New York Notes: Knicks, Robinson, Watford, Clowney
The NBA fined the Knicks $25K on Monday for an injury reporting violation (Twitter link). According to the league, New York originally listed center Mitchell Robinson as out for the March 27 contest vs. Toronto, but he wound up playing 12 minutes in his first game back from a lengthy absence.
Here’s more on the NBA’s two New York-based teams:
- Speaking of Robinson, who missed most of the season with a fractured left ankle that required surgery, he has been quite rusty since he returned a couple weeks ago, writes Stefan Bondy of The New York Post. In addition to having poor conditioning and timing, the 26-year-old says he still isn’t 100% confident in his ankle. “Pushing off. Absorbing contact through it. Stuff like that,” the Knicks big man said. “’Cause obviously no one wants this to happen again. I damn sure don’t. … It’s something I’ve gotta get back used to again.”
- In another story for The New York Post, Bondy examines the Knicks‘ complicated playoff possibilities with four regular season games remaining. New York, which is currently 46-32, the No. 4 seed in the East, can finish as high as No. 2, but theoretically could drop all the way down to No. 8, though the latter is very unlikely.
- Third-year forward Trendon Watford will be a restricted free agent this summer if the Nets give him a qualifying offer. He hasn’t been a rotation regular for much of the 2023/24 season, but he’s been trying to take advantage of an expanded role as Brooklyn deals with multiple frontcourt injuries, per Bridget Reilly of The New York Post. Watford is averaging 13.1 PPG on .571/.474/.696 over the past eight games (23.5 MPG).
- Nets rookie Noah Clowney got his first career start in Sunday’s loss to Sacramento and the young big man got thoroughly outplayed by Kings center Domantas Sabonis, observes Brian Lewis of The New York Post. Clowney had seven points, 10 rebounds and was minus-26 in his 35 minutes, compared to 18 points, 20 rebounds, nine assists and plus-18 in 35 minutes for Sacramento’s star big man. “He’s just gotta be in it, you know? This is good for him,” interim coach Kevin Ollie said. “He’s gotta be in it and experience it, learn from it, just as long as you don’t quit in it, and he’s not gonna quit in it. These guys have been around — Sabonis is an All-Star — so hopefully he watches the tape and maybe gets something from Sabonis to bring it in his game, go lift some weights, all that stuff.” Clowney became just the fourth teenager in franchise history to start a game for the Nets, Lewis adds.
Southeast Notes: F. Wagner, Rozier, Butler, Hayward
The Magic got good news on Monday, according to Jason Beede of The Orlando Sentinel, who reports (via Twitter) that Franz Wagner will be questionable for Tuesday’s contest in Houston. An MRI confirmed the initial diagnosis of a right ankle sprain, Beede adds, but the fact that the third-year forward has a chance to suit up tomorrow after exiting Sunday’s contest with the injury is a positive development.
Wagner, who helped Germany win a gold medal at last year’s World Cup, will be eligible for a rookie scale extension in the offseason. The 22-year-old has averaged 19.6 PPG, 5.3 RPG, 3.8 APG and 1.0 SPG through 70 games (32.4 MPG) for Orlando, which is currently 46-32, the No. 3 seed in the East.
Here’s more from the Southeast:
- Heat guard Terry Rozier said he hurt his team by suiting up in Sunday’s loss to Indiana due to a neck injury that limited his effectiveness and caused him to sit out the entire fourth quarter. He’s questionable for Tuesday’s game vs. Atlanta, per Anthony Chiang of The Miami Herald (subscriber link).
- Wizards guard Jared Butler was recently promoted from a two-way deal to a three-year standard contract. His new contract pays him $1.25MM for 2023/24, but it doesn’t feature any guaranteed money beyond this season, tweets Michael Scotto of HoopsHype. Washington, which completed the signing using a portion of its mid-level exception, will hold a team option on Butler for ’25/26, Scotto adds.
- Sunday marked a homecoming of sorts for Gordon Hayward, who signed a lucrative long-term deal with the Hornets four years ago before being traded to the Thunder in February, writes Roderick Boone of The Charlotte Observer. Perhaps fittingly in an unfortunate sort of way, the oft-injured veteran sat out the game with a lower left leg injury. Boone argues Hayward’s $120MM contract should be a cautionary tale for the new front office to spend wisely when signing free agents going forward.
Celtics Promote Neemias Queta To Multiyear Standard Contract
8:42pm: While the terms of the deal were not disclosed, a source tells Brian Robb of MassLive that Queta received a multiyear contract. Since the Celtics don’t have their mid-level exception available, the deal can’t cover more than two seasons.
