Suns Dismiss Mike Budenholzer
Mike Budenholzer is out as head coach of the Suns, sources tell Shams Charania of ESPN (Twitter link).
Budenholzer’s firing was widely anticipated after Phoenix fell far short of expectations despite a payroll approaching $400MM between salaries and tax penalties. After a fast start, the Suns stumbled to 36-46 record and failed to reach the play-in tournament.
Budenholzer, a two-time Coach of the Year, was in his first season with the team after agreeing to a five-year deal worth more than $50MM last May. This marks the third straight offseason that Phoenix will make a coaching change since Mat Ishbia bought the team. The Suns parted with Monty Williams in 2023 and Frank Vogel in 2024.
The organization’s dissatisfaction with Budenholzer went beyond the losing record, sources tell Doug Haller, Sam Amick and Fred Katz of The Athletic. There were concerns about his ability to manage the locker room and his “contentious” relationship with Devin Booker and other players. While there’s heavy trade speculation surrounding Kevin Durant, the authors report that Suns management plans to rebuild around Booker and couldn’t envision “a productive path forward” with Budenholzer as head coach.
Haller, Amick and Katz note that Budenholzer inherited many of the problems that led to his downfall. Hefty salaries for Booker, Durant and Bradley Beal led to second-apron restrictions that limited the Suns’ ability to make roster moves. Budenholzer was left with a team short on defensive ability and toughness that ranked 27th in points allowed per possession.
The authors point out that Budenholzer used 35 different starting lineups and made rotation changes that sometimes led to confusion in the locker room. They cite examples such as rookie Ryan Dunn, who was benched for a while despite being the team’s best defender, and Bol Bol, who averaged 21 minutes during a 16-game stretch in January and February then barely got off the bench for the rest of the season.
Despite the coaching change, league sources tell Haller, Amick and Katz that no immediate moves are planned in the front office, although that could change as the offseason wears on. President of basketball operations James Jones will have his contract expire in June, and Ishbia is expected to consider replacing him. They add that it’s not clear what plans Ishbia has for CEO Josh Bartelstein.
Suns insider John Gambadoro of Arizona Sports 98.7 tweets that Budenholzer’s dismissal is “just the beginning” and many more changes are coming to the organization. Gambadoro adds (via Twitter) that he doesn’t expect Michael Malone or Taylor Jenkins to emerge as serious candidates for the coaching job in Phoenix.
Pelicans Fire David Griffin
The Pelicans have dismissed head of basketball operations David Griffin, the team announced in a press release. Griffin was given the news this morning following a disappointing 21-61 season.
“After considerable thought and evaluation, I have decided to relieve David Griffin of his duties as executive vice president of basketball operations,” team governor Gayle Benson said. “This was a difficult decision, but one that I feel is necessary at this time to bring a fresh approach to our front office and build a culture that will deliver sustainable success, on and off the court.
“I am committed to hiring the right person to lead our basketball operations department and deliver an NBA Championship to our city. That is what our fans deserve. I am truly appreciative of David for his leadership and many contributions to the Pelicans organization and the New Orleans community over the last six years. We wish David and his wife, Meredith, and their family all the best moving forward.”
The move isn’t a surprise, as Griffin had been telling members of his staff to “brace for his exit” over the weekend, according to Jake Fischer of The Stein Line (Twitter link). There had been reports that Griffin’s job was in jeopardy and that the organization wanted a new direction in its front office.
Head coach Willie Green will remain in place for now, per Shams Charania of ESPN (Twitter link), as the Pelicans prepare to conduct a league-wide search for their next lead basketball operations executive. Green told reporters on Sunday that there haven’t been any discussions about his future with the team. His status will be determined after Griffin’s replacement is hired, tweets Will Guillory of The Athletic.
Fischer hears that Green could be a candidate to replace Mike Budenholzer if the Suns decide to make a coaching change (Twitter link). Those rumors stem from Green’s relationships with team owner Mat Ishbia and star Devin Booker, adds NBA insider Marc Stein (Twitter link).
