Truth & Rumors > NBA

03:09 PM ET 05.22 | In what was the worst kept secret of all time, the Los Angeles Clippers fired head coach Vinny Del Negro on Tuesday after yet another promising season ended in playoff defeat. The reason for Del Negro's firing is perhaps the most obvious reason of all time as well -- Chris Paul didn't want him in town anymore. Clippers owner Donald Sterling spoke to the Los Angeles Times and while he didn't outright admit the firing was to please Chris Paul, he strayed pretty far away from denying it as well.

Fansided

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03:09 PM ET 05.22 | For the second time in three years the Cleveland Cavaliers have won the NBA Draft Lottery and thusly, the No. 1 pick in the draft, but they may have hit the real jackpot since the No. 1 pick could lure back the No. 1 player in the NBA. While leaving Cleveland made LeBron James the villain for two seasons, people have seemingly gotten over it and are now looking ahead to a stereotypical Hollywood ending to the career of LeBron James, which would see him return home to Cleveland and finally win the city a title. James left Cleveland because he was the only player on the team worth anything but now the Cavs are a very different team and with yet another No. 1 pick in their pocket they may be able to put together a young team that entices LeBron to come home and end his career where it started.

Fansided

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02:53 PM ET 05.22 | USA Basketball has its head coach for the 2016 Summer Olympics, and it's a familiar face. Duke Blue Devils coach Mike Krzyzewski will return to his old role with Team USA for the next Olympic cycle, hopefully leading the Americans to a third consecutive gold medal in Rio De Janeiro roughly three years from now. Coach K announced his plans to leave the program this winter following the team's gold-medal victory in Beijing last summer, but apparently became convinced over time to return for another go. Since being hired by Team USA chairman Bryan Colangelo in 2005, Krzyzewski has posted a 62-1 record as head coach of the team, returning the Americans to the top of the international basketball world following a bronze-medal finish at the 2004 Olympics in Athens. Coach K's work with Team USA begins again this summer as the team prepares for the 2014 FIFA Basketball World Cup, which will be held in Spain.

Sports Illustrated

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02:38 PM ET 05.22 | The Detroit Pistons may have two of the most talented young big men in the entire NBA, but that doesn't mean GM Joe Dumars will avoid similar players in next month's NBA Draft. With the Pistons holding the No. 8 overall pick, Dumars could potentially be looking at a wide range of possibilities in that spot, but he says nobody has been ruled out yet. "Our preference is to look at the perimeter with this particular pick. But by no means are we locked into that where that's all we're going to take, no matter what," Dumars said. The Pistons already have Greg Monroe and Andre Drummond on the roster, making a strong two-way wing an ideal fit, but Detroit won't reach for a guy simply to fill needs. "If those guys that we rate in the top seven or eight are gone off the board, you can rest assured we're going to take the best big that's left," the Pistons GM said.

MLive

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02:28 PM ET 05.22 | The Chicago Bulls have no plans to field offers for small forward Luol Deng, but the Cleveland Cavaliers and Detroit Pistons would reportedly be two of the teams most likely to show interest. With Chicago up against the luxury tax due to a veteran-laden roster and Deng making big money next season, a trade could be the easiest way for the Bulls to maintain flexibility without amnestying Carlos Boozer. It's still admittedly unlikely, as Deng is one of the Bulls' most effective two-way players and a face of the franchise, but stranger things have happened. Should the Bulls decide to take offers for Deng, expect Cleveland and Detroit to be two interested suitors. The Cavaliers are a less likely option after landing the No. 1 overall pick in this year's draft, but both teams could use help at small forward and have the proper pieces to reach a deal. A deal still isn't likely, but the rumors are out there.

CSN Chicago

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