Nets’ Jacque Vaughn Agrees To Multiyear Extension
10:43am: Vaughn’s new contract is expected to keep him under team control through the 2026/27 season, Wojnarowski writes in his full story on the deal.
9:12am: The Nets and head coach Jacque Vaughn have agreed to a multiyear contract extension, reports Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN (Twitter link). The team has issued a press release officially confirming the news.
“Jacque has made an immediate and immeasurable impact on our entire organization since assuming the role of head coach earlier this season,” general manager Sean Marks said in a statement. “On the court, he’s clearly demonstrated his leadership through his ability to connect and communicate at a very high level while displaying tremendous instincts for the game.
“As a person, they don’t come any better than Jacque. His character is impeccable, and there is not a better representative for our team and our borough. We are thrilled to have Jacque lead the Nets for years to come.”
Vaughn took over as Brooklyn’s head coach following Steve Nash‘s dismissal in November and had his interim label removed about a week later.
The Nets were off a 2-5 start under Nash but have thrived since Vaughn’s promotion, going 32-19 under their former assistant. Brooklyn’s ability to make a deep playoff run took a hit following this month’s trades of Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant, but the team still holds the No. 5 seed in the Eastern Conference playoff picture for the time being.
Vaughn was an assistant for the Nets from 2016-22, briefly serving as the team’s interim coach and guiding Brooklyn to a 7-3 record after Kenny Atkinson was let go in 2020. He served as Orlando’s head coach from 2012-14, though the rebuilding club had a record of just 58-158 (.269) during his stint.
The exact terms of Vaughn’s new contract aren’t yet known, but Wojnarowski says (via Twitter) the Nets’ coach has been extended for “multiple years past the 2023/24 season.”
Bulls’ Lonzo Ball Ruled Out For Rest Of Season
9:54am: The Bulls have made it official, announcing in a press release that Ball won’t return this season.
“Despite making significant increases in strength and function over the past several months, Bulls guard Lonzo Ball continues to experience performance limiting discomfort during participation in high level basketball-related activities,” head of basketball operations Arturas Karnisovas said in a statement. “Considering the required time period to achieve the necessary level of fitness to return-to-play and the current stage of the NBA season, Ball will not return this season. The focus for Ball will continue to be on the resolution of his discomfort and a full return for the 2023/24 season.”
9:40am: The Bulls are expected to shut down point guard Lonzo Ball for the rest of the 2022/23 season, sources tell Shams Charania of The Athletic (Twitter link).
K.C. Johnson of NBC Sports Chicago first reported that the Bulls were “widely expected” to announce sometime after the All-Star break that Ball would miss the remainder of the season.
Ball underwent surgery for a torn meniscus in his left knee last January, but complications related to that procedure prevented him from returning for the rest of the 2021/22 season. He underwent an arthroscopic debridement procedure this past September in the hopes of cleaning up the lingering issues in the knee. However, according to Charania, the former No. 2 overall pick is still experiencing pain and discomfort.
It has been a brutal process for both Ball and the Bulls, who were playing terrific basketball before their starting point guard went down last season. At the time of Ball’s injury last January, Chicago had a 27-13 record; across parts of the two seasons since then, they’re just 45-56.
While Ball’s averages last season (13.0 PPG, 5.4 RPG, and 5.1 APG) didn’t jump off the page, he was a strong contributor on defense and did a good job managing an offense that includes three talented scorers (Zach LaVine, DeMar DeRozan, and Nikola Vucevic). He also helped spread the floor around those scorers by making 42.3% of his three-pointers.
The Bulls have rotated through multiple point guards this season, with Ayo Dosunmu and Alex Caruso both getting starts and Goran Dragic and Coby White also seeing some time at the position. Chicago just reached an agreement to sign another veteran point guard, Patrick Beverley, to help fill the void created by Ball’s absence.
Given how long Ball has been sidelined, at this point we’re just hoping to eventually see the talented 25-year-old back on the floor and looking like his old self. Ideally, that will happen next season, but we’ll have to wait for more details on his prognosis, including whether he’ll have to undergo any additional procedures.
