Lakers hero Ariza had meteoric rise
Trevor Ariza is a Laker playoff hero, which, paradoxically, is why he’s apparently about to become an ex-Laker, Kevin Hench says.

VIDEO: Jackson talks about health, Artest

Pistons GM not committed to making quick hire
Pistons president Joe Dumars has Avery Johnson on his radar, but a published report indicates it’s no sure bet the former Mavericks coach will end up in Detroit.

NBA free agents: 2009 class (Yahoo! Sports)
Team-by-team list of NBA free agents.

Reports: Turkoglu opts for Raptors over Blazers
Turkish forward Hedo Turkoglu will join the Toronto Raptors after spurning the Portland Trail Blazers, according to multiple reports. The 208-centimeter (6-foot-10) free agent helped Orlando to the NBA finals last season. On Friday, a person close to the Blazers confirmed that Turkoglu ended contract talks with them. The person spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitive nature of the negotiations.

Lakers’ Gasol to play for Spain at Euro Championship
Los Angeles Lakers center Pau Gasol will play for Spain in September in the European Basketball Championship. Gasol said Friday that it was an easy decision after winning the NBA finals. “The season went really well for me and now I want to defend our country,” Gasol said. “We’re really hopeful about the team we have, but we can’t go there with a mentality that we’ll be playing the final just because we’re really good.

VIDEO: Hill on Artest reportedly joining Lakers
Lakers fans, don’t worry. Even though the unpredictable Ron Artest is set to join L.A., Kobe & Co. will keep him in line, Randy Hill says.

NBA’s worst cap-killing contracts
Why are so few teams able to bid on free agents? It’s not the economy, stupid. It’s stupid contracts that kill cap room, Randy Hill says.

Updated odds to win 2010 championship following Draft, trades (Yahoo! Sports)
Bodog's odds to win the 2009-10 NBA Championship have been reassessed and posted following last week's…

NBA free agents: 2009 class (Yahoo! Sports)
Team-by-team list of NBA free agents.

VIDEO: Hill on Artest reportedly joining Lakers
Lakers fans, don’t worry. Even though the unpredictable Ron Artest is set to join L.A., Kobe & Co. will keep him in line, Randy Hill says.

Report: Rockets, Ariza agree to deal
A person close to the situation tells The Associated Press that the Houston Rockets are meeting with Los Angeles Lakers forward Trevor Ariza. The person, who did not want to be identified because the negotiations were ongoing, said Rockets general manager Daryl Morey was meeting with the free agent in Las Vegas. The meeting was first reported by KRIV-TV in Houston, which also said Coach Rick Adelman was meeting with Ariza. The AP source could not confirm that.

Pacers Team Report (Yahoo! Sports)

The Pacers went into the draft eyeing three positions—point guard, swingman and big man. When their pick came around at 13, team president Larry Bird went the safe route by picking a seasoned four-year college player.

Indiana selected North Carolina All-American forward Tyler Hansbrough with its first-round pick.

“I’m very excited to be here, looking forward to the opportunity to help out Indiana in any way I can help the team win—that’s what I’m about,” Hansbrough said. “I’m very thrilled to be here.”

Hansbrough comes to Indiana with some question marks. Scouts wonder if he’s athletic and strong enough to be an effective player in the NBA.

“Tyler’s been beat down for four years,” Bird said.

Reports: Clippers to trade Randolph
The Los Angeles Clippers are making room for Blake Griffin and clearing salary-cap space, all in one fell swoop.

Hill: Top 10 NBA free agents
While it pales next to the 2010 class everyone’s awaiting, this year’s free-agent crop has some talent. Randy Hill lists the 10 best.

Pistons dump Curry (Yahoo! Sports)
I don't know what else it will take for people to realize that they constantly underrate Flip Saunders.

Straight Shooting: Where should free agents go?
Teammates in Detroit, Allen Iverson and Rasheed Wallace are free to go. Charley Rosen finds the right fit for the top free agents.

