First Cup: Friday

• Howard Beck of The New York Times: "More than 100 N.B.A. employees were laid off this week, heightening the sense of economic distress as the league’s owners and players haggle over a new labor agreement. ... Adam Silver, the N.B.A.’s deputy commissioner, informed owners of the cuts in a memo, a copy of which was obtained by The New York Times. He called the layoffs 'part of our larger efforts to restructure our operations and create a long-term sustainable business that is well-positioned for future growth.' The league has been retrenching since the onset of the recession in 2008 -- reducing its work force, consolidating international offices and turning over digital operations to Turner Broadcasting. ... More recently, the N.B.A. consolidated its overseas operations, shutting down offices in Paris and Tokyo. It is conducting all European business from London and its Asian business from Hong Kong. Later this summer, the N.B.A. plans to shut down its Secaucus, N.J., studio, where the draft lottery is staged each year. The league has not identified a new home for the lottery, but it will likely be held at an ESPN or ABC studio in Manhattan. Commercial shoots and other programming that had been done in Secaucus will be moved to Atlanta."
• Janis Carr of The Orange County Register: "Kobe Bryant no longer is the favorite athlete in America, according to a Harris poll, having slipped to No. 3 in 2011. But that’s nothing compared to the free fall for LeBron James. James, who was rated the No. 6 overall favorite athlete in 2010, didn’t make the top 10 list this year after leaving Cleveland for Miami’s South Beach. He shouldn’t feel too badly, though. Brett Farve (No. 4) New Orleans quarterback Drew Brees (No. 9) and NASCAR great Dale Earnhardt Jr. (No. 10) also were left off the list this year. Tiger Woods, who had tied Bryant for the top spot last year, dropped to No. 5 after his troubled, sub-par season. Derek Jeter replaced Bryant and Woods at the nation’s favorite male athlete. According to the poll, Bryant remains the top athlete among Hispanics and African-Americans and on the West Coast. Tennis star Serena Williams continues to be highly popular among women sports fans, holding the top spot for the third consecutive year. It is the fourth time out of the past five years, Williams has sat atop the poll."
• Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle: "The Minneapolis Star Tribune reported this week that the Timberwolves will check out Rick Adelman’s interest in coaching the Wolves. While that would provide some interesting symmetry with Kevin McHale in Houston, I can’t imagine Adelman would spend the length of a phone call considering coaching in Minneapolis. Though David Kahn repeatedly expressed a desire to have an up-tempo coach at the controls of his young roster, Adelman has described himself as ambivalent about coaching next season, indicating he might return for the right job but only for the right job. Just about everything with the Timberwolves is wrong. Adelman would seek a roster much more ready to win, and a general manager far more credible than Kahn. It does not hurt to call. Don Nelson reportedly is at least curious. Adelman will likely remain in Portland for now."
• Terry Foster of The Detroit News: "Gores wants Frank. Dumars wants Woodson. So, basically, they are comparing notes and trying to come up with the right choice. Here's my theory. Why hurry? There's nothing to coach right now thanks to the NBA lockout, which is going to last a while. So there's nothing to prepare for. No workouts to keep an eye on. No training camp to prepare for. Nothing. So there's no need to add payroll right now. The NFL lockout will be tame compared to the NBA. This is about owners regaining control of their teams and league. They are prepared to sit a long time. So, there's really no need for the Pistons to hire a coach right now. But when the time comes, Woodson should be the choice. He's a better fit."
• Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel: "Think hundreds of kids in one gym on the Nova Southeastern University campus makes for a hectic schedule for Dwyane Wade amid his youth camp this week? Then consider his upcoming China itinerary: Hong Kong, July 26-28; Chengdu, July 29-30; Hangzhou, July 31; Beijing, Aug. 1-3; Shanghai, Aug. 4-6. But for Wade, it will be about more than sightseeing and promoting his Brand Jordan affiliation. 'I told Brand Jordan I wanted to go to see where the magic happens, where the sneakers are made, the people that make the sneakers,' the Miami Heat guard said. 'I want to go meet those people.' While working conditions at Nike's overseas factories had been an issue in past years, the company has taken a proactive approach with its facilities in China. Wade wants to experience the process firsthand"
• Kevin Tatum of The Philadelphia Inquirer: "Although those under contract are not prohibited from playing full-court basketball during the offseason, they are not under their teams' coverage if they get hurt in a summer-league game, a charity game, or while playing for a team in Europe. 'No matter what, I'm going to stay in shape,' said former St. Joseph's star Jameer Nelson, who plays for the Orlando Magic. 'Just continue to work hard and try to get myself better. I want to continue to be who I am.' Nelson was in town last week to take part in the Reebok Basketball Breakout Challenge at Philadelphia University, where 120 high school players from around the nation spent five days testing their games against one another. The camp was headlined by Washington Wizards guard John Wall. Jason Terry, who helped the Dallas Mavericks defeat the Miami Heat in the NBA Finals, also was on hand. ... Terry said he planned to return to his alma mater, Arizona, to get some work in during the coming weeks. Wall said he would go back to Kentucky, where he played for the Wildcats as a freshman before he became the No. 1 pick in the 2010 NBA draft. ... Nelson, Wall, and Terry said they were not interested in playing overseas if the labor issues are not settled soon."
