Nets Notes: Atkinson, Vaughn, Development
New Nets coach Kenny Atkinson‘s contract is for four years and approximately $10MM, NetsDaily reports (on Twitter). With performance bonuses, Atkinson could earn as much as $12MM, NetsDaily adds. The Nets hired Atkinson, formerly the Hawks’ top assistant, on April 17th as the team’s sixth coach since it moved to Brooklyn prior to the 2012/13 season, following Avery Johnson, P.J. Carlesimo, Jason Kidd, Lionel Hollins and Tony Brown.
Here’s more on Atkinson and the Nets:
- The Nets again moved swiftly Saturday and hired Jacque Vaughn to be the team’s top assistant. Brooklyn wanted to move fast on its coaching decisions to exemplify a new culture, which is essential in the hope of luring free agents this summer, NetsDaily writes. With Atkinson and Vaughn on board, the Nets appear to be prioritizing player development under new GM Sean Marks, which is an element that had been missing in recent years for Brooklyn, NetsDaily adds.
- Pacers consultant Donnie Walsh, who was formerly the Knicks president when Atkinson was an assistant coach for New York, expects the first-year head coach to perform well in his new gig, as Brian Lewis of the New York Post writes in a lengthy profile. “I figured people would start noticing him. He’s got the talent,” Walsh said. “Some guys know the game, but just strategy, how to set up offense or defense. Kenny can teach the game. He’s in shape. I’d get a kick out of it. He’d say, I want you to go hard,’ and then lead it himself. [Players] are thinking, ‘[Expletive], if he can do it, I have to do it!’ … He’s like a little motor, the little battery that wouldn’t shut down.’’
Clippers Notes: Pierce, Paul, Griffin
Paul Pierce said after the Clippers’ playoff exit Friday night that he didn’t want to make an emotional decision about his future and was 50-50 on whether he would return next season, tweets Dan Woike of the Orange County Register. Pierce, 38, is under contract for $3.5MM next year with a partially guaranteed salary the following year, as Alex Kennedy of Basketball Insiders points out (on Twitter).
Here’s more on the Clippers:
- The idea that the Clippers need to break up Chris Paul, DeAndre Jordan and Blake Griffin is exaggerated and the team instead needs to make wiser decisions on free agents and improve in player development, Amin Elhassan of ESPN.com argues in an Insider piece. There’s no way the Clippers would receive the same value in return if they were deal one of them, Andrew Han adds in the same piece.
- If the Clippers must trade one, however, that player should be Paul because the star point guard will be 31 at the start of next season, Han writes.
- It may be time to shake things up, considering Paul and Griffin have played together for five seasons and have yet to win a title, opines Mike Bresnahan of the Los Angeles Times. Bresnahan suggests it may be worthwhile for the Clippers to make a deal with the Knicks and acquire Carmelo Anthony.
Reactions To Lakers Hiring Luke Walton
The Lakers hired Warriors assistant Luke Walton on Friday night as their 26th head coach in team history. Walton replaces Byron Scott, who seemed to struggle with developing the team’s young players. At 36, Walton was in high demand around the league among teams with coaching vacancies. The Kings, Rockets and Knicks were all reportedly interested after he posted a 39-4 record for Golden State as acting head coach in Steve Kerr‘s absence.
The hiring has been received positively around the league. Here are some reactions to it …
- Despite his lack of experience, Walton will be seen as someone who can fix the Lakers, who have won only 65 games the last three years, writes Bill Oram of the Orange County Register. Since the death of Jerry Buss and departure of Phil Jackson, the Lakers front office has had mixed opinions on moves, but by acting quickly, this decision shows confidence, Oram adds.
- Walton was the only candidate the Lakers interviewed, report Ramona Shelburne and Baxter Holmes of ESPN.com. They had other meetings lined up but canceled them after meeting with Walton on Thursday, Holmes writes. The Lakers hired a young, intelligent and up-and-coming coach from a forward-thinking organization that has had a lot of success, Holmes adds.
