2020 December | Hoops Rumors

Community Shootaround: Which Coaches Will Be On Hot Seat In 2021?

December 31st, 2020 at 11:38am CST by Luke Adams

The last year has been a particularly active one for NBA head coaching changes — of the league’s 30 teams, 10 have hired new coaches since the start of 2020, including nine since July.

[RELATED: Longest-Tenured NBA Head Coaches]

Typically, a leaguewide coaching overhaul like the one we’ve seen in 2020 is followed by a period of relative quiet, as those new head coaches get an opportunity to prove their value. But that doesn’t mean that we won’t see any in-season head coaching changes in 2020/21.

In-season coaching changes typically occur when a coach has been on the job for multiple years and is leading an underachieving team. If the coach was hired by a previous front office regime, that’s often a point against him as well, since it won’t necessarily reflect poorly on the current head of basketball operations if he has to replace that coach and bring in his own choice.

It’s probably safe to assume the 10 coaches that were hired in 2020 are safe for the time being. A handful of the league’s longest-tenured coaches, including Gregg Popovich, Erik Spoelstra, and Rick Carlisle, appear untouchable too. And there’s a group of coaches – including Frank Vogel, Nick Nurse, Brad Stevens, and Michael Malone, among others – whose recent achievements will ensure they have a very long rope going forward.

After eliminating all of those coaches from the discussion and paring down the remaining group a little further, I see Wizards coach Scott Brooks, Timberwolves coach Ryan Saunders, and Kings coach Luke Walton as a few candidates to find themselves on the hot seat later in the season if things don’t go well for their respective clubs.

All three coaches were hired by a previous head of basketball operations and all three are facing pressure to improve upon last season’s results.

Of the three, Brooks may have the most tenuous hold on his position. The Wizards surrendered a future first-round pick in their offseason trade for Russell Westbrook and are highly motivated to make it back to the postseason and convince Bradley Beal that it makes sense for him to stay in D.C. long-term. Brooks was hired by Ernie Grunfeld, so if things go from bad to worse following the team’s 0-4 start, new head of basketball operations Tommy Sheppard may feel pressure to make a change.

Unlike Brooks, who was hired back in 2016, Saunders and Walton were hired in 2019, which is one reason why I believe they’re probably not on shaky ground quite yet — replacing them in 2020/21 would mean not even giving them two full seasons to show what they can do.

Gersson Rosas could have replaced Saunders in 2019 when the Wolves coach only held the position on an interim basis, but opted instead to make him the permanent coach. Everything Rosas has said since then suggests he’s close with Saunders and feels he’s the right man for the job. And despite owner Glen Taylor‘s playoff hopes, Rosas likely recognizes that there’s a ceiling on what Saunders can do with the current roster — especially if Karl-Anthony Towns continues to battle injury issues.

As for Walton, the Kings didn’t make any splashy roster upgrades during the offseason, so it’s not as if they have short-term championship expectations. As long as Walton can keep the team in the mix for a top-10 spot in the conference, he should be safe for the time being. He’s off to a good start — the Kings are 3-1, with a pair of impressive wins over Denver.

Given their current rosters, expectations likely aren’t sky-high for Dwane Casey (Pistons) this season, so as long as Detroit’s youngsters show positive growth, he should be safe. Three more Southeast coaches – James Borrego (Hornets), Lloyd Pierce (Hawks), and Steve Clifford (Magic) – could be on the hot seat if their teams significantly underachieve this season, but all three (especially Clifford) are off to good starts.

What do you think? Which coaches do you think could find themselves on the hot seat during the 2020/21 season? Do you think we’ll see any in-season coaching changes? If so, which team will be the first to make a move?

Head to the comment section below to weigh in with your thoughts!

Southwest Notes: Hammon, Richardson, Pelicans, G. Allen

December 31st, 2020 at 10:20am CST by Luke Adams

When Becky Hammon took over the head coaching reins for the Spurs on Wednesday night following Gregg Popovich‘s ejection, she was focused on trying to “win the game” rather than the historical significance of the moment, as Jeff McDonald of The San Antonio Express-News writes. However, after the game, she was able to appreciate the fact that she had become the first woman to act as head coach during an NBA game.

