Latest On Donald Sterling, Clippers
It has been a trying weekend for the Clippers players off the court and it hasn’t been much easier on the court thus far today. Here’s a look at the latest on owner Donald Sterling and the Clippers as they look to turn things around against the Warriors..
- Clippers coach Doc Rivers told reporters before today’s game, including Arash Markazi of ESPNLosAngeles.com, that he has yet to talk to Sterling and has no desire to at this time. Rivers went on to say that he’s unsure of what he’d have to hear from the owner in order to work for him again next season. Meanwhile, in an act of silent protest today, the Clippers players turned their warm-up jerseys inside-out for today’s shootaround to conceal the team name on the front.
- The Clippers likely couldn’t afford Paul Pierce this summer anyway, but a reunion between Rivers and Pierce can be safely ruled out if Sterling is still involved in Los Angeles, tweets Stefan Bondy of the New York Daily News.
- Sacramento mayor Kevin Johnson met with commissioner Adam Silver today to discuss the Sterling situation, tweets Ken Berger of CBSSports.com. Johnson has agreed to take on an expanded role with the union in order to help address the ongoing case (link).
- Johnson told reporters that the NBPA doesn’t want Sterling to attend any more playoff games this year and wants to know why sanctions haven’t been brought against him yet, tweets Marc J. Spears of Yahoo Sports. The mayor added that the union wants to know what the possible range of punishments could be and wants to be involved in the process (link).
- Former commissioner David Stern and the NBA validated Sterling by helping to steer Chris Paul to the Clippers in December 2011, writes Sports Illustrated’s Lee Jenkins. There has been evidence of Sterling’s racism in past court documents and the league should have taken an appropriate stance before this most recent incident.
Prospect Profile: Nik Stauskas
Raise your hands if you had high hopes for Michigan after they lost Trey Burke and Tim Hardaway Jr. to the NBA over the summer and Mitch McGary to injury in the winter. That’s what I thought. Nik Stauskas‘ dramatic and surprising step forward in 2013/14 helped make it all possible for the Wolverines and this year it’ll be his turn to shake the commissioner’s hand.
Stauskas exhibited some serious range in his freshman season but when he was charged with taking on a bigger role for his team, he transformed himself into a much more well-rounded scorer. No longer just content to fire away from downtown, the sophomore showed that he could create his own shots off the dribble and cut hard to the basket. It also helps that the guard has a quick release on his shot which allows him to take advantage of the smallest glimpse of daylight. In a draft that’s heavy on talent but light on solid shooters, the 6’6″ guard should find serious interest from several clubs. Stauskas led Michigan in scoring with 17.5 points per game this past season, posting over 20 points in 14 games.
He also helped create offense for others, racking up a team-high 118 assists. That ability to dish coupled with respectable ball handling could allow him to play a little bit of point guard at the next level, which only helps to boost his stock. His instant offense helped lead the Wolverines to the Big Ten championship and an Elite Eight birth, but his play on the other side of the floor isn’t quite as impressive.
Stauskas may have a tough time staying in front of defenders at the next level due to his lack of lateral quickness. Things tend to get even trickier for him when faced with a screen and it often seems like he looks to fight through picks rather than go around them and vice versa. He also doesn’t have the kind of big, physical frame that one might need to disrupt the NBA’s stronger backcourt players. However, it should be noted that Stauskas added significant muscle mass last offseason, packing on 16 pounds between his frosh and sophomore campaigns. If he can add even more mass over time, he might be better equipped to play tough defense. One NBA scout told Brendan F. Quinn of MLive.com earlier this month that, “As (Stauskas) gets bigger and stronger, he’ll be fine.” Not everyone will agree with that assessment.
If he can’t take a significant step forward as a defender, it’s hard to see him getting very far at the next level. However, if he can find a way to make some strides early in his career, he can be a very effective role player and make a team glad that they chose him in the late lottery or middle portion of the first round.
Week In Review: 4/21/14 – 4/27/14
Will the Lakers keep Mike D’Antoni or move on from their offensively-focused coach? A report this week indicated that the club has agreed internally to keep D’Antoni aboard, but the team has denied making any kind of decision. Meanwhile, the Lakers don’t plan on exercising D’Antoni’s option for 2015/16 option and that might prompt him to walk away from the team if they don’t have a change of heart.
- It was long expected, but Mike Woodson was shown the door by the Knicks.
- Rick Adelman announced his retirement from coaching.
- George Karl and Mike Fratello have interest in joining the Cavs’ front office.
- The Knicks and Steve Kerr were said to be deep into discussions for the former Bulls guard to become the team’s next coach.
- The Warriors plan to keep Klay Thompson.
- The Pacers shot down a report saying that Frank Vogel‘s job was in jeopardy.
