Southeast Notes: Young, Hawks, Saleh, Magic, Wizards
There have been several rumors over the past few months that Atlanta will look to trade either Trae Young or Dejounte Murray this offseason. On his From the Point podcast (YouTube link), Young suggested he would be open to a change of scenery if the Hawks aren’t doing their best to win in 2024/25.
“Everybody knows like obviously I want to be in Atlanta,” Young said, per Sonny Giuliano of ClutchPoints. “When I was drafted, that’s where I wanted to spend my whole career, but at the same time I want to win. So if we’re not on the same page and all, I want to win right now.
“I mean there’s times teams want to take their time and be slow with the winning process and it’s just like, I’m not there anymore. Like I want to win, and I’ve always been that way. I don’t feel like I have very much time to waste, and so I just want to continue to play at a high level and I feel like I can do that and play at a high level and win.”
Here’s more from the Southeast Division:
- In a press release, the Hawks officially announced that they have hired Onsi Saleh to be their new assistant GM. A former executive with the Spurs and Warriors, Saleh’s hiring was first reported a couple weeks ago. “Onsi has played significant roles with two of the most well-respected organizations in the NBA,” Hawks GM Landry Fields said. “In addition to his experience and expertise, we are thrilled to add someone with our shared values to our leadership team.”
- The Magic are facing a 3-2 deficit in their first-round series with the Cavaliers, but they’re confident they can win two straight games to advance, writes Jason Beede of The Orlando Sentinel. “I’m riding with this team no matter who it is in front of us,” center Wendell Carter Jr. said. “I believe that we can beat any team in this league. I’m riding with my guys. I feel like we can win two in a row. It won’t be easy but we can do it.” Shooting guard Gary Harris (right hamstring strain) will be a game-time decision for Friday’s Game 6, tweets Kendra Andrews of ESPN.
- Chase Hughes of Monumental Sports Network relays some exit interview comments from Wizards president Michael Winger and GM Will Dawkins. In addition to making “environmental” changes at Washington’s practice facility and arena, Winger said the team will likely make “incremental moves” this offseason as opposed to last year’s blockbuster trades of Bradley Beal and Kristaps Porzingis.
Alex Caruso Wins NBA’s Hustle Award For 2023/24
Bulls guard/forward Alex Caruso has won the Hustle Award for the 2023/24 season, the NBA announced in a press release written by Brian Martin.
According to the league, the award “honors a player who makes impactful effort plays that might not appear in the box score.” The award was created eight years ago, with Grizzlies guard Marcus Smart being a three-time winner.
Some of the hustle statistics that the NBA tracks include deflections, loose balls recovered, charges drawn, screen assists, contested shots and box-outs. Caruso led in the league in deflections per game (3.7) and on a per-minute basis, he ranked first in loose balls recovered and seventh in charges drawn.
Caruso, who was named to the All-Defensive First Team in ’22/23, is one of the NBA’s top defenders and is known for his all-out playing style. He ranked fourth in the league in steals per game (1.7) and averaged a career-high 1.0 block per game this season.
As Martin details, when Caruso was on the court, Chicago had the equivalent of Boston’s 110.6 defensive rating, which ranked second in the NBA. When he wasn’t playing, the Bulls had the equivalent of the league’s 24th-ranked defense.
A former undrafted free agent who made it into the NBA by working his way through the G League, Caruso won a championship with the Lakers in 2020. The 30-year-old had a strong all-around season in ’23/24, averaging 10.1 PPG, 3.8 RPG and 3.5 APG on .468/.408/.760 shooting in 71 games (28.7 MPG). Several of those figures represented career highs.
Caruso will earn $9.89MM in ’24/25, which is the final season of his contract. He’ll be eligible for a veteran extension this offseason.
The top five finishers for the 2023/24 Hustle Award were, in order: Caruso, Raptors forward Scottie Barnes, Warriors guard Brandin Podziemski, Thunder wing Luguentz Dort, and Hornets forward Grant Williams.
As Howard Beck of The Ringer tweets, the award is determined by aggregating the hustle stats the league tracks, so there is no voting panel.
Woj: Darvin Ham On Hot Seat If Lakers Lose In Five Games
Appearing on NBA Countdown prior to Saturday’s Game 4 between the Nuggets and Lakers, which Los Angeles won to stave off elimination and end an 11-game losing streak to the defending champions, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski said head coach Darvin Ham will likely find himself on the hot seat if the Lakers lose the series in five games (YouTube link).
