In case you missed any of this past week’s top stories from around the league, we have you covered with our Week in Review. Below are the most noteworthy stories from the last seven days.
The Raptors fired head coach Dwane Casey after the team was swept for the second straight postseason by the Cavaliers. Ironically, Casey was fired despite winning the peer-voted NBCA Coach of the Year Award just days earlier. Casey, who took over as the Raptors’ head coach in 2011, is the winningest coach in team history, leading the club to five straight seasons with at least 48 wins. Yet, despite Toronto’s regular season success, the Raptors have struggled to make deep playoff runs, ultimately dooming Casey’s future with the franchise.
Stan Van Gundy and the Pistons have parted ways, with the team ultimately making the decision to move on from the former head coach and president of basketball operations. Van Gundy’s job security had been a source of speculation for much of this year after the team posted a disappointing 37-45 record in 2016/17 and again failed to make the postseason this season. The Pistons will conduct separate searches for its new head coach and new head of basketball operations. It was later reported that Van Gundy was willing to give up his front office position after that issue was originally reported as a point of contention.
Former Spurs’ assistant coach James Borrego has been named the new head coach for the Hornets, replacing Steve Clifford. Borrego began his NBA coaching career in San Antonio from 2003 to 2010 before returning to the Spurs in 2015. He has head coaching experience, having led the Magic to a 10-20 record as Jacque Vaughn‘s interim replacement the season before returning to San Antonio. Borrego also interviewed with the Knicks and Suns and reportedly received interest from the Hawks and Bucks.
Sixers’ assistant coach Lloyd Pierce will be named the next head coach for the Hawks, replacing Mike Budenholzer. The team named four finalists earlier in the week, but ultimately came back to Pierce after a third meeting with him yesterday. The pairing makes sense on the surface, as Pierce has been with the Sixers through their long rebuild and the Hawks are in the midst of a similar rebuild in Atlanta.
Thunder veteran big man Nick Collison is retiring after 15 seasons with the franchise that originally drafted him. Collison will retire with career averages of 5.9 PPG and 5.2 RPG and was a member of the Thunder team who made it to the NBA Finals in 2012. Because Collison signed a one-year contract last summer, the team won’t carry any dead money for the veteran and won’t have to waive him.
Here are 15 more headlines from the past week:
- The Suns are planning to offer a maximum or near-maximum offer for Rockets big man Clint Capela this offseason.
- The Heat declined next season’s team option for forward Jordan Mickey.
- The Sixers will exercise next season’s team option worth $1.6MM for point guard T.J. McConnell.
- The Hawks waived rookie forward Tyler Cavanaugh.
- Budenholzer and former Pelicans’ head coach Monty Williams are reportedly the favorites for the Bucks’ head job.
- Kosta Koufos officially exercised his player option for 2018/19.
- While nothing official has been inked, Doc Rivers has apparently reached an agreement on a multi-year extension with the Clippers.
- The Knicks officially named David Fizdale as the franchise’s next head coach.
- Cavaliers’ swingman Rodney Hood will not be punished for refusing to enter the team’s Game 4 win against Toronto.
- Paul George will delay offseason activities for six to eight weeks after undergoing a scope on his left knee.
- Clippers forward Wesley Johnson officially opted in to his contract for next season.
- Johnson’s teammate, Danilo Gallinari, says his broken right hand is still not fully healed from an injury that occurred back in March.
- Despite a new coach in New York, the stretch provision remains the most likely option for Joakim Noah.
- The Sixers and head coach Brett Brown are discussing a potential contract extension.
- Klay Thompson and the Warriors are also discussing a contract extension.