Ball still has two years left on his contract with the Bulls beyond this season. He’s owed a guaranteed $20.5MM salary next season, with a $21.4MM player option for 2024/25.
Heat Sign Cody Zeller
FEBRUARY 20: The Heat have officially signed Zeller, the team tweets.
FEBRUARY 19: In addition to reaching an agreement to sign Kevin Love, the Heat plan to fortify their frontcourt depth by adding Cody Zeller to their 15-man roster, per Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN (Twitter link).
Tim Reynolds of The Associated Press first reported (via Twitter) that Zeller was “targeting” signing with the Heat, after Michael Scotto of HoopsHype stated on Saturday that the veteran center had worked out for Miami.
The fourth overall pick in the 2013 draft, Zeller spent his first eight NBA seasons in Charlotte, then played for Portland in 2021/22. He had a limited role for the Blazers last season, averaging 5.2 PPG and 4.6 RPG in a career-low 13.1 minutes off the bench in 27 games before a right patellar avulsion fracture ended his season.
Zeller signed a non-guaranteed training camp deal with Utah this past September, but failed to earn a spot on the Jazz’s regular season roster and was waived at the end of the preseason. He has been seeking a new NBA home since then, having also worked out for the Lakers earlier in the season.
The Heat’s salary-dump trade of center Dewayne Dedmon prior to the deadline created some extra breathing room below the luxury tax for the organization, putting Miami in position to fill its 14th and 15th roster spots without becoming a taxpayer. The deal also thinned out the team’s frontcourt depth, so when the Heat went shopping on the buyout market following the deadline, they were said to be focusing on frontcourt players rather than guards.
Zeller will give Miami an experienced veteran option on the depth chart behind All-Star center Bam Adebayo. Omer Yurtseven, Orlando Robinson, and Udonis Haslem are also in the mix at the five, but Yurtseven is coming off ankle surgery and hasn’t played at all this season, Robinson is on a two-way contract and is nearing his games-played limit, and Haslem hasn’t played regular minutes for the last few years.
Assuming Love and Zeller both officially sign, as expected, the Heat would have a full 15-man roster, leaving no room for Robinson to get a promotion or Jamaree Bouyea to get another 10-day deal unless another player is waived.
We’ll see how that situation plays out, but if Robinson isn’t in the franchise’s plans going forward, Miami could cut him when he reaches his games-played limit, then bring back Bouyea to a two-way contract.
Antetokounmpo Has Wrist Sprain, Avoids Serious Damage
The Bucks and their fans can exhale. Giannis Antetokounmpo avoided serious damage in his right wrist, tests revealed on Monday, Shams Charania of The Athletic tweets.
The examination took place in New York and Antetokounmpo was diagnosed with a sprained ligament. He’ll undergo treatment with the expectation that he’ll return to the lineup once the pain subsides, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski tweets.
It’s uncertain if Antetokounmpo will need to miss some games. Milwaukee will host Miami and Phoenix this weekend.
The Bucks’ superstar removed himself from the All-Star Game after scoring the first basket. Antetokounmpo played just nine minutes in Milwaukee’s victory over Chicago on Thursday. The two-time MVP was injured trying to block a layup attempt by Coby White. He jammed his wrist when he reached out while crashing into the padded stanchion.
Antetokounmpo is averaging a career-high 31.8 points, 12.2 rebounds and 5.4 assists this season. He has already missed 11 games, mostly due to knee soreness.
Kevin Love Signs With Heat
FEBRUARY 20: Love has officially signed with the Heat, the team announced (via Twitter).
FEBRUARY 19: Veteran forward Kevin Love intends to sign with the Heat after he clears waivers, agent Jeff Schwartz has confirmed to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski (Twitter link).
Miami had been considered the frontrunner to sign Love after he completed a buyout agreement with the Cavaliers on Saturday. However, reports at the time indicated that he hadn’t yet made a final decision, with Wojnarowski noting that the 34-year-old still wanted to meet with the Sixers. Now, following that conversation with Philadelphia, it appears Love has made up his mind (Twitter link).
