Pelicans Notes: Valanciunas, McCollum, Murphy
If the Pelicans decide to shake things up this summer, Jonas Valanciunas could be on the move, Christian Clark of the New Orleans Times-Picayune writes. Valanciunas will have an expiring $15.435MM contract next season and the Pelicans’ coaching staff showed a lack of trust in the veteran center during high-leverage moments, Clark observes. He averaged 14.1 points and 10.2 rebounds per game.
We have more on the Pelicans:
- The fact that CJ McCollum played 37 games with a torn ligament in the thumb of his shooting hand shouldn’t be overlooked, Rod Walker of the Times-Picayune opines. By doing so, McCollum displayed the importance of leading by example, a role he embraces both on and off the court. Despite the injury, McCollum averaged 20.9 points and 5.7 assists in 75 games this season.
- The growth of Trey Murphy in his second season was one of the few bright spots for the franchise in 2022/23, Clark writes in a separate story. Murphy raised his scoring average from 5.4 points per game as a rookie to 14.5 PPG this season. He has developed into a prolific shooter, averaging 48.4% from the field overall, 40.6% on 3-point attempts and 90.5% from the free throw line.
- In case you missed it, top executive David Griffin said he didn’t anticipate making “huge moves” this offseason.
Northwest Notes: Alexander-Walker, Edwards, Markkanen, Jazz Staff
Nickeil Alexander-Walker was basically a throw-in to the deal that brought Mike Conley to the Timberwolves in February but he has emerged as a playoff starter, Chris Hine of The Star Tribune writes.
Alexander-Walker moved into a more prominent role after Jaden McDaniels broke his hand during the regular season finale. Alexander-Walker has shadowed Jamal Murray during a portion of the series against the Nuggets and contributed a couple of key three-pointers in Game 4. He’ll be a restricted free agent at the end of the season and hopes to stay with the Timberwolves.
“They gave me a chance,” he said of the Timberwolves. “I’ve been working very, very hard, relentlessly and sometimes I’m too hard on myself, for an opportunity. So for me to get that, I would love to come back. I believe in this group. Believe that we can figure it out together and do something special.”
We have more from the Northwest Division:
- Anthony Edwards carried the Timberwolves to an overtime victory in Game 4 with 34 points but he wasn’t impressed with himself, ESPN’s Andrew Lopez relays. “I played terrible if you ask me,” Edwards said. “I took three bad threes, three terrible possessions, and I (darn) near shot us out the game. I didn’t play that good.”
- After being named the league’s Most Improved Player, Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen wants to find more ways to improve, according to Tony Jones of The Athletic. “I haven’t accomplished anything,” Markkanen said. “I’ve said this before, but I’m not trying to stop here. I’m just beginning. I want to get better this summer and make that next leap. I want to lead this team to the playoffs. Having this kind of season feels good, but I want to keep continually getting better. That’s my mindset.”
- Jazz head coach Will Hardy is tweaking his staff as he heads toward his second season with the franchise. He is not retaining assistant coaches Alex Jensen and Irv Roland, Jones tweets.
Ime Udoka Named Rockets’ Head Coach
APRIL 25: Udoka has officially been named the Rockets’ head coach, according to a team press release.
“We are excited to welcome Ime to the Houston Rockets,” Stone said in a statement. “Ime’s intelligence, drive and toughness were the traits we were looking for in a coach to lead our team through this next stage of our development as we strive to become a champion.
“We were honored to have the opportunity to speak to multiple outstanding candidates throughout the interview process and felt that Ime’s vision best aligned with the goals the Fertitta Family and myself have for the future of the Rockets.”
APRIL 24: Former Celtics head coach Ime Udoka has reached an agreement with the Rockets to become their next head coach, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski tweets.
Udoka replaces Stephen Silas, whose team option for 2023/24 was declined after the season.
After leading Boston to the NBA Finals last season, Udoka was suspended by the club this season for an inappropriate relationship with a subordinate. Udoka essentially became a free agent when the Celtics removed the interim tag from his replacement, Joe Mazzulla, in mid-February.
Udoka was prominently mentioned during the Rockets’ search right from the start and the team’s interest in him grew after their initial meeting, according to Wojnarowski’s sources (Twitter link).
Udoka and Houston GM Rafael Stone remained in communication and reached an agreement over the last 24 hours. A young roster, salary flexibility and a 14% chance to land Victor Wembanyama at the No. 1 overall pick swayed Udoka to take the job.
Houston was tied with San Antonio for the league’s second worst record at 22-60.
The Rockets also interviewed several other prominent coaches for the job, including former Lakers coach Frank Vogel, former Hornets coach James Borrego and former Nets coach Kenny Atkinson. Sixers assistant Sam Cassell, Raptors assistant Adrian Griffin and Suns assistant Kevin Young were also in the mix and Houston also had reported interest in Nick Nurse, who recently parted ways with the Raptors.
Vogel was also considered particularly impressive in his interview, Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle writes.
Udoka was considered a serious candidate for the Toronto job before coming to terms with the Rockets.