Griffin spent six years with the Pelicans, compiling a 209-263 record with two playoff appearances. The team won the lottery shortly after he was hired in 2019 and drafted Zion Williamson with the No. 1 pick. Although that seemed like incredibly good fortune at the time, Williamson’s injury-plagued career ultimately played a huge role in getting Griffin fired.
Griffin also had a run of bad luck with injuries throughout this season. Dejounte Murray, who was his major offseason acquisition, broke his hand on opening night and suffered a season-ending Achilles tendon tear in late January. The trade that brought Murray from Atlanta began to look like a huge mistake as Dyson Daniels became a Defensive Player of the Year candidate with the Hawks. Meanwhile, New Orleans dropped near the bottom of the league as Herbert Jones, Brandon Ingram and Trey Murphy also missed significant time due to injuries.
The cumulative effect convinced ownership that a change had to be made.
“While our focus is a championship on the court,” Benson added, “we are also making sure that we do the same off the court, by continuing to prioritize the fan experience, and ensuring our games are easily accessible across our entire Gulf South region on multiple convenient platforms. In addition, we are working to determine the best path forward to transform the Smoothie King Center into the best arena in the NBA. We look forward to delivering on these priorities for our fans.”
Victor Wembanyama Discusses Recovery From Deep Vein Thrombosis
Although Victor Wembanyama didn’t provide many details on the deep vein thrombosis in his right shoulder that ended his season in February, he said “I’m over this problem” when he spoke to reporters on Sunday, according to Michael C. Wright of ESPN.
Wembanyama hasn’t been cleared for contact, but he has begun a light program of weightlifting along with on-court work in a limited setting, Wright adds. The second-year big man refused to say if his condition involved a structural issue or whether his treatment included surgery.
“There’s many more things than surgery when you go to the hospital for a blood clot,” he explained. “We’re taking our time and I’m neither late or early (in recovery), but it’s a process and there are definitely steps for me to reach. At the time, I definitely didn’t know (the extent of the condition). But looking back I did feel a certain way. I wasn’t in the best shape ever at the All-Star Game. By no means was it easy to learn and process. I think I did and I’m still doing the best we can do, taking care of my body and trusting the incredible work of the medical staff. I’m sure it’s something I’m going to use to grow and be better.”
Wembanyama’s medical issues began with discomfort in his shoulder during a road trip immediately following All-Star Weekend, sources tell Wright. He went through numerous exams before the issue was diagnosed as a blot clot.
He wound up missing the final 36 games of the season as San Antonio slipped out of the play-in race and ultimately finished 34-48. Wembanyama relied on “perspective” to help deal with the frustration of being unable to play.
“All the attention I got from the incredible people here [who are] incredible at their jobs, from my visits to the hospital and such, I think I got as good of care as you can get as a patient,” he said. “Looking back, I’m really lucky. This happened. But all of us, we deal with what we get. I’m still in the 1% luckiest people. I’ve got nothing to complain about.”
At 21, Wembanyama was in the midst of a spectacular season before the shoulder issue arose. He averaged 24.3 points, 11.0 rebounds and 3.7 assists per night and led the league with 176 total blocked shots even though he was limited to 46 games. He was likely headed for Defensive Player of the Year honors, but fell well short of the 65-game minimum needed to qualify.
Acting coach Mitch Johnson called Wembanyama’s progress “good news” and reiterated that he’s expected to be fully recovered in time for training camp. Wright points out that the Spurs head into the offseason with uncertainly regarding their coaching staff as Hall of Famer Gregg Popovich tries to make it back from a stroke that caused him to miss 76 games.
“I trust the organization,” Wembanyama said about the coaching situation. “I trust Pop to [do] all he can to come back and get his energy back. I also trust Mitch to grow into that role. So I think we are in good hands supporting each other all throughout the organization. So I don’t know. I’m ready for anything.”
Wembanyama seems doubtful about representing France in this year’s EuroBasket, which gets underway in late August, per Johnny Askounis of Eurohoops. French officials recently expressed hope that Wembanyama could participate in the tournament.