• Marcus Thompson II of The Oakland Tribune: "Warriors point guard Stephen Curry and forward Dorell Wright said they are considering playing overseas if the NBA lockout extends into the season. Neither has a deal in place or a destination set in stone, but they could end up in the same location. ... Wright said China would be his first choice. He has an endorsement deal with Peak, a Chinese basketball shoe company. ... Curry said his priority is rehabbing from offseason surgery on his right ankle and finishing up his degree at Davidson. He also is getting married at the end of this month. He expects to be 100 percent healthy and ready to play basketball by November. If the NBA still is shut down by the lockout, Curry said, he is more than willing to look elsewhere. Curry's agent, Lance Young, cautions that such options aren't close to fruition. The lockout would have to extend into October before playing overseas becomes an option. Even then, several caveats would need to be negotiated -- such as opt-out clauses in case the NBA commences while a player is playing overseas."
• Patrick Finley of the Arizona Daily Star: "With the NBA locked out, Derrick Williams returned to Tucson, where -- when he's not being the most famous person in each of his two UA summer school classes -- he can play basketball and work out. 'I'm not really sitting around,' he said. 'If there wasn't a lockout, I'd be doing the same thing I'm doing right now. Just working out as much as I can, trying to stay in shape, just trying to stay healthy.' ... Williams cannot participate in the NBA's summer league because of the lockout, but said he could end up at the Tucson Summer Pro League for an impromptu game. 'I can do anything I want to, as long as I'm not gonna get hurt and stuff like that,' he said. 'I'm still out here playing pickup games and stuff like that.' The forward said he was 'glad I went No. 2,' in part because of the team awaiting him. Williams will team with newcomer Ricky Rubio of Spain to play alongside forwards Kevin Love, Michael Beasley and Wesley Johnson, among others. 'That was a good situation,' he said. 'We're the youngest team in the league now. That's a good thing to look forward to.' "
• Mary Schmitt Boyer of The Plain Dealer: "Cavs rookie Kyrie Irving, the No. 1 pick in June's NBA Draft, announced his new deal with Nike via Twitter on Thursday. Tweeted Irving: 'Feels good to officially be a part of @nikebasketball! Can't wait to meet all the family I'm going to be a part of. Dreams really do come true!' "
• Rick Bonnell of The Charlotte Observer: "Charlotte Bobcats coach Paul Silas is serious about playing guards D.J. Augustin and Kemba Walker together at times next season. To overcome the height disadvantage that would create, Silas plans to install a zone defense whenever the lockout ends and training camp begins. Silas isn't allowed to talk specifically about players during the lockout. But there was no doubt who he meant Thursday when he said, 'I'm going to have two little guys out there who I really think can hopefully play together. But it's going to be hard for (either of) them to guard a 2-guard. But they can play a zone ... out-front, I think.' Augustin and Walker are each around 6-foot to 6-1. The typical NBA shooting guard is between 6-4 and 6-7. The Bobcats have a starting shooting guard of that height in Gerald Henderson, but Silas needs to find ways to get Walker, the ninth overall pick in the draft, on the floor."
• Rodney Ho of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution: "Shaquille O'Neal isn’t worried about fitting in with Ernie Johnson, Charles Barkley and Kenny Smith. 'There will be enough to go around for everybody,' said David Levy, who oversees sports for TNT. 'Shaq’s insight will enhance the show.' 'Charles is a funny guy,' O’Neal added. 'He’s a guy who says what’ s on his mind. I feel honored to be with him and Kenny. We’ll make it fun and more exciting for the fans to watch.' The show is shot at Turner Studios in Midtown. For O’Neal, this is not a big deal. He’s own a residence in Atlanta for 15 years, he said. The presumption, of course, in this situation is that there won’t be a lengthy NBA lockout. 'Hopefully, it doesn’t last long,' O’Neal said. 'The only people who suffer in this lockout situation is the fans. It’s millionaires vs. billionaires. Hopefully, the powers that be have an intelligent conversation and have a constructive deal that doesn’t hurt the fans.' Will he ever be tempted to go back to NBA? 'One word: no,' he said. O’Neal has shown interest in law enforcement, like Steven Seagal, but said for now, that idea is on ice. "
• Eric Carpenter of The Orange County Register: "Owners of the Sacramento Kings pulled away from plans to relocate the NBA team to Anaheim next season – but that doesn't mean they've cut ties with this city. George Maloof, the Las Vegas casino owner who co-owns the Kings along with his brothers, is headed to Anaheim this weekend for a major community fundraiser, Anaheim Councilwoman Lorri Galloway said. Maloof and his family are paying $25,000 to be the sole 'major sponsor' for the Eli Home for Abused Children's annual Caribbean Night fundraiser. Maloof is scheduled to attend the event at 6 p.m. Saturday inside the Anaheim Hilton. Other family members may also attended but none had been confirmed as of Thursday morning, said Galloway, who is also the executive director of The Eli Home. Mayor Tom Tait and other City Council members are to attend."
• Marlon W. Morgan of The Commercial-Appeal: "When Jenny Koltnow first learned that the Memphis Grizzlies Charitable Foundation was one of four professional sports charitable foundations to be nominated for the Beyond Sport Awards' Sport Team of the Year category, needless to say she was ecstatic. Then, after looking at the other three teams also nominated -- the Manchester City and Liverpool soccer teams and the NFL's Philadelphia Eagles -- not to mention the other international teams the Grizzlies Foundation beat out to become a finalist, Koltnow found herself a bit overwhelmed. 'When I started to review the other short-listed organizations, it was pretty humbling to be among organizations that really span dozens of countries and organizations that are so well known worldwide,' said Koltnow, executive director of the foundation. '... I think on some level it drives us to work even harder so that we can live up to that recognition.' Koltnow will represent the foundation at the Beyond Sport Summit and Awards in Cape Town, South Africa, Dec. 5-8, where the winner will be announced. The Beyond Sport Awards program provides both funding and business support to projects around the world that use sports to address issues in their community."

Source: http://espn.go.com/blog/truehoop/post/_/id/31031/first-cup-friday-153

Richard Lee Rudd Hernandez Yeley Chris Bosh Kevin Conway Minnesota Timberwolves Chauncey Billups