebrations have left the NBA finals MVP in need of some down time.
League Capsules
NBA owners, players swap proposals, to meet Friday
NEW YORK (AP) — Saying it reflects a "desire to go as far as we can to avoid a lockout," NBA Commissioner David Stern revealed Tuesday that owners have moved off their insistence on a hard salary cap. Players don't see it that way.
So it appears the cap system remains as the biggest obstacle to a new collective bargaining agreement before the rapidly approaching June 30 deadline.
Stern said the league has proposed a "flex cap," in which teams would target a uniform dollar amount to spend, but would still be permitted to exceed it up to an unspecified level. Players argue it's still a hard cap, because the ceiling would eventually kick in.
So even though both sides felt there was progress in what Stern had said was an important day in these negotiations, a sizable gap remains.
"At this point we're still just really far apart on the largest issue of hard salary cap, and still some economic issues as well," players' association president Derek Fisher of the Lakers said.
Calling it "virtually the best shot we think we have" to avoid a work stoppage, Stern said the owners' proposal would ensure that players' total compensation would never fall below $2 billion a year in a 10-year contract, slightly less than the league paid this season.
He said the average player salary would be about $5 million and Deputy Commissioner Adam Silver said the goal would be an eventual 50-50 split of basketball revenues. The players are currently guaranteed 57 percent.
Though Stern refused to call this his last offer, he said the "cupboard is getting barer and barer."
"It's all out there," he said. "The owners to a person feel that this is what we have to give."
The flex cap offer had previously been proposed to the players, but had not been disclosed publicly until Tuesday. According to Stern, teams would be targeted to spend approximately $62 million, with the option to spend above through certain exceptions before reaching a limit they could not exceed.
Under the current soft salary cap, teams can use various exceptions to exceed the cap, with the penalty of a dollar for dollar luxury tax once they reach the threshold. The cap this year was $58 million, and the NBA champion Dallas Mavericks, under big-spending owner Mark Cuban, blew well past the tax level of $70 million.
The union made a proposal that offered more than $500 million in player salary reductions over the life of a five-year contract, a person with knowledge of the proposal told The Associated Press. The person, who requested anonymity because the details were not released, said the reductions would be made by slicing the players' guarantee from its current 57 percent to 54.3 percent.
Stern called that proposal "modest" but "directionally better" than the union's previous ones and said the players asked for another meeting Friday.
"Today was productive and there was movement, but we're still very far apart and ... the hard salary cap system is still something that we're really having difficulty trying to get past," Fisher said. "Our players just don't see that as the best way to tackle some of the things at least we've been given by owners as to reasons why we need a hard salary cap."
Last week, the league withdrew its insistence for all contracts to be non-guaranteed in a new deal, offering to leave the system as is, where teams and players can negotiate individually.
The players have argued that was not truly a concession, because they were given something they already have.
"We've had guaranteed contracts for 40 years, so it's almost like somebody walks into your house and they take something that belongs to you, and then they want to sell it back," union executive director Billy Hunter said. "And you say, 'It was mine from the get-go, so why should I pay for it? And I didn't authorize you to take it, and I never said it was available for you to take or use or abuse.'"
Hunter had long said he was nearly certain of the league's first work stoppage since 1998, but now says he sees signs owners are interested in making a deal.
But both sides caution they aren't close to one yet. Asked if they were 100 miles apart going into Tuesday how far they were now, Hunter said, "What, 99?"
Though the league's newest proposal would mean an 8 percent pay cut in the first year, owners have moved from their initial proposal that players rejected in February 2010. Stern said there have now been 10 proposals exchanged between the sides and the players could offer another Friday.
They still must sort through the differences in the cap, with Stern saying the sides have a "different characterization" of what the league proposed.
The players' executive committee was joined by stars such as Tony Parker of the Spurs and Atlanta's Al Horford. Fisher said all the players have expressed their willingness to be flexible but "there are certain parts of it we have no interest in moving on and right now that's where we stand."
-- Brian Mahoney
Other NBA Capsules
Raptors hire Mavs assistant Casey as new coach
TORONTO (AP) — Dwane Casey hopes to bring a rugged, NHL-style of defense to his newest job in the NBA. The Toronto Raptors hired Casey as their coach on Tuesday, nine days after the Dallas assistant helped the Mavericks win the championship.
Casey succeeds Jay Triano, a Canadian who became a consultant after the Raptors finished 22-60. Casey was the head coach of the Minnesota Timberwolves from June 2005 to January 2007, compiling a 43-59 record.
Casey said his No. 1 goal is to give the Raptors a "defensive identity." He partially credited the Mavericks' performance against LeBron James and the Miami Heat in the NBA finals to the breaking down of hockey video.
"Because we felt we were playing too soft against Miami to start the series," he said. "And it really set the tone."
"I don't know a lot about of hockey. I know I'll learn about it. But we spliced in those guys checking players up into the window, into the boards and that type of thing and that's the way we want to play," he said. "We want to make sure people feel us when they cut through the lane. And that's a mindset, and that's having a disposition — a bad disposition — when people come through your paint."
Poor on defense, Toronto missed the playoffs for the third straight season. The Raptors have made it past the first round only once in their 16-year existence, doing it in 2000-01.
The Raptors want to start their improvement Thursday with the fifth pick in the NBA draft.
Casey won't have much input on who the Raptors pick.
"I've learned over the years to step back from the draft because you have to hire trusted people with your scouting department and trust their knowledge," Casey said. "You can give them your input into what you need and what you want, but the bottom line has to come from the scouting department."
The 54-year-old Casey, who also was an assistant for 11 seasons in Seattle, is the eighth coach in Raptors' history. Triano stood quietly at the back of the news conference announcing Casey's hire. Casey said he intends to use Triano as a "resource" and build on what he sees as a core of young talent that includes guards DeMar DeRozan and Jerryd Bayless, center Andrea Bargnani and forward Amir Johnson.
"Defensively, I'm going to be a hands-on control freak, so to speak," he said. "Offensively, I'm going to trust and give them freedom."
Raptors general manager Bryan Colangelo said he got a call from Dallas coach Rick Carlisle in the wee hours after the Mavericks won the championship.