- Dario Saric has officially declared himself eligible for the draft.
- The Harrison twins will stay in school.
- The Jazz let Tyrone Corbin go and candidates are emerging for the job.
- The Wolves are looking at coaching candidates, but it doesn’t sound like it’ll be Fred Hoiberg on the bench.
- No surprise here, Julius Randle announced that he’ll be in the draft.
- Marshall University tried to lure D’Antoni, but that won’t be happening.
- Knicks GM Steve Mills is in the running for the union’s executive director position.
- Goran Dragic was named the Most Improved Player of the 2013/14 season.
- Joakim Noah is your Defensive Player Of The Year.
- Gregg Popovich won Coach Of The Year.
- UCLA’s Jordan Adams is entering the draft.
- Apparently, a failed drug test helped push Mitch McGary into the draft.
- Andres Nocioni is considering a comeback.
- Baylor big man Isaiah Austin will enter this year’s NBA Draft.
- Pau Gasol wants to see the Lakers make some significant changes.
- Colorado junior Spencer Dinwiddie announced that he’s going pro.
- Connecticut junior DeAndre Daniels is headed into the NBA draft.
- Clemson junior K.J. McDaniels, a possible first-round pick, will be in the draft.
- Clint Capela will enter the draft.
- UNLV junior Khem Birch will forgo his senior season and enter the 2014 draft.
- Serbian center Nikola Jokic will enter the draft.
- French league forward Damien Inglis is entering this year’s draft.
- Long shot European prospects Lefteris Bochoridis and Martin Peterka are entering the draft.
- Bosnian small forwards Nedim Buza and Adin Vrabac are entering the draft.
- Louisville power forward Chane Behanan, Lithuanian shooting guard Tomas Dimsa, Senegalese big man Moussa Diagne, and Spanish guard Guillem Vives are entering the draft. They all figure to be second-round picks, at best.
And-Ones: Celtics, Rockets, Draft, Price, Parker
Celtics GM Danny Ainge says he doesn’t feel pressure from ownership to make a big trade like the one that brought Kevin Garnett to Boston, writes Baxter Holmes of the Boston Globe. “I don’t think that would be very smart, to put pressure on myself,” Ainge said. “That one happened to work out and we were very fortunate that Minnesota was moving in a different direction, that they loved Al Jefferson, and so we were able to get a deal done. But there’s been a lot of deals that I thought we had a way better chance of doing that we couldn’t end up doing.” More from around the Association..
- The Rockets announced (via Twitter) that Robert Covington and Isaiah Canaan have been reassigned to the Rio Grande Valley Vipers of the D-League. Covington and Canaan have been bounced back and forth from the Rockets’ varsity squad to the D-League affiliate a number of times this season, as shown in our running list of assignments and recalls for the 2013/14 season.
- Veteran Ronnie Price is happy to help take on a leadership role with the young Magic, writes Ken Hornack of FOX Sports Florida. “This year has been kind of refreshing for me in a lot of ways,” the 30-year-old guard said. “And I can’t really explain where it came from or why I feel that way. I feel like a kid again. I really enjoy the game.” Price will be a free agent this summer and if Jameer Nelson winds up elsewhere, Hornack writes that Orlando can’t afford to get too young at the point guard position.
- Spurs stars Tony Parker and Tim Duncan have found success together, but their relationship did not start off on such spectacular terms, writes Dave McMenamin of ESPNLosAngeles.com. “He didn’t talk to me for a whole year,” Parker said, reflecting on his rookie season in 2001/02. “It was kind of weird coming from France and you have your superstar player that doesn’t talk to you as a point guard, it’s kind of tough, you know? Because you’re supposed to talk to everybody.“
Pacific Rumors: Griffin, Warriors, Lakers
Before drafting Blake Griffin with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2009 draft, the Clippers gave him a personality test to better understand his mind, writes Ramona Shelburne of ESPN.com. That test pegged the power forward as a classic perfectionist who tackles uncertainty with hard work. Head coach Doc Rivers learned of Griffin’s tireless work ethic when he came to Los Angeles and he is quite appreciative of it. More out of the Pacific Division..
- The Warriors have abandoned their former Piers 30/32 plan and instead have bought land a little further south, according to Joe Eskenazi of SF Weekly. The new proposed move will still put them in San Francisco and should take place in 2018/19.
- Even though Jim and Jeanie Buss say the family is committed to keeping the team, a “yes” vote by four Buss siblings could force the sale of the Lakers, writes Mike Bresnahan of the Los Angeles Times. If that happens, the Chicago investment group Guggenheim Partners, owner of the Dodgers, would eagerly jump into the bidding. The group envisions employing former Lakers star Magic Johnson as the ceremonial face of the franchise, a role he currently holds with the Dodgers.
