Berger: Doc redux?

Doc Rivers managed to get out of a contract to join the Clippers. (USATSI)

More on Lakers: LA wants Thibodeau | Where do Lakers go from here?

Can the Lakers land a head coach who is under contract to another team? Probably not, but it should be noted: The Clippers did.

As of Thursday, the first full day of yet another head coaching search for the Lakers, the team had yet to ask the Bulls' permission to interview Tom Thibodeau for the job, a league source told CBSSports.com. ESPNLosAngeles.com's Dave McMenamin reported that the Lakers plan to do so.

The friction between Thibodeau and the Bulls' front office has been well documented, but the reality is, Thibodeau is under contract with Chicago through the 2016-17 season. That used to be the beginning and ending of all speculation about head coaches under contract when jobs opened up around the league.

Then, Doc Rivers happened.

Rivers had three years and $21 million left on his contract when he parted ways with the Celtics amid Boston's rebuilding effort last summer. It cost the Clippers a first-round pick to assume the balance of Rivers' contract (after the league squashed any notion that Rivers could be included in any trade involving Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce). It all made sense, given that the Clippers needed Rivers much more than they needed that pick. If that hadn't been the case -- if the Clippers' roster hadn't been championship-ready -- Rivers wouldn't have wanted to go, anyway.

The Lakers' situation is much different. They'll have a lottery pick in the upcoming draft, but given how bare their talent cupboard is, they need a good young player more than they need a prominent coach. No knock against Thibodeau or, say, Bobcats coach Steve Clifford (a favorite of Kobe Bryant's), but neither one can post up or beat anyone off the dribble.

Ultimately, the ball will be in the Bulls' court as to whether they want to let Thibodeau entertain a shift to the West Coast. There isn't much incentive for them to do so. And besides, the Lakers would do better to upgrade the talent of their roster first.

But members of the coaching industry are starting to believe that we'll see more coaches under contract change teams, following Rivers' example. There are only 30 of these jobs, and the list of talented people capable of making an impact in them is short. Thibodeau, without a doubt, is on it.

Topics: Chicago Bulls, Los Angeles Lakers, NBA

About Ken Berger

• Follow on Twitter


• Google+


• RSS

---

Before joining CBSSports.com, Ken Berger covered the NBA for Newsday. The Long Island, N.Y., native has also worked for the Associated Press and can be seen on SportsNet New York. Catch Ken every Saturday, when he hosts Eye on Basketball from 6-8 p.m. ET on cbssportsradio.com

Basketball Hot News

Warriors owner Joe Lacob: ‘I refuse to let anyone talk about’ Mark Jackson’s job security

Though most of his players stand by him, Golden State Warriors coach Mark Jackson is running out of allies.

Jackson tried to fire assistant Brian Scalabrine, a former client of agent-turned-Warriors-general-manager Bob Myers, and turned another assistant, Darren Erman, paranoid. Jackson has also reportedly distanced himself from Jerry West, a key Golden State executive.

That leaves Warriors owner Joe Lacob to address rumors Jackson will be fired.

Lacob, via Marc J. Spears of Yahoo Sports:

“Honest to God, that’s the media that is doing all this,” Lacob told Yahoo Sports. “There is nothing going on until after the season. I refuse to let anyone talk about that. We don’t talk about it. We haven’t had that discussion. Everybody in the entire organization is reviewed after the season and we make decisions.”

Jackson’s job also appeared to be in jeopardy late in his first season as the Warriors headed toward a 23-43 record. Lacob has remained consistent, declining to evaluate Jackson then. Considering Golden State was going to keep Jackson, it would have been easy to endorse the coach, but Lacob didn’t, and he’s not rendering judgment now either.

But if he doesn’t want anyone in his organization talking about Jackson’s job security, Lacob is failing. These reports aren’t coming from nowhere.

At any point, Lacob could say Jackson will return. That’s apparently not the owner’s style, and that’s OK. He must understand, though, it’s a style that opens the door to speculation about Jackson’s job security from outside the organization – and within.

Read More

Broncos exercise fifth-year option on LB Von Miller

The Broncos are banking that Von Miller can rebound from a disappointing year. (USATSI)

The Broncos have exercised their fifth-year option on LB Von Miller, league sources confirmed to CBSSports.com's Will Brinson.

