News Roundup

A few things have happened in the past couple of days, here’s the roundup:

Personnel News:

• The Celtics have promoted Mike Longabardi to be their bench assistant coach.
• Sam Mitchell and Larry Brown will be the final two head coaches to interview for the Timberwolves. Terry Porter, Mike Woodson, Bernie Bickerstaff, and Don Nelson have already interviewed for the job. No front-runner as of yet, but general manager David Kahn has said he wants a coach with “up-tempo DNA”. That should put Don Nelson and Larry Brown ahead of the pack.
• Mike Woodson has had another interview, but this time for an assistant coaching job with the New York Knicks. The Knicks want a defensive-minded assistant coach to make up for head coach Mike D-Antoni’s shortcomings on that end of the floor.

Player News: 

• Celtics guard Rajon Rondo has yet to fully recover from dislocating his elbow in the playoffs. “The elbow’s getting better – just got another check-up today on it,’’ he said. “I will continue to work hard. It’s just the swelling. I can bend it all the way out, so I’m fine.”

• Celtics forward Glen Davis has said he wants to return to Boston. “Most definitely, that’s my No. 1 priority – see if I can come back here and play,’’ he said. “And if I can’t, go somewhere else.’’ He wants the right amount of money and more playing time, but it isn’t likely either of those would be available in Boston. Look for him to sign elsewhere when the lockout ends.
• Nets guard Jordan Farmar has signed with Maccabi Tel Aviv, a European team, for terms as of yet unknown. The deal with include an early termination option in case the lockout ends before Maccab’s season ends.
• Marco Belinelli is close to signing with an Italian team, Montepaschi Siena, with an early termination option in case the lockout ends.

League News: 

• NBA commissioner David Stern will not collect his salary, which is said to be between $15 and $16 million, during the lockout.