- When Rivers was asked about J.J. Redick‘s claim that the Clippers coach was the reason he came to L.A., Rivers quipped, “You sure it wasn’t that $6 or $7MM?,” tweets Sam Amick of USA Today.
Knicks, Steve Kerr Deep Into Discussions
The Knicks and Steve Kerr are deep into discussions for the former GM and Phil Jackson pupil to take over as the team’s next head coach, a person familiar with the situation told Jeff Zillgitt of USA Today Sports.
On Friday we learned that Kerr has been expecting the Knicks to offer them the job once they officially dispatched Mike Woodson. The former Bulls guard has reportedly been the front-runner for the job for a while, and his name was linked to the Knicks as a possible candidate even when the team was still negotiating its deal with Jackson.
Several teams apparently would like to bring Kerr aboard as an executive, but his focus is on coaching. Marc Berman of the New York Post recently suggested Jim Cleamons as a potential candidate to become the top assistant coach for the Knicks if they hire Kerr as head coach.
Knicks Notes: Woodson, Smith, Jackson, Kerr
Earlier today, the Knicks made the move that we’ve long expected when they fired coach Mike Woodson. Pending free agent Carmelo Anthony threw his support behind Woodson last week, which some thought would give him a puncher’s chance, but it wasn’t enough to save his job. The latest from MSG..
- J.R. Smith knew that Woodson would lose his job, but that didn’t make it any easier for him to digest, the Knicks guard told ESPN’s Josina Anderson (via ESPNNewYork.com’s Ian Begley). “It is sad,” Smith said. “He was great to me. I think I got a fair shake for the first time in awhile under him. He treated me how he wanted to be treated. It sucks, but there is nothing I can do about it.”
- The dismissal of Woodson is just the beginning of the offseason overhaul for the Knicks, writes Howard Beck of Bleacher Report. The change will begin with dissolving the marriage between the Garden and Creative Artists Agency. CAA represents two key members of the front office, Allan Houston and Mark Warkentien, and has close ties to GM Steve Mills. All three are likely to be cut loose or pushed into new roles. Meanwhile, while Steve Kerr is being talked about as the frontrunner to get Woodson’s old job, Beck suggests that Fred Hoiberg and Kevin Ollie, who have both made quick impressions in the college ranks, could put themselves in the mix.
- Steve Kerr reportedly wants the Knicks’ head coaching job, but he should be careful what he wishes for, cautions Ian O’Connor of ESPNNewYork.com. “New York is famous for chants, and you know you’ll hear ‘We want Phil’ in the Garden after they lose four in a row,” said one longtime league official with ties to the Knicks. “If the head coach is Steve Kerr or someone else, he’ll have to be strong and understand that something like that is going to happen. He’ll have to understand that it’s not a knock on him, but a testament to Phil’s greatness. And then it’s up to Phil to protect his coach from that.“
- More from Begley, who handicapped the field of candidates to become the next coach of the Knicks. Kerr leads the way with 2-1 odds. Brian Shaw is a 15-1 pick and Jackson himself is at 50-1 odds.
Central Rumors: Griffin, Cavs, Bucks, Pistons
While nothing is etched in stone, Sam Amico of FOX Sports Ohio (on Twitter) hears that the “feel inside” the organization is that David Griffin will be the Cavs‘ GM next season. There has been question about whether Griffin would be retained or if he might jump ship to take the now vacant Pistons’ GM job. More out of the Central..
- Once the front office is in place, the source tells Amico (link) that the Cavs will seek “honest opinions” from players and management on whether they truly believe in coach Mike Brown.
- The NBA has the right to buy back the Bucks from incoming owners Wesley Edens and Mark Lasry if a deal to a bring a new arena to the city is not in place by November 2017, sources briefed on the situation tell Brian Windhorst and Marc Stein of ESPN.com. The team, purchased for $550MM, can be bought back by the league for $575MM in construction isn’t underway by the deadline. One source added that the league would likely only take that step if it didn’t see “significant progress” by then.
- Former Pistons executive Scott Perry could be ready for his shot as General Manager, writes Vincent Goodwill of The Detroit News. Perry had two stints with the Pistons, first as a college scout (2000-02) and then director of player personnel (2002-07) before leaving then returning as Vice President from 2008-12. Perry, along with Thunder assistant GM Troy Weaver, Warriors assistant GM Travis Schlenk, Celtics assistant GM Michael Zarren and Griffin, are the hot names Detroit will likely interview.
- Questions swirl as the Cavaliers enter the offseason, writes Mary Schmitt Boyer of The Plain Dealer. It remains to be seen who will stay and who will go, and that includes from Griffin, coach Mike Brown, free agents Luol Deng and Spencer Hawes, and even star Kyrie Irving.