7:16pm: The Celtics have promoted center Neemias Queta from a two-way deal to a standard contract, the team announced in a press release.
Converting Queta makes him eligible for the postseason, and the move also completes Boston’s 15-man standard roster.
The NBA’s first player from Portugal, the Lisbon native was the 39th overall pick of the 2021 draft after playing three years of college ball at Utah State. He spent his first two seasons on two-way deals with Sacramento, but he was released in September and signed with the Celtics a few days later.
Queta, 24, has been a standout at the G League level over the past three seasons, including helping lead the Maine Celtics to their first ever appearance in the NBAGL Finals. Maine will face the Oklahoma City Blue, the Thunder’s affiliate, in a best-of-three series that begins on Tuesday.
In 26 games with Boston in 2023/24, Queta has averaged 4.6 points and 4.1 rebounds while shooting 61.4% from the field in 11.4 minutes per contest.
Hornets To Interview Lindsey Harding For Head Coaching Job
The Hornets have been granted permission to interview the Kings’ G League coach, Lindsey Harding, for their head coaching opening, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski tweets.
Harding was named the NBAGL’s Coach of the Year in her first season in the role. The former WNBA star coached the Stockton Kings to the Western Conference Finals. Stockton was defeated by the Oklahoma City Blue on Sunday.
Harding was hired to coach Sacramento’s NBAGL affiliate last June. Harding spent the past four seasons as an assistant/player development coach with the NBA’s Kings.
The Hornets’ decision to interview a woman for their head coaching job isn’t unprecedented, but hiring one would be groundbreaking. Current WNBA coach Becky Hammon, a former Spurs assistant, interviewed for numerous NBA head coaching openings before taking the Las Vegas Aces job.
Steve Clifford announced earlier this month he would be stepping down from the Hornets’ job at the end of the season. Charlotte has already been granted permission to interview several assistants from around the NBA, including Charles Lee (Celtics), Jordi Fernandez (Kings), Kevin Young (Suns) and David Adelman (Nuggets).
Community Shootaround: Better Prospect — Edey Or Clingan?
The NCAA Tournament title game not only features the two most dominant teams this season but also the top big men in Division I. It’s a matchup of old-school centers between two-time National Player of the Year Zach Edey of Purdue and Donovan Clingan of UConn.
In a different era, those low-post giants would have been the top picks of the draft. The 7’4” Edey has faced double and triple teams most of his college career but has simply towered over and overpowered those defenders. He’s finishing his college career with a flourish, averaging 28.0 points, 15.4 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 1.8 blocks during this year’s tournament.
Clingan was the nation’s best backup big man last season behind Adama Sanogo. The 7’2” Clingan moved into a starting role this season and has improved his draft stock this spring by averaging 16.2 points, 9.0 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 3.6 blocks in the Huskies’ five tournament victories.
They are menacing low post presences at both ends of the floor but the college game is different from the pros. Traditional NBA centers have given way to more athletic players who can guard multiple positions and step out to stretch the floor offensively.
Edey has improved his conditioning — he’s averaging 35 minutes in the NCAAs — and footwork but does most of his damage within eight feet of the basket. The Boilermakers’ guards are adept at getting the ball to Edey at his sweet spots in the low post. Similarly, his defensive prowess is predicated on his sheer size and bulk.
Clingan offers a similar menacing presence at the rim but he’s more mobile and can cover more ground. He’s an effective screen-and-roller but, like Edey, most of his buckets come at or near the basket. He’s made a few three-pointers but, like Edey, will have to work on extending his range.
Currently in a weak draft, Clingan is considered the best domestic product. He’s listed as No. 3 overall on ESPN’s latest Best Available list. Edey is ranked No. 2 among centers and No. 13 overall. It’s a major rise for a projected second-round prospect last year when Edey tested the draft waters before deciding to return to Purdue one more season.
That brings us to our topic of the day: Which center in tonight’s NCAA championship game will have the biggest impact in the NBA — Purdue’s Zach Edey or UConn’s Donovan Clingan?
Please take to the comments section to weigh in on this topic. We look forward to your input.
Hawks Star Trae Young Cleared For Practice, Contact
Hawks star guard Trae Young has been cleared for team practice and contact, according to a team press release.
Young underwent hand surgery on Feb. 25 after sustaining a torn ligament in his left fifth finger on Feb. 23 during a home game against Toronto. He had his six-week follow-up evaluation on Monday.
The Hawks are locked into the Eastern Conference’s 9-10 play-in tournament game against the Bulls, though home court for that April 17 game has yet to be determined. Young’s potential return could have a significant impact in that tournament. The Hawks have done well enough without Young, going 12-10 since he was sidelined.
Young stated in a podcast last week that he was optimistic he could return soon. “Hopefully next week I can make a fist and I can get out of this cast. And then I can play,” he said at that time. “So hopefully next week.”
An All-Star this season for the third time in his career, Young is averaging 26.4 points and a career-high 10.8 assists this season in 51 games (36.5 MPG), with a shooting line of .426/.371/.856.
Mavs’ Irving, Celtics’ Porzingis Named Players Of The Week
Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving has been named Western Conference Player of the Week, while Celtics big man Kristaps Porziņģis has claimed the Eastern Conference’s weekly honor, the NBA announced (via Twitter).
Irving averaged 31.8 points and 5.3 rebounds per game while shooting 52.4% from the field as Dallas went 3-1 last week. Porzingis averaged 19.8 points, 10.0 rebounds and 3.0 blocks in four Boston victories.
Irving has gained Player of the Week honors five times in his career, but this is his first since the 2014/15 season.
The Suns’ Devin Booker, Lakers’Anthony Davis, Mavs’Luka Doncic, Timberwolves’Rudy Gobert and Spurs’Victor Wembanyama were the other Western Conference nominees. The Magic’sPaolo Banchero, Knicks’Jalen Brunson, Sixers’ Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey and Pacers’ Tyrese Haliburton were the other Eastern Conference nominees (Twitter link).
Pacific Notes: Kuminga, Thompson, George, O’Neale, Harding
Some rest and a new role did Warriors forward Jonathan Kuminga a world of good on Sunday. After missing six games due to tendinitis in both knees, Kuminga had 21 points and 10 rebounds on 9-of-11 shooting in 27 minutes off the bench against the Jazz.
“I wasn’t concerned about coming off the bench,” Kuminga told The Athletic’s Anthony Slater.
Warriors head coach Steve Kerr is currently using Trayce Jackson-Davis alongside Draymond Green at the power forward and center spots.
We have more from the Pacific Division:
- Klay Thompson, who is headed to free agency, has improved his stock since the All-Star break, Tim Kawakami of The Athletic notes. The longtime Warriors shooting guard erupted for 32 points against the Jazz on Sunday and has proven durable, appearing in 74 games this season. While he has lost lateral movement defensively and isn’t as consistent offensively than he was in his prime, Thompson might end up more valuable to another team than what the Warriors want to pay him, Kawakami adds. He’s averaging 18.3 points per game and shooting 40.6% from deep since the break.
- Paul George, who holds a $48.8MM option on his contract for next season, poured in 23 of his 39 points against Cleveland during the fourth quarter as the Clippers erased a 26-point deficit on Sunday. George, who has had more than his share of physical issues in recent seasons, showed that he’s feeling good with the postseason looming by playing 44 minutes, including the entire second half, ESPN’s Ohm Youngmisuk notes. “I wanted to stay in and I just felt we were making a good push,” George said.
- Royce O’Neale doesn’t have much of an incentive to sign an extension with the Suns prior to the summer, John Gambadoro of 98.7 FM Phoenix notes (Twitter link). Right now, the Suns are limited to just a two-year, $20.5MM extension. However, Phoenix can offer him up to five years in the summer since it holds O’Neale’s Bird rights. A contract in the $13-14MM annual range for three or four years might work for both sides, Gambadoro speculates.
- Lindsey Harding was named the NBA G League’s Coach of the Year, a first for a female coach. Andscape’s Marc J. Spears spoke with Harding on how she was able to succeed in her first season with the Kings’ affiliate in Stockton.
Spurs Notes: Osman, Wembanyama, K. Johnson
Cedi Osman, the Spurs‘ only unrestricted free agent this summer, is interested in staying with the team and helping it build for the future, writes Jeff McDonald of The San Antonio Express-News. Osman, who was acquired in a trade after spending his first six NBA seasons in Cleveland, will be looking for a raise on the $6.7MM he’s making this year.
Although he cautions that “it’s a business,” Osman adds that he has “built a great relationship here with everyone and would love to come back.” At 28, he’s one of the veteran leaders on a team loaded with recent first-round picks, including rookie sensation Victor Wembanyama. After a difficult start, the Spurs have gone 5-6 over their last 11 games and Osman believes the organization is heading in the right direction.