“I don’t know if it’s realistic,” he said. “There are a lot of uncertainties.”
Kasparas Jakucionis To Enter NBA Draft
Projected lottery pick Kasparas Jakucionis plans to declare for the NBA draft, according to Jonathan Givony of ESPN. The Illinois freshman is ninth in ESPN’s latest draft rankings.
“This has been my dream from a young age,” Jakucionis told Givony. “I’ve waited for this moment a long time. Saying goodbye to Illinois will be the hardest part. I’ve made friendships and built real relationships with players, coaches, support staff, and everyone around Champaign. My goal now is to work as hard as I can and be the best version of myself.”
Jakucionis earned spots on the Big Ten All-Freshman Team and All-Big Ten Second Team during his lone season with the Fighting Illini. He averaged 15.0 points, 5.7 rebounds and 4.7 assists in 33 games while shooting 44% from the field and 31.8% from three-point range and helped Illinois advance to the round of 32 in the NCAA Tournament.
“It went by so fast,” Jakucionis added. “There were a lot of ups and downs with a young team, where almost no one had played in the NCAA tournament before. Coach (Brad) Underwood and my teammates trusted me. We built a great relationship, chemistry and bond. The connections I made will stay with me for a long time.”
Givony notes that Jakucionis grew up in Vilnius, Lithuania, and built a strong reputation in Europe before opting to play college basketball in the United States. He played for Barcelona at age 16 and took part in U16 and U18 EuroBasket competitions the past three years.
He explained to Givony that he chose to play college basketball for the academic exposure and access to the training facilities and player development system to help him reach the NBA.
Givony states that Jakucionis quickly impressed NBA scouts with his 6’6″ size as a lead guard combined with “toughness, pace, feel for the game, play-making and shot-making prowess.” Jakucionis excelled in the pick-and-roll for the Illini and is expected to have similar success at the pro level.
“Luka Doncic is the main player I study in terms of how he reads the game,” Jakucionis said. “I watch the NBA of course, how guards are attacking each other, defensive adjustments and pick-and-roll reads. I also watch a lot of Euroleague and ACB. Trying to follow my former teammates in Barcelona. For passing, I like to study Nick Calathes and Kostas Sloukas. The IQ level in the Euroleague is incredible.”
Willie Green: No Discussions Yet On Future With Pelicans
Head coach Willie Green talked about his uncertain future after the Pelicans closed out the season by losing to Oklahoma City Sunday afternoon, writes Brett Martel of The Associated Press. The loss ended a disappointing year for Green’s injury-ravaged team, which began the campaign with playoff aspirations, but would up with the second-worst record in the West and the fourth worst in the league at 21-61.
“I haven’t had any discussions, any talks yet,” Green said. “I didn’t do great great. I have to take full ownership of where we are as a team. We failed. I failed.”
“I think that’s important. You try to look at the body of work,” Green said. “But I didn’t give myself this job. I had to be chosen for this position, and I’m grateful.”
A wave of injuries to key players took away any chance the Pelicans had of being competitive. After playing in 70 games in 2023/24, star forward Zion Williamson was limited to 30 due to several health issues, with a strained hamstring being the worst. Dejounte Murray, who was acquired in a trade last summer, broke his hand on opening night and suffered a torn Achilles in late January, limiting him to 31 games.
A shoulder injury forced Herbert Jones to miss 62 games. An injured ankle limited Brandon Ingram to 18 games before he was traded to Toronto in February. Multiple injuries sidelined Trey Murphy for 29 games.
Although the injuries help to explain the Pelicans’ downfall, that may not be enough to save Green or head of basketball operations David Griffin, whose job is also rumored to be in jeopardy. Griffin didn’t speak to reporters after Sunday’s game, according to Martel.
Whether they involve the front office, coaching staff or players, changes are expected in New Orleans during the offseason.
“We truly don’t know who’s going back. I’m just trying to be honest with you,” Murphy said. “Nobody is safe.”
Checking In On NBA’s 2025 Lottery Standings, Projected Draft Order
The 2024/25 NBA regular season is officially over, but the draft order for this June has not yet been set.
