And-Ones: BIG3, Francis, Coaching Candidates

The BIG3 basketball league, which will make its debut in less than three months, continues to add notable former NBA players to its ranks. According to a press release from the league, former star guard Steve Francis headlines the latest round of additions to the draft pool, along with Kendall Gill, DeShawn Stevenson, Joe Smith, Hakim Warrick, and others.

Meanwhile, one of Francis’ teammates from their Rockets days will be a co-captain on a new team called Power, per a press release. According to the announcement, Cuttino Mobley is joining forces with Corey Maggette on the club, which is one of seven to be confirmed so far. When BIG3 games get underway this June, the league will feature eight teams.

Here are a few more odds and ends from around the basketball world:

• In a piece for ESPN.com, Kevin Arnovitz identifies five head coaching prospects to watch, including Raptors 905 coach Jerry Stackhouse, Hawks assistant Darvin Ham, and TNT analyst Brent Barry.
• Speaking of future head coaches, commissioner Adam Silver believes a woman will coach an NBA team at some point, and wouldn’t mind seeing it happen sooner rather than later, as Ohm Youngmisuk of ESPN.com outlines. Spurs assistant Becky Hammon is currently viewed as the top candidate to break that barrier.
• Silver got involved last week in the league-wide debate over resting healthy players, calling it a “significant issue” and suggesting that there will be penalties for teams who don’t provide sufficient notice when resting stars. In the view of Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich, Silver’s involvement in the issue could create a “slippery slope” that contributes to undermining relationships around the NBA. Michael C. Wright of ESPN.com has the details, including the quotes from Popovich.
• An ESPN.com panel is ranking each of the NBA’s front offices, assigning grades to each club’s coach, GM, and owner. The full list can be found right here, from the Spurs at No. 1 to the Knicks at No. 30.