Odds & Ends: Rivers, Pekovic, Bucks
A few random notes from around the league on this busy Wednesday evening between Games 3 and 4 of the NBA Finals.
- With Doc Rivers and the Celtics seemingly at a standstill, other teams around the league might have their ears perked at the idea of one of Rivers becoming a free agent. The Magic might be one of those teams, writes Orlando Sentinel reporter Brian Schmitz.
- ESPN Boston reporter Chris Forsberg opines on the impact Rivers leaving Boston would have on the Celtics, and it isn't positive.
- The Minneapolis Star Tribune's Jerry Zgoda tweets an ambiguous statement from Timberwolves President Flip Saunders on his biggest offseason priority, re-signing free agent center Nikola Pekovic. The two didn't meet in Europe, as was planned last week.
- Charles F. Gardner from JSOnline.com reports that the Bucks will not bring back five of their assistant coaches from last season.
Odds & Ends: Celtics, Bosh, World Peace, Bucks
Ken Berger of CBSSports.com follows up on several reports we've heard about Doc Rivers this week, confirming that Rivers wouldn't be interested in sticking around if the Celtics decide to rebuild. GM Danny Ainge believes the team can avoid a full-fledged rebuild, but it remains to be seen what will happen with Paul Pierce, whose contract is only partially guaranteed for now, and Kevin Garnett, who is believed to be considering retirement. As Alex Kennedy of HoopsWorld notes (via Twitter), if Rivers steps down as the Celtics' coach, it will be a pretty good indication that Pierce's and Garnett's days in Boston are numbered.
Let's round up a few more odds and ends from around the NBA….
- If Rivers does decide to part ways with the Celtics, it's unlikely that the team would allow him to coach elsewhere without receiving significant compensation, tweets Baxter Holmes of the Boston Globe.
- Chris Bosh's Miami Beach home may be on the market, but Bosh doesn't have any desire to hit the open market himself, telling Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun Sentinel that he'd like to spend the rest of his career with the Heat.
- Speaking to Dave McMenamin of ESPNLosAngeles.com, Metta World Peace seems to hint that he'd like to work out a new deal that would assure he remains with the Lakers. "I came here at a discount five years ago and I did that because I just want to win," World Peace said. "I thought my last contract was fair. I probably could have got more somewhere else, but I thought it was fair. Right now, the main thing with the Lakers whenever we cross that path is that (the offer) is just fair."
- Alex Kennedy of HoopsWorld examines the Spurs and Heat players in the Finals who will be hitting free agency next month.
- Addressing a report that suggested he and Monta Ellis nearly came to blows in the locker room after a Bucks playoff loss to the Heat, Larry Sanders says it was "just personalities clashing" and that he'd have no problem playing with Ellis next season and beyond (Twitter link via Gery Woelfel of the Racine Journal Times).
- Although the focus will be on their pursuit of a star, the Mavericks should also be looking to add quality depth to the roster this summer, writes Bryan Gutierrez for ESPNDallas.com.
Grizzlies Rumors: Pinckney, Lee, Rivers
While Dave Joerger is viewed as the favorite for the Grizzlies' head coaching job, it appears the team will explore plenty of other options before making a decision. Ken Berger of CBSSports.com reports that Memphis has received permission to speak to Bulls assistant Ed Pinckney about the position, marking the first time this offseason that we've heard Pinckney's name come up in a head coaching search. Here's more on the Grizzlies:
- In addition to Joerger and Pinckney, the Grizzlies have also spoken to George Karl and Alvin Gentry and intend to have them in for formal interviews, says Berger. The team isn't interested in Brian Shaw.
- Memphis is also eyeing new faces for its front office, according to Sam Amick of USA Today, who reports that the club has been granted permission to speak to Nets director of basketball operations Milton Lee. The Grizzlies are considering Lee for a senior executive position in the front office, and Amick adds that the decision to interview him is tied to Chris Wallace's uncertain future with the team.
- Amick also has some updates on the coaching search, following up on Berger's report by confirming that Pinckney will meet Thursday with the Grizzlies.
- The Grizzlies have not requested permission to speak to Doc Rivers, but the club would have "serious interest" if Rivers decided to step down as coach of the Celtics, says Amick. For now, Memphis is monitoring the situation in Boston.
Doc Rivers Still Weighing Decision On Future
As four playoff clubs continue to search for their next head coach, one more playoff team's coaching situation for 2013/14 remains unsettled. Celtics head coach Doc Rivers has yet to commit to returning to the team's bench next season, and a source tells ESPN.com's Chris Broussard that Rivers may be contemplating a change.
"Doc loves coaching," the source told Broussard. "He loves coaching in Boston. But he feels it may be time for a change."
As Broussard and A. Sherrod Blakely of CSNNE.com write, both possibilities – staying or leaving – remain very much in play for Rivers, who is said to be "torn up" about the decision, according to Blakely. A report earlier this week suggested that Rivers was wary of being part of another rebuilding effort in Boston, but Broussard notes that the coach's close relationship with Celtics GM Danny Ainge would make it difficult for the coach to walk away from the team.