“If you are a head coach of the Lakers and you get swept in the first round of the playoffs, or you lose in five, you’ve got job issues. You’ve got job security issues,” Wojnarowski said. “And Darvin Ham will have that.”
As Wojnarowski noted, the Lakers advanced to the Western Conference Finals in 2022/23, which was Ham’s first year on the job. And they actually won more regular season games this season (47) than last season (43) despite missing Jarred Vanderbilt (heel) and Gabe Vincent (knee) for most of the ’23/24 campaign.
There’s also a question of who would replace Ham if the Lakers let him go. Former Bucks head coach Mike Budenholzer is “the most accomplished” name on the open market, but he’s also rumored to be looking for a salary that the Lakers might not be willing to pay, Wojnarowski added.
While Wojnarowski questioned how “fair” it would be for Ham to be fired if the Lakers lose to the Nuggets in five games, he said “it is part of the conversation the Lakers are going to have.”
Game 5 of the first-round series between the West’s No. 2 and 7 seeds will be played on Monday in Denver.
Damian Lillard, Giannis Antetokounmpo Out For Game 4
As expected, Bucks stars Damian Lillard (right Achilles) and Giannis Antetokounmpo (left calf) have been ruled out Sunday’s Game 4 in Indiana, tweets Eric Nehm of The Athletic. Both players had previously been listed as doubtful.
Lillard has been dealing with pain in his Achilles tendon for a few weeks. Although he said he was feeling much better entering the playoffs, he aggravated the injury in Friday’s Game 3, which Milwaukee lost in overtime.
Antetokounmpo has been sidelined since April 9 due to a left soleus strain, which is one of the muscles in the calf. The two-time MVP had another incredible regular season in 2023/24, averaging 30.4 PPG, 11.5 RPG, 6.5 APG, 1.2 SPG and 1.1 BPG while shooting a career-high 61.1% from the field in 73 games (35.2 MPG), but has been injured in the playoffs for the second straight year.
As Nehm writes in a full story for The Athletic, the Bucks are approaching tonight’s Game 4 with a “next-man-up mentality.”
“I think for us, it’s our competitive nature,” wing Pat Connaughton said. “We believe we have a locker room of great players and we have guys that can have a ‘next-man-up mentality’ and can play. We have guys who have been situations and obviously delivered in the past, especially in the postseason. So making sure we lean on them.
“Just making sure that we don’t let those things mentally let us off the hook. It’s the playoffs. Everyone’s dealing with something, on our side, on their side, how do we fight through it? How do we find ways to win one game, win a battle? Overall, the series will be the war, but try to win a battle on Sunday and make sure we do it together and make sure we pick each other up with whatever it might be.”
Milwaukee currently trails the first-round series with Indiana 1-2.
Knicks’ Bogdanovic Has Wrist Injury, May Need Offseason Surgery
Knicks forward Bojan Bogdanovic recently underwent an MRI on his sore left wrist, according to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype, who reports (via Twitter) that the 35-year-old has ligament damage and may need surgery in the offseason.
Bogdanovic plans to play through the injury for the remainder of the playoffs, Scotto adds.
It’s unclear when the Croatian veteran initially sustained the wrist injury, but he has been wearing a wrap on it since April 7, a week before the regular season ended.
New York acquired Bogdanovic and Alec Burks from the Pistons at the February trade deadline in the deal that sent Quentin Grimes to Detroit.
It’s a tough blow for the Knicks, who are already shorthanded in the frontcourt with Julius Randle out due to season-ending shoulder surgery. Mitchell Robinson‘s left ankle sprain could keep him on the sidelines for Sunday’s Game 4 as well.
Bogdanovic put up big offensive numbers in starting roles with Indiana, Utah and Detroit over the past several seasons, but he hasn’t been as effective or efficient for New York. Through three playoff games in 2023/24, he’s averaging 8.0 PPG and 4.0 RPG in 16.7 MPG. While he has converted 40% of his three-point looks (6-of-15), he’s just 1-of-9 on twos (11.1%).
Bogdanovic’s $19MM salary for ’24/25 is only partially guaranteed for $2MM. He could be a free agent this summer if the Knicks release him before his contract becomes fully guaranteed.
The Knicks currently have a 2-1 lead in their first-round series with the 76ers.