- Walton will be able to relate to players because of his age, as Mark Medina of the Los Angeles Daily News details. Scott was criticized for his high demands of young players, Medina adds. “It’s going to be real good for us,” Lakers rookie forward Anthony Brown said. “He’ll be pretty hands-on just because he’s close to us in age. He’ll really want to help develop guys.”
- Walton told Shelburne (ESPN Now link), “I loved everything about my time at Golden State and learning from Steve. I’ll forever be grateful to him, the organization and the team. But I have always dreamed of being a head coach and the chance to do that for an organization like the Lakers doesn’t come around very often.”
Hoops Links: Curry, Knicks, Celtics
Every Sunday, we link to some of the very best work from around the basketball blogosphere. Do you have a link to a great basketball blog post – either your own or someone else’s – that you want to see featured on Hoops Rumors? Then you should send it to us at HoopsLinks@gmail.com. Here’s this week’s rundown …
- The Sports Quotient explains what makes Stephen Curry such a good defender.
- Circa Sports runs down the league’s best at setting illegal screens.
- Sactown Royalty counts down the top plays from the Kings’ season.
- Daily Knicks wonders if the Knicks should acquire Darren Collison.
- The Dream Shake examines the media’s relationship with the Rockets.
- CelticsBlog profiles Jonas Jerebko with a focus on his versatility.
- Silver Screen and Roll details the Lakers’ coaching situation.
Please send submissions for Hoops Links to Zach at HoopsLinks@gmail.com.
Prospect Profile: Skal Labissiere (Part Two)
PROJECTED DRAFT RANGE: Labissiere is projected to be drafted somewhere in the middle of the first round, with Jonathan Givony of DraftExpress ranking him No. 10 overall while Chad Ford of ESPN.com has him No. 16. Ford also ranks Labissiere as the second-best center, sandwiched between Jakob Poeltl and Diamond Stone. Ante Zizic is another center who should be picked in the middle of the first round and thus is another name Labissiere will compete with.
RISE/FALL: Labissiere was once thought of as a top-5 pick, but that was before the season and those days are long gone. It is not a lock that teams would even pick Labissiere in the first round, Ford recently said, per Jerry Tipton of the Lexington Herald Leader. Labissiere is likely viewed by many teams as too raw to select early on in the draft because of his lackluster season. There is a decent chance he would have benefited from another year at Kentucky, but there was a seemingly equal chance of his stock falling further, too. That’s why, from an economic standpoint, Labissiere made the right call. His draft position may depend more on how he does in workouts for teams and how he comes across in interviews, especially when asked about his struggles at Kentucky.
FIT: The team that will draft Labissiere won’t expect him to contribute right away. They can’t. He failed to be a steady contributor during his lone college season, so he is definitely a work in progress. At the same time, he has the potential to be one of the league’s top big men down the road because his of his offensive skills and shot-blocking prowess. The Blazers would benefit from Labissiere’s presence, but he would be a better fit on a team that would be more inclined to allow him time to develop in the D-League. As Ford suggests, the Celtics would seem like the best fit for Labissiere because Boston can afford to take a gamble with multiple picks in the draft. The franchise has also strategically used the D-League as a development tool, often moving young players down to the affiliate multiple times throughout the week for more playing time.
FINAL TAKE: Centers who have sound midrange scoring ability have a place in the NBA. At the same time, big men who don’t rebound well do not. It’s hard to tell where Labissiere will end up, but his intriguing size and raw talent should help him get selected in the first round. From there, Labissiere must continue to add strength and become tougher on the glass. Labissiere lived in Haiti, was declared ineligible by two high schools before attending a prep school and experienced a rocky college season, so he has battled adversity. I see Labissiere drafted toward the end of the first round and then spending most of next season in the D-League.
(For Part One of Skal Labissiere’s prospect profile, click here.)
Prospect Profile: Skal Labissiere (Part One)
OVERVIEW: Things didn’t go so well this season for Skal Labissiere. The 7-foot, 225-pound Haitian struggled for much of his lone season at Kentucky after being a highly recruited and raw five-star prospect out of Lausanne Collegiate School, a prep school in Tennessee. Without much 5-on-5 experience, Labissiere looked physically overmatched until late in the season. Labissiere, 20, lost his starting spot by midseason but improved enough to reclaim it down the stretch. Labissiere was a preseason top-five selection, but his stock dropped because of the uneven campaign. It didn’t quite plummet, however. Labissiere is still viewed as a first-round pick.
