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NBA Rumors: Wednesday, March 17
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The NBA Board of Governors has unanimously approved the acquisition by Michael Jordan of a controlling interest in the Charlotte Bobcats. “We are pleased that Michael Jordan’s purchase of majority ownership of the Bobcats was approved by the NBA’s Board of Governors and closed in such a smooth and expeditious fashion,” said NBA Commissioner David Stern. “We look forward to the continued growth of the Bobcats, on and off the court, under his leadership.” InsideHoops.com

NBA commissioner David Stern said in a statement Wednesday that he was pleased the $275 million purchase was "closed in such a smooth and expeditious fashion." Jordan is the sole investor in the ownership group, but he's expected to try to find local partners. The deal includes taking on more than $150 million in debt, covering future losses and putting forward capital to make improvements. AP

The 47-year-old Jordan, who will assume about $150 million in debt in the deal, becomes the second black majority owner of a major pro sports team. He replaces the first in Johnson, who paid $300 million for the expansion franchise, but lost tens of millions annually and saw the value of the team decline as Charlotte fans struggled to warm to the NBA again after the Hornets left for New Orleans in 2002. AP

The Heat also will have room for a third free agent in the mid-level range beyond its two max free agents, plus it has its full allotment of upcoming draft picks, which can be used to select players or as chips in deals. The Knicks essentially have mortgaged their draft future. South Florida Sun-Sentinel Blog

The Nets roster is full of short timers on a clock that can't run out fast enough. Out of the 14-man roster, only five are guaranteed to return unless they're traded. And few of them are playing like their contract-lives depend on it. But the Nets could be as much as $23.3 million under next year's salary cap, providing lots of room for movement if the management doesn't want to hear echos in the cavernous Barclays Center in a couple years. Newark Star-Ledger

Wilson Chandler may have played his final game of the season. The Knicks small forward will not play in tonight's game against Boston due to recurring pain to his left groin. NY Daily News Blog

This just keeps getting better and better, huh? Devin Harris is out tonight so he'll miss his second straight game with an upper respiratory infection and his 18th game of the season. Harris did not make the trip with the team after Tuesday's loss to the Hawks. The thought was he could join the team today if better. But he's out. NY Post Blog

Griz owner Michael Heisley told a group of season ticket holders that the team intends to match any offer Rudy Gay might receive as a restricted free agent this summer. Heisley spoke before the game at the team’s annual “State of the Franchise” Chalk Talk where season ticket holders could ask questions. Memphis Commercial Appeal

Memphis improved to 11-1 at home against teams with a sub-.500 record. Winning home games they were supposed to count as one of the reasons the Griz (36-32) now own a mark that is 12 games better than last season’s final record. Memphis Commercial Appeal

Dwyane Wade said Monday he plans to talk to several free-agent friends after the season about their plans (LeBron James, Chris Bosh, Amare Stoudemire) and encourage them to sign with Miami if he stays. Miami has room for two maximum contracts -- including Wade -- with another $5 million or so left. Wade has expressed a preference to stay, and owner Micky Arison put the odds at 95 percent, but he won't handicap it: ``I'm not a percentage guy. I have a lot of things to think about.'' Miami Herald

In considering Heat playoff scenarios, remember: Division champs can be as low as the fourth seed. So if Atlanta has a better record than Boston, Miami might get a better matchup (Hawks) by finishing sixth, not fifth. Either way, Miami is better off at No. 5 or 6, which avoids Cleveland or Orlando initially. Miami Herald

Al Harrington: The former star at St. Patrick's High in Elizabeth, who lives in Edgewater, said he's not trying to send out any subliminal messages -- but told The Post he definitely would be interested in signing with his hometown Nets this summer, especially since they will play in Newark, 10 miles from Elizabeth, the next two seasons. "If they had interest in me, I'd take a strong look at that," Harrington, a free-agent-to-be, told The Post. "It's still the city. It's still home. I'd rather play at the Garden, but I'd play in Newark, too." NY Post

