But for 13 years, Newell was also a consultant and scout for the Cavs, under old friend and Cavs General Manager Wayne Embry. He consulted on numerous trades and draft picks the Cavs made during Embry's tenure. Embry and Newell would scout together and, if time permitted, bet on horses at various racetracks.

The two became forever linked when Newell, as the GM of the Lakers, and Embry, the GM of the Bucks, executed a trade that sent Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to L.A. When Embry was inducted to the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1999, Newell was one of his escorts. Newell was inducted in 1979.

Just talking trash

Ask players around the NBA which team talks the most trash on the court and many will say the Celtics. And that was before they won the title. After getting a dose Wednesday night, Knicks guard Quentin Richardson essentially was ready to ask if any of the Celts wanted to step outside.

"I'm just real curious to see what those guys will be saying if we weren't in a Basketball league and didn't have referees. I mean it wouldn't be the same story," Richardson said. "Some of those guys are happy to get a ring, but you ain't been in the league long enough to talk to people like that. I don't have a lot of respect for that."

Already MVP

Pistons coach Michael Curry, who beat the Lakers and the Cavs in the last week, on LeBron: "Watching everybody play, he's playing better than anybody in the league. I'm sure if there was MVP voting right now, he would win hands down."

Destined flight

Blake Ahearn wins the United Airlines frequent flier of the day for Nov. 15. He woke up at home in St. Louis and flew to Chicago then to Denver before making another connection to Bismarck, N.D., where he was getting set to play for the Dakota Wizards of the NBDL. When he landed and checked his cell phone messages there was one from his agent telling him the San Antonio Spurs wanted to sign him. So, Ahearn boarded another United flight back to Denver - perhaps on the same plane that brought him - changed planes and then flew to Sacramento to join the Spurs. The miracle? His bags didn't get lost.

Looking for change

Larry Hughes has an ability to be complaining about playing time or his position and making it seem like giving him what he wants would be better for the team. After he was traded away last season, he said the Cavs didn't provide what he signed up for. Which was, basically, for LeBron to have one side of the court and him to have the other on offense. Didn't happen and therefore, he said, it was better that he left.

Now with the Bulls, Hughes is at it again. He's is not happy coming off the bench or with his playing time in the crowded Bulls' backcourt.

"I'm not comfortable with 15-20 minutes, something has to change," Hughes told the Chicago Tribune last week. "We all understood the situation going in. I want to give it a little time, but being put in a situation not to succeed doesn't do me or the team any good."

He's right about the last part, teams do need to tailor some things to their personnel. But it once again seems like his opinion of what needs to be done differs from management because it's not his preference.