A handful of factors, including the play-in results, random tiebreakers, and - of course - the lottery results themselves will ultimately determine what the 59(*) picks in the 2025 NBA draft look like. But with the season in the books, there's plenty we do know.
(* Note: The Knicks' second-round pick is forfeited due to a free agency gun-jumping violation.)
Let's dive in and check in on several key aspects of the lottery standings and projected draft order...
Central Notes: Cunningham, Pacers, Bulls, Connaughton
Pistons All-Star Cade Cunningham expects a heated battle in the first playoff series of his career, Stefan Bondy of the New York Post relays via an ESPN interview. Detroit will match up against the Knicks in the opening round.
“It’s going to be a war,” he said. “It’s going to be highly physical games — defense, battling it out on the glass, all of those different things. I think it’s going to be a super exciting series for people at home to watch, and it’s going to be a great test for us as far as first round, first series in a long time for the organization. So it’s exciting, and I think it’s going to be a great one for us.”
The Knicks’ game plan will undoubtedly center around making Cunningham uncomfortable.
“He’s had a terrific season. It’s not just [against] us, he’s done it against everybody. We understand that. … With great players you don’t guard them individually, you guard them collectively,” Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau said. “So we have to understand what goes into that.”
We have more from the Central Division:
- The Pacers reached the 50-win mark with the biggest comeback in franchise history, The Associated Press reports. They erased a 27-point deficit for a 126-118 victory over Cleveland in double overtime on Sunday. Both teams sat out most of their rotation players. Over the game’s final 18:05, Indiana’s Quenton Jackson, Enrique Freeman, RayJ Dennis, Tony Bradley and Johnny Furphy outscored Cleveland 53-24.
- The Chicago Tribune’s Julia Poe reveals her seven takeaways from the Bulls’ regular season, including the emergence of Josh Giddey, the building of a young core, and the realization that Lonzo Ball cannot be a building block. Chicago hosts Miami in the play-in tournament on Wednesday.
- Pat Connaughton had a career day in the Bucks’ regular-season finale, pouring in 43 points in an overtime victory against Detroit. “I just wanted to win the game,” Connaughton said, per Ben Steele of the Milwaukee Journal. “Unfortunately we didn’t do it in regulation, which I’m sure brought some entertainment value for ESPN and everything. Which was fun.” Connaughton holds a $9.42MM player option on his contract for next season.
Pelicans Notes: Benson, Griffin, Green, Williamson, Offseason Approach
What are the implications for the Pelicans’ hugely disappointing season? Only owner Gayle Benson knows that answer, Rod Walker of NOLA.com writes.
The futures of top exec David Griffin and head coach Willie Green hang in the balance after the Pelicans’ second-worst season in franchise history. Griffin has held his job for six seasons, while Green is wrapping up his fourth. The way the offseason plays out could also determine whether New Orleans retains franchise player Zion Williamson and other key pieces.
The Pelicans lost four games by at least 40 points and had three losing streaks of at least nine games.
Here’s more on the Pelicans:
- The team is more likely to make moves with an eye toward playoff contention, rather than a reset, Spotrac contributor Keith Smith opines in his offseason preview. The Pelicans have 12 players under contract next season, including Antonio Reeves‘ non-guaranteed deal. They’ll also have a high lottery pick to add to their talent pool.
- The Athletic’s Will Guillory believes abrupt changes are necessary for the Pelicans to grow. They can’t afford to run it back with Griffin, Green and Williamson all remaining in the organization, in his estimation. Moving on with a new front office leader and head coach might be the best course of action in order to catch up with the contenders in the West.
- The Pelicans finished with a 21-61 record after their loss to Oklahoma City on Sunday. New Orleans completed its season on a seven-game losing streak and will be in the No. 4 spot entering the draft lottery.
Sixers President Daryl Morey, Head Coach Nick Nurse To Return Next Season
The Sixers’ disastrous year won’t lead to changes at the top. Following the team’s season-ending loss to the Bulls on Sunday, president of basketball operations Daryl Morey said he and coach Nick Nurse will return next season, ESPN’s Tim Bontemps reports.
