Jazz To Consider Stotts, Jensen, Others For Coaching Job
The Jazz have identified some initial candidates for the team’s vacant head coaching job, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic (Twitter link). Former Blazers coach Terry Stotts, Jazz assistant Alex Jensen, Celtics assistant Will Hardy, Knicks assistant Johnnie Bryant, and Raptors assistant Adrian Griffin will all be considered for the position.
In addition, the Jazz are also expected to consider Bucks assistant Charles Lee and Suns assistant Kevin Young, per Charania and The Athletic’s Tony Jones (Twitter link).
Charania mentioned those coaches are among the initial list of candidates, so more names may be added in the coming days. As ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported (via Twitter), Utah is immediately launching a head coaching search in wake of Quin Snyder‘s decision to step down.
The Jazz are coming off a 49-33 season. The team lost in six games to the Mavericks in the first round of the playoffs, ending an inconsistent campaign. Despite making the playoffs six straight years, the team hasn’t been able to advance past the second round.
Utah is one of two teams that currently don’t have a head coach. The other is the Hornets, who are reportedly nearing a decision on their search.
Andre Iguodala To Miss Game 2
Warriors forward Andre Iguodala will miss Game 2 of the NBA Finals due to right knee inflammation, according to the team’s official injury report. Iguodala played in Game 1 after missing nearly six weeks, recording seven points and three assists in 12 minutes.
Iguodala previously missed time due to a left cervical disc injury in his neck. He suffered that injury in Game 4 of the team’s first-round series against the Nuggets, so he has only appeared in four playoff games. Iguodala will be listed as day-to-day, head coach Steve Kerr said, as relayed by Marc Spears of ESPN (Twitter link).
Iguodala, 38, averaged 4.0 points, 3.2 rebounds and 3.7 assists in 19.5 minutes per game this season, playing 31 contests. All of those averages are career-lows.
Iguodala signed with the Warriors in free agency after struggling to produce with the Heat last season. He holds 18 years of NBA experience and helped Golden State win championships in 2015, 2017 and 2018. His absence may allow other players (such as Otto Porter, Gary Payton II and Jonathan Kuminga) to receive more time.
Quin Snyder Steps Down As Jazz Coach
Quin Snyder has officially stepped down from his position as head coach of the Jazz, the team announced today in a press release. Snyder recently finished his eighth season with the organization.
Snyder accrued a 372-264 regular-season record with Utah, making him the second-winningest coach in franchise history, behind only Jerry Sloan. He thanked the Jazz and the state of Utah in his parting remarks, explaining that he felt the team needed a different voice going forward.
“At the core, and what drives me every day is our players and their passion for the game, their desire to constantly work to improve and their dedication to the team and the Jazz,” Snyder said as part of a much larger statement. “I strongly feel they need a new voice to continue to evolve. That’s it. No philosophical differences, no other reason. After eight years, I just feel it is time to move onward.
“I needed to take time to detach after the season and make sure this was the right decision. I greatly respect and appreciate (team owner) Ryan (Smith), (CEO) Danny (Ainge) and Justin (Zanik‘s) discussions regarding moving forward together, I just know it is time. I am forever appreciative of all the players, coaches, partners, and people I have worked with at the Jazz.”
The Jazz, who join the Hornets as the only franchises without a head coach, plan to immediately start searching for a replacement for Snyder, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reports (via Twitter).
Utah made the playoffs six times under Snyder’s leadership, but never advanced past the second round, posting an overall postseason record of 21-30 (.412). The team finished 49-33 this season and lost to the Mavericks in six games during the first round of the playoffs.
Snyder and the Jazz had been discussing a possible contract extension, but the idea that he could leave the team this spring has been out there since Marc Stein first suggested it in a pair of stories in March. According to Wojnarowski (via Twitter), talks between Snyder and the Jazz were “amicable” and their relationship is still strong, but the veteran coach simply felt it was time to move on.
Snyder’s deal ran through the 2022/23 season and included a coach’s option for the following campaign, according to ESPN’s Tim MacMahon, who previously stated that Snyder would likely take a year off from coaching if he stepped down from the position.
Western Notes: Iguodala, Warriors, Thunder, Mathurin
Speaking to Sam Amick of The Athletic, Warriors veteran Andre Iguodala revisited the media’s decision to give him the NBA Finals MVP award over teammate Stephen Curry in 2015.
