NBA Notes

NEW YORK -- David Stern believes he could have a new owner before the year ends and his old referees before the season starts.

"I'm hopeful with respect to both and optimistic with respect to both," Stern said.

The commissioner said that Mikhail Prokhorov, who has a deal to buy 80 percent of the New Jersey Nets, had a positive introduction with NBA owners during their two-day Board of Governors meetings.

Prokhorov's proposed deal with Nets owner Bruce Ratner to become the NBA's first non-North American owner also would give him nearly half of a project to build an arena in Brooklyn. The agreement was made a month ago, and this was Prokhorov's first chance since to meet his potential future fellow owners.

Stern rejoined the negotiations with the referees' union this week and a tentative agreement was reached. The full roster is scheduled to vote today, and if they approve the new two-year contract, the officials would have a training camp beginning tomorrow and be on the floor in time for Tuesday's opener.

Sixers pick up three

PHILADELPHIA -- The Philadelphia 76ers have picked up contract options on three players, including starting small forward Thaddeus Young. Sixers president Ed Stefanski said the team exercised options for Young and power forwards Marreese Speights and Jason Smith yesterday. All three are under contract through the 2010-11 season.

Thomas 'really hurt' by Magic's accusations

Isiah Thomas fired back at Magic Johnson for excerpts in a soon-to-be-released book that discussed everything from the reason for Thomas' omission from the 1992 Olympic Dream Team ("Nobody on that team wanted to play with him," Johnson says in the book) to an accusation that blamed Thomas for spreading rumors that Johnson was gay or bisexual after he was diagnosed with HIV in 1991.

"I'm really hurt," Thomas, now the coach at Florida International University, told SI.com. "I really feel taken advantage of for all these years. I'm totally blindsided by this."

Thomas, who was replaced by Donnie Walsh in April 2008 after a controversy-riddled tenure as team president and coach, then said he has had enough of being a public punching bag.

"I'm tired of getting punched and people using me because they think I'm not going to say anything," Thomas said. "Those days are over. Game on."

Tip-ins

• The Boston Celtics have waived forward Mike Sweetney.

• The Portland Trail Blazers have waived forward Ime Udoka and center Jarron Collins.

• The Utah Jazz have waived forward Ronald Dupree and guard Paul Harris.

• The Minnesota Timberwolves are calling surgery to repair forward Kevin Love's broken left hand a success.

• The Dallas Mavericks have waived Jake Voskuhl.

The New York Knicks have waived guard Joe Crawford and forward Chris Hunter, leaving the roster at 14.