More On Nets, Kenny Atkinson Parting Ways
In a shocking move, the Nets announced on Saturday morning that the organization mutually parted ways with head coach Kenny Atkinson. It was an unexpected move for a Brooklyn team that – despite missing its two best players (Kyrie Irving, Kevin Durant) – is still the seventh seed in the Eastern Conference, albeit with a modest 28-34 record.
Plenty of fallout is expected as a result this move, with signals that Brooklyn is already planning for the 2020/21 campaign. Irving and Durant are expected to be healthy, which means the Nets will enter next season with elevated championship aspirations. Assistant coach Jacque Vaughn will take over as the club’s interim head coach but it will be key to watch who the Nets target to lead the team next season.
As we noted in our earlier story, general manager Sean Marks and Atkinson had a close relationship during his stint as head coach. Reports suggest that in addition to Atkinson reportedly losing part of the locker room, his discussions with Marks indicated a change was imminent. Now, Atkinson enters the market with a reputation for positive player development and developing a strong team culture.
Here’s from the hectic day in Brooklyn:
- During a press conference on Saturday afternoon, Marks said moving on from Atkinson was “a decision that Kenny, I and ownership came up with.” Marks added that Atkinson was a big part of building the culture the Nets have established over the past four seasons.
- Per Stefan Bondy of the New York Daily News (Twitter link), the final decision that led to Atkinson’s dismissal came from owner Joe Tsai. After reportedly meeting with Nets players, he made the call that it was time for Brooklyn to move on from Atkinson.
- Tsai issued a statement about Atkinson’s departure, tweeting, “I am extremely grateful to Kenny Atkinson for what he’s done for our franchise over the years. If we did not have him, we would not be where we are with promising young guys still improving. All the best Kenny.”
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A pair of former Nets, Jared Dudley and D’Angelo Russell — who were crucial in Brooklyn’s playoff season in 2018/19 — expressed shock over the move. Dudley tweeted “Wow!!!!!!!!!!!!” while Russell added a blank face emoji. While Dudley spent just season in Brooklyn, Russell developed into an All-Star under Atkinson.
Magic Coach Clifford Hospitalized, Released After Falling Ill
Magic head coach Steve Clifford left the team’s bench during the third quarter of Friday’s 132-118 win over the Timberwolves after experiencing dizziness, per ESPN. Clifford underwent preliminary tests at Target Center before he was evaluated and later released from Hennepin County Medical Center.
The Magic announced that Clifford was diagnosed with dehydration and has been cleared to resume his coaching duties. Assistant coach Tyrone Corbin filled in for Clifford following his early departure.
As ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski noted (Twitter link), Clifford had two stents placed in his heart in 2013, but there’s no indication the episode was heart-related.
“It was really crazy,” Orlanda guard Markelle Fultz said after seeing Clifford leave. “At first. I thought he was just going to use the bathroom. I seen him kind of walk off, but when I came out they told me he wasn’t feeling well.”
Luckily, it appears Clifford dodged something serious and should be back on the Magic bench sooner rather than later. At 28-35, Orlando occupies the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference. The Magic are back in action Sunday night against the Rockets, so presumably Clifford will be back on the sidelines for that contest.
LeBron James Says He Will Not Play In Empty Arenas Amid Coronavirus Outbreak
After the NBA sent a memo instructing teams to prepare to possibly play in empty arenas amid the coronavirus outbreak, Lakers superstar LeBron James said he will not play under those conditions.
“I ain’t playing,” James said after the Lakers defeated the Bucks on Friday night, per USA Today’s Mark Medina. “I ain’t got the fans in the crowd. That’s who I play for. I play for my teammates. I play for the fans. That’s what it’s all about. If I show up to an arena and there are no fans in there, I ain’t playing. They can do what they want to do.”
There’s no indication at this point that the league intends to play any games behind closed doors — this week’s memo was simply advising teams to make preparations in case the situation worsens in the coming days or weeks. However, James insisted that playing without fans in the stands cannot be done.
“We play games without the fans?” James asked. “Nah, it’s impossible.”
As the number of coronavirus cases around the world and in the U.S. has increased, the NBA has released statements at various junctures. Last Saturday, the league said it was working closely with the Center for Disease Control but not anticipating any schedule changes.
“The health and safety of our employees, teams, players and fans is paramount,” that statement read. “We are coordinating with our teams and consulting with the CDC and infectious disease specialists on the coronavirus and continue to monitor the situation closely.”
In another memo, the league warned teams that pre-draft combines and international scouting events could be impacted by the outbreak.
Nets Part Ways With Head Coach Kenny Atkinson
The Nets and head coach Kenny Atkinson have mutually agreed to part ways, the team announced today in a press release. Assistant coach Jacque Vaughn will take over as the club’s interim head coach.
