NBA Planning Summer League In Sacramento
The NBA is planning a Summer League exhibition to take place in Sacramento in addition to scheduled tournaments in Utah and Las Vegas, according to Ben Dowsett of Basketball Insiders. The event is tentatively scheduled to host the Kings, Warriors, Lakers, and Heat, Dowsett notes.
The Summer League allows NBA teams to showcase roster hopefuls, young players and draftees ahead of training camp. Last November, it was reported that the Magic would not host their annual Summer League and would instead participate in the Las Vegas event. Thus, the Sacramento Summer League replaces the canceled Orlando event.
Utah’s Summer League is scheduled to occur prior to the Vegas event, but only four teams – the Celtics, Spurs, Sixers, and Jazz – played in that league last year.
As we passed along in late January, for the first time ever, all 30 NBA teams will take part in the Las Vegas Summer League in July. Last summer, 24 teams took part in the Vegas exhibition with the Knicks, Pistons, Pacers, Hornets, Magic, and Thunder sitting out the event.
“Summer League has become such an integral part of the NBA calendar, especially in Las Vegas,” NBA executive VP of basketball operations Kiki Vandeweghe said last year. “It’s grown exponentially. You kind of think about where Summer League has come from, years ago. Now it’s become this event that all 30 teams have to be a part of. … It’s a place you must be. And really, it’s become the center of basketball in the month of July.
“Anybody who is a high draft choice, a free agent trying to make it in the league or a young player trying to get some extra practice, is there,” Vandeweghe continued. “It’s a very central location that has established itself as the premier summer event for basketball in general, not just the NBA but also international as well.”
Lloyd Pierce To Meet With Hawks Ownership
After a pair of interviews for the organization’s head coaching vacancy, Sixers assistant coach Lloyd Pierce will meet with Hawks ownership early this week, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reports. If the meeting goes well, there is a “strong chance” that Pierce will be Atlanta’s next head coach, Wojnarowski adds.
We relayed yesterday that Pierce interviewed with the Hawks twice recently as the organization looks to replace former head coach Mike Budenholzer. With the Sixers trailing the Celtics 3-0 in the Eastern Conference semifinals, it’s possible Pierce’s stint in Philadelphia is nearing its end.
Pierce has served as an assistant with the Sixers for the past four seasons. He previously worked with Hawks general manager Travis Schlenk in Golden State. Pierce also spent time as an assistant coach with the Cavaliers and Grizzlies prior to joining the Sixers staff.
Atlanta has already interviewed Celtics assistant Jay Larranaga, Hornets assistant Stephen Silas, Warriors assistant Jarron Collins, and Trail Blazers assistant Nate Tibbetts. Other names connected to the opening include Spurs assistants Ime Udoka and James Borrego. Atlanta also interviewed David Fizdale, who agreed to become the Knicks‘ head coach earlier this week.
Follow all the latest coaching moves with our 2018 NBA Head Coaching Search Tracker.
Ettore Messina Interviewing For Bucks Job Today
Spurs assistant coach Ettore Messina will interview for the Bucks’ head coaching vacancy today, sources tell Marc J. Spears of The Undefeated. We relayed yesterday that Messina, along with former Hornets head coach Steve Clifford, and former Pelicans head coach Monty Williams were set to interview for the job.
Messina has received interest for other head coaching vacancies as he already interviewed with the Hornets. The 58-year-old has served as an assistant under Gregg Popovich in San Antonio the past four seasons. Messina stepped up to coach the Spurs for Game 3-5 during the first round of the playoffs after Popovich’s wife, Erin, passed away.
The three-game head coaching cameo may have helped Messina’s chances to land a job, Tom Orsborn of The San Antonio Express-News recently opined. Before his stint in NBA, Messina was long considered one of the top international basketball coaches.
Stay up to date with all the latest developments on the coaching front with our Coaching Search Tracker.
