Hawks Possibly Guilty of Tampering with Chris Paul, Dwight Howard

Jed Jacobson/Getty Images(NEW YORK) -- The Atlanta Hawks are expected to go after free agents Chris Paul and Dwight Howard during the offseson this summer, but may have committed tampering in the process by letting fans know of their pursuit of the All Stars.

The team sent out a letter to season ticket holders, and the letter included the team's interest in both Paul and Howard.

"The buzz around our offseason is more than heating up," the letter said, according to the Atlanta Journal Constitution. "With massive cap space, 4 draft picks, and free agency rapidly approaching, we sit in the best position in the NBA. Player interest is sky-rocketing as the possibilities of landing Chris Paul and Dwight Howard become more and more of a reality."

The NBA's collective bargaining agreement states that teams are required to decline comment about potential free agents before free agency begins.

Howard is an Atlanta native and spent this past season with the Los Angeles Lakers. Paul spent the past two seasons with the Los Angeles Clippers.

Free agency is set to begin on July 1.

Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio

Sources: Rockets Hopeful They Can Land Dwight Howard

NBA Via Los Angeles Lakers (NEW YORK) --  The Houston Rockets believe they have a real chance to land Dwight Howard in free agency.

Sources close to the process told ESPN.com that the Rockets have received what has been described as "hopeful signals" that the All-Star center is seriously considering a jump from the Los Angeles Lakers to the Rockets after becoming a free agent July 1.

The 27-year-old Howard has made it clear that he will meet with both the Rockets and the Dallas Mavericks when free agency begins, but other teams could be added to that list.

If the Rockets do land Howard, he will be paired with electrifying young guard James Harden, who would be thrilled to join forces with one of the NBA's best big men.

After the Rockets' elimination from the playoffs in May, when asked if he'll be an active participant in free-agent recruiting, Harden told ESPN.com: "Hell, yeah." When asked specifically about Howard, Harden cracked a smile and said: "Maybe. Possibly."

Howard averaged 17.1 points and 12.4 rebounds in 76 games for the Lakers this season.

Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio

Source: Bobcats Name Lakers Assistant Steve Clifford Head Coach

Ronald Martinez/Getty Images (NEW YORK) --  Another vacant NBA head coaching position has been filled.

According to a source, Los Angeles Lakers assistant Steve Clifford has been hired as the new head coach of the Charlotte Bobcats.

Clifford's contract with the team is for three years and $6 million, with a team option for the third year.

"He's a brilliant basketball coach who relates to all kinds of people well and I think he will do an absolutely fantastic job with the talent at hand," ESPN NBA broadcaster Jeff Van Gundy said. "I'm so happy for one of the good guys in the league to get this opportunity."

Clifford was an assistant coach with the Orlando Magic before following Dwight Howard to Los Angeles after Howard was traded to the Lakers last summer.  Lakers head coach Mike D'Antoni chose to retain Clifford after the season because of his relationship with Howard, but the organization gave him permission to interview for other coaching positions around the league.

The Bobcats fired coach Mike Dunlap after just one disappointing season, where the team finished with a 21-61 record.

Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio

Lakers Hope Dwight Howard Stays in Los Angeles

Harry How/Getty Images(EL SEGUNDO, Calif.) -- Dwight Howard will officially become a free agent on July 1.  Howard and the Lakers cleaned out their lockers on Tuesday, and now the team will focus on re-signing him.

Howard had a disappointing first half of the season, but rebounded in the second and played much better defense down the stretch.

"I want to get away from everything and focus on me and making the decision for me, and that's not happening today," Howard said after meeting with general manager Mitch Kupchak.

Kupchak believes that Los Angeles is the place where Howard should call home for a long time.

"I know in my heart that this is a place where I think he should be," Kupchak said. "We have a great legacy, great history of great players in this city dating back to when the franchise came here in 1960, and he certainly fits the mold."

The Lakers will have the most money to throw at Howard, but in the end, it's his decision.  Lakers All-Star Kobe Bryant would like Howard to return, along with Pau Gasol, who has one-year remaining on his current contract.

"It's just a matter of what he feels in his heart and what he wants to do," Bryant said of Howard. "He's reached a crossroads in his career, and I think L.A. is the perfect spot for him to assert himself and have his career take off."

Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio

Metta World Peace Defends Dwight Howard

NBA via Los Angeles Lakers(EL SEGUNDO, Calif.) -- After a disappointing season, Los Angeles Lakers forward Metta World Peace has taken it upon himself to defend center Dwight Howard, saying he's not to blame for the team's poor season.

"I think we put a little too much pressure on Dwight and as responsible leaders, we gave him a little too much responsibility," said World Peace.

"Kobe (Bryant), Paul (Gasol), and myself weren't responsible enough," he added. "We should have been louder voices. So, I take a lot of responsibility and I'm sure Kobe and Pau do also. So next year, we definitely will. We have to be the voice in the locker room consistently."

During the offseason, the Lakers acquired Howard along with point guard Steve Nash, and many thought the Lakers would make a serious playoff run and challenge for an NBA title.

Instead, the team struggled to even make the playoffs. They wound up with the eighth seed while dealing with injuries to Howard, Nash, Paul Gasol, and Kobe Bryant among others. Over the weekend, the Spurs finally put an end to the team's misery.

Howard is a free agent at season's end, and can sign with any team that can afford him.

Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio

Spurs Bash Lakers 103-82 to Complete Series Sweep

Jeff Gross/Getty Image(LOS ANGELES) --  Just like that, it was the end of a tumultuous season for the Los Angeles Lakers.

Tony Parker scored 23 points as the San Antonio Spurs completed its first-round sweep of the injury-plagued Lakers with a 103-82 victory in Game 4.

The Spurs led by as many as 25 points in the win and never trailed.

"Obviously, it wasn't a fair fight," Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. "When you're a competitor, you want to compete on an even basis, and the Lakers weren't able to do that...Even though it wasn't a fair fight, we still want to win the series, and I'm glad we did. Our focus was great."

Dwight Howard had seven points and eight rebounds for the Lakers before getting ejected in the third quarter after picking up his second technical foul.  Pau Gasol paced the team with 16 points.

Howard said after the game that the season was "like a nightmare. It's like a bad dream, and we just couldn't wake up from it. That's what it felt like."

Tim Duncan added 11 points for the Spurs, who will face the winner of Golden State's series with Denver in the Western Conference semifinals.

Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio

Spurs Cruise Past Lakers: Take 2-0 Series Lead

Ronald Martinez/Getty Images(SAN ANTONIO) -- Tony Parker scored 24 of his game high 28 points in the second half, as he led the San Antonio Spurs past the Los Angeles Lakers 102-91, Wednesday night to take a 2-0 lead in their best-of-seven playoff series.

"We always need him to be aggressive," Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich said when talking about Parker's third quarter scoring. "He knew that...he's been around long enough to know what was going on and we needed to score and needed to establish some momentum offensively. He really did a great job in that third quarter and got us going."

Parker came on strong in the third quarter scoring 15 points. Kawhi Leonard and Tim Duncan both scored 16 points while Manu Ginobili scored 13 points in 19 minutes of play.

Dwight Howard led the Lakers with 16 points, nine rebounds and four blocks in the loss.

After the game Lakers' forward Metta World Peace was asked if the Lakers were losing because of the the loss of Kobe Bryant, who is out for the season.

"We got Dwight Howard....we still got Pau....so that's just a way out," World Peace said. "That's just an excuse. And I appreciate you trying to help us with excuses -- I really do appreciate that -- but I can't really take that invitation."

Game 3 will be in Los Angeles Friday night. Tip-off is set for 10:30 p.m. Eastern time.

Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio

Marc Gasol Wins NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award

Christian Petersen/Getty Images(MEMPHIS) -- Memphis Grizzlies center Marc Gasol was named the NBA Defensive Player of the Year, the league announced Wednesday.

The 28-year-old Gasol received 212 points, followed by Miami Heat forward LeBron James with 149 points and Oklahoma City Thunder forward Serge Ibaka with 122 points. Los Angeles Lakers center Dwight Howard, who won the award three times as a member of the Orlando Magic, finished in 14th.

Memphis had the top-ranked defense in the Association this year, allowing 88.7 points per game. Gasol averaged 1.7 blocks and 1.0 steals per game.

Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio

Spurs Knock Off Lakers in Game One

Ronald Martinez/Getty Images(SAN ANTONIO) -- Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili each scored 18 points, as the San Antonio Spurs leveled the Los Angeles Lakers 91-79 in Game 1 of their first round playoff series Sunday.

Veteran Tim Duncan had 17 points and 10 rebounds for the Spurs, who snapped a three-game losing streak.

"We didn't have a great end of the season," Duncan said. "Injuries and trying to rest guys to be in the right state coming into the playoffs. It's good to be here, good to turn it up and good to have everybody into form."

Manu Ginobili, who had missed nine straight games with a hamstring injury before playing in the last two, shot 6 for 13 from the field and hit 3 of his 5 threes.

The Lakers Steve Nash returned from a nine-game absence due to hip/hamstring injuries to score 16 points.

Dwight Howard had 20 points and 15 rebounds in the loss.

Game 2 will take place Wednesday in San Antonio. Start time is set for 9:30 pm Eastern time.

Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio

Lakers Clinch Seven Seed in the West

Stephen Dunn/Getty Images(LOS ANGELES) -- Pau Gasol recorded his seventh triple-double of his career helping the Los Angeles Lakers defeat the Houston Rockets, 99-95 in overtime Wednesday night. The win clinches the Lakers the seventh seed in the Western Conference playoffs.

The Lakers (45-37) almost won the game in regulation but Rockets forward Chandler Parsons hit a 34-foot 3-pointer at the buzzer to send the game to overtime.

Gasol finished the game with 17 points, 20 rebounds and 11 assists.

"It was satisfying because we got another great win," Gasol said. "The way we've been playing lately has just been great. We just got to keep the momentum going...see if we can carry it over to the first round of the playoffs."

There the Lakers will meet the San Antonio Spurs. The Lakers entered the night with a chance of not making the playoffs at all. A Utah win coupled with a loss, would have had the Lakers on the outside looking in. Instead Utah lost, and the Lakers won the seventh seed with Houston getting the eighth seed.

Lakers guard Steve Blake scored a team high 24 points in the win.

"No one was expecting this that's for sure," Blake said of the team getting the seventh seed. "We've been through a lot as a team from coaching changes...to players being hurt....to our owner passing away. I mean you name it we've gone through it in one year. I think in some ways it's made us stronger and hopefully it will help us out in the long run."

Houston (45-37) will now take on the Oklahoma City Thunder in the first round of the playoffs.

Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio