NBA Finals Roundup: James, Lue, Durant, Curry, West, Young
With the season now over, the focus turns to LeBron James and his pending free agency decision. James can opt out of the final year of his contract and hit unrestricted free agency for the third time. He has until June 29 to make a decision.
Following the Cavaliers‘ loss to the Warriors in Game 4 of the NBA Finals, which completed a sweep of Cleveland, James discussed his pending decision, ESPN’s Dave McMenamin writes. While James has not made up his mind, he said input from his family will be a major factor this summer.
“The one thing that I’ve always done is considered, obviously, my family,” James said. “Understanding especially where my boys are at this point in their age. They were a lot younger the last time I made a decision like this four years ago. I’ve got a teenage boy, a preteen and a little girl that wasn’t around as well. So sitting down and considering everything, my family is a huge part of whatever I’ll decide to do in my career, and it will continue to be that. So I don’t have an answer for you right now as far as that.”
James has left Cleveland once before, signing a deal in 2010 with the Heat, where he won two championships in four seasons. The 33-year-old returned to the Cavaliers prior to the 2014/15 season, leading the organization to a championship the following year.
Check out more news to come out of the NBA Finals below:
- As we relayed earlier, James suffered a self-inflicted injury to his right hand after he punched a whiteboard out of frustration following the Cavaliers’ loss in Game 1.
- After battling some health issues throughout the season, Cavaliers head coach Tyronn Lue intends to return next year, Joe Vardon of Cleveland.com writes. “Yeah, I do,” Lue said of his intentions. “I had some tough problems going on throughout the course of the season, and … I probably could have folded myself, but I wasn’t going to do that.” Lue previously told ESPN’s Rachel Nichols that was treated for anxiety this season.
- Kevin Durant became the 11th player to win two NBA Finals Most Valuable Player awards, per The Associated Press. With back-to-back championships and Finals MVPs to his credit, Durant’s focus will now turn to his contract situation. He intends to remain with the Warriors, but will likely sign a new deal.
- Stephen Curry has two regular season MVPs to his credit but Durant has taken home that honor the last two NBA Finals. However, Curry prioritizes the team success over his individual accolades, Mark Medina of the Mercury News writes. “K.D.’s been amazing these last two years, especially in The Finals, and so deserving of back-to-back Finals MVPs,” Curry said. “I’m going to be his biggest fan in there with what he’s able to do. I think the biggest thing we appreciate in the locker room is, again, what everybody brings to the table and we kind of unlock the greatness out of each other.”
- One of the most visibly excited players to win his first championship was the Warriors’ Nick Young, per Alysha Tsuji of USA TODAY. ‘Swaggy P’ only played 38 combined minutes in the NBA Finals but he helped the team off the bench during the regular season. “I went from getting snitched on to putting a ring on!” Young told reporters.
- Warriors veteran David West said the team’s championship victory is even more remarkable given various behind-the-scenes issues the public is not aware of, tweets The Undefeated’s Marc J. Spears. “Y’all got no clue. No clue. That tells you about this team that nothing came out,” West said.
- Warriors head coach Steve Kerr has now coached the club to three championships in four seasons. We noted earlier that Warriors ownership believes Kerr will sign an extension with the team this summer.
Lacob: Kerr Expected To Sign Extension This Summer
After the Warriors captured their third championship in four seasons on Friday, owner Joe Lacob said that the organization expects to sign head coach Steve Kerr to an extension, ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne writes.
Kerr, 52, has one year left on the original five-year, $25MM pact he signed with Golden State prior to the 2014/15 season. With three championships to his credit, the organization wants to keep Kerr in his current role.
“We’ll get it done this summer,” Lacob said. “Let him rest a little bit. But we’ll get it done. He wants to be with us. We want him long term. He obviously has some health issues he’s still working through, but we’ll get it done. I think as long as he feels comfortable doing it long term, we want him.”
Health issues have been a recurring theme during Kerr’s tenure as head coach. Last season, Kerr missed a month-and-a-half of the postseason due to painful migraines and nausea that stemmed from back surgery he underwent two years prior. Kerr also missed the first 43 games of the 2015/16 season due to complications from back surgery. Kerr coached the entire 2017/18 season without issue.
All told, Kerr has coached the Warriors to a 265-63 record in four seasons, leading the team to the NBA Finals in each of those campaigns.
Draft Notes: Okogie, Bagley, Bulls, Hawks
Georgia Tech’s Josh Okogie is drawing plenty of interest from teams with middle or late first-round picks, according to Adam Zagoria of the New York Times. Okogie has already worked out for the Grizzlies, Nets, Celtics, Hawks, Lakers, Nuggets, Bulls and Spurs. He’s got a second workout scheduled with the Spurs, along with visits to the Warriors and Trail Blazers, Zagoria adds (Twitter links). The 6’4” shooting guard is currently ranked No. 26 overall by ESPN’s Jonathan Givony.