Pistons fire Curry as coach after just one season
All or nothing seems to be the formula for coaching the Detroit Pistons. Bring home an NBA championship or hit the road.

Top 10 NBA free agents
While it pales next to the 2010 class everyone’s awaiting, this year’s free-agent crop has some talent. Randy Hill lists the 10 best.

Nuggets’ Smith gets jail time for fatal crash
A judge sentenced Denver Nuggets guard J.R. Smith to 90 days in jail Tuesday night for causing an auto accident that killed his friend, though Smith will likely end up serving only 30. Municipal Judge Debra J. Gelson suspended 60 days of the sentence providing Smith performs 500 hours of community service consisting of visiting sick children at hospitals. Smith, who starred at Lakewood High School and St.

NBA free agents: 2009 class (Yahoo! Sports)
Team-by-team list of NBA free agents.

Pacers Team Report (Yahoo! Sports)

The Pacers went into the draft eyeing three positions—point guard, swingman and big man. When their pick came around at 13, team president Larry Bird went the safe route by picking a seasoned four-year college player.

Indiana selected North Carolina All-American forward Tyler Hansbrough with its first-round pick.

“I’m very excited to be here, looking forward to the opportunity to help out Indiana in any way I can help the team win—that’s what I’m about,” Hansbrough said. “I’m very thrilled to be here.”

Hansbrough comes to Indiana with some question marks. Scouts wonder if he’s athletic and strong enough to be an effective player in the NBA.

“Tyler’s been beat down for four years,” Bird said.

Pacers make PG Jack restricted free agent (AP)
The Indiana Pacers have made qualifying offers to point guard Jarrett Jack and forward Josh McRoberts, making them restricted free agents. Jack's agent, Jeff Schwartz, said Tuesday that his client has enjoyed playing for the Pacers. The Pacers announced the offers in a news release. Jack averaged a career-high 13.1 points per game last season while sharing the starting job with T.J.

Straight Shooting: Where should free agents go?
Teammates in Detroit, Allen Iverson and Rasheed Wallace are free to go. Charley Rosen finds the right fit for the top free agents.

Pistons fire Curry as coach after just one season
The Detroit Pistons fired coach Michael Curry on Tuesday as the team started rebuilding from an unpopular trade, a sub-.500 record and an embarrassing first-round exit from the playoffs that ended its six-year streak of making it to the conference finals.

Wolves willing to wait for solution on Rubio
While NBA executives across the league try to pry Spanish sensation Ricky Rubio away from the Timberwolves, team president David Kahn is in no hurry to deal. One of the biggest reasons many believe Rubio is available is also the biggest reason why Kahn can wait. The Timberwolves chose another point guard in Jonny Flynn one pick after Rubio fell into their lap on draft night.

Pacers to save $7.3M, let Daniels be free agent
The Indiana Pacers will not exercise their team option on guard Marquis Daniels. Daniels’ agent, Glenn Schwartzman, told The Associated Press in an e-mail on Monday that the Pacers have indicated that they will not pay the final year of the deal. Daniels would have made $7.3 million next season, but now he’s an unrestricted free agent. Daniels averaged a career-high 13.6 points per game last season, but Brandon Rush emerged late and is the favorite to start at shooting guard next season.

Bucks make offer to Sessions but not Villanueva
The Milwaukee Bucks have made qualifying offers to restricted free agents Ramon Sessions and Ersan Ilyasova, but will not make an offer to Charlie Villanueva. Bucks general manager John Hammond said Monday the offers to Sessions and Ilyasova give them the right to match contract offers from other teams. Villanueva will be free to sign with any team. NBA teams have until Tuesday to make qualifying offers to their restricted free agents.

Straight Shooting: Who will coach the Lakers?
Mike Krzyzewski as the Lakers‘ head coach? That’s one of the topics Charley Rosen tackles in his offseason Straight Shooting.