The move was expected but important nonetheless, especially given that Miller served a six-game suspension last season for violating the league's substance-abuse policy. Another violation, though, and his future with the Broncos could be in jeopardy.

The Broncos had until Saturday, May 3 to pick up their player option on Miller, the No. 2 pick in the 2011 draft. As part of the CBA, all 2011 first-round picks were guaranteed a player option, and Denver's move is guaranteed from injury only until the first day of the 2015 season, at which time it would become fully guaranteed.

Miller is currently rehabbing from an ACL tear he suffered at the end of last season, and he's eyeing the season opener as a return date. He's reportedly ahead of schedule and has been running for two weeks.

Miller's option salary for 2015 would be $9.75 million, although today's move buys time for both parties to negotiate a long-term deal, should Denver feel it's warranted. If Miller returns and plays like he did in his first two seasons, the 2015 option rate could be a steal for Denver.

NFL Hot News

Despite ankle surgery, Panthers say QB Cam Newton will not run less this season



Panthers quarterback Cam Newton ran for 585 yards last season, a very respectful total but his lowest in three NFL seasons. He also underwent ankle surgery last month that is expected to keep him out of action until training camp. But once Newton is ready, the Panthers plan to use him like normal; you shouldn't expect Newton to fall further than 585."We don't want to take away a weapon," head coach Ron Rivera said Tuesday to the speculation that Newton will run less this season.



It's just one sentence about Newton in an article really about the Panthers' priorities in next week's draft. Two big priorities: Help on the offensive line to protect Newton, and help at wide receiver to catch his passes. Assuming Newton recovers well from his surgery, I will have no concerns about him. But everyone should be concerned about the Panthers' receiving corps, currently headed by Jerricho Cotchery and Tiquan Underwood. That weakness, and a patchy offensive line, will have more of an effect on Newton than ankle surgery. His fantasy value hinges heavily on how the Panthers address their group of wide receivers in the draft.

Read More

Barkley: Players will sit next season if Sterling still in

Charles Barkley says the players won't play if Sterling remains an owner. (USATSI)

More: Sterling banned for life | Latest updates | NBA news

TNT Analyst and NBA Hall of Famer Charles Barkley said on the Dan Patrick Show Friday "No basketball is going to be played next year if Donald Sterling still owns the Clippers." Sterling was banned for life on Tuesday by Adam Silver after recorded phone conversations that were leaked to the press included racist comments by the 80-year-old who reportedly has cancer.

The NBA Advisory Committee of owners voted unanimously Thursday to begin the formal process of termination of ownership under the NBA Constitution, but there's no telling how long that process is going to take. The Clippers and Warriors reportedly had planned to boycott Game 5 of their first-round series had Silver not dropped the hammer as hard on Sterling.

The outrage from the players is clear, and Barkley speaks from the heart, but there has to be some consideration for the league's position. It's aggressively moved forward in good faith to remove Sterling from ownership, but the process is going to take time, especially given Sterling's litigious nature. Sterling's going to sue, and if a judge blocks the sale of the time until such time as the lawsuit is settled, the NBA's hands are tied. Would the players really hold the league accountable if it acts in good faith, even if their lack of action based on past incidents set up this catastrophe?

It's a complicated issue, and an unstable one. We'll just have to see how this turns out and how developments unfold.

Topics: Donald Sterling, Los Angeles Clippers, NBA

Basketball Hot News

The Real Allen Iverson: Documentary a fresh take on a basketball icon

“I can’t satisfy everybody. I can’t be the Allen Iverson that you want me to be. The only Allen Iverson I can be is the Allen Iverson that I am.”

Last Sunday evening, Iverson attended a sold-out screening of the new documentary film ‘Iverson’ to close out the 2014 Tribeca Film Festival in New York City. The film itself, an ambitious seven-year project from first-time director Zatella Beattty and co-produced with Mandalay Sports Media and Moore Entertainment, is a really strong 97-minute look at one of the most influential and fascinating NBA players of the past two decades, both on and off the court.

