Royal Ivey To Join Knicks’ Coaching Staff
Thunder assistant Royal Ivey will accept a position on David Fizdale’s coaching staff with the Knicks, posts Ian Begley on ESPN Now.
Ivey, who grew up in New York, is in the process of finalizing a deal with the organization. He had interest from other teams, including the Sixers, before the opportunity with the Knicks arose, according to Begley.
Ivey has been part of Billy Donovan’s staff in Oklahoma City for the past two seasons. He played for four teams during a 10-year NBA career, finishing with the Thunder in 2014. He has prior experience with Fizdale, who was an assistant coach in Atlanta when Ivey played there.
Klay Thompson Plans To Play In Game 2
Lost in much of the hoopla surrounding the newsworthy finish in Game 1 of the NBA Finals was the injury suffered by Warriors’ guard Klay Thompson during the middle of the first quarter when J.R. Smith rolled under him and crashed into his legs.
Thompson ended up returning to the game and finished with 24 points, but according to Shams Charania of Yahoo Sports, Thompson suffered a high left ankle sprain during the play that has left him with significant bruising in the ankle.
Thompson still plans to play in Game 2 tomorrow night, but admits that he has been receiving around-the clock treatment since late Thursday night. Per Anthony Slater of The Athletic, Thompson said the pain got worse from last night to today and that if the game were tonight, he’s not sure if he could play.
Slater adds that the team is officially listing Thompson as “questionable” for tomorrow night.
Hoops Rumors Originals: 5/26/18 – 6/2/18
Every week the Hoops Rumors writing staff strives to create interesting and original content to complement our news feed. Here are the original segments and features from the last seven days:
- Luke Adams detailed the soon-to-be fourth year players who are eligible for a rookie scale extension this offseason, including former Kentucky teammates Karl-Anthony Towns and Devin Booker.
- In our two Community Shootarounds, we focused on both Conference Finals going to seven games for the first time in decades:
- Who would win Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals – the Celtics or the Cavaliers?
- Who would win Game 7 of the Western Conference Finals – the Rockets or Warriors?
- In his Weekly Mailbag, Arthur Hill answered readers’ questions about the upcoming free agency of LeBron James, potential free agent targets for the Bucks, and the future of the Warriors.
- We concluded our 2018 Offseason Salary Cap Digest with the teams who made the conference finals:
- In our two polls this week, we asked:
- Will Marcus Smart be on the Celtics’ roster next season?
- What will be the specific outcome of the NBA Finals?
- We continued our 2018 Five Key Offseason Questions series with the following franchises:
- As the NCAA deadline for early entrant NBA Draft withdrawal came and went, Luke Adams checked in on some top prospects’ decisions.
Canada Basketball Unveils 18 Training Camp Invites
Canada Basketball has announced its preliminary 18-man roster of players who have been invited to participate in training camp and exhibition play ahead of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 Americas Qualifiers next month, reports Josh Lewenberg of The Sports Network.
Among the 18 named individuals, eight played in the NBA last season – Khem Birch (Magic), Chris Boucher (Warriors), Dillon Brooks (Grizzlies), Cory Joseph (Pacers), Jamal Murray (Nuggets), Kelly Olynyk (Heat), Dwight Powell (Mavericks), and Tristan Thompson (Cavaliers).
The preliminary roster also includes former No. 1 overall pick Anthony Bennett, as well as three other G League players – Aaron Best, Olivier Hanlan, and Kaza Kajami-Keane.
The remaining six players are former first-round pick of the Magic, Andrew Nicholson, former college standouts’ Iowa State’s Melvin Ejim, Baylor’s Brady Heslip, and Gonzaga’s Kevin Pangos, as well as brothers Phil Scrubb and Tommy Scrubb.
As also highlighted by Lewenberg, notable absences include Trey Lyles (Nuggets), Nik Stauskas (Nets), and most glaringly, Andrew Wiggins (Timberwolves). Per Lewenberg, multiple sources indicated that one factor in Wiggins’ decision to decline Canada Basketball’s invitation is his strained relationship with national team head coach Jay Triano, who left Wiggins on the bench during the final moments of a qualifying game for the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.
Five Key Stories: 5/26/18 – 6/2/18
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.