Northwest Notes: Jazz, Corbin, Trail Blazers
Trail Blazers star point guard Damian Lillard is rarely rattled on the basketball court, writes Alex Kennedy of Basketball Insiders. “[Sunday night] was a Damian Lillard performance,” Head coach Terry Stotts said. “Damian rises to the occasion. For all those people who were wanting to know if he was ready for the playoffs, I think he answered that question, so we don’t have to answer that anymore. He made big plays. The three was big, getting to the rim was big, making free throws – it was a big time performance.” The latest out of the Northwest Division..
- Jeff Zillgitt of USA Today (on Twitter) says that Tyrone Corbin had some support from Jazz leadership but not enough in basketball operations to get an extension with the team.
- In an afternoon press conference, Jazz GM Dennis Lindsey called Corbin “a man of dignity, class, and integrity,” tweets Jody Genessy of the Deseret News. Lindsey also explained that he hasn’t picked out a successor yet (link). “Literally we haven’t had one conversation with regards to other names. … Now that the decisions closed we’ll meet quickly,” said the GM.
- Even though Jim Boylen might fit Lindsey’s vision and is an outstanding coach, he’d be a very tough sell for Jazz fans, opines Steve Luhm of the Salt Lake Tribune (on Twitter). He also wouldn’t have a honeymoon period and would be expected to deliver wins off the bat.
- Guard Dee Bost, who was waived by the Trail Blazers in October, signed a deal in Venezuela with Trotamundos de Carabobo, according to Emiliano Carchia of Sportando. The player spent the season in D-League with the Idaho Stampede averaging 15.2 points, 6.1 rebounds, 8.4 assists, and 2.1 steals in 50 games.
Prospect Profile: Mitch McGary
While shooting guard Nik Stauskas figures to be the first member of the Michigan Wolverines off the board in this year’s draft, teammate Mitch McGary also figures to garner some serious attention. While McGary was a virtual lock for the first round in the underwhelming 2013 draft, his draft position is a little more tenuous this time around.
The 6’10” big man returned to Michigan for another season of seasoning but things unfortunately didn’t go as planned. McGary came into the year battling back issues which caused him to miss the first two games of the season. While he showed grit by battling through the pain, he ultimately had to undergo surgery in December 2013, shutting down his season prematurely. While he chose to stay in school last time around, McGary might not want to chance things yet again and decide to enter his name in the draft along with teammates Stauskas and Glenn Robinson III.
McGary offers an extremely high motor and boasts the kind of skill set that should make him an ideal role player at the next level. With his athleticism, McGary is able to disrupt shots on a regular basis and has shown that he can rebound with the best of them. He also boasts a solid understanding of the game and his learning curve shouldn’t be as steep as others in the class.
During his freshman year and his abbreviated sophomore campaign, McGary showed that he can get boards on both the defensive side and the offensive side. In roughly 20 minutes per contest over the past two years, McGary has averaged 6.6 boards per game, which averages out to 12.9 boards per a full 40 minute game. During his freshman year, his offensive rebounding output put him amongst the very best in the Big Ten even though he wasn’t playing star minutes.
While he’s undersized to play the five at the next level, McGary’s overall strength should help him keep pace with bigger opponents. It’s common to hear that collegiate frontcourt prospects need to “toughen up” and/or “bulk up,” but McGary probably won’t need to do much in either area. The Wolverines big man isn’t a fully polished product, but he comes more NBA ready than most.
On the flipside, McGary’s offensive profile isn’t as impressive as his rebounding, defense, and overall hustle. The 21-year-old’s post game still leaves much to be desired and it would be a surprise to see him used as a consistent offensive option early in his pro career. Meanwhile, when McGary is further out, he has displayed less-than-ideal shot selection. Rather than reacting to what he’s given, McGary willingly settled for some bad jumpers during his frosh campaign.
His free throw shooting is also cause for concern. No one expects a 6’10” big man to shoot from the charity stripe like Reggie Miller, but the 44.2% rate he offered from the line in 2012/13 is problematic. McGary’s physical style will give way to a lot of hard fouls when he’s on offense and when that happens he’ll have to convert on the opportunities given to him.
All things considered, McGary doesn’t appear to offer the same kind of upside as other late first round options in this year’s class. That’s thanks in part to McGary’s age – academic setbacks held back his schooling, so the sophomore is actually going to turn 22 over the summer. He’s the same age (or older) than most college seniors, but only has 47 regular season NCAA games to his credit.
No one will mistake the sophomore for a potentially game changing type of talent like Kansas’ Joel Embiid, but he can help round out a team’s bench and contribute right off of the bat. Much of McGary’s stock will likely hinge on how well he can move in workouts and how he checks out when he undergoes some rigorous physical exams. Look for McGary to go late in the first round but not any higher.