Splitter, St. Andrews, Crawford Join Blazers’ Coaching Staff
The Trail Blazers have officially named Tiago Splitter, Patrick St. Andrews and Quinton Crawford as assistants on Chauncey Billups’ staff, the team announced today in a press release.
Splitter joins the Trail Blazers after leading the Paris Basketball Club to a French Basketball Cup championship and into the EuroLeague playoffs as the team’s head coach. Previously, Splitter served as an assistant coach for the Rockets during the 2023/24 season and spent the five seasons prior with the Nets.
St. Andrews has been an assistant coach with the Grizzlies for the last two seasons. Prior to arriving in Memphis, St. Andrews spent five seasons on the Bucks’ staff.
Crawford comes to Portland after leading the NBA G League Stockton Kings to a championship in his first season as their head coach. He was an assistant with the Suns in 2023/24 after spending one season with the Mavericks and three seasons with the Lakers.
News that Splitter and St. Andrews were joining the staff broke over the weekend, while Crawford’s agreement with the team was first reported in May.
Additionally, Leron Black has been hired as a player development coach. Black has served as an assistant coach and director of video for the Rip City Remix, Portland’s G League affiliate.
Mark Tyndale will not be retained on Billups’ staff, according to Aaron Fentress of The Oregonian.
Ott: Merit, Not MSU Ties, Led To Suns’ Head Coaching Job
Jordan Ott graduated from Michigan State and served as a graduate assistant under longtime head coach Tom Izzo for two seasons. Suns owner Mat Ishbia played for Izzo during the Spartans’ 2000 championship run and new general manager Brian Gregory was an assistant under Izzo that season.
However, Ott denies that his MSU ties had anything to do with being named Phoenix’s head coach, Duane Rankin of the Arizona Republic relays.
“So I’ll say it like this,” Ott said during his introductory press conference on Tuesday. “I’ve earned the right to be here. I’ve spent 20 years of working as hard as I possibly can to be here in this spot. I’ve been around great people, great coaches and great players that have allowed me to grow, put me in tough spots to see if I can get better. I know I’ve earned this opportunity. I’m going to work as hard as I can from here on out to prove that I’m here for the right reasons. I’ve earned this opportunity. That excites me. That excites me going forward.”
The Suns interviewed more than 15 candidates for the position and the two finalists were Ott and fellow Cavs assistant Johnnie Bryant. Gregory said Ott was the “clear choice” for the job.
“Jordan Ott stood out in every single stage of that process,” Gregory said, adding “His work ethic is beyond reproach. His basketball knowledge, his forward thinking in terms of offensive schemes and systems, the blueprint for an aggressive defensive style of play fit in perfectly with everything that we’ve been talking about for the last five weeks. His leadership, his ability to develop players, his ability to develop deep relationships with players constantly stood out.”
What isn’t clear is what group of players Ott will be coaching next season. There’s been no indication that the Suns are interesting in a full rebuild, but the cap-strapped team is looking for a reset around Devin Booker. The front office is working with Kevin Durant and his agent, Rich Kleiman, to find a landing spot for Durant as early as this month with the draft approaching.
It’s no secret the Suns would also like to move Bradley Beal and his onerous contract, but Beal has a no-trade clause and would have to agree to waive it if Phoenix can find a trade partner willing to make a deal.
There will be changes to the coaching staff. David Fizdale, one of Mike Budenholzer‘s top assistants this past season, will not be retained, Phoenix radio host John Gambadoro tweets. Former Houston head coach Stephen Silas is under consideration to join Ott’s staff.
Heat Notes: Jaquez, Durant, Young Roster, Herro
Following a disappointing second season in the NBA, Heat guard Jaime Jaquez is already focused on turning things around, he told Anthony Chiang of the Miami Herald.
“When the season ended, I took some time away just to decompress, gather my thoughts, really get to a place of peace,” Jaquez said. “Now I’m full steam ahead. I’ve been in the gym every single day, working on my mind, body, spirit, my jump shot, defense. Really just getting my body and mind in tune to get ready for this next season.”
Jaquez averaged fewer points (8.6 per game compared to 11.9 as a rookie) while shooting a worse percentage from the field (46.1% this season compared to 48.9%) and three-point range (31.1% compared to 32.2%). Jaquez’s offseason goals include developing a better mental approach.
“I’m working with a mental coach to try to just help myself become present in the moments, try to tune out all the noise and just really focus on what’s important,” he said.