In what is likely the most bizarre story of the 2017/18 NBA season, Sixers’ president of basketball operations Bryan Colangelo is under investigation by the team for allegedly using burner accounts on Twitter to divulge confidential team information and criticize his own players. In a report rife with compelling circumstantial evidence connecting Colangelo to the burner accounts, Ben Detrick of The Ringer details how the accounts went after, among others, current Sixers’ players Joel Embiid and Markelle Fultz and former Sixers’ players Jahlil Okafor and Nerlens Noel. Colangelo immediately denied the report, issuing statements such as “Someone’s out to get me” and “This is clearly not me.” The current narrative is that perhaps it was a family member who operated the accounts.
As the NCAA deadline for college underclassman to make a choice on their draft status came and went, we relayed numerous relatively high-rated players’ decisions on whether to stay or go:
- Brian Bowen (South Carolina): Staying in Draft
- Donte DiVincenzo (Villanova): Staying in Draft
- Kevin Huerter (Maryland): Staying in Draft
- Omari Spellman (Villanova): Staying in Draft
- Jarred Vanderbilt (Kentucky): Staying in Draft
- Tyus Battle (Syracuse): Returning to School
- Jalen Hudson (Florida): Returning to School
- Shamorie Ponds (St. John’s): Returning to School
- Jontay Porter (Missouri): Returning to School
- PJ Washington (Kentucky): Returning to School
- Lindell Wigginton (Iowa State): Returning to School
- Austin Wiley (Auburn): Returning to School
- Kris Wilkes (UCLA): Returning to School
The Magic have hired former Hornets’ head coach Steve Clifford to the same position, with league sources reporting that Clifford and Orlando management have agreed upon a four-year contract through the 2021-22 season. Widely respected, Clifford led the Hornets to a 196-214 (.478) record over five years before he was dismissed in April. He previously worked as an assistant coach for the Magic under Stan Van Gundy from 2007 to 2012.
Knicks’ guard Ron Baker has exercised his player option for the 2018/19 season and will remain under contract with the team for one more season. Baker’s decision comes as no surprise, as his salary for next season of $4.544MM is likely far more than he would have received as a free agent this offseason after he missed most of this season with injury and ended up averaging only 2.4 PPG and 1.6 APG with a .339/.333/.769 shooting line in 13.3 minutes per contest.
The Sixers and coach Brett Brown have reached an agreement on a three-year contract extension that will lock up Brown as the team’s head coach through the 2021/22 season. Brown, 57, has coached the team through some tough years, guiding Philadelphia through a now-famous rebuild colloquially known as “The Process.” This is Brown’s second contract extension after he received a two-year extension in December, 2015.
Here are 10 more headlines from the past week:
- Kevin Love missed the Cavaliers’ Game 7 Eastern Conference Finals win over the Celtics with a concussion, but returned for the team’s Game 1 loss to the Warriors in the NBA Finals.
- Warriors’ swingman Patrick McCaw has returned to action after missing nearly two months with a back injury, while Andre Iguodala remains out with a left lateral leg contusion/bone bruise.
- Celtics’ backup guard Marcus Smart believes he’s worth more than the $12-14MM he’s reported to earn in free agency.
- Thunder’ swingman Andre Roberson underwent arthroscopic surgery on his left knee after complications arose during rehab from a ruptured patella.
- The Pistons intend to interview TNT analyst Kenny Smith for their head coaching job, as well as Heat’ assistant Juwan Howard, former Raptors’ head coach Dwane Casey, and Spurs’ assistant Ime Udoka.
- The Pistons have also interviewed Michigan head coach John Beilein and plan to interview former Bucks’ coach Jason Kidd.
- Spurs’ vice president of basketball operations Monty Williams is in discussions with Sixers’ head coach Brett Brown about a possible lead assistant role.
- Clippers guard Patrick Beverley has received medical clearance to resume full basketball activities about three months earlier than originally projected.
- The Pistons have parted ways with now former general manager Jeff Bower.
- Tristan Thompson was fined $25K for his actions at the end of Game 1 of the NBA Finals, but will not be suspended.
Southeast Notes: Olynyk, Hill, Wizards
One year after being part of a Celtics team that made a strong push towards a championship, Heat forward Kelly Olynyk is upset that his season is over, Ira Winderman of the Sun Sentinel writes. Miami was eliminated from the postseason by the Sixers in five games.
Olynyk signed a four-year pact with the Heat last summer as the Celtics shifted focus to acquiring Kyrie Irving and signing Gordon Hayward. Olynyk was honest in the fact that going home early was a disappointment, but that he is using it as motivation to come back stronger next season.
