Hello and welcome to the Evening News.
As the playoffs continue, we’ll keep you updated every evening. What’s happening today?
Here’s the latest news from around the league:
Masai Ujiri wins NBA’s executive of the year
It’s official: the Denver Nuggets had the best management in the NBA for the 2012-2013 season. One day after George Karl won the NBA’s coach of the year award by a surprisingly wide margin, Masai Ujiri was also recognized for his accomplishments.
According to Benjamin Hochman of the Denver Post, Ujiri will win the NBA’s executive of the year award. In his third season with the Nuggets, he assembled a team that won 57 games and earned the three seed in the Western Conference.
Ujiri’s three seasons with the Nuggets have been overwhelmingly successful. He inherited a franchise with a disgruntled Carmelo Anthony and was forced to trade the superstar. Regardless, Ujiri brought back enough assets in the trade to avoid a rebuilding process in Denver. The Nuggets have made the playoffs in all three seasons with Ujiri at the helm. He has made several shrewd acquisitions including the trade for Andre Iguodala last summer and the selection of Kenneth Faried 22nd overall in 2011.
Monta Ellis and Larry Sanders nearly came to blows in Game 3
Ken Berger of CBS Sports reports that Monta Ellis and Larry Sanders nearly fought following the Bucks’ Game 3 loss to Miami. The two teammates had to be separated. 
One source close to the situation described the fight as “just words between teammates in the locker room.”
Apparently, Sanders indirectly called out Ellis for his selfish play in a post-game speech. Ellis “took umbrage” to the comments and confronted Sanders. A teammate separated the two before a fight broke out.
Bucks’ general manager John Hammond has said in recent weeks that he is looking for a new head coach with experience in controlling locker room egos.
Ellis has an $11 million player option for next season which he will likely opt-out of. According to Berger, the Sacramento Kings might have interest in the volume scorer should they let Tyreke Evans go in free agency.
Holiday and Turner want Curry as their next head coach
John N. Mitchell of the Philadelphia Inquirer reports that several 76ers players have advocated for current associate head coach, Michael Curry, to receive the promotion to head coach.
“I’ve known him for the last three years,” Jrue Holiday said Wednesday in a telephone interview. “He’s somebody I trust, and somebody I’d love as a head coach.” 
Holiday’s production spiked this past season as he earned his first all star bid and averaged 17.7 points and 8.0 assists. Holiday signed a four-year $45 million extension with Philadelphia last November. He credits Curry for helping him improve on the court.
Curry coached the Detroit Pistons to a playoff berth in 2008-2009 despite the team finishing under .500 (39-43). That season was Curry’s only season as a head coach in the NBA.
“I think he was the glue to our team last year,” Holiday said of Curry. “Obviously we were defensive-based, which is big for us. That was our calling card, and Mike was responsible for that.”
Holiday’s teammate, Evan Turner, agrees that Curry is fit for the job. “We really don’t have a lot of room to start all over again when you look at us,” said Turner. “I think it would be great for the organization. We respect Mike.”