Atlantic Notes: Embiid, Grimes, Hartenstein, Horford
It remains unclear whether or not the Sixers will have Joel Embiid for the start of their second round playoff series but he’ll wear a brace around his right knee if he plays, according to Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer. The superstar center is nursing a sprained lateral collateral ligament and didn’t practice on Tuesday.
“There really isn’t any update yet,” Sixers head coach Doc Rivers said. “We won’t know anything for at least another couple of days probably before we can move forward.”
We have more from the Atlantic Division:
- Knicks guard Quentin Grimes is questionable to play in Game 5 on Wednesday due to a right shoulder contusion, the team’s PR department tweets. The 2021 first-round pick is averaging just 3.7 points in the series against Cleveland.
- The Knicks are one win away from their first series victory in 10 years. With New York leading 3-1, center Isaiah Hartenstein says the team can’t get complacent and allow the Cavs to rally back in the series, Peter Botte of the New York Post writes. “I was telling the guys before, we still have one more game to go,” he said. “And I think even if it’s 3-1, I’ve seen a lot of teams come back from that. So you have to approach it the same way. Take it game by game.”
- The Celtics are once again showing a burning desire to reach the Finals for the second straight season, Israel Gutierrez of ESPN writes. They feel a renewed sense of purpose in the playoffs. “Early in the year [the Finals defeat] was fuel, it really got us going,” big man Al Horford said. “We kind of got away from it a little bit. But now that we’re in the playoffs, we’re not addressing it as a group, but when we talk about it individually, it’s something that’s still there.”
Paolo Banchero Named Rookie Of The Year
Magic forward Paolo Banchero has been named the league’s Rookie of the Year, NBA on TNT tweets.
Orlando selected Banchero with the No. 1 overall pick ahead of Chet Holmgren and Jabari Smith Jr. The former Duke Blue Devil immediately made the Magic look good with a 27-point, nine-rebound, five-assist debut against Detroit.
Banchero went on to average 20.0 points, 6.9 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 0.8 steals per game in 72 starts. He’s Orlando’s first Rookie of the Year since Mike Miller in 2001.
Banchero easily topped the other finalists, Thunder forward Jalen Williams and Jazz center Walker Kessler, for the award. Banchero received 98 out of 100 first-place votes, according to an NBA press release. Williams finished second and Kessler, who picked up the other first-place votes, was third.
Williams averaged 14.5 points, 4.5 rebounds and 3.3 assists in 75 games, including 62 starts. The No. 12 pick in the draft came on strong after the All-Star break, averaging 18.6 PPG, 5.4 RPG and 4.3 APG down the stretch.
Kessler was part of the Rudy Gobert blockbuster deal between Utah and Minnesota. The big man, selected with the No. 22 pick, averaged 9.2 points, 8.4 rebounds and 2.3 blocks in 74 games, including 40 starts. Kessler ranked fourth in the league in blocks per game.
Bennedict Mathurin, Keegan Murray, and Jaden Ivey were the only other rookies to receive votes, finishing fourth, fifth, and sixth, respectively.
Hoops Rumors Chat Transcript: 4/25/2023
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Injury Updates: Anderson, Leonard, George, Fox, Embiid
Forward Kyle Anderson has been ruled out by the Timberwolves for Game 5 of the first-round series against the Nuggets on Tuesday, the team’s PR department tweets.
Anderson suffered an eye injury on Sunday when he was struck by teammate Anthony Edwards as the two Timberwolves teammates defended a dunk attempt by DeAndre Jordan. Anderson is averaging 8.5 points, 4.5 assists and 4.0 rebounds in the series, which Denver leads 3-1.
We have more injury-related news:
- The Clippers will be without both of their superstars again for Game 5. Kawhi Leonard and Paul George have been ruled for Tuesday’s game as their team faces elimination against the Suns, Ohm Youngmisuk of ESPN tweets. Leonard received treatment on his sprained right knee on Monday but didn’t practice, Andrew Greif of the Los Angeles Times tweets.
- While Kings star guard De’Aaron Fox was initially considered doubtful for Wednesday’s game against the Warriors due to a fractured index finger on his left hand, there is internal optimism that Fox will try to play, Sam Amick and Shams Charania of The Athletic report. The medical staff will try to figure out if it’s feasible for Fox to play with the injury, which is on his shooting hand. The Kings have confirmed Fox has an avulsion fracture, Marc Stein tweets.
- Joel Embiid‘s status for the second-round series remains unclear as he tries to recover from a sprained LCL in his right knee. “I’m told he’s doing better and he’s moving around better,” ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne said on the NBA Today show (video link) regarding the Sixers’ center. “The swelling has subsided … (but) you’re not going to push it with something like that.”
Knicks Notes: Barrett, Roster Moves, Brunson, Centers, Thibodeau
Knicks forward RJ Barrett has gone from bust to boom in the past two games, Peter Botte of the New York Post points out. Barrett shot 6-for-25 from the field in the first two games of the first-round series against the Cavaliers. He has gone 17-for-30 in the last two games, averaging 23.5 points per contest.