According to a source, the Wizards, Blazers and Bulls are expected to have interest in Harrington this summer. An unrestricted free agent, he once talked boldly about how Knicks president Donnie Walsh, who drafted him, will push to re-sign him. NY Post

Harrington said he's used to feeling underappreciated. "It's been like that since I've been here," Harrington said. "I'm too nice of a guy. That's the problem. If I was a [jerk], nobody would hassle with me." NY Post

A week ago, Tony Allen was looking over his shoulder wondering how the presence of Michael Finley would affect his playing time. He’s not wondering anymore. “It’s already evident, isn’t it?” Allen said. “It’s already evident.” He didn’t play when Finley was getting his first look in Milwaukee and he’s gotten 7-10 minutes in three blowout games. Against Cleveland, where his defense has been an important element in the past, Allen played just 13 seconds. He can read the writing on the box score. Boston Herald

What will happen this summer is an opportunity to hit the NBA market. Tony Allen has come back from injuries and he has a strong believer in general manager Danny Ainge, but it will be interesting to see what kind of free agent interest he draws. A few teams already have been asking questions. “I just want to be somewhere secure,” Allen said. “Everybody wants job security. I mean, that goes without saying. Boston Herald

One of the low points was Monday night. Chris Kaman went three for 15 from the field for eight points in an eight-point loss to the Hornets. With each miss, most of them banging off the rim, his frustration level kept rising. And there was some residue at practice Tuesday. "Clearly when he's gone to the point that he's fried, you've got to take him out. You still have to run plays for him, work out his kinks with him," said Clippers interim Coach Kim Hughes. "Get him some touches because he couldn't make any shots at the start of practice, but the second half of practice, he started making some shots. "He's one of those guys who doesn't need criticism. He's bashing himself twice as hard as he should be and no one feels worse than he does." LA Times

"It's tough. My minutes are really inconsistent," Kaman said. "I'll start the game and they'll take me out with six, seven minutes to go. I'll go in for a little bit in the second quarter. I don't really feel like I can get into a rhythm. It's kind of tough –the coaching change. "I like Kim. We've had our differences the past few weeks about different issues. But ultimately he's a good guy and I like him. It's just been a little different." LA Times

Has Kaman broached some of his concerns to Hughes? "I want him to be able to do what he's supposed to be doing and not get in the way of his thing, because, obviously, our season is over as far as the playoffs go," Kaman said. LA Times

After Alonzo Gee recorded his first career double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds, and adding two steals in 26 minutes off the bench, Coach Flip Saunders said that the team intends on signing him to a second 10-day contract. Gee has shown steady improvement with increased playing time, and he was all over the place on Tuesday. He was asked active on the glass, fighting for extra possessions, and had to contend with Carmelo Anthony on defense with Al Thornton battling foul trouble. Washington Post Blog

Gee said that it has been a difficult road to this point, going undrafted out of Alabama, playing summer league basketball with San Antonio, and then participating in training camp with Minnesota before having to begin his professional career with the Austin Toros of the NBA Developmental league. "It was tough road," Gee said. "I had to wait on the call up. It affected me because I didn't get it right when I wanted it, but other than that, I just kept working through all that." Washington Post Blog

Tiago Splitter: Up to now, the Spurs had been limited to offering the 6-foot-11 center $970,000 for the first year of his rookie scale contract. Now, they can offer a lot more, but they are still bound by collective bargaining agreement rules. Just as they have no cap room to offer big money to free agents from other teams this summer, they are limited to cap exceptions as they try to lure Splitter. The most they can offer: The mid-level cap exception, expected to be around $5 million. San Antonio Express-News

