Rumors

Inside a sterile room on the edge of Lake Michigan, Austin Ainge let out a “yes” that cut through the quiet. “Well, I couldn’t just sit there and do nothing,” Ainge justified later, smirking. The Utah Jazz’s president of basketball operations spent the last year trying to create NBA draft lottery luck in a place where none previously existed. Not only did he guide his team to 60 losses to secure the fourth-best odds, he personally surveyed every potential draft room representative to see who had the best fortune — only to see the battle scars of the past four years laid out in front of him. “Who wants it?” Ainge asked among the Jazz’s front office executives. “Justin Zanik said he’d already gone and lost. [Danny Ainge] same thing. Ryan Smith went and didn’t get the pick. You’re all fired, I said. I’ll be the one to go.”

Salt Lake Tribune

Matthew Dellavedova has used some of his new $US38.5 million Milwaukee Bucks contract to splash out on a five bedroom mansion on the shores of Lake Michigan. The Australian point guard known as Delly scored himself a bargain in Milwaukee's reasonably priced property market compared to the sky high prices back in his homeland. Dellavedova's 346 square metre, five-bedroom, five bathroom, Tudor-style home on a 2000 square metre block of land in Shorewood cost him $US1.36 million.

ESPN

It was clear during an interview last week in his Chicago residence, with its sweeping views of Lake Michigan and the skyline, that leaving the Bulls in the right way was important to him. "I have no anger towards nobody," Noah said. "If we had a couple rough years at the end, I'm just still so grateful for the opportunity the Bulls gave me. It's like a family to me. Even though it's a new chapter for the end of my career to be in New York, I think Chicago is always going to be a home to me. Everywhere I go in this city, it's always love. If I'm walking in the airport, wherever I am and someone's from Chicago, it's never animosity or negative or why did you leave us? It's always very appreciative. And it's humbling. I know free agency is a business. But I feel I always show a lot of respect for this city and its people. And I get love back for it. And it feels good."

Chicago Tribune

After all, the Bucks practice facility is located on the grounds of the Archbishop Cousins Catholic Center in St. Francis, Wis., south of Milwaukee on the shores of Lake Michigan. How much security do they really need? I sat down in the lobby and tried to make eye contact. Nothing. Wake up, buddy! I wasn’t the first and won’t be the last to get fooled. It’s a sculpture, a very lifelike sculpture that has duped several people, including players, new employees and visitors. Legend has it Michael Jordan walked into the Bucks practice facility, said hello to Art, was ignored and complained to Bucks management that the security guard didn’t acknowledge him.

For The Win