Anthony wants input in Knicks’ coaching hire
NBA NOTEBOOK
Carmelo Anthony said he can’t be “jealous or envious” of his good friend
LeBron James. But there is something that James has other than championship rings that Anthony wants: Input.
Kurt Rambis said on Wednesday that he wants to be a head coach in the NBA and wants the interim tag removed from his title with the Knicks. Anthony said he “would love to have” some say in who president
Phil Jackson picks to coach the team. Anthony also wants input on what players the Knicks pursue this summer. James has that kind of power with the Cavaliers.
“I think you have to have some type of input,” Anthony said on Wednesday. “Whether it’s input or dialogue, whatever word you want to use, I think you have to have that. I think at this point there needs to be some type of connection, some type of communication especially if we want to right this ship. There definitely needs to be some type of communication.”
GRIZZLIES SIGN MUNFORD, WAIVE HOLLINS
The Memphis Grizzlies have signed guard Xavier Munford to a multi-year contract and have waived center Ryan Hollins.
The team announced both moves Thursday. Terms of Munford’s contract were not disclosed.
Munford, who is 6-foot-3, has appeared in 10 games with the Grizzlies. The 23-year-old Munford has averaged 5.6 points, 1.9 rebounds and 0.9 assists in 14.2 minutes since signing the first of two 10-day contracts on March 16.
He had averaged 20.4 points, 6.4 assists and 4.2 rebounds in 41 games with the NBA D-League’s Bakersfield Jam.
Hollins, who is 31, averaged 3.6 points, 2.7 rebounds and 12.9 minutes in 32 games with the Grizzlies this season. The 7-footer made nine starts for Memphis.
WRIGHT TO MEET WITH HEAT
The Miami Heat could be closing in on a deal to bring back a familiar face that would provide some added depth for the playoffs.
According to a league source, the Heat is expected to meet with former 2004 first-round pick and 6-foot-9, 205-pound veteran swingman Dorell Wright sometime soon in Miami to discuss a deal to join the team for the remainder of the season. The Vertical reported Thursday that the agreement could formalized as early as Sunday.
The Heat (45-32) has been waiting until the final week of the regular season to fill its two open roster spots in order to remain under the NBA luxury-tax threshold. The Heat could also end up adding a player from it’s NBA Development League affiliate.
An 11-year NBA veteran who played in 48 games with the Portland Trail Blazers last season, Wright, 30, spent the early part of this season playing overseas in China where he averaged 24.3 points, 7.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists and two steals and shot 50.9 percent for the Chongqing Dragons.
MAGIC’S GORDON OUT WITH CONCUSSION
Aaron Gordon sustained a concussion during the Orlando Magic’s loss to the Detroit Pistons on Wednesday and will not play against the Miami Heat on Friday, Magic officials said.
The injury could end Gordon’s season, because the Magic have only four games remaining and because Gordon has entered the NBA’s concussion protocol, which states a player must pass a series of tests before he is allowed to return to practice and later to game action. Even if Gordon were to pass the tests before the Magic’s season finale on Wednesday, there would be no reason to rush him back.
It’s unclear when Gordon suffered the concussion, but the injury may have occurred with about 3:00 remaining in the second quarter against Detroit. Magic point guard
Elfrid Payton tossed a lob toward the hoop, and Gordon and teammate
Jason Smith elevated for the ball. Smith’s right elbow hit Gordon on the left side of Gordon’s head.
Gordon played 32 minutes in the loss, and he scored six points, collected six rebounds.
SABONIS TO ENTER DRAFT
Gonzaga sophomore Domantas Sabonis will skip the rest of his college career and has declared for the NBA draft.
Sabonis, 19, said he is exploring his future options without hiring an agent at this time. The son of former NBA star Arvydas Sabonis, Domantas is Gonzaga’s all-time leader in career field goal percentage at .632.
The 6-foot-11 forward was an honorable mention on AP’s All-America list this season after averaging 17.6 points and 11.8 rebounds per game.