Trouble is, even that amount likely won't pry him out of Spain. That's because the prospect of an NBA lockout that could wipe out the entire 2011-12 season is enough to make any player making mega-Euros think twice about bolting for the NBA. Splitter's deal reportedly is worth more than $5 million. “That's why they're probably not going to get him, even for the full mid-level,” said one NBA executive. “If you've got a nice, guaranteed deal over in Europe, why would you sign over here and face a lockout? I'm telling you, the full mid-level probably isn't going to get it done.” San Antonio Express-News

With the Raptors tanking lately, threatening to drop out of the Eastern playoff picture, their chances of retaining Bosh get slimmer and slimmer, and a sign-and-trade more and more likely. If the Spurs can leverage another team's desperation to alleviate some of their own, they should do it. San Antonio Express-News

Tom Penn, the right-hand man to general manager Kevin Pritchard, has been fired by the Trail Blazers. Tuesday’s decision comes nearly 10 months after he was promoted to vice president of Basketball Operations. Penn late Tuesday night said he was “surprised” and “disappointed” when team president Larry Miller called him into his Rose Quarter offices Tuesday afternoon and informed him he was being relieved of his duties. Oregonian Blog

Penn, however, would not say why he was fired. “I can’t speak to specifics and I prefer not to,’’ Penn said. “I don’t think it is appropriate.’’ Penn was gracious and thankful Tuesday night. “I’ve moved on. It’s been an unbelievable run,’’ Penn said. “I fell in love with Rip City.’’ Oregonian Blog

A former criminal defense lawyer in Illinois, Penn’s duties with the Blazers included negotiating player contracts, structuring player trades, evalutating talent and managing day-to-day basketball operations. Prior to entering sports management, he served as a basketball player agent in 1994. Oregonian Blog

Blazers company line: "Philosophical differences." Remember that for when you next need to say something and nothing at the same time. Penn was given a raise and a promotion by the Blazers 10 months ago when the Minnesota Timberwolves were apparently offering him their vacant GM position. Kevin Pritchard tells the story of keeping Penn around over a bottle of wine on the back deck of his property.... dreaming on the possibilities. Oregonian

A Blazers source tells me that Penn absolutely rubbed owner Paul Allen the wrong way in the war room during the draft that netted Portland Greg Oden. "Paul may never have recovered from that," source said. But it raises some questions about why Allen would give Penn a raise and promotion so recently. Something more had to have happened for Allen to move so shrewdly to hand Penn the pink slip on Tuesday. Oregonian

Even if the Blazer decided that Penn wasn't their guy anymore, why do it now? Curious timing. The team is about to make a playoff run. The Blazers are operating without distraction, and so the timing here makes me believe that there's something very bizarre going on internally. Did Penn make a play skating toward another job and fall through the ice? Oregonian

Penn refuted the idea that he's expressed interest in other NBA jobs, including the Clippers opening. Blazers find out he's been poking around? Hmmmmm... That's one theory that makes total sense. Penn maintains that he's suprised and disappointed, and said, "I love the city, and feel grateful for the opportunity. I had good times here, and when I reflect I'm grateful that I was part of the good run." Oregonian

The pressure is excruciating. Do you know how hard it is to play .200 basketball? Especially when you're a .104 team? Well, after last night's 108-84 thrashing by the Hawks, that is the task for the 7-60 (.104) Nets. They need to go at least 3-12 (.200) in their last 15 games to avoid the worst record in NBA history -- the dubious mark of 9-73 set by the 1972-73 Sixers. "I want to get three wins, more than anything," Courtney Lee said. "I watch [TV] where they bash us and say, 'They need a couple wins or they're going to be the worst team in history.' Then you think, 'We've got to get three wins.' " NY Post

"It's on our minds," said Keyon Dooling, who wants to return next season (his deal is partially guaranteed). "It's gotten so bad, one of our goals is to not be the worst team in the history of the game. That's hard to associate with 'goal,' but we don't want to go down in history as the worst team ever." NY Post

