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 from around the league:
Clippers reach out to Scott
According to Chris Broussard of ESPN, the Los Angeles Clippers have reached out to Byron Scott about their coaching vacancy.
Gary Sachs, the Clippers’ GM, spoke with Scott earlier this week via telephone. Scott, who was recently fired by the Cavaliers, has interest in the position. 
While no formal interview was set up, Scott is on a short list of candidates the Clippers executives plan to show to owner Donald Sterling.
Scott grew up in Los Angeles and had a successful playing career with the Lakers.
Scott has an advantage in the team’s coaching search because of his relationship with Chris Paul. The two built a strong bond in their five seasons together in New Orleans. After the Clippers got eliminated from the playoffs a few weeks ago, Paul and Scott reportedly had dinner together.
Scott led the New Jersey Nets to two consecutive Finals appearances in 2002 and 2003. With those teams, Scott relied heavily on a facilitating point guard in Jason Kidd and an explosive power forward in Kenyon Martin. Many fans see parallels between those Nets teams and the current Clippers with Paul and Blake Griffin.
The Clippers are rumored to also have interest in Jeff Van Gundy, Nate McMillan, Brian Shaw and Lionel Hollins for the job.
A Clippers team writer tweeted today that Byron Scott was spotted at a gym wearing Clippers shorts.
Nuggets unlikely to match Raptors offer for Ujiri
Chris Broussard and league sources also report that the Denver Nuggets are unlikely to match the Raptors’ lucrative offer for Masai Ujiri. 
The Raptors have reportedly offered Ujiri a five year contract worth approximately $15 million. The offer is a significant raise from the three year, $1.5 million deal he signed with Denver in 2010.
Ujiri’s current contract expires on June 30. Ujiri expects to make a decision on his future sometime this week. Michael Grange of Sportsnet.ca reported that the decision is weighing heavily on Ujiri.
“It’s a life-changing decision,” said one league source of the situation. “And knowing him, if he leaves he’ll take his time and do it the right way.”
Ujiri is the reigning NBA executive of the year and worked as an assistant general manager in Toronto for three years before going to Denver.
Memphis CEO fails to endorse retaining Hollins
According to Teresa Walker of the Associated Press, the Grizzlies CEO Jason Levien was noncommittal when reporters asked him about Lionel Hollins’ future with the team. 
When asked if he wanted to bring Hollins back next season, Levien said, “I think what I would say at this point is … up to this point, we said we didn’t want to negotiate or talk about his contract status publicly and I think we’re going to stick with that.”
While Hollins coached the Grizzlies to their most successful season in franchise history, the new ownership group in Memphis does not seem adamant about retaining the coach. Levien proceeded to dance around several other questions that reporters asked about Hollins.
With big market teams like the Nets and Clippers both reportedly having interest in Hollins, I wouldn’t be surprised to see him coach outside of Memphis next season.