STATS: In 36 appearances for Kentucky this season, Labissiere averaged 6.6 points, 3.1 rebounds, 0.3 assists and 1.6 blocks in 15.8 minutes per outing. His slash line on the year was .521/.000/.661.
STRENGTHS: Labissiere has great size and shown an ability to run the floor with a skill level that will likely improve on both ends of the court. He showed flashes of rare offensive moves for a 7-footer with jump hooks and turnaround jumpers. He became much more of an efficient scorer, especially from midrange, as the season progressed. One of his best games came against LSU on March 5th, when he had 18 points, nine rebounds and six blocks. Overall, Labissiere displayed nice touch inside with a fluid shot from the line and elbow. Labissiere was mostly an interior defender and provided some rim protection. His leaping ability is what set him apart before college and was an essential part of his transition with Kentucky. Labissiere registered at least four blocks in a single game on four occasions. As a long, athletic big man with solid shooting skills, Labissiere is an intriguing prospect.
WEAKNESSES: Labissiere had almost as many personal fouls (108) as he did rebounds (113) last season. His foul woes can be partially attributed to a lack of awareness at times. Labissiere also lacked strength and toughness inside, which was why he averaged only a few rebounds per game. While his shooting is a strength, Labissiere tended to rely too heavily on it and needs to develop more of a low-post game. He is likely one of the most raw prospects in the draft and is not polished by any means.
(For Part Two of Skal Labissiere’s prospect profile, click here.)
Hoops Links: Knicks, Sixers, Pistons
Every Sunday, we link to some of the very best work from around the basketball blogosphere. Do you have a link to a great basketball blog post – either your own or someone else’s – that you want to see featured on Hoops Rumors? Then you should send it to us at HoopsLinks@gmail.com. Here’s this week’s rundown …
- The All Out Sports Network analyzes the Raptors-Pacers matchup.
- Total Sports Live discusses Sam Hinkie‘s tenure with the Sixers.
- The Runner Sports makes a case for New York to hire Kurt Rambis.
- Detroit Bad Boys looks at the probability of the Pistons beating the Cavs.
- Pounding The Rock examines the Spurs’ offense recently.
- The Dream Shake wonders what role Corey Brewer should have with the Rockets.
- Indy Cornrows profiles the Pacers’ second unit for the playoffs.
Please send submissions for Hoops Links to Zach at HoopsLinks@gmail.com.
Magic Notes: Fournier, Veterans, Hezonja
The Magic want to re-sign Evan Fournier, who will be a restricted free agent this summer, Josh Robbins of the Orlando Sentinel writes. “One of our biggest, if not our biggest, priorit[ies] is to make sure Evan stays with us,” Magic GM Rob Hennigan said, “and we’re confident we’ll be able to do that.” Orlando intends to pursue targeted free agents aggressive this summer but won’t overspend out of desperation if it doesn’t land one of its top targets, Robbins adds.
Here’s more out of Orlando:
- The Magic would likely benefit from adding difference-making veterans this offseason, Robbins details in a separate piece. Jason Smith and C.J. Watson are the Magic’s most-tenured players, but they’re role players, Robbins writes. To add more experienced players, the Magic have up to $45MM in cap space for free agents, as Robbins points out.
- Orlando does not have a star returning and its chances of landing one this summer are slim, but the Celtics and Hornets have proven that the Magic can still experience a winning season, Brian Schmitz of the Orlando Sentinel opines.
- Mario Hezonja figures to have a critical role for the Magic going forward and he will stay busy this summer by playing for Croatia in an Olympic Qualifying Tournament from July 4th through July 9th in Italy, Robbins writes in another piece. The summer between a player’s first and second seasons typically is a crucial time in a player’s career, as Robbins notes, so it will be interesting to see how Hezonja responds.