“I just wanted to continue to make the right plays, make the right reads. Just do whatever to help the team,” said Barrett, who will begin his four-year, $107MM extension in 2023/24.
We have more on the Knicks:
- The moves the Knicks made during the offseason and at the trade deadline have put them in a position to reach the second round, Ian Begley of SNY TV writes. They signed Jalen Brunson instead of trading for Donovan Mitchell, signed Barrett to his extension and re-signed big man Mitchell Robinson. They also added Isaiah Hartenstein via free agency and acquired Josh Hart from Portland in February.
- Brunson is running pick-and-rolls with wings and other guards such as Barrett to great effect during the postseason, Fred Katz of The Athletic notes. Their defense is also much more intense, particularly in transition. “We’re playing extremely hard,” Barrett said. “We’re making hustle plays. … The whole team, all the hustle plays we’re making, we’re really together collectively.”
- The center rotation of Robinson and Hartenstein became increasingly effective as the regular season wore on, coach Tom Thibodeau told Botte and other media members. “That tandem, from the second half of the season on, Mitch is the anchor of the defense. Isaiah gives us the rim protection and he’s different offensively,” Thibodeau said. “So there’s different components to it.” They combined for 13 points, 19 rebounds and four blocked shots in Game 4 on Sunday.
- Thibodeau’s willingness to bench gimpy Julius Randle for a good portion of the second half is an example of how much the veteran coach has changed his approach, Mark W. Sanchez of the New York Post opines. Thibodeau has become much more willing to rely on younger players and his second unit, rather than leaning too heavily on veterans.
Adrian Griffin Expected To Interview For Raptors’ Job
Raptors assistant Adrian Griffin is expected to interview for the team’s head coaching position, Chris Haynes of NBA on TNT tweets.
Griffin remains on the Raptors’ staff, though the organization parted ways with Nick Nurse at the end of the season. Griffin interviewed for the Rockets’ head coaching job but Houston reached an agreement with former Celtics coach Ime Udoka on Monday.
[RELATED: 2023 NBA Head Coaching Search Tracker]
Griffin is also rumored to be a candidate for the Pistons’ head coaching position. Griffin filled in for Nurse during a game in February when Nurse dealt with a family matter. He hoped the experience would help him eventually land a top job.
“It’s something I’d like to pursue in the future as far as being a head coach so this is good practice for me,” he said after that game.
Nets Notes: Offseason Approach, Simmons, Bridges, Johnson, Draft Picks
Nets general manager Sean Marks says the changes he’ll make this offseason will be designed to make the roster bigger and meaner, according to Brian Lewis of the New York Post. The team ranked among the league’s worst in overall rebound percentage and defensive rebounding percentage.
“Without a doubt we need to make some changes in terms of adding some size. I think (coach Jacque Vaughn) said it (Saturday) night, add a little nastiness,” Marks said. “Without a doubt we need to make some changes. Add a little bit of the Brooklyn grit that we’ve talked about for sort of six years.”
We have more on the Nets:
- In the same Lewis story, Marks remarked that he anticipates Ben Simmons to be 100 percent physically “probably by September 1st.” Marks has stated he doesn’t believe Simmons will require another back surgery. Marks also expressed confidence that Mikal Bridges can be the No. 1 scoring option going forward. “Regarding Mikal, I think he’s proven to a lot of people that his role can continue to get better and better and bigger and bigger, so I think I would be pretty silly to be up here and limit him and say he cannot be something,” Marks said. “I think that a few people have had their eyes opened to what he can do.”
- Re-signing restricted free agent Cameron Johnson is a high priority for Marks, Lewis writes in a separate story. Johnson, who was acquired in the Kevin Durant blockbuster, is not only a crucial piece on the court but a popular locker room presence. “Everybody sees what he delivers on the court, but when you see him in the locker room, it’s certainly refreshing to be around, and hopefully he’s here,” Marks said. “But he’s going to have decisions to make, so at the right time, we will certainly be having those discussions with him and his agent, and we hope that Cam will be back. He’s a big priority for us, there’s no question.”
- Thanks to dealing their superstars, the Nets have plenty of draft capital. Will they use it to pursue another star like Damian Lillard in a blockbuster deal? Perhaps, but Marks isn’t committed to that approach, Lewis writes. “That could happen, but at the same time, I don’t think we’re in any hurry. We’re not going to be pushed to make changes just for the sake of making changes.”
- Speaking of those draft picks, the Nets own the 21st and 22nd selections in the first round this June but some of the future first-rounders they acquired could eventually land higher. That potential scenario entices Marks, Alex Schiffer of The Athletic notes. “That’s one of the exciting things for us going forward, knowing that there’s only three other teams in the league that have more first-round picks than us from now until 2030.” he said. “So, that’s part of the pathway, right? This group has shown an ability to to draft well, and the coaches have shown an ability to really develop players well. So for me, looking forward to that is exciting.”