Here’s more on the Heat:
- Miami does indeed have interest in trading for Suns forward Kevin Durant, as ESPN’s Shams Charania stated on Wednesday, but only at the “right price,” Chiang and Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald report. Miami has tried to trade for the 15-time All-Star in the past. The Heat have two assets that could grease the skids for a trade — a skilled young center in Kel’el Ware, the type of big man Phoenix reportedly covets, and Duncan Robinson’s partially guaranteed contract. It’s unknown whether the Heat would offer Ware in a Durant trade. The Herald duo maps out possible trade scenarios that would work financially for both sides.
- Do the Heat have too many young players? That’s an unusual dilemma for a team that has been criticized in the past for relying on too many veterans, Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun Sentinel notes. The Heat hold the No. 20 pick draft and they’re considering all options. “It’s a good question, certainly having a lot of young players,” said Adam Simon, the Heat’s vice president, basketball operations and assistant GM. “We’ve been here on the other side, where we were told we were told we didn’t have enough young players.”
- A potential Tyler Herro extension presents complications for the front office, Chiang writes in his latest mailbag. Beginning on Oct. 1, Herro is eligible to add a three-year, $149.7MM extension to the two seasons he has left on his current deal. If an agreement is not reached on an extension by Oct. 20, Herro would be eligible to sign a four-year, $206.9MM extension next offseason. With Bam Adebayo already signed to a max extension, giving Herro that type of long-term security would hamstring the club’s efforts to fit in another high-salary star player.
- In case you missed it, Luke Adams offered his comprehensive offseason preview of the Heat to our Trade Rumors Front Office subscribers last week.
Suns, Durant Sifting Through Trade Scenarios
The Suns and Kevin Durant‘s business partner, Boardroom CEO Rich Kleiman, have met multiple times over the past week and are sifting through trade scenarios, ESPN’s Shams Charania reports.
The Rockets, Spurs, Heat, Timberwolves and Knicks are among the teams that have expressed interest in trading for the 15-time All-Star forward.
Several other suitors beyond those five teams have made inquiries on Durant in the past seven-to-10 days, Charania notes. Talks are expected to escalate before the draft, which takes place in two weeks.
After a colossally disappointing season in which the Suns didn’t make the playoffs, there has been an expectation that Durant will be moved. The Suns engaged in trade talks involving Durant prior to February’s deadline and nearly traded him to Golden State, which seemingly caught Durant by surprise and was something he didn’t want at the time.
Matching salaries could be a challenge for some teams and draft capital could be key for the Suns, who desperately need to replenish their draft stock. The latter issue makes it preferable for a Durant deal to be in place over the next two weeks.
Durant has a $54.7MM salary next season, the last year of his current contract, and his desire for an extension could prove to be a critical factor in where he lands, says Charania.
Once he is traded, Durant will be eligible to sign a two-year contract extension on July 6 worth as much as $112MM. After a six-month waiting period, he could instead sign a two-year extension worth up to $124MM.
Jaylen Brown Undergoes Arthroscopic Knee Procedure
Celtics star forward Jaylen Brown underwent a right knee arthroscopic debridement procedure today, according to a team press release. He is expected to participate in training camp without limitation, the statement adds (Twitter link).
Brown had been dealing with a knee injury since March. Late last month, it was reported that the 28-year-old was still pondering his options, including a surgical procedure. Ultimately, that’s the path that he chose.
Brown averaged 22.1 points, 7.1 rebounds and 3.9 assists in 11 postseason games despite the partial meniscus tear that cropped up late in the regular season.
The fact that Brown is expected to be healthy for training camp is a big boost for a franchise that will likely be without Jayson Tatum next season due to the Achilles tear he suffered during the playoffs. Brown is entering the second year of his five-year super-max contract.
Deep into the luxury tax, the Celtics are looking to shed some salary with prominent players such as Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis among the candidates to be on the move. There hasn’t been as much speculation about a possible Brown trade but the fact that his knee problem appears to be relatively minor should erase any concerns from potential suitors about acquiring him.
Thunder Notes: Caruso, Wiggins, Ownership, Depth, Defensive Strategy
Alex Caruso played 19.3 minutes per game during the regular season but is averaging 23 minutes during the postseason. Caruso, who averaged 28.7 minutes last season with Chicago, said the reduced playing time over the course of the year was by design. The Thunder wanted to keep the hard-nosed guard fresh for a deep playoff run.
