Truth & Rumors > NBA

12:25 PM ET 05.25 | With time winding down in the third quarter of the Pacers' Game 2 victory over the Heat, Paul George blew by LeBron James and proceeded to dunk on Chris Andersen. James responded by draining a 30-foot heave at the buzzer. After the breathtaking sequence, James approached George and slapped hands with him, telling the Pacers' emerging young star, "I got you back, young fella." It was a moment George said he will never forget, a moment symbolizing James' recognition that this Pacers group means business. After the game, James had more glowing words for George. "He's going to be a great one." The 23-year-old George had 22 points and six rebounds in Game 2, helping to atone for his late defensive gaffe against James in overtime of Game 1. George and Indiana now head home having stolen homecourt advantage.

Yahoo! Sports

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12:00 PM ET 05.25 | Nuggets GM Masai Ujiri has established himself as one of the top executives in the NBA over the past couple of years, which is why team president Josh Kroenke has been working hard to get Ujiri locked up to a new multi-year deal. The two sides have agreed in principle on a new contract, but the situation got tricky when the Raptors GM position opened up and Toronto asked permission to interview Ujiri. "I have understood all along the relationships that Masai has in Toronto, and I respect those immensely," Kroenke said in a phone interview. "So when Toronto inquired about him recently, I knew that it was going to be a tough situation for everyone strictly because of the relationships involved." Ujiri worked in the Raptors' front office for three years before moving to Denver, and he's now being offered close to $3 million a year to return to Toronto. Kroenke said in most circumstances that he would not have allowed Ujiri to interview, but because of the history, permission was granted. Kroenke is hoping Ujiri will stay in Denver, but the Nuggets' president will support whatever decision is made.

Denver Post

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11:33 AM ET 05.25 | The new ownership won't take control of the Kings for at least another week, but the process of sorting out the future has already begun. New majority owner Vivek Ranadive met briefly with Kings basketball president Geoff Petrie on Thursday. Petrie's contract expires at the end of June. Ranadive said there will be an urgency in sorting out the basketball operations. Besides Petrie, a decision has to be made on coach Keith Smart. While the rest of the coaching staff is not under contract for next season, Smart's contract runs through the 2013-14 season.

Sacramento Bee

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10:55 AM ET 05.25 | Despite the Celtics' strong desire to put the matter behind them, Doc Rivers' immediate future with the club has still not been decided. There is still the possibility -- stress possibility -- Rivers will choose to walk away from his contract to coach the Celts. A source close to the situation, however, insists it remains far more likely he will return. The word as expressed to us is that it is "90-10" that Rivers will continue on a contract that has three years and $21 million remaining. If he leaves the Celtics, it will not be with the intent of coaching another team.

Boston Herald

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09:35 AM ET 05.25 | First Jim Boeheim has Carmelo Anthony's back, now it's time for another coach to get a former star's back. Kentucky coach John Calipari was on the Adam "the Bull" & Dustin Fox show on 92.3 The Fan in Cleveland, and when asked about Derrick Rose and his injury -- and the heat he took in Chicago for not playing this season, particularly in the playoffs, even after he was cleared by doctors -- you knew he would come to his former player's defense. "An NBA player's body, if he does anything to hurt his own body he's wrecking his own career. You let them listen to their bodies. "The second thing is, I've talked to Chicago Bulls management, I know all those guys' and you know what? They're fine. They didn't want him to go back. As a matter of fact, they wanted to announce he wasn't coming back, but Derrick didn't want to do it because he thought if there is any chance for me to come back... But let me ask you this: At the end of the day after they got going, and they were going to play Miami in the second (round), what good would it have done other than he could have got hurt? Tell me what good it could have done? "So all this stuff, is all fine, all I can tell you is he's a great kid, the Bulls supported him. I support him because I'm not gonna (say), 'Yea, head out there, why doesn't he come back this is crazy the doctor cleared him, okay now he got hurt.' How do you feel now? Knowing him the way he is, knowing he is a great kid and somebody who probably in the worst way wanted to play, but just was so tentative he wasn't right. He didn't trust it yet and you gotta respect that."

Pro Basketball Talk

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