"Rick Carlisle said, 'Bryan, I want to know what it's going to take to get Dwane that job in Toronto. It's right for him, it's right for you, it's right for the situation. You need to strongly consider it,'" Colangelo said.
"He comes with exceptional support from people in very high places," he said. "There's a lot of people that are rooting for Dwane to do well here. They think it's the right time," he said.
DeRozan was at the news conference and said he and his teammates welcome the new commitment to defense.
"I think everybody's definitely going to buy into it because we've got a young team and we could cause a lot of havoc on the defensive end," DeRozan said. "I want to improve as a person and as a team player."
Casey promised a free-flowing approach with the ball.
"The last time I checked, the reason why you win games is scoring, so we're going to put a high premium on that too," he said. "We want to keep the pace up tempo with our young team because we have the athleticism."
Riley lauds Heat season, says he won't coach again
MIAMI (AP) — Pat Riley expects better days are ahead for the Miami Heat.
Speaking Tuesday, more than a week after the Heat season ended with a loss to the Dallas Mavericks in the NBA finals, Miami's team president said that not winning the title was a disappointment — but insisted the season still had plenty of successes.
"I'll say it. I'm not afraid to say it," Riley said at his annual end-of-season availability. "We are going to be multiple contenders, OK? I have no problem saying that. We will contend. That's all it's about. When you have a team that can contend for a championship, that's what you want, because then you have a shot at winning.
"I know what everybody expected here, but it didn't happen," Riley added. "But we had a great season."
Riley said the team would add more pieces to complement LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh next season, plus was looking forward to seeing what can happen with a healthy Udonis Haslem and Mike Miller, both of whom had their 2010-11 campaign marred by injuries.
He also said Erik Spoelstra would coach, shooting down any notion that the Hall of Famer was considering a return to the bench.
"No, I'm not going to," Riley said.
Riley ended his Hall of Fame coaching career in 2008, before tapping Spoelstra as his replacement. Spoelstra has a 148-98 record in three regular seasons, along with a 18-15 mark in postseason play.
"It doesn't mean that I don't have the fire," Riley said. "But we have a great young coach here and I want to support him and hope that he can grow like I did. This is just his third year."
Riley said he expects Miami's so-called "Big 3" to get better during the offseason as well, noting that Bosh will likely add some bulk in the weight room and that James wants to do more to round out his game, which has already earned him two MVP awards.
"He's the most unique player in the NBA and we're blessed to have him," Riley said of James, adding that too much of the criticism for the team's loss to Dallas in the NBA finals went his way.
Riley called the way last summer went, when he helped convince the three All-Stars to team up in Miami, one of the highlights of the season for both Miami and the NBA.
"The greatest thing in the history of South Florida sports was those guys coming together," Riley said. "With the exception of the (undefeated 1972) Dolphins. Maybe."
And he does expect that Miami, which has the first pick in the second round, No. 31 overall, can get better in Thursday night's draft.
"My take on it is that we're going to pick 31," Riley said. "I'm not so sure we're going to spend $3 million to move up."
Timberwolves introduce Rubio
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — For two years, Minnesota Timberwolves fans have been tantalized by the myth of Ricky Rubio.
Rubio's Spanish league games were rarely on television in the Twin Cities, so they watched grainy YouTube highlights — a behind-the-back pass here, a nifty dribble there — to get their fix. The air of mystery only seemed to increase the hype.
The 20-year-old point guard held his first press conference in Minnesota on Tuesday, looking to pull back the curtain and introduce himself to the fans who have so eagerly anticipated his arrival.
"I was so comfortable over there, but Minnesota makes me feel comfortable too," Rubio said. "(The Timberwolves) supported me, they were happy about my things, my winnings, in Barcelona, and I was like, oh, they want me over there. I feel that love over there. I want to give back that love."
The Timberwolves drafted Rubio in 2009 with the fifth overall pick, but a large buyout with his Spanish team at the time coupled with Rubio's desire to stay home and work on his game kept him from immediately heading to the NBA.
It was a delicate negotiation at times, and president of basketball operations David Kahn, assistant GM Tony Ronzone, European scout Pete Philo and coach Kurt Rambis all chipped in to show Rubio and his family that coming to small-market Minnesota and playing for the struggling Timberwolves was the right move.
"Yeah, I feel like they really want me," Rubio said. "It giving me confidence to play over here, play for them. It helped me a lot. I'm so glad those guys are working over here with the Timberwolves because they are really good (people) and I felt like I'm at home."
Kahn said the Wolves staff tried to make it a point since drafting him to make Rubio comfortable with them, which would ease the transition to a new culture, new city and new game.
"I think that it is important to develop relationships and to demonstrate not only to him but to his entire family how important we felt he could be to us and how much we believed in him even back then in terms of his future as an NBA player," Kahn said.
The flashy passer showed on Tuesday that he has some game off the court as well.
He deftly handled questions from about 60 members of the media, showing a sparkling sense of humor, a boyish enthusiasm and some genuine humility, apologizing for his English even though it was more than passable.
He said all the right things, earning applause several times from season-ticket holders who were invited to watch the press conference.
When asked why he prefers to pass first instead of score, Rubio quoted Lakers Hall of Famer Magic Johnson: "One of the best sentences ever was Magic Johnson say a basket make one guy happy, an assist two guys happy."
But what about the Minnesota cold, a harsh climate that was rumored to have him lobbying for a trade? Rubio said he will buy a big coat and be sure that the house he lives in comes equipped with heat.
Has he visited the Mall of America?
"That's a good question because my family want to go there, but I don't let them because they going to take all," he said with a smile. "I don't mean it like that, but I'm going to try to keep my credit card in my pocket."
And then there is the skepticism that surrounds him after his play seemed to plateau last season with Regal Barcelona. Rubio averaged only 6.5 points and shot just 39 percent last season.
"Sometimes the stats don't say how good are you," Rubio said. "Or maybe opposite thing, if you make a lot of stats but your team losing, that doesn't (matter). The goal of this sport is team wins. It's not an individual sport. If I wanted to play individual, I'm going to play tennis or something like that. But it's a team."
He drew chuckles when he introduced his family, including father Esteve, mother Tona, brother Marc and 14-year-old sister Laia.
"She doesn't have a boyfriend, but watch out," Rubio said. "Watch out."
