Matt Barnes got into an altercation with an assistant coach in a San Francisco Pro-Am game.

Scottie Pippen, Karl Malone and the late Dennis Johnson were among the NBA greats enshrined Friday night in the Basketball Hall of Fame. Matt Barnes, Brandon Bass and Marcin Gortat of the 2009-2010 Orlando Magic were included in a list of top NBA goons.

We have all of that and more in today’s links, including Chris Paul dodging a question in New York City regarding his future with the New Orleans Hornets.

Let’s dive right in.

1. The NBA’s top 10 goons, DimeMag.com, Austin Burton

The buzz: This list, which includes Brandon Bass and Marcin Gortat, was inspired by Matt Barnes allegedly slapping an assistant coach this week in a San Francisco Pro-Am game. All the video I found either edits out the altercation altogether or the actual contact between Barnes and the coach. (see below)

Continue reading Top Magic and NBA News: Saturday, August 14 »

Orlando Magic coach Stan Van Gundy seemingly annoys GM Otis Smith with text messages. (Joe Burbank, Orlando Sentinel)

We already know that Orlando Magic general manager Otis Smith isn’t a big fan of  Twitter. Just ask Dwight Howard (@DwightHoward) and Matt Barnes (@Matt_Barnes22) for specific examples.

But during today’s J.J. Redick news conference at RDV SportsPlex, the Orlando Magic GM revealed another interesting tidbit — he gets annoyed by text messages from coach Stan Van Gundy (and everybody else, for that matter).

The Magic GM revealed his dislike of text messaging after Orlando radio personality Jerry O’Neill asked Smith if Stan Van Gundy was consulted about the J.J. Redick or Quentin Richardson decisions.

You won’t get Otis’ full answer by reading the Magic’s official transcript, but it’s in this video and it’s pretty funny.

“Stan has influence on all of our basketball decisions … We talk quite often and he’s has learned how to text, which is a good and a bad thing when communicating with players,” Smith said. “It’s a bad thing when communicating with me, because it’s all times of day and night. We talk enough to get our points across.”

The Orlando Magic are matching J.J. Redick's offer from the Chicago Bulls. Otis Smith will speak about it at 9:30 a.m. ET today. (Gary W. Green, Orlando Sentinel)

J.J. Redick received his matching offer from the Orlando Magic and Magic GM Otis Smith will address the media beginning at 9:30 a.m. at RDV SportsPlex.

I’ll be at that news conference with Web cam in town, and we will live stream and chat Otis Smith’s conversation with the media from Orlando Magic headquarters.

I’m sure Smith will also face questions regarding Matt Barnes, who said he’ll announce what he’s doing with his NBA free agent self today.

The Orlando Magic may lose free agent Matt Barnes to NBA East rivals like the Miami Heat or Boston Celtics. (Gary W. Green, Orlando Sentinel)

Matt Barnes, who started 56 games at small forward for the Magic last season, apparently has heavy interest from two of Orlando’s main East rivals: the Miami Heat and the Boston Celtics.

Those with knowledge of the situation say Barnes is strongly considering the Heat or the Celtics, among several other teams.

The Barnes’ camp still contends that the Magic have not offered him a contract and have moved on after signing free agent guard-forward Quentin Richardson.

Continue reading Matt Barnes gone to Heat or Celtics? »

Matt Barnes is expressive. Magic management wishes he was a little less so on Twitter.

One of the Matt Barnes’ hallmarks is he’s frank about many things. He likes to bring that to Twitter, too, where he has been letting his followers know that he’d like to come back to the Magic, but has no offer yet.

Magic GM Otis Smith is not amused.

I asked Smith if it bothered him that Barnes Tweets about not getting an offer from the Magic.

He thought about it for a second.

“Wonder why he hasn’t gotten an offer,” Smith said. “If he stopped Tweeting, he might get one. … My preference is to not have your business all over the internet.”

Smith also said: “He should have figured in a year being with me that I keep stuff a little close to the vest.”

Barnes’ openness is a stark contrast in style to that of the Magic organization. They don’t like talking about deals or letting them get out until they’re good and ready for that. Smith, especially, likes to keep his plans hidden.

This morning Barnes listed on his Twitter that his camp had been in contact with the Magic, Lakers, Heat, Pistons, Mavericks and Knicks. He gave the same list to Brian Schmitz over the phone.

Follow Tania Ganguli on Twitter @taniaganguli or e-mail her at tganguli@orlandosentinel.com. Subscribe to our Magic e-mail newsletter at OrlandoSentinel.com/joinus.