Trey Alexander Among Latest Draft Early Entrants
Creighton’s Trey Alexander is entering his name in the 2024 NBA Draft pool, he announced on Twitter. The junior guard’s statement doesn’t say anything about maintaining his remaining college eligibility, and he confirmed to Jon Rothstein of CBS Sports he intends to turn pro (Twitter link).
An All-Big East Second Team selection in 2023/24, Alexander averaged 17.6 points, 5.7 rebounds, 4.7 assists and 1.1 steals on .446/.339/.824 shooting in 35 games (37.3 MPG) for the Bluejays, who were eliminated in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament.
Alexander first tested the draft waters last spring before withdrawing and returning to school. At the time, he was ranked No. 89 on ESPN’s big board. For 2024, he has moved up to the No. 63 spot on ESPN’s list, making him a potential second-round pick.
Here are a few more early entrants:
- Belgian forward Thijs De Ridder is entering the draft, according to his agency, Tangram Sports (Twitter link). The 21-year-old has been playing for Bilbao Basket in Spain’s top basketball league this season (hat tip to RookieScale.com). According to Basketball-Reference, De Ridder has averaged 6.2 points and 4.1 rebounds on .520/.395/.656 shooting in 31 Liga ACB games this season (17.5 MPG).
- British guard Quinn Ellis is entering the 2024 draft pool, per Jon Chepkevich of DraftExpress.com (Twitter link). Ellis, 21, has spent the 2023/24 season with Trento, a team that played in the EuroCup tournament and Italy’s top basketball league (Lega Basket Serie A).
- Senegalese center Mouhamed Faye, a 19-year-old who plays for Pallacanestro Reggiana in Italy’s top league, is declaring for the draft (Twitter link via Sigma Sports).
The NBA’s early entrant deadline officially passed last night, but there will likely be more names trickling in before the league releases its full list of draft-eligible players.
Injury Notes: Leonard, Gafford, Lillard, G. Allen, Jackson
Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard was listed as questionable heading into Friday’s Game 3 against Dallas due to right knee inflammation, but he was later upgraded to available, notes Ohm Youngmisuk of ESPN (via Twitter).
Leonard returned to action on Tuesday after being sidelined for three-plus week with the knee injury. He played 35 minutes in Game 2 and it’s unclear if two-time Finals MVP will be ready for more than that tonight.
“Not sure yet,” head coach Tyronn Lue said on Thursday, per Broderick Turner of The Los Angeles Times. “That’s something we got to talk about with medical. I’m not sure if the minutes will go up but he feels good.”
Leonard was understandable rusty in his first game back and needs to find his timing, Lue added, according to Janis Carr of The Orange County Register.
“I think mentally he felt OK (thinking) ‘I got over that hurdle. I feel good. I can do this,’” Lue said of Leonard. “I’m hoping he continues that at the start of (Game 3).
Here are a few more injury notes from around the NBA:
- After previously being listed as questionable, Mavericks center Daniel Gafford (back spasms) went through his pregame routine unscathed and will be active on Friday, the team announced (via Twitter). Gafford made a big impact for Dallas in the second half of the season after being acquired from Washington at the trade deadline.
- Bucks guard Damian Lillard appeared to suffer a left knee injury in the first quarter of Friday’s Game 3 vs. Indiana after his heel area was accidentally landed on by Pascal Siakam (Twitter video link via ESPN). Lillard was in significant pain and went back to the locker room to get checked out, tweets Jim Owczarski of The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. However, the eight-time All-Star returned to action at the start of the second quarter and remained in through the conclusion of the overtime loss, so evidently the injury isn’t a serious one.
- Suns wing Grayson Allen, who sustained a right ankle sprain in Game 1 in Minnesota and then re-injured the ankle in Game 2, said he felt “better than expected” on Thursday, per Gerald Bourguet of PHNX Sports (Twitter link). Allen was a partial practice participant on Thursday and is questionable for Friday’s Game 3 in Phoenix. However, John Gambadoro of Arizona Sports 98.7 expressed doubt about his status tonight, tweeting that Sunday’s Game 4 looks like a more “realistic” return date.
- Nuggets reserve guard Reggie Jackson was in a walking boot and using crutches on Friday, tweets Vinny Benedetto of The Denver Gazette. Head coach Michael Malone said Jackson has a sprained ankle and he’ll be questionable for Saturday’s Game 4 vs. the Lakers, with the boot a “preventative” measure, according to Brendan Vogt of DNVR Sports (Twitter links).