Earlier in the offseason, teams like the Nets and Clippers asked the Celtics for permission to speak to Rivers, who still has three years remaining on his contract. Those clubs were turned down by Ainge, though Broussard says that if Doc expressed a desire to explore opportunities, Ainge would likely allow him to do so. A source with knowledge of the Clippers' thinking tells Broussard that Rivers would almost certainly be the team's top choice if he were to become available.
Doc Rivers Wary Of Rebuilding
Celtics coach Doc Rivers is still leaving the Celtics hanging on whether he’ll return next season, but the coach may be waiting see what direction the club is going in before making up his mind. Rivers’ decision on whether he will return has to do with whether Danny Ainge will look to completely rebuild in 2013/14 or keep his eye on winning, a league source told A. Sherrod Blakely of CSNNE.com.
“No coach wants to go through a full-blown rebuilding process,” said the source. “Doc’s already done that, so he knows how tough that is for all involved. But to be asked to go through it twice? Any coach would pause for a minute before signing on to that.“
Rivers’ decision will not be based solely on whether Paul Pierce and/or Kevin Garnett return next season, the source told Blakely. However, if both veterans are out of the picture, its hard to see Boston contending in 2013/14.
Odds & Ends: Team USA, Wolves, Rivers, Bulls
Last month, we heard that Mike D'Antoni and Nate McMillan wouldn't be returning to Team USA for the 2016 Olympics as assistant coaches. Today, Brian Mahoney of the Associated Press reveals (via Twitter) that Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau and Pelicans coach Monty Williams will be the new additions to Mike Krzyzewski's staff. Here are a few more Monday odds and ends from around the NBA:
- Timberwolves president Flip Saunders tells Scott Howard-Cooper of NBA.com that every indication points to Rick Adelman returning as the team's head coach next season. Saunders also addresses Nikola Pekovic's free agency ("We plan on signing him") and Andrei Kirilenko's player option ("We don't have a gut feel [what he'll decide]") within the piece.
- Celtics head coach Doc Rivers has yet to officially state whether he'll return to Boston's bench next season, telling Gary Washburn of the Boston Globe that he'd address his future soon.
- In his weekend notes column for the Boston Globe, Washburn speculated that the Bobcats could be interested in trying to trade for Chris Bosh this summer, but Rick Bonnell of the Charlotte Observer doesn't see Bosh as a fit for Charlotte.
- Asked about a potential Luol Deng trade, Steve Kyler of HoopsWorld tweets that he has heard the Bulls don't intend to change their core significantly this summer. With Deng and others coming off the books in the summer of 2014, the roster figures to see more turnover a year from now.
- CSKA Moscow assistant Quin Snyder has officially left the team to return stateside, the club announced today (English link via Sportando). Last week, ESPN.com's Marc Stein named Snyder as a potential under-the-radar candidate for the Nuggets' head coaching job, but I think it's probably more likely that Snyder ends up as an NBA assistant somewhere.
- Last June, Mike Miller's injury problems had him contemplating the possibility of retirement, but he's certainly feeling better a year later. Miller tells Shams Charania of RealGM.com that he feels like he has four or five seasons left in him.
- Jeff Zillgitt of USA Today attempts to determine why there have been so many head coaching changes in the NBA this offseason, while TNT's David Aldridge tackles the same topic in his own column at NBA.com. Aldridge also examines new Hawks head coach Mike Budenholzer and asks Danny Granger about being the subject of frequent trade rumors.
Celtics Rumors: Schroeder, KG, Millsap, Rivers
A couple weeks ago, ESPN.com's Chad Ford reported (via Twitter) that international draft prospects Dennis Schroeder and Giannis Antetokounmpo had each received first-round guarantees from unknown teams. According to Aran Smith of NBADraft.net (Twitter link), it may be the Celtics that have made a promise to Schroeder at No. 16. There has also been some chatter linking Schroeder to the Jazz (No. 14) and Bucks (No. 15), so the German guard may not even last until 16th overall, but if he does, it appears the Celtics are interested.
Here's more out of Boston:
- Mike Saver of CelticsLife.com passes along a few comments of note made by longtime Boston writer Jackie MacMullan of ESPNBoston.com on CSNNE. According to MacMullan, Kevin Garnett plans to come back for at least one more year, and MacMullan believes KG would play whether or not Paul Pierce remains a Celtic.
- MacMullan also reports that the Celtics covet Paul Millsap, and that if there's a "Plan A" for the team, getting Millsap would be it. Given Boston's cap situation, the C's would likely have to sign-and-trade for the free agent big man, unless they could clear cap room by trading or waiving Pierce and making an additional move or two.
- While most signs continue to point to Doc Rivers remaining the Celtics head coach going forward, some people "who have basketball business with the club" are concerned that Rivers has yet to publicly state his intentions, writes Steve Bulpett of the Boston Herald. Within his latest piece for the Herald, Bulpett delves into the relationship between Rivers and GM Danny Ainge.
