Sources: Assistants in the hunt for Pistons job (Yahoo! Sports)
Cavs assistant John Kuester and Celtics assistant Tom Thibodeau are contending with Avery Johnson.

VIDEO: Jackson talks about health, Artest

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.

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.

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

Suicide lines: Celtics offer ‘Sheed deal; Iverson to the Heat? (Yahoo! Sports)
Every weekday morning, Ball Don't Lie serves up a handful of NBA-related stories to digest with your…

Knicks offer Kidd $12 million less than Mavericks (Yahoo! Sports)
Is playing in New York, rather than in Dallas, worth $12 million? Jason Kidd will have to decide if it is.

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.

Sources: Assistants in the hunt for Pistons position (Yahoo! Sports)
Cavs assistant John Kuester and Celtics assistant Tom Thibodeau also are contending with Avery Johnson for Detroit job.

Suicide lines: Celtics offer ‘Sheed deal; Iverson to the Heat? (Yahoo! Sports)
Every weekday morning, Ball Don't Lie serves up a handful of NBA-related stories to digest with your…

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

Suicide lines: Celtics offer ‘Sheed deal; Iverson to the Heat? (Yahoo! Sports)
Every weekday morning, Ball Don't Lie serves up a handful of NBA-related stories to digest with your…

Free-agent buzz: Ariza to Rockets, Cavs eye Parker (Yahoo! Sports)
Trevor Ariza committed to sign with the Rockets after Ron Artest left for the Lakers.

Knicks offer Kidd $12 million less than Mavericks (Yahoo! Sports)
Is playing in New York, rather than in Dallas, worth $12 million? Jason Kidd will have to decide if it is.

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…

VIDEO: Jackson talks about health, Artest

The 10-man rotation, starring Shaq’s press conference (Yahoo! Sports)
A look around the league and the web that covers it. It's also important to note that the rotation order and…

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.

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.

Suicide lines: Grizzlies try Randolph; Nuggets start on Birdman … (Yahoo! Sports)
Every weekday morning, Ball Don't Lie serves up a handful of NBA-related stories to digest with your…

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.

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…

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.

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.

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.

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.

Free-agent buzz: Ariza to Rockets, Cavs eye Parker (Yahoo! Sports)
Trevor Ariza committed to sign with the Rockets after Ron Artest left for the Lakers.

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

Free-agent buzz: Ariza to Rockets, Cavs eye Parker (Yahoo! Sports)
Trevor Ariza committed to sign with the Rockets after Ron Artest left for the Lakers.

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.

Knicks offer Kidd $12 million less than Mavericks (Yahoo! Sports)
Is playing in New York, rather than in Dallas, worth $12 million? Jason Kidd will have to decide if it is.

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.

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

Suicide lines: Grizzlies try Randolph; Nuggets start on Birdman … (Yahoo! Sports)
Every weekday morning, Ball Don't Lie serves up a handful of NBA-related stories to digest with your…

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.

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.

Mavericks Team Report (Yahoo! Sports)

A day after the rival San Antonio Spurs pulled off a pre-draft deal for Richardson Jefferson, the Mavericks answered with their own deal—sort of—by handing their 22nd overall pick to Portland for the 24th pick, a second-rounder and a second-rounder in 2010.

Mavs fans scratched their heads.

On draft night, the Mavs held pat and selected Ohio State freshman center B.J. Mullens, only to quickly trade the 7-footer to Oklahoma City for the Thunder’s 25th pick, French point guard Rodrigue Beaubois and a future second-round pick.

Needless to say, the Mavs’ brass is more excited about its pick than its fandom, mostly because most fans had never heard of the 6-foot-2 Frenchman.

Beaubois averaged 10 points for Cholet Basket in the French League last…

Free-agent buzz: Ariza to Rockets, Cavs eye Parker (Yahoo! Sports)
Trevor Ariza committed to sign with the Rockets after Ron Artest left for the Lakers.