Hawks Interview Lloyd Pierce For Head Coaching Vacancy
The Hawks interviewed Sixers assistant coach Lloyd Pierce for their head coaching vacancy, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reports. After the departure of Mike Budenholzer, Atlanta has been in pursuit of the team’s next head coach.
Pierce has served as an assistant on Philadelphia’s staff since the 2013/14 season. Before his stint with the Sixers, Pierce served as an assistant with the Cavaliers, Warriors, and Grizzlies.
LeBron James, who overlapped with Pierce during his first stint in Cleveland, once called him one of his favorite coaches, per Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer (Twitter link).
The Hawks have already interviewed Celtics assistant Jay Larranaga, Hornets assistant Stephen Silas, Warriors assistant Jarron Collins, and Trail Blazers assistant Nate Tibbetts. Other names connected to the opening include Spurs assistants Ime Udoka and James Borrego. Atlanta also interviewed David Fizdale, who agreed to become the Knicks‘ head coach earlier this week.
Keep up with all the latest coaching developments with our 2018 NBA Head Coaching Search Tracker.
Northwest Notes: Anthony, Presti, Crawford, Snyder
Carmelo Anthony joined the Thunder last September as both a star in decline and a valuable piece for a team hoping to contend for a championship. A disappointing regular season and early postseason exit later, Anthony’s future in Oklahoma City is murky and he lacks self-awareness of his own decline, Berry Tramel of The Oklahoman writes.
“I think everybody knows that I’ve sacrificed kind of damned near everything … sacrificed my game for the sake of the team and was willing to sacrifice anything and everything in order for this situation to work out,” Anthony said at his end of season media session. “So it’s something I really have to think about, if I really want to … finish out my career as this type of player, knowing that I have so much left in the tank and I bring so much to the game of basketball.”
The reality is, Anthony shot a career-worst 40.4% from the field, averaged below 20.0 PPG for the first time in his career, and was a virtual non-factor in the playoffs. Anthony also vocalized that he will not take a bench role next season. With declining skills paired with the belief he is still elite, Anthony could be suiting up for a new team next season if he agrees to a buyout or declines his $28MM option.
Check out more Northwest Division notes below:
- In a separate column, Tramel writes about Anthony’s time with the Thunder, suggesting that – despite a few notable contributions – it’s likely over for him in Oklahoma City.
- Erik Horne of The Oklahoman examined four pressing questions that Thunder general manager Sam Presti will have to address this offseason. Among those is Anthony’s future, Billy Donovan‘s coaching, Paul George‘s future in Oklahoma City, and how much better Russell Westbrook can be.
- Brad Rock of The Deseret News writes that Jazz coach Quin Snyder is further cementing his case as one of the NBA’s smartest coaches as Utah spars with the Rockets in the second round of the playoffs.
- Michael Rand of the Star Tribune writes that Jamal Crawford opting out of his deal with the Timberwolves was likely the best-case scenario for both sides. The 38-year-old, Rand writes, is neither an efficient player or a defensively strong one. Conversely, Jim Souhan of the Star Tribune ponders whether Crawford opting out signals trouble for Minnesota’s efforts to attract solid bench options.
- While the Timberwolves ended a 13-year postseason drought this season, things were not all that great behind the scenes, per Darren Wolfson of 1500 ESPN (via Dan Feldman of NBC Sports). Minnesota reached the playoffs, has several star players, and revenue is up from previous seasons but that hasn’t helped matters. “There should be a ton to celebrate, right? Just on the surface. You look at those things. But I’m telling you, there is so much angst, and I’m telling you, disconnect behind the scenes,” Wolfson said.
- Sean Deveney of Sporting News previewed the Timberwolves‘ offseason, which will include decisions on current players and possible free agents.
Atlantic Notes: Fultz, Fizdale, Smart, Porzingis, Raptors
Markelle Fultz has been relegated to bench duty for the Sixers‘ past four postseason games as T.J. McConnell has taken over the point guard position. Fultz, the first overall pick in last year’s draft, missed most of the regular season due to a shoulder ailment that impacted his ability to shoot.
Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer writes that Fultz’s significant time missed and the Sixers’ preference for stability is the reason for his lack of playing time. After all, Fultz missed 68 games in his rookie year and then had just 10 games regular season games to get back into a groove. Head coach Brett Brown said the team is being cautious with Fultz and will continue to do so.
“To say he’s dead and buried, that’s not true,” he said. “But I got a decision to make, and I’ve made a decision. That doesn’t mean it’s etched in stone. It’s always something that you review and I think about. And the care for Markelle Fultz and his future is always on my mind.”
Check out more Atlantic Division notes below:
- During the draft process last year, the Celtics worked out Fultz and he said himself that Boston felt like home. Fast forward nearly a year, Fultz is riding the bench in the postseason while Jayson Tatum, the third overall pick, is thriving for the Celtics, per the Associated Press.
- David Fizdale is joining the Knicks as the team’s next head coach and now the focus will be on the rest of his staff. Marc Berman of the New York Post reports that NCAA champion Keith Smart, who was an assistant coach in Miami and a part of Fizdale’s staff in Memphis, will likely join the Knicks as an assistant.
- Fizdale’s ability to succeed in New York will hinge on his ability to win over Kristaps Porzingis, the team’s injured star who is rehabbing from a torn ACL, Ken Berger of Bleacher Report writes.
- Ryan Wolstat of the Toronto Sun looks at the Raptors‘ future after a bleak start to the team’s Eastern Conference semifinals series against the Cavaliers.
Central Notes: Love, Van Gundy, Pistons, Parker
The Cavaliers lead the Raptors in their Eastern Conference Semifinals matchup, 2-0, as the series shifts to Cleveland. Kevin Love helped his case with 31 points in a Game 2 victory after struggling for most of the playoffs. As the postseason progresses, the Cavaliers’ coaching staff will need to monitor Love’s play at the center and power forward position, Joe Vardon of Cleveland.com writes.
“We’ve been very successful with Kev at the 5, but we have to listen to what Kev needs as well,” teammate LeBron James said. “If there’s times throughout the postseason or a game where he’s feeling a little worn down because he’s battling with a lot of bigs, then we’ve got to make the substitution properly. I think Coach Lue has done that, obviously with the start of Game 7, being able to start Double T at the five and allow Kev to play his natural position.”
Check out more Central Division notes:
- The Pistons would like to bring back Stan Van Gundy, but with an adjusted role. After missing the playoffs for the past several seasons, it may be time for both sides to part amicably, Bob Wojnowski of The Detroit News opines.
- There were 12 teams that had the chance to draft Donovan Mitchell before he fell to the Jazz and had a historically great rookie season. Looking back, the Pistons not selecting Mitchell is right up there with the Darko Milicic blunder from 2003, Shawn Windsor of the Detroit Free Press writes.
- After two torn ACLs and a frustrating showing in the postseason, Jabari Parker‘s value is not at an all-time high heading into the summer. As a restricted free agent, it’s possible Parker’s tenure with the Bucks is over. Frank Urbina of HoopsHype breaks down Parker’s four best choices in free agency.
- As the Lakers enter the summer with major cap space and an eye on the NBA’s premier free agents, Mark Schanowski of NBC Sports Chicago examines the possibility of the Bulls pursuing Brandon Ingram in a trade.
Pacers Notes: Sabonis, Turner, Young, Offseason, Pritchard
With the Pacers eliminated from the postseason, the focus turns to next season and how the team can improve. With several roster options to consider during the offseason, the Pacers figure to weigh the pros and cons of potentially starting both Domantas Sabonis and Myles Turner, Mark Monteith of NBA.com examines.
While neither player is a finished product, both possess attributes that helped Indiana this season. Turner is a good three-point shooter and shot blocker, whereas Sabonis is the better rebounder and mid-range shooter. Although neither player is a traditional center or power forward, team president Kevin Pritchard believes that both Turner and Sabonis can help the team if they are on the floor together.