“Obviously, it’s a big deal,” Hammon said, per ESPN’s Dave McMenamin. “It’s a substantial moment. I’ve been a part of this organization, I got traded here (as a WNBA player) in 2007, so I’ve been in San Antonio and part of the Spurs and sports organization with the Stars and everything for 13 years. So I have a lot of time invested, and they have a lot of time invested in me, in building me and getting me better.”

The Spurs weren’t able to come back and knock off the defending champion Lakers in Hammon’s unexpected head coaching debut, but San Antonio players were happy to see her get a chance to run the show in Popovich’s absence.

“Any player who knows the history of women’s basketball knows what she meant to the sport,” Spurs guard DeMar DeRozan said. “You don’t think twice about it. She’s one of us. When she speaks, we are all ears.”

Here’s more from around the Southwest:

One of Josh Richardson‘s agents, Bill Duffy, tells Brad Townsend of The Dallas Morning News that his client’s fit in Philadelphia last season was “awkward” and that he and fellow agent Erik Kabe asked the Sixers about exploring trade options this offseason. “Josh has an opt-out after this year,” Duffy said. “So Erik and I were pretty candid with Philly that it was pretty unlikely he’d return, ‘so maybe you should have discussions.'” The Mavericks were Richardson’s preferred landing spot, and Dallas and Philadelphia were able to work out a deal that Duffy views as a “win-win.”
As they incorporate new additions Steven Adams and Eric Bledsoe, the Pelicans are working on improving their chemistry – especially on offense – following a condensed offseason, writes Christian Clark of NOLA.com. “It’s different from every other year because of the time,” Adams said. “Still man, it’s not impossible. Chemistry is just a weird thing. You can’t really rush it.”
Health issues continue to plague the Grizzlies, who saw Grayson Allen leave Wednesday’s game in the second quarter due to a left ankle sprain, writes Evan Barnes of The Memphis Commercial Appeal. The club -which is already missing Ja Morant, Jaren Jackson, and Justise Winslow – will have to hope Allen’s sprain is a minor one.

Latest On James Harden

December 31st, 2020 at 9:07am CST by Luke Adams

In his latest look at the James Harden situation, Brian Windhorst of ESPN lists the Sixers, Nets, Heat, Celtics, and Raptors among the teams that have at least placed “courtesy calls” to the Rockets about the former MVP.

And while the Bucks reportedly don’t have interest in pursuing Harden, they did have an internal conversation about the possibility and ran it by Giannis Antetokounmpo before coming to that decision, Windhorst notes.

The Harden trade talk that dominated NBA headlines during the preseason has died down to some extent now that the season is underway and the 31-year-old is suiting up for the Rockets, but Windhorst believes it’s just a matter of time before a team convinces itself that Harden is the missing piece for a championship and pulls the trigger on a deal, like Toronto did for Kawhi Leonard in 2018.

Here’s more on Harden:

Although the Nuggets have been linked to Harden directly, they’re also interested in potentially getting involved in a multi-team trade involving the star guard even if they don’t end up with him, according to Windhorst.
Sam Amick of The Athletic wonders if the loss of scoring depth caused by Spencer Dinwiddie‘s ACL injury may motivate the Nets to push harder to acquire Harden. Of course, as we discussed earlier this week, Dinwiddie’s injury also diminishes the value of a player who likely would be part of any package the Nets offer.
Within that same Athletic article, Amick examines where things stand for the other teams linked to Harden, writing that the Sixers remain content to continue evaluating their current roster under Doc Rivers before making any major changes, while the Bucks don’t view Harden as a fit for their culture. Amick also evaluates the Heat, Nuggets, Trail Blazers, and Raptors, but doesn’t suggest that there’s traction on any front.

Jerian Grant Signs With Greek Team

December 31st, 2020 at 7:55am CST by Luke Adams

Free agent point guard Jerian Grant will continue his playing career in Greece, having signed with Promitheas Patras, the team announced today in a press release.

Grant, 28, was drafted with the 19th overall pick in 2015 and appeared in 279 regular season games over the next five years for New York, Chicago, Orlando, and Washington. Over the course of those five seasons, he averaged 6.1 PPG and 2.9 APG on .411/.323/.770 shooting in 17.9 minutes per contest.

After suiting up as a substitute player for the Wizards during the summer restart, Grant signed a training camp contract with the Rockets, but didn’t make the team’s regular season roster and was cut on December 16.