Iguodala won the award by a margin of 7-4 over then-Cavaliers small forward LeBron James. Curry, coming off a 2015 regular-season MVP award victory, did not receive a single vote. The Warriors won the series over Cleveland 4-2, with Iguodala’s two-way play while facing off against James proving a crucial component of Golden State’s win.
“Yeah, I think (the discussion) does a disservice to the game,” Iguodala said. “I’ve never said it was the wrong decision. Yeah, I think (Curry) should have won (at some point). But that’s not to say that you guys made the wrong decision.”
The Warriors won two other titles with Curry and Iguodala, though then-teammate Kevin Durant won Finals MVP in both 2017 and 2018.
There’s more out of the West:
- After surrendering a double-digit fourth quarter lead and losing Game 1 of the 2022 NBA Finals in stunning fashion, the Warriors have their work cut out for them on Sunday. Jeff Zillgitt of USA Today opines that the club will need to improve its three-point defense, its offensive output, and the play of defensive anchor Draymond Green. In Game 1, Green scored just four points on 2-of-12 shooting from the floor, pulled down 11 boards, turned the ball over three times and fouled out.
- Several of his former coaches discussed the potential fit of ex-Auburn forward Jabari Smith, expected to be one of the top three candidates in the 2022 draft, with the Thunder, writes Joe Mussatto of The Oklahoman. The Thunder have the No. 2 pick. The 6’10” power forward was a consensus second-team All-American while in school.
- Former Arizona guard Bennedict Mathurin is set to work out for the Trail Blazers today, per Aaron J. Fentress of the Oregonian (Twitter link). Mathurin is projected as the eighth pick in the draft, according to the latest ESPN big board. Portland possesses the seventh pick this year.
Southeast Notes: Heat, Magic, Quinones, Wizards
After an exciting 53-29 season that saw them get to within one win of its second NBA Finals appearance in three seasons, the Heat appear set to make some adjustments during the summer to get over the hump. Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun Sentinel notes that the Heat rarely leave a stone unturned in the free agency and trade markets, and that the team could pursue adding All-Star talents like guards Donovan Mitchell and Bradley Beal if they become available.
There’s more out of the Southeast Division:
- The Magic worked out Memphis guard Lester Quinones over the weekend, according to Jake Weingarten of StockRisers.com (Twitter link). Quinones played for three seasons with the Tigers, averaging 10.1 PPG, 4.3 RPG, 1.8 APG and 0.9 SPG across 87 games, including 81 starts. The Magic possess the top pick in the 2022 draft, as well as the No. 32 and No. 35 selections in the second round.
- The Wizards are set to work out several young hopefuls tomorrow ahead of the draft, per Ava Wallace of the Washington Post (Twitter link). Wallace notes that Vanderbilt guard Scotty Pippen Jr., LSU forward Tari Eason, Baylor guard James Akinjo, and Connecticut guard R.J. Cole will be working out for Washington. The Wizards possess the No. 10 and No. 56 picks in the upcoming 2022 NBA draft. Eason is the highest-ranked prospect among these four, coming in at No. 18 on ESPN’s big board.
- In case you missed it, we took a look at the Hawks‘ 2022 offseason, examining the personnel that could be on the move, both among players under contract for the 2022/23 season and free agents.
Celtics Notes: Horford, Udoka, Pop, Road Wins
It took a little convincing, but 36-year-old Celtics big man Al Horford eventually realized he would need to add three-point shooting to his arsenal for a lengthier NBA career, per Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports. Haynes writes that former Hawks general manager Rick Sund first suggested the move. Atlanta drafted Horford with the third pick out of Florida in 2007.
As Haynes writes, Horford took just 65 three-point attempts through his first eight NBA seasons. During his 2015/16 season with the Hawks, Horford averaged 3.1 looks per night, converting 34.4% of those. He has never taken fewer than 3.0 three-point attempts in a season since then. His highest conversion rate was 42.9% on 3.1 tries during the 2017/18 season with Boston.
“Rick is the one that told me, ‘Man, you have a really good mid-range. You should start shooting corner threes, that’s going to help extend your career,’” Horford said. “I used to be a banger down low and posting up. He was like, ‘Man, you’re not going to last in this league if you keep playing like that.’ … Rick was right. I think I have gained extra years by adding the 3-point shot.”
