Jackson says he’ll return to coach Lakers
Phil Jackson is returning to coach the Los Angeles Lakers next season. Jackson announced his decision Friday on the team’s Web site. He said he consulted the team doctor about his health before deciding. The Hall of Fame coach turns 64 in September. Jackson led the Lakers to their 15th NBA championship and his record 10th title in June. He says he’s confident he can handle another long season. “All things point to go!” he says.

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.

Artest, Lakers reach verbal agreement
Ron Artest is joining Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers.

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

Report: Turkoglu cuts off talks with Blazers
Free-agent forward Hedo Turkoglu and the Portland Trail Blazers have ended contract talks, a person close to the team confirmed Friday. The person spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitive nature of the negotiations. Turkoglu’s agent, Lon Babby, didn’t immediately return calls or e-mails. The 6-foot-10 forward who helped the Orlando Magic to the NBA finals arrived in Portland on Thursday to meet Blazers executives and tour the city.

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.

VIDEO: Jackson talks about health, Artest

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.

Warriors Team Report (Yahoo! Sports)

The Warriors love first-round draft choice Stephen Curry. They see the former Davidson star, snatched with the No. 7 pick on draft night, as the answer at point guard, allowing them to shift Monta Ellis back off the ball, and coach Don Nelson said the next day that Curry won’t be traded to Phoenix or anywhere else.

But at the same time, they also love Amare Stoudemire. They see the Suns standout as the solution to an even bigger problem—putting power back into the Warriors‘ power forward position.

The rumor on draft night was that it would take Curry to make a trade for Stoudemire work, but it later appeared that wasn’t going to happen. The rumored deal—which supposedly would send Curry, Andris Biedrins, Brandan Wright and Marco Belinelli to Phoenix for…

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.

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.

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.

NBA: Stoudemire reportedly not interested in Warriors

Amare Stoudemire might be the focus of the greatest, loudest, most controversial Warriors trade that never quite happened.

Answering your NBA questions: Greatest ever?
Kobe’s 4th title gets him closer to Jordan’s 6, but where does he stand in the best-ever discussion? Charley Rosen has an answer.

Jackson says he’ll return to coach Lakers
Phil Jackson is returning to coach the Los Angeles Lakers next season. Jackson announced his decision Friday on the team’s Web site. He said he consulted the team doctor about his health before deciding. The Hall of Fame coach turns 64 in September. Jackson led the Lakers to their 15th NBA championship and his record 10th title in June. He says he’s confident he can handle another long season. “All things point to go!” he says.

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.

Corey Maggette wrist surgery

Golden State Warriors forward Corey Maggette underwent successful surgery on his right wrist yesterday , the team announced today.

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.

Yao will wait week before surgery decision
Houston Rockets All-Star center Yao Ming will have to wait up to a week before he knows whether he will need surgery on his broken left foot. The future of 7-foot-6 (226-centimeter) Yao are in question amid reports from the team doctor that the hairline fracture in his foot could keep him out of all of next season, and potentially end his career. “It hasn’t been decided yet,” Yao’s agent, Eric Zhang, told The Associated Press on Friday.

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.

Answering your NBA questions: Greatest ever?
Kobe’s 4th title gets him closer to Jordan’s 6, but where does he stand in the best-ever discussion? Charley Rosen has an answer.

Curry Helps Golden State Warriors Create Small Army

“Guards under 6″4′ are all fairies. All they do is fall down, take charges and whine to the officials.

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

Artest, Lakers reach verbal agreement
Ron Artest is joining Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers.

Warriors Team Report (Yahoo! Sports)

The Warriors love first-round draft choice Stephen Curry. They see the former Davidson star, snatched with the No. 7 pick on draft night, as the answer at point guard, allowing them to shift Monta Ellis back off the ball, and coach Don Nelson said the next day that Curry won’t be traded to Phoenix or anywhere else.

But at the same time, they also love Amare Stoudemire. They see the Suns standout as the solution to an even bigger problem—putting power back into the Warriors‘ power forward position.

The rumor on draft night was that it would take Curry to make a trade for Stoudemire work, but it later appeared that wasn’t going to happen. The rumored deal—which supposedly would send Curry, Andris Biedrins, Brandan Wright and Marco Belinelli to Phoenix for…

Shaq reveals new motto: ‘Win a ring for the King’
Shaquille O’Neal has joined his Cleveland teammates - and says he can help them win a title. Acquired in a trade last week with the Phoenix Suns, O’Neal was introduced Thursday as a Cavalier before cheering young fans at the team’s suburban practice facility. The Cavaliers are hoping that the 15-time All-Star can help league MVP LeBron James and Cleveland win its first NBA championship. How long will O’Neal will stay with the Cavaliers is still a question.