Morey divulged that news during a postgame press conference.
“We expect more. We really feel for the fans who put their heart and soul into this team, and we know we’ve let you down,” Morey said. “Ownership gave us the resources to make aggressive moves this offseason to put a championship roster around Joel [Embiid] and Tyrese [Maxey] and sometimes those aggressive moves don’t initially work out, but we feel good about [them].”
Morey hoarded salary-cap space to make a big splash last offseason and landed the biggest free agent on the market, Paul George. The front office also added Caleb Martin, Eric Gordon, Guerschon Yabusele, and Andre Drummond while re-signing Maxey, KJ Martin, Kyle Lowry, and Kelly Oubre Jr. with sights on a championship.
Instead, the season disintegrated due to injuries. Promising rookie Jared McCain went down early and the team’s “big three” barely had any time to develop chemistry. Embiid was limited to 19 games and eventually underwent another knee procedure. George only appeared in half of Philadelphia’s 82 games and Maxey was limited to 52 appearances. They suited up together in just 15 games.
“In my opinion when you have an MVP-level talent, you need to make aggressive moves to upgrade around that talent in that window,” Morey said. “That’s what we did last offseason, and we feel good about it going forward. I think it’s such a unique thing to have a player of that caliber. Are we somewhat indexed to talented players who are a little bit more injured? Yes, but that’s why we need to have a younger, deeper roster on them and then have them healthy going into the playoffs next year.”
Despite Embiid’s knee issues and George’s multitude of injuries in recent seasons, Morey expressed optimism that they’ll be “100%” next season.
Given their contractual obligations, the Sixers can only hope that’s the case. Embiid signed a monstrous three-year extension in September worth nearly $193MM that runs through the 2028/29 season with a player option. George has three years and more than $162MM remaining on his contract, which also includes a player option.
Morey says he’ll retool one of the oldest rosters in the league. The Sixers will hold onto their first-round pick if it’s in the top six. Otherwise, it will be conveyed to Oklahoma City.
“If everything sets up well, we’ll have a younger, more dynamic roster around a healthy Joel, Tyrese and Paul,” Morey said. “I never felt like Coach had a healthy literally one game with all three of ’em. I know they played some games together, but they didn’t finish all of ’em and even the ones where it was like their first game back. It was tough … for me personally it was obviously the toughest season of my career, and I’ll just say personally I will spend every waking hour figuring out how turn this team around going into next season.”
Postseason Seeding Set For Western Conference
The seedings for the Western Conference playoffs came down to the very last game — the Clippers‘ 124-119 overtime victory over the Warriors on Sunday afternoon. That outcome assured L.A. of a playoff spot and pushed Golden State into the play-in tournament.
The red-hot Clippers, winners of eight straight, nailed down the No. 5 seed. The Timberwolves, who won their last three games, grabbed the last automatic berth into the first round, joining the Nuggets, who secured the No. 4 seed with their win over Houston on Sunday.
Here’s how the top 10 teams in the West finished the regular season, as the NBA confirms (via Twitter):
- Oklahoma City Thunder
- Houston Rockets
- Los Angeles Lakers
- Denver Nuggets
- Los Angeles Clippers
- Minnesota Timberwolves
- Golden State Warriors
- Memphis Grizzlies
- Sacramento Kings
- Dallas Mavericks
The play-in tournament in the Western Conference will feature the Warriors hosting the Grizzlies on Tuesday and the Kings hosting the Mavericks on Wednesday. The Golden State/Memphis winner will claim the No. 7 spot in the playoffs and face the Rockets in the first round of the playoffs. The loser of that game will host the Sacramento/Dallas survivor on Friday for the No. 8 spot and the right to face the top-seeded Thunder in round one.
The Lakers will have home court advantage in the first round and face the Timberwolves in the first round of the playoffs. The Nuggets will also have home court advantage in their first-round series against the Clippers.
The seedings for the Eastern Conference playoffs were decided prior to Sunday’s action and can be found here.