The film is not the first documentary about Iverson, but it is the first in which he actively participated, and it explores the crossovers, the tattoos and the brash style of “The Answer.” Perhaps most importantly, it explores Iverson’s journey, in his own words, of the pain, struggle and survival it took to become an icon for a certain generation of basketball fans.

Beattty spends time with Iverson’s childhood friends, teachers and coaches to focus on his upbringing in Hampton, Virginia. She touches on Iverson’s incarceration from a 1993 bowling alley brawl that nearly ended his athletic career. She touches on his time at Georgetown and the incredible relationship Iverson had with the city of Philadelphia, where he was the No. 1 pick of the Sixers and remains a franchise icon. She also touches on the cultural impact of a man who changed not just the game he played, but culture and life as a modern athlete.

Through it all, Iverson has had his detractors. But this film is not about soul-searching or apologizing for mistakes made. AI, as he has always been, is unapologetic in his own endearing ways.

A few highlights of the film include a lengthy explanation of the famous “Practice” rant that lives on in Iverson infamy and Iverson’s unabashed love for Tom Brokaw. For those who only saw the practice clip, what the film makes you realize is how out of context that soundbite really was (one of Iverson’s best friends had just died and the team was eliminated from the playoffs, yet he was being questioned about practice). On the Brokaw front, Iverson credits the legendary NBC newsman as telling his story of wrongful incarceration stemming from the bowling alley brawl to a wider audience, which ultimately led to his pardon from then-Virginia Governor Douglas Wilder.

“The gift of this film is that it gives kids from my neighborhood, who go through what I went through, hope,” Iverson said in a Q&A in the theater after the premiere. “If he did it, I can do it. The little dudes from around my way or little women from around my way, I want them to know they can survive regardless. And that’s it.”

Read More

Giants exercise fifth-year option on CB Amukamara

The Giants picked up Prince Amukamara's fifth-year option. (USATSI)

The New York Giants exercised their fifth-year player option on CB Prince Amukamara, the team announced Thursday.

The deadline for the Giants is this Saturday, May 3, a provision that was installed in the new CBA which required every 2011 first-round pick to have an automatic player option tacked onto their contract. Amukamara was taken 19^th overall in the 2011 draft.

Amukamara's option price tag is likely a little bit north of $7 million, a somewhat steep price for a good yet hardly elite defensive back. Coach Tom Coughlin recently called Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie the team's top defensive back, and under the option, Amukamara would make a bit more than him.

Still, the Giants' decision is only guaranteed against injury until the first day of next season (before it becomes fully guaranteed), so that buys the team more time to either work on a long-term deal or cut him after next year if he doesn't perform up to expectations.

Amukamara started all 16 games last season for New York and had 85 tackles, one interception and 14 pass deflections.

It probably was the right move for the Giants and gives them more security at a historically injury-riddled position.

NFL Hot News

Despite ankle surgery, Panthers say QB Cam Newton will not run less this season



Panthers quarterback Cam Newton ran for 585 yards last season, a very respectful total but his lowest in three NFL seasons. He also underwent ankle surgery last month that is expected to keep him out of action until training camp. But once Newton is ready, the Panthers plan to use him like normal; you shouldn't expect Newton to fall further than 585."We don't want to take away a weapon," head coach Ron Rivera said Tuesday to the speculation that Newton will run less this season.



It's just one sentence about Newton in an article really about the Panthers' priorities in next week's draft. Two big priorities: Help on the offensive line to protect Newton, and help at wide receiver to catch his passes. Assuming Newton recovers well from his surgery, I will have no concerns about him. But everyone should be concerned about the Panthers' receiving corps, currently headed by Jerricho Cotchery and Tiquan Underwood. That weakness, and a patchy offensive line, will have more of an effect on Newton than ankle surgery. His fantasy value hinges heavily on how the Panthers address their group of wide receivers in the draft.

Read More

Texans know who they want at No. 1 barring a trade

More Draft coverage: Mock Drafts | Prospect Rankings | Big Board | News

Houston Texans general manager Rick Smith knows exactly what he intends to do with the No. 1 overall pick when the team is officially on the clock next Thursday to open the 2014 NFL Draft in New York.

Just in case a tremor of a trade offer comes down the pike, Smith will keep the identity of the player the Texans covet to himself for the time being.