Early 2010 NBA mock draft
… to start looking at the 2010 draft. And with Derrick Favors and John Wall on the board, Jeff Goodman has a tough choice for No. 1.

Now is not the time to trade Rondo
Maybe Rajon Rondo is difficult to coach. Maybe not. Either way, the Celtics would be crazy to trade him, Dan Shaughnessy says.

Straight Shooting: Who will coach the Lakers?
Mike Krzyzewski as the Lakers‘ head coach? That’s one of the topics Charley Rosen tackles in his offseason Straight Shooting.

Raptors take USC swingman DeRozan with ninth pick in 2009 NBA draft

With DeMar DeRozan’s high-flying ability, the comparisons to another player with jaw-dropping athleticism that used to wow the crowd at the Air Canada Centre were inevitable.

Pacers Team Report (Yahoo! Sports)

The Pacers went into the draft eyeing three positions—point guard, swingman and big man. When their pick came around at 13, team president Larry Bird went the safe route by picking a seasoned four-year college player.

Indiana selected North Carolina All-American forward Tyler Hansbrough with its first-round pick.

“I’m very excited to be here, looking forward to the opportunity to help out Indiana in any way I can help the team win—that’s what I’m about,” Hansbrough said. “I’m very thrilled to be here.”

Hansbrough comes to Indiana with some question marks. Scouts wonder if he’s athletic and strong enough to be an effective player in the NBA.

“Tyler’s been beat down for four years,” Bird said.

Draft Day hopefuls for wilting Pacers

Draft Day is always a big day for every NBA team. A team can make the right move and ultimately win a lot of championships.

Knicks still have interest in point guard Ricky Rubio (Yahoo! Sports)
After the NBA Draft Thursday, the New York Knicks still found themselves in search of a star point guard,…

Turkoglu opts out of contract with Magic
Hedo Turkoglu’s run with the Orlando Magic appears to be over. A day after the Magic acquired Vince Carter from the New Jersey Nets, Turkoglu’s agent said Friday that he sent a notice to Orlando earlier this week that his client will opt out of his contract to become a free agent. Agent Lon Babby said the Magic had made Turkoglu an initial offer that Orlando general manager Otis Smith described as a “jumping off point.

VIDEO: Hill on Carter joining Magic
By trading for Vince Carter, the Magic might hasten Hedo Turkoglu’s departure. Randy Hill isn’t sure that makes Orlando better.

Shaq will go back to No. 33 jersey with Cavs
Traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers on Thursday, Shaquille O’Neal has decided to wear jersey No. 33, the team confirmed on Friday. That’s the number O’Neal wore in high school and at college before turning pro. O’Neal wore 32 when he was in Orlando and while he played for the Los Angeles Lakers, Miami and Phoenix.

NBA Mock Draft 1.0: Boom or Bust

Growing up in Salt Lake City, most of us had to make the decision of whether to follow the only pro team in the state or skip sports altogether.

Draft buzz: Trading game (Yahoo! Sports)
Keep up with all the latest news and notes on draft day.

Griffin pick will finally turn Clippers around
Get your yuks in while you can, because Blake Griffin is going to turn the Clippers into legit winners before long, Kevin Hench says.

Griffin will bring piece of Oklahoma to LA

The argument about the greatest basketball player in University of Oklahoma history usually includes three candidates - Alvan Adams, Wayman Tisdale and Blake Griffin.

Legacy on line

After Shaq trade, Suns could go big in draft
The impending trade of Shaquille O’Neal to the Cleveland Cavaliers could have the Phoenix Suns looking to go big in Thursday night’s draft. Multiple sources told The Associated Press early Thursday that the Suns had agreed to trade O’Neal to Cleveland for center Ben Wallace, guard Sasha Pavlovic, a second-round draft pick and $500,000 in cash. With Wallace injury-plagued and nearing the end of his career, the Suns could go for a center in the first-round for the second year in a row.