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The Los Angeles Daily News (Elliot Teaford) reports (via blog): It seems likely that Lamar Odom could sign a five-season deal with the Miami Heat at the mid-level exception ($5.8 million for next season and $34 million or so for the length of the contract) by the end of the week. The Dallas Mavericks also are interested in giving Odom the same deal, but he seems less likely to land in Dallas. Reports out of Miami indicate the Heat are trying to sign Odom and trade for Carlos Boozer of the Utah Jazz in an attempt to satisfy Dwyane Wade’s demands for a beefed up roster next season.

The Orlando Sentinel (Anika Myers Palm) reports: Tickets for the three Orlando games in the National Basketball Association finals series sold out before 11 a.m. today, leaving the hundreds of people remaining in line grumbling and upset. “This is ridiculous for the true fans,” said Derek Bonilla of Lake Mary, who had arrived at Amway Arena about 11 p.m. Friday to stand in line for what Orlando Magic officials had said were just 1,000 tickets for each of the three local games… He was one of many to complain about the Magic’s system for selling the much-coveted tickets. Many who had queued for the tickets said it wasn’t fair they stood in line for hours only to be slighted in the lottery system and forced to the back of the line. Orlando Magic officials said the team chose to use to lottery to prevent anyone from being hurt or trampled in a stampede for tickets, which were available online, by phone or at the arena.

The AP reports: A judge sentenced Denver Nuggets guard J.R. Smith to 90 days in jail Tuesday night for causing an auto accident that killed his friend, though Smith will likely end up serving only 30. Municipal Judge Debra J. Gelson suspended 60 days of the sentence providing Smith performs 500 hours of community service consisting of visiting sick children at hospitals.InsideHoops.com adds: This incident took place in June of 2007 in New Jersey. Smith drove an SUV through a stop sign.The following is a statement from Nuggets Vice President of Basketball Operations Mark Warkentien on  J.R. Smith.“We are fully aware of the legal proceedings involving J.R. Smith today and the judges’ decision. J.R. Smith took responsibility for his role in this tragic accident that occurred in June 2007. The legal statutes mandate that J.R. serve time for driving recklessly and he is grateful that the statutory sentence was reduced from 90 days to 30.We will continue to support J.R. during this difficult period and will have no further comment at this time.”

The Detroit Pistons already have a great shooting guard in Richard Hamilton and a decent young guard in Rodney Stuckey, but they’re reportedly about to add some potent scoring ability to their backcourt.Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo reports that, according to a source, the team has reached an agreement with free-agent guard Ben Gordon on a five-year contract worth around $55 million.Last season Gordon averaged 20.7 points, 3.5 rebounds and 3.4 assists on 45.5% shooting (41.0% three-pointers) per game for the Bulls. He’s played for Chicago since entering the NBA in the 2004-05 season.If the Pistons were to play small-ball, with Stuckey at point, Gordon at shooting guard and Hamilton at small forward, it would be one of the most undersized lineups in the league. Gordon is very strong, but has the height of a point guard. Hamilton is a very thin two-guard. So should the team put Gordon at the point, even though he’s definitely not a true floor general?It’s also possible that Gordon is used as a scorer off the bench, similarly to how the Chicago Bulls used him for much of his time there. But generally, when a team pays a player $11 million per season, they expect the player to start.Tough to say how Gordon will fit next to Hamilton and Tayshaun Prince.The team is reportedly also trying to add free agent power forward Charlie Villanueva, among others.More tonight.