Nets Hiring Juwan Howard As Assistant Coach
The Nets are hiring Juwan Howard as an assistant coach, sources tell ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
Howard, 51, was fired last month after spending five seasons as the head coach of his alma mater, Michigan.
The fifth overall pick of the 1994 draft, Howard played 19 seasons in the NBA, making All-Star and All-NBA teams in 1995/96 and winning a pair of championships as a bit role player with Miami at the very end of his career.
After his playing days ended, Howard immediately transitioned to coaching. He was an NBA assistant for six seasons with the Heat before becoming the Wolverines’ head coach in 2019.
Howard was reportedly the Lakers’ top coaching target in 2022, when they ultimately hired Darvin Ham. Howard, who played college ball with Lakers GM Rob Pelinka, declined those overtures to stay with Michigan.
Howard is the second assistant coach the Nets are bringing on under new head coach Jordi Fernandez. As Wojnarowski previously reported, former Portland assistant Steve Hetzel, who has a preexisting relationship with Fernandez, is also joining Brooklyn’s staff.
Bucks’ Middleton Available, But Giannis Out For Game 3
Forward Khris Middleton, who missed Thursday’s practice after sustaining a right ankle sprain in Tuesday’s Game 2 loss to Indiana, is active and starting tonight for the Bucks, tweets Jim Owczarski of The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
While Middleton being available is obviously good news for Milwaukee, two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo has been ruled out for the third straight game of the first-round series due to a left calf (soleus) strain, as Eric Nehm of The Athletic relays.
A three-time All-Star, Middleton has been hampered by a variety of injuries the past two seasons. In 55 regular season games in 2023/24 (27.0 MPG), the 32-year-old averaged 15.1 PPG, 4.7 RPG, 5.3 APG and 0.9 SPG on .493/.381/.833 shooting.
Antetokounmpo continues to deal with the calf injury that has kept him on the sidelines since April 9. He has been ramping up his activity this week, but was unable to go through live drills at Thursday’s practice.
With Antetokounmpo out, the Bucks will need strong performances from Damian Lillard, Middleton and the rest of the supporting cast to keep up with Indiana’s high-powered offense, which ranked second in the NBA during the regular season. Controlling the pace and limiting transition opportunities will be another key to victory. The series is currently tied at one game apiece.
Draft Notes: PIT Standouts, Dates, Ajinca, Diarra, Watkins
The Portsmouth Invitational Tournament wrapped up last week. The event, which showcases college seniors trying to boost their stock in front of NBA teams, saw two participants — Hunter Tyson and Toumani Camara — get drafted last year, notes Jonathan Givony of ESPN (Insider link).
Washington State forward/center Isaac Jones was “the most productive player” at the 2024 PIT, Givony writes, and he’ll likely be invited to next month’s draft combine in Chicago as a result. The 23-year-old big man was a first-team All-Pac-12 member for the Cougars in 2023/24 and could be a second-round pick, Givony adds.
Morehead State forward Riley Minix and Illiniois guard Marcus Domask were among the other standouts from the tournament, according to Givony.
Here’s more on the upcoming draft:
- In the same story, Givony highlights several upcoming draft-related dates and deadlines to monitor, including Saturday’s early-entrant deadline.
- French wing Melvin Ajinca, who is ranked No. 42 on ESPN’s big board, is entering the 2024 NBA Draft, agent Bouna Ndiaye told Givony (Twitter link). The 19-year-old has been playing professionally for Saint-Quentin in France’s top basketball league, LNB Pro A. Givony refers to Ajinca as a possible first-rounder.
- North Carolina State senior forward Mohamed Diarra, who averaged 6.3 PPG, 7.8 RPG and 1.0 BPG in 40 games this past season for the Wolfpack (22.1 MPG), announced on Twitter that he’s entering the draft. Another French player, Diarra didn’t say anything about maintaining his college eligibility, so we’re assuming he’s going pro.
- Wing Jamir Watkins, who is ranked No. 81 on ESPN’s board, is also entering the draft (Instagram link). After spending his first two college seasons at VCU, Watkins transferred to Florida State for his junior campaign and averaged 15.6 PPG, 6.0 RPG, 2.8 APG and 1.9 SPG on .457/.344/.795 shooting in 33 games for the Seminoles (28.1 MPG). As with Diarra, Watkins didn’t say anything about maintaining his remaining eligibility.