Suicide lines: Grizzlies try Randolph; Nuggets start on Birdman … (Yahoo! Sports)
Every weekday morning, Ball Don't Lie serves up a handful of NBA-related stories to digest with your…

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…

Mavericks Team Report (Yahoo! Sports)

A day after the rival San Antonio Spurs pulled off a pre-draft deal for Richardson Jefferson, the Mavericks answered with their own deal—sort of—by handing their 22nd overall pick to Portland for the 24th pick, a second-rounder and a second-rounder in 2010.

Mavs fans scratched their heads.

On draft night, the Mavs held pat and selected Ohio State freshman center B.J. Mullens, only to quickly trade the 7-footer to Oklahoma City for the Thunder’s 25th pick, French point guard Rodrigue Beaubois and a future second-round pick.

Needless to say, the Mavs’ brass is more excited about its pick than its fandom, mostly because most fans had never heard of the 6-foot-2 Frenchman.

Beaubois averaged 10 points for Cholet Basket in the French League last…

Suicide lines: Grizzlies try Randolph; Nuggets start on Birdman … (Yahoo! Sports)
Every weekday morning, Ball Don't Lie serves up a handful of NBA-related stories to digest with your…

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.

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 and Co. will keep him in line, Randy Hill says.

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.

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

Report: Celtics meet with Wallace, offer deal
Rasheed Wallace may be joining Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen in Boston.

The 10-man rotation, starring Shaq’s press conference (Yahoo! Sports)
A look around the league and the web that covers it. It's also important to note that the rotation order and…

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.

Suicide lines: Grizzlies try Randolph; Nuggets start on Birdman … (Yahoo! Sports)
Every weekday morning, Ball Don't Lie serves up a handful of NBA-related stories to digest with your…

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.

Mavericks Team Report (Yahoo! Sports)

A day after the rival San Antonio Spurs pulled off a pre-draft deal for Richardson Jefferson, the Mavericks answered with their own deal—sort of—by handing their 22nd overall pick to Portland for the 24th pick, a second-rounder and a second-rounder in 2010.

Mavs fans scratched their heads.

On draft night, the Mavs held pat and selected Ohio State freshman center B.J. Mullens, only to quickly trade the 7-footer to Oklahoma City for the Thunder’s 25th pick, French point guard Rodrigue Beaubois and a future second-round pick.

Needless to say, the Mavs’ brass is more excited about its pick than its fandom, mostly because most fans had never heard of the 6-foot-2 Frenchman.

Beaubois averaged 10 points for Cholet Basket in the French League last…

Cuban ‘really happy’ about meeting with Kidd (AP)
Mavericks owner Mark Cuban probably slept pretty soundly after his early morning meeting with Jason Kidd. Cuban had a 12:01 a.m. meeting Wednesday with Kidd in New York, a symbolic gesture aimed at letting the free agent point guard know how much the club values him and wants to keep him. Later Wednesday, Cuban wrote in an e-mail to The Associated Press that the get-together “went well, i was…

Report: Celtics meet with Wallace, offer deal
Rasheed Wallace may be joining Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen in Boston.

Free-agent buzz: Ariza to Rockets, Cavs eye Parker (Yahoo! Sports)
Trevor Ariza committed to sign with the Rockets after Ron Artest left for the Lakers.

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

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.

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.

Suicide lines: Rockets pursue Gortat; Knicks want Lee cheap … (Yahoo! Sports)
Every weekday morning, Ball Don't Lie serves up a handful of NBA-related stories to digest with your maple…

Cuban ‘really happy’ about meeting with Kidd (AP)
Mavericks owner Mark Cuban probably slept pretty soundly after his early morning meeting with Jason Kidd. Cuban had a 12:01 a.m. meeting Wednesday with Kidd in New York, a symbolic gesture aimed at letting the free agent point guard know how much the club values him and wants to keep him. Later Wednesday, Cuban wrote in an e-mail to The Associated Press that the get-together “went well, i was…

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.