Five Key Stories: 5/12/18 – 5/19/18

In case you missed any of the past week’s top stories from around the NBA, we have you covered with our Week in Review. Below are the most noteworthy stories from the last seven days.

The NBA Draft Lottery took place on Tuesday night, with the Suns winning the top prize – the No. 1 pick in June’s draft. Arizona big man DeAndre Ayton is the favorite to be selected No. 1 overall, but he isn’t a lock, with Phoenix also interested in top European prospect Luka Doncic, who already has a player-coach relationship with new Suns’ head coach Igor Kokoskov. Both the Kings and Hawks moved up in the draft through the lottery, with the Grizzlies and Mavericks, and to a lesser extent the Magic and Bulls, dropping down. The full results of the lottery can be found right here, with the newly set draft order in its entirety here.

Speaking of Doncic, he is reportedly unsure as to whether or not he will come to the NBA next season. Speaking to reporters at the EuroLeague Final Four Press Conference on Thursday, Doncic said that he and his team have yet to make a decision as to where he will play next season, leaving open the possibility that he will remain overseas. While it’s certainly an option, some believe that Doncic’s comments are simply being used as a leverage to avoid certain teams selecting him in this summer’s draft.

After receiving strong interest from both the Bucks and the Raptors, former Hawks’ head coach Mike Budenholzer has chosen to take his talents to Milwaukee, with the Bucks officially naming Budenholzer as the franchise’s sixteenth head coach on Thursday. Both Budenholzer and Spurs’ assistant Ettore Messina received second interviews with the Bucks that included team ownership, but the Bucks ultimately decided on someone who many considered to be the most popular candidate on the coaching market this offseason. Budenholzer will reportedly sign a four-year contract with the Bucks.

Wizards’ big man Jason Smith will exercise his player option for the 2018/19 season worth $5.45MM, putting the Wizards’ dangerously close to the estimated luxury tax line for next season while still awaiting a player option decision from reserve shooting guard Jodie Meeks worth approximately $3.45MM. Smith’s player option was given to him when he signed a three-year contract during the free agency bonanza of 2016.

A potential frontrunner has emerged for the vacant head coaching job in Orlando, with the Magic reportedly having serious interest in University of Houston’s head coach Kelvin Sampson. The Magic, who are the only team still looking for a coach among those teams who have had an opening since the end of the regular season, have been quiet during their search, with only a few candidates – David Fizdale, Blazers assistant David Vanterpool, and Spurs assistant Ime Udoka – confirmed to have received interviews.

Here are 10 more headlines from the past week:

  • The United States Supreme Court overturned the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act, a federal statute that banned sports gambling, thereby opening the door for states to pass laws legalizing sports betting.
  • Hawks’ point guard Dennis Schroder made some comments while in his home country of Germany that indicated he may not be happy in Atlanta.
  • There is also some reported tension between the Timberwolves and their franchise youngster, big man Karl-Anthony Towns.
  • Creighton guard Khyri Thomas, currently ranked as the 23rd best NBA prospect by ESPN, has announced his intention to keep his name in the 2018 NBA Draft.
  • The Grizzlies, disappointed by moving from No. 2 to No. 4 in this year’s draft, are more likely than other high-selecting teams to trade their pick.
  • After already being ruled out for Games 1 and 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals, it is now being reported that Celtics’ guard Shane Larkin will likely miss the remainder of the series.
  • The Raptors plan to interview assistant coaches Nick Nurse and Rex Kalamian for their vacant head coaching position.
  • Before hiring Budenholzer and meeting with Messina for a second time, the Bucks also met with Celtics’ assistant coach Jay Larranaga.
  • The Hornets and new coach James Borrego have their eye on Jay Triano as a potential assistant on Borrego’s new coaching staff.
  • Finalists for this season’s NBA awards were announced on Wednesday night.
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