Dooling joined Jarvis Hayes as current Nets wanting to return, citing a bright future with cap space and a high draft pick. "I think it will turn around here pretty quick," he said. "I got a buyout at $500,000. That's a team option. If it was my option, I'd put it in right now and sign up." ... Yi Jianlian missed his fifth straight game with a sprained ankle. He's out tonight. NY Post

With just 17 games remaining, Brooks is by far the Rockets' most viable award candidate. The Rockets have not won an individual NBA performance award since Steve Francis was the Co-rookie of the Year in 2000, and if Brooks becomes their first-ever Most Improved winner, it would be a breakthrough for a team that has not had an All-Star, player of the month or player of the week selection this season. Houston Chronicle

“The main goal is just to win championships,” Brooks said. “As far as personally, to get some kind of accolade this season, the fact is no one had us in this position. A lot of stuff I've been through in my life basketball-wise, the highs and lows, to finally get an award in the pros would be a big accomplishment for me. “It's for the team, too. I think we deserve something as a team. We didn't have anybody representing us in the All-Star game. We didn't have any (national) television games. We are playing basketball down here. It would be good to have recognition for this team.” Houston Chronicle

The Kings' 10-day experiment with Garrett Temple ended last Saturday when the rookie signed a 10-day contract with the San Antonio Spurs. Temple played in five games with the Kings, averaging 2.2 points. Sacramento Bee

Paul Westphal isn't seeking out more players at this stage of the season. "It's not my focus right now," he said. "If (team president) Geoff (Petrie) sees somebody we'd like to look at, we're certainly open to that. But we're happy to play the guys we have as well." Sacramento Bee

Tuesday's game was the Kings' third sellout of the season. The occasion brought out some stars from other fields. Actor Danny Glover was in attendance, as was reality television star Khloe Kardashian, who happens to be Lakers forward Lamar Odom's wife. Westphal believes the environment is good for the Kings. "Any basketball team, particularly a young team, loves to play in front of a packed house," Westphal said. "I think Arco has been traditionally one of the more enthusiastic buildings in the NBA." Sacramento Bee

The unsure part came moments earlier, when Leandro Barbosa made his walk to the scorer's table to check in once Goran Dragic picked up his third foul in the second quarter. A huge ovation started to build in US Airways Center with many fans standing for Barbosa's first playing time since Jan. 22, his last game before right wrist surgery. "I was happy about the fans," Barbosa said. "It was great, man. I didn't know what to do, if I should wave my hands. I was like a little kid over there. It was a great time. Arizona Republic

A Sports Illustrated poll of NBA players had Artest (42 percent of the vote) and Kobe Bryant of the Lakers as the two toughest defenders in the league. Howard was third with 12 percent, followed by Garnett (6 percent) and Shane Battier (4 percent). OC Register Blog

Part of the reason Amar'e Stoudemire has returned to his old self is the dropped weight. He has lost about 26 pounds and is down to 242, a more customary weight for him at this point of the season, and his body fat is about 5.5 percent. "I feel great," Stoudemire said. "Feel quick. Feel fast. Agile. With that being said, my basketball IQ is definitely improving. That's been helping my teammates. "Just the fact of me now getting in great shape allows me to really feel a lot better and quicker on the basketball court. This is my weight right here. You guys know every second half of the year, I turn it up a notch. Making the playoff push last year, I wasn't able to turn it up. I went out with the eye injury. You guys should be used to it by now." Arizona Republic

Stoudemire's improvement coincided with the passing of the NBA trade deadline and the possibility that he is playing for his next contract. He can become a free agent this summer by opting out of the final year of his contract, which would pay him $17.7 million next season. He said he has put off contract-extension talks until the off-season because he does not want them to be a distraction. "My approach toward the game is definitely more of a serious approach than ever," he said. Arizona Republic