“Unfortunately, I wish it was us and it was something that makes you leave that taste in your mouth where you want that, you want to experience that,” Olynyk said. “I want that next year to be Game 5 [of the Eastern Conference finals] in Miami, at AmericanAirlines Arena, either playing them or somebody else. That’s the goal. That’s what it’s all about.”
In his first season with the Heat, Olynyk posted career-best totals of 11.5 PPG and 5.7 RPG in 76 games (22 starts).
Check out more Southeast Division notes below:
- Matt Hill, the only assistant coach retained by the Magic from Frank Vogel‘s staff, is headed to the Hawks as an assistant coach, tweets Josh Robbins of the Orlando Sentinel. Hill originally started as a video analyst in the Magic’s basketball operations department.
- Chase Hughes of NBC Sports Washington examined the Wizards‘ possible draft strategy as the team prepares to select players for the first time since 2015. Hughes writes that Washington could use its first- and second-round picks to select either a modern big man, wing player or backup point guard.
- It may be enticing for the Wizards to shop their first-round pick, but the team should learn from previous seasons and retain that pick to draft a young player, Hughes writes in a separate story.
Pacific Notes: Ball, Warriors, Cook, Kings, Suns
The Lakers hosted LiAngelo Ball, the younger brother of their point guard, Lonzo Ball, for a pre-draft workout earlier this week. However, it appears that the Lakers’ association with the younger Ball will not go beyond the workout, Marc Stein of the New York Times reports.
Stein noted that there is “pessimism in the extreme” that the Lakers have any interest in LiAngelo, whether it be as an NBA or G League player. Before his workout with the Lakers, LiAngelo indicated that signing with the team and playing with his brother was his main focus.
“The Lakers are my priority, for sure,” LiAngelo said during a recent appearance on the Marcellus and Travis show on ESPNLA radio. “I want to play with my brother. Ever since I played with Zo, we went undefeated. When we get older, we will get stronger, faster and a better feel for the game. I’m willing to play for other teams, but my priority is to play with my brother.”
LiAngelo returned to the United States recently after completing his first professional season overseas with Vytautas Prienu of the Lithuanian league. He averaged 12.6 PPG during his stint. The brothers’ outspoken father, LaVar Ball, had said his goal was to have all three of his sons play together for the Lakers. At this time, that appears unlikely at best.
Check out more Pacific Division notes below:
- The Warriors accomplished something unprecedented by building an elite, all-time roster as the organization pursues its third championship in four years, In an insightful piece, Mark Medina of the Mercury News writes that Warriors general manager Bob Myers understands that Golden State’s window of dominance will not last forever. “No team should last forever. It’s not good for anybody,” Myers said. “I’m fully aware. I don’t need a reminder from Houston to know how fragile this whole thing is. That’s a part of it. That’s why you have to appreciate it.”
- Kevin Durant has reiterated his desire to remain with the Warriors as he heads for unrestricted free agency this summer. However, after a close call in the Western Conference Finals, Tim Kawakami of The Athletic (subscription required) wonders whether or not the Warriors’ future is more fragile than expected.
- Before Quinn Cook became a crucial part of the Warriors‘ roster, he was a promising G League prospect within the Cavaliers organization. Cavaliers head coach Tyronn Lue viewed Cook as a solid player. In turn, Cook said he took one major lesson from his tenure with Cleveland, Mark Medina of the Mercury News writes. “I took what I learned from there and took some things with me that I still use today,” Cook said. “The biggest thing was being a sponge.”
- The Suns‘ selection with the first overall pick has been the main focus, but the team also has the 16th overall pick in their possession. Scott Bordow and Jay Dieffenbach of Arizona Central Sports gave their input on who Phoenix may target with the 16th pick.
- The popular consensus is that international superstar Luka Doncic will be the Kings‘ selection with the second overall pick. Jason Jones of the Sacramento Bee writes that the Kings are exploring multiple options with the pick beyond Doncic.
Jason Kidd To Interview For Pistons Head Coaching Job
Former Nets and Bucks head coach Jason Kidd is in Detroit and he’s scheduled to interview with the Pistons for the organization’s head coaching vacancy, tweets Jordan Schultz of Yahoo Sports.
