Hawks Interview Nate McMillan
The Hawks have interviewed Nate McMillan for their head coaching position today, reports Yahoo! NBA writer Adrian Wojnarowski. The team has not yet let go of current head coach Larry Drew, whose contract expires June 30th.
Atlanta's general manager, Danny Ferry, plans to conduct interviews with other candidates as well, but isn't ruling out the option of extending Drew's contract should no suitable coaches take his offer.
McMillan's last coaching stint came with the Trail Blazers, where he coached for seven seasons before being let go in 2012. The Hawks are also interested in Stan Van Gundy, but it's unlikely the former Magic coach returns to the NBA next season.
Eastern Notes: Harrington, Hudson, Robinson
A few notes from around the Eastern Conference:
- Alex Kennedy reports on Hoopsworld.com that the Magic are expected to allow Al Harrington to work out for other teams next month in the hopes of attracting some trade interest for the veteran forward.
- A pair of veterans playing on minimum-salary contracts, Nate Robinson and Chris Andersen, top Rob Mahoney's list at SI.com on players who have boosted their free agent stocks in the postseason.
- Former Cavaliers and Celtics guard Lester Hudson was among the standouts at this week's D-League camp in Chicago, with one NBA scout telling Sam Amico of FOX Sports Ohio that Hudson will be in the league next year (Twitter link).
Masai Ujiri Named Executive of the Year
THURSDAY, 12:08pm: The Nuggets have officially announced that Ujiri has won the Executive of the Year award. Gary Sacks (Clippers) finished second in the voting, followed by Glen Grunwald (Knicks) and Daryl Morey (Rockets), who were tied for third.
WEDNESDAY, 8:45pm: Nuggets general manager Masai Ujiri will be named Executive of the Year, according to the Denver Post's Benjamin Hochman.
Ujiri built the best team in franchise history this season, as Denver won 57 games in the regular season before losing 4-2 in the first round against the Warriors.
Last summer he nosed his way into the Dwight Howard trade, acquiring Andre Iguodala and giving up Arron Afflalo, Al Harrington, and a 2014 first round pick. He also extended Ty Lawson to a contract that's widely viewed as a slight bargain for the Nuggets.
Eastern Notes: Smith, Hawks, Thibodeau
A few notes from around the NBA's Eastern Conference.
- Even as he goes through a terrible slump, Knicks head coach Mike Woodson can't afford to sit J.R. Smith, his Sixth Man of the Year award winner, writes Newsday's Jim Baumbach. Smith is a free agent this summer, and it'll be interesting to see if his poor play in the playoffs will have an impact on his price tag.
- Grizzlies head coach Lionel Hollins believes Bulls head coach Tom Thibodeau is the best in the NBA, per CommercialAppeal.com's Ron Higgins. His words come out a day after Nuggets head coach George Karl was named Coach of the Year.
- Hoopsworld.com's Bill Ingram writes about the Hawks, a team that should be one of the most active this summer, given their cap space, draft picks, and free agents.
Odds & Ends: Timberwolves, Handy, Agent News
A few random notes from around the league.
- The Cavaliers have received permission to speak with Lakers development coach Phil Handy, who was previously a member of Mike Brown's coaching staff, tweets Yahoo! Sports reporter Marc J. Spears.
- Now that he's President of the Timberwolves Basketball Operations, Flip Saunders is beginning to make some changes, according to the Minnesota Star Tribune's Jerry Zgoda. He started by firing four scouts whose contracts were set to expire this summer.
- According to a tweet from Draft Express writer Jonathan Givony, NBA hopefuls Kelly Olynyk, Ray McCallum, Arsalan Kazemi, Alex Oriakhi, Dexter Strickland, and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope have all signed with the Wasserman Media Group for representation.
Pacific Notes: Gasol, Kings, Barnes
A few notes from around the NBA's Western Conference.
- Speaking on ESPN radio, unrestricted free agent forward Matt Barnes said he'd like to return to the Clippers next season. He also thinks Chris Paul will return.
- According to InsideSoCal.com's Mark Medina, Lakers forward Pau Gasol is set to have two operations on both his knees this summer. Gasol has one more year on his contract, but will be the subject of trade rumors throughout the summer. It should be interesting to see if his knee surgeries temper any talk.
- The Kings face a big vote in roughly a week on whether they'll be relocating or staying in Sacramento, and the NBA has encouraged the local Sacramento buyers group to place all of their $341MM in an escrow account, according to The Sacramento Bee.
Poll: Who Should’ve Won Coach of the Year?
Nuggets head coach George Karl was named the NBA's Coach of the Year today, but the announcement was met with a bit of controversy. Did Karl deserve it, or did another deserving candidate?
Timberwolves Hire Flip Saunders As President
FRIDAY, 11:12am: The Wolves made it official today, introducing Saunders to the media at a press conference. Jerry Zgoda of the Star Tribune tweeted a number of highlights from Saunders and Taylor, so we'll round those up here:
- Saunders' contract with the Wolves is for five years with additional options beyond that. The commitment is a "big one," according to Taylor.
- Taylor is now interested in buying out limited partners' shares of the franchise rather than considering selling his own majority stake in the team.
- As of now, Saunders expects head coach Rick Adelman to be back on Minnesota's bench next season.
- Saunders was noncommital when asked if his own coaching career is over.
THURSDAY, 7:16pm: Former Timberwolves and Pistons head coach Flip Saunders has officially signed a multi-year deal to become president of basketball operations for the Timberwolves, according to a tweet from ESPN.com's Brian Windhorst. Saunders will also have an ownership stake in the team.
Minnesota's owner, Glen Taylor, has also opted not to sell the team, and has taken it off the market. Earlier today it was announced that the Timberwolves would decline the option on former general manager David Khan.
Poll: Who Should Coach The Sixers?
Earlier tonight we linked to a report from the Philadelphia Inquirer regarding four possible coaching candidates that the Sixers are interested in interviewing for their open head coaching position. Who do you think is the best fit?
Odds & Ends: Pierce, Jackson, Fortson
The NBA has announced that Warriors head coach Mark Jackson has been fined $25K by for influencing officials with recent postgame comments, reports Benjamin Hochman of the Denver Post.
Here are a few more notes from around the league.
- D-League guard Courtney Fortson will not be playing in the D-League next year, according to RidiculousUpside.com's Keith Schlosser. His options for next season, as he told the site, are the NBA, Europe, or China.
- Nola.com's Jimmy Smith takes a look at Pelicans forward Lance Thomas, who has a team option on his contract next season for less than $1MM. Smith focuses on what Thomas needs to do to make him worth keeping on the roster.
- Celtics general manager Danny Ainge says dealing with Paul Pierce's contract this offseason will be difficult. Ainge and the C's have an option to buy out Pierce for $5MM, which would save the team more than $10MM, according to CSNNE.com's A. Sherrod Blakely.
- Philadelphia Inquirer reporter John Mitchell reports that the Sixers will look to interview Jeff Hornacek, Michael Curry, Mike Malone and Brian Shaw for their open head coaching position.