Manu Ginobili, knock on wood, seems back to being Manu Ginobili. Richard Jefferson, just maybe, is starting to look like Richard Jefferson. But if Spurs coach Gregg Popovich had to choose the most encouraging sign from his team's suffocating 88-76 victory over Miami on Tuesday, it would be this: The Spurs' defense is beginning to look like the Spurs' defense. “Nothing good can happen, playoff-wise, if you can't play ‘D',” Popovich said. San Antonio Express News

The Spurs are beginning to like this Ginobili, who also stopped a lull in the third quarter with a driving dunk. “He's been Manu for the last month,” Popovich said. “That's what really kick-started us.” If the Spurs are to sustain what they've built since the rodeo road trip, however, the proof will come on the defensive end. San Antonio Express News

And the Sixers will play the Nets without forward Thaddeus Young, who has a broken right thumb. Plenty of dynamics will be in play tonight: Eddie Jordan, who is expected to be fired, is trying to coach a Sixers team that looks suspiciously checked out and is riddled with injuries. And, of course, the Nets are poised to "better" the infamous record of the 1972-73 Sixers, who finished that season 9-73. Philadelphia Inquirer

The Sixers said Young broke his thumb during Monday's loss. Young was in and out of the training room during the game, with the injury listed as a cracked thumbnail. He now has a removable cast. No timetable has been set for his return. Philadelphia Inquirer

Tyson Chandler: "This is the best I've felt all year. I can move around and I'm just able to be myself out there without thinking about everything, thinking about every move that I'm trying to make or every cut that I make. Now I'm just able to play." TysonChandler.com

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Joakim Noah quivered with excitement, his legs literally shaking, as he detailed plans to return from missing eight straight games with plantar fasciitis in his left foot. "I'm real close," Noah said. "I think I can go Saturday." Unfortunately for him, that's only his plan, not necessarily that of the Bulls. Chicago Tribune

That process involves Noah likely returning next week in limited minutes. Del Negro said there's an outside shot Noah could realize his plan and get spot minutes Saturday against the 76ers but that it's unlikely. Chicago Tribune

It's that reasoning, Rowell said, that led to the Warriors to offer an across-the-board decrease in prices for season ticket-holders. The team will reduce prices between 8 percent and 28 percent for season ticket-holders in 2010-11. Called the Loyalty Pricing program, all season ticket-holders who place a deposit for next season by April 12 will get the discount. "They've been loyal to us," Rowell said. "We've been talking to them all year. We know the economy's been tough. We know the season's been tough. When putting pricing together, we realized we needed to do something to address the fact that our fans have hung with us as long as they have." Oakland Tribune

They have experienced a noted drop in home attendance and season-ticket purchases. Also, vocal fan dissatisfaction has increased. And confidence in the franchise's ability to turn things around took a hit after the team failed to make a significant trade last offseason and again before last month's trade deadline. Oakland Tribune

"We've drawn pretty well this year," Rowell said. "Our fans have come to the games. We're down (compared) to where we were the last two years. But we're having a solid season." Rowell said the drop in season-ticket prices is not a panic move and the Warriors aren't desperate. He also said the team still is willing to spend the money necessary to improve the team. Oakland Tribune

Ron Artest on Tyreke Evans: "He played great. Good player, good player. He attacks, he can attack. He has his time to go get 50 or 40 points. He's a rookie. I was really impressed with his poise. He's got to be more of a leader though. He has the potential now -- he doesn't talk enough to his teammates. A guy with that much poise should have more leadership. That much poise, at that age .... He's 20? With that much poise, a smart player, he needs to take a bigger role, a man's role, that man's leadership role, and direct his teammates. And make his teammates better. Then take over when it's necessary." Sacramento Bee

One final note about Artest: He says his daughter, Diamond, who continues receiving treatments for kidney cancer, is doing well. That's great to hear. For all the criticism Artest has taken, anyone who has spent time around him knows him as a doting, loving, involved father. Sacramento Bee