It's already been a bit of a whirlwind here for Rubio, but that didn't stop him from going to the gym for a workout on Monday night after a 15-hour flight and a full day of meetings with team officials and corporate sponsors.
"I think as you can see this is a big moment for him and his family," Kahn said. "They're very, very excited to start this. They really are. I think they feel that this is the right moment. It's the right time. It's the right fit."
Timberwolves President Chris Wright said the team has sold 530 new season-ticket packages since Rubio made his official announcement last week. They have now sold 7,000 full season tickets and the premium seating courtside is nearly sold out, a big change from the scores of empty seats seen at Target Center in recent years.
"The inertia that he created because it's sort of been such a long time coming, but now the market is responding to it," Wright said. "It's been absolutely phenomenal."
And Wright only expects the demand to increase after fans and corporate sponsors see more Rubio performances, on the court and in the media.
It seems a lot to ask of a 20-year-old rookie. But then again, Rubio has been in the spotlight since he turned professional at 14.
"It's all new experience, because here it's big expectation," Rubio said. "I'm so happy about that. I'm surprised, too, and I kind of like it."
-- Jon Krawczynski
Kahn wants to meet with owner to talk about Rambis
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Timberwolves president David Kahn says Kevin Love isn't going anywhere and Minnesota will draft Duke point guard Kyrie Irving on Thursday if he falls to No. 2. Kahn wasn't as forthcoming Tuesday on the future of coach Kurt Rambis.
Kahn said he wants to meet with owner Glen Taylor before making a decision on whether to bring Rambis back for a third season. Kahn and Rambis met for six hours last week, with Kahn asking his coach what he would change after posting a 32-132 record in the first two seasons.
Kahn called the meetings "very positive" and said that he hoped to meet with Taylor this week. It's been more than two months since the season ended and Kahn has received criticism for letting the issue drag on.
He said he has talked to Rambis, who has two years left on his contract, since the meetings and believes there is an understanding about where things stand.
"I recognize that this is painful for everybody involved, or at least awkward at a minimum," Kahn said. "But I think we understand where we're at. All in due time."
Right now, it appears the Wolves are focused more on making point guard Ricky Rubio feel comfortable in his new surroundings. Rubio arrived in Minnesota on Monday and held his first press conference on Tuesday.
With that out of the way, Kahn can go back to focusing on the draft. The Timberwolves have been making and receiving offers for the No. 2 pick, but Kahn said it was too early to say what would happen on Thursday night.
Two things appear to be certain: They will take Irving if Cleveland passes on him with the top pick, even though they already have Rubio, Luke Ridnour and Jonny Flynn on the roster. And if they do trade the pick, Love will not be involved.
"Absolutely not," Kahn said. "No ifs, ands or buts. Kevin will be on this team next year and I expect Kevin, as I've said numerous times, to be on this team for many, many years. I see him as being a very important part of our future."
Irving is widely expected to go to Cleveland, but there has been some speculation that the Cavaliers could take Arizona forward Derrick Williams instead. One would think that would put the Timberwolves in a bind, given that they brought in Rubio from Spain to be their point guard of the future.
Kahn said the Wolves wouldn't hesitate to take Irving. Then what?
"Well, that's the question right?" Kahn said. "I think it's very important for us not to play that game where we feel that we react, we'll take him at two and then decide what's best course of action."
The likely scenario would be to select Irving and then trade him, either for a much-needed veteran or perhaps future draft picks because it became very clear on Tuesday that Rubio is the top priority at point guard.
"Ricky Rubio will not be traded by the Minnesota Timberwolves," Kahn said. "You can go to sleep on it. He's here for a long, long, long time."
-- Jon Krawczynski
Pacers near decision on coach
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — It's starting to sound like a mere formality that Frank Vogel will become the Indiana Pacers' next head coach. Team president Larry Bird spoke on Tuesday as though it is just a matter of dealing with a few final details.
"He's going to get every opportunity to have this job," Bird said. "What we're doing now is just going through the process. Hopefully, it won't take more than a week or two."
Bird said he has spoken to other candidates, but a giveaway might be that he is talking specifically about assistants for Vogel.
"There's some things that I see that by bringing a top assistant here could help Frank," Bird said. "We want to do it right."
Another clue might be that Vogel is involved in preparation for Thursday's draft. Bird expects to brief Vogel on the team's draft possibilities and ask for his input. Bird said he has narrowed the list of players he wants with the No. 15 pick down to four.
"I'll discuss with him the four guys and what position they're at and get his opinion on what position he wants, or what he thinks we need," Bird said.
Bird has called Vogel the favorite from the beginning of the search, and nothing he said Tuesday indicated that has changed. He says the team has had several conversations with Vogel and that will continue until a decision is made.
Vogel took over for Jim O'Brien at midseason, went 20-18 to close the regular season and led the team to its first playoff berth since 2006. Bird said Vogel deserves an opportunity to coach, and every element involved with the team views him favorably.
"We like Frank," Bird said. "Our players like Frank. I like Frank. It's just a process that I knew was going to take a while."
Either way, the question on message boards and on the radio seems to be the same — what are the Pacers waiting for?
"Larry and I said from the beginning that we were going to take our time," general manager David Morway said. "We were going to do our due diligence. We were going to spend quite a bit of time talking to Frank and research some other candidates, and when we felt we had spent some time with Frank, and he had done some of the necessary work that we'd talked about, and we had looked into some options and felt comfortable with a decision, that we would talk to (owner Herb) Simon, and that's where we are right now."
Morway said he thinks Pacers fans will appreciate the team's patience in the long run.
"I know everybody's always in a rush, and at times, it's hard to be patient," he said. "We think the process has played out the way it needed to for us to make a very good decision."
-- Cliff Brunt
Bobcats' Diaw picks up $9 million option
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Charlotte Bobcats forward Boris Diaw has exercised his player option for next season that will pay him $9 million. Agent Doug Neustadt said Tuesday they informed the Bobcats of the decision earlier this week.
Diaw said after the season that with the potential labor uncertainty this summer, it was a "no-brainer" to pick up the option and avoid becoming a free agent until 2012.
The move comes after owner Michael Jordan criticized Diaw's play in the 2010-11 season. Diaw, who was nearly traded twice last season, could be a potential target to be moved as Jordan seeks to revamp Charlotte's roster.