“You kind of get excited,” he said. “I think we realize what we’re capable of doing. I really feel comfortable with this team. I think in terms of experience it was a great year for us. Obviously we had a lot of ups and downs during the season, but it’s a process. It’s not something that’s going to click right away. We need to build this up and I think we’re in good position to do that.”
There’s more from San Antonio:
- Fellow Frenchman Nicolas Batum was amazed by Wembanyama’s performance in a double overtime game against the Sixers on Sunday, McDonald states in a separate story. Batum thought Wembanyama wound eventually become a dominant NBA player, but he didn’t expect him to take over a game with 33 points, 18 rebounds, seven blocks and six assists as a rookie. “I didn’t think he would do that in year one,” Batum said. “I was like, maybe year two. That’s the only thing I am kind of surprised about.”
- Keldon Johnson may be done for the season after appearing to re-aggravate a left foot sprain on Sunday, McDonald adds. Coach Gregg Popovich credited Johnson for accepting a reserve role this season that saw him come off the bench in 42 of the 69 games he played. “He showed a lot of leadership in that regard,” Popovich said. “Overall, he’s matured a lot this season and really become one of the elder players mentally, so to speak.” Devin Vassell and Jeremy Sochan are already sidelined with injuries that will force them to miss the rest of the season.
- Wembanyama is eager to try to win a gold medal for France at this year’s Summer Olympics in Paris, per Johnny Askounis of Eurohoops. “We are representing the home country. It is going to be a very big deal,” he said. “I can’t wait. This is really a dream for me, to be in the Olympics. A lifelong dream. Like everything, I want to make the most out of it. When I was a kid when I just started basketball, I always told my parents that I wanted to be in Rio in 2016 with the basketball team. I am a little bit late. But it is all good.”
Central Notes: Bucks, Middleton, Cavaliers, Donovan, Pistons
Bucks coach Doc Rivers responded to the team’s late-season swoon by holding a film session on Saturday, according to Eric Nehm and Shams Charania of The Athletic.
The meeting involved the team’s nine veteran rotation players — Giannis Antetokounmpo, Damian Lillard, Khris Middleton, Brook Lopez, Malik Beasley, Bobby Portis, Patrick Beverley, Pat Connaughton and Jae Crowder — and each of them was given the opportunity to share his perspective on the team’s recent slide and offer suggestions on how to address it.
“It’s only the start of these tough and necessary conversations,” a source told Nehm and Charania.
While the session may have cleared the air, it didn’t help Milwaukee end its slump as the Bucks fell to New York on Sunday while getting outscored 72-48 in the second half. Although they remain in second place in the Eastern Conference, the Bucks are now just one game ahead of the Magic and Knicks and a game-and-half up on the Cavaliers, as home court advantage in the first round is no longer a guarantee.
There’s more from the Central Division:
- Middleton’s bad luck with injuries continued Sunday as he had to leave the game after being accidentally struck in the face by Donte DiVincenzo, Nehm and Charania add. Rivers said Middleton had to make an emergency trip to the dentist, which is why he didn’t return to the game. “You just feel bad for him. The guy can’t catch a break,” the Bucks‘ head coach said. “I mean, what are the odds you go into a game, ‘OK, tonight, it will be my tooth gets knocked out.’ He’s having one of those seasons right now, but that’s OK because it can all turn for him. I thought he came with great spirit tonight, too, so just tough luck.”
- The Cavaliers had a disastrous end to their five-game Western swing as they let a 26-point lead slip away in Sunday’s loss to the Clippers, per Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com. Cleveland went 1-4 on the trip and returns home in fifth place in the East. “Just a very disappointing loss,” said Isaac Okoro, who was able to return after missing four games with pain in his big toe. “Think we all know right now we need wins. Wanted this one bad.”
- Head coach Billy Donovan admits that the Bulls aren’t having the type of season he expected, according to Joe Cowley of The Chicago Sun-Times. Chicago is just a game ahead of Atlanta for ninth place in the battle to host next week’s play-in game between the two teams. “I certainly didn’t come here [when I was hired in 2020] to say, ‘Hey, listen, let’s be a play-in team,’” Donovan said. “When I sat down first with [executive vice president of basketball operations] Arturas [Karnisovas] and [general manager] Marc [Eversley] about this, it was to try and build something. I still feel like we’re building something, but I don’t think anyone is happy with where we’re at.’’
- James L. Edwards of The Athletic ranks the Pistons‘ best assets heading into the offseason. Not surprisingly, Cade Cunningham tops the list, with this year’s first-round pick coming in second, followed by Ausar Thompson, Jalen Duren and Jaden Ivey.