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NBA Draft 2013: Ben McLemore's AAU coach to meet with NCAA investigators

2013-06-19T19:07:46Z

Top NBA prospect Ben McLemore's AAU coach plans to reveal key details about the player's possible illegal involvement with agents to the NCAA's enforcement staff on Wednesday, according to Eric Prisbell of USA Today.

The NCAA obviously can't punish McLemore -- the No. 2 rated prospect on our big board -- for his actions once he goes pro, but it seems that these developments could have an impact on his draft stock because the uncertainty around his representation has hurt McLemore's ability to prepare for pre-draft workouts.

More: Ben McLemore seeing NBA Draft stock slip

McLemore's former AAU coach received payments, according to the report, from Rodney Blackstock -- a certified NBPA agent who courted the Kansas guard on behalf of different agents throughout the 2012-13 season.

Darius Cobb, who coached McLemore in AAU ball since he was about 15 years old, told USA Today that "he accepted more than $10,000 in cash, lodging, meals and trips," from Blackstock. The latter recently gained agent certification from the NBA player's union.

The gifts were supposedly given in the hopes of landing McLemore, a probably lottery pick in this year's draft, as a client.

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• NBA mock draft: Best-case scenarios | Scouting reports | Big Board

NBA Finals 2013: Dwyane Wade dealing with swollen knee after Game 6 collision

2013-06-19T18:35:00Z

The surgically-repaired left knee of Miami Heat shooting guard Dwyane Wade remains "swollen and stiff" after a collision with San Antonio Spurs guard Manu Ginobili during Game 6 of the 2013 NBA Finals, according to Sam Amick of USA Today.

It's unclear how the injury might affect Wade's status for Thursday's series-deciding Game 7. He continued to play Tuesday night after running into Ginobili on a drive to the rim, but his overall numbers for the game were lacking: 14 points on 6-of-15 shooting with four rebounds and four assists.

Coming off a pair of strong performances in Games 4 and 5, it seems reasonable to believe Wade's knee was limiting him in some way. Many of Miami's best stretches Tuesday came with Wade on the bench, which allowed the Heat to spread shooters around LeBron James and better space the floor to pressure San Antonio's defense.

Considering it's the final game of the season Thursday regardless of which way it goes, expect Wade to play unless he's completely incapable. However, the Heat may once again be tasked with winning despite the All-Star guard being less than 100 percent.

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• Miami fans leave early, miss epic ending

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• LeBron's Headband Game | Second-guessing Gregg Popovich

• Like a Bosh: Chris saves game with block at buzzer

• SB Nation's blogger mock draft

• NBA mock draft: Best-case scenarios | Scouting reports | Big Board

Clippers, Celtics could re-engage in talks for Doc Rivers and Kevin Garnett, according to report

2013-06-19T17:37:35Z

The Los Angeles Clippers and Boston Celtics will likely re-engage in trade talks regarding Doc Rivers and Kevin Garnett prior to the NBA Draft on June 27, according to Mark Heisler of SportsCity.com. This marks the latest possible resuscitation of an on-again, off-again deal between the two sides.

Clips Nation: Giving up two first-round picks isn't nothing.

Unless the Clippers opt to go in a different direction and hire a new head coach before the draft, Heisler's sources seem confident negotiations for Rivers and KG will start again. In the previously discussed scenario, Boston would receive DeAndre Jordan and other assets in exchange for Garnett while giving L.A. the right to hire away Rivers.

Because Rivers is still under contract for three years as the highest-paid coach in the NBA, the Celtics won't simply let him walk without any compensation. That's led to heated negotiations between Boston and L.A. as the Clippers hope to pry the championship-winning coach away.

With the team's focus ultimately on hiring Rivers, rather than acquiring KG, hiring another coach would indicate Los Angeles going in a different direction. Lionel Hollins, Brian Shaw and Byron Scott have all met with the Clippers recently, so the team has alternatives should Boston's demands be too steep.

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• Miami fans leave early, miss epic ending

• Flannery: The inspiring, agonizing, amazing story of Game 6

• LeBron's Headband Game | Second-guessing Gregg Popovich

• Like a Bosh: Chris saves game with block at buzzer

• SB Nation's blogger mock draft

• NBA mock draft: Best-case scenarios | Scouting reports | Big Board

NBA Finals 2013: Tim Duncan entered game illegally in waning seconds of regulation

2013-06-19T16:41:57Z

The San Antonio Spurs subbed-in Tim Duncan while referees reviewed Ray Allen's game-tying shot in the waning seconds of of regulation in Game 6 as the Spurs attempted to get their best players back on the court. That was a good plan, obviously, but the substitution was blatantly illegal -- as first pointed out by Kelly Dwyer of Yahoo! Sports.

With just 5.2 seconds left in the game, San Antonio attempted to hurriedly inbound the ball on their final play with the Miami Heat defense out of position, but officials instead opted to stop play to review whether Allen's shot should've been worth two or three points.

Following the review -- Allen's feet were firmly behind the line -- Duncan was inserted back into the game ... even though Dwyer notes such substitutions aren't allowed:

"The Spurs entered Tim Duncan back into the game while Allen’s shot was being reviewed. Teams are not allowed to substitute players during referee reviews, because reviews aren’t technically a dead ball situation.

Think about that. Tim Duncan could have capped a legendary career with a game-winning shot to win the 2013 NBA Finals, and it wouldn’t have even been legal. And there wouldn’t have been anything the referees – considering the NBA’s current in-game rules regarding mulligans – could have done about it."