The 29-year-old Diaw averaged 11.3 point and 5 rebounds last season.
Warriors President Rowell resigns
OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Golden State Warriors President Robert Rowell is resigning his position as the club's top executive for business operations.
Warriors owner Joe Lacob announced Tuesday that Rowell was leaving to pursue other business endeavors. Rowell will assist Lacob and co-owner Peter Guber in the transition.
Rowell spent 16 seasons with the Warriors, including the past eight as president. The club has had success filling Oracle Arena during that time but has only made the playoffs once during his tenure.
NBA Draft Capsules
Cavaliers closing in on draft decisions
CLEVELAND (AP) — They're done measuring, timing and talking to prospective draft picks. It's time for the Cleveland Cavaliers to choose a few.
Empowered with the Nos. 1 and 4 picks in Thursday's NBA draft, the Cavs will spend the next 48 hours deciding who to add to their roster. While all signs indicate they will select Duke point guard Kyrie Irving first overall, the Cavs have not yet made any final decisions.
They'll spend Tuesday and Wednesday setting their board and debating their many options, which could include a trade — or two. The Cavs also have two second-round picks (Nos. 32 and 54) and a $14.5 million trade exception, assets they may package with players or owner Dan Gilbert's cash to make deals.
On Monday, the team held its last round of workouts by hosting Arizona forward Derrick Williams, Turkish center Enes Kanter and Kentucky guard Brandon Knight at their suburban training facility. Williams and Kanter were in for their second visits, and the pair also met with Gilbert and some of his kids, adding another layer of mystery to the team's true intentions.
The Cavs have treated this draft with air-tight security, throwing up an impenetrable defense around their plans. Other than a few random tweets on his Twitter account, Gilbert has been out of sight; general manager Chris Grant has made no public comments in weeks and the club closed player workouts to the media.
Nearly one year after LeBron James stripped them of their identity, the Cavs have all the power — and they're using it.
Aside from the record rainfall, it's been an otherwise joyous spring in Cleveland, a city not accustomed to feeling too good about its sports teams. The Cavaliers, who lost 63 games and were out of the playoff hunt by January in their first season without James, won the draft lottery in May.
Then James, whose tortuous departure last summer left scars, lost to Dallas in the NBA finals, giving Cleveland fans a chance to gloat over someone else's misery for a change.
But this draft has spawned optimism and is giving the Cavaliers a chance to accelerate their post-LeBron recovery. As the first team with two picks in the top four since Houston in 1983, Cleveland is confident it will come away climbing a few rungs up the ladder back to contention.
Trouble is, experts have labeled this draft as one of the weakest in recent memory.
Several top players, including lottery locks Harrison Barnes and Jared Sullinger, decided to stay in college perhaps because of concerns about a possible labor lockout. What's left are players laden with question marks and only Irving and Williams viewed as potential perennial All-Stars.
If there's a year when having the No. 1 and No. 4 picks is not ideal, this would be it. Sorry, Cleveland. And although the Cavs have not publicly committed to settling on Irving, he appears to be their top choice.
In the point-guard-driven NBA, where backcourt players like Derrick Rose, Deron Williams, Chris Paul, Rajon Rondo and John Wall are obscuring their taller teammates as stars, the 6-foot-4 Irving has all the tools — size, speed, ballhandling — to make an immediate impact for the Cavs. At times, Cleveland's Princeton offense barely performed up to Ivy League levels last season, frustrating first-year coach Byron Scott.
Irving's not without flaws, however. The major knock on the 19-year-old is that he only played 11 games for the Blue Devils because of a toe injury and there are some who wonder if he needs more grooming.
If the Cavs do take him first, Irving will be the third point guard in four years to go No. 1, joining Wall, who went to Washington last year and Rose, picked by Chicago in 2008.
He's a safe, if not sure, pick.
"He's a terrific young point guard, and he's a true point guard," ESPN analyst Jay Bilas, a fellow Dookie, said in a conference call. "I do liken him to Chris Paul. But he's not quite as good as Paul. But if you had taken Chris Paul out his freshman year, you might say the same thing. Iving, what he lacks, that a Wall or a Rose or guys like that have, he's not as explosive an athlete. He's not in that class athletically."
Williams, on the other hand, has off-the-charts athleticism. The 6-foot-8 forward wowed the Cavs during his individual workout last week, when he did all he could to convince them that he can play small forward and not power forward, the position most league insiders believe he's best suited for.
Williams' visit on Monday was somewhat of a surprise. It's not clear if the team asked him back or if he requested a second look, which is not uncommon for players slotted to go in the top 10. He averaged 19.5 points and 8.3 rebounds last season, but wasn't considered a lottery pick until he scored 32 in Arizona's NCAA tournament win over Duke.
The Cavs have toyed with moving up to No. 2, so they could land both Irving and Williams — a two-handed slam dunk in this class. But that seems unlikely unless they can strike a deal with Minnesota, which has entertained offers but seems reluctant to give up the highest pick in franchise history.
If Cleveland does pick Williams, Irving won't fall far.
"We'll take him," said Timberwolves president David Kahn. "He's not moving past two."
Williams campaigned to be No. 1, but now seems resigned to the Cavs choosing Irving.
"I wouldn't doubt it," he said last week. "He's great."
-- Tom Withers
Guards Knight, Walker offer Jazz options at No. 3
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — For a guy considered undersized, junior Kemba Walker still managed to put the team on his back and carry UConn to the NCAA championship. All Brandon Knight did as a freshman was produce a pair of knockout shots that propelled a young Kentucky squad into the Final Four.
Both guards figure to be sitting at No. 3 when the Utah Jazz pick in Thursday's NBA draft.
Which one is better?
"Beauty is in the eye of the beholder," said Ryan Blake, who scouts players for all NBA teams. "Kemba is small, but what's wrong with that? Chris Paul is smaller."
That is true. Walker checked in at the NBA draft combine at 6-1, 184 pounds — with shoes. Paul, a four-time NBA All-Star with the New Orleans Hornets, is 6-0, 175.
Whether it's size that ultimately matters, most mock drafts have the Jazz taking the 6-3 Knight at No. 3 unless they go big with a player such as 6-11 Enes Kanter of Turkey, the draft's top-rated center.