Utah Jazz general manager Kevin O’Connor announced today that the team has signed guard Eric Maynor, the Jazz’s first-round pick (20th overall) in the 2009 NBA Draft.  Per team policy, financial terms were not released.Maynor is expected to participate in the Jazz’s mini-camp in preparation for the 2009 Orlando Pro Summer League.  Camp is scheduled to open today at RDV SportsPlex in Maitland, Fla., and will run through Sunday, July 5.  Maynor will then make his professional debut when the Jazz opens its Orlando Pro Summer League schedule vs. Boston at 5 p.m. MT on July 6.Maynor (6-3, 175, Virginia Commonwealth) was named the 2008-09 Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) Player of the Year, taking home the award for the second straight season.  The 22-year-old point guard also received Sports Illustrated All-America Second Team and Associated Press Honorable Mention All-America honors and was named VaSID State Player of the Year and Richmond Times Dispatch State Player of the Year.  A finalist for the Bob Cousy Award, Maynor led the CAA for the third consecutive season in assists per game (6.2) while also leading the league as a senior in scoring per game (22.4).Maynor concluded his four-year collegiate career as VCU’s all-time leading scorer (1,953) and assist-man (674).  VCU retired Maynor’s No. 3 during his final home game as a Ram.  The native of Raeford, N.C., attended Westover High School and led the Wolverines to the state championship game as a senior.Maynor is the first-ever Jazz draft selection from VCU and he also became the first player drafted from the school since the Minnesota Timberwolves selected Sherron Mills with the 29th pick in 1993.  He is the first VCU Ram ever taken in the first round of the NBA Draft and the first player from the CAA selected since 1999.

According to Kevin Love via his Twitter account, Kevin McHale will not be back as head coach of the Minnesota Timberwolves.UPDATE: He’s officially gone from the team. Read: Timberwolves part ways with Kevin McHale.“Today is a sad day…Kevin McHale will NOT be back as head coach next season,” said Minnesota’s power forward publically via the internet.The young Wolves are rebuilding and feature prized young forward/center Al Jefferson and Love, who improved nicely during his rookie season.The rest of the roster may or may not be around long-term. Randy Foye showed legit skills in 2008-09 and despite subpar shooting he had a nice season. Mike Miller was disappointing. Ryan Gomes and Craig Smith are solid. But there’s lots of building to be done.

The Gaston Gazette (Richard Walker) reports: Assuming the team can reach a deal with free agent point guard Raymond Felton, Charlotte is expected to have each of the key players who helped the team finish the season 28-29 after a disappointing 7-18 start. The Bobcats finished four games out of what would’ve been a first-ever playoff appear-ance by the five-year-old franchise. Felton and Raja Bell were the most frequent starters at guards, Gerald Wallace and Boris Diaw at forwards and Emeka Okafor at center. Top reserves were guard D.J. Augustin, forward Vladimir Radmanovic and center DeSagana Diop. So, where do the Bobcats turn in this draft?Do they pursue a defensive-minded off-guard since Bell suffered nagging injuries late in the season? Do they add another athletic presence on the front line? Or do they simply go for the proverbial “best available talent?”

The Houston Chronicle (Jonathan Feigen) reports: A group headed by former Rockets president and chief executive officer George Postolos has entered into negotiations to purchase the Charlotte Bobcats, a person with knowledge of the talks said Saturday. Postolos, who shepherded the Rockets through the arena referendum and move to the Toyota Center and helped the value of the franchise grow from $166 million to $422 million during his tenure, left the team in May 2006 after 7½ years to form The Postolos Group, a company that helps with the acquisition of sports franchises.

Golden State Warriors forward Corey Maggette underwent successful surgery on his right wrist yesterday (Monday, June 29), the team announced today.The surgery, which was performed in Los Angeles by Dr. Roy Meals of UCLA, will require minimal rehabilitation and Maggette will be able to resume normal basketball activities within 3-4 weeks. The purpose of the procedure was to relieve pain in Maggette’s right wrist, a condition that had bothered him intermittently throughout this past season.

Rockets center Yao Ming underwent a medical evaluation by Rockets Team Physician Dr. Tom Clanton today which revealed that the hairline fracture in Yao’s left foot has not responded to the current treatment program.  A bone scan conducted Wednesday night at Memorial Hermann Sports Medicine Institute revealed that the hairline fracture on the top of the foot has not yet healed.Yao and the Rockets will consult with doctors who have previously participated in his care before proceeding with a new course of action.  No timeline has been set for his return to basketball activities.  There will be no further comment by the team until the best course of action has been determined.“Yao is not experiencing any pain in his left foot, however, the results from the CT and bone scans we performed over the past two days indicate that the hairline fracture has not responded to the degree that we expected,” said Clanton.  “We will review a variety of treatment options before proceeding.”The hairline fracture was discovered following the Rockets’ May 8th loss to the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 3 of the Western Conference Semifinals.  The original treatment plan called for Yao to cease all physical training and to use a walking boot in order to immobilize the foot and promote healing.