Kobe won’t opt out of Lakers contract
Kobe Bryant chose not to terminate the final two years of his contract and will remain with the Los Angeles Lakers. Team spokesman John Black on Wednesday confirmed Bryant’s decision. The MVP of the NBA finals had until Tuesday to become an unrestricted free agent. Now the Lakers and Bryant’s agent will negotiate a contract extension. If they somehow cannot agree, he would earn $23 million next season and could opt out next June.

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.

Report: Gordon, Pistons agree to deal
Score two for Detroit. Ben Gordon, one of Randy Hill’s top 10 free agents, and Charlie Villanueva reportedly will sign with the Pistons.

Curry Helps Golden State Warriors Create Small Army

“Guards under 6″4′ are all fairies. All they do is fall down, take charges and whine to the officials.

Warriors Team Report (Yahoo! Sports)

The Warriors love first-round draft choice Stephen Curry. They see the former Davidson star, snatched with the No. 7 pick on draft night, as the answer at point guard, allowing them to shift Monta Ellis back off the ball, and coach Don Nelson said the next day that Curry won’t be traded to Phoenix or anywhere else.

But at the same time, they also love Amare Stoudemire. They see the Suns standout as the solution to an even bigger problem—putting power back into the Warriors‘ power forward position.

The rumor on draft night was that it would take Curry to make a trade for Stoudemire work, but it later appeared that wasn’t going to happen. The rumored deal—which supposedly would send Curry, Andris Biedrins, Brandan Wright and Marco Belinelli to Phoenix for…

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 fire coach Curry after one year

DETROIT - All or nothing seems to be the formula for coaching the Detroit Pistons.

NBA: Stoudemire reportedly not interested in Warriors

Amare Stoudemire might be the focus of the greatest, loudest, most controversial Warriors trade that never quite happened.

Top free agents

Agent: Turkoglu to visit Portland
Turkish free agent forward Hedo Turkoglu will visit the Portland Trail Blazers on Thursday. In an e-mail to The Associated Press, agent Lon Babby said Turkoglu will be in Portland on Thursday. He did not elaborate. Turkoglu, who helped Orlando to the NBA finals this past season, informed the Magic he planned to opt out of his contract last week when the team acquired Vince Carter from the New Jersey Nets, Babby said earlier. Turkoglu was due $7.

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.

Report: Pistons OK deals with Gordon, Villanueva
A person tells The Associated Press that Chicago Bulls guard Ben Gordon is in talks with the Detroit Pistons about joining the team. Pistons spokesman Kevin Grigg declined comment on Gordon’s situation Wednesday, saying there’s an NBA moratorium on discussing free-agent matters. But a person close to the talks says Gordon was in Michigan on Wednesday.

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.

Agent: Turkoglu to visit Portland
Turkish free agent forward Hedo Turkoglu will visit the Portland Trail Blazers on Thursday. In an e-mail to The Associated Press, agent Lon Babby said Turkoglu will be in Portland on Thursday. He did not elaborate. Turkoglu, who helped Orlando to the NBA finals this past season, informed the Magic he planned to opt out of his contract last week when the team acquired Vince Carter from the New Jersey Nets, Babby said earlier. Turkoglu was due $7.

Report: Gordon, Pistons agree to deal
Score two for Detroit. Ben Gordon, one of Randy Hill’s top 10 free agents, and Charlie Villanueva reportedly will sign with the Pistons.

Top free agents

Kobe won’t opt out of Lakers contract
Kobe Bryant chose not to terminate the final two years of his contract and will remain with the Los Angeles Lakers. Team spokesman John Black on Wednesday confirmed Bryant’s decision. The MVP of the NBA finals had until Tuesday to become an unrestricted free agent. Now the Lakers and Bryant’s agent will negotiate a contract extension. If they somehow cannot agree, he would earn $23 million next season and could opt out next June.

Michael Beasley: The Man, the Myth, the Bust (?), Coming Soon to a Trade Rumor Near You

Intern Michael Schwartz, is a USC student and a writer for the schoola s paper, the Daily Trojan.