Knight certainly relishes an opportunity to follow in the footsteps of Jazz greats such as John Stockton and Deron Williams, even if team execs say it's hard to evaluate a player as a point guard after only one year of college ball.
"What you determine ... is he willing to try and make everyone on the team better, rather than make himself better?" Jazz general manager Kevin O'Connor said of Knight, who worked out alone for the team last week. "And if you've got enough quickness and you've got enough athleticism and you can handle the ball well enough, then you can be a point guard."
Knight already is used to following in some big footsteps as the latest in a long line of star guards that John Calipari has produced.
John Wall went No. 1 in the draft last year after one season at Kentucky under Calipari and became an immediate contributor with the Washington Wizards.
Tyreke Evans went fourth overall in 2009 after one season in Memphis under Calipari and won 2010 NBA rookie of the year honors with Sacramento.
Derrick Rose was selected No. 1 overall by Chicago in 2008, again coached by Calipari, and last season added the NBA Most Valuable Player award to his resume.
Considering Knight is just 19, draft experts see plenty of upside for a player who averaged 17.3 points and 4.2 assists for the Wildcats.
Knight said he had a "pretty good vibe" after working out for the Jazz.
There's little question the team likes Knight's work ethic and smarts. He earned a 4.3 grade-point average at a private high school known for its academics. At Kentucky he carried a 4.0 GPA in the fall semester.
On the court, he seemed to make the right moves under pressure, especially in the NCAA tournament. He was 0-for-7 against Princeton before scoring the game-winner with two seconds remaining. He was 2 for 9 with six turnovers against Ohio State before drilling a 16-foot game-winner with a hand in his face and five seconds on the clock.
"He's a guy as a freshman who led a team of very young players to the Final Four, so he's shown leadership ability," said Walt Perrin, Utah's vice president for player personnel.
"Kemba is a national champion and we always look for winners," Perrin added. "He's a guy who's not afraid to take big shots and hit big shots."
Walker hit the game-winning or go-ahead shot in the final three minutes of six games last season, and won the Bob Cousy Award as the nation's top point guard.
Blake loves Walker's heart, the way he plays with a chip on his shoulder and the fact he can be a combo guard.
"He wants to prove the naysayers wrong," Blake said.
The Jazz aren't about to tip their hand on which route they intend to go, and acknowledged there's been plenty of lively discussion as they set out to rank the players by ability 1-30.
"You take the best player," Perrin said.
Period. He said that philosophy was reinforced in 1984 when the Portland Trailblazers used the second overall pick on 7-1 power forward Sam Bowie instead of Michael Jordan simply because they already were stocked at guard with All-Star Jim Paxson and a budding superstar in Clyde Drexler.
There aren't any Michael Jordans in this draft, considered one of the weakest. But there are always a few gems.
"We have the third pick this year, so there might be a little more pressure, but the pressure is always there because we want to get it right," Perrin said.
-- Lynn DeBruin
76ers prez Thorn: Sale won't affect draft
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — The "For Sale" sign remains planted in the Philadelphia 76ers' yard. The "Help Wanted" ad is out for a big man.
While the wait for new owners to buy the team from Comcast-Spectacor stretches into another week, the Sixers are confident they can find the frontcourt help they need in Thursday's NBA draft.
Team president Rod Thorn calls the days leading up to the draft business as usual with the Sixers holding their final workouts before deciding what player — Lithuanian 7-footer Donatas Motiejunas, perhaps? — to take with the 16th pick in the first round. The Sixers also hold the 50th pick in the second round.
Thorn said after Tuesday's final workout the Sixers have no serious interest in trying to trade up in the draft.
But, the Sixers are willing to deal.
Thorn confirmed the Sixers are discussing trades for swingman Andre Iguodala, long the No. 1 subject of trade rumors, and have initiated those talks with some teams. Thorn described some conversations as meaningful, others not so much.
Thorn also said the potential sale of the franchise will not affect the way management approaches the draft of potential trades. People familiar with the deal told The Associated Press this month the Sixers could be sold to a group led by New York-based leveraged buyout specialist Joshua Harris.
Thorn has met with members of the ownership group that wants to buy the team.
"They have questions about how we do things, why we do things, what we think of our personnel, what we think we need. Those type of information-type questions," he said. "At this point, that's not being divulged as to exactly how they stand or how they will operate, because until they actually take over there isn't a lot to do about that or say about that."
Thorn said "it's too hard to tell" if the Sixers will pull off a trade, blockbuster or otherwise, by the end of draft night. If Iguodala isn't dealt soon, odds are he might stick around next year mostly because of the uncertain labor situation.
The league's collective bargaining agreement is set to expire at the end of the month and NBA owners and players met again Tuesday for another big day of negotiations. The Sixers player representative is Jason Kapono, but he missed most of last season for personal reasons and is a free agent. Elton Brand said he's assumed the unofficial role of team rep.
Thorn, running his first draft since taking over last August, could have been on the job only a few hours and known the Sixers need a serious low-post presence. Motiejunas and Kansas forward Markieff Morris both worked out for the Sixers and could still be around at 16. Texas power forward Tristan Thompson also could be available when the Sixers pick.
"So to say that we're going to pick big, there's a good chance that we will," Thorn said, "But we also may not."
All of those scenarios might not matter if the Sixers do, finally, trade Iguodala.
Iguodala, the ninth overall pick in the 2004 NBA draft, never blossomed into the franchise player that the Sixers hoped he would become. He has three years left on an $80-million, six-year contract and was noncommittal the day after the season ended about wanting to return to the Sixers. He skipped his exit meetings with team officials and refused to tell the media he wanted to return, offering not much more than, "I never said I didn't want to be here."
He never said he did, either.
Thorn has kept in touch with Iguodala throughout the offseason.
"He's always said that he would like to stay," Thorn said. "He's never said that he would like to be traded — to me."
Philadelphia has won only one playoff series since losing to the Los Angeles Lakers in the 2001 NBA finals. This year, the Sixers won 41 games and stretched the Miami Heat to a five-game playoff series in Doug Collins' first season as coach.
By the end of the month, the Sixers could be without Iguodala, owner Ed Snider and assistant coach Quin Snyder.
Snyder, who spent last year as assistant coach, appears to be leaning toward accepting an offer to join the Los Angles Lakers and Mike Brown's staff.