“Players who play with each other a couple of years, they know where they’re going to be,” Pritchard said. “That makes the game come slower. Domas, the game already comes slow. He can make reads. Myles, he gets a little frantic. And that makes a difference. He’s got to calm down a little bit.”
Check out more Pacers notes below:
- Both Cory Joseph and Thaddeus Young, who have options in their contracts, could leave Indiana this offseason. However, during his end of season media session, Pritchard indicated that both men expressed interest in returning during their exit meetings, J. Michael of the Indianapolis Star writes. Since then, a report has indicated Joseph will pick up his option.
- Pritchard addressed several aspects of the Pacers’ season in his media session, including the team’s somewhat improbable run to the postseason, roster, and impending offseason decisions, NBA.com’s Mark Monteith writes. “In my 26 years (in the NBA) I’ve never been around a team that brought it like they did this year. They had each other’s backs,” Pritchard said.
- Bobby Marks of ESPN Insider (subscription required) looked at the Pacers’ impending decisions this summer. Marks examines whether Turner should be signed to a long-term deal, whether the Pacers will keep their roster together, and more.
Celtics Notes: Smart, Rozier, Ainge, Youth, Brown
There was a point this year when it seemed that injuries and an off-the-court family issue could end Marcus Smart‘s season. However, he’s back now and helping the Celtics as they try to get past the Sixers and advance to the Eastern Conference Finals. ESPN’s Chris Forsberg writes that Smart’s ability to help Boston in multiple facets of the game has been a help to their case.
“I think it all starts with his competitiveness,” Celtics head coach Brad Stevens said. “He has the ability to make plays that nobody else makes. Like, whether it’s ripping the ball out of somebody’s hands, or the [offensive rebound] he made against [Joel] Embiid where he laid it in and got fouled [in Game 1]. We have a number of clips over the years of him rebounding over the top in traffic where no guard can get that ball. He brings a contagious element to our team that you can try all you want to quantify it, but other than winning and losing, you can’t quantify it.”
Smart’s defense on Ben Simmons in Game 1 is specifically highlighted as one of the ways Smart helped Boston. Forsberg’s story also covers Smart’s mother battling cancer and how she still supports him back home in Texas.
Check out more Celtics notes below:
- In a separate story, Forsberg writes that the Celtics’ youngsters have been playing like veterans, which has enabled the team to play well in the face of multiple injuries.
- Entering the offseason, Terry Rozier envisioned himself as the Celtics’ starting point guard leading the team to the playoffs. However, the acquisition of Kyrie Irving put that vision on hold. Then, Irving went under the knife and Rozier found himself leading the Celtics through the postseason, Yaron Weitzman of Bleacher Report details.
- The Celtics’ roster has withstood massive injuries to Gordon Hayward, Irving, Smart, and others. Taylor C. Snow of NBA.com writes that president and general manager, Danny Ainge, deserves the credit for the Celtics’ depth and resilience.
- Jaylen Brown, who seemed doubtful for Game 2 of the Eastern Conference semifinals with a right hamstring strain, was upgraded to probable on Thursday, the Celtics announced. Brown did not start Game 2, but did play in the game.
Patrick McCaw Cleared For Shooting, Running Drills
Warriors guard Patrick McCaw was re-evaluated today and results indicated he has made functional progress after suffering a lumbosacral bone bruise, according to the team’s public relations department. McCaw has been cleared to begin modified shooting and running drills and he will be re-evaluated in four weeks.
This could effectively end McCaw’s 2017/18 season unless the Warriors advance to the NBA Finals and McCaw’s next re-evaluation reveals that he’s close to a return.
McCaw was stretchered off the court after he suffered a dangerous fall in a game against the Kings last month. The injury shook up both the Warriors and Kings, specifically veteran Vince Carter, who was part of the play that led to the injury. Luckily, McCaw walked away without any permanent or serious injury and will resume his playing career.
Before the injury, the second-year guard was averaging 4.0 PPG and 1.4 APG in 57 games (10 starts) for Golden State.