Grant’s deal with Promitheas Patras – a club that competes in the Greek League and the EuroCup – will reunite him with his brother Jerai Grant, who signed with the Greek squad last week. Both Jerian and Jerai are brothers of Pistons forward Jerami Grant.

Southeast Notes: Monk, Hornets, Magic, Iguodala

December 30th, 2020 at 10:01pm CST by Arthur Hill

Malik Monk is waiting for the Hornets to give him a chance after his bout with COVID-19 earlier this month, writes Rick Bonnell of The Charlotte Observer. Monk hasn’t gotten into a game yet this season and is fighting for playing time on a roster that’s much deeper at the wing than it was last year.

Monk will be a free agent when the offseason arrives, and the Hornets can make him restricted with a $7.3MM qualifying offer. He views this season as an audition for his NBA future.

“This is the big one. A big step to show what I can do,” Monk said. “With other teams, not only the Charlotte Hornets. To show other teams what I can do and how productive I can be. I can’t do that if I’m not on the court, but I don’t control that.”

Monk was hoping for better after a breakthrough performance in February when he averaged 17.0 PPG on 46% shooting in 13 games. However, before the month ended, he was suspended indefinitely for a violation of the NBA’s drug policy. Monk said he hasn’t received much feedback from coaches about what he needs to do to earn minutes.

“Super, super, super freaking frustrating (with) the waiting,” he said. “The month of February, I finally became an NBA player, finally got the minutes I thought I deserved a couple of years ago. I was proving myself. And that’s all I really could ask for at that point.”

There’s more from the Southeast Division:

Terry Rozier and Gordon Hayward have formed an instant chemistry as Hornets teammates, observes Sam Perley of NBA.com. They spent two years together with the Celtics, but Hayward was injured for much of that time. “Based on what I see, I think they play off each other well,” coach James Borrego said. “I’m sure they understand each other’s game at a higher level than if they just came in blindly to this situation. There’s history there, there’s chemistry, there’s connection. I think that helps us right now.”
The Magic are enjoying the benefits of their Serge Ibaka trade in 2017, notes Josh Cohen of NBA.com. With Ibaka headed toward free agency, Orlando shipped him to the Raptors at the deadline in exchange for Terrence Ross and a first-round pick. Ross is still a productive player for the Magic, and the pick eventually helped acquire Markelle Fultz from the Sixers.
The Heat used Andre Iguodala as a starter tonight, allowing him to extend a streak that began in 2004, tweets Tim Reynolds of the Associated Press. Iguodala has started at least one game in every calendar year since entering the league, but tonight marked his first start since the 2019 NBA Finals.

Health Updates: Leonard, Trent, Okoro, Claxton, Gallinari

December 30th, 2020 at 8:41pm CST by Arthur Hill

Clippers star Kawhi Leonard will return to the lineup tonight, five days after being struck in the face by an accidental elbow from teammate Serge Ibaka, tweets Joe Vardon of The Athletic. Coach Tyronn Lue made the announcement in a pre-game session with the media.

Leonard missed two games with the injury, which caused him to bleed profusely from his mouth and required eight stitches. L.A. split the games, defeating the Timberwolves Tuesday night and losing by 51 points to the Mavericks on Sunday.

A second-team All-NBA selection last season, Leonard is off to another strong start, averaging 23.5 points, 3.5 rebounds, 5.0 assists and 3.0 steals in his first two games.

There’s more injury-related news to pass along:

The Trail Blazers will face the Clippers tonight without guard Gary Trent Jr., Portland coach Terry Stotts told reporters (Twitter link from Vardon). Trent suffered a strained calf in Monday’s game with the Lakers.
Rookie swingman Isaac Okoro didn’t travel with the Cavaliers as they start a six-game road trip, according to Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com. The fifth pick in this year’s draft suffered a sprained left foot in Saturday’s game and was recently placed into the NBA’s COVID-19 health and safety protocol. The league announced today that there have been no new positive tests since December 24, so Fedor believes Okoro likely came in contact with someone who tested positive, which limits his ability to travel. The Cavs hope he can join them before the trip ends January 9.
Nets coach Steve Nash said Nicolas Claxton is “steadily improving,” but remains “weeks away” from playing, tweets Malika Andrews of ESPN. The second-year center is dealing with tendinopathy in his right knee and hasn’t played yet this season.
Hawks forward Danilo Gallinari had to leave tonight’s game with a sprained ankle, according to Andrews (Twitter link). It was his first game since suffering a contusion in his left foot in last week’s season opener.

