Odds & Ends: Kings, Batum, Bird, Ewing, Spurs

Let's keep track of some Thursday night odds and ends here as Heat-Pacers gets underway.  The Clippers will look to rebound from a dissapointing game one loss later tonight in San Antonio.

  • Aaron Bruski of NBC Sports writes a piece providing great detail about the unfortunate business practices of the Maloofs with regard to the NBA franchise situation in Sacramento.  Bruski says the Maloofs actions could lead the NBA to force them into selling.
  • The agent of Nicolas Batum will have all the leverage in negotiations with the Blazers this summer, writes John Canzano of the Oregonian.  Batum will become a restricted free agent in the offseason.
  • Conrad Brunner from Pacers.com extols Larry Bird in an in depth look at the Pacers' President.  In light of Wednesday's announcement that Bird won the 2012 NBA Executive of the Year award, Brunner says that the former Celtic great is as discreetly brilliant as a roster builder as he was as a player and coach.  He credits Bird with changing the organizational culture by drafting wisely with middle of the first round picks and carefully managing the salary cap.
  • As we mentioned yesterday, Patrick Ewing interviewed for the vacant Bobcats' job today.  Rick Bonnell of the Charlotte Observer says that Ewing, a prototypical NBA big man as a player, would be a coaching rarity should be get the job. 
  • According to the New York Post, Charlotte owner and Ewing friend Michael Jordan did not plan to sit in on the interview.  The Post adds that the Bobcats will also interview Memphis assistant Dave Joerger on Friday and have already interviewed Michael Malone, Nate Tibbetts, Mike Dunlap, Stephen Silas and has expressed interest in Brian Shaw.
  • A group of ESPN.com writers offered their take on the greatness of the San Antonio Spurs.  The three popular picks for the biggest reasons for the organization's success are Tim Duncan, Greg Popovich and general manager R.C. Buford, with honorable mention going to Tony Parker and owner Peter Holt. Teams should look no further than San Antonio for a blueprint on how to build a team. 
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