There’s more out of Boston:
- Celtics head coach Ime Udoka is employing a championship strategy employed by Spurs coach Gregg Popovich, for whom he was an assistant coach during consecutive NBA Finals trips, writes Tim Keown of ESPN. Keown notes that Udoka’s calm, tough comportment could stem from lessons learned in San Antonio, where he was also a player. “He coached with the greatest ever to do it in Pop,” Marcus Smart said. “He’s a sponge. Every place he went, he soaked it all in, put it into his game and brought it over here to us.” Prior to his current head coaching stint with the Celtics, Udoka also served under Brett Brown with the Sixers and Steve Nash with the Nets.
- After starting his career with a 10-day contract on a Lakers team led by Hall of Famers Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant, Ime Udoka eventually carved out an NBA niche as a role player. Dan Woike of the Los Angeles Times opines that Udoka’s time spent as a career role player helped prepare him for the nuances of coaching. After his four-game tenure with the 2003/04 Lakers, Udoka suited up for the Knicks, Trail Blazers, Spurs and Kings during a seven-year NBA career.
- One reason behind the Celtics’ 2022 postseason success has been their ability to win on the road, writes Sherrod Blakely of Full Court Press. Boston won two away games in each of its three Eastern Conference playoff series, and already has earned a victory at the Chase Center in the NBA Finals. A second straight road victory is certainly on the minds of Boston players. “We’ve got to have that right mindset that this is a big game for us, and we’ve got to go out there and compete and not try to hang our hat on Game 1 but to be a little greedy and go get Game 2,” reserve point guard Derrick White said of the team’s mentality.
Central Notes: Garland, Grant, Bulls, Brissett
Reaching an extension with Darius Garland figures to be among the offseason priorities for the Cavaliers, but the third-year guard didn’t want to speculate on the possibility during a public appearance Saturday, writes Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com. Garland, who has become part of the young foundation in Cleveland, is expected to receive a five-year max-level extension offer this summer.
“We will see,” Garland responded when asked about an extension. “I hope I’m part of (the team’s future). Not anything set in stone yet. Hopefully.”
Garland is coming off a career-best season in which he averaged 21.7 points and 8.6 assists per game and helped the Cavs become a surprise contender in the East. He was stung by back-to-back losses in the play-in tournament and said he couldn’t stand to watch the first round of the playoffs, but now he looks back at the season as something positive.
“It definitely gave me a taste. Just being there. Feeling that atmosphere. The fans packing the arena. That was super cool,” Garland said. “Felt like the playoff atmosphere that I want to be in. Next year hopefully we will be back. We have a bright future. Just coming down the stretch we had a lot of bad timing with injuries and stuff like that. No excuses. We’re headed in the right direction I believe.”
There’s more from the Central Division:
- Pistons forward Jerami Grant will be a popular name on the trade market this summer, so Omari Sankofa II of The Detroit Free Press looks at four potential destinations. Sankofa proposes deals that would send Grant to the Trail Blazers, Timberwolves, Hawks and Grizzlies.
- After a first-round exit this season, the future doesn’t look much brighter for the Bulls to make a long playoff run, contends Joe Cowley of The Chicago Sun-Times. Even if Chicago is able to re-sign free agent Zach LaVine, Cowley doesn’t believe the current core has enough star power to compete with the Celtics, Heat, Bucks, Nets and Sixers.
- The Pacers have a $1.8MM option on Oshae Brissett‘s contract for next season, but Tony East of Forbes explains why it might be more beneficial for Indiana to decline that option and make him a restricted free agent now rather than allowing him to become unrestricted in 2023.
Wolves Notes: Front Office, Beverley, Davison, Arena
The expected addition of Matt Lloyd as senior vice president of basketball operations raises some questions about the hierarchy in the Timberwolves‘ front office, but Jon Krawczynski of The Athletic believes that may not matter.
Lloyd, who is being hired away from the Magic, will join a team that already has Sachin Gupta as executive vice president of basketball operations. While it’s not clear who will be second in command, Krawczynski points out that new president of basketball operations Tim Connelly built a reputation for listening to everyone when he ran the Nuggets.