"I absolutely know who I want," Smith said.

While good friend Ozzie Newsome said he hasn't the slightest hunch what Smith will do, Sports Xchange contributor John McClain reported Wednesday that Houston was down to two possibilities at No. 1: South Carolina defensive end Jadeveon Clowney and state-grown quarterback Johnny Manziel.

There is also the option of sending the pick to the highest bidder. Even if the Texans draft a player, Smith could do so with the intent to unload that prospect to the highest bidder. Jacksonville, which drafts third overall, Cleveland (fourth), Oakland (fifth) and Atlanta (sixth) are all thought to hold some level of interest in Clowney or Manziel.

"Where the game is played is if there's an opportunity to move and, in this case, obviously to move back if somebody else wants to come up to that first pick," Smith said. "Then you weigh what the opportunities are versus who the individual is that you want to take and what that value is relative to the value that somebody might be offering you."

Prying the No. 1 pick out of Texans GM Rick Smith could be a costly maneuver. (USATSI)

The Texans hosted Clowney and Manziel on the same date -- April 21 -- at team headquarters.

Houston holds 11 total picks and McClain said the top pick would come at the steepest of prices -- a first-, second- and fourth-round pick in the 2014 draft and a first-rounder next year.

One known need for the Texans is quarterback. If Houston passes on Manziel, Central Florida's Blake Bortles and Louisville's Teddy Bridgewater at No. 1, O'Brien could push to trade back into the first round to get a future franchise quarterback. Houston also picks 33rd overall.

Drafting a quarterback in the first round comes with a higher salary slot but also the advantage of a fifth-year team option.

In the second round, players receive four-year deals with no option but annual salaries are less than $1 million.

NFL Hot News

Despite ankle surgery, Panthers say QB Cam Newton will not run less this season



Panthers quarterback Cam Newton ran for 585 yards last season, a very respectful total but his lowest in three NFL seasons. He also underwent ankle surgery last month that is expected to keep him out of action until training camp. But once Newton is ready, the Panthers plan to use him like normal; you shouldn't expect Newton to fall further than 585."We don't want to take away a weapon," head coach Ron Rivera said Tuesday to the speculation that Newton will run less this season.



It's just one sentence about Newton in an article really about the Panthers' priorities in next week's draft. Two big priorities: Help on the offensive line to protect Newton, and help at wide receiver to catch his passes. Assuming Newton recovers well from his surgery, I will have no concerns about him. But everyone should be concerned about the Panthers' receiving corps, currently headed by Jerricho Cotchery and Tiquan Underwood. That weakness, and a patchy offensive line, will have more of an effect on Newton than ankle surgery. His fantasy value hinges heavily on how the Panthers address their group of wide receivers in the draft.

Read More

NAACP head resigns

Donald Sterling was set to receive an NAACP award. (USATSI)

More: Sterling banned for life | Latest updates | NBA news

The president of the Los Angeles chapter of the NAACP resigned Thursday after the organization came after fire for its decision to present now-banished Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling a lifetime achievement award, prior to the revelations that lead to Sterling's lifetime ban this week. From the AP:

Leon Jenkins was to present Sterling with a "lifetime achievement award" later this month. Jenkins rescinded that offer after a recording surfaced on which Sterling disparaged black men.

In a letter to the national leader of the nation's oldest civil rights organization, Jenkins wrote, "In order to separate the Los Angeles NAACP and the NAACP from the negative exposure I have caused the NAACP, I respectfully resign my position as President of the Los Angeles NAACP."

Jenkins wanted to give Sterling a "lifetime achievement award" May 15 at the 100th anniversary celebration of the Los Angeles chapter. The decision was questioned by some civil rights activists, who cited allegations of discrimination in Sterling's past.

via AP News : LA NAACP head resigns over move to honor Sterling.

It's a shame that Sterling continues to do damage to people's lives, and it's hard to see how Jenkins losing his position really helps anything, but PR matters. And more importantly, there's a pretty well established history of behavior with Sterling that, even if never having been criminally liable, does indicate a pattern not befitting of such an award.

A group of owners unanimously voted Thursday to pursue Adam Silver's suggested course of terminating ownership of the Clippers by Sterling.