Report: Pistons OK deals with Gordon, Villanueva
A person tells The Associated Press that Chicago Bulls guard Ben Gordon is in talks with the Detroit Pistons about joining the team. Pistons spokesman Kevin Grigg declined comment on Gordon’s situation Wednesday, saying there’s an NBA moratorium on discussing free-agent matters. But a person close to the talks says Gordon was in Michigan on Wednesday.

Pistons fire coach Curry after one year

DETROIT - All or nothing seems to be the formula for coaching the Detroit Pistons.

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.

nba warriors Checking rumors, roster, surgery

Teams have from today through Tuesday to negotiate with free agents, but contracts cannot be signed and trades may not be made official until the period ends.

Kobe won’t opt out of Lakers contract
Kobe Bryant chose not to terminate the final two years of his contract and will remain with the Los Angeles Lakers. Team spokesman John Black on Wednesday confirmed Bryant’s decision. The MVP of the NBA finals had until Tuesday to become an unrestricted free agent. Now the Lakers and Bryant’s agent will negotiate a contract extension. If they somehow cannot agree, he would earn $23 million next season and could opt out next June.

Marbury to free agents: Don’t go to Knicks
Stephon Marbury, who becomes a free agent again today, believes star players should be cautious about signing with the Knicks because of Mike D’Antoni’s offensive scheme and the way the organization treats people.

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

Report: Bulls’ star Gordon in talks with Pistons
A person tells The Associated Press that Chicago Bulls guard Ben Gordon is in talks with the Detroit Pistons about joining the team. Pistons spokesman Kevin Grigg declined comment on Gordon’s situation Wednesday, saying there’s an NBA moratorium on discussing free-agent matters. But a person close to the talks says Gordon was in Michigan on Wednesday.

nba warriors Checking rumors, roster, surgery

Teams have from today through Tuesday to negotiate with free agents, but contracts cannot be signed and trades may not be made official until the period ends.

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.

Warriors’ Maggette has minor wrist surgery

Golden State Warriors forward Corey Maggette has undergone minor surgery on his right wrist.

nba warriors Checking rumors, roster, surgery

Teams have from today through Tuesday to negotiate with free agents, but contracts cannot be signed and trades may not be made official until the period ends.

Coach K: I’m ‘not going to the Lakers’
Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski made it clear: He’s not going to ever be the coach of the Los Angeles Lakers. Krzyzewski held his annual summer meeting with reporters Tuesday, and one of the first topics he covered was talk that had him taking over the Los Angeles Lakers if Phil Jackson retires. Krzyzewski said he is “not going to the Lakers” and that he won’t leave Duke “until I leave coaching.” Krzyzewski, who guided the U.S.

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

Warriors Team Report (Yahoo! Sports)

The Warriors love first-round draft choice Stephen Curry. They see the former Davidson star, snatched with the No. 7 pick on draft night, as the answer at point guard, allowing them to shift Monta Ellis back off the ball, and coach Don Nelson said the next day that Curry won’t be traded to Phoenix or anywhere else.

But at the same time, they also love Amare Stoudemire. They see the Suns standout as the solution to an even bigger problem—putting power back into the Warriors‘ power forward position.

The rumor on draft night was that it would take Curry to make a trade for Stoudemire work, but it later appeared that wasn’t going to happen. The rumored deal—which supposedly would send Curry, Andris Biedrins, Brandan Wright and Marco Belinelli to Phoenix for…

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.

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.

Marbury to free agents: Don’t go to Knicks
Stephon Marbury, who becomes a free agent again today, believes star players should be cautious about signing with the Knicks because of Mike D’Antoni’s offensive scheme and the way the organization treats people.

Warriors’ Maggette has minor wrist surgery (AP)
Golden State Warriors forward Corey Maggette has undergone minor surgery on his right wrist. Maggette had the surgery Monday in Los Angeles to relieve pain that bothered Maggette intermittently during his first season with Golden State. The 10-year pro hobbled through 51 games last season with several injuries, including a sprained right hand, a sore back, a torn hamstring and post-concussion…

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.

VIDEO: Hill: Pistons’ real problem
Drafting Darko. Trading for Iverson. And now quickly firing Michael Curry. Maybe Joe Dumars is Detroit’s problem, Randy Hill says.

Warriors’ Maggette has minor wrist surgery (AP)
Golden State Warriors forward Corey Maggette has undergone minor surgery on his right wrist. Maggette had the surgery Monday in Los Angeles to relieve pain that bothered Maggette intermittently during his first season with Golden State. The 10-year pro hobbled through 51 games last season with several injuries, including a sprained right hand, a sore back, a torn hamstring and post-concussion…

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