Doc Rivers’ Return To Celtics Remains Uncertain
There's a 90% chance Doc Rivers will be coaching the Celtics again next season, but Rivers has yet to make his final decision, according to Steve Bulpett of the Boston Herald. If Rivers walks away from the final three years of his contract, it won't be with the intention of coaching another team. Even if he wanted to coach another team during the years remaining on his deal, the Celtics don't intend to let him, Bulpett hears.
The uncertainty began the night the Celtics were eliminated from the playoffs, when Rivers told reporters he'd have to think about it before deciding whether to come back next season. The coach tried to soften those remarks later the same evening, but has yet to make any definitive statement. Danny Ainge, the team's president of basketball operations, tried to do as much when he declared that Rivers would be back, but speculation remains.
Bulpett encourages Rivers to make his intentions known one way or the other, and said the team's pursuit of free agents will be hindered if he doesn't do it soon. I'd be surprised if this saga drags on into July, when free agents can sign with teams, though knowing who their coach will be would probably help the C's as they explore the possibility of trades leading up to the draft.
Broussard On Coaching Searches, Wolves, Lottery
We briefly touched on the latest Insider-only offering from ESPN.com's Chris Broussard last night, but let's take a more in-depth look at Brousard's newest tidbits today:
- NBA executives are curious to see who the Pistons hire as a head coach, since it may indicate whether advisor Phil Jackson or GM Joe Dumars has more sway in Detroit. Dumars is believed to favor Nate McMillan or Maurice Cheeks, while Jackson's pick would likely be Brian Shaw.
- Had Chris Hansen's purchase of the Kings gone through, Jackson would have run the team's front office in Seattle, and intended to hire Shaw as head coach, says Broussard.
- The Nets have yet to approach any coaching candidates besides Jackson, who told the team he wasn't interested in coaching. Brooklyn is currently conducting "rigorous checks" on potential candidates, and is seeking someone tough and firm who is able to get the most out of the talent on the roster.
- The Clippers are high on McMillan, according to Broussard.
- Sources tell Broussard that Bobcats GM Rich Cho is interested in hiring Quin Snyder to replace Mike Dunlap.
- "Many league insiders" believe Spurs assistant Mike Budenholzer is the favorite to land the Hawks' job, says Broussard.
- While Celtics GM Danny Ainge has privately told teams he won't grant them permission to speak to Doc Rivers, Broussard says if Rivers really wanted a change of scenery, Ainge would probably allow him to explore other options. There's no indication that's the case though.
- Although Flip Saunders will run the Timberwolves' basketball operations, he's looking to hire a general manager, and is currently performing background checks on possible candidates. A hire likely won't happen until after the draft, according to Broussard.
- Rival lottery teams aren't necessarily jealous that the Cavaliers landed the first overall pick. Said one GM: "I'd rather be two, three or four in this draft than one."
- Another executive from a lottery team on the process: "We didn't want to win this year's lottery. Next year's the one to win. Then after that, you want to be out of the lottery."
Nets Inquired About Doc Rivers
Jackie MacMullan of ESPN Boston reports that according to league sources, the Nets contacted Danny Ainge and requested permission to speak with Doc Rivers about their vacant head coaching position. Ainge, who chose not to comment on Brooklyn's reported interest when reached for comment today, denied the request. On the record, the Celtics' President of Basketball Operations was pretty straightforward about Rivers' current standing with the team:
"Doc has told me he's coming back..I talk to him almost every day about our team and what we are going to do moving forward…We know people want Doc. We know people want Rajon Rondo and (Kevin Garnett) and Paul Pierce. They are the Celtics. They've all had great success."
MacMullan looks back at the time Rivers signed his extension with Boston back in 2011, pointing out that when asked about the inevitable lean years to follow once the Celtics' core was no longer competitive, he explicitly stated that he'd be willing to be part of a rebuilding situation:
"I don't think anyone is looking forward to [rebuilding]…but I'm willing to do that. I've had a group that has been very loyal to me, and I think it would have been very easy to just run and go somewhere else and chase something else. … I just don't think that's the right thing to do. Coaches talk about loyalty and team, and I just thought it was time to show it."
Though it seems that Boston is expecting Rivers to continue coaching the team, MacMullan writes that it won't prevent other teams from continuing to make overtures for their head coach. She also alludes to the fact that the Magic had offered Doc their team presidency last year, and while he said that he had "little to no interest" of running a team and ultimately turned them away, it had been enough for the Orlando resident to briefly consider it.
Interestingly enough, MacMullan adds that if Rivers should decide to return to broadcasting next year and beyond, Boston would still own his rights over the life of his contract – which still has three years left on the deal. If a team were to pursue him at that point, they would still have to negotiate and possibly compensate the Celtics. Rivers is expected to get in touch with his assistant coaches this weekend, all of which have expiring contracts.