“I just only have one gear. I don’t know how to play at 75 percent. Some of that was keeping me out of my own way, out of harm’s way. I don’t do a good job of that on my own,” Caruso said, per Ryan Stiles of Sports Illustrated. “Yeah, some of that, it was difficult just because I am such a competitive guy. If I’m only playing 15 to 20 minutes, if it’s one of those nights where it’s 15, we’re not playing great, like my instinct is to, all right, coach, leave me in there, let me fix it, let me be the one to help us get out of it.”
We have more on the Thunder with Game 3 of the NBA Finals approaching on Wednesday:
- Aaron Wiggins erupted for 18 points in 21 minutes in Game 2 after playing just nine minutes in Game 1. That made a strong impression on one of his All Star teammates. “It’s the hardest job in the league, I feel like. I think he’s underrated … It’s really hard to stay engaged and stay ready. For him to be able to do that on the biggest stage he’s ever played on and have a really good game, very special player. I always keep that in mind. Yeah, it’s a really tough job. He does it very well,” Jalen Williams said, per Stiles.
- Some investors may be regretting their decision to not grab a stake in the franchise. According to Kurt Badenhausen and Eben Novy-Williams of Sportico, shares of the team held by the estate of fracking baron Aubrey McClendon, who died in 2016, were put up for sale in 2019. McClendon was part of Clay Bennett‘s group that paid $350MM for Seattle SuperSonics in 2006. Those shares, approximately 20 percent of the franchise, remained on the market for a while before ultimately purchased by the current majority stakeholders.
- The Thunder were a plus-11 in Game 2 during the 12 minutes that MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was on the bench, a showcase of their depth, The Athletic’s Anthony Slater notes. The five-man unit of Caruso (who had 20 points), Williams, Wiggins, Cason Wallace and Isaiah Hartenstein was particularly potent. “We’ve played that lineup a lot through the playoffs,” Caruso said. “(Head coach) Mark (Daigneault) went back to it because we’ve had a lot of success. Me and Cason do a good job of mixing it up with whoever is the lead guard. Dub has great hands. We have a versatility in the lineup. It lets Wigs get a little bit loose, too.”
- In Game 2, Oklahoma City found success via a combination of ball screen location, aggression and overall defensive alignment, according to Kelly Iko of The Athletic. He breaks down OKC’s defensive strategy that slowed the Pacers’ high-octane attack.
Knicks Haven’t Requested Permission To Negotiate With Kidd
All signs are pointing toward Jason Kidd remaining the head coach of the Mavericks.
According to Christian Clark and Sam Amick of The Athletic, the Mavericks continue to privately insist to what they described as “key stakeholders” that Kidd won’t be going anywhere. Speculation has run rampant since it was reported on Monday by ESPN’s Brian Windhorst that there was “mutual intrigue” between Kidd and the Knicks, who recently fired Tom Thibodeau.
Citing a team source, The Athletic duo reports the Knicks had yet to request permission to speak with Kidd as of Tuesday afternoon. Similarly, Mike Curtis of the Dallas Morning News heard the same thing from a “person with knowledge of the situation.”
Curtis added that two people within the Mavericks organization told him they’re skeptical the Knicks will even make the request. Curtis notes that the Knicks would need to compensate the Mavs in order to hire Kidd, who signed a contract extension last offseason. That would likely require draft capital that the Knicks — who traded numerous picks to acquire Mikal Bridges — lack, as well as possible cash considerations.
If the Knicks do ask permission to talk to Kidd, it’s expected the Mavericks will decline, according to Stefan Bondy of the New York Post.
The Athletic indicates that there’s a widely held belief is that Kidd is hoping to parlay the Knicks’ interest into another lucrative contract extension with the Mavs. His current deal covers the next two seasons. If that extension isn’t offered, it’s possible that Kidd might want to head to New York.
However, Jay Triano agreed to terms on an assistant coaching job with the Mavericks on Tuesday after assurances from Mavericks general manager Nico Harrison that Kidd would remain the head coach. The Stein Line reported over the weekend that the Mavs and Triano, the former head coach of the Suns and Raptors, were finalizing an agreement. Triano spent the last three seasons as a Kings assistant.
Edey Undergoes Ankle Surgery, Out At Least Four Months
Grizzlies center Zach Edey will likely miss some regular season games at the start of 2025/26. He underwent surgery on Tuesday to address the laxity in his left ankle and re-stabilize it, according to a team press release (Twitter link).