The Heat were viewed as a logical landing spot for Love because they can offer him the ability to play a key role right away. Miami has been on the lookout for power forward help for months, following P.J. Tucker‘s exit in free agency last summer. Caleb Martin has been the de facto starter at that spot for much of the season, but the 6’5″ wing lacks the size to match up with stronger, more physical fours.
Love, who fell out of the rotation in Cleveland last month and played his last game as a Cavalier on January 24, can’t replicate what Tucker did for the Heat last season, since he’s not as stout or as versatile defensively. But the five-time All-Star will bring some size, scoring, and rebounding to a Miami team that ranks 26th in the NBA in offensive rating (111.1) and 27th in rebounds per game (41.4) at the All-Star break.
Love’s averages of 8.5 PPG and 6.8 RPG on .389/.354/.889 shooting in 41 games (20.0 MPG) for the Cavs this season are somewhat underwhelming, but he put up 13.6 PPG, 7.2 RPG, and a .430/.392/.838 shooting line in a similar role (22.5 MPG) across 74 appearances for Cleveland last season.
The Heat won’t have to make a corresponding roster move to sign Love, since they have two open spots on their 15-man roster following the expiration of Jamaree Bouyea‘s 10-day deal with the team. Even after signing Love, Miami will have one more opening to either bring back Bouyea on another 10-day contract, promote Orlando Robinson from his two-way deal, or sign someone else.
According to Tim Reynolds of The Associated Press (Twitter link), Cody Zeller – who recently worked out for the Heat – has emerged as a strong candidate to fill that final open roster spot.
Having been officially waived on Saturday, Love will clear waivers on Monday, so the Heat are in position to sign him before their season resumes on Friday in Milwaukee. Miami has a portion of its mid-level exception and its full bi-annual exception available, giving the club the ability to offer Love more than the veteran’s minimum, but the terms of his deal haven’t yet been reported.
In addition to Miami and Philadelphia, the Suns and Lakers were among the other teams believed to have some level of interest in Love.
Commissioner, Union Leaders Optimistic About New CBA
Now that the early opt-out deadline has been extended to March 31, commissioner Adam Silver and NBPA executive director Tamika Tremaglio are focused on working out a new collective bargaining agreement by that date, writes Tim Bontemps of ESPN.
“I would just say it’s an absolute priority for us as well to get a deal done as soon as possible,” Silver said Saturday at his annual All-Star Game news conference. He later added, “It’s my hope that the deal will be done by then.”
Both sides indicated that progress has been made on a new CBA, although some issues still have to be worked through, such as how to handle load management and the potential addition of a midseason tournament. NBPA president CJ McCollum is a supporter of the tournament, citing experiences that his brother had with a similar arrangement in Europe.
“Obviously, we’re still working through logistics and what that kind of looks like, the financial implications behind the midseason tournament,” McCollum said. “I think, as a player who has played in play-in games probably more than I would have liked to at this point in my career, I think there was probably some pessimism and optimism mixed in from our fan base about what that was going to look like.”
Another topic being negotiated is a league proposal to permit players to enter the draft straight out of high school. The union appears open to the idea, but it wants some mechanism to make sure too many veteran players won’t be pushed out of the league as a result. Tremaglio would like to see a structure set up to help high schoolers make the jump to the NBA and give them their best shot at success.
“We recognize that we really do need to make sure that we have the structure in place, if we’re going to have people join the league at the age of 18,” she said. “We also appreciate that there is a lot of benefit to really having veterans who can bring those 18-year-olds along. And so you know, certainly anything that we would even consider, to be quite honest, would have to include a component that would allow veterans to be a part of it as well.”
Silver touched on a few other significant issues, according to Joe Vardon of The Athletic:
- The commissioner cited “medical data” to support the way teams are currently handling load management and disagreed with claims that stars are sitting out too often.
- He said the league is on pace to set records for ticket sales and season-ticket renewals, adding that this year’s All-Star Game is reaching new highs with $280MM in economic impact and 33,000 combined hotel nights.
- Silver said a contingency plan is in place to make sure games are televised if any regional sports networks go bankrupt before the end of the season.
- He added that no new expansion discussions have taken place. Silver has said before that the league wants to focus on finalizing a new CBA before considering expansion.
Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving Defend Trade Requests
During their All-Star Weekend press conferences, Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving both responded to critics who say trade demands are bad for the NBA, writes Dave McMenamin of ESPN.
Durant and Irving were Nets teammates when February began, but the demands they issued a few days apart shook up the league in advance of the trade deadline. Irving was shipped to the Mavericks and Durant was sent to the Suns in separate deals that reshaped the Western Conference playoff race.
Although it reduces stability when so many star players ask to be moved, Durant believes the fan interest that the trades spark is ultimately positive.
“I don’t think it’s bad for the league,” he said. “It’s bringing more eyes to the league; more people are more excited. The tweets that I get; the news hits that we got from me being traded, Kyrie being traded; it just brings more attention to the league and that’s really what rakes the money in, when you get more attention. So, I think it’s great for the league, to be honest.”
Durant also asked for a trade last summer, but he rescinded that request before training camp as Brooklyn wasn’t able to find an acceptable offer. Irving explored leaving as well last June, but decided to pick up his player option and stay with the Nets when he found a shortage of teams willing to deal for him at his current salary.
Irving explained Saturday that he and Durant were just making the best moves for their careers.
“Why doesn’t anyone have the ability to ask for trades? That’s my question,” Irving said. “When did it become terrible to make great business decisions for yourself and your happiness and peace of mind? Not every employer you’re going to get along with, so if you have the chance to go somewhere else and you’re doing it legally, I don’t think there’s a problem with it.”
McMenamin points out that a long list of NBA stars have requested trades in recent years, including Jimmy Butler, Anthony Davis, Paul George, Russell Westbrook and James Harden. Durant sees that trend as one of the positive outcomes of player empowerment.
“Teams have been trading players and making acquisitions for a long time,” he said. “Now when a player can kind of dictate where he wants to go and leave in free agency and demand a trade, it’s just part of the game now. So I don’t think it’s a bad thing. It’s bringing more and more excitement to the game.”
Cavs, Kevin Love Complete Buyout; Heat In Lead To Sign Him
3:46pm: The buyout is now official and Love has been waived, the Cavs announced in a press release.
“Kevin Love had an outstanding run with the Cavaliers, including memorable on-court moments, four NBA Finals appearances and an NBA Championship in 2016,” said president of basketball operations Koby Altman. “Kevin represented the organization and the city of Cleveland with the utmost charm and professionalism during his nine seasons in Northeast Ohio.
“He also embodied everything a franchise would want in a player, and the admiration and gratitude we have for him will ultimately land his jersey in the rafters of Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. We thank Kevin for his impact and wish him nothing but the best, knowing that he has solidified his place in the hearts of Cavaliers fans and this organization forever.”
11:07am: The Cavaliers and Love have completed a buyout, reports ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski (via Twitter). Wojnarowski confirms that Miami is the frontrunner to sign Love, but says he intends to talk to to the Sixers before finalizing a decision.
9:29am: The Heat have emerged as the frontrunners to sign Kevin Love once he finalizes a buyout agreement with the Cavaliers, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic (Twitter link).
As Charania explains, other teams with interest in signing Love believe he favors Miami due to the Heat’s ability to offer a defined role, as well as their position in the standings.
The Heat are currently the seventh seed in the East, but have a three-game cushion on the eight-place Hawks and are within striking distance of the Knicks and Nets, the two teams directly ahead of them for the East’s final two guaranteed playoff berths.
Miami has been on the lookout all season long for power forward help following P.J. Tucker‘s exit in free agency last summer. Caleb Martin has served as a de facto starter at that spot for much of the season, but the 6’5″ wing lacks the size to match up with stronger, more physical fours.
Love, who has been out of the Cavs’ rotation and is said to be nearing a buyout, can’t replicate what Tucker did for the Heat last season, since he’s not as stout or as versatile defensively. But the 34-year-old can bring some size, scoring, and rebounding to a Miami team that ranks 26th in the NBA in offensive rating (111.1) and 27th in rebounds per game (41.4).