"He may be going someplace else," Thorn said. "That hasn't been decided yet. He did a really good job for us."
Three city stars worked out for the Sixers, but none expect to be drafted. Villanova guards Corey Stokes and Corey Fisher and Temple forward Lavoy Allen, the school's career leading rebounder, at best are late second-round picks.
Wildcats coach Jay Wright said Stokes and Fisher will land somewhere, even if it's not on the draft board.
"They've both felt like they've had really good workouts, they both feel good," Wright said. "Certain teams say they like them, but they haven't guaranteed they're going to take them."
-- Dan Gelston
Suns like Fredette but big man more likely pick
PHOENIX (AP) — The Phoenix Suns are part of the Jimmer Fredette buzz if the dynamic BYU scorer extraordinaire is available at the No. 13 pick in Thursday's NBA draft. Perhaps a more likely scenario has the Suns going for a power forward to bulk up a weak front line.
The Suns, coming off a disappointing season in which they failed to make the playoffs, haven't had a selection this high since 2004, when they took Luol Deng at No. 7 but immediately traded him to Chicago in a deal that had been arranged prior to the draft.
General manager Lance Blanks had effusive praise for Fredette at a pre-draft gathering with reporters on Tuesday, and said he had no idea if the gifted guard would still be available when the Suns made their choice.
A power forward, say Markieff Morris of Kansas or Tristan Thompson of Texas, is a safer bet for what — unless the team makes a trade — is Phoenix's only pick of the draft.
"We need to add a few things," Blanks said. "One, I would say we need to be a little bulkier and have a little more rim protection, a little tougher inside. It would be nice to have what I call a finisher or some wing scoring. And we've got to figure out the backup point guard situation."
Steve Nash could be entering his final season with the Suns, who have long tried to groom an understudy for the two-time MVP. Phoenix has a team option for Aaron Brooks, acquired in a trade with Houston last season, but he struggled in his brief time with the Suns. That brings the conservation to Fredette, who had an impressive workout in Phoenix last week.
Asked if Fredette could make a successful move to an NBA point guard, Blanks said yes.
"He showed that, I thought, through the college season," Blanks said. "Sometimes you look at players and you look at their game, you forget about the human being. And I think the person who Jimmer is probably is not going to allow him to fail in this environment. I don't want to overstate it, but he's high character and given the right opportunity and the right situation, he's going to figure it out."
Morris, whose twin brother Marcus is projected to go a few picks higher than the Suns' selection, is 6-foot-9 and 241 pounds. His strength and defense, along with a serviceable offense, make him attractive to Phoenix as a player who could help right away. Thompson, leaving Texas after his freshman season, is 6-9 and 227 pounds, a raw talent with a huge upside.
A darkhorse in the mix could be 6-8, 225-pound Kenneth Faried of Morehead State, college basketball's leading rebounder at 14.5 per game.
The team is entertaining trade suggestions, although it's unclear whether it would be to move up or down, or perhaps add a second selection later in the draft.
A blockbuster seems unlikely, with the front office persistently shooting down Nash trade talk and, most recently, rumors involving Marcin Gortat.
"We love Marcin Gortat and hope that he's a part of our core going forward for a long time," Blanks said. "We have talks with every club always about everything. That's just part of the business. I'm sure Lon (Babby, Suns president of basketball operations) is having several calls a day. I'll have calls as well. It's part of the deal."
Outside possibilities for Phoenix include shooting guard Klay Thompson of Washington State and small forward Chris Singleton of Florida State.
It's the first draft for the Babby-Blanks regime in Phoenix.
-- Bob Baum
Thunder try to continue run of strong draft picks
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — The quick rise of the Oklahoma City Thunder from the depths of the NBA to Western Conference finalists has been fueled by a series of strong drafts.
Top scorers Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, James Harden and Serge Ibaka all were the product of shrewd first-round choices in recent years, adding a core of young talent.
So, what's next for Oklahoma City when the draft rolls around Thursday night?
The Thunder seem to have their starting lineup and most of their playing rotation in place, and are armed with only one first-round pick at No. 24.
That doesn't mean general manager Sam Presti won't be examining all his options.
"At 24, we can't be overly selective. We'll see what's there, see if someone there that can fit what we're trying to accomplish," Presti said. "I'm sure we'll have a lot of opportunity when the draft comes around to maybe move up, move back, move out."
Last year, Presti found a way to use a second-round pick and turn it into the acquisition of Daequan Cook while also moving up into the first round, then dealt the two first-round picks to get center Cole Aldrich at No. 11.
If the Thunder stay put, there already are divergent examples of who they could get at No. 24, just from the last three drafts.
Ibaka was the No. 24 pick in the 2008 draft, stayed overseas for a season to develop, joined the team as a reserve for one season and then last year developed into a starter and the league's top shot blocker after a February trade for Kendrick Perkins.
Byron Mullens was the 24th pick in the 2009 draft and has shuttled between the NBA development league and the Thunder, playing in only 13 games last season. He and Aldrich struggled to find playing time all season as the Thunder advanced to the conference finals, where they lost to eventual NBA champion Dallas.
Any additions this year could face a similar fate.
"We played 10 players last year and we return a good deal of them, so I'm not saying that whoever we draft can't crack a rotation, but obviously it would be unlikely," Presti said. "Hopefully we find someone that can be a contributor for us, whether it's next year or down the line."
Right now, Oklahoma City lacks proven backups at center — with Nazr Mohammed a free agent — and at small forward, where Durant ranked in the top five last season with 38.9 minutes played per game. Cook picked up some of the reserve minutes over the second half of the season and would be a restricted free agent if the Thunder give him a qualified offer in the next 10 days.
There simply aren't the gaping holes there were only a few years ago, leaving open the possibility that Presti could choose someone like Spain's Nikola Mirotic and allow him to continue improving overseas just as Ibaka did.
"In terms of what we need to add, I don't know," Presti said. "We have to really be thoughtful about what we have in place. Every time you add something, it affects the existing parts as well. As people say, it's always more art than science.
"We just want to try to figure out what the right questions are to ask and hopefully improve on where we are."