Bucks Notes: Plumlee, Antetokounmpo, Arena
of the Journal Sentinel details. Center is a high priority for the Bucks this summer, Gardner writes, despite the franchise signing Greg Monroe to a three-year maximum contract last summer. There were high hopes for the Bucks this season after Monroe signed for $50MM, but Milwaukee largely disappointed with a 33-49 record. Plumlee is a solid fit for the Bucks, Gardner adds, because he is athletic and can run the floor, and the Bucks want to push the pace with their young roster.
Here’s more out of Milwaukee:
- Giannis Antetokounmpo, who will be in the final year of his rookie-scale deal next season, is poised to be an All-Star for several years, especially if he can improve his 3-point shooting, Gary D’Amato of the Journal Sentinel opines. Antetokounmpo, who starred at the point guard position during the second half of the season, will be eligible for a contract extension before October 31st and the Bucks plan on locking him up, D’Amato writes.
- Speaking of Antetokounmpo, Michael Carter-Williams, who started 37 games at point guard before suffering a torn labrum in his left hip and missing the season’s final 23 games, believes the two players can coexist on the court, relays of the Journal Sentinel. Carter-Williams is also poised to enter the final year of his rookie contract.
- Groundbreaking is set for June on the Bucks’ new downtown arena that is scheduled to open by the 2018/19 season, as Genaro C. Armas of The Associated Press details.
Nets Hire Kenny Atkinson As Coach
The Nets have hired Kenny Atkinson as their new head coach, the team announced via press release and as Adrian Wojnarowski of The Vertical reported minutes before the announcement. Atkinson is currently an assistant for the Hawks.
The two sides came to an agreement over the weekend after weeks of discussions, Wojnarowski writes. Atkinson is expected to stay with Atlanta throughout the Hawks’ playoff run, the Nets said. Atkinson is highly regarded as one of the league’s best assistants and has been Mike Budenholzer’s top assistant coach for the past two years. Atkinson has been with the Hawks for a total of four seasons.
Prior to joining Atlanta, Atkinson was an assistant coach for four seasons with the Knicks (2008-2012), helping the team reach the postseason in 2011 and 2012. Atkinson also spent one season as the director of player development for the Rockets (2007-2008).
“We are thrilled to announce Kenny Atkinson as our new head coach and to welcome him and his family to Brooklyn,” said Nets GM Sean Marks in a press release. “Kenny’s years of NBA coaching experience working under successful head coaches such as Mike Budenholzer and Mike D’Antoni have provided him with the foundation and experience we were looking for in a head coach. We believe that Kenny’s core principles, leadership, communication skills and exceptional background in player development make him an ideal fit for the culture we are building in Brooklyn.”
It is worth mentioning that Marks and Atkinson share the same agent. Tony Brown was Brooklyn’s head coach on an interim basis, but he never seemed like a front-runner to secure the job beyond this past season and his future with the team is not yet clear. The Nets fired Lionel Hollins in early January on the same day they reassigned former GM Billy King. Brooklyn finished 21-61 this season.
Several high-profile names were linked to the Nets’ coaching job. Brett Brown, who reportedly isn’t assured of keeping his job with the Sixers, along with Luke Walton, Mark Jackson, Jeff Van Gundy, Vinny Del Negro and Bucks assistant Sean Sweeney, were all reportedly in the mix for the Nets. Spurs assistant Ime Udoka was believed to be a leading candidate.
The decision to go with Atkinson is not a splashy one, and that is a different than moves the Nets have made in the past, as Tim Bontemps of the Washington Post tweets. Several members of the media, such as Frank Isola of the New York Daily News and Howard Beck of Bleacher Report, commended the Nets on their hire (Twitter links). Both scribes pointed to Atkinson’s work with Jeremy Lin while the coach and player were in New York together.
Atkinson is the first of several new coaching hires to take place across the league in the coming months. The Wolves dismissed interim coach Sam Mitchell, the Wizards fired Randy Wittman and the Kings parted ways with George Karl. The fate of Rockets interim coach J.B. Bickerstaff has yet to be decided. The Suns still need to make a decision regarding Earl Watson. The fate of Lakers coach Byron Scott remains up in the air as the team holds an option on his contract for next season. Knicks interim coach Kurt Rambis is expected to be interviewed for New York’s head coaching slot.