Love’s averages of 8.5 PPG and 6.8 RPG on .389/.354/.889 shooting in 41 games (20.0 MPG) for the Cavs this season are somewhat underwhelming, but he put up 13.6 PPG, 7.2 RPG, and a .430/.392/.838 shooting line in a similar role (22.5 MPG) across 74 appearances for Cleveland last season.
The Heat have an opening on their 15-man roster, so no corresponding move would be necessary to add Love, though there are still a few steps to go before the move can become official. The Cavs will need to formally buy out and waive Love, then he’ll spend two days on waivers. Once he become a free agent, Miami would still need to hold off a last-minute push from rival suitors to make things official with the five-time All-Star.
The Suns are among the teams believed to have interest in Love, while the Lakers were also reportedly “kicking the tires,” ESPN’s Brian Windhorst said during a TV appearance (YouTube video link).
Clippers Sign Nate Darling To Two-Way Deal
The Clippers have signed Nate Darling to a two-way contract, the team announced.
A native of Halifax, Nova Scotia, Darling went undrafted out of Delaware in 2020 and spent his rookie season on a two-way contract with Charlotte, appearing in seven games for the Hornets.
The 6’6″ shooting guard has spent the past couple seasons with the Clippers’ G League affiliate in Ontario, California.
He had a strong showing during the fall Showcase Cup, averaging 20.1 PPG, 4.4 RPG and 2.5 APG on .469/.440/.828 shooting in 19 games (31.1 MPG). That has carried over to the 2022/23 regular season with Ontario, as he’s averaging 21.4 PPG, 3.7 RPG, 1.8 APG and 1.0 SPG on .464/.389/.868 shooting in 20 games (31.7 MPG).
The Clippers waived Moses Brown earlier today, which was reportedly a mutual decision after he had reached his two-way games played limit. Darling will fill that two-way opening and can be active for up to 15 regular season games. He won’t be playoff-eligible.
Los Angeles still has one standard roster spot open, but both two-way slots are now filled.
Popovich, Nowitzki, Wade Among Hall Of Fame Finalists
The Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame announced its 12 finalists for 2023 on Friday evening, and what a star-studded list it is.
Here are the 12 finalists:
- Gregg Popovich – Winningest coach in NBA history, five-time NBA champion
- Dirk Nowitzki – 14-time All-Star, 12-time All-NBA, 2006/07 MVP, 2011 NBA champion and Finals MVP
- Dwyane Wade – 13-time All-Star, eight-time All-NBA, three-time NBA champion, 2006 Finals MVP
- Tony Parker – Six-time All-Star, four-time All-NBA, four-time NBA champion, 2007 Finals MVP
- Pau Gasol – Six-time All-Star, four-time All-NBA, two-time NBA champion, 2002 Rookie of the Year
- Becky Hammon – Six-time WNBA All-Star, two-time first-team All-WNBA
- Jennifer Azzi – 1990 Naismith Player of the Year, 1990 national champion with Stanford; 1996 Olympic gold medal
- Gene Bess – All-time winningest college coach (1,300) across all levels in 50 years at Three Rivers Community College in Missouri (men’s)
- Gene Keady – Seven-time Big Ten Coach of the Year, six-time National Coach of the Year with Purdue (men’s)
- David Hixon – 826 wins, two-time Division III national champion and Coach of the Year with Amherst College (men’s)
- Gary Blair – 852 wins, 2011 national champion with Texas A&M (women’s)
- Marian Washington – 560 wins, 11 NCAA appearances with Kansas (women’s)
According to the Hall of Fame, the entire class of 2023 will be announced in Houston, on April 1 at the NCAA Men’s Final Four at 11:00 AM ET. Potential enshrinees from the Direct Elect Committees may also be recognized at the NCAA Men’s Final Four.
The class of 2023 will be enshrined during festivities in Springfield, Mass., on August 11-12.
In addition to the aforementioned nominees, the Hall of Fame also announced that legendary high school scout Tom Konchalski was honored as the 2023 John W. Bunn Lifetime Achievement Award winner. Konchalski unfortunately passed away a couple of years ago. You can read more about him here.
Marc J. Spears and Holly Rowe of ESPN were named the 2023 Curt Gowdy Media Award winners for print and electronic, respectively, while CBS Sports won the award for the transformative category.