-- Jeff Latzke
Ex-Indiana All-Stars now vying for draft position
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Jerry Bomholt could tell the 2007 Indiana All-Star team was going to be special. Now NBA scouts could confirm what the longtime Indiana high school coach knew all along. These guys can play.
"I remember (head coach) Mike Miller and I talking one time and we couldn't get the kids playing at the level we thought they could," recalled Bomholt, an assistant on Miller's staff with that team. "Then we looked around and said, 'What do we know? These guys are all going to be pros."
Certainly not all of them. Still, it could go down as the most talented classes in Indiana's storied prep history.
Eric Gordon and Jeff Teague, teammates on that 2007 team, are already established NBA players. Three more players — Purdue's JaJuan Johnson and E'Twaun Moore and Butler's Matt Howard — could get picked in Thursday night's NBA draft. And at least two more players from that roster, former high school teammates Robbie Hummel and Scott Martin, have hopes of joining the NBA next year.
If all goes well, seven of the 14 players on that All-Star team could be playing in the NBA by 2012-13.
There was so much talent that Teague, taken No. 19 overall by Atlanta in 2009, was relegated to bench duty behind Gordon and Moore.
None of his All-Star teammates are expected to go that high this year, though all three could get picked.
At 6-foot-10 and 220 pounds, Johnson has impressed scouts with a still-developing mid-range jumper and the kind of shot-blocking ability NBA teams crave. Scouts are still trying to figure out if he warrants a first-round pick, and the hometown Pacers brought him in during the first draft workout.
"He can catch and shoot, he makes his free throws and even though he has a very unorthodox jump hook, he can make that jump hook," Purdue coach Matt Painter said. "He's always been capable of making a pull-up. There's just something to be said for a 6-10 guy who can knock down perimeter shots and score in a variety of ways."
Moore made his mark as a shooting guard in high school and college, though at 6-foot-4, he may have to play point guard in the NBA. He said he's willing to make the move and insists he can defend either guard spot.
Howard, the 6-foot-8, 230-pound forward who led Butler to two straight national runner-up finishes, does not have a prototypical NBA game. But a whirlwind workout tour took Howard to at least 10 NBA cities and included a reunion with Moore in the Pacers' home arena, Conseco Fieldhouse.
"I think that's the other time we were in here together," Howard said when asked about the All-Star games. "That was a great team, a great group of guys. That's why you enjoy it, even now."
The former Indiana All-Stars aren't the only draft hopefuls with Indiana ties.
Shooting guard Shelvin Mack, a junior, left Kentucky to play at Butler with Howard. The Pacers brought in swingman Andrew Warren, who averaged 18.8 points as a senior at Bradley after playing prep ball at Indianapolis Brebeuf.
Also in the mix is Indiana State point guard Jake Kelly, who got a rare opportunity to perform in front of the school's most famous alum, Pacers president Larry Bird, on June 7.
"It was cool because his pictures are everywhere on campus, and he's really a down-to-earth guy," Kelly said. "It wasn't like I was nervous or anything, it was just neat seeing him."
Those who have played prep or college ball in Indiana may have an advantage in the draft. The state that accounts for slightly more than 2 percent of the U.S. population has produced 5.4 percent of all NBA draft picks over the past four years, including nine first-rounders.
Gordon and Teague, of course, are on that list, and Bomholt believes the legacy of that 2007 All-Star team will only grow after this year's draft.
"I coached some really good players, but I never had an opportunity to coach those kinds of thoroughbreds," said Bomholt, who recently retired after 31 seasons as a head coach at several Indiana high schools. "I can't remember one kid being late or having an exchange where someone got ticked at somebody else. When you have that combination, you feel pretty fortunate as a coach, and, you know, that's probably the reason all these guys are going to play pro basketball."
-- Michael Marot
WNBA
Taylor, Dupree lead Mercury past Silver Stars
SAN ANTONIO (AP) — With Diana Taurasi enduring her worst game of the season, her Phoenix Mercury teammates stepped up to make up for her struggles.
Penny Taylor scored 30 points, Candice Dupree had 20 points and 13 rebounds and the Phoenix Mercury handed the San Antonio Silver Stars their first loss, 105-98 on Tuesday night.
Kara Braxton added 15 points and Temeka Johnson had 14 for the Mercury (2-3). Taurasi shot 2 for 13 from the field and finished with seven points — 16 below her league-leading average.
"That's the team we're trying to be," Taurasi said. "It's not one person. Every night we have to get contributions from different places, and as long as you bring that aggressiveness and emotion, we can live with what happens."
Becky Hammon had 28 points and seven assists to lead the Silver Stars (4-1), who were the WNBA's last undefeated team. Rookie forward Danielle Adams scored 22 points and Jia Perkins added 15 for San Antonio, which played without leading scorer Sophia Young (illness).
"It's big for us to get this first win of our four-game road trip," Taylor said. "We had a few losses to start the season, but we really feel like we are going forward now with some momentum."
Phoenix led by 17 with 4½ minutes to go before San Antonio rallied. Hammon's fifth 3-pointer of the game pulled the Silver Stars to 103-98 with under 21 seconds to go. However, the Mercury shot 6 for 6 from the line in the final minute to secure the win.
The Mercury shot 51 percent from the field (39 for 77) against one of the league's top defenses. It was the first time this season San Antonio let an opponent shoot 50 percent.
"We did a decent job on Taurasi," Silver Stars coach Dan Hughes said. "You're fortunate when you can find her on a night where that happens. But different things broke down. We had a period where I thought they hurt us interior wise. Taylor was consistently the playmaker throughout the game."
Phoenix jumped out to a 14-4 lead in the first quarter before the Silver Stars rallied to tie the game at the end of the quarter. The Mercury, though, quickly regrouped in the second quarter and led 52-43 at halftime.
Taurasi, who has been the league's top scorer each of the last three seasons, didn't score until there was 3:50 remaining in the first half. Immediately after she hit a tightly contested jumper, she drew a technical foul for arguing a non-call.
Her worst game this season before Tuesday was June 10 when she had nine points at Los Angeles.
It didn't take Taurasi nearly as long to get going in the second half. She hit a 3-pointer 1:25 into the third quarter to put the Mercury up 57-45, drawing a quick timeout from the Silver Stars.
It was the teams' second meeting in five days. The Silver Stars rallied from a 16-point deficit to beat the Mercury 101-99 on Friday in Phoenix.