Parker eventually missed an off-balanced shot attempt to push the game into overtime and Miami toughed out a 103-100 win on their way to forcing Game 7. Had the Spurs' point guard made that shot, though it likely would've gone down as one of the most controversial plays in NBA history.

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• Miami fans leave early, miss epic ending

• Flannery: The inspiring, agonizing, amazing story of Game 6

• LeBron's Headband Game | Second-guessing Gregg Popovich

• Like a Bosh: Chris saves game with block at buzzer

• SB Nation's blogger mock draft

• NBA mock draft: Best-case scenarios | Scouting reports | Big Board

Will Paul Pierce join Doc Rivers, Kevin Garnett in Los Angeles if trade happens?

2013-06-17T20:17:50Z

A trade sending Doc Rivers and Kevin Garnett seems increasingly likely Monday afternoon, but will Paul Pierce join his fellow Celtics counterparts in Los Angeles next season? The future Hall of Fame forward isn't a part of the current deal involving the Clippers, but ESPN's Marc Stein says that "league-wide expectation is he will wind up" with the team.

Even though there's not a possible way for Pierce and KG to fit into the same package deal which will result in Doc taking over as Clippers coach, Stein notes some alternative possibilities. Given that Pierce's roughly $15 million salary for next season is only partially guaranteed, some team could acquire Pierce and then release him to gain the salary cap savings.

If that doesn't work out, the Celtics could always buy out him themselves, letting Pierce hit unrestricted free agency. In either scenario, he would then have the freedom to negotiate a contract with the Clippers.

Should this whole scenario play out, it's likely the Clippers will be one of the top teams in the league going into next season. Armed with Garnett, Pierce, Chris Paul and Blake Griffin, Los Angeles would be in complete win-now mode. Still, as we saw in that very city this season with the Lakers, a great roster on paper during the offseason doesn't always lead to success on the court.

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Clippers 'moving forward without Doc Rivers,' according to report

2013-06-15T23:13:12Z

Negotiations with the Boston Celtics have seemingly fallen apart, as the Los Angeles Clippers are "moving forward without Doc Rivers," according to Brad Turner of the L.A. Times. The team will now prepare to offer the job to Indiana Pacers assistant Brian Shaw or former Memphis Grizzlies head coach Lionel Hollins soon.

In a story that moved quickly throughout Saturday, the Clippers and Celtics reportedly opened negotiations on a package deal that would send Rivers and big man Kevin Garnett to L.A. Expanded deals involving Paul Pierce also may have been explored, but it appears the two sides ultimately couldn't reach an agreement.

Follow offseason Clippers news at: Clips Nation

With Rivers seemingly out of the equation, the Clippers will now move forward with hiring one of the top candidates from their search to replace Vinny Del Negro. Shaw and Hollins are both highly regarded coaches in the league, but the Clippers clearly felt compelled to feel out the Rivers/KG scenario before ultimately passing.

By hiring Hollins or Shaw, Los Angeles retains some key assets for other possible deals -- Eric Bledsoe, DeAndre Jordan, Caron Butler's expiring contract, draft picks and cash. Possible alternative targets could include Orlando Magic guard Arron Afflalo and Indiana Pacers forward Danny Granger, as USA Today's Sam Amick notes.

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• How LeBron and Wade manipulated space

• Big 3 ignite Heat | What went wrong for the Spurs?

• Keeping Doc Rivers against his will

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Kevin Garnett would waive no-trade clause to join Clippers, according to report

2013-06-15T20:27:59Z

Should the Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Clippers agree to a deal involving Doc Rivers and others, big man Kevin Garnett will waive his no-trade clause to accommodate the move, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports.

For a deal that's likely to be quite complicated if completed, the blessing from KG removes one obstacle looming over the two teams.

Clips Nation: Are the 2014 Cliptics a real possibility?

While the Clippers reportedly passed on a possible deal that would've exchanged Eric Bledsoe and DeAndre Jordan for Garnett during the season, the team seems more open to a deal that also brings in Rivers. Should both Celtics end up heading to L.A., it's possible Paul Pierce could join them to form one of the league's top contenders.

Leading the way in Boston, Garnett and Rivers likely wouldn't be capable of carrying the Celtics to the top of the league again. Teaming up with Chris Paul and Blake Griffin certainly bolsters those chances.

More from SB Nation:

• Wade returns to his roots

• How LeBron and Wade manipulated space

• Big 3 ignite Heat | What went wrong for the Spurs?

• Keeping Doc Rivers against his will

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Celtics, Clippers discussing Doc Rivers and players, according to report

2013-06-15T20:12:22Z

The Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Clippers have opened discussions involving head coach Doc Rivers and some players, according to Steve Bulpett of the Boston Herald. Players being discussed presumably include Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce after their names have popped up frequently in the related rumors as of late.

Clips Nation: Are the 2014 Cliptics a real possibility?

The idea of Rivers and company heading west to Los Angeles seemed like a pipe dream not too long ago, but it seems increasingly possible the two sides reach some sort of agreement.

"While there are still many moving parts to the process, there is significant impetus from both sides to find common ground," Bulpett writes.

It remains to be seen whether other complications -- such as Garnett's no-trade clause -- become serious obstacles, but the reported dialogue signals some degree of seriousness from both sides.

When the Celtics reportedly approached the Clippers during the season about a possible deal that would exchange Garnett for DeAndre Jordan and Eric Bledsoe, L.A. ultimately passed. The question is whether the addition of Rivers changes the equation now, however, which seems possible.

Because Rivers is still under contract with Boston for three years (at the highest coaching salary in the league), it's clear the club doesn't plan on letting him walk for nothing. If he does end up going to L.A., however, the move should signal definite rebuilding in Boston.