“After discussions with Kenny about the progress of the season, we mutually agreed that a coaching change would be in the best interest of the team,” Nets general manager Sean Marks said in a statement. “This was an extremely difficult decision, however the organization believes it is one that is necessary at this time. Kenny was instrumental in developing our players and building the identity and culture we have become known for over these past four seasons. The foundation he helped put into place here is one that we will continue to build on in the coming seasons.”
Atkinson, who took over as the Nets’ head coach in 2016, went just 20-62 in his first season with the club, but has played a key role since then in guiding the rebuild in Brooklyn and turning the team into a playoff contender. His best season came in 2018/19, when he led the Nets to a 42-40 record and the No. 6 seed in the East. He had an overall record of 118-190 (.383) in nearly four full seasons.
Although the Nets have fallen a little short of expectations this season, that can be attributed in large part to the injuries to stars Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving. Durant has missed the entire 2019/20 campaign while recovering from an Achilles tear, while shoulder issues limited Irving to just 20 games. Brooklyn is still in position to make the playoffs, albeit with a modest 28-34 record.
Given the circumstances surrounding the team’s performance this season, it’s surprising that the Nets would feel motivated to make a change. However, Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN says (via Twitter) that Atkinson and Marks had multiple conversations and sensed that the relationship had run its course and that an eventual change was inevitable. The two sides decided not to wait on that change, despite the fact that they maintain a close relationship, Woj adds.
As Wojnarowski notes in a separate tweet, Atkinson has shown that he’s comfortable and effective leading a rebuilding team, so he should be in high demand going forward as other lottery-bound clubs around the NBA seek new coaches of their own. One of those teams is also in New York, though it remains to be seen if Atkinson will emerge as a target for the Knicks this spring.
As for the Nets, while Vaughn is taking the head coaching reins in the interim, the team will presumably conduct a more expansive coaching search at season’s end. With Durant and Irving expected to be ready to go in the fall, Brooklyn figures to target a coach who can potentially lead a veteran squad to title contention, rather than one overseeing a rebuild.
Luke Adams contributed to this post. Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
And-Ones: NBPA, Felton, Crabbe, Hunter
The National Basketball Players Association is set to begin its search for a successor to current executive director Michele Roberts, the NBPA’s executive committee announced today in a press release. Roberts, who has been the union’s executive director since 2014, won’t be seeking a contract extension beyond her current deal.
“For the past six years, I have greatly enjoyed and continue to enjoy leading the NBPA and am proud of all we have been able to accomplish,” Roberts said in a statement. “When I agreed to a second contract as Executive Director, I made clear that I would not be seeking a third. The Executive Committee and I are committed to making certain my successor is thoroughly prepared to assume the position upon my departure from the NBPA and continue its sustained path for growth.”
Roberts played a key role in the negotiations on the 2017 Collective Bargaining Agreement between the NBA and the players’ union. Both sides will have the ability to opt out of the ’17 agreement after the 2022/23 season, at which time a new executive director will be leading negotiations for the NBPA’s side.
Here are more odds and ends from around the basketball world:
- Veteran NBA guard Raymond Felton is expected to join Jindrichuv Hradec, a team in the Czech Republic, for the end of the season, as Emiliano Carchia of Sportando relays. It’s an unusual landing spot for Felton, but he has a connection to coach Gilbert Abraham, as GM Radek Novak explained in a statement.
- Allen Crabbe has reached a plea deal in his DUI case, as Dan Feldman of NBC Sports details. The veteran swingman, who is now a free agent after being bought out by the Timberwolves, should avoid the NBA suspension that would come with a drunk-driving conviction, Feldman notes.
- After playing in Turkey earlier this season, former first-round pick R.J. Hunter has returned stateside and is a member of the Hawks‘ G League team in College Park as he seeks an NBA comeback. Zach Koons of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution has the story and the quotes from Hunter.
NBA Instructs Teams To Prepare For Games Without Fans
The NBA has sent a memo to its teams requesting that they begin preparations to play games without fans in attendance in case the coronavirus outbreak worsens, Shams Charania of The Athletic tweets.
The league memo also asked its franchises to identify “essential staff” that would be required to play the games in empty arenas.
Among the measures that the NBA wants its teams to prepare for is the possibility of making “temperature checks” on various players, team staff members, referees and anyone else deemed “essential” to stage a game without fans, according to Marc Stein of the New York Times (Twitter link). The league also reminded its teams of existing rules regarding postponements or cancellations of games, Charania adds in another tweet.
There hasn’t been any noticeable impact on attendance domestically since the outbreak but the coronavirus has led to drastic measures outside North America. Italy, for example, has banned fans from sporting events for at least a month and there is growing fear that the Tokyo Olympics could be postponed or even cancelled.
NBA G League Assignments/Recalls: 3/6/20
Here are Friday’s G League assignments and recalls from around the NBA:
- The Celtics assigned rookie center Vincent Poirier and rookie guard Carsen Edwards to their Maine affiliate, the team’s PR department tweets. Poirier has seen action in 21 games with Boston this season, while Edwards has taken the court in 35 games.