Baron Davis knows a few things about playing the point guard position. So when the Los Angeles Clippers' star says he thinks Bucks guard Brandon Jennings should be the league's rookie of the year, you listen. "I think Brandon should be the rookie of the year because it's all about winning in this league," Davis said after the Clippers' practice session Tuesday. "He's been winning, and he's been doing a good job of leading his team. "He's had the numbers and all the accolades. He's definitely the point guard of the future in this league." Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

The 30-year-old Davis admittedly has some bias toward Jennings because both are L.A. guys. "I've been watching him since before he went to high school," Davis said. "He's always had that focus and that confidence. It's great to see your little brother grow up and be doing it. He's like a little brother to me. I just have a lot of respect for his game. "I always knew he was going to make it, and at the level he's performing, I'm not surprised." Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Nate Robinson already has faced the Knicks at the new Boston Garden, just five days after his trade to Beantown, so tonight's game is nothing new. What Robinson has circled on his calendar is his first visit to Madison Square Garden in Celtics green on April 6. Unlike the wonderful montage video tribute afforded Eddie House on his return to Boston on Feb. 23, the Knicks have no plans to honor Robinson's nearly five-season stint in any tribute, according to a team source. The 5-foot-7 ½ athletic freak warred with coach Mike D'Antoni but arguably was their most popular player for the past two seasons. Fans still populate the Garden stands wearing his old "4" jersey. NY Post

The biggest irony of the five-player trade is Knicks' shooting guard Bill Walker has made the biggest impact of anyone. Walker has averaged 10.6 points in 24.6 minutes, shooting an outstanding 59.8 percent and showing terrific athleticism. J.R. Giddens, also obtained in the trade, is rehabbing from knee surgery, but could make his debut Friday vs. Philadelphia. The former Kansas State guard is being heavily considered to be re-signed cheaply. NY Post

The Denver Nuggets welcomed coach George Karl back to the bench after cancer treatment with a 97-87 win over the Washington Wizards on Tuesday. With Karl resuming his duties after a four-game absence due to treatment for neck and throat cancer, Carmelo Anthony scored 29 points and grabbed 12 rebounds as the Nuggets (46-22) won their seventh game in eight. Reuters

Washington forward Andray Blatche had 23 points and eight rebounds but hurt his ankle in the fourth quarter and had to leave the game. The Wizards (21-45) held a 45-39 lead at halftime before fading and losing their season-high ninth game in a row. Reuters

While acting coach Adrian Dantley did all of the pregame media sessions Tuesday, there was a noticeable buzz in the crowd about two minutes before the start of the game when head coach George Karl made his way through the tunnel and onto the Pepsi Center floor. Karl, who missed all of the Nuggets' four-game road trip that ended Monday while undergoing treatment for his neck and throat cancer, felt well enough to rejoin his team for the game against the Wizards. Denver Post

You might have spotted Common, the Grammy-winning rapper and actor, at the recent Suns-Lakers game at US Airways Center. He also took part in the Suns Celebrity Shoot Out game. And you'll probably be seeing trailers of the Chicago native's first starring role in a movie opposite Queen Latifah in "Just Wright," which opens May 14. Common plays Scott McKnight, a franchise point guard for the New Jersey Nets. McKnight suffers a career-threatening injury and then finds himself falling for the physical therapist (Latifah) who is trying to rescue his career. Arizona Republic

Let's start with a synopsis of "Just Wright." Common: "It's the story of a basketball player who gets injured and basically his career is almost gone. A physical therapist nurses him back to health and during the process he learns what love is really about. "He has the total NBA wife. She has the cliché look of a pro athlete's wife and it becomes a love triangle and a Cinderella story. "I love telling this story. We in America put so much on the traditional look of beauty. Women are supposed to be thin, have long hair, just this kind of shape. But beauty comes in all shapes and sizes and really it starts from the inside. Arizona Republic

Common, on basketball: "I played all the way up to my junior year in high school and then I got injured. I got poked in the eye and it cut my eye. I was out for two months and that's when I started getting into music." Arizona Republic

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