Capsules: Milton-Jones helps Sparks top Liberty
LOS ANGELES (AP) — DeLisha Milton-Jones scored 27 points and had a key late steal to help the Los Angeles Sparks beat the New York Liberty 96-91 on Tuesday night.
Candace Parker had 21 points and 13 rebounds to hlep the Sparks (4-1) win their third straight. Kristi Toliver added 16 points and Tina Thompson added 14 and a key block in the final minute. The game was on the anniversary of the WNBA's inaugural contest in 1997 featuring the two teams.
Cappie Pondexter scored 22 points for New York (2-4), which has lost four straight.
After a steal by Milton-Jones, Parker's layup with 29 seconds gave the Sparks a 94-91 lead. The Liberty had two looks at tying it but Powell missed a 3 and the Sidney Spencer's shot was blocked by Thompson.
Storm 82, Shock 77
TULSA, Okla. (AP) — Sue Bird scored 21 points, Swin Cash had 17 and defending champion Seattle rallied past Tulsa.
Camille Little added 11 points and Le'coe Willingham had 10 for the Storm (3-2), who outscored the Shock 30-13 in the third quarter after trailing by six at halftime. Bird and Cash combined for 20 points after the break.
Three-time MVP Lauren Jackson finished with four points. She suffered an apparent hip injury in the first half and did not return after halftime.
Tiffany Jackson had 20 points and 10 rebounds to lead Tulsa (1-6). Kayla Pederson scored 15 points, Liz Cambage had 13 points and six rebounds, and Ivory Latta added 11 points.
Fever 89, Mystics 80
WASHINGTON (AP) — Reserve guard Shavonte Zellous scored a season-high 21 points and Indiana held off Washington.
Jessica Davenport and Briann January added 18 apiece to help the Fever (4-3) salvage the final contest of a three-game road trip that saw them criss-cross the country from Seattle to Phoenix to Washington in five days.
Zellous, who entered the game having scored just seven points the first six games, shot 7 for 9 from the field.
Crystal Langhorne scored 23 points and Matee Ajavon added 17 for Washington (1-5), which lost its fourth straight.
Leading by three at halftime, Indiana scored the first nine points of the second half and was up 14 after the break. The Mystics rallied but got no closer than three points.
Dream 71, Sky 68
ATLANTA (AP) — Angel McCoughtry scored 14 points and newcomer Courtney Paris had nine points and eight rebounds to lead Atlanta past Chicago.
The Dream (2-5) played their third game without second-leading scorer and rebounder Sancho Lyttle, who is competing for Spain in an Olympic qualifying tournament. Paris was signed Saturday to fill the void and came off the bench to help Atlanta build a 43-31 halftime lead.
The Dream kept Chicago's Sylvia Fowles, the league's second-leading scorer, in check for three quarters. Fowles finished with 21 points, giving the Sky (3-3) a 55-53 lead with 7:29 left on a three-point play.
The lead changed hands a few times before Erika de Souza's turnaround jumper gave the Dream the lead for good, 67-66, with 1:32 remaining.
WNBA announces 30 finalists for top 15 of all time
NEW YORK (AP) — Lisa Leslie, Cynthia Cooper and Diana Taurasi lead the list of 30 current and former players announced Tuesday night as finalists for the WNBA's top 15 players of all time.
The nominees, selected by a panel of media members and basketball experts, also include: Seattle's Sue Bird, Lauren Jackson and Katie Smith; Los Angeles' Candace Parker and Tina Thompson; Indiana's Tamika Catchings; New York's Cappie Pondexter; and retired greats Dawn Staley, Yolanda Griffith and Teresa Weatherspoon.
Fans can vote on wnba.com through July 14, and voting will also be conducted among select national media as well as current players and coaches. The top 15 will be announced at the All-Star game on July 23 in San Antonio.
Elsewhere
Spain picks Ibaka for European championship
MADRID (AP) — Defending champion Spain included Oklahoma City Thunder forward Serge Ibaka in its preliminary team on Tuesday for the European championship.
Ibaka, who was born in the Republic of the Congo, is still waiting to become nationalized by Spain before the championship begins on Aug. 31 in Lithuania.
"We hope he can play, even though we are not sure that he will be able to," Spain coach Sergio Scariolo said. "We are in the phase of waiting for the paperwork to go through."
Ibaka played for Spanish clubs for three years before moving to the NBA in 2009. According to Spanish media reports, he maintains a residence in Barcelona.
Ibaka could form a formidable front court alongside Memphis Grizzlies center Marc Gasol and his brother Pau Gasol of the Los Angeles Lakers, who returns after missing the 2010 world championship.
The preliminary list of 15 players, which will be reduced to 12 by the start of the tournament, also includes new Minnesota Timberwolves point guard Ricky Rubio.
Scariolo guided Spain to the continental crown in 2009, but the team finished sixth at the worlds last year. Even so, Spain will be counted among the favorites.
The two finalists of the European championship automatically qualify for the 2012 Summer Olympic Games, while the third- through sixth-place finishers earn a spot in the pre-Olympic qualifying tournament.
The other players on Spain's preliminary roster are: Rudy Fernandez, Jose Calderon, Juan Carlos Navarro, Felipe Reyes, Fernando San Emeterio, Carlos Suarez, Xavi Rey, Victor Sada, Sergio Llull, Rafa Martinez and Victor Claver.
Globetrotters draft Mountain State's Sturgess
BECKLEY, W.Va. (AP) — The Harlem Globetrotters have selected Mountain State University center Paul Sturgess as part of the team's 2011 draft class. The 7-foot-8 Sturgess was the tallest college player in America. He spent two seasons playing for the Beckley school. Mountain State was the runner-up in the 2011 NAIA national tournament.
Sturgess is a native of Loughborough, England, and started playing basketball at age 14 when he was 5-6. His first major growth spurt occurred a year later.
Five other players were selected by the Globetrotters this week, including FC Barcelona soccer player Lionel Messi, slam dunk champion Jacob Tucker of Illinois College, 3-point champion Andrew Goudelock of the College of Charleston, S.C., University of Cincinnati player Darnel Wilks and 12-year-old ball handling sensation Jordan McCabe of Issaquah, Wash.