Edey will be reevaluated in four months and is expected to make a full recovery, the release adds. The four-month gap before reevaluation means that Edey will not be ready to participate at the start of training camp and will require an extended rehab period.
Edey reinjured his left ankle during a workout last week. It was reported at the time that Edey would likely miss some regular season games and Tuesday’s press release essentially confirms that.
“After consulting with the Grizzlies and multiple specialists, we decided this is the best approach for Zach long-term as it gets him back to 100% with no limitations,” Edey’s agent, Mark Bartelstein of Priority Sports, told ESPN’s Sham Charania last week. “He will make a full recovery and be back better than ever.”
Edey dealt with left ankle soreness throughout his rookie season after a stellar college career at Purdue. The No. 9 pick in last year’s draft started 55 of the 66 games he played while averaging 9.2 points, 8.3 rebounds and 1.3 blocks in 21.5 minutes per night and posting .580/.346/.709 shooting numbers.
Edey was a first-team All-Rookie selection and finished fifth in the Rookie of the Year balloting.
His injury could impact the way the Grizzlies approach the offseason. Two of the club’s other frontcourt players are headed to free agency — Santi Aldama (restricted) and Marvin Bagley III (unrestricted).
Western Notes: Kidd, Blazers, Kings, Nelson, Nuggets
Letting Jason Kidd go to the Knicks would be a terrible outcome for the Mavericks, according to Tim Cowlishaw of the Dallas Morning News. There’s reportedly mutual interest between Kidd and the Knicks.
Under Kidd, Dallas has won five playoff series in four seasons. Cowlishaw also notes that Kyrie Irving likes Kidd and believes in him. In Cowlishaw’s viewpoint, the only way general manager Nico Harrison‘s vision for the current group will work is dependent on Anthony Davis staying healthy and Irving getting healthy and remaining happy. If Cooper Flagg then plays up to his draft status, the Mavs have a chance to secure a title in 2026/27 before the window of opportunity runs out for their aging stars.
Here’s more from the Western Conference:
- Arthur Kaluma (Texas), Gabe Madsen (Utah), Chibuzo Agbo (USC), Alex Toohey (Sydney Kings), Jahmai Mashack (Tennessee) and Dylan Cardwell (Auburn) worked out for the Trail Blazers on Tuesday, Sean Highkin of The Rose Garden Report tweets. Toohey is the biggest name in the group, as the Australian forward is ranked No. 36 on ESPN’s Best Available list.
- Jeremy Roach (Baylor), Caleb Love (Arizona), Jaxson Robinson (Kentucky), John Tonje (Wisconsin), Great Osobor (Washington), CJ Huntley (Appalachian State) will work out for the Kings on Wednesday, Jason Anderson of the Sacramento Bee tweets. That group is headed by Tonje (19.6 PPG with the Badgers last season), a high-scoring guard who is ranked No. 42 by ESPN.
- Grant Nelson (Alabama) is expected to reschedule a workout with the Jazz, Brian Lewis of the New York Post tweets. Nelson, who worked out for the Nets on Tuesday, is currently rated 65th by ESPN.
- Though the Nuggets took the Thunder to a Game 7 in these playoffs, they can’t afford to run it back with the same group, Sean Keeler of the Denver Post opines. The bench is in serious need of upgrades, Keeler argues, as the Nuggets basically went six deep this season and that forced the starters to empty their tanks.
Second-Round Prospect Malique Lewis Withdraws From Draft
International prospect Malique Lewis will withdraw from the draft and return to play for the South East Melbourne Phoenix as part of Australia’s NBL Next Stars program, ESPN’s Jonathan Givony tweets.
Lewis was considered a potential second-round pick. He was ranked No. 67 overall on ESPN’s Best Available list.
A native of Trinidad & Tobago, Lewis is a 6’8” wing with a 7’1” wingspan. He’ll try to improve his draft stock for 2026 in the Next Stars program.
The 20-year-old Lewis moved to Spain as a 16-year-old to play for Fuenlabrada in the Liga ACB for two seasons. He joined the Mexico City Capitanes of the NBA G League for the 2023/24 season, where he played in 50 games and averaged 8.3 points and 5.8 rebounds.
Lewis signed with South East Melbourne last summer and averaged 6.8 points, 4.1 rebounds and 1.0 assists per game last season.