In other draft-related news with the big day less than two weeks away:
- Duke big man Marvin Bagley III believes Deandre Ayton is being disrespectful by stating that he knows he’ll be the top pick, Bob Baum of the Associated Press reports. Bagley feels the Suns, who own the top pick, should bestow him that status. “I definitely believe I’m the No. 1 pick and if the Suns take me I’ll definitely show them why,” Bagley said after working out for Phoenix on Friday.
- The Bulls not only worked out Okogie on Friday but also Aaron Holiday (UCLA), Chimezie Metu (USC), Kameron Chatman (Detroit), Giddy Potts (Middle Tennessee) and Scottie Lindsey (Northwestern), according to a team release. Holiday was the headliner, as he’s rated No. 17 by Givony.
- The Hawks were among the teams at Michael Porter Jr.‘s workout in Chicago on Friday, Michael Cunningham of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution tweets. Atlanta owns the No. 3 overall pick.
Durant: “I’m Planning On Staying With The Warriors”
The NBA’s two best players can reach the open market in less than a month, but while LeBron James‘ future remains up in the air, it appears Kevin Durant‘s free agency will be merely a formality. Speaking to ESPN’s Rachel Nichols (video link), the All-NBA forward confirmed that he doesn’t intend to change teams this summer.
“I’m planning on staying with the Warriors,” Durant said. “We’ll figure the rest out.”
As Durant alludes to – and as Nichols notes – he and the Warriors figure to negotiate a new contract, since he’s unlikely to exercise his player option. With Durant’s Early Bird rights in hand, Golden State will be able to offer up to four years, not to mention a sizable raise. Still, the 2017 Finals MVP doesn’t sound concerned about working out those details.
Long considered likely to opt out and re-sign with Golden State, Durant opened that door a crack in a recent conversation with Sam Amick of USA Today. Speaking to Amick, Durant said he planned on sticking with the Warriors, but cautioned that “anything can happen” in the NBA. Based on his latest comments though, it sounds as if the 29-year-old has made up his mind, and it’s hard to imagine a scenario where the Dubs won’t welcome him back, no matter the price.
With Durant’s return a virtual lock, it will simply come down to how he and the Warriors structure his next deal. As ESPN’s Bobby Marks (Insider link) details in his preview of Golden State’s offseason, there are three realistic scenarios: a one-year deal, a three-year deal with a player option on the third year, or a four-year deal, which could be worth a projected $158MM+.
Kevin Durant Talks Future, LeBron, Warriors’ Moves
It has long been reported that Kevin Durant will opt out of his contract with the Warriors this offseason in order to sign a few deal with the team. That looks like more of a lock than ever after Durant’s dominant showing in Game 3 of the NBA Finals, but before Wednesday’s game, Sam Amick of USA Today spoke to the star forward to clarify his stance.
After all, as Amick noted, Durant spoke after Game 7 of the Western Conference Finals about how “anything” could happen this summer for both the Rockets and the Warriors. Did that mean that Durant himself was having any second thoughts about his future plans? Here’s the answer from the reigning Finals MVP, along with a few more comments of note:
On whether he’s definitely returning to the Warriors next season:
“I feel as though (I am). Everything, the money and stuff that’s got to, the contract got to (be) worked out, but I plan on being here. I said that earlier this year. I didn’t plan on anything else, but this is the NBA, and anything can happen. And I know that anything can happen (because) I’ve been a part of this league for so long now.”
On the idea that LeBron James might take a meeting with the Warriors this summer:
(Note: This was reported earlier in the year and recently reiterated by ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith.)
“With the Warriors? I have no clue. I mean everybody can speculate. This guy over here who works for ESPN, I’m sure he’s got a theory. I just don’t believe it. I don’t believe anything in this NBA thing until I see it.
“… But how I’d feel if we would get a meeting with LeBron James? I mean, that’s not – I’ve been trying to separate myself from the front office and those decision makers for a long time, so that’s not on me to do it.”
On leaving roster decisions up to GM Bob Myers:
“I wouldn’t be storming into his office saying, ‘We need to go sit down with this guy,’ or ‘No, we don’t need (that guy).’ Like, that’s not my place. My place is to go play ball, and be the best teammate and player. That’s my only job. Everything else I leave up to Bob, because he’s getting paid a lot of money to make those decisions.”
On whether the Warriors’ offseason approach would’ve looked significantly different if they’d lost to Houston:
“My mindset wouldn’t have changed. My approach wouldn’t have changed. I don’t know anything about what the organization would’ve done, because that’s not my field, but my approach to the game and the way I would’ve came into the offseason and the regular season next year, it wouldn’t have changed. It would’ve been the same approach, just see if we could do it again.”
Andre Iguodala Will Play In Game 3
JUNE 6, 6:59pm: Iguodala will play in Game 3 tonight, per Haynes.
JUNE 6, 6:26pm: Per Chris Haynes of ESPN, Iguodala will participate in pre-game warm ups before determining if he’s able to give it a go in Game 3.
JUNE 6, 11:57am: Iguodala will be a game-time decision for Game 3, Kerr said today (Twitter link via Mark Medina of The San Jose Mercury News). It sounds more likely than not that Iguodala will play, with Kerr suggesting it’s “leaning in the right direction” (Twitter link via Slater).