“I want to get to know who’s here. And I have a pretty good sense, but you don’t know until you’re in the same room as those people,” Connelly told reporters this week. “I don’t have all the answers. It’s going to be a collaborative effort. I believe in colleagues; I don’t believe in employees.”
Lloyd was attractive to the Wolves because of his experience running the scouting department in Orlando and Chicago. Minnesota owns the 19th pick in this month’s draft, along with three second-rounders, and Lloyd’s first priority will be to identify prospective talent.
There’s more on the Timberwolves:
- Miami could be a destination if Minnesota decides to part with Patrick Beverley this summer, an Eastern Conference general manager tells Sean Deveney of Heavy.com. The veteran guard was productive during his first season with the Wolves and seems unlikely to be moved, but it’s possible the new-look front office could try to maximize his value. “The Heat would love to get Patrick Beverley,” the unidentified GM said. “The Timberwolves, obviously, they love what he brought last year, but if they could sell high, they might be willing to give him up. They have a new regime there, so they can look at things a little more realistically.”
- Wisconsin guard Brad Davison will work out for Minnesota next week, tweets Darren Wolfson of Eyewitness 5 News. He has also conducted workouts for the Hawks and Nets.
- When Alex Rodriguez talked about being “first in class in every category” this week, it’s a sign that he and Marc Lore plan to push for a new arena when they officially become majority owners next year, according to La Velle E. Neal III of The Star-Tribune.
Michael Beasley To Play In China
Michael Beasley will resume his career in the Chinese Basketball Association, tweets Shams Charania of The Athletic. Beasley will sign a “seven-figure” deal with the Shanghai Sharks, Charania adds.
Beasley played for seven NBA teams and had numerous overseas stops after being selected by Miami with the No. 2 pick in the 2008 draft. The 33-year-old’s most recent contract was in Puerto Rico, and he committed last month to play in the BIG3 this summer.
This will be his second stint with the Sharks after playing for them in 2014/15. He also spent time in the CBA with Shandong in 2015/16 and Guangdong in 2019.
Beasley has been out of the NBA since playing 26 games for the Lakers during the 2018/19 season. He signed with the Nets for the Orlando “bubble” in 2020, but that contract was voided after he tested positive for COVID-19.
Beasley played in 609 NBA games over 11 years with career averages of 12.4 points and 4.7 rebounds per night. The former Kansas State standout played in Summer League last year with the Trail Blazers.
Warriors Notes: Green, Poole, Iguodala, Payton
Draymond Green believes he needs to “completely raise my play a couple more notches” after a poor shooting night in the Warriors‘ Game 1 loss, writes Mark Medina of NBA.com. Green made just 2-of-12 shots, giving him four points to go with three turnovers and six fouls. He also took the blame for the Celtics’ offensive outburst in the fourth quarter as they posted 40 points while turning a 12-point deficit into a 12-point victory.
Medina notes that Green has a history of bouncing back after bad outings, especially in the playoffs. His teammates expressed total confidence that will happen in Sunday night’s Game 2.
“No other scenario where I see playing out any differently than him coming out with great energy and focus,” Stephen Curry said. “He takes all that stuff personally in terms of his standard and what he knows he can do out there on the floor. When he doesn’t meet that, he’s usually pretty honest and accountable to himself to the team.”
There’s more on the Warriors:
- Golden State’s veterans are rallying around Jordan Poole, who had a disappointing performance in his first NBA Finals game, Medina adds. Poole was just 2-of-7 with four turnovers, and Curry suggested that it may have had something to do with being on such a big stage for the first time. “Maybe slow down just a little bit to see the pictures a little bit better,” he advised. “But he doesn’t have to change anything about the way he plays, the way he attacks or where he feels the most confident in terms of making an impact on the game. You just have to be able to bottle up those emotions.”
- Andre Iguodala has been a steadying influence on Poole throughout his breakout season, per Dalton Johnson of NBC Sports Bay Area. Iguodala, who rejoined the Warriors prior to the start of the season, can offer Poole the experience of an 18-year NBA career and seven trips to the Finals.
- Gary Payton II told reporters after today’s practice that he’s not feeling any more pain in the left elbow that was fractured during the second-round series with Memphis, Johnson writes in a separate story. Payton sat out the series opener, but said he’ll be ready if coach Steve Kerr decides to use him in Game 2. “I’m available, ready to go, just waiting on the call,” Payton said.