NBA VP of basketball operations Malik Rose is a candidate to succeed Michele Roberts as executive director of the National Basketball Players Association, Marc Stein of Substack tweets. Roberts recently told Yahoo Sports’ Vincent Goodwill she planned to stay at her post for “another six or so months.” Rose was an assistant GM with the Pistons for two seasons prior to accepting his current post last June.
We have more from around the basketball world:
- A new name for the Thunder‘s arena will be revealed as soon as next week, Steve Lackmeyer of The Oklahoman writes. Signage for the Chesapeake Energy Arena was removed on Thursday. The team has a naming rights deal in place, pending approval of its application from the Downtown Design Review Committee.
- Kawhi Leonard, Chris Paul and John Collins are the top three potential free agents, according to a ranking system used by The Athletic’s John Hollinger. The top 20 free agents are ranked, with Hollinger projecting potential contracts offers for those players.
- The challenges over the past two seasons created by the virus have been immense but NBA commissioner Adam Silver hopes it has brought a better understanding between management and players, according to ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne. “That sense of unity, I hope we can keep up,” Silver said. “I think the players have a better understanding of what we’re up against in trying to run this business, and we have a better understanding of the players — what it’s like to travel the amount they do, the stresses they’re under, the emotional and physical burdens they’re under by competing at this level.”
I’d LOVE to see Malik Rose become the leader of the strongest player union in pro sports
Hollinger’s rating of FAs is always outstanding (paywall).
#1 is Kawhi, valued next year at $52m, except he will not be playing. This gives him four salary options, all specified, all favoring the Clippers.
It goes on & on for 20 FAs, very informative on each.
I’ll pay Collins 3 years/ $60 millions, CP3 2 years/ $50 millions no more than that. For Kawhi, it’s similar to KD situation except he wasn’t playing like Durant prior to getting hurt therefore I’ll pass.
If the Clipps are smart, they’ll let Kawhi walk and trade for Jerami Grant.
Man he impressed me this year, he averaged 22 points a game while shooting 35% from 3. He can give you more if he plays in good team. He was a major part of the Nuggets last year successful season.
Anyone think Kawhi will opt in?
I think Kawhi stays put. Maybe a package built around PG13 if enough to get Dame.