Kidd, 45, spent the last three-plus seasons as the Bucks’ head coach but he was fired this year following Milwaukee’s 23-22 start. He was replaced by interim coach Joe Prunty, who led the Bucks to the postseason as the Eastern Conference’s seventh seed.
The 10-time NBA All-Star last played for the Knicks during the 2012/13 season. Kidd accepted the role as head coach of the Nets months after he retired from active competition. In his first season in Brooklyn, Kidd led the team to a 44-38 record, losing in the second round of the playoffs.
In July 2014, the Bucks acquired the rights to Kidd’s services after sending two second-round draft picks to Brooklyn. In parts of four years with the Bucks, Kidd posted a 139-152 record.
The Pistons have ramped up their search for a new head coach following the dismissal of Stan Van Gundy. This week, Michigan coach John Beilein and recently fired Raptors coach Dwane Casey interviewed with the franchise. Spurs assistants Becky Hammon and Ime Udoka, Heat assistant Juwan Howard, and TNT broadcaster Kenny Smith have also been connected to the position.
Central Notes: Irving, Bamba, Lee, Brown, Pistons
In a series of tweets before the Cavaliers went down 0-1 in their series against the Warriors, owner Dan Gilbert voiced his thoughts about Cleveland’s’ journey, Joe Vardon of Cleveland.com writes. The Cavs are back in the NBA Finals for a fourth straight season and team owner Gilbert said that trading Kyrie Irving was a crucial part of that.
Gilbert said that general manager Koby Altman‘s decision to deal Irving, and then restructure the roster at the deadline was critical in getting the team to this point.
“W/o either of these 2 bold moves orchestrated by Koby & the @Cavs front office, we would not be here w/ a good chance to bring another one home to CLE,” Gilbert wrote in one tweet. Gilbert also praised LeBron James, writing that “his impact is magical,” and also lauded the play of his support cast.
Much was made of the Cavaliers’ decision to part with Irving last summer as the point guard helped lead the team to an NBA title two seasons ago. James himself admitted to ESPN’s Rachel Nichols that he doubted the Cavaliers’ ability to compete after the team dealt Irving.
“Even if you start back to the summertime where I felt like it was just bad for our franchise just to be able to trade away our superstar point guard,” James said. “A guy that I had been in so many battles with over the last three years, and obviously I wasn’t a part of the communications and know exactly what went on between the two sides. But I just felt like it was bad timing for our team.”
Check out more Central Division notes down below:
- Former Hawks assistant coach Charles Lee has signed a contract with the Bucks to join the staff of new head coach Mike Budenholzer, tweets Chris Vivlamore of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
- During a press conference before Game 1, NBA commissioner Adam Silver addressed the January police video that showed Bucks player Sterling Brown being arrested. Jeff Zillgitt of USA TODAY Sports writes that Silver called the footage “horrific” and that he has been in contact with Brown.
- After working out and interviewing with the Bulls, Texas big man Mohamed Bamba has made a compelling case to be drafted by the Bulls as the seventh overall pick, Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times writes.
- With the departure of GM Jeff Bower, assistant GM Pat Garrity is likely a strong candidate to land a key role in the Pistons’ front office, tweets Vincent Ellis of the Detroit Free Press.
- Keith Langlois of NBA.com looks at the Pistons‘ search for a head coach and a general manager. With Ed Stefanski hired to oversee the hiring process, Langlois writes that Detroit should prioritize a head coach.
Tristan Thompson Avoids Suspension, Fined $25K
Cavaliers center Tristan Thompson has been fined $25K for “failing to leave the court in a timely manner” after he was ejected in overtime of the team’s Game 1 loss, the league announced in a press release (via Jeff Zillgitt of USA TODAY Sports).
Thompson was ejected with 2.6 seconds left in overtime after it was deemed he threw an elbow at Warriors guard Shaun Livingston. Thompson was assessed a flagrant-2 foul on the play but the league announcement noted that it has been downgraded to a flagrant-1.
Golden State forward Draymond Green taunted a visibly frustrated Thompson, who shoved the basketball at Green’s face. A brief scuffle ensued until both players were separated and Thompson made his way to the locker room.
There was concern that the Cavaliers may lose Thompson to a suspension. His teammate Kevin Love also avoided a one-game ban — it appeared Love walked onto the court during Thompson’s scuffle, but he was not fined or suspended. Head coach Tyronn Lue was also not fined for making critical comments of the officiating late in regulation.