Every weekday morning, Ball Don't Lie serves up a handful of NBA-related stories to digest with your pills.

RealGM: "DraftExpress.com has confirmed a list of thirteen players that have been invited to attend the NBA Draft on Thursday night. According to the web site, the following players will attend this week's events in New York City. Blake Griffin, James Harden, Hasheem Thabeet, Ricky Rubio, Jordan Hill, Tyreke Evans, Stephen Curry, Jonny Flynn, DeMar DeRozan, Jrue Holiday, Gerald Henderson, Brandon Jennings and Tyler Hansbrough. B.J. Mullens, James Johnson and Eric Maynor could possibly attend as well."

John DeShazier, The Times-Picayune: "There's been a whisper or three about a potential Shaq landing in New Orleans, which would give him an opportunity to end his NBA career in the state where he gained fame as a college star at LSU. Simply, even if the money fit, the style probably doesn't. And, certainly, the whole concept crashes if Shaq doesn't get the amount of touches per game he wants, if the offense doesn't run through him as he'd prefer, if he's not on the court in the clutch even though historically he shoots foul shots as if he's blindfolded and has an arm tied behind his back. And let's just toss in that over the years, his pick-and-roll defense — which wasn't one of his strengths to begin with — hasn't improved. Judging by what we hear, it pretty much is a certainty that Shaq won't be in Phoenix next season. Cleveland seems to be the most likely destination and if he's able to engineer a move to the Cavaliers — or anyone else for that matter — give him his due and congratulate him. He's in position to do what's best for him and that's a position every athlete aims to be in. But let's hope the rumors about the Hornets being interested in him are no more than that. Some matches don't fit, and Shaq and the Hornets are one of them."

Mike Monroe, SA Express-News: "Ime Udoka's path to the Spurs included stops in Spain, France, the NBA D-League, and minor-league teams in Fargo, N.D., and Glens Falls, N.Y. It is a career history that mitigates abject fear of the unknown, but Udoka will be watching the telecast of Thursday's draft to the bitter end, attuned to any news with a potential to affect his future in silver and black, with a touch of nervousness about what he may hear. Udoka will be an unrestricted free agent on July 1, but his exit interview with Gregg Popovich in April offered little assurance that a new contract offer would be forthcoming. 'At my end-of-season meeting with Pop, he told me it depends on what they do in the offseason,' Udoka said [...] 'I'll listen to all my options and opportunities and make a decision in the next couple of weeks about what I'm going to do.' Udoka lacks the athleticism and skill level of most NBA players but landed in the NBA through dedication to defense. He has a reputation as a tireless worker with a team-first approach, traits certain to secure a job on another NBA team if the Spurs don't want to keep him."

Michael J. Fensom, The Star-Ledger: "As prominent players at Duke and North Carolina, respectively, Gerald Henderson and Tyler Hansbrough became quite familiar with each other over the past three seasons. But more so than other participants in college basketball's most heated rivalry, Henderson and Hansbrough have an interesting history, one that dates back to a violent collision in 2007. On March 4, 2007, during the closing seconds of North Carolina's victory over Duke in Chapel Hill, NC, Henderson went airborne as Hansbrough attempted a shot underneath the basket. Instead of blocking the ball, Henderson's elbow came crashing down on Hansbrough's face, breaking his nose and spilling blood all over the court. It was yet another memorable moment in one of sport's most heated rivalries. Tuesday, the Nets will reunite Hansbrough and Henderson in East Rutherford, where the two players will work out for the team."

Bruce Jenkins, The San Francisco Chronicle: "Ask anyone who has followed Don Nelson's career: Could you imagine him starting a front line of players standing 6-foot-11, 6-10 and 6-10, each of them under 24, none a proven NBA scorer? If the predraft indications are correct, that's the Warriors' plan for the coming season. They appear to be targeting Jordan Hill, the 6-10 power forward out of Arizona, if he's available at the No. 7 slot of the first round Thursday night. Nelson and general manager Larry Riley were noncommittal in a Monday gathering with the media in Oakland, but they dropped enough hints about the point-guard position — essentially leaving it in Monta Ellis'(notes) hands — to make their priorities clear. Nelson took one look at the collection of writers — mostly columnists who detailed the disconnects and disappointments of last season — and resisted offering any insight. [...] Riley was far more expansive, and once the interview was over, it was clear that the Warriors would love to see Hill standing alongside Andris Biedrins(notes) and Anthony Randolph(notes) on a quick, active front line focusing on defense and rebounding, with Hill ideally adding a low-post scoring presence."