Rockets Notes: Wall, Cousins, Harden, Hard Cap

December 30th, 2020 at 7:36pm CST by Arthur Hill

John Wall, DeMarcus Cousins and Eric Gordon all practiced today for the first time since being forced to quarantine after an ill-fated haircut last week, writes Jonathan Feigen of The Houston Chronicle. The Rockets‘ Dec. 23 season opener was canceled because they didn’t have enough active players, and they were short-handed for the two games that followed.

“I didn’t do anything wrong,” Wall said. “All I did was get a haircut in my apartment. And one of the teammates tested positive and the next four or five tests I had all came back negative. So, I was like ‘Oh, it was me and three people can’t get a haircut.’ I’d rather get a haircut in my apartment than be in a barbershop somewhere where random people are coming in constantly. Even the barber tested negative. That was a frustrating thing.”

Assuming no more setbacks, Wall will play his first game in more than two years on Thursday. He and Cousins, who responded to the quarantine with an online post of an angry emoji, will both make their debuts with the Rockets.

“It’s tough in general to be sitting around for seven days, no type of activity,” Cousins said. “It’s tough for any person, but especially for a professional athlete, sitting at home for seven days straight then jumping back in a full-speed practice or game. There’s not a lot of positive on that side.”

There’s more from Houston:

Head coach Stephen Silas said league protocol requires Ben McLemore and KJ Martin, who are believed to have tested positive for COVID-19, to remain in quarantine through the weekend, tweets Kelly Iko of The Athletic.
The Sixers are farther away from trying to acquire Rockets star James Harden than they were two weeks ago, ESPN’s Brian Windhorst said on today’s episode of “The Jump” (video link). With a 3-1 record and Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid playing well together, Philadelphia doesn’t feel any urgency to make a move. Windhorst believes Simmons gives the Sixers the best asset of any of the teams rumored to be involved in talks for Harden, but he doesn’t think either side is in a hurry to complete a deal.
The Rockets are currently $1.077M below the hard cap, which means they will be able to add a pro-rated 15th player to their roster starting February 9, tweets salary cap expert Albert Nahmad. Teams can begin signing players to 10-day contracts on February 23 (Twitter link).

Warriors Notes: Paschall, Curry, Wiseman, Lin

December 30th, 2020 at 6:25pm CST by Arthur Hill

Eric Paschall has moved to a reserve role after starting the first two games of the season and seems more comfortable coming off the bench, writes Drew Shiller of NBC Sports Bay Area. The Warriors‘ second-year power forward posted 15 points in 19 minutes Sunday in Chicago, then 10 points in 13 minutes Tuesday at Detroit.

“I liked the rotation better because the way we played tonight allowed Eric to get going offensively and be more aggressive with the ball,” coach Steve Kerr said after Sunday’s game. “Playing with the second unit — we can run some things through him. We need Eric with the ball in his hands, and with that first group, it’s tough to get the ball to him.”

Because the Warriors were short-handed last season, Paschall got plenty of opportunity to showcase his skills, averaging 14.0 points and 4.6 rebounds in 60 games. He was an All-Rookie First Team selection after being taken with the 41st pick in the draft.

“I’m allowed to just play the game,” Paschall said in explaining why he likes being a reserve. “Having the ball in my hands and trying to make plays for everybody and myself. More aggressive, more opportunity with the second unit.”

There’s more on the Warriors:

Stephen Curry‘s new teammates are starting to figure out how to get him the ball in the flow of the offense, observes Marcus Thompson II of The Athletic. Because an injury forced Curry to miss almost all of last season, most of Golden State’s roster is still learning how to play alongside him.
James Wiseman‘s early numbers may not be what some fans expected, but he’s showing his value on offense by attacking the rim, notes Ethan Strauss of The Athletic. Strauss believes Wiseman’s inside presence and Curry’s outside shooting can be the foundation of Golden State’s offense for years to come.
A proposed “NBA Vet Selection” rule for the G League could be a path toward getting Jeremy Lin to the Warriors, but that plan could be complicated if the league elects to play in a bubble setting, according to Shayna Rubin of The San Jose Mercury News. The rule would allow NBA teams to fill one G League roster spot with a player who has at least five years of NBA service. However, the bubble atmosphere may cause teams to keep their NBA and G League players separate, which defeats the purpose of adding Lin. Golden State was close to a deal with Lin before opening day rosters had to be finalized, but couldn’t get authorization in time from the Beijing Ducks, his last team in China.