Topics: Donald Sterling, Los Angeles Clippers, NBA

Basketball Hot News

Owners’ NBA advisory/finance committee takes first step to oust Donald Sterling

At some point pretty much everyone around the league expects Donald Sterling to start fighting back — likely in the courts, likely with a mountain of paperwork. Because that’s who he is.

But for now the owners are moving forward on Adam Silver’s edict to oust Donald Sterling as owner of the Clippers. Thursday evening the NBA released this statement:

“This afternoon the Advisory/Finance Committee met via conference call to discuss the process for termination of Donald T. Sterling’s ownership of the Los Angeles Clippers. The Committee unanimously agreed to move forward as expeditiously as possible and will reconvene next week.”

That committee is chaired by Minnesota owner Glen Taylor and it’s other members are Miami’s Micky Arison, the Lakers’ Jeanie Buss, Oklahoma City’s Clay Bennett, New York’s James Dolan, Boston’s Wyc Grousbeck, San Antonio’s Peter Holt, Phoenix’s Robert Sarver, Indiana’s Herb Simon, and Toronto’s Larry Tanenbaum.

As part of the process the NBA would have to present Sterling with charges, he would have several days to respond, then there would be a vote within 10 days of that time. It is outlined in Chapter 13 of the NBA’s constitution, although most of what is in there outlines specific offenses (gambling on the team, not meeting financial obligations). There is an area that covers “ethical conduct” in business transactions and dealing with sponsors — the NBA can point to the sponsors leaving and the impact of Sterling’s words and actions on business and use that to oust him.

It would take a three-quarter’s vote of the owners, or 23 of the other 29. All 29 other owners have already come out in support of Silver’s actions (which included a lifetime ban for Sterling and a $2.5 million fine) and with the public watching this none would dare vote against it for fear of backlash.

Sterling, however, is expected to put up one heck of a fight. That day is still coming.

Read More

Colts’ Richardson: Finally get to learns Colts offense

There aren't any more excuses for Trent Richardson . (USATSI)

By all accounts, last year was a whirlwind for Colts RB Trent Richardson.

Traded to Indianapolis in the third week of the season for a first-round pick, there was already pressure to perform out of the backfield despite not knowing schemes, blocking assignments or player personnel.

Richardson, splitting time with Donald Brown, struggled to gain a foothold and impress his new teammates. He averaged a meager 2.9 yards per carry and didn't produce more than 64 yards in any game.

This year's supposedly different for Richardson, the former third overall pick who's been making the most of his first offseason with the Colts.

“To be taking everything slow and know the real concept of the plays [is helpful],” he told the team's website. “Not just going week-to-week and just really knowing why the quarterback is doing this, or why they're thinking that, or why do we got those audibles set up in this play, or why the offensive line is making this call.”

“I'm learning a lot, as much as I've learned in this last week, [it's] much more than I learned last year. The offseason is very important because you have a chance to vibe with your team, to build that respect, to build that trust and then to build that team chemistry.”

That's fine, and Richardson does deserve time to assimilate with his new teammates. But another dismal year in a pass-first offense that protects him with the likes of Andrew Luck, and last year's trade is going to look even more unconvincing.

NFL Hot News

Despite ankle surgery, Panthers say QB Cam Newton will not run less this season



Panthers quarterback Cam Newton ran for 585 yards last season, a very respectful total but his lowest in three NFL seasons. He also underwent ankle surgery last month that is expected to keep him out of action until training camp. But once Newton is ready, the Panthers plan to use him like normal; you shouldn't expect Newton to fall further than 585."We don't want to take away a weapon," head coach Ron Rivera said Tuesday to the speculation that Newton will run less this season.



It's just one sentence about Newton in an article really about the Panthers' priorities in next week's draft. Two big priorities: Help on the offensive line to protect Newton, and help at wide receiver to catch his passes. Assuming Newton recovers well from his surgery, I will have no concerns about him. But everyone should be concerned about the Panthers' receiving corps, currently headed by Jerricho Cotchery and Tiquan Underwood. That weakness, and a patchy offensive line, will have more of an effect on Newton than ankle surgery. His fantasy value hinges heavily on how the Panthers address their group of wide receivers in the draft.

Read More