Mike Wells, Indianapolis Star: "If the Pacers draft a wing player or guard, it could have an impact on Marquis Daniels(notes) or Jarrett Jack(notes). Daniels will become an unrestricted free agent if the team doesn't pick up his $7.5 million option by June 30. Jack is a restricted free agent and each could be expendable depending on how the draft plays out. However, if the Pacers don't draft or trade for a wing, they might choose to pay Daniels because Granger and Brandon Rush(notes) are the only two healthy players at the position. Former Pike and IU wing player Robert Vaden is a possibility with the Pacers' second-round pick. 'A great shooter, one of the best in the draft,' Larry Bird said of Vaden. 'He's lost a lot of weight, he's quicker than what he was a couple of years ago. He's someone we'll definitely take a look at with our second-round pick.'"

Paul Coro, The Arizona Republic: "The Suns intend to extend Steve Nash's(notes) run in Phoenix beyond his upcoming final contract year. They maneuvered in last year's draft and spent buyout and first-round money to land point guard Goran Dragic(notes). So what stocks Thursday's NBA draft the most? Point guards, naturally. But with Nash's unsure future, Dragic struggling for most of his rookie year and point guard being a tough spot to fill, the Suns will consider drafting a third point guard. Suns General Manager Steve Kerr likes internal competition. A first-round pick and Dragic would each have two guaranteed contract years to go at it. Nine or 10 point guards could be taken in Thursday's first round but the Suns might not tab one without a deal moving them up or a talent slipping to their pick at No. 14."

Kevin Tatum and Keith Pompey, Philadelphia Inquirer: "Rod Strickland was an NBA player for 17 years and was an assistant at Memphis last season. (He also went with Calipari to Kentucky.) 'I think (Tyreke Evans) will do great,' said Strickland, who averaged 13.2 points and 7 assists during his NBA career. 'Number one, because he is motivated to be great. And he works harder than anyone. He will do whatever he has to do. He will become a better shooter. Other than that, he knows how to make plays. He is all over the court.' [...] Fellow Chester native Jameer Nelson(notes), who played in the NBA Finals last week with the Orlando Magic, said Evans will do well in the league. 'He has good people around him. I know he is a hard worker,' Nelson said. 'Going into your rookie year, you don't know what to expect. But I know one thing about him: He can shoot the ball.'"

Don Seeholzer, Pioneer Press: "David Kahn said he had no problem with forward Kevin Love(notes) inadvertently breaking the new of coach Kevin McHale's departure on Twitter last week and apparently was serious. In a Monday afternoon post, Love wrote: 'met with our new GM David Kahn, straight shooter ... really wants to win and win now. Wasn't mad at my tweet, he wants me to more often.' Love said he posted the McHale news early last Wednesday without thinking after McHale called him and center Al Jefferson(notes) to let them know he wouldn't be back."

Eddie Sefko, The Dallas Morning News: "Dirk Nowitzki said in a German publication that he still wants to have a family, but 'it will not be easy to win my heart' after his relationship with former fiancée Cristal Taylor ended with a rocky, emotional split. Nowitzki spoke openly about his romance with Taylor for the first time to Bild Magazine. He covered many aspects of their time together, including how they met and their wedding plans, in a question-and-answer format. According to the article, published on Bild's Web site Monday evening and due on newsstands today in Germany, Nowitzki has started to feel better about his private life recently. 'In the beginning, I was very down and disappointed, sad and furious,' Nowitzki said. 'But I made a few steps forward and I think someday I will be over it totally.'"

Associated Press: "The owner of the New Jersey Nets will get a 22-year delay on paying the full $100 million for the right to build a new arena in Brooklyn under a deal made public Monday. Developer Bruce Ratner, the Nets' principal owner, will pay the Metropolitan Transportation Authority $20 million up front and another $80 million in installments under the plan, which the full MTA board will vote on Wednesday. He had originally agreed to pay the MTA $100 million upon closing for development rights to rail yards it owns. Under the revised deal presented to the MTA finance committee on Monday, Ratner will pay $20 million at closing and then make additional payments until 2031. Ratner said in a statement Monday, 'While the world has changed significantly since Atlantic Yards won public approval in December 2006, and we are trying to adapt to those changes, the project and the project benefits, including the arena, the jobs and the affordable housing will remain the same.' The developer must start construction of the arena by the end of 2009 to qualify for tax-exempt bonds. The Nets have insisted that they will break ground on the Brooklyn arena this year and move into it in the fall of 2011."

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