Kings’ Jeffries To Miss At Least 6 Weeks With Grade 3 Ankle Sprain

December 30th, 2020 at 6:15pm CST by Luke Adams

6:15pm: Today’s MRI confirmed that the injury is a Grade 3 sprain and Jeffries’ status will be updated in six weeks, the Kings announced in a press release.

3:40pm: Kings wing DaQuan Jeffries suffered a setback during the process of rehabbing a back injury, and has sustained a Grade 3 left ankle sprain, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic, who tweets that Jeffries will miss an “extended period” of time.

Jeffries, who has been sidelined since the preseason due to back soreness, suffered the injury during a scrimmage when he came down on someone’s foot, per James Ham of NBC Sports California (Twitter links). He underwent an MRI today, and while the Kings have yet to issue a formal update, Charania’s report suggests that MRI showed the Grade 3 sprain.

Jeffries, 23, spent his rookie season in 2019/20 on a two-way contract with the Kings. He saw limited action, averaging 3.8 PPG and 1.4 RPG in 13 games (10.8 MPG), but impressed the team enough to earn a promotion to the 15-man roster and a fully guaranteed salary for 2020/21. He had been slated to have a “key rotation role” this season, says Charania.

No timeline has been set for Jeffries’ return so far, but as Jason Anderson of The Sacramento Bee writes, a Grade 3 ankle sprain typically requires about four to six weeks to heal. Kings guard De’Aaron Fox suffered the injury last season and missed 17 games. If Jeffries faces a similar recovery timeline, he likely won’t make his season debut until February.

New York Notes: Randle, Rivers, Luwawu-Cabarrot, Crawford

December 30th, 2020 at 5:11pm CST by Arthur Hill

Julius Randle became the symbol of free agency disappointment for Knicks fans last season, but he has shown signs of a turnaround this year, writes Stefan Bondy of The New York Daily News. Randle was among several veteran free agents brought in on short-term deals after New York missed out on its primary targets during the summer of 2019. Bondy notes that Randle has lost weight and looks like a different player so far.

“I ran pretty much every day during the offseason. Like I said, that was just a challenge for me to get in extreme condition or whatever it is,” Randle said. “That’s just what I challenged myself to do every day. Yeah, I dropped a little bit of weight but the biggest thing was just pushing myself just to run every day and just challenging myself in that way.”

New coach Tom Thibodeau said he noticed the difference in Randle when he reported for the team’s voluntary training camp in September. Thibodeau has given Randle control of the offense, and he’s averaging 24.8 points, 10.5 rebounds and 7.5 assists through the first four games.

There’s more from New York:

The Knicks are encouraged by the progress of free agent addition Austin Rivers, who has been sidelined by a groin injury but went through he first contact drills Monday, according to Marc Berman of The New York Post. “There’s a progression to coming back,’’ Thibodeau explained. “He was doing condition without contact. Then it goes to one-on-one controlled movements. Then progressed to two-on-two. And then three-on-three. We’re on the three-on-three phase right now. It’s day-to-day on how he feels and whether we get to the next step. There’s more steps to take. He has to play five-on-five and practice with the team. He’s still a couple of steps away.’’
Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot is making a bid for more playing time following the season-ending injury to Spencer Dinwiddie, writes Mollie Walker of The New York Post. Luwawu-Cabarrot was used as a starter Monday and responded with 21 points, six rebounds and two steals in 40 minutes. “TLC has just been really steady,” Nets head coach Steve Nash said. “Very trustworthy defensively. Knows the system. Is very attentive to his responsibilities, and he’s been shooting the ball. He’s played within himself. He’s doing very well.”
The Nets have remained in contact with veteran guard Jamal Crawford and may consider him as a replacement for Dinwiddie, states Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports. Crawford signed with the Nets for last season’s restart, but appeared in just one game before getting injured.

Month: April 2024