NBA Rumors: Rounding Up the Latest Buzz Approaching the 2013 NBA Draft

The 2013 NBA draft is just over one month away, the playoffs are in full force and countless teams are weighing their options for the upcoming period of free agency. Coaching vacancies are opening up, candidates are emerging and franchises are deciding which personnel best fits their team.

It's time to round up the latest buzz in the NBA.

With the draft approaching, the focus is on the Cleveland Cavaliers, who own the rights to the first overall draft choice. In a historically weak draft class, however, Cleveland is in an unfamiliar position, as the top pick has not yet been defined.

There's a strong chance that a surprise name emerges in that spot.

Cleveland Cavaliers Weighing Trade, Otto Porter at No. 1

Earlier this month, the Cleveland Cavaliers won the 2013 NBA draft lottery and thus earned the rights to the first overall draft choice. Since then, the general consensus has been that Cleveland would target shot-blocking specialist Nerlens Noel.

Just don't close the book on everyone else.

According to Michael Lee of The Washington Post, the Cavaliers are contemplating the selection of Otto Porter with the first overall draft choice. Lee also reports that Cleveland is open to trading the first overall draft choice.

All in all, nothing is certain here.

Porter poses an interesting option for Cleveland, as their most glaring weakness is at small forward. Noel, meanwhile, is a 206-pound center that is coming off of a severe knee injury, thus summing his future up with one symbol—a question mark.

Something that also describes the entirety of the 2013 NBA draft.

Dallas Mavericks Creating a Short List; D-12 Up Top, CP3 Eliminated?

Entering the 2013 NBA free agency period, one of the teams on everyone's radar is the Dallas Mavericks. Not only do they have a superstar in place with Dirk Nowitzki, but they have mountains of cap space and will likely be targeting elite talent for that very reason.

According to Dwain Price of the Star-Telegram, the Mavericks have their short list.

Price reports that the Mavericks believe they can sign center Dwight Howard, but not point guard Chris Paul. The reasoning there is that CP3 is expected to remain with the Los Angeles Clippers, as he can handpick their next head coach.

Dallas views Howard as free game.

If they can't sign Paul, the Mavericks do have alternatives. Their top two targets are Jarrett Jack and Jerryd Bayless.

Two players coming up huge for their respective teams during the 2013 NBA playoffs.

Stan Van Gundy Done with Coaching?

Outside of the legendary Phil Jackson, there may not be a coaching candidate more valued than Stan Van Gundy. The former head coach of the Miami Heat and Orlando Magic has a career winning percentage of .641 and has topped 50 wins in five of his past six full seasons as head coach.

According to Mike Bianchi of the Orlando Sentinel, however, Van Gundy may not coach in 2012-13—or ever again.

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"We love where we're living and quite honestly it would be hard for us to leave Central Florida. ... As much as I would like to be back in coaching, we're all real happy here. I don't know what will happen in the future, but for right now we've decided not to pursue anything."

Asked what if there's a chance he will never coach again, Van Gundy replied: "I guess there's a chance...The reason I say that is because I don't know when it will be a good time (to return). If I'm going to wait until everyone is out of high school, we're talking another four years. By then, I'd still be young enough, but I don't know if there would be any interest (from NBA teams). Every year, you're out of it, it gets harder and harder to get back in."

"It is possible [that I never coach again] and that scares me," he said. "Coaching is all I've ever done and all I know."

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That's a scary possibility for the NBA, as well.

Van Gundy is one of the better coaches of this generation, having mastered the art of defense. For statistical evidence, note that Van Gundy's teams have ranked in the top 10 in scoring defense in all but one of his years in the league.

They ranked 11th during the exception to the rule.

Chances are a team will take a gamble on Van Gundy if he is to wait four more years to reenter the coaching ranks. If they aren't, then it's quite a shame that he never won a title, as his coaching prowess proved more than capable.

One less name for the league's top assistants to compete with.