JUNE 5, 12:40pm: Iguodala has been upgraded to questionable for Game 3, Steve Kerr told reporters today, including Anthony Slater of The Athletic (Twitter link). If he can’t play on Wednesday, Iguodala would target a Game 4 return.
JUNE 4, 12:26pm: Already holding a 2-0 lead over the Cavaliers in the NBA Finals, the Warriors may soon re-add a key piece to their lineup. According to ESPN’s Chris Haynes, Andre Iguodala‘s injured left knee has been pain-free over the last few days, and the veteran forward intends to return sometime during the Finals.
Iguodala, who has been battling a bone bruise in his left knee, hasn’t played for Golden State since Game 3 of the Western Conference Finals against Houston. However, he went through a full workout on Saturday, sprinting for the first time since sustaining the injury, sources tell Haynes. While Iguodala’s status for Game 3 remains up in the air, he hopes to play in that contest.
“I aim to play in Game 3, but I’ve aimed to play in Game 2 and Game 3,” Iguodala told ESPN. “We’ll just have to see.”
Although the Warriors haven’t needed Iguodala to pull out wins in the first two games of the NBA Finals, the Cavaliers have played much better on their home court during the postseason, so the Dubs would love to have Iguodala back in their rotation as the series heads to Cleveland.
If he’s healthy enough to play, Iguodala would be tasked with helping to slow down LeBron James, who is averaging 40.0 PPG, 10.5 APG, and 8.5 RPG so far in the Finals.
Derrick Favors A Possibility In Free Agency?
- Speaking of the Jazz, free-agent-to-be Derrick Favors may very well return to Utah, as he would reportedly prefer, but as opined by Frank Urbina of HoopsHype, three other potential landing spots include the Wizards, Bucks, and Warriors, all of whom could offer Favors their mid-level exception.
Community Shootaround: NBA Finals
The Warriors barely survived Game 1, but as the 2018 NBA Finals head to Cleveland for Games 3 and 4, the results thus far have been predictable. Heavily favored Golden State held home court and carries a 2-0 lead to the Midwest.
LeBron James‘ monstrous 51-point game in the opener nearly allowed the Cavaliers to steal one at Oracle Arena. A controversial reversal of a block/charge call, along with J.R. Smith‘s brain lock after rebounding a free throw in the closing seconds of regulation, gave the Warriors a reprieve and they dominated the overtime session. Stephen Curry‘s 3-point barrage assured the Warriors wouldn’t have to sweat out the closing minutes of Game 2.
However, the Cavs have been tough at the Q this postseason, winning their last eight games at their cozy and noisy home arena. Also, as Kevin Arnovitz of ESPN.com notes, the Warriors are not as deep or as disciplined as they have been in past playoff runs.
What they do have, of course, is more superstar power. And they could back their defensive stalwart, Andre Iguodala, as soon as Game 3. Iguodala has missed the last six games with a knee injury.
Certainly, everyone outside of Golden State fans would like to see the Cavaliers make a stand and provide some suspense to the series. If the Warriors win on Wednesday, a sweep or a five-game series, as was the case last season, would seem inevitable.
That leads us to our question of the day: Can the Cavaliers climb back in the series or have the Warriors already established their dominance?
Please take to the comments section and voice your opinion.
Andre Iguodala Ruled Out For Game 2
Andre Iguodala has been ruled out of tonight’s contest, Tim Bontemps of The Washington Post (Twitter link) relays. Coach Steve Kerr said he’s “optimistic” that the small forward will play in the series, but cautions that “there’s no way to know for sure.”
Iguodala has been dealing with a left leg contusion and – prior to today announcement – was listed as doubtful for the Game 2 matchup. The veteran hasn’t played for Golden State since the team’s 41-point win over the Rockets in Game 3 of the Western Conference Finals.
This postseason, the Warriors have gone 10-3 with Iggy in the lineup and 3-2 without him.
Klay Thompson To Play In Game 2
6:09pm: Thompson will play in tonight’s contest, according to the Warriors’ Twitter feed.
4:59pm: Klay Thompson suffered a high left ankle sprain with significant bruising during the Warriors‘ Game 1 victory but is likely to play tonight, according to reports from ESPN’s Ramon Shelburne and USA TODAY’s Sam Amick.
The injury occurred when Cavaliers guard J.R. Smith dove for a loose ball early in the first quarter and landed on Thompson’s leg. After briefly leaving the game, Thompson returned to the game and played through the injury. Thompson told reporters yesterday that the pain worsened the day after the victory and if Game 2 had been scheduled for Saturday, he was unsure he could play.
Walking with a noticeable limp, Thompson said he was angered when he saw a replay of Smith’s dive.
“From watching that replay, it pissed me off,” Thompson said. “That’s a tough play on the ball, and then just to tumble into somebody’s legs like that. You’ve got to move past it, but it’s just life, and I’m going to be better from it. It’s just a minor setback. But I don’t think it was intentional.”
Thompson remains listed as “questionable” for tonight’s game. The Warriors sharpshooter has never missed a postseason game and while he’ll likely attempt to play, it’s uncertain how effective he will be on a bothersome ankle.