- The Pacers assigned forward Alize Johnson to the Fort Wayne Mad Ants, the team’s PR department tweets. Johnson, a 2018 second-round pick, has appeared in 13 games with Indiana this season.
- The Pistons assigned rookie forwards Sekou Doumbouya and Donta Hall to their Grand Rapids affiliate, James Edwards of The Athletic tweets. Doumbouya, the team’s first-round pick, is averaging 6.5 PPG and 3.2 RPG in 19.9 MPG in 35 games this season. Hall is on his second 10-day contract with the NBA club.
Southeast Notes: Capela, Fournier, Wall, Crowder
Clint Capela still hasn’t made his Hawks debut due to plantar fasciitis and a bone bruise in his heel. Capela. who is expected to be re-evaluated on March 18, says he’s still dealing with pain but the center is seeing improvement, as Chris Kirschner of The Athletic relays. The Rockets traded him in a four-team deal. “It’s way better now,” Capela said. “Before (with Houston), it was an 8, 9 or 10. Now, it’s coming back down slowly. It’s like a 7 to 5 somedays. There are still a lot of ups and downs, but it’s really progressing.”
We have more from the Southeast Division:
- Magic swingman Evan Fournier will be sidelined for an undetermined amount of time with an elbow injury, Josh Robbins of The Athletic tweets. He underwent an MRI which revealed a UCL sprain in his right (shooting) elbow. Wesley Iwundu will likely soak up a good portion of Fournier’s minutes since the team will likely leave Terrence Ross in his sixth man role, John Denton of the team’s website writes.
- With John Wall‘s max extension kicking in, the Wizards franchise can’t afford to let him play this season, as David Aldridge of The Athletic explains. Wall has recovered from his Achilles injury to the point where he’s been taking part in controlled scrimmages twice a week with the Go-Go, Washington’s G-League affiliate, and working out three times a week. However, if Wall suffered a setback in an actual game, it would be devastating to the organization, Aldridge opines.
- Forward Jae Crowder has settled into a crucial role with the Heat, Anthony Chiang of the Miami Herald writes. Crowder is averaging 13.2 PPG and 6.0 RPG in 11 games since he was acquired in a three-team swap. Moreover, he played 108 of a possible 120 fourth-quarter minutes during his first 10 games with the club, Chiang notes.
Towns Out At Least Another Two Weeks
Timberwolves star center Karl-Anthony Towns will be sidelined at least two more weeks with a left wrist fracture, Chris Hine of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.
Towns hasn’t played since February 10 due to the injury, though it wasn’t diagnosed as a fracture until 11 days later.
At that time, the Timberwolves said they would re-evaluate Towns in two weeks. That timetable passed and the team now says the injury will be re-evaluated once again after giving it two more weeks to heal.
Towns has struggled to stay on the court this season. He also missed 15 games due to a sprained left knee and two others for a league-imposed suspension. He’s played just once with his new pick-and-roll partner, D’Angelo Russell, since the high-scoring guard was traded from Golden State.
On the positive side, Towns’ wrist won’t require surgery but his chances of returning to action before next season have diminished. Towns, 24, is averaging career highs in points (26.5 PPG) and assists (4.4 APG).
Pistons Notes: Griffin, Doumbouya, McRae, Brown
Pistons forward Blake Griffin hasn’t discussed his future with the team’s front office since the franchise went into full rebuild mode, he told the Detroit Free Press. Griffin is making good progress from the arthroscopic debridement of his left knee he underwent in January, the second surgical procedure he had on the knee in less than nine months.
“My focus is on what I can control and that’s my rehab and getting back on the court,” he said. “When the time comes, I’ll have that conversation but I don’t think that time is right now.”
Griffin’s latest rehab has gone well and he expects to do his usual offseason training regimen. His guaranteed $36.8MM cap charge for next season and a ’21/22 player option worth nearly $39MM will be nearly impossible to move in a trade.
We have more on the Pistons:
- Rookie first-rounder Sekou Doumbouya was assigned to the Pistons’ G League affiliate in Grand Rapids on Friday for a simple reason. “Sekou needs to play. He needs to play as much as anything,” coach Dwane Casey said. “I’ve had other players who are now stars in this league play (their first) two years doing the same thing. There’s no disrespect going down there.” Doumbouya showed his potential by reaching double digits in points seven times during an eight-game stretch in January but he’s only scored in double digits once since that outburst.
- Guard Jordan McRae, who was claimed off waivers earlier this week, has a favorable early impression of the organization. McRae will be an unrestricted free agent this summer and hopes to establish some roots after playing for three teams this season. “We haven’t talking about anything like that,” McRae said of whether Detroit plans to re-sign him. “I’ve been to a lot of places and this is top-notch. If this is the place I could make a home, I would love to.”
- Guard Bruce Brown has missed the last four games due to a sore left knee but he’s expected to return against Utah on Saturday. Brown has practiced this week and Casey thought he’d play against Oklahoma City on Wednesday but the medical staff decided he needed a little more time.